Photosynthetic performance of mangroves Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa under field conditions

In mature mangrove plants Rhizophora mangle L. and Laguncularia racemosa Gaerth. growing under field conditions, photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemical efficiency, determined by the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (Fν/Fm), increased during the day in response to salinity in the rainy seasons. During the dry season, fluorescence values (Fo) were higher than those observed in rainy season. In addition, Fo decreased during the day in both season and species, except for R. mangle during the dry season. A positive correlation among Fν/Fm and salinity values was obtained for R. mangle and L. Racemosa during the dry and rainy seasons, showing that photosynthetic performance is maintained in both species under high salinities. Carotenoid content was higher in L. Racemosa in both seasons, which represents an additional mechanism against damage to the photosynthetic machinery. The chlorophyll content was not affected by salinity in either species.

Negative inotropic and chronotropic effects on the guinea pig atrium of extracts obtained from Averrhoa carambola L. leaves

It has been reported that star fruit can lead to a fatal outcome in uremic patients. The intoxication syndrome consists of hiccups, mental confusion, dizziness, and vomiting. On the other hand, folk medicine uses teas and infusions of carambola leaves to treat headache, vomiting, cough, insomnia, and diabetes. This motivated us to determine if Averrhoa carambola can act on the contractility and automaticity of the guinea pig heart. We measured the atrial isometric force in stimulated left atria and determined the chronotropic changes in spontaneously beating right atria. The carambola leaf extracts (1.5 mg/ml) abolished the contractile force in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the crude, methanolic, ethanolic, aqueous, and acetic extracts, the aqueous one was the most potent (EC50 = 520 ± 94 µg/ml; flavonoids and tannins are the main constituents; Na+ and K+ contents in 1.0 mg/ml of aqueous extract were 0.12 ± 0.016 and 1.19 ± 0.15 mM, respectively). The aqueous extract abolished the positive Bowditch staircase phenomenon and reduced the inotropic response to CaCl2 (0.17-8.22 mM), events that are dependent on the cellular Ca2+ inward current. The adrenergic, muscarinic or opioid membrane receptors do not seem to participate in the mechanism of action of the cardioactive substance(s). In spontaneously beating atria, the aqueous extract promoted a negative chronotropic effect that was antagonized by 0.1 µM isoproterenol bitartrate. With this agonist, the EC50 of the aqueous extract increased from 133 ± 58 to 650 ± 100 µg/ml. These data regarding the effect of A. carambola on guinea pig atrial contractility and automaticity indicate an L-type Ca2+ channel blockade.

Evaluation of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) leaves during its developmental stages: a chemical composition study

Beetroot leaves (Beta vulgaris L.) are commonly cut off and discarded before using its bulb due to lack of knowledge of how to use them. Aiming at using these leaves, in the present study, in natura and dehydrated beetroot leaves were chemically characterized in terms of fatty acid composition, proximate composition, minerals, total phenolic compounds (TPC), and antioxidant activity by DPPH• in different stages (60, 80, and 100 days) of development. The beetroot leaves showed significant levels of protein and lipids in all developmental stages, and all proximate composition nutrients decreased during these maturation stages; the highest content was observed at 60 days. The Fe content decreased during the developmental stages (from 342.75 to 246.30 mg.kg-1), while the content of K increased (from 13,367.64 to 20,784.90 mg.kg-1). With regard to to fatty acid composition, linolenic acid was present in the greatest quantity, and it increase up to 2.58 mg.g-1 (in natura) and 40.11 mg.g-1 (dehydrated) at 100 days of development. The n-6/n-3 ratios were low in all stages. The TPC and antioxidant activity by DPPH• changed during the developmental stages. The TPC was highest in the 100-day dehydrated leaves (15.27±0.12 mg GAE.g-1 FW), and the 50% inhibition of DPPH• (IC50 89.52 µg.mL-1) were better in the 60-day in natura leaves. This study shows that all developmental stages produced satisfactory results, and therefore, these leaves can be reused as food. The antioxidant activity and the chemical constituents, mainly the ω-3fatty acid, increased during the stages of development.

