Anurans of a threatened savanna area in western Brazil

The Upper Paraguay River Basin is located in the center of South America and harbors one of the largest wetland in the world, known as Pantanal. This floodplain is surrounded by uplands, which presently have most of their area converted into pastures or monocultures, besides being poorly known scientifically. Also, most of these upland areas are considered conservation priorities. Here we present a list of anuran species from a savanna-like area (municipality of Camapuã, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil) inserted in the uplands surrounding the Pantanal floodplain, in the Upper Taquari River sub-basin, and evaluate the effectiveness of the sampling effort. Data were obtained through active searches in 22 plots in aquatic habitats, during the rainy season (from December 2009 to April 2010). We found 26 species, in four families. Although sampling effort was found to sufficiently represent the local anuran assemblage, future inventories in this region should ideally include samplings during the dry and early rainy seasons, and include both active and passive capturing methods.

A bacia do Alto Paraguai, localizada no centro da América do Sul, abriga uma das maiores áreas inundáveis do mundo, conhecida como Pantanal. Essa planície alagável é rodeada por planaltos, os quais possuem grande parte de sua área convertida em pastagens ou monoculturas, além de serem pouco conhecidos cientificamente. Além disso, a maioria das áreas de planalto são consideradas prioritárias para a conservação. Apresentamos uma lista de espécies de anuros de uma área semelhante a savanas (município de Camapuã, estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil) inserida nos planaltos de entorno do Pantanal, na sub-bacia do Alto Taquari, e avaliamos a efetividade do esforço amostral. Os dados foram obtidos através de busca ativa em 22 parcelas em ambientes aquáticos, durante a estação chuvosa (de Dezembro de 2009 a Abril de 2010). Encontramos 26 espécies, em quatro famílias. Apesar de considerarmos o esforço amostral suficiente para representar da comunidade de anuros local, sugerimos que futuros inventários nessa região contemplem a estação seca e início da chuvosa, bem como o uso adicional de métodos passivos de captura.

Estudio preliminar de la fauna en el morro de basuras de Moravia y presencia de metales pesados en artrópodos y roedores / Preliminary study of the fauna in the Morro de Moravia open dump and presence of heavy metals in arthropods and rodents / Estudo preliminar da fauna no monte de lixo da Moravia e presença de metais pesados em artrópodes e roedores

La caracterización de las especies presentes en un sitio determinado a través de inventarios biológicos, brinda información sobre su diversidad, incluso cuando es realizado en ambientes intervenidos como los basureros a cielo abierto, lugares considerados como una amenaza para la salud, dado que allí suelen acumularse metales pesados, reconocidos como riesgo para la salud y el ambiente. Objetivos. Realizar la caracterización preliminar de artrópodos y pequeños mamíferos no voladores del morro de basuras de Moravia, así como la determinación de metales pesados en muestras de tejido animal. Materiales y Métodos. Para la captura de artrópodos se utilizaron trampas de caída y captura manual. Los roedores se capturaron con trampas Sherman. El análisis de metales pesados en tejido animal se realizó mediante espectroscopia atómica. Resultados. Se identificaron 9 órdenes, 51 familias y 75 morfoespecies de insectos, 5 familias de arañas, dos especies de sírfidos y una especie de milpiés; Mus musculus fue la única especie de roedor identificado. El análisis de metales pesados mostró diversas concentraciones de Pb y Cd principalmente. El contenido máximo de Pb (45,05 mg/kg) se encontró en muestras de los especímenes de M. musculus y el contenido más alto de Cd (10,31 mg/kg) se encontró en las muestras de arañas de la familia Gasteracantha. Conclusiones. El morro de Moravia presenta condiciones que permiten el establecimiento de una comunidad de artrópodos con diversas dietas y nichos. Asimismo, se corrobora la transferencia de metales pesados desde la matriz de residuos hacia niveles superiores de la cadena trófica.

Characterization of the species present in a given locality by means of biological inventories provides information about diversity, even if it is done in disturbed environments such as open dumps, which are considered a threat for health due to the accumulation of heavy metals that are well known for their negative effects on human health and the environment. Objectives. To carry out a preliminary characterization of arthropods and non-flying small mammals in the Morro de Moravia open dump, and to determine the heavy metal contents in animal tissue samples. Materials and Methods. Arthropods were collected with pitfall traps and manually. Rodents were captured with Sherman traps. The heavy metal analysis was carried out with atomic spectroscopy. Results. A total of 9 orders, 51 families and 75 morphospecies of insects, 5 families of spiders, two syrphid and a millipede species were identified; Mus musculus was the only small mammal species identified. Heavy metal analysis showed various concentrations mainly of Pb and Cd. The highest content of Pb (45.05 mg/kg) was found in samples of M. musculus and the highest Cd content (10.31 mg/kg) was found in spiders of the family Gasteracantha. Conclusions. The Morro de Moravia open dump provides conditions that allow the establishment of an arthropod community with various diets and niches. The transference of heavy metals from the residue matrix towards higher levels of the trophic chain was corroborated.

