Population trends of the red palm mite, raoiella indica hirst (acari: tenuipalpidae) and associated entomopathogenic fungi in trinidad, antigua, st kitts and nevis and dominica

A survey to determine population trends and entomopathogenic fungi associated with the red palm mite (RPM), Raoiella indica, was conducted in Trinidad, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica. RPM population density was evaluated by sampling a total of ten coconut palms per site in Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and Trinidad (Manzanilla and Icacos). Mites from the four islands were either surface sterilized or left unsterilized before being cultured on Tap Water Agar (TWA). A total of 318 fungal colonies were retrieved. A further 96 mites from Dominica were kept on sterile moist filter paper in a humidity chamber and a further 85 colonies were isolated. Based on morphological observations of all 403 isolates, a sample consisting of 32 colonies (8 %) was sent for identification at CABI-UK. Of the 27 fungi positively identified, 15 isolates belonged to the genera Cladosporium, three to Simplicillium spp., and one to Penicillium. Other fungi genera with limited or no entomopathogenic potential included: Aspergillus, Cochliobolus, Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis and Pithomyces. The results show a potential use of entomopathogenic fungi for population management of the red palm mite in the Caribbean region.

Perfil antropométrico, aptidão motora e aeróbia de jogadores de futebol profissionais e juniores de Trinidad e Tobago

There is little information on Caribbean soccer players. Thus, the aim this study was to descriptive and to compare the anthropometric, motor and aerobic fitness profile between Trinidad and Tobago team professional and junior soccer players. Twenty six soccer players were evaluated (14 professional and 12 junior): anthropometric (height, body mass, BMI, body fat percent), flexibility (sit and reach), velocity (30 m), explosive strength (horizontal and vertical jump), anaerobic power (maximum, mean and minimum power, index of fatigue) and maximum aerobic power. Student Test-t to independent sample was used in statistical analyzes, considering 5% of significance (p<0,05). Results of professional and junior players were, respectively: height (180,6 ± 8,1; 175,0 ± 6,9 cm), body mass (77,1 ± 7,5; 70,6 ± 8,7 kg); BMI (23,6 ± 1,5 / 23,0 ± 1,6 kgm 2 ); body fat (11,9 ± 1,7; 11,6 ± 1,2 %); sitting and reaching (24,9 ± 10,3; 24,9 ± 7,7 cm); velocity (30 m) (4,61 ± 0,14; 4,66 ± 0,15 s); horizontal jump (263,4 ± 14,9; 239,7 ± 12,1 cm); vertical jump (58,7 ± 4,3; 54,6 ± 6,6 cm); maximum power (7,9 ± 0,9; 6,6 ± 0,8 w∙kg-1 ); mean power (6,5 ± 0,7; 5,4 ± 0,9 w∙kg-1 ); minimum power (5,3 ± 0,7; 4,3 ± 1,1 w∙kg-1 ); index of fatigue (33,0 ± 7,9; 34,8 ± 12,8 %); aerobic power (55,0 ± 3,2; 57,2 ± 4,8 ml∙kg-1 ∙min-1 ). Professional players presented higher horizontal jump and maximum, mean and minimum anaerobic power in comparing to the junior players. The highest values of power tests for the lower limbs may be relationship to the longer time of practice in the modality of professional players, which can also indicate a higher level of specialization, which gives priority to the training of power (force and velocity).

Lek phenology of the White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Aves: Passeriformes: Pipridae) in a subtropical region

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização física de substratos à base de serragem e recipientes para crescimento de mudas de cacaueiro

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar caracterização física e avaliar o efeito de substratos à base de serragem e dois recipientes no crescimento de mudas de cacaueiro. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 2 x 4 x 2. Os tratamentos foram obtidos da combinação de serragens originadas de dois locais: municípios de Una e Camacan, no Estado da Bahia, quatro proporções (v:v) de serragem e areia: 1:0; 8:1; 4:1 e 2:1 e dois recipientes de crescimento (tubetes de 288 cm³ e sacos de polietileno de 840 cm³). Antes do plantio, amostras dos substratos foram retiradas para análises físicas. Foram usadas miniestacas de 4 a 6 cm de comprimento do clone Trinidad Select Hybrid (TSH 1188). Inicialmente, as miniestacas foram tratadas na base com AIB 6.000 mg kg-1, em seguida foram inseridas em tubetes preenchidos com os substratos e mantidas em câmara de nebulização. Após quarenta dias, as miniestacas foram retiradas da câmara e transferidas para crescimento, em casa de vegetação, onde parte foi mantida nos respectivos tubetes e outra transplantada em sacos de polietileno de 840 cm³ preenchidos com os mesmos tratamentos. Após cinco meses, em casa de vegetação, as mudas foram avaliadas quanto à altura da planta, diâmetro do caule, massa da matéria seca da parte aérea e das raízes, número de folhas e área foliar das plantas. Na análise física dos substratos, verificou-se que a distribuição do tamanho de partículas foi diferenciada entre as serragens e a proporção de areia. As densidades seca, úmida e de partícula aumentaram, enquanto o teor de matéria orgânica e a porosidade total foram reduzidos pela adição de areia às serragens. O transplante de miniestacas enraizadas de cacaueiro, clone TSH 1188, para sacos com substrato preparado com serragem coletada no município de Una-BA, nas proporções serragem:areia 4:1 e 2:1, possibilitou maior crescimento das plantas, sendo,portanto, recomendados para produção de mudas.

