Consumo de Uroleucon ambrosiae (Thomas, 1878) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) por larvas de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) em casa-de-vegetação

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

Efeito da densidade de ninfas de Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera, Aphididae) no consumo alimentar e aspectos biológicos de Orius insidiosus (Say, 1832) (Hemiptera, Anthocoridae)

Orius insidiosus (SAY, 1832) is an important predator for biological pest control programs. The objective of this work was to evaluate the functional response, predation capacity and reproductive aspects of O. insidiosus when predating 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 third/fourth instar nymphs of Aphis gossypii. The tests were conducted under laboratory conditions. Females of the predator were individually maintained in Petri dishes with a cotton leaf at each one of the aphid densities. The average rate of predation was of 0.93 [plus or minus] 0.13, 3.58 [plus or minus] 0.80, 7.31 [plus or minus] 1.45, 7.40 [plus or minus] 1.16, and 10.54 [plus or minus] 1.84 at the densities of 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 aphids, respectively. The results showed an attack rate of 0.10 h-1 and 1.82 h of manipulation time. The predator spent 3.10 to 4.08 h feeding on leaf cotton glands; this behavior was not directly influenced by the prey density. The proportion of egg laying per female grew up to the density of 10 nymphs whereas the number of eggs per laying increased with the number of available preys.

Efeito de cultivares de algodoeiro sobre a biologia e capacidade predatória de Orius Insidiosus (say, 1832) (hemiptera: anthocoridae) predando Aphis Gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The objective of this research was to determine the survival, reproduction and predaceous capacity of Orius insidiosus on cotton aphid Aphis gossypii. Cotton plants of Antares, CNPA7H and Acala 90 cultivars (respectively, without tricome, medium tricome density and high tricome density) were individualized and infested with 15 third/fourth instar nymphs of A. gossypii, and then first-instar nymphs of O. insidiosus were released on the plants. The evaluations were made daily, quantifying survival and nymphal development; the number of cotton aphids A. gossypii per day and total; the number of eggs and the population of the predator (number of insects by female); and the conversion efficiency of A. gossypii predaceous. The nymphal development did not differ according to the cotton cultivars. The Antares cultivar favored a higher daily predation rate for the 1st, 2nd and 4th instars and adults of O. insidiosus. The number of eggs and nymphs was smaller when O. insidiosus females were confined on the Acala 90 cultivar. According to the predation rate of O. insidiosus, the efficiency of alimentary conversion was determined for the Antares, CNPA7H and Acala 90 cultivars, being respectively, 4.28, 3.00 and 2.75 cotton aphid predation for each egg of the predator.

Nucleus isthmi and control of breathing in amphibians

Despite recent advances, the mechanisms of neurorespiratory control in amphibians are far from understood. One of the brainstem structures believed to play a key role in the ventilatory control of anuran amphibians is the nucleus isthmi (NI). This nucleus is a mesencephalic structure located between the roof of the midbrain and the cerebellum, which differentiates during metamorphosis; the period when pulmonary ventilation develops in bullfrogs. It has been recently suggested that the NI acts to inhibit hypoxic and hypercarbic drives in breathing by restricting increases in tidal volume. This data is similar to the influence of two pontine structures of mammals, the locus coeruleus and the nucleus raphe magnus. The putative mediators for this response are glutamate and nitric oxide. Microinjection of kynurenic acid (an ionotropic receptor antagonist of excitatory amino acids) and L-NAME (a non-selective NO synthase inhibitor) elicited increases in the ventilatory response to hypoxia and hypercarbia. This article reviews the available data on the role of the NI in the control of ventilation in amphibians. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Habitat use, reproductive traits and social interactions in a stream-dweller treefrog endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Brain monoaminergic neurons and ventilatory control in vertebrates

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

Anurans of the sandy coastal plains of the Lagamar Paulista, state of São Paulo, Brazil

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

The breathing pattern and the ventilatory response to aquatic and aerial hypoxia and hypercarbia in the frog Pipa carvalhoi

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

Estudo do potencial do pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) como agente de controle biológico de Egeria densa, E. najas e Ceratophyllum demersum

Visando fornecer subsídios para elaboração de sistema de manejo integrado das grandes massas de plantas daninhas aquáticas submersas em lagos e represas, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a eficiência do pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) como agente de controle biológico de Egeria densa, E. najas e Ceratophyllum demersum. As espécies de plantas daninhas foram oferecidas individualmente, duas a duas e as três espécies juntas. Verificou-se que este peixe tem uma eficiência média de controle dessas plantas daninhas variando entre 28 e 100%, podendo eliminar uma massa verde dessas plantas, com a mesma quantidade de seu peso, em sete dias. A eficiência de controle diária aumentou com o tempo de predação. O pacu é mais seletivo para E. densa ou E. najas quando na presença de C. demersum. Não ocorreu alteração na eficiência de controle do pacu sobre E. densa ou E. najas em todos os tratamentos e nos três períodos estudados (três, cinco e sete dias).

