Nonvolant small mammals of Estação Ecológica de Bananal, SP

Author(s)

Edson Fiedler de Abreu Júnior

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-02-27

Examining board members

Alexandre Reis Percequillo; Guillermo D'Elía; Pablo Rodrigues Gonçalves

• Advisor: Alexandre Reis Percequillo

Abstract

Compared to other Brazilian biomes, the Atlantic Forest is proportionally the most diverse in species of mammals, exhibiting the highest rate of endemism. Among all Atlantic Forest mammals, the nonvolant small mammals are the most diversified group and represents more than a third of total richness, with nearly 105 species. However, we are still far from understanding many aspects involved on the delimitation of most species, such as the magnitude of morphological variation, phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history. This is a consequence of the lack of studies integrating these issues, for instance, through detailed description of local faunas, as has been occurred in the Amazon region in the last few years. In this context, the main objective here was to inventory the nonvolant small mammals fauna of Estação Ecológica de Bananal (EEB), northeast of São Paulo State, and present it in a detailed and commented list; I also aimed to discuss some biogeographic aspects of the group in Atlantic Forest. I analyzed about 550 specimens collected in the years 2003, 2004 and 2011 and deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP); as well as specimens from others localities in Atlantic Forest and deposited in scientific collections in Brazil and abroad, to compare with EEB specimens. The specimens were analyzed through morphological features, such as qualitative and quantitative analysis of external and cranial morphology, and through molecular traits, with mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequencing. The EEB nonvolant small mammals list comprised 31 species, among them six didelphid marsupials, 22 sigmodontine rodents and three echimyid rodents. For all species, I present the following itens: type locality; geographic distribution; identification, with information about morphological variation; taxonomic remarks; phylogenetic relationships; and field observations. The EEB stands out as one of the richest localities in the Atlantic Forest, where occur some of the rarest species of nonvolant small mammals of the Atlantic forest Biome, such as Drymoreomys albimaculatus, Rhagomys rufescens and Phaenomys ferrugineus. A cluster analysis between Atlantic Forest localities, based on species richness (species presence or absence), showed us that the Biome can be divided in five distinctive faunal regions. The EEB was placed in a region named \"Sudesteserrana\", displaying high similarity with R.F. do Morro Grande and P.E. Intervales. Regarding the phylogeography approach, EEB species exhibited different levels of structure, exhibiting greater genetic proximity to specimens from localities across south of São Paulo and southern Bahia. As the main conclusion, this study demonstrated the importance of the southeastern Atlantic Forest in terms of diversity and occurrence of rare species; it also showed that species of nonvolant small mammals are not homogeneously distributed in the Biome, as a consequence of the consistent regionalization found across them; and it corroborated the relevance of the southeastern portion of Biome in the species diversification process. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/14633-7 - Non-volant small mammals of Estação Ecológica de Bananal: diversity and natural history
• Grantee: Edson Fiedler de Abreu Júnior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master