Effect of Libidibia ferrea bark and seed in maternal reproductive and biochemical outcomes and fetal anomaly in rats.

Background: Unhealthy pregnant women living in underdeveloped regions are usually treated by traditional healers, inadvertent of the potential toxic effects of plant-derivative substances. Thus, we investigated whether exposure to a hydroalcoholic extract of bark and seed of Libidibia ferrea during pregnancy results in fetotoxicity and maternal toxicity. The main constituents of both extracts were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

Bird and ant synergy increases the seed dispersal effectiveness of an ornithochoric shrub.

Seed dispersal may involve different vectors of dispersal in two or more sequential phases (i.e., diplochory).

Informative microsatellites for genetic population studies of black-faced lion tamarins (Leontopithecus caissara).

Leontopithecus caissara is a critically endangered primate species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Nineteen microsatellite loci, previously developed for congeneric species, were tested with 34 L. caissara individuals from Superagüi Island.

Fruit diet of Alouatta guariba and Brachyteles arachnoides in Southeastern Brazil: comparison of fruit type, color, and seed size.

Fruit is an important food resource for neotropical primates. In this study I compare the fruit diet of sympatric brown howlers (Alouatta guariba) and southern muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides). Feeding behavior was studied over 12 months and fruit species consumed were identified and assigned to the categories fruit type, fruit color, and seed size.