Helminth parasites of hypsiboas prasinus (Anura: Hylidae) from two atlantic forest fragments, São Paulo State, Brazil

Seventy-seven males of Hypsiboas prasinus from 2 Atlantic forest fragments in the municipalities of Botucatu and Jundiaí, São Paulo State, Brazil, were examined for endoparasites. The frogs were captured in summer (January until March) and winter (July/August) of 2008 and 2009. Thirty-three males (75) from Botucatu were infected with Rhabdias cf. fuelleborni, cosmocerciid nematodes, and Cylindrotaenia americana. Twenty-five tree frogs (78.5) from Jundiaí were infected by Rhabdias cf. fuelleborni, Physaloptera sp., and cosmocerciid nematodes. Only cosmocerciid nematodes presented a statistically significance difference in prevalence (z 4.345; P < 0.001) and mean abundance (t 562.0; P < 0.001) between Botucatu and Jundiaí during the winter. Also, the cosmocerciids exhibited higher mean abundance (t 196.0; P 0.034) in winter when compared with summer at the Jundiaí site. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first report of C. americana in the Brazilian Hylidae. This study presents 4 new records of nematodes in H. prasinus. © 2012 American Society of Parasitologists.

Diferenças sazonais no padrão endócrino e ovariano do ciclo estral de novilhas bos taurus indicus (Nelore)

Estrous cycle of eight Nelore heifers were evaluated during different seasons of the year (autumn n=11; winter n=8; spring n=9 and summer n=9) with daily count and measurement of follicles ≥3mm, blood was collected every 12h for LH and progesterone (P4), and after estrous every 3h for LH peak. Five ovariectomized heifers were injected with 17β-estradiol (2μg/kg) every season and blood samples collected every 3h (for 30h) thereafter for LH quantification. The monthly percent body weight difference (Δ%) did not vary among seasons. P4 concentration was higher (p<0.01) and follicle number lower during autumn and summer compared to winter and spring. During winter there were more estrous cycles with three and during summer only cycles with two follicular waves (p<0.01). As LH secretion did not vary despite P4 concentration and as there was negative correlation between higher P4 values and daily percentile variation of photoperiod (Δ%, p<0.01; r= -0.45) it is possible to suppose that there is seasonal variation on luteal cell sensitivity to LH. In the ovariectomized Nelore heifers, the LH basal concentration (without estradiol stimulus, p=0.02) and the LH response to estradiol (p<0.01) were lower during summer, leading to the hypothesis that there is seasonal variation of hypothalamic sensitivity to estradiol. According to the present experiment there are suggestions of seasonal reproduction in Nelore heifers.

Piscicultura e manejo da qualidade da água

Fish farms' water quality management is analyzed with regard to the management employed and the different trophic states are compared within the system during the dry and rainy seasons. Six sites were marked two in the water supply (P1 and P2), and four within the fish farm (P3 to P6). Whereas sites P1 and P2 (water supply) were characterized as oligotrophic, the others were mesotrophic and eutrotrophic sites. Environmental variables, mainly nutrients, conductivity, COD, BOD5 and TSS tended to increase as from P3 due to management and fertilization. Greater impact has been registered in the fish farm under analysis for variables COD, ammonia, total phosphorus and TSS during the discharge and pond emptying period. Frequent monitoring of water quality should be undertaken in fish breeding and plankton production ponds, especially in those close to P3 and P4. Removal of sediment in decantation lake or P5 is also recommended to decrease nutrient concentrations, especially phosphorus, accumulated on the bottom soil.

Parâmetros físico-químicos da água e ocorrência de streptococcus spp. em criação intensiva de tilápia no estado do espírito Santo, Brasil

This study evaluated the influence of intensive farming of tilapia on physical and chemical parameters and on the occurrence of Streptococcus spp. in the water of the lake and of cages. Throughout a year, monthly samplings were taken in the rainy and dry seasons for a year, at two sampling sites, lake and net cages. For the determination of water quality, physical and chemical water parameters were evaluated and compared to the standards established by Conama Resolution no. 357/2005. The presence of Streptococcus spp. in the water was determined by plating on blood Agar and biochemical screening. Mean values of water parameters were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test comparing sampling sites and seasons. Ammoniacal nitrogen (ammoniacal-N), total phosphorus (total-P) levels and occurrence of Streptococcus spp. have increased in the water of the net cages. The mean values of several parameters have decreased during the rainy period, except for pH, temperature and ammoniacal-N. Total-P and dissolved oxygen levels, during dry and rainy periods, respectively, exceeded the standard established for freshwater class 2, recommended for aquaculture, which can be harmful to the fish. Therefore, constant monitoring of the physical,chemical and microbiological water parameters is recommended since the Juara lake is also used for recreational purposes.

