Uma nova espécie de Crossodactylus da Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brasil (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae)

Crossodactylus bokermanni, sp. n., is described from Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brasil. The new species is characterized by the small size (20-27 mm), slender build, long legs, narrow head, long and acuminate snout, rounded but fairly defined canthus rostralis, and small tympanum. Also, notes on its habits are made and its tadpole is described.

Boracéia Biological Station: an ornithological review

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização anatômica foliar para 14 espécies de Xyris L. (Xyridaceae) da Serra do Cipó, MG, Brasil

As folhas de X. anamariae, X. archeri, X. hymenachne, X. melanopoda, X. minarum, X. obcordata, X. paraensis, X. pilosa, X. platystachia, X. pterygoblephara, X. savanensis, X. spinulosa, X. tortilis e X. tortula, foram preparadas segundo técnicas usuais para estudos anatômicos. A análise comparativa, da região basal desses órgãos, mostrou diferenças na estrutura da epiderme, na organização do mesofilo e no número e grau de agrupamento dos feixes vasculares, dependendo da espécie considerada. Esses aspectos foram utilizados na caracterização de cada representante estudado e, analisados em conjunto para indicar formas diferentes de especialização foliar, relacionadas à deficiência hídrica.

Anatomia dos órgãos vegetativos e do escapo floral de Leiothrix crassifolia (Bong.) Ruhl., Eriocaulaceae, da Serra do Cipó-MG

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Identificação de regiões pluviometricamente homogêneas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, utilizando-se valores mensais

O objetivo deste trabalho é dar uma contribuição ao estudo das condições climáticas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, visando a uma melhor Classificação Climática por meio da identificação de regiões homogêneas em precipitação. Para isto foram utilizadas médias mensais da precipitação de 48 estações meteorológicas, em um período de 30 anos (1971-2000). A análise hierárquica de agrupamento, a orografia e a proximidade do mar, mostraram que o Estado do Rio de Janeiro pode ser dividido, quanto à precipitação, em seis regiões pluviometricamente homogêneas o que possibilitou classificar as estações meteorológicas pelo método de classificação não hierárquica k-means. A região norte do Estado, com precipitações anuais em torno de 870 mm é a mais seca, e a região da encosta sul da Serra do Mar, com 2020 mm, é a mais chuvosa. Mas, em ambas as regiões, os valores da precipitação da estação chuvosa representam em torno de 70% dos totais anuais.

Estudo do mecanismo de corrosão por pites em água do mar de aços inoxidáveis supermartensíticos microligados com Nb e Ti

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Simulação do saldo de radiação na Serra da Mantiqueira

A influência do desmatamento da Mata Atlântica sobre o microclima da Serra da Mantiqueira ainda não é totalmente compreendida. Para conhecer as consequências do desmatamento sobre o clima serrano é necessário realizar estudos sobre o balanço de radiação na superfície. A falta de dados possibilita conjugar imagens de satélite com dados meteorológicos em um Sistema de Informação Geográfica na determinação do balanço de radiação. O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o modelo MTCLIM em dias de céu claro ou nublado para simular o balanço de radiação na Serra da Mantiqueira, divisa entre os estados de São Paulo, Minas Gerais e Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Imagens diárias, semanais e dezesseis dias do sensor MODIS disponíveis em 2003 foram utilizadas em rotinas específicas do MTCLIM. Alvos específicos foram selecionados para avaliar o comportamento do balanço de radiação. Observou-se que o balanço de radiação acompanhou a topografia local e é influenciado pelo tipo de uso da terra. Conclui-se que a temperatura da superfície contribui para aumentar a temperatura do ar implicando em diminuição do balanço de radiação sobre pastagem. O modelo MTCLIM demonstrou boa correlação para a temperatura do ar (R² = 0,82) e para a radiação solar global (R² = 0,71).

New record of Rhagomys rufescens (Thomas 1886) (Rodentia : Muridae : Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil

Rhagomys rufescens is a threatened Sigmodontinae rodent from the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil, known by a few specimens deposited in scientific collections. This work presents a new record of this species, collected in Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar-Nucleo Picinguaba (Ubatuba, SP) in April 2002, and some biological data. This finding reinforces the urgency of improving collecting efforts in Atlantic forest, in order to know and preserve its biodiversity.

