Camera traps became the main observational method of a myriad of species over large areas. Data sets from camera traps can be used to describe the patterns and monitor the occupancy, abundance, and richness of wildlife, essential information for conservation in times of rapid climate and land-cover changes. Habitat loss and poaching are responsible for historical population losses of mammals in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, especially for medium to large-sized species. Here we present a data set from camera trap surveys of medium to large-sized native mammals (>1 kg) across the Atlantic Forest. We compiled data from 5380 ground-level camera trap deployments in 3046 locations, from 2004 to 2020, resulting in 43,068 records of 58 species. These data add to existing data sets of mammals in the Atlantic Forest by including dates of camera operation needed for analyses dealing with imperfect detection. We also included, when available, information on important predictors of detection, namely the camera brand and model, use of bait, and obstruction of camera viewshed that can be measured from example pictures at each camera location. Besides its application in studies on the patterns and mechanisms behind occupancy, relative abundance, richness, and detection, the data set presented here can be used to study species' daily activity patterns, activity levels, and spatiotemporal interactions between species. Moreover, data can be used combined with other data sources in the multiple and expanding uses of integrated population modeling. An R script is available to view summaries of the data set. We expect that this data set will be used to advance the knowledge of mammal assemblages and to inform evidence-based solutions for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest. The data are not copyright restricted; please cite this paper when using the data.

We report from three localities four new records of the threatened Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818). These are the first records of this porcupine species from the state of Minas Gerais, and these new data extend the distribution of this species by approximately 220 km to the southwest. As C. subspinosus was observed in areas of transitional vegetation, this species may be found in a much broader spectrum of habitat types than previously thought. We recommend further surveys focusing on documenting this species.

The Amazon forest has the highest biodiversity on Earth. However, information on Amazonian vertebrate diversity is still deficient and scattered across the published, peer-reviewed, and gray literature and in unpublished raw data. Camera traps are an effective non-invasive method of surveying vertebrates, applicable to different scales of time and space. In this study, we organized and standardized camera trap records from different Amazon regions to compile the most extensive data set of inventories of mammal, bird, and reptile species ever assembled for the area. The complete data set comprises 154,123 records of 317 species (185 birds, 119 mammals, and 13 reptiles) gathered from surveys from the Amazonian portion of eight countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). The most frequently recorded species per taxa were: mammals: Cuniculus paca (11,907 records); birds: Pauxi tuberosa (3713 records); and reptiles: Tupinambis teguixin (716 records). The information detailed in this data paper opens up opportunities for new ecological studies at different spatial and temporal scales, allowing for a more accurate evaluation of the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, and other human-mediated defaunation processes in one of the most important and threatened tropical environments in the world. The data set is not copyright restricted; please cite this data paper when using its data in publications and we also request that researchers and educators inform us of how they are using these data.

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest of Southern Bahia is a megadiverse region given its remarkable number of species and endemism. Despite being a priority region for biodiversity conservation, the role of protected and unprotected forest remnants for long-term species conservation is unknown. Here, we unveil the main patterns of occurrence and distribution of medium- and large-sized mammals in remnants of the Atlantic Forest of Southern Bahia, to generate subsidies for applied conservation strategies. We recorded mammals using camera-traps, active search, and/or line-transect surveys and complemented our species list with literature data. We thus obtained information on richness attributes, relative abundance, and biomass of mammal species per forest remnant, compared assemblages in protected and unprotected areas, and finally investigated both species-area and biomass-area relationships. From 72 forest remnants assessed, we recorded 45 mammal species, including 19 threatened locally. Protected areas were richer in species, especially concerning threatened ones, and concentrated most of the mammal biomass, which presented consistently low values for most areas. The positive and significant species-area and biomass-area relationships further corroborate these patterns since protected areas are larger in size. Despite the historic anthropogenic pressures, we conclude that Southern Bahia still harbors an expressive mammal diversity, with protected areas being critical to maintain most of the species' richness and biomass across the entire region. Nevertheless, small unprotected remnants (<100 ha) safeguard mammal species, including threatened ones, stressing their importance to maintain mammal assemblages in one of the most important hotpoints of the entire biome.

