RCAAP Repository

The remaining portion of the Atlantic Forest within the State of Sao Paulo is highly fragmented and most of the remainders are wrapped up in an essentially agricultural mosaic. This study aims at the local surveying of non-volant mammals, including their distribution and relative abundance within the human-altered environments of campus "Luiz de Queiroz", University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, an urbanized area bordered by two highways and the Piracicaba River. The landscape of the study area is characterized by a mosaic of small forest fragments surrounded by pastures, agriculture, and planted forests. Small mammals were captured from February to October, 2001, with an effort of 7056 day-traps, sampling the most representative environments of the campus: planted Eucalyptus (L'Héritier) and Pinus (Shaw) forests, native forest fragment, meadow, rubber tree (Hevea sp.) plantation, agriculture and pasture area. Occurrence of medium and large frame mammals was recorded daily (morning and afternoon) from November of 2000 to October of 2001 along a trail set up to merge the studied environments. Sixteen species of non-volant mammals were recorded, ten of medium or big body-size, and six of small body-size. Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766)) and coati (Nasua nasua (Linnaeus, 1766)) were the most abundant species.

Imposex, the development of male sex organs on the female, is registered and described for Olivancillaria vesica vesica (Gmelin, 1791) at Restinga da Marambaia beach, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

This paper reports the occurrence of diapause in Tenuipalponychus tabebuiae Aguilar, Flechtmann & Ochoa, 1991, for the first time in tropical region, and describes the morphological differences between the diapausing and no-diapausing females.

Vestistiloides gen. nov. is described for C. uncicornis Fowler, 1895, the type species, Ceresa concinna Fowler, 1895, C. nigra Goding, 1928, C. nigrovittata Fowler, 1895, C. nigricornis Fowler, 1895, C. nitidalis Buckton, 1905, C. sallei Stål, 1864, C. variabilis Fowler, 1895 and Vestistilus distinctus Andrade, 1989.

Zeraikia novafriburguensis gen. nov., sp. nov. are described. A key for New World genera of Peiratinae is given.

The species Ophidascaris durissus sp. nov. is proposed with basis on specimens recovered from the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus L., 1758 (type host) captured in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil (type locality). By the lack of interlabia, the new species can be compared only to O. natricis Yamaguti, 1935 from Japan and O. freitasi Hoa & Lien, 1970, from Vietnam. However, O. durissus sp. nov. differs from O. natricis mainly by the absence of internal lip papillae, location of the vulvar aperture and length of the spicules; from O. freitasi mostly by the greater number of pre-cloacal and distribution of post-cloacal papillae.

Aspects of the behavior of the theraphosid spider Pachistopelma rufonigrum, in two species of tank bromeliads in an area with white sands in the Serra de Itabaiana, Sergipe, Brazil, are described. Observations on habitat, microhabitat, foraging, ecdysis and reproduction, were made. Our data suggested that P. rufonigrum inhabits only these species of bromeliads, since all stages of the life cycle were observed in the plant. The relationships degrees between P. rufonigrum and the species of studied tank bromeliads are discussed.

Eight cicada species were collected in an urban area of Brasília (Brazil). Their nymphal casts were characterized and a dichotomous key was prepared to identify cicada species.

Polychaetes are metameric worms recognized for having parapodia, chaetae, and nuchal organs. Some authors have extended the Annelida to include Pogonophora, Echiura, and Clitellata. These suggestions are insufficient to generate a monophyletic group. They do not take into account two very large and important clades that in a cladistic analysis at a higher level are shown to be nested within the Annelida: the Ecdysozoa (arthropods and related taxa) and Enterocoela (deuterostomes and related taxa). Evolutionary histories of most characters across metazoan phyla are still very poorly known. Metameres and coeloms have been considered homoplastic in the literature, and yet the homeobox genes responsible for the expression of metamerism and of paired appendages, at least, are very largely distributed among the Metazoa. A phylogenetic analysis was performed for the ingroups of Polychaeta, including Clitellata, Enterocoela, and Ecdysozoa as terminal taxa. The remaining non-metameric phyla Platyhelminthes, Nemertea, Mollusca, and Sipuncula were included to root the tree within the Bilateria. Empirical data was obtained from the literature and run with the software Hennig86 with two comparative interpretations of a priori hypotheses of primary homology: one with negative characters (coding losses) and another considering only positive characters (without assumptions about losses). The most relevant conclusions are: (1) Annelida and Polychaeta are non-monophyletic, even when including Echiura, Clitellata, and Pogonophora; (2) Articulata, as traditionally circumscribed for Annelida and Arthropoda, is also not monophyletic; (3) Metameria becomes monophyletic only when Ecdysozoa and Enterocoela are included in addition to the traditional annelid taxa; (4) Ecdysozoa are the sister group of Aphrodita; (5) Clitellata are related to deposit-feeding sedentary polychaetes (scolecids), and Questidae represent their sister group; (6) Owenia plus Enterocoela form a monophyletic group related to the tubicolous polychaetes.

