Temporal patterns of visitation of birds and mammals at mineral licks in the Peruvian Amazon

Mineral licks are key ecological resources for many species of birds and mammals in Amazonia, providing essential dietary nutrients and clays, yet little is known about which species visit and their behaviors at the mineral licks. Studying visitation and behavior at mineral licks can provide insight into the lives of otherwise secretive and elusive species. We assessed which species visited mineral licks, when they visited, and whether visits and the probability of recording groups at mineral licks were seasonal or related to the lunar cycle. We camera trapped at 52 mineral licks in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon and detected 20 mammal and 13 bird species over 6,255 camera nights. Generalized linear models assessed visitation patterns and records of groups in association with seasonality and the lunar cycle. We report nocturnal curassows (Nothocrax urumutum) visiting mineral licks for the first time. We found seasonal trends in visitation for the black agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa), red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), blue‐throated piping guan (Pipile cumanensis), red brocket deer (Mazama americana), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Lunar trends in visitation occurred for the paca (Cuniculus paca), Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis), and red brocket deer. The probability of recording groups (>1 individual) at mineral licks was seasonal and related to lunar brightness for tapir. Overall, our results provide important context for how elusive species of birds and mammals interact with these key ecological resources on a landscape scale. The ecological importance of mineral licks for these species can provide context to seasonal changes in species occupancy and movement.

Many species of animals in the Amazon visit mineral licks, consuming soil to supplement their diet. Using camera trap data, we show that visits to mineral licks are seasonal for many species. These trends in visitation are likely due to species‐specific factors such as reproduction, predator avoidance, seasonal diet shifts, and resource use.     

The red brocket deer (Mazama americana) as a new intermediate host of Taenia omissa (Taeniidae)

A total of 13 metacestodes were collected from the lung and parietal pleura from a red brocket deer (Mazama americana) from the Peruvian Amazon. All metacestodes were identified as cysticerci of Taenia omissa by morphological and molecular analyzes. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequences from the new isolate T. omissa had more than 96.8% identity with other Peruvian isolates of the species previously sequenced. Lower similarities (93.8–95.8%) were verified between Peruvian and Canadian isolates. This finding adds a new intermediate host for T. omissa and also expands its geographical distribution.     

Can forest fragmentation disrupt a conditional mutualism? A case from central Amazon

This is the first study to investigate whether scatter-hoarding behavior, a conditional mutualism, can be disrupted by forest fragmentation. We examined whether acouchies (Myoprocta acouchy, Rodentia) and agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina, Rodentia) changed scatter-hoarding behavior toward seeds of Astrocaryum aculeatum (Arecaceae) as a consequence of a decrease in forest-patch area. Our study was conducted at the 30-year-old Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, in central Amazon, Brazil. We tested whether forest size affected the number of Astrocaryum seeds removed and scatter-hoarded (and likely dispersed) by acouchies and agoutis, as well as the distance that the seeds were hoarded. The study extended over three seasons: the peak of the rainy season (March–April), the transition between the rainy and the dry season (May–June), and the peak of the dry season (August–September). Our results revealed that the number of seeds removed was larger in smaller fragments, but that the percentage of seeds hoarded was much lower, and seeds eaten much higher, in 1-ha fragments. Moreover, fewer seeds were taken longer distances in fragments than in the continuous forest. Site affected the number of seeds removed and season affected the percentage of seeds hoarded: more seeds were removed from stations in one site than in two others, and hoarding was more important in April and September than in June. Our study reveals that scatter-hoarding behavior is affected by forest fragmentation, with the most important disruption in very small fragments. Fragmentation converts a largely mutualistic relationship between the rodents and this palm in large forest patches into seed predation in small fragments.     

Dodging the moon: The moon effect on activity allocation of prey in the presence of predators

Animals can adapt their activity patterns throughout the circadian cycle. Prey may use moonlight as a predation risk cue and allocate their activity to lower risk periods. Here, we assessed moon transit influence on the activity allocation of nocturnal mammalian prey, in the presence of a predator (pumas, Puma concolor), during different moon phases, through camera trapping in Central Amazon. Thirty camera traps were installed 2 km apart from each other in each of our three study sites. Prey record distributions were assessed across the moon cycle, and their daily activity patterns were described in each moon phase. The record distributions of pacas (Cuniculus paca) (N = 262) and armadillos (Dasypus sp.) (N = 244) were concentrated in darker nights, contrasting with red brocket deer (Mazama americana) (N = 123) and pumas (N = 31), whose records were evenly distributed through the moon cycle. Yet, every prey was found to avoid the brighter times of the night regardless of the moon phase. These findings suggest prey can shift the temporal distribution of their activities under different moon phases when predators are present, perhaps in response to predation risk variations.     

