Uma Nova Abordagem do Ciclo Reprodutivo dos Machos e Fêmeas, e da Origem e Desenvolvimento dos Oócitos dos Ostariophysi e Perciformes Neotropicais Aplicada a Representantes da Série Otophysi, Gymnotus sp. (Gymnotidae), Hoplias Malabaricus (Erythrinidae), Sorubim Lima (Pimelodidae) e Tanichthys Albonubes (Cyprinidae), e dos Perciformes, Cichla Temensis (Cichlidae)

Nos peixes, durante a vida reprodutiva o desenvolvimento gonadal é cíclico e anual. As alterações estruturais das gônadas de machos e fêmeas provêm parâmetros úteis para a sua classificação macroscópica e microscópica. Porém, o desenvolvimento das células germinativas, nem sempre é consoante com os diferentes tipos de classificação e, machos e fêmeas nem sempre parecem concatenados. Neste estudo, aplicando-se propostas recentes, utilizadas primariamente para peixes derivados, notadamente os Perciformes marinhos, e tomando como modelo experimental representantes da série Otophysi, Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes), Tanichthys albonubes (Cypriniformes), Sorubim lima (Siluriformes) e Gymnotus sp. (Gymnotiformes), e dos Perciformes Neotropicais, Cichla temensis, foram descritos, comparativamente, os eventos iniciais da oogênese e da espermatogênese, assim como o desenvolvimento oocitário a fim de traçar um paralelo entre grupos basais e derivados. A partir dos resultados, verificou-se que a maioria dos eventos morfológicos durante o desenvolvimento oocitário é similar entre grupos basais e derivados. Os Perciformes de água doce divergem dos grupos basais por duas características: a presença de inclusões lipídicas, que surgem no citoplasma perinuclear após o início da formação dos alvéolos corticais e deposição de vitelo e por uma tênue proteólise do vitelo durante a maturação final. A foliculogênese e espermatogênese não apresentam divergências e parecem ser processos conservados entre os Teleostei. Durante a fase de Regeneração, os eventos iniciais desses processos em fêmeas e machos, respectivamente, são responsáveis por altos índices de proliferação das células germinativas, quando comparado às demais fases. Além disso, analisou-se ...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Toxicidade de petróleo bruto sobre microcrustáceo Daphnia similis em água de rio e água de produção de petróleo

Aquatic ecosystems are suffering many impacts caused by human activities resulting from the activities occurring around them. With technological progress observed in recent years, this environment has received large amounts of chemicals from industries, agriculture and urban area that affect the aquatic biota. Among these sources of contamination, the oil industry has contributed to the pollution of aquatic environments with both effluents as produced water well as oil spills and their derivatives having toxicity to various organisms. With all the environmental issues has increased concern about water quality and has been used ecotoxicological tests with aquatic organisms to ecosystems to assess the toxicity of chemicals present in the water. In this context the microcrustacea Daphnia similis stands out as a freshwater organism very representative of the aquatic fauna of rivers and high sensitivity to environmental impacts. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the lethal toxicity of crude oil and produced water on this microcrustacea. The results showed that the microcrustacea presented high sensitivity to contaminants primarily crude oil. There was also the influence of environmental variables pH and temperature on the survival of organisms

Transplante interespecífico de espermatogônias-tronco de Brycon orbignyanus em Astyanax altiparanae (Teleostei: Characidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Gestão de recursos hídricos: governança e gerenciamento de conflitos pelo uso da água em região do Semiárido Nordestino

The water being vital natural resource and factor of economic and social development requires effective management and protection by the State. This thesis examines the panorama of National Water Resources Policy and the establishment of an effectively integrated management, shared and participative, contextualizing the principles foreseen in the policy. The work is focused on the discussion of public policies of access to water, analyzing the Fresh Water Program in semi-arid region of Brazil as a strategy of coexistence and permanence of a public policy that ensures the priority use, which is for human consumption. The conceptual framework of this study relies primarily on the contributions of authors in the field recognized as governance and water management. A study on the process of implementation of the various "institutions and policies" related to water management was promoted, contextualizing the change of paradigm in the transition from the centralized model to the one that takes into account the social participation, opening in this way broader perspectives for the analysis of the contents and of the impacts of these policies. The development of this study was conducted by the follow-up – both face-to-face as documentary-field – of the activities carried out while consultant of the Fresh Water Program. The history of water management in the semi-arid region was studied, depicting conflict movements and cooperation among actors. Despite the great obstacles to accomplish the shared and decentralized management, the study of this thesis points to a gradual improvement in the formulation of public policies that take into consideration governance and participatory management of water resources, with positive prospects towards the implementation of coordinated and cooperative actions in the region that mainly suffers from the shortage of rainfall, hence of shortage of water for irrigation and human consumption

