Baseia & Calonge - 2005 - aseroë floriformis, a new phalloid with a sunflower...Rhudson Cruz
Aseroe floriformis represents a new species lacking radiating branches on the receptacle and having a raspberry colour on the stipe; it grows in sandy soil.
Rosa et al 2016 vpc - an overview of feral hog management in Brazil after ...Marcelo Wallau
Feral hogs are known to be expanding their range in Brazil since late 1980’s and reports of damage to crops and livestock predation became more frequent lately. Just recently, the use of lethal methods for feral hog control was legalized in Brazil, and there are still several restrictions especially towards the purchase and transportation of guns and ammunition. Results from questionnaires applied to feral hog hunters showed that around half of them still act illegally and hunting with dogs was the main technique used for controlling feral hogs. We believe that, for enhancing the feral hog control in Brazil, the legislation needs to be reviewed, and a national control program needs to be created involving researchers, government agencies and hunters, working together on development and implementation of more efficient techniques on feral hog population control.
Baseia & Calonge - 2005 - aseroë floriformis, a new phalloid with a sunflower...Rhudson Cruz
Aseroe floriformis represents a new species lacking radiating branches on the receptacle and having a raspberry colour on the stipe; it grows in sandy soil.
Rosa et al 2016 vpc - an overview of feral hog management in Brazil after ...Marcelo Wallau
Feral hogs are known to be expanding their range in Brazil since late 1980’s and reports of damage to crops and livestock predation became more frequent lately. Just recently, the use of lethal methods for feral hog control was legalized in Brazil, and there are still several restrictions especially towards the purchase and transportation of guns and ammunition. Results from questionnaires applied to feral hog hunters showed that around half of them still act illegally and hunting with dogs was the main technique used for controlling feral hogs. We believe that, for enhancing the feral hog control in Brazil, the legislation needs to be reviewed, and a national control program needs to be created involving researchers, government agencies and hunters, working together on development and implementation of more efficient techniques on feral hog population control.
Diversity of hymenopteran parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) associated w...arboreo.net
This research evaluated the diversity of hymenopteran
parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) at different
reforestation sites of Tectona grandis. Insects were collected with Malaise traps from October 2009 to September 2010.
One collected a total of 414 Chalcididae specimens
distributed in 3 genera and 16 species. Brachymeria and
Conura were the most representative genera with 14 species.
The site bordered by pasture vegetation presented a higher
number of collected specimens when compared to the other sites. Brachymeria pandora and Ceyxia ventrispinosa
occurred as super dominant, super abundant, super frequent and constant species.
Soap-anointing behaviour in the ring-tailed coati (Nasua nasua) on a Brazilia...Aline Ferro
To follow a free-ranging group of ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua), we went to Ilha do Campeche (an island in the State of Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil), where we observed them rubbing cleansing products over their bodies.
In order to describe the anointing behavior of the coatis on that island, we conducted five experimental sessions to induce the animals to spontaneously anoint themselves. The anointing sessions were prompted by offering pieces of ash soap to the animals.
The animals mostly performed self-anointing behavior, and sometimes anointed each other by expressing the allo-anointing behavior. The body parts mostly rubbed with pieces of soap was the genital area, and then the tail.
We propose that the soap-anointing behavior of the ring-tailed coatis may deter ectoparasites and alleviate itch when applying foaming soap over their fur.
It has been known in the literature that a close-related species, the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) inhabiting the Barro Colorado Island in Panama, rubs the fur with resin. However, we have reported the first occurrence of soap-anointing behavior in the ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) in the literature.
In conclusion, we believe the human-coati coexistence on Ilha do Campeche might have facilitated the innovation in the coatis' behavior there. Moreover, the ring-tailed coati species does not occur naturally on the island; it was introduced approximately 10 years ago. Likely, the soap-anointing behavior is being transmitted across generations over the years.
Records of extreme altitudes where several coccinellid species from South America inhabit the Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are provided. After an intensive review of several entomological
collections and literature, records for 35 species with at least one location over 3500-m elevation were obtained, including the genera Cycloneda (ten species), Eriopis (15 species and one subspecies), Harmonia (one species), Hippodamia (two species), Mimoscymnus (two species), Psyllobora (one species), and Stenadalia (four species). In total, 184 location records
are listed, of which 119 were from between 3000 and 4000 m, 57 between 4000 and 4900 m and eight above 4900 m, with the highest altitude record at 5250 m for Eriopis minima Hofmann. All records above 4000 m were obtained in the Puna biogeographic province within the
Paramo Puneña biogeographic subregion. These records are the highest altitudes observed for the American continent and by far surpass others known for coccinellids worldwide. Several species of coccinellids living in
sympatry at these high altitudes were verified, and in some cases, in situ development was inferred by the presence of immature stages. These findings are important to foresee the future effects of global warming that
will affect especially the biological communities of extreme altitudes.
