RCAAP Repository

This study analyze the consequences of unilateral and bilateral ablation based on ovigerous percentage, consecutive spawns, and secondary effects of the surgical process in the females of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879). Two experiments were carried out with four and seven months old females in intermolt stage. Each experiment was comprised of control, unilateral and bilateral ablation. Eyestalk ablation was done with a bistoury with a topic hot cauterization followed by application of antibiotic pomades. The animals were maintained at constant temperature (28 ± 1,05ºC) and photoperiod of 12L: 12D within fibercement boxes with sandy bottom and biological filter. Females were observed once a day during fourteen weeks, registering gonadal condition, ecdysis and presence of spermatophore (mating) and spawning. Unilateral ablation technique is more efficient due to the anticipation of the first spawn, repeatability between spawns, expressive rate of ovigerous females and survival, that favored its applicability. Bilateral eyestalk ablation produced the mortality of ali the females with change in coloration and food activity patterns. These results corroborate other observations on penaeid shrimps. though bilateral ablation on some lobsters was a success. These results showing an interespecific variation and can be used in aquaculture projects.

Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823) from the coast of Rio Grande do Sul State were examined and six trematodes species were recovered: Aponurus laguncula Looss, 1907, A. pyriformis (Linton, 1910), Monascus filiformis (Rudolphi, 1819), Opecoeloides catarinensis Amato, 1983, O. stenosomae Amato, 1983, and Pachycreadium gastrocotylum (Manter, 1940). All species are registered for the first time in Rio Grande do Sul State and M. furnieri represents a new host record for A. laguncula, A. pyriformis and M. filiformis.

The monthly analysis of maturity stage frequency suggested that spawning of the grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus (Gmelin, 1788) is annual, total and occurs from November to February in the south of São Paulo State, Brazil. Size at first maturity is 169 mm for females and 200 mm for males. Condition factor estimated considering and disconsidering gonad weight (K and K') showed maximum values related to periods of higher frequency of females at advanced maturity stage. ΔK was higher in December, January and February, and was related to the maximum frequency of mature females. As K estimates the gonad condition it could be used as a maturity and breeding season index for this species. The gonadosomatic relation behaved the same as K values.

The bay of the Tibagi river, a place which goes through quick environmental alterations, has three forest fragments: the "Floresta Nacional do Irati" (3.572 ha), the "Reserva Biológica da Klabin" (11.116 ha) and the "Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy" (680 ha). Here, Myotis ruber (E. Geoffroy, 1806) and Chiroderma doriae Thomas, 1891 can be found, these are threatened bats, and three species, Pygoderma bilabiatum (Wagner, 1843), Myotis levis (I. Geoffroy, 1824) and Rogheessa tumida H. Allen, 1866, which are presumably threatened. Using the same effort of capture in the three places, it was stated that the "Floresta Nacional do Irati" with low vegetation diversity, showed nine species of bats. The "Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy", although it's five times smaller, fifteen species. We came to the conclusion that a big reserve, without good conditions would house a lower number of species. A small reserve with adequate resources and great vegetation diversity presents a higher number of niches, housing a higher number of species.

The flowering pattern and the visiting bee species on Sida spp. and Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke were studied in a restricted area at the campus of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. There were differences among plant species but not among individuals in relation to the flowering time along the day and the time at which the flowers were visited by bees. Melissoptila cnecomala (Moure, 1944) and Cephalurgus anomalus Moure & Oliveira, 1962 were the most frequent visitors. Both species foraged on flowers for nectar and pollen. C. anomalus visited mainly plants with anthesis in the morning and M. cnecomala plants with anthesis in the afternoon. This fact sugests that those species of bees may be showing contrasting foraging strategies and can share the floral resources of Sida and Malvastrum. The males of C. anomalus mate on flowers of Sida and exhibit a behavior known as rendevouz pollination.

The effectiveness of pitfall traps associated with drift fences to capture amphibians and reptiles in three field studies, in Rio Grande do Sul (extreme southern Brazil), São Paulo (São Paulo, southeastern Brazil), and Amazonas (Amazonas, northern Brazil) is described. At Santa Maria, a total of 2040 amphibians and reptiles were caught in 30 pitfalls (200 L, with drift fence) during 18 months of study (capture efficiencies of 3.78 amphibians and reptiles/pitfall/month and 0.14 snake/pitfall/month). At Itirapina, São Paulo, 1262 amphibians and reptiles were obtained in 72 pitfalls (100 L, with drift fence) during six months (capture efficiencies of 11,9 amphibians and reptiles/pitfall/month and 0,38 snake/pitfall/month). At Rio Pitinga, Amazonas, over 600 amphibians and reptiles were caught in 50 pitfalls (100-150 L, with drift fence) during three months (capture efficiencies of ca. 4.00 amphibians and reptiles/pitfall/month and 0.87 snake/pitfall/month). Capture efficiencies of 1.25 to ~3.92 amphibians and reptiles/pitfall/month were obtained in four other unpublished studies made by other authors in Brazil, all of them using 20-35 L traps, either with or without drift fences. Higher capture efficiencies for snakes were obtained in those studies in which larger containers (100-200 L) were used. The results presented here indicate that pitfall traps are extremely useful to sample amphibians and reptiles in Brazil, especially anurans and lizards. From these results, it is possible to preview the capture of 125 to 1200 amphibians and reptiles with 100 pitfalls during one month, regardless of the size of the pitfalls and sampling design of the trap arrays. The main advantages and disadvantages of the method and detailed guidelines on how to design, install, and use the traps is discussed.