Comunidade fitoplanctônica e qualidade da água da Lagoa do Jiqui, Parnamirim, RN

It is important to evaluate the quality of water for proper management of these resources, since the increase of environmental degradation and the multiple use of water resources are decreasing the quality of water consumed by living beings. The objective of this study was to characterize the phytoplankton community and its variations during periods of dray and rain in Jiqui Lake located in Parnamirim, RN. It was also aimed to analyze the physical and chemical factors of this environment, in order to contribute to the knowledge of water quality used for human consumption. The collection of water samples were carried out in September 2008 to August 2009. The collection of the phytoplankton community was carried out in four sampling sites (surface, bottom, margin of the lake without macrophytes and site dominated by macrophytes). Phytoplankton was collected using plankton net of 20m. The analysis of nutrients and identification of phytoplankton were performed in the laboratory. The results indicate that concentration of chlorophyll a was high in the bottom with mean value of 1.07 μgL-1 (SD ± 1.61). During the study period there was a dominance of the following species: Euglena gracilis, Trachelomonas sp, Cyclotellas sp, Gomphonema apuncto, Navicula cuspidata var. cuspidata, Navicula sp, Rhopalodia gibba. There was homogeneity between limnological values in the four study sites, with significant difference between the periods of drought and rain. The Jiqui Lake is considered oligotrophic due to its low concentrations of chlorophyll a, high transparency and low levels of nutrients. The values of BOD and chlorophyll a concentration remained below the permitted standards existing for freshwaters in Brazil, thus the water from Lake Jiqui is of good quality, suitable for human consumption.

Comunidade fitoplanctônica e qualidade da água da Lagoa do Jiqui, Parnamirim, RN

It is important to evaluate the quality of water for proper management of these resources, since the increase of environmental degradation and the multiple use of water resources are decreasing the quality of water consumed by living beings. The objective of this study was to characterize the phytoplankton community and its variations during periods of dray and rain in Jiqui Lake located in Parnamirim, RN. It was also aimed to analyze the physical and chemical factors of this environment, in order to contribute to the knowledge of water quality used for human consumption. The collection of water samples were carried out in September 2008 to August 2009. The collection of the phytoplankton community was carried out in four sampling sites (surface, bottom, margin of the lake without macrophytes and site dominated by macrophytes). Phytoplankton was collected using plankton net of 20m. The analysis of nutrients and identification of phytoplankton were performed in the laboratory. The results indicate that concentration of chlorophyll a was high in the bottom with mean value of 1.07 μgL-1 (SD ± 1.61). During the study period there was a dominance of the following species: Euglena gracilis, Trachelomonas sp, Cyclotellas sp, Gomphonema apuncto, Navicula cuspidata var. cuspidata, Navicula sp, Rhopalodia gibba. There was homogeneity between limnological values in the four study sites, with significant difference between the periods of drought and rain. The Jiqui Lake is considered oligotrophic due to its low concentrations of chlorophyll a, high transparency and low levels of nutrients. The values of BOD and chlorophyll a concentration remained below the permitted standards existing for freshwaters in Brazil, thus the water from Lake Jiqui is of good quality, suitable for human consumption.