Crescimento de mudas de mangue sob diferentes níveis de sombreamento na península de Ajuruteua, Bragança, Pará

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a influência de diferentes níveis de sombreamento sobre o desenvolvimento de mudas das espécies arbóreas de mangue Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn., Rhizophora mangle L. e Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f. O experimento foi conduzido na comunidade de Tamatateua, na península de Ajuruteua, município de Bragança. Para a produção das mudas, os propágulos das espécies arbóreas de mangue foram semeados em embalagens de polietileno (17 x 27 cm), preenchidas com substrato típico de manguezal. As mudas das três espécies foram testadas a pleno sol, 30% e 60% de sombreamento em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (3 x 3) x 3 (3 espécies arbóreas e 3 níveis de sombreamento). Após as plantas atingirem a idade de nove meses, retiraram-se amostras de oito mudas por repetição de cada tratamento. As variáveis avaliadas foram: altura da parte aérea, diâmetro do coleto, massa da parte aérea, massa seca do caule, matéria seca das raízes e matéria seca total e índices morfológicos. O crescimento das mudas de R. mangle ocorreu em todos os níveis de luminosidade. As mudas de A. germinans apresentaram maior crescimento a pleno sol e a 30% de sombreamento. Já as mudas de L. racemosa foram tolerantes a 30% e 60% de sombra, mas se desenvolveram melhor a pleno sol.

Crescimento somático do caranguejo-uçá Ucides cordatus (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ocypodidae) em laboratório

Em crustáceos, o aumento de tamanho ocorre imediatamente após a muda, quando o animal está com a carapaça mole. O crescimento de Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) foi observado em laboratório, através da ocorrência de muda, incremento de muda e período de intermuda. O estudo foi realizado durante os meses de outubro/2000 a março/2002 e um total de 91 caranguejos (15 machos, 33 fêmeas e 43 juvenis) foi coletado no manguezal de Itacuruçá - Coroa Grande, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Os animais foram mantidos em dois tipos de tanques: os caranguejos adultos foram mantidos em tanques de 1000 l, durante 18 meses, enquanto os juvenis foram mantidos em tanques plásticos de 20 l de capacidade durante oito meses. Os animais foram mantidos em sistema aberto de circulação de água do mar e alimentados duas vezes por semana com folhas de Rhizophora mangle (L.) (Rhizophoraceae) e Laguncularia racemosa (Gaertn.) (Combretaceae). A largura da carapaça variou entre 50,1 a 70,0 mm nos machos, 40,2 a 80,0 mm entre as fêmeas e 1,1 a 40,1 mm entre os juvenis. A sobrevivência dos espécimes estudados foi de 46,7% entre os machos, 39,4% entre as fêmeas após dezoito meses e 67,4% entre os juvenis, após oito meses de observação. Os machos e as fêmeas realizaram três mudas durante o experimento, enquanto os juvenis realizaram até duas mudas. As mudas ocorreram entre agosto e abril, mostrando maior freqüência durante a primavera e o verão. O incremento na largura da carapaça diminuiu com o tamanho do indivíduo, com média de 2,21 &plusmn; 1,39% para os machos, 1,28 &plusmn; 0,84% para as fêmeas e 2,89 &plusmn; 2,13% para os juvenis. A relação entre o incremento percentual e a largura da carapaça pode ser expresso pela equação IM = -0.0707LC + 4.645 (r²= 0.40). O período de intermuda foi de 191 &plusmn; 140 dias entre os machos, 216 &plusmn; 76,2 dias entre as fêmeas e 54 &plusmn; 1,41 dia entre os juvenis. O incremento de muda foi estatisticamente significativo (p<0,05) quando comparados machos e fêmeas, e adultos e juvenis.

