Comparative analysis of two sampling techniques for pollen gathered by Nannotrigona testaceicornis Lepeletier (Apidae, Meliponini)

Pollen counts from samples taken from storage pots throughout one year (from October to September) were adjusted by Tasei's volumetric correction coefficient for the determination of pollen sources exploited by two colonies of Nannotrigona testaceicornis in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The results obtained by this sampling technique for seven months (December to June) were compared with those from corbicula load samples taken within the same period. This species visited a large variety of plant species, but few of them were frequently used. As a rule, pollen sources that appeared at frequencies greater than 1% were found with both sampling methods and significant positive correlations (Spearman correlation coefficient) were found between their values. The pollen load sample data showed that N. testaceicornis gathered pollen throughout the external activity period.

Lignin phenols used to infer organic matter sources to Sepetiba Bay - RJ, Brasil

Lignin phenols were measured in the sediments of Sepitiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in bedload sediments and suspended sediments of the four major fluvial inputs to the bay: Sao Francisco and Guandu Channels and the Guarda and Cacao Rivers. Fluvial suspended lignin yields (Sigma 8 3.5-14.6 mgC 10 g dw(-1)) vary little between the wet and dry seasons and are poorly correlated with fluvial chlorophyll concentrations (0.8-50.2 mu gC L(-1)). Despite current land use practices that favor grassland agriculture or industrial uses, fluvial lignin compositions are dominated by a degraded leaf-sourced material. The exception is the Guarda River, which has a slight influence from grasses. The Lignin Phenol Vegetation Index, coupled with acid/aldehyde and 3.5 Db/V ratios, indicate that degraded leaf-derived phenols are also the primary preserved lignin component in the bay. The presence of fringe Typha sp. and Spartina sp. grass beds surrounding portions of the Bay are not reflected in the lignin signature. Instead, lignin entering the bay appears to reflect the erosion of soils containing a degraded signature from the former Atlantic rain forest that once dominated the watershed, instead of containing a significant signature derived from current agricultural uses. A three-component mixing model using the LPVI, atomic N:C ratios, and stable carbon isotopes (which range between -26.8 and -21.8 parts per thousand) supports the hypothesis that fluvial inputs to the bay are dominated by planktonic matter (78% of the input), with lignin dominated by leaf (14% of the input) over grass (6%). Sediments are composed of a roughly 50-50 mixture of autochthonous material and terrigenous material, with lignin being primarily sourced from leaf. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Systematic review and cladistic analysis of the genus Eusarcus Perty 1833 (Arachnida, Opiliones, Gonyleptidae)

