RCAAP Repository

Resumo: A etnografia tem dado grandes contribuições para o estudo da escola. Neste artigo, a partir de nossas experiências com a pesquisa etnográfica, discutimos seu potencial para nos auxiliar no entendimento da cultura da escola. Inicialmente, apresentamos considerações gerais sobre a concepção de etnografia assumida. Na sequencia, apresentamos as contribuições da etnografia para a compreensão da cultura da escola. Trata-se de texto teórico que vale-se do estudo de publicações sobre a temática. Finalizamos destacando a contribuição da etnografia crítica para o estudo da cultura da escola e das diversidades.Palavras-chave: Etnografia. Cultura da escola. Pesquisa. ETHNOGRAPHY AND THE SCHOOL CULTURE STUDYAbstract: Ethnography has made great contributions to the study of school. In this article, from our experiences with ethnographic research, discussed its potential in the understanding of school culture. Initially, we present general considerations on the design of assumed ethnography. In the sequel, present the ethnography contributions to the understanding of school culture. This is theoretical text that draws on the study of publications on the subject. Conclude by stressing the contribution of critical ethnography to the study of culture and diversity.Keywords: Ethnografy. School culture. Research.

Resumo: O artigo propõe a implementação de um banco de dados educacional multidimensional voltado à análise do ensino superior brasileiro, com foco na Educação a Distância – EaD. Para dar suporte ao processo de apoio à decisão foi projetado um Data Warehouse – DW, tendo como base a modelagem dimensional constelação de fatos e a aplicação de tecnologias OnLine Analytical Processing – OLAP. Foram utilizados dados abertos de alta granularidade dos sistemas e-MEC e Universidade Aberta do Brasil. O trabalho fundamenta-se no desenvolvimento de um ambiente computacional analítico visando traçar o perfil de instituições de ensino atuantes na EaD, bem como estudantes universitários e cursos, em especial da área de conhecimento "ciências exatas e da terra" e subárea "computação". Após as análises realizadas no trabalho por meio do DW, constata-se que a modalidade de educação a distância está cada vez mais acessível no Brasil, com vistas à interiorização e democratização do ensino superior.Palavras-chave: Educação a Distância. Dados Abertos. Data Warehouse. Modelagem Dimensional.IMPLEMENTATION OF A DATA WAREHOUSE FOR ANALYSIS OF OPEN GOVERNMENTAL DATA IN DISTANCE EDUCATION Abstract: The paper presents an implementation of a multidimensional educational database to analysis of Brazilian higher education, focusing on Distance Education - Distance Education. To support the decision support process, a Data Warehouse (DW) was designed, based on the facts constellation dimensional modeling and the application of OnLine Analytical Processing (OLAP) technologies. Open data of high granularity of the e-MEC and Open University of Brazil systems were used. The work is based on the development of an analytical computational environment aiming at tracing the profile of educational institutions active in EaD, as well as university and courses, especially the area of knowledge "exact sciences and land" and subarea "computing". Therefore, after the analyzes carried out in the work by means of DW, it is verified that the modality of distance education is increasingly accessible in Brazil, aiming at the interiorization and democratization of higher education. Keywords: Distance Education. Open Data. Data Warehouse. Dimensional Modeling.

Resumo: O artigo apresenta uma proposta para utilização de uma metodologia ativa baseada em Problem Based Learning (PBL) juntamente com o emprego de simuladores de realidade virtual (RV) com o objetivo de auxiliar no aprendizado e no treinamento de profissionais das áreas de segurança pública e privada. Determinadas técnicas, como a OMD (Observação, Memorização, Descrição) e a IDA (Identificar, Decidir, Agir), não são praticadas continuamente devido à dificuldade de se aplicar algum tipo de treinamento escalável, de baixo custo e que gere indicadores de desempenho adequados. Foram realizados testes de campo para validar a nova proposta e verificar a aderência da metodologia junto a público alvo. O propósito foi demonstrar que os módulos de treinamento baseado em PBL com simuladores de RV são capazes de compor uma plataforma de tecnologia educacional com o objetivo de aumentar o engajamento e melhorar a curva de aprendizagem do profissional de segurança.Palavras-chave: Realidade virtual. Simulador. Segurança pública e privada. Problem based learning. Treinamento de profissionais. APPLICATION OF VIRTUAL REALITY SIMULATORS AND PROBLEM BASED LEARNING FOR THE TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS OF THE SECURITY AREAAbstract: The article presents a proposal for the use of an active methodology based on Problem Based Learning (PBL) together with the use of virtual reality simulators (VR) with the objective of assisting in the learning and training of professionals in the areas of public and private security. Certain techniques, such as OMD (Observation, Memorization, Description) and IDA (Identify, Decide, Act), are not continually practiced because of the difficulty of implementing some kind of scalable, low cost training and generating adequate performance indicators . Field tests were carried out to validate the new proposal and verify the adherence of the methodology to the target audience. The purpose was to demonstrate that the PBL-based training modules with RV simulators are able to compose an educational technology platform with the goal of increasing engagement and improving the learning curve of the safety professional.Keywords: Virtual reality. Simulator. Public and private security. Problem based learning. Professional training.

