Tempo médio de germinação e germinabilidade de sementes de Myrsine coriacea (Sw.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult. (PRIMULACEAE) submetidas a diferentes tratamentos para superação de dormência.

Myrsine coriacea (Sw.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult. é uma espécie de grande importância ecológica para recuperação ambiental, por sua característica nucleadora, o que reforça a utilização de suas sementes para compor diferentes métodos de restauração. No entanto, suas sementes necessitam de um longo período para germinar e apresentam baixa germinabilidade. Desta forma o presente trabalho destinou-se a avaliar diferentes tratamentos para superação da dormência e para aumentar a germinação da espécie.

Evaluating methods for estimating rare events with zero-heavy data: a simulation model estimating sea turtle bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery

Estimating rare events from zero-heavy data (data with many zero values) is a common challenge in fisheries science and ecology. For example, loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) account for less than 1% of total catch in the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. Nevertheless, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is charged with assessing the effect of this fishery on these federally protected species. Annual estimates of loggerhead and leatherback bycatch in a fishery can affect fishery management and species conservation decisions. However, current estimates have wide confidence intervals, and their accuracy is unknown. We evaluate 3 estimation methods, each at 2 spatiotemporal scales, in simulations of 5 spatial scenarios representing incidental capture of sea turtles by the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. The delta-log normal method of estimating bycatch for calendar quarter and fishing area strata was the least biased estimation method in the spatial scenarios believed to be most realistic. This result supports the current estimation procedure used by the SEFSC.

Evaluation of a Pound Net Leader Designed to Reduce Sea Turtle Bycatch

Offshore pound net leaders in the southern portion of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia waters were documented to incidentally take protected loggerhead, Caretta caretta, and Kemp’s ridley, Lepidochelys kempii, sea turtles. Because of these losses, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 2004 closed the area to offshore pound net leaders annually from 6 May to 15 July and initiated a study of an experimental leader design that replaced the top two-thirds of the traditional mesh panel leader with vertical ropes (0.95 cm) spaced 61 cm apart. This experimental leader was tested on four pound net sites on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay in 2004 and 2005. During the 2 trial periods, 21 loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were found interacting with the control leader and 1 leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, was found interacting with the experimental leader. Results of a negative binomial regression analysis comparing the two leader designs found the experimental leader significantly reduced sea turtle interactions (p=0.03). Finfish were sampled from the pound nets in the study to assess finfish catch performance differences between the two leader designs. Although the conclusions from this element of the experiment are not robust, paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test results determined no significant harvest weight difference between the two leaders. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests did not reveal any substantive size selectivity differences between the two leaders.

Estimates of Marine Mammal, Sea Turtle, and Seabird Mortality in the California Drift Gillnet Fishery for Swordfish and Thresher Shark, 1996–2002

Estimates of incidental marine mammal, sea turtle, and seabird mortality in the California drift gillnet fishery for broadbill swordfish, Xiphias gladius, and common thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus, are summarized for the 7-year period, 1996 to 2002. Fishery observer coverage was 19% over the period (3,369 days observed/17,649 days fished). An experiment to test the effectiveness of acoustic pingers on reducing marine mammal entanglements in this fishery began in 1996 and resulted in statistically significant reductions in marine mammal bycatch. The most commonly entangled marine mammal species were the short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis; California sea lion, Zalophus californianus; and northern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis. Estimated mortality by species (CV and observed mortality in parentheses) from 1996 to 2002 is 861 (0.11, 133) short-beaked common dolphins; 553 (0.16, 103) California sea lions; 151 (0.25, 31) northern right whale dolphins; 150 (0.21, 27) northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris; 54 (0.41, 10) long-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus capensis; 44 (0.53, 6) Dall’s porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli; 19 (0.60, 5) Risso’s dolphins, Grampus griseus; 11 (0.71, 2) gray whales, Eschrichtius robustus; 7 (0.83, 2) sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus; 7 (0.96, 1) short-finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhychus; 12 (1.06, 1) minke whales, Balaenoptera acutorostrata; 5 (1.05, 1) fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus; 11 (0.68, 2) unidentified pinnipeds; 33 (0.52, 4) leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea; 18 (0.57, 3) loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta; 13 (0.73, 3) northern fulmars, Fulmarus glacialis; and 6 (0.86, 2) unidentified birds.

