Evaluation of Cu, Mn, and Se in Vegetables Using Ultrasonic Extraction and GFAAS Quantification

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

Detection of porcine circovirus genotypes 2a and 2b in aborted foetuses from infected swine herds in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

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

Hemoparasites of the genus Trypanosoma (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) and hemogregarines in Anurans of the São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul States - Brazil

Os animais silvestres estão expostos a inúmeros patógenos,dentre eles estão os hemoparasitas. Podem-se destacar espécies do gênero Trypanosoma e do grupo das hemogregarinas,que ocorrem com freqüência parasitando anuros (rãs, pererecas e sapos). Normalmente, a descrição destes hemoparasitas é feita através da morfologia dos estágios observados nosangue periférico do hospedeiro e as pesquisas sobre o ciclobiológico desses hemoparasitas são escassas. Os objetivos dopresente estudo foram avaliar a presença de hemogregarinas eTrypanosoma spp. em anuros capturados nos Estados de São Paulo e Mato Grosso do Sul e fazer a caracterização morfológica e morfométrica dos seus hemoparasitas. As espécies deanuros examinadas foram: Dendropsophus nanus, D. minutus, Leptodactylus chaquensis, L. podicipinus, L. labyrinthicus, L. fuscus, Bufo granulosus, B. schneideri, Phyllomedusahypocondrialis, Trachicephalus venulosus, Scinax fuscovarius e Hypsiboas albopunctatus. Dos 40 animais estudados, foramencontrados quatro (10%) positivos para hemogregarinas e oito(20%) positivos para Trypanosoma spp. Foram observadosgamontes de hemogregarinas com morfologia variável e, alémdas formas intraeritrocíticas, também foram observados gamontes fora das hemácias. As formas de Trypanosoma encontradas eram muito polimórficas, conforme é descrito na literatura, sendo na sua maioria, larga e oval.

Ecological distribution and reproductive period of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Anomura, Diogenidae) on the northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil

The present study aimed to determine the ecological distribution of Loxopagurus loxochelis as a function of selected environmental factors, as well as its reproductive period based on the combined analysis of the presence of ovigerous females and the development of the gonad. The collections were carried out monthly from January to December 2000 in the region of Ubatuba (SP), using a fishing boat equipped with two double rig nets, in isobaths of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 m, at which depths samples of sediment and water were collected. The cephalothoracic shield length and sex of the animals were determined; the abdomen was dissected to verify gonad development stages. A total of 334 individuals was obtained ( 196 males, 48 ovigerous females and 90 non-ovigerous females) with sizes varying from 3.0 to 8.6 mm (5.7 +/- 1.0 mm). A greater abundance of L. loxochelis (95.2%) was observed at depths of 20 and 25 m. These sites mainly revealed a substratum stable with a very fine sand fraction, which facilitates the habit of embedding shown by this hermit. With regard to gonadal analysis, it was possible to classify four gonad development stages for each sex: immature, rudimentary, developing and developed. It was observed that in the winter months about 71% of the females had gonads either developing or developed and 67% were ovigerous. Therefore, the winter period can be considered the peak of reproduction for this species, characterizing a typical seasonal-continuous reproduction.

Biological parameters and population structure of Psammobatis extenta in Ubatuba region, north coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Specimens of the zipper sand skate Psammobatis extenta were collected in the region of Ubatuba off the northern coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, monthly for once year (January - December 2000), at 25- to 40-m isobaths. A total of 123 individuals were caught. The total length (TL) of females averaged 224.6 mm, and of males 217 mm. The overall sex ratio was 1:1. Analysis of the length-weight relationship indicated the existence of positive allometry in females, and isometry in males. The length at onset of sexual maturity was determined for both sexes; females reached sexual maturity at smaller sizes than males (TL50 = 230.7 and TL50 = 237.7 mm respectively). Females showed functional parity of both ovaries and uteri. Females that were pregnant or were carrying vitellogenic oocytes were observed during nine of 12 months of the survey, indicating a continuous reproductive cycle. Psammobatis extenta was most abundant from January to April, and again from June to October. Most individuals were collected at the 40-m isobath. Both adults and neonates were collected in the study area. However, adolescent skates were scarce, which either indicates differential occupation of the area, or suggests that the shallow waters of the continental shelf are used as breeding grounds.

