Cytogenetic analysis of the Marsh Deer, Blastocerus dichotomus (Mammalia, Cervidae)

The chromosomic constitution of the Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) was studied in 18 males and 18 females, mainly from the Tiete river basin in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The species diploid number was determined to be 66 chromosomes and the fundamental number (FN), 74. The X and the Y were the largest and the smallest chromosome, respectively. Large amounts of the constitutive heterochromatin marked by the C band were located in the centromeric region of all the acrocentric chromosomes. The first chromosome pair was not marked and the second and third pairs showed weak centromeric markings. The X chromosome showed two strong telomeric markings while the Y was C band negative. Chromosomes four and five were the NOR carriers. Polymorphism for this band was observed in pair four. The results of this study are in agreement with other reports in the literature, in spite of the different origin of the animals.

Molecular characterization and chromosomal localization of two families of satellite DNA in Prochilodus lineatus (Pisces, Prochilodontidae), a species with B chromosomes

Prochilodus lineatus, an abundant species in the Mogi-Guaçu river basin, represents a large part of the region's fishing potential. Karyotypic analyses based on classic cytogenetic techniques have revealed the presence of 54 metasubmetacentric type chromosomes, together with the occurrence of small supernumerary chromosomes with intra and interindividual variations. This paper describes the genomic organization of two families of satellite DNA in the P. lineatus genome. The chromosomal localization these two repetitive DNA families through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated that the SATH1 satellite DNA family, composed of approximately 900 bp, was located in the pericentromeric region of a group of chromosomes of the standard complement, as well as on all the B chromosomes. The SATH2 satellite family has a monomeric unit of 441 bp and was located in the pericentromeric regions of some chromosomes of the standard complement, but was absent in the B chromosomes. Double FISH analyses showed that these two families participate jointly in the pericentromeric organization of several chromosomes of this species. The data obtained in this study support the hypothesis that the B chromosomes derive from chromosomes of the standard complement, which are carriers of the SATH1 satellite DNA.

Associações de espécies de peixes em ambientes lóticos da bacia do rio Iguatemi, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul

The aim of this paper is to describe the patterns of associations between fish species and their distribution in lotic habitats at basin level. Samples were accomplished in 27 localities of Iguatemi river basin, distributed in four environments (Iguatemi river, Jogui river, Puitã river and streams). The presence/absence data of those species which occurred in 2 or more sites were submitted at multivariate methods with the aim to describe the major species associations. The species distribution was considered determinative in these communities (C-score = 17,33; P = 0,000), with significant difference among the studied environments (ANOSIM r = 0,082; P = 0,012), with verified difference between Iguatemi river and streams (P = 0,001) and also streams and Jogui river (P = 0,014). We verified a strong segregation among species from headstreams and more discharge river stretches or even larger streams.

Efeito da salinidade e do esgoto orgânico sobre a comunidade zooplanctônica, com ênfase nos copépodes, do estuário do rio Itanhaém, Estado de São Paulo

The objective of this work is to analyze the effects of salinity and wastewater on the zooplankton community of the Itanhaém river estuary, São Paulo state. Samples of zooplankton as well as physical and chemical variables of water were collected in four sites, located between the coastal line and the superior part of the estuary, including a secondary channel where wastewater is thrown without previous treatment. The samples were collected in low and high tide in winter and summer. Results showed that the estuary presents a temporal and spatial variation of physical and chemical characteristics, especially salinity, in function of the tide and seasonal variation of rain. The high values of salinity occurred in winter and high tide. Zooplankton community was adapted to the dynamic of salinity, and marine and estuarine species occurred in the low part of the estuary in winter. Although the Itanhaém river estuary has the same temporal and spatial dynamic of other estuaries, the values of salinity are low when compared with others located in the southern coast of São Paulo. Consequently, mainly oligohaline and fresh water species constitute the zooplankton community. These characteristics are due to the great drainage area of the Itanhaém river basin. The waste water modified physical and chemical characteristics of water that now presents higher concentrations of nutrients, higher values of suspended matter and lower concentrations of oxygen. It was observed a positive relation between the density of nauplii of copepods and organic pollution in this estuary.

