Migrações em morcegos brasileiros têm sido inferidas a partir de variações sazonais nas abundâncias regionais das populações, provavelmente condicionadas por flutuações na temperatura e na disponibilidade de alimento. No entanto, registros de deslocamentos individuais de média a longa distância, ultrapassando suas áreas domiciliares (> 10 km), comprovados através de marcação e recaptura, são restritos aos grandes morcegos frugívoros do gênero Artibeus (Phyllostomidae). Registramos, aqui, o maior deslocamento já publicado, de ca. 113 km em linha reta, entre localidades com diferença de altitude de 738 m, respectivamente em floresta mista de araucárias, região de Curitiba, PR, e em Mata Atlântica, Alto Ribeira, SP, realizado por uma fêmea de Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818), em um intervalo máximo de 14 meses. Este dado é consistente com a ocorrência de movimentos migratórios em Artibeus spp. ao longo de áreas bastante extensas, provavelmente através de várias etapas de forrageio. As implicações para a conservação desses quirópteros são claras, uma vez que os animais desta espécie podem ter áreas de vida bem maiores que suas áreas domiciliares (de forrageio), abrangendo mais de um bioma e ultrapassando limites geopolíticos.

In Brazil, bat migrations have been inferred based on seasonal variations in bat abundances observed for several species, probably as a result of variations in temperature and food availability. However, direct evidence of individual medium to long distance (> 10 km) movements, based on marked specimens, is restricted to large frugivorous bats, genus Artibeus (Phyllostomidae). We report the longest bat movement recorded in Brazil, along 113 km in a straight line, difference in altitude of 738 m, from a mixed Araucaria forest in Curitiba, PR, to the Atlantic Forest, Alto Ribeira, SP, by a female Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818), over a period of 14 months. This data is consistent with the occurrence of migratory movements in Neotropical bats, such as the ecologically flexible Artibeus spp., over relatively large areas, probably with short stopover foraging intervals. Implications for the conservation of these bats are clear, as their home ranges may be much larger than their foraging areas, encompassing more than one biome and overcoming political borders.

Nonhuman primates are considered as the natural hosts of Hepatitis A virus (HAV), as well as other pathogens, and can serve as natural sentinels to investigate epizootics and endemic diseases that are of public health importance. During this study, blood samples were collected from 112 Neotropical primates (NTPs) (Sapajus nigritus and S. cay, n = 75; Alouatta caraya, n = 37) trap-captured at the Paraná River basin, Brazil, located between the States of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. Anti-HAV IgG antibodies were detected in 4.5% (5/112) of NTPs, specifically in 6.7% (5/75) of Sapajus spp. and 0% (0/37) of A. caraya. In addition, all samples were negative for the presence of IgM anti-HAV antibodies. These results suggest that free-ranging NTPs were exposed to HAV within the geographical regions evaluated.

Introduction Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) primarily occurs in the Americas and produces disease predominantly in humans. This study investigated the serological presence of SLEV in nonhuman primates and horses from southern Brazil. Methods From June 2004 to December 2005, sera from 133 monkeys (Alouatta caraya, n=43; Sapajus nigritus, n=64; Sapajus cay, n=26) trap-captured at the Paraná River basin region and 23 blood samples from farm horses were obtained and used for the serological detection of a panel of 19 arboviruses. All samples were analyzed in a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay; positive monkey samples were confirmed in a mouse neutralization test (MNT). Additionally, all blood samples were inoculated into C6/36 cell culture for viral isolation. Results Positive seroreactivity was only observed for SLEV. A prevalence of SLEV antibodies in sera was detected in Alouatta caraya (11.6%; 5/43), Sapajus nigritus (12.5%; 8/64), and S. cay (30.8%; 8/26) monkeys with the HI assay. Of the monkeys, 2.3% (1/42) of A. caraya, 6.3% 94/64) of S. nigritus, and 15.4% (4/26) of S. cay were positive for SLEV in the MNT. Additionally, SLEV antibodies were detected by HI in 39.1% (9/23) of the horses evaluated in this study. Arboviruses were not isolated from any blood sample. Conclusions These results confirmed the presence of SLEV in nonhuman primates and horses from southern Brazil. These findings most likely represent the first detection of this virus in nonhuman primates beyond the Amazon region. The detection of SLEV in animals within a geographical region distant from the Amazon basin suggests that there may be widespread and undiagnosed dissemination of this disease in Brazil.