木通科植物分类学研究

本文对木通科植物进行全面分类学修订，确认8属35种（包括16亚种）。这8个属是：猫儿屎属(Decaisnea，1种)，串果藤属(Sinofranchetia，1种)，牛藤果属(parvatia，2种)，野木瓜属(Stauntonia，24种)，长萼木通属(Archakebia，1种)，木通属（Akebia，4种），拉氏藤属（Lardizabala，1种）和勃奎拉属（Boquila，1种）。我们建立了1个新属(长萼木通属Archakebia)、4个新种（短蕊八月瓜Stauntonia brachyandra，厚叶八月瓜S．crassifolia，离丝野木瓜S．libera和墨脱八月瓜S．medogensis）和5个新亚种（长萼三叶木通Akebia trifolialassp. longisepala，线叶五风藤Stauntonia angustifolia ssp. linearifolia，三叶五风藤S．a．ssp, trifoliata，海南野木瓜S．chinensis ssp. hainaensis和纸叶八月瓜S．latifolia ssp. chartacea)，重新组合了8个名称(Parvatia brunoniana ssp. elliptica，Stauntonia angustifolia，S． chapaensis，S．coriacea，S．grandiflora，S．latifolia，S．obovatifoliola .ssp. urophylla和S．pterocaulis)和归并了32个类群（种及种下等级）。 我们对1989年系统进行了补充，在拉氏藤族(tribe Lardizabaleae)中建立两个亚族，并对野木瓜属(Stauntonia)提出一个详尽的属下分类系统，包括两个亚属4个组。本修订主要根据作者对近七千余份腊叶标本的研究和野外考察结果撰写而成。在前一部分中，我们全面阐述木通科形态性状特征及其演化意义，并应用于科下种上分类群的划分及其亲缘关系讨论。在此基~础上，我们进一步确认串果藤族(Sinofranchetieae)和猫儿屎族(Decaisneeae)均为木通科植物早期演化的分支，也是系统位置比较孤立的类群;拉氏藤族(Lardizabaleae)与亚洲类群分开的历史很长，其内部分化也很显著;木通族(Akebineae)是木通科植物演化的主干，也是较晚近时期发生的类群，它正处在强烈分化之中，存在有各种演化式样，是木通科植物分类实践的难点。 作者仍然认为木通科植物是毛茛类与木兰类之间联系的扭带，它可能在白垩纪初期就已经在联合古陆上起源，并在古陆分裂之前就发生了东亚及南美两群植物的隔离事件。 我们在本文后一部分（即分类处理）中，描述了每个种（共35种）的性状特征、物候期、生态习性及其与近缘种的关系，并作出种分布图和形态线描图。最后列出所研究标本的索引（中英对照）。