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data.

Conservation translocation may play an important and necessary role in primate conservation as several species are facing an impending extinction risk and population decline. However, translocations are a high-cost endeavor. Therefore, pre-capturing monitoring can be an essential component in the success of primate translocation. In this study, we report the first confirmed sighting of a female Northern Muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) stranded alone in a small fragment of Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and her pre-capture monitoring for a future planned translocation. Monitoring was realized from June 2018 to July 2019, and included data collection through direct observational and arboreal camera trap methods, and non-invasive collection of faecal samples for additional genetic studies. Our results showed that the female used the total area of the 1-ha forest fragment with an average daily displacement of 59.6 m ± 76.2. The female spent most of the time ‘Resting’, followed by ‘Travelling’ and ‘Feeding’, which did not vary significantly between seasons. Intraspecific activity pattern variations may be related to the amount and quality of the feeding resources available in the forest fragments. No stereotyped behavior or advertising signals were reported during the monitoring. Our study provides insights on solitary primates living in marginal habitats and highlight the importance of pre-capture monitoring to provide important information on the general behavior of the target individuals, on the regular movements and overall home ranges, and to help to guide future translocations.

Ecological niche models (ENMs) are widely used tools for predicting species geographic distribution as a function of environmental variables. The inclusion of biotic factors in the predictor suite can significantly increase the predictive power of such models, leading to a model closer to the realized niche for the species under investigation. In this study, we provide evidence of niche overlap between gray woolly monkeys ( Lagothrix cana ) and black-faced black spider monkeys ( Ateles chamek ) based on locality and ecological data covering their complete geographic range in the Amazon forests of Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. We also estimate the potential distribution of L. cana using environmental predictors, and the distribution of A. chamek as a biotic factor. Finally, we quantified current and future habitat loss and areas under legal protection. We found that only 39% of the L. cana area of occupancy is under legal protection and that the species could potentially lose up to 58% of habitat in the next 30 years. We also show that the use of a closely-related species that has a more robust dataset can improve ENMs of poorly studied, rare and/or cryptic species. The framework developed here can be applied to a wide range of sympatric species if they share similar ecological requirements. Since our focal species are the most frugivorous primates in our study region and especially vulnerable to habitat loss, the identification of highly suitable areas for both taxa can help to protect other forest-dwelling species, reducing the rate of overall biodiversity loss.

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peerreviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other largescale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data.

We report on a study of the occurrence and distribution of primates in three areas in the valleys of the rios Mucuri and Jequitinhonha in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The areas were chosen on the basis of their classification as priority areas of high biological importance for conservation (numbered 213, 217, and 221) during a regional priority-setting workshop organized by the Brazilian government in 1999. We carried out surveys using a number of methods including line-transect sampling. Seven species were recorded in priority area 217, three in priority area 213, and three in 221. We saw six species in 66 encounters along 167.2 km of line transect surveys. The encounter rate for each species varied from 0.26 encounters/10 km to 2.49 encounters/10 km. Geoffroy’s tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix geoffroyi) was the most frequently sighted and was particularly abundant in the Mucuri valley. The brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba) was also relatively common in the Mucuri valley. The northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) was seen in one of the survey sites, the most northerly register for the species. Five of the seven primates in the region are threatened. We found evidence of illegal hunting and selective logging in all the localities surveyed, and conservation measures are needed, specifically: an increase in surveillance against hunting, wood extraction and fires. Minas Gerais is one of the Brazilian states where deforestation levels are still of concern. It has been among the three states with the highest deforestation rates for the past five years, with the Jequitinhonha valley being one of the regions most impacted. The Fazenda Santana is located on the banks of the Rio Jequitinhonha and, despite the intense observed logging, it still has considerable areas of lowland deciduous forest, a rare phytophysiognomy that is now restricted almost entirely to this part of the state of Minas Gerais. The maintenance of some of the forest fragments surveyed would protect nearly 70% of the threatened primates of Minas Gerais, notably Sapajus xanthosternos, Callicebus melanochir, and Brachyteles hypoxanthus.

