Caracterização anatômica e química da folha e do sistema radicular de Hydrocotyle umbellata (Apiaceae)

A família Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), também denominada de pioneira das praias, é capaz de habitar locais de alto teor de salinidade, além de suportar a ação dos ventos e das ondas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da anatomia foliar e radicular e analisar constituintes químicos das folhas e do sistema radicular, caracterizando grupos químicos biologicamente ativos presentes nesses órgãos que permitam aplicações farmacológicas. O material foi coletado na região de Proteção Ambiental Iguape, Cananéia, Peruíbe. As folhas são dorsiventrais, com epiderme unisseriada, bordo regular, parênquima paliçádico com duas a três camadas e parênquima lacunoso com oito e nove camadas de células. É anfiestomática, apresentando grandes câmaras subestomáticas com maior incidência de estômatos na epiderme abaxial. O feixe vascular é colateral apresentando células de esclerênquima em forma de meia lua ao redor do xilema e do floema. O pecíolo apresenta contorno irregular, está envolvido por colênquima em toda sua extensão e apresenta grande quantidade de canais secretores entre os feixes vasculares. O rizoma apresenta contorno irregular com variação de 10 a 15 camadas de células de parênquima constituindo o córtex. O cilindro central é constituído por feixes colaterais delimitados pela endoderme. O periciclo é sinuoso e envolve totalmente os feixes vasculares. Sob a epiderme há uma faixa contínua de colênquima. A medula é constituída de células de parênquima de parede fina. H. umbellata apresentou triterpenos, saponinas, flavonóides, compostos poliacetilênicos e leucoceramidas. Folhas e rizomas apresentaram constituintes químicos semelhantes, com diferenças apenas na intensidade dos picos, o que denota diferença quantitativa entre as substâncias presentes. O rendimento do extrato do rizoma é menor que o rendimento das folhas.

O uso de praias arenosas com diferentes concentrações humanas por espécies de aves limícolas (Charadriidae e Scolopacidae) neárticas no sudeste do Brasil

As aves migratórias podem reconhecer humanos e animais domésticos como possíveis predadores, alterando seus padrões de abundância e comportamento de formação de bandos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar a abundância de aves migratórias neárticas, a freqüência de bandos e o número médio de aves por bando em áreas com alta e baixa concentração humana em uma região costeira de praia arenosa no sudeste do Brasil. As aves, pessoas e cães foram contados mensalmente entre novembro de 2006 a abril de 2007. Foram registradas seis espécies de aves (Arenaria interpres, Calidris alba, Calidris canutus, Calidris pusilla, Charadrius semipalmatus, Pluvialis dominica) nas duas áreas, no entanto somente C. canutus foi registrado exclusivamente na área com baixa concentração humana. Houve diferença significativa no número médio de pessoas e cães entre as áreas, mas não no número médio de aves. Não houve correlação entre o número de humanos e aves, e entre cães e aves. Adicionalmente, não houve diferença significativa na freqüência de bandos e número de indivíduos por bando entre as áreas. Os resultados deste estudo destacaram a sensibilidade de C. canutus na área com alta concentração humana e a necessidade de futuras investigações que determinem os limites máximos de concentração de pessoas e cães domésticos que as aves migratórias neárticas podem tolerar para a tomada de ações de proteção em áreas costeiras com ocupação humana.

Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) displaying beach hunting behavior in the Cananéia Estuary, Brazil: social context and conservation issues

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

Zoeal morphology of Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes) (Decapoda, Grapsidae) reared in the laboratory

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Microbiological quality of recreational waters in Araraquara, SP, Brazil

The microbiological flora of 108 water samples was explored to evaluate the role of recreational waters as a possible source of human diseases in Araraquara, S.P., Brazil. These waters included six swimming pools and three lakes with beaches. The number of total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, fecal streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and heterotrophic organisms was determined. As was the occurrence of Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), Mycobacteria, yeasts in general and dermatophytes. Shigella, Yersinia, EIEC and dermatophytes were not isolated. Other organisms or groups of microorganisms were found in variable proportions. From this study it is concluded that recreational waters used by the population of Araraquara, may be contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganism and this may serve as a source of human diseases.

