Nectandra Rol. ex Rottb. (Lauraceae) in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

(Nectandra Rol. ex Rottb. (Lauraceae) in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil). This paper presents the taxonomic study of the species of Nectandra from Mato Grosso do Sul. Eight species of Nectandra were identified through the morphological analyses of specimens collected in different regions from the State: N. amazonum Nees, N. cissiflora Nees, N. cuspidata Nees, N. falcifolia (Nees) J.A. Castigl. ex Mart. Crov. & Piccinini, N. gardneri Meisn., N. hihua (Ruiz & Pav.) Rohwer, N. megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez and N. psammophila Nees. Identification key, morphological descriptions, geographic distribution, habitat, fenologic aspect, taxonomic comments, and illustrations are presented.

On the Generic Identity of Siagonodon brasiliensis, with the Description of a New Leptotyphlopid from Central Brazil (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae)

The geographic variation and hemipenial morphology of Siagonodon brasiliensis are described based on a comprehensive sample, allowing the reappraisal of its generic identity, and the proposal of a new nomenclatural combination. We suggest that the presence of two supralabials, as mentioned in the original description of S. brasiliensis, is not a common feature for this species, occurring at low frequencies throughout its geographic distribution. Based on a diagnosis presented in a recently published paper, as well as on additional external traits and on hemipenial characters, we recognize Siagonodon brasiliensis as a species of the genus Tricheilostoma. In addition, a new species of worm snake of the genus Siagonodon is described from the savannas of the state of Tocantins, Brazil. The new species differs from other congeners by having a slightly acuminate snout in lateral and ventral views, subcircular rostral in dorsal view, and 12 scale rows around middle of tail. The diagnosis of the genus Siagonodon is revised and expanded based on direct observation of morphological characters.

Small mammals of the mid-Araguaia River in central Brazil, with the description of a new species of climbing rat

The mid-Araguaia River basin in central Brazil is considered a priority area for biodiversity conservation, and Parque Estadual do Cantao (PEC) is one of the most important protected areas in this ecotone between Cerrado and Amazonia. This area suffers an intensive human pressure with high rates of deforestation, and still remains poorly studied in terms of biodiversity. From June 2007 to November 2008 we sampled small mammals from both banks of the mid-Araguaia River, in the states of Tocantins and Para. Data are given about morphological traits, geographic distribution and natural history of 22 species of small non-volant mammals (eight marsupials and 14 rodents) surveyed at PEC and its surroundings. We also present mitochondrial phylogenetic analyses that allow species identification within the genera: Oecomys, Oligoryzomys and Rhipidomys, and delineate an undescribed species of Thrichomys. Based on morphologic and molecular data, we describe a new species of Rhipidomys previously assigned to R. nitela, which is apparently endemic to the Araguaia-Tocantins basin in the Cerrado. Additionally, our phylogenetic analyses provide support for the role played by the Araguaia River as an important geographic barrier for two sister species of Rhipidomys.

A new species of Lauromacromia (Odonata: Corduliidae) from Southeastern Brazil, with a cladistic analysis of the genus and comments on Neotropical dragonfly biogeography

Lauromacromia melanica sp. nov. from Conceicao da Barra municipality, Espirito Santo State, Brazil, is described and illustrated based on two males (both in MNRJ n degrees 135). The new species is similar to L. picinguaba differing from it mainly by the absence of pale spots on S3-6 and by the ellipsoid shape of metepisternal pale stripe. A key for males of all species of the genus is provided. A cladistic analysis encompassing 43 external morphological male characters carried out in two distinct procedures, the first with all characters unordered and the second with two or three state characters ordered. The unordered analysis generated only one most-parsimonious tree (66 steps of length, CI = 0.69, RI = 0.62). The hypothesis of monophyly of Lauromacromia is supported and includes three groups, one formed by the Atlantic Forest species (L. melanica sp. nov. + L. picinguaba), and another by the Cerrado species (L. flaviae + (L. bedei + L. luismoojeni)), and L. dubitalis, positioned in polytomy with these two groups. The ordered analysis also generated only one most-parsimonious tree (68 steps of length, CI = 0.70, RI = 0.67), which maintained the monophyly of Lauromacromia but L. dubitalis positioned basally as sister-group to the Atlantic Forest + Cerrado species groups. The geographic distribution of Lauromacromia is updated with a new record of L. luismoojeni based on one adult male (Brazil: Mato Grosso do Sul State) and probable first Brazilian records for L. dubitalis (Amazonas and Para States) based on two larvae. A vicariance hypothesis is proposed to explain spatial evolution of Lauromacromia, and based on current biogeographical classifications we consider Gomphomacromia and Rialla apart from Neotropical biota. Some aspects of biology and ecology of Lauromacromia are also discussed.

