Planejamento ambiental da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Guapi-Macacu: estudo da paisagem e qualidade ecológica

Os estudos de relação entre a paisagem e a água doce vêm sendo aprofundados pela comunidade científica e pelos propositores de políticas públicas, principalmente, para atender às demandas sobre as maneiras que este sistema ambiental pode ser alterado e na identificação das implicações políticas e ecológicas destas mudanças. Quanto mais se torna intenso e diversificado o uso dos corpos hídricos e da paisagem em bacias hidrográficas maior é a necessidade de se definir formas de planejamento, gerenciamento e gestão ecológica desses ecossistemas. O completo entendimento do funcionamento e dos processos ecológicos que ocorrem em uma bacia hidrográfica exige conhecimento simultâneo de seus sistemas aquáticos e terrestres, da biodiversidade, da fisiografia, da geologia e de sua conservação, temporal e espacial. Este entendimento e conhecimento da área de interesse são vitais para proposições de instrumentos ambientais legais, como Unidades de Conservação (UCs). É muito importante que a fundamentação destas propostas tenha como eixo principal o funcionamento dos ecossistemas e das paisagens, de forma a garantir uma maior conectividade e integração entre água (doce, salobra e salgada) e terra, e seus múltiplos usos. A presente tese foi desenvolvida com base neste contexto, apresentando e aplicando metodologias integradoras, seja na ecologia de paisagem (EP), seja na relação entre os ambientes dulcícola e terrestre. O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de processos para planejamento ambiental em BHs, através do diagnóstico, compreensão e análise do funcionamento e dinâmica da paisagem e de ecossistemas de rios e córregos, apoiados no uso de geotecnologias. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, a BHGM ocupa uma área de 1260,36 km e 204,69 km de perímetro. É uma bacia com forma mais alongada que circular (KC = 1,6144e IC =0,4747 km/km) que indica uma menor susceptibilidade a enchentes em condições normais de precipitação exceto em eventos de intensidades anômalas. O mapeamento base (2007) realizado indicou que a bacia possuía 34,86% de uso antrópico e 64,04 % de remanescente florestal. Os dados de fitofisionomia potencial indicaram predominância da classe Florestas Ombrófila Densa Submontana (40%) e de Terras Baixas (39%). Foram estabelecidas para bacia 269 unidades de paisagem (integração da geomorfologia, geologia, fitofisionomia e uso da terra e cobertura vegetal (2007)) que junto com os dados de métrica de paisagem constituíram a proposta integrativa da tese para ecologia de paisagem. Em relação à qualidade ambiental foram adotados o índice de avaliação visual (IAV), o índice multimétrico físico-químico bacteriológico e o índice biótico estendido (IBE). A comparação entre estes índices demonstrou a confirmação entre os seus resultados para a maioria dos pontos amostrados nas áreas de referência e de pelo menos dois índices para os pontos intermediários e impactados. Foram propostos também dois cenários para a bacia: um considerando as condicionantes e medidas compensatórias vinculadas à licença prévia do complexo petroquímico do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (COMPERJ); e outro, sem considerar estas condições. O primeiro indicou a realização da restauração ecológica, seguindo as diretrizes do mapa síntese, integrada para restauração da paisagem.

Population connectivity among Dry Tortugas, Florida, and Caribbean populations of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis), inferred from multiple microsatellite loci

Determining patterns of population connectivity is critical to the evaluation of marine reserves as recruitment sources for harvested populations. Mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) is a good test case because the last known major spawning aggregation in U.S. waters was granted no-take status in the Tortugas South Ecological Reserve (TSER) in 2001. To evaluate the TSER population as a recruitment source, we genotyped mutton snapper from the Dry Tortugas, southeast Florida, and from three locations across the Caribbean at eight microsatellite loci. Both Fstatistics and individual-based Bayesian analyses indicated that genetic substructure was absent across the five populations. Genetic homogeneity of mutton snapper populations is consistent with its pelagic larval duration of 27 to 37 days and adult behavior of annual migrations to large spawning aggregations. Statistical power of future genetic assessments of mutton snapper population connectivity may benefit from more comprehensive geographic sampling, and perhaps from the development of less polymorphic DNA microsatellite loci. Research where alternative methods are used, such as the transgenerational marking of embryonic otoliths with barium stable isotopes, is also needed on this and other species with diverse life history characteristics to further evaluate the TSER as a recruitment source and to define corridors of population connectivity across the Caribbean and Florida.

