Geological control of Podocnemis expansa and Podocnemis unifilis nesting areas in Rio Javaés, Bananal Island, Brazil

The distribution of the nests of Podocnemis expansa (Amazon turtle) and Podocnemis unifilis (yellow-spotted side neck turtle) along the point bars of the Javaés River in Bananal Island, demonstrates a clear preference of these chelonians for differentiated geological environments, in respect to the morphology, grain size or height of the nests in relation to the level of the river. The topographical distribution and the differences in the grain size of the sediments that compose the point bars of the river, originated from the multiple sedimentary processes, and make possible the creation and separation of different nesting environments. Each turtle species takes advantage of the place that presents physiographic characteristics appropriate to the hatching success of their eggs. The superposition of the P. expansa and P. unifilis nest placement areas is rare. The P. expansa nests are concentrated on the central portion of the beaches where successive depositional sedimentary events produced sandy banks more than 3.3 m above the river water level. The P. unifilis nests are distributed preferentially in the upstream and downstream portions along the point bars where the sandy deposits rarely surpass 1.5 m at the moment of laying. P. expansa nests located on the beaches of fine to medium sized sand hatch in a mean of 68 days, while those incubated on beaches of medium to coarse sand size take a mean of 54 days to hatch.

Avaliação da predação de Podocnemis expansa e Podocnemis unifilis (Testudines, Podocnemididae) no rio Javaés, Tocantins

Podocnemis expansa e P. unifilis são animais de vida longa, com uma demorada maturação sexual, o que influencia uma baixa taxa de substituição de indivíduos. Suas populações são caracterizadas por uma pequena mortalidade dos animais adultos, mas alta taxa de mortalidade de filhotes e embriões. Sendo a predação natural de ninhos e filhotes um dos fatores mais importantes do baixo sucesso de eclosão dessas espécies. No rio Javaés, os ovos e recém-eclodidos podem ser predados por uma grande diversidade de animais: dentre as aves, urubus (Coragyps atratus e Cathartes aura), carcará (Polyborus plancus), jaburu (Jabiru mycteria); lagartos (Tupinambis teguixin) e mamíferos de pequeno porte, coati (Nasua nasua) e cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous). Do total anual de desovas de P. unifilis em média 65,98% são predadas, sendo 41,68% de forma total e 24,30% parcialmente. Enquanto que apenas 5,31% das ninhadas de P. expansa são sempre parcialmente predadas. Dentre os predadores aquáticos existem diversos peixes, principalmente piranhas (Serrasalmus nattereri) e jacarés (Melanosuchus niger e Caimam crocodilus). Os predadores das fêmeas de P. unifilis são: jacaré-açu (Melanosuchus niger), onça-pintada (Panthera onca) e onça-parda (Puma concolor). Enquanto que as fêmeas de P. expansa em postura, somente são predadas por P. onca. As fêmeas de P. unifilis em postura são predadas num total médio de 3,93% anualmente, enquanto que para P. expansa a média anual é 5,66% das fêmeas.

Avaliação de padrão irregular dos escudos do casco em Podocnemis expansa e Podocnemis unifilis (Testudines, Podocnemididae)

O casco de Podocnemis expansa (tartaruga-da-amazônia) e Podocnemis unifilis (tracajá), os maiores quelônios de água doce da América do Sul, é uma estrutura única que diferencia esse grupo dos vertebrados atuais e está associado a alguns padrões comportamentais. O padrão dos escudos que compõem o casco dos quelônios é bastante uniforme, mas variações já foram descritas e analisadas para um grande número de espécies em todas as famílias existentes atualmente. Averiguou-se a incidência de irregularidades do padrão de escutelação no casco dessas espécies, durante os anos de 1999 a 2003 no rio Javaés, entorno do Parque Nacional do Araguaia e da Área de Proteção Ambiental Bananal/ Cantão, oeste do estado do Tocantins. P. expansa se apresenta como uma espécie mais suscetível à ocorrência de anormalidades no casco em relação a P. unifilis. Sendo que, dos 14.378 filhotes avaliados, (13,32 %) apresentavam irregularidades no padrão de escutelação enquanto que dos 1.329 filhotes de P. unifilis apenas (4,44 %). Em P. expansa, os defeitos ocorreram quase que em sua totalidade na carapaça (98,64 %) e em menor número (83,05 %) em P. unifilis.

Trypanosoma Cruzi Strains From Triatomine Collected In Bahia And Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil.

Collection of triatomines in domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic environments in states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, Northeastern and Southern Brazil respectively, and isolation of Trypanosoma cruzi strains. First, the captured triatomines were identified using insect identification keys, then their intestinal content was examined by abdominal compression, and the samples containing trypanosomatid forms were inoculated in LIT medium and Swiss mice. Six triatomine species were collected in cities in Bahia, namely Panstrongylus geniculatus (01), Triatoma melanocephala (11), T. lenti (94), T. pseudomaculata (02), T. sherlocki (26) and T. sordida (460), and two in cities in Rio Grande do Sul, namely T. circummaculata (11) and T. rubrovaria (115). Out of the specimens examined, T. cruzi was isolated from 28 triatomine divided into four different species: T. melanocephala (one), T. lenti (one), T. rubrovaria (16) and T. sordida (10). Their index of natural infection by T. cruzi was 6.4%. The isolation of T. cruzi strains from triatomines found in domestic and peridomestic areas shows the potential risk of transmission of Chagas disease in the studied cities. The maintenance of those T. cruzi strains in laboratory is intended to promote studies that facilitate the understanding of the parasite-vector-host relationship.