Distribuição geográfica da fauna e flora da Baía de Guanabara

The author studied, the horizontal and vertical distribution of most common part of the flora and fauna of the bay of Guanabara at Rio de Janeiro. In this paper the eulittoral, poly, meso and oligohaline regions were localised and studied; and the first chart of its distribution was presented (fig. 2). The salinity of superficial waters was established through determinations based on 30 trips inside the buy for collecting biological materials. Some often 409 determinations which were previous reported together with the present ones served for the eleboration of a salinity map of the bay of Guanabara (fig. 1). This map of fig. 2 shows the geographic locations of the water regions. EULITTORAL WATER REGIME — Fig. 3 shows the diagram scheme of fauna and flora of this regime. Sea water salinity 34/1.000, density mean 1.027, transparent greenish waters, sea coast with moderate bursting waves. Limpid sea shore with white sand, gneiss with the big barnacle Tetraclita squamosa var. stalactifera (Lam. Pilsbry. Vertical distributions: barna¬cles layers with a green region in which are present the oyster Ostrea pa-rasitica L., the barnacles Tetraclita, Chthamalus, Balanus tintinnabulum var. tintinnabulum (L.) e var. antillensis Pilsbry in connection with several mollusca and the sea beatle Isopoda Lygia sp. Covered by water and exposed to air by the tidal ritms, there is a stratum of brown animals that is the layer of mussels Mytilus perna L., with others brown and chestnut animals : the Crustacea Pachygrapsus, the little crab Porcellana sp., the stone crab Me-nippe nodifrons Stimpson, the sea stars Echinaster brasiliensis (Mull. & Tr.), Astropecten sp. and the sea anemones Actinia sp. Underneath and never visible there is a subtidal region with green tubular algae of genus Codium and amidst its bunches the sea urchin Lycthchinus variegatus (Agass.) walks and more deeply there are numerous sand-dollars Encope emarginata (Leske). The microplancton of this regime is Ceratiumplancton. POLYHALINE WATER REGIMB — Water almost sea water, but directly influenced by continental lands, with rock salts dissolved and in suspension. Salinity: 33 to 32/1.000. This waters endure the actions of the popular nicknamed «water of the hill» (as the waters of mesohaline and oligohaline regimes), becoming suddenly reddish during several hours. That pheno¬menon returns several times in the year and come with great mortality of fishes. In these waters, according to Dr. J. G. FARIA there are species of Protozoa : Peridinea, the Glenoidinium trochoideum St., followed by its satellites which he thinks that they are able to secret toxical substances which can slaughter some species of fishes. In these «waters of the hill» was found a species of Copepoda the Charlesia darwini. In August 1946 the west shore of the Guanabara was plenty of killed fishes occupying a area of 8 feet large by 3 nautical miles of lenght. The enclosure for catching fishes in the rivers mouthes presents in these periods mass dead fishes. The phenomenon of «waters of the hill» appears with the first rains after a period of long dryness. MESOHALINE WATER REGIME — Fig. 4 shows the the diagramm scheme. Salt or brackish water from 30 to 17/1.000 salinity, sometimes until 10/1.000. Turbid waters with mud in suspension, chestnut, claveyous waters; shore dirty black mud without waving bursting; the waters are warmer and shorner than those of the polihaline regime. Mangrove shore with the mangrove trees : Rhizophora mangle L., Avicennia sp., Laguncularia sp., and the »cotton tree of sea» Hibiscus sp. Fauna: the great land crab «guaimú» Cardisoma guanhumi Latr., ashore in dry firm land. There is the real land crab Ucides cordatus (L.) in wetting mud and in neigh¬ bourhood of the burrows of the fiddler-crabs of genus Uca. On stones and in the roots of the Rhizophora inhabits the brightly colored mangrove-tree-crab («aratu» Portuguese nickname) Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille) and the sparingly the big oyster Ostrea rhizophorae Guild. Lower is the region of barnacles Balanus amphitrite var. communis Darwin and var. niveus Darwin; Balanus tintinnabulum var. tintinnabulum (L.) doesn't grow in this brackish water; lower is the region of Pelecipoda with prepollency of Venus and Cytherea shell-fishes and the Panopeus mud crab; there are the sea lettuce Ulva and the Gastreropod Cerithium. The Paguridae Clibanarius which lives in the empty shells of Gasteropod molluscs, and the sessile ascidians Tethium plicatum (Lesuer) appears in some seasons. In the bottom there is a black argillous mud where the «one landed shrimps» Alpheus sp. is hidden. OLIGOHALINE WATER REGIME — The salinity is lower than 10/1.000. average 8/1.000. There are no barnacles and no sea-beetles Isopods of genus Lygia; on the hay of the shore there are several graminea. This brackish water pervades by mouthes of rivers and penetrates until about 3 kilometers river above. While there is some salt dissolved in water, there are some mud crabs of the genus Uca, Sesarma, Metasesarma and Chasmagnatus. The presence of floating green plants coming from the rivers in the waters of a region indicated the oligohaline waters, with low salt content because when the average of NaCl increases above 8/1.000 these plants die and become rusty colored.

