Franco L. Souza

Anfíbios e répteis do Parque Nacional da Serra da Bodoquena, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Uetanabaro, M, Souza, F.L., Landgref Filho, P., Beda, A.F. & Brandao, R.A. Amphibians and reptiles of the Serra da Bodoquena National Park, Mato Grosso do Sul, central Brazil. Biota Neotrop. Sep/Dez 2007 vol. 7, no. 3 http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n3/pt/abstract?inventory+bn01207032007. ISSN 1676-0603. The State of Mato Grosso do Sul, central Brazil, is located in the center of the broad South American open- dry diagonal areas. This region harbors a great diversity of amphibians and reptiles, with some endemic species. Despite such biogeographical scenario, biodiversity of this region is poorly known at local scales. Dry forests are important physiognomies in Mato Grosso do Sul and represent an important landscape element at Serra da Bodoquena, resulting in local characteristics that require biodiversity surveys. There are few and punctual information on the herpetofauna from the Serra da Bodoquena National Park and they suggest a similarity with the Cerrado herpetofauna. The present study represents the first record of the herpetofauna from the Serra da Bodoquena National Park and adjacent areas. Samples were conducted in pristine and disturbed areas in two distinct climatic periods, covering both rainy and dry seasons, by means of active search limited by time as well as opportunistic records. Data on the herpetofauna of the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Chaco biomes were compiled and compared with the species sampled in the present study. We registered 63 species, including 38 amphibians and 25 reptiles. Several species were associated to particular habitats, such as gallery forests or rocky outcrops. The herpetofauna from the Serra da Bodoquena National Park showed a greater similarity with that of the Cerrado, probably because the area is inserted in this biome. Considering the habitat diversity found at Serra da Bodoquena, the number of species must increase with other surveys in the area. Natural history and ecological studies on amphibian and reptiles of the Serra da Bodoquena must be encouraged in order to contribute for the National Park management.

Preliminary Phylogeographic Analysis of the Neotropical Freshwater Turtle Hydromedusa maximiliani (Chelidae)

Abstract Phylogeography of Hydromedusa maximiliani was assessed by sequencing a 416 bp fragment from the mtDNA control region. Based on this fragment, 18 haplotypes were detected among individuals from four populations throughout southeastern Brazil. Two major geographical groups could be distinguished, a western population represented by individuals from São Paulo state, and an eastern population, represented by individuals from Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states. Divergence dates of 8–16 million years ago for eastern and western H. maximiliani populations fit orographical activities resulting in Serra do Mar and the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain uplifts during Pliocene and Miocene.

Herpetofauna, municipality of Porto Murtinho, Chaco region, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Among the physiographic regions included in the central South American diagonal of open formations, the Chaco, with some endemic species, represents the southernmost dry area. In Brazil, the Chaco is found in southwestern corner of Mato Grosso do Sul state, mostly in the municipality of Porto Murtinho along the Paraguay and Apa rivers. From February 2008 to December 2009, we carried out an inventory of amphibians and reptiles in Porto Murtinho, using pitfall traps, time-limited searches, and occasional encounters. A total of 34 amphibian and 39 reptile species were registered. Although some typical Chacoan species were found, most of the species are open area dwellers that also occur in other open biomes, such as the Cerrado and Caatinga.

Estimates of Growth of the Atlantic Rain Forest Freshwater Turtle Hydromedusa maximiliani (Chelidae)

Abstract Demographic studies on long-lived organisms are uncommon, largely because of the long time periods necessary to collect even the most basic data. We report results of the first long-term growth study of a non-Amazonian Neotropical freshwater turtle, the chelid Hydromedusa maximiliani. Differences were detected among males, females, and juveniles. Juveniles had higher growth rates (body size and mass) than adult males and females. A significant negative relationship existed between growth rate and mean body size of males and females, which was best defined by linear equations. Growth constants (k) estimated from the von Bertallanfy model were 0.094 for females and 0.073 for males, and the parameter b was 0.75 for females and 0.77 for males. Based on the von Bertallanfy equation, estimated age at sexual maturity was 14 yr (11.6–16.6 yr) for males and 9 yr (5.7–11.9 yr) for females, whereas longevity was estimated at about 100 yr for both sexes. This represents the greatest expected life span reported for a chelid turtle. Because the geographical distribution of H. maximiliani is restricted to mountainous regions of the Atlantic rain forest, one of the worlds biodiversity hotspots, and because the species is long-lived and late maturing and appears to have a set of life-history traits unique among chelid turtles, a conservation program that extends beyond existing conservation units may be necessary to ensure its survival.

