As populações de javali estão se espalhando rapidamente pelo centro-oeste do Brasil, causando dano às lavouras, impactando a biodiversidade e, possivelmente, carreando doenças para os animais de criação. Apesar do seu perigo, pouco se conhece sobre as populações introduzidas em áreas agrícolas do país. A crítica falta de conhecimentos sobre aspectos básicos da ecologia espacial dos javalis na região nos levou a capturar e monitorar sete javalis com colares equipados com sistema de posicionamento global de modo a avaliar seus padrões de atividade, características das áreas de vida e padrões de seleção de habitat em áreas de interface entre zonas agrícolas e matas ciliares. Capturamos e rastreamos os animais usando coleiras GPS entre 19 e 77 dias. As áreas de vida estimadas através dos métodos Mínimo Polígono Convexo e Kernel de Pontes Aleatórias Tendenciosas variaram de 273-1253 ha (mediana = 497 ha) e 129-779 ha (mediana = 235 ha) respectivamente. Os animais monitorados foram mais ativos no período noturno, com pico de atividade durante a primeira metade da noite (entre 19:00-03:00 h) e menor atividade nas horas mais quente do dia (12:00 h). Os javalis tiveram clara preferência por áreas de mata ciliar tanto em períodos diurnos quanto noturnos. Eles também evitaram áreas abertas (como lavouras e pastagens), principalmente no período diurno. Nosso estudo fornece informações importantes para aumentar a eficiência dos planos de controle, direcionando esforços de captura para os períodos de maior atividade e para os habitats preferidos pelos javalis na região estudada.

Wild boar populations are rapidly spreading through midwest Brazil, causing crop damage, impacting biodiversity and, possibly, spreading diseases to livestock. Despite their threat, little is known about introduced populations in Brazilian agricultural landscapes. The critical lack of knowledge about basic aspects of wild boar spatial ecology led us to evaluate home range sizes, activity pattern and habitat selection in interface regions of agricultural crops and natural riparian forests. We captured and monitored seven individuals using global position system collars throughout 19 to 77 days. The home range sizes calculated by Minimum Convex Polygon and Biased Random Bridge Kernel ranged from 273 to 1253 ha (median = 497 ha) and from 129 to 779 ha (median = 235 ha), respectively. Animals were more active at night, with an activity peak during the first half of the night (between 19:00-03:00 h) and less activity during the hottest hours of day (12:00 h). Wild boars positively selected riverine forests both during the day and night. They also avoided open areas (like crops and pastures), mainly during daylight. Our study provides information to improve control plans, directing capture efforts towards periods of high activity in the preferred habitats used by wild boars in the studied region.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar um índice de biomassa relativa por espécie, em uma comunidade de mamíferos de médio a grande porte, assim como determinar como o javali (Sus scrofa) invasor se ajusta a esse índice, e verificar se a ocupação de locais por cães interfere na ocupação por javalis e quanto o período de atividade dos cães se sobrepõe ao do javali. O índice de biomassa/esforço foi medido para cada espécie de mamífero nativo e também para o javali invasor, em duas fazendas em área de Mata Atlântica do Oeste do Brasil, por meio de armadilhas fotográficas, que também foram usadas para estimar a sobreposição espacial e o período de atividade de cães e javalis. Os javalis parecem dominar a comunidade de mamíferos, poucos anos depois que sua presença na região foi registrada. Surpreendentemente, várias espécies ameaçadas de mamíferos nativos ainda persistem na paisagem altamente modificada das áreas estudadas, porém suas tendências populacionais são ainda desconhecidas. Javalis e cães ocupam em geral as mesmas áreas; no entanto, não se sobrepõem no período de atividade, o que é indicativo de que é improvável que os cães possam efetivamente proteger os cultivos.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to estimate an index of the relative biomass per species, in a medium to large-sized mammal community, as well as to determine how the introduced wild boar (Sus scrofa) fits into this index, and to verify if the occupancy of sites by domestic dogs interferes with those of wild boars and how much the periods of dogs’ activity overlap those of wild boars. The biomass/effort index was measured for each native mammal species and for the introduced wild boar, in two surveyed farms in Brazil’s Western Atlantic Forest range, through the use of camera trappings that were also used to verify if dogs and wild boar overlap in space and activity time. Wild boars seem to dominate the community, just a few years after their presence was first recorded in the region. Surprisingly, several native endangered mammal species persist in the highly modified landscape of the studied areas, but their population trends are still unknown. Wild boars and dogs generally occupy the same areas; however, they do not overlap in activity time, which is an indicative that it is unlikely that the dogs can effectively protect the crops.