Toxic effects of heavy metals : Lead and Arsenicsanjana502982
Heavy metals are naturally occuring metallic chemical elements that have relatively high density, and are toxic at even low concentrations. All toxic metals are termed as heavy metals irrespective of their atomic mass and density, eg. arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, thallium, chromium, etc.
DERIVATION OF MODIFIED BERNOULLI EQUATION WITH VISCOUS EFFECTS AND TERMINAL V...Wasswaderrick3
In this book, we use conservation of energy techniques on a fluid element to derive the Modified Bernoulli equation of flow with viscous or friction effects. We derive the general equation of flow/ velocity and then from this we derive the Pouiselle flow equation, the transition flow equation and the turbulent flow equation. In the situations where there are no viscous effects , the equation reduces to the Bernoulli equation. From experimental results, we are able to include other terms in the Bernoulli equation. We also look at cases where pressure gradients exist. We use the Modified Bernoulli equation to derive equations of flow rate for pipes of different cross sectional areas connected together. We also extend our techniques of energy conservation to a sphere falling in a viscous medium under the effect of gravity. We demonstrate Stokes equation of terminal velocity and turbulent flow equation. We look at a way of calculating the time taken for a body to fall in a viscous medium. We also look at the general equation of terminal velocity.
Observation of Io’s Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adapt...Sérgio Sacani
Since volcanic activity was first discovered on Io from Voyager images in 1979, changes
on Io’s surface have been monitored from both spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.
Here, we present the highest spatial resolution images of Io ever obtained from a groundbased telescope. These images, acquired by the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large
Binocular Telescope, show evidence of a major resurfacing event on Io’s trailing hemisphere. When compared to the most recent spacecraft images, the SHARK-VIS images
show that a plume deposit from a powerful eruption at Pillan Patera has covered part
of the long-lived Pele plume deposit. Although this type of resurfacing event may be common on Io, few have been detected due to the rarity of spacecraft visits and the previously low spatial resolution available from Earth-based telescopes. The SHARK-VIS instrument ushers in a new era of high resolution imaging of Io’s surface using adaptive
optics at visible wavelengths.
Nucleophilic Addition of carbonyl compounds.pptxSSR02
Nucleophilic addition is the most important reaction of carbonyls. Not just aldehydes and ketones, but also carboxylic acid derivatives in general.
Carbonyls undergo addition reactions with a large range of nucleophiles.
Comparing the relative basicity of the nucleophile and the product is extremely helpful in determining how reversible the addition reaction is. Reactions with Grignards and hydrides are irreversible. Reactions with weak bases like halides and carboxylates generally don’t happen.
Electronic effects (inductive effects, electron donation) have a large impact on reactivity.
Large groups adjacent to the carbonyl will slow the rate of reaction.
Neutral nucleophiles can also add to carbonyls, although their additions are generally slower and more reversible. Acid catalysis is sometimes employed to increase the rate of addition.
This presentation explores a brief idea about the structural and functional attributes of nucleotides, the structure and function of genetic materials along with the impact of UV rays and pH upon them.
The Evolution of Science Education PraxiLabs’ Vision- Presentation (2).pdfmediapraxi
The rise of virtual labs has been a key tool in universities and schools, enhancing active learning and student engagement.
💥 Let’s dive into the future of science and shed light on PraxiLabs’ crucial role in transforming this field!
