RCAAP Repository

Due to its biogeographical characteristics. the coast of the State of Paraná reveals to be a very important area for zoological researches. At the present time, however, there are only a few studies related to its carcinological fauna. The Museu de História Natural Capão da Imbuia which belongs to the Curitiba City Hall and the Centro de Estudos do Mar, of the Universidade Federal do Paraná have Crustacea collections, which are the unique references to the State. This research paper was based on the files of these institutions and also on bibliographical survey. The present research contains a detailed report of the collections and a catalogue of Dendrobranchiata and Caridea (Crustacea) species, including typical locality and geographical distribution of them.

The fine structure of the sperm and spermatogenesis of the Donax striatus are described. The morphology of the spermatozoa is classified as of a primitive type with a head, mid-piece with four mitochondria and tail. The head shows a complex acrosome, typical of heterodont bivalves. During spermatogenesis the nuclear chromatin shows granular condensation. The present paper describes detailed observations of the espermatozoa.

Cyrtoneurina pararescita. sp.n. is described and illustrated comments on morphological similarities with congeneric species.

Cycloramphus dubius Miranda-Ribeiro. 1920 is a frog species from the coastal Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil. It uses waterfalls of forested rivulets as breeding sites. The eggs are placed outside of water, between rock crevices or roots constantly wetted by water dripping. Clutches have about 60 eggs, and the tadpoles grow attached to rocks, out of water. Males of this species exhibit parental care, biting and/or pushing away strange objects approaching the egg masses. Two types of calls were identified in the spectrograms. The "advertisement calls" consist of juxtaposed pulses lasting 200ms; the "aggressive calls", also have the short pulses structure, and last around 300ms. The aggressive calls are emitted during territorial invasion.

A study of the reproductive biology of B. chinensis (L.) DC. (Iridaceae) was realized comprising floral biology and breeding systems. The floral biology studies included analyses of nectar production, occurence of osmophores, corolla pigments, ultraviolet reflexion and absortion patterns, viability of pollen, pollinators and flower visitors. The breeding systems were studied taking into account the results of manual pollinators tests. B. chinensis is self-compatible bul cross-pollination is more frequent. The effective pollinators are Plebeia droryana (Friese, 1906) (45,7%), Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (27,3%), Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811) (9,3%). Others insects visitors are considered nectar and pollen thieves. The flowering begins generally in January and February. The complete reproductive cicle, as here considered, begining with floral bud production ending with development of mature fruits, lasts January to June. Seed dispersion is ornitocoric.

Sendaphne brasilianus. sp.n. and S. jatai. sp.n. are described from Brazil. The male is described by first time. A key to species of the genus is presented.

The objective of this research was to study the effect of feeding on Eucalyptus leaves on the life and fecundity tables of Tynacantha marginata Dallas, 1851 (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Higher mortality of this predator occurred during second week of life, when the nymphs were starting second instar. The fecundity table showed that the nymphal period of T. marginata lasted four weeks, with viability of 57,9% and total longevity of 21 weeks. Egg oviposition period took 10 weeks. The population parameters (R0, rm and λ) showed a 50.69 times populational increase after one generation.

The bell quadrai lecnique were used lo oblain Rve bimestral samples during 1992. Fifteen laxoiioinic groups were found and Amphipoda had numerical dominante, Polychaeta and Decapoda are als<t important taxa. principally in spring. Ali biomass aspecis ofalgae are more important in winter.

The present paper deals with data on zooplankton collected from the estuary of Potengi, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil covering a period of one year from October 1992 to October 1993. Three fixed stations within the estuary located at varying distances from the mouth of the river were sampled. Sampling was done monthly when the tide was lowest. Analysis of the samples has shown clear pattern of seasonal variations in abundance of the dominant zooplankton components which are composed of Copepoda, Appendicularia, larvae of Brachyura, larvae of Cirripedia and Chaetognalha. A detailed study of the larvae of Brachyura was also attempted which showed that seven species can be identified in the samples, of which those of Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards) and Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille have already been described. Other five species are designated here numerically and description of various stages present in the samples are given.

Three species of janirid isopods were found on the sea star Echinaster brasiliensis Müller &amp; Troschel collected in São Sebastião Channel, southeastern Brazil. Janaira gracilis Moreira &amp; Pires and Carpias nereus (Pires) were previously known from the area and Carpias asterophilus, sp.n. is described. The three isopod species were found together on the dorsal surface of the sea star, and juveniles performed nearly 73% of the population. The janirids presented homeochromy with the sea stars, and food and shelter were the observed benefits that the crustaceans received from the association. A key to separate the species of Carpias with a spoon-like gnathopod is included.

