The abiotic ecology of breeding ground of Palaemonid prawns in the Ilaje Estuary, Ondo State, Nigeria

In situ ecological assessment of the breeding grounds of palaemonid prawns was conducted in some selected locations around Ondo state coastal area between the months of April and September. Data obtained were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. Three species of Palaemonid prawns were identified in four different locations within the study area with relative abundance ratio of 4:3:1. Macrobrachium macrobrachion, Nematopalaemon hastatus and Palaemon maculatus respectively. Sex ratio of 1 male to 5 females for M. macrobrachion, and 1 male to 2 females for N. hastatus and P. maculatus were observed with result showing significant relationships (P < 0.05) in distribution patterns across collection sites. Population distribution within the water column showed that palaemons are sub-lithoral prawns inhabiting maximum mean depth of 0.67m ± 0.025. Surface macro-phytes such as Eichhornia crassipies, Paspalum vaginatum, and Pistia stratiotes are common providing hiding spots for the prawn at the breeding ground. The mean soil pH across the sites stands at 6.67± 0.399 with the soil textural class that range from silty-loam to silty-clay. Also, the water quality parameters of study areas suggest that captive culture and rearing of Palaemons may be feasible outside the breeding areas.

Deleterious effects of non-native species introduced into Lake Victoria, East Africa

Lake Victoria, in East Africa, has suffered from introductions and invasions of non-native species such as Lates niloticus, various tilapiine species, and Eichornia crassipes since the 1950s. These have had a devastating effect on the natural biological communities. This paper reviews the effects of the introductions on ecology, environment, fisheries and the local human population.

Distribution and bioaccumulation of microcystins in water columns: A systematic investigation into the environmental fate and the risks associated with microcystins in Meiliang Bay, Lake Taihu

For the purpose of understanding the environmental fate of microcystins (MCs) and the potential health risks caused by toxic cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Taihu, a systematic investigation was carried out from February 2005 to January 2006. The distribution of MCs in the water column, and toxin bioaccumulations in aquatic organisms were surveyed. The results suggested that Lake Taihu is heavily polluted during summer months by toxic cyanobacterial blooms (with a maximum biovolume of 6.7 x 10(8) cells/L) and MCs. The maximum concentration of cell-bound toxins was 1.81 mg/g (DW) and the dissolved MCs reached a maximum level of 6.69 mu g/L. Dissolved MCs were always found in the entire water column at all sampling sites throughout the year. Our results emphasized the need for tracking MCs not only in the entire water column but also at the interface between water and sediment. Seasonal changes of MC concentrations in four species of hydrophytes (Eichhornic crassipes, Potamogeton maackianus, Alternanthera philoxeroides and Myriophyllum spicatum) ranged from 129 to 1317, 147 to 1534, 169 to 3945 and 124 to 956 ng/g (DW), respectively. Toxin accumulations in four aquatic species (Carassius auratus auratu, Macrobrachium nipponensis, Bellamya aeruginosa and Cristaria plicata) were also analyzed. Maximum toxin concentrations in the edible organs and non-edible visceral organs ranged from 378 to 730 and 754 to 3629 ng/g (DW), respectively. Based on field studies in Lake Taihu, risk assessments were carried out, taking into account the WHO guidelines and the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for MCs. Our findings suggest that the third largest lake in China poses serious health threats when serving as a source of drinking water and for recreational use. In addition, it is likely to be unsafe to consume aquatic species harvested in Lake Taihu due to the high-concentrations of accumulated MCs. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chromium ions phytoaccumulation by three floating aquatic macrophytes from a nutrient medium

In the present work, the trivalent and hexavalent chromium phytoaccumulation by three living free floating aquatic macrophytes Salvinia auriculata, Pistia stratiotes, and Eicchornia crassipes was investigated in greenhouse. These plants were grown in hydroponic solutions supplied with non-toxic Cr3+ and Cr6+ chromium concentrations, performing six collections of nutrient media and plants in time from a batch system. The total chromium concentrations into Cr-doped hydroponic media and dry roots and aerial parts were assayed, by using the Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence technique. The aquatic plant-based chromium removal data were described by using a nonstructural kinetic model, obtaining different bioaccumulation rate, ranging from 0.015 to 0.837 1 mg(-1) d(-1). The Cr3+ removal efficiency was about 90%, 50%, and 90% for the E. crassipes, P. stratiotes, and S. auriculata, respectively; while it was rather different for Cr6+ one, with values about 50%, 70%, and 90% for the E. crassipes, P. stratiotes, and S. auriculata.

