Este estudo objetivou a caracterização da assembleia de pequenos mamíferos não voadores em termos de riqueza, abundância e sazonalidade na restinga do Parque Estadual Acaraí, localizado no nordeste de Santa Catarina. O sucesso total de captura foi de 2.78%, sendo 5.93% no inverno e 0.64% no verão. A espécie mais abundante e amplamente distribuída foi o roedor Akodon montensis (n = 71), com 56.35% dos indivíduos, seguido do roedor Nectomys squamipes (n = 42), com 33.33%, e do marsupial Marmosa paraguayana (n = 6), com 4.76%. O parque apresentou uma reduzida riqueza de espécies, ao ser comparado com outras áreas de restinga próximas.

This study aimed to characterize the community of non-volant small mammals in terms of richness, abundance, and seasonality in the restinga in the Parque Estadual Acaraí, state of Santa Catarina. The overall success of catch was 2.78% (5.93% in the winter and 0.64% in the summer). The most abundant and widely distributed species was Akodon montensis (n = 71), with 56.35% of the individuals, followed by Nectomys squamipes (n = 24), with 24.75%, and the marsupial Marmosa paraguayana (n = 6), with 4.76%. The park had reduced species richness compared with other nearby areas of restinga.

A ocorrência de polimorfismo no padrão de pelagem de populações pode promover o sucesso ecológico das espécies por permitir um amplo espectro de uso de diferentes parcelas de recursos disponíveis. Nós testamos a existência de diferença na segregação temporal do gato-do-mato-pequeno (Leopardus tigrinus), comparando a luminosidade durante períodos de atividade noturna de indivíduos pintados e melânicos. Indivíduos melânicos de gato-do-mato-pequeno foram mais ativos durante noites claras e indivíduos pintados de gato-do-mato-pequeno e outras espécies foram mais ativas durante noites escuras. Cada forma de coloração ocupou um nicho temporal fora do intervalo de confiança do outro, demonstrando a significância ecológica dos padrões de polimorfismo de colorações nesta espécie de felino.

The occurrence of coat colour polymorphisms in populations may promote the ecological success of species by permitting a wider spectrum of use of different subsets of available resources. We conducted an analysis of temporal segregation by comparing night brightness with nocturnal activity of spotted and melanistic oncillas (Leopardus tigrinus). Melanistic oncillas were more active during bright nights and spotted oncillas and other species were more active during dark nights. Each colour morph occupied a temporal niche outside the confidence interval of the other colour morph, demonstrating the ecological significance of polymorphic colour patterns in this felid species.

Muitos estudos comparam populações e/ou analisam a estrutura de comunidades animais usando índices de captura como se fossem sinônimos de abundância. No entanto, os métodos mais adequados considerando o pressuposto - estimativas probabilísticas baseadas na igualdade da probabilidade de capturas - não têm sido considerados. Neste estudo, os desvios causados por diferentes tipos de índices de captura são comparados com um dos mais comuns estimadores populacionais probabilísticos (Cormack-Jolly-Seber). As análises mostraram que o número mínimo de animais conhecidos vivos (MNKA) e o número de indivíduos apresentaram maior associação com o estimador populacional do que com os índices não probabilísticos baseados em recapturas. Entretanto, nenhum dos índices apresentou o mesmo desempenho do estimador populacional o que pode levar a interpretações equivocadas. Algumas recomendações foram também descritas.

Many manuscripts comparing populations and/or analysing the structure of animal communities use indexes of captures as synonymous of abundance. However, the basic methods more suitable to this assumption - probabilistic estimates based on equal capture probability - have not been considered. In this study, the deviations caused by different types of capture indexes are compared with a common probabilistic population estimator (Cormack-Jolly-Seber). The analyses showed that Minimum Number Known Alive (MNKA) and the number of individuals showed greater association with the population estimator than with non-probabilistic indexes based on recaptures. Therefore, none of the indexes presented the same performance to estimate population size estimation which can lead to ecological misinterpretation. Some recommendations were also described.

