Caio Graco Machado

Fenologia da floração e biologia floral de bromeliáceas ornitófilas de uma área da Mata Atlântica do Sudeste brasileiro

This study dealt with phenology and flower visitors of some Bromeliaceae species in an Atlantic Forest area at Parque Estadual Intervales, southeastern Brazil. The taxa studied belonged to the genera Tillandsia L. (3 spp.), Vriesea Lindl. (5 spp.), Aechmea Ruiz & Pav. (3 spp.), Billbergia Thunb. (1 sp.) and Nidularium Lem. (2 spp.). Sample transects were established in areas with different succession stages, where the bromeliads were localized and marked. Flowering phenology surveys were made monthly. The bromeliad community showed a sequential flowering all along the year and most species flowered during the rainy season. The floral visitors were recorded by naturalistic observations. Eight hummingbird species visited the bromeliads flowers. Among them, Phaethornis eurynome Lesson and Thalurania glaucopis Gmelin were the most frequent visitors. Bromeliads were divided in two groups by similarity analysis of floral visitors (hummingbirds): a group represented by species visited by Trochilinae hummingbirds and another visited by Phaethornis eurynome (subfamily Phaethornithinae). The competition among bromeliad species for pollinators is reduced due to their spatial distribution and the flowering periods.

Beija-flores (Aves: Trochilidae) e seus recursos florais em uma área de caatinga da Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil

This study investigated the species of hummingbird occurring in an area of caatinga vegetation, examining their seasonal activities, the assemblages of plants that they used, as well as the floral characteristics and flowering phenology of that vegetation. These surveys were performed in an area of arboreal caatinga in Chapada Diamantina, municipality of Mucuge, state of Bahia, Brazil, during 12 expeditions undertaken on a bi-monthly basis between October, 2005 and August, 2007. Field activities included observations made of the visiting hummingbird species, their behavior, and the frequency of their visits; as well as the plant species visited, their floral attributes, size, and the flowering phenophase evident on the occasion of each expedition. Seven species of hummingbirds were registered, including five residents. Phaethornis pretrei (Lesson & Delattre, 1839) acted as the organizer of this pollination guild. This species and Chlorostilbon lucidus (Shaw, 1812), these two species were considered the principal pollinators within the community. The hummingbirds visited a total of 29 plant species, of which only 12 are considered ornitophilous. The plant community presented a continuous flowering, with 19 species flowering in both the dry and the rainy season, permitting the year-round permanence of resident hummingbird species.

Fenologia de floração e polinização de espécies ornitófilas de bromeliáceas em uma área de campo rupestre da Chapada Diamantina, BA, Brasil

(Fenologia de floracao e polinizacao de especies ornitofilas de bromeliaceas em uma area de campo rupestre da Chapada Diamantina, BA, Brasil). Beija-flores sao os principais polinizadores de bromeliaceas e a floracao sequencial propicia a manutencao local destas aves. Neste estudo investigamos as estrategias fenologicas de floracao e os visitantes florais de cinco bromeliaceas ornitofilas em uma area de campo rupestre na Chapada Diamantina, Bahia. Os dados sobre fenologia de floracao foram coletados pelo acompanhamento mensal da fenofase de floracao de individuos no periodo entre julho de 2006 e dezembro de 2007. Os visitantes florais foram registrados em observacoes naturalisticas de fevereiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2003 e de julho de 2006 a dezembro de 2007. A maioria das especies floresceu no fim da estacao seca e no inicio da estacao chuvosa; Hohenbergia ramageana Mez apresentou floracao continua na area. A comunidade de bromelias estudada apresentou floracao sequencial e continua, proporcionando recursos para a manutencao dos polinizadores na area ao longo do ano. Seis troquilideos, um cerebideo e tres especies de abelhas visitaram flores das bromelias. Chlorostilbon lucidus (Shaw, 1812), Phaethornis pretrei (Lesson & Delattre, 1839) e Coereba flaveola (Linnaeus, 1759) foram os principais polinizadores das plantas na area. Neoregelia bahiana (Ule) L. B. Sm., de corola de tubo longo e a especie mais especializada, tendo P. pretrei como seu unico polinizador, enquanto H. ramageana, com corola de tubo curto, e a mais generalista, considerada como um importante recurso para os beija-flores da area

Reproductive phenology of Prepusa montana Mart. (Gentianaceae) in an area of campo rupestre vegetation in the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia State, Brazil.

