Elmo Borges de Azevedo Koch

Landscape modification driven by forest loss and fragmentation represents a pervasive threat to tropical forests and is expected to reshape biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. We investigated how forest cover and edge density relate to ant assemblage structure and whether seed removal is associated with resource size, community dominance and weighted morphological traits across Atlantic Forest fragments in northeastern Brazil. Across 16 forest fragments, we recorded 55 ant species from 32 genera, with assemblages strongly dominated by seed predators (particularly Pheidole gp. diligens sp. 3 and Pheidole radoszkowskii ) while active dispersers remained relatively rare. Forest cover was positively associated with the abundance of both incidental individuals and individuals of species with no seed‐related role, whereas functional‐group richness was not significantly associated with either forest cover or edge density. Seed removal decreased markedly with increasing seed size, with medium and large seeds showing significantly lower removal probabilities than small seeds. Seed‐removal probability increased with community dominance but decreased with increasing community‐weighted mean mandible size. While ant species richness may appear resilient to landscape change, the functional composition and dominance structure of the assemblages may shift, with consequences for ecosystem functioning. Stable species richness can mask functional reorganization, and seed removal is primarily driven by trait composition and dominance, highlighting the need to prioritize functionally important species in modified landscapes.

Naturally formed treefall gaps represent primary sources of environmental heterogeneity in tropical forests, yet their role in driving the components of beta diversity in specialized leaf-litter fauna remains poorly understood. We investigated the influence of natural treefall gaps on harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) community structure and beta diversity partitioning in a well-preserved Atlantic Forest remnant in southern Bahia, Brazil. Using standardized nocturnal searches and leaf-litter sampling, we recorded 845 individuals across 23 species. Coverage-based rarefaction indicated higher estimated richness in gaps, although observed alpha diversity did not differ significantly among habitats. Community composition differed significantly along the gap–forest gradient, driven mainly by litter depth and microclimatic variation. Indicator species analysis identified Protimesius sp. (Stygnidae) as a robust gap-specialist. Beta diversity partitioning revealed that turnover accounted for 79.5% of total dissimilarity, while nestedness contributed 20.5%. Treefall gaps exhibited the highest internal beta diversity and species exclusivity, supporting their role as dynamic environmental filters that enhance regional diversity. Our findings highlight the ecological importance of natural disturbance and litter structure in maintaining biodiversity patterns in tropical forests.

Naturally formed treefall gaps represent primary sources of environmental heterogeneity in tropical forests, yet their role in driving the components of beta diversity in specialized leaf-litter fauna remains poorly understood. We investigated the influence of natural treefall gaps on harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) community structure and beta diversity partitioning in a well-preserved Atlantic Forest remnant in southern Bahia, Brazil. Using standardized nocturnal searches and leaf-litter sampling, we recorded 845 individuals across 23 species. Coverage-based rarefaction indicated higher estimated richness in gaps, although observed alpha diversity did not differ significantly among habitats. Community composition differed significantly along the gap–forest gradient, driven mainly by litter depth and microclimatic variation. Indicator species analysis identified Protimesius sp. as a robust gap-specialist. Beta diversity partitioning revealed that turnover accounted for 79.5% of total dissimilarity, while nestedness contributed 20.5%. Treefall gaps exhibited the highest internal beta diversity and species exclusivity, supporting their role as dynamic environmental filters that enhance regional diversity. Our findings highlight the ecological importance of natural disturbance and litter structure in maintaining biodiversity patterns in tropical forests.

Ant–hemiptera mutualisms are pivotal in tropical ecosystems, yet how these interactions respond to fine‐scale microhabitat variation and management remains poorly understood. We investigated ant–hemiptera interactions across feeding microhabitats (flowers, leaves, pods) and contrasting management systems in Brazilian cocoa farms, comparing traditional agroforestry (“Cabruca,” which retains much of the native shade) with intensified systems (“Total Suppressed,” where native vegetation is removed). Across 934 interactions, leaves and pods supported larger and richer networks than flowers. Although Total Suppressed systems showed higher interaction frequency, network structural metrics such as nestedness and modularity remained stable across microhabitats and management types. This stability appears to be driven by dominant generalist ants acting as structural buffers. Core ant species were widely shared among plant structures, whereas core hemipteran species varied markedly across microhabitats, indicating ecological partitioning. In addition, interaction beta diversity was mainly driven by rewiring among persistent species rather than species turnover. Overall, while hemipterans respond to fine‐scale microhabitat heterogeneity, dominant ants maintain network cohesion through behavioral plasticity, highlighting the resilience of mutualistic networks in cocoa agroecosystems.