Vegetation islands inside urban area can propitiate the formation of: a) adults refuge to many mosquitoes species, b) diversity of hosters, c) allows the proliferation of immature stages through naturals and artificial breeding, these ones were done by the interaction between antropic activity developed in these spaces or around areas. Considering the possibilities of contacts between the vector and the human population, the aim of this work was to verify the Culicidae species that can use man as blood source in the restricted areas of Botanical Garden, Curitiba. The capture of adults using the method of human bait at soil level, inside the forest, monthly during the period of October 13th 1998 to September 22nd 1999, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 312 Culicidae specimens were captured, and 15 species were found. The predomiant species belong to Culex (Culex) coronator Dyar & Knab, 1906 group. Others species found with potential epidemiological importance were: Haemagogus (Conopostegus) leucocelaenus (Dyar & Shannon, 1924), Ochlerotatus (Ochlerotatus) fluviatilis (Lutz, 1904) e Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) strodei Root, 1926.

The post-marsupial growth stages of the gammaridean ampithoid species Sunampithoe pelagica Milne-Edwards, 1830, six developmental stages for juveniles, three for females and at least seven for males, were described. The characterization was based on the increase of antennal article number, in the morphological modifications of gnathopods I and II, and on alteration of the number of setae.

At the end of 1998 and the beginning of 1999, the golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857), Mytilidae, originating from Southeast Asia, was registered for the first time in the Guaíba Lake Basin, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Quantitative samples were taken since the first register and for two years at various localities in the Jacuí Delta, northern limit of Guaíba Lake, and in the south limit of the later where it empties into Patos Lagoon. Samplings in Patos Lagoon revealed the presence of L. fortunei in October 2000 at Arambaré (30º54'S, 51º30'W) and in January 2001 at São Lourenço do Sul (31º20'S, 51º58'W). Quantitative samplings on roots of water hyacinths Eichhornia azurea (Sw.) Kunth and E. crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laubach, on rhizomes of rushes Scirpus californicus (C.A. Mey.) Steud. and on trunks of Cephalanthus glabratus (Spreng.) K. Schum, were made in Jacuí Delta and on the beaches of Vila de Itapuã and Pombas camping area, in the Municipality of Viamão. Limnoperna fortunei encreased in number to a maximum density of 27,275 individuals/m² one year and five months after the first register and 62,100 individuals/m² two years later. In November 2000, i.e., two years after the appearance of the species in Guaíba Lake, it was recorded the first macrofouling in the pipes catching water for the city of Porto Alegre and in filters and pipelines of the cellulose industry Riocell-Klabin, Municipality of Guaíba (30º06'S, 51º20'W). Limnoperna fortunei preferentially occur on rhizomes of rushes, initially forming flat clusters that grow to large mass. It also fix on the shells and soft parts of native bivalves and on shells and operculum of gastropods, prevening full closure of these mollusks. The recent decrease of rushy areas on the shores of Guaíba Lake is attributed to invasion of L. fortunei.