The fine structure of the spermatozoon in the Mellita quinquiesperforata Leske, 1778 was studied. Collected from the Amazon region, were described by light and transmission electron microscopy. The spermatozoon consisted of a acrosome complex, nucleus, four to six mitochondria, two centrioles and flagellum. The acrosome was composed of a acrosome complex, the acrosomal vesicle and the subacrosomal space. The nucleus are composed by dense material. The middle piece contains 4-6 mitochondria which are arranged around the centrioles, the 9p+0, whose axoneme has the classic 9p+2 microtubular construction.

Spermatozoa of amazon fish, Acestrorhynchus falcatus Bloch, 1794 were investigated by optical microscopy (DIC) and electron microscopy (TEM). Spermatozoa have no acrosome, the head is ovoid, and the midpiece region cylindrical, contains spherical mitochondria. The centriolar complex is located at the lateral side of the nucleus, formed by nine peripheral pairs of microtubules and arranged in a right angle to each other. The flagellum consists of nine pairs of peripheral and two central microtubules.

Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of the crab Ucides cordatus Linnaeus, 1763 is described and illustrated. Three parts can be distinguished: 1. the elongate-ovoid acrosome located anteriorly; 2. the cytoplasmic region; and 3. the nuclear region. The acrosome is composed of a thick electron-dense wall and a less electron-dense subacrosomal space. The cytoplasm region connects the acrosome with the nucleus, and three arms filled with microtubules arise from this region. The nucleus is polymorphous. The spermatozoon of Ucides cordatus follows the general pattern described for other Decapods.

The species of Cephise Evans, 1953 are divided in two groups: "cephise" group (hind wing without long tails) and "procerus" group (hind wing with long tails). In the "cephise" group the following species are included: Cephise cephise (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) with his synonyms Thymele hydarnes Mabille, syn.n., Eudamus zopyrus Plötz, 1881, Telennades injuncta Plötz, 1882, nom. nud., Eudamus maneros Mabille, 1883, syn.n., Nascus orima Schaus, 1902, syn.n., Nascus orita Schaus, 1902; Cephise impunctus sp.n. from Rondônia, Brazil; Cephise glarus (Mabille, 1888), sp. reval.; Cephise nuspesez Burns, 1996; Cephise malesedis sp.n. from Rondônia, Brazil; Cephise maculatus sp.n. from Rondônia, Brazil; Cephise burnsi sp.n. from Espírito Santo, Brazil; Cephise mexicanus sp.n. from Oaxaca and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. In the "procerus" group are included: Cephise procerus (Plötz, 1880); Cephise aelius (Plötz, 1880) sp. reval.. comb.n.. with its synonyms Eudamus auginulus Godman & Salvin, 1893, syn.n. and Eudamus callicina Schaus, 1902, syn.n.; Cephise callias (Mabille, 1888); and Cephise guatemalaensis (Freeman, 1977). Lectotypes are designated for Eudamus cephise Herrich-Schäffer, 1869, Thymele hydarnes Mabille, 1877, Telegonus glarus Mabille, 1988, Eudamus callias Mabille, 1888, Goniurus procerus Plötz, 1888, and Goniurus aelius Plötz, 1880. Neotypes are designated for Eudamus zopyrus Plötz, 1881, and Thymele maneros Mabille, 1883. A pseudotype of Thymele hydarnes is identified, this is actually a female of Cephise impunctus sp.n. Six species of Cephise occur sympatrically in Rondônia, Brazil.

The genus Similiforstona, gen.n. and its type species Similiforstona bella, sp.n. are described from Rondônia, Brazil. S. bella is based on a single female specimen. Similiforstona is very similar to Forstona Rolston, 1992 differing basically on the antennal structure.