Resumo: Em 1900, o Sínodo de Missouri, hoje Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil, iniciou missão nas colônias alemãs do Rio Grande do Sul, fundando congregações religiosas e escolas paroquiais. O artigo discute o estudo das frações nas aritméticas editadas pela Igreja Luterana para suas escolas. A investigação documental está baseada no referencial da pesquisa histórica e no conceito de cultura escolar. Analisando-se as edições da Segunda e Terceira Aritmética da série Concórdia, verificou-se que nas edições da Segunda Aritmética se prioriza o significado de fração pelo método de ensino intuitivo. Na Terceira Aritmética se desenvolvem as habilidades de cálculo escrito e mental, com foco nos algoritmos e procedimentos de cálculo das quatro operações com frações. As propostas de estudo das frações estão contextualizadas com práticas socioculturais, desenvolvidas nas comunidades em que as escolas paroquiais luteranas estavam inseridas, associadas com unidades dos sistemas de medidas e operações comerciais.Palavras-chave: História da Educação Matemática. Frações. Livros de Aritmética. Cultura Escolar.THE FRACTIONS IN THE ARITHMETIC EDITED TO THE GAUCHO LUTHERAN PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS OF THE 20TH CENTURYAbstract: In 1900, the Missouri Synod, today Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil, began mission in the German colonies of Rio Grande do Sul, founding religious congregations and parochial schools. The article discusses the study of the fractions in the arithmetic edited by Lutheran Church to their schools. The documentary investigation is basing on history research and on concept of school culture. Analyzing the editions of the Second and Third Arithmetic of the Concordia series, there was that in the editions of the Second Arithmetic to prioritize the meaning of fraction by intuitive teaching method. In the Third Arithmetic develop the mental and written calculation skills, focusing on algorithms and calculation procedures of the four operations with fractions. The proposals of study of the fractions are contextualized with socio-cultural practices developed in the communities where the Lutheran parochial schools were included, associated with units of measures systems and commercial operations.Keywords: History of the Mathematic Education. Fractions. Arithmetic Books. School Culture.

Resumo: O trabalho em tela tem por finalidade tecer discussões sobre alguns modelos de generalização e extensão da Sequência de Jacobsthal. Assim, em consonância com as orientações da Engenharia Didática como metodologia de pesquisa e em complementariedade com a Teoria das Situações Didáticas, que permite uma análise minuciosa dos fenômenos relativos ao ensino e aprendizagem de Sequência de Jacobsthal, descreveremos os elementos principais que constituem as duas fases iniciais de uma Engenharia Didática, a saber análise preliminar e análise a priori, ressaltando a concepção de situações didáticas e os possíveis comportamentos e resoluções dos alunos diante das duas situações problemas, organizadas com fins à experimentação.  Palavras-chave: Engenharia Didática. Teoria das Situações Didáticas. Sequência de Jacobsthal.DIDACTIC ENGINEERING AS A METHODOLOGICAL INSTRUMENT IN THE STUDY AND TEACHING OF THE JACOBSTHAL SEQUENCEAbstract: The work on screen is intended to discuss some models of generalization extension Jacobsthal Sequence. Thus, in accordance with the guidelines of the Didactic Engineering - DE as research methodology and in complementarity with the Theory of Educational Situations - TES that allows a detailed analysis of the phenomena related to the teaching and learning of Jacobsthal Sequence, we will describe the main elements that constitute the two initial phases of an DE, namely preliminary analysis and a priori analysis, highlighting the conception of didactic situations and the possible behaviors and resolution of the students before the two problem situations, organized for purposes of experimentation.Keywords: Didactic Engineering. Theory of Educational Situations. sequence of Jacobsthal.

