In vitro exposure to fullerene C60 influences redox state and lipid peroxidation in brain and gills from Cyprinus carpio (Cyprinidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Phylogeography of Batrachospermum macrosporum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) from North and South America

Phylogeographic trends in Batrachospermum macrosporum Mont. were investigated using the mitochondrial intergenic spacer between the cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 and 3 genes (cox2-3). A total of 11 stream segments were sampled with seven in the coastal plain of North America and four in tropical areas of South America. Fifteen thalli were sampled from seven streams, 14 thalli from two streams, and eight thalli from two streams. There were 16 haplotypes detected using 149 individuals. of the eight haplotypes from locations in North America, all were 334 base pairs (bp) in length, and of those from South America, five were 344 bp, and three were 348 bp. Two individual networks were produced: one for the haplotypes from North America and another for those from South America, and these could not be joined due to the large number of base pair differences. This split between haplotypes from North and South America was confirmed with sequence data of the rbcL gene. There was very little genetic variation among the haplotypes from the North American locations, leading us to hypothesize that these are fairly recent colonization events along the coastal plain. In contrast, there was high variation among haplotypes from South America, and it would appear that the Amazon serves as a center of diversity. We detected considerable variation in haplotypes among streams, but frequently, a single haplotype in an individual stream segment, which is consistent with data from previous studies of other batrachospermalean taxa, may suggest a single colonization event per stream.

Neoplecostomus (Teleostei : Loricariidae) from the upper Rio Parana basin, Brazil, with description of three new species

Neoplecostomus paranensis was the only Neoplecostomus species known from the upper Rio Parana basin, and it was diagnosed from its congeners mainly by the absence or reduction of the adipose fin. In this study we describe three new Neoplecostomus species. All of them are promptly differentiated from N. paranensis by having a well-developed adipose fin. Furthermore, the new species are differentiated from congeners by morphometric and meristic traits, in addition to color pattern. Neoplecostomus paranensis is redescribed. We also provide an identification key to all Neoplecostomus species.

Characterization of a novel freshwater gigartinalean red alga from Belize, with a description of Sterrocladia belizeana sp nov (Rhodophyta)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Phylogenetic relationships in Kumanoa (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) species in Brazil with the proposal of Kumanoa amazonensis sp nov.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Population structure of two Astyanax Baird & Girard, 1854 (Teleostei, Characidae) species from upper Paraguaçu river

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Diversidade da ictiofauna do Alto Rio Paraná: composição atual e perspectivas futuras

É apresentada uma síntese sobre os peixes do Alto Paraná, com base em dados de coleções, dados de literatura e novas coletas. Trezentas e dez espécies, de 11 ordens e 38 famílias, são referidas para a drenagem, aumentando significativamente números anteriores. Dentre as espécies da área, 236 (76,1%) são autóctones, 67 (21,6%) alóctones e sete (2,3%) exóticas. As principais causas de ocorrência de espécies não nativas (alóctones e exóticas) foram a dispersão a partir do baixo Paraná, após a construção do Reservatório de Itaipu e o escape de pisciculturas. A maior parte das espécies referidas (65%) tem porte pequeno, sendo menor que 21 cm de comprimento; dentre essas, a maioria ocorre apenas em riachos e cabeceiras. Apesar da ictiofauna do Alto Paraná ser uma das melhor conhecidas e mais estudadas, o número de espécies descritas ou referidas para a área tem crescido exponencialmente, o que indica que a riqueza apresentada está longe de representar a realidade. de fato, várias novas espécies têm sido descritas nos últimos anos e cerca de 50 novas espécies, já reconhecidas, estão em fase de descrição. A melhoria no conhecimento sobre a ictiofauna do Alto Paraná é proporcional ao número de pesquisadores envolvidos em estudos na bacia e reflete, de modo inequívoco, iniciativas recentes que têm estimulado e incrementado pesquisas taxonômicas, facilitado o acesso ao material depositado em coleções científicas e aumentado as coletas em áreas e ambientes pouco amostrados. Entretanto, mantido o ritmo de descrições de novas espécies ocorrido até agora nessa última década, as 50 novas espécies já reconhecidas estariam descritas apenas dentro de dez anos, um tempo demasiadamente longo. Por essa razão é muito importante que a comunidade científica e os órgãos de fomento encontrem e viabilizem iniciativas de modo a aumentar esse ritmo de descrições de novos táxons e disponibilizar esses novos nomes mais rapidamente.

Analytical procedure for total mercury determination in fishes and shrimps by chronopotentiometric stripping analysis at gold film electrodes after microwave digestion

A method for the total mercury determination in fish and shrimps employing chronopotentiometric stripping analysis on gold film electrodes is described. Fish and shrimp tissues were digested using a microwave oven equipped with closed vessels. We developed a microwave heating program which decomposed all the samples employing diluted nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The proposed method was validated by analyzing a certified reference material and then applied for different fish species from fresh water and seawater acquired in local markets of São Paulo city, Brazil. The Brazilian legislation establishes 0.5 and 1 mg per kilogram of fish as upper limit of mercury for omnivorous and predator species, respectively. Except for blue shark tissues, the mercury content was situated below 0.5 mu g g(-1) for all the analyzed samples. The detection limit of the proposed method was calculated as 5 ng g(-1) of sample utilizing 5 minutes of electrodeposition (+300 mV vs. Ag/AgCl) on the gold electrode. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of the intertidal sediments of Pereque Beach, Guaruja (SP), Brazil

