Chemical characterization, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of jussara (Euterpe edulis) fruit from the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil

Samples of fruit from the jussara palm plant (Euterpe edulis), collected in different regions of the state of Santa Catarina. Brazil, were analyzed for chemical composition. phenolic acids. anthocyanins, flavonoids and fatty acids profile. Results indicated that the jussara fruit has a high lipid content (18.45-44.08%), oleic acid (44.17-55.61%) and linoleic acid (18.19-25.36%) are the fatty acids found in the highest proportion, and other components were proteins (5.13-8.21%). ash (1.55-3.32%) and moisture (34.95-42.47%). Significant differences were found in the total phenolic, total monomeric anthocyanins and other flavonoids for the samples from the five cultivation regions. The fruit from region E harvested in summer, with high temperatures and medium altitudes, had the highest contents of total phenolics (2610.86 +/- 3.89 mg 100 g(-1) GAE) and monomeric anthocyanins (1080.54 +/- 2.33 mg 100g(-1) cy-3-glu). The phenolic compound included ferulic, gallic, hydroxybenzoic and p-coumaric acids, as well as catechin, epicatechin and quercetin. The results show promising perspectives for the exploitation of this tropical fruit with a chemical composition comprising considerable phenolic acids and flavonoids compounds and showing activity antioxidant. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Cytogenetic biomonitoring of inhabitants of a large uranium mineralization area: the municipalities of Monte Alegre, Prainha, and Alenquer, in the State of Para, Brazil

Uranium is a natural radioactive metallic element; its effect on the organism is cumulative, and chronic exposure to this element can induce carcinogenesis. Three cities of the Amazon region-Monte Alegre, Prainha, and Alenquer-in North Brazil, are located in one of the largest uranium mineralization areas of the world. Radon is a radioactive gas, part of uranium decay series and readily diffuses through rock. In Monte Alegre, most of the houses are built of rocks removed from the Earth`s crust in the forest, where the uranium reserves lie. The objective of the present work is to determine the presence or absence of genotoxicity and risk of carcinogenesis induced by natural exposure to uranium and radon in the populations of these three cities. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) showed no statistically significant differences between the control population and the three study populations (P > 0.05). MN was also analyzed using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, with a centromere-specific probe. No clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects were found in the populations. Using FISH analysis, other carcinogenesis biomarkers were analyzed, but neither the presence of the IGH/BCL2 translocation nor an amplification of the MYC gene and 22q21 region was detected. Clastogenicity and DNA damage were also not found in the populations analyzed using the alkaline comet assay. The mitotic index showed no cytotoxicity in the analyzed individuals` lymphocytes. Once we do not have data concerning radiation doses from other sources, such as cosmic rays, potassium, thorium, or anthropogenic sources, it is hard to determine if uranium emissions in this geographic region where our study population lives are too low to cause significant DNA damage. Regardless, genetic analyses suggest that the radiation in our study area is not high enough to induce DNA alterations or to interfere with mitotic apparatus formation. It is also possible that damages caused by radiation doses undergo cellular repair.

Four new species of Paratrizygia Tonnoir from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Diptera, Mycetophilidae, Sciophilinae)

Paratrizygia Tonnoir was originally described for P. conformis, from Australia, and since then only four species have been added to the genus, from Chile and Southern Argentina. We add four new species to the genus Paratrizygia-P. balbii sp. nov., P. alvesi sp. nov., P. camargoi sp. nov., and P. albidens sp.nov.-from the southern part of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Comments are made about the possible relationships of the Brazilian and other Neotropical species of the genus. An identification key to the Neotropical species of the genus is provided.

Five new species of Coniceromyia Borgmeier (Diptera: Phoridae) from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Five new species of Coniceromyia from the Atlantic Forest in Brazil are herein described-Coniceromyia apechoneura, sp. nov., C. brandaoi, sp. nov., C. diaphaniptera, sp. nov., C. franciscana, sp. nov., and C. sanctaetheresae, sp. nov. Both C. diaphaniptera and C. franciscana have patterned wings. The male foretibia provides important diagnostic features for the species, as well as additional characters to propose clades within the genus. The male hypopygial morphology is described.

