RCAAP Repository

The armored catfish Loricariichthys spixii (Steindachner, 1882) is the most abundant member of the Loricariidae family in the Lajes reservoir (22º42'-22º50'S 43º53' -44º05'W), the largest dam in the State of Rio de Janeiro State, but little is known about its biology and life cycle. A standardized fish sampling program in three zones of the reservoir (lower, middle and upper reaches), during three annual cycles: monthly in 1994/1996 and bi-monthly in 1997 was conducted out aiming to assess and add knowledge of the population structure of this species. Fishes were caught using gill nets (50 m long, 3 m depth and 25 to 45 mm meshes), amounting 160 samples. Water temperature, pH and transparency were registered at each sample to correlate with fish abundance. Loricariichthys spixii (Steindachner, 1882) was the most abundant fish species in the reservoir, contributing about on third of the total number and half of the total weight of the catches, but a decreasing trend was observed over the three year of the study, with number and biomass being significantly more abundant in 1994, followed by 1996 and 1997. There is no clear dependence between environmental parameters and fish occurrence, except for the coincidence of decreasing fish abundance and decreasing levels of water of the reservoir over the three year. Fishes were more abundant in the high and intermediate reaches of the reservoir, near to mouth of the tributaries. Seasonally, there is no clear variation in relative abundance. The success of use of the reservoir by L. spixii could be attributed to availability of muddy and sandy substrate associated with its k-strategy by carrying eggs, which could allow this species faces the environmental changes of the reservoir, mainly the variations in level of water, by hydroelectric power demand.

Them aim scope of this study is to characterize the enzymatic polymorphism found in the Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier, 1936 populations from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo and Espírito Santo, Brazil and its hybrids. Samples from each colony (about 52) were prepared for starch gel electrophoresis in order to investigate the genetic variation of the following enzimes: esterase (EST), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), malic enzyme (ME), phosphoglucomutase (PGM), superoxide desmutase (SOD), α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (αPGD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), hexokinase (HK) and phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI). The analysis showed that LAP and HK did not show enzymatic activity and EST showed two alleles(est-sand and est-f) while all the others were shown to be monomorphic. The allele EST-S showed a frequency of 82,6%.

The Paraíba do Sul is a major running water system in southeastern Brazil (22º24' -22º26'S; 43º43' -44º16' W), draining one of the most important industrial regions in the country. Because of its location, it has suffered a large amount of alteration due to discharges of urban and industrial effluents with direct influence in the ichthyofauna. The aim of this study is to up-to-date information on fish assemblage structure and its variation in the vicinity of a major industrial effluent outfall at Volta Redonda industrial complex. A standardized fishing sampling program, using seines, casting nets, gill nets and net trays, was carried out from October 1997 to September 1999, at six sites in three zones of the river (upstream, nearby and downstream the industrial complex), aiming to compare variation in fish assemblage due to anthropogenic alteration. Fifty-two species in 13 families were identified in the total of 7286 fish specimens. Characidae was the most diverse family contributing with 28,85% to total number of species, followed by Cichlidae (17,31 %). Overall 15,38% of the species were introduced from other watershed systems, four exotic cichlids (genera Oreochromis Günther, 1862 and Tilapia A. Smith, 1840) and three aloctone (Cichla ocellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801, Hyphessobricon callistus (Boulenger, 1900) e Metynnis maculatus (Kner, 1860)). Lebistes reticulatus (Peters, 1859) was the most abundant fish species contributing to 39,7% of the total number of fish, followed by Geophagus brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) amounting to 27,4%. Fish abundance was higher in the industrial zone, but only a few very dominant species were captured, while the upstream zone showed the most even community. Species replacement tolerance along the alterations gradient in the three zone seems to be a strategy to use the limited resources in the area.

No summary/description provided

To follow the larval developmenl of Eurytrema coelomaticum (Giard & Billet, 1892) in Bradybaena similaris (Férussac, 1821) snails were separated in three classes using the shell diameter: Class A (14.5-10.2 mm), Class B (10.1-6.9 mm) and Class C (6.8-2.6 mm). Only snails belonging to classes A and B acquired the infection. Specimens of E. coelomaticum removed from the pancreatic ducts were exposed to three physiological solutions: Earle, Locke and saline 0.85%, to obtain eggs for the experimental infections, The Locke solution induced the best egg release. The route of migration the intramolluscan development of E. coelomaticum was studied with the aid of histology. The minimal period of intramolluscan developmenl, ending at the expelling of daughter sporocysts, was 107 days for the snails infected in March, and 79 days for the snails infected in November. The Student "t" test and the Chi-square test showed a significant difference (α = 5%) between the two periods, although the mean temperature registered during the experiments did not significantly differed (α = 5%). The elimination of daughter sporocysts occurred through the snail's pneumostome, and always at night. Most sporocysts were eliminated at intervals that varied between one to three days, without regularity. The time of elimination of the daughter sporocysts was different for the two infection period studied: 12 weeks for the snails infected in March, and three weeks for those infected in November. Positive correlation between the number of sporocysts expelled by the snail host and higher temperatures registered in the laboratory was observed. This correlation was more evident in November infection.