Primates play an important role in ecosystem functioning and offer critical insights into human evolution, biology, behavior, and emerging infectious diseases. There are 26 primate species in the Atlantic Forests of South America, 19 of them endemic. We compiled a dataset of 5,472 georeferenced locations of 26 native and 1 introduced primate species, as hybrids in the genera Callithrix and Alouatta. The dataset includes 700 primate communities, 8,121 single species occurrences and 714 estimates of primate population sizes, covering most natural forest types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and some other biomes. On average, primate communities of the Atlantic Forest harbor 2 ± 1 species (range = 1-6). However, about 40% of primate communities contain only one species. Alouatta guariba (N = 2,188 records) and Sapajus nigritus (N = 1,127) were the species with the most records. Callicebus barbarabrownae (N = 35), Leontopithecus caissara (N = 38), and Sapajus libidinosus (N = 41) were the species with the least records. Recorded primate densities varied from 0.004 individuals/km2 (Alouatta guariba at Fragmento do Bugre, Paraná, Brazil) to 400 individuals/km2 (Alouatta caraya in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Our dataset reflects disparity between the numerous primate census conducted in the Atlantic Forest, in contrast to the scarcity of estimates of population sizes and densities. With these data, researchers can develop different macroecological and regional level studies, focusing on communities, populations, species co-occurrence and distribution patterns. Moreover, the data can also be used to assess the consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and disease outbreaks on different ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, species invasion or extinction, and community dynamics. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this Data Paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data.

An abstract is not available for this content. As you have access to this content, full HTML content is provided on this page. A PDF of this content is also available in through the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A Mata Atlântica esta sendo fortemente afetada pelos efeitos de fragmentacao a semelhanca das demais florestas tropicais do planeta. Depois da Amazonia, a Mata Atlântica e o bioma neotropical que apresenta a maior riqueza de especies. Das cerca de 260 especies de mamiferos que ocorrem no bioma (Mittermeier et al. 1998; Myers et al. 2000), 24 sao primatas, sendo 17 endemicas (Rylands et al. 1996; Mendes et al. 2003). Devido ao habito arboricola, a destruicao e a fragmentacao da floresta, em alguns casos aliadas a caca, levaram cerca de 70% das especies de primatas da Mata Atlântica a beira da extincao (Machado et al. 2008). Para agravar a situacao, somente 1⁄4 das areas protegidas da Mata Atlântica tem area suficiente para sustentar populacoes viaveis de primatas (Chiarello 2000). O Estado de Minas Gerais, outrora amplamente coberto por florestas, tem registrado altos niveis estaveis de desmatamento na ultima decada, resultando na reducao da cobertura florestal de 47% para 33% de sua area total (Instituto Estadual de Florestas 2008). Embora esse cenario seja desfavoravel para as especies que dependem de florestas, levantamentos recentes tem localizado grupos remanescentes de primatas em varias areas. A estimativa da populacao selvagem do muriqui-do-norte (Brachyteles hypoxanthus), especie ‘Criticamente Em Perigo’, por exemplo, aumentou de 500 para mais de 900 individuos (Mendes et al. 2005). No entanto, a maioria de suas populacoes sobrevive em pequenos fragmentos florestais (Mittermeier et al. 1987; Strier 2000; Dias et al. 2005).

Neste estudo foram levantados os parâmetros ecologicos e coletados dados sobre itens da dieta e padrao de atividades do grupo de apenas 05 individuos machos de Brachyteles hypoxanthus (muriquis-do-norte) existente na “Mata dos Luna”, no entorno imediato do parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, Lima Duarte, MG. Os resultados da dieta e comportamento dos muriquis revelaram que em 50% do tempo diario os individuos estavam descansando e que 25% do tempo foi gasto em alimentacao, principalmente frutos. Este estudo revela a importância dos fragmentos florestais do entorno da Unidade de Conservacao, pois os mesmos abrigam, alem do muriqui, quatro outras especies de primatas. Como a situacao do muriqui-do-norte e critica e as populacoes de primatas em geral encontram-se relativamente pouco representadas nas unidades de conservacao, e necessario tomar decisoes politicas eficientes na conservacao de especies ameacadas. Sugere- se a ampliacao dos limites do Parque formando um mosaico de Unidades de Conservacao e o incentivo da definicao das Reservas Legais em locais adjacentes aos limites do Parque.

