Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences 

Abstract: The aim of this paper was to analyze the length-weight relationship and the condition factor of two species of cichlids ( Cichla cf. ocellaris and Cichla monoculus ) (Perciformes, Cichlidae) that were inducted in Volta Grande Reservoir, Rio Grande . There was no difference in the length-weight relationship between the sexes for Cichla cf. ocellaris and Cichla monoculus . The allometric condition factor showed a fall in the spring and another smaller one in the winter. It happens when these fishes change their feeding activity. In the spring all the reproductive behavior are developed and, in the winter, there is a shortage of prey. The variation of the relative condition factor followed the variation of the allometric condition factor due to the low contribution of the gonads weight and the small amount of accumulated fat in the total weight. The length distribution, length-weight relationship and condition factor of these fishes vary in accordance with the time of introduction into the reservoir, the characteristics of the ecosystem as well as the interactions among the species at these sites

Abstract: Two fish species, known as lambaris ( Astyanax altiparannae and A. fasciatus ) were collected from the following streams in Londrina: Cambe (lake Igapo IV), Tres Bocas, Apertados and Capivara. After capture blood samples and gills were immediately removed. Gills were fixed in Bouin and processed for light microscopy. A small amount of blood was used for hemoglobin determination and sodium and glucose plasma concentrations were determined after blood centrifugation. Animals from Cambe and Capivara streams showed certain severe histopathological alterations, such as lamellar aneurism and epithelial lifting. These fish also showed higher blood sodium concentration and a reduction of blood glucose when compared to fish from Tres Bocas stream. Fish from Capivara showed a decrease in hemoglobin content when compared to animals from Cambe stream. Higher incidence of histological and physiological alterations observed in fish from Cambe and Capivara stream clearly indicates the animals’ health impairment

Abstract: Roadkill of wild vertebrates along GO-060, Brazil. Roads represent an old and constant cause of accidental death of wildlife. From May 2004 to November 2005, we recorded the roadkills of vertebrates in the GO-060 road between Goiânia and Ipora. For each road-killed animal we wrote down the species and location along the road. We found 308 animals road- killed from at least 25 vertebrate species: 86% mammals, 11% birds and 3% reptiles. Tamandua tetradactyla, Cerdocyon thous and Myrmecophaga tridactyla were, in decreasing order, the species with the largest number of road-killed individuals. Among mammals, the number of road-killed individuals was not related to species weight. The number of species and road-killed animals was constant throughout the 17 months of the research. The average frequency of animal roadkills in the dry season (April to September) is slightly higher than the frequency in the rainy season (October to March). The average frequency of species victim to accidents, however, is constant throughout the dry and rainy seasons. The incidence of species and individuals of road-killed animals per 10 km was not influenced by the number of forest fragments along the sides of the road. We suggest that speed reducers could decrease the number of animals killed on the road.

Abstract: Bromeliads grow almost exclusively in the New World tropics and subtropics, mainly in South America in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (ca. 1200 species). Within the last few decades, their beautiful shapes and colors, low maintenance and easy adaptability to small gardens have brought bromeliads into worldwide use as ornamental plants. While the ornamental bromeliad trade could make significant contributions to household economies in rural areas, the trade may represent a significant threat in some of the bromeliad biodiversity hotspot countries such as Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia. This paper presents an overview of production volumes, analysis of the Brazilian bromeliads trade chain – at the state, national and international levels – and recommendations to address development and conservation challenges.