Effects of hydrological cycles and water body connectivity on abundance and co-occurrence of two Neotropical Curculionidae species / Efeito do ciclo hidrológico e da conectividade das baías do Pantanal na abundância e co-ocorrência de duas espécies de Curculionidae Neotropical

Abstract: The effect of the hydrological cycle on the abundance of adults and larvae of the weevils Cyrtobagous salviniae and Cyrtobagous singularis in the Pantanal was tested and related to the host-plant abundance, limnological variables, and hydrological connectivity of 10 "bays" (lakes and ponds) along the Cuiabá River. Adults and larvae of C. salviniae were more abundant than C. singularis, and larvae and adult abundance differed significantly both within and between the two species. Adults and larvae of both species were more abundant in connected bays, but only C. salviniae responded to both connectivity and hydrological cycle, with the highest abundances during the high-water and rising-water periods for adults and larvae, respectively. Abundance of C. singularis was negatively related to the predominance of C. salviniae, and populations of adults and larvae of both species were slightly and negatively related to the limnological variables and host-plant abundance. The results showed that the temporal variation in larval and adult abundance and dominance of C. salviniae is influenced by hydrological cycle and connectivity, but not by limnological variables and host-plant abundance.

Resumo: O efeito do ciclo hidrológico sobre a abundância de adultos e larvas dos curculionídeos Cyrtobagous salviniae e Cyrtobagous singularis do Pantanal foi testado e relacionado com a abundância das plantas hospedeiras, variáveis limnológicas e conectividade hidrológica de 10 baías do rio Cuiabá. Os adultos e larvas de C. salviniae foram mais abundantes do que C. singularis, e a abundância de larvas e adultos diferiu significativamente intra e interespecificamente. Adultos e larvas de ambas espécies foram mais abundantes em baías conectadas, mas apenas C. salviniae respondeu ao ciclo hidrológico, com a maior abundância de adultos durante o período de cheia, e maior abundância de larvas na enchente. A abundância de C. singularis foi relacionada negativamente com a predominância de C. salviniae, e a abundância de adultos e larvas de ambas espécies foi fraca e negativamente relacionada com as variáveis limnológicas e abundância das plantas hospedeiras. Os resultados demonstraram que a variação temporal na abundância de larvas e adultos e a dominância de C. salviniae foram influenciadas pela conectividade e ciclo hidrológico, mas não pelas variáveis limnológicas e abundância das macrófitas aquáticas.

Protocol for collecting Mutillidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) in ecological studies: species-area effects on Mutillidae communities

ABSTRACT The species-area relationship is one of the most consistent patterns in ecology, and fragmentation is a major cause of habitat loss. Environmental changes in a site can affect the spatial distribution of organisms. Knowledge of Mutillidae ecology is still scarce due to the lack of standardized sampling. Our aim was to: (1) determine the effect of habitat fragmentation on the Mutillidae community and (2) establish a standard method for sampling Mutillidae in ecological studies. Sampling was conducted in four fragments of Brazilian Savanna in an urbanized matrix. We used quadrats with different areas: 25 m2, 100 m2 and 400 m2 to verify sampling effort. Male and female Mutillidae were collected from each of these three treatments. Males were collected using Malaise traps while females were collected through active search. Ecological index, richness, abundance, and percent similarity between fragments were used to analyze the communities. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to verify differences between treatments. Nonparametric multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine community composition. Analysis of direct ordination of community with respect to the sample area size was performed. Three hundred individuals were collected; of which 201 were female, 99 male; belonging to 42 species distributed in 13 genera and two subfamilies. The richness, abundance and composition of the community were different between treatments. It was found that a 100 m2 quadrat was sufficient for comparison and application of ecological concepts and theories for the group.

First report of Exomalopsis fulvofasciata (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) as host of two Timulla species (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

Two species of Timulla Ashmead that parasitize nests of Exomalopsis fulvofasciata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in riparian vegetation in the Miranda Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil were recorded. Also, the behavior of Timulla species, and first report of T. intermissa in the Brazilian Pantanal was reported.

Registramos duas espécies de Timulla Ashmead parasitando ninhos de Exomalopsis fulvofasciata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) em mata ciliar na região do Pantanal de Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Foram observados comportamentos das espécies de Timulla e primeiro registro de T. intermissa para o Pantanal Brasileiro.

