Diversidad y patrones de actividad de mamíferos medianos y grandes en la Reserva de la Biosfera La Encrucijada, Chiapas, México / Diversity and activity patterns of medium and large mammals in La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico

Resumen En México, los humedales ocupan una porción importante del país, entre ellos, los manglares son particularmente diversos. La Reserva de la Biosfera de La Encrucijada (REBIEN) es un ecosistema costero de manglares localizado en la planicie costera del pacífico en la porción suroeste del estado de Chiapas. Los manglares de la REBIEN se encuentran entre los más importantes de la costa pacífica americana, destacando el papel que juegan en el mantenimiento de la comunidad de mamíferos en la costa del estado. Existen pocos estudios en México relacionados con los mamíferos asociados a estos ecosistemas, nuestro objetivo fue estimar la diversidad y los patrones de actividad de los mamíferos medianos y grandes en la REBIEN. El muestreo se realizó de agosto de 2015 a agosto de 2016 utilizando trampas-cámara. Se obtuvieron un total de 1 851 registros de fotografías independientes con un esfuerzo de muestreo total de 5 400 días-trampa. Se registraron 19 especies de mamíferos pertenecientes a 15 familias y siete órdenes, y cinco especies fueron nuevos registros en el área. Seis especies presentes figuran en la lista, dos en peligro de extinción y cuatro amenazadas. Los análisis de interpolación y extrapolación mostraron una tendencia asintótica en las curvas para las estaciones de lluvia y seca. La cobertura de la muestra para ambas temporadas fue de 99.9 % y 99.8 %, respectivamente, lo que indica en ambos casos un muestreo representativo. Según el índice de abundancia relativa obtenido, las especies más abundantes fueron Procyon lotor (IAR = 4.35), Nasua narica (IAR = 3.91), Philander opossum (IAR = 2.04), Cuniculus paca (IAR = 1.89), Didelphis marsupialis (IAR = 1.67) y Dasypus novemcinctus (IAR = 1.02). En términos de patrones de actividad, C. paca, P. opossum, D. marsupialis y D. novemcinctus fueron principalmente nocturnos; P. lotor mostró una tendencia hacia hábitos nocturnos, pero también se registró durante el día; N. narica fue principalmente diurno. Esta información puede ser útil para la creación de programas de manejo y la conservación de mamíferos medianos y grandes en la REBIEN, especialmente para especies en riesgo.

Abstract In Mexico, wetlands occupy an important portion of the country, among them, mangroves are particularly diverse. La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve (ENBIRE) is a coastal ecosystem of mangrove located along the Pacific Coastal Plain in the Southwestern portion of Chiapas state. The ENBIRE mangroves are among the most important of the American Pacific Coast, highlighting the role they play in the maintenance of the community of mammals on the coast of the state. There are few studies in Mexico related to the mammals associated with these ecosystems, our aim was to estimate the diversity and activity patterns of medium and large mammals in the ENBIRE. Sampling was conducted from August 2015 to August 2016 using camera traps. We obteined 1 851 independent photographs records, with a total sampling effort of 5 400 trap-days. Nineteen species of mammals were registered belonging to 15 families and seven orders, and five species were new records to the area. Six species present are listed, two as endangered and four as threatened. Interpolation and extrapolation analyzes showed an asymptotic trend in the curves for the rainy and dry seasons. The coverage of the sample for both seasons was 99.9 % and 99.8 %, respectively, indicating that both cases were a representative sample. According to the relative abundance index obtained, the most abundant species were Procyon lotor (IAR = 4.35), Nasua narica (IAR = 3.91), Philander opossum (IAR = 2.04), Cuniculus paca (IAR = 1.89), Didelphis marsupialis (IAR = 1.67) and Dasypus novemcinctus (IAR = 1.02). In terms of patterns of activity C. paca, P. opossum, D. marsupialis and D. novemcinctus were primarily nocturnal; P. lotor showed a tendency towards nocturnal habits but was also recorded during the day; N. narica was mainly diurnal. This information can be useful to the creation of management programs and the conservation of medium and large mammals in the ENBIRE, especially for species at risk. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 634-646. Epub 2018 June 01.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) in mammals: epigenetic and developmental alterations: scientific and bioethical implications for IVF in humans

