Seasonal and spatial species richness variation of dung beetle (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae s. str.) in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphology and anatomy in Heliconia angusta Vell. and H. velloziana L. Emygd. (Zingiberales: Heliconiaceae) from the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Temporal dynamics of two species of Chaetophoraceae (Chlorophyta) in tropical streams of São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil

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

The diet of bats from Southeastern Brazil: the relation to echolocation and foraging behaviour

In this study the incidence of moths and beetles was examined from feces samples of bats that use different foraging behaviors. Twenty sites around the Fazenda Intervales, a Field Research Station located in São Paulo State, in southeastern Brazil were sampled. Feces were collected from bats caught in mist nets, Turtle Traps or hand nets and, in one case, from beneath a roost. Feces samples were taken from six species of bats: Micronycteris megalotis (Gray, 1842), Mimon bennettii (Gray, 1838), Furipterus horrens (F. Cuvier, 1828), Myotis riparius Handley, 1960, Myotis ruber (E. Geoffroy, 1806) and Histiotus velalus (I. Geoffroy, 1824). To record and describe the frequencies dominating bat echolocation calls, an Anabat II bat detector coupled with an Anabat ZCA interfaces and DOS laptop computers were used. The data show that Furipterus horrens feeds extensively on moths, as predicted from the features of its echolocation calls. Gleaning bats, whose echolocation calls are much less conspicuous to moths take a wide range of insect (and other) prey.

Bats from Fazenda Intervales, Southeastern Brazil: species account and comparison between different sampling methods

Assessing the composition of an area's bat fauna is typically accomplished by using captures or by monitoring echolocation calls with bat detectors. The two methods may not provide the same data regarding species composition. Mist nets and harp traps may be biased towards sampling low flying species, and bat detectors biased towards detecting high intensity echolocators. A comparison of the bat fauna of Fazenda Intervales, southeastern Brazil, as revealed by mist nets and harp trap captures, checking roosts and by monitoring echolocation calls of flying bats illustrates this point. A total of 17 species of bats was sampled. Fourteen bat species were captured and the echolocation calls of 12 species were recorded, three of them not revealed by mist nets or harp traps. The different sampling methods provided different pictures of the bat fauna. Phyllostomid bats dominated the catches in mist nets, but in the field their echolocation calls were never detected. No single sampling approach provided a complete assessment of the bat fauna in the study area. In general, bats producing low intensity echolocation calls, such as phyllostomids, are more easily assessed by netting, and bats producing high intensity echolocation calls are better surveyed by bat detectors. The results demonstrate that a combined and varied approach to sampling is required for a complete assessment of the bat fauna of an area.

Diets of tadpoles from a temporary pond in southeastern Brazil (Amphibia, Anura)

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

Fruits as unusual food items of the carnivorous bat Chrotopterus auritus (Mammalia, Phyllostomidae) from southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analysis of floristic composition and structure as an aid to monitoring protected areas of dense rain forest in southeastern Brazil

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

Historical land-cover/use in different slope and riparian buffer zones in watersheds of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

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

Field methods for the study of ants in sugarcane plantations in Southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Rabies in the insectivorous bat Tadarida brasiliensis in Southeastern Brazil

É registrado o primeiro caso de raiva no morcego insetívoro Tadarida brasiliensis no Estado de São Paulo. O animal raivoso foi encontrado vivo no período da tarde, enquanto pendurado na parede interna de um prédio urbano, o que reforça a noção que se deve ter cuidado com morcegos encontrados em situações não usuais

A bio-economic appraisal of pair trawl fisheries off southeastern Brazil

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

Observation of initial clinical manifestations and repercussions from the treatment of 314 human injuries caused by black sea urchins (Echinometra lucunter) on the southeastern Brazilian coast

INTRODUÇÃO: Os acidentes causados por ouriços-do-mar são as ocorrências por animais marinhos mais comuns no país. O ouriço-do-mar preto (Echinometra lucunter) é a espécie que mais causa ferimentos em banhistas. MÉTODOS: Este trabalho registrou e estudou 314 agravos com ênfase nas manifestações clínicas iniciais observadas e suas implicações na terapêutica recomendada. RESULTADOS: Todos os acidentes foram causados pelo ouriço-do-mar preto e aconteceram em banhistas. As lesões e a dor foram associadas ao trauma causado pela penetração das espículas (não ocorreu inflamação ou dor imediata sem pressão sobre os pontos comprometidos). As complicações deste tipo de acidente, incluindo infecções e granulomas de corpo estranho, estão associadas com a permanência das espículas nos ferimentos. CONCLUSÕES: Foi confirmado o fato do acidente causado por esta espécie ser o mais comum no Brasil e apresentar caráter traumático, sendo a principal recomendação a retirada precoce dos espinhos para prevenção de complicações tardias como as infecções e formação de granulomas de corpo estranho.

Petrological and geochemical evolution of the alkaline Valle Chico Massif, southeastern Uruguay

The Valle Chico Massif is a member of the Early Cretaceous alkaline magmatic suite of rocks distributed around the Parana Basin. Three magmatic associations are recognized: (1) the Plutonic Association, characterized by syenites, quartz syenites, and syenogranites; (2) the Volcanic Association, mainly composed of porphyritic quartz trachytes; and (3) the Porphyritic Dike Association consisting of rhyolites and trachytes. Judging by their geochemical behavior, the rhyolites exhibit a weak peralkaline affinity, and are genetically connected by progressive melting processes, whereas the other lithologies have a metaluminous nature, and are products of mineral fractionation. An enriched mantle of Transamazonian age, geochemically similar to OIB, is postulated as a possible source.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in captive maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) from southeastern and midwestern regions of Brazil

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of antibodies against T gondii and N. caninum in captive maned wolves from Brazil, considering that little information is available at the literature about infections by these parasites in this wild animal. Serum samples were obtained from 59 maned wolves originated from six zoos and from one ecological reserve of the southeastern and midwestern regions of Brazil. To detect IgG antibodies against T gondii, an ELISA protocol was used and the results were expressed as ELISA reactivity indexes (131). Serology for N. caninum was carried out by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and cut-off titers were established at 1:25 dilution. From the total of the analyzed samples, 44 (74.6%) were seropositive for T gondii and only 5 (8.5%) for N. caninum. Seropositivity for T gondii ranged from 0 to 100% in the seven different origin locals, with rates over 50% among the six zoos, whereas no positivity was found in the samples from ecological reserve. For N. caninum, seroprevalence varied from 0 to 50% in the different locals, with the highest rates also detected in zoos. Seroprevalence for T gondii was strongly related with age, with rates significantly higher among adult wolves (91.7%) when compared to newborn or young animals. Seropositive samples for N. caninum were found predominantly in adult wolves. For both parasites, seroprevalence did not show a significant distinction in relation to gender. Although seroprevalence for T gondii was significantly higher when compared to N. caninum in the Brazilian captive maned wolves tested, these findings reflect the great exposure of this species to T gondii and, in lower extension, to N. caninum. Also, the present study demonstrated for the first time the presence of antibodies to N. caninum in wild life from South America. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.