芍药属芍药组的变异与进化：形态、染色体和分子证据

芍药属Paeonia是芍药科Paeoniacea内唯一的一个属。包括大约35个种，间断性的分布于北温带地区。其内三个组分别是牡丹组(sect. Moutan)、北美芍药组(sect. Onaepia)和芍药组(sect. Paeonia)。芍药组是芍药属中最大，也是唯一具有染色体倍性变化的一个组，现有大约25个种。其中，大约半数的种是四倍体（2n＝20），主要分布于地中海地区。虽然有证据表明四倍体类群大多为异源起源，但芍药属内一致的核型、相似的形态和重叠的地理分布使得它们的起源和分类一直存在很大的争议。本研究利用了4个细胞核DNA片段（乙醇脱氢酶基因－Adh1和 Adh2;nrDNA的内转录间隔区－ITS;甘油－3磷酸乙酰转移酶基因－GPAT）和4个叶绿体DNA片段（matK基因;基因间隔区trnL-trnF、psbA-trnH和rps16－trnQ）对芍药组的网状进化进行部分重建。并在此基础上，对推测为杂交起源的P. anomala进行了形态学和细胞发生的研究。主要研究结果如下： 1． 芍药组的系统学 利用多个DNA分子标记(cpDNA: matK, rps16-trnQ; nrDNA: ITS, Adh1, Adh2)，芍药组的二倍体和四倍体类群的系统发育被部分重建。基于最大简约法、贝叶斯法和最大似然法的系统发育分析表明： (a) 除P. tenuifolia之外，所有地中海地区分布的二倍体类群构成一个单系分支。该支与亚洲分布的二倍体类群以及P. tenuifolia成并系关系。 (b) 核和叶绿体DNA系统发育树的不一致，以及ITS、Adh基因的多态性的分析，表明部分二倍体类群间和四倍体类群间都存在杂交事件。这些类群包括：中国新疆阿勒泰地区分布的二倍体种P. anomala和P. intermedia（杂种个体XJ053）;高加索地区分布的二倍体种P. tenuifolia和P. daurica（杂种个体H9933）;土耳其分布的四倍体种P. mascula和P. kesrouanensis（杂交个体在两个居群中检测到）。 (c) 不一致的核和叶绿体DNA系统发育树，以及Adh基因表现出的相同多态性模式进一步支持早先的推测，即四倍体类群P. arietina是异源四倍体。同时扩大的数据分析显示P. obovata近缘类群为其母系亲本，P. tenuifolia近缘类群为其父系亲本。此外，形态上具有一定分化的两个亚种P. arietina ssp. arietina和P. arietina ssp. parnassica是多次起源。 (d) 现今地中海分布类群的近缘种参与了四倍体种P. kesrouanensis 和P. coriacea，以及P. wittmanniana和P. mascula的物种形成。依据Adh序列种内的多态性，初步推测P. kesrouanensis 和P. coriacea可能是异源四倍体，其另一个亲本与P. arietina母系亲本近源。而P. wittmanniana和P. mascula可能是同源四倍体。 (e) P. saueri和P. peregrina的两个亲本类群分别与P. tenuifolia和现今地中海分布二倍体种的近缘类群。 (f) Adh1基因序列中近缘的重组类型暗示：四倍体种P. macrophylla和P. banatica很可能是同倍性杂种。 2． P. anomala的杂交起源和细胞发生 P. anomala新疆阿勒泰地区分布的居群核型第一次被报道。该地区分布的类群核型为2A型(核型公式：2n = 2x = 10 = 6m+2sm+2st)。减数分裂的观察统计显示：阿勒泰地区所有检测个体都是臂内倒位杂合子。基于断片大小以及不同个体染色体桥和/或断片出现率的差异，我们发现该类群臂内倒位存在多态性。荧光原位杂交（FISH）证实P. anomala共有8个18S rDNA位点，并且定位了一个倒位片段在3号染色体的短臂上。此外，高频率的棒状二价体和单价体，以及低的同源染色体的配对系数说明该类群同源染色体间存在分化。染色体结构杂合能够导致部分花粉败育，所有被检测个体的花粉败育率约为8.8 – 29.4%。 扩大的居群取样以及多基因(cpDNA: matK, psbA-trnH, rps16-trnQ, trnL-trnF; nrDNA: ITS, Adh1, Adh2, Gpat)的系统发育分析，进一步支持P. anomala杂交起源于P. veitchii 和P. lactiflora的近缘类群。cpDNA片段和核DNA片段（ITS、GPAT）基因树间的不一致，以及P. anomala Adh1和Adh2序列表现出的多态性都支持该类群杂交起源的推测。不过，表型分析显示P. anomala在形态上偏向于P. veitchii。 3． P. obovata Maxim.四倍体类群的起源 与原先基于形态性状的认识不同，P. obovata 四倍体类群并不是一个严格意义上的同源四倍体。它起源于二倍体P. obovata中国和日本分布的两个地理亚种之间的杂交。Adh2基因仅在中国分布二倍体居群的扩增失败支持这一推测。此外，Adh基因系统发育分析显示：间断性分布于中国中部和中国东北部的四倍体类群是独立起源。

Measuring the state of consciousness in a free-living diving sea turtle

We report on results from two types of data-logger attached to hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys coriacea) in the breeding season at the Seychelles, Indian Ocean. Conventional time-depth recorders (TDRs) showed prolonged bouts of long dives to the seabed, consistent with benthic resting. This behaviour has been widely reported in sea turtles and appears to be a common feature for energy conservation. An Inter-Mandibular Angle Sensor (IMASEN) recorded mouth opening and buccal pumping by one turtle for 2.5 days. Buccal pumping occurred widely while the turtle was submerged, consistent with a function of olfactory sensory perception of the turtle's environment. However, buccal pumping stopped during the middle of long benthic dives consistent with the turtle entering a phase of sleep. It therefore appears that by recording buccal oscillations, it is possible to assess the state of consciousness of turtles allowing the eco-physiology of diving to be more fully explored. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The ocean sunfish Mola mola: insights into distribution, abundance and behaviour in the Irish and Celtic Seas

