Reproduction of a fish assemblage in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil

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

Ichthyofauna diversity in a protected area in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil

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

The condition factor of fishes from two river basins in São Paulo state, Southeast of Brazil

This work describes the relative condition factor of the Hypostomus strigaticeps, Astyanax altiparanae, Astyanax scabripinnis, Astyanax fasciatus, Astyanax sp1., Characidium aff. zebra, Piabina argentea, Hypostomus ancistroides, Hypostomus sp1., Parodon tortuosus, Serrapinus heterodon, and Bryconamericus sp., of the APA of São Pedro and Analândia (22°-23°S and 47°30'-48°30'W). The condition factor provides information about the physical state of the animal in the environment. In order to compare different species, the relative condition factor was used. Variations in this factor were correlated with variations through the year and with subsequent alterations in the physiological state of the fishes. The relative condition factor was shown to be efficient in indicating changes in fish condition throughout the year.

Uso do grau de preferência alimentar para a caracterizaç ão da alimentação de peixes na APA de São Pedro e Analândia

We studied feeding habits of four fish species in two watershed at APA - Área de Proteção Ambiental (Area of Environmental Protection) in São Pedro and Analândia, State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Feeding Preference Degree (FPD) was used to demonstrate the importance of each food item for the species of both basins. Feeding habits of both species of lambari was variable. The allochtonous items such as insects, autochtonous items, and vegetal material were very important, characterizing omnivory. The bagre (Rhamdia quelen) fed mainly on insects at the Jacaré-pepira Basin and also on fishes at the Corumbataí basin. The cascudo Hypostomus strigaticeps ingested autochtonous vegetal material and sediments at both basins.

Cultivation of Agaricus blazei in the environmental protection area of the Baturité region under three types of casing soils

The outdoor cultivation (ditches) of Agaricus blazei was evaluated in the protected natural area (APA) of the mountainous region of Baturité on three types of casing soils (A, B and C). Casing soil A (horizon A) of the local soil was used (Alfisol). Casing B was obtained with a mixture of 30% of eucalyptus charcoal (1-2 cm of length) and 70% of horizon B of the local soil. Casing C was composed of 25% of vermiculite, 25% of coconut fiber and 50% of coarse sand. Temperature, relative humidity and pluviometric rates were monitored. The physical-chemical properties of the three casing soils were analyzed. The effect of the casing soil on the number and weight of the mushrooms, productivity, yield and biological efficiency of A. blazei were evaluated. The yield, productivity, biological efficiency and number of mushrooms were higher when using soil A. The highest productivity for soil A was attributed mainly to the physical characteristics, which were considered more appropriate for the cultivation, in addition to the high pluviometric rates and relative humidity. The productivity with soil A (9.62%) is comparable with the average productivity obtained in Brazil, meaning that the cultivation of A. blazei in this APA may have good perspectives for cultivation.

Sinalização visual e biologia reprodutiva de Dendropsophus werneri (Anura: Hylidae) em área de Mata Atlântica no estado do Paraná, Brasil

We studied the reproductive biology and visual signaling of Dendropsophus werneri, whose distribution is limited to the Atlantic Rain Forest. The fieldwork was carried out in the Estação 2 do IAPAR, municipality of Morretes, state of Paraná, Brazil, from August 2006 to March 2007. Additional information on reproduction was gathered in the Reserva Natural Salto Morato, municipality of Guaraqueçaba, state of Paraná, Brazil, from September 2006 to March 2007. Males were smaller than females. Males called throughout all the study period in Morretes, but were active only during three months in Guaraqueçaba; males called from low vegetation along the edge of temporary ponds in open areas. The visual signaling was observed in two contexts: (1) aggressive behaviors between two males and (2) during the reproduction, by amplectant males. In the territorial behavior, males exhibited both aggressive and mixed calls, visual signaling as well as physical combats. We also recorded satellite behavior in four males. The mean egg number per clutch was 244 ± 32 eggs, varying between 188 and 310 eggs. We observed two reproductive modes: Mode 1 and Mode 24. In the present study, Dendropsophus werneri showed elaborated social interactions involving visual signaling, territorial behavior, mating bahavior with tactile stimuli, and two different reproductive modes, demonstrating its complex reproductive biology.

Avaliação preliminar do potencial turístico do município de rifaina (SP) e os impactos decorrentes do uso público de seus atrativos paisagísticos

This paper attempts to assess both the touristic potential of scenic attractions and the environmental impacts resulting from the public use of such attractions in the Rifaina Municipality, State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. In the recent past, this municipality had its economy concentrated in rural activities (livestock, corn, rice and bean crops) and in the ceramic industry (production of bricks, tiles and shackles),which was largely developed in the floodplain of the Rio Grande before the construction of the Jaguara Power Plant Dam. The impacts resulting from touristic activities were evaluated by applying the VIM - Visitor Impact Management method, with emphasis on biophysical indicators. The main touristic attractions analyzed were: (1) Rifaina artificial beach; (2) Jaguara Reservoir; (3) Morro do Chapéu (scenic hill); (4) Touristic railroad; and (5) Cuestas cliffs. Attractions (1) and (2) are the most exploited ones, including, in the second case, nautical sports, sportive and craft fishing, and summer lodging. Although currently disabled, the touristic railroad presents potential conditions to be re-explored. Attractions (3) and (5), despite keeping high landscape and ecological ecotouristic potential, are the least visited places. In the present paper, a preliminary characterization of the major issues of tourism industry in the Rifaina municipality is made, including suggestions for the sustainable exploitation of tourism resources. The final results of the environmental impact evaluation of the tourism activities include small impacts in attractions (4) and (5) and moderate impacts to the three first attractions. In order to keep the sustainable touristic potential for that municipality this study proposes the improvement of the following measures: to foster research projects on technical or scientific aspects of the touristic attractions, improvement of tourism infrastructure and the creation of an Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the cuestas' scarps.

Bioatividade de cipó-prata (Trigonia nivea Cambess) sobre a excreção renal de água e eletrólitos e pressão arterial

Brazil is a country with the largest world´s vegetal genetic diversity and the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the “Serra da Mantiqueira” is a very heterogeneous region, representing one of the richest sources of pharmacologically actives materials. The population uses medicinal plants and according to the OMS, 80% of the population uses them in primary treatment of several diseases. Nevertheless, the loss of traditional knowledge associated with medicinal plants is occurring quickly. The ethnopharmacological strategy uses traditional knowledge to the search for medicinal plants that can have bioactive substances against diseases that afflicting the population and thus protect traditional knowledge. The “cipó-prata” (Trigonia nívea Cambess.) is a native plant normally found in the “Bacia do Paraná” region and present in the flora in the neighborhood of “Marins”, Piquete-SP and usually, said for the treatment of renal and urinary diseases. So, the objective of this study was test if the “cipóprata” (Trigonia nívea Cambess.) has effects on the renal excretion of water and salt, in anesthetized Wister rats. The tests were made in males Wistar rats and randomly distributed into 4 experimental groups: Group I – aqueous control, Group II – treated with aqueous extract (EA) of “cipó-prata”, Group III – water control + “tween 80”, Group IV – treated with ethanol extract (EE) and “cipó-prata”. All groups were subjected to experimental protocol, composed of three periods: Balance (40 minutes), Basal (30 minutes) and Experimental (90 minutes), occurring the urine collection every 30 minutes, from the basal period and measuring blood pressure every 10 minutes. The aqueous extract (EA) of “cipó-prata” (Trigonia nívea Cambess.) presented diuretic effect of 173% (B-2,4±1,19 μL/min reaching 6,6±1,45 μL/min, in the period EX3) and ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Vulnerabilidade ambiental dos recursos hídricos interceptados por rodovias na bacia do rio Uberaba

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Reproductive indices in natural nests of giant Amazon river turtles Podocnemis expansa (Schweigger, 1812) (Testudines, Podocnemididae) in the Environmental Protection Area Meanders of the Araguaia river

Realizou-se a contagem dos ovos não eclodidos, dos filhotes vivos e mortos de Podocnemis expansa oriundos de 327 ninhos naturais, localizados nas praias da Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) - Meandros do Rio Araguaia, onde se determinou a porcentagem de eclosão dos ovos (94,63%); não eclosão (5,37%); sobrevivência (94,24%) e mortalidade dos filhotes (5,76%), e a média de filhotes mortos durante os 15 dias no berçário (0,97%). A média do total de filhotes por ninho foi determinada pela soma do número de filhotes vivos e mortos divididos pelo total de ninhos, enquanto que a média do total de ovos por ninho foi determinada pela soma do número de filhotes vivos, mortos e ovos não eclodidos divididos pelo total de ninhos. Com isso, obtiveram-se os valores médios do número de filhotes vivos (88,98 ± 23,94); mortos (0,37 ± 0,93); ovos não eclodidos (5,07 ± 9,57), e total de ovos (94,42 ± 21,30). A eficiência reprodutiva da população selvagem de P. expansa pode ser afetada por muitos fatores ambientais, como temperatura, umidade e precipitação. Além disso, fatores influenciados pelo homem, como a presença de produtos químicos na água e a possibilidade de doenças infecciosas, também têm impacto significativo. Os dados dos índices reprodutivos obtidos neste estudo são indispensáveis para futuras investigações de anomalias de incubação.

Partial protection against tissue cysts formation in pigs vaccinated with crude rhoptry proteins of Toxoplasma gondii

A vaccine containing crude Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry proteins incorporated in the immunostimulating complexes (ISCOM) adjuvant was tested in pigs for protecting against tissue cyst formation. For this, 38 mixed breed pigs were divided into four groups, G1 (vaccinated challenged, n = 10) received two doses (100 mu g/dose) of the rhoptry vaccine at days 0 and 21, G2 (vaccinated challenged, n = 10) received viable tachyzoites (7 x 10(7)) of the RH strain at day 0, G3 (unvaccinated challenged, n = 10) and G4 (unvaccinated unchallenged, n = 8). Pigs were challenged with 4 x 10(4) VEG strain oocysts 57 days later. The G1 pigs produced high IgG antibody levels in the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after the second dose of rhoptry vaccine, but were not clinically protected against a high dose oocyst challenge. Partial protection was observed in G1 at the chronic phase of infection, when compared with G3. Pigs in group 2 developed high antibody levels and were protected against clinic signs. T gondii was not detected in two (G1) and three (G2) pigs by mouse bioassay. The results indicate partial protection in pigs vaccinated with a rhoptry vaccine. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estudo da mobilidade molecular das blendas aPA/SAN/MMA-MA usando relaxação dielétrica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Impact of maternal mild hyperglycemia on maternal care and offspring development and behavior of Wistar rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evaluation of neonatally-induced mild diabetes in rats: Maternal and fetal repercussions

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

Influence of the activation mode of a self-etch resin-based luting cement upon the metabolism of odontoblast-like cells

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