Franco L. Souza | UFMS - Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (original) (raw)
Papers by Franco L. Souza
Check List, 2010
No information is given for the distribution of Cicadidae in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, cen... more No information is given for the distribution of Cicadidae in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, central Brazil.Thus, the present note reports the species Quesada gigas, Fidicina mannifera, Dorisiana viridis and D. drewseni for the firsttime in this state.
Study sites, data standardization procedures, supporting figures, and population level summary stats
sudoriental. Los especimenes se localizaron en un area de savana (cerrado) con pequefios tramos d... more sudoriental. Los especimenes se localizaron en un area de savana (cerrado) con pequefios tramos de bosque ripario. Se cementa brevemente el habitat circundante. El hallazgo de esta poblaci6n aislada puede ser importante en Ia conservaci6n de Ia especie ya que indica que otras poblaciones podrian sobrevivir y reproducirse en pequefios fragmentos con vegetaci6n bien conservada. Key words: Brazil, Chelidae, conservation, Phrynops vanderhaegei, turtle. Records related to geographical distribution for Brazilian freshwater turtles are relatively rare and the lack of such basic information has caused mistaken interpretations about species range (V/\NZOLINI, 1994). Since ecosystems are becoming highly fragmented mainly due to human action, all information available should be used to identify areas that harbor threatened species, which would allow the development of appropriate management programs. In this note, we report a new locality record for the Vanderhaege's toad-headed turtle, P...
Amphibia Reptilia, 2014
Leptodactylus bufonius (Vizcacheras' white-lipped frog) and L. chaquensis (Cei's white-lipped fro... more Leptodactylus bufonius (Vizcacheras' white-lipped frog) and L. chaquensis (Cei's white-lipped frog) are pondbreeding frogs that inhabit the Chaco and surrounding savanna-like formations in South America. Throughout the Chacoan plain, the combined impacts of livestock and forestry practices have led to a highly fragmented landscape and an impoverished ecological system, threatening local species. We cloned and characterized new microsatellite markers for both species. These markers will be useful for behavioral and conservation genetic studies of populations throughout this threatened habitat.
Xenodon is a South American snake genus with 11 species distributed from Guyanas, Brazil, Uruguay... more Xenodon is a South American snake genus with 11 species distributed from Guyanas, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Xenodon pulcher is known from Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, associated to Chaco ecoregion. After a revision of material located in the Colecao Zoologica de Referencia da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (ZUFMS) we found specimens of Xenodon sp. from Porto Murtinho municipality bordering Paraguay, a small area in Brazil harboring chaco vegetation. Ventral, subcaudales, pre-oculars scales and complete triads in the body and tail of 23 specimens of X. pulcher from Paraguay, 32 of X. mattogrossensis from Brazilian pantanal and four specimens of Xenodon sp. collected in Porto Murtinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. There is a high variation and overlap between the characters of X. pulcher and X. mattogrossensis ; however X. mattogrossensis differs from X. pulcher and X. semicinctus in the presence of lateral white spots on the black rings, and the...
Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia - Brazilian Journal of Ornithology, 2013
The Journal Herpetozoa, 2017
Natureza & Conservacao, 2005
Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia - Brazilian Journal of Ornithology, 2013
A study of group structure and home range size of Crotophaga ani and Guira guira in Sao Paulo, Br... more A study of group structure and home range size of Crotophaga ani and Guira guira in Sao Paulo, Brasil (Cuculiformes: Cuculidae).
El conocimiento de los parametros reproductores resulta fundamental a la hora de llevar a cabo ac... more El conocimiento de los parametros reproductores resulta fundamental a la hora de llevar a cabo actividades de gestion y conservacion de especies. A partir de una revision biblografica se ha constatado que existe un amplio desconocimiento sobre los aspectos mas basicos de la reproduccion de las tortugas brasilenas de cuello largo (Chelidae) en condiciones naturales (animales no cautivos). Entre estos aspectos, se incluyen el tamano de la puesta, el tiempo de incubacion y las caracteristicas de los lugares de puesta. se sugiere la necesidad de enfatizar la toma de este tipo de datos en futuros estudios con estas especies.
We studied the feeding habits of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei in small water bodies in the central re... more We studied the feeding habits of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei in small water bodies in the central region of the Brazilian Cerrado. We captured 80 individuals, 79 of which [41 (52%) females, 27 males (34%), 11 (14%) juveniles] had stomach contents for analysis . We identified 64 food item categories. The turtles were eating more animal than plant material, aquatic invertebrates being the most conspicuous diet item found. Plant material was more abundant in females and rare in the diet of juveniles. Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei proved to be an omnivorous and opportunistic chelonian, feeding on a wide range of food items. Although there are differences in the consumption of food items among sexes and age categories, the most consumed food categories were common in all water bodies sampled.
