Sandra Bos Mikich

Diversidade de morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) em remanescentes florestais do município de Fênix, noroeste do Paraná, Brasil

The richness and the relative abundance of bats were evaluated in three Semideciduous Seasonal Forest fragments located in the municipal district of Fenix, northwest of the State of Parana, southern Brazil. Between July 2002 and June 2003 bats were sampled with mist-nets set in four 1 ha plots representing different degrees of isolation of riparian and lowland forest. A total of 752 individuals of 14 species of Phyllostomidae (n = 10) and Vespertilionidae (n = 4), were captured. Considering the limitations of mist-net sampling, the study area was satisfactorily inventoried based on the ICE estimator. Nevertheless, if compared with similar studies conducted in other Semideciduous Seasonal Forest remnants, the obtained richness is less expressive, suggesting that local extinctions have taken place. Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) and Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) were dominant in the three studied forest fragments, followed by other three frugivores: A. fimbriatus Gray, 1838, A. jamaicensis Leach, 1821 and Sturnira lilium (E. Geoffroy, 1810). The Shannons index showed subtle differences among the four studied plots and the Sorensens index presented high similarities among most of them. However, the grouping analysis revealed higher similarities only between plots representing the same type of vegetation and exhibited two separate groups, one represented by riparian forests and the other by lowland forests, which could be related to particularities in habitat use by bat species. This study also indicated that the forest remnants sampled, in spite of being small, shelter a significant number of bat species and, for that reason, are important for biological conservation.

Movements of bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) in Atlantic Forest remnants in southern Brazil

We used mark and recapture techniques to evaluate movements of bats within and between three brazilian forest remnants. We captured bats with mist-nets in four 1 ha plots representing different degrees of isolation of riparian (two plots) and submontane (two plots) forests between July 2002 and June 2003. Using numbered aluminium tags, we marked 635 bats of seven species and 54 individuals of six species were recaptured. Overall, we recaptured Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) (short-tailed fruit bat) most frequently, especially in plots where they were banded in the riparian forest plots. These results suggest that this bat has restricted feeding areas, which are probably determined by the abundance of Piper Linnaeus (Piperaceae), its preferred food item. In contrast, species of the genus Artibeus Leach, 1821 exhibited few recaptures, suggesting high mobility and larger feeding areas. In fact Artibeus seems to use more of the forest remnants in their search for food, especially Ficus Linnaeus (Moraceae), the preferred food of this bat. Our results suggest that even small forest isolates are valuable for the maintenance of some bat species because they offer many of the resources they need or because they are spatially distributed in a pattern that allows use of the entire landscape.

Attraction of the Fruit-Eating Bat Carollia perspicillata to Piper gaudichaudianum Essential Oil

We performed field tests using mimetic Piper fruits with and without essential oil extracted through hydrodistillation from Piper gaudichaudianum ripe fruits in order to evaluate the role of odor in Carollia perspicillata attraction and capture in mist-nets. During the field tests, 26 C. perspicillata were captured, 21 (80.7%) in nets with the essential oil of P. gaudichaudianum and five (19.3%) in nets without oil. Other bat species, Artibeus spp. (67), which is specialized on fruits of Moraceae, and Sturnira lilium (10), specialized on those of Solanaceae, were also captured, but they exhibited no significant preference for nets with or without oil. We conclude that odor is pre-eminent over visual cues in food location by C. perspicillata in a field situation. Based on the result, we propose the extraction and use of essential oils of chiropterochoric fruits as a useful approach to improve autoecological studies on fruit-eating bats and to promote tropical forest restoration through the attraction of frugivorous bats to degraded areas.

Mamíferos do município de Fênix, Paraná, Brasil: etnozoologia e conservação

Based on an ethnozoological approach we obtained historical and present information on the mammalian fauna of the municipality of Fenix, located in the mid-western Parana state, Southern Brazil. To do so, in 2004 we interviewed 19 local residents. The interview consisted of an informal talk based on a questionary followed by the presentation of photographs of potential mammalian species of the study region. As a result, we recorded 39 species, of which at least six are new records for the study area. Hunting revealed to be not only common in the past, but also still practiced nowadays, even inside nature preserves, like the Parque Estadual Vila Rica do Espirito Santo. The species more appreciated by the hunters are the same cited for other neotropical regions. At present, however, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766) (Hydrochaeridae) is the species more frequently sought since it is still common in several natural areas of the region, including those that have been largely modified by man. With regard to mammalian predation upon domestic animals, almost 80% of the interviewees declared that they had lost some breed, especially chicken, as the result of the attack of medium-sized carnivores. Data on temporal modifications of the mammalian species composition were also obtained with the interviews, as the local extinctions of some large mammals ( Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758) (Felidae), Tapirus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Tapiridae) and Tayassu pecari (Link, 1795) (Tayassuidae)) or the population increases of Cebus nigritus (Goldfuss, 1809) (Cebidae) and Nasua nasua (Linnaeus 1766) (Procyonidae) , which are supposedly related to the consumption of corn and other plantations.

