RCAAP Repository

The reproductive aspects of the freshwater shrimp Palaemon pandaliformis (Stimpson, 1871) were studied from March, 1998 to February, 1999. Monthly, samples were collected with sives, on the river edge, under the edging vegetation or in small pools. At the laboratory, shrimps were sexed and measured in their total lenght, from the tip of the rostrum to the of telson with precision callipters. The ovigerous shrimps were separated and counted for fecundity determination. The eggs diameter was measured with calibrated stereomicroscope. A total of 872 were collected among which, 46% female, 29% male and 25% juvenil. The sex ratio was 1:1.57. Ovigerous females were present during all seasons, but the reproductive peak accurred in Spring. The ovigerous female showed total lenght from 23.0 to 39.6 mm. The mean fecundity was 137 eggs per female, with a minimum of 40 eggs and a maximum of 270 eggs. The first sexual maturation probably occur at 23.0 mm total lenght. The mean diameter os the eggs size was 0.51 mm (minor) and 0.73 mm (major).

The reproductive aspects of the freshwater shrimp Potimirim glabra (Kingsley, 1878) were studied from September 1997 to February 1999. Monthly, samples were collected with sieves, on the river edge, under the edging vegetation or in small pools. At the laboratory, shrimps were sexed and measured in their total lenght, from the tip of the rostrum to the end of telson with precision callipers. The ovigerous shrimps were separated and counted for fecundity determination. The eggs diameter was measured with calibrated stereomicroscope. A total of 3281 shrimps were collected, among which, 47% male, 46% female (13.4% ovigerous females) and 7% young shrimps. The Sex ratio was 1:1. Ovigerous females were present during all seasons, but the reproductive peak occurred in spring. The ovigerous female showed total lenght from 9.5 to 26.0 mm and carapace lenght from 1.6 to 7.3 mm. The mean fecundity was 545 eggs per female, with a minimun of 223 eggs and a maximum of 860 eggs. The first sexual maturation probably occur at 9.5 mm total lenght. The mean diameter of the eggs size was 0.32 mm (minor) and 0.53 mm (major).

Mites started to be considered economically important on rubber tree since the early 1990's, when they were considered responsible for damages caused to this crop and by the consequent yield reduction. The aim of this work was to determine the mites present on this crop in the State of Mato Grosso and to elaborate a key for the separation of the species found. This study was conducted in fields of Plantacoes Edouard Michelin Ltda., in Itiquira, and Triângulo Agro-Industrial S/A. in Pontes e Lacerda. Samplings were conducted monthly in six different clones: PB 260, PR 255, IAN 713, IAN 873, FX 3864 and RRIM 600. Clones PB 260 and IAN 873 were sampled between August 1998 and July 2000; other clones were sampled between August 1999 and July 2000. In the season 1998/1999 samples consisted of 15 leaves of each of 10 plants taken randomly and in the season 1999/2000, 5 leaves of the median stratum of each of 15 plants taken randomly were sampled. A total of 4270 mites were found, belonging to 11 families. Nearly 77,2% of the mites collected belonged to the families Eriophyidae. Tarsone-midae. Tcnuipalpidae and Tetranychidae. composed predominantly by phytophagous species. Phytoseiidae was the most diverse family, with 15 species, followed by the families Tetranychidae and Eriophydae, with five species, and Tydeidae, with four species.

Assemblage structure is related to predictable patterns of species composition, richness, and abundance. Stream habitat heterogeneity can be approached by two markedly hydrological sorts, riffles and pools, mainly featured by current, depth and substrate. Riffle and pool effect was studied on fish assemblages of three headwater terra firme rainforest streams in Urubu River basin. Central Amazonia, by 30-minute diurnal bank-side observational sampling intervals in which specimens were identified and counted. Twenty four habitats were chosen, eigth by stream, four riffles and four pools, for sampling in four trimestral periods in 1996 and 1997. The observations resulted in 754 specimens of 19 species. The most abundant species were: Pyrrhulina brevis Steindachner, 1975, Hemigrammus gr. ocellifer, Hyphessobrycon aff. melazonatus Durbin in Eigenmann, 1908, Hyphessobrycon aff. heterorhabdus (Ulrey, 1864), Iguanodectes variants Géry, 1993, Nannostomus marginatus Eigenmann, 1909. and Aequidens pallidus (Heckel. 1840). Riffles comprised 215 specimens of 15 species, and pools 537 specimens of 17 species. Segregation of assemblages through riffles and pools was explained by a trend of greater species richness and abundance in pools. This pattern might be related to several factors such as higher resource availability and inactivity of nocturnal predator in pools.

The objective of this study was to get some knowledge about the reproductive aspects of Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803), concerning through sex ratio, morphological sexual maturity, reproductive period, fecundity and eggs size. The crabs were collected monthly in Itacuruçá's Mangroves from November, 1997 to November, 1998. Four hundred and seven crabs were caught and they were 47% males, 36% females and 17% ovigerous females. The sex ratio was 1:1.13 (male:female) (X²= 1.54, p > 0.05). The relation of abdomen width (AW) and carapace width (CW) in females showed a positive allometric grow (b = 1.36), it suggests the size onset of maturity occur from 26.0 a 29.0 mm (CW) in females. The ovigerous females occured during all the research period, except for the winter months (June to August). The size of these ovigerous females varied from 26.0 to 48.8 mm with mean size 35.1 + 5.2 mm. Individual fecundity varied from 29,975 to 142,050 eggs and mean fecundity was 74,751 ± 27 eggs. The mean diameter of the eggs was 300 ± 20 µm.

The growth of the crab Goniospis cruentata (Latreille. 1803), was studied in the laboratory, through of the molt increment and intermolt period. A total of 86 crabs (48 males and 38 females) were collected in the ltacuruçá's Mangrove in Mangaratiba's county. Rio de Janeiro. The crabs were maintened in the laboratory in four 1000 l tanks, with continuous water circulation during fifteen months. They were fed each two days with pieces of fish and fruits. The crabs varied in size from 19.3 to 56.0 mm in males and 23.3 to 48.8 mm in females. The males presented until four molts during the experiment and the females until six molts. The molts oceurred during ali the months. The mean percentage of molt increment was 6.1 ± 2.7%, for both sexes and it decreased with the animal growth. The relation between the molt increment and the carapace width can be expressed by the equation IM = -0.32LC + 18.26 (r = -0.82). This relation didn't show any significative difference between the sexes. The mean intermolt period was of 87.6 + 37.3 days in male crabs and 97.3 ± 27.6 days in females. The growth was contiguous, through successive molts, although the increment was reduced with animal size. The intermolt period was proportional to the animal size increase, however males with autotomy of limbs had the intermolt period reduced.

The catfish Trachelyopterus striatulus Steindachner, 1877 is a very abundant fish species in reservoirs in Southeast Brazil, and its relative abundance seems to be increasing in several lentic environments. Despite of being a very common species, few information is available on its distribution and other aspects of ecology. The Lajes reservoir (22º42'-22º50'S e 43º53'-44º05'W) is the largest manmade lake for hydropower purposes in Rio de Janeiro State, where this species rank among the top abundant fishes, both in number and in biomass. Its relative abundance were compared in three zones of the reservoir (upper, central and lower), based on a standardized program, during three annual periods (monthly sampling in 1994 and bi-monthly sampling in 1996 and 1997), with a total of three hundred twenty samples, using gill nets. Environmental variables of water temperature, pH and transparency were taken in each sampling occasion, and information on rainfall and level of the water were recorded. Trachelyopterus striatulus showed an increasing abundance during the study period, rising from fifty rank in 1994 to the most abundant fish in 1997, coinciding with decreasing water level, and suggesting that this species take advantage of the harsh conditions in the reservoir to increase population. Highest number and weight were recorded in the upper zone, which presented the lowest transparency. Seasonally no significance (p > 0,05) difference in abundance was found over the whole period.

Alípio de Miranda Ribeiro was one of the foremost Brazilian naturalists of his era and published extensively on all vertebrate groups. His son, Paulo de Miranda Ribeiro (1901-1965), was an ichthyologist, and, as his father, worked at the Museu Nacional, in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil. Although the papers of Alípio and Paulo de Miranda Ribeiro are commonly cited, two distinct forms are found: Ribeiro and Miranda-Ribeiro. The use a hyphen between Miranda and Ribeiro (spo-radically), and verified names of ancestor and descendants suggest that the better form for citation is Miranda-Ribeiro. A short biographical note on Alípio de Miranda-Ribeiro is provided.

Specimens of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) an asiatic species were caugth in Capão do Tigre, Curitiba, Paraná, South of Brazil, for the first time, feeding on Tinocallis kahawalnokani (Kirkaldy) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) on Lagerstroemia indica Linnaeus (Lythraceae).

In this survey 1,500 samples of nematodes, representing 151 species, distributed in 20 superfamilies, parasitizing Brazilian mammals (Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Chiroptera. Edentata, Lagomorpha, Marsupialia, Perissodactyla, Primates, Rodentia) and deposited between 1916-1963 in the CHIOC were studied. New host records were established for 52 Parasite species distributed in 15 superfamilies, adding new data to previous reports of mammalian nematodes in Brazil.

Data about activity patterns, hourly and monthly, on five phyllostomid bats, Glossophaga soricina (Pallas, 1766), Anoura caudifer (E. Geoffroy, 1818), Camilla perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758), Sturnira lilium (E. Geoffroy, 1810) and Platyrrhinus lineatus (E. Geoffroyi, 1810), studied over a one year period at the Panga Ecological Reserve, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, are reported and discussed.

Hesperandra thomasi sp. nov. is described and illustrated.

The external features of egg, larva and pupa of Dione juno juno (Cramer, 1779) are described and llustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscapy.

The externaifeaturesof egg, larvaandpupa of Heliconius erato phyllis (Fabricius, 1775) are described and illustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscopy.

Plagiometriona (Plagiometriona) dijfusa sp.novo from Conceição da Barra, Espirito Santo State, Brazil, is described.

