Stomach fullness modulates prey size choice in the frillfin goby, Bathygobius soporator

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

Hermit crabs as bioindicators of recent tributyltin (TBT) contamination

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

Effects of tributyltin exposure in hermit crabs: Clibanarius vittatus as a model

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

Simultaneous activity of male and female gonads in intersex hermit crabs

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

MYZOBDELLA PLATENSIS (HIRUNDINIDA: PISCICOLIDAE) IS TRUE PARASITE of BLUE CRABS (CRUSTACEA: PORTUNIDAE)

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

Dimensionamento e sobreposição de nichos dos portunídeos (Decapoda, Brachyura), na Enseada da Fortaleza, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brasil

The niche breadth of the Portunidae and their overlap on the subtidal sediments of Fortaleza bay, Ubatuba (São Paulo) was analyzed. Samples were made monthly from November/1988 to October/1989, inseven areas of the bay using a shrimp fishery boat equipped with two otter-trawls. Each area was characterized based on environmental factors such as depth, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, organic matter and granulometric composition of the sediment. The number of individuais of each species was registered to each area (resource). Levins's standardized measure (BA) and niche percentage were calculated. Five species of swimming crabs were recorded in this study: Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863, Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818), Portunus spinimanus Latreille, 1819, Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 and Portunus spinicarpus (Stimpson, 1871). The widest ecological niche occurred to C. ornatus, present in all sampled areas (generalist species). Such fact can be related to high sediment tolerance when it is compared to P. spinimanus (especialist species) which was limited to the areas with coarse granulometric fractions. Highest niche overlap was verified between C. danae and A. cribrarius may be due to greater salinity tolerance of these species. The low occurrence of P. spinicarpus and its reduced niche size in Fortaleza Bay are due to association of this species to cold water currents (ACAS) more evidente in smaler depths during summer months. One future evaluation of the portunid diet can be useful to complement informations about this important aspect of the marine ecology.

Biologia populacional de Emerita brasiliensis Schmitt (Crustacea, Hippidae) na Praia Vermelha do Norte, Ubatuba (São Paulo, Brasil)

Emerita brasiliensis Schmitt, 1935 is a common mole crab called tatuíra in Brazil, with distribution from Espírito-Santo State (Brazil) to Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). Specimens were collected bimonthly from May/1992 through March/1993 with 4mm siffers mesh, in the intertidal region at Vermelha do Norte Beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. The animals were sexed and measured with a precision caliper of 0.1 mm (Cl = carapace length). Males presented cl amplitude from 3.4-17.3mm (13.2±2.1mm), and females from 13.8-26.3mm (20.5±1.8mm), showing a well-defined sexual dimorfism for this variable. The population presented a smaller incidence of males in relation to females (0.54:1.00), however in May/1992 an inverse pattern occurred (1.84:1.00). Ovigerous females were present in all samples with exception of May and September/1992 with greater frequencies in July/1992 and January/1993. It is probable that female maturity occurs is reached with 17mm CL, the smallest size in wich ovigerous females were found.

Relações ecologicas entre caranguejos e composição arbórea em bosques de mangue naturais e restaurados no nordeste brasileiro

This study aimed to compare the development of crab and tree communities of two restored mangrove areas, one planted with Rhizophora mangle and the other naturally recovered, and also to compare the predation of Grapsid crab Goniopsis cruentata and the Ocypodid Ucides cordatus over the propagules of three mangrove trees: Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia schaueriana e Laguncularia racemosa. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that Goniopsis predation is more important that Ucides predation, and that these consumers have antagonist effects over propagule consumption. In each area, 10 quadrates were selected at random to analyze tree richness, diameter, height, tree biomass and crab richness and density five years after restoration experiment start. Results show that tree height, biomass and crab density were significantly higher in artificially restored area. No significant differences were observed in crab species richness between areas, but higher tree richness was observed in self-recovered area. Results suggest that planting propagules of Rhizophora can significantly increase tree recovering if the aim was increase tree biomass and crab density, which can accelerate return of ecological functionality. Goniopsis is a more important propagule predator than Ucides both in natural and restored areas. The effects of Goniopis were higher in absence of Ucides, due to negative interactions among these two predator species. The preference of Goniopsis by Avicennia and Laguncularia can favor the dominance of Rhizophora observed in Neotropical mangroves. This study suggests that propagule predation by Goniopsis should be controlled in restoration programs, if dominance of Rhizophora is undesirable respect to more rich tree communities

MOLECULAR and SEROLOGICAL DETECTION of BABESIA SPP. IN NEOTROPICAL and EXOTIC CARNIVORES IN BRAZILIAN ZOOS

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

Molecular detection of tick-borne bacterial agents in Brazilian and exotic captive carnivores

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

Estudo da oxidação superficial de ligas odontológicas de Ni-Cr em plasma pulsado para uso em restaurações metalocerâmicas