Eusarcus Perty 1833 is one of the oldest described genera of Pachylinae, comprising 36 species distributed from northeastern to southern Brazil (including the central west region), northeastern Argentina, eastern Paraguay and Uruguay. The genus is reviewed and a new classification is proposed based on a cladistic analysis. A cladistic analysis was performed with the 34 valid species of Eusarcus and 11 species belonging to certain Gonyleptidae subfamilies. The data matrix has 67 characters: 14 from dorsal scutum and pedipalp, 38 from male legs and 15 from male genitalia. Two equally parsimonious trees were found (L=319; C. I.=0.26, R. I.=0.61). Pygophalangodus gemignanii uruguayensis Ringuelet 1955a and Pygophalangodus gemignanii gemignanii Mello-Leitao 1931b are here elevated to the category of species, and the following new combinations are proposed: E. catharinensis (Mello-Leitao 1927); E. berlae (Mello-Leitao 1932); E. gemignanii (Mello-Leitao 1931b); E. signatus(Roewer 1949); E. sooretamae (Soares & Soares 1946a); E. uruguayensis (Ringuelet 1955a). The following generic synonymies are proposed: Eusarcus Perty 1833 (type species E. armatus Perty 1833) = Metagraphinotus Mello-Leitao 1927 (type species M. catharinensis Mello-Leitao 1927), Pareusarcus Roewer 1929 (type species P. corniculatus Roewer 1929), Pygophalangodus Mello-Leitao 1931b (type species P. gemignanii-gemignanii Mello-Leitao 1931b) and Antetriceras Roewer 1949 (type species A. signatus Roewer 1949). The following specific synonymies are proposed: Eusarcus hastatus Sorensen 1884 = Pucrolioides argentina Roewer 1913, E. guimaraensi H. Soares 1945, Jacarepaguana pectinifemur Piza 1943, Canestrinia canalsi Mello-Leitao 1931a, and E. maquinensis H. Soares 1966b; E. armatus Perty 1833 = E. curvispinosus Mello-Leitao 1923b, and Enantiocentron montis Mello-Leitao 1936; Eusarcus catharinensis (Mello-Leitao 1927) = E. antoninae Mello-Leitao 1936, E. perpusillus Mello-Leitao 1945, E. tripos Mello-Leitao 1940, and Metagraphinotus trochanterspinosus Soares & Soares 1947b; E. nigrimaculatus Mello-Leitao 1924 = Pareusarcus centromelos Mello-Leitao 1935a, E. furcatus Roewer 1929, Orguesia armata Roewer 1913, and Pareusarcus corniculatus Roewer 1929; E. oxyacanthus Kollar in Koch 1839a = Enantiocentron doriphorus Mello-Leitao 1932, and E. spinimanu Mello-Leitao 1932; E. pusillus Sorensen 1884 = E. vervloeti B. Soares 1944c; E. berlae Mello-Leitao 1932 = Metagraphinotus arlei Mello-Leitao 1935a. Metapucrolia armata (Sorensen 1895) is revalidated, transferred to Eusarcus and considered as a species inquirenda. A new name, Eusarcus metapucrolia is proposed for this species to avoid homonymy with the type species of Eusarcus, E. armatus Perty 1833. Eusarcus aberrans Mello-Leitao 1939a is considered as a species inquirenda. The male of E. teresincola Soares & Soares 1946a is described. Female of the following species are described: E. bifidus Roewer 1929; E. dubius B. Soares 1943b; E. insperatus B. Soares 1944a; E. schubarti Soares & Soares 1946a; E. sooretamae (Soares & Soares 1946a). The following new species are described from Brazil: E. acrophthalmus (type locality: Bahia, Ilheus, Parataquice); E. alpinus (Rio de Janeiro, Santa Maria Madalena, Parque Estadual do Desengano); E. caparaoensis (Minas Gerais, Alto Caparao, Parque Nacional do Caparao); E. cavernicola (Goias, Sao Domingos, Parque Estadual de Terra Ronca, Lapa da Angelica); E. didactylus (Rio de Janeiro, Teresopolis, Parque Nacional Serra dos Orgaos); E. garibaldiae (Santa Catarina, Itajai); E. geometricus (Rio de Janeiro, Teresopolis, Parque Nacional Serra dos Orgaos); E. manero (Rio de Janeiro, Marica, Itaipuacu); E. matogrossensis (Mato Grosso, Chapada dos Guimaraes); E. mirabilis (Minas Gerais, Marlieria, Parque Estadual Rio Doce); E. sergipanus (Sergipe, Itabaiana, Parque Nacional de Itabaiana) and E. tripectinatus (Minas Gerais, Rio Preto). The holotype of E. curvispinosus is proposed as the neotype of E. armatus Perty 1833, the type material of which has been lost. Lectotypes for the following species were designated: E. aduncus; E. hastatus; E. oxyacanthus.

Mendelian inheritance, linkage and linkage disequilibrium in microsatellite loci of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.

Copaifera langsdorffii is a Neotropical tree with wide distribution in the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest and savanna. Although eight microsatellite loci (SSR) were developed in 2000 and have been widely used since then, there is yet no information about their inheritance, linkage and linkage disequilibrium (LD). Through the analysis of 28 open-pollinated (OP) progenies, the SSR loci revealed Mendelian inheritance and independent assortment. Using these progenies, young and adult trees LD was mainly detected in OP progenies. Our results show clear evidence that the eight SSR loci can be used without restriction in genetic diversity, mating system and parentage analysis.

Do Terrestrial Tank Bromeliads in Brazil Create Safe Sites for Palm Establishment or Act as Natural Traps for Its Dispersed Seeds ?

