Registros novos e adicionais de teleósteos marinhos na costa brasileira

São apresentadas novas informações sobre a distribuição geográfica de algumas espécies de peixes teleósteos que ocorrem na costa brasileira, incluindo duas espécies que nunca haviam sido registradas em nossas águas. Os serranídeos Pseudogramma gregoryi (assinalado da Flórida à Venezuela) e Plectranthias garrupellus (registrado da Carolina do Norte ao Caribe) foram encontrados, respectivamente, na costa do Ceará e na costa sudeste-sul do Brasil. São aqui mencionados e discutidos os dois primeiros registros do gênero Caristius (Caristiidae) no Brasil, bem como os primeiros registros na costa sudeste-sul do Brasil das espécies Enchelycore carychroa (Muraenidae), e Chilomycterus antillarum (Diodontidae), e da espécie Neobythites brasiliensis(Bythitidae) no nordeste do Brasil. É também assinalada a ocorrência mais setentrional do pargo Calamus mu (Sparidae), uma espécie até então circunscrita à região entre o Espírito Santo e São Paulo, e são discutidos os registros adicionais de Bascanichthys paulensis (Ophichthidae), Nezumia aequalis (Macrouridae), Antigonia combatia (Caproidae) e Notolycodes schmidti (Zoarcidae) na costa brasileira.

Morphology and reproduction of Mesophyllum erubescens (Foslie) Me. Lemoine (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from Southern Brazil

The genus Mesophyllum Me. Lemoine includes around 147 species, of which only three have been referred to the Brazilian coast. Mesophyllum erubescens was originally described from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil (type locality). Here we present the first detailed description of M. erubescens based on Brazilian material. Samplings were made through scuba diving at the Biological Marine Reserve of Arvoredo Island, Santa Catarina. The relations of M. erubescens with other similar species, especially from the American Atlantic studied by W.R. Taylor are discussed.

Marine influence in the Barreiras Formation, State of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil

Tidal processes were important for deposition of the Barreiras Formation located in northern Brazil, while correlatable deposits in northeastern Brazil have been traditionally related to continental environments. Facies analysis in southern Alagoas revealed that the Barreiras Formation consists of cross-stratified conglomerates and sandstones (facies Sx and Cgx), compound cross-stratified sandstones (facies Cx), and heterolithic beddings (facies H). A significant portion of these deposits occurs within channel morphologies displaying fining and thinning upward successions. An abundance of sedimentary features is comparable to those from the northern Brazilian counterpart. These include: tidal bundles; herringbone cross-stratification; heterolithic beddings with sandstone and mudstone beds in sharp contacts; and ichnofossils mostly consisting of Ophiomorpha nodosa, Skolithos and Planolites. Altogether, these features point to a marginal marine depositional setting dominated by tidal processes, which are related to an estuarine system, an interpretation also provided for the Barreiras Formation in northern Brazil. The widespread occurrence of deposits with unambiguous evidence of tidal processes in the Barreiras Formation of northern Brazil, and now in the State of Alagoas, leads to argue that the early/middle Miocene worldwide marine transgression might have left a much more widespread sedimentary record along the Brazilian coast than currently regarded.

Atherinella blackburni (Schultz, 1949) at Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba, SP: ecological characterization and distribution on the Brazilian coast (Teleostei: Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae)

Atherinella blackburni is a silverside species whose occurrence on the Brazilian coast was not properly registered until recently. So far, records of its distribution along the Brazilian shore were limited to Itaparica Island, Bahia State, and Porto Inhaúma, Rio de Janeiro State. In a recent survey of the ichthyofauna of Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, 100 specimens of this species were collected, yielding a considerable source of information regarding its ecology and a new southern limit of its distribution. A detailed survey of an ichthyological collection revealed lots of this species from regions of the Brazilian Northeast, resulting in a northward expansion of the occurrence of A. blackburni in Brazilian waters. Besides the populations found on the Brazilian coast, the species also occurs discontinuously in the Atlantic coasts of Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela. Meristic and morphometric analysis showed overlapped values between Brazilian populations and the ones closer to the Caribbean. An ecological study of A. blackburni at Itamambuca Beach revealed that it is a predominantly diurnal species with preference for warm and salty waters, often occurring in sandy-bottom environments. It was more abundant in Summer and Winter, when individuals with smaller values of length and weight also occurred.