Chromobacterium Amazonense Sp. Nov. Isolated From Water Samples From The Rio Negro, Amazon, Brazil.

The taxonomic position of a bacterium isolated from water samples from the Rio Negro, in Amazon, Brazil, was determined by using a polyphasic approach. The organism formed a distinct phyletic line in the Chromobacterium 16S rRNA gene tree and had chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with its classification in this genus. It was found to be closely related to Chromobacterium vaccinii DSM 25150(T) (98.6 % 16S rRNA gene similarity) and shared 98.5 % 16S rRNA gene similarity with Chromobacterium piscinae LGM 3947(T). DNA-DNA relatedness studies showed that isolate CBMAI 310(T) belongs to distinct genomic species. The isolate was readily distinguished from the type strain of these species using a combination of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties. Thus, based on genotypic and phenotypic data, it is proposed that isolate CBMAI 310(T) (=DSM 26508(T)) be classified in the genus Chromobacterium as the type strain of a novel species, namely, Chromobacterium amazonense sp. nov.

Quantificação de fluxos de mercúrio gasoso na interface solo/atmosfera utilizando câmara de fluxo dinâmica: aplicação na bacia do Rio Negro

Gaseous mercury sampling conditions were optimized and a dynamic flux chamber was used to measure the air/surface exchange of mercury in some areas of the Negro river basin with different vegetal coverings. At the two forest sites (flooding and non-flooding), low mercury fluxes were observed: maximum of 3 pmol m-2 h-1 - day and minimum of -1 pmol m-2 h-1 - night. At the deforested site, the mercury fluxes were higher and always positive: maximum of 26 pmol m-2 h-1 - day and 17 pmol m-2 h-1 - night. Our results showed that deforestation could be responsible for significantly increasing soil Hg emissions, mainly because of the high soil temperatures reached at deforested sites.

Um novo índice de qualidade das águas para proteção da vida aquática aplicado ao Rio Atibaia, região de Campinas/Paulínia-SP

In this paper a water quality index is developed to subsidize management actions in the Atibaia River for upon protection of aquatic organisms. This index is composed of two measurable environmental parameters normaly, ammonia and dissolved oxygen, the latter representing the contribution of organic matter. Concentrations of these two variables were normalized on a scale from 0 to 100 and translated into statements of quality (excellent, good, regular, bad and very bad). The index was applied to three monitoring points in the Atibaia River and compared to other indices used by the State of São Paulo Environmental Agency (CETESB). The results showed that the degradation in this watershed follows the urban population density. The developed index is more restricted than the other ones routinely used to infer water quality.

Estudo da capacidade de complexação e sua relação com algumas variáveis ambientais em cinco represas do Rio Tietê/Brasil

The copper and cadmium complexation properties in natural sediment suspensions of reservoirs of the Tietê River were studied using the solid membrane copper and cadmium ion-selective electrodes. The complexation and the average conditional stability constants were determined under equilibrium conditions at pH=6.00 ± 0.05 in a medium of 1.0 mol L-1 sodium nitrate, using the Scatchard method. The copper and cadmium electrodes presented Nernstian behavior from 1x10-6 to 1x10-3 mol L-1 of total metal concentration. Scatchard graphs suggest two classes of binding sites for both metals. A multivariate study was done to correlate the reservoirs and the variables: complexation properties, size, total organic carbon, volatile acid sulfide, E II and pH.

Levantamento e características ecológicas de orchidacea e da mata ciliar do rio dourados, Dourados-MS

The Orchidaceae is one of the largest flowering plants family and with a great importance to conservation. However, no survey on orchid flowers can be found in Mato Grosso do Sul. Thus, the objective of this work was to make a survey of the Orchidaceae species and of its ecology features in a riparian forest in a fragment of Floresta Estacional Semi-Decidual that belongs to the riparian forest of the Dourados River. The inventory was made by using a sweeping method for collection, and in addition to this the vertical and horizontal position of epiphytes were assessed on the hosts. For characterization of microclimate, it was used a thermohygrometer and luximeter. It was identified 17 species of 13 genera. Of the listed genera, the most abundant ones were: Acianthera, Macradenia and Capanemia. It was also noted a vertical and horizontal distribution of the Orchidaceae in relation to inverse gradient of water and light availability. Some species tended to be sensitive to height level categorization, whereas others seemed to occur with similar frequency along the host. In relation to the cardinal orientation, the apparent preferential response for south and east directions was associated to the low sampling effort and lower water availability, which could occur because the north face is opposed to the water body.

