The invasion of five alien species in the Delta do Parnaiba Environmental Protection Area, Northeastern Brazil

Marine biological invasions have been regarded as one of the major causes of native biodiversity loss, with shipping and aquaculture being the leading contributors for the introductions of alien species in aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, five aquatic alien species (one mollusk, three crustaceans and one fish species) were detected during dives, shore searches and from the fisheries on the coast of the Delta do Parnaiba Environmental Protection Area, in the States of Piaui and Maranhao, Northeastern Brazil. The species were the bicolor purse-oyster Isognomon bicolor, the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the Indo-Pacific swimming crab Charybdis hellerii and, the muzzled blenny Omobranchus punctatus. Ballast water (I. bicolor, C. hellerii, and O. punctatus) and aquaculture activities (L. vannamei and M. rosenbergii) in adjacent areas are the most likely vectors of introduction. All exotic species found have potential impact risks to the environment because they are able to compete against native species for resources (food and habitat). Isognomon bicolor share the same habitat and food items with the native bivalve species of mussels and barnacles. Litopenaeus vannamei share the same habitat and food items with the native penaeids such as the pinkspot shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis, the Southern brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus subtilis, and the Southern white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti, and in the past few years L. vannamei was responsible for a viral epidemics in the cultivation tanks that could be transmitted to native penaeid shrimps. Charybdis hellerii is also able to cause impacts on the local fisheries as the species can decrease the populations of native portunid crabs which are commercialized in the studied region. Macrobrachium rosenbergii may be sharing natural resources with the Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum. Omobranchus punctatus shares habit with the native redlip blenny Ophioblennius atlanticus and other fishes, such as the frillfin goby Bathigobius soporator. Some immediate remedial measures to prevent further introductions from ballast water and shrimp farm ponds should be: (i) to prevent the release of ballast water by ship/vessels in the region; (ii) to reroute all effluent waters from shrimp rearing facilities through an underground or above-ground dry well; (iii) to install adequate sand and gravel filter which will allow passage of water but not livestock; (iv) outdoor shrimp pounds located on floodable land should be diked, and; (v) to promote environmental awareness of those directly involved with ballast water (crews of ship/vessels) and shrimp farms in the region. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 909-923. Epub 2010 September 01.

Artificial neural networks: A novel approach to analysing the nutritional ecology of a blowfly species, Chrysomya megacephala

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

Biological cycle of Lorryia formosa (Acari, Tydeidae) on rubber tree leaves: A case of thelytoky

Lorryia formosa Cooreman has been collected on many different host plants around the world. The biological cycle of this species was studied at 28 degrees C with mites collected from a rubber tree crop. The life table was constructed based on sixty individuals. The average lifetime was 37.43 +/- 20.23 (SE) days, and the r(m) was 0.08. The sex ratio was totally female biased, and unfertilized eggs developed into females. This is the first record of thelytoky in Tydeoidea proved by rearing.

Larval competition for patchy resources in Chrysomya megacephala (Dipt., Calliphoridae): implications of the spatial distribution of immatures

In the present study, a single procedure was established to investigate the effect of the spatial distribution of immatures in patchy resources, on the outcome of larval competition for food. in experimental populations of Chrysomya megacephala. A theoretical model of intraspecific competition was extended and applied to experimental data on survival to adulthood for 20 larval densities, to obtain the theoretical mean number of individuals that will survive, considering a hypothetical previous random adult oviposition in a system of homogeneous patches. The survival curve obtained suggests that the larval competition for food in C. megacephala is of the scramble/exploitative type, which corroborates results from previous studies, although the latter did not consider the correlation between local and global abundances. The present model allows that experimental data could be perfectly applicable, and it incorporates fundamental assumptions about the spatial context of competition for patchy resources in blowflies, and may be applied to the optimization of mass rearing techniques and to the maintenance of insect colonies under experimental conditions.

