Índios e Poetas: o Instituto Histórico e Geográfico Brasileiro e a invenção do Indianismo Literário 1808- 1860

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of different dietary lipid sources on the survival, growth, and fatty acid composition of South American catfish, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, Surubim, juveniles

The present study examines the effect of four semi-purified diets (casein-gelatin based) where the source of fatty acids was free (esterified) oleic acid and linoleic acid (LA) (LOA diet), linseed and olive oil (predominantly LA and linolenic acid) (LO diet), cod liver oil (rich in highly unsaturated fatty acids) (CLO diet), and soybean lecithin (phospholipids; mostly LA) (LE diet) on the growth of juvenile South American catfish (surubim, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, Pimelodidae) (0.98 +/- 0.04 g individual weight). Fish were fed at a restricted-readjusted feeding rate for 8 wk. At the end of the experiment, LE-diet-fed fish grew significantly larger than those of the other three groups (P < 0.05). Considerable cannibalism was observed in all the treatments. It is suggested that the quantitative growth performance may possibly change under other conditions, with less or no cannibalism. Survival did not differ significantly among the fish fed four different diets. Muscle and liver lipid contents did not vary among dietary treatments (P > 0.05), but whole-body lipid concentrations were affected by dietary treatments. Fish fed LE diet contained significantly lower lipid level than those fed three other diets (P < 0.05). Muscle and liver fatty acid profiles reflected dietary fatty acid composition. Arachidonic acid level was significantly higher in muscle and liver of fish fed LOA and LE diets than in those fed LO and CLO diets. The results suggest that the efficiency of elongation and desaturation of 18C fatty acids depends on the dietary lipid source, and South American catfish has considerable capacity to transform linoleate to arachidonate.

Strain rate of the South American lithospheric plate by SIRGAS-CON geodetic observations

A multiyear solution of the SIRGAS-CON network was used to estimate the strain rates of the earth surface from the changing directions of the velocity vectors of 140 geodetic points located in the South American plate. The strain rate was determined by the finite element method using Delaunay triangulation points that formed sub-networks; each sub-network was considered a solid and homogeneous body. The results showed that strain rates vary along the South American plate and are more significant on the western portion of the plate, as expected, since this region is close to the subduction zone of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate. After using Euler vectors to infer Nazca plate movement and to orient the velocity vectors of the South American plate, it was possible to estimate the convergence and accommodation rates of the Nazca and South American plates, respectively. Strain rate estimates permitted determination of predominant contraction and/or extension regions and to establish that contraction regions coincide with locations with most of the high magnitude seismic events. Some areas with extension and contraction strains were found to the east within the stable South American plate, which may result from different stresses associated with different geological characteristics. These results suggest that major movements detected on the surface near the Nazca plate occur in regions with more heterogeneous geological structures and multiple rupture events. Most seismic events in the South American plate are concentrated in areas with predominant contraction strain rates oriented northeast-southwest; significant amounts of elastic strain can be accumulated on geological structures away from the plate boundary faults; and, behavior of contractions and extensions is similar to what has been found in seismological studies. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Taxonomic review of the species of Mugil (Teleostei: Perciformes: Mugilidae) from the Atlantic South Caribbean and South America, with integration of morphological, cytogenetic and molecular data

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Free- and peptide-based dietary arginine supplementation for the South American fish pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

Arginine was hypothesized to be a model compound in the present study on molecular forms of indispensable amino acid (IAA) dietary supplementation. Juvenile South American pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) were fed diets containing arginine in a protein base (casein-wheat gluten or casein-gelatin), or the casein-wheat gluten base supplemented with dipeptide or free arginine at two levels (5 and 10 g kg(-1)). Growth and protein efficiency ratios were significantly affected by diets, but not by arginine molecular form. Three free dispensable amino acids (DAA) and four IAA in plasma were affected by diet, but plasma arginine concentrations did not differ. Plasma urea concentrations, being very low in the pacu, and hepatic arginase activities, were not affected by diet (P = 0.10-0.11), but together with plasma ornithine, mirrored the growth data. Molecular form of arginine supplementation, free or dipeptide, significantly changed several free IAA (Phe, Leu, Ile, His) and urea, with a higher mean plasma concentration in dipeptide fed fish. The dietary treatments, or molecular form of the arginine supplementation, did not change proximate composition, except that calcium levels decreased with higher dietary arginine supplementation level. The present study indicates that dipeptides can provide IAA to pacu, and that arginine supplemented in this form is utilized as efficiently as in free form.