Ciclo biológico e predação de três espécies de coccinelídeos (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) sobre o pulgão-gigante-do-pinus Cinara atlantica (Wilson) (Hemiptera, Aphididae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Desenvolvimento e capacidade de consumo de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) alimentada com ninfas de mosca-branca criadas em hortaliças

Many arthropods are mentioned with whitefly natural enemies, including the green lacewings. The aim of this study is to analyses the development and the capacity of predation of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) fed with Bemisia tabaci B biotype nymphs, rearing different vegetables (kale, broccoli, eggplant end tomato). The duration, viability end weight in each stage end phase of development of the insect-predator had been evaluated, as well as the predatory capacity of the larvae in the third instar. The larval phase of the predator presented minor duration when these had been fed with nymphs developed the broccoli (12.36 days) and minor duration of the tomato (14.36 days) phase when fed with nymphs developed in kale, broccoli, and eggplant (6.50, 7.20, 7.33 days, respectively). The lower indices of viability been found for the larvae fed with nymphs developed in the tomato (30%), and average weights have. The predatory capacity of the larvae during the third instar was not affected, independently on the plant host where the whitefly nymph fed itself.

Internal Architecture and Population Size of Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Nests: Comparison Between a Rural and an Urban Area

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Utilização do teste de raios - x na avaliação dos efeitos da dessecação e infestação em diásporos de Canela-Batalha - Cryptocarya aschersoniana Mez (Lauraceae)

No presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da dessecação e identificar lesões por predação por insetos, em diásporos de canela-batalha (Cryptocarya aschersoniana Mez.), utilizando-se testes de raios X. Os danos provocados pela dessecação foram dimensionados nas imagens e associados à formação de plântulas. Diásporos recém-beneficiados (45 % de umidade e 37 % de germinação) foram colocados para secar em sala climatizada (20 ºC e 60 % UR), dentro de bandejas plásticas em camada única. Posteriormente, com o intuito de acelerar o processo de secagem, foram colocados em caixas de secagem com solução saturada de hidróxido de sódio (28 % UR) e amostrados com 45, 37, 35, 31 e 26 % de umidade. Para as radiografias, utilizou-se a intensidade de radiação de 40 kVp e tempo de exposição de 1,5 minutos. Posteriormente, as radiografias foram fotografadas e as imagens analisadas em computador, sendo medido o afastamento entre o endocarpo e a semente. As sementes foram classificadas em sementes intactas, sementes com afastamento parcial, sementes com afastamento total e sementes predadas. Os testes de germinação foram realizados sobre areia, em germinadores tipo Mangelsdorf a 25 ºC e luz branca constante. Pelos resultados, observa-se que a germinação é comprometida quando o teor de água das sementes fica abaixo de 26 %. Nesse ponto, o afastamento entre o endocarpo e a semente é de 0,65 mm. Houve uma correlação positiva entre a viabilidade das sementes, avaliada pelo teste de germinação, e o afastamento entre o endocarpo e a semente observado nas radiografias. A análise radiográfica possibilita identificar danos provocados por predação após infestação por insetos.

O que controla o crescimento do Fitoplâncton em lagoas costeiras tropicais? um modelo para a lagoa de Extremoz (RN)

The phytoplankton growth is dependent of several abiotic (nutrients, temperature) and biotic (predation by zooplankton) variables. In this work, a mathematical model was developed in Stella software to understand the planktonic dynamics of Extremoz Lagoon (RN) and to simulate scenarios of different environmental conditions. Data were collected monthly at two points of the lagoon. The state variables are phytoplankton and zooplankton and forcing variables are nitrogen, phosphorus and temperature. The results show that: a) the model are well coupled, especially when some constants assume different values; b) simulated nutrient concentrations reduction decreases phytoplankton biomass, but the increase of nutrients does not stimulate the growth; c) changes in the temperature does not change the phytoplankton biomass; d) changes in zooplankton biomass affect directly and reduces the phytoplankton, indicating a topdown control mechanism; e) changes in the nutrient concentration modified the biomass of zooplankton suggesting a rapid flow of energy between nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton and a ecosystem likely arranged in an inverted pyramid (higher concentration of zooplankton than phytoplankton)

Permian stromatolites associated with bivalve coquina beds-Angatuba, SP, Brazil (Teresina Formation, Parana Basin)

Silicified stromatolites have been described in the Permian Teresina Formation, Passa Dois Group, of the Parana Basin. These stromatolites occur as blocks in the Fazenda Monte Alegre area at the headwaters of the creek known as Corrego Catanduva in the municipality of Angatuba. These blocks originate from the Serra de Angatuba region and were recognized in a road that was cut in the midst of sandstones and siltites. The stromatolites are isolated bioherms that are domed to subspherical with a flat base in profile and a rounded to lenticular shape in plan view. The stromatolites exhibit a reddish coloration and are composed of microcrystalline quartz. Lamination is continuous, non-columnar, and anastomosed, showing parallel to divergent growth; however, divergent columns also occur, especially at the tops of the bioherms. The lamination is fine and well preserved, with alternating light and dark laminas. Microfossils of filamentous cyanobacteria are preserved and were related to the genera Microcoleus and Rivularia. Silicified bivalves occur in association with the stromatolites and are preserved in the form of coquina beds and rare isolated specimens within the bioherms. The described specimens belong to the Pinzonella illusa biozone, with representatives of the species Pinzonella illusa, Angatubia cowperesioides, and Houldausiella elongata. The formation environment of these stromatolites is associated with tidal plains of shallow, brackish, relatively calm, warm waters of good luminosity with the presence of weak currents. There was likely a low level of predation, and the environment may have been hypersaline. The coquina beds associated with the stromatolites indicate a probable proximal tempestite, i.e., they were formed near the coastline. The stromatolites were originally composed of carbonates, although these were replaced by silica during early diagenesis.