Luiz Pedreira Gonzaga

A Paleogene origin for crown passerines and the diversification of the Oscines in the New World.

In this study, we present a detailed family-level phylogenetic hypothesis for the largest avian order (Aves: Passeriformes) and an unmatched multi-calibrated, relaxed clock inference for the diversification of crown passerines. Extended taxon sampling allowed the recovery of many challenging clades and elucidated their position in the tree. Acanthisittia appear to have diverged from all other passerines at the early Paleogene, which is considerably later than previously suggested. Thus, Passeriformes may be younger and represent an even more intense adaptive radiation compared to the remaining avian orders. Based on our divergence time estimates, a novel hypothesis for the diversification of modern Suboscines is proposed. According to this hypothesis, the first split between New and Old World lineages would be related to the severing of the Africa-South America biotic connection during the mid-late Eocene, implying an African origin for modern Eurylaimides. The monophyletic status of groups not recovered by any subsequent study since their circumscription, viz. Sylvioidea including Paridae, Remizidae, Hyliotidae, and Stenostiridae; and Muscicapoidea including the waxwing assemblage (Bombycilloidea) were notable topological findings. We also propose possible ecological interactions that may have shaped the distinct Oscine distribution patterns in the New World. The insectivorous endemic Oscines of the Americas, Vireonidae (Corvoidea), Mimidae, and Troglodytidae (Muscicapoidea), probably interfered with autochthonous Suboscines through direct competition. Thus, the Early Miocene arrival of these lineages before any other Oscines may have occupied the few available niches left by Tyrannides, constraining the diversification of insectivorous Oscines that arrived in the Americas later. The predominantly frugivorous-nectarivorous members of Passeroidea, which account for most of the diversity of New World-endemic Oscines, may not have been subjected to competition with Tyrannides. In fact, the vast availability of frugivory niches combined with weak competition with the autochthonous passerine fauna may have been crucial for passeroids to thrive in the New World.

Chemical Constituents from Himatanthus articulata

Chemical investigation of Himatanthus articulata (Vahl) Woodson led to the isolation of stigmasterol, sitosterol, cycloartenol, a-amyrin-3b-O-cinnamoyl, b-amyrin-3b-O-cinnamoyl, lupeol-3b-O-cinnamoyl, a-amirin-3b-O-acetyl, b-amirin-3b-O-acetyl, lupeol-3b-O-acetyl, ursolic acid, methylmyoinositol, 1b-O-b-D-glucopyranosylplumeric acid, plumeride-1b-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl, plumericin and isoplumericin. Spectroscopic analysis (IR, 1H, 13C-NMR and MS) were used for the identification of these compounds and some derivatives.

Systematic Revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with Description of a Cryptic New Species from Brazilian Amazonia

ABSTRACT. We present a systematic revision of the polytypic Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius) based on morphometric, plumage, vocal, and molecular characters. Morphological and vocal analyses were based, respectively, on 97 specimens and 106 recordings. Molecular phytogenies were inferred on the basis of 1,352 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA genes 16S, ND2, and cytochrome b from 30 specimens, including several outgroups. Our results revealed the existence of an undescribed taxon endemic to the Madeira—Xingu interfluvium, similar in morphology to paraensis, but vocally and genetically readily distinguished from the latter and any other taxon grouped under H. macularius. We also found that populations from the Negro River basin (currently treated in paraensis) and those from northern Peru and southern Venezuela (placed in diversus) should be treated as a single taxon, for which the name dilutus is available. Reconstructed phytogenies recovered, with overall strong support, the reciprocal monophyly among four main lineages of the Spotted Antpitta, three corresponding to already named taxa (dilutus, macularius, and paraensis), and one to the unnamed taxon, which we describe. We show that those four taxa are also mutually diagnosed by a combination of both vocal and morphological features, and we recommend treating them as separate species under alternative species concepts.

A naphthalenic norditerpene from velloziaceae

Abstract The isolation of a new naphthalenic nor-cleistanthane diterpene from Vellozia epidendroides and V. phalocarpa is described.

An African origin of the Eurylaimides (Passeriformes) and the successful diversification of the ground-foraging pittas (Pittidae)

The Eurylaimides is one of the few passerine groups with a pantropical distribution. In this study, we generated a multi-calibrated tree with 83% of eurylaimid species diversity based on 30 molecular loci. Particular attention was given to the monotypic Sapayoidae to reconstruct the biogeography of this radiation. We conducted several topological tests including nonoverlapping subsampling of the concatenated alignment and coalescent species tree reconstruction. These tests firmly placed the South American Sapayoidae as the sister group to all other Eurylaimides families (split at ∼28 Ma), with increasing branch support as highly variable sites were removed. This topology is consistent with the breakup of the insular connection between Africa and South America (Atlantogea) that took place between the middle Eocene and the early Oligocene. We recovered Africa as the cradle of the core Eurylaimides, and this result is supported by all African lineages corresponding to the oldest splits within each family in this group. Our timescale suggests that desertification and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau caused a parallel divergence between African and Asian lineages in all major clades in the core Eurylaimides at 22-9 Ma. We also propose that the ground-foraging behavior in the Pittidae ancestor allowed the pitta lineage to thrive and coexist with the older arboreal lineages of the core Eurylaimides. In contrast, the diversification of pittas in Australia was likely hindered by direct competition with the endemic ground-foraging oscines that had been well established in that continent since the Eocene.