Spatial and seasonal abundance of sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) and silver seatrout (C. nothus) off the coast of Texas, determined with twenty years of data (1987–200

Sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) and silver seatrout (C. nothus) are both found within the immediate offshore areas of the Gulf of Mexico, especially around Texas; however information is limited on how much distributional overlap really occurs between these species. In order to investigate spatial and seasonal differences between species, we analyzed twenty years of bay and offshore trawl data collected by biologists of the Coastal Fisheries Division, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Sand seatrout and silver seatrout were distributed differently among offshore sampling areas, and salinity and water depth appeared to correlate with their distribution. Additionally, within the northernmost sampling area of the gulf waters, water depth correlated significantly with the presence of silver seatrout, which were found at deeper depths than sand seatrout. There was also an overall significant decrease in silver seatrout abundance during the summer season, when temperatures were at their highest, and this decrease may have indicated a migration farther offshore. Sand seatrout abundance had an inverse relationship with salinity and water depth offshore. In addition, sand seatrout abundance was highest in bays with direct passes to the gulf and correlated with corresponding abundance in offshore areas. These data highlight the seasonal and spatial differences in abundance between sand and silver seatrout and relate these differences to the hydrological and geological features found along the Texas coastline.

The vulnerability of reproductively active squaretail coralgrouper (Plectropomus areolatus) to fishing

Squaretail coralgrouper (Plectropomus areolatus) were captured and tagged at a fish spawning aggregation (FSA) site with conventional and acoustic tags to assess their vulnerability to fishing and spatial dynamics during reproductive periods. Males outnumbered females in catch and, on average, were larger than females. Findings revealed a high vulnerability to fishing, particularly during reproductive periods, and most fish were recaptured within the 5-month spawning season and within 10−12 km of the aggregation site. Individual and sex-specific variability in movement to, and residency times at, the FSA site indicates that individual monthly spawning aggregations represent subsets of the total reproductive population. Some individuals appeared to move along a common migratory corridor to reach the FSA site. Sex-specific behavioral differences, particularly longer residency times, appear to increase the vulnerability of reproductively active males to fishing, particularly within a FSA, which could reduce reproductive output. Both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data indicate that only males were present within the first month of aggregation. The combined results indicate that reproductively active P. areolatus are highly vulnerable to fishing and that FSAs and migratory corridors of reproductively active fish should be incorporated into marine protected areas. The capture of P. areolatus during reproductive periods should be restricted as part of a comprehensive management strateg

Novel Papillomaviruses in Free-Ranging Iberian Bats: No Virus-Host Co-evolution, No Strict Host Specificity, and Hints for Recombination

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are widespread pathogens. However, the extent of PV infections in bats remains largely unknown. This work represents the first comprehensive study of PVs in Iberian bats. We identified four novel PVs in the mucosa of free-ranging Eptesicus serotinus (EserPV1, EserPV2, and EserPV3) and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (RferPV1) individuals and analyzed their phylogenetic relationships within the viral family. We further assessed their prevalence in different populations of E. serotinus and its close relative E. isabellinus. Although it is frequent to read that PVs co-evolve with their host, that PVs are highly species-specific, and that PVs do not usually recombine, our results suggest otherwise. First, strict virus-host co-evolution is rejected by the existence of five, distantly related bat PV lineages and by the lack of congruence between bats and bat PVs phylogenies. Second, the ability of EserPV2 and EserPV3 to infect two different bat species (E. serotinus and E. isabellinus) argues against strict host specificity. Finally, the description of a second noncoding region in the RferPV1 genome reinforces the view of an increased susceptibility to recombination in the E2-L2 genomic region. These findings prompt the question of whether the prevailing paradigms regarding PVs evolution should be reconsidered.

The ecology of Atlantic white cedar wetlands: a community profile

This monograph on the ecology of Atlantic white cedar wetlands is one of a series of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service profiles of important freshwater wetland ecosystems of the United States. The purpose of the profile is to describe the extent, components, functioning, history, and treatment of these wetlands. It is intended to provide a useful reference to relevant scientific information and a synthesis of the available literature. The world range of Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) is limited to a ribbon of freshwater wetlands within 200 km of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, extending from mid-Maine to mid-Florida and Mississippi. Often in inaccessible sites and difficult to traverse, cedar wetlands contain distinctive suites of plant species. Highly valued as commercial timber since the early days of European colonization of the continent, the cedar and its habitat are rapidly disappearing. This profile describes the Atlantic white cedar and the bogs and swamps it dominates or codominates throughout its range, discussing interrelationships with other habitats, putative origins and migration patterns, substrate biogeochemistry, associated plant and animal species (with attention to those that are rare, endangered, or threatened regionally or nationally), and impacts of both natural and anthropogenic disturbance. Research needs for each area are outlined. Chapters are devoted to the practices and problems of harvest and management, and to an examination of a large preserve recently acquired by the USFWS, the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina.

