House-infesting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a Municipality of Southeastern Brazil

In Brazil, since the studies on urban ants started only in the 1980's, the urban myrmecofauna is still poorly known. Therefore, we herein carried out a survey of the myrmecofauna associated with residences in the municipality of Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil, with the aim of verifying the existing ant species and their dynamics, which may be used in pest management programs. For this survey, baits and manual collection were utilized in the peridomiciles and intradomiciles of 38 houses. 4,308 samples were obtained, 51% of which presented ants, from five subfamilies, 18 genera and 19 species. The predominant subfamily was Myrmicinae, with 8 species. The predominant species was Tapinoma melanocephalum. In the intradomicile, during the diurnal period, the most visited rooms were the kitchen and the living room; during the nocturnal period, the kitchen was the most visited room.

Molecular detection of Leishmania sp. in cats (Felis catus) from Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil

The aim of this work was to molecularly detect Leishmania species in 52 cats from Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. The direct parasitological test was performed by using imprints of poplited lymph node, bone marrow and spleen to verify amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. The samples that were positive parasitological tests were subjected to molecular analysis (PCR) and sequencing. Infection was detected for 5.76% (3/52) of the examined cats and two had presence of amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. in lymph nodes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of kinetoplast minicircle DNA, indicated positive amplification for samples of spleen and lymph nodes and the sequencing resulted in 97% similarity with Leishmania (L) chagasi. This study proved the occurrence of infection with Leishmania (L) chagasi in felines from Andradina municipality, São Paulo State. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

First report of Strongyloides sp. (Nematoda, Strongyloididae) in Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae) in the municipality of Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil

O presente estudo reporta o primeiro caso de infecção por Strongyloides sp. em Leopardus tigrinus no município de Botucatu, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Fezes do exemplar parasitado de L. tigrinus foram cultivadas em fezes eqüinas esterilizadas e foi realizada infecção experimental em gato (Felis catus domesticus) com três mil larvas L3 infectantes por via subcutânea, para a identificação da espécie de Strongyloides envolvida no parasitismo. As fêmeas partenogenéticas obtidas do animal experimental foram analisadas porém a comparação dos dados biométricos encontrados com os dados da literatura não permitiu a identificação da espécie. Este é o primeiro relato sobre a ocorrência de Strongyloides sp. em L. tigrinus

Helminths of toad Rhinella icterica (Bufonidae), from the municipality of Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Fifteen specimens of bufonid toad Rhinella icterica (Spix, 1824), 7 males and 8 females, collected in the municipality of Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, from March 2002 to January 2003, were examined for helminth parasites. All toads were infected with at least one parasite species (overall prevalence = 100%). Five helminth species were found, including four nematode species, Rhabdias fuelleborni Travassos, 1926, Oswaldocruzia subauricularis (Rudolphi, 1819), gen. sp. no identified Cosmocercidae Travassos, 1925 and larvae of Physaloptera Rudolphi, 1819, and one acanthocephalan species, Acanthocephalus saopaulensis Smales, 2007. Rhabdias fuelleborni and A. saopaulensis were the most abundant species. Except for Physalopteridae larvae, all helminths occur in high prevalence (> 70%). All helminth species presented a distribution toward to more aggregated pattern in these host samples.

Floristic composition of the tree stratum of a semideciduous mesophytic forest in the municipality of Jahu, SP, Brazil

A floristic study was carried out in an area of semideciduous mesophytic forest, lied in the municipality of Jahu, São Paulo State, Brazil. Due to the fact of the forest be crossed by three small rivers, for the sampling process, the forest was divided in two sampling areas: Area I (under the influence of the rivers) and Area II (without this influence). Differences in the abundance of some species between the two sampling areas were observed.

Phytosociological study on the tree stratum of a semideciduous mesophytic forest in the municipality of Jau, SP, Brazil

Through the point-centered quarter method, a phytosociological study was carried out in an area of semideciduous mesophytic forest with 190 ha, in the municipality of Jahu,SP. Due to the fact of the forest be crossed by three small rivers, for the sampling process, the Total Area was divided in two sampling areas: the Area I (under the influence of the rivers) and the Area II (without this influence). Some differences between the two regions were observed.

Floristic composition of the tree stratum of a semideciduous mesophytic forest in the municipality of Botucatu, São Paulo state

The floristic composition was studied in an area of semideciduous mesophytic forest, with 120 ha, in the municipality of Botucatu, SP, Brazil. This forest lies on the ascent of the Cuesta of Botucatu. Due to the heterogeneity of the relief, for the sampling process, the forest was divided in three regions: the upper one (comprising the strip of forest on the plateau), middle on (the forestal area lied on the ascent properly said) and the lower one (the strip of forest on the plain). The tree sampling regions showed some differences among them and this must be connected to the differences in the soil.

Phytosociological study of the tree stratum of a semideciduous mesophytic forest in the municipality of Botucatu, SP, Brazil

The phytosociological structure was studied in an area of semideciduous mesophytic forest lied on the ascent of the Cuesta of Botucatu. Once the relief of the area was very heterogeneous, the forest, for the sampling process, was divided in three sampling regions: the upper one (on the plateau), the middle one (on the ascent properly said) and the lower one (on the plain). Through the point-centered method, 1224 (408 in each region) trees were sampled. For this work, only the trees with shaft equal or higher than 1.30m high were considered. The three sampling regions showed some interesting differences in regard to the phytosociologic structure. Once there are differences among the soil of the three regions, the variations in the structure must be connected to the differences in the soil.