The phenological, flowering and fruiting strategies of Prepusa montana Mart. (Gentianaceae) in an area of campo rupestre vegetation in the Chapada Diamantina were investigated in terms of the influence of local rainfall, relative humidity, temperature, and photoperiod. The numbers of buds, flowers, and mature fruits of this species were monitored during monthly visits to the Mucuge Municipal Park between 6/2006 and 8/2007. Environmental variables (average accumulated rainfall, average temperature and relative humidity) were monitored at the site, while the regional photoperiod was calculated from geographical data. Prepusa montana demonstrated annual flowering of intermediate duration during the dry season. The flowering phenophase did not demonstrate any correlation with rainfall or relative humidity, but was found to be negatively correlated with temperature and photoperiod. Fruit maturation initiated during the dry season and was most intense at the start of the rainy season. Seed dispersal demonstrated a negative correlation with relative humidity. As this species occurs along water courses, flowering appears to be independent of any water stress during the dry period. The negative correlation between fruit opening and relative humidity is associated with the desiccation processes necessary for diaspore maturation and dispersal. The dissemination of P. montana seeds is apparently facilitated by the wind during the dry season and then by rainfall at the start of the rainy season (while rainfall would also increase the probability of seedling establishment).

An overview of migratory birds in Brazil

We reviewed the occurrences and distributional patterns of migratory species of birds in Brazil. A species was classified as migratory when at least part of its population performs cyclical, seasonal movements with high fidelity to its breeding grounds. Of the 1,919 species of birds recorded in Brazil, 198 (10.3%) are migratory. Of these, 127 (64%) were classified as Migratory and 71 (36%) as Partially Migratory. A few species (83; 4.3%) were classified as Vagrant and eight (0,4%) species could not be defined due to limited information available, or due to conflicting data.

As aves das trilhas ecoturísticas de Igatu, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia

Os observadores de aves tornaram-se o maior grupo de registro da vida silvestre do planeta e e a comunidade de contemplacao da natureza que mais cresce no mundo. O turismo de observacao de aves tem grande potencial de retorno financeiro para as comunidades receptivas criando incentivos para protecao ambiental de areas naturais. Este trabalho tem como objetivo identificar a avifauna das trilhas ecologicas de Igatu, Chapada Diamantina e sua flora associada, para serem exploradas pelo turismo local. Foram realizadas tres expedicoes ao local de estudo, com duracao media de cinco dias cada. O registro da avifauna foi realizado com o auxilio do binoculo ou a olho nu a partir de caminhadas por tres trilhas ecologicas durante todo o dia. Foram identificadas 51 especies de aves, distribuidas em 22 familias. As mais atrativas para o turismo de observacao de aves foram: rabo-branco-canelado (Phaethornis pretrei), besourinho-de-bico-vermelho (Chlorostilbon lucidus), o endemico beija-flor-de-gravata-vermelha (Augastes lumachella), sofre (Icterus jamacaii) e passaro-preto (Gnorimopsar chopii), maria-preta-de-garganta-vermelha (Knipolegus nigerrimus) e sai-azul (Dacnis cayana). As plantas que se destacaram foi o mulungu (Erythrina velutina) e o mucuge-brabo (Clusia nemorosa), com flores e frutos, respectivamente, atrativos as aves. As trilhas de Igatu apresentaram exuberantes representantes da avifauna, sendo excelentes atrativos para turistas interessados na contemplacao das aves. A existencia de uma variedade de recursos alimentares para as aves nas trilhas de Igatu maximiza a possibilidade do avistamento e identificacao de diferentes especies. O turismo de observacao de aves planejado pode proporcionar um crescimento do ecoturismo em Igatu, trazendo mais recursos financeiros, aumentando o desenvolvimento socio-economico na regiao.