Lower Permian Sphenopsids from Cerquilho, Northeastern Paraná Basin, Brazil

The Lower Permian sphenopsids Phyllotheca australis Brongniart, 1828, Stephanophyllites sanpaulensis Millan & Dolianiti, 1980a and Paracalamites australis Rigby, 1966b, from the Toca do Índio outcrop in Cerquilho Municipality (northeastern Paraná Basin, Tubarō Supergroup) are redescribed on the basis of newly collected specimens. Some aspects, such as the leafsheath opening angles of the whorls and the foliar transverse to oblique striae or wrinkles, are discussed in detail. Phyllotheca australis and Paracalamites australis are widespread in Gondwana and have no particular stratigraphic or phylogenetic value. Otherwise, the genus Stephanophyllites, although only found in the Paraná Basin and probably in Argentina (Bajo de Véliz Formation, close to the Carboniferous-Permian limit), can have a greater importance on account of some Raniganjia-like characters superimposed to a gross Phyllotheca-like morphology.

Geographical distribution and associated environments characterisation of catuba (Trichilia catigua A. Juss. - Meliaceae) in Paraná State - Brazil

Trichilia catigua A. Juss. - Meliaceae has been traditionally used as a tonic and digestive medicine. Some Brazilian pharmaceutical firms use this species to produce phytopharmaceuticals and alcoholic beverages. The aim of this work is to determine its geographical distribution and characterise the environments where catuaba is found in the state of Paraná, in order to support the domestication strategy for the agricultural production of this species. Based on the literature, botanical collections and field observations it was established, that five species of the genus occurring in Paraná, which were identified as T casaretti, T catigua, T claussenii, T elegans, T pallida and another supposed to be T pattens. Trichilia catigua occurs within a wide but defined strip in the state. By evaluating data of climate; soil types; natural vegetation formations; mean, maximum and minimum temperatures; relative humidity; rainfall; altitudes and evapotranspiration the strip may be localised above latitude 25° in the central and Eastern regions of the state and above latitude 26° in South-western Parana. In general, T catigua was found to occur on fertile, organic-matter-rich soils and predominantly under forest canopies.

Collection of Fáfia [Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen] in Northwestern State of Paraná - Brazil

Interviews were conducted with fáfia (Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen) collectors from the municipal districts of Querência do Norte and Porto Rico, where enterprises and buyers of this plant are concentrated. The results allowed us to conclude that both the adults and children make collection. Each adult collects from 50 to 150 kg of roots/day, depending on the collection area, for about 8 months/year. Collections mostly occur all over the year, but the activity becomes more intense from May to August. All families are not exclusively dedicated to fáfia collection and also develop other rural activities. They have been collecting fáfia for 2 to 13 years, indicating that an intensive exploitation has been present in the region for over a decade. During collection, no plant part is used for replanting the species. The roots are commercialised by regional buyers. The price of the roots varies from US $ 0.07 to US $ 0.13/kg and average gain is about US $ 2,055/family/year, representing a considerable profit for the collectors.

Metacercárias de Diplostomum (Austrodiplostomum) compactum Lutz, 1928 (Digenea, Diplostomidae) em peixes do rio Paraná, Brasil. Prevalência, sazonalidade e intensidade de infecção

This paper aims at evaluating the occurrence of Diplostommn (Anstrodiplostomum compactum (Digenea: Diplostomatidae) in the eyeball of Plagioscion sqnamosissimus (corvina) and Cichla ocellaris (tucunaré), monthly captured in Paraná river, Presidente Epitácio, state of São Paulo, Brazil. From 61 corvinas under analysis, 56 of them contained parasites (92%) with intensity rate of 42.0 host parasites. From an amount of 81 tucunarés, 45 contained parasites (55%) with intensity rate of 9.3 parasites. Corvinas showed prevalence from 71 to 100% with the highest intensity rates (103.3 and 106.9) from February to March, 2001. Comparatively, the tucunaré showed the highest prevalence from November 2000 (90%) to February 2001 (80%). The tucunaré highest intensity rates occurred on September, 2000 (12.7), December, 2000 (12.2) and February, 2001 (16.1). Metacercariae showed a hollow womb body and a posterior region of a sinuous conic protuberance, an oral sucker smaller than the acetabulae, a simple acetabulae located in the pre-equatorial region of helminto. A short pre-pharynx followed by a muscular pharynx, genital pore next to acetubulae. Corvina metacercariae presents 1.434,0 μm (880 to 1.840) long by 611.2 ± 93.4 μm (400 to 792) wide. Tucunaré metacercariae, 1.462.4 μm (960 to 2.480) by 710.8 μm (560 to 960). Authors confirmed corvina great susceptibility to Diplomastum and the relationship between the parasitism and the aquatic and climatic parameters.