Behavioral “bycatch” from camera trap surveys yields insights on prey responses to human‐mediated predation risk

Human disturbance directly affects animal populations and communities, but indirect effects of disturbance on species behaviors are less well understood. For instance, disturbance may alter predator activity and cause knock‐on effects to predator‐sensitive foraging in prey. Camera traps provide an emerging opportunity to investigate such disturbance‐mediated impacts to animal behaviors across multiple scales. We used camera trap data to test predictions about predator‐sensitive behavior in three ungulate species (caribou Rangifer tarandus; white‐tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus; moose, Alces alces) across two western boreal forest landscapes varying in disturbance. We quantified behavior as the number of camera trap photos per detection event and tested its relationship to inferred human‐mediated predation risk between a landscape with greater industrial disturbance and predator activity and a “control” landscape with lower human and predator activity. We also assessed the finer‐scale influence on behavior of variation in predation risk (relative to habitat variation) across camera sites within the more disturbed landscape. We predicted that animals in areas with greater predation risk (e.g., more wolf activity, less cover) would travel faster past cameras and generate fewer photos per detection event, while animals in areas with less predation risk would linger (rest, forage, investigate), generating more photos per event. Our predictions were supported at the landscape‐level, as caribou and moose had more photos per event in the control landscape where disturbance‐mediated predation risk was lower. At a finer‐scale within the disturbed landscape, no prey species showed a significant behavioral response to wolf activity, but the number of photos per event decreased for white‐tailed deer with increasing line of sight (m) along seismic lines (i.e., decreasing visual cover), consistent with a predator‐sensitive response. The presence of juveniles was associated with shorter behavioral events for caribou and moose, suggesting greater predator sensitivity for females with calves. Only moose demonstrated a positive behavioral association (i.e., longer events) with vegetation productivity (16‐day NDVI), suggesting that for other species bottom‐up influences of forage availability were generally weaker than top‐down influences from predation risk. Behavioral insights can be gleaned from camera trap surveys and provide complementary information about animal responses to predation risk, and thus about the indirect impacts of human disturbances on predator–prey interactions.     

Divergent effects of lure on multi-species camera-trap detections and quality of photos

The use of attractants to increase detection of target species, such as carnivores, in camera trap studies must be tested for its effectiveness and be carefully planned, as it can lead to misleading comparisons among species. We analyzed a five-year multi-species camera trap dataset of lured and control stations in a protected area in the Amazon rainforest. We aimed to identify the lure effect on a wider range of species and assess whether its use is an efficient strategy to increase the number and the quality of carnivore records. From the 14 vertebrate species analyzed, we found that the use of lures had a negligible effect on nine species, and did not improve the number of records or the detection probability of the carnivores. On the other hand, lured stations attracted omnivores and scavengers (common opossum, black-and-white tegu, and turkey vulture) while had the opposite effect on potential prey species (Black-capped capuchin and Northern Amazon squirrel). We detected a stronger effect of the lure when considering the number of records (relative abundance models) than the probability of detection (occupancy models). The lure increased the proportion of high-quality photos, suitable for individual recognition of jaguars, but only for the first weeks, when the lure was fresh. Therefore, we suggest that the sardine and egg-based lures should be refreshed every-two weeks to ensure greater effectiveness in the quality of photos for jaguar individualization. However, it is important to consider that lure renewing will imply a significant increase in field-related costs and it’s likely to bias other species studies. Thus, we advise that lures should only be used if researchers are certain that the focus is only to increase carnivore data at the expense of using non-target species. Camera traps survey design must be carefully planned a priori and the cost-benefit of lure use and refreshment should be weighed in the study context.     

Density,habitat use,and daily activity patterns of the Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) in the Atlantic Forest,Brazil

The Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina, Linnaeus, 1758) is considered common in areas where it occurs, and it is listed as Least Concern status in the IUCN red list; however, in recent decades it has been negatively affected by habitat loss and hunting. The conservation status needs to be updated since no recent studies have been conducted in the Atlantic Forest. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the density, occupancy and detectability of D. leporina in one of the larger Atlantic Forest remnants in Espírito Santo, Brazil, the Vale Natural Reserve (VNR). We surveyed four line transects between April 2013 and May 2014 to estimate density and abundance. To model occupancy probability, as well as to document activity pattern, we selected 39 sampling sites with one camera-trap each. Estimated density was 21 ± 3 individuals km^–2 and estimated population size was 4935 ± 368 individuals. Occupancy increases with palm density, distance from forest edge, and canopy cover. Occupancy and detectability decreases with distance from water resources. Detectability increases with palm density. The results presented herein can be a starting point to support future action plans for the species, making predictions regarding the ecosystem and management and conservation of D. leporina.     

