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Biological Diversification in the Tropics
... No Brasil, os estudos taxonômicos sobre Chrysobalanaceae concentram-se na região Rodriguésia 70: e03172018. 2020 Amazônica, centro de diversidade da família (e.g., Prance 1967Prance , 1988Prance , 2007Sothers & Prance 2018). Em especial nesta região, a família têm importante valor ecológico e social, pelos frutos serem apreciados pela fauna e comunidades locais, como os de Couepia bracteosa Benth. ...
... A madeira das espécies de Licania são ainda empregadas na construção civil e produção de cerâmicas (Ribeiro et al. 1999). Em outras regiões do país, foi estudada em Goiás (Prance 1988), em Minas Gerais (Assis 2003;El'Ottra et al. 2008;Hemsing & Romero 2010) e São Paulo (Prance 2003). ...
... A madeira das espécies de Licania são ainda empregadas na construção civil e produção de cerâmicas (Ribeiro et al. 1999). Em outras regiões do país, foi estudada em Goiás (Prance 1988), em Minas Gerais (Assis 2003;El'Ottra et al. 2008;Hemsing & Romero 2010) e São Paulo (Prance 2003). ...
This study provides descriptions, identification keys, distribution maps, illustrations, and comments about the Chrysobalanaceae species occurring in the East part of the Brazilian Northeastern, which includes the states of Alagoas, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte. Twenty-six species in eight genera were found: Hirtella (eight spp.), Couepia (six spp.), Leptobalanus and Parinari (both with three spp.), Licania and Moquilea (both with two species), and Chrysobalanus and Microdesmia (both with one specie). Hirtella sprucei and Moquilea silvatica are new records for the area and although most species are widely distributed, Couepia impressa, C. pernambucensis, C. rufa, Parinari littoralis, Hirtella sprucei, H. insignis and H. santosii are restricted to the Atlantic Forest, the latter two being considered as Endangered.
... Our fourth, and final, approach dates the splits within Boidae through the aid of fossil evidence only. Despite the limitations of dating from paleontological information alone, especially given the poor fossil record from Central-South America [5,[85][86][87], this approach serves to test the impact of deep-time paleogeographic patterns on the resulting Boidae timeline. Therefore, it provides an alternative perspective to the other approaches used in this study. ...
... While the problem of the underestimation of divergence dates due to fossil calibration featuring hard maxima may be a common issue in molecular clocks, this might be particularly impactful for regions with notoriously poor fossil records, like South America. During much of the Cenozoic large extensions of the Amazon basin were flooded forest and flooded habitats covered by black water systems with a very low pH [5,85,86]. This low pH would have dissolved the calcium phosphate from the bones in a short time, making fossilization substantially less likely than it normally is. ...
Anacondas, genus Eunectes, are a group of aquatic snakes with a wide distribution in South America. The taxonomic status of several species has been uncertain and/or controversial. Using genetic data from four recognized anaconda species across nine countries, this study investigates the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Eunectes. A key finding was the identification of two distinct clades within Eunectes murinus, revealing two species as cryptic yet genetically deeply divergent. This has led to the recognition of the Northern Green Anaconda as a separate species (Eunectes akayima sp. nov), distinct from its southern counterpart (E. murinus), the Southern Green Anaconda. Additionally, our data challenge the current understanding of Yellow Anaconda species by proposing the unification of Eunectes deschauenseei and Eunectes beniensis into a single species with Eunectes notaeus. This reclassification is based on comprehensive genetic and phylogeographic analyses, suggesting closer relationships than previously recognized and the realization that our understanding of their geographic ranges is insufficient to justify its use as a separation criterion. We also present a phylogeographic hypothesis that traces the Miocene diversification of anacondas in western South America. Beyond its academic significance, this study has vital implications for the conservation of these iconic reptile species, highlighting our lack of knowledge about the diversity of the South American fauna and the need for revised strategies to conserve the newly identified and reclassified species.
... They also agree, on the basis of solid evidence, that the 'epicentre' of global biodiversity occurs in the tropical Andes, a region of the upper Amazonia which includes the North of Peru, Ecuador and the southern half of Colombia. This suggestion seems to be valid for plants, vertebrates and butterflies (Prance, 1982b;Gentry, 1988Gentry, , 1992. The Andean and Cisandean regions appear also as one of the world's greatest sites of alpha-diversity for scorpions (Lourenço, 1994b). ...
... These 'mesas' are the remains of a huge sandstone plateau that once covered the granite basement complex between what is today the northern border of the Amazon Basin and the Orinoco, between the Atlantic coast and the Rio Negro (Lourenço & Duhem, 2009). Ecological, paleoclimatic and palynologic data (Prance, 1982b) suggests that the apparent 'stability' of present day rainforests was interrupted by periods of climatic change through several dry/wet/dry episodes during the late Cenozoic period and especially during more recent Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. During the earlier Quaternary period, temperate regions were glaciated. ...
... Entre estas: La hipotesis de museo (museum hypothesis) mediante una diferenciación alopátrica en ríos de tierras altas estables y la acumulación posterior en los ríos de planicies; la hipotesis paleográfica la cual establece una diferenciación alopátrica a través de los paleoarcos promovida por la dinámica del frente terrestre de Los Andes; la hipótesis riverina (river hypothesis) en la cual sucede una fragmentación de biotas posterior al establecimiento final del canal principal de los grandes ríos suramericanos; y la hipótesis hidrogeológica (hydrogeological hypothesis) que apoya que existe un dispersión posterior a la especiación alopátrica como resultado de la multiple captura de cabeceras de ríos o conexiones temporales entre estas cuencas (Endler, 1982;Huber y Renno, 2006;Horn et al., 1995. Lundberg et al., 1998Prance, 1982) entre muchos otros. ...
... Fragmentación de la biota terrestre después del establecimiento final del drenaje amazónico durante el Terciario tardío: Wallace, 1852;Patton et al., 1994;Bates et al., 1998;Hall y Harvey, 2002; 4. Hipótesis de perturbación-vicariante. Refrigeración climática (Glaciación) resultó en un hábitat ecológicamente inadecuado: (extin ción de grupos): Colinvaux, 1987Colinvaux, , 1993Colinvaux et al., 1996; 5. Hipótesis del refugio forestal. Fluctuaciones climatológicas del Pleistoceno condujeron a fragmentaciones alternativas del ecosistema forestal : Haffer, 1969: Haffer, , 1997Prance, 1982;Whitemore y Prance, 1987; 6. Hipótesis del refugio fluvial. Refugios mejoraron la diferencia iniciación alopátrica entre los ríos: Ayres y CluttonBrock, 1992; Haffer, 1997; y 7. Hipótesis del museo. ...
Este libro recopila y aporta nueva información acerca de las condiciones sobre la historia natural de algunas especies de peces que son comunes de la región de los llanos. También se discuten varias hipótesis del efecto de factores abióticos y bióticos sobre el origen y diversidad de especies en el Llano de Venezuela. Se plantean, por
otro lado, diversas problemáticas acerca del potencial pesquero y pesquerías en estas áreas, posibilidades del desarrollo piscícola y de conservación de la fauna silvestre; líneas de investigación y planes a desarrollar que permitirán obtener información básica y aplicada para la utilización y éxito de programas de manejo adecuado de los recursos naturales y pesqueros.
... Within the Atlantic Forest, the Pernambuco Center of Endemism is located north of the São Fransico river in the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte (Silva et al., 2004;Fig. 1), and it is recognized as an important area of endemism for plants (Prance, 1982), butterflies (Brown, 1979;Tyler et al., 1994), and birds (Silva et al., 2004;Tabarelli et al., 2010). Biogeographic relationships between the PCE, the rest of the Atlantic Forest (hereafter southern-central Atlantic Forest or SCAF), and Amazonia (AM) have hardly been addressed in recent studies and unraveling the evolutionary mechanisms that account for the origin of the PCE's unique biological diversity is especially relevant to understand the origins and evolution of this biota. ...
