Júlia Lins Luz

Bats from the Restinga of Praia das Neves, state of Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil

Studies on bat richness and diversity in coastal sand dunes (‘ restinga’ ) are still scarce. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to estimate bat richness in the restinga of Praia das Neves (state of Espirito Santo, southeastern Brazil) and to analyze species abundance. Ten sampling nights were carried out in May and July 2008, resulting in a sampling effort of 21,847.5 h.m2. We captured 125 individuals from 17 bat species. In this study, Tonatia saurophila was recorded for the first time not only in the state of Espirito Santo but also in the restinga ecosystem. The most abundant species was Artibeus lituratus with 32% of all captures. Surveys in coastal restingas are urgently needed in order to obtain more information about the bats living in this environment.

Bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) of an urban park in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil

Some bat species are able to adapt to urban areas, where they find food and roosts. Despite the high number of parks in Brazilian cities, they did not yet raise the interest of most zoologists, except for some surveys of birds and butterflies. The objectives of the present study were: (i) to inventory the bat species of Quinta da Boa Vista (QBV), a large (25 ha) urban park centrally located in densely populated Rio de Janeiro, which is Brazils second largest metropolis; (ii) to compare the species richness observed in roosts with the richness recorded through mist netting in flight routes and near fruiting fig trees; and (iii) to analyze recaptures of bats marked in this park and recaptured in other sites and vice-versa. Sampling totaled 104 sampling nights resulting in 3,256 captures (including 133 recaptures) between April 1989 and December 2004. We also sampled roosts and received some specimens from park visitors and city workers. We documented 21 bat species, predominantly large frugivores. The number of expected species for this park was 24.0 ± 4.6, and the total sampled represented 87.5% of the expected. The recapture of bats marked in surrounding forest fragments and in QBV shows the importance of urban parks for the maintenance of bat diversity. Inspection of roosts produced two species that had not been captured with other methods. Sampling near fruiting fig trees did not differ in terms of richness from sampling carried out far from these trees or during their non-fruiting periods.

Morcegos (Chiroptera) capturados em lagoas do Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

The aim of this study was to perform a list of bat species captured in six lagoons in the Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The park is located about 180 km eastward of Rio de Janeiro city and covers the municipalities of Macae, Carapebus and Quissama. The region is dominated by sand dunes and sand ridges formed in the Quaternary. We captured 149 bats belonging to three families and 14 species. Most species caught in restinga de Jurubatiba were frugivores, partly due to technique employed, mist-net, that favors the capture of individuals of the Phyllostomidae family. Five species are uncommonly captured in bats inventories (Uroderma magnirostrum, Lasiurus cinereus, Lophostoma brasiliense, Chiroderma villosum and Diaemus youngi). Species caught varied among lagoons, showing the importance of these habitats for maintaining the diversity of bats.

Activity of two species of free-tailed bats over a stream in southeastern Brazil

The objective of the present study was to investigate activity time of the molossid bats Nyctinomops laticaudatus and Molossus molossus at the same locality, and to test whether activity of one species affects activity of the other. During January 2007-May 2009, we sampled for 15 nights over a stream in southeastern Brazil. Total sampling effort was 166 h and 693 m of nets. Time of capture was transformed into minutes in relation to sunset. First captures of M. molossus occurred just after sunset except for one individual that was captured before sunset. Total activity time of M. molossus ranged from 27 min before sunset to 743 min after sunset. Total activity time of N. laticaudatus ranged from 42 to 675 min after sunset and activity differed significantly between species. Activity of M. molossus was related to time of sunset, as expected based on behavior of other insectivorous species, whereas activity of N. laticaudatus seemed independent of sunset.

Mammals of a forest fragment in Cambuci municipality, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Atlantic Forest is considered a hotspot due to its current state of vast degradation and high indexes of biodiversity. This biome has been degraded through the years by processes resulting from the Brazilian socioeconomic model of development. The seasonal semi-deciduous Atlantic Forest is a poorly studied phytophysiognomy specially degraded by human activities in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In the present study we report the results of a rapid mammalian inventory conducted in the municipality of Cambuci, in a fragment of seasonal semi-deciduous forest. We used live traps and pitfall traps to capture non-volant small mammals, and mist-nets of different lengths to collect bats. To sample medium and large-sized mammals we used camera traps. We recorded 27 mammal species in the region, of which 16 are volant mammals. We emphasize the distribution extension of Trinomys setosus in 150 km (that enabled its insertion in the species list of Rio de Janeiro) and the capture of Lonchophylla peracchii , a recently described species apparently restricted to Atlantic Forest. Both facts show the importance of the fragment for the region biodiversity.

Morcegos em área de Floresta Montana, Visconde de Mauá, Resende, Rio de Janeiro

The goal of this study is to provide a list of bats from Visconde de Maua, municipality of Resende, Rio de Janeiro State, located 1,300 m above sea level. Fieldwork was carried out during seven nights in November 2005, with captures along flyways, feeding sites, and roosts. A total of 13 species was recorded (10 Phyllostomidae, two Vespertilionidae, and one Molossidae). Seven species are frugivores, two nectarivores, one hematophagous, and three insectivores. Sturnira lilium was the dominant species, with 79.6% of the captures.

Riqueza de morcegos insetívoros em lagoas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Amostragens de morcegos na regiao neotropical geralmente, contem poucas especies insetivoras. Apesar da elevada riqueza de morcegos insetivoros, o uso de rede de neblina resulta em baixa captura dessa guilda. As mais comumente amostradas no sudeste do Brasil sao Molossus molossus, Molossus rufus e Myotis nigricans, mesmo representados por reduzido numero de capturas sao capturados proximos aos seus refugios. Apesar de ser conhecida a preferencia de especies de morcegos insetivoros por ambientes riparios, poucos estudos tem explorado esses ambientes. O objetivo deste trabalho e analisar a riqueza de morcegos insetivoros em 31 lagoas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro usando redes de neblina. Em 1.995 horas de esforco de coleta, foram obtidas 2.159 capturas de 26 especies exclusivamente ou parcialmente insetivoras. Oito especies foram capturadas somente sobre as lagoas. A especie mais frequente foi Myotis nigricans. Foi observado que as lagoas margeadas de florestas se mostraram ricas. A riqueza de especies de morcegos nas lagoas nao se diferenciou pela presenca ou nao de vegetacao aquatica e entre as lagoas salobras e doces. A amostragem em lagoas de tamanho medio ou grande e proximas a areas residenciais podem ser as mais produtivas para a captura de especies insetivoras. Tres especies amostradas sao raramente citadas em inventarios faunisticos: Macrophyllum macrophyllum, Lophostoma brasiliensis e Thyroptera tricolor. A realizacao de coletas com redes de neblina abertas sobre aguas calmas foi mais representativa de morcegos insetivoros e pode resultar em uma melhor amostragem da assembleia de morcegos.