Aspectos nutricionais na vegetação de manguezal do estuário do Rio Mucuri, Bahia, Brasil

A existência de zonas monoespecíficas é característica no manguezal do rio Mucuri, BA, onde Laguncularia racemosa L. e Rhizophora mangle L. ocupam locais sob maior influência da maré e Avicennia germinans L. está restrita a locais de salinidade mais baixa. A vegetação neste manguezal é classificada em bosques ribeirinhos (margem do rio) e bosques de bacia (interior). Parâmetros físicos e químicos do sedimento e suas relações com a concentração dos nutrientes foliares foram associados à distribuição das espécies estudadas. Os resultados mostraram que A. germinans dominou sítios com menores valores de pH, de salinidade, de carga de troca catiônica e de silte e alto teor de argila, quando comparada às outras duas espécies estudadas. O substrato de R. mangle caracterizou-se pelos maiores teores de matéria orgânica e pela sua constituição arenosa fina. Quanto às frações granulométricas do solo, no bosque ribeirinho predominam a constituição arenosa e, no de bacia, a argilosa. Sedimentos sob A. germinans e R. mangle revelaram menores e maiores teores de macronutrientes, respectivamente, especialmente as bases trocáveis (K, Ca e Mg). Espécies restritas a sítios mais ricos em macronutrientes apresentaram menor concentração foliar desta classe de elementos químicos. Nesse aspecto, A. germinans acumulou maiores teores de macronutrientes enquanto L. racemosa e, especialmente, R. mangle foram mais ricas em micronutrientes. Apesar de se desenvolver em substratos mais ricos em Mn, L. racemosa acumulou o menor teor foliar desse elemento. Os valores baixos do fator de concentração de Fe e de Zn em R. mangle e de Mn em L. racemosa sugerem que essas espécies sejam melhor adaptadas a sítios com maiores concentrações desses micronutrientes.

Composição química do sedimento e de folhas das espécies do manguezal do estuário do Rio São Mateus, Espírito Santo, Brasil

As concentrações de nutrientes das folhas e do sedimento e a capacidade de acumulação de elementos químicos dos tecidos foliares das espécies Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn., Avicennia schaueriana Staft & Leechm., Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f. e Rhizophora mangle L. foram analisadas em quatro estações de estudo no manguezal do estuário do Rio São Mateus, no Estado do Espírito Santo. De modo geral, os elementos determinados no sedimento seguiram a ordem: Mg > Ca > Fe > K > Mn > P > Zn > Cu, apresentando variações inter e intraespecíficas. No tecido foliar, as espécies de Avicennia apresentaram maiores teores de N, K e Mg e menores concentrações de Ca. Rhizophora mangle exibiu maior concentração de Mn e Laguncularia racemosa, maior teor de Fe em relação às demais espécies. Os resultados demonstraram que a concentração de nutrientes do sedimento refletiu a influência da granulometria neste compartimento. O acúmulo de nutrientes nas folhas variou de acordo com a espécie e estação de estudo, mas não refletiu as concentrações do sedimento. Os dados confirmaram o papel do manguezal como barreira biogeoquímica ao trânsito de metais pesados. Entretanto, torna-se desejável uma amostragem periódica para um melhor entendimento da dinâmica de nutrientes.