The advent of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in animals and humans implies an extraordinary change in the environment where the beginning of a new organism takes place. In mammals fertilization occurs in the maternal oviduct, where there are unique conditions for guaranteeing the encounter of the gametes and the first stages of development of the embryo and thus its future. During this period a major epigenetic reprogramming takes place that is crucial for the normal fate of the embryo. This epigenetic reprogramming is very vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions such as the ones implied in IVF, including in vitro culture, nutrition, light, temperature, oxygen tension, embryo-maternal signaling, and the general absence of protection against foreign elements that could affect the stability of this process. The objective of this review is to update the impact of the various conditions inherent in the use of IVF on the epigenetic profile and outcomes of mammalian embryos, including superovulation, IVF technique, embryo culture and manipulation and absence of embryo-maternal signaling. It also covers the possible transgenerational inheritance of the epigenetic alterations associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including its phenotypic consequences as is in the case of the large offspring syndrome (LOS). Finally, the important scientific and bioethical implications of the results found in animals are discussed in terms of the ART in humans.

Ocurrence of the chestnut long-tongued bat Lionycteris spurrelli Thomas, 1913 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in the Northeastern Atlantic Forest, Brazil / Ocorrência do morcego Lionycteris spurrelli Thomas, 1913 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) na Floresta Atlântica do nordeste do Brasil

During an inventory fieldwork carried out at Usina Salgado property in the county of Ipojuca, Pernambuco, Brazil, we captured a Lionycteris spurrelli specimen in a forest fragment known as Mata do Mingú (8º 31' 29" S and 35º 03' 26" W). This marks the first occurrence for the northeast region and therefore, the first record for the state of Pernambuco, widening its distribution area within Atlantic Forest. The extension of the occurrence area points out this record as being the oriental limit for the species.

Durante um trabalho de campo realizado nas propriedades da Usina Salgado, no município de Ipojuca, Pernambuco, foi capturado um indivíduo da espécie Lionycteris spurrelli, no fragmento denominado Mata do Mingú (8º 31' 29" S e 35º 03' 26" W). O fato registra a primeira ocorrência para a região Nordeste e conseqüentemente o primeiro registro para o estado de Pernambuco, ampliando a área de distribuição do morcego na Floresta Atlântica. A extensão da área de ocorrência aponta este registro como o limite oriental para a espécie.

Ocorrência de Atelocynus microtis (Sclater, 1882) na Floresta Nacional do Jamari, estado de Rondônia / Occurrence of Atelocynus microtis (Sclater, 1882) in the Jamari National Forest, Rondonia state

O cachorro-de-orelhas-curtas Atelocynus microtis é uma das espécies mais raras de Canídeos Sul-americanos. Os relatos são muito raros e a inexistência de animais cativos também sugere distribuição limitada e densidades baixas. No período de 16 de agosto a 12 de outubro de 2006, foi realizado um monitoramento fotográfico na Floresta Nacional do Jamari, que é uma Unidade de Conservação de Uso Sustentável e possui plano de manejo com seu zoneamento ambiental definido. Os registros fotográficos de Atelocynus microtis foram obtidos nas regiões centro-oeste e noroeste da unidade, áreas formadas por Floresta Ombrófila Densa, com pontos de Floresta Ombrófila Aberta. As áreas onde foram capturadas as imagens fotográficas de Atelocynus microtis, estão em Zona de Manejo Florestal e em Zona de Mineração, por enquanto sem exploração. A partir destes fatos, a sugestão seria que o zoneamento ambiental desta Unidade de Conservação levasse em consideração este achado e fosse alterado para que a espécie fosse mais bem estudada na região antes da exploração das áreas. Como estudos relacionados a esta espécie são praticamente inexistentes, esta nota se torna importante, contribuindo com dados sobre a ecologia do A. microtis.

