Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas
Recent publications
In January 2021, a Federal Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) law was adopted in Brazil, underpinning the need for assessing existing PES schemes. The Cantareira System is one of the largest public water provision systems in the world and in recent years has been pestered by extended periods of drought. This can be partially attributed to the high incidence of degraded pastures and eucalyptus plantations. PES has been proposed as a way to collaborate with the owners of these areas, mostly small-scale farmers. Involving these actors in participatory processes in PES schemes could improve local ownership, resulting in a higher uptake rate and inducing more long-lasting land-use changes. A case study was carried out in Nazaré Paulista, using semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, and nonparticipant observation of agricultural extension and public participation spaces. It was observed that small-scale farmers tend to be absent from these spaces, and their genuine participation is hindered by unequal power dynamics. This research therefore recommends capacitating local agricultural extensionists to foster social mobilization and to ensure genuine public participation of small-scale farmers, which in turn can advance the sustainability of PES schemes in the Cantareira region.
Globally, illegal sport hunting can threaten prey populations when unregulated. Due to its covert nature, illegal sport hunting poses challenges for data collection, hindering efforts to understand the full extent of its impacts. We gathered social media data to analyze patterns of illegal sport hunting and wildlife depletion across Brazil. We collected data for 2 years (2018–2020) across 5 Facebook groups containing posts depicting pictures of illegal sport hunting events of native fauna. We described and mapped these hunting events by detailing the number of hunters involved, the number of species, the mean body mass of individuals, and the number and biomass of individuals hunted per unit area, stratified by Brazilian biome. We also examined the effects of defaunation on hunting yield and composition via regression models, rank–abundance curves, and spatial interpolation. We detected 2046 illegal sport hunting posts portraying the hunting of 4658 animals (∼29 t of undressed meat) across all 27 states and 6 natural biomes of Brazil. Of 157 native species targeted by hunters, 19 are currently threatened with extinction. We estimated that 1414 hunters extracted 3251 kg/million km². Some areas exhibited more pronounced wildlife depletion, in particular the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga biomes. In these areas, there was a shift from large mammals and reptiles to small birds as the main targeted taxa, and biomass extracted per hunting event and mean body mass across all taxonomic groups were lower than in other areas. Our results highlight that illegal sport hunting adds to the pressures of subsistence hunting and the wild meat trade on Brazil's wildlife populations. Enhanced surveillance efforts are needed to reduce illegal sport hunting levels and to develop well‐managed sustainable sport hunting programs. These can support wildlife conservation and offer incentives for local communities to oversee designated sport hunting areas.
As áreas de reserva legal (ARLs) são parte fundamental da estratégia brasileira de conservação, juntamente com as áreas de preservação permanente. As ARLs são destinadas à manutenção da biodiversidade e podem ser manejadas de forma sustentável. Quando essas áreas abrigam ecossistemas dependentes de fogo e pastejo, como os campos nativos e as savanas, devem ser adotadas práticas de manejo adequadas à sua conservação e ao enfrentamento dos efeitos das mudanças climáticas globais. No entanto, esse assunto ainda é pouco discutido no Brasil, e as políticas públicas não são claras a esse respeito. Este artigo de revisão descreve os ecossistemas campestres e savânicos no Brasil, os aspectos legais relacionados com o manejo das ARLs, os cenários climáticos atuais e futuros, e a relação entre clima e risco de incêndios. Também apresenta uma revisão sobre o uso do fogo e do pastejo em ecossistemas campestres e savânicos, os desafios legais relativos à sua aplicação nas ARLs e o uso de geotecnologias no monitoramento destas práticas. Conclui-se que o pastejo e o fogo, como instrumentos de manejo, são adequados às funções das ARLs, desde que praticados segundo normas legais e cientificamente embasadas para evitar os efeitos negativos do seu uso equivocado.