The use of artificial neural networks in analysing the nutritional ecology of Chrysomya megacephala (F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), compared with a statistical model

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

Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity in Malpighian tubules of Triatoma infestans Klug

Mg2+-dependent ATPases were investigated in Malpighian tubules of the blood-sucking insect, Triatoma infestans, with cytochemical procedures for light and electron microscopy. The aim was to establish patterns of enzyme occurrence in the blood-sucking insect under control rearing conditions for further comparisons with animals subjected to the action of stress factors. Enzyme activity was found in laminated "concretions" present in distal cells, in edges of urate crystals at the lumen of the proximal region of tubules, in the basement membrane of proximal cells, and variously distributed in plasmalemma invaginations of both distal and proximal cells. Presence of ATPases in the "concretions" and urate crystals is presumed to be due to engulfment of other ATPase-containing components during formation of these structures. Cytochemical reactivity in the basement membrane and plasmalemma invaginations is assumed to be involved with active transport of waste molecules from and to hemolymph and differs as a function of the Malpighian tubule region. This paper provides a basic understanding of the enzyme occurrence in the blood sucking insects, and can be used as a pattern for comparative means of the staining patterns among Triatominae species. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Animal welfare concepts and strategy for poultry production: a review

Well being of animals had been historically a public concern, since the beginning of human kind history. As world's population grows there is a need for food including meat. In the last decades there has been a great improvement in poultry production based on the careful control of several aspects, among which nutrition and management (environment, health and rearing systems). Nowadays, the search for good welfare conditions is a global tendency in animal production; however issues surrounding farm animal welfare or well-being, such as definitions, measurements, interpretation, and perception, continue to be controversial. It is known that the result of a broiler not adequately housed is a direct loss in production which leads towards a thought that health, welfare and productivity are intimately connected. In the other hand hints are found in the observation of behavioral responses as well as vocalization, which may provide more precise assessment to welfare. This has been possible due to the use of information technology applied to the field of ethology as well as the multidisciplinary view of the problem. This text provides a review on broiler's welfare issues since its definition to several way of trying to assess it adequately.

Tolerance to the air exposition test of Hoplias lacerdae larvae and juvenile during its initial development

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Capacidade de colonização de Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) em cercas-vivas, quebra-ventos e plantas invasoras

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a capacidade de colonização do Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) em espécies de cercas-vivas, quebra-ventos e plantas invasoras mais freqüentes em pomares cítricos. O ensaio foi conduzido em laboratório e casa-de-vegetação, utilizando-se 11 espécies vegetais (tratamentos): Hibiscus sp., Malvaviscus mollis, Grevillea robusta, Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, Bixa orellana, Euphorbia splendens, Bidens pilosa, Commelina benghalensis, Sida cordifolia e Ageratum conyzoides e Citrus sinensis. Adotou-se o delineamento estatístico de blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. Para cada unidade experimental, constituída de uma planta envasada, foram transferidas 100 fêmeas de B. phoenicis provenientes de uma criação estoque. Decorridos 45 dias após a transferência dos ácaros para as plantas invasoras e 60 dias para as cercas-vivas e os quebra-ventos, estas tiveram suas folhas destacadas e seus ramos repicados para avaliação dos totais de estágios de desenvolvimento. Os dados relativos às contagens foram transformados em ln(x+5) e analisados pelo teste F. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (P < 0,05). As cercas-vivas e quebra-ventos mais favoráveis ao ácaro, em ordem decrescente, foram: M. mollis (6.342 ácaros), Hibiscus sp. (2.546), B. orellana (2.097), G. robusta (1.485) e M. caesalpiniaefolia (776). Nenhum ácaro foi encontrado em E. splendens. Com relação às plantas invasoras, foram: B. pilosa (2.238), C. benghalensis (920), S. cordifolia (738) e A. conyzoides (684). em C. sinensis foram contados 3.116 ácaros. Com exceção de E. splendens, todas as plantas mostraram-se favoráveis ao crescimento populacional de B. phoenicis. A presença destes nos pomares cítricos pode representar uma ameaça à cultura.

