Reproductive Strategies of Brazilian Lizards of the Genus Tropidurus Rodrigues, 1987 (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in the Temporal and Spatial

Reproductive strategy is the set of adaptations that promote the most efficient way that the species will survive under the particular conditions of a determined environment. Understanding these adaptations is important and can help pinpoint populations indicator of environmental changes. Spermatogenesis is a measurable biological process of these adaptations in spatial and temporal scales. We analyzed the morphology of the testes and oviducts of the lizard species that comprise the genus Tropidurus, taking into account the geographical distribution and sympatric relations. For the analysis and the testes were removed from the middle part of the oviducts from Tropidurus etheridge, T oreadicus, T itambere, T spinulosus and T Guarani species, collected in different places in the Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The reproductive period is synchronous for males and females and occurs in September, October and November. Reproductive males were characterized. In the testes are seminiferous tubules with germ cells at different stages of spermatogenesis, with a high epithelium, at present light, free spermatozoa in the lumen and reduction of interstitial tissue. For females, the reproduction peak occurs when the oviduct epithelium is high with secretions and basal nucleus. These months are characterized in the sampled areas over a period of heavy rain and high temperatures. The decline of reproductive period was observed in both sexes, between April and August. Low reproduction in males is characterized by ample light, absence of sperm, only germ cells in the early stages of spermatogenesis are observed (a few spermatogonia and spermatocytes) and interstitial tissue wide. In females, the period of reproductive decline is marked by the absence of unicellular glands in the oviduct epithelium, with higher affinity with the dye. This period corresponds to low rainfall periods and lower temperatures. We propose an analysis of zoological samples; this is a proposal to facilitate the work of many researchers through access to the species, especially rare species.

Ventilation of the giant nests of Atta leaf-cutting ants: does underground circulating air enter the fungus chambers?

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

Intrageneric Karyotypic Variation in Pseudopaludicola (Anura: Leiuperidae) and Its Taxonomic Relatedness

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

Hunting and use of terrestrial fauna used by Caicaras from the Atlantic Forest coast (Brazil)

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

Desenvolvimento in vitro de copo-de-leite: efeito das concentrações de sacarose e de ácido giberélico

Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is appreciated as cut flower and for the composition of gardens. However, many pathogens affect this species. By the traditional method of propagation, some units of new seedlings can only be produced annually. Tissue culture allows fast large-scale clonal propagation and provides healthy uniform plants. During the in vitro process, type and concentration of growth regulator could affect the growth of seedlings. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine sucrose and GA(3) concentrations to increase the efficiency of the in vitro multiplication of calla lily. After 60 days, the length of the above ground part and the roots, the number of sprouts, roots and leaves, above ground part and root fresh weight of seedlings were evaluated. The experimental design was entirely randomized with four replications. It was necessary the addition of 60.5 g L-1 sucrose associated to 5 mg L-1 GA(3) to obtain hight sprouts number. For higher length of the above ground part the addition of 45.3 g L-1 sucrose and 10 mg L-1 GA(3) was enough. Better results in the root length and number of roots were observed only in the sucrose presence, in concentrations in the range of 51.13 - 56.5 g L-1.

Ultrastructural and Cytochemical Aspects of Metamorphosis in the Midgut of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae)

The midgut of Apis mellifera is remodeled during metamorphosis. The epithelium and, to a lesser extent, the muscular sheath degenerate between the end of the last larval instar and the onset of pupation (prepupa).The larval epithelium is shed to the midgut lumen and digested, while a new epithelium is reconstructed from larval regenerative cells. During pupation, some reorganization still occurs, mainly in brown-eyed pupae. In pharate adult, the midgut wall shows the characteristics of adult, although some cells have pycnotic nuclei. The localization of alkaline and acid phosphatases showed that these enzymes were not involved in the reabsorption of the midgut wall.

Chionanthus greenii (Oleaceae), a new species from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Chionanthus greenii Lombardi, a new species of Oleaceae, is described and illustrated. It is distinguished by the unique combination of strigose indument, short congested inflorescences, small corolla lobes and reniform anthers, which do not match any described South American species. © The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 2006.

Chromosomal similarities and differences among four Neotropical Elateridae (Conoderini and Pyrophorini) and other related species, with comments on the NOR patterns in Coleoptera

This work deals with the comparative cytogenetic analysis of four Neotropical Elateridae species and reviews the nucleolar organizer region (NOR) patterns on Coleoptera chromosomes, for the first time. The cytogenetic characterization of Conoderus malleatus (Conoderini), Pyrearinus candelarius, Pyrophorus divergens and Pyrophorus punctatissimus (Pyrophorini) was accomplished through the study of mitotic and meiotic cells submitted to standard (Giemsa) and differential staining [silver impregnation and GC-specific chromomycin A 3 (CMA 3) plus AT-specific 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorochromes]. The analysis of spermatogonial cells revealed the diploid numbers: 2n = 17 in C. malleatus and 2n = 15 in P. candelarius, P. divergens and P. punctatissimus. In these species, the X0 type sex-determination system and the acrocentric morphology of almost all chromosomes were observed. The study of meiotic cells of the four species revealed the occurrence of total synapsis between the autosomes, the presence of one terminal or interstitial chiasma in the majority of the bivalents, and the reductional behaviour and regular segregation of all chromosomes. Although the three Pyrophorini species demonstrated many similar karyotypical characteristics, there was one discrepancy, which was noted in the diplotene cells and concerns the number of bivalents with two chiasmata; P. candelarius only presented one bivalent, P. divergens showed two bivalents and P. punctatissimus exhibited up to four bivalents with two chiasmata. Testicular cells impregnated with silver nitrate demonstrated two terminal NORs located on the fourth autosomal pair of the Conoderini species and on the second autosomal pair of the three Pyrophorini representatives. Use of CMA 3/distamycin A (DA)/DAPI staining on the P. candelarius and P. punctatissimus chromosomes revealed that the CMA 3 labelled regions were coincident with the NORs. The main strategies of karyotypical differentiation that have occurred among the four Elateridae species and other related species, and the general trends of the NOR shifts during Coleoptera chromosomal evolution are discussed in this work. © 2007 The Authors.

Snake assemblage in a disturbed grassland environment in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil: Population fluctuations of Liophis poecilogyrus and Pseudablabes agassizii

A mark-recapture study of a snake assemblage using pitfall traps with drift fences was carried out in a disturbed grassland environment (e.g. cattle breeding and cultivations), located in the Pampa Biome, in the central region of the Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. From February 2001 to January 2004 we caught 272 snakes belonging to 20 species from the following families: Elapidae (5%), Viperidae (10%), and Colubridae (85%). The assemblage had a unimodal seasonal pattern of activity, and the highest number of captures occurred between September and May. There was a positive and significant correlation between the number of captures and monthly minimum and maximum average temperatures. Recruitment was observed from January to April. During the study, the area was affected by human activities, which altered the community structure: Pseudablabes agassizii was negatively affected by habitat devastation while Liophis poecilogyrus took advantage of this. Our results reinforced the impression that Pseudablabes agassizii is a habitat specialist species. We extend the understanding of the susceptibility of this species to environmental destruction in open natural environments of South America, and propose its use as a potential bio-indicator of the Pampa biome. We also discuss the importance of conservation strategies for snakes in grasslands of southern Brazil. © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2007.

Resistance of rose rootstocks to Meloidogyne hapla nematode

Roses are widely used in landscaping. One of the most important fitossanitary problems of this ornamental plant in gardens is the fitonematodes, especially Meloidogyne hapla, which is the most important one in colder climate regions. This work had the objective of study the resistance of nine rose rootstocks (Rosa multiflora 'Paulista', R. multiflora 'Japanese', R. multiflora 'Iowa', R. multiflora 'Kopman's', R. indica × multiflora, R. indica 'Mayor', R. sp. 'Natual Brier', R. manetti and R. canina 'Inermis') to Meloidogyne hapla nematode. Ten replications of each rootstock were used. The roots, collected in a commercial area of cut roses, visually had galls there were isolated and identified. The inoculum of M. hapla was previously produced in rose and tomatoes seedlings under greenhouse conditions. The plants were harvested ninety days after inoculation. The roots were washed and the number of eggs and juveniles recuperated in the root system of each plant was estimated by the Final Population (FP), and the Reproductive Factor (RF) was calculated. The rootstocks with RF<1 values were considered resistant, and the ones with RF>1, susceptible. Rosa manetti and Rosa sp. 'Natual Brier' rootstocks showed the lowest values for RF, indicating that, although they are susceptible, they provide the lowest nematode reproduction. Based on the RF values, it was concluded that all the rose rootstocks evaluated were susceptible to M. hapla nematode.