Four new species of Paraclius Loew (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and notes on the systematic position of Cheiromyia Dyte

Four new species of Paraclius Loew from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest are described and illustrated: P. amphiatheratus, sp. nov., P. parenti, sp. nov., P. sagittatus, sp. nov., and P. dicrophallus, sp. nov. The condition of their enlarged sperm pump, also seen in the Neotropical genus Cheiromyia Dyte, is briefly discussed. Comments on the phylogenetic position of Cheiromyia are presented in light of new data from female terminalia of that genus.

Morphological and morphometric appraisal of the spermatophore of the southern hermit crab Isocheles sawayai Forest and Saint Laurent, 1968 (Anomura: Diogenidae), with comments on gonopores in both sexes

The spermatophore morphology of the hermit crab Isocheles sawayai from Southwestern Atlantic (Brazil) is described. The spermatophores show similarities with those described for other members of the family Diogenidae, especially with the recently described Loxopagurus loxochelis. The spermatophore is composed of three major regions: a sperm filled head or ampulla, a columnar stalk and a foot or pedestal. The spermatophores show specific morphology in having a circular ampulla, and a constriction or neck between the ampulla (100 mu m) and the thin (27 mu m), long stalk (500 mu m). The stalk penetrates less than half way into the spermatophore head. Most spermatophores show one or the small posterior projections on the underside of the ampulla as being bigger than the other, making it asymmetrical. The size of the spermatophore is related to hermit crab size with direct relationships found between spermatophore ampulla width, total length, and peduncle length with shield length of the hermit crab. The morphological characteristics of the spermatophore of L sawayai. are species-specific distinguishing it from other members of the family, and are useful to infer further phylogenetic relationships. (C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Eleven new species of the genus Cluzobra Edwards (Diptera, Mycetophilidae, Sciophilinae) from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

Eleven new species of the sciophiline genus Cluzobra Edwards are described and illustrated - Cluzobra triocellata, sp.n., Cluzobra accola, sp.n., Cluzobra claripennis, sp.n., Cluzobra papaveroi, sp.n., Cluzobra coptolithus, sp.n., Cluzobra vockerothi, sp.n., Cluzobra sapiranga, sp.n., Cluzobra fluminense, sp.n., Cluzobra fritzmuelleri, sp.n., Cluzobra spinata, sp.n., Cluzobra elpidia, sp.n. Additional specimens of C. fuscipennis Edwards, C. plaumanni Edwards, and C. binocellaris (Edwards) have been identified, extending the distribution range of these species. The species were identified and described based on 173 specimens at different latitudes along the Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil and northern Argentina. The position of the new species in the groups of species proposed for the genus in the literature is considered. Three areas of endemism are identified for the group, one from southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Paraguay northwards to areas at higher altitudes in the States of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, one from southern Bahia to the extreme north of the Atlantic Forest, in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, and one in west State of Sao Paulo, extending west and northwards into the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Goias. This paper raises the number of known Cluzobra to 41 species.

Choice of macroinvertebrate metrics to evaluate stream conditions in Atlantic Forest, Brazil

The development of biomonitoring programs based on the macroinvertebrate community requires the understanding of species distribution patterns, as well as of the responses of the community to anthropogenic stressors. In this study, 49 metrics were tested as potential means of assessing the condition of 29 first- and second-order streams located in areas of differing types of land use in So Paulo State, Brazil. Of the sampled streams, 15 were in well-preserved regions in the Atlantic Forest, 5 were among sugarcane cultivations, 5 were in areas of pasture, and 4 were among eucalyptus plantations. The metrics were assessed against the following criteria: (1) predictable response to the impact of human activity; (2) highest taxonomic resolution, and (3) operational and theoretical simplicity. We found that 18 metrics were correlated with the environmental and spatial predictors used, and seven of these satisfied the selection criteria and are thus candidates for inclusion in a multimetric system to assess low-order streams in So Paulo State. These metrics are family richness; Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) richness; proportion of Megaloptera and Hirudinea; proportion of EPT; Shannon diversity index for genus; and adapted Biological Monitoring Work Party biotic index.