Tolerância de perdas de solo na bacia do rio Itiquira, Mato Grosso, Brasil

The geographic area of the present study corresponds to the basin of the Itiquira river high course (Figure 1), in the portion that extends from the tributaries of its source, in the east of the plateau Correntes/Itiquira, in the neighbourhoods the city of Alto Garç as, to the scarp of the São Jerônimo mountain range, toward the west of Itiquira, in the state of Mato Grosso, totalizing 5,361 km 2. The area is placed in the eastern part of the Alto Paraguai basin, in the western portion of the Paraná Sedimentary Basin plateau. Through GIS techniques, it was possible to asses total soil losses from the Itiquira river basin, considering the years of 1966, 1985 and 1996, being based on the Universal Soil Loss Equation. Thus, in 1966 the basin lost 201,546.94 ton of soil, with an average loss of 0.37 ton/ha/year. Considering that the total area of the Itiquira river basin is of 536,100 ha, while in 1985 the soil losses had passed to 1,760,833.40 ton, with an increase of approximately 8.5 times. The average of soil losses in 1985 was of 3.28 ton/ha/year. In 1996 the basin lost 1,662,043.24 ton, with a reduction of only 9.4% in relation to 1985 but, in relation the 1966, the increase continued in the order of 8 times. The average losses per hectare in this year was in the order of 3.10 ton/ha/year (Chart 1). The map of potential of the laminar erosion for 1966 (Figure 3), shows to the highest values in small areas, situated in the northeast of the area, in Alto Garças, with values between 10 the 20 ton/ha/year and some spots in sources of the Itiquira and Ariranha rivers, with values between 1 the 5 ton/ha/year. In a general way, however, the area presents low soil loss for laminar erosion in this year, with inferior values to 1 ton/ha/year. The higher class of erosion, over 10 ton/ha/year, occupied 2,947 ha in 1966. In the year of 1985 (Figure 4), the erosive process spread over the entire studied area, and the class of erosion over of 10 ton/ha/year, already started to occupy 78,437 ha, implying an increase of approximately 27 times in 19 years. A strong increment in the erosive process was noticed in the western part of the area, to along the BR-163 road, exactly where great areas of natural vegetation (open pasture) had been transformed in culture and pasture areas. In the north-eastern part of the area it was also noticed an increment in the erosive process in agreement with the increase of culture areas and reduction of the natural areas, but it was not of so intense form as in the western portion of the area. In the year of 1996 (Figure 5), the class of erosion over of 10 ton/ha/year had diminished for a total of 53.499 ha noticing a retraction of the erosive process in the western part of the area, alongside the BR-163 road. On the other hand, it occurred a strong increment in the northern part of the area, in the neighbourhoods of the city of Alto Garças, alongside the BR-364 road and part of the MT-040 road. In a general way, in the outskirts of the city of Itiquira, in the central part of the area, it was verified an increase of the amount of zones with erosion between 0-1 ton/ha/year, passing to the immediately superior class, of 1-3 ton/ha/year; scarce data of hydrosedimentology in the UHE Itiquira (1999), shows good agreement with the values gotten for the EUPS (Chart 2). Based on the hydric classification proposal for FAO (1967) (Chart 3), it is noticed that areas with high degree of erosion (> 50) in the analysed area are very restricted, occupying 493 ha in 1985 and 332 ha in 1996 (Chart 4). In 1996 appeared as isolated spots in the north of Itiquira and Alto Garças, however beyond limits of the Itiquira river basin. These areas require special cares in its use as agricultural areas. Aiming at identifying and indicating the areas of potential risk of erosion and that need implementation of conservation practices, it was elaborated the map of limit of tolerance to the soil losses. In 1966 (Figure 6), areas with soil losses over of the tolerable were restricted to small spots located in the eastern part of the area, occupying 0.43% of the total of the area; already in 1985 (Figure 7), this percentage passed to 5.86%, spreading for all the area; in 1996 (Figure 8) it is observed a fast reduction of the areas with soil losses over of the tolerance limit, passing 5.43% of the total of the area. All the areas with losses over of the tolerable value must be considered as risk areas and were done in these areas studies for implementation of conservation practices.

Genetic conservation of Brazilian fishes - Present state and perspectives

Natural environments have been worldwide affected by the growing impact of anthropogenic actions that promote the reduction or the extinction of several vertebrate species. Aquatic ecosystems represent one of the most affected environments and many fish species and/or populations have been increasingly fragmented distributed due to habitat degradation, predatory fishing, introduction of exotic species, river sedimentation, deforestation, pollution, reduction of food resource, and construction of hydroelectric dams. Actually, more than 150 Brazilian fish species, including freshwater, estuary and coastal species, can be considered threatened. Information on the diversity, conservation biology and population analysis on threatened species or populations, with several DNA markers, can be extremely useful for the success of fish species-recovery and maintenance programs. Although DNA analysis in Neotropical fish species are just beginning, they tend to increase with the widespread attention to the use of molecular approaches to minimize problems related to the risk of extinction. The accumulation of information on biology and pattern of genetic variation of fish species, associated with ecological and demographic data, and also education and respect to the nature, constitutes a crucial task to develop efficient conservation strategies in order to preserve the genetic diversity in aquatic environments.

