In this dissertation, histochemical and chromatographic investigations were carried out on
substances produced to possibly attract prey of Drosera quartzicola and Drosera tentaculata
(Droseraceae), two species of carnivorous plants, collected in Serra do Cipó National Park,
located in the central-eastern region of Minas Gerais. A survey of prey captured by Drosera
was also carried out, seeking to correlate whether the position of the leaf of each species (erect
or parallel to the ground) influences the quantity and diversity of prey captured. Histochemical
analyzes indicated the presence of phenols, acid lipids, mucilage, pectin, proteins, and steroids
in the tentacle heads of both species. These analyzes also indicated, in the trichomes in the
middle of the leaf blade, the presence of phenols, digestive enzymes, acid lipids and proteins
in both species. Furthermore, the presence of steroids, as well as resin acids, phenols and acid
lipids, was revealed in the trichomes of D. quartzicola. Digestive enzymes were evidenced in
the head of the tentacles and in trichomes in the middle of the leaf blade in both species. Gas
chromatography analyzes coupled to a mass detector were performed with the intention of
detecting volatiles produced by the species. However, the analyzes proved to be inconclusive.
It was also found that the position of the leaf influences the type of prey captured, with more
walking insects captured by species with leaves parallel to the ground, and more winged
insects captured by species with erect leaves. Species with erect leaves captured more prey,
and also a greater taxonomic diversity of insects, compared to species with leaves parallel to
the ground.

The puma (Puma concolor) is a top predator with a wide geographic
distribution, responsible for performing important ecological functions that help in the dynamics
and integrity of ecosystems. Populations of this species are declining globally, often as a result
of habitat loss and fragmentation and consequent anthropic changes in the landscape. Although
is considered generalist, some factors may influence the selection of habitats by the specie. Thus,
we aimed to evaluate the influence of environmental characteristics and anthropic factors on the
probability of occupancy and detection of puma in the Rio Doce State Park (RDSP). For this,
we used data collected through camera traps, in the period between 2016 and 2017. We also
used specific covariates of the sampling period and sample sites to generate Single-season
occupancy models. Our more parsimonious model indicates that puma occupation was better
explained by distance from rivers, but none of the covariates had a strong influence on the
estimates of this parameter. Detection, on the other hand, was better explained by the covariates
distance from rivers, number of days sampled per occasion and rainfall per occasion, but only
the last two showed a strong association with the probability of detection of the specie. Sampling
effort was the main factor positively associated with the detection of puma, suggesting that
longer-term surveys may make it possible to obtain a greater number of records of the specie,
thus ensuring better performance of the models. The lower displacement of puma in the RDSP
during the period of higher rainfall may be related to the increase in the abundance of prey during
the rainy season. The lack of influence of most of the covariates analyzed for the occupation and
detection of puma may reflect the good environmental quality of the RDSP. Although our results
may suggest a positive scenario for the specie in the Atlantic Forest, the reality for other
remnants of this biome may not be the same. Thus, the development of studies on a finer scale
and that explore landscapes under different levels of protection may be necessary for a better
understanding of the factors responsible for mediating the use of the habitat by puma.

The hedgerows are ancient excavations made in the 17th and 18th centuries by enslaved
individuals to separate land plots, and due to the lack of management in these environments after
their creation, it allowed the vegetation to colonize through propagules from adjacent areas. Due
to their concave structure, they possess a microclimate, structure, and floristic composition
similar to forest interiors and play an important ecological role in regional conservation. Despite
their potential, there had been no studies on the natural regeneration of these environments and
their ability to sustain themselves, so this study aimed to examine the structure and diversity of
two regenerating strata of shrub and tree species in four ecological corridors of valo in the
Campo das Vertentes region. Seedlings ≥ 50 cm and ≤ 100 cm in height (small stratum) were
analyzed in 4 m² plots, and seedlings > 100 cm in height and ≤ 5 cm in DBH - Diameter at Breast
Height (large stratum) were analyzed in 40 m² plots. The DBH was measured, heights were
recorded, and it was indicated in which section of the valo they were located (wall or bottom),
botanical identification was conducted for all individuals that fit these parameters. Structural
analysis was carried out using phytosociological parameters and floristic diversity of the species
in each corridor for both the large and small strata. Additionally, the same parameters were
analyzed for the species based on the section of the valo they occupied (wall or bottom). They
were also analyzed based on their ecological group and their ability to regenerate in the presence
or absence of light (shade tolerance). The floristic composition of the regenerating stratum was
compared to the adult floristic composition previously evaluated by Miguel (2019) using
dissimilarity tests.