Thirty eight species are recognized in the Neotropical Region. Twenty four are redescribed and illustrated and fourteen were not redescribed, because they are well definite in the original description. A new combination for Mydaea triseta Curran, 1931 to Phaonia and the revalidation of P. nigripuncta Stein, 1911 are made. Five new synonyms are proposed: P. coquilletii (Vimmer, 1939) = P. punctinervis Stein, 1911; P. nigrocincta Stein, 1918 = P. abdita (Giglio-Tos, 1893); P. praedatoria (Snyder, 1957) = P. latinervis (Stein, 1904); P. vulgata (Albuquerque & Medeiros, 1980) = P. similata (Albuquerque, 1957); P. nigra (Albuquerque & Medeiros, 1980) = P. trispila (Bigot, 1885). A key to the neotropical species is presented for the thirty eight recognized species.

Chelymorpha rosarioensis a new species from Rosário Oeste, Mato Grosso, Brazil, is described.

No summary/description provided

Longevity is an important characteristic of life history of species which is influenced by environment, genetic constituition and sexual activity. Three sexual activity regimes were investigated in three geographical lineages in Megaselia scalaris Loew, 1866 that have been maintened in the laboratory at 25ºC. It was observed that virgin flies are more longevous than others, females more than males, and a sex-lineage interaction underlying this pattern variation. It was observed an inverse relation between the environmental temperature of the lineages's locality and longevity.

Fifty six specimens of the hybrid "tambacu" (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 male x Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818 female) were collected from fishfarm of Guariba, São Paulo, to evaluate their haematology. Fishes presented 400.0 to 3,100.0 g total weight and 20.0 to 52.0 cm total length. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin content (MCHC) and percentage of defense blood cells including leucocytes and thrombocytes, were studied. Statistical analysis showed positive correlation (P<0.01) between haematocrit, MCHC and haemoglobin rate. Nevertheless, thrombocytes and lymphocytes showed negative correlation (P<0.01).

The total protein and ammonia contents in the hemolymph of Bradybaena similaris (Fèrussac, 1821) during the starvation were determined from August, 1996 to March, 1998. The results revealed a significant variation in the total protein content throughout the period of starvation analized, there being a negative relation between the total protein content and the time of starvation. But the same result was not observed in the ammonia content. After 30 days of starvation there was a reduction of 2,8% of the content of ammonia in the hemolymph. A negative relation between the ammonia content and the time of starvation was observed, but this relation was not significative. It is probable that the degradation of the proteins don't lead to an increase of the ammonia in the hemolymph of the snail. It indicates that the increase on the nitrogenous products of degradation, caused by the degradation of the proteins, is detoxified as urea or uric acid.

Leafhoppers are well known biological indicators of zoogeographical regions owing, in part, to their phytodependency, high host plant specificity and relatively low vagility. In this connection, we discuss distributional patterns and possible zoogeographical origins of nine constituent tribes and their genera of the pantropical subfamily Coelidiinae. Among 118 known genera, only eight currently occupy more than one zoogeographical region, indicating an extremely high endemic profile which supports the proposed centers of origin and relatively low rate of intercontinental dispersal. The pantropical tribe Coelidiini is suggested as the basal group of the subfamily which is believed to have arisen prior to continental drift (late Jurassic-early Cretaceous) because there appears to be no other evidence at the present time to explain its near cosmopolitan distribution. Possible origins of three Old World tribes, Hikangiini (Ethiopian), Thagriini (Oriental) and Thanini (Australian) and four New World -(Neotropical) tribes, Teruliini, Tinobregmini, Gabritini and Sandersellini are elucidated. The tribe Youngolidiini occupies the Neotropical and Ethiopian realms but its origin is problematical. There appears to be ample evidence that origin/dispersal patterns are related to the geological history of the areas occupied by its faunal members.

The holotype female, allotype male and nest are described of a new species of social wasp, Mischocyttarus (Kappa) santacruzi (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) from Atlantic coastal forest, Bahia, State, eastern Brazil. Morphologically the species is close to M. (Kappa) adolphi Zikán.

Some individuals of the species Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) bear a characteristic pink abdomen, which is notably different from the usual white coloration. The incidence of this chromatic alteration was determined for a single population and its relation with other individual variables were examined. The individuals were monthly collected from May, 1991 to April, 1993, in Ubatuba, São Paulo, with the aid of a shrimp fishery boat provided with double-rig trawling nets. All specimens were sexed, measured (CW = carapace width), distributed in 10-mm size classes and classified according to growth phase (juvenile and adult), molting condition and development stage of gonads. The occurrence of pink-colored morphs was also recorded. From a total of 2,096 collected individuals, only 60 females (nine of those ovigerous) presented a pink-colored abdomen, which represents 2.9% of the whole sample and 5.2% of the females. Almost all of them were intermolt individuals (96.6%) and 63.3% showed mature gonads. According to published data, size at the onset of functional maturity in A. cribrarius females is around 60 mm CW, from which the incidence of pink morphs and ovigerous crabs were recorded. The obtained results suggest that such a chromatic alteration is associated to sexual maturity in these females. This characteristic may enhance the attraction potential for mating, shortly after the puberty molt.