Resumo: ‘Experiência’ é entendida como aquilo que nos passa, que nos acontece e que nos toca. Em vista disso, esse relato de experiência toma o sentido de relato de um estudo que nos tocou, nos aconteceu e nos deixou vestígios. Assim sendo, a narrativa que segue refere-se a um relato de experiência sobre um estudo de Mestrado integrado à Linha de Pesquisa do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação em Ciências: Química da Vida e Saúde – UFRGS, que investiga como os efeitos dos discursos e das práticas sociais processadas em diferentes instâncias atuam na produção de verdades e de sujeitos, tendo como base a perspectiva pós-estruturalista. O estudo teve como objetivo examinar noções pertinentes à filosofia de Michel Foucault que servissem como ferramentas analíticas para lançar novos olhares sobre a Educação Ambiental. O propósito desse texto é apresentar como transcorreu o encontro entre a referida educação e a noção de poder ubuesco, mencionado pelo autor apenas nas duas primeiras aulas que integralizam a obra Os Anormais (1974-1975). Por conta deste encontro, tendo como base o método da Cartografia, em que se buscou apresentar os mapas dos sentidos que a categoria do ubuesco alcançou, obteve-se como resultado a elaboração e a submissão de um artigo no qual a noção de poder ubuesco foi operada com o contexto da crise ambiental vigente. O presente relato abordará a experiência percorrida até a escrita do artigo submetido, apresentando os principais passos do percurso realizado.Palavras-chave: Educação Ambiental. Experiência. Poder ubuesco. Pós-estruturalista. NOTES ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF EXPERIENCE: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND UBUESCO POWER Abstract: Experience is understood as what passes us, happens to us, and touches us. In view of this, this experience report takes the sense of a report of a study that touched us, happened to us and left traces in us. Therefore, the following narrative refers to an experience report about a master’s degree study embedded to the Research line of the Postgraduate studies Program in Education in Sciences: Chemistry of Life and Health – UFRGS, that investigates how the effects of the speeches and social practices processed in different instances act in the production of truths and subjects, having as base the poststructuralist perspective. The study had as objective to examine notions pertinent to the Michel Foucault’s philosophy that worked as analytical tools to give new looks about Environmental Education. The purpose of this text is to present how happened the meeting between the referred education and the notion of ubuesque power, mentioned by the author only in the two first classes that integrate the work Abnormal (1974-1975). On account of this meeting, having as base the Cartography method, in which it was sought to present the maps of senses that the ubuesque category reached, it was obtained as result the elaboration and submission of a paper in which the notion of ubuesque power was operated with the context of the present environmental crisis. This report will approach the experience traveled until the writing of the submitted paper, presenting the main steps of the accomplished course.Keywords: Environmental Education. Experience. Ubuesque Power. Poststructuralist.

Resumo: O presente trabalho explora a aprendizagem matemática por meio do m-learning e tem como principal objetivo apresentar a criação de um aplicativo de Realidade Aumentada utilizado como um recurso tecnológico no estudo de mapas de contorno e geometria espacial que tem a capacidade de interpretar marcadores Vumark. Essa tecnologia mostrou-se capaz de possibilitar novas situações de potencialização de aprendizagem por meio de aparelhos portáteis e acessíveis a qualquer momento e ambiente. Neste trabalho, concluiu-se que o aplicativo, direcionado para atividades de geometria espacial, pode ser utilizado como uma possibilidade de apoio aos estudantes de ensino médio, em vista que os resultados da investigação evidenciaram um desenvolvimento satisfatório dos participantes durante as atividades propostas.Palavras-chave: Realidade Aumentada. Matemática. Mapas de contorno. Geometria Espacial. Vumark. MOBILE-LEARNING: MATHEMATICAL LEARNING BY AUGMENTED REALITYAbstract: The present work explores mathematical learning through m-learning and has as main objective to present the creation of an Augmented Reality (AR) application used as a technological resource in the study of contour maps and spatial geometry that has the capacity to interpret Vumark markers. This technology has proved capable of enabling new situations of learning potential through portable devices and accessible at any time and environment. However, further studies and applications of the application in the field of education are necessary in order to obtain better results on the resource as an allied to mathematical knowledge. In this work, it was concluded that the application, directed to activities of spatial geometry, can be used as a possibility of support to high school students, since the results of the investigation has showed a satisfactory development of the participants during the proposed activities.Keywords: Augmented Reality. Math. Contour Maps. Spatial Geometry. Vumark.  