Análise de aspectos socioeconômicos e tecnológicos da agropecuária na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Mogi Guaçu

Currently, owing to the occurrence of environmental problems, along with the need of environmental preservation, both the territory management of Hydrographic Basin and the conservation of natural resources have proven to have remarkable importance. Thus, the mean goal of the research is to raise and scrutinize social-economic and technologic data from the Mogi Guaçu River Hydrographic Basin (São Paulo, Brazil). The aim is to group municipalities with similar characteristics regarding the collected data, which may direct joint actions in the Hydrographic Basin Management. There were used both the methods of factorial analysis and automatic hierarchical classifications. Additionally, there is going to be applied a Geographical Information System to represent the outcomes of the methods aforementioned, through the evolvement of a geo-referenced database, which will allow the obtainment of information categorically distributed including theme maps of interest. The main characteristics adopted to group the municipalities were: agricultural area, sugar cane production, small farms, animal production, number of agriculture machinery and equipments and agricultural income. The methodology adopted in the Mogi Guaçu River Hydrographic Basin will be analyzed vis-à-vis its appropriateness on basin management, as well as the possibility of assisting the studies on behalf of the São Paulo Hydrographic Basin groups, to regional development.

Leguminosae, Papilionoideae no Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, Brasil. II: árvores e arbustos escandentes

This work is a floristic survey of arboreous and climbing shrub taxa of Papilionoideae in a semideciduos forest at Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, eastern Minas Gerais State. Field work was carried out from April/1998 to May/1999, when montly visits were conducted to collect botanical material along trails and of the main road. The floristic survey resulted in 22 taxa belonging to eight genera. An identification key, descriptions, illustrations and comments on the analyzed taxa are presented.

Lianas da estação ecológica do Noroeste Paulista, São José do Rio Preto/Mirassol, SP, Brasil

Lianas are characteristic, abundant and ecologically important members of tropical forest but they have been neglected in floristics and phytossociological studies. This work presents a floristic survey of the lianas species at Estação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulista (EENP), and a comparison of the list of species recorded in this work with those reported for other fragments of São Paulo state. The EENP (20º48'36'' S and 49º22'50'' W) is at 468 m of altitude and comprises an area of 168,43 ha, divided into three fragments of vegetation. Samples of lianas were collected in the interior and along the edges of the forest fragments. It was identified 105 species: 99 Magnoliopsida (60 genera and 22 families); six Liliopsida (three genera and three families). The richest families in species comprised 59% of the total of lianas sampled. The dendrogram of similarity showed a low similarity between the forest situated in the littoral (Atlantic Forest) and those located in the interior of the state of São Paulo. Some other authors, also analysing the similarity of forest of the interior and Atlantic Forest of São Paulo state, but considering only the trees reported similar result.

Flora arbórea da bacia do rio Tibagi (Paraná, Brasil): Celastrales sensu Cronquist

A study of the tree species of the order Celastrales sensu Cronquist from the Tibagi river basin, Paraná state, Brazil, is presented, based on herbarium material. This basin is subdivided into three zones, from north to south: lower Tibagi (BT), mid Tibagi (MT) and upper Tibagi (AT), each with different environmental conditions and vegetation types. The order Celastrales is represented in the basin by 15 tree species belonging to three families: Aquifoliaceae, Celastraceae and Icacinaceae. Icacinaceae has only two species, Citronella gongonha and C. paniculata. The former is distinguished by a glabrous ovary and leaves that usually bear thorns. Aquifoliaceae has six species: Ilex brasiliensis, I. brevicuspis, I. chamaedryfolia, I. dumosa, I. paraguariensis and I. theezans. These species are found mainly in AT and MT and are distinguished by leaf size, indument, apices and margins, and by sepal features. Celastrales is represented by seven species and two genera; Plenckia populnea, a Brazilian savannah species found only in MT, and six species of Maytenus (M. evonymoides, M. robusta, M. dasyclada, M. salicifolia, M. ilicifolia and M. aquifolia) distinguished by leaf size and margins, branch shape and number of flowers per inflorescence.

Tratamento da retinopatia diabética: percepções de pacientes em Rio Claro (SP) - Brasil

PURPOSE: To collect information and opinions from a group of diabetic patients regarding diabetic retinopathy and its treatment, in order to get reliable information that can help to improve programs and actions to control and prevent this ocular disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. The sample was from 980 diabetic patients seen in a diabetic association. A previous questionnaire was made with general questions about the main subject. Thereafter, an appropriate questionnaire was prepared. RESULTS: The sample showed that among 299 patients with age ranging from 16 to 83 years, with a mean of 57 years, mainly female (67.91%) did not know how severe their disease was (30.8%), or believed that it was not a serious problem (19.7%). The laser technique to solve diabetic retinopathy was known by 60.2% of the patients. It was reported as the only treatment available by 24.1%. Among the reasons for no treatment 59.8% reported that they did not think it was necessary and 29.7% could not afford it. CONCLUSIONS: Patients showed lack of knowledge about how serious is diabetic retinopathy, the possibility of using laser technique for it and the severity of the disease. Some patients believed in the efficacy of the treatment and some patients did not, but all of them reported that they were afraid of submitting to it.

História do lazer na natureza no Rio de Janeiro entre 1779 e 1838 : um estudo de caso

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física