The efficiency of data collection depends on the association between methodology and
objectives. Methodologies can be of various types and may or may not require researcher
involvement. In the field of ichthyology, especially in the realm of stream fish, there are
numerous methods for collecting ecological information. One notable methodology is the
BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video), which involves remote underwater video sampling
using bait to attract fish into the camera's field of view. While it is a versatile methodology,
extracting biometric information from video footage poses a significant challenge, particularly
regarding size structure data of the filmed fish. Several proposals have been employed to
enhance the extraction of size data, such as the use of specific configurations within the BRUV
setup. One of these configurations involves the use of two cameras, known as stereo-BRUV,
which requires calibration processes involving relatively expensive software or less expensive
software but with a higher level of computational expertise. A recently emerged software has
shown viability for such calibration and demonstrated efficiency in estimating fish sizes, as well
as ecological data like species richness and abundance. One of the species requiring more
detailed ecological data extraction is Oligosarcus paranensis, a species with a recognized
distribution in the Mangue stream, within the Serra de São José. Consequently, the objective of
this study was to assess the applicability of using stereo-BRUV for estimating the sizes of O.
paranensis. To verify the software's functionality, 15 model fish were created in a laboratory,
spanning sizes from 23.4mm to 148.3mm, measured with calipers and defined as the actual sizes.
Each model fish was measured five times using stereo-BRUV, totaling 75 measurements. There
was no statistical difference between the data, with an average absolute error of 2.3%. In the
comparison of size structure, the comparison was made between the fish sizes obtained using
the software and those captured with traps. Thirty 30-minute videos were collected at five points
in the Mangue stream, with the stereo-BRUV structure deployed first for sampling, immediately
followed by the traps. The mean and standard deviation of size between the capture methodology
were 50.9mm ± 18.4mm, while for the individuals filmed, it was 60.3mm ± 17.2mm. There was
sufficient evidence to suggest a statistical difference between the measurements. Smaller fish
were more frequently captured in the traps, while larger fish appeared more often in the videos.
Regarding the sampling points, the Mann-Whitney test showed differences between points 1, 2,
and 3, which had statistically different size data compared to the fish sizes found at points 4 and
5. There was no difference between points 1, 2, and 3, and points 4 and 5. In terms of abundance,
the videos recorded a total of 155 fish with an average of 5.1 fish, whereas the captured fish
numbered 378 with an average of 12.6. At the sampled points 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the average
number of individuals in the videos was 5.8, 7.8, 3.8, 4.3, and 4.0, respectively, while for the
captures, the averages were 5.8, 8.1, 2.1, 27.8, and 19.0. Through the use of stereo-BRUV, a
new parameter for assessing abundance was introduced, considering the maximum number of
individuals viewed and identified in a short video segment (NMAX), added to other fish whose
sizes were not already evident in the NMAX, referred to as NMAX+. NMAX+ improved
abundance estimates by an average of 60%. However, concerning size estimation, there was not
a statistically significant difference for the size structure estimate. In terms of antagonistic
behavior among O. paranensis individuals, 46 events were observed during all the videos. There
was a statistical difference between the sizes of fish that initiated attacks on those that fled. The
correlation between the data showed a 50 percent size association, indicating that not only larger
fish attacked smaller ones, but reversed cases were also identified by stereo-BRUV. The use of
the stereo-BRUV methodology proved to be efficient in estimating fish size. It can be applied
in stream environments and is highly recommended for conservation areas. Furthermore, the
methodology can be employed in various other studies involving size and distance estimation,
offering excellent precision in the results.

