https://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/issue/feedOecologia Australis2024-03-15T11:57:45-03:00Maíra Benchimoloecologiaaustralis@abeco.org.brOpen Journal Systems<p>Oecologia Australis (OA) is an international peer-reviewed, open access journal. OA promotes ongoing international research and information exchange through the publication of the latest research/findings reports in Ecology and related fields.</p> <p>Our goal is to disseminate and publish relevant results in Ecological Sciences. Oecologia Australis accepts works in Portuguese, English and Spanish to be published as Original Articles, Scientific Notes, Reviews and Opinions.</p> <p>We publish four issues per year (March, June, September and December), one of which is a thematic issue edited by guest editors. The remaining issues are composed of spontaneous submissions.</p> <p> </p> <p>See our <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a title="archives" href="https://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/issue/archive" target="_self"><strong>Archives</strong></a></span> to access the ahead of print, current and previous volumes.</p> <p> </p> <p>We welcome new submissions!</p> <p>Check out our <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a title="Editorial Policies" href="https://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/editorialPolicies"><strong>Editorial Policies</strong></a></span> to find out about the journal's policies and topics of interest.</p> <p>See our <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a title="Submission Guidelines" href="https://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/about/submissions" target="_self"><strong>Submission Guidelines</strong></a></span> for submitting a manuscript.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Follow Oecologia Australis</strong> to keep up with our content and see publications previews!</p> <p><a title="Instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/oecologiaaustralis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://revistas.ufrj.br/public/site/images/gcupolillo/instagram.png" alt="" /></a> <a title="Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/oecolaustralis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://revistas.ufrj.br/public/site/images/gcupolillo/twitter.png" alt="" /></a> <a title="Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/OecologiaAustralis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://revistas.ufrj.br/public/site/images/gcupolillo/facebook.png" alt="" /></a></p>https://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/article/view/55111GRAZING UNWORRIED: ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN A DAMMED RIVER FAVOR THE DIET OF THE INVASIVE METYNNIS LIPPINCOTTIANUS (CHARACIFORMES, SERRASALMIDAE)2023-04-27T16:18:57-03:00Jefferson Saulo da Vitória LuduviceBruno Eleres SoaresDaniela Cristina de Oliveira RosaMarcos Vinícios Teles GomesMarcelo Fulgêncio Guedes Brito<p>We evaluate the natural diet of the invasive silver dollar <em>Metynnis lippincottianus</em> in the Lower São Francisco River, Brazil. The species' diet was composed almost exclusively of Zygnemataceae algae, a food item consumed by almost all individuals (Frequency of Occurrence (FO) = 99.80%). The remaining consumed items were plant fragments (FO = 3.57%), mites (FO = 2.38%), gastropods (FO = 1.19%), thalloid algae (FO = 1.19%), ants (FO = 1.09%), and invertebrate eggs (FO = 1.09%). The high alimentary importance of Zygnemataceae algae (Alimentary Index = 99.992%) highlights the lack of a great intraspecific variation in the diet of <em>M. lippincottianus</em> and a high trophic specialization. The herbivorous diet, with a tendency to consume algae, is supported by high values of intestinal coefficient (4.71 ± 1.45) that favor the digestion of these items and are commonly related to low trophic levels. The specialized diet of <em>M. lippincottianus</em> is supported by the proliferation of algae following the damming of the river. In addition, the diet composition of the species changed between the rainy and the dry season (PERMANOVA, p < 0.001), displaying a broader niche by the consumption of alternative items (<em>e.g.,</em> thalloid algae, gastropods) in the rainy season. The species had an herbivorous diet, with a predominance of filamentous algae, throughout the study, with small variations between seasons.