Deep Behavioral Phenotyping in Systems Neuroscience for Functional Atlasing a...Ana Luísa Pinho
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) provides means to characterize brain activations in response to behavior. However, cognitive neuroscience has been limited to group-level effects referring to the performance of specific tasks. To obtain the functional profile of elementary cognitive mechanisms, the combination of brain responses to many tasks is required. Yet, to date, both structural atlases and parcellation-based activations do not fully account for cognitive function and still present several limitations. Further, they do not adapt overall to individual characteristics. In this talk, I will give an account of deep-behavioral phenotyping strategies, namely data-driven methods in large task-fMRI datasets, to optimize functional brain-data collection and improve inference of effects-of-interest related to mental processes. Key to this approach is the employment of fast multi-functional paradigms rich on features that can be well parametrized and, consequently, facilitate the creation of psycho-physiological constructs to be modelled with imaging data. Particular emphasis will be given to music stimuli when studying high-order cognitive mechanisms, due to their ecological nature and quality to enable complex behavior compounded by discrete entities. I will also discuss how deep-behavioral phenotyping and individualized models applied to neuroimaging data can better account for the subject-specific organization of domain-general cognitive systems in the human brain. Finally, the accumulation of functional brain signatures brings the possibility to clarify relationships among tasks and create a univocal link between brain systems and mental functions through: (1) the development of ontologies proposing an organization of cognitive processes; and (2) brain-network taxonomies describing functional specialization. To this end, tools to improve commensurability in cognitive science are necessary, such as public repositories, ontology-based platforms and automated meta-analysis tools. I will thus discuss some brain-atlasing resources currently under development, and their applicability in cognitive as well as clinical neuroscience.
Professional air quality monitoring systems provide immediate, on-site data for analysis, compliance, and decision-making.
Monitor common gases, weather parameters, particulates.
BREEDING METHODS FOR DISEASE RESISTANCE.pptxRASHMI M G
Plant breeding for disease resistance is a strategy to reduce crop losses caused by disease. Plants have an innate immune system that allows them to recognize pathogens and provide resistance. However, breeding for long-lasting resistance often involves combining multiple resistance genes
Remote Sensing and Computational, Evolutionary, Supercomputing, and Intellige...University of Maribor
Slides from talk:
Aleš Zamuda: Remote Sensing and Computational, Evolutionary, Supercomputing, and Intelligent Systems.
11th International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (IcETRAN), Niš, 3-6 June 2024
Inter-Society Networking Panel GRSS/MTT-S/CIS Panel Session: Promoting Connection and Cooperation
https://www.etran.rs/2024/en/home-english/
The use of Nauplii and metanauplii artemia in aquaculture (brine shrimp).pptxMAGOTI ERNEST
Although Artemia has been known to man for centuries, its use as a food for the culture of larval organisms apparently began only in the 1930s, when several investigators found that it made an excellent food for newly hatched fish larvae (Litvinenko et al., 2023). As aquaculture developed in the 1960s and ‘70s, the use of Artemia also became more widespread, due both to its convenience and to its nutritional value for larval organisms (Arenas-Pardo et al., 2024). The fact that Artemia dormant cysts can be stored for long periods in cans, and then used as an off-the-shelf food requiring only 24 h of incubation makes them the most convenient, least labor-intensive, live food available for aquaculture (Sorgeloos & Roubach, 2021). The nutritional value of Artemia, especially for marine organisms, is not constant, but varies both geographically and temporally. During the last decade, however, both the causes of Artemia nutritional variability and methods to improve poorquality Artemia have been identified (Loufi et al., 2024).
Brine shrimp (Artemia spp.) are used in marine aquaculture worldwide. Annually, more than 2,000 metric tons of dry cysts are used for cultivation of fish, crustacean, and shellfish larva. Brine shrimp are important to aquaculture because newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii (larvae) provide a food source for many fish fry (Mozanzadeh et al., 2021). Culture and harvesting of brine shrimp eggs represents another aspect of the aquaculture industry. Nauplii and metanauplii of Artemia, commonly known as brine shrimp, play a crucial role in aquaculture due to their nutritional value and suitability as live feed for many aquatic species, particularly in larval stages (Sorgeloos & Roubach, 2021).
Travis Hills' Endeavors in Minnesota: Fostering Environmental and Economic Pr...Travis Hills MN
Travis Hills of Minnesota developed a method to convert waste into high-value dry fertilizer, significantly enriching soil quality. By providing farmers with a valuable resource derived from waste, Travis Hills helps enhance farm profitability while promoting environmental stewardship. Travis Hills' sustainable practices lead to cost savings and increased revenue for farmers by improving resource efficiency and reducing waste.
Travis Hills' Endeavors in Minnesota: Fostering Environmental and Economic Pr...