Physical and chemical characteristics of intertidal sediments and their relationships with bacteria and cyanobacteria, were analyzed at four stations at Pereque Beach. Granulometric analysis showed that Pereque beach has sediment that is classified as sand. The lowest value of the sediment C/N rates (6.08), mainly due to a higher concentration of organic nitrogen, was found at the northern part of Pereque Beach, where organic matter of marine source was more prominent. In this area, density (9.6 x 106 cells cm(-3)), biomass (1992.04 ngC cm(-3)) and activity of bacteria were higher than at the southern end. In contrast, cyanobacteria density varied from 2.0 to 4.0 x 10(5) cells cm(-3), with biomass and total chlorophyll a of the sediment being higher at the southern part, where there are water input from Pereque River and higher organic matter of continental origin. The variability in the microbial population is discussed in the light of the sediment granulometry, organic matter quality, fresh water inflow and pollution. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Postembryonic development of Macrobrachium petronioi (Caridea : Palaemonidae) in the laboratory

Macrobrachium petronioi, a native Brazilian fresh-water shrimp, was captured along the coast of Rio Branco, Cananeia, São Paulo State, Brazil. The eggs were green-black in early development and the average size was 1.21 mm by 0.98 mm. Macrobrachium petronioi has no free-swimming larval phase. However, newly hatched larvae possessed several zoea I characters. Therefore, they were clearly more developed than newly hatched larvae of other species of Macrobrachium with prolonged larval development. The average duration of larval development in M. petronioi was 5.5 days. During early development, the larvae subsisted on stored yolk. After the third molt, the postlarvae accepted food. The three zoeal stages prior to the postlarval stage were described and characterized, with detailed morphological analyses. This species has a partially abbreviated type of development. The larval development of M. petronioi is distinguished from that of M. potiuna.

SPASMOGENIC NONCHOLINERGIC ACTIVITY OF A DIGESTIVE GLAND HOMOGENATE OF THE AMPHIBIAN SNAIL POMACEA-LINEATA SPIX-1827

The digestive gland of Pomacea lineata, a prosobranch gastropod mollusc inhabiting both fresh water and land, does not contain cholinomimetic compounds as do the glands of species of Aplysia, marine opisthobranch gastropods, in which both acetylcholine and urocanylcholine are present. The only pharmacological action detected for the digestive gland of Pomacea was spasmogenic activity of a crude homogenate containing 0.1 g tissue equivalents on the snail's own esophagus bathed in 10 ml of a physiological solution prepared on the basis of the animal's hemolymph composition. The spamodic activity was not blocked by atropine, bromlysergic acid diethylamide or anthazoline.

Yeasts and others parameters of pollution of the Ribeirao Claro stream in Rio Claro, São Paulo

The main water source of the Rio Claro municipal district (DAAE) was analysed for determining the level of organic contamination. Temperature, pH, light penetration, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved phosphate, ortophosphate, ammonia, heterotrofic bacteria, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, total yeasts and fermentative yeasts were analysed during one year with samples being collected on a monthly basis. Bathing quality of the water from sites 1, 2 and 3 were classified, respectively, as Satisfactory, Very Good and Improper based on fecal coliform counts. Total yeast counts were appropriate as a complement for the appraisal of fresh water contamination by coliform counts. Seventeen yeast species belonging to genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Kloeckera, Pichia and Rhodotorula were found but none of them could be correlated with a level of contamination. Candida famata, C. robusta-like and C. colliculosa were isolated at all of the sites and between the five species found only at the more polluted site, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was prevalent.

Moenkhausia celibela: a new species from the Amazon basin, Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influência da precipitação pluviométrica nas características físicas, química e higiênico-sanitária da água de trés mananciais de abastecimento público.

Aiming to know the influence of the pluviometric precipitation over the physical chemical and bacteriological characteristics of the water coming from three sources of public supply, and to verify the probable origin of faecal contamination, tests of total coliforms, faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and mesophilic microorganisms, as well as the determination of pH, temperature and turbidity of 156 water samples were done. The samples were taken from a stream, a drain and an artesian well, located in the city of Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. The results obtained showed that the occurrence of pluviometric precipitation determined a significant increase of the number of total coliforms in the water samples from the stream. The use of the ratio CF/EF, indicate the probable origin of the faecal contamination only in the samples of the water coming from the stream, which were defined as being of human origin. In relation to the physical-chemical composition it was noticed that the influence of the pluviometric precipitation over the turbidity appeared to be higher and significant in the samples of water of the stream.

Uso de macroalgas para avaliação da Poluição orgânica no Rio Preto, noroeste do estado de São Paulo.

The Preto River, located in the northwest of São Paulo State, receives a total wastewater load of 15.150 kg DBO day-1, from which 13.685 kg DBO day-1 (90.5%) corresponds to domestic sewage, and the city of São José do Rio Preto contributes with 12.400 kg DBO day-1 (90% of domestic sewage). During the period from August 1990 through January 1991, monthly sampling was carried out to evaluate the use of macroalgae as bioindicator of organic pollution. Five sampling sites were established along the main river and the following variables were analised: temperature, conductance, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, total and fecal coliforms, and composition and abundance of macroalgal communities. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, correlation coefficient, cluster analysis (four different approaches) and converted to biological indices (species deficit, relative pollution, saprobity, diversity and uniformity indices). A wide range in water quality was found (particularly for conductance, oxygen, BOD and COD) among the sampling sites, which were classified into three groups (polluted, moderately polluted and unpolluted/weakly polluted). As regards the occurrence and abundance of macroalgae the Rhodophyta were found only in unpolluted or weakly polluted sites, whereas Cyanophyta occurred mostly under high pollution load; the Chlorophyta species were observed under a wide range of conditions. Among the biological indices, saprobity was the most sensitive and correlated to all water variables and the other indices. Cluster analyses showed that the composition of macroalgal communities was consistent with the levels of organic pollution in the Preto River.