RCAAP Repository

Material collected with a 2-meter wide beam trawl during eight surveys conducted from December 1995 to February 1997 was used for a first preliminary description of the reproduction and population dynamics of the edible venerid bivalve Chione pubera (Bory Saint-Vicent, 1827). Greatest catches were found between 30 to 35 meters depth, on fine sandy bottoms with a mud content lower than 10%. Dry weight meat condition index showed highest values during autumn and lowest values from winter to summer months. Histological analysis of gonadal tissue showed a continuous reproduction, with peaks of maturation on autumn and spring, Spawning was related with the increase of water temperature, that occurs twice a year in the region as a consequence of a particular hydrological characteristic of the inner continental shelf. Size frequency distribution showed a unique principal mode with slow if any displacement through time, indicating a long lived species.

A morphological study of adult and immature stages of the Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) is presented with descriptions and original data. The insects were dissected and studied under compound and scanning electron microscope. The structures described were: sensorial pores on the antennae; asymmetrical mandibles of adults and larvae; sexual dimorphism of tibial spurs and terminal segments of pupae, and short setae on the urogornphi of the last larval instar.

From October 1995 to January 1996 a survey of the culicid species mentioned above was carried out in a restrict Atlantic Forest area, located in the Marumbi mountain (approximately 6,5 km from the town of Morretes). Shannon light trap was used during 48 nights, in the four lunar phases: full moon, first quarter, new moon and last quarter between evening and morning twilights. A total of 594 Coquillettidia (Rhynchotaenia) venezuelensis (Theobald, 1912) specimens were collected and the different night flight activity in the four moon phases was observed. Regarding the hourly activity, the peak higher numbers of Coquillettidia venezuelensis were collected in the first three hours. Concerning the environmental factors, temperature was found to be the more relevant one for the flight activity of Coquillettidia venezuelensis.

The occurrence of Crepidobothrium sp.(Cestoda, Proteocephalidae) in the intestine of Bothrops moojeni (Hoge,1965)(Serpentes, Viperidae) is reported. The host snake was rescued from the fauna in Porto Primavera dam, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. The snake died in captivity on July 13,1999. At necropsy, 28 tapeworms were found in the snake intestine. The analysis of specimens morphology allowed the conclusion that they belong to the Crepidobothrium (Monticelli, 1900) genus. It was not possible to determine the Crepidobothrium species due to the lack of the gravid proglottids. This is the first report of B. moojeni as a host of cestodes.

Simpsonichthys boitonei Carvalho, 1959 has an evident sexual dimorphism, easily observed in the color pattern and body proportions. In order to know the differences in the diet between males and females, the stomach contents of 28 individuals was examined. The Sorensen's index of similarity showed 90.9% of food items in common between sex. The main food in this species is Cladocera as evidenced in terms of average number, abundance and frequency of occurrence. The presence of vegetable is evidence of a high flexibility of this species in relation to the feeding behavior. Maybe the differences in the social behavior between sex are important in the total amount of ingested food.

Two new species are described: Chlorotettix essbejus sp. n. (Peru) and Chlorotettix dentatus sp, n. (Colombia).

Nesothamnus amazonicus sp. n., from Brazil, is described and illustrated.

A survey of Monomachidae species was carried out in anarea of Atlantic rain forest of the Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, Espírito Santo State, Brazil between September, 1996 and August, 1997. Two species of Mollomachus Klug, 1841, M. fuscator Perty, 1833 and M. eurycephalus Schletterer, 1890 were collected from May to September. Both species are typical of winter time and showed the same parttern of seasonality.

Sixty specimens of Caranx hippos (Linnaeus, 1766) and fifty-five specimens of Caranx latus Agassiz, 1831 collected from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro (21-23ºS, 41-45ºW), Brazil, from October 1998 to October 1999, were necropsied to study their metazoan parasites. All specimens of C. hippos were parasitized, and the majority of specimens of C latus (96.4%) were parasitized by one or more metazoan species. Nineteen species of parasites were collected in C. hippos: 5 digeneans, 5 monogeneans, 2 cestodes, 5 nematodes, and 2 copepods. Seventeen species of parasites were collected in C. latus: 6 digeneans, 2 monogeneans, 3 cestodes, 4 nematodes, and 2 copepods. The endoparasites (digeneans, cestodes, and nematodes) were the majoriry, 76.4% and 63.3%, of the total number of parasite specimens collected in C. hippos and C. latus, respectively. The monogeneans Allopyragraphorus hippos (Hargis, 1956) and Cemocotyle carangis (MacCallum, 1913) were the most dominant species with the highest parasitic prevalence in the parasite community of C. hippos and C. latus, respectively. The metazoan parasites of the two host species showed the typical overdispersed pattern of distribution. Bucephalus varicus Manter, 1940. A. hippos, Protomicrocotyle mirabilis (MacCallum, 1918), Cucullanus pulcherrimus Barreto, 1918, and Lemanthropus giganteus KrΦyer, 1863 had a positive correlation only between the host's total length and abundance andlor prevalence in C. hippos. Bucephalus varicus, Tergestia pectinata (Linton, 1905), C. carangis, and Pseudoterranovo sp. had a positive correlation between the host's total length and abundance and/or prevalence in C. latus. In C. hippos, the copepod Caligus robustus Bassett-Smith, 1898 had the highest values of prevalence and abundance in the female hosts. No parasite species showed influence of the host's sex on their prevalence and abundance in C. latus. The mean diversity and the parasite species richness of the parasite infracommunities of C. hippos and C. latus were not significantly different. Only the parasite species diversity of C. hippos was correlated with the host's total length; in both host species the parasite diversity did not showed differences in relation to the sex of the host. Only one pair of ectoparasite species, A. hippos - P. mirabilis, showed significant positive co-occurrence and covariation in the parasite infracommunities of C. hippos. Two endoparasite species, B. varicus - Parahemiurus merus (Linton, 1910), showed negative co-occurrence and positive covariation; and the pair B. varicus - Pseudoterranova sp. had positive co-occurrence and covariation in the infracommunities of C. latus. The values of qualitative and quantitative simila rity coefficients between the parasite communities of C. hippos and C. latus were 55.5 and 30.4, respectively. The parasite communities of C. hippos and C. latus were defined as closest to isolationist type because there are few evidences of interspecific associations or covariations. Additional parasitological studies on other species of carangid fishes from the South American Atlantic Ocean are needed to evaluate the structure of carangid parasite communities in the Neotropical region.