Biologia aquática: o Mira e a região costeira alentejana

Embora existam alguns trabalhos pontuais pioneiros anteriores a 1980, foi a partir desta data que se intensificaram os estudos sobre as comunidades vegetais e animais do rio e do estuário do Mira. Em água doce, estes trabalhos têm incidido preferencialmente sobre a comunidade piscícola, embora mais recentemente os macroinvertebrados bentónicos tenham começado a ser alvo de uma atenção particular, devido à sua importância na avaliação da qualidade ecológica da água. Estas mesmas componentes têm sido especialmente estudadas no estuário do Mira, muitas vezes devido à sua importância como recursos haliêuticos. Também os povoamentos vegetais intertidais (ou entremarés), sobretudo os sapais e as pradarias de zosteráceas, têm sido alvo de uma atenção especial por parte da comunidade científica, principalmente por causa da sua relevância ecológica. O facto de o estuário do Mira ser considerado um sistema salobro relativamente preservado em termos de impactos das atividades humanas conduziu ultimamente à realização de um número acrescido de estudos científicos, no sentido de conhecer este tipo de comunidades em situações próximas das pristinas. Na costa alentejana oceânica foram realizados diversos trabalhos sobre a abundância e distribuição de organismos que vivem em ambientes litorais ou mais profundos, em fundos dominados por substratos duros ou sedimentos, e também em ambientes pelágicos. Alguns destes trabalhos datam do início ou de meados do século XX e permitiram, mais tarde, avaliar eventuais alterações na abundância e distribuição de algumas espécies, estudar a dispersão de espécies exóticas e o impacte de alterações climáticas. As caraterísticas físicas peculiares da costa alentejana e a sua situação biogeográfica têm motivado a realização de diversos trabalhos de comparação de populações ou comunidades à escala da costa continental portuguesa ou europeia. Noutros trabalhos, foi estudado o crescimento, a reprodução e o recrutamento de organismos marinhos, nomeadamente de algas e invertebrados, os processos responsáveis por padrões de variação da abundância e distribuição, e diversos aspetos relacionados com a pesca, a conservação e a poluição. O conhecimento científico sobre o património biológico aquático da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Mira e da zona costeira alentejana é significativo e está patente em cerca de três centenas de trabalhos publicados e em diversas áreas científicas abrangidas. É importante encontrar formas adequadas para um melhor usufruto deste património e do seu conhecimento científico por parte da população, nomeadamente ao nível da sua acessibilidade, interpretação e aplicação. Além de desenvolver a investigação científica nas áreas abordadas e em novas áreas, também é importante efetuar o cruzamento deste conhecimento científico com o de outras áreas do saber.

Caracterização fenotípica de bactérias patogênicas isoladas de peixes e água de piscicultura de Macapá, Estado do Amapá.

O município de Macapá encontra-se no sudeste do Estado do Amapá e possui em sua maioria, as pisciculturas utilizando o sistema de cultivo semi-intensivo ou intensivo com áreas de 0,5 a 3,0 hectares de lâmina de água. A maioria das pisciculturas cultiva principalmente tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) e híbrido tambatinga (C. macropomum x Piaractus brachypomum), enquanto poucos cultivam pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) e híbrido tambacu (C. macropomum x Piaractus mesopotamicus). Porém, 21% da produção é destinada a subsistência e 32% para fins comerciais, mas 45% é destinada a ambas as finalidades. A comercialização é feita diretamente aos consumidores ou aos feirantes locais. Um dos veículos importantes que contribuem para as infecções no homem causadas por microrganismos patogênicos podem ser os peixes, especialmente quando são consumidos crus ou após tratamento térmico inadequado. Esses microrganismos estão presentes também em peixe estocados em baixas temperaturas, condição física que permite a esses sobreviver, multiplicar e produzir fatores de virulência, sendo ainda capazes de causar doenças oportunistas. Microrganismos patogênicos tais como Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli e Aeromonas spp., bem como outros, podem acarretar infecções gastrointestinais, quando não são observadas boas práticas de manipulação e conservação desse alimento, causando risco de agravos na Saúde Pública. Este trabalho teve como objetivo isolar, caracterizar e verificar fenotipicamente a frequência de indicadores bacterianos para a qualidade da água e peixes oriundos de pisciculturas de Macapá, estado do Amapá, visando fornecer informações de interesse da Saúde Pública. Em 15 pisciculturas foram analisados um total de 45 tambaquis e tambatinga para qualidade microbiológica, e 45 amostras de água para qualidade microbiológica, física e química. As análises foram realizadas no laboratório de Microbiologia de Alimentos e Água do Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Amapá (LACEN-AP), e no Laboratório Especial de Microbiologia Aplicada (LEMA) da UNIFAP. Os resultados revelaram que os peixes e água das 15 pisciculturas avaliadas encontram-se dentro dos padrões legais vigentes quando analisadas a qualidade microbiológicas, físico e química da água dos tanques, assim como os peixes cultivados apresentaram resultados dentro dos limites satisfatórios quanto à adequada segurança alimentar. Portanto, há garantia do equilíbrio em quantidade e em qualidade desses peixes consumidos para o alcance de uma nutrição adequada, diminuindo desta maneira os riscos de doenças transmitidas por água e alimentos promovendo assim, a minimização dos riscos à Saúde Pública.

Apedunculata discoidea gen. n., sp. n. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) parasitic on Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837) (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) from southeastern Brazil

A new species of dactylogyrid monogenean, Apedunculata discoidea gen. n., sp. n. is described and illustrated from the gills of the freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837) in pisciculture ponds from Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil. Diagnostic characters of the new genus and species are: 1) vagina dextrolateral slightly sclerotised, opening anteriorly at level of copulatory complex; 2) copulatory organ coiled with two counterclockwise rings; 3) Accessory piece distal and not articulated; 4) body disk-shaped, lacking a peduncle.