Bird species distribution and conservation in Serra do Cipo, Minas Gerais, Brazil

We studied the distribution of birds along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 800 m to 1,400 m on two slopes of the Serra do Cip6, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Ornithological surveys were conducted over transects covering open (cerrado, campo rupestre) and forested (gallery and Atlantic forest) habitats from 1994 to 2000. We found 273 bird species belonging to 51 families. Twenty-two species were restricted to higher elevations and 84 Species were detected on only one slope, depending on the vegetation type they inhabited. We recorded 104 species occurring on both slopes, while 61 species were considered altitudinal generalists. Six species, including Hyacinth Visorbearer Augastes scutatus and Cip6 Canastero Asthenes luizae were restricted to the highest parts of Serra do Cip6, a fragile habitat important to endemic birds of the Espinhaco Range. In the past 10 years, the Serra do Cip6 region has suffered human impacts on a large scale, and conservation action must be developed to protect the fauna and flora confined to the area.

Spatial patterns or trees in the Picinguara coastal sandy forest (state of Sao-Paulo, Brazil)

The species of the sandy plains forests (forests of the ''restingas'') have not yet had their spatial patterns studied as aids to the understanding of the diversity found in the different physiognomies along the Brazilian coast. In this paper a 10 x 10 m quadrat framework laid in a hectare of a tree dominant forest in the sandy plains of the Picinguaba area of the Serra do Mar State Park (municipality of Ubatuba, state of São Paulo, Brazil) was used to assess the spatial pattern of distribution for the ten most important species : Pera glabrata, Euterpe edulis, Eugenia brasiliensis, Alchornea triplinervea, Guatteria australis, Myrcia racemosa, Jacaranda semiserrata, Guarea macrophylla, Euplassa cantareirae and Nectandra oppositifolia. The spatial patterns were inferred through the calculations of their T-Square Index (C) and Dispersal Distance Index (I). P. glabrata shows a random pattern, E. edulis aggregate, E. brasiliensis, A. triplinervia, G. australis, E. cantareirae and N. oppositifolia with a tendency between aggregate and uniform and, M. racemosa, J. semiserrata and G. macrophylla between aggregate and random. Although the indexes are dependent of the sample size and of the technique adjustments, the relationship of the pattern with the environmental factors is shown by clustering methods. The results give confirmation of how the spatial patterns bring associations between populations and shape of the vegetation physiognomy.

Morpho-anatomical aspects of Paepalanthus hilairei Koern (Eriocaulaceae) from Serra do Cipo MG

The morphological characteristics of seedlings and the anatomical characteristics of vegetative organs and floral scape of P. hilairei (Eriocaulaceae) were analyzed to investigate the ecological and taxonomic implications for the species. P. hilairei is a perennial plant with an aerial stem and it grows in recently decomposed stony, sandy soils of the Serra do Cipo, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is found both on wet and dry soils, exposed to constant winds, high light intensities and extreme daily fluctuations of temperature. The results show that the seeds have operculum and the initial seedling development stages are the same for other Eriocaulaceae. During the germination period, the undifferentiated axis of the embryo becomes apparent. The observation of the development of this axis, shows first, the growth of the leaves and later that of the adventitious root. Attention is focused on the apical stem region which presents sterelis lateral branching with adventitious roots in its base which will develop into paraclades (system of florescences). Both of them rise out of the pericycle and characterize its vegetative growth. The occurrence of a special leaf substomatal chamber may be related to an efficient protection for the gaseous exchange and may be considered an important characteristic of the Eriocaulaceae.

Consolidation and break-up of the South American platform in southeastern Brazil: Tectonothermal and denudation histories