Brazilian offshore wave climate based on NWW3 reanalysis

This paper provides a description of the wave climate off the Brazilian coast based on an eleven-year time series (Jan/1997-Dec/2007) obtained from the NWW3 operational model hindcast reanalysis. Information about wave climate in Brazilian waters is very scarce and mainly based on occasional short-term observations, the present analysis being the first covering such temporal and spatial scales. To define the wave climate, six sectors were defined and analyzed along the Brazilian shelf-break: South (W1), Southeast (W2), Central (W3), East (W4), Northeast (W5) and North (W6). W1, W2 and W3 wave regimes are determined by the South Atlantic High (SAH) and the passage of synoptic cold fronts; W4, W5 and W6 are controlled by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and its meridional oscillation. The most energetic waves are from the S, generated by the strong winds associated to the passage of cold fronts, which mainly affect the southern region. Wave power presents a decrease in energy levels from south to north, with its annual variation showing that the winter months are the most energetic in W1 to W4, while in W5 and W6 the most energetic conditions occur during the austral summer. The information presented here provides boundary conditions for studies related to coastal processes, fundamental for a better understanding of the Brazilian coastal zone.

Redescription of Hanleya brachyplax (Polyplacophora, Hanleyidae) from the south-southeastern Brazilian coast

Hanleya brachyplax Simone & Jardim in Rios, 2009 is described in detail. The species occurs off the southeastern and south coast of Brazil (São Paulo and Santa Catarina states) in depths from 250 to 408 m. It differs from its congeners in having uniform white valves; wide intermediate valves; the tail valve with straight profile in the antemucronal area, and a concave postmucronal surface; and a cream-colored girdle, covered by non-articulated spines. An anatomical investigation was also performed, showing the main muscle groups; the presence of gills in the posterior third of the pallial groove; auricle with six orifices; a very flat kidney, restricted to the posterior half of the animal; and a simple esophageal region. The odontophore has a single pair of long cartilages. The buccal musculature is also described.

Comparative morphology among representatives of main taxa of Scaphopoda and basal protobranch Bivalvia (Mollusca)

This study deals with detailed morphology and anatomy of 4 species of Scaphopoda and 5 species of protobranch Bivalvia. Both classes are traditionally grouped in the taxon Diasoma, which has been questioned by different methodologies, such as molecular and developmental. This study is developed under a phylogenetic methodology with the main concern in performing it in an intelligible and testable methodology. The analyzed Scaphopoda species came from the Brazilian coast and belong to the family Dentaliidae [(1) Coccodentalium carduus; (2) Paradentalium disparile] and Gadiliidae; [(3) Polyschides noronhensis, n. sp. from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago; (4) Gadila braziliensis]. These species represent the main branches of the class Scaphopoda. From protobranch bivalves, representatives of the families Solemyidae [(5) Solemya occidentalis, from Florida; S. notialis, n. sp. from S.E. Brazil], Nuculanidae [(6) Propeleda carpentieri from Florida], and Nuculidae [(7) Ennucula puelcha, from south Brazil] are included. These species represent the main branches of the basal Bivalvia. The descriptions on the anatomy of S. occidentalis and of P. carpentieri are published elsewhere. The remaining are included here, for which a complete taxonomical treatment is performed. Beyond these species, representatives of other taxa are operationally included as part of the ingroup (indices are then shared with them), as a procedure to test the morphological monophyly of Diasoma. These taxa are: two lamellibranch bivalves [(8) Barbatia - Arcidae; (9) Serratina - Tellinidae; both published elsewhere;, and Propilidium (10) Patellogastropoda, and (11) Nautilus, basal Cephalopoda, based on basal taxa. The effective outgroups are (12) Neopilina (Monoplacophora) and (13) Hanleya (Polyplacophora). The phylogenetic analysis based on morphology revealed that the taxon Diasoma is supported by 14 synapomorphies, and is separated from Cyrtosoma (Gastropoda + Cephalopoda). Although they are not the main goal of this paper, the taxa Scaphopoda and Bivalvia are supported by 8 and by 7 synapomorphies respectively. The taxon Protobranchia resulted paraphyletic. Both scaphopod orders resulted monophyletic. The obtained cladogram is: ((((Coccodentalium carduus - Paradentalium disparile) (Polyschides noronhensis - Gadila brasiliensis)) ((Solemya occidentalis - S. notialis) (Propeleda carpenteri (Ennucula puelcha (Barbatia cancellaria - Serratina capsoides))))) (Propilidium curumim - Nautilus pompilius - Lolliguncula brevis)).