... The biota of the PCE is sometimes associated with higher elevation "islands" of humid forests in the Caatinga, known as brejos de altitude (Brown, 1982;Prance, 1982;Silveira et al., 2003;Tabarelli et al., 2006) and we follow Silveira et al. (2003) in including the brejos de altitude located in the states of Pernambuco and Paraiba, but not those in Ceará, as part of the PCE. In addition to having a unique biota, the PCE is considered the most threatened area of the AF, and it has been regarded as the most endangered region of the Americas (Pereira et al., 2014;Silva et al., 2004;Silveira et al., 2003;Tabarelli et al., 2010Tabarelli et al., , 2006. ...
The Pernambuco Center of Endemism (PCE) is the northernmost strip of the Atlantic Forest (AF). The biogeographic affinities among avifaunas in the PCE, the southern-central Atlantic Forest (SCAF), and Amazonia (AM) have not been studied comprehensively, and current patterns of genetic diversity in the PCE remain unclear. The interplay between species’ ecological attributes and historical processes, such as Pleistocene climate fluctuations or the appearance of rivers, may have affected population genetic structures in the PCE. Moreover, the role of past connections between the PCE and AM and the elevational distribution of species in assembling the PCE avifauna remain untested. Here, we investigated the biogeographic history of seven taxa endemic to the PCE within a comparative phylogeographic framework based on 3,618 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) extracted from flanking regions of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and one mitochondrial gene. We found that PCE populations were more closely related to SCAF populations than they were to those in AM, regardless of their elevational range, with divergence times placed during the Mid-Pleistocene. These splits were consistent with a pattern of allopatric divergence with gene flow until the upper Pleistocene and no signal of rapid changes in population sizes. Our results support the existence of a Pleistocene refugium driving current genetic diversity in the PCE, thereby rejecting the role of the São Francisco River as a primary barrier for population divergence. Additionally, we found that connections with Amazonia also played a significant role in assembling the PCE avifauna through subsequent migration events.
... Similar results were obtained by Vanzolini & Williams (1970) for lizards. Later, Prance (1982), Whitmore & Prance (1987) and Haffer & Prance (2001) summarized the occurrence of similar situations in other organisms and identified the purported lowland refugia based on present rainfall patterns and current species distribution. ...
... For years the Refugia Hypothesis was viewed as the sole explanation for tropical high diversity. It postulates that during Pleistocene glaciations rainforest contracted to isolated patches surrounded by savannah (Haffer, 1969;Prance, 1982). ...
Understanding the origin of South America’s diversity is of great importance especially considering our current extinction crisis in the face of climate change. While great debate exists about the sources of Amazonian diversity, there is no consensus about an overarching process that explains the Amazon’s uniquely high diversity. In this contribution, I present the following model considering the impact of tectonics on the hydrology of the continent. When the Andes rose, it dammed the paleo-Amazon, which ran west at the time. This produced generalized flooding with a mosaic of forest in the more elevated areas surrounded by flooded habitats. Because of the flat relief of the Amazon basin, small changes in water level produced forest expansion and contraction, resulting in speciation pulses. Using data from the literature on species distribution, as well as the age of new lineages from molecular studies, I show that the space and timing of speciation process in the South America was consistent with the predictions of this model. This model also posits that there were no marine incursions on the continent. Rather, marine conditions developed in situ, might be a better explanation for the marine conditions found in paleo-history of the region. This model provides a theoretical framework for evolutionary processes in South America that explains its uniquely high diversity.
... Divergence in aquatic organisms is also shaped by historical processes (Hubert and Renno 2006) including climatic oscillations, mainly during the Pleistocene (e.g. Haffer 1997;Prance 1982;Whitemore and Prance 1987); the presence of barriers to gene flow such as the formation of the Andes and the Panama Isthmus (e.g. Hoorn et al. 1995;Patton and Da Silva 1998;Laurito and Valerio 2012); and the formation of watersheds, mainly during the Mio-Pliocene and Pleistocene (e.g. ...
two South American subspecies. Such genetic differentiation corresponds to the hydrography and to the geographical barriers characteristic of the distributional area of the species. We found a correlation between the shape of the skull and mandible with the environmental variation through the distribution of the species, and we rejected the hypothesis of niche equivalency and similarity between the three identified genetic lineages, suggesting adaptations to different environmental conditions. Our results support that the variation in environmental conditions, in concert with geographical barriers to gene flow and hydrography, have led to population divergence of L. longicaudis along the Neotropics. These results have important taxonomic implications for the species and its conservation.
... Two Wisconsinan soil deposits containing land snails have been collected from solution holes in a recently blasted cliff face in the Pleistocene terrace at this site (Goodfriend, 1983b Bonatti & Gartner (1973) as evidence that conditions on Caribbean islands were drier during Pleistocene glacial periods than during interglacials (including the present interglacial). Drier conditions were also present in lowland areas of the neotropical mainland during glacials, as evidenced by lower lake levels (Bradbury et al. , 1981;Deevey et al. , in press), pollen analyses (van der Hammen, 1974;Bradbury et al., 1981;Vaughn et al. , in press), and geomorphological and biogeographical analyses (Colinvaux, 1979;Prance, 1982). have been made since densities cannot be assumed to be independent among quadrats. ...
... Dentro desse contexto de alta diversidade estão os grandes rios da bacia Amazônica, que atuam delimitando a distribuição de muitas espécies, cujos efeitos resultam em uma congruência espacial na distribuição de vários grupos animais e vegetais (Cracraft, 1985;Wallace, 1852). Essa congruência representa a base para a definição e delimitação das áreas de endemismo, cuja generalidade é confirmada por estudos com diversos grupos, como plantas, borboletas, anfíbios, lagartos, aves e primatas (Ávila- Pires, 1995;Brown, 1982;Cracraft, 1985;Prance, 1982;Ron, 2000). Atualmente até nove nove Centros de Endemismo delimitadas pelos grandes rios são reconhecidas para aves na Amazônia, representando grandes interflúvios (Borges, 2007;Cracraft, 1985;Silva, Novaes, & Oren, 2002;Silva, Rylands, & da Fonseca, 2005). ...
... Dentro desse contexto de alta diversidade estão os grandes rios da bacia Amazônica, que atuam delimitando a distribuição de muitas espécies, cujos efeitos resultam em uma congruência espacial na distribuição de vários grupos animais e vegetais (Cracraft, 1985;Wallace, 1852). Essa congruência representa a base para a definição e delimitação das áreas de endemismo, cuja generalidade é confirmada por estudos com diversos grupos, como plantas, borboletas, anfíbios, lagartos, aves e primatas (Ávila- Pires, 1995;Brown, 1982;Cracraft, 1985;Prance, 1982;Ron, 2000). Atualmente até nove nove Centros de Endemismo delimitadas pelos grandes rios são reconhecidas para aves na Amazônia, representando grandes interflúvios (Borges, 2007;Cracraft, 1985;Silva, Novaes, & Oren, 2002;Silva, Rylands, & da Fonseca, 2005). ...
... Los reportes para A. discolor por Secco (2004) y Murillo (2004) corresponden a las regiones de la Amazonía, la Orinoquía y la región Caribe. Con este trabajo se incluyen nuevos registros para esta especie en el Bajo Cauca y el valle del Magdalena Medio; esta última región comparte elementos bióticos con la Amazonía, lo que podría explicarse con la hipótesis de los refugios del pleistoceno creados por la fragmentación de masas boscosas durante las fluctuaciones climáticas del cuaternario (Haffer, 1969;Prance, 1982;Etter, 1997 Santiana et al. (2004) argumentan la validez de A. leptogyna y proponen este taxón como endémico para Ecuador. Se considera que esta especie no está presente en Antioquia y debe revisarse detenidamente su taxonomía y nomenclatura para tomar una decisión al respecto. ...
