geraldo freire

Horizontal and vertical variation in the structure of fruit‐feeding butterfly (Nymphalidae) assemblages in the Brazilian Cerrado

Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2021

The Cerrado biome is a biodiversity hotspot with a rich biota, and intense anthropogenic pressure... more The Cerrado biome is a biodiversity hotspot with a rich biota, and intense anthropogenic pressures. Despite its importance, it is still poorly understood how insects occupy different spatial dimensions of the landscape. We investigated how the beta diversity of plants influences the beta diversity of nymphalids at the regional‐scale (gallery forest vs. savannah) and local‐scale (transects). We expected greater beta‐diversity in nymphalid assemblages in gallery forests given the heterogeneity of plants and canopy structure. We sampled nymphalids in each habitat monthly for 1 year and observed 3459 individuals from 62 species. Nymphalidae abundance was significantly higher in the understory than in the canopy. Specifically, only 18% of the individuals were captured in the canopy of gallery forests compared to 11% in savannah canopies. Species richness was higher in gallery forests (55 species) compared to savannahs (34 species). Savannah transects were very similar in plant species co...

Immature Stages and Ecological Characteristics of Idalus lineosus Walker (Erebidae: Arctiinae)

ABSTRACT. The caterpillars of Idalus lineosus Walker (Arctiinae) are external folivores that spec... more ABSTRACT. The caterpillars of Idalus lineosus Walker (Arctiinae) are external folivores that specialize in eating mature leaves of Roupala montana Aubl. (Proteaceae) in the cerrado (Brazilian savannah). The aim of this study was to present morphological and ecological characteristics of the immature stages of I. lineosus. We evaluated relative abundance, seasonal variation, and parasitized proportion of I. lineosus in various sites of the cerrado. The caterpillars are solitary, exhibit morphological variation between instars, and present varied color patterns in the last larval instar. The relative abundance of the caterpillar on the host plant varies seasonally and spatially in the cerrado sensu stricto reliefs of two soil types (oxysoil and rocky soil).The caterpillars were parasitized mainly by a gregarious Hymenoptera; multiparasitism was also registered, with interactions between Apanteles sp. and Protapanteles sp., and Cidaphus sp. with Protapanteles sp.

Temporal Occurrence of Two Morpho Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): Influence of Weather and Food Resources

The seasonality of fruit-feeding butterflies is very well known. However, few studies have analyz... more The seasonality of fruit-feeding butterflies is very well known. However, few studies have analyzed the influence of climatic variables and resource availability on the temporal distributions of butterflies. Morpho helenor achillides (C. Felder and R. Felder 1867) and Morpho menelaus coeruleus (Perry 1810) (Nymphalidae) were used as models to investigate the influences of climatic factors and food resources on the temporal distribution of these Morphinae butterflies. These butterflies were collected weekly from January 2005 to December 2006 in the Parque Nacional de Brasília (PNB). In total, 408 individuals were collected, including 274 of M. helenor and 134 of M. menelaus. The relative abundance of the two species was similar in 2005 (n = 220) and 2006 (n = 188). Of the variables considered, only the relative humidity and resource availability measured in terms of phenology of zoochorous fruits of herbaceous plants explained a large proportion of the variation in the abundance of t...

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The Temporal Dynamics of Two Morpho Fabricius, 1807 Species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) are Affected Differently by Fire in the Brazilian Savanna

Environmental entomology, 2020

Fire is one of the main disturbance agents globally and one of the main threats on the Brazilian ... more Fire is one of the main disturbance agents globally and one of the main threats on the Brazilian cerrado (Neotropical savanna), acting as environmental filter for species selection. Individuals of Morpho helenor achillides (C. Felder and R. Felder, 1867) and M. menelaus coeruleus (Perry, 1810) were captured weekly using entomological nets and fruit-baited traps over a 36-mo period (from May 2005 to April 2008). The present study analyzed the impact of a fire event in both the above species, showing that they present different responses to this disturbance. Morpho helenor was persistent as adults during the dry season, which could fly away from the flames to neighbor unburned areas and return after dry-season bushfires. Conversely, Morpho menelaus persists only as caterpillars during the dry season, which are unable to escape from the flames resulting in high impacts on local population (the species was not captured up to the end of this study). In addition, based on host plant speci...

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Good Things Come in Larger Packages: Size Matters for Fruit-feeding Butterfly Dispersal and Diet Breadth

Introduction: Body size is correlated with many aspects of an animal species' natural history... more Introduction: Body size is correlated with many aspects of an animal species' natural history, such as life span, abundance, dispersal capacity and diet breadth. However, contrasting trends have been reported for the relationship between body size and these ecological traits. Methods: Butterfly species from fruit-feeding guilds were used to investigate whether body size correlates with species abundances, dispersal, permanence, and diet breadth in a Neotropical savanna in Brazil (Cerrado). We used Blomberg’s K and Phylogenetic Generalized Least Squares models (PGLS) to measure phylogenetic signal strength in species traits, and to estimate size-dispersal-diet breadth associations while taking shared ancestry into account. Results: 539 individuals from 27 species were captured, and 190 individuals were recaptured, representing a 35% recapture rate. We found that body size negatively influenced butterfly abundance. In contrast, body size was positively associated with dispersal le...