Resumo Atualizamos a lista de mamíferos do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil com base em registros primários. Cento e sessenta e seis espécies são listadas como ocorrentes no estado, sendo 47 de mamíferos de médio e grande porte, 46 de pequenos mamíferos e 73 de morcegos. As espécies listadas estão distribuídas em 31 famílias: Didelphidae (17 spp.), Dasypodidae (7 spp.), Myrmecophagidae (2 spp.), Cebidae (1 sp.), Callithrichidae (2 spp.), Aotidae (1 sp.), Pitheciidae (1 sp.), Atelidae (1 sp.), Leporidae (1 sp.), Felidae (7 spp.), Canidae (4 spp.), Mustelidae (5 spp.), Mephitidae (2 sp.), Procyonidae (2 spp.), Tapiridae (1 sp.), Tayassuidae (2 spp.), Cervidae (4 spp.), Sciuridae (1 sp.), Cricetidae (22 spp.), Erethizontidae (1 sp.), Caviidae (3 spp.), Dasyproctidae (1 sp.), Cuniculidae (1 sp.), Echimyidae (4 spp.), Phyllostomidae (41 spp.), Emballonuridae (2 spp.), Molossidae (16 spp.), Vespertilionidae (9 spp.), Mormoopidae (1 sp.), Noctilionidae (2 spp) e Natalidade (1 sp.). Estes números representam um aumento de quatorze espécies com registro primário para o estado em comparação com a listagem publicada anteriormente. Ainda assim, é evidente a escassez de informações em diversas regiões do estado, e a necessidade de implementação de coleções zoológicas regionais. O estado de Mato Grosso do Sul representa apenas 4,19% do território brasileiro, mas o número de mamíferos atinge 24,13% do total de espécies que ocorrem no país.

Abstract We updated the checklist of mammals from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil based on primary records only. One hundred and sixty-six mammal species were listed as occurring in the state, 47 of them being medium to large, 47 small mammal and 73 bat species. The listed species are distributed in 31 families: Didelphidae (17 spp.), Dasypodidae (7 spp.), Myrmecophagidae (2 spp.), Cebidae (1 sp.), Callithrichidae (2 spp.), Aotidae (1 sp.), Pitheciidae (1 sp.), Atelidae (1 sp.), Leporidae (1 sp.), Felidae (7 spp.), Canidae (4 spp.), Mustelidae (5 spp.), Mephitidae (2 spp.), Procyonidae (2 spp.), Tapiridae (1 sp.), Tayassuidae (2 spp.), Cervidae (4 spp.), Sciuridae (1 sp.), Cricetidae (22 spp.), Erethizontidae (1 sp.), Caviidae (3 spp.), Dasyproctidae (1 sp.), Cuniculidae (1 sp.), Echimyidae (4 spp.), Phyllostomidae (41 spp.), Emballonuridae (2 spp.), Molossidae (16 spp.), Vespertilionidae (9 spp.), Mormoopidae (1 sp.), Noctilionidae (2 spp.), and Natalidade (1 sp.). These numbers represent an increase of fourteen species with primary records for the state in comparison with the previously published checklist. However, it is evident the scarcity of information at several regions of the state, and the need of implementation of regional zoological collections. The state of Mato Grosso do Sul represent only 4.19% of the Brazilian territory, but the number of mammal species reach 24.13% of the known species occurring in the country.