This is the first report of an ongoing study on arthropofauna of forensic importance in Callao, Peru using a baby pig (Sus scrofa Linneaus, 1758) on land as a model to determine the arthropofauna over 84 days of weekly survey between 17 July and 02 October 2 000. A total of 4,405 specimens were collected belonging to five orders and eight families: Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) (81.62%); Dermestes maculatus (De Geer, 1774) (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) (16.35%); Fannia canicularis (Linnaeus, 1761) (Diptera, Muscidae) (0.04%); Saprinus aeneus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera, Histeridae) (1.48%); Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775) (Coleoptera, Cleridae) (0.45%); Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) (0.02%); Porcellio laevis Latreille, 1804 (Isopoda, Porcellionidae) (0.02%) and Hadruroides lunatus (L. Koch, 1867) (Scorpionida, Iuridae) (0.02%). Larvae accounted for 76%, pupae 14% and adults 10% of the total collected. The arthropods were into three: necrophages (98.01%), predators (1.95%) and omnivorous (0.04%). C. macellaria were significantly higher during the decayed stage; by contrast D. maculatus was much higher in dry remains stage. The highest diversity with the Shannon-Weaver (H') and Pielou (J) index were found during the advanced decayed stage. The absence of species of genus Chrysomyia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 is discussed.

The influence of abundance and distribution of fruits and gums resources in home range size and pattern of range use were investigated in Callithrix jacchus. From October 1996 to January 1998 two groups (QT and PB) that lived in a National Forest/IBAMA-RN in northeastern Brazil (6º5'S, 35º12'W), were observed once a week by instantaneous scan sampling. The frequency of quadrant's visit in the home range was recorded at five minute intervals. Trees used for feeding on fruits and/or gum by the study groups were marked with flagging tape and numbered. Samples of the food items were collected for identification. Data on the temporal variation in fruits abundance was based on the monthly phenological observations of the marked trees. Study groups showed small home range size (QT: 2.4 ha and PB: 0.7 ha). No significant differences in home range size between dry and wet months were found, but groups showed a tendency to broadened the range use in the wet months. This revealed a behavioral strategy which marmosets exploited more gums face to decreased in fruits abundance. The abundance and distribution in clusters of fruits and gums resources influenced the pattern of range use and home range size.

Some aspects of the reproductive cycle of female "lambari", Astyanax scabripinnis paranae (Eigenmann, 1927) were studied. The specimens were collected in intervals of fifteen days, from September 1979, until November 1980, in the Marrecas creek (Irerê and Paiquerê districts), Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. The maturity scale was characterized in five stages: immature, maturation, spawning, spent, and resting, which was established by the gonad-somatic relation and the ovary morphology and microscopic aspects. The maturation curve and distribution of maturity stages show that the period of reproduction is very long; spawning extended from July to March. The gonad cycle is related to seasons: maturation occurs chiefly in the winter months, spawning specimens are found in spring and summer, and those in rest are frequent in autumn. In the first sexual maturation the medium length of females was 5.04 cm. Also was observed more males than females during all collecting periods.

A study of the life history of the solitary bee Monoeca xanthopyga, was conducted at the Araucária Plateau, at the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The study focused the seasonality, sexual behavior, females activity during nest building, the exploited plant resources and the associated parasitoids. Three nest aggregations of M. xanthopyga built in clay soil with few plant cover or none at all, were studied on the Parque Nacional dos Aparados da Serra, located in Cambará do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State. The nests were randomly distributed in areas up to eight square meters in size and reach a maximum density of 57 nests per square meter. The only one generation occurred from January to April. The immature stayed in diapausa in the prepupa stage during eight to 11 months. Males emerged a few days before females, and disappeared from the aggregations four days before the end of females activities. The search for females to mate occurred at nests from the previous year, where many males struggled for a single emergent female. It is suggested that males perceive smells emitted by females. Copulation's lasted, on average, 26 seconds and, immediately after it, the couple separated. Nest building females were not attractive to males. Mating tests, at artificial environments showed the occurrence of copulation with both virgin and fertilized females. After mating, the females returned to the aggregations and established new nests by digging new tunnels, or by using abandoned nests. The bee's flying activities began around 6 A.M. and lasted up to 6 P.M. The females did, on average, eight trips per day, each one lasting 31,4 minutes. They returned from the trips carrying pollen and/or floral oils. These resources were obtained from flowers of Malpighiaceae and Fabaceae species. Pollinaria from orchids of the genus Oncidium Sw. were carried accidentally by males and females. Mutilid parasitoids were present at the aggregations of M. xanthopyga during all the period of the activities. One species of Traumatomutilla André, 1903 was related to the immature of these bees, composing the first registration of inhabitant of this Mutillidae.