Contrasting engineering effects of leaf-rolling caterpillars on a tropical mite community

Ecosystem engineers are organisms that change the physical structure of environments and provide habitats for other organisms. Lepidopteran caterpillars may act as ecosystem engineers by rolling leaves as shelters to complete metamorphosis. After being abandoned, these structures may provide shelter for other organisms. In this study, the influence of leaf-rolling caterpillars on tropical mite communities was reported. Expanded leaves and leaves rolled by larvae and also developed field experiments using leaves rolled manually with different shapes and sizes (i.e. different architectures) in different seasons were surveyed (dry and rainy). While the abundance and diversity of predatory mites were higher in rolled leaves, the abundance of phytophages decreased in these leaves. Species composition differed between rolled and expanded leaves. The structure of shelters affected the distribution of predatory mites, with higher abundances found on funnel-shaped leaves. Predatory mites only benefited from the rolled leaves in the dry season. This is the first study showing (i) the contrasting effects of ecosystem engineers on microarthropod communities, favouring some feeding guilds and inhibiting others; (ii) that the shape of rolled leaves has variable effects on mite communities; and (iii) that facilitation was temporally dependent, i.e. occurred only in the dry season. © 2013 The Royal Entomological Society.

Annual reproductive cycle of males of the flat-faced fruit-eating bat, Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Artibeus planirostris is an endemic species of Phyllostomid bat from the Neotropical region. Some studies have indicated that it exhibits seasonal bimodal polyestry; however, others postulate that it may be able to produce young at any time during the year. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the annual variations in testicular and epididymal parameters of this species in southeast Brazil and try to understand how the reproduction of this species is regulated in this environment. Sixty mature male specimens, collected between June 2009 and May 2010, were submitted to morphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. Our study showed that A. planirostris presented a continuously active pattern of spermatogenesis throughout the year, presenting spermatozoa inside its cauda epididymis in all months, but with two pronounced peaks of spermatogenic production, one in September and other in February. We propose that the males developed these two peaks in order to produce sufficient sperm for the reproduction in a harem system and to synchronize with the female reproductive cycle, which had a bimodal polyestric pattern. Control of this variation is directly linked to the expression of the androgen receptor (AR) in Sertoli cells and to serum testosterone levels, which appear to synchronize to establish these two peaks. In the months preceding the two peaks, the testis have a higher expression of the AR, which possibly stimulates the increase in PCNA, and drives a gradual increase in the testicular parameters. Taken together the results suggest that if sperm storage happens in this species, it is of short duration. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Variação sazonal da comunidade protozooplanctônica em um ambiente oligotrófico tropical (reservatório de Ilha Solteira, Brasil)

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

The helminth community of Geophagus proximus (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from a tributary of the Paraná River, Ilha Solteira Reservoir, São Paulo State, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the helminth parasites of Geophagus proximus from the São José dos Dourados River, a tributary of Paraná River, Ilha Solteira Reservoir, São Paulo State, Brazil. From May 2006 to May 2007, 116 G. proximus specimens were examined and seven different taxa of helminth were collected and identified: proteocephalidean plerocercoids (Cestoda); metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum compactum, Clinostomum heluans and Clinostomum sp. (Trematoda); and Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) hypostomi, and larvae of Raphidascaris sp. and Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda). All parasites presented the typical aggregated pattern of distribution, as well as the presence of a high number of larval stages, an absence of influence of the host sex and seasonality upon community parameters, as well as a correlation between species richness and host body weight. Moreover, with the exception of A. compactum metacercariae, all helminths found in this study are reported for the first time in G. proximus. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012.

Comparação de quatro métodos laboratoriais para o diagnóstico da Giardia lamblia em fezes de crianças da região de Araraquara-SP

Pós-graduação em Biociências e Biotecnologia Aplicadas à Farmácia - FCFAR

Dinâmica e estrututra populacional de Anopheles darlingi em um assentamento rural na floresta amazônica, Acre, Brasil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mapeamento de sensibilidade ambiental a derramamentos de óleo na região costeira de Bertioga - SP

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Variação do ciclo estral de novilhas Bos taurus indicus (Nelore) em diferentes estações do ano

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação de acetaldeído e formaldeído em água de chuva e suas correlações com carbono orgânico dissolvido em uma região canavieira: Daniely de Godoy Silva. -

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Distribuição ecológica e estrutura populacional em escala espacial, temporal e anual do camarão-branco Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad, 1936) (Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) na enseada de Ubatuba: 4 anos de estudo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Diversidade e uso do habitat de comunidades de anfíbios anuros em Lençóis Paulista, Estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBB