A Comparative Cytogenetic Analysis of 2 Bothriuridae Species and Overview of the Chromosome Data of Scorpiones

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

Faunal analysis of the species Anastrepha in the fruit growing complex Gaviao River, Bahia, Brazil

Besides being considered the greatest pests of fruit growing, fruit flies constitute a large obstacle to the growth of the exportation of fresh fruit. Knowledge of the structure of fruit fly communities is of great importance to the bioecological studies of these insects, but there is a lack of information about the faunistic composition of fruit flies in Brazil. The objective of this work was to analysis the composition of the species of Anastrepha, in eleven mango orchards of the fruit growing complex Gaviao River, Bahia, Brazil. These studies were done in 2004 and 2005, in Anage, Caraibas and Belo Campo town, 23 McPhail traps, which collected 798 female fruit flies from the genus Anastrepha. The structure of these communities was evaluated in each orchard by means of faunistic indexes frequency, constancy, dominance, diversity and similarity. The number of species varied from four to eight in each orchard; and the following species was recorded: Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), Anastrepha dissimilis Stone, Anastrepha amita Zucchi, Anastrepha distincta Greene, Anastrepha pickeli Lima. Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi and Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi. The most frequent and dominant species were A. fraterculus and A. obliqua. The indexes of diversity varied from 1.01 to 1.62. In general, the similarity between orchards was high (above 55.0%). We observed the formation of groups, one constituted by Frutvale, Carlan, Santa Clara and Panorama orchards; another composed of Cofet, Campo Gaviao and Ouro Verde and a third group formed by Boa Vista orchard. Barra da Onca and Arruda are distinguished from other orchards.

Key to the soldiers of Atlantitermes Fontes 1979, with a new species from Brazil (Isoptera Termitidae Nasutitermitinae)

A soldier-based key for the identification of the species of the neotropical termite genus Atlantitermes Fontes 1979 is presented. The diagnostic characters for the genus are reviewed and discussed, and the upturned nasus is excluded bacause it is not present in the soldier of every species. A. stercophilus n. sp., from the cerrado vegetation of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described and illustrated. A. osborni (Emerson 1925) is recorded for the first time in the cerrado vegetation of southeastern Brazil. Drawings of the soldier of A. kirbyi (Snyder 1926) are presented for the first time.

Notes on Eucryptotermes with a new species from central Amazonia (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)

Eucryptotermes breviceps, new species, is described from central Amazonia. Both imagoes and soldiers of this new species have only two apical spurs on the foretibia, a condition previously unknown for Kalotermitidae. The soldier of E. breviceps has a peculiar and extremely phragmotic head. The geographical distribution of E. wheeleri is expanded with new records, and measurements of soldiers and imagoes of this species are presented for the first time. E. wheeleri is a native of the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil, from Santa Catarina to Rio de Janeiro, but it has been recorded in urban areas and may be an occasional minor pest.

Wolbachia endosymbiont in a species of the Anastrepha fraterculus complex (Diptera: Tephritidae)

In Anastrepha sp.2 aff. fraterculus, the egg-cell harbours a large population of endosymbionts. The bacteria were identified as belonging to genus Wolbachia by PCR assay using primers of the ftsZ gene followed by sequencing of the amplified band. Newly deposited eggs stained in toto by Hoechst show that the bacteria are unevenly dispersed throughout the egg-cell, with a higher accumulation at the posterior pole, and that the degree of infestation varies from egg to egg. Analysis by transmission electron microscopy shows that bacteria are present in the female germ line of embryonic and larval stages, as well as in the different cell types of the ovaries at the adult stage. Mature ova within the follicles harbour a large population of the symbionts. The results indicate the existence of a transovarian transmission of the endosymbionts in this fly.