Artisanal fishing remains essential for many traditional communities along the coastline of Brazil; however, environmental damage has depleted fish stocks and made working conditions difficult in some regions. As a result, fewer young people are interested in continuing this tradition. This study looks at how fishing is practiced in Santiago do Iguape, a quilombola community in Recôncavo Baiano, analyzing both the current situation and the challenges fishermen face by applying an ethicist-emicist perspective. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviews conducted with 104 fishers recruited through the snowball sampling method until theoretical saturation was achieved. This approach was supplemented by field observations and an online questionnaire targeting community youth. The findings reveal that the growth of large enterprises, chemical waste pollution, and ongoing ecosystem degradation have intensified current challenges. While 75% of young individuals have experience in fishing, a substantial number are discouraged from entering the field due to economic uncertainty, adverse working conditions, and limited resources. Despite the sociocultural legacy valued by the community, the risk of diminishing traditional knowledge transfer remains significant. As such, securing legal rights and government protection is imperative to enhance both economic and environmental outcomes and to promote the continued practice of artisanal fishing.

The Atlantic Forest is one of the planet’s most biodiverse and threatened biomes, recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al. 2000; Galindo-Leal and Câmara 2005). Once covering roughl...

The ant Azteca paraensis bondari lives in association with epiphytes in a structure called ant-garden and exhibits trophobiotic interactions with hemipteran species: scale insects (Coccoidea) and other sap-sucking insects. The complexity of these interactions is not fully defined, so this study aims to describe the nesting mode, territorial occupation, and mutualistic interactions around the ant garden system involving A. paraensis bondari . Our observations were carried out in a cocoa agroecosystem in the southern region of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Four ant-gardens of A. paraensis bondari were observed for 32 h. Each colony presented two types of interactions with hemipteran species and two with epiphytes. The trophobiont scale insect Coccus viridis (Coccidae) was common to all observed colonies, as this scale insect uses the epiphyte Codonanthopsis uleana (Gesneriaceae) as its food source. The other hemipteran species found associated with the ants are different between the colonies observed. Ants use food resources obtained from epiphyte floral and extrafloral nectaries, in addition to participating in the plant dispersal; they also use honeydew from the scale insects or other Hemiptera they tend. In turn, ants provide nutrients to epiphytes through the organic compost they depose on the ant-garden, actively prey on insects on the host plants and certainly provide dispersion and defense to the scale insects. Our results highlight the remarkable diversity of biotic interactions associated with A. paraensis bondari , forming a microcosm known as the “ant garden”. This system facilitates nutrient cycling in suspended soils and involves a variety of insects and epiphytes. Additionally, the polydomous structure of the ant colonies contributes to maintain this microcosm in a relative stable equilibrium within the ant’s territory. To safeguard A. paraensis bondari and its ecological functions, we recommend the establishment of monitoring programs to protect existing colonies and the promotion of agroecological practices that enhace biodiversity within cocoa farms.

Five centers of endemism are recognized in The Brazilian Atlantic Forest, including the Pernambuco center (PCE), which is located at the northern, and most impacted extreme of the biome, whose biodiversity is still relatively poorly-known. Using mist nets, we surveyed the bat assemblages of three privately-owned protected areas in the Brazilian state of Alagoas, located within the Pernambuco Centre of Endemism. The fragment areas ranged from 41 to 458 hectares. We compared the species composition, richness, and diversity of bat species among the areas. A total of 266 bats were captured, representing 21 species in five families, although 96% of the individuals captured belonged to species of the family Phyllostomidae. Six trophic guilds were recorded in the study. The highest species richness (14) and diversity were recorded at Madeira and Mata do Capiatã, although similarity was low among the assemblages of the three sites. The results of the study indicate that even small fragments of Atlantic Forest may support a considerable diversity of bats, especially at a landscape scale, and are thus vitally important for the maintenance of the ecosystem services provided by these mammals. Future research should adopt more comprehensive sampling methods, such as combining mist-nets with acoustic monitoring, to better represent the full spectrum of chiropteran diversity, particularly aerial insectivores.

Butterflies, in addition to their ecological relevance, play important symbolic and cultural roles in many societies. This study aimed to analyze the diversity of common names attributed to butterflies in Brazil, based on a systematic literature review (following the PRISMA method), including sources such as scientific articles, books, and field guides. A total of 189 scientific species names were recorded, belonging to five taxonomic families, and associated with 111 distinct common names. The family Nymphalidae presented the highest number of records, indicating a morphologically diverse and culturally recognized group. The common names were classified into interpretive categories, with morphological designations being the most common, followed by behavioral, ecological, and symbolic associations. The analysis shows that common names reflect local knowledge grounded in empirical observation and symbolic meaning, contributing significantly to ecological understanding and the appreciation of biodiversity. This study highlights the role of ethnoentomology as an interdisciplinary approach that values local knowledge and enhances the understanding of human-insect relationships, recommending its broader application in related research.