The physiological light response of two tree species across a hydrologic gradient in Brazilian savanna (Cerrado)

Tropical savanna ecosystems are extremely diverse and important for global carbon storage. In the state of Mato Grosso, tropical savanna (locally known as the Cerrado), turns from well-drained, upland areas into seasonally flooded areas within the Pantanal; however, the Cerrado and the Pantanal share many common tree species, such as Vochysia divergens, a flood-adapted tree native to the Amazon Basin, and Curatella americana, a tree, adapted native to the welldrained the Cerrado. We measured the photosynthetic light response of these species in the the Cerrado and the Pantanal over a 1-year period to determine how these species physiologically adjust to these hydrologically distinct habitats. We hypothesized that neither species would experience a significant decline in maximum, light-saturated photosynthetic rate (P _max) in their naturalized habitat. Physiological performance of each species was generally higher in the habitat that they were adapted to; however, our data indicated that both species have broad tolerance for seasonal variations in hydrology, allowing them to tolerate seasonal drought during the dry season in the Cerrado, and seasonal flooding during the wet season in the Pantanal. In V. divergens, flexible water-use efficiency, higher specific leaf area (SLA), and a greater ability to adjust mass-based P _max (P _max,m) to variations in leaf N and P concentration appeared to be key traits for withstanding prolonged drought in the Cerrado. In C. americana, increases in SLA and higher nutrient-use efficiency appeared to be important in maintaining high rates of P _max,m in the seasonally flooded Pantanal. Flexibility in physiology and resource-use efficiency may allow these species to survive and persist in habitats with broadly differing hydrology.     

Agricultural encroachment and lack of enforcement threaten connectivity of range-wide jaguar (Panthera onca) corridor

The purpose of protected areas is to safeguard natural habitats and their biodiversity. However, few protected areas are large enough for the long-term conservation of resident species, making the landscapes surrounding protected areas equally important for species conservation. This is especially true for wide-ranging carnivores such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), for which conservation strategies stress the maintenance of range-wide habitat connectivity via protected areas and dispersal corridors. We used 587 interviews with local people in 441 36-km² sampling units to assess the presence of jaguar and six prey species in a critical corridor in Central America, linking Bosawas Biosphere Reserve and Wawashan Nature Reserve in Nicaragua. We analyzed these data using single-season false-positive detection models in a site occupancy framework. We found that agricultural encroachment, particularly pervasive within a protected area, was the main factor limiting the presence of jaguar and three large-bodied prey species: white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and red brocket deer (Mazama americana). We suggest that improperly-managed protected areas can suffer the loss of apex predators and their prey, thereby jeopardizing range-wide conservation strategies for threatened species.     

Les Cervidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) du Pléistocène supérieur-Holocène ancien de la région du Parc National Serra da Capivara (Piauí, Brésil)

The Upper Pleistocene/Lower Holocene fossil-bearing sites of the Serra da Capivara National Park Region have yielded three cervid species: Mazama gouazoubira, M. americana and Blastocerus dichotomus, all currently living in South America, the two first in the region. A grand total of more than one hundred remains demonstrates the presence of Mazama gouazoubira in seven sites, mainly the Toca das Moendas, the Toca do Serrote do Artur, the Toca da Cima dos Pilão. This small species shows, since the Upper Pleistocene, a conspicuous tendency to reduce the average dimensions of its teeth and long bones. From the taller M. americana, only a dozen of remains were found in four sites, mainly the Sitio do Meio. In all of these it is sympatric with M. gouazoubira. It differs from this last one by its cheek teeth and its limb bones size and proportions. The oldest site where the species is known is Tarija (Bolivia, Middle Pleistocene) and it does not show any significant changes in size and proportions between recent and fossil samples. Sixteen remains of the large B. dichotomus were found in five sites, mainly the Toca das Moendas and the Toca da Barra do Antonião. The species is a rare fossil, but is frequently figured in the rock art painting of the region, where it is presently unknown.     

