Reptiles of the Complexo Energético Fundão-Santa Clara , central-south region of Paraná state , southern Brazil

Lists of reptiles of localities in Paraná are still scarce and restricted to three works, developed in the central-north and eastern regions of the state. Herein we present a list of reptiles of the Complexo Energético Fundão-Santa Clara, located in the central-south region of Paraná. The study was carried out from May 2010 to March 2012. We recorded 31 species: 20 snakes, seven lizards, two amphisbaenians and two testudines. We hope through this work contribute to a greater knowledge of the reptilian fauna of the central-south region of Paraná.


INTRODUCTION
Brazil, with all its territorial extent and diversity of biomes, is among the countries with the richest fauna of reptiles, recording currently 760 species occurring in their territory (Costa and Bérnils 2014).In the state of Paraná 154 species are recorded, including nine chelonians, one crocodilian, eight amphisbaenians, 25 lizards and 111 snakes (Bérnils et al. 2007).
The knowledge of the reptilian fauna of Paraná is based on several works, mainly represented by lists of reptiles collected in the state by foreigners in past decades (Boettger 1906;Bérnils andMoura-Leite 1990, 2010), citations of new records for the state (Moura-Leite et al. 1996), studies of geographic distribution (D'Amato 1991; Ribas and Monteiro Filho 2002;Bérnils et al. 2007) and lists of endangered species (Morato et al. 1995;Bérnils et al. 2004).However, publications of lists of reptiles of localities in Paraná are still scarce and restricted to only three works (Bernarde andMachado 2002, 2006;Oliveira and Oliveira 2014).Bernarde and Machado (2002) presented a list of species recorded in the region of the municipality of Londrina, central-north of Paraná.Bernarde and Machado (2006) listed the squamate reptiles found in the Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy, Londrina municipality.Oliveira and Oliveira (2014) presented a list of species of squamate reptiles recorded in the locality of Colônia Castelhanos, São José dos Pinhais municipality, eastern Paraná.
In this work we present a list of species recorded during the execution of a monitoring program of the reptiles fauna in the area of the Complexo Energético Fundão-Santa Clara (CEFSC), in central-south Paraná.In addition to the field inventory, we also included museum records coming mainly from the faunal rescues previously carried out on the local.

Study area
The CEFSC is constituted of two hydroelectric power plants located sequentially in the Jordão River, tributary of the Iguaçu River, in the central-south region of Paraná state (Figure 1).The Santa Clara Hydroelectric Power Plant (UHE Santa Clara) is situated between the municipalities of Candói and Pinhão (25°38′57″ S, 051°56′22″ W), and the Fundão Hydroelectric Power Plant (UHE Fundão) between Foz do Jordão and Pinhão (25°41′53″ S, 052°00′04″ W).These hydroelectric power plants went into operation between the years 2005 (Santa Clara) and 2006 (Fundão).The region is within the Terceiro Plan alto Paranaense geomorphological unit (Maack 1981) and is located in the Atlantic Forest domain, comprising an ecotone between two phytophysiognomies, Steppe and Araucaria Forest (Roderjan et al. 2002).The local climate is characterized according to the Cfb Köppen pattern, mesothermic humid subtropical, without a defined dry season, with mild summer and severe frosts (Cigolini et al. 2001).