Mapping oil spill environmental sensitivity in cardoso island state park and surroundings areas, São Paulo, Brazil

This study presents an environmental oil spill sensitivity map of Cardoso Island State Park, located in São Paulo state, Brazil, including some of its surrounding areas. This map was designed following the procedures determined by the Brazilian Federal Environment Organ (Ministry of the Environment), which separates coastal habitats in different littoral sensitivity indexes (LSI) to oil spills. We have also analysed some seasonal variations in morphologic and textural parameters at the local marine beaches that could affect their sensitivity, having found that they are more sensitive during summer due to a wider foreshore zone during these periods. Local most sensitive habitats are estuarine mangroves (LSI 10) and estuarine mud banks (LSI 9). Marine beaches were ranked LSI 3, and littoral rocky shores were subdivided in exposed flat rocky shores (LSI 1), boulder rocky shores (LSI 6) and sheltered rocky shores (LSI 8). Due to the elevated sensitivity of an estuarine system in the area, we considered necessary the installation of an Environmental Emergency Centre and the design of an emergency plan for the region in case of an accident resulting in oil spills within its vicinities. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Species distribution of the Halophilous-psamophilous community along the coast of the Espirito-Santo state

The purpose of the present work was the study of the composition and distribution of the species in halophilous-psamophilous communities, utilizing the square method in 10 beaches of the Espirito Santo coast. The data of presence and cover of each species for the calculation of frequency and dominance, respectively, were obtained from twenty contiguous square of each of five 20 meters samplings, in a total of one hundred squares for each beach. Mariscus pedunculatus, Panicum racemosum, Ipomoea pes-caprae, I. littoralis and Blutaparon portulacoides were the most dominant species in the analyzed beaches.

Os Brachyura semiterrestres Crustacea, Decapoda de Ilha Comprida, SP., Brasil

This work aims to analyse the faunistic composition of ''Ilha Comprida, SP, Brasil, in relation to semiterrestrial crabs. The collects were done during one year. The animals were handy sampled, and the colleting area comprised from Cananeia proximities to Icapara bar, towards north, including beaches, sand banks and mangroves. After each sample the animals were identified. The results obtained were similar those presented for other estuarine regions in São Paulo north coast. With reference to the species from Parana coast, we have got 2 species more. The crabs recorded are distributed in 3 Decapod families: Grapsidae, Ocypodidae and Xanthidae.

Coastal Marine Mapping as an Ecosystem Based Management - the case study of the Baixada Santista Region - São Paulo, Brazil

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

Isolamento e caracterização de candida albicans e outras leveduras de águas de recreação não marinha e de materiais clínicos

Candida albicans and other yeasts from recreational water or clinical materials were isolated. Sixty-six water samples, originating from eight swimming pools and five lakes with beaches were examined for the presence of these yeasts, by a membrane filter method and 'pour plate' technique. Sixty-two clinical materials from suspected cases of candidiasis were studied in the same period. Rhodotorula sp and C. albicans were more frequently isolated from lakes and swimming pools, respectively; C. albicans and C. parapsilosis from clinical materials. From 44 samples of C. albicans, 90,9% were serotype A, and 9,1%, serotype B; C. albicans from recreational waters belong only serotype A. No difference was observed in the M.I.C. of C. albicans strains from waters and clinical materials. All strains were susceptible to the antifungal drugs tested.

Fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Santa Catarina Island, Brazil: patterns of occurrence

A taxonomic survey on fungus-growing ants (Attini) was made at 14 beaches on Santa Catarina Island (SC), Brazil. The samplings were manual, in soil or litterfall, in the following habitats: sandy beach, herbaceous vegetation and shrubby vegetation. From 12 species of Attini (ten of Acromyrmex Mayr and two of Cyphomyrmex Mayr), the most frequent were Cyphomyrmex morschi Emery and Acromyrmex crassispinus Forel, collected, respectively, on eight and ten of the monitored beaches. Altogether, Sorensen's similarity coefficients were high (range: 0.59-0.80), in spite of the lower numbers of ant species on sandy beaches.