... Los reportes para A. discolor por Secco (2004) y Murillo (2004) corresponden a las regiones de la Amazonía, la Orinoquía y la región Caribe. Con este trabajo se incluyen nuevos registros para esta especie en el Bajo Cauca y el valle del Magdalena Medio; esta última región comparte elementos bióticos con la Amazonía, lo que podría explicarse con la hipótesis de los refugios del pleistoceno creados por la fragmentación de masas boscosas durante las fluctuaciones climáticas del cuaternario (Haffer, 1969;Prance, 1982;Etter, 1997 Santiana et al. (2004) argumentan la validez de A. leptogyna y proponen este taxón como endémico para Ecuador. Se considera que esta especie no está presente en Antioquia y debe revisarse detenidamente su taxonomía y nomenclatura para tomar una decisión al respecto. ...
A taxonomic study of the genus Alchornea in Antioquia, Colombia, is presented. Fifteen species are included, three of which (Alchornea brittonii, A. bogotensis. and A. discolor) are new records for the department. A morphological characterization, a species identification key, full descriptions, and taxonomic and geographic distribution notes of the species are provided.
... These damply areas, due to their particular characteristics, have implications through dynamics of their environmental system and are regionally called Altitudinal Wetland Forests. These places were connected to the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest in a past period of greater rainfall (MEDEIROS, 2016;SOBRAL-SOUZA, LIMA-RIBEIRO, and SOLFERINI, 2015) and retracted during the Last Glacial Maximum, creating ecological refuges for a series of species that are surrounded by semiarid habitats (WERNECK et al., 2011;PRANCE, 1982). In this way, Wetland Forests always appear to be in disagreement with the characteristics of the surrounding areas, with rain, soil, and drainage systems that most correspond to an area of tropical forest, even though they are in the middle of the Caatinga. ...
Altitudinal Wetland Forests are fields with humid and subhumid climates located in the interior of the Brazilian semiarid that are linked to the climate past of this region. This dry climate domain region has high importance due to both the presence of paleoclimate remnants and its developed economy. The purpose of this work was to try to indicate through mapping, beyond what is officially known, new areas that may include Altitudinal Wetland Forests. The methodology developed was based on using computational techniques in a GIS environment with analysis of hierarchical processes using the altitude variables, rainfall and vegetation in the distribution of Altitudinal Wetland Forests throughout the Brazilian semiarid. It was possible to indicate new areas with high and low probabilities of the occurrence of Altitudinal Wetland Forests, beyond those without any probability. The obtained results indicate that investigations should be carried out to confirm the results of this study and to provide information for interventions in these areas, both from the environmental point of view and for its sustainable agricultural use.
... It is generally accepted that the establishment of lowland forest refuges in formerly more expanded forest areas can be looked upon as a vicariance event and is an ideal situation for speciation (Simpson, 1988 and several authors in Prance, 1982a). Widespread species become separated evolutionary units with their own evolutionary fate. ...
... Three major allopatric diversification mechanisms have been proposed in the classical literature to explain species diversity in the tropics. The "river hypothesis" in which species and populations diverged across riverine barriers (Ayres & Clutton-Brock, 1992;Bates, 1863;Hershkovitz, 1977;Mayr, 1942;Sick, 1967;Wallace, 1853); the "refuge hypothesis" in which forests fragmented during the cold, dry Pleistocene glaciation cycles, causing isolation and divergence in small forest patches (Haffer, 1969(Haffer, , 1974(Haffer, , 1982Prance, 1982;Vanzolini, 1973;Vanzolini & Williams, 1970); and an amalgamate "river-refuge hypothesis," in which speciation was promoted by a combination of river barriers and climate-driven vegetation changes (Ayres & Clutton-Brock, 1992;Haffer, 1992Haffer, , 1993. These hypotheses have been widely employed as the context for studies of Neotropical biodiversity and the mechanisms of its production (e.g., Gascon et al., 2000;Haffer, 2008;Patton & Silva, 2005;Richardson et al., 2001;Weir, 2006). ...
The relative roles of rivers versus refugia in shaping the high levels of species diversity in tropical rainforests have been widely debated for decades. Only recently has it become possible to take an integrative approach to test predictions derived from these hypotheses using genomic sequencing and paleo-species distribution modeling. Herein, we tested the predictions of the classic river, refuge, and river-refuge hypotheses on diversification in the arboreal sub-Saharan African snake genus Toxicodryas. We used dated phylogeographic inferences, population clustering analyses, demographic model selection, and paleo-distribution modeling to conduct a phylogenomic and historical demographic analysis of this genus. Our results revealed significant population genetic structure within both Toxicodryas species, corresponding geographically to river barriers and divergence times from the mid-Miocene to Pliocene. Our demographic analyses supported the interpretation that rivers are indications of strong barriers to gene flow among populations since their divergence. Additionally, we found no support for a major contraction of suitable habitat during the last glacial maximum, allowing us to reject both the refuge and river-refuge hypotheses in favor of the river-barrier hypothesis. Based on conservative interpretations of our species delimitation analyses with the Sanger and ddRAD data sets, two new cryptic species are identified from east-central Africa. This study highlights the complexity of diversification dynamics in the African tropics and the advantages of integrative approaches to studying speciation in tropical regions.
... Dentro desse contexto de alta diversidade estão os grandes rios da bacia Amazônica, que atuam delimitando a distribuição de muitas espécies, cujos efeitos resultam em uma congruência espacial na distribuição de vários grupos animais e vegetais (Cracraft, 1985;Wallace, 1852). Essa congruência representa a base para a definição e delimitação das áreas de endemismo, cuja generalidade é confirmada por estudos com diversos grupos, como plantas, borboletas, anfíbios, lagartos, aves e primatas (Ávila- Pires, 1995;Brown, 1982;Cracraft, 1985;Prance, 1982;Ron, 2000). Atualmente até nove nove Centros de Endemismo delimitadas pelos grandes rios são reconhecidas para aves na Amazônia, representando grandes interflúvios (Borges, 2007;Cracraft, 1985;Silva, Novaes, & Oren, 2002;Silva, Rylands, & da Fonseca, 2005). ...
O capítulo Aves apresenta 8 anos de inventário da avifauna no entorno da Estrada de Ferro Carajás, na Amazônia Oriental. Contribuindo de forma significativa para o conhecimento ornitológico no Centro de Endemismo Belém, propiciou a documentação de novos registros de espécies no Maranhão e expansões na distribuição geográfica conhecidas, inclusive de espécies raras e ameaçadas de extinção.
... Dentro desse contexto de alta diversidade estão os grandes rios da bacia Amazônica, que atuam delimitando a distribuição de muitas espécies, cujos efeitos resultam em uma congruência espacial na distribuição de vários grupos animais e vegetais (Cracraft, 1985;Wallace, 1852). Essa congruência representa a base para a definição e delimitação das áreas de endemismo, cuja generalidade é confirmada por estudos com diversos grupos, como plantas, borboletas, anfíbios, lagartos, aves e primatas (Ávila- Pires, 1995;Brown, 1982;Cracraft, 1985;Prance, 1982;Ron, 2000). Atualmente até nove nove Centros de Endemismo delimitadas pelos grandes rios são reconhecidas para aves na Amazônia, representando grandes interflúvios (Borges, 2007;Cracraft, 1985;Silva, Novaes, & Oren, 2002;Silva, Rylands, & da Fonseca, 2005). ...
