Thesis (Ph.D.)--Bowling Green State University, 2007. / Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 121 p. : maps. Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Natalia de Souza Gonçalves (natalia.goncalves@ufpe.br) on 2016-09-19T12:54:56Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO DE WELLINGTON ALMEIDA 2016.pdf: 1101288 bytes, checksum: 07cca2fd811e664315f232195abc4703 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-19T12:54:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO DE WELLINGTON ALMEIDA 2016.pdf: 1101288 bytes, checksum: 07cca2fd811e664315f232195abc4703 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-25 / O carcará (Caracara plancus) e o gavião-carijó (Rupornis magnirostris) são aves de rapina, predadores de topo, que habitam o território brasileiro. Possuem alimentação variada, desde animais vivos até àqueles em estado de decomposição. Diante disto, objetivou-se identificar possíveis endoparasitos do gavião-carijó e do carcará mantidos em cativeiro, além de descrever e comparar histomorfometricamente o intestino delgado de ambas as espécies. Foram utilizados seis espécimes de cada espécie. Para análise parasitológica as fezes foram coletadas e processadas pelo método de Hoffman simples. Para a histomorfometria amostras do duodeno, jejuno, íleo foram fixadas e submetidas ao processamento histológico de rotina. Finalmente, as lâminas foram fotografadas e cinco variáveis foram medidas: Tamanho da Vilosidade (TV), Largura da Vilosidade (LV), Profundidade da Glândula Intestinal (PGI), Espessura do estrato Muscular Interno (EMI) e Espessura do estrato Muscular Externo (EME). Obteve-se os seguintes resultados: na análise das fezes de Rupornis magnirostris foram encontrados ovos de Capillaria sp. Na histomorfometria, os intestinos delgados de ambas as aves, apresentaram padrão heterogêneo, com diferenças significativas (p<0,001) entre o duodeno e o íleo. A comparação das medidas nas duas aves demonstrou diferenças significativas na PGI e LV do duodeno, em todas variáveis do jejuno e no TV, EMI e EME do íleo. Este estudo fornece parâmetros histomorfométricos do intestino delgado do Rupornis magnirostris e Caracara plancus, que contribuirá para melhor entendimento da biologia e consequente auxílio em programas de preservação das espécies. / The Southern Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) and the Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) are raptors, top predators that inhabit the Brazilian territory. They have varied diet, from live animals to those in a state of decomposition. Given this, it aimed to identify possible endoparasites of Roadside Hawk and Southern Crested Caracara kept in captivity, besides describe and compare histomorphometric the small intestine of both species. six specimens of each species were used. For parasitological analysis feces were collected and processed by simple Hoffman method. For histomorphometry, samples of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum were fixed and submitted to routine histological processing. Finally, the slides were photographed and five variables were measured: villus size (TV), width villus (LV) Depth gland Intestinal (PGI), Internal muscle layer thickness (EMI) and Outer muscle layer thickness (EME). This yields the following results: In analysis of feces from Rupornis magnirostris eggs of Capillaria sp. were found. In histomorphometry, small intestines of both birds showed a heterogeneous standard, with significant differences (p <0.001) between the duodenum and the ileum. The comparison of measurements in both birds showed significant differences in PGI and LV of duodenum, all variables of jejunum and in TV, EMI and EME of ileum. This study provides morphometric parameters of the small intestine of Rupornis magnirostris and Caracara plancus, which will contribute to better understanding of the biology and consequently aid in conservation programs of species.

Like many species, Florida's population of Northern Crested Caracaras (Caracara cheriway, hereafter "caracara") is likely declining due to loss of breeding habitat. Consequently, management-oriented restrictions on landscape modification are applied where breeding occurs, but management rarely is extended beyond breeding areas. Focusing management on breeding areas can be effective if all caracaras occupy breeding areas, all breeding areas are detected, and no intermittent breeding occurs. Management may not operate as intended if any of these criteria are unmet. To explore this possibility, I investigated the movement, habitat, survival, and social biology of non-breeding caracaras. I also investigated long-term occupancy of breeding habitat, and factors contributing to detection of breeding. Non-breeding caracaras occupy areas much larger than individual breeding territories, particularly during breeding seasons. Pastures occupied by cattle were the most used habitat, but non-breeding caracaras also occupied habitats atypical of breeding areas. Specifically, citrus groves were occupied extensively, and row crops were used particularly during breeding seasons. Non-breeding caracaras also shared communal roosts, sometimes with hundreds of conspecifics, and roosts were occupied year-round. Survival of non-breeding caracaras was lowest during breeding seasons. Adult non-breeding caracaras persisted in groups for multiple years without establishing breeding territories. This implies that breeding habitat is limited and saturated. Given the proportion of adults in groups, adults also were the first to find carrion more often than expected. Apparently, young caracaras benefit from grouping by following adults. I found caracaras at all sampled breeding areas where nests were originally documented during the 1990s, and found nests at 83% of territories where nests likely existed. I also found that observer experience, visit start time, and weather affected the probability that a nest would be detected. Thus, not all caracaras occupy breeding areas, and not all breeding attempts are likely to be detected. Long-term occupancy of breeding areas should render annual verification of nesting unnecessary as a trigger for maintaining management actions. Rather management should persist even without confirmation of annual breeding. Caracara management also may be optimized through supporting the non-breeding population by maintaining a matrix of cattle pasture and citrus groves, particularly around roosts. / Ph. D.