Resumo: Atualmente há diversos casos relacionados às doenças transmitidas pelo mosquito Aedes aegypti, reforçando a validade de sua contextualização no ensino de ciências. Visando demonstrar aos licenciandos em Ciências da Natureza do IFRS a pertinência de utilização do espaço escolar para além da sala de aula e capacitá-los na organização de eventos científicos em unidades escolares, em 2016, desenvolveu-se o evento de extensão “Todos contra o Aedes aegypti”. A ação ocorreu em uma escola pública de Porto Alegre envolvendo duas turmas do 7º ano do Ensino Fundamental e permitiu abordagens interdisciplinares, contemplando aspectos relacionados à história, tecnologia, saúde e meio ambiente. Durante a intervenção, desenvolveu-se uma dinâmica ambiental em forma de jogo, enfatizando aspectos  relacionados à proliferação do inseto. Baseou-se em material informativo divulgado pela Prefeitura de Porto Alegre, pesquisas relacionadas ao tema e ao uso de jogos educativos e produção de material testado com licenciandos. A avaliação por parte dos estudantes e professora regente da unidade escolar foi considerada a melhor no evento. Além de abordar a importância da prevenção de doenças, percebe-se a relevância da ludicidade, criando momentos de interação, integração, desenvolvimento crítico e construção de saberes significativos e contextualizados relacionados à saúde e ao ensino de ciências. Palavras-chave: Ciências. Meio Ambiente. Extensão. Ludicidade. Aedes. USING PLAYFULNESS IN THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL OF PORTO ALEGRE: THE MAKE IN CONTEXTUALIZED AND INTEGRATED TEACHER BEYOND THE CLASSROOM  Abstract:  Currently there are several cases related to diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, reinforcing the validity of its contextualization in science teaching. Aiming to demonstrate to the undergraduate students in the Nature sciences of IFRS the pertinence of using the school space beyond the classroom and training them in organizing scientific events in school units, in 2016, the extension event was developed " All against Aedes aegypti. " The action took place in a public school in Porto Alegre involving two classes of the 7th grade of elementary School and allowed interdisciplinary approaches, contemplating aspects related to history, technology, health and the environment. During the intervention, an environmental dynamics was developed in the form of a game, emphasizing aspects related to the proliferation of the insect. It was based on informative material published by the City of Porto Alegre, researches related to the theme and the use of educational games and production of material tested with undergraduate students. The evaluation by students and teacher Regent of the school unit was considered the best in the event. In addition to addressing the importance of disease prevention, it is perceived the relevance of ludicity, creating moments of interaction, integration, critical development and construction of meaningful and contextualized knowledge related to health and teaching of Sciences. Keywords: Science. Environment. Extension. Playfulness. Aedes.

This paper provides the results of a taxonomic survey of the Cyanophyceae/Cyanobacteria in a frenge red mangrove forest in the estuaries of Estreito dos Mosquitos and Coqueiros, São Luís, State of Maranhão, Brazil. A total of 15 taxa were identified in 8 families, as follows: Synechoccaceae (2), Chroococcaceae (1), Hyellaceae (1), Xenococcaceae (1), Oscillatoriaceae (1), Scytonemataceae (2), Phormidiaceae (5) and Pseudanabaenaceae (2). The species listed in this paper are all new descriptions for Maranhão, and one of them is a new ocurrence for Brazil.

Many streams and large rivers present higher ichthyoplankton densities at night. However, in some rivers this does not occur and larvae are equally abundant during the day. Larval drift diel variation is an important information for planning sampling programs for evaluating larval distribution and production. The aim of this study was to test whether the abundance of larval fish was different at either period. We tested it by comparing day and night densities of characiform, clupeiform and siluriform larvae during five years in the Amazon and one year in Rio Negro. We found that larvae of three species of characiform and larvae of siluriform were equally abundant during day and night in the Amazon. Conversely, the catch of Pellona spp. larvae was significantly higher during the day. In Rio Negro, however, larval abundance was higher during the night. These results imply that day samplings estimate adequately the abundance of these characiform and siluriform larvae in the Amazon, but not Pellona larvae. Evaluations of larved densities of Rio Negro will have to consider night sampling.