A dieta dos morcegos frugívoros (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) de um pequeno remanescente de Floresta Estacionai Semidecidual do sul do Brasil

The diet of some leaf-nosed frugivorous bats - Artibeus Leach, 1821, Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) and Sturnira lilium (e. Geoffroy, 1810) - was studied for nine consecutive months through faecal analysis of individuais captured with mist-nets in a small forest remnant of Parana state, Brazil. The analysis revealed that Artibeus spp. exhibited preference for fruits of Ficus spp. and Carollia perspicillata for those of Piper spp., which is in accordance with the results of previous studies. But contrary to what was expected, fruit of Solanum spp. were not found for the diet of Sturnira lilium in spite of their high availabilily (16 species) in the study area and their known relationship with this bat genus. The species of consumed fruit belonged to several plant life forms (trees, bushes, and lianas) and occurred in several habitais. This result emphasizes the importance of keeping habitat diversity, especially in small isolated reserves. Most consumed fruits were green, in agreement with the chiropterochoric syndrome, but ali seeds were small due to limitations of the sampling method. Fruit species abundance in the study area did not seem to have influenced their consumption, but intra-specific fruit availability did so, since most fruits were consumed within their intra-annual peak of availability.

Fenologia reprodutiva de espécies vegetais da Floresta Ombrófila Mista do Paraná, Brasil

The Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (FOM) or Araucaria Forest, vegetation that occupies regions with a highly seasonal climate subject to frost, used to cover 40% of Parana State. Nowadays, however, there is less than 1% of advanced and well conserved FOM covering this State. This study presents the reproductive phenological patterns (flowering and fruiting) of the plant species found in FOM fragments located in three municipalities of Parana State in order to subside restoration activities. Monthly phenological observations in 543 individuals of 145 species, representing several life forms (71 trees, 52 bushes, 18 vines and four epiphytes) were conducted between January 2004 and December 2005 employing the activity index. Flowering was recorded mainly between September and December, with a peak in October and November (68 species), followed by fruiting, which was concentrated between December and April, peaking in February (61 species). During the coldest months (June to August), the number of species with flowers or fruits was very low, with less than five species per phenophase. The availability of araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze) seeds varied between the years, but usually occurred between April and September. Significant correlations between phenophases and some abiotic factors, especially day length and temperature, were found. Therefore, plant species of the FOM proved to be highly seasonal, with periods of high and low flowering and fruiting activity, as consequence of the climatic seasonality, characteristic of the study region.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Ripe and Unripe Fruits of Piper amalago L. var. medium (Jacq.) Yunck and Piper hispidum Sw.

Abstract The chemical composition of essential oils from unripe and ripe fruits of Piper amalago L. var. medium (Jacq.) Yunck and Piper hispidum Sw. was examined using GC/MS analysis. The analysis of oils from P. amalago revealed a predominance of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and 65 compounds were identified; their main constituents are: (E)- nerolidol (14.2% and 19.9%), germacrene-D-4-ol (10.3% and 12.7%), α-cadinol (11.1% and 8.2%) in 99.6% and 98.7% of the compounds for unripe and ripe fruits, respectively. Piper hispidum revealed a predominance of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, from which we identified 53 compounds including: α-copaene (28.7% and 36.2%), α-pinene (13.9% and 7.1%), α-pinene (13.3% and 7.5%), and (E)-nerolidol (2.9% and 7.0%) which represented 97.8% and 98.1% of the compound constituents for unripe and ripe fruits, respectively. The essential oils of fruits of P. amalago and P. hispidum are reported for the first time.