RESUMO Informações sobre riqueza e composição de répteis pela primeira vez são apresentadas para o Mato Grosso do Sul (MS). A compilação de dados foi baseada em publicações, coleções científicas e dados disponibilizados por pesquisadores. Foram registradas 188 espécies distribuídas em oito espécies de Testudines, três Crocodylia e 177 Squamata (16 anfisbenas, 48 sáurios e 113 serpentes). Treze espécies, dentro do estado, possuem distribuição restrita, 13 não são encontradas em outros estados brasileiros e nove estão em processo de descrição. A riqueza de répteis do MS, mesmo que subestimada, corresponde a 25% das espécies conhecidas no Brasil. No planalto estão presentes 176 espécies, das quais 30% foram registradas somente neste local, enquanto que na planície de inundação ocorrem 131 espécies (6% exclusivas). O Cerrado é o domínio mais rico em espécies, ainda que esteja na região com maior lacuna de amostragem do estado. A porção mais conhecida é o centro-oeste do MS, que inclui o Pantanal. Cerca de 40% das espécies de répteis deste estudo tem ampla distribuição, ocorrendo em pelo menos cinco dos sete domínios brasileiros. Os répteis do estado são mais semelhantes àqueles do Chaco, provavelmente porque a fauna chaquenha é muito similar a do Pantanal, que contempla porções mais bem inventariadas do MS. Ainda que o Cerrado seja o domínio predominante no estado, o fato de ser pouco amostrado justifica a menor similaridade da sua fauna de répteis com o MS, quando comparado àquela do Chaco. De modo geral, a fauna estadual de répteis é mais parecida com aquela encontrada ao longo da diagonal de formações abertas da América do Sul. Apenas 18% das espécies foram avaliadas pela IUCN, o que reforça a necessidade de uma avaliação do estado de conservação das espécies do MS. O norte, sul e leste do estado não foram minimamente amostrados, o que é preocupante visto que são regiões comprometidas pelo intensivo uso da terra. Por essa razão, essas áreas, e em especial o norte, por incluir as cabeceiras dos rios que abastecem a planície de inundação, são indicadas como prioritárias para a realização de inventários de répteis e criação de UCs.

ABSTRACT Data is presented on richness and composition of reptiles from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), based on reviews of publications, examination of scientific collections and unpublished field data provided by researchers. We recorded 188 species distributed in eight species of Testudines, three Crocodylia and 177 Squamata (16 amphisbaenians, 48 lizards and 113 snakes). Thirteen species have restricted distributions within the state, 13 are restricted to the state and nine are in the process of being described. The diversity of the MS reptiles, even if underestimated, accounts for 25% of the species known to occur in Brazil. The plateau presents 176 species, of which 30% are restricted to this location, while 131 species (6% exclusive) occur in the floodplain. The Cerrado is the richest domain in species, although it is the region with the highest sampling gap in the state. The most well-known section is the Midwest MS, which includes the Pantanal. About 40% of the species of reptiles of MS are widely distributed, occurring in at least five of the seven Brazilian domains. The reptiles of MS are more similar to those of the Chaco, probably because the chacoan fauna is very similar to that of the Pantanal, which includes better inventoried portions of MS. Although the Cerrado is the predominant domain in the state, the fact of being poorly sampled justifies the lower similarity of reptiles from this domain with those of MS, when compared with those of Chaco. Overall, the MS reptile fauna shows greater similarity to that found along the diagonal of open formations of South America. Only 18% of species were assessed by IUCN, which reinforces the need for an assessment of the conservation status of MS reptile species. The north, south and east of the state have not being adequately sampled, which is of concern since these sections have seen significant anthropogenic alteration. For this reason, these areas, especially the north - including the headwaters of rivers which supply the floodplain - are indicated as priorities for the completion of inventories of reptiles and creation of areas to protect them.

The Pantanal hosts diverse wildlife species and therefore is a hotspot for arbovirus studies in South America. A serosurvey for Mayaro virus (MAYV), eastern (EEEV), western (WEEV) and Venezuelan (VEEV) equine encephalitis viruses was conducted with 237 sheep, 87 free-ranging caimans and 748 equids, including 37 collected from a ranch where a neurologic disorder outbreak had been recently reported. Sera were tested for specific viral antibodies using plaque-reduction neutralisation test. From a total of 748 equids, of which 264 were immunised with vaccine composed of EEEV and WEEV and 484 had no history of immunisation, 10 (1.3%) were seropositive for MAYV and two (0.3%) for VEEV using criteria of a ≥ 4-fold antibody titre difference. Among the 484 equids without history of immunisation, 48 (9.9%) were seropositive for EEEV and four (0.8%) for WEEV using the same criteria. Among the sheep, five were sero- positive for equine encephalitis alphaviruses, with one (0.4%) for EEEV, one (0.4%) for WEEV and three (1.3%) for VEEV. Regarding free-ranging caimans, one (1.1%) and three (3.4%), respectively, had low titres for neutralising antibodies to VEEV and undetermined alphaviruses. The neurological disorder outbreak could not be linked to the alphaviruses tested. Our findings represent strong evidence that MAYV and all equine encephalitis alphaviruses circulated in the Pantanal.