Leaf damage in a mangrove swamp at Sepetiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Leaf damage to Rhizophora mangle L., Avicennia schaueriana Stapf. & Leechman, and Laguncularia racemosa L. was studied in a two hectare mangrove swamp site in Sepetiba Bay. Seventeen arthropod morphospecies were identified as being responsible for the damage, and their species diversity was highest on A. schaueriana, followed by R. mangle and L. racemosa. Damage in terms of relative area was greatest in L. racemosa. Almost 9% of mangrove canopy leaf area demonstrated some damage. Loss of leaf area to herbivory was 12.1%, 8.3% and 6.2% in L. racemosa, A. schaueriana and R. mangle respectively. L. racemosa and A. schaueriana showed high percentages of leaf-margin damage in terms of the total damaged leaf area (82.2% and 56.3% respectively), while the most important type of damage in R. mangle was necrosis, representing 58.1% of the total damaged leaf area.

Avaliação de efeitos de espécies de mangue na distribuição de Melampus coffeus (Gastropoda, Ellobiidae) no Ceará, nordeste do Brasil

Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758) é um gastrópode pulmonado, macrodetritívoro, importante na transferência de energia em manguezais neotropicais, mas sua distribuição em diferentes escalas espaciais ainda é pouco conhecida nas regiões brasileiras. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a distribuição de M. coffeus com relação: 1) às espécies Rhizophora mangle Rhizophoraceae e Laguncularia racemosa Combretaceae; 2) à posição dos rizóforos de R. mangle e 3) à altura das árvores em diferentes manguezais. O seu comportamento ao longo do ciclo de marés também foi descrito. A densidade de M. coffeus foi similar entre R. mangle e L. racemosa, porém os maiores caramujos foram encontrados nas árvores de R. mangle. A distribuição dos caramujos encontrados no sedimento diferiu em relação aos rizóforos, com maior densidade no centro e o maior tamanho na borda da área amostral. Entretanto, não houve relação com a disponibilidade de recursos alimentares formados por folhas. A densidade também foi maior nos manguezais baixo e médio quando comparados ao alto, porém não foram encontradas diferenças de tamanho dos caramujos em mangues de alturas distintas. Observamos também que, durante a maré alta, M. coffeus sobe nas árvores mais próximas. Estes resultados podem estar relacionados principalmente com a disponibilidade de recursos e abrigos fornecidos por R. mangle. Desta forma, novos estudos sobre a distribuição de M. coffeus sob diversas condições são recomendáveis, já que as regiões de manguezais estão cada vez mais sujeitas a perturbações.

Ecological relations between mangrove leaf litter and the spatial distribution of the gastropod Melampus coffeus in a fringe mangrove forest

Leaf litter represents a food source to many organisms that may directly contribute to organic matter decomposition. In addition, the physical presence of these vegetal detritus contributes for the modification of some environmental areas and produce microhabitats that may act as a refuge against predators and desiccation for many animals. The pulmonate gastropod Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ellobiidae) is a very common specie in Atlantic Coast mangrove forests and feeds on fallen mangrove leaves. It was hypothesized that the spatial distribution of Melampus coffeus is directly affected by mangrove leaf litter biomass deposition. Thus, this research aimed at evaluating the spatial distribution of these gastropods in relation to the biomass of mangrove leaf litter through a twelve-month period. The study area was established in the middle estuary of Pacoti River, state of Ceará, Brazil where two adjacent zones with different topographic profiles were determined. Samples of Melampus coffeus and leaf litter were collected monthly, throughout a year, from the mangrove ground surface. The results indicated that the presence of twigs in mangrove litter favor the occupation by smaller individuals of M. coffeus, probably because smaller individuals are more susceptible to predator attacks and desiccation than larger ones, and twigs and branches may provide a safe microhabitat.

Especiação de metais-traço em sedimentos de florestas de manguezais com Avicennia e Rhizophora

Speciation studies of Fe, Cr, Co, Ni and Cu on reactive fraction (adsorved on oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and clay minerals) and pyrite were performed in Avicennia schaueriana and Rhizophora mangle sediments from Amapá shoreline-Brazil. The soil under Avicennia showed a higher heavy metal concentration in reactive fraction than under Rhizophora. The soil under Rhizophora showed low heavy metal bioavailability, having an increasing association with pyrite across sediment section.