Redescoberta da Espécie Supostamente Extinta Simopelta minima
1. SHORT COMMUNICATION
480 Brandão et al.
Rediscovery of the putatively extinct ant species Simopelta minima
(Brandão) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with a discussion on
rarity and conservation status of ant species
Carlos Roberto Ferreira Brandão1, Rodrigo Machado Feitosa1, Fernando Augusto Schmidt2 &
Ricardo Ribeiro de Castro Solar2
1Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Nazaré 481, 04263-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil. crfbrand@usp.br; rfeitosa@usp.br
2Laboratório de Ecologia de Comunidades, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P. H. Rolfs s/n, 36570-000
Viçosa-MG, Brazil. schmidt.fa@gmail.com; rrsolar@gmail.com
ABSTRACT. Rediscovery of the putatively extinct ant species Simopelta minima (Brandão) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae),
with a discussion on rarity and conservation status of ant species. Simopelta minima (Brandão, 1989) was originally
described based on four workers collected in soil samples from a small cocoa plantation in Ilhéus, state of Bahia,
northeastern Brazil. In the subsequent years after the description, this cocoa plantation was eliminated and the species
was then considered extinct by the Brazilian environmental institutions. The recent rediscovery of S. minima workers
in subterranean pitfall trap samples from Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, over 1.000 km distant from
type locality, suggests that the rarity and vulnerability status of some ant species may be explained by insufficient
sampling of adequate microhabitats, in time and space.
KEYWORDS. Brazil; conservation; hypogaeic fauna; new record; rare ants.
RESUMO. Redescoberta da espécie supostamente extinta de formigas, Simopelta minima (Brandão) (Hymenoptera,
Formicidae), com uma discussão sobre raridade e estado de conservação de espécies de formigas. Simopelta minima
(Brandão, 1989) foi originalmente descrita com base em quatro operárias coletadas em amostras de solo provenientes de
uma pequena plantação de cacau localizada em Ilhéus, Estado da Bahia, nordeste do Brasil. Nos anos seguintes à descrição,
esta pequena plantação de cacau foi eliminada e a espécie passou a ser considerada extinta pelas instituições ambientais
brasileiras. Recentemente foram coletadas operárias de Simopelta minima em amostras de armadilhas subterrâneas do
tipo “pitfall”, em Viçosa, Estado de Minas Gerais, sudeste do Brasil, a mais de 1.000 km de distância da localidade tipo.
Esta redescoberta sugere que o status de raridade e/ou vulnerabilidade atribuído a algumas espécies de formigas pode ser
explicado pela amostragem insuficiente de microhabitats adequados, no tempo e no espaço.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE. Brasil; conservação; fauna hipogéica; formigas raras.
Taxonomic account and collection data. Ants of the
Neotropical ponerine genus Simopelta Mann (1922) share with
Ecitoninae army-ants, by convergence, behavioral and
morphological characteristics (Longino 2005). Workers forage
in dense columns, generally raiding nests of other ants. When
colonies are found with their own brood, this is generally of
uniform size, suggesting synchronized immature development.
Colony emigrations are encountered with workers transporting
brood and the queen traveling with the column, suggesting
nomadic behavior. In cases they are found inside cavities, it is
unknown whether the Simopelta excavated the chambers
themselves or occupied preexisting chambers, but the
observations suggest periods of stable use of one nest site,
similar to the stationary phase seen in Ecitoninae (Longino
2005). Workers also have small eyes, usually reduced to a
single facet, and the queen is “dicthadiiform” (permanently
wingless, with enlarged petiole and temporarily grossly
swollen gaster) like those of Ecitoninae (Gotwald & Brown
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 52(3): 480-483, setembro 2008
1996). Almost all known specimens of Simopelta were collected
below the soil surface level, suggesting the preference of this
genus for the hypogaeic habitat.
Simopelta is known from scattered localities throughout
the Neotropics, in special from mid-montane wet forests (500–
2.000 m). Several features of their biology result in their being
infrequently collected. They are most abundant in a spatially
restricted and less frequently visited habitat (mid-montane
forests) and, despite often forming large colonies, they present
a low density relative to other ants (Longino 2005).