Abundance and ecologic distribution of the shrimp Rimapenaeus constrictus (Crustacea : Penaeidae) on the northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil

The abundance and ecologic distribution of the shrimp R. constrictus were compared among three different embayments within the northern coast of São Paulo State (23degreesS, 45degreesW); i.e. Mar Virado (MV), Ubatuba (UBA) and Ubatumirim (UBM). Key environmental factors were monitored for a better understanding of the distributional patterns of this species, namely temperature, salinity, depth, organic matter content and texture of sediments. In each bay, six transects were delimited, four parallel to the coastline and the other two in areas adjacent to rocky shores. Monthly samples were taken over a 2-year period (1998 and 1999), using a shrimp fishing boat equipped with double-rig nets. Abundance data were treated separately according to environmental characteristics. A total of 4978 specimens was obtained; 921 at MV, 1948 at UBA and 2109 at UBM. The spatial distribution of R. constrictus differed among bays. Higher abundance values were recorded at areas where silt and clay comprised less than 70% of the sediment. A more diversified sediment at UBM and UBA apparently favours the establishment of this species in the region. Its abundance also followed a seasonal trend, higher during spring and summer when intrusions of cold South Atlantic Coastal Waters (SACW) are frequent, promoting the migration of this shrimp to more sheltered areas. These results suggest that sediment type and temperature are the most important variables affecting the spatial and seasonal distribution of this species.

Population structure and breeding period of Pachycheles monilifer (Dana) (Anomura, Porcellanidae) inhabiting sabellariid sand reefs from the littoral coast of São Paulo State, Brazil

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

Abundance and distribution of juvenile pink shrimps Farfantepenaeus spp. in a mangrove estuary and adjacent bay on the northern shore of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil

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

Diel comparison of the catch and size of the shrimp artemesia longinaris (dendrobranchiata, penaeidae) in the ubatuba region, northern coast of the state of São Paulo

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

Intraspecific variability of flavonoid glycosides and styrylpyrones from leaves of Cryptocarya mandioccana Meisner (Lauraceae)

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

Primary production of Utricularia foliosa L., Egeria densa Planchon and Cabomba furcata Schult & Schult.f from rivers of the coastal plain of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Seasonal variation in gross primary production (GPP) of Utricularia foliosa Linnaeus, Egeria densa Planchon and Cabomba furcata Schult & Schult.f. in rivers of the coastal plain of the state of São Paulo, Brazil was examined in relation to water physico-chemistry. These three species do not affect the multiple uses of the streams and are present throughout the year. The most productive was U. foliosa (maximum production 24.7 mgO(2) g(-1) DW h(-1)), while C. furcata had an intermediate GPP (maximum production 17.5 mgO(2) g(-1) DW h(-1)) and E. densa was lowest at 5.6 mgO(2) g(-1) DW h(-1). Despite the low amplitude of seasonal variation in this south tropical area, the three species showed seasonal variation in the primary production: GPP was positively correlated with photosynthetic active radiation for U. foliosa and E. densa, and there was a negative correlation for C. furcata. For U. foliosa, GPP was positively correlated with temperature and dissolved inorganic carbon and the GPP of C. jurcata was positively correlated with dissolved inorganic carbon.

Levels of persistent organic pollutants and residual pattern of DDTs in small cetaceans from the coast of São Paulo, Brazil

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

Fish, Mogi Guacu reservoir and four oxbow lakes, state of São Paulo, Brazil.

The Mogi Guacu River is one of the largest rivers in state of São Paulo, belonging to Parana hydrographic system. A study about fish composition in the Mogi Guacu reservoir and four oxbow lakes downstream the reservoir is showed. A total of 2,367 individuals from six orders, 17 families, and 46 species were collected during August 2005 to July 2006, using gillnets, traps and hand nets. In the reservoir were found 31 species and in the oxbow lakes 24, in which Curimatidae and Characidae were the most abundant families, respectively.