Aves colecionadas na localidade de Fazenda Caiuá (Paraná, Brasil) por Adolph Hempel, com discussão sobre a sua localizaç ão exata

The region known as the pioneer north of Paraná State can be considered one of the most severely modified in southern Brazil, due to the colonization that started at the end of 19th century. In this little known region, seldom visited by traveler naturalists of the past, the collector Adolph Hempel obtained an important series of bird specimens that constitute, in many cases, the only - and last - information concerning the avifauna of this region. For several reasons, Fazenda Cayoá has been associated with the State of São Paulo, although it was an important center for coffee in the early 20th. century and is near the left bank of Rio Paranapanema, thus in the State of Paraná.

Desenvolvimento inicial e distribuição temporal de larvas e juvenis de Bryconamericus stramineus Eigenmann, 1908 (Osteichthyes, Characidae) na planície alagável do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

The aim of this paper was to analyze initial development and temporal distribution of larvae and juveniles of Bryconamericus stramineus and their relationship with some environmental variables of Ressaco do Leopoldo in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. The samples were taken from February 1991 to February 1992. The larvae and the juveniles were identified and described according to the with its morphologic and meristic characteristics. The larvae presented scarce pigmentation, subterminal mouth, medium anal opening and myomeres varying 35-40 (16-21 pre and IT-22 postanal). The greater densities of larvae and juveniles were verified in December 1991 and November 1991, respectively, mainly during the night. The larvae density was only correlated with precipitation.

Factors affecting fish diversity and abundance in drying ponds and lagoons in the upper Paraná River basin, Brazil

Monthly samples were taken from April 1992 to March 1993 of fish assemblages present in six permanent lagoons and four ponds, fragmented from them during the drought period and during the terminal phases of desiccation, to evaluate changes in their diversity, abundance and dominance. Their relationships with hydrological and environment conditions were examined. A total of 63 fish species were identified. Species composition and abiotic factors were heterogeneous among the different water bodies. The proportion of piscivores and oxygen concentration were the determining factors for structuring the assemblages. The impact of piscivory upon fish diversity was neutral at the beginning and negative at the end of the dry season. In the terminal phase of desiccation, diversity was higher in ponds that contained a moderate proportion of piscivores than in these containing a higher proportion.

Estratigrafia de seqüências das formações Taciba e Rio Bonito (Membro Triunfo) na região de Mafra/SC, leste da Bacia do Paraná

The Taciba and Rio Bonito (lower Triunfo Mbr) formations are divided into six depositional sequences based on cores, gamma-ray and electrical logs from shallow drillings from northern Santa Catarina State, Each sequence is formed by two systems tracts, a lower one, sandy (lowstand) and an upper one, shaly (highstand). The Taciba Formation has three sequences, S 0 to S 0 sequence S 0 has a thick turbidite sandstone at the base (Rio Segredo Member) that pinches out towards the eastern margin and even disappears in the Mafra outcrop area. Sequence S 1 varies from a thin fluvial-estuarine system to a thick turbidite sandstone of a channelized fan system; S 1 upper shaly system tract is marine in well PP-11, and it is glacially-influenced in well PP-10. Sequence S 2 is a thick sand-stone body of shallow marine origin, but restricted to one well (PP-11); its upper shaly tract is dominated by massive siltstones intercalated with thin, distal tempestites. The lower Triunfo Member (or Taciba-Triunfo transition) begins with the arrival of deltaic clastics of sequence S 3 lower tract, coarsening-up from medial- to proximal delta front sandstones. Sequence S 4 is quite similar to S 3, both showing sand-stone progradation from north to south, as opposed to the southwest-sourced transgressive diamictites. Sequence S 5 consists of fluvial deposits at well PP-12, and two transgressive cycles from wells PP-11 to PP-9, each one of them composed of fluvial-estuarine to marine systems. Well PP-10 is an exception, where the lower cycle presents deglaciation to marine deposits.

Bryconamericus turiuba, a new species from the upper Rio Paraná system (Ostariophysi: Characiformes)

Bryconamericus turiuba, new species, is described from the upper Rio Paraná system in Brazil. It differs from all congeners in the following combination of characters: 15-20 branched anal-fin rays; four or five scales in a transverse series from the dorsal-fin origin to the lateral line; shallow body (depth 23.6-30.6% of SL); 37-43 perforated lateral line scales; first, third, and fifth or, more rarely, first and fourth outer premaxillary tricuspid teeth projecting anteriorly; two to five tricuspid to pentacuspid maxillary teeth; dentary with three or four tricuspid or pentacuspid large teeth, followed by five to seven smaller conical to tricuspid teeth; a conspicuous dark, vertically elongate humeral spot, extending to below the lateral line; a dark dorsal stripe extending from the supraoccipital spine to the caudal peduncle with a gap at the adipose-fin base; caudal-fin lobes without conspicuous markings, uniformly pigmented along rays; mature males lacking hooks on the pelvic- and anal-fin rays. The new species is compared with the Bryconamericus species described from the basins of the Rio Paraná, Rio Paraguay, Rio São Francisco, and coastal Brazilian rivers. © 2005 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

Levantamento florístico em remanescente de floresta ripária no alto rio Paraná: Mata do Araldo, Porto Rico, Paraná, Brasil

The purpose of this study was to realize a floristic survey in riparian forest remains of the Upper Paraná River, under domain of the submontane seasonal semideciduous forest, located in Porto Rico, Paraná, Brazil (53°19'3 W e 22°47'37 S). Within and in the neighborhood of 10.000 m2 area (100 m × 100 m), 165 species were surveyed, in 124 genera and 60 families, distributed in arboreous, shrubs, herbs, climbers and hemiparasites. Leguminosae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, and Bignoniaceae were the families with the highest species' richness, showing together 33.33%, and the genera more representative were Eugenia, Casearia, Guarea, Inga, Panicum, and Solanum, with 12.73% of the species. Though the perturbations verified in the forest remains, eight species were rare for this type of vegetation and 12 were listed as fishes natural food.

Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares de alto nível socioeconômico em Londrina, Paraná, Brasil

Objective: To verify the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 7 to 10 year old schoolchildren of both sexes and high socioeconomic level. Methods: Five hundred and eleven schoolchildren (274 boys and 237 girls) were submitted to anthropometrical measurements of body mass, stature and subscapular and triceps skin-fold thickness. Body mass indexes ≥85th percentile and <95th percentile were used to determine overweight, whereas body mass indexes ≥95th percentile were adopted as indicators of obesity. The socioeconomic level was established based on information obtained from a questionnaire, considering the degree of education of the parents and the familiar consumables. Results: The total prevalence for overweight was 19.7% for the boys and 17.3% for the girls, with no significant differences amongst ages and sexes (p>0.05). On the other hand, the prevalence for obesity in the boys and girls was 17.5% and 9.3%, respectively, with significant differences between the sexes at 9 years (p<0.01) and 10 years (p<0.05) of age, as well as amongst the entire group of ages (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results indicated a high prevalence ratio for overweight (∼19%) and obesity (∼14%), much greater than the average for the 7-10 year old Brazilian population. Therefore, different from that observed in developed countries, a high socioeconomic level seems to negatively affect the prevalence for overweight and obesity, increasing the risk of the precocious development of metabolic dysfunctions.