The activity patterns of the species correspond to their individual biological rhythms and are important attributes in the coexistence of species in ecological communities. The patterns of activity of the species are shaped by different factors such as abiotic conditions, physiological adaptations and life strategies. The puma concolor is one of the felines most adapted to different types of environments and one of the most widely distributed carnivores in the Americas. It is found in the Rio Doce State Park (RDSP) located in the State of Minas Gerais. This park has the largest protected area of the Atlantic Forest in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This work used camera traps that allow recording wild species. The camera trap is a very effective and uninvasive methodology for the study of large mammals. Sampling was performed during a dry and rainy period between April 2016 and March 2017. The present study aimed to evaluate the activity patterns of pumas in the RDSP. The activity pattern of pumas was categorized based on the proportion of independent records of pumas during the day and night hours. As main results I obtained 67 independent records of pumas in RDSP. Males and females showed similar patterns of activity. Pumas were classified as predominantly diurnal, which does not corroborate with other studies conducted in the Atlantic Forest. Males showed four peaks throughout the day and females maintained their activities before sunrise and remained until sunset. Future studies aimed at evaluating the behavior patterns of pumas should take into account their daytime behavior to understand the relationships with their prey species.

.

This study aimed to evaluate the predatory behavior of the trahira, Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Bloch, 1794), in an altitude stream, located in the Rio das Mortes sub-basin (Alto Rio Grande basin), Minas Gerais. The use of Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs) allowed the record of 184 behavioral events. Through the ad libitum method, eight (08) categories behavior were identified, namely: INA: inactivity; PSS: passing; SEA: searching; AMB: ambushing; STK: stalking; ATK: attack; CAP: capture; OUT: other. Among the identified behaviors, 54.3% were related to predation (SEA, AMB, STK, ATK and CAP). The trahira preyed on a single species, Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus, where two strategies for approaching the prey were identified: “ambushing” and “stalking”, in which during the ambush the predator remained immobile, waiting for the prey to approach to attack it, while during the stalking, the predator initially remained immobile, and began discreet movements towards the prey, attacking it when the distance was close to the predator’s body length. Changes in the color pattern were observed towards darker and cryptic patterns during ambushing and stalking. In both, the subsequent attacks were characterized by a fast and vigorous swim towards the prey. The attacks occurred more frequently when the prey was more abundant (total abundance), as well as with the smaller ranges of the average distance between individuals (maximum and minimum), and of the average size of the prey. The prey attacked were significantly smaller than the other individuals. Only 11.86% of the prey size variability was explained by the predator size variability, but prey individuals smaller than 1/3 of the predator’s length were attacked and captured

There are few studies on health assessment in wild populations of tapirs. Studies that provide information about the species are essential for the planning of effective management strategies to improve the survival and viability of the long-term tapir population, protecting them from present and future threats. One of the alternatives to facilitate noninvasive studies on tapir is the use of material produced through camera traps that are highly effective in the field due to the low cost and speed in obtaining records. These traps can be used to record and monitor the patterns of tapir activity continuously for long periods of time. A simple and inexpensive method for verifying body conditions in wild tapirs is the assessment of body condition (BCS). BCS is defined as a direct measure of an individual's nutritional status, considering the relative size of energy reserves such as fats and proteins. Studies conducted in the BCS evaluation show that body condition is an important and decisive factor for the survival capacity of animals. Individual energy reserves play a relevant role in the life history and population dynamics of ungulates. The main objective of this study is to verify the body condition of tapirs of the Rio Doce State Park (RDSP), using as reference the photographs and videos obtained by the Projeto Carnívoros do Rio Doce (PCRD). In addition, we aim to demonstrate that BCS estimation is a noninvasive, accessible visual assessment technique that does not require a high technical capacity and has low costs. In this study we also intend to analyze whether there is a difference between the BCS of males and females, especially because males generally expend a large amount of energy in agonistic interactions related to territoriality and require higher energy requirements in the reproduction process.

