Abstract: A rapid assessment survey identified 39 phytophilous cladocerans species from littoral zones of rivers, permanent and temporary lagoons, and swamps of the Parana River Valley, Goias, Brazil, 22 are registered for the first time in Central Brazil. Aspects of the taxonomy of some of these species are discussed. Cluster analysis (UPGMA) revealed two phytophilous cladoceran assemblages, characterized by higher or lower richness and relative abundance of species of the families Daphniidae and Moinidae (filter feeders), in comparison with the dominant families Chydoridae and Macrothricidae (scraper feeders).

Abstract: Comunidades de Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera e Trichoptera (EPT) em substrato rochoso foram estudadas em dois riachos do Parque Estadual Intervales. Coletas com um amostrador de Surber (10 subamostras aleatorias, 1 m 2 ) foram feitas mensalmente de setembro de 1999 a setembro de 2000 e trimestralmente de dezembro de 2000 a setembro de 2001 nos Ribeiroes Bocaina e Agua Comprida. A fauna de EPT do Ribeirao Bocaina foi mais diversificada e mais abundante do que a do Ribeirao Agua Comprida. A fauna de EPT foi bastante diferente entre os dois riachos, tanto do ponto de vista da composicao faunistica quanto do ponto de vista funcional. Os resultados indicaram que nao houve um padrao sazonal claro da variacao temporal da densidade.

Abstract: The use of camera traps is quite recent in Brazil The high cost of equipments and constant expenses with supplies can, in some circumstances, limit the number of units to be deployed and sampling effort The present study discusses methodological issues aiming at optimizing the use of these traps in mammalian inventories and also provides a comparison of two brands of equipments The study was carried out in Santa Lucia Biological Station (SLBS) in Center-north Espirito Santo state between January 2002 and November 2003, using three Wildlife Pro Camera © (WPC) units and four DeerCam © units We realized the importance of sampling in different phitophysiognomies as they varied in mammal community We detected a significant correlation between species richness and sampling effort in each trail, observing that 60% or more of species richness recorded in SLBS was obtained when sampling effort was $ 250 camera-trap nights/trail Nocturnal records predominated (67%) although the number of recorded species was similar between night and day When camera traps were set in pairs, only 27% of records were simultaneous The tested units showed significant differences in durability and efficiency, both within and between brands

Abstract: Benthic macroinvertebrate in four rivers, three in the Pelotas River basin (Divisa, Marco and Silveira rivers, in the headwaters of the Uruguai River) and one in the Taquari-Antas system (Antas River), a tributary in the Guaiba basin, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, were identified. Two samples were collected in summer, autumn and spring, with one replicate in each river. The total of 28,961 specimens included members of Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Acarina, Insecta, Crustacea and Mollusca. The Silveira and Marco rivers showed significant differences in the indices of Shannon-Weaver (H’), Simpson’s Reciprocal (1/D), Margalef (DMg) and Equitability (E). The Silveira River showed the highest means of diversity and the EPT index (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera). Comparison among the diversity indices, considered individually, were insufficient to show differences in community structure, for the purpose of ecological characterization of the rivers. The EPT values characterized the Divisa River as having the highest abundance (73%), followed by the Marco (71%), Antas (48%) and Silveira (36%). These results suggest that the Silveira River is subject to moderate environmental stress, from human impact, although it showed the highest diversity of the major macrobenthic groups.

Abstract: The gonad morphology and gametogenesis of Lophiosilurus alexandri Steindachner, 1877 from Santo Antonio river (Minas Gerais, Brazil) were studied through anatomical and histological techniques. Examination of the testis revealed that they were paired, fringed organs with two distinct regions: cranial spermatogenic and caudal spermatogenic and secretory. The cranial region represents ca. 60% of the mature/maturing testis, containing 41 to 73 fringes, while the caudal portion represents ca. 40% and contains 44 to 68 fringes. At the cranial portion the length of the fringes was 3.70 ± 1.70 mm and in the caudal portion was 0.20 ± 0.10 mm. The spermatogenesis was cystic, synchronic, and occurred throughout the whole extension of the seminiferous tubules. The ovaries were saculiforms, paired organs, which present ovigerous lamellae containing cells of the oogenic lineage. The oocytes were classified into four developmental stages according to their cytological characteristics and the characteristics of the cell layers that surround them.

