Eighty-five mammal species are classified worldwide as Extinct on the IUCN Red List. In this stud... more Eighty-five mammal species are classified worldwide as Extinct on the IUCN Red List. In this study, we aimed to assess to which Orders these species belong, when they became extinct and the factors that led to their extinction. We also compared the factors that threatened the survival of these species with the ones that are currently threatening the species classified as Critically Endangered, as well as the areas where the extinct species could be originally found with the areas where Critically Endangered species are currently found. Our review was conducted using the advanced search tool of the IUCN Red List database (Taxonomy, Red List Category, Threats and Land Regions filters). Rodentia was the mammal Order with the highest number of Extinct species, whereas Primates was the Order with the greatest proportion of Critically Endangered ones. The last two (19th and 20th) centuries were the periods in which the greatest number of species was lost. We found remarkable differences between the factors threatening species survival and between countries with the highest number of Extinct species and the ones that contain a greater number of Critically Endangered species. The threat category responsible for most of the extinctions overall was «Invasive and other problematic species, genes and diseases». Nonetheless, factors associated with habitat loss and degradation seem to have become more important nowadays and, in addition, some «new» factors, such as «Energy production and mining», «Human intrusions and disturbance», «Pollution», and «Transportation and service corridors», which have not had much relevance for past extinctions, now appear as important threats to Critically Endangered species. Australia was the country that has lost the most mammal species (n = 26), followed by Haiti (n = 9), the Dominican Republic (n = 8), and Cuba (n = 6). On the other hand, when we evaluated the amount of species classified as Critically Endangered, Madagascar (n = 33), Mexico (n = 27), and Indonesia (n = 26) are the countries that concentrate the highest number of them. Thus, future extinctions are unlikely to occur in the same places as in the past because the human society's relationship with the environment has changed over time: human population has grown, habitat loss has become the predominant threat to many species and new threat factors have emerged.
biodiversity (Mack et al., 2000). Introduced organisms may negatively affect native species and e... more biodiversity (Mack et al., 2000). Introduced organisms may negatively affect native species and ecosystems, for instance by imposing new competition and predation pressures and introducing new pathogens (e.g. Blackburn et al., 2014; Miaud et al., 2016). Because exotic species are usually difficult to control once they become invasive (Genovesi, 2005), it is important to promptly detect and document new introductions. All over the world, an increasing number of introductions by exotic lizard species have been documented, with successful establishment often leading to major ecological impacts (e.g. Krysko et al., 2004; Engeman et al., 2011; Vasconcelos et al., 2014; Kraus, 2015). This is the case for a number of anole species (Anolis, Dactyloidae), which have been widely reported outside their natural ranges, following human-mediated introductions (e.g. Eales et al., 2008; Nicholson and Richards, 2011; Samelo and Barrela, 2016; Yasumiba et al., 2016). Among them, the brown or festive ...
Altitudinal patterns in species richness vary among taxa and are shaped by the intrinsic traits o... more Altitudinal patterns in species richness vary among taxa and are shaped by the intrinsic traits of different organisms and their response to environmental variables. We evaluated the relationship between anuran richness and elevation along local and regional altitudinal gradients within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest based on data from fieldwork (local dataset; 100–1900 m a.s.l.) and on compiled secondary information (regional dataset; 0–2300 m a.s.l.). We also tested whether frog distribution patterns were consistent with the predictions of the mid‐domain (MDE) and Rapoport effects. In each analysis, we also considered the impact of reproductive mode, classified here as either water‐dependent or water‐independent, on species richness patterns. Considering the local dataset, species richness decreased with increasing altitude for all species pooled and (more strongly) for the species with water‐dependent reproductive mode, whereas the water‐independent species presented increased ric...
Red Lists are important conservation tools because they attempt to estimate the extinction risks ... more Red Lists are important conservation tools because they attempt to estimate the extinction risks of species. We compared the conservation status of Brazilian mammals presented in the Brazilian Red Book with those presented in the IUCN Red List, highlighting the importance of each list and why they should be used jointly. Out of 636 species, 181 were considered endemic to Brazil and 121 were considered threatened by at least one of the lists. Considering the complete database, 86 % of the species had the same status on both lists, whereas only 48 % of the threatened species had the same status. Some possible factors responsible for variations are the period in which the evaluations were carried out, the evaluation process and the fact that a species threatened nationally may not be threatened globally. We recommend that communication should be improved, that lists should be kept updated, and that both the type of information and the data itself to be used in the assessments should be...