Effect of nectar pillaging by native stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the abscission of flowers of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd (Nyctaginaceae) / Efeito da pilhagem de néctar por abelhas nativas sem ferrão (Hymenoptera: Apidae) na abscisão floral de Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd (Nyctaginaceae)

This study had as objective to evaluate whether the pillaging activity by native bees influences floral abscission. Samples were collected in ten individuals of Bougainvillea spectabilis. In the period between May 4 and June 1st, 2009, 2,874 flowers were collected on the ground and 2,895 from the plants, with three-day intervals between each collection and a total of 10 repetitions in each plant. We measured the total of closed flowers, open flowers, robbed flowers, normal flowers, open robbed flowers and non-robber open flowers, in both soil and plant. For the statistical analysis, the T-test was used to see whether there was a difference between the averages obtained from the evaluated characteristics between the soil flowers and plant flowers. Simple linear regression was used to see whether there was a relationship between the closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant. There were significant differences regarding all variables measured between soil and plant. A correlation was found at both closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade de pilhagem de abelhas nativas influenciando a abscisão floral de Bougainvillea spectabilis. As coletas foram realizadas em dez indivíduos de B. spectabilis. Foram coletadas 2.874 flores no solo e 2.895 na planta no período de 4/5/2009 a 1/6/2009 com intervalo de três dias entre cada coleta, totalizando 10 repetições em cada indivíduo. Foram mensuradas as flores fechadas, flores abertas, flores fechadas pilhadas, flores fechadas não pilhadas, flores abertas pilhadas e flores abertas não pilhadas tanto no solo como na planta. Para as análises estatísticas foi utilizado o Teste-T para verificar se houve diferença entre as médias obtidas das características avaliadas entre as flores do solo e as flores da planta, além de regressão linear simples para verificar se houve relação entre as flores fechadas e flores fechadas pilhadas; flores abertas e flores abertas pilhadas, encontradas no solo e flores fechadas e flores fechadas pilhadas; flores abertas e flores abertas pilhadas na planta. Houve diferença significativa em relação a todas as variáveis entre o solo e a planta. Foi verificada correlação tanto nas flores fechadas e flores pilhadas fechadas encontradas no solo quanto nas flores abertas e flores abertas não pilhadas na planta.

Effect of nectar pillaging by native stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the abscission of flowers of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (Nyctaginaceae) - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v33i4.8191 / Effect of nectar pillaging by native stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the abscission of flowers of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (Nyctaginaceae) - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v33i4.8191

This study had as objective to evaluate whether the pillaging activity by native bees influences floral abscission. Samples were collected in ten individuals of Bougainvillea spectabilis. In the period between May 4 and June 1st, 2009, 2,874 flowers were collected on the ground and 2,895 from the plants, with three-day intervals between each collection and a total of 10 repetitions in each plant. We measured the total of closed flowers, open flowers, robbed flowers, normal flowers, open robbed flowers and non-robber open flowers, in both soil and plant. For the statistical analysis, the T-test was used to see whether there was a difference between the averages obtained from the evaluated characteristics between the soil flowers and plant flowers. Simple linear regression was used to see whether there was a relationship between the closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant. There were significant differences regarding all variables measured between soil and plant. A correlation was found at both closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant.

This study had as objective to evaluate whether the pillaging activity by native bees influences floral abscission. Samples were collected in ten individuals of Bougainvillea spectabilis. In the period between May 4 and June 1st, 2009, 2,874 flowers were collected on the ground and 2,895 from the plants, with three-day intervals between each collection and a total of 10 repetitions in each plant. We measured the total of closed flowers, open flowers, robbed flowers, normal flowers, open robbed flowers and non-robber open flowers, in both soil and plant. For the statistical analysis, the T-test was used to see whether there was a difference between the averages obtained from the evaluated characteristics between the soil flowers and plant flowers. Simple linear regression was used to see whether there was a relationship between the closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant. There were significant differences regarding all variables measured between soil and plant. A correlation was found at both closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant.

Use of the campus of Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados as a refuge for birds of fragment of the Mata Azulão in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i4.4548 / Utilização do Campus da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados como refúgio para as aves do fragmento da Mata do Azulão em Dourados, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i4.4548

This paper aimed to verify the day-active birds in the area of the campus of the Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados Mato Grosso do Sul State, which is next to the fragment of the Atlantic forest of Mata do Azulão, Dourados Mato Grosso do Sul State. There were 65 hours of visual and audio observations during the period from April to September 2007. Seventy-two species were observed, which were gradually emerging on campus. This shows that the campus is used as a refuge for birds of fragment of the Mata Azulão and suggests that further work with an even greater sampling effort considering the seasonal nature be conducted

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo verificar a avifauna diurna presente na área do campus da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, que se encontra próxima ao fragmento de Mata Atlântica da Mata do Azulão em Dourados, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul. Realizaram-se 65h de observações visuais e auditivas no período de abril a setembro de 2007. Foram observadas 72 espécies, as quais foram surgindo gradativamente no campus. Evidencia-se que o local é utilizado como refúgio para as aves do fragmento da Mata do Azulão e sugere-se que novos trabalhos com esforço amostral ainda maior e considerando a sazonalidade sejam realizados