An analysis of publications on invasive macrophytes in aquatic ecosystems

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Benefits of kinesiotherapy and aquatic rehabilitation on sickle cell anemia. A case report

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Enzimas de biotransformação em tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposta ao hormônio natural 17b-estradiol

Among the sexual hormones the estrogens are receiving major attention due to their biological activity. Such biological response is atributed to the best conformation recognized by their receptors, resulting in maximum responses. The estrogens are also considered responsible for most of disruptor´s effects caused by their presence in aquatic ecosystems. The 17β-estradiol hormone is produced by vertebrates during the reproductive phase of their lives and its presence has been detected in superficial waters. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cause-effect of tilapia exposition to the hormone 17β-estradiol through the analysis of biotransformation enzymes in liver and gills, complemented with the quantification of 17β-estradiol and estrone in water samples collected from fish ponds integrated to swine production. The present study was conducted under laboratory conditions, in a randomized experimental design with three levels of 17β-estradiol (E2) (0, 5, 15 µg L-1), with three replicates. After 7 days of exposure time, liver and gills were extracted to analyze three isoforms of cytochrome P450: EROD, BROD, PROD and the activity of Glutathione S-Transferase (GST). The results showed that the EROD activity (CYP1A), normally induced by the metabolism of aromatic compounds, did not present statistical differences among the treatments exposed to E2, what means that the hormone did not induce isoform 1A in fish under these particular experimental conditions. PROD activity was significantly altered in both concentrations, by means of 5 and 15 µg L-1, when compared to control. This result can indicate an important role of PROD on the metabolism of E2 present in water. Regarding to the BROD activity, it could be observed differences statistically significant between control and both groups of treatments. Two or more CYP isoforms can contribute to the metabolism of the same compound, what makes BROD a candidate as a next bioindicator of the exposure to E2 in aquatic ecosystems. Analysis of variance could confirm the effect of E2 statistically significant on the GST activity in liver tissues with >90% of significance (Prob>F = 0.0753). Furthermore, it was possible to observe that the values of GSTs activities in liver and gills in both, control and treatments, follow a tendency, that means, enzymatic activity in gills increase as the increasing of the activity in the liver tissues. In this study, the 17β–estradiol was found in measurable concentrations in three sampled points, and these values were similar to the findings of other authors at different locations in Brazil. In addition, those values are much higher than the minimum concentration that presented observable effects (10 ng L-1).

Estimation of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Height and Distribution in Nova Avanhandava Reservoir (São Paulo State, Brazil) Using Bio-Optical Modeling

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dopplerfluxometria e avaliação morfométrica do fígado, baço, rins e grandes vasos abdominais de onças pardas (Puma concolor) da região Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia Animal - FMVZ

Carrying progeny on the back: reproduction in the Brazilian aquatic frog Pipa carvalhoi

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Chitosan nanoparticles loaded the herbicide paraquat: The influence of the aquatic humic substances on the colloidal stability and toxicity

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

Biodiversity analyses: are aquatic ecologists doing any better and differently than terrestrial ecologists?

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

Metacommunity organisation, spatial extent and dispersal in aquatic systems: patterns, processes and prospects

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

Cytogenetics Analysis and Testis Morphology of Aquatic Species of the Families Belostomatidae, Gelastocoridae, Gerridae, Notonectidae, and Veliidae (Heteroptera)

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

Characterization of typical aquatic humic substances in areas of sugarcane cultivation in Brazil using tetramethylammonium hydroxide thermochemolysis

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

Treatment efficiency of effluent prawn culture by wetland with floating aquatic macrophytes arranged in series

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Distribution, composition and seasonality of aquatic birds in the Nhecolandia sub-region of South Pantanal, Brazil

Despite remarkable significance of Pantanal for the conservation of aquatic birds, the status of their populations, the spatiotemporal patterns of distribution and habitat use and structure of communities are little known. Thus, we studied three aquatic environments (Negro river, bays and salines) from 2007 to 2009 in the Nhecolandia Pantanal to verify the distribution and composition of aquatic birds and also if there is significant seasonal influence on these aspects. We adopted the transect method (288 hours of sampling) and recorded 135 species (7.834 individuals). The Negro river showed the highest diversity, while the salines the lowest. The similarity of aquatic bird communities was higher between bays and salines, followed by Negro river and bays and lower between salines and Negro river. The equidistribution is more variable in the salines and more stable in the Negro river. The environments strongly differ from each other in aquatic bird composition in space (habitat use and distribution) and time (seasonal water fluctuations). The diversity of bird community in the dry season varies significantly in the salines, followed by the bays and more stable in the Negro river. The Negro river, regardless of large annual amplitude of flow, is more seasonally stable since its riparian vegetation is continuous (not isolated) and constant. These aspects provide better conditions to stay all year, contributing to decrease the seasonal nomadic tendencies of aquatic birds. Finally, all these data provide strong arguments to the preservation of all phytophysiognomies in the Nhecolandia sub-region of Pantanal, but with special attention to the salines widely used by many flocks of aquatic birds (mainly in the dry season) and migrant and/or rare species restricted to this habitat.

Use of grass carp (ctenopharyngodon idella) as a biological control agent for submerged aquatic macrophytes

This study aimed to evaluate feed preference and control efficacy of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) on the aquatic macrophytes Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa and Egeria najas. An experiment was carried out at mesocosms conditions with 2,000 liters capacity and water residence time of 2.8 days. C. demersum, E. densa e E. najas biomasses were offered individually with sixty g and coupled in similar quantities of 30 g of each species, evaluated during 81 days, envolving 6 treatments. (1 - C. demersum, 2 - E. najas, 3 - E. densa, 4 - C. demersum + E. najas, 5 - C. demersum + E. densa and 6 - E. najas + E. densa). When offered individually, E. najas and C. demersum presented the same predation rate by grass carp, which was higher than E. densa predation rate. When plants were tested in pairs, the order of feed preference was C. demersum > E. najas > E. densa. E. najas and C. demersum percentage control ranged from 73 to 83%. No relation between biomass consumption and grass carp body weight gain was observed, probably due to differences in nutritional quality among macrophyte species according to fish necessities. Therefore, it is concluded that the use of grass carp is one excellent technique to control submersed macrophytes in Brazil.

Myoglobin from the burrowing reptile Amphisbaena alba: concentrations and functional characteristics

1. 1. Myoglobin from the subterranean reptile Amphisbaena alba was isolated for measurement of concentrations and physico-chemical properties. 2. 2. The concentrations (averaging 12.1 mg.g-1 wet weight in the temporal muscles and 5.8-6.0 in the muscles that motivate the wedge-shaped head which forms the burrowing tool) far exceed those earlier reported for reptiles and other terrestrial vertebrates. 3. 3. The myoglobin has a low O2 affinity compared to mammals (P50 = 2mmHg at 25°C). In the presence of the same myoglobin O2 tension as in mammals this appears to favour similar in vivo O2 saturations at the lower reptilian body temperature. 4. 4. The temperature sensitivity of P50 reflect a heat of oxygenation, ΔH near -13 kcal· mol-1. The myoglobin is monomeric and thus lacks cooperativity in O2 binding and there is no Bohr effect. 5. 5. The pattern of microheterogeneity is similar to that of myoglobin of terrestrial vertebrates but different to aquatic mammals and reptiles. The major and two minor components exhibit very similar O2 affinities. 6. 6. The concentrations and oxygen-binding characteristics of Amphisbaena myoglobin are discussed with regard to the flow of O2 to the mitochondria during digging activity in hypoxic burrow environments. © 1981.