Frontal weapon is the term used to designate the apparatus consisting of frontal gland and associated structures that participate in the chemical defense of termite soldiers. The ultra structure of the frontal gland and the scanning microscopy of the soldier head was investigated in the termite Amiitermes euamignathus Silvestri, 1901.Campaniform sensilla was not observed but there were 80 to100 sensory bristles around the frontal pore. The glandular epithelium shows only class 1 cells according 10 the classification of NOIROT & QUENNEDEY (1974, 1991). The glandular cells are characterized by apical microvilli, a basal labyrinth and a large quantity of smooth endoplasmic reticulum which forms dense zones throughout the cytoplasm. The secretion is concentrated mainly in the basal pole of the cell and consists of large lipid droplets. The secretory epithelium is covered by a thick apical cuticle composed of a thin outer epicuticle, a layer of epicuticular filaments and a dense procuticle. The cytological results concerning the frontal pore showed a reduced cuticle and the presence of a subcuticular space where the lipid droplets are accumulated. The lack of class 3 cells and the presence of an intrinsic musculature are two anatomical features of the A. euamignathus frontal gland that will be important in the phylogenetic relationships of the Nasutitermitinae.

A survey performed in the Guaratuba Bay (25º52'S; 48º39'W) and the adjacent marine area has provided additional data about the habits of the croaker in the southern coast of Brazil. A dynamic pattern of movements along the marine and estuarine waters was observed, but it does not indicate spawning activity in the study area. During autumn/winter, pre-adults and adults use the marine waters. In spring/summer, following gonadal maturation,the individuals leave this area and probably move to deeper waters, where they spawn. Until the end of summer, the estuary is then occupied by juveniles coming from the marine spawning area. In autumn/winter, these juveniles and the new pre-adults move to the marine zone adjacent to the bay and begin gonadal maturation. It is suggested that the Guaratuba Bay and the adjacent marine area constitute an important site for growth and recruitment of the early lifestages of M. furnieri and initial stages of reproductive activity.

A fragment of a forest, located in the urban area of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, was chosen to represent the area for this study. Many Merostachys Spreng, 1824 bamboo, which were naturally perforated and, therefore, ready to retain water, were found in the interior of this forest. Bamboo were collected every fifteen days during field actions. They were then measured and cut meter by meter before their contents were analyzed in the laboratory. A total of 542 specimens from the following species were collected during one year: Sabethes aurescens (Lutz, 1905), Sabethes melanomymphe Dyar, 1924, Sabethes identicus Dyar & Knab, 1907, Wyeomyia rooti (Del Ponte, 1939), Wyeomyia limai Lane & Cerqueira, 1942, Wyeomyia sp., Trichoprosopon pallidiventer (Lutz, 1905), Trichoprosopon humboldti Lane & Cerqueira, 1942, Toxorhynchites sp. e Shannoniana schedocyclium (Dyar & Knab, 1908). Wyeomyia limai and Sabethes aurescens were the most frequently found species. The first specie had the highest population index in february whereas the Sabethes aurescens, had its highest index in july, february and november. The largest number of larvae were obtained in the months of february and march. As for stratification, the greatest quantity of larvae was found at two meters. The specie Wyeomyia limai predominated in all heights, being most abundant at three meters high whereas the Sabethes was most abundant at one meter high. The presence of bamboo in small forest spots in urban areas is enough to host a certain variety of Culicidae of the Sabethini tribe which are considered wild mosquito. These same mosquito, due to their hematophagus habitat, can be hazardous to public health.

The breadth and overlap of male call site were determined for 15 anuran species from a temporary pond in Northwestern São Paulo State, Brazil. Four measurements were made at the point of capture of each calling male and the frequency of mating call was determined. There was a high overlap along each variable of call site, but less than 28% of possible species pairs presented high overlap for all variables. Taxonomically related species pairs calling from grass presented spatial and acoustic segregation, while those calling from the graund presented only acoustic segregation. The similarity of call site seems to be not only related to the taxonomic relationships but also with the body size and spatial heterageneity.

Despite its enormous area, diversity of habitat, and bat species, studies in the Brazilian Amazon represent just a small portion of the bat research in the South América. Consequently, the distribution of the major part of the bat species in the Brazilian Amazon remains incompletely documented. Conservation strategies involving bat species in the Brazilian Amazon may be difficult without more information about geographic distribution, status, roost, food preferences, and reproduction of the species. Here is presented an updated list of species of bats of Alter do Chão, and complete this list with data from the nearby Amazon National Park, providing a list of bats in the Santarém area. This list includes at least 55 species of bats, representing 34 genera, and 7 families. The higher taxonomic composition of bat fauna of Santarérn area is similar to other areas sampled in the Brazilian Amazon, with a high proportion of frugivores, but the number of aerial insectivores is lower, probably due the use of mist nets as the principal sampling method.

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.