... Dentro desse contexto de alta diversidade estão os grandes rios da bacia Amazônica, que atuam delimitando a distribuição de muitas espécies, cujos efeitos resultam em uma congruência espacial na distribuição de vários grupos animais e vegetais (Cracraft, 1985;Wallace, 1852). Essa congruência representa a base para a definição e delimitação das áreas de endemismo, cuja generalidade é confirmada por estudos com diversos grupos, como plantas, borboletas, anfíbios, lagartos, aves e primatas (Ávila- Pires, 1995;Brown, 1982;Cracraft, 1985;Prance, 1982;Ron, 2000). Atualmente até nove nove Centros de Endemismo delimitadas pelos grandes rios são reconhecidas para aves na Amazônia, representando grandes interflúvios (Borges, 2007;Cracraft, 1985;Silva, Novaes, & Oren, 2002;Silva, Rylands, & da Fonseca, 2005). ...
O Livro apresenta os resultados de 8 anos de inventário faunístico (peixes, anfíbios, répteis, aves e mamíferos) no entorno da Estrada de Ferro Carajás, nos estados Pará e Maranhão, Amazônia Oriental, Brasil.
... Dentro desse contexto de alta diversidade estão os grandes rios da bacia Amazônica, que atuam delimitando a distribuição de muitas espécies, cujos efeitos resultam em uma congruência espacial na distribuição de vários grupos animais e vegetais (Cracraft, 1985;Wallace, 1852). Essa congruência representa a base para a definição e delimitação das áreas de endemismo, cuja generalidade é confirmada por estudos com diversos grupos, como plantas, borboletas, anfíbios, lagartos, aves e primatas (Ávila- Pires, 1995;Brown, 1982;Cracraft, 1985;Prance, 1982;Ron, 2000). Atualmente até nove nove Centros de Endemismo delimitadas pelos grandes rios são reconhecidas para aves na Amazônia, representando grandes interflúvios (Borges, 2007;Cracraft, 1985;Silva, Novaes, & Oren, 2002;Silva, Rylands, & da Fonseca, 2005). ...
O capítulo 2 apresenta os resultados de 8 anos de inventário de peixes no entorno da Estrada de Ferro Carajás, nos estados Pará e Maranhão, Amazônia Oriental, Brasil.
... Its vegetation covers about 1.5 million kilometers along the Brazilian coast and extends to the west in smaller areas of the interior of Argentina and Paraguay (RIBEIRO et al., 2011). This forest in Northeastern Brazil can be considered an important area of endemism in South America because of the distinction (in terms of species composition) of the Atlantic Forest remnants distributed throughout Brazil (PRANCE, 1982). The Northeastern Atlantic Forest can be classified into eight biogeographical sub-regions, five as centers of endemism (Bahia, "Brejos Nordestinos", Pernambuco, Diamantina and Serra do Mar) and three as transition zones (São Francisco, Araucária and Interior Forests) (SILVA; CASTELETI, 2003). ...
The Brazilian Northeastern Brejos is an important area of biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest. However, little is known about the species composition of epiphytes in this type of vegetation. The present study aims to characterize the floristic and phytosociological structure of vascular epiphytic components in an area of the Brazilian Northeastern Brejo. All epiphytes occurring in the area were collected and compared with other studies through NMDS analysis. For the epiphyte phytosociological structure, sixty 10 × 10 m sampling plots were installed. The floristic survey of epiphytes recorded 23 species, distributed in 19 genera and ten families. In plots, 65 host individuals were sampled, and the occurrence of 197 vascular epiphytes, distributed in 12 species, 12 genera and five families was recorded. The floristic composition differs from other areas of the Atlantic Forest, including the northeast, making the Brejo a very peculiar area and with the utmost need of a plan for the conservation of these species.
Key words: Brejos Nordestinos; Community ecology; Epiphytes of the Brazilian Northeast; Epiphyte flora
... Its vegetation covers about 1.5 million kilometers along the Brazilian coast and extends to the west in smaller areas of the interior of Argentina and Paraguay (RIBEIRO et al., 2011). This forest in Northeastern Brazil can be considered an important area of endemism in South America because of the distinction (in terms of species composition) of the Atlantic Forest remnants distributed throughout Brazil (PRANCE, 1982). The Northeastern Atlantic Forest can be classified into eight biogeographical sub-regions, five as centers of endemism (Bahia, "Brejos Nordestinos", Pernambuco, Diamantina and Serra do Mar) and three as transition zones (São Francisco, Araucária and Interior Forests) (SILVA; CASTELETI, 2003). ...
The Brazilian Northeastern Brejos is an important area of biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest. However, little is known about the species composition of epiphytes in this type of vegetation. The present study aims to characterize the floristic and phytosociological structure of vascular epiphytic components in an area of the Brazilian Northeastern Brejo. All epiphytes occurring in the area were collected and compared with other studies through NMDS analysis. For the epiphyte phytosociological structure, sixty 10 × 10 m sampling plots were installed. The floristic survey of epiphytes recorded 23 species, distributed in 19 genera and ten families. In plots, 65 host individuals were sampled, and the occurrence of 197 vascular epiphytes, distributed in 12 species, 12 genera and five families was recorded. The floristic composition differs from other areas of the Atlantic Forest, including the northeast, making the Brejo a very peculiar area and with the utmost need of a plan for the conservation of these species.
... On the basis of present-day patterns of diversity and reconstructions of past environments, many attempts have been made to identify "refugia" -isolated areas of forest that "protected" a sylvan fauna during arid phases and in which local conditions fostered speciation events (see especially papers in Prance, 1982, andWhitmore &Prance, 1987). ...
South American climbing mice and rats, Rhipidomys, occur in forests, plantations and rural dwellings throughout tropical South America. The genus belongs to the thomasomyine group, an informal assemblage of plesiomorphous Sigmodontinae. Over 1700 museum specimens were examined, with the aim of providing a coherent taxonomic framework for future work. A shortage of discrete and consistent characters prevented the use of strict cladistic methodology; instead, morphological assessments were supported by multivariate (especially principal components) analyses. The morphometric data were first assessed for measurement error, ontogenetic variation and sexual dimorphism; measurements with most variation from these sources were excluded from subsequent analyses. The genus is characterized by a combination of reddish-brown colour, long tufted tail, broad feet with long toes, long vibrissae and large eyes; the skull has a small zygomatic notch, squared or ridged supraorbital edges, large oval braincase and short palate. Three main divisions of the genus are recognized. The R. fulviventer section contains four species - fulviventer, wetzeli, caucensis and ochrogaster - inhabiting montane forests in the northern Andes and Guiana Highlands of Colombia and Venezuela; they share grey-based ventral pelage, dark extremities, a rounded interorbital region, broad braincase, and (except for caucensis) a primitive carotid circulation pattern; R. fulviventer consists of a chain of isolated subspecies, including venustus. The monospecific R. macconnelli section is restricted to the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela; it differs in certain external characters - darker colour (especially ventrally), longer metatarsals, bicoloured tail - but is similar cranially. The R. leucodactylus section is usually paler with broad feet, stronger cranial ridges and a derived carotid circulation pattern, and occurs mainly at lower levels. It contains 13 species: couesi, leucodactylus, modicus, austrinus, latimanus (including venezuelae), nitela, emiliae, macrurus, mastacalis and four as yet unnamed. Three species occur in NE Brazil; in SE Brazil the material currently available does not permit a clear-cut arrangement.
... For years the Refugia Hypothesis was viewed as the sole explanation for tropical high diversity. It postulates that during Pleistocene glaciations rainforest contracted to isolated patches surrounded by savannah (Haffer, 1969;Prance, 1982). ...