A great amount of heavy metals enter Pampulha Reservoir via it's main tributaries (Sarandi and Ressaca). Although no water quality classification has been carried out for these tributaries, the reservoir is expected to be in class 2 of the CONAMA-86 system. As part of a monitoring scheme of the Pampulha Watershed, heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Cr, Mn and Fe) were investigated in the water at a control site (considered free from direct human influence) and at potential sites of toxicity and contamination during August (dry season) and November (wet season) of 1998. The results for the first sampling period showed relatively high concentrations of zinc (0.22 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1) in the upper portion of the reservoir. The highest values of nickel and chromium (0.19 and 0.89 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1, respectively) were found in the initial portion of the Sarandi Stream, while the highest concentrations of lead (0.05 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1), cadmium (0.014 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1), manganese (0.43 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1) and iron (15.25 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1) were detected in the Ressaca Stream by the landfill dump of Belo Horizonte. A relatively high concentration of cadmium was also detected at the confluence of the two streams. During the second sampling period, there was an increase in the concentrations of zinc at all sampling sites except the control, with values varying from 0.71 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1 (the Sarandi Stream) to 2.50 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1 (the Ressaca Stream). Lead, cadmium, nickel and chromium concentrations were also higher in the Ressaca Stream, but not detected at the other sampling sites. Copper values were higher than in the first period: 0.10 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1 at the control up to 0.38 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1 at the confluence of the streams. Similar results were found for manganese and iron, with values reaching up to 19.30 and 125 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1, respectively. Moreover, all values recorded in the second sampling period were much higher than recommended for class 2 waters. These results emphasize the need for such monitoring in relation to better water quality management of this reservoir.

The roles of some abiotic factors in controlling the hatching rates of Moina micrura ephippial eggs were investigated. Determination of optimum hatching conditions would be important in developing the use of this species as a food for fish larvae in aquaculture. Ephippia were exposed to different treatments in the laboratory, and monitored for hatching over a period of seven days. Optimum hatching conditions were: pH 5-9, temperature 25ºC, photoperiod eight or more hours light per day and light intensity equal to or greater than 850 lux. Differences in water ionic concentrations (from deionized water to 880 mg.L<FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT>1 of selected salts) had no effect.

The species composition and spatial distribution of a fish assemblage were studied in three reaches of a river in the east coast of Brazil: a section of rapids (upper), another of water flowing on plain terrain (lowland) and the other of a mangrove environment. Two methods were employed with the purpose of estimating their effectiveness in naturalistic studies of tropical fish assemblages. One method consisted of underwater observations and the other was characterized by catches using gears such as fish traps, sieves and fishing rods. Both methods showed that their effectiveness is dependent upon the characteristics of the environment and the biology of the species. In areas of high water transparency and flow speed, rocky substrate and no submerged marginal vegetation (upper reach), the employment of the traditional gears was quite inefficient, despite the excellent conditions for underwater observations. In areas of clear water and high flow speed with abundant submerged marginal vegetation (lowland and mangrove), the gears were rather efficient yielding excellent results when coupled with direct observation methods. Since the abiotic characteristics of a stream change longitudinally, it is appropriate to employ different methods in the study of the ichthyofauna composition and distribution in order to reduce the constraints imposed by sampling methods in running waters.

In this contribution we have studied the planktonic ciliates from Morenito Lake, an oligotrophic lake situated in the South Andes of Argentina. Six species that are new records for South America or Argentina are described and illustrated. Besides, population dynamics of the ciliate species were studied during a spring--summer period. Strobilidium lacustris and Balanion planctonicum were the most abundant species, showing a maximum in mid summer. Paradileptus elephantinus was present all over the period while Urotricha furcata was observed in late summer samples. Strobilidium lacustris and S. humile were found to be occasional species during the studied period. The recorded ciliate assemblage with oligotrichs and prostomates as dominant indicate the oligotrophic condition of the lake.

Ecological data about three free-ranging groups of C. penicillata (black-pincelled marmoset) were observed between March and December 1996, in one cerradão patch (in the Ecological Reserve of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, RECOR) and two patches of dense cerrado (one in the Recor and another in the Botanical Garden of Brasília, JBB), situated in the APA (area of environmental protection) of the Gama/Cabeça-de-Veado, Distrito Federal. Each area was visited weekly during three periods of two months -- end of the rainy season (01/04 to 31/05), dry season (16/06 to 15/08) and beginning of the rainy season (14/10 to 15/12) -- and instantaneous scan records at fifteen minute intervals were made for the vertical and horizontal position of each visible individual of the target group. The group size ranged between 4 and 11 elements. In September, the birth of twins in both groups of the Recor was observed. Home-range varied from 8.25 to 18.5 hectares, while density ranged from 0.4 to 0.82 ind/ha. Twenty two species of nine tree families were identified as exudate sources. Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae), Vochysia thyrsoidea (Vochysiaceae), Scheflera macrocarpum (Araliaceae) and Qualea parviflora (Vochysiaceae) were more explored. Fruits (14 species, two of which were exotics), nectar, honey, arthropods (mainly orthopterans) and bird eggs complete their diet. The main sleep-tree species was Emmotum nitens (Icacinaceae). Data from different seasons and studied groups/areas were compared along previous data from this primate species in gallery forests. In the cerradão and dense cerrado areas C. penicillata had a similar group size, however a larger home-range and smaller density than in gallery forests were observed in this study.