Although seldom reported, necrophagy is a relatively common phenomenon in nature. Among necrophagous vertebrates, scavengers are the only ones who have a diet composed almost exclusively by carrion. There are five species of scavengers recorded in Brazil and in some Brazilian regions these species can live in sympatry, interacting with each other and with species of Falconiformes. The aims of this study were: 1. to investigate the use of perches and food resources by necrophagous birds in different areas of Uberlândia city (MG), and 2. to establish the types of interactions (intra- and inter-specific) between the studied populations. The research was performed between December 2006 and December 2007, though field observations were concentrated in the dry period (June to September 2007). Three types of habitats were selected for the field work (urban environment, urban-rural environment and rural environment). The observations followed focal animal ad libitum analises, and were carried out from 9 am to 6 pm. All areas were sampled monthly, performing 90 hours of observation (30 hours in each area). Two species of necrophagous birds were recorded: Coragyps atratus (Black Vulture) and Caracara plancus (Crested Caracara). The rural-urban environment showed higher frequency of records of scavengers and Crested caracara using perches (5646). Moreover, the urban environment served as a deposit of waste and carcass of animals stemming both from urban environments as well as rural environments. Interactions for food were often marked by agonistic interactions, although there were displays which prevent disputes, such as warning postures and sounds production (including vocalization ). Interspecific allopreening was recorded at a higher frequency than expected and probably occurs as a way of rapprochement between Crested caracara and Black vultures when grouping in mixed flock. These mixed flocks seemed to be favored by the surveillance ability of the Crested caracara and because of its vocalization ability and thus producing scream of warning, useful for the flock. / A necrofagia é freqüente na natureza, embora seja um fenômeno pouco reportado para os vertebrados. Entre estes, urubus são os únicos que possuem uma dieta composta quase que exclusivamente de carcaças. No Brasil, são registradas cinco espécies de urubus e em algumas regiões brasileiras essas espécies podem viver em simpatria, interagindo entre si e com espécies de falconiformes. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: 1. avaliar a utilização de poleiros e de recursos alimentares por aves necrófagas em diferentes áreas do município de Uberlândia (MG); e 2. estabelecer os tipos de interações (intra-específicas e interespecíficas) existentes entre as populações estudadas. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida entre dezembro de 2006 e dezembro de 2007, sendo que as observações de campo se concentraram no período de seca (junho a setembro de 2007). Foram selecionadas três áreas para realização do trabalho (ambiente urbano, ambiente rural-urbano e ambiente rural). As observações seguiram o modelo animal focal e ad libitum no objeto focal, tendo sido realizadas das 9 h às 18h. Em cada mês todas as áreas foram amostradas, totalizando 90 horas de observação (30h em cada área). Duas espécies de aves necrófagas foram registradas: Coragyps atratus (urubu-de-cabeça-preta) e Caracara plancus (carcará). A interface rural-urbana apresentou maior freqüência de registros de urubus e caracarás, quanto à utilização de poleiros (5.646). Adicionalmente, a franja urbana serve como depósito de lixo e carcaça de animais advindas tanto do ambiente urbanos quanto do ambiente rural. Interações alimentares são freqüentemente marcadas por interações agonísticas, embora haja indícios de displays que evitam disputas físicas tais como posturas de advertência e produção de sons, parecido com vocalização. Comportamento social interespecífico, Interspecific Allopreening , foi registrado em uma freqüência superior ao esperado e provavelmente ocorre como modo de aproximação entre caracarás e urubus na formação de um bando misto, que parece ser favorecido pela vigilância dos caracarás devido à sua capacidade de vocalização e, conseqüentemente, produção de grito de alerta. / Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias