Resource use and coexistence of two syntopic hylid frogs (Anura, Hylidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estratégias e modos reprodutivos de anuros (Amphibia) em uma poça permanente na Serra de Paranapiacaba, Sudeste do Brasil

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

Consórcio suíno-peixe: aspectos ambientais e qualidade do pescado

Amostras de músculo de carpa comum (Cyprinus carpio) e de água de três viveiros fertilizados com dejetos de suínos e de um viveiro em que os peixes foram alimentados com ração comercial para peixes foram analisadas durante seis meses. O objetivo foi observar a presença de bactérias patogênicas, como Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus e coliformes totais e fecais, em peixes comercializados in natura no município de Chapecó, Santa Catarina. Foram aferidos quinzenalmente, na água dos quatro viveiros, oxigênio dissolvido, pH, turbidez, alcalinidade total, dureza total, amônia, nitrato e ortofosfato, bem como a quantidade de coliformes totais e fecais. A análise microbiológica músculo dos peixes demonstrou ausência de Salmonella em todas as amostras. A contagem dos demais microrganismos manteve-se inferior ao limite máximo permitido pela legislação vigente, em todas as amostras. Portanto, os peixes analisados estavam aptos ao consumo humano, pois atenderam aos padrões recomendados pela Divisão Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária de Alimentos (DINAL). A comparação entre os viveiros fertilizados com dejetos de suínos e o viveiro fertilizado com ração comercial para peixes não apresentou diferença significativa, porém apresentou efeito significativo sobre oxigênio dissolvido, turbidez, alcalinidade total e amônia. A matéria orgânica foi responsável pelos maiores valores, com exceção da turbidez, que foi menor no viveiro fertilizado com ração comercial para peixes. Entretanto, após análise de todos os parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos da água dos viveiros, pode-se constatar que todos os viveiros se enquadraram nas classes II ou III da classificação de águas interiores estabelecida pelo CONAMA.

Floodplain construction in an anastomosed river

Fluvial environments and sedimentary facies involved in the floodplain (C2a type) construction of an anastomosed river system (Upper Parana River, Brazil) were studied. Sediment volume of floodplain deposits and sedimentation rate of each environment were obtained: channel (51.56%; 8.5 mm/yr), splay (33.85%; 1.27 mm/yr), pond (8.60%; 1.0 mm/yr), abandonment (3.64%; 3.87 mm/yr) and natural levee (3.41%; 2.34 mm/yr), reaching a total sedimentation rate average of 5.07 mm/yr. The causes of abandonment are also discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.

Influence of the iron source on the solar photo-Fenton degradation of different classes of organic compounds

In this work the influence of two different iron sources, Fe(NO3)(3) and complexed ferrioxalate (FeOx), on the degradation efficiency of 4-chlorophenol (4CP), malachite green, formaldehyde, dichloroacetic acid (DCA) and the commercial products of the herbicides diuron and tebuthiuron was studied. The oxidation of 4CP, DCA, diuron and tebuthiuron shows a strong dependence on the iron source. While the 4CP degradation is favored by the use of Fe(NO3)(3), the degradation of DCA and the herbicides diuron and tebuthiuron is most efficient when ferrioxalate is used. on the other hand, the degradation of malachite green and formaldehyde is not very influenced by the iron source showing only a slight improvement when ferrioxalate is used. In the case of formaldehyde, DCA, diuron and tebuthiuron, despite of the additional carbon introduced by the use of ferrioxalate, higher mineralization percentages were observed, confirming the beneficial effect of ferrioxalate on the degradation of these compounds. The degradation of tebuthiuron was studied in detail using a shallow pond type solar flow reactor of 4.5 L capacity and 4.5 cm solution depth. Solar irradiation of tebuthiuron at a flow rate of 9 L h(-1), in the presence of 10.0 mmol L-1 H2O2 and 1.0 mmol L-1 ferrioxalate resulted in complete conversion of this herbicide and 70% total organic carbon removal. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estimativas do Consumo e da Taxa de Passagem do Capim-Elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) sob Pastejo de Vacas em Lactação

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The role of spatial and temporal descriptors for neotropical tadpole communities in southern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Tolerance to high temperatures in tadpoles of Leptodactylus fuscus and Hyla fuscovaria in temporary ponds (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae, Hylidae)

In temporary ponds tadpoles of the frogs Leptodactylus fuscus and Hyla fuscovaria may be exposed to temperatures up to 40-44°C. Experimental exposure to high temperature revealed survivals after 30 min at 42°C for H. fuscovaria and at 44°C for L. fuscus. -from Authors

Breeding activity of the neotropical treefrog Hyla elegans (Anura, Hylidae)

Breeding of Hyla elegans was monitored from August 1991 to July 1992 at a temporary pond in Ubatuba, State of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Males began to call as they entered the chorus, and defended their calling sites from other males, at times with physical interactions. Females, however, were not aggressive toward either males or other females. We found a positive correlation between the numbers of females and males in the chorus, but no significant correlation between OSR (number of reproducing females/number of reproducing males) and the number of males present. OSR was highly male-biased; on average, there were 10 males for each female; this low OSR may explain low average mating success of males. Females chose males as mates freely, and males did not attempt to intercept females approaching other males. Males in amplexus were larger and heavier than unmated, calling males. In addition, snoutvent lengths of males and females in amplexus were positively correlated, and males were, on average, 0.81 the length of females. Experimentally paired males and females with smaller or larger ratios of SVLs had a lower percent of fertilization than pairs near the population average.

