ASPECTOS ECOTOXICOLÓGICO EM MORCEGOS (MAMMALIA: CHIROPTERA) NO CERRADO, BRASIL

Abstract

Bats, due to their high plasticity and longevity and foraging in different environments, can be considered essential biomonitors in environmental quality. However, they face a number of threats around the world, including exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and other stressors. Thus, to detect the presence of genotoxic damage, the micronucleus (MN) test can be applied to verify changes induced by xenobiotic agents. Thus, this study covers two investigations, presented in the form of chapters, where the first describes the frequency of micronucleus in exfoliated cells of buccal mucosa between insectivorous bats in the municipality of Palmas, TO. The data showed greater genotoxic sensitivity for N. laticaudatus of the colony in the Fernando Henrique Cardoso Bridge (PFHC) in relation to those of forest fragments. The second chapter (i) highlights trophic guilds (insectivores, frugivores and nectarivores) between bats captured in an agricultural area in the Goiano cerrado in Rio Verde, Goiás and PFHC bats, and forest fragments of an urban area in the municipality of Palmas, state of Tocantins. In this sense, the hypothesis of the genotoxic sensitivity between these different eating habits in relation to the environments is tested. In addition to MN other nuclear abnormalities have been identified, such as, binucleate cell, cell with pyknotic nucleus, cell with condensed chromatin and anucleated cells to indicate the relation with MN frequency. The data obtained showed greater genotoxic sensitivity in frugivorous bats of agricultural and urban area, as well as insectivores of urban area. Thus, based on the evidence with this biomarker, the work provides support to reinforce the importance of habitat preservation and integrity for the maintenance of the diversity of the bats’fauna