Simopelta minima (Brandão 1989) was described based
on only four workers extracted from 0–15 cm deep soil samples
in Berlese funnels from a small, old shaded cocoa plantation
(“cabruca”) in Ilhéus, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. The
specimens were collected by Dr. Jacques C. Delabie during
1986–1987. S. minima can be distinguished from other species
of the genus by the combination of small size (total length less
than 2.6 mm), fine sculpture, presence of single-faceted eyes,
2. Rediscovery of the putatively extinct ant species Simopelta minima 481
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 52(3): 480-483, setembro 2008
lack of tibial peg-like setae, 4-segmented antennal club, and
angulate, triangular, anteroventral petiolar process.
In the subsequent years after the description of S. minima,
the fragment of cocoa plantation from where the species was
uniquely known was gradually destroyed, until total
elimination. As no other collection record of S. minima was so
far made, in spite of the intense collecting effort in the region,
Brazilian environmental institutions decided to consider the
species as extinct (MMA 2007). In fact, as far as we know, S.
minima was the first ant species considered extinct by human
activity in the world. After that, this case has been amply
divulged as an example of man-produced extinction in different
popular and scientific publications.
On February 2nd, 2007, two of us (FAS and RRCS) collected
11 workers of S. minima in a semidecidual forest fragment of
the Universidade Federal de Viçosa campus (20º45’46.3"S,
42º51’45.1"W), Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern
Brazil, over 1.000 km from S. minima type locality. This fragment
was devastated by fire about nine years ago and presently is
in the initial stage of regeneration, predominantly covered by
herbaceous vegetation and sparse shrubs and trees (Martins
et al. 2002).
The specimens were collected at 20 cm deep with
subterranean pitfall traps. The traps consist of a plastic recipient
(diameter = 8 cm; height = 12 cm) with an inner smaller recipient
in its interior. The space between the two recipients was filled
with a solution of water, detergent and salt. Two small plastic
pots (empty tubes of photographic film, 3.3 cm diameter; 5.0
cm height) were placed in the inner recipient and partially filled
with baits (sardine and honey, separately). Traps were then
closed with plastic lids and buried. Four radial holes (1 cm
diameter) in the lateral of recipients allowed the hypogaeic
ants to access the interior of the traps.
The workers recently collected in Minas Gerais increased
the number of known S. minima specimens in museums from
four to 15, deposited at the following institutions: Museu de
Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (six
workers, including the holotype and one paratype); Laboratório
de Ecologia de Comunidades, Universidade Federal de Viçosa,
Minas Gerais, Brazil (six workers); Laboratório de Mirmecologia,
Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, Bahia, Brazil (one paratype
worker, one Viçosa worker); Museum of Comparative Zoology,
Harvard University, Cambridge, USA (one paratype worker).
One Viçosa worker, previously cleaned in acetone, was
prepared for scanning electron microscope examination. The
specimen was critical-point dried in a Balzer (Bal-Tec® CPD
030), and sputtered over with gold (Bal-Tec® SCD 050). After
that, the specimen was mounted on the tip of a metallic triangle
using silver glue and then fixated on a stub for the electron
microscopy. Finally, the images were edited (Adobe
PhotoShop® CS) to enhance brightness and contrast.
We compared the Viçosa specimens with the holotype and
paratype workers deposited in the Museu de Zoologia, and
were not able to find any significant difference. As in the
original publication only drawings were provided, we present
hereby SEM pictures of a Simopelta minima Viçosa worker,
including frontal head view, detail of the clypeus and mandibles
(showing the produced clypeal tooth) and the habitus in side
and dorsal views. The only point we should comment is that
in the original figures (Brandão 1989: Fig. 1) the head and
frontal carinae shapes do not correspond exactly to the reality,
although in the morphological account these characters are
correctly described.
Incidentally, the first colleagues that tried to apply a name
to this Simopelta sample, came across the name S. minima,
but dismissed this possibility, because they found also the
information the species was extinct.
Longino (2005) pictured and described a lone worker found
in a mini Winkler sample taken in the forest between La Selva
Biological Station’s back boundary and Magsasay, at 150 m
elevation. From his pictures, we believe this specimen belongs
to a hitherto undescribed Simopelta species. This could also
be the case of the specimens cited in the Colombian
Biodiversity Inventory as Simopelta cf. minima (Sharkey 2006).
Rarity and conservation status of ant species: fact or
artifact? Rarity, in its several meanings, has been dealt with
by many authors (e. g. Rabinowitz et al. 1986; Kunin & Gaston
1997; Murray & Lepschi 2004). The main biological properties
usually associated with rareness are: (1) small population size,
(2) geographically restricted, localized populations, and (3)
habitat specificity. Non-biological criteria are sometimes used,
as the absence of collection for a long time, discovery outside
the normal geographical range, or excessive difficult in finding
a species by an expert in a single season (Rabinowitz 1981).