Yeasts are single-celled fungi that occur in different types of soils, including soils from extreme environments such as Antarctica. Soil microorganisms represent the majority of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems and are primarily responsible for maintaining soil quality and functioning. One of the most important points of activity and diversity in soils is the rhizosphere. The composition of microbial communities and their activities in the rhizosphere have a major impact on plant growth and health. The microbial community in the rhizosphere is mainly derived from the surrounding soil community. Our knowledge of the yeasts that live in the rhizospheric soil region of Antarctica is still limited. Antarctica is the most conserved and isolated region on the planet, with exclusive conditions for the study of microorganisms geographically isolated from other microbial communities. To date, 13 ascomycetes and 57 basidiomycetes have been isolated from soil, water, ice and snow samples in Antarctica. The aim of this study was to characterize morphologically and by analyzing the protein profile, using MALDI-TOF, and to evaluate the diversity of rhizosphere yeasts of Deschampsia antarctica Desv. in the Punta Hanequim area, in the Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. The soil samples were collected at four points along a 60 m transect. Yeasts were isolated by the serial dilution technique followed by plating on the surface and characterized morphologically and by protein profile. 117 yeast isolates were obtained, grouped into 24 phylotypes, making it possible to identify only one isolate, which was classified as Pseudozyma aphidis. This may suggest a great diversity of yeast fungi that can still be characterized in Antarctic environments.

The biodiversity found on the planet is derived from thousands of years of evolution. Biological surveys are carried out to ascertain the composition of organisms belonging to certain communities in time and space. These studies make it possible to determine the structure of the community. Biodiversity surveys of the edaphic fauna are excellent bioindicators of environmental quality, since these organisms are sensitive to changes in the environment. This study had the general objective of surveying the composition of the edaphic fauna found in coffee growing areas. Sampling was carried out in the municipality of Nepomuceno (MG), in nine sampling points that presented different areas of natural reserves in the surroundings. In each area, three emergence traps were installed, totaling 27 traps that were monitored during 4 weeks in March 2019. In addition to fauna sampling, land use and land coverage were mapped across the municipality using satellite images. A total of 566 individuals were sampled, distributed across 27 families and 35 genera. Richness and abundance estimations were similar in all sampled locations. Pairwise comparisons of diversity indexes showed more pronounced differences in three of the nine sampled locations. In the mapping of land use and cover, five classes were identified within three multi-scale buffers ranging from 100 to 300 m around the sampling point. The data indicated that the level of abundance was significantly correlated with the area of the nearest nature reserve. On the other hand, the data did not demonstrate the existence of a significant correlation between richness and abundance when compared to the linear distance of the nearest natural reserve or to the percentage of natural cover in the buffers of 100, 200 and 300 m. The results presented are configured as an initial survey that can support further studies that explore other ecological aspects, important for the conservation or management of this community.