Área de vida é a área usada por um animal em suas atividades diárias. Estudos de área de vida oferecem dados sobre os sistemas reprodutivos e comportamento territorial das espécies. Nosso objetivo foi estimar a área de vida de Didelphis albiventris (Lund 1840) na ilha Mutum, no rio Paraná, Brasil. O estudo foi realizado em 2008 de março a outubro em uma grade de 19,20 ha. Esta ilha é parte da área de proteção de ilhas e várzeas do rio Paraná e sua vegetação é composta por floresta estacional semidecidual aluvial sazonal com clima subtropical úmido. O esforço amostral foi de 3.360 armadilhas-noite resultando em 152 capturas de Didelphis albiventris (Lund 1840). Foram capturados 41 indivíduos nas 42 estações compostas por uma armadilha no solo e a dois metros de altura. A maioria dos animais foi capturada no solo, independente de idade ou sexo. Quatro fêmeas e cinco machos foram recapturados pelo menos cinco vezes e foram usados para calcular a área de vida mediante método de polígono mínimo convexo. A área de vida média estimada foi de 2,33 ha ± 2,32, similar às estimativas previamente descritas por outros métodos, sugerindo que o tamanho da grade de captura, maior que a usualmente empregada em estudos de marcação-recaptura com esta espécie, não subestimou as áreas de vida. Evidências da relação entre a área de vida e massa corporal dos indivíduos foram observadas. Sobreposição das áreas de vida (média = 33,74%) ocorreu entre machos, entre fêmeas e de machos com fêmeas, o que pode ser relacionado a um sistema de acasalamento promíscuo e territorialidade de fêmeas.

Home-range is the area used by an animal in its daily activities. Home-range studies provide data on species mating systems and territorial behavior. Our main goal was to estimate the Didelphis albiventris (Lund 1840) home-range in Mutum Island, Paraná River, Brazil. The study was carried out in 2008 from March to October on a 19.20 ha grid. The island is part of the Parana River Islands and Floodlands Federal Environmental Protection Area, with vegetation composed by Alluvial Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in a region of Subtropical Wet climate. The sampling effort was 3,360 traps-night resulting in 152 Didelphis albiventris (Lund 1840) captures. Forty-one Didelphis albiventris (Lund 1840) individuals were captured in 42 capture stations, composed by a trap placed on the floor and another in understory (2 m high). The animals were mostly terrestrial, independently of age or sex. Four females and five males, which were recaptured at least five times, were used to calculate home-range using the minimum convex polygon method. The mean home-range estimate was 2.33 ± 2.32 ha, similar to previous estimates provided by other methods, suggesting that our capture grid area, that was larger than usually applied for mark-capture studies for this species, have not underestimated the home-ranges. Evidences of the relation between individual home-range area and body mass were observed. Home-range overlaps occurred between males, females and males with females; the average overlap was 33.74%, which may be related to a promiscuous mating system, and suggests female territoriality.

Os morcegos frugívoros são componentes fundamentais na manutenção e regeneração de florestas tropicais, pois ao se alimentarem, promovem a mobilidade das sementes dos frutos em que se alimentaram. Muito se discute sobre os efeitos da passagem das sementes no trato digestivo dos morcegos sobre a taxa e velocidade de germinação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi examinar a dieta das espécies de morcegos frugívoros na Estação Experimental de Itirapina para descobrir quais utilizam significativamente os frutos de Cecropia pachystachya. Foi testada a importância dos quirópteros na dispersão e germinação desta espécie de planta. Para isso, os morcegos foram capturados no período de agosto de 2005 a julho de 2006, suas fezes foram recolhidas e as sementes de C. pachystachya separadas. Os testes de germinação foram feitos para duas espécies de morcegos, Artibeus liuratus e Platyrrhinus lineatus, e suas taxas de germinação comparadas com amostras de sementes coletadas da planta (controle). Foram feitos cinco repetições com 30 sementes em cada gerbox para cada teste. Os testes foram realizados em câmaras germinadoras " Mangelsdorf" , com temperatura de 25°C, luminosidade e umidade constante por 40 dias. Houve uma alta porcentagem de germinação das sementes encontradas em A. lituratus (79,3%) e não diferiu estatisticamente das sementes controle (76%). Esses resultados foram superiores a P. lineatus (52%). Em relação ao Índice de Velocidade de Germinação (IVG), esse resultado foi semelhante, sendo 2,73 para A. lituratus, 2,66 para o controle e 1,80 para P. lineatus. Com esse resultado, tem-se que a passagem das sementes de C. pachystachya pelos morcegos não aumentou a porcentagem, nem a velocidade de germinação delas, quando comparado com o controle, sendo até menor para P. lineatus. Com os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que, o efeito da passagem do trato digestivo dos morcegos na germinação pode sofrer influências que ainda precisam ser estudadas, mas não há como negar o beneficio da dispersão das sementes de C. pachystachya promovida por quatro espécies de morcegos no local estudado.