Abstract: The study of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera associated with litter in southeastern Brazil streams aimed to answer the following questions: 1) Does richness and composition of EPT fauna differ between riffle and pool mesohabitats despite being associated to the same substratum, litter? 2) Does the similarity of the EPT fauna between both mesohabitats change with time? 3) Does the EPT functional feeding structure differ between both mesohabitats (riffles-pools)? In order to answer these questions, monthly collections, from November 1999 to June 2000, were done in Ribeirao (Stream) Bocaina with a D-net (10 litter patches in riffles and 10 in pools). The EPT fauna at Ribeirao Bocaina was more diversified and more abundant in the litter in riffles than in the litter in pools, although, when richness was standardized for the same number of individuals it became similar in both conditions. EPT fauna was very different between both mesohabitats in terms of faunal composition as well as in terms of function. Probably it was due to differences in water speed, in the time of litter residence and in the concentration of dissolved oxygen between both mesohabitats.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the influence of environmental variables on the time distribution of assemblages of Chironomidae in the Upper Paraguay River. The samples were collected from November 2004 to October of 2005. To consider the diversity of habitats in the region, nine different sampling points were sampled and 2988 individuals were collected, distributed in 34 species, eight tribes and three subfamilies. The genus Labrundinia sp.1, Polypedilum (Asheum) and Polypedilum (Tripodura) occurred almost every month during the study. Richness and abundance were higher during the dry period of the year, and the genus Polypedilum was the most abundant. There was evident the effect of the environmental variables on the attributes of diversity in the Upper Paraguay River.

Abstract: Six field trips were carried bimonthly, between July 2004 and July 2005, in three fragments of Decidual Seasonal Forest of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State: Morro do Elefante (E), Morro do Lar Metodista (M) and Morro Cerrito (C). After 135 sampling hours, 1594 butterflies of 145 species were registered. Among these, 59% are Nymphalidae, 19% Hesperiidae, 10% Papilionidae, 7% Pieridae and 5% Lycaenidae. Nine species were new registers for Rio Grande do Sul State. M had the highest richness and abundance of species. The lowest richness was observed in E and the lowest abundance in C. Shannon-Wiener and Margalef diversity indexes had the same ordination among localities, being higher in M, more heterogeneous and disturbed, and lower in E. Simpson and Berger-Parker dominance indexes were higher in E, with more abundant species, and lower in C. Only 30% of the species were common to the three localities. About half of the total registered species were exclusive from one of the three localities. The highest similarity indexes (Morisita and Jaccard) were obtained between M and E, and the lowest between E and C.

Abstract: The length structure of the stocks of four species of large Pimelodidae catfishes was used to study the dynamics of their populations in the Cuiaba river basin, north Pantanal. The estimative of the growth parameters, recruitment and mortality rates for the species were obtained. Among the species studied the Barbado presented the fastest growth than the others. The Pintado, Cachara and Jau exhibited similar growth rate. For the Barbado and the Pintado we observed two annual picks of recruitment, however the Cachara and the Jau presented a single annual pick. The analysis of the mortality indicates that the fishing is a source of mortality more important for the Barbado than for the other species.

