https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/5482 Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:51:12 GMT 2026-06-06T00:51:12Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/48726 Title: Atributos da história de vida do cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous): sazonalidade reprodutiva, tamanho de ninhada e investimento parental em uma região antropizada no Brasil Central Abstract: Life history comprises the set of organismal traits that maximize reproductive success. Attributes such as age and body size at first reproduction, litter size, and parental care are central to evolutionary trade-offs. Understanding the processes shaping these patterns in carnivorous mammals is challenging due to their elusive behavior, large home ranges, and low population densities. This study describes life-history attributes of the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) in Central Brazil, focusing on reproductive seasonality, litter size, and parental investment. Data were collected between 2010 and 2024 in human-modified landscapes in southeastern Goiás. The breeding season was used as a characteristic of the reproductive cycle to explore a life-history attribute, parturition, which was estimated based on records of pregnancy, lactation, and GPS radio-collar monitoring. Pups were counted when first observed outside dens, with camera traps deployed to assist in monitoring offspring. Body mass data of females and males, as well as female reproductive condition classified as primiparous or multiparous, were related to litter size. Parental investment was assessed through photographic records of adults carrying food and the simultaneous presence of adults and pups. A total of 63 records of female reproductive condition were obtained, including 23 pregnant and 40 lactating females. Pregnant females were observed between June and November, with a peak in July, whereas lactating females predominated between August and November, peaking in September. Estimates of parturition based on 14 independent records indicated events between June and September, with a mean in August, corroborating the expected reproductive seasonality. Nineteen litters were recorded, with a mean of 3,1 pups (sd = 1.6; range: 1–6). We obtained 60 records of adults with pups and 65 records of adults carrying food. Adults carrying food were observed between July and November, and family groups between December and April, indicating that pups remain with their parents for approximately nine months. The observed reproductive seasonality may be associated with greater resource availability during early life stages, which coincide with the end of the dry season and the onset of the rainy season, as well as with prolonged parental care. The description of these reproductive parameters provides robust information on the ecology of the crab-eating fox and is fundamental for understanding the diversity of reproductive strategies within the family Canidae. Additionally, the natural history data presented here contribute to understanding factors influencing population parameters of this species and those with whom it interacts, supporting conservation decision-making, particularly in anthropogenic environments. Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/48726 2025-10-31T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/47981 Title: Eficácia de poleiros artificiais na restauração ambiental: análise da cobertura vegetal e da avifauna após dez anos de implementação Abstract: Habitat fragmentation and degradation in the Cerrado compromise ecological dynamics and the maintenance of biodiversity, requiring strategies for environmental restoration. Artificial perches can be used as a nucleation technique capable of attracting disperser birds and increasing seed rain, which in turn favors natural regeneration. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of artificial perches ten years after their implementation in a Cerrado sensu stricto area in the Triângulo Mineiro region (MG), investigating the relationship between vegetation cover, estimated through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and bird community composition. Birds were sampled using linear transects during twelve monthly campaigns between 2024 and 2025, comparing two transects: A – artificial perches implemented/removed more than 10 years ago, and B – without the implementation of any nucleation technique. A total of 115 species distributed across 33 families were recorded, with a predominance of Passeriformes, particularly Tyrannidae and Thraupidae. Guild analysis revealed a predominance of insectivores (40,8%), followed by omnivores (22,6%) and frugivores (12,1%). The species accumulation curve did not reach stabilization, with the Chao2 estimator indicating that 87% of the local avifauna was recorded. Comparison with the previous study, considering only transect A, revealed an increase in frugivorous (5) and nectarivorous (3) species, indicating a qualitative improvement of the sampled area. When considering both transects evaluated in this study (A+B) and the previous study, the total richness of the area is 134 bird species. The NDVI showed an increase in transect A compared to 2014 values (0.286 vs. 0.244), suggesting vegetation densification associated with the presence of artificial perches. The results demonstrated that such structures played a relevant role in ecological restoration, promoting increased vegetation cover and favoring the return of specialized bird guilds. It is concluded, therefore, that artificial perches can be effective tools in nucleation processes and should be considered in environmental recovery strategies in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais. Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/47981 2025-10-23T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/47792 Title: Reaproveitamento do lodo de esgoto sanitário em solo do cerrado: efeitos ecotoxicológicos em plantas Abstract: The use of natural resources has directly accompanied population growth, and as a result, sustaining modern life depends on various production chains that continuously consume resources to ensure the supply of products and services demanded by society. In this context, the basic sanitation process, which ensures the treatment of domestic effluents for safe return to the environment, generates a residue known as sewage sludge (SS). This residue is commonly disposed of in landfills, posing a significant environmental liability, despite its potential for reuse when subjected to proper stabilization processes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ecotoxicological effects of sewage sludge (SS) from the Uberabinha Sewage Treatment Plant in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, assessing its potential to cause negative impacts on the environment and the possibility of reuse as an agricultural input. Both the potential of SS to cause negative environmental impacts and its potential for reuse as an agricultural input were observed. In this context, the processes of reducing the toxicity of this residue through chemical stabilization (CS) with hydrated lime (CaOH2), natural attenuation (NA), and phytoremediation using cedar rose (Cedrela fissilis), a native cerrado species, were also evaluated. Through these processes, it was observed that CS, despite its proven effectiveness for stabilization for agricultural purposes, can lead to secondary toxicity effects in bioassays with lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and onion (Allium cepa) seeds, as well as phytoremediation, due to the physicochemical and biological interactions occurring in the rhizospheric soil. This emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of the toxicity curve of the residue over time using chemical and biological indicators. As for the NA process, it was sufficient for attenuating the toxicity of SS, preventing it from causing effects on phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity indicators of the species used. The search for alternatives in SS management is crucial but should always be approached with caution, considering the long-term effects that may result from its application for any purpose. The highly variable characteristics of its composition require constant monitoring and follow-up for successful reuse. Tue, 30 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/47792 2024-01-30T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/46489 Title: Ecologia e dinâmica da expansão de peixes não-nativos no Triângulo Mineiro e Alto Paranaíba com abordagem espaço-temporal Abstract: The introduction of non-native fish species represents one of the main threats to biodiversity in freshwater environments on a global scale, causing significant impacts on ecological interactions, food webs, and the structure of aquatic communities. In the Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba (TMAP), a mesoregion located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, the growing expansion of non-native species has become a concerning phenomenon, driven by multiple anthropic factors. This dissertation, structured in two chapters, aimed to investigate the spatio-temporal patterns of the expansion of these species in the TMAP rivers, considering environmental, historical, and social aspects related to the invasion process. In Chapter 1, a survey of the non-native fish species present in the region was conducted, mapping their spatial distribution and identifying critical areas of infestation, with emphasis on the Araguari, Uberabinha, and Tijuco rivers. Analyses of Area of Occupancy (AOO), Extent of Occurrence (EOO), kriging interpolation, and spatial cluster analysis (LISA) were applied to characterize the distribution and occurrence hotspots. Chapter 2 addresses the temporal analysis of the abundance of non-native species over the last five decades, using a generalized linear model (GLM) with a Poisson distribution. This approach allowed for the identification of significant temporal trends, highlighting the role of anthropic factors in the intensification of the biological invasion in the region. Through this integrated approach, this dissertation seeks to contribute to the understanding of the ecological processes related to the expansion of non-native fish in the TMAP, providing technical and scientific support for monitoring, management, and conservation actions for the native ichthyofauna. Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/46489 2025-07-17T00:00:00Z