Circulação recente de sedimentos costeiros nas praias de santos durante eventos de tempestades: Dados para a gestão de impactos físicos costeiros

The beachs of Santos are situated in Santos Bay, central portion of paulista coast, in São Paulo state. This beachs are frequently affected by cold fronts with winds and currents from the South. These fronts are responsible for the removal and transport of sediments (sand) in Santos beaches. In order to quantify this sedimentation the channels of Santos were analysed, due to their function as box colectors of sediments during storm events. The channels are filled by sands, which volume in channels 1 to 6 was estimated, by using the length, width and height of sand sedimented in the channels, in the event of 22-27 april 2005. The chanels 2, 3 and 1 presented the larger volumes of sands, confirming that the central and SW portion of the beaches of Santos present higher levels of sedimentation or re-sedimentation. That is due to the transport by ocean waves and currents and currents from the Channel of the Port of Santos. This central portion suffer invasion of marine water over street and buildings, caracterizated of geological rise area.

Acute toxicity of waters from the urban drainage channels of Santos (São Paulo, Brazil)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of water which flows toward the beaches of Santos, SP, Brazil. Water samples were collected from eight urban drainage channels and a small creek, in March, April and August 2005. For each sample, some physical-chemical parameters were analyzed: pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, presence of free chlorine and total ammonia contents. Acute toxicity tests (48h) with Daphnia similis were also performed with the samples. The level of ammonia was relatively high in the majority of the samples (≥ 1.5 mg/L), and free chlorine was measurable in most of them. Acute toxicity was observed in four water samples (stations 3, 4, 5 and 7), at least in one occasion. The toxicity was positively correlated with the ammonia concentrations and salinity. Because acute toxicity was detected, actions aiming to control the pollution sources and improve the water quality are recommended.

Diversidade de microrganismos indicadores utilizados na avaliação da contaminação fecal de areias de praias recreacionais marinhas: Estado atual do conhecimento e perspectivas

Although the quality of sea recreational waters is already monitored by programs implanted in some Brazilian states, including the State São Paulo, little attention has been given to beach sands, which have been disregarded from the point of view of public health. However, this panorama is changing in recent years due to an increasing number of cases of mycoses and bacterial infections affecting people who frequent beaches and use sands as recreation places. This has caused greater concerns with the contamination of this environment, also measurable by the increase of the number of scientific works on sediments and recreational beach sands microbiota. Currently one knows that in general these sediments contain more microorganisms than the water and are therefore potential sources of contamination of human beings by pathogenic microorganisms. The results of works carried through in some countries are worrying, and have demonstrated the necessity of establishing standards and limits so that monitoring programs of the microbiological quality of beach sands are implanted. Such concern is especially high in Brazil, a country of a tropical climate where thousands of beaches, used for recreation, extend for almost eight thousand kilometers of the coast. In the context of Baixada Santista, studies carried through have shown that in certain situations beach sands can contain more microorganisms than waters and may be a risk to the health of users.

Densidade de Enterococcus sp em águas recreacionais e areias de praias do município de São Vicente-SP, Brasil e sua relação com parâmetros abióticos

Coastal cities attract a large number of tourists for their beautiful landscape and recreational activities, increasing the municipalities' income source. Thus, a need is clear for the establishment of beach quality monitoring programs to ensure bathers health. Although there is an effective monitoring program for recreational waters in Brazil there are no programs to certify the quality of beach sands. In this sense, the aim of this work was to analyze the density of bacteria from the genus Enterococcus in both sand and water from two beaches from São Vicente, São Paulo (Brazil) and correlate these densities to abiotic parameters such as: temperature, salinity, particle size, organic matter and tides). Water and sand samples were collected during February 2006 on the beaches of Gonzaguinha e Ilha Porchat and bacterial densities were determined by membrane filter technique. Temperature and salinity were measured in situ with a thermometer and a refractometer while particle size and organic matter were determined according to methods described by Suguio and Dean. There were significant differences between densities found in water and sand (p=0.004), being approximately 20 times higher in Gonzaguinha's beach sands. Similar results were found for Ilha Porchat beach samples, being the densities found in sand 3 times greater than those found in water. Both beaches showed a negative correlation between bacterial densities and salinity and temperature, suggesting a deleterious effect of these parameters on the bacterial community. On the other hand, no correlation was found between organic matter and particle size and bacterial densities. This work demonstrates that there is a great necessity for monitoring beach sand since the evaluation of beach quality is an important part of integrated coastal management programs.