Helminths from Seven Species of Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) at the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract Sixteen specimens representing 7 species of lizards (Hoplocercus spinosus, Ophiodes striatus, Polychrus acutirostris, Stenocercus caducus, Tropidurus guarani, Tropidurus itambere, and Tupinambis merianae) collected in the Cerrado biome at the Brazilian state Mato Grosso do Sul were examined for helminths. Nine species of nematodes were recovered from lizard hosts (Cruzia travassosi, Cyrtosomum sp., Diaphanocephalus galeatus, Gynaecometra bahiensis, Pharyngodon cesarpintoi, Physaloptera sp., Skrjabinellazia intermedia, Strongyluris oscari, and an unidentified species of nematode). Five new host records and 3 new locality records were reported.

Demographic Parameters of the Neotropical Freshwater Turtle Hydromedusa maximiliani (Chelidae)

Abstract Despite the high species richness of the family Chelidae (side-necked turtles) in South America, few demographic studies are available for a neotropical chelid turtle. Here we report data from a long-term (1993–2006) study of Hydromedusa maximiliani. Population size was estimated for two periods (1993–1994 and 2003–2006) by the Jolly-Seber capture-mark-recapture method and the demographic parameters were estimated by Cormack-Jolly-Seber model. The population size estimates showed values that increased over the study period (from 235 to 318 individuals in a 250 ha area), although this result must be viewed with caution despite the large confidence intervals of the estimates. Significantly fewer individuals of intermediate body sizes (80–100 mm plastron length) were present in the 1993–1994 period compared to the 2003–2006 period. The population was female biased with male:female ratio of 1∶2. Survival rate (ϕ) was considerably higher for adult females than for males. The estimated annual population growth rate (λ) was 1.012, and the estimated temporal process variance, the variation in the population growth rate, was practically null. These demographic parameters indicate a healthy population, probably reflecting the protected status of the study area.

Body temperature of free-living freshwater turtles, Hydromedusa maximiliani (Testudines, Chelidae)

Field body temperatures of the Maximilians snake-necked turtle, Hydromedusa maximiliani , a small freshwater turtle species endemic to Atlantic rainforest mountainous regions in Brazil, were studied. Turtle body temperatures and water temperatures were significantly related, but turtle body temperature averaged 1°C higher than stream water temperature, this difference being statistically significant. A multivariate model revealed that only water temperature was significantly related to turtle body temperature while body size had no effect. There was no effect of sex and life stage on turtle body temperature, implying that water temperature was the main factor determining body temperatures. Thermoconformity was verified for all sampled individuals. The broad implications of these results are also discussed.

Anuran assemblage in a rice field agroecosystem in the Pantanal of central Brazil.

Agricultural practice is an important factor that threatens biodiversity. However, modified habitats such as irrigated rice fields could serve as potential refuges for several species of amphibians. This study describes the composition of an anuran assemblage in an irrigated rice field system in the Pantanal floodplains of central Brazil. The low species richness found in rice fields and neighbouring habitats can be interpreted as resulting from the structural limitations of a modified environment. Flooding occurs for longer periods than in natural areas and leads to a lack of dry space, hindering the presence of terrestrial anuran species. Furthermore, the absence of herbaceous vegetation and shrubs in cultivated fields prevents the establishment of species of large tree frog. A positive correlation was found between rainfall and richness, although the abundance of some species did not fit this relationship. The present study suggests that only anuran species that are generalists and highly resilient will survive as the natural wetlands are transformed into irrigated rice plantations.

Osteology and Intraspecific Variation of Leptodactylus podicipinus (Anura: Leptodactylidae), with Comments on the Relationship between Osteology and Reproductive Modes

Abstract Knowledge of the osteology of species of the Leptodactylus melanonotus group is limited. Nevertheless, osteological characters are useful to diagnose species to, to propose phylogenetic relationships, to understand patterns of morphological evolution, and to predict biological function associated with morphology. Here, we describe the whole osteology of Leptodactylus podicipinus; we have special interest in osteological and morphometric characters whose interpopulational and intersexual differences can be related with fossorial habits. Individuals from the Pantanal, Brazil, were compared with L. podicipinus from northern Argentina and central and southern Paraguay by analyzing morphometric and osteological characters. The quantitative data revealed sexual dimorphism in tarsus length in the specimens from the Pantanal. The observed interpopulation osteological differences could not be associated with burrowing habits. Osteologically, L. podicipinus is intermediate between the members of the Leptodactylus fuscus group, which is more specialized for digging, and the generalized L. melanonotus, Leptodactylus latrans, and Leptodactylus pentadactylus groups.

Feeding Habits of Phrynops geoffroanus (Chelidae) in an Urban River in Central Brazil

Abstract Few studies have described the natural history of Phrynops geoffroanus in anthropogenic environments. We analyzed the stomach contents of 39 P. geoffroanus from the Anhanduizinho River, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, from September 2004 to April 2005. We verified the presence of invertebrates (Odonata larvae and mollusks), fish, and plant material. The primary food item ingested all year by the P. geoffroanus examined was the larval stage of Chironomus sp.