O Pantanal brasileiro é formado por um mosaico de ambientes florestados e campestres, abrigando uma rica comunidade de mamíferos de médio e grande porte adaptados ao ciclo hidrológico anual. Nós avaliamos a riqueza e composição de mamíferos de médio e grande porte em habitats florestados e campestres afetados pelas inundações anuais no Pantanal de Cáceres ente outubro/2009 e setembro/2010. Comparamos as comunidades em Campos Inundáveis, Matas Secas e Matas Ripárias com base em 640 armadilhas-fotográficas.noite, avistamentos, pegadas, amostras fecais e entrevistas. Nós também comparamos os resultados em uma área privada (Fazenda Descalvados) e em uma área protegida (Estação Ecológica Taiamã). No total, foram registradas 26 espécies de mamíferos de médio e grande porte, incluindo cinco espécies ameaçadas de extinção e duas quase ameaçadas. Onças-pintadas, catetos e veados-mateiro foram os únicos mamíferos registrados em todos os habitats, enquanto que 11 espécies foram registradas em apenas um tipo de hábitat. Identificamos diferença quanto ao uso dos habitats entre os três tipos de habitats durante a estação seca e chuvosa. Além disso, a precipitação e o nível do rio afetaram o uso da Mata Seca e Campos Inundáveis isolados das Matas Secas. Por fim, 62% das espécies foram registradas fora da reserva, por isso, recomendamos ações de conservação para proteger as espécies e também para preservar as florestas secas desprotegidas.

The Brazilian Pantanal comprises a mosaic of forest and field environments harbouring a rich community of large and midsized mammals that are adapted to the annual hydrological cycle. Here we evaluated richness and composition of large and midsized mammals inhabiting forested and open habitats affected by yearly floods in the Pantanal in Cáceres from October 2009 to September 2010. We compared these communities in marshes, dry forests and riparian forests based on 640 camera-traps.nights, sights, tracks, faecal samples and interviews. We also compared results in a private land (Descalvados Farm) and in a protected area (Taiamã Ecological Station). In total, we sampled 26 large and midsized mammals, including five threatened and two near threatened species. Jaguars, collared peccaries and red-brocket deers were the only mammals recorded at all habitat types, while eleven species were recorded exclusively in one of the habitats. We identified a heterogeneous use of the habitat by the animal community surveyed in all three habitats during the wet and dry season. Furthermore, precipitation and river level affected the use of dry forests and marshes isolated from dry forests. Finally, 62% of large/midsized mammal species present in the surveyed region recorded outside the reserve; therefore, we recommend conservation actions to protect those species and also to preserve unprotected dry forests.

Parasitas gastrointestinais de roedores silvestres foram estudados pela primeira vez na Ilha de Santa Catarina em 1987. Desde então, nenhum outro estudo nessa área foi realizado no Estado. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar parasitas intestinais de roedores silvestres de Santo Amaro da Imperatriz e da Ilha de Santa Catarina, bem como comparar a composição e a riqueza da comunidade de parasitas gastrointestinais de ambas as áreas. A análise das fezes dos animais capturados foi realizada por meio do método de sedimentação espontânea (HJP) e por microscopia óptica. Nas duas áreas, foram capturadas as espécies de roedores Akodon montensis, Euryoryzomys russatus, Oligoryzomys nigripes e Nectomys squamipes. Em Santo Amaro da Impetratiz, observou-se a seguinte prevalência de parasitoses: A. montensis (51%), E. russatus (62%), O. nigripes (53%) e N. squamipes (20%). Diferentemente, em Florianópolis, as frequências de parasitoses foram: A. montensis (43%), E. russatus (59%), O. nigripes (30%) e N. squamipes (33%). Os parasitos encontrados pertencem aos grupos: Hymenolepis sp., Longistriata sp., Strongyloides sp., Hassalstrongylus sp., Syphacia sp., Trychomonas sp., Ancilostomatidae,Trichuridae, Oxyuridae e Eucoccidiorida. Foi possível observar que os roedores da área localizada no continente (Santo Amaro da Imperatriz) possuem uma comunidade de parasitas gastrointestinais mais rica (10.6 ± 0.7; p < 0.01) e diversa (p = 0.001) do que a comunidade presente na Ilha de Santa Catarina (6.9 ± 0.5).