THE RIO APA CRATON IN MATO GROSSO DO SUL (BRAZIL) AND NORTHERN PARAGUAY: GEOCHRONOLOGICAL EVOLUTION, CORRELATIONS AND TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS FOR RODINIA AND GONDWANA

The Rio Apa cratonic fragment crops out in Mato Grosso do Sul State of Brazil and in northeastern Paraguay. It comprises Paleo-Mesoproterozoic medium grade metamorphic rocks, intruded by granitic rocks, and is covered by the Neoproterozoic deposits of the Corumbi and Itapocurni Groups. Eastward it is bound by the southern portion of the Paraguay belt. In this work, more than 100 isotopic determinations, including U-Pb SHRIMP zircon ages, Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd whole-rock determinations, as well as K-Ar and Ar-Ar mineral ages, were reassessed in order to obtain a complete picture of its regional geological history. The tectonic evolution of the Rio Apa Craton starts with the formation of a series of magmatic arc complexes. The oldest U-Pb SHRIMP zircon age comes from a banded gneiss collected in the northern part of the region, with an age of 1950 +/- 23 Ma. The large granitic intrusion of the Alumiador Batholith yielded a U-Pb zircon age of 1839 +/- 33 Ma, and from the southeastern part of the area two orthogneisses gave zircon U-Pb ages of 1774 +/- 26 Ma and 1721 +/- 25 Ma. These may be coeval with the Alto Terere metamorphic rocks of the northeastern corner, intruded in their turn by the Baia das Garcas granitic rocks, one of them yielding a zircon U-Pb age of 1754 +/- 49 Ma. The original magmatic protoliths of these rocks involved some crustal component, as indicated by the Sm-Nd TDm model ages, between 1.9 and 2.5 Ga. Regional Sr isotopic homogenization, associated with tectonic deformation and medium-grade metamorphism occurred at approximately 1670 Ma, as suggested by Rb-Sr whole rock reference isochrons. Finally, at 1300 Ma ago, the Ar work indicates that the Rio Apa Craton was affected by widespread regional heating, when the temperature probably exceeded 350 degrees C. Geographic distribution, age and isotopic signature of the fithotectonic units suggest the existence of a major suture separating two different tectonic domains, juxtaposed at about 1670 Ma. From that time on, the unified Rio Apa continental block behaved as one coherent and stable tectonic unit. It correlates well with the SW corner of the Amazonian Craton, where the medium-grade rocks of the Juruena-Rio Negro tectonic province, with ages between 1600 and 1780 Ma, were reworked at about 1300 Ma. Looking at the largest scale, the Rio Apa Craton is probably attached to the larger Amazonian Craton, and the actual configuration of southwestern South America is possibly due to a complex arrangement of allochthonous blocks such as the Arequipa, Antofalla and Pampia, with different sizes, that may have originated as disrupted parts of either Laurentia or Amazonia, and were trapped during later collisions of these continental masses.

Cearania heterophylla gen. nov et sp nov., a fossil gymnosperm with affinities to the Gnetales from the Early Cretaceous of northern Gondwana

Vegetative and fertile shoots of a shrub-like seed plant from the late Aptian Crato Formation of Brazil are described as Cearania heterophylla Kunzmann, Mohr and Bernardes-de-Oliveira, gen. nov. et sp. nov. Anatomical details of the axes, epidermal features and separate ovulate and pollen producing organs indicate the gymnospermous nature of this plant. The vascular tissue of the axes includes tracheids with bordered pits and fiber tracheids. Vegetative shoots comprising at least three branching orders bear opposite-decussately arranged ovate to lanceolate, dorsiventrally flattened, parallelodromous, rather thick leaves that vary tremendously in size. The amphistomatic leaves bear (brachy-)paracytic stomatal complexes arranged in simple longitudinal files. The ovulate structure is interpreted as a terminally attached single globular ovule/seed surrounded by at least five to six lanceolate bracts. A terminally attached pollen-cone like structure grows on a lateral leafy shoot. The unusual character combination may indicate that the fossils belong to a hitherto unknown group with affinities to ephedroid Gnetales. Sterile shoots formerly often described as Podozamites, Nageiopsis or Lilites that are at least partly congeneric with C. heterophylla Kunzmann, Mohr and Bernardes-de-Oliveira, gen. nov. et sp. nov. had a wide geographic distribution during the Early Cretaceous. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Human papillomavirus type 16 variants in cervical cancer from an admixtured population in Brazil