Identificação e avaliação de propriedades de polissacarídeos sulfatados de diferentes fontes naturais que possibilitem sua aplicabilidade biotecnológica

Sulfated polysaccharides (SP) are widely distributed in animals and seaweeds tissues. These polymers have been studied in light of their important pharmacological activities, such as anticoagulant, antioxidant, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. On other hand, SP potential to synthesize biomaterials like as nanoparticules has not yet been explored. In addition, to date, SP have only been found in six plants and all inhabit saline environments. However, the SP pharmacological plant activities have not been carrying out. Furthermore, there are no reports of SP in freshwater plants. Thus, do SP from marine plants show pharmacological activity? Do freshwater plants actually synthesize SP? Is it possible to synthesize nanoparticles using SP from seaweed? In order to understand this question, this Thesis was divided into tree chapters. In the first chapter a sulfated polysaccharide (SPSG) was successfully isolated from marine plant Halodule wrightii. The data presented here showed that the SPSG is a 11 kDa sulfated heterogalactan contains glucose and xylose. Several assays suggested that the SPSG possessed remarkable antioxidant properties in different in vitro assays and an outstanding anticoagulant activity 2.5-fold higher than that of heparin Clexane® in the aPTT test; in the next chapter using different tools such as chemical and histological analyses, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), gel electrophoresis and infra-red spectroscopy we confirm the presence of sulfated polysaccharides in freshwater plants for the first time. Moreover, we also demonstrate that SP extracted from E. crassipes root has potential as an anticoagulant compound; and in last chapter a fucan, a sulfated polysaccharide, extracted from the brown seaweed was chemically modified by grafting hexadecylamine to the polymer hydrophilic backbone. The resulting modified material (SNFuc) formed nanosized particles. The degree of substitution for hydrophobic chains of 1H NMR was approximately 93%. SNFfuc-TBa125 in aqueous media had a mean diameter of 123 nm and zeta potential of -38.3 ± 0.74 mV, measured bydynamic light scattering. Tumor-cell (HepG2, 786, H-S5) proliferation was inhibited by 2.0 43.7% at SNFuc concentrations of 0.05 0.5 mg/ mL and RAEC non-tumor cell line proliferation displayed inhibition of 8.0 22.0%. On the other hand, nanogel improved CHO and RAW non-tumor cell line proliferation in the same concentration range. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that this fucan nanogel inhibited 786 cell proliferation through caspase and caspaseindependent mechanisms. In addition, SNFuc blocks 786 cell passages in the S and G2-M phases of the cell cycle

Utilização de análise multivariada e redes neurais artificiais na determinação do comportamento de colonização de populações de macrófitas aquáticas no reservatório de Santana

As análises de agrupamento e de componentes principais e as redes neurais artificiais foram utilizadas na determinação de padrões de comportamento das populações de macrófitas aquáticas que colonizaram o reservatório de Santana, Piraí-RJ, durante o ano de 2004. As análises de agrupamento dividiram o comportamento das populações durante o ano em dois grupos distintos, apresentando um padrão no primeiro semestre que difere daquele observado no segundo semestre do ano. A análise de componentes principais demonstrou que esse comportamento da comunidade (grupo de populações) é influenciado principalmente pelas espécies S. montevidensis, Heteranthera reniformis, Ludwigia sp., Rhynchospora aurea, C. iria, C. ferax e Aeschynomene denticulata no primeiro grupo e por Echinochloa polystachya, Polygonum lapathifolium, Alternanthera phyloxeroides, Pistia stratiotes, Eichhornia azurea, Brachiaria arrecta e Oxyscarium cubense no segundo grupo. As redes neurais artificiais agruparam as populações de macrófitas aquáticas em nove grupos, conforme sua densidade nos diferentes meses do ano. A aplicação da análise de componentes principais (ACP) nos valores de frequência das populações presentes nos primeiros três grupos de Kohonen permitiu discriminar três grupos de meses, cujas populações apresentaram características diferentes de colonização. A aplicação das redes neurais artificiais permitiu melhor discriminação dos meses e das espécies que compõem as comunidades correspondentes, quando utilizada a análise de componentes principais.

Dinâmica da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas no reservatório de Santana, RJ

Apesar da importância na dinâmica dos ecossistemas aquáticos, as macrófitas podem formar densas e extensas colonizações em corpos hídricos cujos equilíbrios ecológicos foram rompidos. Nessas condições, essas plantas promovem uma série de problemas que as tornam alvos de controle. Para elaboração de planos adequados de manejo dessa vegetação, é fundamental o conhecimento das dinâmicas relativas das populações que a compõem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar levantamentos mensais da composição específica da comunidade de macrófitas que coloniza o reservatório de Santana, localizado no município de Piraí/RJ, monitorando 97 pontos georreferenciados, abrangendo toda a lâmina d'água. Foram identificadas 41 espécies, inseridas em 21 famílias botânicas. As famílias Poaceae, Pontederiaceae e Cyperacae foram as que apresentaram os maiores números de espécies ao longo do ano. Salvinia herzogii e Egeria densa apresentaram as maiores notas anuais de colonização do reservatório. As populações de Eichhornia azurea, Brachiaria arrecta e Paspalum repens completaram o grupo das espécies numericamente mais relevantes. As plantas de hábito flutuante tenderam a apresentar populações com padrão de distribuição geográfica casualizado, enquanto as espécies fixadas no sedimento e as submersas apresentaram populações com padrão agregado. Não houve expressivas variações mensais dos valores dos índices de diversidade (H') e de equitabilidade (E') das comunidades de macrófitas aquáticas ao longo do ano. O dendrograma construído com o coeficiente de Odum mostrou uma seqüência lógica dos meses, evidenciando uma definida sucessão de populações divididas em dois grupos de similaridade separados pelo mês de junho. Nessa época, o nível de água do reservatório foi reduzido e o sedimento ficou exposto, favorecendo as espécies de hábito emergente.

Monitoramento de problemas com plantas aquáticas e caracterização da qualidade de água e sedimento na UHE Mogi-Guaçu

Este trabalho foi realizado na UHE Mogi-Guaçu, pertencente à AES Tietê S.A. Levantamento de plantas aquáticas e amostragem de água e sedimento foram realizados em julho de 2001 (estação seca), novembro de 2001 (início da estação chuvosa) e março de 2002 (final da estação chuvosa). Foram feitas 846 análises de água e 516 de sedimento, avaliando-se 47 características da água e 41 do sedimento. Espécies marginais e flutuantes foram as principais infestantes do reservatório, merecendo destaque as espécies Brachiaria subquadripara, Eichornia crassipes, Polygonum lapathifolium, Panicum rivulare, Salvinia auriculata e Pistia stratiotes. A turbidez e conseqüente baixa transmissão de luz pela coluna d'água impossibilitaram o desenvolvimento de plantas submersas. Teores de fósforo e nitrogênio encontrados tanto na água quanto no sedimento mostraram-se suficientes para suportar o crescimento de plantas aquáticas. A ocorrência de plantas marginais e flutuantes estava associada ao intenso processo de sedimentação observado no reservatório.

Controle químico de plantas daninhas aquáticas em condições controladas - caixa d'água

Durante o ano de 1998 foram conduzidos quatro experimentos em Botucatu, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em condições de caixas d'água, com o objetivo de estudar o efeito de alguns herbicidas sobre Eicchornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Thypha subulata e Salvinia molesta. Os herbicidas e doses utilizadas foram: imazapyr a 125, 250, 500, 1.000, 1.500 e 2.000 g e.a./ha; 2,4 D a 1.200 g e.a./ha; glyphosate a 3.360 g e.a./ha. Houve, ainda, uma testemunha sem aplicação de herbicidas. Os experimentos foram instalados no delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As parcelas experimentais foram constituídas pelas caixas d'água com dimensões de 60x60x60 cm e colocadas a pleno sol no campo. Utilizou-se 3, 12, 25 e 60 plantas/caixa de T. subulata, P. stratiotes, E. crassipes e S. molesta, respectivamente. Os herbicidas foram aplicados com pulverizador costal a pressão constante de CO2 de 1,75 Bar, munido de barra com bicos Teejet 110.02 VS e com um consumo de calda de 200 l/ha. Foram efetuadas avaliações visuais de controle de sete em sete dias por 35 a 49 dias, dependendo da espécie. Todos os herbicidas testados foram eficientes no controle de E. crassipes e o imazapyr foi o único herbicida a promover morte total das plantas, independente da dose utilizada. Os herbicidas 2,4 D e glyphosate não foram eficientes no controle de P. stratiotes. O herbicida imazapyr foi eficiente no controle de P. stratiotes, exceto na dose de 125 g e.a./ha. Todos os herbicidas foram eficientes no controle de T. subulata, exceção ao imazapyr na dose de125 g e.a./ha. Houve rebrota de T. subulata nas parcelas aplicadas com 2,4 D. Nenhum tratamento químico foi eficiente no controle de S. molesta.

Morphological and biochemical analysis of the stored and larval food of an obligate necrophagous bee, Trigona hypogea

Trigona hypogea, T. crassipes, and T. necrophaga are obligate necrophagous bees that differ from the majority of bees by using animal material instead of pollen as a protein resource. Since T. hypogea does not store protein in cerumen pots, it was thought that glandular secretions were its only larval protein source. This is in contrast to T. necrophaga which stores a yellowish proteinaceous jelly in the pots. Our results show that the larval food of T. hypogea has a higher protein content than the food stored in the pots and that it presents an electrophoretical protein pattern similar to that of the hypopharyngeal gland, indicating that workers add glandular secretions to the larval food while provisioning the brood cells. Thus, it can be suggested that T. hypogea has a provisioning behavior similar to other Meliponinae. The presence of several bands of proteins in the food stored in the pots shows that this species stores carrion mixed with honey in storage pots. Morphological data suggest that both larvae and adults make use of the same foodstuffs. These results also suggest that T. hypogea is more similar to other necrophagous species than it is to T. necrophaga (a more specialized bee).

Asymmetric microbial reduction of ketones: absolute configuration of trans-4-ethyl-1-(1S-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanol

A set of five fungal species, Botrytis cinerea, Trichoderma viride and Eutypa lata, and the endophytic fungi Colletotrichum crassipes and Xylaria sp., was used in screening for microbial biocatalysts to detect monooxygenase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities (for the stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds). 4-Ethylcyclohexanone and acetophenone were biotransformed by the fungal set. The main reaction pathways involved reduction and hydroxylations at several positions including tertiary carbons. B. cinerea was very effective in the bioreduction of both substrates leading to the chiral alcohol (S)-1-phenylethanol in up to 90% enantiomeric excess, and the cis-trans ratio for 4-ethylcyclohexanol was 0:100. trans-4-Ethyl-1-(1S-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanol, obtained from biotransformation by means of an acyloin-type reaction, is reported here for the first time. The absolute configurations of the compounds trans-4-ethyl-1-(1S-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanol and 4-(1S- and 4-(1R-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanone were determined by NMR analysis of the corresponding Mosher's esters. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural variations among monocot emergent and amphibious species from lakes of the semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon contents of macrophytes in lakes lateral to a tropical river (Paranapanema River, São Paulo, Brazil)

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

Caracterização físico-química, microbiológica e planctônica de um viveiro coberto por macrófitas usado no abastecimento de água para aquicultura

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A comunidade perifítica e suas relações com a qualidade da água no reservatório de Itupararanga (SP, Brasil)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)