The importance of protected areas for conservation of bare-faced curassow (Crax fasciolata spix, 1825) (Galliformes: Cracidae) in the São Paulo State, Brazil / A importância das áreas protegidas na conservação do mutum-de-penacho (Crax fasciolata spix, 1825) (Galliformes: Cracidae) no estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract The Bare-faced Curassow Crax fasciolata (Cracidae:Cracinae) is a vulnerable species that was classified as critically endangered by the São Paulo State -Brazil, in 2008. Specialists recommended "searches for areas where there may be a few remaining populations and protection of the last remaining semideciduous forest in the State". Protected areas were investigated in the Cerrado and semideciduous forest in São Paulo State by camera trapping to evaluate the presence of the Bare-faced Curassow. Eight protected areas in Cerrado biome were investigated, but the Bare-faced Curassows was recorded only at Furnas do Bom Jesus State Park (2,069 ha), São Paulo State despite the large sampling effort in larger protected areas such as the Santa Bárbara Ecological Station (2,712 ha) and Jataí Ecological Station (9,074 ha); the largest protected area of Cerrado biome in São Paulo State. This record of C. fasciolata is important for the Conservation Action Plan for the Cracid family and shows the importance of monitoring biodiversity and conserving even relatively small remnants of native vegetation for the conservation of this species.

Resumo O mutum-de-penacho Crax fasciolata (Cracidae:Cracinae) é uma espécie ameaçada de extinção e foi considerada criticamente em perigo em 2008 no estado de São Paulo. As recomendações dos especialistas para a conservação da espécie no estado foram "a pesquisa por áreas onde poderia existir populações remanescentes e a proteção de remanescentes de floresta semidecidual". Neste trabalho, oito Unidades de Conservação foram investigadas em áreas com vegetação de Cerrado e de floresta semidecidual por meio de armadilhas fotográficas digitais para verificar a presença do mutum-de-penacho (Crax fasciolata). Entretanto, o mutum-de-penacho foi registrado apenas no Parque Estadual Furnas do Bom Jesus, que possui 2.069 ha, apesar do maior esforço amostral em áreas maiores, como a Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara (2.712 ha) e Estação Ecológica de Jataí (9.074),- a maior Unidade de Conservação do bioma Cerrado no estado de São Paulo. O registro do mutum-de-penacho no Parque Estadual Furnas do Bom Jesus é muito importante para o Plano de Ação e Conservação da família Cracidae e mostra a importância do monitoramento da biodiversidade e a conservação de remanescentes de vegetação nativa, mesmo pequenos, para a conservação dessa espécie.

DNA sampling from eggshells and microsatellite genotyping in rare tropical birds: Case study on Brazilian Merganser

Abstract This study shows that sampling maternal DNA from hatched and abandoned eggshells is a viable noninvasive strategy for studying the genetics of rare or endangered tropical birds, as exemplified here by the Brazilian Merganser (Mergus octosetaceus). Eighteen microsatellites were isolated from enriched libraries and nine heterologous loci from related species were tested. Seven loci were amplified successfully, with five of them being polymorphic. These loci exhibited amplicons ranging from 110 to 254 bp for 132 samples, with 60 from eggshells and 72 from blood or muscle samples. The number of alleles for M. octosetaceus ranged from one to six (mean = 3.71), which is low compared to M. merganser (1-15 alleles), a 'least concern' species. Genetic diversity did not differ significantly between noninvasive and invasive samples (Z(u) = 0.31, p = 0.37). Thus, noninvasive sampling, as demonstrated here with eggshells, provides an efficient means to assess genetic diversity in tropical birds without the need to capture and handle them.