Redescription of Physalaemus spiniger (Anura: Leptodactylidae) and description of two new reproductive modes

We redescribe Physalaemus spiniger and describe its tadpole and its reproductive modes. This species has the following three alternative reproductive modes: (1) foam nest on pond and feeding tadpoles in pond (the typical mode for the genus Physalaemus); (2) foam nest on humid places on the forest floor near a pond, and feeding tadpoles in pond; (3) foam nest on water accumulated on the axils of terrestrial bromeliads and feeding tadpoles in pond. These last two modes were not included in the reviews of reproductive modes in anurans. The vocalizations of P. spiniger are described and compared with the vocalizations of P. nanus, a sibling species.

Abundância natural do isótopo estável de carbono (13C) de alguns itens alimentares e sua contribuição no crescimento de juvenis de pintado, Pseudoplatystoma corruscans (Agassiz, 1829) (Osteichthyes, Pimelodidae)

The aim of this study is to determine the natural abundance of carbon stable isotope (13C) of some food components and determine its contribution to the pintado juvenile growth, in laboratory conditions. 150 fishes were used with average weight of 1.39 g, and stocked in two net ponds with 125L each, during 60 days. Every 10 days a water sample was collected to analyse phytoplakton and zooplankton. Clacocera was dominant in the analysis of the stomach contents, following Chironomidae and Copepoda. A fish sample was collected in the beginning, and at the end of the experiment to analyses the isotopic signal. An average value of -20.94; -15.36 and -18.81 δ13C%o was obtained for phytoplankton, Cladocera and Chironomidae, respectively. Cladocera was the main carbon source and contribution with carbon average 89.24% in feeding this species, while the Chironomid contribution was 10.76%. The δ13C was effective as carbon tracer in food chain, because the consumer reflects its diet isotopicly.

Effect of floating macrophyte cover on the water quality in fishpond

A study was conducted during 23 days in order to evaluate the impact of floating aquatic macrophyte on the water quality of a fishpond. Water samples were collected in four points, three inside the pond and one in water inlet. Drastic reduction of dissolved oxygen was observed in the pond, down to 0.87 mg/L. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed for total CO 2, nitrite and ammonia with respect to inlet water (P1) and inside the pond (P2, P3 e P4). Chlorophyll a displayed an inverse relationship with phosphorus. Among nitrogen compounds, ammonia presented the highest concentrations except in water inlet where nitrate was higher, 513.33 μg/l, as well as the highest conductivity values. The pH was slightly acid. The results obtained showed that the macrophyte cover promoted an adverse effect in the medium. Under control, aquatic plants might impact positively due to its capacity to reduce total phosphorus and nitrate in the water column as observed in this study.

Holocene paleoclimatic reconstruction based on the Lagoa Dourada deposits, southern Brazil

The Lagoa Dourada is a circular-shaped pond formed on the Furnas Formation (Devonian of the Paraná Basin), filled by late Pleistocene - Holocene sediments. It lies in the hydrographic basin of the Guabiroba River, a tributary of the Tibagi River situated in the Campos Gerais region of the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. The pond is about 200 m in diameter and the maximum water depth is 5.4 m. Geological, chemical, textural and mineralogical studies on a core sample of the sediments collected from the Lagoa Dourada, 12.2 m thick, was obtained for investigations of paleoenvironmental changes as well as to provide additional data to support previous reconstructions based on palynomorphs and diatoms. Within the period recorded in the core, the pond has been filled by sandy material introduced by springs at the northern edge of the pond as well as by muddy material brought in by floodwaters of the Guabiroba River. Thus, the sandy layers could be interpreted as evidence of drier climates with consequent diminution of fluvial overflow, but with maintenance of the sandy deposits coming from springs. The occurrence of euhedral pyrite in the sediments, locally associated with gypsum, may indicate periods of increase in the organic matter content or an increase in the water salinity, what could be related to greater evaporation under drier paleoclimate regimes. Three cycles defined by an increase in the total carbon content of the sediments of the pond were observed. These cycles seem to correspond to an increase in the isotope ratio 13C/12C (δ13C). Several hypotheses can be suggested to explain the presence of these cycles, including the alternation of wetter or drier climatic phases. The convergence of the sedimentological data obtained during this study with previous microfossil paleoclimatic (pollens and diatoms) indicators and radiocarbon dating suggests that a drier paleoclimatic phase occurred around 8720±150 years B.P. The evidence for a second drier phase in more recent times is less consistent. This subsequent phase could correspond to the drier phase in southern and southeastern Brazil between 5000 and 3000 years B.P. as suggested by other paleoclimatic studies.

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.

Calling sites and acoustic partitioning in species of the Hyla nana and rubicundula groups (Anura, Hylidae)

We analysed spatial and acoustic partitioning among four species of Hyla belonging to two species-groups: nana (H. nana and H. sanborni) and rubicundula (H. elianeae and H. jimi). Field activities were conducted at three permanent ponds, from 1998 through 2001. Four attributes of the calling sites were analysed: perch height, distance of the perch from the edge of the pond, type of perch (vegetation) and the individual's position on the perch. There was extensive overlap in the four calling-site variables analysed. However, we found spatial segregation did occur in calling site height and the distance of perches from pond edges. Bioacoustic analyses revealed behavioural differences among species in calling activity, both time of onset and peak calling in chorus. There was acoustic partitioning among species the fundamental frequency of the advertisement calls, principally as a function of the temporal structure (e.g. note duration, rate of note repetition, duration and rate of repetition of the calling pulses). We propose that differences in physical attributes of calling site and in characteristics of calls allow these species to exist in sympatry.