This study shows for the first time that terrestrial tank bromeliads from Brazilian restinga can act as natural traps for dispersed palm Euterpe edulis seeds. Such bromeliads, which are shade intolerant, gain benefits by limiting palm recruitment since they hinder canopy formation and, consequently, increase luminosity over its aggregates.

Evaluation of gastroprotective activity of Plinia edulis (Vell.) Sobral (Myrtaceae) leaves in rats

Plinia edulis, an arboreous species popularly known as ""cambuca"", is native to the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest. Despite its traditional uses, no reports are available on the safety of this utilization or on the relationship between the antiulcer activity of its extract and its phytochemical compounds. This paper reports on the investigation of the acute toxicity and gastroprotective effect of the aqueous ethanol extract of leaves of Plinia edulis on HCl/ethanol-induced ulcers. In order to correlate the secondary metabolites and the efficacy of the crude drug in traditional medicine, the extract was submitted to chromatographic fractionation after solvent partition. The extract did not show acute toxicity in mice treated with 5 g/kg p.o.. but exhibited significant antiulcer activity in rats at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg p.o., more active than the reference drug lansoprazole. The ethyl acetate fraction yielded P-amyrin, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, and maslinic acid, which were identified based on spectrometric analyses. Since antiulcerogenic activity is not restricted to one class of compounds in plants, the triterpenoids isolated in the extract can be associated with the observed effect. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

What the reasons for no inbreeding and high genetic diversity of the neotropical fig tree Ficus arpazusa ?

Ficus arpazusa Casaretto is a fig tree native to the Atlantic Rain Forest sensu lato. High levels of genetic diversity and no inbreeding were observed in Ficus arpazusa. This genetic pattern is due to the action of its pollinator, Pegoscapus sp., which disperses pollen an estimated distance of 5.6 km, and of Ficus arpazusa`s mating system which, in the study area, is allogamous. This study highlights the importance of adding both ecological and genetic data into population studies, allowing a better understanding of evolutionary processes and in turn increasing the efficacy of forest management and revegetation projects, as well as species conservation.

Rickettsia monteiroi sp nov., Infecting the Tick Amblyomma incisum in Brazil

Free-living adult Amblyomma incisum ticks were collected in an Atlantic rainforest area at Intervales State Park, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. From an A. incisum specimen, rickettsiae were successfully isolated in Vero cell culture by the shell vial technique. Rickettsial isolation was confirmed by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and PCRs targeting portions of the rickettsial genes gltA, htrA, rrs, and sca1 on infected cells. Fragments of 1,089, 457, 1,362, and 443 nucleotides of the gltA, htrA, rrs, and sca1 genes, respectively, were sequenced. By BLAST analysis, the partial sequence of rrs of the A. incisum rickettsial isolate was closest to the corresponding sequence of Rickettsia bellii (99.1% similarity). The gltA partial sequence was closest to the corresponding sequences of ""Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae"" (96.1% similarity) and Rickettsia canadensis (95.8% similarity). The htrA partial sequence was closest to the corresponding sequence of R. canadensis (89.8% similarity). The sca1 partial sequence was closest to the corresponding sequence of R. canadensis (95.2% similarity). Since our rickettsial isolate was genetically distinct from other Rickettsia species, we propose a new species designated Rickettsia monteiroi sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that R. monteiroi belongs to the canadensis group within the genus Rickettsia, together with the species R. canadensis and ""Candidatus R. tarasevichiae"". Little or no antibody cross-reaction was observed between sera of R. monteiroi-inoculated guinea pigs and R. bellii-, Rickettsia rickettsii-, or R. canadensis-inoculated guinea pigs.

Biology and life cycle of Amblyomma incisum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Amblyomma incisum Neumann is a major tick species in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Tapir is the main host for adult ticks and a high aggressiveness of nymphs to humans has been reported. In this work data on the biology and life cycle of this tick species is presented for the first time. It was shown that horse is a suitable host for A. incisum adults and rabbit for larvae and nymphs. It was also shown that A. incisum is a big tick species (mean engorged female weight of 1.96 g) with a long life cycle which lasts 262.3 days when maintained at 27A degrees C and 85% RH. These laboratory conditions were, however, inappropriate and egg hatching rate (1.2%) was very low. Nevertheless egg hatching of ticks in a forest patch increased considerably (72.2%) indicating that this A. incisum population is highly dependent on a forest-like environment.

Impact of point source pollution on nitrogen isotope signatures (delta N-15) of vegetation in SE Brazil

This study presents novel evidence that N-15 natural abundance can be used as a robust indicator to detect pollutant nitrogen in natural plant communities. Vegetation from the heavily polluted industrial area of Cubatao in Sao Paulo State, SE Brazil, was strongly N-15 depleted compared to plants at remote sites. Historic herbarium samples from Cubatao were significantly less N-15 depleted than extant plants, indicating that N-15 depletion of vegetation is associated with present-day nitrogen pollution in Cubatao. The heavy load of nitrogenous atmospheric pollutants in Cubatao provides a nitrogen source for plants, and strongly N-15 depleted air NH3 is likely to contribute to plant and soil N-15 depletion. Epiphytic plants from Cubatao were extremely N-15 depleted (average -10.9parts per thousand) contrasting with epiphytes at remote sites (averages -1.0parts per thousand and -3.0parts per thousand). Nitrogen isotope composition of vegetation provides a tool to determine input of pollutant nitrogen into plant communities. The strong isotopic change of epiphytes suggests that epiphytes are particularly sensitive biomonitors for atmospheric pollutant nitrogen.

Seasonality of Monomachus Klug (Hymenoptera, Monomachidae) in the Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, Espírito Santo State, Brazil

A survey of Monomachidae species was carried out in anarea of Atlantic rain forest of the Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, Espírito Santo State, Brazil between September, 1996 and August, 1997. Two species of Mollomachus Klug, 1841, M. fuscator Perty, 1833 and M. eurycephalus Schletterer, 1890 were collected from May to September. Both species are typical of winter time and showed the same parttern of seasonality.

Taxonomia de Pseudisobrachium (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) da Mata Atlântica Brasileira

Sistemática, Morfologia e Biogeografia

Taxonomia de Anisepyris Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) da Mata Atlântica Brasileira

Foram estudadas as espécies de Anisepyris Kieffer, 1905, coletadas em 31 localidades ao longo da Mata Atlântica Brasileira. Foram descritas e ilustradas as seguintes espécies novas: A. basilongus Santos sp. nov., A. foveapertus Santos sp. nov., A. artus Santos sp. nov., A. basilargus Santos sp. nov., A. cepus Santos sp. nov. e A. ramosus Santos sp. nov.. Foram examinados espécimes adicionais de dezesseis espécies previamente descritas: A. amazonicus Westwood, 1874, A. bifidus Evans, 1966, A. bipartitus Santos & Azevedo, 2000, A. delicatus Evans, 1966, A. dentatus Santos & Azevedo, 2000, A. divisus Santos, 2002, A. inconspicuus Santos, 2002, A. lobatus Santos & Azevedo, 2000, A. longimerus Santos & Azevedo, 2000, A. nigripes Evans, 1966, A. proteus Evans, 1966, A. rotundus Santos, 2002, A. similis Santos & Azevedo, 2000, A. triangularis Moreira & Azevedo, 2003, A. trinitatis Evans, 1966 e A. tuberosus Santos & Azevedo, 2000, incluindo citações geográficas novas e suas variações taxonômicas, sendo o primeiro registro de A. bipartitus, A. dentatus, A. similis e A. trinitatis para a Mata Atlântica.

O gênero Apenesia (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) na Mata Atlântica : notas e descrição de sete espécies novas

Foram estudadas as espécies de Apenesia Westwood, coletadas em 29 localidades ao longo de um gradiente latitudinal na Mata Atlântica. Foram descritas e ilustradas as sete espécies novas seguintes: Apenesia pectinata sp. nov., A. atlantica sp. nov., A. perlonga sp. nov., A. exigua sp. nov., A. patens sp. nov., A. simplex sp. nov., A. hepatica sp. nov.. Foi descoberta e descrita a fêmea de Apenesia elongata Evans, 1963. Foram adicionados registros novos de distribuição geográfica de quatorze espécies previamente descritas: A. apicilata Azevedo & Batista, A. aurita Waichert & Azevedo, A. clypeata Leal & Azevedo, A. concavata Corrêa & Azevedo, A. crenutala (Kieffer), A. distincta Corrêa & Azevedo, A. elongata Evans, A. inca Evans, A. neotropica (Kieffer), A. photophila (Ogloblin), A. quadrata Evans, A. spinipes Evans, A. stricta Corrêa & Azevedo e A. transversa Evans. Apenesia é registrada pela primeira vez para os estados de Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe e Bahia.

Fauna de Dissomphalus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) da Mata Atlântica Brasileira, com descrição de 23 espécies novas

Foram realizadas coletas padronizadas em 18 pontos ao longo da Mata Atlântica Brasileira no escopo do Programa BIOTA/FAPESP usando-se varredura de vegetação, e armadilhas Malaise e Möricke. Foi coletado um total de 2.811 exemplares de Dissomphalus. Foram reconhecidas 30 espécies descritas, a saber: Dissomphalus conicus Azevedo, 2003, D. h-ramus Redighieri & Azevedo, 2004, D. laminaris Redighieri & Azevedo, 2004, D. manus Azevedo, 2003, D. umbilicus Azevedo, 2003, D. verrucosus Redighieri & Azevedo, 2004, D. alticlypeatus Azevedo, 2003, D. bicerutus Azevedo, 2003, D. gilvipes Evans, 1979, D. krombeini Azevedo, 1999, D. gordus Azevedo, 2003, D. undatus Azevedo, 2003, D. cristatus Redighieri & Azevedo, 2004, D. laticephalus Azevedo, 2003, D. lobicephalus Azevedo, 2003, D. completus Azevedo, 1999, D. gigantus Azevedo, 1999, D. scamatus Azevedo, 1999, D. napo Evans, 1979, D. punctatus (Kieffer, 1910), D. infissus Evans, 1969, D. plaumanni Evans, 1964, D. concavatus Azevedo, 1999, D. rectilineus Azevedo, 1999, D. bifurcatus Azevedo, 1999, D. extrarramis Azevedo, 1999, D. strictus Azevedo, 1999, D. connubialis Evans, 1966, D. microstictus Evans, 1969, D. scopatus Redighieri & Azevedo, 2004. Além disso, foram descritas e ilustradas 23 espécies novas: Dissomphalus inclinatus sp. nov., D. divisus sp. nov., D. distans sp. nov., D. crassus sp. nov., D. filiformis sp. nov., D. inflexus sp. nov., D. spissus sp. nov., D. firmus sp. nov., D. setosus sp. nov., D. tubulatus sp. nov., D. differens sp. nov., D. lamellatus sp. nov., D. fimbriatus sp. nov., D. magnus sp. nov., D. trilobatus sp. nov., D. amplifoveatus sp. nov., D. personatus sp. nov., D. excellens sp. nov., D. peculiaris sp. nov., D. bahiensis sp. nov., D. amplexus sp. nov., D. elegans sp. nov. e D. amplus sp. nov.. Foram propostos 2 grupos novos de espécies, brasiliensis com duas espécies e setosus com oito espécies. Dissomphalus connubialis Evans, 1966 foi revalidado a partir de D. brasiliensis Kieffer, 1910. Dissomphalus bispinulatus Evans, 1969 foi considerado sinônimo junior de D. brasiliensis. Foi proposto para o gênero uma chave de espécies Neotropicais baseada em machos. Algumas espécies como Dissomphalus rectilineus, D. plaumanni, D. connubialis e D. gigantus são amplamente distribuídos ao longo deste bioma. Por outro lado, espécies como Dissomphalus completus, D. bifurcatus, D. napo, D. gilvipes, D. microstictus, D. brasiliensis, D. scamatus, D. strictus, D. undatus, D. alticlypeatus, D. laticephalus, D. verrucosus, D. extrarramis, D. concavatus, D. krombeini, D. gordus, D. lobicephalus e 13 espécies novas são restritas a regiões específicas, apresentando congruência com os subcentros deste bioma.