Understanding the origin of South America's diversity is of great importance especially considering our current extinction crisis in the face of climate change. While great debate exists about the sources of Amazonian diversity, there is no consensus about an overarching process that explains the Amazon's uniquely high diversity. In this contribution, I present the following model considering the impact of tectonics on the hydrology of the continent. When the Andes rose, it dammed the paleo-Amazon, which ran west at the time. This produced generalized flooding with a mosaic of forest in the more elevated areas surrounded by flooded habitats. Because of the flat relief of the Amazon basin, small changes in water level produced forest expansion and contraction, resulting in speciation pulses. Using data from the literature on species distribution, as well as the age of new lineages from molecular studies, I show that the space and timing of speciation process in the South America was consistent with the predictions of this model. This model also posits that there were no marine incursions on the continent. Rather, marine conditions developed in situ, might be a better explanation for the marine conditions found in paleo-history of the region. This model provides a theoretical framework for evolutionary processes in South America that explains its uniquely high diversity. K E Y W O R D S Amazon, biodiversity, macroevolution, paleo-ecology, speciation.
... Following a definition by Jürgen Haffner in 1969, Brazilian geographer Aziz Ab'Saber (2003) defined refuges as those areas where rainforest reaches its maximum retraction under negative conditions (see Prance 1982). In the Northeast region, many refuges are associated with highlands, such as brejos (altitude swamps) and serras (mountain ranges). ...
The first attempts at synthetizing the diversity of Brazilian rock art sites and the spread of graphic similarities envolved a certain amount of environmental determinism and traditionalism. We propose an agent-based model able to verify the possible effects of theoretical perspectives on the landscape. Our model uses a number of hunters moving randomly and a set of shelters where they can make new paintings according to simples rules. Three different mechanisms can be modified: exogenous (by nature, some shelters are fit for painting and not others), endogenous (by culture, some shelters are preferred by each hunter, and not others) and cumulative (shelters with paintings are more attractive). Compared to the archaeological context, only exogenous and cumulative constraints seem able to result in a landscape where a few shelters are concentrating most of the paintings. Endogenous constraints alone seem unable to produce the same results without another mechanism for transmission.
... Evolutionary history of Neotropical savannas geographically concentrates species, phylogenetic and functional diversity of lizards INTRODUCTION Describing patterns and explaining which processes shaped the unique South American tropical biodiversity have intrigued naturalists for centuries (Bates, 1862;Prance, 1982;Wallace, 1853). There are numerous ways to measure biodiversity, going from estimating the number of species in a determined area (species richness- Gaston, 2000) to looking for concentration of spatially restricted species or community assemblages (endemism- Myers, 2003;Myers et al., 2000). ...
What promotes biological diversity? Accurately recognising and describing patterns of diversity is fundamental to understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes underpinning diversification. The history of living organisms is expressed at multiple dimensions, ranging from speciation processes across various biogeographical scales, to variation in morphology, ecology and genetic diversity. Systems with highly heterogeneous habitats provide good models to investigate how landscape processes affect the observed patterns of ecological and genetic diversity, e.g. through speciation and local adaptation. Tropical savannas are environmentally heterogeneous biomes, covering one sixth of the Earth's terrestrial surface, in which a high number of species coexist, with high levels of endemism. My thesis compares pattern and process of savanna reptile diversity across two biogeographic realms - the Cerrado biome from South America and the Australian Monsoonal Tropics (AMT) of Australia. I investigate the principal factors that shape the adaptation and diversification of lizards (and sometimes snakes and amphisbaenians). This entails studies within in each of the Cerrado and AMT systems at landscape to regional scales. Comparing these two analogous but evolutionarily independent systems, I expect to identify common processes underpinning the high diversity of tropical savanna systems. A better understanding of the diversification process has three broad outcomes. First, the use of an integrative approach, including molecular, ecological and morphological datasets, provides a more complete view of the patterns of diversity that we see today. Second, the use of refined population-level and phylogeographic datasets improves our definition of species limits and overcome taxonomic shortfalls that preclude large-scale inferences. Third, the mapping of the distribution of this diversity, and a better understanding of the evolutionary processes involved, is essential to assess conservation priorities give rapid global change. The analyses include morphological, ecological and genomic diversity of squamates from both continents. The thesis is composed of four primary research chapters and two appendices. Each chapter has its own dataset and they collectively address different topics, at varying geographic and taxonomic scales. In chapter 1, I focus on a cross-continent comparison of morphological evolution, including all the snakes and lizards species found in the AMT and Cerrado. Then, focused only on Cerrado lizard species in chapter 2, I mapped spatial patterns of species richness, phylogeographic diversity and endemism to parallel a previous study for the AMT. Coming back to the AMT, I document the phylogeographic structure and demographic history of a diverse and highly structured group of agamid dragons (Diporiphora- Chapter 3). Finally, I explore whether dispersal limitation, environment and geographic barriers or habitat specialization at landscape scale predict differences in phylogeographic structure across co-distributed lizard taxa (Chapter 4). Collectively, these chapters provide new insights into the micro- and macro-evolutionary processes that have shaped the high and unique diversity of reptiles in these tropical savannas.
... Three major allopatric diversification mechanisms have been proposed in the classical literature to explain species diversity in the tropics. The "river hypothesis" in which species and populations diverged across riverine barriers (Ayres & Clutton-Brock, 1992;Bates, 1863;Hershkovitz, 1977;Mayr, 1942;Sick, 1967;Wallace, 1853); the "refuge hypothesis" in which forests fragmented during the cold, dry Pleistocene glaciation cycles, causing isolation and divergence in small forest patches (Haffer, 1969(Haffer, , 1974(Haffer, , 1982Prance, 1982;Vanzolini, 1973;Vanzolini & Williams, 1970); and an amalgamate "river-refuge hypothesis," in which speciation was promoted by a combination of river barriers and climate-driven vegetation changes (Ayres & Clutton-Brock, 1992;Haffer, 1992Haffer, , 1993. These hypotheses have been widely employed as the context for studies of Neotropical biodiversity and the mechanisms of its production (e.g., Gascon et al., 2000;Haffer, 2008;Patton & Silva, 2005;Richardson et al., 2001;Weir, 2006). ...
Colleagues: thank you for your interest in this work. A preprint for this paper was generated by accident and it requires major revisions before it will be published. Of course I will update the project when the paper is in press, but until then I will be declining requests for this preprint. Thank you for your understanding.
Revisión de la especies de la Familia Cichlidae en la cuenca del río Orinoco. Detalles biosistemáticos, claves figuras y biogeografía
Snake venoms have evolved in several families of Caenophidae, and their toxins have been assumed to be biochemical weapons with a role as a trophic adaptation. However, it remains unclear how venom contributes to the success of venomous species for adaptation to different environments. Here we compared the venoms from Bothrocophias hyoprora, Bothrops taeniatus, Bothrops bilineatus smaragdinus, Bothrops brazili, and Bothrops atrox collected in the Amazon Rainforest, aiming to understand the ecological and toxinological consequences of venom composition. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses indicated that the venoms presented the same toxin groups characteristic from bothropoids, but with distinct isoforms with variable qualitative and quantitative abundances, contributing to distinct enzymatic and toxic effects. Despite the particularities of each venom, commercial Bothrops antivenom recognized the venom components and neutralized the lethality of all species. No clear features could be observed between venoms from arboreal and terrestrial habitats, nor in the dispersion of the species throughout the Amazon habitats, supporting the notion that venom composition may not shape the ecological or toxinological characteristics of these snake species and that other factors influence their foraging or dispersal in different ecological niches.
Esta segunda edição segue a mesma linha da primeira, dando base para o incremento do conhecimento científico relativo à entomologia brasileira nos seus mais diversos aspectos, com informações gerais sobre morfologia, biologia, classificações, relações filogenéticas, importância agrícola, médica, veterinária, métodos de coletas e chaves de identificações. Esta segunda edição apresenta um texto abrangente e ênfase para a identificação de todas as 28 ordens e 679 famílias de insetos com registros para o Brasil.