Frugivorous bats are fundamental components in the maintenance and regeneration of tropical forests since they promote the mobility of the fruit seeds. There are controversies about the effects of the seed passage through the bat gut in the germination tax and speed. The goal of this work was to investigate the diet of frugivorous bat species at Estação Experimental de Itirapina to find out which species significantly use the fruits of the pioneer plants species Cecropia pachystachya. It was tested the importance of bats on the spread and germination of seeds from this plant species. For that, the bats were captured in the period from August 2005 to July 2006, their feces were collected and the seeds of C. pachystachya separated. The germination tests were made for two bat species, Artibeus liuratus and Platyrrhinus lineatus, and were compared with seeds collected directly from the plant (control). Five repetitions were made with 30 seeds in each gerbox for each test. The tests were conducted in " Mangelsdorf" germinators chambers, with temperature of 25°C, luminosity and constant humidity for 40 days. There was a high germination percentage of the seeds found in A. lituratus (79,3%), and it did not differ statistically from the seeds control (76%). These results were superior from P. lineatus (52%). Regarding the Germination Speed Index (IVG), the results were similar, being 2,73 for A. lituratus, 2,66 for the control seeds and 1,80 for P. lineatus. It was concluded that the passage of the seeds of C. pachystachya through the bats gut did not increase the percentage or the speed of germination, when compared with the control seeds, being smaller for P. lineatus. With the results obtained, it was concluded that the effects of the bats’ gut passage in the germination still needs further studies but the benefits of seed dispersion of C. pachystachya promoted by four bat species in the studied place cannot be refused.

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 (22° 46' 20" S e 53° 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 (22° 46' 20" S and 53° 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.

In this study carried out in the Caetetus Ecological Station, Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil, a wild group of black lion tamarins was accompanied during 1989 to 1991, to analyse the dietary habits of the species. The scan sampling method was used to gather data. A total of 961 behaviors were recorded, of which feeding occupied 23.3% of the time involved in the behaviors. The major dietary components observed in the black lion tamarins were fruits, tree exudates and animal preys (67.9%, 22.8% and 8.9% respectively). Fruits varied monthly from 47.4 to 97.1 %, being consumed more during the rainy season, while tree exudates varied from 0 to 54.7%, and were consumed mainly during the dry season. The animal prey accounted for 0 to 15.8% of the diet. The most important dietary resource for the black lion tamarins was the fruit of Syagrus romanzoffiana Glass., representing 29.9% of the foraging observations. The diet exhibited pronounced differences among dry and rainy seasons, presumably as a consequence of the food shortage of fruits during dry season.

Foraging in the Black Lion Tamarin (L. chrysopygus Mikan, 1823) was observed in the Caetetus Ecological Station, São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, during 83 days between November 1988 to October 1990. These tamarins use manipulative, specific-site foraging behavior. When searching for animal prey items, they examine a variety of microhabitats (dry palm leaves, twigs, under loose bark, in tree cavities). These microhabitats were spatially dispersed among different forest macrohabitats such as swamp forests and dry forested areas. These data indicated that the prey foraging behavior of L. chrysopygus was quite variable, and they used a wide variety of microhabitats, different of the other lion tamarin species.