A maioria dos parques e eficiente quanto a missao que lhes cabe, em maior escala por impedir o desmatamento e em menor por minimizar os efeitos antropicos. A eficiencia dessa protecao so e efetivamente exercida pela Unidade de Conservacao (UC), de um modo geral, se a mesma possui um planejamento e o mesmo, por sua vez, seja precedido de estudos dos diversos instrumentos (legais e tecnicos) que orientam a sua gestao, cujo objetivo mais importante e o seu Plano de Manejo. Neste estudo, apresentamos os dados referentes ao levantamento da mastofauna na regiao do Parque, como parte do processo de elaboracao de seu Plano de Manejo. Para este levantamento, realizamos uma avaliacao ecologica rapida, concentrada em 10 dias de campo. Metodos padroes foram utilizados, incluindo a captura de especies de pequeno porte e censo e playback para especies medio e grande portes e de primatas. Obtivemos um total de 49 capturas de roedores e marsupiais, que compreenderam 14 morfoespecies. O esforco amostral para o numero total de armadilhas foi 1.183/noite e o sucesso de captura foi de 4,06%, considerado satisfatorio para o periodo amostrado. Entre censos e caminhadas, registramos 06 especies de mamiferos de medio e grande portes confirmados atraves de visualizacao, pertencentes a 05 familias e 04 ordens e os demais registros foram advindos de entrevistas e pegadas, o que totalizou 29 especies pertencentes a 17 familias e 07 ordens, sendo 09 especies em alguma categoria de ameaca de extincao. Os carnivoros em especial e o grupo de pequenos mamiferos, incluindo Chiroptera, nao abordado neste trabalho. devem ter estudos expandidos. A avaliacao ecologica rapida atende aos objetivos iniciais do plano de manejo, entretanto para um manejo efetivo, definindo acoes para os mamiferos do local e necessario que sejam feitos estudos complementares, especialmente para as especies ameacadas de extincao. Os estudos devem ter maior periodo de tempo e, necessariamente, devem contar com tecnicas mais especificas, como armadilhamento fotografico. A equipe tecnica do Parque tambem deve incentivar a realizacao de trabalhos que inclua acoes educativas, envolvendo especies ameacadas de extincao. Sem duvida alguma, o Parque Estadual do Itacolomi e uma area prioritaria para a conservacao da mastofauna mineira e o manejo da UC deve contemplar acoes diretas e indiretas que vislumbrem a protecao dessas especies, em particular aquelas ameacadas, raras ou endemicas.

Tavares, L. I. 1999. Estratégias de forrageio de um grupo silvestre de sagüi-branco (Callithrix argentata Linnaeus, 1771) na Estação Científica Ferreira Penna – Pará. Master’s thesis, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém. 89pp. Tello, N. S., Huck, M. and Heymann, E. W. 2002. Boa constrictor attack and successful group defence in moustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax. Folia Primatol. 73: 146–148. Tsukahara, T. 1993. Lions eat chimpanzees: The first evidence of predation by lions on wild chimpanzees. Am. J. Primatol. 29: 1–11. Vasquez, M. R. O. and Heymann, E. W. 2001. Crested eagle (Morphnus guianensis) predation on infant tamarins (Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis, Callitrichinae). Folia Primatol. 72: 301–303. Veracini, C. 1997. O comportamento alimentar de Callithrix argentata (Linnaeus, 1771) (Primatas, Callitrichidae). In: Caxiuanã, P. L. B. Lisboa (org.), pp.437–446. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém. Veracini, C. 2002. Ecologia alimentar e o uso dos habitats de Saguinus midas niger. In: Caxiuanã – Populações Tradicionais, Meio Físico e Diversidade Biológica, P. L. B. Lisboa (org.), pp.719–734. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém. Wright, P. C., Heckscher, S. K. and Dunham, A. E. 1997. Predation on Milne-Edward’s sifaka (Propithecus diadema edwardsi ) by the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) in the rainforest of southeastern Madagascar. Folia Primatol. 68: 34–43.