Influence of hydric stress in the production of toxic principles in Nerium oleander L.

Many plants utilized in the urban center shows substances considered toxic whose production could be influenced by some factors, like hydric stress, including ornamental Nerium oleander L., widely used in gardens in various parts of the world, which presents production of cardioative glucosides, considered toxic. This study had the objective to evaluate the effect of field capacity in the biomass and the level of cardioative glucosides in seedlings of Nerium oleander. The experiment was carried at UNIDERP, in Campo Grande City, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, at the University for Development of State and Pantanal Region, using the experimental delineation in randomized blocks. There were 4 treatments (25%; 50%; 75% and 100% of the field capacity), 5 replications and 4 plants by parcel, totalling 80 plants. The evaluations were realized 60 days after the seedlings were planted. The quantitative analysis of the cardioative glucosides was realized by gravimetric test, after selective extraction of the glucosides. Were conclude that increase of the quantity of water in the soil raised the biomass production until 75% of the field capacity and increased the level of cardioative glucosides, showing that water management is very important and should be provided only the necessary to development of the plant.

Aquatic macroinvertebrates survey and assessment of two artificial reservoirs into conservation units from the Southeast Region of Brazil

This study aims to inventory and assess the aquatic macroinvertebrates fauna in two artificial reservoirs into conservation units with differences regarding conservation level and to anthropogenic impacts. The samplings were carried out in Caetetus Ecological Station and Bauru City Zoological Park, where some physical and chemical variables also were measured. The results obtained indicated that the Caetetus Ecological Station is more effective in the conservation of the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates compared to Bauru City Zoological Park. These results can be attributed to the strong anthropogenic impact suffered by the reservoir in Bauru and demonstrate the importance of these areas in maintaining the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates community.

Molecular phylogeny of Moenkhausia (Characidae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence

Moenkhausia is one of the most speciose genera in Characidae, currently composed of 75 nominal species of small fishes distributed across South American hydrographic basins, primarily the Amazon and Guyanas. Despite the large number of described species, studies involving a substantial number of its species designed to better understand their relationships and putative monophyly are still lacking. In this study, we analysed a large number of species of Moenkhausia to test the monophyly of the genus based on the phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences of two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes. The in-group included 29 species of Moenkhausia, and the out-group was composed of representatives of Characidae and other members of Characiformes. All species of Moenkhausia belong to the same clade (Clade C); however, they appear distributed in five monophyletic groups along with other different genera, which means that Moenkhausia is polyphyletic and indicates the necessity of an extensive revision of the group. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Historical biogeography and cryptic diversity in the Callichthyinae (Siluriformes, Callichthyidae)

The family Callichthyidae, divided into the subfamilies Corydoradinae and Callichthyinae, contains more than 200 species of armoured catfishes distributed throughout the Neotropics, as well as fossil species dating from the Palaeocene. Both subfamilies are very widely distributed throughout the continent, with some species ranges extending across multiple hypothesized biogeographical barriers. Species with such vast geographical ranges could be made up of multiple cryptic populations that are genetically distinct and have diverged over time. Although relationships among Callichthyinae genera have been thoroughly investigated, the historical biogeography of the Callichthyinae and the presence of species complexes have yet to be examined. Furthermore, there is a lack of fossil-calibrated molecular phylogenies providing a time frame for the evolution of the Callichthyinae. Here, we present a novel molecular data set for all Callichthyinae genera composed of partial sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear markers. These data were used to construct a fossil-calibrated tree for the Callichthyinae and to reconstruct patterns of spatiotemporal evolution. All phylogenetic analyses [Bayesian, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony (MP)] resulted in a single fully resolved and well-supported hypothesis for the Callichthyinae, where Dianema is the sister group of all the remaining genera. Results suggest that the ancestry of most Callichthyinae genera originated in the Amazonas basin, with a number of subsequent ancestral dispersal events between adjacent basins. High divergences in sequences and time were observed for several samples of Hoplosternum littorale, Megalechis picta and Callichthys callichthys, suggesting that these species may contain cryptic diversity. The results highlight the need for a taxonomic revision of species complexes within the Callichthyinae, which may reveal more diversity within this relatively species-poor lineage. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.