The bizarre male of Spalangia dozieri (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae): adaptations for male phoresy or the result of sexual selection?

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

Composition of stingless bee honey: Setting quality standards

Compositional data from 152 stingless bee (Meliponini) honey samples were compiled from studies since 1964, and evaluated to propose a quality standard for this product. Since stingless bee honey has a different composition than Apis mellifera honey, some physicochemical parameters are presented according to stingless bee species. The entomological origin of the honey was known for 17 species of Meliponini from Brazil, one from Costa Rica, six from Mexico, 27 from Panama, one from Surinam, two from Trinidad & Tobago, and seven from Venezuela, most from the genus Melipona. The results varied as follows: moisture (19.9-41.9g/100g), pH (3.15-4.66), free acidity (5.9-109.0meq/Kg), ash (0.01-1.18g/100g), diastase activity (0.9-23.0DN), electrical conductivity (0.49-8.77mS/cm), HMF (0.4-78.4mg/Kg), invertase activity (19.8-90.1IU), nitrogen (14.34-144.00mg/100g), reducing sugars (58.0-75.7g/100g) and sucrose (1.1-4.8g/100g). Moisture content of stingless bee honey is generally higher than the 20% maximum established for A. mellifera honey. Guidelines for further contributions would help make the physicochemical database of meliponine honey more objective, in order to use such data to set quality standards. Pollen analysis should be directed towards the recognition of unifloral honeys produced by stingless bees, in order to obtain standard products from botanical species. A honey quality control campaign directed to both stingless beekeepers and stingless bee honey hunters is needed, as is harmonization of analytical methods. © 2007 Asociación Interciencia.

Evolution of the South Atlantic passive continental margin in southern Brazil derived from zircon and apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He and fission-track data

The area between São Paulo and Porto Alegre in southeastern Brazil plays a key area to understand and quantify the evolution of the South Atlantic passive continental margin (SAPCM) in Brazil. In this contribution, we present new thermochronological data attained by fission-track and (U-Th-Sm)/He analysis on apatites and zircons from metamorphic, sedimentary and intrusive rocks. The zircon fission-track ages range between 108.4 (15.0) and 539.9 (68.4). Ma, the zircon (U-Th-Sm)/He ages between 72.9 (5.8) and 525.1(2.4). Ma, whereas the apatite fission-track ages range between 40.0 (5.3) and 134.7 (8.0). Ma, and the apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He ages between 32.1 (1.5) and 93.0 (2.5). Ma. The spatial distribution of these ages shows three distinct blocks with a different evolution cut by old fracture zones. While the central block exhibits an old stable block, the Northern and especially the Southern block underwent complex post-rift exhumation. The sample of the Northern block shows two distinct cooling phases in the Upper Cretaceous and the Paleogene to Neogene. After sedimentation of the Permian sandstones the samples of the Central block were never heated up over 100. °C with a following moderate to fast cooling phase in Cretaceous to Eocene time and a fast cooling between Oligocene to Miocene. The five thermal models obtained in the Southern block indicate a complex evolution with three cooling phases. The exhumation events of the three blocks correspond with the Paraná-Etendekka event, the alkaline intrusions due to the Trinidad hotspot, and the evolution of the continental rift basins in SE Brazil and are, therefore, most likely to be the major force for the post-rift evolution of the passive continental margin in SE Brazil, which therefore corresponds to the three main phases of the Andean orogeny. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Estrutura genética de populações de Crinipellis perniciosa e Moniliophthora roreri utilizando marcadores RAPD e SSR

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mapeamento da ilha da Trindade, Atlântico Sul

The area chosen for this study is the island of Trinidade, which is located 1167 km off the Brazilian coast, in parallel Victory at 20 ° 30'S and 29 º 19'W, being the most easterly point of our continent. The isolation of oceanic island of Trinidade leaves no noticeable that she is part of a large submarine volcanic chain oriented east-west lineament known as Vitória- Trindade. Along with the island of Martin Vaz, who is Federal Territory is administered by the Navy of Brazil. Both correspond to Source alkaline volcanic islands. The area of the island of Trinidad has approximately 10 km2. Geologically consisting ankaratritic spills, spills tannbuschiticos, volcanic tuff spills analcite-ankaratrite, phonolite spills, spills nefelinite, pyroclastics, spills grazinite, tinguaitos, olivine-analcitito, calcarenite dunes and wind according to Almeida (1961). The island has its base on the ocean floor, at 5,800 m depth. It is the only place still recognizes preserved volcanic necks and plugs, as well as remnants of a volcano in Brazil. Magmatism occurred here a sodium alkali-silica subsaturated where his wrist was last 50,000 years according to Almeida (1961). It is a place with restricted access due to their distance from the coast, his contribution and hard to be an exclusive area of the Navy. On the island with peaks occur up to 620 meters high, and its rugged mountainous terrain and difficult access to very specific points, as the peak of Desire, peak Fazendinha, Monument and other points on the island. Because of its location far from the coast, its small infrastructure, difficulty of landing and restricted access by sea, the island of Trinidad offers no possibility of tourism, being a military outpost, and scientific basis of great importance, which conduct research in area of marine biology, oceanography, geology and others

Escovopsis trichodermoides sp nov., isolated from a nest of the lower attine ant Mycocepurus goeldii

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)