The first and only study on gastrointestinal parasites of wild rodents in the Island of Santa Catarina was done in 1987. The aim of this study was to identify intestinal parasites from wild rodents in Santo Amaro da Imperatriz and Santa Catariana Island, and to compare the richness and composition of the gastrointestinal parasite community of both areas. Rodents were captured with live traps, and feces were screened using the sedimentation method and optical microscopy. The following species of rodents were captured in the two areas: Akodon montensis, Euryoryzomys russatus, Oligoryzomys nigripes and Nectomys squamipes. In Santo Amaro da Impetratriz, prevalent parasites were: A. montensis (51%), E. russatus (62%), O. nigripes (53%) and N. squamipes (20%). From the Island of Santa Catarina the rodent prevalence rates were: A. montensis (43%), E. russatus (59%), O. nigripes (30%) and N. squamipes (33%) and the collected parasites were: Hymenolepis sp., Longistriata sp., Strongyloides sp., Hassalstrongylus sp., Syphacia sp., Trichomonas sp., Ancylostomidae, Trichuridae, Oxyuridae and Eucoccidiorida. The species richness (10.6 ± 0.7) of the endoparasite comunity in the area located on the continent was higher (p < 0.01) and different (p = 0.001) from that of the area located on the island (6.9 ± 0.5).

We investigated the density and activity of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775), a threatened small cat, in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, using camera-trap data. We described differences in the activity of individuals occurring alone or in sympatry with larger cats. Oncilla presented low densities (7-13 ind./100 km²) and high flexibility in its activity. The oncillas were primarily nocturnal in the absence of other larger cat species - margay, ocelot and puma - but became more diurnal, with a cathemeral activity pattern, when the other cats were present. Oncilla is likely to be in a subordinate position in interactions with larger cats and changes its activity to decrease the chances for interspecific encounters. In this study, however, the presence of other cat species covaries with habitat changes (from coastal forest patches to dense evergreen forests). We also verified the highest oncilla relative abundance in an area with no sympatric larger cats, with abundance decreasing when it was in sympatry with margay, ocelot and puma. Our results, together with recent records of oncilla in other degraded landscapes of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, provide evidence that oncillas may thrive even in harsh environments where other cats have already been extinct. This raise interesting conservation insights, as in the absence of other cats, L. tigrinus may assume a top predator role of these impoverished vertebrate communities.

O tamanho corpóreo de vertebrados isolados em ilhas pode sofrer alterações em função das particularidades ecológicas desses ambientes. O presente trabalho comparou o tamanho corpóreo de gambás, Didelphis aurita, em ilhas costeiras de um mesmo arquipélago no Sul do Brasil e encontrou diferenças de tamanho entre as localidades. Os gambás apresentaram variações para as medidas corporais e diferentes hipóteses foram consideradas para entender os resultados. Esta é a comparação mais detalhada de tamanho corpóreo entre populações insulares de um marsupial neotropical e uma contribuição inicial para o conhecimento da biometria da fauna regional.

The body size of vertebrates isolated on islands can undergo changes due to ecological features of these environments. This study aimed to compare the body size of the common opossum, Didelphis aurita, from different insular populations within the same archipelago in southern Brazil. The opossum populations showed corporal variation and different hypotheses were raised to understand the results. This study constitutes the most detailed body size comparison of a marsupial within different insular populations in the Neotropical zone and the data gathered represents an initial contribution for regional fauna biometric knowledge.

The objective of this quantitative study is to identify the profile of the professional curators that work in the state of Santa Catarina's museums, in Brazil. Bardin's (2004) technique of content analysis was utilized throughout the study. Data collection was done by means of a questionnaire. A survey was made of the professional's profile, including the museum institute where the attendant is employed, their formal education, activities that they considered most important and the necessity of continuing education. This is a profession that is composed of predominantly females over the age of forty, with more than ten years working in the profession, the majority working in public institutions associated with city governments or institutions of higher education. Survey subjects typically develop traditional activities but have knowledge of transformations that have occurred in the recent decades and seek to bring themselves up to date through short duration courses. These professionals have principally studied Human Sciences during their university studies.