Abstract: The information available on streblid and nycteribiid bat flies and their hosts are scant in the Araucaria Forest (AF) and there are no data on richness, distribution patterns or abundance of these ectoparasites in bat communities. Therefore, we conducted a study on bats and their ectoparasites in AF remnants (approximately 470 ha) located in the municipality of Fazenda Rio Grande, Parana State, between December 2001 and May 2003. Twelve individuals of three species of Nycteribiidae and 119 individuals of six species of Streblidae were collected on 127 bats (four species of Phyllostomidae and seven of Vespertilionidae). Five of the six species of streblid were found exclusively on Sturnira lilium (E. Geoffroy, 1810) and Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818). We collected Megistopoda proxima (Seguy, 1926) on 62 S. lilium examined with prevalence of 65.4% and mean intensity of 2.00; Aspidoptera falcata Wenzel, 1976, respectively, with 13.5% and 2.29; Trichobius phyllostomae Kessel, 1925 with 7.7% and 1.00; and Metelasmus wenzeli Graciolli & Dick, 2004 with 1.6% and 4.00. We did not find significant differences in prevalence (p = 0.544) and mean intensity (p = 0.361) between the sexes of S. lilium . On 26 A . lituratus captured we found only Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1907) with prevalence of 32% and mean intensity of 1.50.

Abstract: We compared the effects of habitat disturbance on the feeding ecology of two local populations of Tropidurus torquatus (Wied, 1820) in restinga habitats on Ilha da Marambaia, Southeastern Brazil. Both populations presented a relatively diverse diet and differ in the number (DMax = 0.22, DF = 2, p = 0.00) and volume of prey consumed (DMax = 0.82, DF = 2, p = 0.00). Ants were the most frequent and numerous preys in both areas, and plant matter and coleopterans were the most important alimentary items in volume. The population from the disturbed area presented a larger niche breadth for number of prey items consumed (Binum = 3.06) and volume (Bivol = 2.98), when compared to the other population (Bjnum = 2.44, Bjvol = 1.52). Niche overlap was higher for number of items consumed between the populations (Oijnum = 0.82) but lower for volume (Oijvol = 0.05). Our data suggest dietary differences between the two lizard populations, and these differences may be associated with environmental modifications. Our main hypothesis to explain the dietary differences is based in the Optimal Foraging Theory. However, the alimentary behavior, and consequently the diet of these lizards, seems to be constrained phylogenetically, with a pattern that may have evolved in the ancestor of all iguanids.

Abstract: We compared the composition and guild structure of bird communities of riparian and upland forest in an Atlantic forest reserve, the Godoy State Park (GP), in northern Parana State, southern Brazil. Unlimited distance point counts were sampled monthly from September-December 2001, along four trails. Two trails in upland forest (TA and TB) were parallel to each other and about 300 m apart. Two trails in riparian forest (TC and TD) were along the Apertados River, about 100 m away from the river. A total of 145 species were recorded: 81 species were recorded in both upland and riparian forests, 19 species were recorded only in upland forest and 45 species were recorded exclusively in riparian forest. Among the 81 species occurring in both forest types, 18 species had significantly higher numbers of contacts in the riparian forest while only 8 species had significantly higher numbers of contacts in the upland forest. Taking into account the contacts numbers of the species the large frugivores guild was closely associated to the upland forest, while bamboo and vine-tangles insectivore, canopy insectivores, edge omnivores, ground omnivore and midstory insectivores were those more closely related to the riparian forest.

Abstract: Qualitative and quantitative survey of bird community were performed in two distinct semideciduous forest in the interior of the State of Sao Paulo from July 2004 to July 2005. Point Counts were used for the quantitative survey followed by diversity and frequence of ocurrence indexes of the bird assemblage. The qualitative survey registered a total of 181 species of birds at Fazenda Rio das Pedras (FRP, Itapetininga, 350 ha) and 126 at Fazenda Santa Maria II (FSM II, Buri, 260 ha). The qualitative survey registered 73 species in 998 contacts and 64 species en 1019 contacts, respectively, for FRP and FSM II. The ponctual index of abundance (IPA) varied from 0.01 (one contact) to 1.32 (132 contacts) at FRP and from 0.01 (one contact) to 0.97 (97 contacts) at FSM II. The general diversity index for FRP was H’ = 2.85 and H’ = 3.04 at FSM II. Both areas presented an evenness index of E = 0.91. The bird community in both patched of forest showed the same pattern found in other different forest fragments of relative size studies by many distinct authors. In both localities, insectivorus (53% at FSM e 50% at FRP) and frugivorus (23% na FSM e 26% na FRP) birds were the most representative. Among the former, Tyrannidae and Thamnophilidae were predominant, respectively, at FSM and FRP. In both places understory insectivorous birds were dominant (53% at FSM and 51,4% at FRP), followed by understory frugivorus at FSM (50%) and by canopy frugivorus (52,6%) at FRP. The importance of bird community in forest remmants in linked to managing and conservation of wild natural forested in Stade of Sao Paulo.