A caracterização das espécies presentes num determinado local através de inventários biológicos, fornece informação sobre sua diversidade, mesmo quando é realizada em ambientes como os lixos a céu aberto, locais considerados como uma ameaça para a saúde, devido a que freqüentemente acumulam metais pesados, reconhecidos como um risco para a saúde e o meio ambiente. Objetivos. Realizar a caracterização preliminar de artrópodes e pequenos mamíferos não-voadores do monte de lixo da Moravia, e a determinação de metais pesados em amostras de tecido animal. Materiais e Métodos. Para a captura dos artrópodes utilizaram-se armadilhas de queda e captura manual. Os roedores foram capturados com armadilhas Sherman. A análise de metais pesados nos tecidos dos animais foi realizada por espectroscopia atômica. Resultados. Foram identificados 9 ordens, 51 famílias e 75 morfoespécies de insetos, 5 famílias de aranhas, duas espécies de moscas sírfidos e uma de centopéia, Mus musculus foi a única espécie de roedor encontrado. A análise de metais pesados a presenteou diferentes concentrações de Pb e Cd principalmente. O teor máximo de Pb (45,05 mg/kg) foi encontrado em amostras de espécimes de M. musculus e os maiores teores de Cd (10,31 mg/kg) foi encontrado nas amostras de aranhas da família Gasteracantha. Conclusões. O monte de lixo da Moravia apresenta condições que permitem o estabelecimento de uma comunidade de artrópodes com dietas diferentes e nichos. Também, se confirma à transferência de metais pesados a partir da matriz de resíduos para níveis mais altos da cadeia alimentar.

Addendum to the checklist of the helminth parasites of vertebrates in Costa Rica

In this work, we present an addendum to the "Checklist of the helminth parasites of vertebrates in Costa Rica" with a parasite-host list as well as a host-parasite list. This addendum updates the available information on this group of parasites in Costa Rica, since very recently a new input has been made to describe the helminth fauna of vertebrates, particularly at the Area de Conservación de Guanacaste. In this paper, we add 33 records, representing 23 species. This raises the number of helminth species described in vertebrates from Costa Rica to 325, represented by 89 species of digeneans, 23 of monogeneans. 63 of cestodes, 13 of acanthocephalans, and 137 of nematodes. In total, 133 species of vertebrates have been studied for helminths in Costa Rica (31 species of fishes. 7 amphibians, 18 reptiles, 40 birds, and 37 mammals). Currently, 67 species (20.6 %) have been recorded as new species from Costa Rica and most of them are endemic to particular regions. The Colecci6n de Helmintos de Costa Rica, housed at the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), San José, is the depositary of only 23% of the species recorded so far; however this situation is changing and people recognizes.

Checklist of the helminth parasites of vertebrates in Costa Rica

Helminth parasites of vertebrates have been studied in Costa Rica for more than 50 years. Survey work on this group of parasites is far from complete. We assembled a database with all the records of helminth parasites of wild and domestic vertebrates in Costa Rica. Information was obtained from different sources such as literature search (all published accounts) and parasite collections. Here we present a checklist with a parasite-host list as well as a host-parasite list. Up to now, 303 species have been recorded, including 81 species of digeneans, 23 monogeneans, 63 cestodes, 12 acanthocephalans, and 124 nematodes. In total, 108 species of vertebrates have been studied for helminths in Costa Rica (31 species of fishes, 7 amphibians, 14 reptiles, 20 birds, and 36 mammals). This represents only 3.8% of the vertebrate fauna of Costa Rica since about 2,855 species of vertebrates occur in the country. Interestingly, 58 species (19.1%) were recorded as new species from Costa Rica and most of them are endemic to particular regions. Considering the valuable information that parasites provide because it is synergistic with all the information about the natural history of the hosts, helminth parasites of vertebrates in Costa Rica should be considered within any initiatives to accomplish the national inventory of biological resources. Starting with this compilation work, the Colección de Helmintos de Costa Rica (CHCR), hosted at the Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, has re-emerged and it is our hope that it will have the standards of quality to assure that it will become the national depository of helminths in the country.