Several studies indicate that molecular variants of HPV-16 have different geographic distribution and risk associated with persistent infection and development of high-grade cervical lesions. In the present study, the frequency of HPV-16 variants was determined in 81 biopsies from women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III or invasive cervical cancer from the city of Belem, Northern Brazil. Host DNAs were also genotyped in order to analyze the ethnicity-related distribution of these variants. Ninie different HPV-16 LCR variants belonging to four phylogenetic branches were identified. Among these, two new isolates were characterized. The most prevalent HPV-16 variant detected was the Asian-American B-2,followed by the European B-12 and the European prototype. Infections by multiple variants were observed in both invasive cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III cases. The analysis of a specific polymorphism within the E6 viral gene was performed in a subset of 76 isolates. The E6-350G polymorphism was significantly more frequent in Asian-American variants. The HPV-16 variability detected followed the same pattern of the genetic ancestry observed in Northern Brazil, with European, Amerindian and African roots. Although African ancestry was higher among women infected by the prototype, no correlation between ethnical origin and HPV-16 variants was found. These results corroborate previous data showing a high frequency of Asian-American variants in cervical neoplasia among women with multiethnic origin.

Os gêneros Nicotiana L., Bouchetia Dunal e Nierembergia Ruiz & Pav.(Solanaceae) no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Os gêneros Nicotiana L., Bouchetia Dunal e Nierembergia Ruiz & Pav. da tribo Nicotianeae G.Don (Solanaceae), presentes no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, apresentam diversas características em comum, como o hábito predominantemente herbáceo, fruto seco, capsular, com numerosas sementes. Estes gêneros distinguem-se basicamente por Nicotiana apresentar prefloração geralmente contorcido-conduplicada ou conduplicada, corola infundibuliforme, tubular ou hipocrateriforme, anteras dorsifixas e um disco nectarífero presente, enquanto que Bouchetia e Nierembergia apresentam prefloração imbricadoconduplicada ou imbricada e anteras ventrifixas. Em Bouchetia a corola é campanulado-infundibuliforme e um disco nectarífero está presente, enquanto que em Nierembergia a corola é hipocrateriforme e o disco nectarífero está ausente. O gênero Nicotiana, da subtribo Nicotianineae, está representado no Estado por seis espécies nativas: N. alata Link & Otto, N. bonariensis Lehm., N. forgetiana Hemsl., N. langsdorffii Weinm., N. longiflora Cav. e N. mutabilis Stehmann & Semir. Duas outras espécies, provavelmente originárias da Argentina, são também encontradas no Estado: N. glauca Graham, que ocorre de forma ruderal ou cultivada e N. tabacum L., também cultivada, de importância econômica por ser fonte de matéria prima para a indústria do fumo. A única espécie do gênero Bouchetia, presente no Estado, é Bouchetia anomala (Miers) Britton & Rusby, endêmica da região sul do Brasil, Uruguai, Paraguai e nordeste da Argentina. Pertence à subtribo Nierembergiinae Hunz., junto com Nierembergia, com quem apresenta maior afinidade. Nierembergia está representado no Rio Grande do Sul por cinco espécies nativas: N. linariifolia Graham, N. micrantha Cabrera, N. pinifolia Miers, N. riograndensis Hunz. & A.A.Cocucci e N. scoparia Sendtn. Chaves analíticas para identificação dos gêneros da tribo Nicotianeae G.Don e para os da subtribo Nierembergiinae, assim como para as espécies de Nicotiana, Bouchetia e Nierembergia, são apresentadas. Descrições para os três gêneros e suas espécies, ilustrações, mapas de distribuição geográfica no Estado, considerações quanto ao hábitat, observações sobre a fenologia, variabilidade morfológica e outros comentários também são referidos.

