Study area
This study region near Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil (-12°04′73.9″S -55°43′85.0″W) represents topography and vegetation typical of the ecotone between the Cerrado (dominated by shrubland and grassland) and Amazonia (tropical forests) biomes (Mittermeier et al., 2003). The southern border of the Amazon rainforest was once contiguous dry, tropical forest that has been rapidly deforested by agricultural activity and urbanization. This has resulted in a checkerboard-like pattern of forest and agricultural patches (Fig. 1) with a mix of other matrix types including urban areas and secondary vegetation.
The area is largely flat and dominated by a hot and humid climate with daily temperatures showing greater fluctuation than annual mean low (23°C in June) and high (26°C in September) temperatures. The climate is dominated by dry (May to October) and wet (November to April) seasons with monthly precipitation averages ranging from a low of 2 mm in July to a high of 310 mm in February (climate data obtained to Sinop municipality).