Photosynthetic parameters of two invasive tree species of the Brazilian Pantanal in response to seasonal flooding

The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world with extremely high plant and animal diversity, but large areas have been invaded by Vochysia divergens Pohl (Vochysiaceae), a tree that is native to the Amazon Basin, and Curatella americana L. (Dilleniaceae), a tree that is native to the Brazilian savanna (cerrado). V. divergens is reportedly floodadapted, thus its ability to invade the Pantanal may not be surprising, but the invasion of C. americana is counterintuitive, because this species is adapted to the well-drained soils of the cerrado. Thus, we were interested in comparing the photosynthetic capacity, in terms of CO₂ conductance, carboxylation, and electron transport of these species over a seasonal flooding cycle. Given that V. divergens is reportedly flood-adapted, we predicted that this species would have a higher photosynthetic capacity than C. americana, especially under flooding. To test this hypothesis we measured the photosynthetic CO₂ response (P _N/C _c) of V. divergens and C. americana within 1 year to determine, if photosynthetic capacity varied systematically over time and between species. Contrary to our hypothesis, V. divergens did not always have a higher photosynthetic capacity than C. americana. Rather, species differences were influenced by temporal variations in flooding and the leaf age. Leaf CO₂ assimilation and photosynthetic capacity of both species were lower during the flood period, but the differences were not statistically significant. The physiological performance of both species was strongly related to leaf N and P concentrations, but P limitation appeared to be more important than N limitation for these species and ecosystem. Photosynthetic capacity was higher and more stable for V. divergens, but such an advantage did not result in a statistically significant increase in P _N. Our results suggest that both species are tolerant to flooding even though they are adapted to very different hydrological conditions. Such physiological plasticity, especially for C. americana, might be a key feature for the ability to survive and persist in the seasonally flooded Pantanal.     

Agouti reintroduction recovers seed dispersal of a large-seeded tropical tree

The aim of animal reintroductions has mainly been species recovery; only few reintroduction initiatives focus on ecosystem restoration. Therefore, reintroduction consequences on ecological interactions are seldom assessed. We used the interaction between a reintroduced population of agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) and a vulnerable tropical endemic tree (Joannesia princeps) to examine reintroduction effects on seed dispersal and seedling establishment. To test the outcomes of this interaction, we tracked seeds of J. princeps in two adjacent forest areas with and without reintroduced agoutis. We also assessed if dispersal distances affected seedling survival. To determine seed fate and dispersal distance, we used spool-and-line tracking, together with camera traps to identify dispersers. Agoutis were the only species removing J. princeps seeds, thus dispersal only occurred where agoutis had been reintroduced; in the area without agoutis, all seeds remained intact on the soil, even one year after the experiment's beginning. At the reintroduction area, most seeds were preyed upon by agoutis but 7% remained dispersed and 2% germinated after ten months. Only seeds buried by agoutis were able to germinate. Most dispersed seeds were dispersed 15 m or farther and longer dispersal distances benefited J. princeps, since seedlings farther from a conspecific adult tree had greater survival probability. Agoutis were also seen burying seeds of two other plant species; these mammals have the potential to benefit dozens of large-seeded species in our study system. Agouti reintroduction thus exemplifies the value of trophic rewilding programs to re-establish ecological interactions and restore ecosystem functioning.     

Use of exotic conifers as nesting sites by Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis melanopis) in an urban area of southern Chile

We studied the influence of seven habitat variables, including tree species, for nesting by the Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis melanopis) in an urban area of southern Chile. Variables were compared between 30 trees with nests and 30 randomly selected trees without nests. Nests were found in big trees with large diameters and heights. However, the only variable found to have a significant effect on site selection was tree species, which explained 57.9% of data variability (deviance) and suggested a selection of exotic conifers, mainly Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Tree species and tree diameter also had significant effects upon the number of nests per tree, jointly explaining 68.9% of data deviance. Our results suggest that in urban environments the Black-faced Ibis uses larger trees that provide greater nest stability and protection.     

Influence of digestive morphology on resource partitioning in Amazonian ungulates

Summary Resource partitioning of diet and habitat use was studied in the entire Amazonian ungulate community of Northeastern Peru, which comprises the red brocket deer (Mazama americana), grey brocket deer (M. gouazoubira), collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu), white-lipped peccary (T. pecari), and lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Each ungulate species partitioned at least one type of resource from every other species. Digestive morphology had a greater influence on resource partitioning of diet than body size. Neither digestive morphology nor body size were related to segregation of habitats. However, species with similar diets partitioned habitats, whereas species with different diets often used the same type of forest. Increases in habitat breadth of ungulates were positively correlated with increases in dietary breadth.     

