Escape of the fiddler crab Uca rapax (Smith, 1870) (Crustacea: Ocypodidae) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

A escape of the fiddler crab Uca rapax (Smith, 1870), in the state of Minas Gerais is reported for the first time. This record was made more than 200 km away from its original habitat, a mangrove area in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The species has been introduced in ponds in the study area, located in the largest ornamental pisciculture/aquaculture center of Brazil. Male individuals of U. rapax were observed engaged in territorial and courtship displays around their burrows. Despite this, there is no well-established population of the species in the area, due to the physiological dependence of the larvae on brackish water. © 2007 Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - UFMG.

Gonad development in females of fiddler crab Uca rapax (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ocypodidae) using macro and microscopic techniques

The morphology of the ovaries in Uca rapax (Smith, 1870) was described based on macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Females were collected in Itamambuca mangrove, Ubatuba, state of São Paulo, Brazil. In the laboratory, 18 females had their ovaries removed and prepared for histology. Each gonad developmental stage was previously determined based on external and macroscopic morphology and afterwards each stage was microscopically described. The ovaries of U. rapax showed a pronounced macroscopic differentiation in size and coloration with the maturation of the gonad, with six ovarian developmental stages: immature, rudimentary, developing, developed, advanced and spent. During the vitellogenesis, the amount of oocytes in secondary stage increases in the ovary, resulting in a change in coloration of the gonad. Oogonias, primary oocytes, secondary oocytes and follicular cells were histologically described and measured. In female's ovaries of U. rapax the modifications observed in the oocytes during the process of gonad maturation are similar to descriptions of gonads of other females of brachyuran crustaceans. The similarities are specially found in the morphological changes in the reproductive cells, and also in the presence and arrange of follicle cells during the process of ovary maturation. When external morphological characteristics of the gonads were compared to histological descriptions, it was possible to observe modifications that characterize the process in different developmental stages throughout the ovarian cycle and, consequently, the macroscopic classification of gonad stages agree with the modifications of the reproductive cells.

Local and regional ecological drivers of fish assemblages in Brazilian estuaries

Spatial patterns in assemblage structures are generated by ecological processes that occur on multiple scales. Identifying these processes is important for the prediction of impact, for restoration and for conservation of biodiversity. This study used a hierarchical sampling design to quantify variations in assemblage structures of Brazilian estuarine fish across 2 spatial scales and to reveal the ecological processes underlying the patterns observed. Eight areas separated by 0.7 to 25 km (local scale) were sampled in 5 estuaries separated by 970 to 6000 km (regional scale) along the coast, encompassing both tropical and subtropical regions. The assemblage structure varied significantly in terms of relative biomass and presence/absence of species on both scales, but the regional variation was greater than the local variation for either dataset. However, the 5 estuaries sampled segregated into 2 major groups largely congruent with the Brazilian and Argentinian biogeographic provinces. Three environmental variables (mean temperature of the coldest month, mangrove area and mean annual precipitation) and distance between estuaries explained 44.8 and 16.3%, respectively, of the regional-scale variability in the species relative biomass. At the local scale, the importance of environmental predictors for the spatial structure of the assemblages differed between estuarine systems. Overall, these results support the idea that on a regional scale, the composition of fish assemblages is simultaneously determined by environmental filters and species dispersal capacity, while on a local scale, the effect of environmental factors should vary depending on estuary-specific physical and hydrological characteristics © 2013 Inter-Research.

Modelagem matemática da doença do caranguejo letárgico via ondas viajantes

Pós-graduação em Biometria - IBB

Mapeamento de sensibilidade ambiental a derramentos de petróleo do sistema estuarino de Santos, estado de São Paulo

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

Mapeamento da sensibilidade ambiental do litoral de Ubatuba-SP a vazamentos de petróleo

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

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

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Foraminíferos atuais em um manguezal impactado por petróleo 20 anos atrás: o Rio Iriri, canal de Bertioga, Santos-SP

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

An assessment of the economic impact of climate change on the Agriculture, Coastal and Human Settlements and Health Sectors in Guyana