These criteria, summed to the anthropic pressure on world’s
environments, are also employed to determine the species
conservation status (Gärdenfors 2001; IUCN 2001). In this case,
political and conservationist interests can converge in the
rare and/or threatened species issue.
The rediscovery of the supposedly extinct Simopelta
minima calls attention to the inaccuracy of various generalized
criteria usually employed to determine rarity and conservation
status in ant species. Very little or virtually nothing is known
about the life-cycles, conditions of populations in the wild, or
reproductive biology of several ant species considered rare.
In addition, the lack of complete inventories in most biomes
suggests that locally rare species can be fairly common
because particular sites where their environmental niche
requirements are best met favor high abundance. A further
complication in considering taxa extinct or under severe threat
without firm support may be the impairment of the development
of adequate sampling techniques.
Obviously, there remains a set of rare species for which
there is no current explanation for their true scarcity. A portion
of the resident ant community may not be easily collected by
any of the commonly used methods and techniques. For
example, many myrmecologists have speculated that the
subterranean ant fauna may be more abundant and diverse
than generally thought (e. g. Belshaw & Bolton 1994; Longino
et al. 2002; Underwood & Fisher 2006; Wilkie et al. 2007).
Biodiversity studies (Fowler & Delabie 1995; Fowler et al.
3. 482 Brandão et al.
Fig. 1. Simopelta minima (Brandão), worker from Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A, head in full-face view; B, detail of the clypeal area and
mandibles (note the single facet eye at the left of the head lateral margin, near the superior border of the antennal scape); C, Habitus in side view;
(D) Habitus in dorsal view.
2000; Silva & Silvestre 2004) have demonstrated a pronounced
partitioning, as well as low similarity, on species composition
between epigaeic and hypogaeic ants. In effect, even at
hypogaeic habitats ant species composition can varies
according to soil deepness (Wilkie et al. 2007) and other factors.
Another example is the substantial increase in the collection
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 52(3): 480-483, setembro 2008
records of rare ground-dwelling ants after the massive adoption
of the Winkler apparatus in recent years (e.g. Agosti 1994;
Brandão et al.1999).
Alternatively, rare species may have low densities at a
given locality for a variety of reasons. They may be rare
immigrants from a nearby source population or could result
4. Rediscovery of the putatively extinct ant species Simopelta minima 483
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 52(3): 480-483, setembro 2008
from temporal changes in populations, representing either the
remnant of a declining population or the first individuals of an
increasing population (Longino & Colwell 1997).
We suggest that the supposed rarity of many ant species
may be explained by their inconspicuity or by their scarcity,
and by sampling difficulties in suitable microhabitats (for
instance, social parasites and hypogaeic species) (Espadaler
& López-Soria 1991). In this way, many geographically
restricted, rare, and/or threatened ant species might be widely
distributed and even common if appropriate sampling
techniques were employed in adequate temporal and spatial
scales (DuBois & Davis 1998; Longino et al. 2002; King &
Porter 2005).
Acknowledgements. The authors thank Carla R. Ribas for helping
in the fieldwork and José Henrique Schoereder for the invaluable
suggestions on a previous version of this manuscript. Lara M. Guimarães
took the SEM images of Simopelta minima. We also thank CAPES,
CNPq, FAPEMIG and FAPESP for financial support.
REFERENCES
Agosti, D. 1994. A revision of the South American species of the ant
genus Probolomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of
the New York Entomological Society 102: 429–434.
Brandão, C. R. F. 1989. Belonopelta minima new species (Hymenoptera,
Formicidae, Ponerinae) from eastern Brazil. Revista Brasileira
de Entomologia 33: 135–138.
Brandão, C. R. F.; J. L. M. Diniz; D. Agosti & J. H. C. Delabie. 1999.
Revision of the Neotropical ant subfamily Leptanilloidinae.
Systematic Entomology 24: 17–36.
Belshaw, R. & B. Bolton. 1994. A survey of the leaf litter ant fauna in
Ghana, West Africa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of
Hymenoptera Research 3: 5–16.
DuBois, M. B. & L. R. Davis Jr. 1998. Stenamma foveolocephalum
(=S. carolinense) rediscovered (Hymenoptera: Formicidae:
Myrmicinae). Sociobiology 32: 125–135.
