Título:	Ecologia de Kerodon acrobata (Rodentia: Caviidae) em fragmentos de mata seca associados a afloramentos calcários no Cerrado do Brasil central
Autor(es):	Portella, Alexandre de Souza
Orientador(es):	Vieira, Emerson Monteiro
Assunto:	Roedores - Cerrados Animais - comportamento Animais do Cerrado Kerodon acrobata
Data de publicação:	3-Fev-2016
Data de defesa:	4-Set-2015
Referência:	PORTELLA, Alexandre de Souza. Ecologia de Kerodon acrobata (Rodentia: Caviidae) em fragmentos de mata seca associados a afloramentos calcários no Cerrado do Brasil central. 2015. 103 f., il. Tese (Doutorado em Ecologia)—Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 2015.
Abstract:	Kerodon acrobata, the acrobatic cavy, is an herbivorous rodent, specialist in rocky environments and it is endemic species from the Cerrado, a Brazilian savannah. Because of its limited distribution, fragmentation of populations, the pressures on their habitat and other threats, such as intensive hunting, it is considered by the Brazilian government, an endangered species, included in the vulnerable (VU) category (criterion B1ab(iii, v)). The lack of knowledge on this species, led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to classify it in the deficient data (DD) category. Obtaining data on the natural history, use of time and space, and on the diet of a species is essential to ensure the conservation of it. This study was conducted between November / 2011 and November / 2013, and aimed to: determine the activity pattern of K. acrobata, noting if these cavies avoid the activities schedules of predators; investigate whether there is a defined breeding season; investigate possible variations in density of the species, between seasons and between different forest environments; and its feeding behavior. The study area consists of dry forest fragments associated with limestone outcrops in Goiás State, in central Brazil. To investigate the activity pattern of K. acrobata, I searched for active latrines where camera traps were installed to record the activities of these animals. I also used camera traps in order to register carnivorous predators with potential to prey K. acrobata. The behavioral data and observations were collected ad libitum. I captured individuals using live traps, with leaves and fruits as bait. The acrobatic cavies showed a cathemeral activity pattern, with activities distributed throughout the day, and with three peaks of activity. Females with reproductive traits were captured only during the dry season. The number of cavies observed ranged between deciduous and semi-deciduous forests, but did not vary between seasons. The total amount of cavies observed in deciduous forest was higher than in semi-deciduous forest. However, the semi-deciduous forest showed greater abundance of acrobatic cavies in the dry season, probably due to the higher densities of plant resources and fresh leaves supply at this environment during that period, while at deciduous forest the abundance was higher during the rainy season. Estimated sizes of home ranges did not differ between sexes, seasons nor between juveniles and adults. There was also no significant correlation between body mass and the estimated sizes of home ranges. The average home range overlap between sexes was higher than among females and males. Juveniles showed higher home range overlap than adults. The results indicated that K. acrobata did not show a seasonal trend in its reproductive behavior. The species also showed no evidence of seasonal defense of resources or territory. The mating system that probably best fits the data obtained from K. acrobata is the polygyny. Kerodon acrobata individuals fed mainly on leaves, but also consumed flowers and fruits, directly from plants, or even that fallen in the litter, as well as shoots of branches and plant barks. Niche breadth did not differ between wet and dry seasons, with the same resources being exploited in both seasons, but I found a seasonal difference in the frequency of items consumed. Falling leaves and flowers influenced the diet of acrobatic cavies during the dry season, when the animals began to focus their foraging activities in litter, changing the resource exploitation strategy. I also observed that K. acrobata has a generalist diet in relation to leaf consumption, with at least 16 native families consumed. These results agree with the idea that environmental changes may be responsible for changes in the abundance and density of rodents, by affecting the availability of food resources. The food niche breadth of the acrobatic cavy may be a factor that allows its persistence in disturbed habitats. On the other hand, depending on the intensity of the anthropogenic changes, the close relationship of this species with rocky environments and with the forest fragments studied could make these animals vulnerable to actions that threaten the integrity of these environments. The results found in this study may be important allies in the development of conservation strategies for the acrobatic cavy, as K. acrobata is considered a vulnerable species in Brazil, the only place where it occurs. Due to its recent description and the lack of knowledge about their biology and ecology, it still needs more information on their distribution, ecology, threats and population status.
Unidade Acadêmica:	Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (IB)
Informações adicionais:	Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, 2015.
Programa de pós-graduação:	Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia
Licença:	A concessão da licença deste item refere-se ao termo de autorização impresso assinado pelo autor com as seguintes condições: Na qualidade de titular dos direitos de autor da publicação, autorizo a Universidade de Brasília e o IBICT a disponibilizar por meio dos sites www.bce.unb.br, www.ibict.br, http://hercules.vtls.com/cgi-bin/ndltd/chameleon?lng=pt&skin=ndltd sem ressarcimento dos direitos autorais, de acordo com a Lei nº 9610/98, o texto integral da obra disponibilizada, conforme permissões assinaladas, para fins de leitura, impressão e/ou download, a título de divulgação da produção científica brasileira, a partir desta data.
DOI:	http://dx.doi.org/10.26512/2015.09.T.19426
Aparece nas coleções:	Teses, dissertações e produtos pós-doutorado

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