O Gênero Eleocharis R.Br. (Cyperaceae) no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

O estudo taxonômico do gênero Eleocharis R. Br. para o Rio Grande do Sul foi desenvolvido através dos métodos tradicionais em taxonomia. Os dados foram obtidos através da bibliografia, revisão de herbários regionais e coleta de exemplares a campo. O gênero está representado no Rio Grande do Sul por 27 espécies: Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.) Schult., E. bonariensis Nees, E. contracta Maury, E. dunensis Kük., E. elegans (Kunth) Roem. & Schult., E. filiculmis Kunth, E. flavescens (Poir.) Urb., E. geniculata (L.) Roem. & Schult., E. interstincta (Vahl) Roem. & Schult., E. loefgreniana Boeck., E. maculosa (Vahl) Roem. & Schult., E. minima Kunth var. minima, E. montana (Kunth) Roem. & Schult., E. montevidensis Kunth, E. nudipes (Kunth) Palla, E. obtusetrigona (Lindl. & Nees) Steud., E. ochrostachys Steud., E. parodii Barros, E. aff. quinquangularis, E. quinquangularis Boeck., E. rabenii Boeck., E. radicans (Poir.) Kunth, E. sellowiana Kunth, E. squamigera Svenson, E. subarticulata (Nees) Boeck., E. viridans Kük. e Eleocharis sp. O trabalho apresenta descrições, ilustrações, dados sobre distribuição geográfica, habitat e períodos de floração e frutificação das espécies, além de uma chave dicotômica para diferenciá-las.

Descrição do ciclo gametogênico do ouriço-branco, Tripneustes ventricosus (Lamarck, 1816), no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha PE, Brasil

Sea urchins are common benthic organisms on coastal ecosystems of tropical and temperate shallow waters. The impact of sea urchins populations in shore communities is density-dependent, and therefore, knowledge of the life history of these animals is important to understand these interactions. Between 2000 and 2005 a population boom of Tripneustes ventricosus was observed in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. In 2004 a research program was started to monitor the population dynamics of T. ventricosus in the archipelago, when it noted a lack of basic information on the biology and reproduction of this species, despite its broad geographic distribution and economic importance in parts of its occurrence. In this context, this work focuses on the reproductive biology of T. ventricosus with emphasis on the description of the gametogenic stages. Between December 2006 and July 2007, ten urchins were collected by snorkeling in two sites of the archipelago, totaling 120 individuals. Gametogenic stages were described for both sexes through microscopic analysis, and were defined as: Recovery, Growing, Premature, Mature and Spawning. Results showed increasing in Gonad index throughout of months of sampling and suggest that the reproductive cycle of the species in the archipelago is annual

Frequência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em galinhas caipira e frangos de corte em regiões dos Estados do Rio Grande do Norte e Paraíba

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that has a cosmopolitan geographic distribution and low host specificity. Usually a benign and selflimiting, infection can manifest itself in a severe systemic becoming overwhelming in fetuses and patients with immunosuppression. Domestic fowl are considered one of the most important hosts in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis, since they are potential sources of infection for humans, in addition to playing the role of important indicators of environmental contamination by oocysts of T. gondii. We studied the prevalence of infection by the protozoan in chickens of different breeding systems mesoregions from the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Paraiba: broilers from commercial farms (200/PB) and free-range chickens of small farms (322/RN and PB). Were standardized IFAT and ELISA techniques for detecting specific antibodies in blood samples of birds, and commercial kit was used to determine the prevalence by IHAT. There was no seropositive reaction by T. gondii in the samples of broilers tested, indicating that the particularities of intensive management limit the chances of infection for these animals. Among the hens, the frequency of IgG anti-T. gondii diagnosed by the techniques of IHAT, IFAT and ELISA, respectively, were 3.73% (12/322), 37.88% (122/322) and 40.37% (130/322), for both young and adult animals. Amongst the seropositive samples by IFAT, 33 (27.05%) were positive at a dilution of 1:16, in 1:32, 31 (25.41%), in 1:64, 24 (19.67%), 15 (12.29%) in 1:128, and 19 presented titer greater than or equal to 1:256 (15.57%). The evaluation of the presence of anti-T. gondii should be careful, and reagents IHAT provided erratic results in this measure for the specie studied. This suggests the need for own standardization of the kit before the use in epidemiological studies in animal species. On the other hand, substantial agreement observed between IFAT and ELISA techniques (Kappa = 0.62) enables these methods as effective methodologies for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in chickens. The high prevalence of specific antibodies among poultry in the region studied attempts to the potential risk of transmission of toxoplasmosis to humans

Crescimento e nutrição de plantas de leucena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) R. de Vit) sob salanidade