Levantamento florístico e síndromes de dispersão em remanescentes de Floresta Ombrófila Mista na região centro-sul do estado do Paraná

Floristic survey and dispersal syndromes in Araucaria Forest remnants of Parana state, Brazil). This study presents a list of plants found in three areas of Araucaria Forest along with their dispersal syndromes. We sampled monthly (August 2003 to December 2005) fi ve transects with 5 km each, collecting samples of fl owering and fruiting plants. We identifi ed 210 species, including 83 trees, 58 shrubs, 36 herbs, 23 vines, eight epiphytes and two parasites. Most species were zoochorous (68.6%), followed by anemochorous (21.9%) and autochorous (6.7%) ones. Comparisons with other fl orist surveys previously conducted in this forest type suggested that our study areas are poor, both when all species are taken into account or when just trees are. The results are discussed based on the history of degradation of the study region and on the abundance of bamboos in the understory. RESUMO - (Levantamento fl oristico e sindromes de dispersao em remanescentes de Floresta Ombrofi la Mista na regiao centro-sul do estado do Parana). O presente estudo apresenta a listagem das especies vegetais de tres areas de Floresta com Araucaria e as suas respectivas sindromes de dispersao. Foram percorridos mensalmente (agosto/2003 a dezembro/2005) cinco transectos com 5 km cada, ao longo dos quais foi coletado material fertil, resultando na identifi cacao de 210 especies: 83 arvores, 58 arbustos, 36 ervas, 23 trepadeiras, oito epifi tas e duas parasitas. A maioria (68,6%) das especies possui dispersao zoocorica, seguidas pelas especies anemocoricas (21,9%) e autocoricas (6,7%). Comparacoes fl oristicas com areas recobertas pela mesma formacao fl orestal sugerem que os remanescentes estudados apresentam baixa riqueza especifi ca, tanto quando a comparacao e realizada considerando todas as formas de vida como quando apenas as especies arboreas sao consideradas. Os resultados sao discutidos a luz do historico de exploracao da regiao de estudo e da abundância de taquaras no sub-bosque. Palavras-chave: conservacao, diversidade fl oristica, fi togeografi a, Floresta com Araucaria

Olfaction in the fruit-eating bats Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata: an experimental analysis

Studies suggest that frugivorous bats search and select fruit mainly by olfaction so that they can be attracted by smell alone. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in captivity, the behavioural response (number of foraging attempts) of Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata offered essential oils extracted from ripe fruit of Ficus insipida (Moraceae) and Piper hispidum (Piperaceae) as well as intact fruit wrapped in gauze to attract bats with reduced visual stimuli. Based on previous reports, we hypothesized that A.lituratus would exhibit preference for Ficus fruits/oil while C. perspicillata would prefer Piper fruit/oil. Four arrangements of these attractants were tested in triplicate: P. hispidum fruit vs. F. insipida fruit, P.hispidum oil vs. F. insipida oil, P. hispidum oil vs. F. insipida fruit and P. hispidum fruit vs. F. insipida oil. As expected, in all tests, A. lituratus showed the highest number of foraging attempts in F. insipida while C. perspicillata in those of P. hispidum. Based on the number of foraging attempts both species exhibited a positive response to their favorite fruit genera, though the differences were not always statistically significant. The results confirm the importance of smell in fruit choice by these species.

Caavuranamide, a novel steroidal alkaloid from the ripe fruits of Solanum caavurana Vell. (Solanaceae)

A investigacao fitoquimica dos frutos maduros de Solanum caavurana Vell. (Solanaceae) forneceu um novo alcaloide esteroidal do tipo espirosolano, caavuranamida, juntamente com os alcaloides 4-tomatiden-3-ona e 5α-tomatidan-3-ona. Suas estruturas foram elucidadas atraves de metodos espectroscopicos. As atividades antiproliferativa e antimicrobiana para o extrato etanolico e subfracoes provenientes de particao e de extracao acido-base foram investigadas. A caavuranamida apresentou atividade antibacteriana similar ao controle positivo cloranfenicol contra Rhodococcus equi. Phytochemical investigation of the ripe fruits of Solanum caavurana Vell. (Solanaceae) afforded a novel steroidal alkaloid with spirosolane-type skeleton, named as caavuranamide, together with the alkaloids 4-tomatiden-3-one and 5α-tomatidan-3-one. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities for the ethanolic extract, sub-fractions obtained from partition and acid-base treatment were also evaluated. Caavuranamide showed antibacterial activity similar to the chloramphenicol positive control against Rhodococcus equi.