Abstract-Legal reserve areas (LRAs) are a fundamental part of the Brazilian conservation strategy, together with permanent preservation areas. The LRAs are intended to maintain biodiversity and can be managed sustainably. When these areas are home to ecosystems that depend on fire and grazing, such as native grasslands and savannas, management practices that are suitable for their conservation and for dealing with the effects of global climate change should be adopted. However, this subject is still poorly discussed in Brazil, and public policies are not clear on this matter. This review article describes the grassland and savanna ecosystems in Brazil, the legal aspects related to the management of LRAs, the current and future climate scenarios, and the relationship between climate and fire risk. It also presents a review about the use of fire and grazing in grassland and savanna ecosystems, the legal challenges related to their application in LRAs, and the use of geotechnologies to monitor these practices. The conclusion is that grazing and fire, as management tools, are adequate for LRA functions, as long as they are practiced in accordance with legal and scientifically based standards to avoid the negative effects of their incorrect use.
Defined as the killing of a newborn individual by a conspecific, infanticide by males is widespread in mammals. Results from this paper used genetic analysis to confirm and characterize the first report of non-parental infanticide in giant armadillos. Genetic evidence demonstrates that the killer male is unrelated to the killed infant but is the father of the next offspring. This evidence supports the sexual selection hypothesis, in which infanticide is used to obtain increased access to breeding females.
Borrelia theileri is a tick-borne spirochete causative agent of fever, apathy and reduced food consumption in cattle. Molecular diagnosis has expanded the understanding of Borrelia theileri with new hosts and geographical locations being described. The present study aimed to describe the first molecular detection of B. theileri in wild tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) from South America. Blood DNA samples obtained from 99 tapirs sampled in Pantanal (n = 61) and Cerrado (n = 38) biomes were screened using a qPCR assay based on the 16 S rRNA gene of Borrelia sp. Positive samples in the qPCR assay were subjected to PCR assays to allow characterization of fragments from 16 S rRNA and flaB genes. Two (2/99; 2.0%) animals from Pantanal biome were positive in the qPCR and one sample presented bands of expected size for the flaB protocol. Amplicons from this sample were successfully cloned and sequenced. In the phylogenetic analysis, Borrelia sp. from T. terrestris grouped together with B. theileri sequences previously detected in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks and cattle from Minas Gerais State in Brazil, Rhipicephalus geigyi from Mali, and R. microplus and Haemaphysalis sulcata from Pakistan. This finding contributes to our knowledge regarding susceptible hosts species for B. theileri. More studies are necessary to understand the potential effects of B. theileri on tapir’s health.
Unpredictable environmental dynamics may be the greatest challenge of our time 1,2 . However, sustainability initiatives are designed with the assumption that people’s access to natural resources is relatively predictable ³ . This assumption is based on the principle that to use resources sustainably users must have the ability to exclude free riders through clear boundaries4. A lack of boundaries is linked to open access and the tragedy of the commons5. However, clear and enforceable boundaries are not always possible, especially in areas with unpredictable natural resource dynamics 6,7 . How sustainability can be achieved in unpredictable systems is still poorly explored8. Here we show that many socio-ecological systems have developed customary systems to deal with unpredictability and achieve sustainability. We found that predictability levels below 50% lead socio-ecological systems to display broad reciprocal access across socially and spatially fuzzy boundaries and high levels of mobility. Our results demonstrate that functioning governance structures do not occur only when people have predictable access to resources and clear boundaries to resource extraction are imposed. We show that to deal with the increasing level of unpredictability around the world9, sustainability science and practice must recognise the possibility of governance structures based on mobility and information/resource sharing ⁶ .
Trophic ecology has major implications for understanding species’ natural history and functional role in ecosystems. This type of information is key to define resource requirements and constraints for conservation planning, especially for threatened specialist species. Here we describe the items that compose the diet of giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus) in the Brazilian wetlands, characterizing their functional role and evaluating if they are true myrmecophages. We sorted 113 fecal samples collected throughout 10 years of monitoring of 29 individuals to identify prey items to the finest possible taxonomic level. Then we estimated the Relative Frequency of Occurrence of each item. The sampling effort was shown to closely represent the expected local prey diversity. Giant armadillos preyed on a diverse array of invertebrates and plants: 23 morphotypes of Isoptera, 50 morphotypes of Hymenoptera, 14 types of seeds, one vertebrate (bone), unidentifiable fragments of Arthropoda, Scarabaeidae fragments, invertebrate eggs, and Acari. All individuals consumed termites (Cornitermes sp. and Nasutermitinae) and plant fragments. There was a high variation on the occurrence of ant morphotypes among samples, most being consumed by few individuals. The most consumed ants were Carebara coeca and Atta vollenweideri, considered crop pests, highlighting armadillo’s importance to society through pest control. Fruits were consumed opportunistically by multiple individuals, likely not incidentally as previously hypothesized, and the role of this large mammal as a seed disperser should be further explored. Although giant armadillo’s diet is more diverse than expected, the high prevalence of termites and ants confirms its myrmecophagous specialization, making them the largest Neotropical specialist insectivore.