</p>2023-04-27T00:00:00-03:00Copyright (c) 2023 Oecologia Australishttps://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/article/view/56234MAMÍFEROS DE MÉDIO E GRANDE PORTE EM UM FRAGMENTO DE CAATINGA NO ESTADO DO PIAUÍ, NORDESTE DO BRASIL2023-11-15T12:38:49-03:00Izar Araújo AximoffEdilberto Antônio da Rocha Junior<p>A Caatinga no estado do Piauí, Brasil, está sendo continuamente degradada antes mesmo de conhecermos sua biodiversidade. Os mamíferos estão entre os táxons mais afetados pela degradação. Nesse sentido, avaliamos a riqueza e composição de mamíferos de médio e grande porte entre agosto de 2021 e julho de 2022 em um fragmento de Caatinga (2000 ha). Usamos busca ativa (96 horas) e armadilhas fotográficas (720 armadilhas-noite). Registramos 17 espécies e outras três foram relatadas, incluindo três ameaçadas. Carnivora foi a ordem mais representativa (8 espécies), seguida de Rodentia (4 espécies). A riqueza encontrada representa 44,4% do total de espécies já registradas para a Caatinga, sendo considerado superior à de outros fragmentos e similar à de áreas protegidas maiores. O roedor <em>Kerodon rupestris, </em>espécie ameaçada de extinção, foi responsável por 66% dos registros, revelando a importância desse fragmento para sua conservação, frente as pressões antrópicas, necessitando de medidas de curto prazo para sua conservação. Sugerimos a criação de uma unidade de conservação no local e a realização de ações com foco na educação ambiental, além de práticas de manejo participativas e sustentáveis junto à comunidade.</p> <p>The Caatinga in the state of Piauí, Brazil, is being continuously degraded even before we know its biodiversity. Mammals are among the most affected taxa by this degradation. In this sense, we evaluated the richness and composition of non-volant mammals between August 2021 and July 2022 in a Caatinga fragment (2000 ha). We used active search (96 hours) and camera traps (720 night-traps). We recorded 17 species, including three threatened ones. Carnivora was the most representative order (8 species), followed by Rodentia (4 species). The richness found represents 44.4% of the total number of species recorded for the Caatinga, which is considered superior to other fragments and similar to larger protected areas. The threatened rodent <em>Kerodon rupestris, </em>an endangered species, was responsible for 66% of the records, revealing the importance of this fragment for its conservation in the face of anthropogenic pressures, requiring short-term measures. We suggest the creation of a protected area on this locality and the development of actions focused on environmental education, in addition to participatory and sustainable management practices within the community.</p>2023-12-12T00:00:00-03:00Copyright (c) 2023 Oecologia Australishttps://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/article/view/57440MEDIUM TO LARGE-SIZED MAMMALS IN A HUMAN-MODIFIED AREA IN THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL2023-09-29T22:42:24-03:00Alessandra BertassoniFilipe Guimarães LimaAnderson Barbosa AlvesSamuel MariaVania Cristina Foster<p><span class="fontstyle0">Habitat modification is a major threat to biodiversity, in which the savanna-like Cerrado biome has been under high disturbances for the last decades. In Brazil, São Paulo state contains few native remnants of Cerrado surrounded by anthropogenic matrix. Here we report the medium and large-sized mammal species found in a private property of a rural area of São Paulo. Using camera trapping, we surveyed mammals from 2013 to 2018, and recorded 21 species of which five were exotic. The observed and estimated species richness were alike in the first year of sampling, but from 2014 onwards, the differences in richness increased. The most recorded species was the coati (</span><span class="fontstyle2">Nasua nasua</span><span class="fontstyle0">), followed by the puma (</span><span class="fontstyle2">Puma concolor</span><span class="fontstyle0">) and the giant anteater (</span><span class="fontstyle2">Myrmecophaga tridactyla</span><span class="fontstyle0">). The presence of exotic species indicates anthropogenic influence. Small natural remnants in private lands might work as ecological corridors, highlighting their importance in the southern domain of the Cerrado.</span> </p>2024-01-24T00:00:00-03:00Copyright (c) 2024 Oecologia Australishttps://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/article/view/58773ICHTHYOFAUNA OF STREAMS FROM THE PIRAJU AND TEJUPÁ MUNICIPALITIES, SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL2023-09-11T12:12:05-03:00Roberto FerraziFelipe Polivanov OttoniFelipe TintiMariah MolinaGuilherme Correia-SilvaJosé BirindelliCarolina SilvaLigia Carolina Quessada CorazzaValter Azevedo-Santos<p><span class="fontstyle0">Fish surveys are important in the context of the freshwater biodiversity crisis. Ichthyological surveys provide information before the species become extinct; and, therefore, may propitiate policies for conservation measures. Studies in this scope area needed especially in municipalities such as Piraju and Tejupá, which are located in a populous and impacted region of the São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. Both municipalities are in the Paranapanema River drainage, which is part of the upper Paraná River system. Here, we provide the results of an ichthyological survey carried out in watercourses of Piraju and Tejupá. We sampled 13 stream reaches using hand nets and cast nets. We captured 284 individuals belonging to 29 fish species belonging to 10 families and five orders. Almost all species are native to the region, with the exception of the poeciliid </span><span class="fontstyle2">Poecilia reticulata</span><span class="fontstyle0">. Our study revealed a high diversity of fish species in the Piraju and Tejupá regions. However, we emphasize the need for additional sampling in the streams of both