The anuran calls descriptions have given important taxonomic information in studies within proble... more The anuran calls descriptions have given important taxonomic information in studies within problematic species group. Herein, we describe the advertisement and release calls of R. scitula . We analyzed calls recorded in three localities in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, including the type locality. Males calling at the margins of a permanent streams in forest fragments ca. 21:00 h. The advertisement call of R. scitula is multi-pulsed with interior amplitude modulation, resulting in pulse groups. Males emitted non-regular call series with duration of 0.27s ± 0.03 (0.23–0.36), note duration of 0.015s ± 0.004 (0.007–0.040), pulse duration of 0.008s ± 0.001 (0.005–0.015, n=180), pulse group per call of 6.6 ± 0.92 (5–8) and dominant frequency of 1439.7 Hz ± 46.1 (1378.1–1550.4). The release calls were characterized by a dominant frequency of 1115.8Hz ± 102.2 (947.5–1550.4), a frequency bandwidth of 2001.6Hz ± 527.4 (861.3–3876). They are formed by pulsed and/or pulsatile notes space...
Em razao da falta de material especifico de consulta que consolide as principais referencias cien... more Em razao da falta de material especifico de consulta que consolide as principais referencias cientificas e o acumulo do conhecimento tecnico sobre as metodologias de amostragem, coleta e analise de dados relativos aos quelonios continentais brasileiros, materializou-se este trabalho, ha muito almejado pela sociedade interessada no assunto. Houve um grande esforco para compatibilizar metodologicamente as particularidades das especies e ambientes em areas com lacunas de amostragem, cujos parâmetros se adequam prioritariamente aos inventarios e, em areas com ocorrencia conhecida de especie(s) alvo de estudos de maior duracao, aos monitoramentos populacionais. Sendo assim, essencialmente, este guia metodologico ou manual tecnico inedito se constitui em roteiros de procedimentos fundamentados pela consolidacao do estado da arte do conhecimento tecnico-cientifico e pelas perspectivas, harmonizadas, dos principais grupos de pesquisa e entidades conservacionistas que atuam com esses animais...
Acta Herpetologica, 2017
Brazil harbors the greatest diversity of amphibians on the planet although there are few studies ... more Brazil harbors the greatest diversity of amphibians on the planet although there are few studies dealing with urban fauna. The objective of this study is to describe the species composition and richness of anurans in urban Cerrado fragments from Campo Grande municipality, Mato Grosso do Sul state, central Brazil. The specimens were sampled in three stages through pitfall traps and visual/acoustic surveys. Seventeen species were recorded (17.7% of anuran species registered in Mato Grosso do Sul), with Leptodactylidae and Hylidae being the most represented families. The existence of a high number of green areas and water bodies in the urban area likely favors anuran species in the region. The anuran communities in urban areas of Campo Grande were dominated by species which use a broad range of habitats. In this study there was the record of a new species of anuran, Proceratophrys dibernardoi , for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The forest fragments that had the highest similarity fo...
Sustainability Science
The ecosystem service framework has been instrumental in navigating local to global sustainabilit... more The ecosystem service framework has been instrumental in navigating local to global sustainability issues. Yet as ecosystem services (ES) focus on nature’s positive contributions to people, some have argued that ‘ecosystem disservices’ (EDS), or nature’s negative contributions, should also be taken into account to better orient sustainability policies. However, joint ES and EDS assessments remain rare in sustainability research, partly because of the persisting conceptual ambiguity around the EDS concept. This study aimed to develop these joint assessments and test their relevance in addressing sustainability issues. To this end, we devised a novel cascade model that helps to define ES and EDS in a multi-level context that considers both as coproduced by ecosystems and people. In order to explore the potential and limitations of this model, we then applied it in a Brazilian landscape where reconciling agriculture and forest conservation is a critical sustainability challenge. Using the model in comprehensive interviews with farmers about their perceptions and management practices of forests, we found that they had an overall positive valuation of forests, but identified both positive and negative interactions between forests and farms at different organizational levels. The model also revealed a vicious circle between crop expansion, a resulting decrease in certain ES and an increase in certain EDS, which might exacerbate tensions between agriculture and forest conservation in the future. Additionally, the model allowed a window on the diverse preventive and regulating practices that the interviewed farmers have adopted to cope with increasing EDS without necessarily harming biodiversity. Based on this case study, this novel cascade model seems a promising conceptual tool to uncover the interactions between ES and EDS, opening new research and policy avenues to support sustainability.