The relationship between smolt and postsmolt growth for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

The interaction of ocean climate and growth conditions during the postsmolt phase is emerging as the primary hypothesis to explain patterns of adult recruitment for individual stocks and stock complexes of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Friedland et al. (1993) first reported that contrast in sea surface temperature (SST) conditions during spring appeared to be related to recruitment of the European stock complex. This hypothesis was further supported by the relationship between cohort specific patterns of recruitment for two index stocks and regional scale SST (Friedland et al., 1998). One of the index stocks, the North Esk of Scotland, was shown to have a pattern of postsmolt growth that was positively correlated with survival, indicating that growth during the postsmolt year controls survival and recruitment (Friedland et al., 2000). A similar scenario is emerging for the North American stock complex where contrast in ocean conditions during spring in the postsmolt migration corridors was associated with the recruitment pattern of the stock complex (Friedland et al., 2003a, 2003b). The accumulation of additional data on the postsmolt growth response of both stock complexes will contribute to a better understanding of the recruitment process in Atlantic salmon.

Conservação de morcegos no estado do Rio de Janeiro: como e onde já foram amostrados e que locais merecem atenção

A demarcação de Unidades de Conservação é uma forma supostamente eficaz para a conservação da biodiversidade. A Mata Atlântica é caracterizada por apresentar uma elevada biodiversidade e altos níveis de ameaça. O estado do Rio de Janeiro encontra-se totalmente inserido nesse bioma e seus remanescentes florestais são considerados um hotspot dentro de outro hotspot. O Rio de Janeiro pode ser considerado um dos estados melhor amostrados, porém ainda existem lacunas de conhecimentos geográficos sobre a ocorrência de morcegos. Esta tese foi desenvolvida em três capítulos com o objetivo de contribuir com conservação de morcegos no estado do Rio de Janeiro, focando em como e onde eles já foram amostrados e que locais ainda carecem de atenção. Para este estudo foram utilizados dados referentes a buscas bibliográficas e dados de amostragens do Laboratório de Diversidade de Morcegos da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. No primeiro capítulo pode-se observar que as localidades com mais de 30 espécies de morcegos são resultado de grande esforço de captura e amostragens usando diversas metodologias. Para uma melhor amostragem da riqueza local, devem-se armar redes não somente em trilhas e próximas a árvores em frutificação, mas também sobre corpos de água. Fazer busca em refúgios diurnos também é aconselhável. Devem ser realizadas amostragens durante a noite toda e variar a fase do ciclo lunar, não restringindo a apenas uma ou partes das fases do ciclo lunar. No segundo capítulo observou-se que 43% das Unidades de Conservação aqui estudadas apresentam 20 ou mais espécies. Localidades que apresentam de 20 a 40 espécies de morcegos na Mata Atlântica podem ser consideradas bem amostradas. Isso demonstra que mais da metade das Unidades de Conservação não podem ser consideradas bem inventariadas. Muitos projetos de pesquisas dão prioridade para a localidade estudada ser uma Unidade de Conservação, porém existem poucos trabalhos de longa duração. No Rio de Janeiro ainda existem diversas Unidades de Conservação não amostradas, principalmente aquelas de difícil acesso e em altitudes elevadas. No terceiro capítulo foi possível observar que há uma maior proporção de espécies que apresentam distribuição geográfica restrita. Esse padrão constitui uma informação importante em termos de conservação, visto que indiretamente poderia indicar uma menor capacidade de dispersão desses animais em médias e grandes distâncias. Entretanto existem lacunas de conhecimento em decorrência da falta de amostragem em algumas regiões, sendo imperativos maiores esforços de captura. Importantes municípios para a conservação e/ou preservação de morcegos como Varre-Sai, Cambuci, Miracema, Carmo, Cantagalo, Valença, Barra do Piraí e Piraí não estão sob proteção legal, mesmo constituindo possíveis corredores entre Unidades de Conservação ou mesmo fragmentos importantes que ainda detém espécies que não estão representadas em Unidades de Conservação já estabelecidas. É imperativo que mais estudos e esforços de conservação sejam direcionados para essas áreas

PGPRs and nitrogen-fixing legumes: a perfect team for efficient Cd phytoremediation?