The natural breeding sites of Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) haemorrhoidalis haemorihoidalis (Fabricius, 1794), in two study areas, were sampled monthly, during a period of one year, in an upland "terra-firme" forest of the Central Amazon. These natural breeding sites, consisting of water filled palm bracts on the ground, contained invertobrates and vertebrates along with palm inflorescences, leaves and twigs. The inhabitants of the non-submersed area of the bracts include Diplopoda, Acarina, Araneae, Pseudoscorpiones, Isopoda, Blattodea, Coleoptera (Carabidae, Curculionidae, Scolytidae, Staphilinidae). Collembola, Dermaptera, Diptera (Cecidomyidae, Drosophilidae, Mycetophilidae, Tipulidae), Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Trichoptera. The submersed areas of the bracts were inhabited by Oligochaeta, Coleoptera (Dysticidae, Helodidae, Histeridae, Hydrophilidae, Limnebiidae), Diptera (Ceratopogonidae, Chirononiidae, Culicidae, Psychodidae, Stratiomyidae, Syrphidae). Odonata, along with immature Dendrobatidae e Hylidae. The ovipositing, resting and feeding behaviors of T. h. haemorrhoidalis adults are described.

Eight geographical areas, considered as representative of the several natural environments wich still exist in Paraná, southern Brazil, were selected for the collection of insects. This data collection formed pan of the "Survey of the Entomological Fauna in Paraná State" (henceforth Profaupar). These areas were sampled using a light trap (Esalq's model) (Silveira-Neto &amp; Silveira 1969) throughout a single year from August, 1986, until July, 1987. The families of Coleoptera captured were analyzed according to Palma's classification.

A population of a small and dark nightjar was discovered at Colatina, Espírito Santo, and has been identified by its voice and pattern of coloration as a new subspecies of the Pygmy Nightjar Caprimulgus hirundinaceus (Spix, 1825). This represents a considerable range expansion for this poorly known species, formerly considered endemic to the xeric "caatinga" region of Northeastern Brazil. However, other populations may exist. Colatina's birds live on exposed dark rocks with which their plumage harmonizes.

Gratiana boliviana Spaeth, 1926 is redescribed, compared with G. conformis (Boheman, 1854), G. graminea (Klug, 1829), G. insculpta (Boheman, 1855), G. inurbana Weise, 1921, G. lutescens (Boheman, 1854), G. pallidula (Boheman, 1854) and G. spadicea (Klug, 1829). The host plant of G. boliviana is Solanum viarum Dun (Solanaceae).

A simple net trap for capturing agile porcelain crabs living amongst superposed stones of the midlittoral rocky shore was developed. About a hundred pebbles and boulders were dislodged from I m² area and Im depth, so that a pit was formed. A sheet net of Im² and Imm mesh size was spread on the bottom of this pit and the stones were replaced again, like the original condition. After a cicle of high tide (about 12 hours), the same stones in the pit were carefully searched by dislodging and by rinsing them. The porcelain crabs were slowly getting out from the handling stones towards the bottom until they found the net sheet. The net border was lifted and the animais captured. The density of population sampled with the aid of the net trap was about 50% higher than that collected by hand. Also, small size species and early developmental stages were adequately collected in this trap. However, the sampling by hand also showed a good performance, as all species of Porcellanidae known from Farol isle and all developmental stages of those species were registered in this collection methodology.

Population structure of the porcelain crab Petrolisthes armatus (Gibbes, 1850) from the rocky shore of the Farol isle (25º51'S, 48º32'W) was carried out in the following aspects: annual fluctuation of the density, distribution of the developmental stages and sexes over year round, size composition and recruiting period of juveniles into the population. Monthly collections were made in the three sites of the midlittoral, from November/89 to April/91, with the aid of a trap. The air temperature ranged from 13ºC to 28ºC, that of the surface water from 16ºC lo 29ºC and the salinity of the surface water from 06.7‰ to 31.5‰. A total of 5.585 individuals of Petrolisthes armatus was collected, among which, 116 were in the megalopa stage, 1,579 juveniles, 830 immature males, 729 immature females, 1,161 mature males, 744 mature females and 426 ovigerous females. The population density ranged from 15.3 to 305.0 ind.m-2, with a peak in January. This density is the highest among the porcelain crab populations known from the literature. The species has continuous reproduction, but, there were two main cohorts in the year: summer one that was longer and more abundant and the winter one that was shorter and the less numerous.