As rochas intrusivas da Formação Serra Geral na Porção leste da Bacia do Paraná no Estado de São Paulo: Aspectos petrográficos e geoquímicos - Resultados preliminares

The purpose of this paper is to present preliminary aspects of the petrography and chemistry of intrusive rocks (sills and dykes) from the eastern portion of the Parana Basin in the State of Säo Paulo. Data from 80 samples of the region show a subaphyric and subophitic nature and have plagioclase (25-50%), augite (3-39%), pigeonite (0-10%) and magnetite (4-20%) as an essential minerals. Apatite and quartz are present as accessory minerals. The geochemical data of intrusive rocks show a basic to intermediate composition (48% < SiO 2 < 56%) and a high Ti nature (TiO 2 > 2%). Based on the minor and trace composition of the intrusive rocks, two different magma types were recognized, named Paranapanema and Pitanga. The spatial distribution of these magma types is not alleatory in the studied region. The intrusive rocks of Pitanga magma type are displayed in the Campinas-Paulinia region, while the Paranapanema magma type cover a large region above that one, between Rio Claro and Cajuru. Furthermore, the chemical composition of the lava flows of the Serra Geral Formation, sampled in this work, reveals a magma of Urubici type. So, the intrusive rocks of the eastern portion of the of State Säo Paulo are not the extension of the lava flows, or they aren't a portions which don't reach the surface.

A seqüência mafra superior \ Rio Do Sul inferior (Grupo itararé, permocarbonífero) em sondagens testemunhadas da região de mafra (SC), Margem Leste da Bacia do Paraná

The Permo-Carboniferous Harare Group crops out in the Matra area, represented by Campo do Tenente, Mafra and Rio do Sul formations; they correspond in subsurface to Lagoa Azul, Campo Mourão and Tacïba formations. A composite sampling of the Group was performed through drilling of six wells, which average 60 m in depth; three of them cored the depositional sequence here designated as Upper Mafra\Lower Rio do Sul. The Upper Mafra Formation were sampled by TC-4 and BR-5 wells, and it consists of three units: the lower two are sandy, glacial-deltaic and fluvial-deltaic in origin, corresponding to a lowstand tract. The last unit is composed of two dirtying-upward successions of sandstone, diamictite and rhythmite, interpreted as deglaciation/transgressive events, and well represented in BR-5 drilling. The Lower-Rio do Sul Formation (Lontras Shale) is formed by two marine units: the lower one is represented by shale and bioturbated siltstone which culminate the previous deglaciation, transgressive succession, while the upper one, sampled by SL-2 well, is formed by shale and thin, turbidite sandstone, attributed to a highstand tract.

O novo padrão de desenvolvimento agroindustrial e a atuação das cooperativas agropecuárias no Paraná

This article aims at discussing the transformations in the cooperativist rural sector in the state of Paraná since 1970. Considerable active agents in the process of modernization in the agriculture from Paraná, the cooperatives developed also an important role in the productive restructuralization in the State of Paraná, when they started the agroindustrial activities. The verticalization represented a big growth of the cooperatives that act in the rural area, but it also implied in a redirection of the cooperatives' strategies, that started acting in an extremely competitive market.

Significado paleobiológico de agrupamentos (coloniais/ gregários) de Conularia quichua Ulrich, 1890 (Cnidaria), Formação Ponta Grossa, Devoniano (Pragiano-Emsiano), Bacia do Paraná, Brasil

The Conularia beds of the Ponta Grossa Formation (Devonian) of the Paraná Basin, southern Brazil, yield well-preserved specimens of Conularia quichua Ulrich and Paraconularia africana Sharpe. Many of these are preserved in life orientation. Also, one of the C. quichua specimens has five faces instead of four, providing additional evidence of a cnidarian affinity for conulariids. Conulariids occur in the Jaguariaíva Member (or Sequence B, transgressive system tract) containing several obrution deposits beneath marine flooding surfaces. Taphonomic data obtained from these beds show conclusively that both C. quichua and P. africana were epibenthic, sessile invertebrates originally oriented with their long axis perpendicular to the bottom and with their aperture opening upward. Of the 136 C. quichua specimens examined here, 125 occur isolated. Eleven of the C. quichua specimens collectively occur in five discrete clusters consisting of two or three specimens. All of the clustered specimens are fully inflated (exhibiting a rectangular transverse cross section) or slightly compressed longitudinally. In all of these specimens the apex is missing, and thus the problem of whether the clusters were clonal colonies or formed through preferential larval settlement cannot be resolved conclusively. However, in the single cluster consisting of three specimens, the specimens are oriented perpendicular to bedding, and thus they do not converge adapically. The three specimens are in contact with each other along the upper portion of their median region. These and the lack of any evidence of a sheet of budding stolons, suggest that this cluster was formed by preferential larval settlement. © Asociación Paleontológica Argentina.