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic, biologically non-essential and highly mobile metal that has become an increasingly important environmental hazard to both wildlife and humans. In contrast to conventional remediation technologies, phytoremediation based on legume rhizobia symbiosis has emerged as an inexpensive decontamination alternative which also revitalize contaminated soils due to the role of legumes in nitrogen cycling. In recent years, there is a growing interest in understanding symbiotic legume rhizobia relationship and its interactions with Cd. The aim of the present review is to provide a comprehensive picture of the main effects of Cd in N-2-fixing leguminous plants and the benefits of exploiting this symbiosis together with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to boost an efficient reclamation of Cd-contaminated soils.

Bay Scallops, Argopecten irradians, in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas)

There is no evidence that a commercial bay scallop fishery exists anywhere in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. No data concerning scallop abundance or distribution was found for Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Texas is the only state west of Florida where bay scallop populations have been documented. These records come from a variety of literature sources and the fisheries-independent data collected by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (1982–2005). Although common in the diet of prehistoric peoples living on the Texas coast, recent (last ~50 years) bay scallop population densities tend to be low and exhibit “boom–bust” cycles of about 10–15 years. The Laguna Madre, is the only place on the Texas coast where scallops are relatively abundant; this is likely due to extensive seagrasses cover (>70%) and salinities that typically exceed 35 psu. The lack of bay scallop fishery development in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico is probably due to variable but generally low densities of the species combined with a limited amount of suitable (i.e. seagrass

The Federal Fisheries Service, 1871–1940: Its Origins, Organization, and Accomplishments

The U.S. Fish Commission was initiated in 1871 with Spencer Fullerton Baird as the first U.S. Fish Commissioner as an independent entity. In 1903 it became a part of the new U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor and was renamed the Bureau of Fisheries, a name it retained when the Departments of Commerce and Labor were separated in 1912. The Bureau remained in the Commerce Department until 1941 when it was merged with the Biological Survey and placed in the Department of Interior as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was a scientific agency with well conceived programs of action, and it provided knowledge, advice, and example to state governments and individuals with fisheries interests and needs. Its efforts were supported by timely international agreements which constituted the precedent for Federal interest in fishery matters. The Fisheries Service earned stature as an advisor through heavy emphasis on basic biological research. The lack of such knowledge was marked and universal in the 1870’s, but toward the end of that decade, strong steps had been taken to address those needs under Baird’s leadership. USFC research activities were conducted cooperatively with other prominent scientists in the United States and abroad. Biological stations were established, and the world’s first and most productive deepsea research vessel, the Albatross, was constructed, and its 40-year career gave a strong stimulus to the science of oceanography. Together, the agency’s scientists and facilities made important additions to the sum of human knowledge, derived principles of conservation which were the vital bases for effective regulatory legislation, conducted extensive fish cultural work, collected and disseminated fisheries statistics, and began important research in methods of fish harvesting, preservation, transportation, and marketing.

Observations on Fisheries Activities at Navassa Island

Unmanaged and unquantified artisanal fishing is ongoing at Navassa Island, a small oceanic island about 70 km west of Haiti that is part of the U.S. Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Concern has been expressed regarding the possible impact of these fishing activities on reef resources, and no quantitative catch or effort data are available. However, informal qualitative observations made during a cruise in November 2002 suggest that escalation in fishing activity (and impact) has occurred since previous observations made in April 2000. Namely, size structure of fish was markedly reduced and the adoption of net fishing has allowed the exploitation of queen conch, Strombas gigas, and hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata.

NMFS Cooperative SharkTagging Program, 1962-93: An Atlas of SharkTag and Recapture Data

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program (CSTP) is part of continuing research directed to the study of the biology of large Atlantic sharks. The CSTP was initiated in 1962 at the Sandy Hook Laboratory in New Jersey under the Department of Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). During the late 1950's and early 1960's, sharks were considered a liability to the economy of resort communities, of little or no commercial value, and a detriment to fishermen in areas where sharks might damage expensive fishing gear or reduce catches of more commercially valuable species.

