No abstract

A population of the Neotropical marsupial Didelphis albiventris (Lund, 1840) living in an urban forest fragment was studied. Population structure and the influence of sex and age on two variables related to habitat use (Daily home range - MCP and Habitat use intensity - UI) obtained by the spool-and-line technique were analysed. There were 20 males and 29 females studied (N = 49). No sexual dimorphism was apparent in adult individuals. There were 16 males and 24 females tracked using the spool-and-line device. There were significant differences found in the mean size of the daily home range, which was greater in adults than in sub-adults. Regarding the habitat use intensity there were also significant differences related to age. There were no significant differences in MCP and UI related to the sex of the individuals. Besides the analyzed factors, the variables related to habitat use are possibly influenced by other factors, especially, the ones related to the conservation status of the fragment.

As serpentes são animais que apesar de serem importantes sob o ponto de vista ecológico, social e da saúde pública, têm sofrido constantes ataques e perseguições em decorrência do medo e desconhecimento da população. Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a eficácia de uma metodologia alternativa no ensino de serpentes para alunos do ensino fundamental de uma Escola Estadual da região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Foram aplicados dois questionários para verificação do conhecimento, um antes e outro após a intervenção, que consistiu em uma palestra com exposição de serpentes vivas. O pré-questionário evidenciou a presença de equívocos e mitos relacionados às serpentes, e no pós-questionário observou-se uma melhora na compreensão dos assuntos trabalhados. A metodologia alternativa se mostrou eficiente no sentido de despertar a curiosidade dos alunos, bem como alternativa capaz de facilitar a aquisição do conhecimento. Desta forma, pode-se inferir que metodologias alternativas são ferramentas necessárias para o ensino de ciências e cada vez mais os professores devem utilizar estes recursos.

ABSTRACT. Since bats shelter in roosts during their period of diurnal inactivity, the quality and availability of roosts are important aspects of their ecology. Karst areas have great potential for the availability of day roosts, since they form caves, which serve as bat shelters. Here we characterize the caves used by bats in a preserved karst area of Southeastern Brazil. Using logistic regression analysis we identified the cave characteristics that influence bat occupation. Sixty-six caves were characterized based on measurements of internal height and width, height and width of the entrance(s) of the cave, number of entrances, maximum horizontal development of cave, and internal temperature and humidity. In nineteen months we found 14 species in 32 caves. Most species were eventually recorded in multiple caves, with the exception of D. rotundus, G. soricina and A. planirostris, which were always found in the same caves. Desmodus rotundus showed maternity roost fidelity. We found no differences in microclimate between the caves that are occupied and those that are not. In other words, the microclimate of the caves studied herein can be characterized as stable over the years. The only predictor affecting the presence of bats in the study area was the cave's maximum horizontal development: the caves that are occupied have greater horizontal development. Based on our results, we conclude that bats occupy many of the caves and that some species are more frequent in certain caves than in others, including some roosts that are used as maternity roosts. These findings indicate that these caves are important resources for the bats in the karst environment studied, and should be preserved.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are among the greatest threats to biodiversity and ecosystem stability, with physiological implications on wild fauna. Bats (Microchiroptera) are small mammals with a wide variety of eating habits, and the well-being of these animals is disturbed by exposure to pesticides. This study aimed to develop a miniaturized QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction method for the detection of multi-residue pesticides in bat muscle tissue using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A total of 48 pesticides were tested in 250 mg of bat muscle tissue. The developed analytical method was applied to 148 bats collected from two different areas in Minas Gerais State, Southeast Region of Brazil. The method presented good sensitivity and allowed the determination of residues of 48 pesticides in bat muscle using GC–MS. The miniaturized extraction method makes the analysis feasible even when the sample volume is limited. However, no pesticide residues were detected in bats from the two areas investigated.