Metal ceramic restorations matches aesthetic and strength, and in your making occurs an interface oxide layer, wetting resulting and atomic and ionic interactions resulting between metal, oxide and porcelain. However, frequent clinical fails occurs in this restoration type, because lost homogeneous deposition oxide layer and lost interface bond. Thus, in this study, thought depositate homogeneous oxide films above Ni-Cr samples surfaces polite previously, at plasma oxide environment. Six samples was oxided at 300 and 400ºC at one hour, and two samples was oxided in a comum chamber at 900ºC, and then were characterized: optical microscopic, electronic microscopic, micro hardness, and X ray difratometry. Colors stripes were observed at six samples plasma oxided and a grey surface those comum oxided, thus like: hardness increase, and several oxides from basic metals (Ni-Cr)

Produção de grês porcelanato a partir de matérias-primas do estado da Bahia

The State Bahia, Brazil, presents different geological sites it with a very expressive variety minerals. It is situated among the very important States which produces minerals for industries, such as pointed aggregate, ornamentals stones and ceramics raw materials. Nowadays only four companies producting ceramics tiles. Porcelainized stoneware tiles is one of the noblest ceramics, depicting low water absorption (typically below of 0,5%), in addition to excellent staining resistance and mechanical strength. The present work aims at investigating the potential of local raw materials for the production of porcelainized stoneware tiles. For this purpose, these materials were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, thermal differential analysis and dilatometric analysis. Admixtures containing different compositions were prepared and fired at four temperatures, 1100 ºC, 1150 ºC, 1200 ºC and 1250 ºC with isotherm for 60 minute and heathing rate of 5 oC/min. After firing the samples, they were characterized by water absorption tests, linear retraction, analysis, apparent porosity, apparent specific mass, flexural strength, and microstructural analysis by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy . The results revealed three ceramics with porcelainized stoneware tiles characteristics and porcelain tile will be produce from raw materials originated in the State of Bahia

Aproveitamento de resíduos de cinza da cana de açúcar em massas cerâmicas

This study aimed to investigate the use of cane sugar ashes from small-scale stills of Eunápolis region, state of Bahia, in pottery mass that can be developed as porcelain stoneware. Bahia is the second largest producer of rum distillery in Brazil. In the production of rum is produced residue called bagasse, which is used to generate electricity in Power plants and in the distillery itself, generating ashes as residue, which is played in nature, causing environmental damage. We studied 5 (five) formulations of 0% 10% 20%, 30% and 40% by weight of the ash, without ignition and 3 (three) formulations of 10%, 20% and 30% with gray ash temperature of 1250ºC. The formulation at 0% by weight of ash was used for a comparison between the traditional mass of porcelain stoneware and the masses with the addition of ash calcined, replacing feldspar. The percentage by weight of kaolin and of Clay was kept the same, 30%, and all raw materials were derived from the state of Bahia. The samples were made in uniaxial array with dimensions of (60 x 20 x 5) mm and compressed to a pressure of 45 MPa. Assays were performed to characterize the raw by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, ATD and ATG and Dilatometric analysis. The samples were sintered at temperatures of 1100°C, 1150°C, 1200°C and 1250°C, for the specimens with the ashes without ash and 1150° C and 1200° C for specimens with the gray level of calcined 60 minutes. and then we made a cooling ramp with the same rate of warming until reach ambient temperature. The sintered bodies were characterized by water absorption, porosity, linear shrinkage, bending strength and XRD of the fracture surface and the results analyzed. It was proven, after results of tests performed, that it is possible to use the ash residue of sugar cane bagasse on ceramic coating with the addition of up to 10% wt of the residue ash

Incorporação de cinzas da casca de café na produção de placas cerâmicas para revestimento

Brazil is the world s leading coffee producer. In 2008, 45.99 million of 60 kg bags of benefited coffee were produced. In the process of improvement 50% is grain and 50% is husk, thus, 1.38 million tons of coffee husk are produced annually. The husk is used as combustible in the drying and improvement ovens in the coffee farms, generating ash as residue. These ashes contain a high concentration of alkaline metals and earth metals, mainly K2O and CaO. This work studies the use of this residue in the ceramic tiles industry, as fluxing agents in substitution to the feldspar. Ten mixtures with equal ratios of clay and kaolin, proceeding from Bahia and the residue (varying from 30 to 5%) were defined and produced in uniaxial tool die of 60x20mm with approximately 5 mm of thickness and 45MPa compacting pressure. The samples were fired in four different temperatures: 1100 °C, 1150 °C, 1185 °C and 1200 °C during 60 minutes and characterized by means of X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, gravimetric thermal analysis and differential thermal analysis. The results of water absorption, apparent porosity, linear shrinkage, XRD, dilatometry, flexural strength and SEM were also analysed. The test specimen with addition of 10% of ash fired in 1200 °C resulted in 0.18% water absorption and 40.77 MPa flexural strength, being classified as porcelain stoneware tiles according to ABNT, UNI and ISO norms

DNA extraction from hair shafts of wild Brazilian felids and canids

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