Repositório RCAAP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Hawkmoths (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) are among the major pollinators in tropical communities. However, in the Cerrado biome little is known about their distribution, species composition, diversity, as well as, their relationships with hawkmoth-flower plant flora. This study aim to describe the hawkmoth fauna and hawkmoth-pollinated plant flora of a Cerrado area in the Southeast of Brazil. We analyzed the biogeography pattern of species distribution in the Cerrado region and Neotropical area, evaluated its associations with sphingophilous plants testing the hypothesis of ecological fitting, and based on pollinic data, we described the mutualistic network pattern between hawkmoths and hawkmoth-pollinated plants. A total of 61 hawkmoth species was recorded for the study region, what represents more than a fifth of South America hawkmoth fauna. The species distribution was markedly seasonal. The Cerrado s hawkmoth fauna showed higher similarity with faunas from forest ecosystems in the Neotropics. The expected species richness for Cerrado region was comparable or even higher than those values expected for highly diverse regions as Atlantic forest areas. The match among hawkmoth proboscis lengths and corolla tube depth of hawkmoth-pollinated plants in a community level indicates an ecological fitting between these groups. The appearance of the hawkmoths with longest proboscis showed a phenological synchronization with flowering period of the most specialized hawkmoth-flower plants (those with the deepest corolla tubes). This suggests that there is also a phenological fitting between these interacting organisms. The mutualistic network among hawkmoths and their visited plants revealed a pattern highly nested. The Cerrado possess very high hawkmoth species richness and its composition is possibly influenced as much by historical factors, like species interchange among adjacent ecosystems occurred during the climatic-vegetational fluctuations in the Quaternary period, as for the occurrence of a constant species migration dynamic between different habitats. These processes possibly have strong implications on the ecological fitting between hawkmoths and plants. These mutualisms in conjunction to other selective pressures, such as the competition among hawkmoths for nectar, have allowed the evolution and establishment of interesting ecological patterns, like the phenological fitting between hawkmoth-plants and their pollinators.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

The aim of this study was to verify the vegetation distribution along the gradient of moistness of the ground in six palm swamps in the municipalities of Uberlândia and Uberaba. A floristic survey and the water layer depth and soil textures were also evaluated. Three of the studied palm swamps (V1, V2 and V3) are located in the geomorphological surface with 800-842 width, covered with Latosols of Medium Texture. The others (V4, V5 and V6) are situated on areas 922-940 m high on very argillaceous texture soil. The studied area in each palm swamp was equivalent of 100 m along the slope (right and left) through the width of the palm swamp. A floristic survey was done, from January 2002 to January 2003, in random walks on determined tracks. The water layer depth was determined in one year, in three trans-sections, with sampling points on each zone of the palm swamp (edge, middle and back), in the same area where the vegetation was characterized. To determine the soil texture, samples was collected in each of the zones of thee palm swamp, in a deep from 0 to 20cm. The floristic survey revealed 435 species, belonging to 197 genders and 62 families. In the palm swamps V1, V2 and V3 322 species were found, whereas 300 species were encountered on the palm swamps V4, V5 and V6. The nine richest families account for 63,7% of the total species observed. Cyperaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Poaceae and Xyridaceae had occurred with more species in the zones of the middle and the back, while Asteraceae, Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae, were prevalent in the edge and the middle. The ordinance done for the multidimentional scheduling - MDS, from the floristic similarities between three zones of the palm swamps, showed higher similarity between the middle and the back, then with the edge. It was also verified that the edge zones of the palm swamps was less similar between themselves, then the middle and back zones. The analyses of the principal components (PCA), performed utilizing data from the 44 species that occurred in at least five of the studied palm swamps, showed that Axonopus siccus, Hyptis linarioides and Tibouchina gracilis, are related with the edge of the palm swamps. Ten species had been distributed in the middle zone, among them: Paspalum cordatum, Rhynchospora globosa and Syngonanthus xeranthemoides. And finally, ten species were distributed in the back zone, among them: Eryngium ebracteatum, Trimezia violacea and Xanthosoma striatipes. The average depth of the water layer generally had been higher in the edge and smaller in the back zone. April was the month that showed the smallest values of water layer depth, and August and September, the highest ones. In the palm swamps V1, V2 and V3 the percentage of sand in the soil was higher than the other ones. On the other hand, the palm swamps V4, V5 and V6 presented soils with the highest amount of clay, mainly in the edge and the middle regions. The differences in the number of species between the two types of palm swamps are possibly due to human influence and/or as a consequence of the small area showed in each palm swamp. The difference between the depth of the water layer and the ground texture seems to be less relevant in this case.

Waterbirds are an important functional group, responsible for countless ecological roles, including the dispersion of aquatic invertebrates. That group has been threatened by the processes of agricultural expansion and of urban growth, what promote degradation of natural habitats and environmental contamination, reflecting in the decrease of the richness of bird species. The present work was undertaken to evaluate aspects of the biology and ecology of piscivorous birds in an urban site of the Uberabinha river, municipality of Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais. The study was conducted from January to December of 2004, having been registered ten species of birds (nine genders, four families and three orders). Among the observed birds, Phalacrocorax brasilianus presented the largest relative frequency and Pilherodius pileatus the smallest. Butorides striatus showed wider space distribution and Pilherodius pileatus, more restricted. There was not variation in the richness of species between stations (dry and rainy), and neither between the periods of the day (morning and evening). However, some species presented larger relative frequency in the rainy station (e.g. Nycticorax nycticorax) and other in the dry station (e.g. Egretta thula). Significant variations were also registered in the frequencies of certain activities in relation to the seasons, for some of the investigated species (e.g. B. striatus feed more intensively in the dry station). We evidenced a preference of certain species by the use of native plants (trees and scrubs), mainly for nestling and/or rest. We concluded that the richness of piscivorous bird species is relatively high in the place, above all if the precarious conditions of environmental preservation be considered. Differences were observed in the relative frequency of the species forward of the year, as well as of the behaviors exhibited by the same ones in the exploration of the environment. The presence of the large sewer emissaries and the amount of woody vegetables were the principal environmental variables correlated with the occurrence of birds in the study area.

Environmental degradation refers to any activity that, directly or indirectly, causes damage to the environment and its many aspects. This research was aimed at carrying out a diagnosis of environmental conditions in permanently protected areas (PPAs) around the sources and along the banks of streams found in Uberlândia s (MG) urban area as well as to assess awareness of the population living around these areas regarding their relevance and conditions. The methodological focus used was both qualitative and quantitative, showing statistically collected data, but also analyzing it in a narrative and descriptive way. Theoretical references used were related to landscape ecology and environmental perception. Field work was carried out to achieve the goals. Data on the local landscape was collected and a structured questionnaire was applied to the population that lives around the areas to assess individuals awareness so that their opinions, attitudes and values regarding the analyzed PPAs could be found out. Both biotope mapping and interaction matrix were used to assess the environmental conditions of the analyzed PPAs. According to the results, it has been concluded that the sources and banks of streams in Uberlândia fall into the average and high degradation categories. The main problems are deforestation, inappropriate use and occupation of land, soil pollution caused by deposition of solid waste and water pollution caused by problems in sewage management. The population interviewed has shown to be aware of PPAs-related problems.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo