Ocorrência de Trichospilus diatraeae (Hym.: Eulophidae) em broca-das-cucurbitáceas, no Brasil

Este trabalho tem como objetivo registrar a primeira ocorrência, no Brasil, do parasitóide de pupas Trichospilus diatraeae (Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) na broca-das-cucurbitáceas, Diaphania hyalinata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). A espécie T. diatraeae já foi relatada no Brasil em pragas da gravioleira no Distrito Federal e eucalipto nos estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo. No sistema produtivo da abóbora D. hyalinata é reconhecidamente uma praga importante por causar sérios prejuízos em função das injúrias provocadas em diferentes partes da planta. A ocorrência do parasitóide foi registrada em pupas coletadas no campo, localizado no campus experimental do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), no município de Alegre-ES.

Avaliação da qualidade do corte florestal com motosserra

Objetivou-se, com esta pesquisa, avaliar a qualidade do corte florestal com motosserra, em propriedades rurais no sul do Espírito Santo, considerando aspectos da qualidade e a perda de madeira retida nas cepas. Foram lançadas parcelas de 250 m², onde foram feitas as observações após o corte com motosserra, avaliando-se a qualidade do corte nos seguintes aspectos: presença de espetos; danos por rachadura; cepas com faixa de ruptura fora do padrão; cepas sem o entalhe direcional e a altura da cepa remanescente, com vistas a mensurar a perda de madeira retida nas cepas. de acordo com os resultados, em média, houve presença de espetos em 21,9% das cepas, de rachaduras em 17,2%, de cepas fora do padrão em 44,6% e de cepas sem entalhe direcional em 34,5% das avaliações. Para verificar a influência da realização do entalhe direcional na altura das cepas, o teste-t, a 5% de probabilidade demonstrou que há contribuição para ocorrer maior altura de cepas, nos casos em que o corte foi feito sem o entalhe direcional. A quantidade de madeira retida nas cepas, acima do máximo recomendado, foi, em média, de 2,43 m³/ha, representando um prejuízo de R$ 172,53/ha. Foi verificada que a perda de madeira remanescente nas cepas de eucalipto foi maior nos locais onde, para a derrubada das árvores, não houve a realização do entalhe direcional. Os itens avaliados demonstraram qualidade irregular, indicando a necessidade de melhoria no corte com motosserras.

Jaguar (Panthera onca) food habits in Atlantic rain forest of southeastern Brazil

Between January and December 1996, the food habits of a relict population of jaguars were studied in 220 km(2) Linhares Forest Preserve, which comprises much of the remaining old-growth Atlantic Forest of Espirito Santo, Brazil. Fecal analysis indicated opportunistic feeding on 24 prey species (N = 101 scats). Mammals represented 87 percent of the total items, followed by reptiles (9.8%) and birds (2.8%). Considering prey weight, 23.4 percent of the items weighed 1-3 kg, 40.5 percent were 3-10 kg, and 27.7 percent weighed more than 10 kg. Analysis of relative prey frequency and biomass indicated that the diet was concentrated in two prey types: long-nosed armadillo and white-lipped peccary. Literature data suggest that forest jaguars rely on the same mammal prey over their entire geographic range.

Succession and management of tropical dry forests in the Americas: Review and new perspectives

Understanding tropical forest succession is critical for the development of tropical forest conservation strategies worldwide, given that tropical secondary forests can be considered the forests of the future. Tropical dry forests (TDF) are among the most threatened tropical ecosystems, there are more secondary forests and forest restoration efforts that require a better understanding of successional processes. The main goal of this synthesis for this special issue on the ecology and management of tropical dry forests in the Americas is to present a summarized review of the current knowledge of the ecology and management implications associated to TDF succession. We explore specific issues associated to tropical dry forest succession with emphasis on the use of chronosequences, plant diversity and composition, plant phenology and remote sensing, pollination, and animal-plant interactions; all under the integrating umbrella of ecosystem succession. We also emphasize the need to conduct socio-ecological research to understand changes in land-use history and its effects on succession and forest regeneration of TDF. We close this paper with some thoughts and ideas associated with the strong need for an integrating dimension not considered until today: the role of cyberinfrastructure and eco-informatics as a tool to support sound conservation, management and understanding of TDF in the Americas. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Sao Vicente earthquake of 2008 April and seismicity in the continental shelf off SE Brazil: further evidence for flexural stresses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Food and feeding habits of the neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae)

A study of the feeding habits of the neotropical river otter, Lontra longicaudis, based on focal analysis was carried out from July 1986 to July 1987. The study was conducted at a dam in the 'Duas Bocas' Biological Reserve near the town of Cariacica, Espirito Santo State, Brazil. This reserve spreads over an area of 2 910 ha, the surface being mainly covered by the Atlantic Rain Forest. In order to identify the fish and other animal remains found in otter fecal samples, these were compared to the homologous structures of identical species living in the dam. The results of 288 samples were expressed in numbers and frequency of occurrence. Fishes were the most important food item, being present in 281 samples (97.2 %). A species of the genus Geophagus was frequently found in spraints, eaten during all months studied and present in 88.9 % of the samples. Astyanax, Pimelodella, Hoplias, Leporinus, Rhamdia, Tilapia and two other unidentified genera were found less frequently. In decreasing order of occurrence, crustaceans, amphibia, mammals, insects and birds were also encountered. Seasonal variation was verified in the scats between the dry and rainy seasons, with a higher frequency of food items occurring in the latter. In agreement with other species of otters, fishes also are the most commonly ingested prey. Two characteristics of fishes, greater abundance and easier capture, make them the major prey of otters, implying that otters are opportunistic predators eating whatever is more available.

Oxalate determination in urine using an immobilized enzyme on Sorghum vulgare seeds in a flow injection conductimetric system

A flow-injection (FI) method was developed for the determination of oxalate in urine. It was based on the use of oxalate oxidase (E.C. 1.2.3.4) immobilized on ground seeds of the BR-303 Sorghum vulgare variety. A reactor was filled with this activated material, and the samples (200 μL) containing oxalate were passed through it, carried by a deionized water flow. The carbon dioxide produced by the enzyme reaction permeated through a microporous PTFE membrane, and was received in a water acceptor stream, promoting conductivity changes proportional to the oxalate concentration in the sample. The results obtained showed a useful linear range from 0.05 to 0.50 mmol dm-3. The proposed method, when compared with the Sigma enzymatic procedure, showed good correlation (Y = 0.006(±0.016) + 0.98(±0.019)X; r = 0.9995, Y = conductivity in μS, and X = concentration in mmol dm-3), selectivity, and sensitivity. The new immobilization approach promotes greater stability, allowing oxalate determination for 6 months. About 13 determinations can be performed per hour. The precision of the proposed method is about ± 3.2 % (r.s.d).

Phylogenetic analysis and redescription of the genus Henochilus (Characiformes: Characidae)

Henochilus, a characiform genus endemic to eastern Brazil is reviewed. A single species, Henochilus wheatlandii, from the Rio Doce and possibly the Rio Mucuri in the states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo is recognized and redescribed. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that Henochilus is most closely related to the clade consisting of Brycon and likely Chilobrycon.

Maturidade fisiológica das sementes do ipê amarelo, Tabebuia chrysotricha (Mart. Ex DC.) Standl

Ipê amarelo Tabebuia chrysotricha (Mart. Ex DC.) Standl. is a native forest species that presents heavy and durable wood: it is common to be used for urban arborization. The species is latte secondary and heliophyta. Occurs from Espirito Santo State until Santa Catarina in the Pluvial Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica). The seedling production is hard because their seeds have short longevity after dispersion, and so due to the difficulty to harvest winged seeds that are quickly dispersed by the wind. The present study was carried out to evaluate the physiological maturity of Ipê Amarelo seeds, to establish the best moment to harvest them. The study was to accompany the maturation of 100 fruits in just beginning development, from eleven different trees. Morphological characteristic measures were made weekly, with fruits still on trees, starting from the second week development when fruits presented the following averages: 6.3 cm length, 0.71 cm thickness, and 0.82 cm width. From the sixth week of fruit development we harvest them to proceed the germination test, water content rate, and electric conductivity test. The germination has begun by the seventh week development with 28% of germinated seedlings. The highest germination rate happened by the eighth week development, with 74.5% of germinated seedlings and on the ninth week the rate decrease to 65.5%, when the seeds were already in dispersion. Through the electric conductivity test the highest value obtained was 378.06 μS.g -1.cm -1 on the seventh week development and the lowest one was 183.28 μpS.g -1.cm -1 on eighth week. These results support those obtained in the germination test, because as higher is the electric conductivity of seeds, as higher is their deterioration level. Finally, the study allows concluding that the physiological maturation of ipê amarelo seeds has occurred before dispersion close to the eighth week development when fruits presented the following averages: 22.2 cm length, 1.37 cm width, and 1.05 cm thickness; water content rate was 61.8% and electric conductivity was 183.28 μS.g -1.cm -1. In that moment, the fruits presented greened brown coloration and started to show fissures.

Concentrações séricas de aspartato aminotransferase e creatinoquinase e concentrações plasmáticas de lactato em equinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador após exercício físico

The aim of this study was evaluate the influence of physical exercise (marcha gait) on serum values of CK and AST and plasmatic values of lactate in Mangalarga Marchador horses trained in Espirito Santo, Brazil. Serum and plasma samples were obtained from 15 horses in four different moments: rest (T0), 5 minutes (T1), 30 minutes (T2) and 2 hours (T3) after the exercise. Lactate analysis revealed values of 1.02 ± 0.41 mmol/L, 2.73 ± 2.43 mmol/L, 1.89 ± 1.24 mmol/L and 1.31 ± 0.60 mmol/L, respectively at T0, T1, T2 and T3. When evaluating AST, the results recorded in T0, T1, T2 and T3 were, respectively, 189.3 ± 56.0 UI/L, 223.9 ± 53.5 UI/L, 186.8 ± 25.8 UI/L and 193.9 ± 44.7 UI/L. Finally, the CK at moments T0, T1, T2 and T3 were, respectively, 113.4 ± 56.3 UI/l, 144.1 ± 70.9 UI/L, 143.0 ± 81.0 UI/L and 173.1 ± 128.0 UI/L. The results showed that marcha gait leaded to significantly increased in plasma lactate and did not alter serum AST and CK, suggesting that the equines used were conditioned to the physical exercised imposed.

Uma pesquisa sobre a opinião pública sobre incentivos financeiros para doação de óvulos no Brasil

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the opinions of the Brazilian population about incentives for oocyte donation. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive approach was used to consult the Brazilian public. The data collection involved the use of a structured questionnaire about legal and ethical issues surrounding oocyte donation. Individuals were randomly selected from the general population using different e-mail lists. Potential participants were contacted by e-mail and invited to participate in the study by completing an online web survey. Results: A total of 1,565 people completed the survey, including 1,284 women(82%) and 281 men(18%). Among the respondents, 1,309(83.6%) were university graduates, 1,033(66%) had a personal income ≥1,250 US dollars/month, 1,346(86%) considered themselves to be religious and 518 (33.1%) were health professionals. While many participants believed that women may donate their oocytes for altruistic reasons, the majority believed that a lack of oocyte donations is due to the prohibition of payments(64.3%) and that incentives would facilitate the decision to donate oocytes(84.7%). The majority of the participants(65.3%) agreed that a financial incentive(i.e., paying the donor) would be the most practical solution for increasing the number of oocyte donations. These results tended to be independent of gender, age, income, religion, education level and profession. Conclusion: While the Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine prohibits payments for oocyte donation, the majority of study participants had no objection to compensating oocyte donors. Moreover, most of the participants agreed that a financial incentive is the most practical solution to increasing the number of oocyte donations.

Histochemical study of the hepatopancreas in adult females of the pink-shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis Latreille, 1817

This study provides histochemical data of the hepatopancreatic cells of adult female pink-shrimp (Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis) at two different developmental stages (those with developed gonads and those with exhausted gonads). The F. brasiliensis females were collected in seawater off the Guarapari coast, Espirito Santo, Brazil. Five cell types were identified in this digestive gland: B (vesicular), E (embryonic), F (fibrillar), M (basal) and R (resorptive). The digestive gland was stained with the following techniques: PAS/Alcian blue (for polysaccharides), bromophenol blue (for protein), von Kossa (for bound calcium) and Baker (for lipids). Acid glycoconjugates were found inside vacuoles in the R cells, while neutral polysaccharides were present in the B cells and near to the microvilli. In females with exhausted gonads polysaccharides were also seen in the intertubular spaces and inside the lumina of the tubules. The F and M cells were the most marked by the presence of large amounts of proteins observed in R cells and also inside the vacuoles of B cells. The bound calcium was mainly found in the F and M cells. The F cells showed strong positive staining for lipid while the R cell only stained weakly. The E cells did not react to any of the applied staining techniques. The similarities in the histochemical composition of these hepatopancreatic cells in females with developed gonads, compared to exhausted ones, is justified by the fact that transfer of these elements to the oocytes occurs, in significant quantity, only during the initial stages of gonadal development in F. brasiliensis. Also, they may be more related to the molt stage, as in the case of calcium salts. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Rubem Braga: a simbiose jornalística e literária

Pós-graduação em Letras - FCLAS

Determinação da densidade amostral ótima para a geração de mapas temáticos na cafeicultura de precisão

Among the crops commercially exploited in Brazil, the coffee has a great economic importance, especially in the states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. In the search for higher yield and lower environmental impact, farmers and researchers seek to develop new technologies that result in greater efficiency in various production processes of the coffee. For this, the adoption of precision agriculture in the management of operations in coffee crops, called precision coffee, has shown results that justify its use, by identifying the spatial variability of several variables, allowing its localized management and in the proper intensity. Unlike conventional management that is based on the average of observations in an area, precision agriculture uses a more detailed sampling, based on a sampling grid, which allows to represent in greater detail the reality of farming. Many previous studies have identified the spatial variability of the production of coffee system variables, but without worrying about the quality of information obtained due to the sampling grid used as precision and accuracy. Given the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of four different sampling grids for different variables and three times, in order to identify the most appropriate grid for use in precision coffee. Also aimed to compare the results between the precision coffee and conventional, according to reference values.