The different tectonic stages that occurred at the end of the Proterozoic and during the Phanerozoic have an important bearing on the tectonothermal history of the South American Platform and its consolidation. Geochronological data (U/Pb monazite, Ar-40/Ar-39 whole rock) and apatite fission-track analysis, from Precambrian rocks of the southeastern Brazilian coastline, permit the modeling of a long-term thermal history of the crust and constrain variable denudation rates.Using these data, a temperature-time diagram reflects a period of accelerated exhumation during the end of the Brasiliano Orogeny, followed by long stability and reactivation of the platform during the Rifting Phase of the South Atlantic Ocean.U/Pb zircon and monazite (blocking temperature of ca. 650degreesC) data from a series of igneous bodies suggest that a tangential and transpressional tectonic regime occurred between 625 and 610 Ma. During the following escape tectonics, between 610 and 590 Ma the exhumation process indicates cooling rates of ca. 12degreesC/Ma. Ar-40/Ar-39 biotite ages between 540 and 510 Ma (ca. 300degreesC) and a corrected fission-track age on apatites (100degreesC) of 480 Ma indicate an exhumation event related to block tectonics with huge vertical displacement along shear zones.A long stabilization phase, with low exhumation, and cooling rate around 0.25degreesC/Ma was recorded from the Cambro/Ordovician to the Mesozoic. At 65 Ma an acceleration of the exhumation through denudation and reworking of the South American surface with cooling rate of 1.5degreesC/Ma is observed.The uplift of the Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar mountain ranges along the southeast Brazilian coastline works as a climatic barrier provoking lateral erosional processes causing long-term scarp retreat, combined with intense, but progressive denudation towards the continent. A denudation of 2.5 to 4 km was calculated for such processes. This lateral retreat of escarpments and flexural response can provide important insights regarding marginal isostatic uplift and the evolution of offshore sedimentary basins of southeast Brazil.

Phenological aspects of Syngonanthus elegans (Bong.) Ruhl. (Eriocaulaceae) from Serra do Cipo - MG. Brazil

S. elegans (Eriocaulaceae) is known in Brazil as star flower and is used economically for ornamental purposes. The fact that there is no control over its collection, brings about great damage to its population. Thus the importance of phenologic data for the conservation of the species. This paper reports the marking of 60 individuals in three different phases of development and the collection of monthly data about their phenology. S. elegans is a perennial plant with a rhizomatous stem that characterizes its vegetative growth. The pubescent leaves present in plants can prevent heat loss and their pigments can raise the ultra-violet radiation absorption. The young leaves present in plants during the begining of the dry season use rhizome reserves. Hydric scarcity may be the main reason for the mortality of the species. Vegetative growth and sexual reproduction are very important for the population's survival.,The blooming period in S. elegans occurs from om February to July and the dispersal of seeds occurs from August to December.

Visual communication in Brazilian species of anurans from the Atlantic forest

Visual communication is widespread among several anuran families, but seems to be more common than currently thought. We investigated and compared visual communication in six species of an anuran community in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Four are nocturnal species: Hyalinobatrachium uranoscopum (Centrolenidae), Hyla albomarginata, Hyla sp. (aff. ehrhardti), and Scinax eurydice (Hylidae), and two are diurnal species: Hylodes phyllodes and Hylodes asper ( Leptodactylidae). For H. uranoscopum, H. albomarginata, S. eurydice, and H. phyllodes, this is the first record of visual communication. Observations were made at Nucleo Picinguaba, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, in the Municipality of Ubatuba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Descriptions of behaviour were based on individuals observed in the field, using sequence sampling with continuous tape recording for behavioural observations. Eight new behaviours are described: body wiping, face wiping, jump display, leg kicking, limb lifting, mouth opening, toe flagging, and vocal sac display. of the 42 anuran species known from Nucleo Picinguaba, at least six ( approximately 14%) display visual communication. The evolution of visual signals in these species may be related to the availability of ambient light, the structural complexity of the habitat, and/or the ambient noise. They may also have evolved to aid in the location of the individual, to avoid physical combat, and/or may be a by-product of seismic communication.

Distribution of the orchid species in the coastal plains of the fazenda beach, municipality of ubatuba, state of sao-paulo, brazil

A floristic survey for the family Orchidaceae was undertaken in a coastal forest area of ca. 8 km2 in the Picinguaba Development Center of the Serra do Mar State Park, in the municipality of Ubatuba, Brazil. The sampling used all tracks and roads of the area, up to the altitude of 50 m.s.m. and resulted in 77 species distributed in 45 genera. The spacial distribution of the species was plotted in maps of the nine physiognomical units identified for the area, based on 1:8.000 and 1:25.000 aerial photographs, and field observations. The results are shown in 1:10.000 topographic charts. Ninety percent of the species occur in at least 3 physiognomical units while 60% only occurred in a single unit, what indicates that the orchids can be used to characterize the vegetation even in large scales.