Passifloraceae sensu stricto (s.s.) has about 17 genera and more than 750
species of plants of ecological importance, with greater diversity in the
Neotropical region. In Brazil, 155 species occur, of which 83 belong to the
phytogeographic domain of the Atlantic Forest. The Serra dos Órgãos National
Park (PARNASO) is a Conservation Unit, located in the State of Rio de Janeiro
and encompasses from low-montane forest vegetation to Altitude Fields.
Studies on the species richness distribution as a function of altitude between
the valley and summit are able to portray diversity patterns and establish
species preference along this gradient. The altitudinal gradient is influenced by
abiotic factors, which contribute to the species geographic distribution
determination. A possible pattern applicable to such gradients is explained by
the mean mid-domain hypothesis, which predicts a higher concentration of
species in the intermediate areas of the altitudinal distribution. Another factor
that can also influence the distribution is the of the slopes’ relative position in
the mountainous range (oceanic or continental), given its distinct
characteristics, mainly water regimes and solar radiation. The objective of this
study was to understand the distribution of the Passifloraceae family s.s. in an
altitudinal gradient between 300 to 2,100 m, under the mid- domain hypothesis
and to assess its conservation status, in the PARNASO. Samples were made
at different altitudes. The gradient data was given by intervals of 100 m to
establish the diversity distribution along the altitude. A squared polynomial
regression analysis was used to determine if the species distribution followed
the mid domain model. A similarity analysis was carried for the analysis of the
slopes Passifloraceae s.s. species The Calculation of Occurrence Extension
(EOO) and Occupancy Area (AOO) were assessed for each species. We found
19 species, all belonging to the genus Passiflora L. The richness distribution
followed a dome pattern, where greater species diversity occurs at intermediate
altitudes and there is a decrease at higher and lower altitudes, indicating that
the altimetric quotas have a direct influence on the number of species. The
slopes data indicated that the species richness showed differences at both
sides, with 83% of dissimilarity among the areas, evidencing their distinction in
relation to the composition of Passifloraceae s.s. The continental slope was
recorded of eight species and the oceanic five, in common to the two areas
were registered of five other species. According to the calculations of AOO and
EOO, all species were considered to some degree of threat, following IUCN
criteria. The data found corroborate the effect of the medium domain and the
delineation of the species at the intermediate altitudes, whereas the slopes,
besides the common wealth, presented species that occur in isolation in both
areas. Ten new Passifloraceae records were made for the PARNASO area and
the AOO and EOO calculations can collaborate for conservation and
preservation actions both for PARNASO and for the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Altitudinal gradients act as true natural labs due to environmental and climatic
changes caused by variation in elevation. As such, altitudinal gradients can
drive the selection of individuals and species distribution, influencing community
numerical, taxonomic and functional diversity. The goal of this study was to
evaluate the influence of altitude on the occurrence of butterfly species and
community composition along the altitudinal gradient of the mountains of the
Complexo da Mantiqueira - MG. We tested the hypothesis that biotic and abiotic
variation through the altitudinal gradients would work as environmental filters,
selecting different species and resulting in a gradual substitution of the butterfly
community. Butterfly sampling was conducted in 3 seasons during of the one
year – the transition between the rainy and dry season, during the dry season
and rainy season, along an altitudinal gradient between 1.400 and 2.100 meters
a.s.l.. The sampled specimens were classified into families, subfamilies and
species and composed a list of local species. All species were classified
according to its frequency of occurrence as singletons, doubletons, intermediate
and common species. Data were analyzed through a analysis of richness and
4
diversity partition into alfa and beta. A total of 1443 butterflies were sampled,
distributed into 185 species. Nymphalidae was the most representative family in
this study, composing 32% of the total richness. From the 185 sampled species,
15 were registered in all seasons of the year and 73 were sampled in at least
two seasons. For transitional, rainy and dry seasons, 45, 05 and 62 exclusive
species, respectively, were found. Rare species represented 47% of the total
richness sampled. The richness and abundance of butterflies were higher in
intermediary altitudes, indicating a quadratic pattern in the variation along the
elevation. The alpha diversity was higher than expected and beta diversity was
lower than expected. The butterfly community in RPPN Alto-Montanha exhibited
high diversity of species, with many rare species and propensity to new
discoveries. This study was pioneer in evaluating the specific composition of the
butterfly community of RPPN Alto-Montana and has importance in the
preservation and conservation of the Serra da Mantiqueira region