Effective forest conservation should go hand in hand with collaboration of the surrounding local communities. Bringing advancement and relief to marginalized communities is pivotal for conservation initiatives, with the objective of cultivating a sustainable ecosystem while protecting indigenous biodiversity. The linchpin for developing successful partnerships begins with fostering a shared understanding of the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural environment. This awareness can be nurtured by interactive education and tangible outcomes that illuminate the profound long-term benefits of conscientious environmental stewardship. Therefore, an emphasis on community-driven conservation and environmental education becomes imperative, serving as a conduit for disseminating crucial information, fostering practical knowledge, and nurturing the attitudes and skills essential in the quest for environmental protection and sustainable development. Education, in this context, operates as a reciprocal process, demanding that educators glean insights from the local populace to effectively tailor strategies that elevate and empower them toward sustainable advancement. This dynamic interaction is where capacity development (CD) becomes indispensable. This paper delves into the unfolding of a series of conservation endeavors, initially driven by Anita Studer’s commitment to preserving a fragment of the primary Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil. Evolving into a four-decade educational journey, the actions taken showcase enduring ripple effects across 14 states in Brazil, presenting a comprehensive survey of applied techniques in this unique context. The resources required to achieve collective conservation goals witness a continual upswing, a trend expounded in this paper. Hence, we have chronicled the history, methodology, and projects that transpired in response to the ever-evolving community needs. We will also look at the results and discuss the advancement that ensues following the CBD targets and goals presented at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference.
The objective of this work is to zone and delimit the Chaco biome in Brazilian territory and to promote studies to subsidize knowledge for public policies of sustainable regional development for these areas that are already in the process of degradation. Most of the localities estimated for the Brazilian Chaco found were solely delimitations by phytophysiognomy within the Pantanal delimitation. Therefore, due to the lack of data on the Chaco region in Brazil, the initial delimitation of the Chaco biome was carried out entirely with geoprocessing services, using spectral indices, photointerpretation, and bibliographic analysis. A wide variety of images were used to confirm the data obtained, initially CBERS-4, CBERS-2B and Alos. With the help of indices such as the NDVI, photointerpretation in band composition images with the NDVI, the initial delimitation of the Chaco was achieved. With studies of fields in the region, the existence of Chaco was verified beyond the zoned extension; With this information, new images were acquired, now from Landsat 8-OLI, used for analysis of the results due to their resolution, which makes it possible to better analyze the fragments found in the field. The objective of the research was achieved, moreover, the extent of the loss in relation to the biome was perceived, which requires us to look cautiously and worriedly.
As Geotecnologias são ferramentas empregadas em diferentes usos, como por exemplo na gestão dos recursos naturais. Seu uso tem crescido muito na aplicação do meio ambiente. Tem como principal finalidade o tratamento e análise de dados geográficos, permitindo respostas mais específicas e precisas. Cada vez mais o uso de geotecnologias tem contribuído para a análise e caracterização ambiental. Sua utilização proporciona ao usuário conhecimento sobre situações passadas e atuais, além de possibilitar a simulação de cenários futuros. Algumas ferramentas amplamente utilizadas em geotecnologias são os Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (GIS), sensoriamento remoto por satélites e por drones.
Pesquisas em Geotecnologias Aplicadas e Estudos Ambientais, apresenta uma gama envolvente e diversificada de aplicações de geotecnologias orientadas ao meio ambiente que foram organizadas usando diferentes temas e estudos. Os temas do livro fornecem uma visão geral do campo das geotecnologias e estudos ambientais que enquadra em uma coleção de capítulos com temáticas tais como; Gestão de Áreas Protegidas, Sensoriamento Remoto, Zonas Húmidas, Bacias Hidrográficas, Saúde Humana, Meio Ambiente. Ao longo do volume, os autores contribuintes vão além da ecologia da paisagem básica, da mudança do uso da Terra, para explorar a dinâmica homem-ambiente. Ao fazê-lo, a coleção apresenta argumentos convincentes para a importância de desenvolver novas aplicações no âmbito das geotecnologias orientadas que residem no nexo de sistemas sociais e naturais com a intenção explícita de informar políticas públicas e/ou práticas de tomada de decisão de gestores de recursos ambientias. Individualmente, os próprios capítulos são intencionalmente diversos. A diversidade das abordagens, seu contexto espacial e ênfase em aplicações de gerenciamento demonstram as muitas maneiras pelas quais as geotecnologias podem ser usadas para resolver pequenos e grandes problemas em regiões desenvolvidas e em desenvolvimento.
In tropical Africa, forests and savannas are the two most widespread biomes and potentially represent alternative stable states with a divergent species composition. A classic, but untested, hypothesis posited by White (1983) suggests that the transition zones between forests and savannas contain a floristically impoverished assemblage, with few representatives from each biome. Further, the evolutionary dimension of diversity has received limited attention, despite its importance for understanding the biogeographic history of biomes. Here, we quantified species richness and several measures of evolutionary diversity in 1° grid cells, using c. 300,000 occurrence records of trees and shrubs combined with biome affiliation data for 3203 species. We found that assemblages in transition zones hold fewer woody species than assemblages in forest and savanna zones, as posited by White. However, transition zones hold more phylogenetic diversity than expected given their species richness, whether one considers forest and savanna assemblages separately or together. We also show that the Congo Basin forest has low levels of phylogenetic diversity, given the number of species, and highlight south-eastern African savannas as a centre of savanna woody species richness and phylogenetic diversity. Regions with high phylogenetic diversity, given the number of both forest and savanna species, were centred around the Dahomey Gap and Cameroon, mainly in transition zones. Overall, our study shows that even if floristically impoverished, transition zones hold unexpectedly high evolutionary diversity. This suggests that they are important centres of evolutionary innovation and diversification and/or serve as evolutionary crossroads, where lineages that diversified in contrasting environments coexist within a single area.
Zamia magnifica (Zamiaceae), a new species endemic to Sierra Norte, Oaxaca, Mexico, is described. Zamia magnifica is characterized by having a rupicolous habit, pendent leaves bearing leaflets that are densely tomentose and pink to caramel in color when emerging, and broad oblong leaflets that are coriaceous in texture with few non-prominent denticulations and ovulate strobili with short (<4 cm) peduncles. It is compared to Z. furfuracea and Z. meermanii, the Mesoamerican Zamia species to which it shares the closest morphological resemblance.
The historical relationships of nine areas of endemism of the tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs) were analysed based on a temporal cladistic biogeographical approach. Three cladistic biogeographical analyses were conducted based on 29 cladograms of terrestrial taxa by partitioning them into three time-slices, namely, Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene. The results showed different area relationships over time. For the Miocene and Pliocene time slices, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec acted as a geographic barrier that fragmented the TMCFs into two portions: west of the Isthmus and east of the Isthmus. In the case of the Pleistocene, the TMCFs were broken into two portions, one related to the Neotropical region and the other to the Nearctic region. Furthermore, the analyses allowed us to detect the influences of different geological and paleoclimatological events on the distribution of the TMCFs over time. Therefore, the TMCFs current distribution might have been driven by geological events during the Miocene-Pliocene, whereas climatic fluctuations have the highest impact during the Pleistocene.
Ceratozamia Brongn. is one of the species-rich genera of Cycadales comprising 38 species that are mainly distributed in Mexico, with a few species reported from neighboring regions. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus need detailed investigation based on extensive datasets and reliable systematic approaches. Therefore, we used 30 of the known 38 species to reconstruct the phylogeny based on transcriptome data of 3954 single-copy nuclear genes (SCGs) via coalescent and concatenated approaches and three comparative datasets (nt/nt12/aa). Based on all these methods, Ceratozamia is divided into six phylogenetic subclades within three major clades. There were a few discrepancies regarding phylogenetic position of some species within these subclades. Using these phylogenetic trees, biogeographic history and morphological diversity of the genus are explored. Ceratozamia originated from ancestors in southern Mexico since the mid-Miocene. There is a distinct distribution pattern of species through the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB), that act as a barrier for the species dispersal at TMVB and its southern and northern part. Limited dispersal events occurred during the late Miocene, and maximum diversification happened during the Pliocene epoch. Our study provides a new insight into phylogenetic relationships, the origin and dispersal routes, and morphological diversity of the genus Ceratozamia. We also explain how past climatic changes affected the diversification of this Mesoamerica-native genus.