Spalial and temporal density distributions of Amphipoda from the phytals of Caiobá are described. Air temperature oscillated from 16ºC (August and May) to 23ºC (March), surface water temperature from 17ºC (August) to 25ºC (March) and the salinity from 29.3‰ (May) to 32.8‰ (August). Two samples of 25cm² (for algae less than 5cm long), 100 cm² (for algae between 5-10cm long) and whole plants (for algae more than 10cm long) were removed with a spatula from the rocky surface at Caiobá Beach, in August/86, November/86, March/87 and May/87. After sorting, the algal substrata were weighted, their adsorption coefficient calculated and the sediment retained among the thallii weighted. The average distance between the branching was measured for all branched algae. The densities were calculated in relation to the weight of the algal substrate in grams. Eight phytals were considered: Ulva fasciata Delile, Padina gymnospora (Kútzing) Vickers, Sargassum cymosum Garth, Porphyra atropurpurea (Olivi) De Toni, Gelidium sp., Gymnogongrus griffithsiae (Turner) Martius, Pterocladia capillacea (Gmelin) Bornet &Thurel and Pterosiphonia pennata (Roth) Falkenberg, over which nine Amphipoda species live: Ampithoe ramondi Audouin, 1816, Cymadusa filosa Savigny, 1852, Elasmopus pectenicrus Bate, 1857, Hyale media Dana, 1857, Hyale sp.l, Jassa falcata Montagu, 1895 and Sunampithoe pelagica H. Milne-Edwards, 1830 (Gammaridea). Caprella danilevskii Czerniavski, 1861 and Caprella penantis Leach, 1814 (Caprellidea). Amphipoda densities ranged from 0.27 ind.g-1 to 45.68. ind.g-1. The broad-thallii algae Porphyra, Ulva and Padina harbored lower densities of Amphipoda, whereas those finely branched Pterocladia, Pterosiphonia and Gymnogongrus, the highest values and the less branched Sargassum and Gelidium, intermediate values. The high densities found in the finely branched algae had as main contribution the juvenile recruiting of most Amphipoda. The tide level might have influenced the temporal distribution of the Amphipoda density, due to the distinct time of air exposition in eaeh collection data. Most Amphipoda did not show specific algal substratum colonization: only Sunampithoe pelagica occurred solely in Sargassum. Four species occurred in different branched algae: J. falcata. S. pelagica. C. danilevskii and C. penantis. H. media had Sargassum, Pterocladia, Pterosiphonia and Gymnogongrus as the best algal substrata, whereas Caprellidea, the Pterocladia and Pterosiphonia phytals. High sediment weight in Padina was the main reason for high densities of Hyale sp.l in this phytal. The occurrence of males, females (including ovigerous ones) and juveniles of most Amphipoda species found in the present study indicates a complete life cycle whithin these phytals and corroborates with the assumption of the complexity of this marine coastal ecosystem.

Cephalocolletes Michener. 1989 (Paracolletini) is placed in a new status and new species are described: Cephalocolletes isabelae, sp.n., Cephalocolletes rugata, sp.n. and Cephalocolletes crassipunctata, sp.n.; another Paracolletini bees. Bicolletes pampeana, sp.n. and Sarrocolletes guaritarum. sp.n., and the Panurginae Anthrenoides micans. sp.n..

Fifteen species of Tomosvaryella (Diptera, Pipunculidae) from Mexico, Central America and Antilles are registered. Two new species from Mexico are described: T. membranacea and T. mexicanensis. Four species are redescribed from the types; a new synonym is stablished: Tomosvaryella tumida Hardy, 1940 = Pipunculus lynchi Shannon, 1927. A key based in males is included.

This paper registers 16 species of aquatic molluscs, especially the limnic and estuarine species Heleobia davisi Silva &amp; Thomé, 1985, Heleobia australis australis (Orbigny, 1835) and Erodona mactroides Bosc, 1802, from D'Una river and Mirim, Imaruí and Santo Antônio lagoons and Laguna Beach (Santa Catarina, Brazil). This parameter was very important for the paleoecological analysis conduced for that area, where oscillation of the sea level occurred during the Holocen Period. Heleobia davisi is registered for the first time to the Santa Catarina.