format_quoteSmaller butterflies have lower dispersal ability, risking their survival amidst rapid deforestation if not compensated by large populations.format_quote

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The Temporal Dynamics of Two Morpho Fabricius, 1807 Species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) are Affected Differently by Fire in the Brazilian Savanna

Environmental Entomology, 2020

Fire is one of the main disturbance agents globally and one of the main threats on the Brazilian ... more Fire is one of the main disturbance agents globally and one of the main threats on the Brazilian cerrado (Neotropical savanna), acting as environmental filter for species selection. Individuals of Morpho helenor achillides (C. Felder and R. Felder, 1867) and M. menelaus coeruleus (Perry, 1810) were captured weekly using entomological nets and fruit-baited traps over a 36-mo period (from May 2005 to April 2008). The present study analyzed the impact of a fire event in both the above species, showing that they present different responses to this disturbance. Morpho helenor was persistent as adults during the dry season, which could fly away from the flames to neighbor unburned areas and return after dry-season bushfires. Conversely, Morpho menelaus persists only as caterpillars during the dry season, which are unable to escape from the flames resulting in high impacts on local population (the species was not captured up to the end of this study). In addition, based on host plant speci...

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The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project

Ecology and evolution, 2017

The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems... more The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international effort...

format_quoteDatabase schema links biodiversity, GIS, and Catalogue of Life data, providing a structured approach to biodiversity research.format_quote

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The Temporal Occurrence of Morpho helenor achillides and M. menelaus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): The Influence of Weather and Food Resources

The seasonality of fruit-feeding butterflies is very well known. However, few studies have analyz... more The seasonality of fruit-feeding butterflies is very well known. However, few studies have analyzed the influence of climatic variables and resource availability on butterfly temporal distributions. Morpho helenor achillides(C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867) and M. menelaus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nymphalidae) were used as models to investigate the influence of climatic factors and food resources on the temporal distribution of these Morphinae butterflies. These butterflies were collected weekly, from January 2005 to December 2006, in the Parque Nacional de Brasília (PNB). In all, 274 M. helenor achillides and 134 M. menelaus were collected, a total of 408 individuals. The relative abundance of the two species was similar in 2005 (n = 220) and 2006 (n = 188). Of the variables considered, only the relative humidity and the resource availability measured in terms of the phenology of the zoochorous fruits of herbaceous plants explained a large proportion of the variation in the abundance of these...

Effects of experimental fire regimes on the abundance and diversity of cursorial arachnids of Brazilian savannah (cerrado biome)

Journal of Arachnology, 2011

We investigated the influence of burning frequency and timing on the abundance and diversity of c... more We investigated the influence of burning frequency and timing on the abundance and diversity of cursorial arachnids in the cerrado (savannah of central Brazil). Five areas were subjected to different burning regimes. In each area, 40 pitfall traps were installed. The arachnids were sampled for three days each month from April 2007 to October 2008. Abundance was higher in the control area than in areas subjected to any fire regime. Species richness was similar in all areas. The evenness was lower in the control area. The areas subject to fires had significantly higher diversity than the control area. Although it was not possible to rank areas according to their diversity, areas burned in the middle of the dry season tended to have higher diversity than areas burned at the beginning or end of this season, indicating that the time at which fire occurs may be more important than the frequency of burning for the diversity of cursorial arachnids in the Brazilian cerrado.

format_quoteFire regimes explained 52% of arachnid abundance variation; significantly more spiders were captured in the control area compared to areas with burning.format_quote

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Temporal Occurrence of TwoMorphoButterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): Influence of Weather and Food Resources

Environmental Entomology, 2014

The seasonality of fruit-feeding butterßies is very well known. However, few studies have analyze... more The seasonality of fruit-feeding butterßies is very well known. However, few studies have analyzed the inßuence of climatic variables and resource availability on the temporal distributions of butterßies. Morpho helenor achillides (C. Felder and R. Felder 1867) and Morpho menelaus coeruleus (Perry 1810) (Nymphalidae) were used as models to investigate the inßuences of climatic factors and food resources on the temporal distribution of these Morphinae butterßies. These butterßies were collected weekly from January 2005 to December 2006 in the Parque Nacional de Brasõ ´lia (PNB). In total, 408 individuals were collected, including 274 of M. helenor and 134 of M. menelaus. The relative abundance of the two species was similar in 2005 (n ϭ 220) and 2006 (n ϭ 188). Of the variables considered, only the relative humidity and resource availability measured in terms of phenology of zoochorous fruits of herbaceous plants explained a large proportion of the variation in the abundance of these butterßies. Both of the explanatory variables were positively associated with the total abundance of individuals and with the abundances of M. helenor and M. menelaus considered separately. The phenology of anemochorous fruits was negatively associated with butterßy abundance. The temporal distribution of the butterßies was better predicted by the phenology of the zoochorous fruits of herbaceous plants than by the climatic predictors.

format_quoteButterflies' temporal distribution correlated more with herbaceous fruit phenology than climatic factors, highlighting resource availability's critical role.format_quote

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Immature Stages and Ecological Characteristics ofIdalus lineosusWalker (Erebidae: Arctiinae)

Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society, 2014

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