Excessive salt can to promote water soil retention, reducing your availability to plants. Besides, they can interfere in protoplasm metabolism. The plants ability to survive in salinity conditions is an important factor to geographic distribution and agriculture in salinized regions. The objective of this work was to verify the effects of the NaCl in the growth, dry matter distribution and N, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and Cl content in young plants. The experiment was conducted in 'Leonard' pots, with nutrient solutions, with NaCl ( 0, 25, 50 and 100 mmol L(-1)). Increasing of NaCl concentration reduces growth and total dry matter. There was an increase of N and K content, in shoots, and N and Mg content in roots. There was an reduction in Mg content in shoots, and reduction of Ca content in roots with increasing of NaCl. Leucaena plants were inefficient to exclude Na and Cl, in shoots principally.

Fitossociologia de comunidades de plantas daninhas em agroecossistema cana-crua

Objetivou-se neste trabalho estudar a fitossociologia de comunidades de plantas daninhas de canaviais colhidos no sistema mecanizado, sem queima prévia da palha, e a similaridade entre talhões quanto à composição de espécies. Os levantamentos foram realizados em 28 talhões comerciais na região de Ribeirão Preto-SP. em cada talhão foram demarcadas áreas de coleta e avaliação, na proporção de duas por hectare, mantidas sem controle, e que serviram de local para as amostragens de plantas daninhas. As amostragens foram feitas com quadrados vazados (0,5 x 0,5 m), lançados aleatoriamente duas vezes em cada uma das áreas. Essas amostragens foram realizadas determinando-se a densidade e a biomassa específica aos 120 dias após o corte da cana. Cyperus rotundus foi a principal espécie, destacando-se quanto aos valores de importância relativa (IR). As plantas dicotiledôneas anuais de propagação por sementes também se destacaram, dentre as quais diversas espécies das famílias Euphorbiaceae e Convolvulaceae. em contrapartida, as gramíneas tradicionais de áreas de cana colhida queimada tiveram pouco destaque. O índice de Shannon (H) de diversidade de espécies das comunidades variou de 0 a 1,61, e o índice de similaridade entre os talhões (S) foi muito variável. A maioria das espécies ou grupo de espécies apresentou padrão agregado (V/m > 1,00), com valores relativamente altos de índice de agregação (V/m). Entretanto, na maioria dos casos, Cyperus rotundus e as Convolvulaceas apresentaram os maiores índices.

Ecologia trófica de anfíbios anuros: relações filogenéticas em diferentes escalas

Understand the origin, maintenance and the mechanisms that operate in the current biodiversity is the major goal of ecology. Species ecology can be influenced by different factors at different scales. There are three approaches about the ecological differences between species: the first brings that differences result from current processes on niche characteristics (e.g. diet, time, space); the second that species differences are explained by random patterns of speciation, extinction and dispersion, the third that historical events explain the formation and composition of species in communities. This study aims to evaluate the influence of phylogenetic relationships in determining ecological characteristics in amphibians (globally) and test with that, if ecological differences between species of frogs are the result of ancient pre-existing differences or as result of current interactions. Another objective of this study is to verify if ecological, historical or current characteristics determine the size of species geographical distribution. The diet data for analysis of trophic ecology were collected from published literature. We performed a non-parametric MANOVA to test the existence of phylogenetic effects in diet shifts on frogs history. Thus, it is expected to know the main factors that allow the coexistence of anuran species. We performed a phylogenetic regression to analyze if niche breadth, body size and evolutionary age variables determine the size of the geographical distribution of amphibians in the Amazon. In the present study, new contributions to knowledge of major ecological patterns of anurans are discussed under a phylogenetic perspective

Description of new cicada species associated with the coffee plant and an identification key for the species of Fidicinoides (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from Brazil

The genus Fidicinoides Boulard & Martinelli is characterized by its partially exposed timbal, not totally covered by the meta-scutellar plate as occurs in Fidicina Amyot & Serville, and has an extensive geographic distribution in Central and South America. In this work a new species for the genus is described. Fidicinoides sarutaiensis Santos, Martinelli & Maccagnan sp. n. is a medium-sized cicada, with the collected and studied specimens associated with coffee (Coffee arabica L.), in the municipality of Sarutaia, in the southeast region of São Paulo state. The species F. glauca (Goding, 1925) and F. viridifemur (Walker, 1850) are transferred to Dorisiana. An identification key for the Fidicinoides species of Brazil is also proposed.