Distribution of the orchid species in the coastal plains of the fazenda beach, municipality of ubatuba, state of sao-paulo, brazil

A floristic survey for the family Orchidaceae was undertaken in a coastal forest area of ca. 8 km2 in the Picinguaba Development Center of the Serra do Mar State Park, in the municipality of Ubatuba, Brazil. The sampling used all tracks and roads of the area, up to the altitude of 50 m.s.m. and resulted in 77 species distributed in 45 genera. The spacial distribution of the species was plotted in maps of the nine physiognomical units identified for the area, based on 1:8.000 and 1:25.000 aerial photographs, and field observations. The results are shown in 1:10.000 topographic charts. Ninety percent of the species occur in at least 3 physiognomical units while 60% only occurred in a single unit, what indicates that the orchids can be used to characterize the vegetation even in large scales.

Fluoridation of the public water supply and prevalence of dental fluorosis in a peripheral district of the municipality of Bauru, SP

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the fluoride concentration in the public water supply and the prevalence of dental fluorosis in schoolchildren between 7 and 15 years old, living in a peripheral district of the municipality of Bauru. Material and Methods: For this, fifty two water samples were collected on three different days of one week. These samples were analyzed for fluoride by means of the ion-sensitive electrode method (Orion 9609) coupled to a potentiometer (Procyon, model 720). In this method, 1.0 mL of TISAB II (Orion) was added to 1.0 mL of the sample. For the epidemiological survey of fluorosis, 52 schoolchildren of both genders, aged between 7 and 15 were assessed, with prior authorization from their caretakers. Only one person examined the children, after supervised toothbrushing and drying with cotton wool rolls. The TF index was used. Results: The fluoride concentrations in the water samples ranged from 0.62 to 1.20 mg/L, with a mean of 0.9 mg/L. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 33%, with severity ranging from TF1 to TF4 (Kappa of 0.73 and concordance of 83.33%). Conclusions: The results from the analysis of water samples indicated a fluoride concentration greater than recommended for Bauru. The fluorosis levels found were higher than expected for a peripheral district, in which water is one of the few sources of fluoride.

Herpetofauna, municipality of Porto Murtinho, Chaco region, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Among the physiographic regions included in the central South American diagonal of open formations, the Chaco, with some endemic species, represents the southernmost dry area. In Brazil, the Chaco is found in southwestern corner of Mato Grosso do Sul state, mostly in the municipality of Porto Murtinho along the Paraguay and Apa rivers. From February 2008 to December 2009, we carried out an inventory of amphibians and reptiles in Porto Murtinho, using pitfall traps, time-limited searches, and occasional encounters. A total of 34 amphibian and 39 reptile species were registered. Although some typical Chacoan species were found, most of the species are open area dwellers that also occur in other open biomes, such as the Cerrado and Caatinga. © 2010 Check List and Authors.

Water productivity assessment by using MODIS images and agrometeorological data in the Petrolina municipality, Brazil

The municipality of Petrolina, located in the semi-arid region of Brazil, is highlighted as an important agricultural growing region, however the irrigated areas have cleared natural vegetation inducing a loss of biodiversity. To analyze the contrast between these two ecosystems the large scale values of biomass production (BIO), evapotranspiration (ET) and water productivity (WP) were quantified. Monteithś equation was applied for estimating the absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR), while the new SAFER (Simple Algorithm For Evapotranspiration Retrieving) algorithm was used to retrieve ET. The water productivity (WP) was analysed by the ratio of BIO by ET at monthly time scale with four bands of MODIS satellite images together with agrometeorological data for the year of 2011. The period with the highest water productivity values were from March to April in the rainy period for both irrigated and not irrigated conditions. However the largest ET rates were in November for irrigated crops and April for natural vegetation. More uniformity of the vegetation and water variables occurs in natural vegetation, evidenced by the lower values of standard deviation when comparing to irrigated crops, due to the different crop stages, cultural and irrigation managements. The models applied with MODIS satellite images on a large scale are considered to be suitable for water productivity assessments and for quantifying the effects of increasing irrigated areas over natural vegetation on regional water consumption in situations of quick changing land use pattern. © 2012 SPIE.

Helminths of lizards from the municipality of Aripuanã in the southern Amazon region of Brazil

Ninety-five specimens from 13 species of lizard collected during a herpetofaunal monitoring programme of the Faxinal II power plant, municipality of Aripuanã, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil (southern Amazon region) were examined for helminths. A total of 21 helminth species (16 Nematoda, 1 Cestoda and 4 Trematoda) were recovered, with an overall prevalence of 67.37%. Seventeen new host records and seven new locality records are reported. A low number of specialists and core helminth species were found. Lizard body size was positively correlated with both the total number of helminth species and individuals. Active foragers exhibited higher helminth diversity. However, sit-and-wait foragers, especially Plica plica, had similar diversity values as active foragers and harboured more helminth species. The degree of similarity in helminth fauna was higher among closely related host species. Copyright © 2011 Cambridge University Press.