Ornithology Research
These Thraupidae are usually associated with natural grasslands where they feed and breed. These ... more These Thraupidae are usually associated with natural grasslands where they feed and breed. These habitats are threatened by conversion to agriculture or conversion of natural vegetation into exotic pasture. As a consequence of these landscape alterations, nearly 50% of Sporophila species inhabiting these a environments are, to some degree, threatened (Nunes 2010, ICMBIO 2014). One of the least known Sporophila species is the Blackand-tawny Seedeater, Sporophila nigrorufa (D'Orbigny & a Lafresnaye 1837), categorized as Vulnerable (ICMBIO 2014, IUCN 2014). The earliest records of this species date back to the 19th century when it was found in western Mato Grosso State and eastern Bolivian cerrados (Pelzeln 1868-1871). Its current distribution comprises eight localities in Bolivia and three in Brazil (
Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology, 2014
Habitat heterogeneity and anuran community of an agroecosystem in Pantanal, Brazil. The Pantanal ... more Habitat heterogeneity and anuran community of an agroecosystem in Pantanal, Brazil. The Pantanal of central Brazil has experienced considerable modifications as a result of growing land use. The association between anuran assemblage and the local habitat structure of an agroecosystem in central Brazil at the Pantanal is described. It is shown that the structure of the anuran community is reestablished within the new environmental dynamics in such human-modified habitat. Twenty-four anuran species were recorded in the area. The community was dominated by four species (Dendropsophus nanus, Leptodactylus chaquensis, Hypsiboas raniceps, and Rhinella cf. bergi), which accounted for more than 50% of the sampled individuals. The species distribution pattern was adjusted to the logarithmic, log-normal, and broken stick models, partially reflecting its association with agroecosystem characteristics. Habitat heterogeneity contributes to the anuran community at a local scale, thereby emphasizing the importance of maintaining distinct habitats for anuran species in the Pantanal as a management practice, even in in situations in which anthropic actions are predictable, as in agroecosystems.
Check List, 2010
No information is given for the distribution of Cicadidae in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, cen... more No information is given for the distribution of Cicadidae in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, central Brazil.Thus, the present note reports the species Quesada gigas, Fidicina mannifera, Dorisiana viridis and D. drewseni for the firsttime in this state.
Study sites, data standardization procedures, supporting figures, and population level summary stats
sudoriental. Los especimenes se localizaron en un area de savana (cerrado) con pequefios tramos d... more sudoriental. Los especimenes se localizaron en un area de savana (cerrado) con pequefios tramos de bosque ripario. Se cementa brevemente el habitat circundante. El hallazgo de esta poblaci6n aislada puede ser importante en Ia conservaci6n de Ia especie ya que indica que otras poblaciones podrian sobrevivir y reproducirse en pequefios fragmentos con vegetaci6n bien conservada. Key words: Brazil, Chelidae, conservation, Phrynops vanderhaegei, turtle. Records related to geographical distribution for Brazilian freshwater turtles are relatively rare and the lack of such basic information has caused mistaken interpretations about species range (V/\NZOLINI, 1994). Since ecosystems are becoming highly fragmented mainly due to human action, all information available should be used to identify areas that harbor threatened species, which would allow the development of appropriate management programs. In this note, we report a new locality record for the Vanderhaege's toad-headed turtle, P...
Amphibia Reptilia, 2014
Leptodactylus bufonius (Vizcacheras' white-lipped frog) and L. chaquensis (Cei's white-lipped fro... more Leptodactylus bufonius (Vizcacheras' white-lipped frog) and L. chaquensis (Cei's white-lipped frog) are pondbreeding frogs that inhabit the Chaco and surrounding savanna-like formations in South America. Throughout the Chacoan plain, the combined impacts of livestock and forestry practices have led to a highly fragmented landscape and an impoverished ecological system, threatening local species. We cloned and characterized new microsatellite markers for both species. These markers will be useful for behavioral and conservation genetic studies of populations throughout this threatened habitat.