Organização das assembléias de peixes em riachos da bacia do rio Iguatemi, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul

Aiming to describe the patterns of the fish assemblages organization in streams of the Iguatemi River basin we sampled streams with seine nets and sieves from November/1999 to August/2000. We collected 567 individuals distributed in 24 species. We detected statistically significant influence of the streams characteristics upon species diversity. The species composition was hardly explained by the physical and chemical characteristics of the streams. Then we detected significant influence of the fish ecomorphology in the species occurrence (Mantel r = -0.34; P = 0.04), but not in the distribution of its abundance (Mantel r = -0.21; P = 0.07). We verified through the species co-occurrence index (C-score) that its composition in the studied streams is stochastic.

Transferênce de metais pesados, flúor e radionuclídeos para solos agrícolas na bacia do rio Corumbataí (SP)

The use of phosphate fertilizers and amendments in sugar cane crops may increase the concentration of some elements in soils, from where they would become available for plants (principally in acid soils) and transferred to me human food chain. This paper reports the transference of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), fluorine and radionuclides ( 238U, 234U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K) from phosphate fertilizers and amendments to agricultural soils at Corumbatal River basin (SP). The products utilized and colleted in sugar cane crops at Corumbatai River basin are: phosphate fertilizers NPK 5:25:25 (two samples), limestones (three samples), phosphogypsum (two samples) and KCl (two samples). The heavy metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), fluorine by potentiometry and radionuclides by alpha and gamma spectrometry. Heavy metals (17.8, 31.2, 75.2, 69.5, 138.8, 114.9 and 342.9 g/ha of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and F, respectively) and radionuclides (0.47, 0.16, 0.17 and 6.33 Bq/kg of soil to 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively) incorporated in phosphate fertilizers and amendments are annually added in the sugar cane crops, but if utilized in accordance with the recommended rates, they do not raise the concentration levels in soils up to hazards values.

Regional hydroclimatic variability and Brazil's 2001 energy crisis

Purpose - This paper seeks to address the issue of persistent and widespread drought conditions during 2000 and 2001, which were the apparent cause of the decline of water levels in the reservoirs of Brazilian hydroelectric power plants. Design/methodology/approach - This issue is addressed here through a case study of the hydroclimatology of the Paraíba river basin, in Southeast Brazil, home to four large multi-purpose operational reservoirs. Findings - The data analysis shows that neither changes in the frequency nor magnitude of extreme hydrological events (droughts and floods) nor in annual rainfall amounts can be detected from the existing climate record. The explanation is consistent with the fact that the terrestrial water and energy cycles are tightly, and non-linearly, coupled through evapotranspiration. Research limitations/implications - Therefore small change in the seasonality of rainfall can have a significant impact on the basin's overall hydrologic regime, and thus on the availability of water resources. Originality/value - Often, adaptation and resilience to climate variability are discussed in the context of catastrophic events such as floods and droughts. This study suggests that a different type of impacts, those associated with subtle, yet persistent changes of seasonality in the terrestrial water cycle, cannot be ignored in studies of long-term sustainability of water resources. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Cytogenetical analyses in three Astyanax scabripinnis populations (Pisces, Characidae) from Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Cytogenetical data in 3 populations of characid fish assigned to the complex of Astyanax scabripinnis from São Francisco river basin and Grande river basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, are presented for the first time. The same diploid number, 2n=50, was detected in the 3 populations, which has conspicuous differences involving karyotype morphology: 8M, 20SM, 6ST and 16A (Cambeba stream), 6M, 28SM, 6ST and 10A (Machado headwater), 6M, 24SM, 8ST and 12A (Pedra Branca stream). Differences involving amount and/or locations of heterochromatin blocks, number and position of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) and CMA3 positive signals were also observed. Some aspects related to the chromosome diversification of Astyanax scabripinnis are discussed. © 2007 The Japan Mendel Society.

Relação peso-comprimento e fator de condição de Salminus hilarii Valenciennes 1850 (Osteichthyes, Characidae) em um trecho da bacia do rio Sorocaba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The length-weight relationship and condition factor of Salminus hilarii were analyzed in a section of the lower part of the Sorocaba river basin, São Paulo State. By studying male, female and immature individuals separately, different length-weight patterns were found for each. The same happened when distinct seasonal variations of the relationships were compared, related to feeding alterations and to the reproductive period of the species.