Background Understanding how to connect habitat remnants to facilitate the movement of species is a critical task in an increasingly fragmented world impacted by human activities. The identification of dispersal routes and corridors through connectivity analysis requires measures of landscape resistance but there has been no consensus on how to calculate resistance from habitat characteristics, potentially leading to very different connectivity outcomes. Methods We propose a new model, called the Time-Explicit Habitat Selection (TEHS) model, that can be directly used for connectivity analysis. The TEHS model decomposes the movement process in a principled approach into a time and a selection component, providing complementary information regarding space use by separately assessing the drivers of time to traverse the landscape and the drivers of habitat selection. These models are illustrated using GPS-tracking data from giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. Results The time model revealed that the fastest movements tended to occur between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., suggesting a crepuscular/nocturnal behavior. Giant anteaters moved faster over wetlands while moving much slower over forests and savannas, in comparison to grasslands. We also found that wetlands were consistently avoided whereas forest and savannas tended to be selected. Importantly, this model revealed that selection for forest increased with temperature, suggesting that forests may act as important thermal shelters when temperatures are high. Finally, using the spatial absorbing Markov chain framework, we show that the TEHS model results can be used to simulate movement and connectivity within a fragmented landscape, revealing that giant anteaters will often not use the shortest-distance path to the destination patch due to avoidance of certain habitats. Conclusions The proposed approach can be used to characterize how landscape features are perceived by individuals through the decomposition of movement patterns into a time and a habitat selection component. Additionally, this framework can help bridge the gap between movement-based models and connectivity analysis, enabling the generation of time-explicit connectivity results.
The progressive fragmentation and loss of habitats represent the main threats for endangered species, causing genetic consequences that may have potential implications for a population’s long-term persistence. Large mammals are the most affected species among vertebrates. The giant armadillo Priodontes maximus is a large South American mammal threatened species, showing nocturnal, solitary and fossorial behavior, occurring at low population densities, and its population dynamics are still poorly known. In this study, we carried out the first assessment of genetic variability and population genetic structure of the species, using a panel of 15 polymorphic microsatellites developed by high-throughput genome sequencing. The spatial Bayesian clustering, Fst and Dest results indicated the presence of two genetic clusters (K = 2) in the study area. These results suggest a reduction in gene flow between individuals inhabiting the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) and the Pantanal wetlands, with the increased human-driven habitat modifications possibly contributing for this scenario. A bottleneck signal was detected in both populations, and a subpopulation structuring in the Cerrado may also be reflecting consequences of the extensive habitat modifications. Findings from this study provide important and useful information for the future maintenance of genetic diversity and long-term conservation of this flagship species.
Superstitious beliefs threaten wildlife species, yet they have received limited attention in the scientific literature. Through a mixed‐method approach, including 259 face‐to‐face interviews, we explored the factors influencing superstitions about giant anteaters in the Brazilian Pantanal and their implications for both people and the species. Our results indicated that bad omen superstitions about giant anteaters could be explained by the psychological discomfort felt from the species' peculiarities, social influence, misconceptions about their biology and behaviour, and the frequency of the species' sightings. Age, gender and schooling did not influence superstitious adherence. Interviewees holding superstitious beliefs of bad luck reported worry, distress and anxiety in trigger situations. Most engage in superstitious behaviours to ward off bad luck. While some acts were harmless, others threatened people and giant anteaters. By explaining misconceptions and demystifying unique species characteristics that evoke psychological discomfort, conservationists might foster better coexistence between people and species historically associated with misfortune. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Simple Summary Anteaters are insectivores, consuming diets consisting primarily of termites and ants in the wild; therefore, feeding them under human care has been a challenge and frequently leads to nutritional disorders. Through analysis of free-ranging giant anteaters’ stomach content, the findings of this study provide valuable information for optimizing anteater nutrition in zoological institutions and rehabilitation centers causing a significant impact on the welfare of the species. Abstract Using the stomach contents of 24 wild road-killed giant anteaters as proxies for their diet, we found that estimated wild diets were much lower in calcium (about ten times less) and phosphorus compared with manufactured feeds commonly fed to anteaters under human care. Indicators of soil consumption, such as ash, iron, and manganese were higher in the stomach contents than in either wild termites or manufactured diets, likely due to high levels of soil ingestion during feeding in the wild. Protein and fat levels in insects, stomach contents, and commercial diets all met carnivore recommendations. Both giant anteaters and tamanduas in managed care often develop hypercalcemia, perhaps because these taxa have an enhanced ability to retain calcium allowing them to survive on such low calcium diets. Results from this study indicate that, for anteaters in managed care, it is important to keep dietary calcium and vitamins D and K within recommended levels to prevent nutritional diseases such as hyper- and hypocalcemia and vitamin K deficiency.
Cattle ranching in the ~140,000 km ² Brazilian Pantanal is considered one of the most important cases of sustainable use of natural resources in the global south. The region has had a successful history of balancing environmental protection with the production of >3.8 million cattle. However, global change, infrastructure projects, and deforestation, threaten the sustainable use of the Pantanal. Here, using Ostrom's design principles as a framework, we interviewed 49 local stakeholders and conducted a review of secondary information aiming to evaluate the sustainability of cattle ranching practices across the region and the threats to it. We show that well‐defined property boundaries, congruence between appropriation and provision rules through low‐intensity cattle ranching, and co‐management of resources, are all key components for achieving sustainability in the Pantanal. However, we documented shortcomings in satisfying critical aspects of Orstrom's design principles. Specifically, we argue that the Pantanal needs better biodiversity and behavior monitoring, the creation of platforms or mechanisms to solve local conflicts around resource access and use, recognition by governments and international bodies of the local efforts to promote local sustainability, and the creation of networks effectively connecting existing sustainability initiatives.
The genus Bartonella (Hyphomicrobiales: Bartonellaceae) encompasses facultative intracellular -proteobacteria that parasite erythrocytes and endothelial cells from a wide range of vertebrate hosts and can cause disease in animals and humans. Considering the large diversity of vertebrate species that may act as reservoirs and arthropod species that may be associated with Bartonella transmission, the exposure of animals and humans to these microorganisms is likely underestimated. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Bartonella sp. in wild tapirs (Tapirus terrestris; Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) from two biomes in Brazil: Pantanal and Cerrado. Ninety-nine GPS-monitored wild tapirs were sampled in Pantanal (n=61/99) and Cerrado (n=38/99). A qPCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) assay targeting the nuoG gene was used for the screening for Bartonella spp. DNA. Positive samples were additionally subjected to conventional PCR assays targeting five molecular markers (ribC, gltA, rpoB, groEL, ITS). Eight (8/99; 08,08%) animals were positive in the qPCR assay for Bartonella spp.: 7 from Cerrado (7/8; 87.5%) and 1 from Pantanal (1/8; 12.5%). The 5 Bartonella ribC sequences obtained from tapirs’ blood samples grouped together with Bartonella henselae obtained from cats, humans, wild felids and Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) fleas. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first report of B. henselae in Tapirus terrestris. This finding contributes to the understanding of the occurrence of B. henselae in wild mammals from Brazil as well as expands the knowledge regarding the potential vector-borne pathogens that may affect wild tapis from Cerrado and Pantanal biomes.