This report analyses the agriculture, coastal and human settlements and health sectors in Guyana to assess the potential economic impacts of climate change. The fundamental aim of this report is to assist with the development of strategies to deal with the potential impact of climate change on Guyana. It also has the potential to provide essential input for identifying and preparing policies and strategies to help bring the Caribbean sub-region closer to solving problems associated with climate change and attaining national and regional sustainable development goals. Some of the key anticipated manifestations of climate change for the Caribbean include elevated air and sea-surface temperatures, sea-level rise, possible changes in extreme events and a reduction in freshwater resources. The economic impact of climate change on the three sectors was estimated for the A2 and B2 IPCC scenarios until 2050 (agriculture and health sectors) and 2100 (coastal and human settlements sector). An exploration of various adaptation strategies was also undertaken for each sector using standard evaluation techniques. The study of the impact of climate change on the agriculture sector focused on three leading sub-sectors namely: sugar-cane, rice-paddy and fisheries. In estimating costs, the sugar sub-sector is projected to experience losses under A2 between US$ 144 million (at 4% discount rate) and US$300 million (1% rate); comparative statistics for rice are US$795 million and US$1577 million, respectively; while for fisheries, the results show that losses range from US$15 million (4% rate) and US$34 million (1% rate). In general, under the B2 scenarios, there are gains for sugar up to 2030 under all three discount rates while for rice the performance is somewhat better with gains realized under all three discount rates up to 2040. For fisheries, gains are forecasted under all three rates up to 2050, following marginal losses to 2020. In terms of the benefit-cost analysis conducted on selected adaptation measures under the A2 scenario, there were net benefits for all three commodities under all three discount rates. For the sugar-cane sub-sector these are: drainage and irrigation upgrade, purchase of new machinery for planting and harvesting, developing and replanting climate tolerant sugar-cane. The rice-paddy sub-sector will benefit from adaptive strategies, which include maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems, research and development, as well as education and training. Adaptation in the fisheries sub-sector must include measures such as, mangrove development and restoration and public education. The analysis of the coastal and human settlements sector has shown that based upon exposed assets and population, SLR can be classified as having the potential to create catastrophic conditions in Guyana. The main contributing factor is the concentration of socioeconomic infrastructure along the coastline in vulnerable areas.

Distribuição de macrófitas aquáticas em relação a variáveis ambientais em ecossistemas lóticos da Bacia do rio Itanhaém

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

Composição florística de comunidades epifíticas vasculares em unidades de conservação no Estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Aplicação das técnicas de geoprocessamento na análise dos impactos ambientais e na determinação da vulnerabilidade ambiental no litoral sul do Rio Grande do Norte

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Dinâmica populacional do pargo, Lutjanus purpureus Poey, 1875 (Pisces: Lutjanidae) na plataforma norte do Brasil

