Rachel M. de Lyra-Neves

Caatinga revisited: ecology and conservation of an important seasonal dry forest.

Besides its extreme climate conditions, the Caatinga (a type of tropical seasonal forest) hosts an impressive faunal and floristic biodiversity. In the last 50 years there has been a considerable increase in the number of studies in the area. Here we aimed to present a review of these studies, focusing on four main fields: vertebrate ecology, plant ecology, human ecology, and ethnobiology. Furthermore, we identify directions for future research. We hope that the present paper will help defining actions and strategies for the conservation of the biological diversity of the Caatinga.

Interspecific behaviour between Callithrix jacchus (Linnaeus) (Callitrichidae, Primates) and some birds of the Atlantic forest, Pernanbuco State, Brazil

The observations cover a period of two years, monitoring groups of marked common marmosets in eight hour/day periods. Six types of events were recorded: marmoset predation; bird predation; foraging competition; food sharing; use of avian nest for nocturnal marmoset rest and mutual pursuit. All pooled events showed highly significant differences between season and vegetation strata.

Estrutura trófica da avifauna na Reserva Estadual de Gurjaú, Zona da Mata Sul, Pernambuco, Brasil

O estudo da estrutura trofica da avifauna da Reserva Estadual de Gurjau (8o14’S, 35o03’W) envolveu 225 especies de aves identificadas, das quais, 220 registradas por meio de observacoes in situ e capturas, quatro por meio de entrevistas com moradores da area do entorno e uma atraves de consulta a Colecao Ornitologica da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. As familias que se destacaram com o maior numero de especies foram Tyrannidae (N = 43) e Emberizidae (N = 36). Dentre as guildas, os insetivoros (N = 99) e onivoros (N = 59) englobaram a maioria das especies.

Monitoramento do maçarico-branco, Calidris alba (Pallas) (Aves, Scolopacidae), através de recuperações de anilhas coloridas, na Coroa do Avião, Igarassu, Pernambuco, Brasil

Programas de marcacao de especies migratorias vem sendo desenvolvidos desde a decada de 1980, dentre eles o PASP Pan-American Shorebirds Programs, o qual, consistia na marcacao de aves migratorias nearticas com aneis e bandeirolas coloridas possibilitando formacao de codigos individuais permitindo a observacao das aves marcadas sem que necessitasse capturar. Esta pesquisa objetivou a recuperacao de codigos do PASP de individuos de Calidris alba (Pallas 1764) entre os anos de 1993 a 1995 na Coroa do Aviao. Essas recuperacoes visuais demonstraram a fidelidade de Calidris alba ao seu sitio de invernada, a Coroa do Aviao. O alto percentual de recuperacoes de Calidris alba, bem como, as recuperacoes de individuos anilhados na Lagoa do Peixe e em algumas areas de invernada nos Estados Unidos, demonstram a utilizacao da rota do Atlântico e reforca a ideia de que bandos provenientes da costa leste do Alaska migram por esta rota. A idade maxima estimada para Calidris alba durante esta pesquisa foi de 11 anos, nada se tem sobre a idade desta especie em bibliografias especificas no estudo de Scolopacidae.

Comunidade de aves da Reserva Estadual de Gurjaú, Pernambuco, Brasil

A qualitative and quantitative bird surveys were carried out in a forest fragment in Gurjau Reserve, Santo Agostinho Cape, Pernambuco State, Brazil. By qualitative census were registered 220 different bird species. Concerning the point counts, were identified 175 different species in 6.470 contacts (270 samples). A frequency of occurrence of 75% was registered for 43 species (19,6%); the most part of species had a frequency of occurrence below 25%.

Local knowledge and exploitation of the avian fauna by a rural community in the semi-arid zone of northeastern Brazil

BackgroundThe present study examined the exploitation of bird species by the residents of a rural community in the Brazilian semi-arid zone, and their preferences for species with different characteristics.MethodsThe 24 informants were identified using the “snowball” approach, and were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and check-sheets for the collection of data on their relationship with the bird species that occur in the region. The characteristics that most attract the attention of the interviewees were the song and the coloration of the plumage of a bird, as well as its body size, which determines its potential as a game species, given that hunting is an important activity in the region.ResultsA total of 98 species representing 32 families (50.7% of the species known to occur in the region) were reported during interviews, being used for meat, pets, and medicinal purposes. Three species were used as zootherapeutics – White-naped Jay was eaten whole as a cure for speech problems, the feathers of Yellow-legged Tinamou were used for snakebite, Smooth-billed Ani was eaten for “chronic cough” and Small-billed Tinamou and Tataupa Tinamou used for locomotion problems. The preference of the informants for characteristics such as birdsong and colorful plumage was a significant determinant of their preference for the species exploited. Birds with cynegetic potential and high use values were also among the most preferred species. Despite the highly significant preferences for certain species, some birds, such as those of the families Trochilidae, Thamnophilidae, and Tyrannidae are hunted randomly, independently of their attributes.ConclusionThe evidence collected on the criteria applied by local specialists for the exploitation of the bird fauna permitted the identification of the species that suffer hunting pressure, providing guidelines for the development of conservation and management strategies that will guarantee the long-term survival of the populations of these bird species in the region.

