THERMAL REGIME AND STABILITY OF JURUMIRIM RESERVOIR (PARANAPANEMA RIVER, SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL)

Thermal regime and stability in Jurumirim Reservoir (São Paulo, Brazil) were studied for a year. Isothermy and thermal stratification were observed from June to September and from October to March, respectively. The annual heat budget was 14.0 Kcal . cm-2 and average heat gain per day was 67.2 cal . cm-2 . day-1. Maximum stability and wind work reached 324.2 and 3,037.5 g . cm . cm-2, respectively. According to thermal structure and heat content, Jurumirim Reservoir was classified as a warm tropical monomictic lake.

ENHANCEMENT OF U-234 IN SPRINGWATERS OF AGUAS-DA-PRATA, SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

Springwater samples were collected at Aguas da Prata, an important spa in São Paulo State, Brazil. The U-238 and U-234 isotopes were evaluated for Platina, Paiol, Villela, Prata-Radioativa, Prata-Nova, Boi, Vitoria, and Prata-Antiga springs. An inverse logarithmic correlation was found between U-234/U-238 activity ratio and Rn-222 content of the studied waters, which was related to different solution mechanisms of Rn-222 and U-234 nuclides at the rock-water interface. A linear correlation also exists between the U-234/U-238 activity ratios of the studied waters and total dissolved solids, ionic strength, CO2 partial pressure, and index of base exchange, which indicates that the enhancement of U-234 in solution increases with the degree of weathering in the aquifers, A higher U-234/U-238 activity ratio was found to be directly related to a higher value of dissolution rate.

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.

SPECIES OF COCCIDIA OCCURRING IN LAMBS IN SAO-PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

The purpose of this experiment was to characterize the species of Eimeria affecting lambs and their infection pattern. Faecal samples were collected from each animal at 14-day intervals, beginning when lambs were 2 weeks old and ending when they were 32 weeks old. The oocysts were counted and identified as E. intricata, E. parva, E. pallida, E. crandallis, E. bakuensis, E. weybridgensis, E. ahsata and E. ovinoidalis. The highest oocyst counts were observed when the lambs were 4-8 weeks old.

Integrated assessment of multilevel biomarker responses and chemical analysis in Mussels from Sao Sebastiao, São Paulo, Brazil

The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of contaminants in the mussel Perna perna from Sao Sebastiao Channel, São Paulo, Brazil, and to evaluate the effects of these contaminants on these organisms at biochemical (catalase [CAT], glutathione-S-transferase [GST], and cholinesterase [ChE]), cellular (neutral red retention time [NRRT] assay), and physiological (cardiac monitoring) levels. Two sampling surveys were performed (winter of 2001 and summer of 2002) at six stations along the channel: Cigarras, station 1; late Clube de Ilhabela, station 2; Oil Terminal, station 3; Toque Toque, station 4; Ponta da Sela, station 5 (reference station); and Taubate, station 6. Differences in CAT activity were observed between mussels from stations 3 and 5 during the winter, but no differences were detected in the summer. No differences in GST activity were found among stations during the winter, although animals from station 3 showed higher activity during the summer. The ChE activity was significantly higher in the mussels from stations I and 2 during the winter and from stations I and 3 during the summer. Organisms from stations I through 4 showed statistically lower NRRT in both seasons. Similar heart rates were observed in the mussels from all stations. Hydrocarbons were detected in organisms from all the stations in both seasons. During the winter, higher polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels were observed in organisms from station 3, whereas during the summer, higher levels of metals were found in organisms from stations 1, 3, and 4. The multivariate analyses showed a strong influence of PAHs on the winter biological results, but metals showed higher influence on these responses in the summer, indicating multiple contaminant sources.

SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF MACROALGAL COMMUNITIES IN THE PRETO RIVER BASIN, SAO-PAULO, SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Macroalgal seasonality was analyzed in nine stream segments of the Preto River basin: five of these were sampled monthly for one year and four bimonthly during two years. Seasonal variation of macroalgae was correlated with stream variables (temperature, current velocity, specific conductance, turbidity, surface light, pH and oxygen). Multiple linear regression was applied to evaluate the macroalgal seasonal variability determined by a combination of temperature, current velocity and turbidity, the most influential environmental parameters on macroalgal seasonality. Most species revealed a clear seasonal trend, such that late fall through early spring was the period with highest macroalgal abundance in most sites. Temperature, current velocity and turbidity account for 24 to 83 % of macroalgal species number variation and 24 to 79 % of macroalgal abundance in the basin. The results suggest that the seasonal flow determined by the precipitation regime associated with turbidity and temperature were the major factors influencing the seasonal dynamics of macroalgal communities. The highest values of macroalgal species number and abundance were found under cooler temperatures, lower current velocities and lower values of turbidity.

POPULATION-BASED INCIDENCE OF IDDM IN THE STATE OF SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

OBJECTIVE- To study the incidence of IDDM among children, infants to 14 yr of age, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, 1987-1991.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A prospective population-based register was established, using physician reports of newly diagnosed IDDM patients < 15 yr of age as the primary source of case identification and school surveys as the main secondary source. Data were collected according to the methods recommended by the Diabetes Epidemiology Research International group.RESULTS - Case ascertainment was estimated at 95.0, 92.8, and 98.8% complete for each of the three cities studied. The average annual IDDM incidence was 7.6/100,000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval, 5.6-9.7). We found a higher incidence rate in girls than boys.CONCLUSIONS - the incidence of childhood IDDM in a tropical region in South America (São Paulo, Brazil) is in the middle incidence range observed in developed countries throughout the world. Increased incidence of IDDM in girls compared with boys will be tested by the ongoing Brazilian incidence study being developed in 18 other centers across the country.