Sphaeroma serratum (Fabricius, 1787) has its first occurrence recorded from Brazil, by means of especimens collected at rock shores of Marina da Glória, Baia de Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro. The species is redescribed with illustrations. Structural patterns of pigmentation of studied population are here presented.

Gametogenic and histochemical aspects of an edible bivalve, lphigenia brasiliana (Lamarek, 1818) from Itaipu Lagoon, Niterói, State of Rio de Janeiro, were studied. Between May 1998 and October 1999 a total of 120 clams were picked up. Samples of 10 animals were collected once a month. Specimens were fixed in Bouin's fixative for 4 hours or less and transferred to 10% formalin for 24 hours. The shell lenght has been measured with the valves lightly opened to permit the penetration of fixative solution deeply in the tissues. Transverse sections including digestive diverticula, mantle, gills, gonad and foot were obtained from the total body. After fixative treatment, tissues sections were embedded in paraffin, cut routinely at 5 µm and stained with Harris's hematoxylin and eosin. Microscopic analysis was carried out at low and high dry magnifications, as well as under oil immersion. Advanced ova stages were measured. Special staining techniques have been applied as a tentative tool for searching glycogen, mucous cells, collagenic and reticulin fibers, RNA and protozoan organisms. The animals collected showed variation in lenght from 7.20 cm to 4.10 cm and in height from 4.60 cm to 3.10 cm. The sex ratio (M:F) was 40:69. The average ova diameter of I. brasiliana was 34.70 µm with a standard deviation of 5.19 µm. Nothing could be observed in I. brasiliana, concerning to lesions and parasites at histopathological analysis.

The aim of this study is to characterize the reproductive features of Macrobrachium olfersii (Wiegman, 1836) from Santa Catarina's lsland. The animals were collected in freshwater streams of the Ratones Hidrografic Basin (site A1) and at the Peri's Pond (site A2). In the laboratory, the procedures of sexual differentiation were carried out to classify the individuais in males, females or ovigerous females, followed by the determination of total weight (g), quelipod relative weight (g) and total length (mm). The eggs were removed from the ovigerous females and counted. Sexual maturity and fecundity were analyzed based in the dimensions and number of eggs carried by ovigerous females. The water temperature on the capture sites varied from 17 to 29ºC throughout the months of study. A total of 503 individuais were captured, with 129 individuais from site A1 and 374 from site A2. The mean total size and length was 49.65 mm and 3.79 g for the males, 38.75 mm and 1.61 g for the females and 36.19 mm and 1.08 g for the ovigerous females. At the sites A1 and A2, the individual sexual maturity was reached with 27.3 and 21.2 mm of total length, respectively, while populational sexual maturity was estimated for the 45.0 to 50.0 mm class at site A1 and for the 30.0 to 35.0 mm class at site A2. The ovigerous females carried an average of 3464 eggs at site A1, and 1440 eggs at site A2. These reproductive features, presented by M. olfersii, show the species' plasticity, which can be associated with environmental variations, contributing to its reproductive success.

New species of Anthidium Fabricius, 1804 are described: Anthidium danieli sp. n. from Argentina; Anthidium toro sp. n. from Chile; Anthidium alsinai sp. n., Anthidium luizae sp. n., Anthidium igori sp. n., Anthidium masunariae sp. n., Anthidium rafaeli sp. n., Anthidium rozeni sp. n. and Anthidium tarsoi sp. n. from Peru.

A new species of Podochela Stimpson, 1860, P. meloi sp. n., collected from one of the estuaries of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil is described with illustrations showing its distinguishing features. A key to the species is provided.