The benthic fauna has an important role in the trophic chain of limnic environments, serving as food for fishes and crustaceans. This work aimed to identify and compare, quantitative and qualitatively, the macrobenthic communities from two watercourses in Rio Grande do Sul State. Samplings were done with a Surber sampler, monthly, from September 1999 to August 2000, in one of the creeks forming Tainhas River(29º15'30,2"S, 50º13'12,5"W), around São Francisco de Paula city and in Mineiro Creek (29º30'0,2"S, 50º46'50"W), around Taquara city. At each sampling point, physical and chemical variables of the waters were registered. In the laboratory, the samples were sorted out and the animals identified and quantified. Dissolved oxigen, pH and stream speed were very similar for both environments, whilst conductivity had extreme values. Insects, crustaceans, acari and molluscs dominated in the samples. Abundance, richness and diversity indexes in Tainhas subsidiary had relatively higher average values than Mineiro Creek. Similarity matrix groupings between sampling units indicate three groups. Our research revealed important characteristics of the ecology and distribution of benthic invertebrates, information that can subsidise future environmental monitoring in the region of São Francisco de Paula and Taquara.

Two new species from Peru: Anthidulum lamasi sp. nov. from San Ramón and Anthidulum clausi sp. nov. from Pichanaki, both from the Junín Province; and Anthidianum chilense sp. nov. from Arica, Chile are described. The Lectotype of Anthidium caroliameghinoi Brèthes, 1903, is designated, and a taxonomic change is made: Antidianum caroliameghinoi (Brèthes, 1903) comb. nov.

A quantitative research of parasites of 67 endemic frog Telmatobius jelskii (Peters, 1863) collected from Laguna Tucto (76°46'11"W, 10°39'11"S) where Pativilca River is originated was conducted, and was located in the Province of Oyon, high Andean area from the Department of Lima, Peru during September-October 2000. Of the frogs collected, 23 were females and 44 males. Male showed a length between 5.2 ± 0.5 cm (range = 4.0-6.4 cm) and female between 5.5 ± 1 cm (range = 3.9-7.6 cm) and were not found differences between both sexes. 86 specimens of parasite and three species in total during all the survey were collected. 28 hosts were infected (41.8%). twenty-five hosts (37.3%) showed infection with one parasite species, and three (4.5%) had two parasite species. Three parasite species were found: Gorgoderina parvicava Travassos, 1922 (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) (Prevalence = 40.3%; mean Intensity = 3.1; mean abundance = 1.2), Cylindrotaenia americana Jewell, 1916 (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) (Prevalence = 3%; mean Intensity = 1; mean abundance = 0.02) and Aplectana hylambatis (Baylis, 1927) (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) (Prevalence = 3%; mean Intensity = 1; mean abundance = 0.02). G. parvicava had an overdispersed distribution and was the dominant species. An effect of sex and length with prevalence and mean abundance of infection of G. parvicava was not found. The relationship of helminthes parasites with T. jelskii is discussed. G. parvicava and C. americana are new records for T. jelskii.

Three species of shrimp, Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (Latreille, 1817), F. paulensis (Pérez-Farfante, 1967) (Penaeidae) and Macrobrachium acanthurus (Wiegmann, 1836) (Palaemonidae) were sampled at the Imboassica lagoon (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil), in order to estimate the overlap of dietary niches and electivity of their prey, through the analysis of the fauna associated with the macroalgae Chara and of the benthic fauna on the sediment. The overlap of dietary niches was estimated using five indexes. A total of 495 F. brasiliensis, 131 F. paulensis and 102 M. acanthurus stomachs were examined. The results of the different indexes of niche overlap exhibited the same general trend in the three species, indicating a high degree of homogeneity in the diet of the two species of Penaeidae (between 75 and 100%) and a smaller overlap between each Penaeidae species and M. acanthurus (between 23 and 68%). The species presented selective predation, with differences in the two studied habitats. The results show that the three species are omnivorous, with a varied diet including components of benthic macrofauna and those associated with the macroalgae Chara, plant fragments and detritus, and that there are good conditions in the Imboassica lagoon for the development of these species.