Even at the local scale, environmental changes due of anthropogenic actions represent a source of disturbance in terrestrial ecosystems, forcing species to respond according to their ecological plasticity. Thus, stenotopic species and those with low-dispersal ability will likely be negatively affected by landscape modifications that reduce environmental complexity. In this study, we identify and quantify the effects of biotic and abiotic factors related to habitat complexity on the variation in scorpion assemblages in terms of both species’ richness, abundance and composition across 18 transects covering Caatinga landscapes with different levels of degradation. Using ultraviolet flashlights, we sampled 269 scorpions, belonging to six species and two families. The results showed contrasting patterns of species richness and abundance that depend on the level of habitat complexity. More specifically, we reported that scorpion species richness could be predicted by the number of trees, while the coefficient of variation of the diameter at breast height of trees (cvDBH) is a predictor of scorpion abundance. These findings suggest that vegetation structure is deterministic for the maintenance of scorpion assemblages in Caatinga landscapes. In addition, the cvDBH and tree number may explain 39% and 40% of the variability observed amongst scorpion assemblages in terms of richness difference and species composition, respectively. This study provides insights concerning the development of conservation strategies, clarifying the role of habitat complexity for the preservation of low-dispersal animals in neglected environments, such as those within the Caatinga domain.

RESUMOFoi realizado um trabalho para determinar o aproveitamento alimentar da farinha de carne e ossos (FCO), farinha de vísceras de aves (FVA) e farinha de peixe (FP) em tartaruga-da-amazônia, por meio dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE) e energia bruta (EB The use of animal feed in the diet of captive Arrau sideneck -Podocnemis expansa ABSTRACTThe effect of animal feed was studied in the Arrau sideneck, by the evaluation of apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and gross energy (GE) of the meat and bone meal (MBM), poultry by-products meal (PBM) and fish meal (FM). The turtles used were 136 hatchlings from Projeto Quelônios da Amazônia, State of Mato Grosso. Experimental animals were raised in plastic containers, with continuous water flow and mean temperature kept at 29 o C. ADC was determined by the use of diets labeled with 0.1% of chromium oxide III (Cr 2 O 3 ). The ADC of DM, CP, EE and GE were, respectively, 79.10, 87.61, 93.83 and 79.61% for MBM, 92.45, 94.89, 96.55 and 92.71% for PBM and 93.53, 95.13, 94.05 and 93.18% for FM. The best coefficients were obtained with the fish meal and poultry by-products meal.

This paper investigates relationships between birds and the inhabitants of Afro-descendant communities in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil, paying particular attention to conservation. Near the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre da Serra do Giz wildlife reserve, we interviewed 55 residents using semi-structured forms combined with free interviews and informal conversations. Residents reported 121 species in 43 families and 21 orders. They recounted what they knew about nesting, reproductive and social behaviors, diet, and bird conservation. The lack of reporting on several species of birds known from the Serra do Giz was probably because those birds are absent due to hunting and habitat destruction. This study demonstrates the importance of conducting ethnobiological studies for bird conservation and to record local traditional knowledge.