It is important to understand the characteristics of the environment that
act as factors that predispose the occurrence of medium and large mammal.
The objective was to register the diversity of medium and large mammals by
means of photographic traps, to identify the composition and richness of the
species, as well as to relate the habitat and microhabitat variables that act as
predisposing factors to their within the State Park Rio Doce. Photographic traps
were used for 40 days in the northern portion and 40 days in the southern
portion in the dry season (May and august 2016), in 56 capture units, totaling a
sampling effort of 53,760 hours. Eight quantitative variables were evaluated to
the values of each species, using simple linear regression: canopy density, subforest, tree densification, circumference at breast height, depth of litter, altitude,
distance from the Rio Doce and lakes. A total of 1,266 records were obtained,
with a total of 20 species of medium and large mammals. The Doce River did
not show a relationship in the occurrence of medium and large mammals. The
lakes presented a relation in the occurrence of Cuniculus paca (P = 0.01391; n
= 31) and Tamandua tetradactyla (P = 0.0499; n=12). The density of the canopy
was related to Dasyprocta azarae (P = 0.04575; n = 242), Tapirus terrestris (P =
0.009916, n = 350) and Hydrochoeurus hidrochaeris (P = 8.496e-08, n = 102).
The density of the sub-forest was correlated with D. azarae (P = 0.01669; n =
242) and H. hidrochaeris (P = 0.004036; n = 102). The occurrence of H.
hydrochaeris was significant with the microhabitat factors of the litter depth (P =
0.001483), circumference at breast height (P = 0.002388) and distance from the
trees (P = 4.42e-05). These results showed that five medium and large mammal
species, corresponding to 25% of the registered species, use habitat and
microhabitat characteristics as factors that define their occurrence within the
State Park Rio Doce. This information may help guide conservation and
management strategies within the State Park Rio Doce

The main goal of this study was to determine the ichthyofauna composition in a headwater stream,
with the use of two non-invasive sampling methods: BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video)
and UVC (Underwater Visual Census). The stream is located in the sub-basin of the Mortes River
(Alto Rio Grande Basin) with an altitudinal gradient ranging from 880 to 1,055 m. Twelve sampling
points were distributed along the entire stream stretch. Each point was sampled monthly, from
January to December of 2017, where the BRUV was deployed for 30’, immediately followed by
visual census with video recording. Richness and abundance data (MaxN for BRUV and total N
of individuals sighted for UVC) were recorded. No significant differences were observed on the
overall richness recorded by both methods. Although the abundance estimates were higher for
UVC when compared to BRUV, in both methods Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus and Oligosarcus
paranensis were the most abundant species. These differences in the abundance may be the
result of inherent characteristics of each method. Based on our results, it is possible to conclude
that both techniques were efficient in determining the composition of the ichthyofauna in a
headwater stream. Additionally, due to its cost-efficiency, BRUV can be proposed as a potential
non-invasive alternative to other capture-based methods to study fish composition.

Studies comparing phenology of plant species belonging to the same family and
simultaneously are still scarce in the neotropics and especially in the Cerrado. In addition,
little is known about the influence of climatic variables on the phenological patterns of
Cerrado plant species. The Malpighiaceae family is the second most important of the
Cerrado in terms of richness, and studies involving its species are excellent models to
describe the organization, structure and dynamics of the communities, and are promising
for ecological research on trophic interactions. This study was divided into two chapters
and described the phenology, herbivory and network dynamics of Banisteriopsis
campestris, Byrsonima verbascifolia, Heteropterys umbellata and Peixotoa tomentosa in
an area of cerrado sensu strictu of the Area de proteção Ambiental (APA) São José,
Tiradentes, MG. The first chapter aimed to describe the vegetative and reproductive
phenological behavior of these sympatric species, to evaluate whether the phenophases
exhibit a seasonal distribution and if different climatic variables influence the
phenophases. The second chapter aimed to determine levels of herbivory, to evaluate the
community of arthropods associated to these species using ecological network analyses
and to determine the relative importance of the associated arthropod communities. Fifteen
individuals of each species were selected, totaling 60 plants. For the phenological
evaluation, plants were monitored biweekly, for a period of one year, between February
2017 and January 2018. Vegetative phenophases observed were: leaf flushing, mature
leaves and leaf falling; and reproductive were: flower buds, flowering and fruiting. In
order to evaluate when a given phenophasis occurred more intensively in the population,
the Fournier intensity index was used and the synchrony of the individuals of the sample
in a certain phenological event was estimated using the activity index. The Rayleigh (Z)
test of circular uniformity was used to determine if the phenological events have a
seasonal distribution and the average values of temperature, relative humidity and
photoperiod, as well as the accumulated values of precipitation, found in the study period,
were used to construct a multiple regression with the intensity values of the phenophases
of the species by means of generalized linear models. For herbivory, up to 20 leaves with
true signs of damage were sampled per plant to quantify herbivory percentages in each
individual studied. Arthropods were collected to evaluate the composition of
communities associated with plants and the dynamics of networks. For the calculation of
mean herbivory, the leaves of each individual were used as replicates and the individuals
used as replicates for each species. Differences between herbivory levels between the
species of Malpighiaceae and between plants with nectaries (B. campestris and P.
tomentosa) and without nectaries (B. verbascifolia and H. umbellata) were tested using
generalized linear models, where the response variable was the mean level of herbivory
and the explanatory variable was each species of plant and the presence of nectary,
respectively. In order to evaluate the structure of the networks, the following metrics were
calculated: 1) modularity, 2) complementary specialization, 3) niche overlap and 4)
diversity of interactions (Shannon). We determined which are the central species,
evaluating those that exhibited frequency of interactions above the average of the
network. Leaf production occurred throughout the year, with leaf fall concentrated in the
dry season. Flowering period did not overlap, exhibiting a sequential flowering pattern.
The phenotypes of the species studied were influenced by seasonality, showing seasonal
rhythms in the production of leaves, flowers and fruits (P < 0.001), except for budding of
P. tomentosa, which had distribution uniformity (Z = 0.647, P = 0.524), and had a
significant correlation (P < 0.05) with several climatic variables. There was significant
variation in herbivory levels in Malpighiaceae (F3.967 = 21.93, P < 0.0001) and plants with 