The Short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is one of the most rare species of South America Canids. It is rarely reported in inventories or faunal surveys and the absence of captive animals also suggest a restrict distribution and low densities. Between August 16th 2006 and October 12th 2006, a photographic monitoring using camera traps (infrared-triggered), was carried out at the Jamari National Forest. This is a sustainable use conservation unity and has a management plan with its defined environmental zones. The Atelocynus microtis photos were captured in the Central-west and North-west areas of the Jamari National Forest, areas constituted by Dense Evergreen Forest with Open Evergreen Forest spots. The areas where the images of A. microtis were captured are in forest management zone and in mining zone, which still not exploited. Based on these facts, we suggest the management plan of this Conservation Unity took this finding into consideration and altered it, so this species could be better studied in the region, before its exploitation. As there are hardly any studies related to this species, this note becomes important, contributing to data about the A. microtis ecology.

Embarcações motorizadas: uma ameaça aos peixes-boi marinhos (Trichechus manatus) no Brasil / Motorboat: a threat to Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Brazil

O aumento do tráfego de embarcações motorizadas em áreas utilizadas para alimentação, descanso e reprodução pelos peixes-boi marinhos tem não só afugentado estes animais, mas resultado em potenciais casos de colisões. Este trabalho tem como objetivo relatar casos de interações entre embarcações motorizadas e peixes-boi marinhos (Trichechus manatus) no litoral Nordeste do Brasil. As interações ocorreram nos Estados do Ceará, Paraíba e Sergipe com três espécimes, sendo um destes com quatro registros. Foram observados transtornos clínicos como edema da região frontal, proptose ocular, emagrecimento e múltiplos cortes ao longo do corpo. Sendo assim, o aumento do tráfego de embarcações, e a falta de normativas e de fiscalização que assegurem a efetiva proteção de determinadas áreas, representam um risco direto para a conservação dos peixes-boi marinhos no litoral Nordeste do Brasil.

The increasing traffic of motorboats on feeding, resting and reproduction areas used by manatees causing serious problems for these animals, so scaring them away and leading to potential collisions. The purpose of this study was to describe cases interaction between boat and Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus) living in the Northeastern coast of Brazil. These interactions took place in the State of Ceará, Paraíba and Sergipe, involving three specimens, one of them with four records. Clinical alterations were observed, such as edema in the frontal part of the body, ocular proptosis, weight loss and multiple cuts all over the body. Therefore, the increasing traffic of motorboats, allied to the lack of normative rules and effective law enforcement assuring the protection of specific areas, represent a direct risk to the conservation of Antillean manatees living in the Northeastern coast of Brazil.

Trophic categories in a mammal assemblage: diversity in an agricultural landscape / Categorias tróficas em uma assembléia de mamíferos: diversidade em paisagens agrícolas

Mammals play an important role in the maintenance and regeneration of tropical forests since they have essential ecological functions and can be considered key-species in structuring biological communities. In landscapes with elevated anthropogenic pressure and high degree of fragmentation, species display distinct behavioral responses, generally related to dietary habits. The landscape of Passa-Cinco river basin, in the central-eastern region of São Paulo State, shows a high degree of anthropogenic disturbance, with sugar cane plantations, eucalyptus forests, native semideciduous forest remnants and pastures as the key habitat types in the region. We surveyed medium to large mammals in those habitats and determined species richness and relative abundance for each of the following trophic categories: Insectivore/Omnivores, Frugivore/Omnivores, Carnivores, Frugivore/Herbivores and Herbivore/Grazers. Differences in species richness and relative abundance among habitats were tested using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey test, considering 1) each of the trophic categories individually and 2) the set of categories together. Between July 2003 and June 2004, 284.4 km were walked and 22 species were recorded (20 native and two exotics). Analysis of variance did not detect differences in species richness for any of the trophic categories or for the assemblage. Considering relative abundance, the analysis detected significant differences only for the whole assemblage, with the assemblage being more abundant in sugar cane plantations compared to pastures. Our results indicate that the heterogeneous landscape of the study area is dominated by generalist species adapted to use different habitat types and food items.