This article is about my research on the prehistory of the mainstream lower Amazon in Brazil and problems in research ethics there. The "New Archaeology", my dissertation in the Orinoco, Venezuela, and my museum job led me rethink the human occupation of the tropical forest. I was influenced by 19th century naturalists' research on Amazon archaeology. They recognized an occupation that began thousands of years ago with hunters who made projectile points and monumental rock art and early fishing villagers with pottery and culminated by the time of the European conquest in populous civilizations with mounds and elaborately decorated pottery vessels and figures. But in the mid-twentieth-century, "scientific" archaeologists decided that the sequence had been short and derivative, impeded by the hot, humid tropical forest. They ignored the early cultures and attributed Amazonian cultures to intrusions from the Andes. When radiometric dating contradicted their chronology, they suppressed the problematic dates and when other North Americans came to do research they tried to prevent their excavation permits and criticized them with false statements about their own teams' results. Thus, they involved Brazilian proteges in unethical practices and prevented their rediscovery of the sequence of the 19th century naturalists.
Argentina lies within the southernmost distributional range of five neotropical primates, the brown howler monkey Alouatta guariba, the black-and-gold howler monkey Alouatta caraya, the black-horned capuchin Sapajus nigritus, the Azara’s capuchin Sapajus cay, and the Azara’s owl monkey Aotus azarae; the first three of which are globally threatened. These species occupy different ecoregions: the Alto Paraná Atlantic forest, the Araucaria moist forest, the humid Chaco, the Southern Cone Mesopotamian savanna, the Paraná Ffooded savanna, and the Southern Andean Yungas. The recently approved National Primate Conservation Plan of Argentina calls for identifying priority areas to focus conservation actions for these species. We used species distribution models to estimate species ranges and then used the Zonation software to perform a spatial conservation prioritization analysis based on primate habitat quality and connectivity to identify potential areas of importance at national and ecoregional levels. Only 7.2% (19,500 km²) of the area inhabited by primates in Argentina is under protection. Outside the current protected areas, the top-ranked 1% and 5% priority areas identified in our analysis covered 1894 and 7574 km², respectively. The top 1% areas were in the Atlantic forest of Misiones province, where S. nigritus, A. guariba, and A. caraya are distributed, and in the humid portion of eastern Chaco and Formosa provinces, where A. azarae and A. caraya are present. The top 5% areas included portions of the Yungas, where S. cay is the only primate present. Priority areas in Chaco and Formosa provinces are particularly relevant because of the paucity of protected areas and the high deforestation rate. The endangered A. guariba population will benefit from the better protection of the priority areas of Misiones. The potential priority areas proposed herein, considered within a context of a broad participatory process involving relevant stakeholders and local people, will help guide new and innovative conservation policies and practices while supporting management objectives.
The Atlantic Rainforest is the second largest forest block in the Neotropics, which originally comprised more than 150 million ha in highly heterogeneous environmental conditions. In this study, we updated the list of amphibians and reptiles in the Dois Irmãos State Park (PEDI), a conservation unit that is an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. Active and passive surveys were carried out weekly, from June 2008 to April 2009, respectively by searching different forest microenvironments and by using pitfall traps. We recorded 34 species of amphibians belonging to 10 families and 27 species of reptiles belonging to 17 families. This study adds three species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles to previous surveys of the herpetofauna at the PEDI. The PEDI comprises a richness equivalent to 49% of the anurans and 32% of the reptiles recorded in the Atlantic Rainforest in Pernambuco State. This area makes up the group of urban protected areas in which the local herpetofauna has been inventoried, as well as isolated areas in the metropolitan region of the municipality of Recife. Regarding these urban areas, the PEDI Reserve comprises 38.7% of the local richness, being considered a well- maintained remnant in an urban area. Thus, we highlight the need to invest in the conservation of urban forest fragments, given the significant richness that PEDI displays in relation to other extremely impoverished Atlantic Rainforest areas.
The repeated search based on the Darwinian biogeographic paradigm, and its illusory center of origin, has led, over many decades, to all kinds of incompatibilities and priorities regarding the population and biogeography of the Gondwanan biota, thus completely ignoring, the Otto Kleinschmidt's classical theory of vicarious for-mation(Kleinschmidt´Formenkreisstheorie 1926, 1930). Which tends to explain the existence of the same species of vicarious form, that is in multiple coordinates without precedence of a certain center of origin. Thus, the distribution, for example, of Adansonia as well as other Gondwanean elements such as Cavillenesia and Ceiba (Malvaceae), together with Pachydomium and Weltswichtia, in the ancient paleo desert Namib-Kalahari ̶ it would have originated already in a pre-Cretaceous times, most probably in the Upper Jurassic, and before the definitive disintegration of Pangea. So elements such as Adansonia, Pachydomium, Aloe and other succulents, whose basic property reveals the presence of an arid to semi-arid climate with maybe strong seasonal contrasts.
When the displacement that characterizes Gondwana begins, including among others the Australian plate, and the Madagascar microplate. The onset of passive migration, will occur after the continental drift long ago premonitoring in Marburg by the geomobilism of Carl-Christian Ochsenius and Alfred Lothar Wegener on the earth's crust against the fixism of Edward Suess. Where given the special isolation conditions of Madagascar, trough a earlier break up, they produced the high in situ diversification of both Adansonia, Pachydomium and Aloe, a unique case and superlative of biodiversity in all of Gondwana. There is to mention de importance of aridity evolution in the whole process and its origins. and the special characteristic of all involved species, and its particular xerophytic (hidroxerox) fashion, which are equivalent to a water current economy, or paraclimatic propiety conditions.
From there Madagascar, will become the main biodiversity hotspot for all of Gondwana to this day, including around 75% of all its endemism. This including also the presence of Rhipsalis baccifera, considered one of the primitive forms and precursor of the cactii sensu lato. This species form a track along the South America, Africa, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka and only can reflexe a panGondwana origin. Only its high biodiversity in the gondwanean flora origin of the restingas of Cabo Frío, Brazil tend to confirms this fact.
Evidencing the fact that the main objective of geobiological evolution, is the perpetuation of diversity through geological time, and which does not require any illusory center of origin for its emergence or existence. Hence also that all molecular biology studies with a view to fixing the phylogeny through molecular clocks have arrived at entirely confusing results for these Gondwana elements.
In all this mare magnum, produced by a determined perspective of evolution, has been precisely the exceptional occurrence of the only Gondwanic testimony with a fossil record: Weltswichtia, which together with the diversity of the potbellied trees of Cavillensia and Adansonia, of the same Malvaceae family, will shed more light on the problem posed by their origin. this time in close connection with Otto Kleinschmidt's Formenkreisstheory and its basic functioning mechanism discovered and complemented much later by the multi-authored plate tectonics theory in the earlier 60th years.
Epiphytes are plants that germinate and root non-parasitically on other plants, without contact with the soil. They are hyper-diverse and comprise approximately 9% of all vascular plant species. We discuss here vascular epiphytes growing in the Atlantic Forest, focusing on (i) their diversity, the number of epiphyte species, and the main groups and families; (ii) their biogeography and the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on species distributions; (iii) their relationships with phorophyte trees, considering mainly trunk and crown influences on epiphyte communities; and (iv) conservation, discussing epiphyte conservation statuses and reintroductions.