Pacific Hagfish, Eptatretus stouti, and Black Hagfish, E. deani: The Oregon Fishery and Port Sampling Observations, 1988-92

In 1988, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife began sampling and monitoring the development of a new fishery for Pacific hagfish, Eptatretus stouti, and black hagfish, E. deani. Hagfish landings by Oregon trap vessels have ranged from 11,695 kg in 1988 to 340,774 kg in 1992. Whole frozen fish were shipped to South Korea for the "eel skin" leather market. From 1988 through 1989, I sampled 924 Pacific hagfish and 897 black hagfish from commercial and research catches. Mean length of fish sampled from commercial landings was 39.6 cmf or Pacific hagfish and 34.5 cm for black hagfish. Weight-length relationships (W=aLb) were calculated for males and females of both species. Fifty percent maturity for male and female Pacific hagfish was 35 cm and 42 cm, respectively, while 50% maturityf or male and female black hagfish was 34 cm and 38 cm, respectively. Examination of gonads for both species indicated that spawning either occurs throughout the year or the spawning period is protracted. Mature females of both species had from one to three distinct sizes of eggs, but they usually carried only one group of eggs over 5 mm in length. Mature Pacific hagfish females averaged 28 eggs over 5 mm in length, and black hagfish females averaged 14 eggs over 5 mm in length. Hermaphroditism was found in 0.2% of the Pacific hagfish examined.

Pacific Salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., and the Definition of "Species" Under the Endangered Species Act

For purposes ofthe Endangered Species Act (ESA), a "species" is defined to include "any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife which interbreeds when mature. "Federal agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of the ESA have struggled for over a decade to develop a consistent approach for interpreting the term "distinct population segment." This paper outlines such an approach and explains in some detail how it can be applied to ESA evaluations of anadromous Pacific salmonids. The following definition is proposed: A population (or group of populations) will be considered "distinct" (and hence a "species ")for purposes of the ESA if it represents an evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) of the biological species. A population must satisfy two criteria to be considered an ESU: 1) It must be substantially reproductively isolated from other conspecific population units, and 2) It must represent an important component in the evolutionary legacy of the species. Isolation does not have to be absolute, but it must be strong enough to permit evolutionarily important differences to accrue in different population units. The second criterion would be met if the population contributes substantially to the ecological/genetic diversity of the species as a whole. Insights into the extent of reproductive isolation can be provided by movements of tagged fish, natural recolonization rates observed in other populations, measurements of genetic differences between populations, and evaluations of the efficacy of natural barriers. Each of these methods has its limitations. Identification of physical barriers to genetic exchange can help define the geographic extent of distinct populations, but reliance on physical features alone can be misleading in the absence of supporting biological information. Physical tags provide information about the movements of individual fish but not the genetic consequences of migration. Furthermore, measurements ofc urrent straying or recolonization rates provide no direct information about the magnitude or consistency of such rates in the past. In this respect, data from protein electrophoresis or DNA analyses can be very useful because they reflect levels of gene flow that have occurred over evolutionary time scales. The best strategy is to use all available lines of evidence for or against reproductive isolation, recognizing the limitations of each and taking advantage of the often complementary nature of the different types of information. If available evidence indicates significant reproductive isolation, the next step is to determine whether the population in question is of substantial ecological/genetic importance to the species as a whole. In other words, if the population became extinct, would this event represent a significant loss to the ecological/genetic diversity of thes pecies? In making this determination, the following questions are relevant: 1) Is the population genetically distinct from other conspecific populations? 2) Does the population occupy unusual or distinctive habitat? 3) Does the population show evidence of unusual or distinctive adaptation to its environment? Several types of information are useful in addressing these questions. Again, the strengths and limitations of each should be kept in mind in making the evaluation. Phenotypic/life-history traits such as size, fecundity, and age and time of spawning may reflect local adaptations of evolutionary importance, but interpretation of these traits is complicated by their sensitivity to environmental conditions. Data from protein electrophoresis or DNA analyses provide valuable insight into theprocessofgenetic differentiation among populations but little direct information regarding the extent of adaptive genetic differences. Habitat differences suggest the possibility for local adaptations but do not prove that such adaptations exist. The framework suggested here provides a focal point for accomplishing the majorgoal of the Act-to conserve the genetic diversity of species and the ecosystems they inhabit. At the same time, it allows discretion in the listing of populations by requiring that they represent units of real evolutionary significance to the species. Further, this framework provides a means of addressing several issues of particular concern for Pacific salmon, including anadromous/nonanadromous population segments, differences in run-timing, groups of populations, introduced populations, and the role of hatchery fish.