This paper presents a broad study of frugivory and seed dispersal by the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), the largest canid (20-26 kg) in South America. The wolf's diet were analysed in 8 localities (all in the cerrado region of south-eastern Brazil) to document its degree of frugivory. Results showed that all populations of maned wolves were highly omnivorous. With exception of Allagoptera campestris, whose seeds were heavily destroyed (87.5% of 522 seeds in faeces), all fruit species consumed by wolves had most seeds unharmed after passing through the wolf's gut (91.7-100% of seeds intact). Although the maned wolf seems to have a short passage time of food through the gut (∼20-30 minutes), this is counterbalanced by its highly cursorial habits. By recording the location of tracks and faeces and by radiotelemetry data, it was recorded that the maned wolf prefers open cerrado. Therefore, only plant species that establish in open cerrado are likely to be effectively dispersed by wolves.

ABSTRACT. Reptiles of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. 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from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), based on reviews of publications, examination of scientifi c collections and unpublished fi eld data provided by researchers.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 fl oodplain. 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 fi ve 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 justifi es 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 signifi cant anthropogenic alteration. For this reason, these areas, especially the north -including the headwaters of rivers which supply the fl oodplain -are indicated as priorities for the completion of inventories of reptiles and creation of areas to protect them.KEYWORDS. Biodiversity, Cerrado, Chaco, herpetofauna, Pantanal, Biota-MS Program.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 científi cas e dados disponibilizados por pesquisadores. Foram registradas 188 espécies distribuídas em oito espécies de Testudines, três Crocodylia e 177 Squamata (16 anfi sbenas, 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 ocorr...

Our aim was to disentangle the effects of different heat sources and the non-thermal properties of the substrate in the microhabitat choices of two lizard species living in savanna habitats of central-western Brazil: the teiid Ameivula aff. ocellifera (N = 43) and the tropidurid Tropidurus oreadicus (N = 23). To this end, a mixed structural resource selection function (mixed-SRSF) approach was used, modelling the probability of finding a lizard on a certain microhabitat based on environmental variables of used and simultaneously available places. First, we controlled for the effects of solar radiation, convection and the physical thermal properties of the substrate on substrate temperature. Then we assessed the effects of solar radiation, convection, conduction and the non-thermal properties of the substrate in the probability of use of a certain microhabitat. Results confirmed that substrate temperature was mediated by: air convection > solar radiation > physical thermal properties of the substrates. Moreover, the mixed-SRSF revealed that direct solar radiation and the non-thermal properties of the substrates were the only drivers of microhabitat selection for both species, with approximately the same strength. Our novel approach allowed splitting of the effect of different mechanisms in the microhabitat selection of lizards, which makes it a powerful tool for assessing the conformation of the interactions between different environmental variables mediating animal behaviour.

A partir da instituição da Lei Brasileira de Inclusão da Pessoa com Deficiência (Estatuto da Pessoa com Deficiência Lei nº 13.146 de 06/07/2015), destinada a assegurar e a promover, em condições de igualdade, o exercício dos direitos e das liberdades fundamentais por pessoa com deficiência, visando à sua inclusão social e cidadania, acredita-se que a discussão sobre a temática ainda recente, tenderá a se acirrar na sociedade brasileira. A pessoa com deficiência enfrenta enormes desafios na vida em sociedade, sobretudo o deficiente visual, o qual depara no seu dia-a-dia com situações rotineiras, onde até mesmo situações mais simples, podem se tornar grandes obstáculos. O artigo trata de um relato de experiência que elenca as dificuldades enfrentadas no cotidiano do deficiente visual, bem como busca apontar medidas de segurança e em específico no trabalho laboral, podendo interferir positiva ou negativamente no cotidiano dessas pessoas. O relato justifica-se pela contribuição da literatura na reflexão do Estatuto da Pessoa com Deficiência, Lei Brasileira de Inclusão da Pessoa com Deficiência (Lei nº 13.146 de 6 de julho de 2015). A metodologia da pesquisa é qualitativa com abordagem biográfica da História de Vida, onde o foco é revisitar a história a fim de contribuir para uma reflexão sobre a inclusão da pessoa com deficiência no mundo do trabalho e na sociedade de forma geral para usufruir de seus direitos plenos de cidadania. Nesta perspectiva, conclui-se que a inclusão da pessoa com deficiência tem um longo caminho a percorrer para de fato se concretizar.

Amphibian species require specific conditions for reproduction, such as cover structures and shelters, in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, which directly influence reproductive success. A careful selection of calling sites is an important process, driving life-history strategies and tactics in amphibians. Despite this, a significant knowledge gap on how different variables modulate amphibian microhabitat selection processes is noted. Thus, we aimed to: (1) describing the microhabitat use of adult neotropical Boana punctata males during the breeding season; and (2) quantitatively analyzing the selection process of five resource variables (i.e., vegetation cover, vegetation density, vegetation height, water depth, and distance to the water shore). We then compared the microhabitat selection of males that achieved spawning and that of males that did not achieve spawning. To quantify selection, we used a resource selection function approach, applying a case/control design where the calling site used by each male was paired to eight surrounding, unused locations. We found that males selected microhabitats with higher vegetation than surrounding areas for reproduction, which suggests territorialism, and selected microhabitats slightly (∼ 30 cm) inside the assessed ponds. Males also acted randomly with regard to the other variables, not influencing the males’ microhabitat selection. Microhabitat use of males successful in obtaining females to spawn was similar to that of males exhibiting mating failure. In addition to being of ecological interest, our study highlights that preserving tall vegetation and the ponds’ shores is important for the conservation of existing B. punctata urban populations.