Avaliação das variáveis analíticas do método de Folin-Ciocalteu para determinação do teor de taninos totais utilizando como modelo o extrato aquoso de folhas de psidium guajava L.

The main analytical variables of a modified Folin-Ciocalteu method were studied by UV-Vis and gradient HPLC-PDA methods, using purified (PC) and technical grade (TGC) casein. Rutin and an aqueous extract of Psidium guajava L. leaves were used as models. The best results were ascribed to TGC. Certainly PC bonds the polyphenols of the P. guajava extract better than TGC, but TGC afforded better precision. A lack of specificity occurred when rutin was analyzed together with the P guajava extract. Additional analyses performed with the flavonoid fraction of P. guajava extract by HPLC-PDA had confirmed that casein was able to bind catechin, gallic acid and P. guajava flavonoids in a non-specific way.

Estrutura da vegetação de mangue associada ao gradiente de inundação no litoral norte do Espírito Santo, Brasil

O manguezal é um ecossistema de grande complexidade que ocorre na interface entre os ambientes marinhos e terrestres, mas que apresenta baixa riqueza de espécies vegetais adaptadas às suas condições diferenciadas. Avaliar a estrutura e distribuição da vegetação no manguezal do rio Piraquê-Açu, ES, associando-as com parâmetros abióticos ao longo de um gradiente, foi o objetivo deste estudo. Em seis parcelas de 100 m² cada, foram registrados 306 indivíduos vivos e um morto, pertencentes às espécies Laguncularia racemosa, Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia schaueriana, Terminalia catappa e outras quatro indeterminadas, sendo L. racemosa de maior densidade, dominância, área basal e IVI. A altura média das árvores foi de 4,2 m (DP±1,9) e a CAP, de 12,4 cm (DP±9,5), estando a maioria dos indivíduos em classes de CAP até 10 cm. O manguezal encontrava-se em estado juvenil e pouco desenvolvido estruturalmente, e houve distinção na distribuição das espécies na área, com espécies associadas ocorrendo na parcela mais elevada e menos úmida. As variáveis abióticas diferiram entre as parcelas, contudo apenas a umidade do substrato apresentou relação significativa com a abundância de indivíduos e circunferência dos troncos.

The interference of methods in the collection of teredinids (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in mangrove habitats

In the estuary of the Mamanguape River (Paraíba, Brazil), a new collection technique was developed and applied with virgin poles of mangrove trees Avicennia schaueriana (Verbenaceae), Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae), and Laguncularia racemosa (Combretaceae), taking into account wood preference, water salinity and depth influence during teredinid larval settlement. Sets of poles were vertically fixed in the riverbed at three sites along a decreasing salinity gradient, where they stayed for four months. The poles were collected and divided into upper, median, and lower segments, in agreement with different immersion regimes. An increase of 239% was obtained in the number of individuals when compared to a previous study in the same area using a different methodology. The species Teredo bartschi (Clapp, 1923), Nausitora fusticula (Jeffreys, 1860) and Bankia fimbriatula Moll & Roch, 1931 were registered in both studies, and the species Psiloteredo healdi (Bartsch, 1931) is here registered for the first time as occurring in that estuary. The species Neoteredo reynei (Bartsch, 1920), previously registered on tree branches of the mangrove habitat, was not found in the present work. Bankia fimbriatula, the most abundant species, did not show preference for any substratum but occurred significantly on the lower segment of the poles. N. fusticula, second in abundance, preferred to settle on poles of A. schaueriana and on any of the three segments. Aiming to assess the habitat variations, a more accurate study on teredinids diversity in mangrove ecosystems should be performed through a concomitant analysis from tree branches of the mangrove habitat, as well as from poles of mangrove trees or panels made of pine wood or mangrove trees wood. These collection devices should be maintained along a decreasing salinity gradient exposed to different tide levels.