Data Collection
The fieldwork was carried out every two months from May 2010 to March 2012, with duration of five days each phase.To the specimens record we used the following methods (Figure 1): aquatic species, especially chelonians, areas of the reservoirs were covered daily and alternately with aluminum boat and outboard motor at low speed in the morning, between 09:30 h and 12:00 h, and in the afternoon, between 13:30 h and 16:00 h.The animals were visually searched on the banks of reservoirs, on rocks, logs and in the water.This method totaled 300 hours of sampling.
Funnel traps (adapted of Fitch 1951): Consisted of cylinders (1.2 m × 0.5 m) partially floating made of plastic mesh, with an inverted funnel in one openings, destined the capture of aquatic chelonians.These traps were scattered in the two reservoirs (12 in Santa Clara and seven in Fundão), baited with fresh fish and revised daily, staying active for a period of about five consecutive days during each phase.Total sampling effort of these traps was 1.140 funnels/day.
Occasional records: Corresponded to the record of specimens by other researchers during the fieldwork, generally in roads of the area during displacements with car.
To complete the list of species we also used museum records, available in the herpetological collection of the Museu de História Natural Capão da Imbuia (MHNCI) at Curitiba, Paraná, coming mainly from the faunal rescues previously carried out in the study area (Appendix 1).
Species not previously recorded to the region, when possible, were collected (collection permit IBAMA number 073/2010), killed by cooling, fixed in a solution of 10% formalin, preserved in a 70% ethanol solution, and deposited in the herpetological collection of the MHNCI (Appendix 1).
The majority of the recorded species during the fieldwork was found in open areas, represented locally by pastures and plantations, through the active search.The species recorded in the forest edge were found mainly in small dirt roads that border or cross forest fragments.

DISCUSSION
The 31 species found represent 20% of the 154 species registered to the state of Paraná (Bérnils et al. Active search (adapted of Franco et al. 2002): This method consisted in the search of the specimens in its natural habitats, in activity or not (under fallen logs, under rocks, holes in the ground, and others).In this method we also consider specimens found in the roads of area.The searches were carried out by two researchers, during eight hours a day (including the day and night periods), five days in each phase, totaling a sampling effort of 480 hours/man.
Pitfall traps (Corn 1994): Four sample areas were defined within riparian forest fragments, two above of each dam (near the reservoir) and two below (near the river).In each area six lines of traps spaced approximately 500 m apart were built.Each trap line was composed of four 60 L plastic buckets, buried 10 m apart and connected by a canvas fence about 0.8 m high.The traps were active for five days in each phase and were revised every morning.Total sampling effort of these traps was 5.760 buckets/day.
Search with boat in the reservoirs: To the record of Two species recorded are threatened of extinction in Paraná, Phrynops williamsi and Contomastix vacariensis are categorized as "Vulnerable" in the state (Bérnils et al. 2004).Contomastix vacariensis also has been categorized as "Vulnerable" at national level (MMA 2014).Among the main threats to P. williamsi in Paraná is the construction of hydroelectric power plants, which affect the availability of food resources to species and alter the lotic regime of rivers (Bérnils et al. 2004).The main threats to C. vacariensis are the agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, the use of fire in the prepara tion of pastures, and the planting of exotic species (Bérnils et al. 2004).During the fieldwork only P. williamsi was observed in the area, has been found only in the Jordão River rocky bed, and not in the reservoirs.
Within of the CEFSC is located the Parque Estadual Despite the significant species richness of reptiles found in Paraná, lists of species are still scarce in the state.We hope through this work contribute to a greater knowledge of the reptilian fauna of the central-south region of Paraná.We also emphasize the importance of more inventories in the state, as well as the effective publication of these studies.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We

Figure 1 .Figure 2 .
Figure 1.Map showing the location of the Complexo Energético Fundão-Santa Clara in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil (star).In the image the location of the Santa Clara Hydroelectric Power Plant (1), Fundão Hydroelectric Power Plant (2) and sampling sites (dots).Yellow dots represent sites sampled by active search, black dots represent sites sampled with pitfall traps, green dots represent sites sampled by search with boat and blue dots represent sites sampled with funnel traps (Image source: Google Earth™ 2013)
Reptiles recorded at Complexo Energético Fundão-Santa Clara, central-south region of Paraná state, showing the habitat and the record type of the reptile species found in the area.Habitat: FE = forest edge; FO = forest (riparian forests); JR = Jordão River (rocky bed); OA = open areas (pastures and plantations); RE = reservoir.Record type: AS = active search; FT = funnel trap; MR = museum record; OR = occasional record; PT = pitfall trap.