municipalities, particularly through the use complementary methods (</span><span class="fontstyle2">e.g. </span><span class="fontstyle0">gillnets). If local governments implement initiatives to protect and restore just the streams sampled in this study, about 18 % of the fish species of Paranapanema River drainage will be benefited in some way</span> </p>2023-09-11T00:00:00-03:00Copyright (c) 2023 Oecologia Australishttps://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/article/view/59238ICHTHYOFAUNA OF THE MARIMBONDINHO RIVER, FURNAS RESERVOIR, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL2023-09-11T13:14:45-03:00André Batista NobileValter Monteiro Azevedo-SantosClaudio Lopes SoaresFelipe Viana ManzanoClaudio OliveiraFelipe Pontieri Lima<p><span class="fontstyle0">Ichthyofauna surveys are essential for conservation efforts in reservoirs. Here we present a list of fish species found in the Marimbondinho River, a tributary of the Furnas HPP reservoir in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fish captures were conducted using gillnets and cast nets at five sampling points during six campaigns in 2018 and 2019. We recorded a total of 1,892 individuals belonging to 31 species, distributed in 16 families and four orders. Four fish species were considered long-distance migrants, and five were<br />identified as non-natives. None of the captured species are listed as threatened on the official Brazilian list. Order Characiformes exhibited the highest species richness; in which Anostomidae and Characidae were the families with great species richness. </span><span class="fontstyle2">Hoplosternum littorale </span><span class="fontstyle0">was the most abundant species, presented in approximately 22% of all the captures. Overall, the results indicate that the ichthyofauna of Marimbondinho River is similar to those typically observed in Brazilian reservoirs, with the expected<br />richness and number of migratory species. We expect this study can help in future monitoring programs and, fundamentally, to propose conservation and management measures on endemic and migratory species of Furnas reservoir.</span> </p>2023-09-11T00:00:00-03:00Copyright (c) 2023 Oecologia Australishttps://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/article/view/63174EDITORIAL OECOLOGIA AUSTRALIS March 20242024-03-08T20:12:10-03:00Maíra BenchimolGabriel Cupolillo2024-03-15T00:00:00-03:00Copyright (c) 2024 Oecologia Australishttps://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/article/view/55604FLORAÇÃO DE ALGAS NOCIVAS EM ÁGUAS COSTEIRAS DE SANTA CATARINA, BRASIL: DINÂMICA TEMPORAL E ESPACIAL2023-11-14T13:51:54-03:00Talita MontagnaAlexander Christian VibransLuiz Fernando de Novaes ViannaMathias Alberto Schramm<p>Para desenvolver um sistema de monitoramento e previsão de florações de algas nocivas (FAN) é importante conhecer a dinâmica da clorofila-a e sua relação com o crescimento de algas, em especial das produtoras de toxinas. O objetivo deste estudo foi detectar padrões da dinâmica temporal e espacial de espécies toxigênicas de fitoplâncton entre os anos de 2007 e 2009 no litoral centro-norte de Santa Catarina, Brasil, onde ocorrem atividades de maricultura. Foram utilizados dados de densidade celular de fitoplâncton total, de <em>Dinophysis</em> spp., de <em>Pseudo-nitzschia </em>spp. e concentração de clorofila-a, todos coletados <em>in situ. </em>Os pontos de monitoramento foram agrupados conforme as condições oceanográficas em zonas costeiras expostas e baía. Constatamos que a predominância da FAN de <em>Pseudo-nitzschia </em>spp. ocorre no verão e a de <em>Dinophysis</em> spp. no inverno. As FANs de <em>Dinophysis</em> spp. foram mais intensas em zonas costeiras expostas e as de <em>Pseudo-nitzschia </em>spp. nas baías. As FANs de <em>Dinophysis</em> spp. apresentaram níveis inseguros de consumo de moluscos em baixa densidade celular. Não foi encontrada relação significativa entre concentração de clorofila-a e as demais densidades celulares de algas nocivas e fitoplâncton total. Deste modo, a concentração de clorofila-a sozinha não pode ser utilizada como indicador para a ocorrência de FANs. Sendo assim, os padrões observados na floração destas algas nocivas sugerem que as variáveis ambientais que determinam suas ocorrências sejam controladas espaço-temporalmente, e possivelmente fornecem um caminho para monitorá-las diante da baixa eficácia da clorofila-a como preditora.</p> <p>Understanding the dynamics of chlorophyll-a and its relationship with algae growth, especially toxin-producing ones, is important to develop a monitoring and prediction system for harmful algal blooms (HABs). The objective of this study was to describe temporal and spatial patterns of toxigenic phytoplankton species between 2007 and 2009 on the central-northern coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil, where mariculture activities occur. <em>In situ</em> data of total phytoplankton cell density, <em>Dinophysis</em> spp., <em>Pseudo-nitzschia</em> spp., and chlorophyll-a concentration were used. Monitoring points were grouped into open sea and bay areas based on oceanographic conditions. The study found that <em>Pseudo-nitzschia </em>spp. blooms were predominant in the summer, while <em>Dinophysis</em> spp. blooms occurred in the winter. <em>Dinophysis</em> spp. blooms were more intense in the open sea, whereas <em>Pseudo-nitzschia </em>spp. blooms were more common in the bay areas. <em>Dinophysis</em> spp. blooms reached unsafe levels for mollusk consumption at low cell densities. No significant relationship was found between chlorophyll-a concentration and the densities of other harmful algae and total phytoplankton cell density. Therefore, the patterns observed in the blooms of these harmful algae suggest that the environmental variables that determine their occurrence are controlled spatiotemporally, and possibly provide a way to monitor them given the low effectiveness of chlorophyll-a as a predictor.</p> <p> </p>2024-02-16T00:00:00-03:00Copyright (c) 2024 Oecologia Australishttps://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/article/view/58361GRAMADOS URBANOS: A SURPREENDENTE DIVERSIDADE DE ESPÉCIES ENCONTRADA NO CAMPUS DO VALE DA UFRGS (RS, BRASIL) E SUAS POTENCIALIDADES2023-09-11T12:00:30-03:00Mateus Henrique SchenkelAna PortoGerhard Overbeck<p>Em ambientes urbanos é encontrada uma flora chamada de ruderal, composta por plantas exóticas e nativas, que geralmente é pouco estudada e considerada em termos de importância para a conservação da biodiversidade e qualidade ambiental das cidades. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a vegetação de gramados do Campus do Vale da UFRGS, e discutir sobre potenciais usos desses espaços pela comunidade acadêmica. Foi realizado um levantamento qualiquantitativo da vegetação em cinco gramados, com cinco parcelas de 1 m2 em cada. As plantas encontradas foram identificadas e classificadas quanto a sua origem (se nativa ou exótica) e forma de vida. A lista obtida nos levantamentos foi comparada com a lista de espécies da flora dos morros graníticos de Porto Alegre para avaliar até que ponto os gramados abrigam espécies típicas da vegetação nativa campestre da região. Para entender a influência dos parâmetros estruturais (cobertura e altura) na composição florística foi utilizada uma análise de redundância (RDA). Foram encontradas 101 espécies distribuídas em 25 famílias botânicas; destas, 69 também ocorrem nos campos dos morros de Porto Alegre. As famílias com maior riqueza de espécies foram Poaceae e Asteraceae, já as com maior cobertura relativa foram Poaceae e Apiaceae. As formas de vida touceira e terófita foram predominantes, com alta participação de espécies rosetadas e rizomatosas, indicativas do regime de roçadas frequentes atualmente empregado no manejo dessas áreas. Na RDA, foi constatado uma diferenciação de um dos locais que possui uma vegetação mais alta, com maior proporção de espécies entouceiradas. A alta proporção de espécies exóticas, incluindo invasoras e terófitas também revela a ruderalização desses ambientes. Uma mudança no manejo como a diminuição na frequência das roçadas poderia contribuir para uma maior diversidade nativa nesses espaços, possibilitando um melhor uso em atividades de ensino, divulgação, extensão e valorização da biodiversidade nativa.</p> <p>The flora of urban environments has a ruderal character and may contain exotic and native plants species. This flora tends to be little studied and even less considered in terms of biodiversity conservation and environmental quality of cities. The objective of this study was to characterize the vegetation of urban lawns located at Campus do Vale (UFRGS), in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, to evaluate the potential uses of these spaces by the academic community. We conducted qualiquantitative vegetation sampling in 1 m2 plots in five different areas of lawns, with five plots per area. The plants found were identified and classified according to their origin (native or alien species) and life forms. To determine the participation of typical native grassland species in the lawns, we compared our species list to an available species list for grasslands in the granitic hills of Porto Alegre. To understand the influence of structural vegetation parameters (cover and vegetation height) on the floristic composition, a redundancy analysis (RDA) was used. 101 species distributed in 25 families were found, 69 of these can be found in the grasslands in the granitic hills of Porto Alegre. The families with the highest species richness were Poaceae and Asteraceae, and the families with the highest relative cover were Poaceae and Apiaceae. Tussock and therophyte life forms were predominant, but the high proportion of rosette and prostrate plants is indicative of the regime of frequent mowing. In the RDA, one site with higher vegetation was separated from the other sites. The high proportion of exotic species, including some invasive ones, and therophytes reveals the ruderalization of these environments. Decreasing the mowing frequency would probably lead to a plant community with greater similarity with native grasslands, thus allowing better use of the lawns for teaching native biodiversity.</p>2023-09-11T00:00:00-03:00Copyright (c) 2023 Oecologia Australis