Taxonomia, biologia reprodutiva e dieta da Raia Borboleta, Gymnura micrura (Myliobatiformes: Elasmobranchii)

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

The ultrastructural evaluation of digestive cells in the hepatopancreas of the Amazon River prawn, Macrobrachium amazonicum

The Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum is endemic to tropical South America and is being intensively exploited by artisanal fisheries in Brazil. Limited information is available about the nutritional requirements of M. amazonicum, although the production of this species is now technically feasible. The digestive process in this species is still unclear and investigation into the digestive cells of its hepatopancreatic epithelium is required. Thus, the hepatopancreas from 15 specimens were fixed in Karnovsky Solution and processed for Transmission Electron Microscopy. Our results indicate that E cells are located at the distal portion of the hepatopancreatic tubule and are involved in mitotic activity. The cylindrical R cells are sparse and are only found in the proximal portion of the hepatopancreatic tubule. According to its ultrastructural characteristics, this cell is involved in pinocytosis. M cells are generally found near the R cells. The F cells are scattered throughout the length of the hepatopancreatic tubules, and B cells are observed mainly in the proximal and middle regions. F cells and B cells are likely related to, respectively, the synthesis of enzymes and the intracelular digestion. R- and M cells are probably related to material storage. Thus, these findings provide basic information on the cell types that perform protein digestion in M. amazonicum, and will be useful in further nutritional research. The identification and characterization of digestive cells is an important step towards understanding the digestive mechanisms.

Size and sex compositions, length-weight relationship, and occurrence of the Brazilian sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon lalandii, caught by artisanal fishery from southeastern Brazil

Although the Brazilian sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon lalandii (Muller and Henle, 1839), is an inshore species widely distributed in the Western Atlantic from Panama to Uruguay, there is little available information on its biology. During a long-term study of small coastal sharks caught by gill net fisheries in southeastern Brazil (PROJETO CACAO), 3643 specimens of R. lalandii were examined, comprising 61.3% of the total sharks,and including all sizes classes, from 30 to 78,5 cm TL., and weights from 100 to 2950 g. The length-weight relationships were not significantly different between sexes, Overall sex ratio favoured the males slightly at the rate of 1.3: 1. Sex ratios, however, did differ significantly between season and size classes. This species occurred in this area all year long. Three seasonal size-class Occurrence patterns were recognized: (1) between October and March, the juveniles were more frequents (2) from April to July, adults were most common, and (3) from August to September, neonates were most numerically abundant. Such patterns we to associated with reproductive tactics that may reduce intra-specific and inter-specific competition with hammerhead shark neonates (Sphyrna lewini). probably result in reduced natural mortality of the offspring during their first few months. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.