New records and distribution extensions of three species of Mesoclemmys Gray, 1863 (Testudines: Chelidae) in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, with observations on terrestrial movements

Distribution patterns of most of the 20 Neotropical freshwater turtles belonging to the family Chelidae are usually based on few locality records. We here report on vouchered records of three species of the chelid genus Mesoclemmys in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Presence of M. vanderhaegei is confirmed for the Amazon River Basin, and M. gibba and M. raniceps are recorded in Mato Grosso for the first time. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Two new feather mite species (Acari, pteronyssidae) from the white-barred piculet, picumnus cirratus (Aves, piciformes)

Two new species of the feather mite family Pteronyssidae Oudemans, 1941 are described from the white-barred piculet, Picumnus cirratus Temminck from Brazil: Pterotrogus picumni sp. n. and Ramphastobius scutatus sp. n., representing the first mites described from this host. Pterotrogus picumni sp. n. can be readily distinguished from all previous species of the simplex group by having dorsal crest on femora I and II in both sexes. This is the first representative of the genus Pterotrogus Gaud, 1981 recorded on a host of the genus Picumnus Temminck. Ramphastobius scutatus sp. n. is unique among species of the genus by having in both sexes the prodorsal and scapular shields fused into a single propodonotal shield covering all prodorsum. An updated key to known species of the genus Ramphastobius Gaud, 1981 is presented. © Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre ASCR.

Onset of sexual maturity and relative growth of the freshwater crab Trichodactylus fluviatilis (Trichodactyloidea) in south-eastern Brazil

The main purpose of this study was to provide an estimate for the onset of morphological sexual maturity in the freshwater crab Trichodactylus fluviatilis, from a population located in south-eastern Brazil, based on the relative growth relationships, as well as the characterization of ''handedness''. Monthly collections were carried out at night, from January 2006 to January 2007, in a small water body. In the laboratory, the crabs were sexed; the following body structures were measured and the estimate of onset of sexual maturity was given by the logistic function, as y a/(1\+becx), for 50% of the population to reach the adult phase (CW50carapace width). Right propodus length and abdomen width were the best-fit relationships to represent the onset of sexual maturity for males and females, respectively. Based on the logistic function, the onset of sexual maturity was estimated to occur at around 18mm CW for both sexes. The relative growth recorded for this species is consistent with the model for brachyuran crabs (Hartnoll RG. 1982, Growth. In: Bliss, DE, editor. The biology of Crustacea: embryology, morphology and genetics. New York: Academic Press. p. 111-196), except for the abdomen growth, which is likely to be an adaptive condition related to protection of the newly hatched young. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Mangrove habitat partitioning by Ucides cordatus (Ucididae): Effects of the degree of tidal flooding and tree-species composition during its life cycle

Environmental factors strongly affect mangrove crabs, and some factors modulate population structure and habitat partitioning during the crabs' life cycle. However, the effect of these environmental factors on habitat selection by mangrove crabs is still unknown. We evaluated habitat selection by the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus in mangrove forests with different degrees of predominance of Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa or Avicennia schaueriana, two tidal flooding levels (less- and more-flooded), and two biological periods (breeding and non-breeding seasons). Sampling was conducted in four mangrove forests with different influences of these biotic and abiotic parameters. We used the data for sex ratio to explain environmental partitioning by this species. Females predominated in R. mangle mangroves, independently of the biological period (breeding or non-breeding seasons), and males predominated only in the less-flooded L. racemosa mangroves. The flooding level affected the sex ratio of U. cordatus, with a predominance of males in less-flooded mangroves, independently of the biological period; and a gender balance in the more-flooded mangroves only during the breeding season. Outside the breeding season, the largest specimens were recorded in the R. mangle mangroves, but in the breeding season, the largest crabs were recorded in the L. racemosa mangroves with a higher level of flooding. These results suggest that tree-species composition and tidal flooding level can have a significant effect on the habitat partitioning of sexes and sizes of the mangrove crab U. cordatus both during and outside the breeding season. © 2012 Springer-Verlag and AWI.

