Chromosome evolution in fishes: a new challenging proposal from Neotropical species

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

Levantamento da mastofauna terrestre de médio e grande porte em remanescente de floresta neotropical – Itatinga, SP

The Brazil´s Atlantic coastal forest biome is considered one of the richest and most exuberant biodiversity of the whole planet. Still, other data shows the reality of this Brazilian forest: more than 93% of its original formation has been already devastated, being the human actions the greatest threat to the perpetuation of the balance and diversity of this ecosystem. This destruction affects all the fauna and flora, with even greater impact on medium and large mammals, due to its high demand on the availability of resources, living area and sensitivity to disturbances. However, today it is known the vital importance of these mammals in the preservation and maintenance of biological systems. Thus, the purpose of this study was to survey the species richness of medium and large mammals in a remnant neotropical forest located in Itatinga, SP,Brazil, using the indirect method of recording (traces on sand-plots, marking territorial, faeces, carcasses, scratches on tree trunks and vocalizations) and camera trapping. Data were collected during ten (10) consecutive months in the year 2008, from February to November. Within twenty-five plots of sand installed and monitored during the ten months were found fifteen (15) species of terrestrial mammals of medium and large, five (5) orders and twelve (12) families. Among them, we highlight the presence of threated species like the puma (Puma concolor), the deer (Mazama gouazoubira) and the giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). The chosen method showed up effective in raising terrestrial mammalian species of medium and large neotropical forest area, having a good applicability and advantages over other existing methods. The study area presents a huge diversity of species and, therefore, this work it is recommended to be only the beginning of new researches in the area in order to enrich... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Aspectos da biologia e fisiologia da alimentação do cupim neotropical Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, Termitidae)

Os Isoptera são insetos sociais cujas colônias apresentam diversas castas, as quais têm um rígido sistema de divisão de trabalho que visa otimizar a eficiência da colônia. Estas castas apresentam morfologia específica, que capacita estes indivíduos a desenvolverem determinadas tarefas com eficiência. Os cupins apresentam aparelho bucal mastigador, constituído pelas seguintes peças bucais: labro, mandíbulas, maxilas, lábio, epifaringe e hipofaringe. Sua dieta alimentar é celulósica e bastante variada, sendo que estes insetos podem se alimentar de madeira (em vários estágios de decomposição), gramíneas, plantas herbáceas, serapilheira, fungos, líquens, partes de artrópodes e húmus. O estudo desse tipo de dieta é muito difícil, uma vez que o material já se encontra bastante decomposto antes de ser ingerido pelo animal. Cornitermes cumulans é uma espécie de cupim nativa do Cerrado brasileiro, pertencente à família Termitidae, subfamília Syntermitinae, que constrói ninhos em montículos, ricos em argila, que podem atingir até 4 metros de altura. Na parte interna dos ninhos, pode-se observar galerias grandes e de aspecto arredondado e um centro celulósico de coloração escura, de textura lisa e pouco resistente, onde os cupins armazenam um alimento, que parece ser previamente mastigado e depois regurgitado. Mesmo com a grande ocorrência desta espécie de cupim nas áreas de pastagens, seus verdadeiros hábitos alimentares são ainda pouco conhecidos. As informações disponíveis são contraditórias, uma vez que não está esclarecido a qual grupo funcional C. cumulans pertence e se existe realmente uma alimentação “in situ” desta espécie no campo. Em vista do exposto, este estudo teve como objetivo geral esclarecer o hábito alimentar de C. cumulans e a natureza química do alimento armazenado no ninho para compará-lo com o alimento coletado pelos... (resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

New records and distribution expansion for Neotropical water-striders (Insecta: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha)

Based on material from several collections, summarized distributions and new records are presented for selected Neotropical species of Gerromorpha of the families Gerridae (Brachymetra albinervis albinervis, B. furva, B. lata, B. shawi, Cylindrostethus erythropus, C. linearis, C. palmaris, C. regulus, Halobatopsis platensis, Limnogonus aduncus aduncus, L. hyalinus, L. ignotus, L. profugus, L. recurvus, Neogerris lubricus, N. magnus, N. lotus, N. visendus, Ovatametra gualeguay, Rheumatobates crassifemur crassifemur, R. c. esakii, Tachygerris adamsoni, T. celocis and T. surinamensis), Hydrometridae (Hydrometra guianana and H. sztolcmani) and Mesoveliidae (Mesovelia amoena, M. mulsanti and Mesoveloidea williamsi).