Social Wasp Diversity (Vespidae, Polistinae) in a Forest Fragment in the Northeast of Sao Paulo State Sampled with Different Methodologies

Social wasp diversity in Semideciduous Seasonal Forests of the northeast of Sao Paulo State is poorly known, causing a lack of information on the diversity of these wasps from these areas which have been degraded. The objective of this work was to evaluate the social wasp (Vespidae, Polistinae) diversity in a Semideciduous Seasonal Forest of the northeast of Sao Paulo State and to compare three different kinds of sampling methodology. Surveys were conducted from August 2005 to September 2006 in the interior, edge and matrix of a Semideciduous Seasonal Forest fragment in Patrocinio Paulista city, Sao Paulo State. Three methodologies were used: 1. Active collection in flowers, 2. Searching for nests, 3. Active collection with attractive liquid. Thirty species of social wasps were collected in the fragment, but the diversity was highest in the edge. Active collection with attractive liquid was the most efficient methodology. Despite the high levels of deforestation, forest fragments in Sao Paulo State have a high diversity of social wasps, reinforcing the importance of their preservation.

Genetic analysis of forest species Eugenia uniflora L. through of newly developed SSR markers

Nine microsatellite loci for genetic analysis of three populations of the tropical tree Eugenia uniflora L. (pitanga or Brazilian cherry) from fragments of semideciduous forest were developed. We used the technique of building a (GA)(n) and (CA)(n) microsatellite-enriched library by capture with streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. We assessed the polymorphism of seven microsatellites in 84 mature trees found in three areas (Ribeir (a) over tildeo Preto, Tambau and S (a) over tildeo Jose do Rio Pardo), highly impacted by the agricultural practices, in a large region among Pardo river and Mogi-Guacu river basins, in state of S (a) over tildeo Paulo, Brazil. All loci were polymorphic, and the number of alleles was high, ranging from 6 to 24, with a mean of 14.4. All stands showed the same high level of genetic diversity (mean H(E) = 0.83) and a low genetic differentiation (mean F(ST) = 0.031), indicating that genetic diversity was higher within rather than among populations. Seven of the nine loci were highly variable, and sufficiently informative for E. uniflora. It was concluded that these new SSR markers can be efficiently used for gene flow studies.

Ticks (Acari : ixodidae) infesting wild birds in an Atlantic forest area in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, with isolation of Rickettsia from the tick Amblyomma longirostre

During field work in Nazare Paulista, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, we found 13 (56.5%) of 23 birds (mostly Passeriformes) to be infested by 28 larvae and I nymph of Amblyomma spp. Two larvae were reared to the adult stage, being taxonomically identified as Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca and Aragao, whereas five larvae and one nymph were identified as Amblyomma longirostre Koch. All six A. longirostre specimens were shown to be infected by rickettsia, as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting two rickettsial genes (gltA and ompA) or isolation of rickettsia in cell culture from one of the ticks. This isolate was designated as strain AL, which was established in Vero cell culture and was molecularly characterized by DNA sequencing fragments of the rickettsial genes gltA, htrA, ompA, and ompB. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from ompA and ompB partial sequences showed a high degree of similarity of strain AL with Rickettsia sp. strain ARANHA, previously detected by PCR in A. longirostre ticks from Rondonia, northern Brazil. We conclude that strain AL is a new rickettsia genotype belonging to the same species of strain ARANHA, which are closely related to Candidatus `R. amblyomniii`. Further studies should elucidate if strains AL and ARANHA are different strains of Candidatus `R. amblyommii` or are a new species.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Infesting Birds in an Atlantic Rain Forest Region of Brazil

Brazil has the third richest bird diversity of the world; however, there are few data concerning ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parazitizing birds. The aim of the study was to report tick infestations on wild birds from an Atlantic rain forest region of Brazil. During 2 yr, ticks were collected from birds and from the environment in 12 forest sites. A total of 1,725 birds were captured representing 80 species from 24 families. In total, 223 (13%) birds were found infested by immature stages of Amblyomma ticks: 1,800 larvae and 539 nymphs. The prevalence of ticks was higher among-birds from the families Thamnophilidae, Conopophagidae, and Momotidae. The most common tick parasitizing birds was Amblyomma nodosum Koch. Other tick species, Amblyomma coelebs Neumann, Amblyomma cajennense (F.), Amblyomma ovale Koch, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch), Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, and Amblyomma naponense (Packard), were found sporadically. Among free-living ticks collected in the environment, A. cajennense was the most common, followed by A. coelebs, A. naponense, Amblyomma brasilense Aragao, and Hemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley.