The global decline of bee species is an urgent concern due to food security issues. Bees are the primary pollinators for most crops and are essential for the production of approximately 75% of all food consumed by humans. Entomophilous pollination significantly contributes to the global economy, representing 9.5% of the total value of agricultural production used for human consumption. While soybeans are considered a self-pollinating species, this study highlights the importance of entomophilous pollination, especially by bees, to optimize soybean grain production. Mass soybean cultivation attracts a significant community of bees in surrounding areas, suggesting a strong spillover effect that impacts the composition and abundance of bees in natural ecosystems. The expansion of cultivation areas, especially in the MATOPIBA region, emphasizes the importance of understanding the dynamics between bees, agriculture, and soybean production. This study systematically quantified the spillover effect of bees at different distances from soybean plantations and natural cerrado areas, revealing differences in richness and abundance between these areas. The research, conducted in Western Bahia, revealed that the abundance and richness of bees are significantly higher in soybean planting areas compared to the surrounding cerrado. Apis mellifera and other wild bee species represent more than 50% of bees in soybean plantations, highlighting the importance of these pollinators. A detailed analysis of differences in bee composition and abundance between natural areas and soybean plantations contributes to a deeper understanding of interactions between pollinators and agricultural production. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the pollination dynamics in soybean plantations, emphasizing the crucial role of surrounding natural areas. Preserving these areas, such as legal reserves, plays a fundamental role in maintaining pollinators and promoting soybean productivity. The findings of this study have important implications for soybean pollination management and the planning of sustainable agricultural landscapes. 

Phylogenetic relationships of Leucauge and closely related taxa were investigated through implied weighted parsimony analyses of discrete morphological data. We scored 66 terminals in total, including 36 species of Leucauge from all biogeographical realms in which it occurs. We found evidence of a monophyletic Leucauge with an Asian or African origin and two distinct Neotropical lineages. Our data suggests multiple long dispersal events and multiple origins of cheliceral clasping mechanisms in Leucauginae, as well as two independent origins of extreme sexual dimorphism within Leucauge. We propose five species groups, providing minimal classificatory structure for this specious genus. A new Leucauginae genus from Malaysia is described and illustrated.

Despite being considered a biodiversity hotspot, the Brazilian Cerrado faces serious threats, primarily due to agricultural expansion, resulting in the loss and degradation of natural habitats and landscape fragmentation, severely compromising biodiversity in the biome. Despite its biological importance, only a tiny fraction of the Cerrado is legally protected, with conservation units often being small and disconnected. In this study, we assessed the representativeness of the network of federal and state protected areas, including indigenous lands, in conserving the 65 endemic and threatened bird species in the biome, identifying crucial areas for complementarity, considering functional connectivity in selection to ensure adequate species protection. We generated potential species distribution maps based on environmental suitability, overlaid them with protected area maps, and selected complementary areas considering scaled targets and weights according to threat level and endemism, across three conservation scenarios. The first scenario considered only strict protection conservation units, the second considered, in addition to these, sustainable use units, and the third considered conservation units in both categories as well as indigenous lands. Our results indicate that the protected area system in the Brazilian Cerrado is insufficient to guarantee adequate species protection, with the majority, 95.4%, classified as partial gaps and only 4.6% covered, with an average species protection of only 14.5%. We found that indigenous lands, despite not having biodiversity conservation as their primary objective, demonstrated to play an important role in the representation of these species. The Matopiba region, the north portion of Cerrado formed by the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí and Bahia, currently experiencing the highest deforestation pressure in the biome, concentrated most proposed complementary areas. We propose collaborative integration among society sectors to implement areas proposed by the study, preferably those selected in the first scenario, considering only strict conservation units. Selection of complementary areas incorporated more compact areas, with more remnants of native vegetation and closer to existing protected areas, potentially facilitating their implementation. In addition to establishing public or private lands as protected areas, it is essential for private landowners to actively fulfill their obligations according to environmental legislation, alongside public efforts to ensure the effectiveness of public policies for native vegetation protection and area recovery

Bats are one of the most diverse groups of mammals, both in number of species and in diversity of habits and shapes. Among the different specializations, bats show a characteristic way of communicating: echolocation. It is known that the different echolocation types as species-specific and may vary according to foraging mode and habitat, some studies even suggest a relationship between types of calls and cochlear shape. The cochlea is one of the many structures that make up the ear, which is responsible for receiving soundwaves from the environment and converting them to be processed by the nervous system. Because of that, the entire hearing apparatus is essential to animals such as bats, that use hearing as the primary source of food searching and spacial location. Even with such importance, shape variation of the hearing apparatus in different species still hasn´t been completely described, and there are still gaps as to whether or not this structure would be phylogenetically conserved. Therefore, this work has the goals of evaluating and describing shapre variation in bats´ ears and testing the potential factors that help to promote morphological diversification of this structure: echolocation, habitat, phylogenetic history and integration with complex structures such as the skull. For this purpose the skull and ear shape of 17 specimens out of eight bat species of insectivorous bats with documented occurence in Brazil were analysed via 3d geometric morphometrics. A phylogenetic ANOVA was used to test the association between ear and skull shape with echolocation call parameters (structure, duration and maximum energy frequency) and habitat. Blomberg´s K phylogenetic signal analysis revealed a Strong signal in skull shape, but not the ear. Both skull ande ar shape showed correlation with call structure and mean pulse duration. Finally, the modularity test showed integration between these structures

Amphibians of the Anura group are one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates in the world, and as a result, numerous studies have been conducted within this group. These studies encompass various aspects of their ecology, anatomy, and evolutionary history. As animals with a complex life cycle, anurans undergo significant transformations during their ontogeny, particularly during the tadpole phase. Tadpoles start as globular-bodied organisms restricted to water (for the most part), lacking vertebrae, and equipped with tails. They then undergo metamorphosis into adult forms adapted to terrestrial or semi-aquatic environments, featuring predominantly lung respiration, developed limbs for jumping or walking, and other modifications. Therefore, the tadpole phase exhibits a range of adaptations that can be evaluated, including microhabitat usage, morphological variations, physiological adaptations, and phylogenetic relationships. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tadpole body shape and ecomorphological groups from an evolutionary perspective. The research was conducted in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region located in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This area is characterized by environmental heterogeneity, the presence of endemic species, and its designation as a hotspot for conservation. Geometric morphometrics analyses were performed using photographs of 168 individuals from 48 species of tadpoles belonging to 10 different families. Within these taxa, four ecomorphological groups were identified (benthic, nektonic, fossorial, and neustonic). The results revealed that tadpole body shape exhibits a strong phylogenetic signal, meaning it is related to the evolutionary proximity of the species. Furthermore, the ecomorphological groups of tadpoles also influenced variation in body shape. Nektonic tadpoles showed the greatest shape variation, while benthic and fossorial tadpoles displayed more homogeneous clustering. Analysis of shape variation also indicated differences in the tail and head regions of the tadpoles. Species with robust tails were associated with improved maneuverability in the water column, while those with flattened heads were associated with better substrate attachment. Allometry, which examines the relationship between size and body shape, did not show a significant influence on tadpole shape variation. However, the ecomorphological groups were significant in explaining differences in species size. In summary, this study concluded that the body morphology of anuran tadpoles is related to both species phylogeny and ecological factors such as habitat usage. The Quadrilátero Ferrífero region exhibits a high diversity of tadpole species with varied body shapes, reflecting the adaptation of these animals to the observed environmental heterogeneity in the area.

Echolocation is the ability to perceive the environment through sound, through the echoes reflected by objects. The skull of bats must act as a resonance chamber for proper emission of the echolocation call. This work aimed to analyze the correlation between skull morphology and the echolocation call of frugivorous phyllostomids, using geometric morphometrics to collect morphological data and phylogenetic comparative analyses. It is expected that there is a correlation between the morphology and the spectral and temporal parameters of the call, especially the frequency, and that the skulls will differ by the emission type. Our results indicate that frugivorous phyllostomids follow the allometric hypothesis, that frequency correlates negatively with skull size, and that species that emit higher frequencies will have a shorter rostrum and maxilla. Furthermore, nasal emitters had larger skulls and a wider rostrum compared to oral emitters, which in turn had a longer palate and a less developed nasal region. The fact that we found no correlation between skull morphology and echolocation parameters (except for maximum frequency and bandwidth) suggests that, in general, they may be much more plastic than determined by physical limitations of morphological structures of skull and corroborates the hypothesis that diet influenced skull morphology more than the selective pressures associated with echolocation in this group. On the other hand, the size of the skull and the size of the face may have created limitations in the directionality of the call, as it decreases with the size of the emission source. Thus, it is possible that some species of fruit bats use oral emission as a way to compensate for the limitation in call directionality associated with skull morphology.

Triatomines bugs (Reduviidae) are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Automated identification of triatomine bugs could strengthen the control/surveillance of vector-borne transmission of Chagas disease. This thesis presents three chapters with innovations for automatic identification of triatomines. In the first chapter, we assess the performance of five machine-learning algorithms at identifying the three main triatomine genera based on bugs pictured at different angles/positions with an ordinary cellphone camera. Each of 730 bugs (13 species) was pictured at nine angles representing three positions. We randomly split the 6570- picture database into training (80%) and testing sets (20%), and then trained and tested a pre-trained convolutional neural network (AlexNet, AN); three boosting-based classifiers (AdaBoost, AB; Gradient Boosting, GB; and Histogram-based Gradient Boosting, HB); and a linear discriminant model (LD). We assessed identification accuracy and specificity with generalized linear mixed models. Differences in performance across algorithms were mainly driven by AN’s essentially perfect accuracy and specificity, irrespective of picture angle or bug position. HB predicted accuracies ranged from ~0.987 (Panstrongylus) to >0.999 (Triatoma). AB accuracy was poor for Rhodnius (~0.224-0.282) and Panstrongylus (~0.664-0.729), but fair for Triatoma (~0.988-0.991). For Panstrongylus, LD and GB had predicted accuracies in the ~0.970-0.984 range. AB misclassified ~57% of Rhodnius and Panstrongylus as Triatoma, whereas specificity estimates ranged from ~0.92 to ~1.0 for the remaining algorithm-genus combinations. In the second chapter, we evaluated the performance of the AN network in identifying triatomine species based on dorsal pictures obtained from ordinary cellphone camera and high-quality images. We analyzed dorsal pictures 5 of 6397 triatomines belonging to 65 species of 7 genera, from a training (70%) and test (20%) dataset. The remaining 10% dataset were used for the internal validation of AN network during training in MATLAB. We carried out two experiments, one with all species and the other with species registered in houses and naturally infected by T. cruzi. AN presented an accuracy of ~0.93 (95%CI, 0.913-0.941) to identify 65 triatomine species. The specific accuracy reached a maximum value for 21 species, mainly Rhodnius and Panstrongylus species. Performance was improved (~0.97, 95%CI: 0.930-0.958) in the analysis including only species with greater vectorial capacity. In the third chapter, we evaluated the performance of AN in identifying images of triatomine nymphs. The methodological approach was similar to Chapter 2, but 3 experiments were performed. In the first, we train the AN network to differentiate between triatomine nymphs and non-triatomine specimens (adults and nymphs of heteropterans). In the second, the task was to differentiate triatomine nymphs from non-triatomine nymphs. In the third, the task was to differentiate nymphs from the three most relevant triatomine genera in public health, Panstrongylus, Rhodnius and Triatoma. The results showed that the mean accuracy for identifying triatomine nymphs x other heteropterans (nymphs and/or adults) ranged from 0.97 to 1.00. Accuracy values were also high for identifying nymphs of the genera Triatoma (~0.99, 95%CI: 0.947-0.998) and Rhodnius (~1.00, 95%CI: 0.816-1.000), being lower for Panstrongylus (~0.58, 95%CI: 0.360-0.784). The following conclusions derive from this thesis: 1) when machine learning algorithms such as AN are used, the angles or positions at which insects are photographed are not relevant to correctly identify cellphone images of triatomine bugs at the genus level, with accuracy and specificity essentially perfect. 2) the AN network showed excellent performance for the automatic identification of species based on a large set of dorsal images of adult triatomines. 3) AN showed excellent performance in identifying triatomine nymphs from other heteropterans (adults or nymphs), triatomine and non-triatomine nymphs, and nymphs of Rhodnius and Triatoma. Finally, the thesis provides the basis for the development of an automated system for identifying Chagas disease vectors with large-scale community participation, which could contribute to citizen science.