Os mamíferos têm um importante papel na manutenção e regeneração das florestas tropicais, pois apresentam funções ecológicas essenciais e podem ser considerados como espécies-chave na estruturação das comunidades biológicas. Em paisagens com forte pressão antrópica e alto grau de fragmentação, as espécies apresentam respostas distintas, geralmente relacionadas ao tipo de dieta. A bacia do Rio Passa-Cinco, região centro-leste do Estado de São Paulo, é uma paisagem fortemente antropizada, com predomínio de pastagens, seguido por canaviais, reflorestamento de eucalipto e fragmentos de floresta estacional semidecídua. Realizamos levantamentos nesses habitats, determinando a riqueza de espécies e abundância relativa nas seguintes categorias tróficas de mamíferos de médio e grande porte: Insetívoros/Onívoros, Frugívoros/Onívoros, Frugívoros/Herbívoros, Carnívoros e Herbívoros/Pastadores. Diferenças quanto à riqueza de espécies e abundância relativa entre os habitats foram testadas com análise de variância de um fator, seguida pelo teste de Tukey, considerando: 1) cada categoria trófica separadamente e 2) o conjunto de todas as categorias tróficas. Entre julho de 2003 e junho de 2004 percorremos 284,4 km, registrando 20 espécies nativas e duas exóticas. Não foram detectadas diferenças na riqueza de espécies para nenhuma categoria trófica ou para a assembléia. Em relação à abundância relativa, a análise detectou diferenças para a assembléia como um todo, com as plantações de cana-de-açúcar apresentando maior abundância comparativamente as pastagens. Nossos resultados indicam que a paisagem heterogênea da área de estudo é dominada por espécies generalistas capazes de utilizar diversos tipos de habitats e itens alimentares disponíveis.

Primeiro registro de Myotis albescens (É. Geoffroy, 1806) (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) para o Estado do Paraná, Brasil / First record of Myotis albescens (É. Geoffroy) from Paraná State, Brazil (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae)

Este é o primeiro registro do morcego vespertilionídeo Myotis albescens (É. Geoffroy, 1806) para o Estado do Paraná. Um indivíduo de Myotis albescens foi registrado na Ilha Mutum, Município de Porto Rico (22º 46' 20" S e 53º 16' 01" W). Esse registro preenche parte de uma lacuna na distribuição de M. albescens, além de contribuir com o conhecimento da mastofauna paranaense.

This is the first record of the vespertilionid bat Myotis albescens (É. Geoffroy, 1806) from Paraná State. An individual of M. albescens was recorded on Mutum Island, Porto Rico Municipality (22º 46' 20" S and 53º 16' 01" W). This record fills an important gap in the distribution of M. albescens, as well as contributes to the knowledge of the mammals of Paraná.

The amazon bamboo rat Dactylomys dactylinus (Rodentia: Echimydae: Dactylomyinae) in the cerrado of central Brazil / O rato-de-bambu Dactylomys dactylinus (Rodentia: Echimyidae: Dactylomyinae) no cerrado do Brasil central

Until recently, the distribution of Dactylomys dactylinus was considered to be restricted to forest habitats from the western Amazon to the east of the Xingu River in Brazil. Individuals of D. dactylinus were rescued in January 1997 from the rising waters of the hydroelectric dam of Serra da Mesa, in Central Brazil. This record extends the southern limit of the distribution of D. dactylinus, and represents also the first occurrence of this species in the Cerrado biome. The specimens were collected in patches of gallery forest of the Tocantins River and its tributaries. The Tocantins is the main river of the Araguaia-Tocantins basin. Its headwaters are located in the Cerrado biome and it is a tributary of the delta of the Amazonas River. The presence of D. dactylinus, a characteristic Amazonian lowland forest species, in the core area of the Cerrado is an evidence of the role of forested environments as mesic corridors that have been contributing to the increase of mammalian diversity in this biome.