Isolation and characterization of Flavobacterium columnare (Bernardet et al. 2002) from four tropical fish species in Brazil

Flavobacterium columnare is the causative agent of columnaris disease in freshwater fish, implicated in skin and gill disease, often causing high mortality. The aim of this study was the isolation and characterization of Flavobacterium columnare in tropical fish in Brazil. Piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and cascudo (Hypostomus plecostomus) were examined for external lesions showing signs of colunmaris disease such as greyish white spots, especially on the head, dorsal part and caudal fin of the fish. The sampling comprised 50 samples representing four different fish species selected for study. Samples for culture were obtained by skin and kidney scrapes with a sterile cotton swabs of columnaris disease fish and streaked onto Carlson and Pacha (1968) artificial culture medium (broth and solid) which were used for isolation. The strains in the liquid medium were Gram negative, long, filamentous, exhibited flexing movements (gliding motility), contained a large number of long slender bacteria and gathered into ‘columns'. Strains on the agar produced yellow-pale colonies, rather small, flat that had rhizoid edges. A total of four Flavobacterium columnare were isolated: 01 Brycon orbignyanus strain, 01 Piaractus mesopotamicus strain, 01 Colossoma macropomum strain, and 01 Hypostomus plecostomus strain. Biochemical characterization, with its absorption of Congo red dye, production of flexirubin-type pigments, H2S production and reduction of nitrates proved that the isolate could be classified as Flavobacterium columnare.

An unusual, dwarf new species of Neotropical freshwater stingray, Plesiotrygon nana sp. nov., from the upper and mid Amazon basin: the second species of Plesiotrygon (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae)

A new species of the relatively poorly known Neotropical freshwater stingray genus Plesiotrygon Rosa, Castello & Thorson, 1987 is described from the main channel and smaller tributaries (Ríos Itaya and Pachitea) of the upper Amazon basin in Peru. The first specimen to be collected, however, was from much farther east in Rio Solimões in 1996, just down-river from Rio Purus (specimen unavailable for this study). Plesiotrygon nana sp. nov., is a very distinctive and unusually small species of freshwater stingray (Potamotrygonidae), described here mostly from three specimens representing different size classes and stages of sexual maturity. Plesiotrygon nana sp. nov., is distinguished from its only congener, P. iwamae Rosa, Castello & Thorson, 1987, by numerous unique features, including: dorsal coloration composed of very fine rosettes or a combination of spots and irregular ocelli; very circular disc and snout; very small and less rhomboidal spiracles; short snout and anterior disc region; narrow mouth and nostrils; denticles on dorsal tail small, scattered, not forming row of enlarged spines; adult and preadult specimens with significantly fewer tooth rows; fewer caudal vertebrae; higher total pectoral radials; very small size, probably not surpassing 250 mm disc length or width, males maturing sexually at around 180 mm disc length and 175 mm disc width; distal coloration of tail posterior to caudal stings usually dark purplish-brown; and features of the ventral lateral-line canals (hyomandibular canal very narrow, infraorbital and supraorbital canals not undulated, supraorbital and infraorbital loops small and narrow, supraorbital loop very short, not extending posteriorly to level of mouth, jugular and posterior infraorbital canals short, not extending caudally to first gill slits, subpleural loop very narrow posteriorly; absence of anterior and posterior subpleural tubules). To provide a foundation for the description of P. nana sp. nov., morphological variation in P. iwamae was examined based on all type specimens as well as newly collected and previously unreported material. Two specimens topotypic with the male paratype of P. nana sp. nov., referred to here as Plesiotrygon cf. iwamae, are also reported. Relationships of the new species to P. iwamae are discussed; further characters indicative of Plesiotrygon monophyly are proposed, but the genus may still not be valid. Plesiotrygon nana sp. nov., is commercialized with some regularity in the international aquarium trade from Iquitos (Peru), an alarming circumstance because nothing is known of its biology or conservation requirements.

A taxonomic and morphological redescription of Potamotrygon falkneri Castex & Maciel, 1963 (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae)

A taxonomic revision of two nominal species of freshwater stingrays of the genus Potamotrygon previously considered valid, Potamotrygon falkneri Castex & Maciel, 1963 and Potamotrygon castexi Castello & Yagolkowski, 1969, was conducted based on a detailed analysis of external and internal morphology, including a morphometric and meristic study of specimens from the recorded range of both species. The taxonomic status of the nominal species P. menchacai Achenbach, 1967, treated by previous authors as a junior synonym of P. falkneri, was also evaluated. These nominal species, which constitute what has been called the falkneri-castexi complex, were found to represent examples of chromatic variation present in a single species, given that intermediate patterns of coloration are common and the remaining characters analyzed are not consistent enough for separation at the specific level. Consequently, Potamotrygon falkneri is considered valid, whereas the nominal species Potamotrygon castexi and Potamotrygon menchacai are concluded to be junior synonyms of P. falkneri. Additionally, a putative new species is identified from the río Madre de Díos in Peru, which has some characters that do not correspond to P. falkneri. This species, known from few individuals, is here provisionally treated as Potamotrygon sp.