Tadpoles exhibit various adaptations for aquatic life, such as gill respiration, a tail for swimming, and a long intestine for digesting cellulose-based organisms. While adult anurans have been regularly used as environmental quality indicators, few studies have focused on their larvae, which are more sensitive to disturbances due to their exclusively aquatic lifestyle. The first chapter aimed to identify whether there is a correlation between morphometric variables and the selection of animal and plant-based items by tadpoles from seven species of anurans found in the Cerrado (Boana albopunctata, Elachistocleis cesarii, Leptodactylus mystacinus, Leptodactylus sertanejo, Proceratophrys salvatori, Pithecopus oreades, and Scinax fuscovarius). Upon capture, the tadpoles were immediately anesthetized and fixed in a 10% formalin solution. Specimens were measured using an electronic magnifier and digital caliper. Counting of plant and animal items was performed by identifying items classified to the lowest possible taxonomic category through slide visualization. The proportion of items in the different diet types was analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. The relationship between morphometric variables and diet was analyzed through generalized regression model selection (GLM). Five species showed significant results regarding their preference between carnivorous and herbivorous diets. Most species exhibited a higher proportion of plant-based items, except for Proceratophrys salvatori. The larval stage played a significant role in describing both carnivorous and herbivorous diets in all species, supporting the hypothesis that as intestinal length decreases, the proportion of quickly absorbable animal protein items increases. The second chapter aimed to describe the diet of tadpoles from a population of P. oreades and P. salvatori and compare their overlap in food resource use. Collection took place at Fazenda Água Limpa - DF in November 2021. In the laboratory, tadpoles were measured and dissected with an incision between the cloaca and the base of the head; slides were produced with intestinal contents, and items were identified using a 40x microscope. I determined the relative frequency, relative abundance, Index of Relative Importance, and Pianka index for niche overlap. GLM models were developed combining item abundance and richness with morphometric variables and the combination of larval stage, total length, and food items found in the intestines. The most abundant item in the intestines of Pithecopus oreades was Thecamoebina, followed by Chlorophyceae. Similarly, Thecamoebina was the most abundant item for P.salvatori, followed by Cyanophyta. Electivity indices indicated that Pithecopus oreades consumed Zygnematophyceae in lower proportion than available in the environment, while Dinophyceae was ingested in a higher proportion. P. salvatori consumed Chlorophyceae far less frequently than observed in the environment, while Chrysophyceae was ingested in a proportion significantly higher than its availability. In P. oreades, head and tail height measurements described item richness, while head measurements and size explained item abundance. The size and larval stage were related to Chlorophyceae, Bacillarophyceae, Thecamoebina, Dinophyceae, and arthropod eggs. In P. salvatori, tail height and size also described richness, while head size and larval stage described item abundance; individuals with similar larval stages and sizes ingested Chlorophyceae, Bacillarophyceae, Zygnematophyceae, and Crustaceans similarly. The most abundant items in the intestines were also found in substrate samples, indicating similarity in richness between the intestines and the environment, however, there was selectivity in item abundance. There was greater overlap than expected in both species and between them, demonstrating that, as predicted, individuals of the same species in the same environment have highly similar diets. Species with distinct behaviors tend to have different diets, but resource availability is influenced by substrate movement into the water column, causing the composition of dietary content to overlap under certain circumstances. Anuran larvae play crucial roles and have significant aspects in habitat balance, hence, the loss of these species, highly sensitive to environmental modifications, is of great detriment.

Biodiversity is the biological variability at different scales, ranging from genetic diversity to ecosystem diversity, considering the composition, structure and function of each level of organization. Understanding biodiversity patterns is the first step to understand what processes maintain the biodiversity itself, allowing the establishment of goals and priorities for biodiversity conservation. Species distribution and area of occurrence are influenced by phylogenetical, physiological, and ecological constrains. Thus, through taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversities we can compare biodiversity composition between different areas or communities (beta diversity) focusing on their similarities and differences. Considering its richness, the order Anura is an excellent group for diversity studies. There are still many knowledge gaps about anurans distribution, communities’ composition, and its relationship with the environment, especially in the Cerrado biome. Currently there are 256 known species of anurans in the Cerrado, which aren’t homogeneously distributed throughout the biome. Ecological traits are also important to understand how species are distributed on the biome and its habitats. For anurans, traits linked to reproduction may indicate how species use the habitat where they occur. The Cerrado is a savannah biome, and its vegetation is characterized as a mosaic of phytophisionomies of great structural and vegetational diversity. This phytophisionomies can be grouped into three major formation categories. Field formations are characterized by the dominance of herbaceous-grassy strata. Savannah formations present, in addition to the conspicuous grassy stratum, sparce woody vegetation, in the form of shrubs and small trees, under different degrees of trees density. Forest formations are characterized by the absence of grassy strata, low light on the ground and larger trees. This habitat differentiation promotes high environmental heterogeneity, which is seen as one of the major factors determining alfa and beta diversity, both on micro and macro scales. Herein, we describe beta diversity patterns between anuran communities considering three structure habitats. We selected eight protected areas for communities sampling. Beta diversity was analyzed through taxonomic (species), phylogenetic (lineages) and functional (reproductive mode and microhabitat use) diversities. We described which component of diversity (richness difference and trait turnover) was prevalent. Finally, we analyzed each vegetational formation local contribution to beta diversity.