Abstract: This study analyze the composition of species, the density and the spatial and temporal distribution of benthic malacofauna in three reservoirs of the Middle Tiete River. The samplings were carried out in two climatic periods, the rainy season in November 2002 and the dry season in August 2003, showing three portions in each reservoir (upper, middle and lower) and following a sweeping with six sampling points in each transect. Based on the limnological data the reservoirs of the Middle Tiete River were eutrophied with high concentrations of nutrients (total and dissolved). Eight species of mollusks were registered, six natives and two exotics. Of these, the dominant species was the exotic and invading mollusk Melanoides tuberculata (Muller, 1774), found in all reservoirs. Another exotic specie Corbicula fluminea (Muller, 1774), was current in all the reservoirs in both periods of sampling (except in the Barra Bonita reservoir). In the Barra Bonita reservoir only the two exotic species occurred, while in the Bariri and Ibitinga the native species Aylacostoma tenuilabris (Bernardi, 1856), Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818), Biomphalaria intermedia (Paraense & Deslandes, 1962), Diplodon expansus (Kuster, 1853), Physa cubensis (Pfeiffer, 1839) and Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1822) occurred in at least one of the sampled periods. The generalized occupation of M. tuberculata and C. fluminea and the high densities of these species in the studied reservoirs reveal the invading potential of same and the probable competition with the native species.

Abstract: The observations cover a period of two years, monitoring groups of marked common marmosets in eight hour/day periods. Six types of events were recorded: marmoset predation; bird predation; foraging competition; food sharing; use of avian nest for nocturnal marmoset rest and mutual pursuit. All pooled events showed highly significant differences between season and vegetation strata.

Abstract: A key to 57 of the 58 Afrotropical Muscidae (Diptera) genera is given. The previous Catalogue of Afrotropical Diptera published about 25 years ago by Adrian C. Pont was used as a taxonomic guide, to which the more recently synonyms and taxonomic changes were updated. For each genus, geographical distribution and number of valid species in this region are also included. Some morphological diagnostic characters are illustrated in order to help the use of the key.

Abstract: The ‘saguiru’ Steindachnerina insculpta , a small teleost detritivorous fish species in Furnas reservoir, upper rio Parana basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil, has a prolonged period of reproductive activity that extends from September to March, with fractionated spawning. During gonadal maturation, the females showed a low hepatosomatic index, suggesting that hepatic substances are possibly transferred from liver to ovaries. During the reproductive period, this fish had lower stomach repletion and coelomic fat indexes, indicating that the species eat less and consume more fat reserves. The weight of the ovaries influenced positively the condition factor (K1), since the lowest K2 values (without the gonads weight), were obtained during maturation, confirming the influence of the weight of the ovaries upon the physiological condition of the females.

Abstract: Data on Sotalia guianensis Van Beneden, 1864 occurrence on the beaches of Pernambuco (Northeastern Brazil) is restricted to information on stranding and on printed material from local newspapers; actual observations of such animals have not been published. This study intends to determine the use of habitat, behavioral activities and assess the relationships between environmental factors and the recorded behavior. Observations were conducted on open sea coastal areas, on the beaches of Olinda and Piedade, as well as in sheltered areas, in the ports of Recife and Suape. Monitoring was carried out every month in each area, during two consecutive days, from September 2004 to August 2005. Results corroborate that this species prefers to occupy more protected environments, the port of Recife being the main concentration area for such species. