RCAAP Repository

Studies were carried out to assess the macrozooplankton small-scale temporal and spatial variability at three stations in three hours intervals, during 24 hours in July 1996 (rainy season) and December 1996 (dry season). A plankton net 300µm mesh size was hauled at surface during three minutes. Water samples for salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were taken simultaneously with the zooplankton samples. Sixty-five macrozooplankton taxa were registered. Copepoda constituted the most common taxon and comprised 58% of the total zooplankton counts. Brachyuran zoeae, cirripedian larvae, Larvacea (Oikopleura dioica Fol, 1872), and Gastropoda veligers were abundant at some tidal cycles, mainly during the night. Species diversity average was 2.0 bits.ind-1. The mean density ranged from 23 ind.m-3 to 5,201 ind.m-3. The rainy season presented greater numerical abundance. A regular temporal zooplankton cycle was not observed. Instead, there was a large stochastic variation between samples.

The last larval instar and the cocoon of Trypoxylon (Trypoxylon) maidli Richards, 1934 are described. This larva is apparently indistinguishable from that of T. clavicerum exiguum Tsuneki, 1956. They can be distinguished from larvae of other species in the subgenus by the following features: integument of body smooth, sensilla on both sensorial area and labrum, and distinct parietal bands. Notes on nesting site and preys from one nest are presented. Eurycoma insigne (Millidge, 1991) (Linyphiidae) and Argiope argentata (Fabricius, 1775) (Araneidae) are reported as preys.

Thousands of shorebirds and seabirds use the Atlantic route through the northeastern coast of Brazil every year to migrate to South America. In this study was made a census of individuals that uses the Coroa do Avião (7º40'S and 34º50"W), an islet located on the south bar of the Santa Cruz channel on the north coast of Pernambuco state, from May 1993 throughout April 1995 and from August 1996 throughout July 1997. Four species of the family Charadriidae, seven species of the family Scolopacidae, and two species of the family Laridae was observed. The populational peaks match both the period of arrival to the winter season site and the period of departure to the reproduction site. The species considered very frequent were: Charadrius semipalmatus Bonaparte, 1825 and Calidris alba (Pallas, 1764). All the other species were considered rather frequent. There was a strong linear correlation between 1993 and 1994 among Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus, 1758) and Arenaria interpres (Linnaeus, 1758); A. interpres and Calidris pusilla (Linnaues, 1766); A. interpres and C. alba; and C. pusilla and C. alba. From 1994 to April 1995 it occured between P. squatarola and C. alba; C. semipalmatus and C. pusilla; C. semipalmatus and C. pusilla; and A. interpres and C. pusilla. From August 1996 throughout July 1997 there was correlation only between P. squatarola and C. pusilla. The obtained results demonstrate the great importance of the Coroa do Avião as a winter season site.

This study was designed to identify important food resource plants used by bee species in a Caatinga area, as well as describe the local patterns of floral use by bees. A total of 1,145 foraging bees, belonging to 60 species, were captured while visiting 50 plant species. Melochia tomentosa L., Sida galheirensis Ulbr., Erythroxylon catingae P. Cowan, and Ziziphus cotinifolia Reiss. were the most frequently visited plants. Melochia tomentosa, Solanum paniculatum L. and S. galheirensis were visited by larger number of bee species. Some oligolectic bees were identified. Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 and Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) had the largest trophic niche breadth (2.71 and 2.31). The trophic niche overlap was highest (0.52) between Xylocopa grisescens Lepeletier, 1841 and Frieseomelitta silvestrii (Friese, 1902). The low trophic niche overlap between Apis mellifera and native stingless bees seems to be the result of intensive exploration of only a few flower sources by Africanized bees, not frequently visited by meliponids.

The standard length of 7610 specimens of 43 species from eight streams of rio Tibagi basin was obtained in order to analyze the means of fish sizes. The higher mean size was observed in Gymnotus carapo Linnaeus, 1758 (165,5 mm) and the smaller, in Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Hensel, 1868) (16,25 mm). Some fish like Acestrorhynchus lacustris (Reinhardt, 1874), Leporinus obtusidens (Valenciennes, 1836), Gymnotus carapo Linneus, 1758 and Synbranchus marmoratus Bloch, 1795 can reach big or medium size when adults but were collected only young, evidencing they use some streams in beginning of life. The mean size of total species was 49,81mm, what shows the small size composition of fishes in the streams. The Kolmogov-Smirnov test comparing the mean size of all streams showed significant similar size both in upstream and downstream regions, independent to the different environmental conditions.

Based on material collected by P. Jauffert in Pará and by L. Ianuzzi in Alagoas and Sergipe, four new species are described: Temnopis fasciata sp. nov. (Oemini) and Dihammaphoroides jaufferti sp. nov. (Cleomenini) from Pará. This species breads in branches of Pseudopiptadenia suaveolens (Miq.) J. W. Grimes, Fabaceae. Adetus tuberosus sp. nov. (Apomecynini) and Mimasyngenes lucianae sp. nov. (Desmiphorini) from Alagoas. New records and notes are provided for Neocompsa serrana (Martins, 1962) and Rhopalophora occipitalis Chevrolat, 1859.

Micropsalis Burmeister, 1861 (Prioninae) is preoccupied by Micropsalis Meyer, 1859 (Crustacea). Thus, Apterocaulus Fairmaire, 1864, currently synonym of Micropsalis Burmeister, is reinstated. A historical review about Apterocaulus and Micropsalis Burmeister is added. Microcometes Villiers, 1959 (Disteniinae) is a junior homonym of Microcometes Cienkowsky, 1875 (Protozoa), and Villiersicometes is proposed to replace it.

The objective of this study was to investigate feather mites on birds of the Family Emberizidae, to collect data on the ecological ectoparasite-host relationship and infestation level. A sum of 94 birds of 9 species was captured at the Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin, Igarassú, Pernambuco, Brazil, from August 1996 to July 1997. Five genera of mites from the superfamily Analgoidea were identified: Analges Nitzsch, 1818; Mesalgoides Gaud & Atyeo, 1967; Pterodectes Robin, 1877; Proctophyllodes Robin, 1877 and Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899. Among the 94 birds examined, 92 (97,87%) were infested. Regarding the prevalence, it was observed that the genera with higher percentage were, respectively, Pterodectes (88,04%), Proctophyllodes (56,52%) and Trouessartia (45,65%).

Relative growth of the male major chela and female abdome was studied in a population of the fiddler crab Uca leptodactyla Rathbun, 1898 from Itapoá, Santa Catarina coast, southern Brazil. Major chela length (CMQ) was measured from 191 males, and abdomen width (LAB) from 128 females. Carapace width (LC) was the reference dimension for both sexes, which ranged from 3.9 to 11.5 mm for males, and from 3.15 to 10.65 mm for females. Males grew bigger than females. Relationship between CMQ and LC showed a transition point at 8.35 mm LC in males, and between LA and LC at 7.10 mm LC in females. Growth was allometrically positive in the early ontogenesis and isometric after the puberal molting for both sexes. Regressions between LC and CMQ in males read as: logCMQ = -0,854536 + 2,19. logLC for empirical points at left of critical point and logCMQ = 0,063047 + 1,24. logLC for those at right. In females, this relation was logLAB = -0,603590 + 1,30. logLC and logLAB = -0,361464 + 1,07. logLC, respectively. These body dimensions were connected with reproductive activity of this species.

A new species of the genus Temnocephala Blanchard, 1849 is described from southern Brazil, ectosymbiont on Aegla serrana Buckup & Rossi, 1977, an anomuran crustacean, collected in a creek and a reservoir of the highlands in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. All crustaceans examined were positive for this species of Temnocephala and carried eggs in different regions of the ventral side: perioral area, pleural strips, esternal plates, pereiopods and chelipods; to a lesser extent in the dorsal side of the cephalothorax and dorsal side of the uropods; as well as adult and young specimens. The most distinctive characters of the new species are: 1) cyanophilous glands forming an irregular-shaped, grape-like, bunch of approximately 10-15 cells, deeply staining with hematoxylin; 2) shape and size of the cirrus and its introvert section; 3) number, size and distribution of the rhabdite glands and 4) shape and position of the post tentacular, 'excretory' syncytial plates, with the off-centered nephridiopore.

The present study investigated the reproductive biology of silverside, Atherinella brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) in a tidal flat of Paranaguá Bay, littoral of Paraná State, Brazil. Fish were captured monthly from November 1998 to October 1999 by the mean of a seine-net. For each individual, total body length, total weight, sex, and gonadal weight were recorded. Gonadal development stages were also defined based on the histological examination of the ovaries and on the visual aspects of the testes. It was defined that the reproductive period of A. brasiliensis extends from June to December, based on he analyses of individual gonadosomatic index (GSI) values distribution in relation to the sampling periods, on the monthly variation of the GSI mean values (Curve of Maturation), both for males and females, and on the monthly variation of the relative frequencies of the female maturation stages. During this period, matured, partially spawned and spent females were found in higher frequencies in comparison to the other months. The sizes at first maturation were defined as 7,61cm and 6,92cm for females and males, respectively.

A new Neotropical genus Rideriana gen. nov. is proposed to include R. amazonica sp. nov., from Cuzco (Peru), Acre (Brazil) and La Paz (Bolivia).

This study was carried out at the Intervales State Park, an Atlantic Rain Forest area in Southeastern Brazil. Bats were monthly mist netted over a full year, and fecal samples were collected for dietary analysis. The seeds found in each sample were identified in the laboratory under a stereoscopic microscope by comparison with seeds taken from ripe fruits collected in the study area. Three hundred and seventy one bats were collected, of which 316 (85.2%) were frugivorous. The total number of fecal samples with seeds and/or pulp was 121. Sturnira lilium (E. Geoffroy, 1810) was the most abundant species in the study area (n = 157 captures) and Solanaceae fruits accounted for 78.5% of the fecal samples with seeds (n = 56). Artibeus fimbriatus Gray, 1838 (n = 21 samples) fed mostly on Cecropiaceae (38%) and Moraceae fruits (24%), and Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) (n = 7 samples) on Cecropiaceae (57%) and Moraceae (29%). Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) (n = 16 samples) fed mostly on Piperaceae fruits (56,3%), but Solanaceae (31,3%) and Rosaceae seeds (12,5%) were also found in feces. Overall, seeds found in bat feces belong to eight plant families: Solanaceae (n = 67 samples); Cecropiaceae (n = 14); Piperaceae (n = 14); Moraceae (n = 8); Rosaceae (n = 3); Cucurbitaceae (n = 3); Cluseaceae (n = 1), and Araceae (n = 1). The close association of different bat species with fruits of certain plant families and genus may be related to a possible mechanism of resource partitioning that shapes the structure of the community.

A study of removal of fruits of the wild tomato, Solanum granulosoleprosum Dunal (N = 5 plants), by vertebrates was carried out in an urban environment of southern Brazil from January to May 1997 and February 1998. To verify diurnal and nocturnal removals, fruits were counted in several fruit bunches, being classified by size and color. Diurnal observations were made on plants to verify bird removal. A mist net was placed among the plants from the evening to 23:00 h to verify bat consumption. Live traps baited with S. granulosoleprosum fruits were placed on the ground among plants to verify terrestrial removers. On average it was found two ripe fruits available per bunch/day, but unripe, small, fruits were dominant (70%). Nocturnal mammals and birds-diurnal mammals partitioned fruits similarly. Bats removing fruits were Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818), Pygoderma bilabiatum (Wagner, 1843) and Sturnira lilium (E. Geoffroy, 1810). Birds were Saltator similis Lafresnaye & d'Orbigny, 1837 and Thraupis sayaca (Linnaeus, 1766). Terrestrial mammals were a marsupial and three rodent species. Except for rodents, these vertebrates must be promoting the seed dispersal of S. granulosoleprosum seeds in disturbed mixed forests of southern Brazil.

Choeradoplana iheringi Graff, 1899 was described on specimens proceeding from Taquara, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Afterwards, RIESTER (1938), MARCUS (1951) and FROEHLICH (1955) analyzed specimens from southeast Brazil, identifying them as C. iheringi. In this study samples of C. iheringi from São Francisco de Paula, a site next to the type-locality, and specimens from the Southeast (Salesópolis, state of São Paulo), are comparatively analyzed. It was observed that the external morphology of the specimens from São Francisco de Paula and from Salesópolis is concordant with the original description of C. iheringi, as well as that by RIESTER (1938) and MARCUS (1951). The pharynx is better designated as bell-form, and not collar-form as described by GRAFF (1899). The copulatory apparatus is characterized by the presence of an intra-bulbar prostatic vesicle, consisting of two regions, an ental tubular one and an ectal one of variable shape; absence of penis papilla; and a male atrium, elongated and highlypleated. The copulatory apparatus of C. iheringi described by GRAFF shows some anatomical characteristics that distinguish it from the material studied by other authors, and from the material analyzed here. Some anatomical and histological characters of the copulatory apparatus distinguish the specimens from São Francisco de Paula from those of Salesópolis which are assigned to populational and/or physiological differences. The specimens from São Francisco de Paula and Salesópolis, as well as those analyzed by RIESTER (1938) and MARCUS (1951), are confirmed as C. iheringi Graff, 1899.

The Hepatus pudibundus (Herbst, 1785) juvenile development was studied in laboratory, under the morphological and systematical stand points. The eight early juvenile stages were obtained from larvae hatched from eggs of two ovigerous females, collected at the northern coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The experiments were carried out in a climatically controlled room at 25 ± 1°C, and steady saltness of 34‰. The youngs were maintened individually and food consisted of Artemia sp. nauplii and fragments of fish muscle.The first juvenile stage were particulary drawn and described. For the remaining juvenile stages the most representative frameworks were picked out, which allowed the characterization of the first eight stages. According to juvenile morphology studies, it was noted that secondary sexual characters differentation begins from the third stage.

Cymothoa catarinensis sp. nov. collected at Camboriú, Santa Catarina State, Brazil is described. The new species is of small size, has a cephalon that is little immersed in pereonite 1, anterolateral angles of pereonite 1 that reach or surpass the eyes and a pleon that is deeply immersed in pereonite 7. The pleopods of the new species have small, lobular accessory gills projecting from the bases. Cymothoa excisa Perty, 1830, and Cymothoa oestrum (Linnaeus, 1758) are redescribed. Both are of large size (25-35 mm in length). C. excisa has pointed anterolateral margins of pereonite 1 that reach or surpass the eyes. This species also has trilaminate pleopods in the female and bilaminate pleopods in the male. C. oestrum has rounded anterolateral margins of pereonite 1 and no visible eyes. This is the first time the latter species has been reported from Brazil. These three species are compared to four others that have been reported from Brazilian waters, namely: C. liannae Sartor & Pires, 1988; C. brasiliensis, C. gerris and C. ianuarii, all described by Schiödte & Meinert, 1884. A key is provided to aid in the separation of the Brazilian species of Cymothoa.

A new species, attributed to the group of Hyla microcephala Cope, 1886, is described. The new species is close to H. bipunctata Spix, 1824, and it is found in Quebrangulo, State of Alagoas, in Northeastern Brazil. The eggs and larvae are also described and some ecological information is added. The new species is compared with other species of the same group, and with species of closely related groups that occur in syntopy. With H. bipunctata, it shares the general form of the body, the yellow ventral coloration and the orange color of the thighs, but it is distinguished by the dorsal Paris-green coloration (beige in H. bipunctata), absence of a dorsal pattern, light red thighs, and ornamentation of the upper lip with two or three yellow stains instead of the characteristic aureolate of H. bipunctata. With H. elegans Wied-Neuwied, 1824, it also shares the general form of the body and the ventral and the thighs coloration, but it is distinguished by the smaller size, absence of a dorsal pattern and light red thighs. From H. oliveirai Bokermann, 1963, the new species is distinguished by the dorsal coloration, the ornamentation of the upper lip and larger size. From H. branneri Cochran, 1948, it differs by the presence of the stains in the upper lip (just one in H. branneri), absence of the dorsal pattern and green dorsal coloration, which is more intense. The tadpole of the new species is provided.

The flight activities of five colonies of Melipona (Michmelia) scutellaris Latreille, 1811 kept among mixed fruit crop plantations in within fragments of Atlantic Rainforest in Pernambuco, NE-Brazil was examined. The daily deployment of foragers to collect pollen, nectar, resin and mud was observed. The colonies performed between 2,640 and 14,250 flights per day. Variations in the number of total daily flights were similar between colonies on all observation days. Proportional allocation of foragers to the different resources also among colonies showed similar variation. More than 90% of the pollen collection flights were made early in the morning. Nectar was collected in similar proportional frequencies with a reduction in activity at noon. On a single day, was observed atypical intense pollen foraging during the afternoon by all colonies. This indicates a high plasticity in foraging behaviour and efficient recruitment to resources which are presented by mass flowering trees with synchronised big bang or multiple bang flowering. Resource availability of the surrounding vegetation, therefore, seems to be the major factor in defining the forager activities on a given day.

The giant conifer aphids Cinara pinivora (Wilson, 1919) and Cinara atlantica (Wilson, 1919) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are pests on Pinus spp. (Pinaceae) in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. Larvae of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) were observed feeding voraciously on these aphid colonies. In order to evaluate their potential as biological control agents, some biological parameters and their consumption capacity were studied in laboratory. Ten larvae were isolated in plastic vials and fed with aphids of small size (nymphs of 1st and 2nd instars) and 10 with aphids of medium size (nymphs of 3rd and 4th instars), maintained at 15ºC, 20ºC and 25ºC, under 12:12 h photoperiod and 70 ± 10% RH, and observed daily. The egg incubation period was nine days at 20ºC and four days at 25ºC. The mean larval development period for C. externa was 59.5 days; 22.3 days and 10.9 days, respectively at 15ºC, 20ºC and 25ºC. The pupal stage last 23.2 at 20ºC and 11.1 days at 25ºC. Unfortunately, data of egg and pupal development at 15ºC are not available because the rearing chamber overheated. The mortality rate from egg to adult was 46.2% 46.6% and 20.2% at 15ºC, 20ºC and 25ºC, respectively. The average aphid consumption of each C. externa larva to complete its development was 499.1; 341.7 and 215.1 small aphids, and 126.4; 105.6 and 67.0 medium aphids, at 15ºC, 20ºC and 25ºC, respectively. About 80% of the total food consumption was by the 3rd instar larvae. Although the development was faster and viability higher at 25ºC than at the other two temperatures, the consumption was the highest at 15ºC because the larval period was much longer. Therefore, the larvae of C. externa can be regarded as potential biological control agents of Cinara spp. throughout the year and even in cool areas of Southern Brazil during some periods o the year.