Female mosquitoes (Culicidae) were collected in human bait weekly between March 1997 to February 1998, in three different areas of the oceanic region of Niterói city, Rio de Janeiro State, in southeastern coast of Brazil. The results indicated the presence of 16 species: Anopheles aquasalis, Aedes scapularis, A. taeniorhynchus, A. albopictus, A. aegypti, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Psorophora ferox, P. conffinis, P. cingulata, Culex quinquefasciatus, C. nigripalpus, Coquillettidia venezuelensis, Uranotaenia calosomata, Limatus durhami, Weyomyia oblita and Phoniomyia sp. A statistical analysis between monthly female frequencies and temperature, air humidity and precipitation monthly indices was done, using Sperman correlation in Statistica 4.2 program. The only difference among the collected points is the higher number of species collected in Engenho do Mato, in spite of the differences between them in relation to vegetal formation and conservation. The species showed higher frequencies of females during spring and summer seasons, and permit us to conclude that temperature and precipitation demonstrated high levels of correlation to female frequencies along the one year study, but the same was not observed in relation to air humidity. Some of the identified species, such as Aedes aegypti, A. albopictus, A. scapularis, Haemagogus leucocelaenus and Culex quinquefasciatus are important as disease vectors and control suggestions are made in front of the relative abundance of them in different periods of the year.

One hundred and eight species of Cecidomyiinae (Cecidomyiidae) were found in association with 53 species of plant distributed among 42 genera and 32 families at restingas of Barra de Maricá, Itaipuaçu and Carapebus. Ninety four gall midge species were cecidogenous, four predaceous, five inquilinous of galls and five were free living. Galling species were associated with 47 plant species belonging to 36 genera and 28 families. The majority of the galls occurred on the leaves (N = 63); 13 on buds; nine on inflorescence, closed flower or flower peduncle; three on fruits and one on tendril. Myrtaceae were the richest plant family in number of galls followed by Burseraceae, Nyctaginaceae, Sapotaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Malpighiaceae and Solanaceae. New records of host plants and localities were recorded. Seventy nine Cecidomyiinae species were found at Restinga of Barra de Maricá, 64 at Carapebus and 41 at Itaipuaçu. Sorensen's index revealed that the restingas of Barra de Maricá and Itaipuaçu ate more similar in Cecidomyiinae fauna, confirming a positive relation between geographical proximity and fauna similarity.

The gametogenic aspects of mussel Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758) from Itaipu Lagoon, Niterói, were studied through November 1998 to October 1999. Microscopic analysis was carried out at low and high dry magnifications, as well as under oil immersion. The animals collected showed variation of size from 4.8 to 9.1 cm in total length and from 2.0 to 3.9 cm in total width. Most advanced gonadal stage was detected through May, August and October of 1999 for female specimens. Male advanced gonadal stage occurred in September of the same year. The sex-ratio (M:F) for P. perna was 64:52.

The immature stages and the larval hosts of some subspecies of Copiopteryx semiramis (Cramer, 1775) are reported. Egg, larval instars, pupa and adults to the subspecies C. semiramis montei Gagarin, 1933 are illustrated in color for the first time.

Albinism in the common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffrey, 1810) was already reported for seven individuals, six of them did in Brazil. Although this species is relatively easy to keep in captivity and many studies with normally pigmented bats were did under laboratory conditions, no reports on detailed observations of captive albino vampire bats were found in literature. This paper reports some behavioral observation of a single albino female D. rotundus kept in captivity in Brazil between 1991 and 1993. Information on feeding behavior, interactions with normally colored individuals and reproduction were recorded.

The first capture of the phyllostomid bat Micronycteris homezi Pirlot, 1867 in Brazil is reported. An adult male was captured in a forest fragment in Alter do Chão, Santarám, Pará State, in May 7th , 1998. A description of the species, previously reported only in Venezuela and French Guiana, is given, as well as the measures of the captured specimen. After this report, the bat fauna of Brazil is composed by 139 species.

Chaceon fenneri (Manning & Holthuis, 1984), so far known only from the offshore region of Florida, was collected off the Northeast of Brazil. A discussion on the variation within the species and morphometric data of the specimens examined are also given.

They are registered for the first time in the South Brazilian coast, the crabs Mithrax hispidus (Herbst, 1790) and Mithrax tortugae Rathbun, 1920, which previous Southern limit of distribution were at São Paulo State and now it is extended to the Santa Catarina State coast line.

Specimens of terrestrial isopods collected in Rio Grande do Sul were identified as Pseudodiploexochus tabularis (Barnard, 1932). This is the first record of the species from Brazil.

The individuais of Charadriifonnes present plumages of either young, or adults; adults in turn, present plumages of either reproduction, ar intermediate. Aiming to monitor plumages and molts, and associating them to migrations, specimens were collected on the coast of Pernambuco State, in the Coroa do Avião, Santa Cruz channel (7º40'S e 34º 50'W). Plumages of young, non-breeding adults, intermediate adults, and breeding adults were recorded amongst the specimens captured. The molt cicle of primary remiges indicates that individuals initiating molts in June and July will not return to their areas of reproduction, and that the ones who start from August to October, ending till February, will migrate in the same year to their breeding grounds. Retrix molts showed variations. Regarding adults of Calidris pusilla (Linnaeus, 1766) the cicle ended till March.