Crystalline rock outcrops in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil: Vascular flora, biological spectrum, and invasive species

We studied the vegetation of two crystalline rock outcrops in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. We recorded typically rupicolous species, which are rare or classified as extremely endangered, such as Aechmea guainumbiorum, found exclusively in one of the study sites. In both areas there was a predominance of therophytes over other life-forms, in contrast to observations made in rock outcrops of the southern Atlantic Forest. Therophytes also stood out in other rock outcrops at similar latitudes as our study site, regardless of the surrounding vegetation. Plants of other life-forms had significantly lower richness and showed adaptations to drought, such as succulent stem, pseudobulbs, dense pilosity, and underground storage organs. Our results suggest that invasive species may modify the vegetation of crystalline rock outcrops, as they change the number of species of all life-forms in comparison between sites. Hence, our results present the biological identity of these rupicolous habitats, which are marginal to forests, and point to the need for conserving them, in order to protect the Atlantic Forest's biodiversity. © 2013 Botanical Society of Sao Paulo.

Relative growth, sexual maturity, and breeding season of three species of the genus Persephona (Decapoda: Brachyura: Leucosiidae): A comparative study

The relative growths of Persephona lichtensteinii, P. mediterranea, and P. punctata were investigated on the south-eastern Brazilian coast, focusing on differences in the growth rates between immature and mature phases, the onset of morphological sexual maturity, and the breeding seasons of these species. Crabs were collected every two months from January 1991 through to November 1992, from a shrimp fishing boat equipped with two otter-trawl nets. Significant differences in the patterns of body growth were observed between immature and mature phases of all three species. Changes in the growth rates of the chelipeds (males) and abdomen (females) observed for P. lichtensteinii, P. mediterranea, and P. punctata, seem to be related to the puberty moult for both sexes. Males of P. mediterranea and P. punctata reached larger mean sizes of carapace width than females, whereas no difference was recorded for P. lichtensteinii. The body size at which 50% of males attained sexual maturity was also larger in P. mediterranea and P. punctata, and smaller in P. lichtensteinii. The absence of a pronounced sexual dimorphism and the size at the onset of sexual maturity observed only for P. lichtensteinii might be explained by distinct reproductive strategies of males. The presence of ovigerous females during the entire sampling period suggests that all three species have a continuous reproduction pattern at the Ubatuba region. Future studies on the population structure, functional maturity, and mating system should improve the understanding of factors driving the biology and ecology of these species at a subtropical region. © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013.

Stem anatomy and development of successive cambia in Hebanthe eriantha (Poir.) Pedersen: A neotropical climbing species of the Amaranthaceae

Hebanthe eriantha (Poir.) Pedersen, a climbing species of the Amaranthaceae increases in stem thickness by forming successive cambia. The family is dominated by herbaceous species and is constantly under discussion due to its disputed nature of the meristem. In the young stem small alternate segments of vascular cambium cease to divide and new arc of cambium initiates outside to it. The newly formed arcs connect with pre-existing alternate segments of cambium to complete the ring. On the contrary, in thick stems, instead of small segments, complete ring of cambium is replaced by new one. These new alternate segments/cambia originate from the parenchyma cells located outside to the phloem produced by previous cambium. Cambium is storied and exclusively composed of fusiform initials while ray cells remain absent at least in the early part of the secondary growth. However, large heterocellular rays are observed in 15-mm diameter stems but their frequency is much lower. In some of the rays, ray cells become meristematic and differentiate into radially arranged xylem and phloem elements. In fully grown plants, stems are composed of several successive rings of secondary xylem alternating with secondary phloem. Secondary xylem is diffuse-porous and composed of vessels, fibres, axial parenchyma while exceptionally large rays are observed only in the outermost regions of thick stems. Vessel diameter increases progressively from the centre towards the periphery of stems. Although the origin of successive cambia and composition of secondary xylem of H. eriantha remains similar to other herbaceous members of Amaranthaceae, the occurrence of relatively wider and thick-walled vessels and large rays in fully grown plants is characteristic to climbing habit. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Wien.