A new species of Euprognatha Stimpson, 1871 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Inachoididae) from off coast of northeastern Brazil

A new species of Euprognatha Stimpson, 1871 from off coast of Brazil (Canopus Bank, 02º15.3'00"S - 38º16.0'00"W) is described and illustrated, namely Euprognatha limatula n. sp. The new species is compared to its congeners. Lectotypes are designated for E. acuta A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 and E. granulata Faxon, 1893. A key to the species of Euprognatha is provided.

Do Código Florestal para o Código da Biodiversidade

Em face do gigantismo do território e da situação real em que se encontram os seus macro biomas - Amazônia Brasileira, Brasil Tropical Atlântico, Cerrados do Brasil Central, Planalto das Araucárias, e Pradarias Mistas do Brasil Subtropical - e de seus numerosos mini-biomas, faixas de transição e relictos de ecossistemas, qualquer tentativa de mudança no "Código Florestal" tem que ser conduzido por pessoas competentes e bioeticamente sensíveis. Por muitas razões, se houvesse um movimento para aprimorar o atual Código Florestal, teria que envolver o sentido mais amplo de um Código de Biodiversidades, levando em conta o complexo mosaico vegetacional de nosso território. Enquanto o mundo inteiro trabalha para a diminuição radical de emissão de CO2, o projeto de reforma proposto na Câmara Federal de revisão do Código Florestal defende um processo que significará uma onda de desmatamento e emissões incontroláveis de gás carbônico, fato observado por muitos críticos em diversos trabalhos e entrevistas. A utopia de um desenvolvimento com o máximo de florestas em pé não pode ser eliminada por princípio em função de mudanças radicais do Código Florestal, sendo necessário pensar no território total de nosso país, sob um ampliado e correto Código de Biodiversidade. Ou seja, um pensamento que envolva: as nossas grandes florestas (Amazônia e Matas Tropicais Atlânticas); o domínio das caatingas e agrestes sertanejos; planaltos centrais com cerrados, cerradões e campestres; os planaltos de araucárias sul-brasileiros; as pradarias mistas do Rio Grande do Sul; e os redutos e mini-biomas da costa brasileira e do Pantanal mato-grossense, e faixas de transição e contrato (core-áreas) de todos os domínios morfoclimáticos e fitogeográficos brasileiros).

Análise de um ciclone semi-estacionário na costa sul do Brasil associado a bloqueio atmosférico

Na primeira semana de maio de 2008, durante quatro dias, um ciclone em superfície permaneceu semi-estacionário na costa da região sul do Brasil. Este sistema foi responsável por chuvas e ventos fortes no Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina, os quais causaram muitos danos (queda de árvores, enchentes e desabamentos). O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o processo de formação e entender os mecanismos responsáveis pelo lento deslocamento do ciclone, já que a maioria dos ciclones nesta região possui deslocamento mais rápido. A equação de desenvolvimento de Sutcliffe mostrou que a advecção de vorticidade absoluta ciclônica na média troposfera e a advecção de ar quente na camada entre 1000-500 hPa foram mecanismos importantes para a ciclogênese. Neste período, o intenso aquecimento diabático também contribuiu para a ciclogênese, à medida que se contrapôs ao intenso resfriamento adiabático devido aos movimentos verticais ascendentes. A advecção de vorticidade absoluta ciclônica que favoreceu a ciclogênese esteve associada a um Vórtice Ciclônico em Altos Níveis (VCAN), que se formou numa região de anomalia de vorticidade potencial. O VCAN se manteve semi-estacionário e compôs o setor norte de um bloqueio do tipo dipolo. Tal bloqueio intensificou um anticiclone em superfície, situado a sul/leste do ciclone, o que contribuiu para o ciclone se manter semi-estacionário. O movimento atípico e lento do ciclone para sul, e em alguns períodos para sudoeste, esteve associado com advecções de vorticidade absoluta ciclônica na média troposfera e de ar quente no seu setor sul. Somente quando o bloqueio em níveis médios e a anomalia de vorticidade potencial em níveis médios/altos se enfraqueceram, o ciclone em superfície se afastou da costa sul do Brasil.

Técnicas de extrações e procedimentos de clean-up para a determinação de hidrocarbonetos policílicos aromáticos (HPA) em sedimentos da costa do Ceará

Extraction and clean-up are essential points in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) analysis in a solid matrix. This work compares extraction techniques and clean-up procedures for PAH analysis. PAH levels, their toxicological significance and source were also evaluated in the waters of the Cocó and Ceará rivers. The efficiency of PAH recovery was higher for the soxhlet and ultrasonic techniques. PAH recovery varied from 69.3 to 99.3%. Total PAH concentration (ΣHPA) varied from 720.73 to 2234.76 µg kg-1 (Cocó river) and 96.4 to 1859.21 µg kg-1 (Ceará river). The main PAH sources are pyrolytic processes and the levels were classified as medium so that adverse effects are possible.