O crescimento, a mortalidade, biometria e a reprodução do pargo Lutjanus purpureus foram estudadas a partir de amostras obtidas nos desembarques da frota comercial capturadas com pargueira na costa norte do Brasil no âmbito do programa REVIZEE e do Projeto biologia e pesca do pargo no norte do Brasil do CEPNOR/IBAMA. Dados de comprimentos total e zoológico de aproximadamente 500 indivíduos foram coletados aleatoriamente e mensalmente nos desembarques dos municípios de Belém, Vigia e Bragança, no período de janeiro de 1999 a dezembro de 2000. E para realizar estudos de reprodução e biometria foram obtidas subamostras mensais de 150 indivíduos em abril de 1998 a janeiro de 2000. No laboratório do CEPNOR/IBAMA foram realizadas as biometrias, sexagem e identificados os estágios de maturação gonadal. As amostras totalizaram 16.733 indivíduos com percentuais superiores a 50% de indivíduos jovens. A amplitude de classe total variou de 13 a 112 cm de comprimento e as médias de comprimentos foram de 45,72 cm e 51,91 cm, respectivamente para o ano de 1999 e 2000. As relações morfométricas e as relações peso/comprimento apresentaram alometria positiva. E a relação peso/comprimento para macho e fêmea diferem significativamente entre si, pelo teste de Student, bilateral, com alfa = 0,05. A reprodução foi estudada determinando a proporção sexual através do teste quiquadrado, o tamanho de primeira maturação e o período de desova, que foi analisado pela variação temporal das freqüências dos estágios gonadais e relação gonadossomática. Para todo o período estudado foi verificada a predominância de fêmeas e nas análises mensais apenas nos meses de abril de 1998, maio e junho de 1999 não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os sexos. Na proporção sexual por classe de comprimento a predominância de fêmeas foi altamente significativa de 28 a 45 cm. A classe de comprimento total do tamanho de primeira maturação foi estimado 43 a 46 cm para fêmeas pelo método da extrapolação gráfica e de 43,67 cm pelo ajuste da ogiva de Galton. E o período reprodutivo foi observado em dois picos, sendo um intenso no segundo trimestre, com maior amplitude no mês de maio/1998 e um mais reduzido no quarto trimestre. Os parâmetros de crescimento foram estimados pelo sistema ELEFAN I, método de Bhattacharya, Gulland & Holt e Appeldoorn no programa Fisat. O método de Appeldoorn apresentou o melhor ajuste para a espécie com o valor de L= 115 cm K= 0,091ano-1 , que determinou a equação do crescimento de von Bertalanffy Lt = 115 (1-e 0,091tto). A mortalidade natural foi estimada em 0,25 ano-1 e 0,31 ano-1 pelas equações de Pauly e Rikhter & Efanov respectivamente. A mortalidade total estimada pelos métodos do comprimento convertido em curva de captura linearizada e Berverton & Holt atingiu valores de 0,59; 0,664 respectivamente. A mortalidade por pesca e a taxa de explotação também foram calculados. Os resultados foram F = 0,34 ano 1 e E = 0,57. A longevidade estimada pela fórmula de Taylor foi de 33 anos. O pargo apresenta crescimento lento e vida longa com desova contínua e periódica. A pesca na costa norte do Brasil incide em percentuais elevados de jovens o que pode contribuir para um estado de sobrepesca de crescimento, comprometendo assim a sustentabilidade da espécie e da atividade pesqueira na região norte. É imprescindível adotar medidas de ordenamento para a pesca do pargo, principalmente no que diz respeito ao tamanho mínimo de captura.

Genetic characterisation of populations of the critically endangered Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara, Serranidae) from the Northern Brazilian coast through analyses of mtDNA

The Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is one of the most endangered species of fish of the subfamily Epinephelinae. Slow to develop and mature, and dependent on mangrove habitats for breeding, the species also suffers intense harvesting, which has reduced drastically in numbers in many areas. To contribute to the understanding of the characteristics of E. itajara populations, we conducted a molecular genetics study of the species, focusing on populations from the Northern Brazilian coast. The mtDNA control region (D-loop) of 116 individuals from five localities (Bragança, Ajuruteua, Parnaíba, Fortaleza and Natal) was analysed, and a sequence of 499 base pairs identified. Analyses of the sequences indicated that genetic variability was generally lower in E. itajara than in other endangered species of the genus. AMOVA found no significant grouping structure among the populations. Nested Clade Analysis revealed a significant association between genetic variability and geographic distribution among only three populations (Ajuruteua, Parnaíba and Natal). Genetic diversity was higher in populations from the Amazon region, which may be related to the better conservation of mangrove habitats in this area. Therefore, the present study could be used for the implementation of conservation and management measures in order to protect and consolidate these populations.

Determinação da composição isotópica de estrôncio em águas naturais: exemplos de sua aplicação em águas subsuperficiais da zona costeira na região Bragantina-PA

Analytical procedures used for determining the concentrations and isotope composition of strontium in subsurface waters, by mass spectrometry, are described. Sampling was performed in coastal plateaus, salt marsh and mangrove environments in the coastal region of Pará. Coastal plateau waters have δ⁸⁷Sr between 1.51 and 6.26‰ and Sr concentration bellow 58 ppb. Salt marsh waters show δ⁸⁷Sr between 0.55 and 0.90‰ and Sr concentration between 93 and 114 ppm, while mangrove waters have δ⁸⁷Sr around zero and Sr concentration above 15 ppm. Differences in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in these subsurface waters are detected, as well as seasonal variations in the coastal pleteau waters.