RCAAP Repository

The understanding of the distribution and richness patterns of species is very important in ecology. Also, for the Cerrado region, this is very important and urgent, because of the strong pressure for new areas designated for agriculture. In five areas of the Cerrado, an exploratory study was carried out on the diversity, evenness and similarity of moth species. Moths were captured in a white sheet hung vertically and illuminated by a 250 Watt mercury vapor lamp. The alpha diversity was calculated using the Shannon-Wiener index (H') and the Simpson index (γ). The beta diversity was examined for all sampled localities and estimated by Wittaker's measure. The Sörensen and Jaccard indexes were used to calculate similarity. A total of 11130 individuals, 1064 species and 33 families were collected during the study. Great differences were found in the diversity (H'), and according to this index, the minimum value found was 1.60 and highest value was 4.59. From the Simpson index (γ), the minimum value was 0.42 and highest 0.96. With both methods, in all the localities, these values were significantly different by the T test (p<0.001). The mean beta diversity found was 0.6929, and the minimum and highest values found were respectively 0.4328 and 0.8615. A positive correlation was found between beta diversity and distances among the localities (r²=0.5844, p<0.05). Faunal similarities among sites were low, and the highest value found was 0.4146 by Sörensen index and 0.2615 by Jaccard index.

The Littorina ziczac (Gmelin, 1791) species complex was studied in Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. The occurrence of three species was confirmed, through the analysis of penis morphology: L. ziczac (Gmelin, 1791), L. lineata d'Orbigny, 1841 and L. lineolata d'Orbigny, 1840. There is a correlation between the morphology of the penis and shell shape, thus it was possible to make a discrimination model based in conchologic data, with an efficiency of 75%. However, this model cannot be applied to others samples that weren't included in its formulation, due to phenotypic plasticity of the shell caused by biotic and abiotic factors. In the 9 areas studied L. lineolata was always the most abundam species. No vertical stratification in the distribution of the species was verified. From the nine enzymatic systems examined, only Pgi, Pgm e Mpi, presented identifiable patterns and no diagnostic locus was identified in any species. Nevertheless, S and I suggest the individualization of L. ziczac and L. lineata,respectively.

Studies were carried out with Lagerstroemia speciosa Pers. on floral reproductive systems, diversity and constancy of visiting insects at different hours of day, the behaviour of these insects at the flowers and the influence of these environmental factors in relation to their visits. The fenology, anthesis and others particularity of this vegetal species was studied. A great diversity of insects was verified visiting the flowers with the predominance of bees. The most frequent and constant species encountered were: Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier, 1836) (40,2%), Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811) (16,9%), Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 (11,8%), Plebeia droryana (Friese, 1900) (9,1 %) e Exomalopsis fulvofasciata (Smith, 1879) (8,5%). The blossoms possessis features of melittophily syndrome and diurnal anthesis. The environmental factors influence the insects foraging activity, mainly temperature, light, time of day, humidity and wind speed. The effective pollinators were the large insects like Bombus morio (Swederus, 1787), Bombus atratus (Franklin, 1913), Centris tarsata (Smith, 1874), Centris flavifrons Fabricius, 1775, Xylocopa suspecta Camargo &amp; Moure, 1988, Xylocopa frontalis (Olivier, 1789) and Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier, 1841.

The breeding activity of Scinax rizibilis (Bokermann, 1964) was observed in a temporary pond, in the municipality of Ribeirão Branco, in the Southern São Paulo State from February 1993 to January 1994 and November 1994 to February 1995. The reproductive season extended from September to February. Females were larger and heavier (after oviposition) than males. In the choras, the spatial distribution tended towards uniformity. The number of males and females in the chorus was positively correlated. However there was no correlation between the number of males and the estimation of the operational sex ratios. On average there were seven males for each female present in the chorus. The males were apparently selected by females.

Hematological parameters of freshwater fish Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) kept in an intensive polyculture system were determined. The correlations among these parameters as well as those between the parameters and the biometric data (total weight and standard length) were also analyzed. Erythrocytes count was 1.708±0.42 x 10(6)/µl, hemoglobin 6.6±2.0 g% of blood and hematocrit 32.5±4.6%, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 209.8±69.5%, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) 40.2±5.6 pg and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 21.4±8.4%. The percentage of defense blood cells including leucocytes and thrombocytes, was studied. The percentage of thrombocytes was 61.4±10.0%, lymphocytes 21.7±1.8%,neutrophils 10.4±11.0%, monocytes 4.7±3.3% and special granulocitic cells 1.8±2.0%. The number of erythrocytes was positively correlated with the hemoglobin rate and negatively correlated with MVC. Hemoglobin was positively correlated with MCHC whereas hematocrit was negatively correlated with MCHC and MVC. Contrarily, leukocytes did not show correlations among themselves or with the hematological parameters and biometric data.

Observations and recordings of Picumnus nebulosus Sundevall, 1866 were carried out at Santa Rita farm (21º15'S, 50º00'), municipality of Palmeira, state of Paraná, southern Brazil, from 1984 to 1991. The song of this species (0.25 s to 0.64 s total time) is composed by a series of four to six high pitched (6.3 to 7.8 kHz) and short (0.03 to 0.05 s) notes (n=23). The fight call is a series of very short notes emitted between 2 to 8 kHz during 0.23 s to 0.32 s (n=34). The drum, a sequence of pulses, is emitted during 3.5 to 7.2 s (n=42); the four sequences in the begining are composed by four pulses and the rest by three pulses. P. nebulosus was more abundant in forest patches than in continuous forest. It was usually watched foraging in branches 1 to 4 mm diameter at mid-level; foraging in bamboo, the most common habitat cited in the literature, was registered in less than 10% of the observations.

This study presents data on the color polymorphism in Chauliognathus flavipes Fabricius 1781 (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), analysing the variations in the emergence pattern of phenotypic classes for elytra color and mating system. The frequency of the phenotypic classes varies significantly throughout the season (males:X² = 59,705; females: X² = 61,017; 10 gl; p<0.001) being similar in males and females. The frequency of classes does not differ significantly among the insects that were copulating and those that were not copulating at the time of collection, i.e., the matings are random for elytra color patterns. The variations observed in frequency of phenotypic classes are not influenced by factors associated with sex. Furthermore, the elytra color patterns probably do not influence the individuals' ability to copulate.

A study has been made on the geographical distribution and comparative external and cranial morphological analysis of Artibeus lituratus Olfers, 1818 and Artibeus fimbriatus Gray, 1838 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A. lituratus and A. fimbriatus were found to be sympatric in the state north to the "Planície Costeira", in the "Depressão Central", in the hillsides of "Serra Geral", and in the northern region of the state, areas previously covered by forests. The southernmost point for Artibeus Leach, 1821 distribution is 30º South, and A. lituratus and A. fimbriatus are the two species found more to the south. The two species studied do not show sexual dimorphism as to external characteristics. Cranial measurements revealed significant differences between males and females of A. lituratus in mandible length, which was significantly larger in females(p<5%), and between males and females of A. fimbriatus, in the length of the set of lower teeth and in the external width between the cingula of canine teeth, which were significantly larger in males (p<5%). No further morphological cranial differences were found between genders of both species. A. lituratus and A. fimbriatus can be externally distinguished by size, for A. lituratus is larger than A. fimbriatus as concerns all external dimensions analysed except for the tibia length (p<5%). The two species can also be differentiated by pelage colour, hair length, and facial stripes appearance. In the skull, a number of differences were found in rostrum format, in the developmental degree of supraorbital and post-orbital crests and pre-orbital and post-orbital processes, and in several cranial dimensions analysed.

Euprepina Hull, 1971 (Diptera, Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae) a neotropical genus with ten species is revised. Redescriptions of eight species were made: E. nuda Hull, 1971, E. amabilis (Wulp, 1881), E. beckeri Lamas &amp; Couri, 1998, E. bicincta (Wiedemann, 1830), E. caminaria (Wiedemann, 1830), E. knutsoni Hull, 1971, E. maracajula Hull, 1971 and E. truxalia Hull, 1971, with illustrations of the types, male terminalia and spermathecae. Two synonymies - E. bicincta (Wiedemann, 1830), syn.: E. bicincta Hull, 1971; and E. nuda Hull, 1971, syn.: E. shannoni Hull, 1971 - are proposed. A key to species are presented except to E. goyaz (Macquart, 1840) and E. aperta (Macquart, 1847), which were not included in this study, as no material was examined.

Three different galls of Bruggmannia spp. (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz. (Nyctaginaceae) were studied at Restinga of Barra de Maricá, State of Rio de Janeiro. Thirty parasitoid species are associated to these galls. Most of them is generalist and solitary. Hyperparasitoidism is common. The trophic relations among gall makers and parasitoids are presented.

Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the gill arch surface from juveniles of Mugil platanus Günther, 1880 is similar to that reported for others euryhaline teleosts. Two filament rows (about 41-49 filament per row) extend posteriorly, and two rows of rakers (about 42-46 rakers per row) extended anteriorly from each arch. Respiratory lamellae protrude along both sides of each filament (37/mm), from the base to the apex. The distribution, sizes and structure of various surface cells were also described. Except for the respiratory lamellae, the surface of whole gill arch is covered by a mosaic of pavement cells, which measure about 6,94X4,61µm and exhibit concentrically arranged surface ridges. The anterior pharyngeal surfaces of the raker of the first arch and the ventral part of the second, smooth secondary projections are present which are replaced by spiny secondary projections on the dorsal part of the second arch, and entire third and fourth arches. Taste buds are especially prominent between smooth projections. Apical ciypts of chloride cells oceur mostly at the afferent surface of the gill filament.

A survey of bats species from Monte Alegre Farm is presented. One hundred and two bats of 14 species belonging to Phyllostomidae and Vespertilionidae were colected. Remarks about reproduction and feeding habits are included.

The larva of Scinax similis (Cochran, 1952) is described from Ilha do Fundão (Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil). Comparisons with other species of the group that occur in Southeastern Brazil are added. The larva of S. similis can be distinguished by the following diagnostic features: (1) eyes large in relation to body length (17,3%), body height (26,8%), and body width (29,7%), interocular distance three times larger than eye diameter; (2) lower beak with two transverse stripes, proximal half white and distal half black.

New occurrences of 11 species of reef fishes are reported for the western South Atlantic, range extensions are recorded for additional 37 reef species along the Brazilian coast, and the distribution of reef ichthyofauna along the eastern coast of South America is commented upon.

A new species of titi monkey, Catticebus, is described based on five specimens obtained from the state of Sergipe, north-eastern Brazil. It is a member of the Personatus group, but is easily distinguished from the other forms. The most noticeable differences are in the pelage coloration, the forehead, crown, and ear being black, and having a zebra-like, striped pattern on the anterior half of the back. Distinct features of its dental morphology and craniometry are also described.

Haematological parameters as erythrocytes, leukocytes and plasma glucose in Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 were analyzed. Fish were parasitized with Argulus sp. (Crustacea, Branchiura) and treated with 0.4 mg of thriclorphon 500/L water. The effects of parasitism and the action of the treatment were evaluated. Parasitized fish showed greater number of monocytes (P>0.05) and special granulocitic cells (P<0.01) in the peripheric blood than the unparasitized (control) fish. Parasitized fish showed lower number of thrombocytes (P>0.05). Organophosphate treatment presented significantly reduction (P>0.05) in red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin.

Species composition and abundance of fishes that escaped from aquaculture facilities during catastrophic flooding in the Paranapanema and Tibagi rivers, in January, 1997 was estimated. In all , 1,292,000 adult individuais belonging to 11 species and 1 hybrid, were introduced into these rivers; only one species was native. The disaster is attributed to the illegal occupation of the river banks, and the non observance of standard measures designed to avoid escapement.

Fifty-three nematode species, related to 9 superfamilies, 13 families and 26 genera, recovered from Brazilian fishes, represented by 75 host species are presented. Thirty-eight nematode species, out of the 53 reported, are also illustrated and included in measurement tables, one is listed and figured, and two only listed. Data on family, genus and subgenus level, are provided.

A small mammal study was carried out in Pamparrão valley, Sumidouro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 1991 to July 1996. The area was characterised by small rural properties with vegetable plantations, pasture lands and small forest fragments. Small mammals were captured in seven line transects along the valley. Eleven small mammal species were captured: the didelphid marsupials Didelphis aurita, Philander frenata and Monodelphis americana, and the rodents Nectomys squamipes, Akodon cursor, Oligoryzomys nigripes, Bolomys lasiurus, Oecomys concolor (Sigmodontinae), Rattus ratlus (Murinae), Proechimys iheringi and Euryzygo-matomys guiara (Echimyidae). The heterogeneous habitat configuration probably allowed the occurrence of marsupials and more rodent species when compared to studies in monoculture areas.

Synapterpes (S.) hanleyi (Pfeiffer, 1846) is characterized by anatomy, synonymy and geographical distribution. Shell and soft parts were studied and important taxonomic characters evaluated and illustrated. These studies give conditions to characterize the species and include it in the genus Synapterpes Pilsbry, 1896 and distinguish S. hanleyi from the other species of Synapterpes s.s. known only by their shells, respectively from Brazil and Colombia: S.(S.) coronatus (Pfeiffer, 1846) and S.(S.) wallisi (Mousson, 1869).