extrafloral nectaries exhibited significantly lower levels of herbivory (5.20%  0.35 SE)
than plants without nectaries (10.08%  0.50 SE) (F1.969 = 61.122, P < 0.0001). The
complementary specialization between the plants and the arthropods was low (H2 = 0.09)
and the bipartite networks by species showed medium modularity (but not significant)
and low niche overlap. The B. verbascifolia network was the most diverse, with higher
heterogeneity amongst the links of interactions in the network (H' = 3.39), followed by
P. tomentosa (H' = 3.35), B. campestris (H' = 3.13) and H. umbellata (H' = 2.70). Finally,
the central species of the studied plants were composed exclusively or mainly by ants.
This study provides relevant data to the understanding of the vegetative and reproductive
cycles of these plants and the spatio-temporal organization of their resources. It also
shows the importance of the climatic variables in phenology and reveals the generalist
composition of the guilds that interact with the plants, with emphasis on ants, which are
key elements in the structure and organization of these networks. These species may
influence the herbivory levels of plants, playing an important ecological role in the
diversity of ecosystem functions.

Abstract
The invertebrate fauna of the Cerrado is one of the least known of the phytogeographical
domains. In Minas Gerais, more than 1.500 species of butterflies have been found, but
information about them is still scarce in several regions of the state and, especially, in
mountains. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the variation in richness,
diversity and specific composition of the butterfly community in an altitudinal gradient
and to analyze the effects of altitude on the asymmetry of butterfly wings, testing the
hypothesis that fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is an indicative of environmental stress and
should be positively correlated with altitude in mountainous environments. The
butterflies were collected mainly by active sampling on a gradient of 800 to 1.400 m
altitude in the Serra de São José - MG. A list of species was prepared and these were
evaluated for the specific composition through the α and β diversities, regarding the
frequency by the classification of rare species and the distribution along the gradient
through GLM. The FA was checked by measuring the length and width characters on the
right and left wings of butterflies sampled along the altitudinal gradient. A total of 636
butterflies were registered in 107 species belonging to six families. The greatest richness
(n = 63) and abundance (n = 326) were represented by the Nymphalidae family. Only two
species (Actinote genitrix, Nymphalidae and Pyrisitia nise, Pieridae) exhibited
occurrence in all seven altitudinal points. The α diversity was lower than expected and β
greater than expected. The composition of species was quite distinct along the gradient
and its distribution did not exhibited any significant pattern in relation to the altitude.
Almost half of the species sampled (48.6%) were classified as rare and the rest as
intermediate, with no common species, suggesting that the Serra de São José is an
important area for the conservation of the butterfly community. For the FA analysis, 370
butterflies were measured, belonging to 29 species. The frequency of distribution of
sihned right minus left and test-t character values of the samples indicated true patterns
of FA in the length and width of the wings. However, there was no relationship between
FA and altitude for these butterflies. FA was efficient in detecting the instability indicated
by imperfections in the wings of butterflies, but the fact that the asymmetry exhibited no
relationship with altitude indicates that altitude alone was not enough to function as a
source of environmental stress. Other factors, not the altitude, probably exerted a greater
influence on the asymmetry of this community of butterflies and shoud be investigated.
This was the first study of the butterflies community of the Serra de São José and is also
a pioneer in the micro region of São João del-Rei do Campo das Vertentes, besides being
the first to perform FA analyses for a community of butterflies.