Growth, fat content and fatty acid profile of South American catfish, surubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) juveniles fed live, commercial and formulated diets

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Biology and fertility life table of the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus on grape

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Venous tone and cardiac function in the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus: mean circulatory filling pressure during adrenergic stimulation in anaesthetised and fully recovered animals

The effects of adrenergic stimulation on mean circulatory filling pressure (MCFP), central venous pressure (P-CV) and stroke volume (Vs), as well as the effects of altered MCFP through changes of blood volume were investigated in rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus). MCFP is an estimate of the upstream pressure driving blood towards the heart and is determined by blood volume and the activity of the smooth muscle cells in the veins (venous tone). MCFP can be determined as the plateau in P-CV during a total occlusion of blood flow from the heart.Vs decreased significantly when MCFP was lowered by reducing blood volume in anaesthetised snakes, whereas increased MCFP through infusion of blood (up to 3 ml kg(-1)) only led to a small rise in Vs. Thus, it seems that end-diastolic volume is not affected by an elevated MCFP in rattlesnakes. To investigate adrenergic regulation on venous tone, adrenaline as well as phenylephrine and isoproterenol (alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists, respectively) were infused as bolus injections (2 and 10 mu g kg(-1)). Adrenaline and phenylephrine caused large increases in MCFP and P-CV, whereas isoproterenol decreased both parameters. This was also the case in fully recovered snakes. Therefore, adrenaline affects venous tone through both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors, but the alpha-adrenergic receptor dominates at the dosages used in the present study. Injection of the nitric oxide donor SNP caused a significant decrease in P-CV and MCFP. Thus, nitric oxide seems to affect venous tone.

Intensidade do mal das folhas em plantas jovens e adultas de seis clones de seringueira na região do Vale do Ribeira: South American leaf blight intensity evaluated in six clones of young and adult rubber trees in the Vale do Ribeira region, São Paulo state, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Description of the larva of Mnesarete pudica (Hagen in Selys, 1853) (Odonata: Calopterygidae) and notes on known genera of South American Calopterygidae larvae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structural and Ultrastructural Aspects of Folliculogenesis in Didelphis albiventris, the South-American Opossum

The ovarian histology, the structural and the ultrastructural characteristics of the folliculogenesis in Didelphis albiventris were described in detail. Recent studies suggest that methatherian mammals have unusual reproductive cycle but there are few informations regarding the marsupials reproductive life. Despite of the opossum folliculogenesis pattern resembles methatherian and eutherian pattern in many aspects, the analysis shows some peculiar features of the oocyte structure and ultrastructure that make available new data on the reproductive biology of marsupials.

Population biology of Uca thayeri Rathbun, 1900 (Brachyura, Ocypodidae) in a subtropical South American mangrove area: Results from transect and catch-per-unit-effort techniques

The population biology of Uca thayeri was studied in a subtropical mangrove in Ubatuba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Two sampling techniques were used: transect sampling and catch-per-unit-effort. Size frequency distribution, sex-ratio, and reproductive period were analysed. For juvenile crabs (CW < 4.6 mm), the transect procedure was most efficient, while ovigerous females were most collected during the capture effort. Males were most numerous in the transect technique, while in the catch-per-unit-effort there was no difference between sexes. The species showed a different size frequency distribution for each sampling procedure. The reproduction of U. thayeri is seasonal, being more pronounced in the warmer months of the year. However, juveniles occurred all over the year, although more numerous in the colder months. The success of the species in reproductive activity and the constant colonization of the area can be attributed to the availability of food resources and differential occupation of the habitat by ovigerous females.

Latitudinal variation in population structure and reproductive pattern of the endemic south american shrimp Artemesia longinaris (Decapoda : Penaeoidea)

Population Structure and reproductive Maturity of females were investigated in the shrimp Artemesia longinaris Bate, 1888 from coastal waters of northern São Paulo State (Brazil. 23 degrees S) and Mar del Plata (Argentina, 38 degrees S) from June 2001 to May 2002. Monthly collections were taken by, commercial shrimp fishing boats equipped with bottom trawl nets. Population parameters from size frequency distributions and size (carapace length = CL) of female reproductive maturity were analyzed and compared front the two sampling areas. Latitudinal trends in reproductive parameters of A. longinaris were shown in overall body size and size of reproductive maturity, both of which were smaller in females from the tropical location than those front the cold-temperate sampling area. Largest females (> 30 turn CL) were collected in Argentina, while Brazilian specimens reached maximum size at 27 nun CL. The smallest Size of female sexual maturity was estimated at 13.6 nun CL in Brazilian samples compared to 22.1 mm CL calculated for those from Argentina. Populations from both regions exhibited a bimodal size distribution in the spring, with the peak at small body size probably corresponding to recent recruits and the peak at larger body, size to reproductive females or shrimps migrating in from deeper waters or other latitudinal regions. In late spring and summer. an intrusion of the cold South Atlantic Coastal Water mass was observed which lowered water temperature and stimulated plankton production. The primary food source for the larvae of a typically cold-temperate species such as A. longinaris. The trend of increasing body size and delay of sexual maturity with increasing latitude appears to be correlated with the decreasing water temperature and increasing plankton productivity at higher latitudes.

Growth and reproductive dynamics of the South American red shrimp, Pleoticus muelleri (Crustacea: Solenoceridae), from the southeastern coast of Brazil

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

Reproduction and recruitment of the South American red shrimp, Pleoticus muelleri (Crustacea : Solenoceridae), from the Southeastern coast of Brazil

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