Here we provide baseline data on the distribution and abundance of Mola mola within the Irish and Celtic Seas, made during aerial surveys from June to October during 2003-2005. These data were considered in conjunction with concurrent observations of three potential jellyfish prey species found throughout the region: Rhizostoma octopus, Chrysaora hysoscella and Cyanea capillata. A total area of 7850 km(2) was surveyed over the three years with an observed abundance of 68 sunfish giving a density of 0.98 ind/100 km(2). Although modest, these findings highlight that the species is more common than once thought around Britain and Ireland and an order of magnitude greater than the other apex jellyfish predator found in the region, the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). furthermore, the distribution of sunfish sightings was inconsistent with the extensive aggregations of Rhizostoma octopus found throughout the study area. The modelled distributions of predator-prey co-occurrence (using data for all three jellyfish species) was less than the observed co-occurrence with the implication that neither jellyfish nor sunfish were randomly distributed but co-occurred more in the same areas than expected by chance. Finally, observed sunfish were typically small (similar to 1 in or less) and seen to either bask or actively swim at the surface.

Jellyfish aggregations and leatherback turtle foraging patterns in a temperate coastal environment

Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are obligate predators of gelatinous zooplankton. However, the spatial relationship between predator and prey remains poorly understood beyond sporadic and localized reports. To examine how jellyfish (Phylum Cnidaria: Orders Semaeostomeae and Rhizostomeae) might drive the broad-scale distribution of this wide ranging species, we employed aerial surveys to map jellyfish throughout a temperate coastal shelf area bordering the northeast Atlantic. Previously unknown, consistent aggregations of Rhizostoma octopus extending over tens of square kilometers were identified in distinct coastal

Animal-borne sensors successfully capture the real-time thermal properties of ocean basins

Climate change is perhaps the most pressing and urgent environmental issue facing the world today. However our ability to predict and quantify the consequences of this change is severely limited by the paucity of in situ oceanographic measurements. Marine animals equipped with sophisticated oceanographic data loggers to study their behavior offer one solution to this problem because marine animals range widely across the world's ocean basins and visit remote and often inaccessible locations. However, unlike the information being collected from conventional oceanographic sensing equipment, which has been validated, the data collected from instruments deployed on marine animals over long periods has not. This is the first long-term study to validate in situ oceanographic data collected by animal oceanographers. We compared the ocean temperatures collected by leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the Atlantic Ocean with the ARGO network of ocean floats and could find no systematic errors that could be ascribed to sensor instability. Animal-borne sensors allowed water temperature to be monitored across a range of depths, over entire ocean basins, and, importantly, over long periods and so will play a key role in assessing global climate change through improved monitoring of global temperatures. This finding is especially pertinent given recent international calls for the development and implementation of a comprehensive Earth observation system ( see http://iwgeo.ssc.nasa.gov/documents.asp?s=review) that includes the use of novel techniques for monitoring and understanding ocean and climate interactions to address strategic environmental and societal needs.

Caracterização das capturas de tartaruga careta (Caretta caretta) e influência de parâmetros ambientais e pesqueiros, na pesca dirigida ao espadarte (Xiphias gladius) nos Açores

Dissertação de mest., Estudos Marinhos e Costeiros, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2005

Palynological differentiation between genera of the Moraceae family and implications for Amazonian palaeoecology