Accurate knowledge of the world's different species is essential for protecting biodiversity. With increasing focus on habitats and ecosystems research, individual species understanding, total specimens, and geographic distribution is paramount to conservation policy decisions. As a staple for systematics, a taxonomic review of animals and plants provides data about usually unknown species. In addition, species in museum collections and their labels may contain data for other purposes, which researchers have not explored yet. Taxonomy is a field that integrates components of biodiversity research, providing stable support for areas of science. In this paper, we sought to expand and update taxonomic knowledge of bees by a review of solitary bees of the genus Xanthopedia with high-resolution images, distribution maps, and diagnosis. As a result, we described 8 new species of the genus Xanthopedia from collected material, photos of the types, collections visits, and specimens borrowings from museums of different institutions. We have studied more than 200 specimens for morphology and geographic distribution data, obtaining respective floral records and geographic distribution data from the specimen labels. Based on this analysis, it is possible to provide an identification key and comparative diagnosis and discuss potential endemism prospects for the Cerrado and other savanna areas of Brazil

The study of Cladocera biodiversity has a huge importance and the understanding the patterns of diversity and the factors related to the structure of communities may significantly contribute to the knowledge of these animals, especially in environments that are still little studied, as is the case of rupestrian cerrados. For this, several indices are used, such as alpha, beta and gamma diversity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the richness and species composition of cladocerans in aquatic environments present in rupestrian cerrados. In addition, we tested different variables in local and regional scales to find which of them has influence on the variability of the composition of these communities. Cladocera sampling, limnological variables, and geographic distance and altitude data were collected in nine areas of rupestrian cerrados between 2011 and 2012. We identified 47 species of cladocerans and the family Chydoridae was more speciose (32 species). Four new reports were observed: Bryospilus repens Goiás state, Leberis davidi for Minas Gerais state and Alona yara and Flavalona asymmetrica for Bahia state. The results also show that the variability in community composition was mainly explained by species replacement (turnover), with the highest beta diversity values observed between Chapada Guimarães National Park and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park. Alkalinity and dissolved oxygen better contributed to this result. Thus, this study can used as a basis to studies related to fauna surveys and to discussions on the factors that are involved in the structuring of cladoceran communities in rupestrian cerrados.

The suborder Serpentes occupy the Earth since the Mesozoic Era. This group is composed of apodous animals, with elongated bodies and highly kinetic skulls, virtually distributed across the entire planet, except for the coldest areas. The Hydropsini tribe is composed of three South American genera of aquatic snakes, Pseudoeryx Fitzinger 1826, Hydrops Wagler 1830 and Helicops Wagler 1828, the latter being the object of study of this thesis. The genus Helicops is composed of 21 species. The taxonomy of some of them is still fragile, and their morphology has not been deeply investigated. The present thesis aims to study the morphological variation of three spotted-dorsal species of Helicops distributed in northern of South America. The chapter I is focused on studying the populations of Helicops danieli, an endemic species from the trans-Andean region of Colombia. For this, we examined 124 specimens, of both sexes and different age groups, from its entire distribution. With a multidisciplinary approach, we identified 22 diagnostic characters of the species, and differences in the rate of tail growth (higher in juveniles), larger females and males with longer tails, as well as high levels of anthropic impact in the area of its known distribution. The second chapter focused on taxonomy, morphological and geographic variation in Helicops hagmanni, an Amazonian species. We analysed 112 specimens and obtained characters of internal (hemipenis and cranial osteology) and external morphology (pholidosis and biometry) to identify putative geographic variation. Helicops hagmanni is the species of the genus with the highest polymorphism in the number of rows of dorsal scales (between 23 and 29) and showed a clinal variation on its distribution. Populations from western Amazonia having the lowest number of spots along the body and number of dorsal and ventral scales. The third chapter is a description of the species Helicops acangussu, an Amazonian snake with a pattern of circular dorsal spots. Although sympatric with other species with a similar dorsal pattern, H. acangussu is unique in its genus with a combination of 19 rows of dorsal scales, a pair of intergenial scales and circular spots on the dorsum. The fourth and final chapter expands the known morphological variation and distribution of H. acangussu, from the addition of 33 new specimens found in South American collections. With this material, we describe cranial osteology and review variation in pholidosis, biometry and hemipenis characters. We also present an identification key for the Amazonian species of Helicops. This thesis is a direct contribution to the understanding of the taxonomy, morphological patterns and geographic variation of this interesting group of neotropical snakes