Xenodon is a South American snake genus with 11 species distributed from Guyanas, Brazil, Uruguay... more Xenodon is a South American snake genus with 11 species distributed from Guyanas, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Xenodon pulcher is known from Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, associated to Chaco ecoregion. After a revision of material located in the Colecao Zoologica de Referencia da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (ZUFMS) we found specimens of Xenodon sp. from Porto Murtinho municipality bordering Paraguay, a small area in Brazil harboring chaco vegetation. Ventral, subcaudales, pre-oculars scales and complete triads in the body and tail of 23 specimens of X. pulcher from Paraguay, 32 of X. mattogrossensis from Brazilian pantanal and four specimens of Xenodon sp. collected in Porto Murtinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. There is a high variation and overlap between the characters of X. pulcher and X. mattogrossensis ; however X. mattogrossensis differs from X. pulcher and X. semicinctus in the presence of lateral white spots on the black rings, and the...
Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia - Brazilian Journal of Ornithology, 2013
The Journal Herpetozoa, 2017
Natureza & Conservacao, 2005
Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia - Brazilian Journal of Ornithology, 2013
A study of group structure and home range size of Crotophaga ani and Guira guira in Sao Paulo, Br... more A study of group structure and home range size of Crotophaga ani and Guira guira in Sao Paulo, Brasil (Cuculiformes: Cuculidae).
El conocimiento de los parametros reproductores resulta fundamental a la hora de llevar a cabo ac... more El conocimiento de los parametros reproductores resulta fundamental a la hora de llevar a cabo actividades de gestion y conservacion de especies. A partir de una revision biblografica se ha constatado que existe un amplio desconocimiento sobre los aspectos mas basicos de la reproduccion de las tortugas brasilenas de cuello largo (Chelidae) en condiciones naturales (animales no cautivos). Entre estos aspectos, se incluyen el tamano de la puesta, el tiempo de incubacion y las caracteristicas de los lugares de puesta. se sugiere la necesidad de enfatizar la toma de este tipo de datos en futuros estudios con estas especies.
We studied the feeding habits of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei in small water bodies in the central re... more We studied the feeding habits of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei in small water bodies in the central region of the Brazilian Cerrado. We captured 80 individuals, 79 of which [41 (52%) females, 27 males (34%), 11 (14%) juveniles] had stomach contents for analysis . We identified 64 food item categories. The turtles were eating more animal than plant material, aquatic invertebrates being the most conspicuous diet item found. Plant material was more abundant in females and rare in the diet of juveniles. Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei proved to be an omnivorous and opportunistic chelonian, feeding on a wide range of food items. Although there are differences in the consumption of food items among sexes and age categories, the most consumed food categories were common in all water bodies sampled.
The anuran calls descriptions have given important taxonomic information in studies within proble... more The anuran calls descriptions have given important taxonomic information in studies within problematic species group. Herein, we describe the advertisement and release calls of R. scitula . We analyzed calls recorded in three localities in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, including the type locality. Males calling at the margins of a permanent streams in forest fragments ca. 21:00 h. The advertisement call of R. scitula is multi-pulsed with interior amplitude modulation, resulting in pulse groups. Males emitted non-regular call series with duration of 0.27s ± 0.03 (0.23–0.36), note duration of 0.015s ± 0.004 (0.007–0.040), pulse duration of 0.008s ± 0.001 (0.005–0.015, n=180), pulse group per call of 6.6 ± 0.92 (5–8) and dominant frequency of 1439.7 Hz ± 46.1 (1378.1–1550.4). The release calls were characterized by a dominant frequency of 1115.8Hz ± 102.2 (947.5–1550.4), a frequency bandwidth of 2001.6Hz ± 527.4 (861.3–3876). They are formed by pulsed and/or pulsatile notes space...
Em razao da falta de material especifico de consulta que consolide as principais referencias cien... more Em razao da falta de material especifico de consulta que consolide as principais referencias cientificas e o acumulo do conhecimento tecnico sobre as metodologias de amostragem, coleta e analise de dados relativos aos quelonios continentais brasileiros, materializou-se este trabalho, ha muito almejado pela sociedade interessada no assunto. Houve um grande esforco para compatibilizar metodologicamente as particularidades das especies e ambientes em areas com lacunas de amostragem, cujos parâmetros se adequam prioritariamente aos inventarios e, em areas com ocorrencia conhecida de especie(s) alvo de estudos de maior duracao, aos monitoramentos populacionais. Sendo assim, essencialmente, este guia metodologico ou manual tecnico inedito se constitui em roteiros de procedimentos fundamentados pela consolidacao do estado da arte do conhecimento tecnico-cientifico e pelas perspectivas, harmonizadas, dos principais grupos de pesquisa e entidades conservacionistas que atuam com esses animais...