Distribuição de cladóceros planctônicos (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) em um reservatório eutrófico raso (Paraná, Brasil)

This study focused the spatial and temporal distribution of the composition, abundance, and diversity of planktonic cladocerans from eutrophic, Iraí Reservoir, as well as their relationships with some biotic and abiotic variables. The tested hypothesis was that cladocerans present higher variation in a temporal than in a spatial scale. The samples were taken monthly in 6 stations, from March/02 to July/03. Twenty-four taxa were identified, distributed in 7 families, the richest families being Daphniidae (6 spp.), Chydoridae (6 spp.), and Bosminidae (5 spp.). The most frequent and abundant species were Bosmina hagmanni, Moina minuta, and Ceriodaphnia cornuta. The highest abundances were found in September/2002. Temporally, rainfall influenced organism's distribution, while spatially cladocerans were more affected by reservoir hydrodynamics and wind action. The low species richness could be a reflection of the trophic state of the reservoir, in which a dominance of Cyanobacteria was observed during that study period. Both scales showed high variation, but only the temporal scale showed significant difference to richness and abundance. Nearby the end of this study, higher stable values of species richness were recorded, which could suggest an increase in the water quality due to des-pollutions actions.

Análise morfotectônica da Bacia do rio Santo anastácio, sp, através de parâmetros fluviomorfométricos e de registros paleossísmicos

Fluvial morphometry is method of great value regarding neotectonic analysis of extensive areas because streams, besides representing one of the main agents in the relief modeling, quickly adjust their thalwegs to even the most gentle crustal deformations. The purpose of this paper is to present the application of some morphometric techniques in the Santo Anastácio River hydrographic basin in order to identify recent tectonic deformations. Additionally, we show liquefaction structures identified in the basin and interpreted here as seismites linked to ancient earthquakes (magnitudes greater than 5). The morphometric survey includes longitudinal stream profile analysis, RDE (declivity versus stream length) index application, and the sinuosity study of the Santo Anastácio River channel. Geologic substrate comprises Cretaceous siliciclastic rocks of the Caiuá and Bauru groups, locally covered by Cenozoic sediments (alluvial plains, terrace deposits, colluvial aprons, as well as in situ regoliths). Considering that liquefaction structures affect dark clay layers of 32.340±320 year BP age (14C dating), a lower age limit for the ancient earthquake is triggered in that region. The authors believe that neotectonic understanding of the Western São Paulo State Plateau is important to the geologic and geomorphologic evolution of that landscape and to the consequent territorial planning and occupation.

Grupo itararé (P - C da bacia do Paraná) nas regiões de Limeira e Piracicaba - SP: Contribuição ao estudo das litofácies

The Permian-Carboniferous Itararé Group is one complexe lithostratigraphic unit of the Paraná Basin, southeastern Brazil, typically marked by discontinuity of its lithofacies. Under the exploratory point of view, the unit represents one of the most significant intervals of the basin, since several occurrences of mineral and energetic resources are associated to it, as groundwater, petroleum and coal. The prospection and exploitation of these resources depend on a good understanding of the stratigraphic architecture and the paleogeography. There are many contributions on the specialized literature which deal with this subject, although the regions of Limeira and Piracicaba (superior portion of the unit) still lack new investigations, which may contribute to the understanding of its lithofacies and related sedimentary processes. It was analyzed the sedimentary sets pilling up, followed by stratigraphic correlations between the two regions. Moreover, from sedimentary structures, it was made paleocurrent measurement with the purpose of obtaining indicative patterns of the sedimentary polarity, contributing for the comprehension of the paleogeography. Recent studies in the Domo de Pitanga region (between Rio Claro and Piracicaba cities) and in the Corumbataí river drainage basin, were taken also as basis for possible correlations. It was obtained a frame of the lithofacies arrangement, their vertical and lateral relations, as well as their depositional polarities.

Perfil longitudinal e a aplicação do índice de gradiente (RDE) no rio dos Patos, bacia hidrográfica do rio Ivaí, PR

This paper presents the results of the longitudinal profile analysis and the application of gradient index (RDE) in the Patos River, a tributary of the Ivaí River basin, PR. The goal is identify and quantify the anomalous zones along river course concerning their genesis - activity neotectonic or/and lithological imposition. The Patos River has a length of 127 km and a relief amplitude of 660 m, The occurrence of an important knickpoint in the middle course the Patos River can be divided into two stretches. Of the 22 sections measured, 10 were considered anomalous, distributed in both upper and lower course. In the upper course, over a basaltic bedrock of the Serra Geral Formation the RDE values are lower than those in the lower course, where river flows over sedimentary rocks of the Terezina Formation. The 2 nd order anomalies are related to lithological changes, relief alignments and channel confluences - as in the case of São João River. The 1st order anomalies are linked to differences in rock resistance associated with structural control, which provides the formation of waterfalls.