Pseudovivipary is a rare kind of clonal reproduction in whitch the center of the
inflorescence of the individuals are originated ramets instead of floral organs, through
the growth of meristematic cells, and occurs in seasonal environments with brief
favorable periods to growth and reproduction. As individuals grow in contrasting
microhabitats as to the availability of water in the soil, this is the first work that
investigated whether the production of flower head and the recruitment
pseudoviviparous ramets of Comanthera nivea (Eriocaulaceae) are larger in shaded
microhabitats and of both dependent on soil moisture. We selected 20 individuals in
open microhabitats and 30 in shaded. We counted the flower head and the
pseudoviviparous ramets from August 2016 to March 2017, and determine the soil
moisture. The reproduction occurred, mostly, in the form of suspended
pseudoviviparous ramets, which provides exchange between ramets and parental rosette
and increases the chances of survival to both. The production of flower head and the
recruitment pseudoviviparous ramets were not different in both microhabitats. The
production of flower head was positively correlated with soil moisture, independent of
the microhabitat. The recruitment pseudoviviparous ramets were negatively correlated
with soil moisture and independent of the microhabitat. Thus, this form of clonal
propagation is an important strategy in this environment because it allows similar
production and recruitment in the different microhabitats present.

Microorganisms live in the most diverse terrestrial habitats. Among the
microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) are associated with plant roots
and colonize more than 80% of terrestrial plant species, making some plant species
dependent on this relationship for their development. Studies on the occurrence of
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in extreme environments such as the Antarctic Continent
are scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and
diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rhizospheric soil and roots of Deschampsia
antarctica Desv. collected near the research stations of Brazil (Antarctic Station
Comandante Ferraz - EACF) and Poland (Arctowski), located in Admiralty Bay, King
George Island, South Shetland archipelago, Antarctica. They were collected samples of
rhizospheric soil and roots of Deschampsia antarctica Desv. close to EACF and
Arctowski Stations. In the laboratory, they were performed analyses of chemical
characterization of the soil, density and diversity of AMFs species and mycorrhizal
colonization of the roots of Deschampsia antarctica Desv. In total, we observed fifteen
spores of AMFs that were recovered from the area of EACF Station. No spores were
found in the soil samples collected in the area of Arctowski Station. The mycorrhizal
colonization of D. Antarctica roots was 40% for the samples collected in the area of
EACF Station and 24% for the samples collected in the area of Arctowski Station. In
total, two species of AMFs were identified, distributed in two genera: one species
belonging to the genus Acaulospora, which was possible to identify in species level
(Acaulospora mellea) and one species of the genus Glomus classified as Glomus sp1.
The area of EACF Station presented phosphorus concentration of 178.57 mg dm-3. The
area of Arctowski Station contained almost five time more phosphorus (897.83 mg dm-
3
). The low mycorrhizal colonization and lack of AMFs spores at Arctowski Station is
probably mainly due to the high concentration of phosphorus in this area. The diversity
of AMFs in the evaluated region is probably limited by the low temperature, low plant
diversity and high levels of P present in the soil.