Despite evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) activity in Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina, this virus has not been reported in most South American countries. In February 2009, we commenced an investigation for WNV in mosquitoes, horses and caimans from the Pantanal, Central-West Brazil. The sera of 168 horses and 30 caimans were initially tested using a flaviviruses-specific epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (blocking ELISA) for the detection of flavivirus-reactive antibodies. The seropositive samples were further tested using a plaque-reduction neutralisation test (PRNT90) for WNV and its most closely-related flaviviruses that circulate in Brazil to confirm the detection of specific virus-neutralising antibodies. Of the 93 (55.4%) blocking ELISA-seropositive horse serum samples, five (3%) were seropositive for WNV, nine (5.4%) were seropositive for St. Louis encephalitis virus, 18 (10.7%) were seropositive for Ilheus virus, three (1.8%) were seropositive for Cacipacore virus and none were seropositive for Rocio virus using PRNT90, with a criteria of > four-fold antibody titre difference. All caimans were negative for flaviviruses-specific antibodies using the blocking ELISA. No virus genome was detected from caiman blood or mosquito samples. The present study is the first report of confirmed serological evidence of WNV activity in Brazil.

The jabiru stork, Jabiru mycteria (Lichtenstein, 1819), a large, long-legged wading bird occurring in lowland wetlands from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, is considered endangered in a large portion of its distribution range. We conducted aerial surveys to estimate the number of jabiru active nests in the Brazilian Pantanal (140,000 km²) in September of 1991-1993, 1998, 2000-2002, and 2004. Corrected densities of active nests were regressed against the annual hydrologic index (AHI), an index of flood extension in the Pantanal based on the water level of the Paraguay River. Annual nest density was a non-linear function of the AHI, modeled by the equation 6.5 · 10-8 · AHI1.99 (corrected r² = 0.72, n = 7). We applied this model to the AHI between 1900 and 2004. The results indicate that the number of jabiru nests may have varied from about 220 in 1971 to more than 23,000 in the nesting season of 1921, and the estimates for our study period (1991 to 2004) averaged about 12,400 nests. Our model indicates that the inter-annual variations in flooding extent can determine dramatic changes in the number of active jabiru nests. Since the jabiru stork responds negatively to drier conditions in the Pantanal, direct human-induced changes in the hydrological patterns, as well as the effects of global climate change, may strongly jeopardize the population in the region.

The pantanal is one of the world's richest freshwater wetlands. The pantanal is located in the flood plain of the headwaters of the Paraguai river, covering 140,000km². The habitats of the Pantanal are present in a complex mosaic. The major habitat types are: pockets of forests, called capão or cordilheira, seasonally flooded grasslands or campos, and permanent or temporary lagoons, called baías. The Pantanal harbors both rich and abundant mammal fauna. A survey was conducted at Fazenda Nhumirim, a research station run by the Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Pantanal (CPAP) in Corumbá, a research branch of EMBRAPA. The Fazenda covers an area of 4,310 ha in the sub-region of Nhecolândia, appoximately 150km east of Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 1,022mm, and has a mean monthly temperature that varies between 29.1ºC (January) and 22.0ºC (June). Four routes were followed between two times during ten days of each month. The survey routes were covered on horseback by between two and four observers. Each route was followed and equal number of times in the morning and in the afternoon, to eliminate bias related to the activity patterns of mammals. In order to evaluate relative abundance of nocturnal species, we also conducted a number of nocturnal censuses. These censuses were done by car; a high intensity searchlight was used to spot the animals. We also conducted a trap-mark-recapture survey of the small mammals at Fazenda Nhumirim. After the census period, we continued to collect observations on the occurrence of mammals at the Fazenda, noting wherever possible the kind of habitat in which the animals were observed. The survey identified a diversity of mammals at Fazenda Nhumirim: six orders, 14 families, 19 genera, and 20 species. Nasua nasua was the most frequently observed species during the diurnal census, accounting for 61.5 percent of all observations. Dusicyon (formely Cerdocyon) thous was the most frequently observed species on the nocturnal census (39.13%). The small mammal community of Fazenda Nhumirim is composed of seven species: one marsupial, four cricetine rodents and two echimyid rodents.