Aim
Vicariance has often been invoked to explain bioregionalization patterns in the Neotropics. Using a revised point locality data for endemic species, we aimed to test for the first time the predictions of the vicariance model in shaping biogeographical regions for endemic snakes in the Atlantic Forest (AF) megadiverse hotspot.
Location
South American Atlantic Forest.
Taxon
Snakes (Reptilia, Serpentes).
Methods
To identify the non‐random groups of co‐distributed species, we mapped 21,101 point locality records in a grid cell of 0.5° × 0.5° across the AF, and constructed a presence–absence matrix of endemic species. The two major predictions of vicariance model were tested by Biotic Elements (BE) analysis, searching for groups of significantly co‐distributed species (Biotic Elements) by comparing distances between observed and artificial random ranges, produced under null models from Monte Carlo simulations. We also tested for the occurrence of sister species in different Biotic Elements, and compared our results with previous bioregionalization schemes revealed by other organisms in the AF.
Results
We recorded 252 species of snakes in the Atlantic Forest, of which 79 (31%) are endemic to this domain. Biotic Elements analysis with endemic species revealed seven clusters of co‐distributed species (BEs) corresponding to biogeographical regions. The significant non‐random clusters of geographical ranges revealed in BE analysis, and the distribution of sister species in different BEs, validated both central predictions of the vicariance model.
Main conclusions
Snakes defined non‐random biogeographical regions in the Atlantic Forest, and these were congruent with previously identified areas based on other groups of organisms, indicating that general processes influenced geographical ranges across the region. Both central predictions of the vicariance model were valid, indicating that vicariant events must have been important in shaping non‐random clusters of co‐distributed snakes in this biodiversity hotspot, harbouring some of the richest snake faunas on the planet.
The Atlantic Forest is one of the largest and richest tropical rainforests on the planet, being one of the 25 world priorities for conservation. The Atlantic Forest portion located north of the São Francisco River corresponds to the Pernambuco Endemism Center (PEC). We describe the snake composition of the PEC, providing information about the diversity, natural history and geographical distribution of the species, based on records from five scientific collections and additional information from the literature. A total of 78 species of snakes distributed in eight families was registered in the Pernambuco Endemism Center. The Caatinga is the Brazilian biome that most shares species with the PEC, followed by Cerrado. On the other hand, seven species are considered endemic of this region. Most of the snake species in the PEC have been registered in forest (94.8%), followed by "Brejos Nordestinos" (46.1%), Tabuleiros (43.5%), Restingas (14.1%) and Mangroves (5.1%). The PEC snake fauna includes mainly terrestrial species (60.2%) and cryptozoic and/or fossorial species (21.7%), but also presents a high richness of semi-arboreal and arboreal species (29.5%). Vertebrates are the main food item consumed by the species (78% of species), among the main prey are mammals, lizards, and amphibians. Most species show a strictly nocturnal activity period (50%), followed by strictly diurnal (38%). The PEC is the most degraded and least known region of the A peer-reviewed open-access journal Rafaela C. França et al. / ZooKeys 1002: 115-158 (2020) 116 Atlantic Forest, yet it has revealed a high richness of snake species, including seven endemic species. It is emphasized that regional conservation efforts need to be intensified, because few forests in the region are formally protected, and the majority consist of small and poorly protected fragments, which means that many species in the region may be in risk of extinction.
The territory of Pernambuco includes portions of the Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest, which house areas of extreme biological importance that are also rich in Marantaceae species. This study presents a synopsis of the Marantaceae from the state, and was based in the morphological analysis of herbaria specimens and other collected in field excursions carried out from 2013 to 2018. We found 26 species belonging to 10 genera; Maranta (seven spp.) and Goeppertia (five spp.) were the most representative. Ctenanthe casupoides Pertersen and Hylaeanthe hexantha are new records for the state and Goeppertia yoshida-arnsiae, G. widgrenii and Maranta gigantea are considered threated. Ten species are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, and four are restricted to Northeastern Brazil. Regarding the local distribution, we observed that 22 spp. (85%) occur in the lowland semideciduous seasonal forest. Identification keys, comments on geographic distribution and habitats, local distribution maps, and photo plates of the species are provided.
This thesis develops a conceptual ecohydrological model for explaining riparian forest
biodiversity in the Orinoco River basin that can be applied to other large tropical river
basins. lt focuses on three levels of riparian forest diversity: alpha (within - habitat),
beta (between - habitats) and gamma (regional or landscape level). Following a spatial
analysis integrating two approaches, fluvial hydrosystem and ecogeography, the thesis
is based on studies at local and regional scales (within a basin and between basins).
The within-basin analysis is conducted in the Caura River, a tributary of the Orinoco
River draining the Guiana Shield in Venezuela. lt concentrates on lateral and
longitudinal gradients of woody species abundance and distributions. Relationships
with riparian environmental variables are demonstrated. The between - basins analysis
compares: (i) alpha diversity and upstream gradients of distribution of species which
are indicators of white-water types at confluence zones in different tributaries of the
Orinoco, and (ii) distributions of Ingeae (Leguminosae) in selected black-water and
white-water rivers of the Orinoco and Amazon river basins. The conceptual model
proposes functional units, functional sectors and functional riparian landscapes far the
scaling up of potential and real values of species diversity within a basin. Confluence
zones are found of primary importance far conserving riparian forest biodiversity. In
addition, the redundancy of riparian sectors and landscapes are presented to be
important when evaluating areas far in situ riparian forest biodiversity conservation.
Aim
We combine phylogenetic and point locality data from selected lineages of the Atlantic Forest flora and fauna to compare spatial patterns of biodiversity sustained by the current configuration of forest remnants to a scenario of complete forest preservation. We then ask the question "how much biodiversity is likely lost, already"? Specifically, we assess how habitat loss likely impacted the climatic spaces occupied by the local species, the inferred composition of local communities and the spatial distribution of phylogenetic diversity and endemism.
Location
Atlantic Forest, Brazil.
Methods
Using carefully curated point localities, phylogenetic data and parameterized models of species distributions, we generate maps of phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic endemism and phylogenetic turnover for the entire Atlantic Forest. We map patterns of clade‐specific diversity under complete preservation of forest and then incorporate present‐day deforestation patterns to provide a more realistic scenario.
Results
Instead of a singular pattern, three different reoccurring syndromes described the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Forest. These patterns emerged irrespectively of clade age and life history traits. General turnover patterns were highly consistent with previous analyses of species composition and panbiogeographical studies. Deforestation has altered the availability of climatic spaces in the Atlantic Forest, its biological communities and the distribution of evolutionary lineages in space. However, approximately 60% of the pre‐Columbian climatic space persists in forest remnants, and today's biological communities are estimated to be 45% similar to pre‐deforestation times.
Main conclusions
The Atlantic Forest has been reduced to 8% of its once largely continuous range. However, the disproportionately large amounts of climate, community and lineage diversity that persist in remnants provide hope and support for conservation efforts that combine species occurrence and phylogenetic data. Inclusion of evolutionary thinking into strategic approaches to restoring Brazilian ecosystems could further conservation effectiveness by incorporating the adaptive potential of local assemblages in the face of further environmental shifts.
We document the known distribution of Molossus bondae as far south as northern Argentina. Argentine specimens include the type series of M. obscurus currentium Thomas, 1901, a name with priority over M. bondae. Analysis of morphometric variation across the species' geographic range revealed the presence of 3 distinct populations of M. bondae. We reassessed taxonomic and nomenclatural status of populations previously included under the name M. bondae and concluded that the valid name for this taxon is Molossus currentium Thomas. Based on 12 cranial and 2 external characters we recognize 3 subspecies for this species, 1 of which we formally describe as new.
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