The objective of this research was to evaluate, in laboratory, the development of Lutzomyia intermedia and Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) larvae, vectors of leishmaniasis in Brazil, in the following diets: industrialized food for rabbits, dogs, hamsters and aquarium fishes, besides liver powder, cooked lettuce, wheat germ, beer yeast, oat, wheat bran and a diet denominated aged food. Except wheat bran for L. intermedia, all diets provided adequate development for both species, which showed that any of them can be used in laboratory insectaries for these insects. L. intermedia showed better development with most nutritious diets and both species presented better development with aged food. Fungi as an additional nutrient source for L. intermedia and L. longipalpis is suggested.

The analysis of 24 quantitative macrobenthic samples taken from the Solís Grande Stream estuary yielded 10 species from a total of 4,446 individuals. It was verified that both species richness and diversity was lower than those recorded in nearby regions with similar environmental conditions. In contrast with other studies, a marked dominance of any of the present species was not verified. All the species recorded correspond to typical estuarine organisms. Abundance data were analysed with multivariate techniques and the results showed a relationship with salinity, mean diameter and the percentage of fine sand. According to the cluster analysis and the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) four groups of stations were defined. The partition out of total variation of the species data showed that the amount of variation explained by the space alone was low. Spatial patterns observed and their possible causes are analysed and discussed in relation to the natural factors that acts in this coastal ecosystem.

The study was carried out to evaluate the growth rate of broad-nosed caiman, Caiman latirostris hatchlings, fed on four animal protein diets: (a) dead poultry from a poultry farm; (b) dead piglet from nursery and farrowing house in a swine farm; (c) whole tilapia (Tilapia rendalli e Oreochromis niloticus); and (d) a balanced mixture of a, b, and c sources. Sixteen seven-month old caimans, average weight of 208 g and, 38 cm of total lenght (TL) were distributed in four treatments. Four groups of four caimans each were placed in cement enclosures inside a greenhouse. Diets were supplied at the average rate of 97.8% ± 34.8% of the body weight per week (average and standard deviation; wet weight basis). Body mass and total length of caimans were measured every 30 days for six months (Nov. 1995-April. 1996). An analysis of variance with repeated measures was performed. Diets provided suitable growth for weight and TL (mean ± standard deviation, respectively): (a) 2,157 ± 743 g and 79.5 ± 6.9 cm; (b) 1,811 ± 222 g and 75.7 ± 1.9 cm; (c) 2,431 ± 780 g and 80.7 ± 5.8 cm; (d) 1,683.5 ± 736 g and 74.5 ± 7.2 cm. There was no significant effect of diet on weight, but diet effect on TL of hatchlings approached significance (p < 0.10). It is concluded that all diets have good potential, in growth sense, to be used in commercial farms or ranches and for captivity propagation programs of caimans.

In the present study regression equations are established between broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) captive reproductive females snout-vent length (SVL) and body mass (BM) and the following clutch characteristics: egg mass, egg "length" (maximal diameter), egg "width" (minimal diameter), hatchling BM, hatchling SVL, clutch size (number of eggs), clutch mass and relative clutch mass (clutch mass/female BM). Female body-length presented a positive correlation with egg mass, egg length, egg width, hatchling BM and hatchling SVL. No clear correlation was found between female SVL and clutch size. Female BM showed a significantly positive correlation with egg mass, egg-length, egg-width, hatchling BM, hatchling SVL and clutch mass. A highly significant negative correlation was found between female BM and the relative clutch mass. No clear correlation was found between female BM and clutch size.

Geoplana josefi sp. nov. of South Brazil is described herein. The species shows etary polymorphism. Neither youngs nor adults show the characteristic colour pattern of the mature worms. The species has a multilayered lining in the female atrium. The allopatric G. trigueira, which does not have such a lining, is similar externally and internally with adults of G. josefi, its seminal vesicle, however, being unpaired.