Systematics and phylogeny of the Neotropical Pachymenes de Saussure and Santamenes Giordani Soika (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

The genera Pachymenes de Saussure and Santamenes Giordani Soika arerevised and the phylogenetic relationships among their species, based on external mor-phology and male genitalia, are presented. The cladistics analysis, using 22 terminalspecies (19 ingroup and 3 outgroup species) and 44 characters, produced a single clado-gram under implied weighting. Both genera were recovered as paraphyletic, althoughttwo major clades were formed and were well supported by the re-sampling analysis.We propose the synonymy of Pachymenes with Santamenes, and the description of twonew species: P. saussurei Grandinete n.sp. and P. riograndensis Grandinete n.sp..Newcombinations are: Pachymenes novarae (de Saussure) n.comb., P. olympicus (Zavattari)n.comb., P. peregrinus (Zavattari) n.comb. and P. santanna (de Saussure) revised combi-nation. We state the synonymy of P. obscurus orellanoides under P. obscurus consuetus,reviewing the status of the latter and raising P. consuetus to species level. Pachymenesorellanae vardyi is synonymized under P. orellanae; P. ghilianii olivaceus, P. ghilianiiavissimus and P. peruanus are proposed as synonyms of P. ghilianii; P. picturatusobscuratus is synonymized under P. laeviventris; P. picturatus nigromaculatus andP. picturatus var . intermedia are synonymized under P. picturatus and P. a t ra var . ornatis-sima get its lectotype designated and proposed as synonym of P. ater.

Taxonomic studies on the Neotropical Landrevinae with description of new taxa (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Gryllidae)

The understanding of the subfamily Landrevinae has been modified by different authors since its creation. In the neotropics three genera are known to the present: Odontogryllus Saussure, 1877 (one from México, the others amazonian), Brasilodontus de Mello, 1992 with two species (from Brazilian Atlantic Forest), e Valchica de Mello, 1992 with one species (from Costa Rica). De Mello (1992) erroneously created the tribe Odontogryllini for this cluster of neotropical genera, here suppressed. In the present paper we revise and add new species to Brasilodontus and describe two monotypic genera, Xulavuna n. gen. and Yarrubura, n. gen. An identification key to the genera of neotropical Landrevinae is presented as well as one for the species of Brasilodontus. The male fore wings of Xulavuna adenoptera n. sp. is remarkable regarding its shape and its glandular condition

A Description of the nymph of Anacroneuria ofaye (Plecoptera: Perlidae) and a rearing apparatus for rearing Neotropical stonefly species

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

Seasonal variation of biotic and abiotic parameters in parallel neotropical fishponds

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structure and secretion mechanisms of floral glands in Diplopterys pubipetala (Malpighiaceae), a neotropical species

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

Disappearance of fat body proteins during soldier differentiation in the neotropical termite Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparative floral micromorphology and anatomy of species of Bulbophyllum section Napelli (Orchidaceae), a Neotropical section widely distributed in forest habitats

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

Strong postzygotic isolation prevents introgression between two hybridizing Neotropical orchids, Epidendrum denticulatum and E-fulgens

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

Patch size, functional isolation, visibility and matrix permeability influences neotropical primate occurrence within highly fragmented landscapes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mating system variation and assortative mating of sympatric bromeliads (Pitcairnia spp.) endemic to neotropical inselbergs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Coexistence between Nearctic-Neotropical migratory shorebirds and humans on urban beaches of the Southern Hemisphere: a current conservation challenge in developing countries

The arrival of migratory shorebirds on beaches in urban communities in developing countries is a current challenge for the protection of these migrant birds. Nearctic-Neotropical migrants rely on roosting and feeding sites during their stopover on wintering sites in the Southern Hemisphere to acquire sufficient energy to complete their migratory cycles. On the other hand, cities in the Southern Hemisphere are growing rapidly, which results in increasing competition for space between humans and birds, such as for use in beach habitats. In the present study, I analyze the probability for occurrence for Nearctic-Neotropical migratory birds relative to the number of people in southeastern Brazil, the most populated region of South America. The frequency of occurrence of migrants, their distance of tolerance to people and the number of people were recorded in sample areas (circle plots with 20 m radius) on a 9 km stretch of urban beaches from November to February from 2009 to 2013. The probability of occurrence of Nearctic birds decreased as the number of people increased. When the number of people exceeded 20, the probability of occurrence of birds was almost zero. Furthermore, more than 95 % of birds moved off when people were within 16 m of reach. These results are discussed in the context of conservation actions since no management plan has been developed for migrant shorebirds that use urban beaches as stopover or wintering sites in developing countries.