Este estudio se propuso identificar el perfil del profesional actuante en museos del estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. La investigación realizada es cuantitativa y cualitativa. Utilizó la técnica de análisis de contenido de Bardin (2004). El instrumento de recopilación de datos fue el cuestionario. Fue hecho un levantamiento del perfil del profesional, del museo al cual está vinculado, su formación académica, las actividades consideradas más importantes, y su necesidad de educación continua. El museólogo es un profesional predominantemente del sexo femenino, con más de cuarenta años, con más de diez años en la profesión, que trabaja en su mayoría en instituciones públicas, vinculadas a las municipalidades o a las instituciones de enseñanza superior. Desarrolla actividades tradicionales, pero tiene conocimiento de las transformaciones ocurridas en las últimas décadas y trata de actualizarse a través de cursos de corta duración. La formación de estos profesionales es principalmente en Ciencias Humanas.

A falta de conhecimento acerca da biologia de Chironectes minimus provavelmente está relacionada com as dificuldades de captura. Assim, dois métodos usando armadilhas do tipo Young, com dois tipos de iscas, foram comparados com o método usual de captura (controle). O estudo foi desenvolvido de fevereiro a junho de 2003 em dois córregos do Parque Municipal da Lagoa do Peri, na Ilha de Santa Catarina, sul do Brasil. Quatro indivíduos foram capturados duas vezes e aspectos da biologia da espécie foram registrados. Todas as capturas ocorreram através do método controle. Armadilhas instaladas em passagens estreitas dos rios, em locais com maior quantidade de rochas e raízes, foram mais efetivas para a captura de C. minimus. O sucesso de captura, considerando apenas o método controle, foi de 4%. Aspectos positivos e negativos de todos os métodos foram apresentados e discutidos.

The lack of knowledge about the biology of Chironectes minimus is probably due to difficulties in capturing specimens. Therefore, two methods using "Young" traps with two types of live baits were performed and compared with the standard method (control). The study was carried out from February to June 2003 in two streams in the Parque Municipal da Lagoa do Peri, Santa Catarina Island in southern Brazil. Four individuals were captured two times and aspects of the biology of the species were recorded. All captures were made with the control method. Traps set on narrow passages of the river, with rocks and roots, were more effective to capture C. minimus. The capture success was 4% when only this method was considered. Positive and negative aspects of each method are discussed.

A two-year mark-recapture study of small mammals was conducted in an area of Atlantic Forest hillside in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Four species of marsupial and seven species of rodent were captured during 12 132 trap-nights. Aspects of population dynamics and natural history are discussed for each common species. The sex ratio was biased toward males for all species. Oryzomys russatus, Didelphis aurita and Akodon montensis had the highest population densities, the least amount of variation in population density and an inverse relationship between survivorship rates and population densities. Micoureus paraguayanus, Nectomys squamipes and O. angouya, registered the higher population densities after continual survivorship rates. The recruitment rates were low for most species (< 50%), with some, M. paraguayanus, Lutreolina crassicaudata, Oligoryzomys nigripes, O. angouya and Oxymycterus aff. judex, disappearing occasionally from the study area. The survivorship rates were high for most species (> 50%). Population densities of D. aurita, O. nigripes and O. aff. judex increased in cold and dry periods. The marsupials reproduced seasonally from late winter until the end of the summer, whereas rodents reproduced throughout the year. No species were long-lived, with average life-span < six months.

The mammal fauna from Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, is one of the least known of the country. Works on terrestrial mammals are scarce and new species of aquatic mammals have been registered in the last years. For that reason, a commented list of the mammals of Santa Catarina based on data gathered from scientific collections and bibliographical references are presented. One hundred and fifty-two species of confirmed occurrence, 59 species of possible occurrence and six species/subspecies with erroneous record for the state were registered.

The subespecie Lutreolina crassicaudata paranalis Thomas, 1923 is validated through analysis of variance of 13 craniometrical measurements. There is significam separation for sex in 10 of 13 craniometrical measurements. The possibility of validation of subespecies L. c. bonaria Thomas, 1923 through coloration variation is discussed.