Establishment of a pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) spermatogonial stem cell line for the production of interspecies germ line chimeras

Background Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are important for the production of interspecies germ line chimeras. The interspecies germ cell transfer technique has been suggested as a way to conserve endangered birds. Our objective was to develop a technique for restoring endangered birds by developing interspecies germ line chimeras between pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and chicken (Gallus gallus) with SSCs. Results SSCs were isolated from the surgically removed testis of a pheasant. Growth conditions for pheasant SSCs were established by co-culturing STO (SIM mouse embryo-derived thioguanine and ouabain resistant) cells and pheasant SSCs. The colony-forming cells divided and proliferated stably to yield an established SSC line. Pheasant SSCs showed strong reactivity for GDNF family receptor alpha1 (GFRa1) marker. Finally, production of germ line chimeras was attempted by transferring pheasant SSCs into recipient embryos. Although final embryo survival was 5.6% (20/354), the initial survival rate was 88% (312/354). To measure the percent transfer of donor SSC to gonads, the pheasant SSCs were labeled with PKH 26 fluorescent dye. We observed 30% donor cells and 9.48% c-kit/CD117-positive cells in the gonads of recipient chickens. Donor SSCs were thus stably engrafted in the recipient gonads. Conclusions This study showed that SSCs can be used as a tool for the conservation of endangered birds and the production of germ line chimeras. Our findings yield insights into how we may use the pheasant spermatogonial stem cell line for efficient production of interspecies germ line chimeras and ultimately, to the restoration of endangered birds.

Discusiones sobre la presencia de aves rapaces, aves migratorias y aves bajo algún grado de amenaza en la ciudad de Pereira, Risaralda / Discussios aboutt the preence of birds of prey, migratory birds and birdds under some degree of threat in the city of pereira, risaralda

Artículo que presenta una discusión que busca justificar la presencia de aves silvestres dentro de la ciudad de Pereira, enfáticamente las especies de aves rapaces, migratorias o bajo algún grado de amenaza, buscando ampliar la discusión de resultados presentada en el artículo predecesor llamado "Revisión a la diversidad ornitológica de Pereira". Se registraron catorce(14) especies de aves rapaces (es decir pertenecientes a las familias Cathartidae, Pandionidae, Accipitridae y Falconidae) las cuales deben su presencia a que no dependen de bosque y pueden sobrevivir en zonas urbanas; veintiséis (26) especies migratorias de las cuales, a excepción de tres especies consideradas raras, todas son comunes o bastantes comunes y la mayoría frecuenta áreas abiertas; siete (7)especies bajo algún grado de amenaza(amenaza que se debe principalmente a la destrucción de su hábitat) consideradas de por sí como raras y locales y cuatro (4) especies endémicas de las cuales solo una es considerada como rara, todas las demás son comunes y dentro de la ciudad encuentran los diversos tipos de hábitat requeridos por estas especies. Se discute y concluye que en general las especies abordadas son de áreas abiertas o no dependen de bosques, tolerantes a ecosistemas intervenidos y/o presentan cierta plasticidad de nicho con sus necesidades de hábitat y son capaces de encontrar sus requerimientos ecológicos dentro de las zonas urbanas. Así mismo que la heterogeneidad de hábitats y la estructura de vegetación variada de las zonas urbanas contribuyen a su riqueza de especies.

The article presents a discussion that seeks to justify the presence of wild birds in the city of Pereira -emphatically birds of prey, migratory birds, or birds under some degree of threat- seeking to broaden the discussion of results presented in the previous article "Revision to Ornithological Diversity in Pereira." Fourteen (14) species of birds of prey (this is to say belonging to the families Cathartidae, Pandionidae, Accipitridae and Falconidae) which owe their presence to the fact that they do not depend on forests and can survive in urban areas; twenty-six (26) migratory species which, except for three species considered rare, all are common or fairly common and most frequent in open areas; seven (7) species under some degree of threat (threat mainly due to habitat destruction) considered as rare and local; and four (4) endemic species of which only one is considered rare; all others are common and within the city they find the different types of habitat they require. It is discussed and concluded that in general the species dealt with belong to open areas and do not depend on forests, are tolerant to intervened ecosystems and/or have some niche plasticity with their habitat needs and are able to find their ecological requirements in urban areas. Also that the habitat heterogeneity and the varied vegetation structure in urban areas contribute to the richness of species.