Bleaching of melanin in the epidermis of South American fur seal and its application on enzyme immunohistochemistry

The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) is an amphibious marine mammal distributed along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America. The species is well adjusted to different habitats due to the morphology of its fin-like members and due to some adaptations in their integumentary system. Immunohistochemical studies are very important to evaluate the mechanisms of skin adaptation due the differential expression of the antigens present in the tissue depending of the region of the body surface. However, its strongly pigmented (melanin) epidermis prevents the visualization of the immuno-histochemical chromogens markers. In this study a melanin bleaching method was developed aimed to allow the visualization of the chromogens without interfering in the antigen-antibody affinity for immunohistochemistry. The analysis of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) index in the epidermis of A. australis by immunohistochemistry with diaminobenzidine (DAB) as chromogen was used to test the method. The bleaching of the melanin allowed to obtain the cell proliferation index in epidermis and to avoid false positive results without affecting the immunohistochemical results.

Comparative study of two autogenous graft techniques using piezosurgery for sinus lifting

PURPOSE: Maxillary sinus lifting is a technique, in which, a possible complication is sinus membrane perforation. The aim of this study was to compare two techniques using ultrasound surgery to perform autogenous graft for maxillary sinus lifting. METHODS: Ten rabbits were used in the study, one of them did not undergo surgery. The other nine rabbits had their maxillary sinuses filled with autogenous bone grafts collected from the external skull diploe in particulate form on the right side, and shaved on the left side, both with ultrasonic device. Data on bone density in left and right maxillary sinus, obtained by computed tomography in transverse and longitudinal sections, recorded 90 days after the grafts, were statistically compared. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two techniques that used shaved and particulate bone collected by means of ultrasonic device from rabbit skulls. CONCLUSION: Assessment of operative procedures led to the conclusion that piezoelectric ultrasound was shown to be a safe tool in the surgical approach to the maxillary sinus of rabbits, allowing sinus membrane integrity to be maintained during surgical procedures.

Imunofenótipo e evolução de câncer de mama: comparação entre mulheres muito jovens e mulheres na pós-menopausa

OBJETIVO: avaliar características clínicas, patológicas e moleculares de carcinomas mamários em mulheres muito jovens em comparação a tumores de mulheres na pós-menopausa. MÉTODOS: foram selecionados 106 casos de câncer de mama de mulheres jovens e 130 casos de mulheres pós-menopausa. Foram analisados dados clínicos (idade ao diagnóstico, estadiamento, ocorrência de metástases, tempo de sobrevida global e livre de doença), anátomo-patológicos (tamanho do tumor, tipo e grau histológico do tumor primário) e marcadores moleculares (receptores de estrógeno e progesterona, HER2, p53, p63, citoqueratinas 5 e 14 e EGFR) com uso da imunoistoquímica empregando microarranjo de tecido. Foi analisada a relação entre as características clínico-patológicas, imunoistoquímicas e de sobrevidas global e livre de doença. RESULTADOS: as pacientes muito jovens apresentaram maior frequência de nuliparidade (p=0,03), maior diâmetro dos tumores (p<0,000), estadiamento clínico mais avançado (p=0,01), maior número de linfonodos positivos (p=0,001) e tumores pouco diferenciados (p=0,004). A maioria das pacientes jovens recebeu tratamento com quimioterapia (90,8%) e radioterapia (85,2%) e em menor proporção com tamoxifeno (31,5%), comparado às mulheres na pós-menopausa. Observamos baixa positividade para o receptor de estrógeno (49,1%; p=0,01) e alta positividade para a proteína HER2 (28,7%; p=0,03) nas mulheres jovens. O fenótipo triplo-negativo foi observado em 29,6% no grupo jovem e em 20% nas mulheres na pós-menopausa. Os tumores de fenótipo basal foram mais frequentes nas mulheres jovens (50%). As metástases sistêmicas ocorreram em 55,3% dos casos nas jovens e em 39,2% nas idosas. As sobrevidas global e livre de doença em cinco anos foram, respectivamente, 63 e 39% para as mulheres jovens e 75 e 67% para o grupo de mulheres na pós-menopausa. CONCLUSÕES: carcinomas mamários de mulheres muito jovens têm características clínicas, patológicas e moleculares mais agressivas quando comparadas às mulheres acima de 50 anos.