Primary production of Utricularia foliosa L., Egeria densa Planchon and Cabomba furcata Schult & Schult.f from rivers of the coastal plain of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Seasonal variation in gross primary production (GPP) of Utricularia foliosa Linnaeus, Egeria densa Planchon and Cabomba furcata Schult & Schult.f. in rivers of the coastal plain of the state of São Paulo, Brazil was examined in relation to water physico-chemistry. These three species do not affect the multiple uses of the streams and are present throughout the year. The most productive was U. foliosa (maximum production 24.7 mgO(2) g(-1) DW h(-1)), while C. furcata had an intermediate GPP (maximum production 17.5 mgO(2) g(-1) DW h(-1)) and E. densa was lowest at 5.6 mgO(2) g(-1) DW h(-1). Despite the low amplitude of seasonal variation in this south tropical area, the three species showed seasonal variation in the primary production: GPP was positively correlated with photosynthetic active radiation for U. foliosa and E. densa, and there was a negative correlation for C. furcata. For U. foliosa, GPP was positively correlated with temperature and dissolved inorganic carbon and the GPP of C. jurcata was positively correlated with dissolved inorganic carbon.

The fish zonation of the Itanha,m river basin in the Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil

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

Changes in ichthyofauna composition along a gradient from clearwaters to blackwaters in coastal streams of Atlantic forest (southeastern Brazil) in relation to environmental variables

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

Geographical variation in genetic structure of an Atlantic Coastal Forest frog reveals regional differences in habitat stability

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

CONDITION of Hoplias aff. malabaricus (BLOCH, 1794) IN TWO COASTAL STREAMS of ITANHAEM RIVER BASIN, BRAZIL

The main purpose of this research was to measure the condition of the fish species Hoplias aff. malabaricus collected in Aguapeu River (black waters) and Branco River (white waters), which belong to Itanhaem River basin, a coastal watershed in São Paulo state, Brazil. Individuals of Hoplias aff. malabaricus were sampled by using gill nets, monthly from March 2001 to February 2002. The Condition Factor was obtained through the length-weight relationship, assuming that the higher the mass for a given length, the better the condition of the fish. The Condition Factor was compared among fishes from both rivers, resulting that Branco River individuals have significantly lower condition. Limnological aspects were studied from May 2001 to November 2002 and some show significant differences between Aguapeu River and Branco River. These were salinity, do and total organic N, which the higher values being observed in Branco River propably due to estuarine waters influence. However, the lower condition of the Branco River fishes should also be an effect of a disturbance due to the sand mining in this river, since this activity cause important alterations to the environment, affecting the whole biota, included aquatic macrophytes, invertebrates and fishes.

Distribution of stream macroalgae in three tropical drainage basins of southeastern Brazil

Three drainage basins belonging to different drainage systems, but in close proximity, were evaluated to compare the distribution of macroalgal communities in the northwest region of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. Monthly samplings were carried out from September 1992 through September 1993 in three sites along the main river of each basin. 10 m length cross segments were evaluated for species per cent cover and richness, on both the population and community levels. Selected stream variables were measured: specific conductance, temperature, turbidity, mean cross-sectional area of the reach, current velocity, pH, and oxygen saturation (%). Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCO), chi-square good-of-fitness, and Pearson Product-Moment correlation coefficient were applied to evaluate the distribution of the macroalgal species. The survey resulted in 36 taxa of macroalgae, of which Cyanophyta was the dominant group (17 taxa or 41.7% of the total), followed by Chlorophyta (15 taxa or 41.7%), Rhodophyta (3 taxa or 8.3%) and Chrysophyta (1 taxon or 2.8%). Stigeoclonium helveticum, 'Chantransia' stage of Batrachospermum spp., and B. delicatulum were the most widespread and frequent macroalgae throughout the basins. The analyses showed that conductance and current velocity were the factors most closely related to the distribution of the macroalgal species. Positive correlation between richness and percent cover was determined, which reinforces the patchiness of stream macroalgal distribution.

Cyanobacteria from coastal lagoons in southern Brazil: non-heterocytous filamentous organisms

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Grass-dominated stream sites exhibit low fish species diversity and dominance by guppies: an assessment of two tropical pasture river basins

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

A new species of Moenkhausia from the rio Amazonas and rio Orinoco basins (Characiformes: Characidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Community structure of aquatic insects (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) in Cerrado streams of Paraguay, Paraná, and São Francisco river basins

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

Cyanobacteria from coastal lagoons of Southern Brazil: coccoid organisms

Considering the great ecological importance of the cyanobacteria and the need for more detailed information about these organisms in Brazilian waters, this paper provides taxonomic information about the unicellular cyanobacteria flora in lagoon systems along the coastal plains of Rio Grande do Sul State. Sampling was performed in different freshwater bodies along the eastern (Casamento Lake area) and western (near the city of Tapes) banks of the Patos Lagoon (30º40' S-30º10' S and 50º30' W-51º30' W). The samples were collected once in the rainy season and once in the dry season (from May 2003 to December 2003) using a plankton net (25 µm mesh) in pelagic and littoral zones, and by squeezing the submerged parts of aquatic macrophytes. Thirty one species belonging to the families Synechoccocaceae (7 taxa), Merismopediaceae (12 taxa), Chamaesiphonaceae (1 taxon), Microcystaceae (4) and Chroococcaceae (7 taxa) were identified. Among these species, five are reported for the first time in Rio Grande do Sul State: Chamaesiphon amethystinus (Rostafinski) Lemmermann, Chroococcus minimus (Keissler) Lemmermann, Coelomoron pusillum (Van Goor) Komárek, Coelosphaerium kuetzingeanum Naegeli, and Cyanodictyon tubiforme Cronberg.

Basins of attraction changes by amplitude constraining of oscillators with limited power supply

We investigate the dynamics of a Duffing oscillator driven by a limited power supply, such that the source of forcing is considered to be another oscillator, coupled to the first one. The resulting dynamics come from the interaction between both systems. Moreover, the Duffing oscillator is subjected to collisions with a rigid wall (amplitude constraint). Newtonian laws of impact are combined with the equations of motion of the two coupled oscillators. Their solutions in phase space display periodic (and chaotic) attractors, whose amplitudes, especially when they are too large, can be controlled by choosing the wall position in suitable ways. Moreover, their basins of attraction are significantly modified, with effects on the final state system sensitivity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sudden changes in chaotic attractors and transient basins in a model for rattling in gearboxes

We consider a model for rattling in single-stage gearbox systems with some backlash consisting of two wheels with a sinusoidal driving; the equations of motions are analytically integrated between two impacts of the gear teeth. Just after each impact, a mapping is used to obtain the dynamical variables. We have observed a rich dynamical behavior in such system, by varying its control parameters, and we focus on intermittent switching between laminar oscillations and chaotic bursting, as well as crises, which are sudden changes in the chaotic behavior. The corresponding transient basins in phase space are found to be riddled-like, with a highly interwoven fractal structure. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of environmental and natural vulnerability maps for Brazilian coastal at Sao Sebastiao in São Paulo State

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Snakes from coastal islands of State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

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