Espadaler, X. & L. López-Soria. 1991. Rareness of certain Mediterranean
ant species: fact or artifact? Insectes Sociaux 38: 365–377.
Fowler, H. G. & J. H. C. Delabie. 1995. Resource partitioning among
epigaeic and hypogaeic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of a
Brazilian cocoa plantation. Ecología Austral 5: 117–124.
Fowler, H. G.; J. H. C. Delabie & P. R. S. Moutinho. 2000. Hypogaeic
and epigaeic ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) assemblages of Atlantic
costal and dry mature and secondary Amazon forest in Brazil:
continuums or communities. Tropical Ecology 41: 73–80.
Gärdenfors, U. 2001. Classifying threatened species at national versus
global level. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16: 511–516.
Gotwald, W. H. & W. L. Brown Jr. 1966. The ant genus Simopelta
(Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche 73: 261–276.
IUCN, 2001. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Categories
and Criteria (v. 3.1). Available in: http://www.iucnredlist.org/info/
categories_criteria2001. [accessed in August 17th, 2007].
King, J. R. & S. D. Porter. 2005. Evaluation of sampling methods and
species richness estimators for ants in upland ecosystems in Florida.
Entomological Society of America 34: 1566–1578.
Kunin, E. & K. J. Gaston. 1997. The Biology of Rarity. London,
Chapman & Hall, xiv+280 p.
Longino, J. T. 2005. Ants of Costa Rica Homepage. Overview of
Simopelta. Available in: http://academic.evergreen.edu/projects/
ants/genera/SIMOPELTA/home.html. [Accessed in August 17th,
2007].
Longino, J. T.; J. Coddington & R. K. Colwell. 2002. The ant fauna of
a tropical rain forest: estimating species richness three different
ways. Ecology 83: 689–702.
Longino, J. T. & R. K. Colwell. 1997. Biodiversity assessment using
structured inventory: capturing the ant fauna of a tropical rain
forest. Ecological Applications 7: 1263–1277.
Mann, W. M. 1922. Ants from Honduras and Guatemala. Proceedings
of the United States National Museum 61: 1–54.
MMA. 2007. Lista Nacional das Espécies da Fauna Brasileira Ameaçadas
de Extinção. Ministério do Meio Ambiente. Available in: http://
www.mma.gov.br/port/ sbf/fauna/index.cfm. [Accessed in August
17th, 2007].
Martins, S. V.; G. A. Ribeiro; W. M. Silva Jr & M. E. Nappo. 2002.
Regeneração pós-fogo em um trecho de Floresta Estacional
Semidecidual no município de Viçosa, MG. Ciência Florestal 12:
11–19.
Murray, B. D. & B. J. Lepschi. 2004. Are locally rare species abundant
elsewhere in their geographical range? Austral Ecology 29: 287–
293.
Rabinowitz, D. 1981. Seven forms of rarity, p. 205–217. In: H. Synge
(ed.). The Biological Aspects of Rare Plant Conservation.
Chichester, John Wiley and Sons, xxviii+558 p.
Rabinowitz, D.; S. Cairns & T. Dillon. 1986. Seven forms of rarity and
their frequency in the flora of the British Isles, p. 182–204. In: M.
E. Soulé (ed.). Conservation Biology: the Science of Scarcity
and Diversity. Sunderland, Sinauer Associates, xiii+584 p.
Sharkey, M. 2006. Insect Survey of a Megadiverse Country: Colombia.
Records of Simopelta cf. minima. Available in: http://
www.sharkeylab.org/biodiversity/db.php?app=colombia&function=
view_taxa&genus=Simopelta&species=minima. [Accessed in
September 3rd, 2007].
Silva, R. R. & R. Silvestre. 2004. Riqueza da fauna de formigas
(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) que habita as camadas superficiais do
solo em Seara, Santa Catarina. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 44:
1–11.
Underwood, E. C. & B. L. Fisher. 2006. The role of ants in conservation
monitoring: If, when and how. Biological Conservation 132:
166–182.
Wilkie, K. T. R.; A. L. Mertl & J. F. A. Traniello, 2007. Biodiversity
below ground: probing the subterranean ant fauna of Amazonia.
Naturwissenschaften 94: 392–395.
Received 10/09/2007; accepted 21/07/2008