Systematics of the neotropical fish subfamily Glandulocaudinae (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae)

The systematics of the Glandulocaudinae is reviewed in detail and justification for the recognition of the group as a subfamily is discussed. The subfamily Glandulocaudinae consists of three genera: Lophiobrycon with one species plesiomorphic in some anatomical features but some others exclusively derived relative to the species in the other genera; Glandulocauda with two species intermediate in phylogenetic derivation; and Mimagoniates with seven species (one new), all more phylogenetically derived concerning their pheromone producing caudal-fin organs and with other anatomical characters presumably more derived than in the species of the other genera. Glandulocauda melanogenys Eigenmann, 1911, is considered a junior synonym of Hyphessobrycon melanopleurus Ellis, 1911. A replacement name, Glandulocauda caerulea Menezes & Weitzman, is proposed for G. melanopleura Eigenmann, 1911. Gland cells found in the caudal-fin organs of all species are histologically indistinguishable from club cells and probably secrete a pheromone during courtship. The club cells are associated with somewhat modified to highly derived caudal scales forming a pheromone pumping organ in the more derived genera and species. This subfamily is distributed in freshwaters of eastern and southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Uruguay.

Epigean and subterranean ichthyofauna in Cordisburgo karst area, eastern Brazil

After an ichthyofaunistic survey conducted in May 2007 on surface (epigean) water bodies of Cordisburgo karst area, State of Minas Gerais, 13 species were recorded, mostly characiforms; in addition three non-troglomorphic (normally eyed and pigmented) and one troglomorphic catfish (siluriforms) species were recorded in two caves surveyed at different occasions, totaling 17 fish species for the area. All the nominal species herein reported for Cordisburgo area have been previously reported for the Rio das Velhas basin. None of the species observed in caves were found in epigean habitats and vice-versa. The four cave species are distributed throughout subterranean stream reaches, with individuals at different size/age classes. This, associated to the lack of conspicuous morphological differences in relation to epigean congeners, indicate that Trichomycterus brasiliensis, Gymnotus cf. carapo and Pimelodella cf. vittata are troglophiles (species encompassing individuals able to live and complete their life cycle either in the surface or in the subterranean environment) in the Morena Cave; the latter forms a large population and may be at the beginning of a differentiation process due to isolation in the subterranean habitat, as indicated by a slight reduction in eye size. Topographic isolation may be the cause for the incipient, but unmistakable troglomorphism of the Rhamdiopsis population found in the Salitre Cave, allowing for its classification as troglobite (exclusively subterranean species). The Cordisburgo area is subject to significant anthropic pressure, mainly represented by deforestation for agriculture, cattle raising and timbering. Tourism is an additional important threat for cave communities, calling for urgent protection measures.

Surface and subterranean ichthyofauna in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, northeastern Brazil, with updated lists of Brazilian troglobitic and troglophilic fishes

After an ichthyofaunistic survey in several epigean (surface) water bodies of the Serra do Ramalho, southern Bahia, conducted in May 2007, 44 species were recorded; in addition, three non-troglomorphic (normally eyed and pigmented) and two troglomorphic species were recorded only in caves, totaling 49 species of fishes for the area, which represents a little more than one fourth of the total registered in the literature for the entire Rio São Francisco basin. In these caves, which have been studied since 2005, eight non-troglomorphic species were sampled and their presence in both epigean and subterranean habitats, associated to the lack of morphological differences, indicate that they may be either troglophiles (species encompassing individuals able to live and complete their life cycle either in the surface or in the subterranean environment), trogloxenes (individuals regularly found in subterranean habitats, but which must return periodically to the surface in order to complete their life cycle) or even accidental in caves. In addition, two troglomorphic species (with reduced eyes and melanic pigmentation when compared to close epigean relatives), belonging respectively to the genera Rhamdia and Trichomycterus, were recorded exclusively in caves, thus classified as troglobites. Interestingly, no epigean representative of the genus Trichomycterus was collected. The new data are integrated into updated lists of Brazilian troglobitic and troglophilic fishes, based on published data and new records recently confirmed.