REDESCRIPTION OF THE ADVERTISEMENT CALL OF DENDROPSOPHUS SENICULUS (COPE, 1868) AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ACOUSTIC TRAITS OF THE DENDROPSOPHUS MARMORATUS SPECIES GROUP (AMPHIBIA: ANURA: DENDROPSOPHINI)

ABSTRACT. Intraspecific morphological variation has been cited as the main difficulty in species delimitation in the Dendropsophus marmoratus species group. However, acoustic characters of the advertisement calls seem to be helpful to establish limits between species of the group. When the advertisement call of D. nahdereri was described, questions were raised as to some traits that might be shared with other members of the D. marmoratus group. Although six of the eight species recognized for the group have had their advertisement calls described, some of these require revisions due to certain inconsistencies in the original descriptions. Herein the advertisement call of D. seniculus is redescribed on the basis of analysis of 143 calls recorded from seven individuals in the Municipality of Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A physiologically based note definition is used owing to its advantages in recognizing primary homology. Among the novelties reported for the group are: a change in the dominant frequency within the call, the presence of more than two harmonics, and a long, frequency modulated, final pulse. The original description of the call was based on an audiospectrogram with side-bands that was mistakenly interpreted as having too many harmonics and no pulses. Acoustic differences and similarities among the species reinforce the use of this character source in the taxonomy and phylogeny of the group. Because D. seniculus is acoustically more similar to D. soaresi than to the other species in the group, the phylogenetic relevance of this similarity should be tested.

Reverse Size Dimorphism Estimated by an Improved Method in Eight Species of Neotropical Owls

ABSTRACT.— Male birds of prey are usually smaller than females, known as “Reverse Size Dimorphism” (RSD). We quantified sexual size dimorphism in species that occur in Brazil, and suggest a bootstrap-based approach that allows an estimate of confidence intervals for dimorphism indices. We used body mass, total length, and wing length, measured from museum specimens and a few live birds, to quantify size. We gathered data from eight owl species, for which sample sizes were considered to be minimally adequate to provide reliable dimorphism estimates. We calculated a dimorphism index (DI) for each measurement and then these indices were reduced to a single latent variable using a principal component analysis. A clear trend toward positive DI values confirms RSD as a general pattern, except for negative values in Asio clamator (Striped Owl) for all measurements, for total length in Athene cunicularia (Burrowing Owl), and Ciccaba virgata (Mottled Owl), and for virtually equal to zero values in Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana (Tawny-browed Owl) for total length and A. cunicularia for wing length. Body mass was the most dimorphic trait in all species and DI values were consistent across all three traits. Wing length DI was the most precise index and total length DI was the least precise index. In descending order of overall RSD the species studied were Strix hylophila (Rusty-barred Owl), Megascops choliba (Tropical Screech-Owl), Glaucidium brasilianum (Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl), Tyto alba (Barn Owl), P. koeniswaldiana, C. virgata, A. cunicularia and A. clamator.

Melanopareia bitorquata (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837) is a distinct species: an appraisal of morphological variation in the Collared Crescentchest Melanopareia torquata (zu Wied-Neuwied, 1831) (Aves: Melanopareiidae)

The Collared Crescentchest Melanopareia torquata is a poorly known and inconspicuous species of open savannas and grasslands in central Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. Three subspecies are currently recognized, but their taxonomic limits, ranges and conservation status are far from well-established. This paper analyses individual and geographic variation in this species on the basis of body measurements and plumage coloration of 119 specimens. A clinal pattern of body size variation and considerable mensural overlap precludes a clear-cut separation between the two subspecies restricted to Brazil, and there is evidently sexual dichromatism in some Brazilian populations. However, M. t. bitorquata shows highly distinct plumage features in parapatry with other forms, strongly suggesting it should be treated as a full species.

Morphological data support the recognition of four species in the genus Sirystes Cabanis & Heine, 1859 (Aves: Tyrannidae).

Sirystes is a widespread genus in the Neotropical region. Historically, five subspecies were recognized in a single widespread species, but more recently four separate species have been recognized, based on vocalizations and limited morphological data. In this paper, we analyze individual and geographic variation in this genus on the basis of body measurements and plumage coloration of 514 specimens, including all name-bearing types available. We conclude that the four recently proposed species, S. sibilator, S. albogriseus, S. albocinereus, and S. subcanescens, can also be diagnosed by morphological data, corroborating more recent taxonomic treatments. We identified possible hybrids between S. sibilator and S. albocinereus from a narrow zone of contact in central Bolivia. We show that Sirystes sibilator atimastus Oberholser, 1902 represents a point on a cline within S. sibilator (Vieillot, 1818), and it is here regarded as a subjective junior synonym of the latter. We also provide new observations on the range and diagnosis of S. subcanescens, a name that has been frequently misused, and present a redescription of the four recognized species, as well as reviewing their range and natural history.

Taxonomy, distribution, natural history and conservation of the Russet-mantled Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla dimidiata (Pelzeln, 1859) (Aves: Furnariidae)

Russet-mantled Foliage-gleaner is an extremely poorly known species, the range of which is centered in the Brazilian Cerrado, where it inhabits riparian forests. Two subspecies are recognized, but the limits of their ranges are controversial. Furthermore, it was recently suggested that the species is one of the few in the family Furnariidae to show sexual dichromatism. In this paper we examined the plumage coloration and morphometrics of 33 study skins (85% of the available specimens). We conclude that the geographic variation and sexual dichromatism reported for S. dimidiata originated from misinterpretation of the plumage variation observed in this species, which is best considered monotypic. We also present natural history data on Russet-mantled Foliage-gleaners and suggest considering it a globally Vulnerable species.