We surveyed the nematode assemblages associated with populations of the parthenogenetic whiptail ... more We surveyed the nematode assemblages associated with populations of the parthenogenetic whiptail lizard Ameivula nativo from six coastal restinga areas in eastern Brazil: Setiba, Comboios and Guriri (State of Espirito Santo) and Guaratiba, Prado and Maraú (State of Bahia). A total of five nematode species (Physaloptera retusa, Physalopteroides venancioi, Skrjabinelazia intermedia, Subulura lacertilia and Parapharyngodon sp.) were recorded from the six different populations of A. nativo. There was considerable variation in overall prevalence of infection (1–42%) among study sites, but geographical distance among areas did not influence similarity in the composition of nematode assemblages. Overall intensity of infection was not affected by lizard body size and did not seem to affect host body condition, based on pooled data of all populations. The studied populations of the unisexual A. nativo had relatively low prevalences and intensities of infection compared to some bisexual conge...
We report geographic range extensions for two anuran species, Brachycephalus didactylus (Bachycep... more We report geographic range extensions for two anuran species, Brachycephalus didactylus (Bachycephalidae) and Zachaenus parvulus (Cycloramphidae), recorded during a short-term herpetofaunal survey carried out at mid-elevation (600-900 m) Atlantic Forest sites at the Serra das Torres mountains (21°00’ S, 41°13’ W), in the state of Espírito Santo, SE Brazil. These two species are reported for the first time in Espírito Santo, representing the northernmost records for both of them and raising to 135 the number of anuran species currently known to occur in the state.
We present new data on the ecology of a high-altitude population of M. dorsivittata, at the Itati... more We present new data on the ecology of a high-altitude population of M. dorsivittata, at the Itatiaia National Park in south-eastern Brazil, based on 16 lizards collected in February 2000. Litter size for five mature females was 3-4. Body temperatures of eight lizards averaged 29.1′3.4 °C and was positively correlated with air and substrate temperatures. M. dorsivittata consumed a range of arthropods, with no clear dominance of any one prey category.
In general, anurans tend to be nocturnal, though diurnal activity is characteristic of some group... more In general, anurans tend to be nocturnal, though diurnal activity is characteristic of some groups. Studies show that frog activity may be inferred based on the number of individuals collected at different periods of the day, during large-scale field surveys. We investigated the best period of the day to conduct amphibian sampling in nine Atlantic Rainforest areas in southeastern Brazil, based on intensive field surveys. At each locality we employed similar sampling effort during diurnal, crepuscular and nocturnal searches (totaling 704.5 sampling hours). We pooled data from all localities for each period and estimated the proportion of frogs of each species active at each period based on the total number of individuals and on the number of species found during all surveys for that period. We recorded a total of 817 individual frogs from 69 species. Species richness was highest at night (median = 12 species), intermediate at dusk (median = 8), and lowest during the day (median = 4)....
Eighty-five mammal species are classified worldwide as Extinct on the IUCN Red List. In this stud... more Eighty-five mammal species are classified worldwide as Extinct on the IUCN Red List. In this study, we aimed to assess to which Orders these species belong, when they became extinct and the factors that led to their extinction. We also compared the factors that threatened the survival of these species with the ones that are currently threatening the species classified as Critically Endangered, as well as the areas where the extinct species could be originally found with the areas where Critically Endangered species are currently found. Our review was conducted using the advanced search tool of the IUCN Red List database (Taxonomy, Red List Category, Threats and Land Regions filters). Rodentia was the mammal Order with the highest number of Extinct species, whereas Primates was the Order with the greatest proportion of Critically Endangered ones. The last two (19th and 20th) centuries were the periods in which the greatest number of species was lost. We found remarkable differences between the factors threatening species survival and between countries with the highest number of Extinct species and the ones that contain a greater number of Critically Endangered species. The threat category responsible for most of the extinctions overall was «Invasive and other problematic species, genes and diseases». Nonetheless, factors associated with habitat loss and degradation seem to have become more important nowadays and, in addition, some «new» factors, such as «Energy production and mining», «Human intrusions and disturbance», «Pollution», and «Transportation and service corridors», which have not had much relevance for past extinctions, now appear as important threats to Critically Endangered species. Australia was the country that has lost the most mammal species (n = 26), followed by Haiti (n = 9), the Dominican Republic (n = 8), and Cuba (n = 6). On the other hand, when we evaluated the amount of species classified as Critically Endangered, Madagascar (n = 33), Mexico (n = 27), and Indonesia (n = 26) are the countries that concentrate the highest number of them. Thus, future extinctions are unlikely to occur in the same places as in the past because the human society's relationship with the environment has changed over time: human population has grown, habitat loss has become the predominant threat to many species and new threat factors have emerged.
biodiversity (Mack et al., 2000). Introduced organisms may negatively affect native species and e... more biodiversity (Mack et al., 2000). Introduced organisms may negatively affect native species and ecosystems, for instance by imposing new competition and predation pressures and introducing new pathogens (e.g. Blackburn et al., 2014; Miaud et al., 2016). Because exotic species are usually difficult to control once they become invasive (Genovesi, 2005), it is important to promptly detect and document new introductions. All over the world, an increasing number of introductions by exotic lizard species have been documented, with successful establishment often leading to major ecological impacts (e.g. Krysko et al., 2004; Engeman et al., 2011; Vasconcelos et al., 2014; Kraus, 2015). This is the case for a number of anole species (Anolis, Dactyloidae), which have been widely reported outside their natural ranges, following human-mediated introductions (e.g. Eales et al., 2008; Nicholson and Richards, 2011; Samelo and Barrela, 2016; Yasumiba et al., 2016). Among them, the brown or festive ...