Ethnozoology in Brazil: analysis of the methodological risks in published studies

There has been a growth in the field of Ethnozoology throughout the years, especially in Brazil, where a considerable number of scientific articles pertaining to this subject has been published in recent decades. With this increase in publications comes the opportunity to assess the quality of these publications, as there are no known studies assessing the methodological risks in this area. Based on this observation, our objectives were to compile the papers published on the subject of ethnozoology and to answer the following questions: 1) Do the Brazilian ethnozoological studies use sound sampling methods?; 2) Is the sampling quality influenced by characteristics of the studies/publications? The studies found in databases and using web search engines were compiled to answer these questions. The studies were assessed based on their nature, sampling methods, use of hypotheses and tests, journals impact factor, and animal group studied. The majority of the studies analyzed exhibited problems associated with the samples, as 144 (66.98%) studies were classified as having a high risk of bias. With regard to the characteristics analyzed, we determined that a quantitative nature and the use of tests are essential components of good sampling. Most studies classified as moderate and low risk either did not provide these data or provided data that were not clear; therefore, these studies were classified as being of a quali-quantitative nature. Studies performed with vertebrate groups were of high risk. Most of the papers analyzed here focused on fish, insects, and/or mollusks, thus highlighting the difficulties associated with conducting interviews regarding tetrapod vertebrates. Such difficulties are largely related to the extremely strict Brazilian laws, justified by the decline and extinction of some species, related to the use of wild tetrapod vertebrates.

Biologia de aves capturadas em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica, Igarassu, Pernambuco, Brasil

We carried out a study about the biology of the avifauna of Refugio Ecologico Charles Darwin, a 60 ha fragment of Atlantic Forest in the town of Igarassu, Pernambuco. To obtain information about species of this bioma, observations were done between August, 1996 and July, 1997 and monthly captures using mist nets were conducted between July, 2003 and June, 2004. Among observations, captures, recaptures and recovers, 151 species (31 families) were registered in the study area, and 456 birds (from 53 species and 25 families) were trapped in the nets. Ten species had been recovered (life span from six to eight years). The amount of captures was greater during months with higher temperatures. The majority of captured species (52,8%) had frequency of occurrence less than 25%; Manacus manacus (Linnaeus, 1766), Arremon taciturnus (Hermann, 1783), Neopelma pallescens (Lafresnaye, 1853), and Turdus leucomelas Vieillot, 1818 were the most frequent. We observed significant correlation between average body mass and sex; length of the wing and tarsus and diameter of tarsus with sex, and of molt with seasons. The main period with molt associated with the brood patches was from March to May (with a peak in May). The findings reinforce the unpredictability of the effects of alterations in the structure of bird community in long term. The population unbalance can increase the possibilities of extinction, highlighting the need of new alternatives for the protection of biodiversity, specially in forest fragments.

Do Farmers Using Conventional and Non-Conventional Systems of Agriculture Have Different Perceptions of the Diversity of Wild Birds? Implications for Conservation.

Farmers’ perceptions of birds’ interactions with agricultural production systems are fundamental to species conservation efforts. In the present study, we evaluated the perceptions of birds held by farmers who engage in conventional and non-conventional agricultural production processes and the implications of potential differences in these perceptions on species conservation. To accomplish this, data were collected using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and other complementary sources of information gathered from 191 farmers in northeastern Brazil. Although some similarities were identified among the farmers in their perceptions and local ecological knowledge (LEK) of birds, differences existed between the conventional and non-conventional farmers in their attitudes toward, conflicts with, and usage of bird species. Compared to the conventional farmers, the non-conventional farmers could identify more bird species, possessed more favorable attitudes toward birds, and engaged in practices more beneficial to the conservation of avifauna. The perceptions that were identified were related to the type of agriculture practiced, and such perceptions may affect the conservation of bird species. Therefore, the adoption of certain agricultural practices has important implications for conservation. Our results indicate the need for investment in public policies, programs and actions that account for farmers’ knowledge and perceptions. Such investments will contribute to the development and adoption of practices supporting wild bird conservation in agricultural areas.

Richness, composition and trophic groups of an avian community in the Pernambuco Endemism Centre, Alagoas, Brazil

In northeastern Brazil, the reduction of the natural forest cover to a series of small, isolated fragments has had negative consequences for the local avian fauna, in particular, a loss of the more specialized species, while the populations of some generalists have tended to increase. The present study focuses on the composition and trophic groups of a bird community on a farm in the northeastern Brazilian state of Alagoas. Monthly surveys were conducted between November 2008 and October 2009, based on mist-netting and systematic observations. Overall, 112 species were recorded, of which 76 were associated with the two forest fragments surveyed, while all the others were observed exclusively in the surrounding matrix of pasture and orchards. The bird community presented a predominance of insectivorous species, followed by omnivores. However, specialized trunk-creeping and understory insectivores accounted for only around 15% of the species in this feeding category. The reduced diversity of other guilds and species with more specialized diets, and the complete absence of sensitive species such as large parrots and raptors, reflects the severe fragmentation and degradation of the local forests, which has greatly reduced the availability of dietary resources and breeding sites.