One or two cameras per station? Monitoring jaguars and other mammals in the Amazon

Camera trapping has become a popular technique to monitor carnivore populations due to its usefulness in estimating abundance. Nevertheless, there are a number of problems associated with study design which are motivating researchers to search for a compromise that ensures improvement of precision while being cost-effective. We have used data from a capture?Crecapture study in a forested area in central Brazil to evaluate the effectiveness of using one versus two cameras per trapping station for determining jaguar (Panthera onca) density and capture rates of several other mammals. The capture rate for the jaguar and other species recorded with only one camera was lower than that with two cameras. The number of jaguars identified using photos from one camera ranged between six and seven animals, but reached ten individuals when two-camera sets were used where pictures of both flanks could be positively individualized. These differences, combined with different estimates of effective sampled area size, resulted in jaguar densities estimates ranging from 2.18 to 5.40 and 3.99?individuals/100?km² when one and two cameras were used per station, respectively (using the half-MMDM and Heterogeneity model). Based on our results, we recommend the use of two cameras per station for jaguar density monitoring to ensure reasonable levels of reliability and accuracy of estimates despite a small sample size.     

Seventy microsatellite markers from Persea americana Miller (avocado) expressed sequence tags

Expressed sequence tags for Persea americana Mill. were investigated to expand upon the number of informative microsatellite markers available for avocado. Seventy informative loci were discovered using 24 P. americana var. americana Mill. accessions. The number of alleles detected ranged from two to 17 and averaged 7.1 alleles per locus. These primers successfully amplified products in different varieties of P. americana, hybrids and a related species, Persea schiedeana. These primers will be useful for characterizing germplasm, determining genetic relationships of cultivated accessions, and for marker‐assisted development of root rot‐tolerant P. americana var. americana rootstock material.     

Effect of plant VOCs and light intensity on growth and reproduction performance of an invasive and a native Phytolacca species in China

Invasive plants often pose great threats to the growth of co‐occurring native plant species. Identifying environmental factors that facilitate exotic plant invasion and native species decline are important. In this study, we measured the effects of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs), light intensity, and their interactions on the growth and reproduction performance of indigenous Phytolacca acinosa, and invasive Phytolacca americana, which has largely replaced the former in China. VOCs of invasive P. americana and low light levels both had negative effects on P. acinosa morphological and reproductive traits (stem length, average leaf number, total number, and length of racemes), and biomass allocation (total biomass, and leaf and flower mass fraction); low light also affected photosynthesis‐related trait (specific leaf area) of P. acinosa. In contrast, VOCs of P. acinosa had no significant effect on P. americana, but low light levels adversely affected its morphological and reproductive traits (stem length, total number, and length of racemes) and biomass allocation (total biomass, stem, and leaf mass fraction). Interactions between plant VOCs and light intensity had no significant effects on P. acinosa or P. americana. Under all experimental treatments, stem length, average leaf area, total number, and length of racemes, Root/Shoot ratio, root and flower mass fraction of P. americana were higher than those of P. acinosa, while average leaf number, specific leaf area, and leaf mass fraction was lower. These results indicated that P. acinosa was sensitive to P. americana VOCs and low light, which might affect the growth of sympatric P. acinosa. P. americana was negatively influenced by low light, but higher plant height and more reproductive organ resource allocation relative to sympatric P. acinosa might contribute to invasion success.     

基于红外相机技术调查桃红岭梅花鹿国家级自然保护区鸟兽多样性

2017年3月—2018年3月期间,采用红外相机技术调查了桃红岭梅花鹿国家级自然保护区内鸟类和兽类的物种多样性。红外相机监测期间,共累计4442个相机日,获得野生动物独立有效照片1003张,其中兽类独立有效照片683张,共4目9科16种;鸟类独立有效照片320张,共9目23科46种;保护区内兽类相对丰富度最高的是小麂(Muntiacus reevesi),鸟类丰富度最高的是黑领噪鹛(Garrulax perspicillatus);其中国家Ⅰ级保护动物有2种,梅花鹿(Cervus nippon)和白颈长尾雉(Syrmaticus ellioti);国家Ⅱ级保护动物有6种,分别为小灵猫(Viverricula indica)、勺鸡(Pucrasia macrolopha)、白鹇(Lophura nycthemera)、草鸮(Tyto longimembris)、红角鸮(Otus sunia)和松雀鹰(Accipiter virgatus)。红外相机在灌丛中拍摄率最高,在草甸中拍摄率最低。通过稀疏外推曲线对物种多样性进行估计可得,保护区实际的物种数远大于监测到的物种数,因此有待继续进行长期监测。通过物种与相机位点的PCA排序图可知,各个相机位点和物种的相关性较强。调查结果为保护区提供了重要的兽类和鸟类资源信息,为保护区对野生动物的有效管理和长期监测提供了数据支持。