Considerações sobre a reprodução de duas espécies de raias (Myliobatiformes, Potamotrygonidae) na região do Alto Rio Paraná, Sudeste do Brasil

This article presents preliminary information about the reproduction of two species of freshwater stingrays of the genus Potamotrygon, found in the Upper Parana River (Southwest Brazil), where these animals are exotic. Males of P. motoro and P. falkneri become sexually mature around 270 mm and 260 mm of disc width (DW), respectively. Females become sexually mature around 330 mm of DW in P. motoro and 325 mm in P. falkneri. In both species, females are bigger and heavier than males, reaching about 700 mm of DW and 20 kg. Copulating has not been recorded, but one courtship ritual has been observed during the dry season. Mature males present a different dentition from females and young males, which is probably related to their reproductive behavior instead of to their feeding habit. The female fertility has varied from one to three offspring. A miscarriage has been observed at different stages of embryonic development always when pregnant females were captured. In spite of the great history of anthropization of the study area, it seems that hydrological cycles are related to the reproduction of stingrays. Nevertheless, it would be necessary to conduct deeper studies to verify or not this influence.

Ultrastructural features of the fat body and oenocytes of Rhinocricus padbergi Verhoeff (Diplopoda, Spirobolida)

The fat body of the diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi is located in two preferential areas of its body: a) immediately below the tegument, denominated parietal, and b) filling the body cavity, close to the viscera, mainly the ovaries and alimentary canal, denominated perivisceral.Ultrastructurally, its cells, the adipocytes, presented varied morphology and contained organelles indicating that they are cells that mainly produce and store lipids and proteins. The presence of cells similar to the oenocytes found in insects was observed for the first time in diplopods, associated to the fat body of R. padbergi. Our observations suggest that this tissue probably maintains activity cycles, since the presence of cells undergoing apoptosis was detected.

Microspines in the pylorus of Pseudonannolene tricolor and Rhinocricus padbergi (Arthropoda, Diplopoda)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sazonalidade e dieta frugívora do saí-andorinha Tersina viridis (Illiger, 1911) em reflorestamento da mata ciliar do Rio Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo, Brasil

Segundo a literatura, Tersina viridis (Illiger, 1911) possui hábito gregário sazonal em deslocamentos locais. Os reais motivos desses deslocamentos ainda são poucos conhecidos. em reflorestamento de mata ciliar do rio Mogi-Guaçu, SP, foi possível quantificar a variação sazonal mensal na densidade populacional durante um ano. O número de indivíduos aumentou substancialmente durante a estação seca e ausência durante a estação chuvosa, assim, caracterizando um comportamento fortemente sazonal de ocorrência nesse local. Provavelmente T. viridis possui algumas rotas de deslocamentos quando aparecem em grandes agregados no período mais seco na região do interior do estado de São Paulo e vizinhanças. A grande abundância de algumas espécies de plantas ornitocóricas pode ser alguns dos motivos que determinam a rota desses deslocamentos na região estudada, e não o padrão geral da fenologia da frutificação das espécies ornitocóricas.

Acute and subchronic exposure of diplopods to substrate containing sewage mud: Tissular responses of the midgut

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

The invasion of five alien species in the Delta do Parnaiba Environmental Protection Area, Northeastern Brazil

Marine biological invasions have been regarded as one of the major causes of native biodiversity loss, with shipping and aquaculture being the leading contributors for the introductions of alien species in aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, five aquatic alien species (one mollusk, three crustaceans and one fish species) were detected during dives, shore searches and from the fisheries on the coast of the Delta do Parnaiba Environmental Protection Area, in the States of Piaui and Maranhao, Northeastern Brazil. The species were the bicolor purse-oyster Isognomon bicolor, the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the Indo-Pacific swimming crab Charybdis hellerii and, the muzzled blenny Omobranchus punctatus. Ballast water (I. bicolor, C. hellerii, and O. punctatus) and aquaculture activities (L. vannamei and M. rosenbergii) in adjacent areas are the most likely vectors of introduction. All exotic species found have potential impact risks to the environment because they are able to compete against native species for resources (food and habitat). Isognomon bicolor share the same habitat and food items with the native bivalve species of mussels and barnacles. Litopenaeus vannamei share the same habitat and food items with the native penaeids such as the pinkspot shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis, the Southern brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus subtilis, and the Southern white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti, and in the past few years L. vannamei was responsible for a viral epidemics in the cultivation tanks that could be transmitted to native penaeid shrimps. Charybdis hellerii is also able to cause impacts on the local fisheries as the species can decrease the populations of native portunid crabs which are commercialized in the studied region. Macrobrachium rosenbergii may be sharing natural resources with the Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum. Omobranchus punctatus shares habit with the native redlip blenny Ophioblennius atlanticus and other fishes, such as the frillfin goby Bathigobius soporator. Some immediate remedial measures to prevent further introductions from ballast water and shrimp farm ponds should be: (i) to prevent the release of ballast water by ship/vessels in the region; (ii) to reroute all effluent waters from shrimp rearing facilities through an underground or above-ground dry well; (iii) to install adequate sand and gravel filter which will allow passage of water but not livestock; (iv) outdoor shrimp pounds located on floodable land should be diked, and; (v) to promote environmental awareness of those directly involved with ballast water (crews of ship/vessels) and shrimp farms in the region. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 909-923. Epub 2010 September 01.

Bioaccumulation of Microcystins In Lettuce

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

Microfungal 'Weeds' in the Leafcutter Ant Symbiosis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anatomia de raízes de nove espécies de Bromeliaceae (Poales) da região amazônica do estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphological architecture of Actinocephalus (Koern.) sano (Eriocaulaceae-Poales)

Actinocephalus exhibits perhaps more diversity in habit than any other genus of Eriocaulaceae. This variation is largely a result of differences in the arrangement of the paraclades. Based on the analysis of stem architecture of all 25 species of Actinocephalus, the following patterns were established: (1) leaf rosette, with no elongated axis, instead the axillary paraclades originating directly from the short aerial stem, (2) rosette axis continuing into an elongated axis with spirally arranged paraclades, (3) an elongated axis originating from a rhizome, with ramified paraclades, and (4) an elongated axis originating from a short aerial stem, with paraclades arranged in a subwhorl. The elongated axis exhibits indeterminate growth only in pattern 4. Patterns 3 and 4 are found exclusively in Actinocephalus; pattern I occurs in many other genera of Eriocaulaceae, while pattern 2 is also found in Syngonanthus and Paepalanthus. Anatomically, each stem structure (i.e., paraclade, elongated axis, short aerial stem, rhizome) is thickened in a distinctive way and this can be used to distinguish them. Specifically, elongated axes and paraclades lack thickening, thickening of short aerial stems results from the primary thickening meristem and/or the secondary thickening meristem. Thickening of rhizomes results from the activity of the primary thickening meristem. (c) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

The Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) as a secondary seed disperser of Eugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) in a Restinga forest of southeastern Brazil

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

Species composition and plant use in old urban homegardens in Rio Claro, Southeast of Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Biologia populacional de Cyphocarax modestus (Osteichthyes, Curimatidae) no córrego Ribeirão Claro, município de Rio Claro (SP)

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

Feeding of Oligosarcus hepsetus (Cuvier, 1829) (Characiformes) in the Serra do Mar State Park - Santa Virgínia Unit, São Paulo, Brazil

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

Reprodução e alimentação de Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) em rios do Núcleo Santa Virgínia, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, SP

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