Feeding activity of Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 and Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae) in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil

The feeding activity along the day cycle and the time consumed for extracellular digestion were evaluated in the portunids C. ornatus and C. danae. Swimming crabs were obtained from trawling in Ubatuba bay, São Paulo, Brazil, during both the rainy and dry seasons. In each season, daily scheduled samples were taken at dawn (±6 h), noon (±12 h), dusk (±18 h) and midnight (±24 h). All individuals were dissected and the degree of stomach replenishment was recorded. In order to estimate the time elapsed for extracellular digestion, crabs were fed, and groups were dissected at 30 min intervals to check the conditions of their stomachs. In general, both species show a higher feeding activity during periods of lower light intensity, as evidenced by an increased percentage of full stomachs in dusk and midnight samples. The obtained results support higher feeding activity at night in these species and indicate short time for extracellular digestion, not exceeding 8 h. Nevertheless, full stomachs were recorded in all sampling schedules. In this case, it should be considered that elimination of certain food items such as fish bones, mollusk shells and carapace fragments of crustaceans could take more time than other items. Additionally, some crab species could require a cycle of cell replacement in the midgut gland epithelium until they can take their next meal.

Physiological responses associated with capture and crowding stress in matrinxã Brycon cephalus (Gunther, 1869)

The dynamics of plasma cortisol, blood glucose, plasma chloride and liver glycogen were investigated in matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) submitted to capture and various periods of crowding. A total of 400 fish (700 ± 22 g weight) were distributed in four ponds divided into four 50-m2 squares (25 fish/square, 350 gL-1), where they were acclimated for 30 days. On the sampling day, after 24 h without food, all fish from three squares were transferred to the fourth square. Six fish were sampled before the procedure (control group, zero time) and 1, 3, 6 and 24 h after the capture and crowding. Each sampling was performed in a different pond to prevent additional stress. Fish were anaesthetized and blood and liver collected for biochemical analysis. Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, ammonia and nitrite levels were within acceptable levels for matrinxã rearing. Slight but not significant increases were verified in plasma cortisol and blood glucose levels, as were decreases in plasma chloride and liver glycogen levels. The results suggest that matrinxã is highly tolerant to the procedures of capture and short-term crowding.

Mitigating stress effects during transportation of matrinxã(Brycon amazonicus Günther, 1869; Characidae) through the application of calcium sulfate

This study verified the effects of CaSO4 on physiological responses of the tropical fish matrinxãBrycon amazonicus(200.2 ± 51.1 g) in water containing CaSO4 after a 4-h transportation at concentrations of: 0, 75, 150, and 300 mg L-1. Blood samples were collected prior to transportation (initial levels), immediately after packaging, at arrival, and 24 h and 96 h after transportation (recovery). Cortisol levels increased after ackaging (118.2 ± 14.2 ng ml-1), and decreased slightly after transportation in water containing CaSO4 (106.8 ± 14.1), but remained higher than initial levels (21.0 ± 2.6 ng ml)1). Fish kept at 150 mg L-1 CaSO4 reached the pre-transportation levels at 24 h of recovery. Blood glucose increased after transportation in all treatments (8.2 ± 0.2 mmol L-1) and declined after full recovery to values below initial levels (4.8 ± 0.1 mmol L-1). Chloride levels did not change in CaSO4 treatments; serum sodium concentrations decreased after packaging and after transportation. Serum calcium levels did not differ among treatments, but decreased after packaging and increased at 96 h of recovery. Hematocrit and the number of red blood cells were higher in all treatments after packaging and arrival, except in fish exposed to 300 mg L-1 CaSO4. Mean corpuscular volume increased in 75 mg L-1 CaSO4, which reached the higher VCM after transportation. Hemoglobin levels increased only after transportation, regardless of calcium sulfate levels. Handling before transportation and transportation itself were both stressful to fish; calcium sulfate at concentrations tested in the present work had a moderate influence in the reduction of stress responses. © 2009 Blackwell Verlag, Berlin.

Additions to the known distribution of Epipompilus aztecus (Cresson, 1869) and E. excelsus (Bradley, 1944) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)

Knowledge about the species distribution of Epipompilus Kohl, 1884, is largely based on the records from the species description. Recent efforts in South American bodiversity studies indicate that knowledge about the distribution of Epipompilus species in the region is in an early stage. Two new records of E. aztecus were obtained for the semideciduous Atlantic Forest, in central Brazil, and one record for the Amazonian Forest in northern Brazil, indicating that its distribution extends between Central and South America. The new records of E. excelsus were obtained mainly from the Atlantic Forest highlands, indicating that this species is commonly found in the southeastern South American Central Plateau and restricted to forest ecosystem of this region. © 2010 Eduardo Fernando dos Santos and Fernando Barbosa Noll.

The effects of the social hierarchy destabilization on the foraging activity of eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus styx Richards, 1940 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae)

The genus Mischocyttarus comprises 245 species of neotropical basal eusocial wasps. They form small colonies (rarely more than few tens of individuals); castes are morphologically undifferentiated and determined behaviorally by agonistic interactions. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of the experimental disruption of social hierarchy on foraging activity of Mischocyttarus cerberus styx. We observed six colonies in postemergence phase and recorded data on the foraging activity under two experimental conditions: (1) removal of lower-ranked females and (2) removal of higher ranked females, except the queen. Our results showed that the removal of higher-ranked females had higher effect on the number of foraging trips of M. cerberus styx than the removal of lower-ranked females (the number of foraging trips/hour decreased by 66.4 and 32.7, resp.). Such results are likely due to the social organization of this species and the presence of a distinct class of females, which in this study were regarded as intermediates. Our data also showed that, irrespective of the hierarchical status of the females, the removal of two or three individuals affected significantly the number of foraging trips in this species. Copyright 2011 Vanderlei Conceio Costa Filho et al.

Alfredo Mesquita: Teatro e crítica na São Paulo de 1940 a 1960

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A construção da verdade nos crimes de defloramento (1920-1940): práticas e representações do discurso jurídico na Comarca de Bauru (SP)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dinâmica populacional do siri azul Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunoidea) na região de Ubatuba, SP, Brasil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A Educação secundária no interior paulista: estudo histórico sobre o ginásio estadual de Matão (1940-1965)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A crítica da elite letrada à incorporação do homem-massa na Argentina na década de 1940: a Revista Sur em confronto com o Peronismo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A representação do sertão na metrópole: a construção de um gênero musical (1929-1940)

Pós-graduação em História - FCHS

Democracia, comunismo e reformas na Venezuela de Rómulo Betancourt (1940-1964)

Pós-graduação em História - FCHS

Teorias raciais e interpretação histórica: o Instituto Histórico e Geográfico de São Paulo (1894-1940)

Pós-graduação em História - FCLAS

“Um brinde aos assinantes!”: os Almanaques do jornal O Estado de S. Paulo (1896, 1916, 1940)

Pós-graduação em História - FCLAS