Altitudinal patterns in species richness vary among taxa and are shaped by the intrinsic traits o... more Altitudinal patterns in species richness vary among taxa and are shaped by the intrinsic traits of different organisms and their response to environmental variables. We evaluated the relationship between anuran richness and elevation along local and regional altitudinal gradients within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest based on data from fieldwork (local dataset; 100–1900 m a.s.l.) and on compiled secondary information (regional dataset; 0–2300 m a.s.l.). We also tested whether frog distribution patterns were consistent with the predictions of the mid‐domain (MDE) and Rapoport effects. In each analysis, we also considered the impact of reproductive mode, classified here as either water‐dependent or water‐independent, on species richness patterns. Considering the local dataset, species richness decreased with increasing altitude for all species pooled and (more strongly) for the species with water‐dependent reproductive mode, whereas the water‐independent species presented increased ric...
Red Lists are important conservation tools because they attempt to estimate the extinction risks ... more Red Lists are important conservation tools because they attempt to estimate the extinction risks of species. We compared the conservation status of Brazilian mammals presented in the Brazilian Red Book with those presented in the IUCN Red List, highlighting the importance of each list and why they should be used jointly. Out of 636 species, 181 were considered endemic to Brazil and 121 were considered threatened by at least one of the lists. Considering the complete database, 86 % of the species had the same status on both lists, whereas only 48 % of the threatened species had the same status. Some possible factors responsible for variations are the period in which the evaluations were carried out, the evaluation process and the fact that a species threatened nationally may not be threatened globally. We recommend that communication should be improved, that lists should be kept updated, and that both the type of information and the data itself to be used in the assessments should be...
We surveyed the nematode assemblages associated with populations of the parthenogenetic whiptail ... more We surveyed the nematode assemblages associated with populations of the parthenogenetic whiptail lizard Ameivula nativo from six coastal restinga areas in eastern Brazil: Setiba, Comboios and Guriri (State of Espirito Santo) and Guaratiba, Prado and Maraú (State of Bahia). A total of five nematode species (Physaloptera retusa, Physalopteroides venancioi, Skrjabinelazia intermedia, Subulura lacertilia and Parapharyngodon sp.) were recorded from the six different populations of A. nativo. There was considerable variation in overall prevalence of infection (1–42%) among study sites, but geographical distance among areas did not influence similarity in the composition of nematode assemblages. Overall intensity of infection was not affected by lizard body size and did not seem to affect host body condition, based on pooled data of all populations. The studied populations of the unisexual A. nativo had relatively low prevalences and intensities of infection compared to some bisexual conge...
We report geographic range extensions for two anuran species, Brachycephalus didactylus (Bachycep... more We report geographic range extensions for two anuran species, Brachycephalus didactylus (Bachycephalidae) and Zachaenus parvulus (Cycloramphidae), recorded during a short-term herpetofaunal survey carried out at mid-elevation (600-900 m) Atlantic Forest sites at the Serra das Torres mountains (21°00’ S, 41°13’ W), in the state of Espírito Santo, SE Brazil. These two species are reported for the first time in Espírito Santo, representing the northernmost records for both of them and raising to 135 the number of anuran species currently known to occur in the state.
We present new data on the ecology of a high-altitude population of M. dorsivittata, at the Itati... more We present new data on the ecology of a high-altitude population of M. dorsivittata, at the Itatiaia National Park in south-eastern Brazil, based on 16 lizards collected in February 2000. Litter size for five mature females was 3-4. Body temperatures of eight lizards averaged 29.1′3.4 °C and was positively correlated with air and substrate temperatures. M. dorsivittata consumed a range of arthropods, with no clear dominance of any one prey category.
In general, anurans tend to be nocturnal, though diurnal activity is characteristic of some group... more In general, anurans tend to be nocturnal, though diurnal activity is characteristic of some groups. Studies show that frog activity may be inferred based on the number of individuals collected at different periods of the day, during large-scale field surveys. We investigated the best period of the day to conduct amphibian sampling in nine Atlantic Rainforest areas in southeastern Brazil, based on intensive field surveys. At each locality we employed similar sampling effort during diurnal, crepuscular and nocturnal searches (totaling 704.5 sampling hours). We pooled data from all localities for each period and estimated the proportion of frogs of each species active at each period based on the total number of individuals and on the number of species found during all surveys for that period. We recorded a total of 817 individual frogs from 69 species. Species richness was highest at night (median = 12 species), intermediate at dusk (median = 8), and lowest during the day (median = 4)....
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Papers by Davor Vrcibradic