Anthropogenic disturbances associated with land use and land cover changes negatively influence soil organic C, reducing ecosystem functionality. These adverse effects may be even more pronounced in Brazilian subtropical riparian zones due to recent changes in environmental legislation that reduced the size of these protected areas in small scale farms. This study evaluated how different land uses in riparian zones influence ecosystem services related to soil, litter, and roots C and N stocks. The field experiment was carried out in a drainage area with four land uses and cover: forest fragment (FF), plantation forest (PF), pasture (PA), and agriculture (AG). Soil, root, and litter C and N stocks were analyzed. Monocultures (PF, PA, and AG) had lower soil C and N stocks than FF. The FF and PF did not differ in litter and root C content, but FF had higher N values. Differences in the quality of plant residues were associated with a lower soil C: N ratio in FF. The lowest soil C and N stocks were observed in AG sites, and the conversion from AG to PF and PA seems to increase soil C and N stocks. Our findings indicate that, even in small forest patches, the higher quality of organic residues drives soil C and N storage, highlighting the negative effects of vegetation replacement to monocultures in riparian zones. Hence, the maintenance of riparian forests is essential for providing ecosystem services related to soil C and N cycling.
Interspecific interactions are a major determinant of stability in ecological communities and are known to vary with biotic and abiotic conditions. Deforestation is the primary driver of the ongoing sixth mass extinction, yet its effect on species interactions remains largely unexplored. We investigate how deforestation affects species interactions using a complex systems model and a co‐occurrence dataset of 363 bird species, observed across 134 sites, from 5 regions across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest totalling 27,226 interactions. Both theoretical and empirical results show that interspecific interactions vary non‐monotonically with forest cover and are more positive than average in areas with higher forest cover, and to a lesser extent in highly deforested areas. Observed differences in interactions reflect both species turnover and changes in pairwise interactions. Our results point to changes in stability across the gradient of deforestation that may lead to varying community resilience to environmental perturbations. Key Interdisciplinary Aspects Species interactions are expected to vary due to the biological, chemical and physical changes caused by deforestation on their local environment. We use a mathematical complex systems approach, as well as ecological data, to show that species interactions are more positive in highly forested areas. We propose that the alteration of species interactions caused by deforestation will affect the stability of communities and their resilience to future perturbations (e.g. climate change).
Wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs) are a critical threat to biodiversity and human safety. To implement WVC mitigation measures where most needed, we need to link models predicting the probability of the presence of species, at large spatial scales, with the likelihood of occurring collisions along roads. Here, we propose a framework for the prioritization of road sections for implementing mitigation measures using ecologically based information. Within this framework, we first model the likelihood of WVC occurrence for focal species in road vicinity areas. We then use spatial prioritization tools to select road sections that entail a higher probability of WVC across the focal species using user‐defined criteria for weighting species records. We applied this framework to Mato Grosso do Sul state (Brazil), using systematic information on WVC collected over 3 years along ca. 2000 km of roads. We focused on the WVC involving three large mammals commonly road‐killed therein, which represent a threat to humans when involved in WVC: the lowland tapir Tapirus terrestris, giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla and capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. We were able to identify road sections (<10% of the road network) that should be prioritized for implementing mitigation actions, which could significantly reduce the number of WVCs. However, the large extent of the road network classified as a priority for mitigation suggests the need to engage the public and private sectors in the early stages of the decision‐making process, in order to reach a consensus on the prioritization. Our framework may improve the environmental licensing process, namely by guiding where mitigation measures should be implemented first. Wildlife‐vehicle collision models (applied to tapirs, giant anteaters, and capybaras) in a human safety priority map.
A nuclear leakage or tactical nuclear weapon use in a limited war could cause immense and long-lasting ecological consequences beyond the direct site of exposure. We call upon all scientists to communicate the importance of the environmental impacts of such an event to all life forms on Earth, including humankind. Changes to ecosystem structure and functioning and species extinctions would alter the biosphere for an unknown time frame. Radiation could trigger cascade effects in marine, atmospheric and terrestrial ecosystems of a magnitude far beyond human capabilities for mitigation or adaptation. Even a “tactical nuclear war” could alter planet Earth’s living boundaries, ending the current Anthropocene era.
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35 members
Claudio Padua
  • ESCAS Escola Superior de Conservação Ambiental e Sustentabilidade
Alexandre Uezu
  • Biologia da Conservação
Suzana Padua
  • General - President
Gabriela Cabral Rezende
  • Black Lion Tamarin Conservation Program
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São Paulo, Brazil