Perspectivas para a criação massal de Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma é um importante predador de Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) em citros no Brasil. O emprego de Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) como fonte de alimento para I. zuluagai em criações de laboratório foi investigado a 25,5 ± 0,5ºC, 88 ± 7% UR e fotofase de 12h. Inicialmente os níveis de oviposição do predador alimentado com ovos, estágios pós-embrionários mortos ou estágios pós-embrionários vivos de T. putrescentiae foram avaliados durante 10 dias. A taxa diária de oviposição foi de 1,3 ovo/ fêmea quando estas foram alimentadas com ovos de T. putrecentiae; 0,7 ovo/ fêmea quando estas foram alimentadas com estágios pós-embrionários mortos e cerca de 0,2 ovo/ fêmea quando alimentadas com estágios pós-embrionários vivos. Posteriormente, elaborou-se a tabela de vida de I. zuluagai, oferecendo-se como alimento ovos de T. putrescentiae. Os estágios imaturos foram observados a cada 8h, para determinar a duração correspondente. Na fase adulta, os ácaros foram observados a cada 24h, para se determinar os parâmetros reprodutivos. A capacidade de aumento populacional (r m) foi de 0,11 fêmea/ fêmea/ dia; resultando em uma razão finita de aumento de 1,11 (l). A taxa líquida de reprodução (R0) foi de 7,1 fêmeas/geração, com um tempo de geração de 18,6 dias. Os resultados obtidos mostram que T. putrescentiae é uma fonte de alimento favorável ao desenvolvimento de I. zuluagai.

Reproductive behavior and parental roles of the cichlid fish Laetacara araguaiae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Survival of Ucides cordatus (Decapoda: Ocypodidae) megalopae during transport under different conditions of density and duration

Target areas for Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) restocking programs are often located far from the laboratory where larval rearing is developed. During translocation, the larvae are submitted to highly stressful conditions due to handling, packing, and transport activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the mortality rates of U. cordatus megalopae caused by different transportation procedures. Megalopae at loading densities of 50, 150, and 300 ind.L-1 were packed in double polyethylene 12 x 25 cm plastic bags with 200 ml of marine water at salinity 30. The bags were filled with oxygen at a proportion of 1:2 parts of water and sealed tightly. The trepidations during transport were simulated by the use of a shaker device (800 vibrations/minute) over periods of three and six hours inside a dark container. The survivorship rates of larvae after simulation were compared to those obtained in control groups, which consisted of plastic vials with megalopae at a loading density of 50 ind.L-1 maintained at rest. Immediately after the two transport simulations, there was no significant difference in survivorship between the treatments and the control. However, 24 hours after simulation some of the tested densities resulted in significantly lower survivorships. The results demonstrated that U. cordatus megalopae can tolerate six hours of shaking during transportation, at high densities with minimal mortality.

Image analysis for assessing broiler breeder behavior response to thermal environment

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

Colheita de sêmen por eletroejaculação em cutia-parda (Dasyprocta azarae)

As cutias são animais que vivem nas Américas Central e do Sul, com potencial zootécnico e que despertam crescente interesse científico. O objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer um padrão para colheita de sêmen por eletroejaculação em cutia-parda (Dasyprocta azarae). Foram utilizados machos adultos (n=4) anestesiados e submetidos a quatro séries de 20 estímulos eletroejaculatórios, com 3 segundos de duração cada, com uma intensidade de 2, 4, 6 e 8 volts, com dois minutos de intervalo entre cada série. A colheita de sêmen foi obtida em todos os animais, com ereção parcial com 2 volts, ereção evidente com 4 volts, ejaculação com 6 volts e exacerbação da glande e exteriorização das espículas penianas com 8 volts, observando-se espermatozoides em 100% das amostras. A técnica descrita para colheita de sêmen em cutia-parda foi eficaz.

On the development of the brown spider Loxosceles gaucho Gertsch (Araneae, Sicariidae): the nympho-imaginal period

Observations of the developmental biology of Loxosceles gaucho Gertsch, 1967, the brown spider of southeastern Brazil are scarce. The present study reports the method of individualized rearing of 18 populations of L. gaucho, kept in laboratory under varied diet conditions, and characterizes their nympho-imaginal period as well as factors related to their reproduction. Females built the first egg sac about 20 days after copulation and nymphs hatched 40 days after the laying date. Average offspring was 61.3 spiderlings and females usually built three to four successive egg sacs in a period of five to seven months. First nymphs initiated their predatory activity between the 5th and 8th days after hatching and the majority reached adulthood within six moults (range of five to eight) in approximately 15 to 17 months (male) and 15.5 to 18 months (female). The average sex ratio equaled 1.0:1.7 (male:female). The wide individual variability of this species intermoult intervals is herewith expressed by the intermoult rate, which was fairly uniform for both intra and interpopulations and gives a relevant aspect for a general idea of the life cycles of spiders.