The Moraceae family is one of the most abundant and ecologically important families in Neotropical rainforests and is very well-represented in Amazonian fossil pollen records. However, difficulty in differentiating palynologically between the genera within this family, or between the Moraceae and Urticaceae families, has limited the amount of palaeoecological information that can be extracted from these records. The aim of this paper is to analyse the morphological properties of pollen from Amazonian species of Moraceae in order to determine whether the pollen taxonomy of this family can be improved. Descriptive and morphometric methods are used to identify and differentiate key pollen types of the Moraceae (mulberry) and Urticaceae (nettle) families which are represented in Amazonian rainforest communities of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (NKMNP), Northeast Bolivia. We demonstrate that Helicostylis, Brosimum, Pseudolmedia, Sorocea and Pourouma pollen can be identified in tropical pollen assemblages and present digital images of, and a taxonomic key to, the Moraceae pollen types of NKMNP. Indicator species, Maquira coriacea (riparian evergreen forest) and Brosimum gaudichaudii (open woodland and upland savanna communities), also exhibit unique pollen morphologies. The ability to recognise these ecologically important taxa in pollen records provides the potential for much more detailed and reliable Neotropical palaeovegetation reconstructions than have hitherto been possible. In particular, this improved taxonomic resolution holds promise for resolving long-standing controversies over the interpretation of key Amazonian Quaternary pollen records.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of medicinal plants of the Brazilian cerrado, using Brazilian cachaca as extractor liquid

Ethnopharmacological importance: Many species of plants in the Brazilian cerrado (savanna) are widely used in ethnomedicine. However, the safety and effectiveness of medicinal plants used in communities with little or no access to manufactured drugs should be evaluated. Aim of the study: Evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of extracts from eight plant species, obtained using Brazilian cachaca as the extractor liquid. Materials and methods: The extracts were tested against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis, and poliovirus. In addition, cytotoxic activity was assayed in Vero cells and in human erythrocytes. Results: The plant species Curatella americana, Sclerolobium aureum, and Plathymenia reticulata showed the best activity against yeasts, especially the crude extract of C. americana and its ethyl-acetate fraction. Kielmeyera lathrophyton showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 250 mu g/ml against S. aureus, and was inactive against Gram-negative bacteria. The extract obtained from Annona coriacea showed the best activity against the promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis (IC(50) = 175 mu g/ml). Only C. americana showed potential for antipoliovirus activity. The concentrations of the crude extracts that showed toxicity to VERO cells had CC(50) between 31 and 470 mu g/ml, and the lyophilized Brazilian cachaca showed a CC(50) of 307 mu g/ml. None of the extracts showed toxicity against human erythrocytes. Conclusions: Among the plant species studied. C americana proved to be effective against microorganisms, especially as an antifungal. The results will help in the search for alternative drugs to be used in pharmacotherapy, and will contribute to establish safe and effective use of phytomedicines in the treatment of infectious diseases. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Underutilized Annona Species from the Brazilian Cerrado and Amazon Rainforest: A Study on Fatty Acids Profile and Yield of Seed Oils

Annona (Annonaceae) is an important source of fruits in the Brazilian Cerrado and the Amazon Rainforest. Some Annona species are widely commercialized as fresh fruit or as frozen pulp. Seeds are accustomedly discarded. Our main goal was to analyze fatty acids profile from seeds of A. crassiflora and A. coriacea from Cerrado, A. montana from Amazon Forest, and three cultivars (A. cherimola cv. Madeira, A. cherimola x A. squamosa cv. Pink`s Mammonth and A. cherimola x A. squamosa cv. Gefner). The total oil yield ranged between 20 and 42% by weight of dry mass. The A cherimola x A. squamosa cv. Gefner has significantly higher total lipid yield than all other samples. 100 g of fruit of this species present 6-8 g of seeds. Considering the fruit production of Chile (over 221 ton of fruits/year), more than 1300 ton of seed/year could be obtained, which could provide at least 200 ton of seed oil. Oleic acid was predominant for most samples, but for A. montana linoleic acid was the most abundant FA. Phenotypic variation on FAME profile was observed. These new data are an urgent requirement for supporting conservation programs, mainly for Cerrado areas in Brazil.

Four new species of Maranta L. (Marantaceae) from Brazil

Maranta is a neotropical genus, species of which are found in moist and shaded habitats in forests and in the cerrado. During the preparation of Maranta`s monograph for the Flora Neotropica, four new species were discovered and are now described: Maranta longiflora S.Vieira & V.C.Souza, Maranta coriacea S.Vieira & V.C.Souza, Maranta pulchra S.Vieira & V.C.Souza and Maranta purpurea S.Vieira & V.C.Souza. These species are found in dry habitats, frequently near watercourses or occasionally in humid and shaded places. Two, M. pulchra and M. purpurea, seem to be endemic to the state of Mato Grosso. (C) 2008 The Linnean Society of London.