The Oweniidae consist of five genera of tubiculous polychaetes occurring in all oceans from tropical topolarareas: Owenia Delle Chiaje, 1842, Myriochele Malmgren, 1867, Galathowenia Kirkegaard, 1959, Myriowenia Hartrnan, 1960 and Myrioglobula Hartrnan, 1967. The group is regarded as monophyletic based on the presence of dense fields of bidentate neuropodial hooks. Fourteen species were submitted to a cladistic analysis in PAUP 3.1.1 with the usage of 19 morphological characters.The taxonomic status of the ingroup taxa could be evaluated and it has been found that: (1) Owenia, Myriowenia and Myrioglobula are monophyletic, and (2) Myriochele, and Galathowenia are both paraphyletic taxa.

This research was carried out in twenty counties of the following regions in the state of Rio Grande do Sul: Plain, Central Depression, Plateau and Coast Plain to find out the diversity of mite predators in these places. Forty-six vegetable species were sampled, thirty species of miles of the families Anystidae, Ascidae, Cheyletidae, Cunaxidae, Phyloseiidae and Stigmaeidae were mel. The Phytoseiidae were the mite that presented the greatest diversity, being present in the majority of the sample plants. Most of the Phytoseiidae that were met belong to five species of the Euseius Wainstein, 1962 genus, the second genus of this family was Iphiseiodes DeLeon, 1966, with just one species. The Stigmaeidae come up as second family in number but fewer than Phytoseiidae. In this family, the most common mite belong to the Agistemus Sumers, 1960 genus. The biggest of the mites species (13 species), was met in Morus spp. (Moraceae) and Tabebuia spp. (Bignoniaceae); Phaseolus vulgaris (Papilionaceae); only one species of the mite was met in Campomanesia spp. (Myrtaceae), Phaseolus vulgaris (Papilionaceae) and Rosa spp. (Rosaceae). In Alamanda spp.(Apocinaceae), Ficus spp. (Moraceae), Jacaranda mimosifolia (Bignoniaceae) and Solanum spp. (Solanaceae) were met mites predators. A dichotomic key is presented to separate the families, genus and species of the mites.

The effectiveness of a waste stabilization pond, to remove intestinal helminth eggs and protozoan cysts was studied in San Martin de Porres, Lima, Peru. From September to October 2000 four collections of samples were performed from raw domestic wastewater and from contends of primary, secondary and tertiary ponds. A comparative study of performance of the concentrations methods of Ritchie and Faust was also done. The overall average removal of parasitic forms was as follow: 69.37% from raw water and primary pond; 48.34% from primary to secondary pond; 85.45% from secondary to tertiary pond and 97.69% from raw water to tertiary pond. There was no significant difference in the quantitative performance of Ritchic and Faust methods. Giardia duodenalis (Lambl, 1859) Alexeieff, 1914, Entamoeba coli (Gras, 1879) Casagrandi & Barbagallo, 1895 and Ascaris lumbricoides (Linnaeus, 1758) were detected with both methods. Three other parasites were detected only by Ritchie method: Taenia sp., Rodentolepis nana (von Siebold, 1852) Spasskii, 1954 and Trichuris trichiura (Linnaeus, 1771) Stiles, 1901 and only Faust detected Isospora belli Wenyon, 1923. Overall number of protozoa cysts was higher than the number of helminth eggs. At the end, wastewater had a concentration of 1.5 parasitic forms L¹ what is considered inappropríate for ultimate use in agriculture by current standards.

The aim of this study was to provide information on the biology of a subtropical population ofthe hermit crab Petrochirus diogenes focusing size structure, sex ratio, reproductive period and morphometric relationships. Monthly samples were done between January and December 1995 at Armação of Itapocoroy, Penha, southern Brazil, using two over-trawls in depths from 6.0 to 10.0 m. A total of 126 individuais were collected. Overall sex ratio did not differ from 1:1. When the sex ratio was analyzed for each size class, it was skewed for females in the smallest size classes while males outnumbered females in the largest ones. The mean size (cephalothoracic length) of P. diogenes was 30.61 ± 12.52 mm and the size structure of this population was skewed to the right. Males were on average larger and heavier than both ovigerous and non-ovigerous females, which, in turn, showed similar sizes and weights. The ovigerous females represented 61% ofall females and occurred from January to April and in September and December. The relationship of cephalothoracic length and both cephalothoracic width and crab weight were isometric. Both crab size and weight showed a negative allometry with shell weight, indicating that larger/heavier crabs use proportionally lighter shells than small-sized ones.

During June 1999 to June 2000 one hundred and forty seven females of Hoplosternum littorale Hancock, 1828 were collected from the Curiaú River, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil. The objective of this study was to determine the fecundity and the type of spawning of H. littorale. Analysis of the percentage distribution of the oocyte diameter softh e females, in five different stages of gonadal development, showed that this species is a total spawner. There were two different size graups of oocytes with synchranic development. The total fecundity varied from 9, 144 to 31, 698 mature oocytes.The fecundity, when related to total length and weight, showed that it increases with the enhance in total length and weight.