Acta Herpetologica, 2017
Brazil harbors the greatest diversity of amphibians on the planet although there are few studies ... more Brazil harbors the greatest diversity of amphibians on the planet although there are few studies dealing with urban fauna. The objective of this study is to describe the species composition and richness of anurans in urban Cerrado fragments from Campo Grande municipality, Mato Grosso do Sul state, central Brazil. The specimens were sampled in three stages through pitfall traps and visual/acoustic surveys. Seventeen species were recorded (17.7% of anuran species registered in Mato Grosso do Sul), with Leptodactylidae and Hylidae being the most represented families. The existence of a high number of green areas and water bodies in the urban area likely favors anuran species in the region. The anuran communities in urban areas of Campo Grande were dominated by species which use a broad range of habitats. In this study there was the record of a new species of anuran, Proceratophrys dibernardoi , for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The forest fragments that had the highest similarity fo...
Sustainability Science
The ecosystem service framework has been instrumental in navigating local to global sustainabilit... more The ecosystem service framework has been instrumental in navigating local to global sustainability issues. Yet as ecosystem services (ES) focus on nature’s positive contributions to people, some have argued that ‘ecosystem disservices’ (EDS), or nature’s negative contributions, should also be taken into account to better orient sustainability policies. However, joint ES and EDS assessments remain rare in sustainability research, partly because of the persisting conceptual ambiguity around the EDS concept. This study aimed to develop these joint assessments and test their relevance in addressing sustainability issues. To this end, we devised a novel cascade model that helps to define ES and EDS in a multi-level context that considers both as coproduced by ecosystems and people. In order to explore the potential and limitations of this model, we then applied it in a Brazilian landscape where reconciling agriculture and forest conservation is a critical sustainability challenge. Using the model in comprehensive interviews with farmers about their perceptions and management practices of forests, we found that they had an overall positive valuation of forests, but identified both positive and negative interactions between forests and farms at different organizational levels. The model also revealed a vicious circle between crop expansion, a resulting decrease in certain ES and an increase in certain EDS, which might exacerbate tensions between agriculture and forest conservation in the future. Additionally, the model allowed a window on the diverse preventive and regulating practices that the interviewed farmers have adopted to cope with increasing EDS without necessarily harming biodiversity. Based on this case study, this novel cascade model seems a promising conceptual tool to uncover the interactions between ES and EDS, opening new research and policy avenues to support sustainability.
Ornithology Research
These Thraupidae are usually associated with natural grasslands where they feed and breed. These ... more These Thraupidae are usually associated with natural grasslands where they feed and breed. These habitats are threatened by conversion to agriculture or conversion of natural vegetation into exotic pasture. As a consequence of these landscape alterations, nearly 50% of Sporophila species inhabiting these a environments are, to some degree, threatened (Nunes 2010, ICMBIO 2014). One of the least known Sporophila species is the Blackand-tawny Seedeater, Sporophila nigrorufa (D'Orbigny & a Lafresnaye 1837), categorized as Vulnerable (ICMBIO 2014, IUCN 2014). The earliest records of this species date back to the 19th century when it was found in western Mato Grosso State and eastern Bolivian cerrados (Pelzeln 1868-1871). Its current distribution comprises eight localities in Bolivia and three in Brazil (
Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology, 2014
Habitat heterogeneity and anuran community of an agroecosystem in Pantanal, Brazil. The Pantanal ... more Habitat heterogeneity and anuran community of an agroecosystem in Pantanal, Brazil. The Pantanal of central Brazil has experienced considerable modifications as a result of growing land use. The association between anuran assemblage and the local habitat structure of an agroecosystem in central Brazil at the Pantanal is described. It is shown that the structure of the anuran community is reestablished within the new environmental dynamics in such human-modified habitat. Twenty-four anuran species were recorded in the area. The community was dominated by four species (Dendropsophus nanus, Leptodactylus chaquensis, Hypsiboas raniceps, and Rhinella cf. bergi), which accounted for more than 50% of the sampled individuals. The species distribution pattern was adjusted to the logarithmic, log-normal, and broken stick models, partially reflecting its association with agroecosystem characteristics. Habitat heterogeneity contributes to the anuran community at a local scale, thereby emphasizing the importance of maintaining distinct habitats for anuran species in the Pantanal as a management practice, even in in situations in which anthropic actions are predictable, as in agroecosystems.