Severino Mendes de Azevedo-Júnior

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.

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%.

Surveillance of Avian Influenza Virus in Aquatic Birds on the Brazilian Amazon Coast

The occurrence of avian influenza viruses (AIV) has been extensively studied in aquatic birds in the Northern hemisphere; however, much less information is available for the South American region. In 2009–2010, we sampled 1006 wild aquatic birds (90% Charadriiformes, 9% Anseriformes, and 1% other groups) at three locations on the Brazilian Amazon coast, a region that serves as a major stop-over and wintering site along the Atlantic Americas flyway. Real-time RT-PCR identified five samples as positive; however, no AIV isolates could be obtained and Illumina sequencing did not produce gene sequences that would allow further characterization of the virus.

Temporal variations of body mass and plumage in Arenaria interpres (Aves: Scolopacidae) along the Brazilian coast

Every year, Brazil receives large flocks of nearly 40 migratory shorebirds species. The accumulation of body fat and nutrients during the summer is necessary for the long return flights of these birds and is fundamental for feather moulting and the change of their plumage. We present here an examination of the relationship between body mass and plumage change in Arenaria interpres (Linnaeus, 1758), one of those birds, over time during its wintering period on the Brazilian coast. We analyzed information collected at five traditional stopover sites along the Brazilian coast, between 1997 and 2007. During the month of September, individuals with intermediate or breeding plumage had smaller body masses as compared to other months. From October to December, adult individuals were only observed with eclipse plumage and had average body masses of approximately 100 g. In March, individuals with intermediate, eclipse and breeding plumages were recorded, but their average body mass remained at approximately 100 g. In April and May the numbers of individuals with breeding or intermediate plumage increased, and they showed significant increases in body mass at a rate of approximately 1.5 and 2.3 g per day, in the north-northeastern and south coast, respectively, leading to an average mass of 124 and 143g in these months. That is suggested to be the departure mass of A. interpres in the Brazilian north-northeastern and south coast, respectively, when starting the migration to the breeding sites.