Até recentemente, a distribuição de Dactylomys dactylinus foi considerada restrita a hábitats florestais da Amazônia ocidental até o leste do rio Xingu no Brasil. Indivíduos de D. dactylinus foram resgatados em janeiro de 1997 durante o enchimento da represa hidroelétrica de Serra da Mesa, no Brasil central. Este registro estende o limite sul de distribuição de D. dactylinus e é também a primeira ocorrência da espécie no bioma Cerrado. Os espécimes foram coletados em manchas de mata de galeria do rio Tocantins e seus tributários. O Tocantins é o principal rio da bacia do Araguaia-Tocantins. Suas cabeceiras estão localizadas no domínio do Cerrado e é um afluente do delta do rio Amazonas. A presença de D. dactylinus, uma espécie típica da floresta amazônica, na área 'core' do Cerrado representa uma evidência do papel dos ambientes florestais como corredores mésicos que têm contribuído para o aumento da diversidade de mamíferos neste bioma.

Morfologia da glândula mamária de gambás da espécie Didelphis sp associada ao modelo marsupial / Opossum (Didelphis sp) mammary gland morphology associated to the marsupial model

Vertebrados com períodos gestacionais curtos, os marsupiais tendem a ter proles pequenas e dependentes. O período gestacional dos gambás varia de 14-15dias e os filhotes terminam o seu desenvolvimento no marsúpio e este período é considerado como uma gestação externa por alguns autores. A glândula mamária localiza-se internamente ao marsúpio. A cadeia mamária de cada fêmea era composta por 11 papilas mamárias e aquelas papilas que se encontravam conectadas aos filhotes exibiam um comprimento maior em relação às outras. Histologicamente, a glândula mamária dos gambás assemelha-se às dos mamíferos domésticos, exceto pela ausência do músculo esfíncter papilar no teto.

Vertebrates with short period of pregnancy, the marsupials tend to have small and dependent younglitters. The period of pregnancy varies of 14-15 days and, the younglitters finish his development in the pouch, being this period, considered as an external gestation by some authors. The mammary gland is located internally to the pouch, in number of 11 the papilae which were connected to the younglitters come more developed, in lenght. In the microscopic analysis, the mammary gland of the opossum resembles each other to the one of the domestic mammals, except for the absence of the muscle sphincter papillae.

Allometric scaling of biological rhythms in mammals

A wide spectrum of cyclic functions in terrestrial mammals of different size, from the 3-gram shrew to the 3-ton elephant, yields an allometric exponent around 0.25, which is correlated - as a kind of common denominator - with the specific metabolic rate. Furthermore, the applicability of these empirical findings could be extrapolated to chronological events in the sub-cellular realm. On the other hand, the succession of growth periods (T98 percent) until sexual maturity is reached also follows the 1/4 power rule. By means of Verhulst's logistic equation, it has been possible to simulate three different biological conditions, which means that by modifying the numerical value of only one parameter, revertible physiological and pathological states can be obtained, as for instance isostasis, homeostasis and heterostasis.

Synchronized order of appearance of hyaluronic acid (or acidic galactan)-->chondroitin C6 sulfate-->chondroitin C-4/C-6 sulfate, heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate-->heparin during morphogenesis, differentiation and development

The synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and acidic polysaccharides during embryonic and fetal development in mammals and molluscs is briefly reviewed. A sequential order of appearance of each of the acidic polysaccharides was observed, coinciding with the major processes of the ontogeny. In mammals, hyaluronic acid is the first glycosaminoglycan synthesized at the beginning of morphogenesis. This glycosaminoglycan is then replaced by chondroitin 6-sulfate during the migration of the mesenchymal cells. Heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate and chondroitin 4-sulfate are synthesized only during cell differentiation. The synthesis of heparin, on the other hand, is confined to mast cells in a few tissues and is a late event in the differentiation process. The same general pattern is also observed in molluscs except that hyaluronic acid is replaced by an acidic galactan in the morphogenetic process. The activity of the degrading enzymes responsible for the disappearance of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and the acidic galactan in each phase of embryonic development is also reviewed.