New molecular evidence supports the species status of Kaempfer's Woodpecker (Aves, Picidae)

ABSTRACT: Kaempfer's Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni) is the only species of the genus Celeus endemic to Brazil. The description of this taxon as a subspecies of the Rufous-headed Woodpecker (Celeus spectabilis) was based on a single specimen. While C. obrieni and C. spectabilis are now considered separate species based on morphological and limited molecular evidence, no study has critically tested the reciprocal monophyly and degree of evolutionary independence between these taxa with several specimens. Herein, fragments of the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA of three recently-collected specimens of C. obrieni were analyzed to evaluate the degree of evolutionary differentiation of this taxon with respect to C. spectabilis. The results confirm the reciprocal monophyly between the specimens of C. obrieni and C. spectabilis. The genetic divergence values for the two taxa also support their classification as independent species, given that they are greater than the values recorded among other closely-related but separate species of the same genus. Estimates of the divergence time between C. obrieni and C. spectabilis indicate that cladogenesis occurred in the mid-Pleistocene, during a period of major climatic fluctuations and landscape change, consistent with the hypothesis of a corridor of open bamboo dominated forests and woodland stretching.

Species composition and abundance of the benthic community of Axiidea

ABSTRACT: The thalassinideans (Axiidea and Gebiidea) encompasses approximately 615 species with reclusive habits, generally confined to extensive galleries burrowed into the sand or mud and, more rarely, in openings in reefs or the cavities of sessile animals such as sponges and coral. These species use the galleries for shelter, feeding and breeding, except during the pelagic larval stage. They inhabit estuaries, bays, lagoons, beaches, seas and both tropical and temperate oceanic areas throughout the world, distributed predominantly in the intertidal zone (mid-littoral and infralittoral zones). The aim of the present study was to assess the species composition and abundance of thalassinideans, comparing two micro-habitats (consolidated and non-consolidated substrates), and determine whether there is a correlation between abundance of the organisms and time of the year, collection sites or salinity. Twelve monthly samplings were carried out between August 2006 and July 2007 over consolidated and non-consolidated bottoms of the upper and lower portions of the mid-littoral zones, with three sub-samplings, totaling 48 monthly samples and 576 in all. A total of 651 individuals were collected – 114 Lepidophthalmus siriboia Felder & Rodrigues, 1993 and 537 Upogebia vasquezi Ngoc-Ho, 1989. There was correlation between the abundance of both species and salinity, but U. vasquezi was more abundant in the rainy season. Lepidophthalmus siriboia appears to prefer non-consolidated substrates, whereas U. vasquezi prefers consolidated substrates. The recruitment period for the callianassid L. siriboia appears to occur in just two periods of the year and is more intense in the dry season, whereas U. vasquezi is more frequent throughout the year. The smallest and largest sizes (carapace length – CL) recorded for L. siriboia were smaller than those recorded for the species in northeastern region of Brazil. CL values for ovigerous females suggest that U. vasquezi reaches sexual maturity at a smaller size than L. siriboia.

Species composition and reproductive modes of anurans from a transitional Amazonian forest, Brazil

The aim of the present study was to describe the species composition and reproductive modes of an anuran community from a transition area between the Amazonia and Cerrado biomes. Data were collected in habitats exhibiting different degrees of anthropogenic degradation. The community (35 species) identified during the present study presented a larger number of reproductive modes when compared with those from Cerrado communities, but smaller than those of other sites in the Amazon. While all nine modes were recorded in the gallery forests of local rivers and streams, anthropogenic habitats (rubber tree orchards and soybean fields) were occupied only by species adapted to environments where humidity is low, typical of the Cerrado. Overall, the anuran fauna of the study area was characterized by species that depend on access to water bodies for their reproduction, with only a few specialized species able to reproduce in dry environments.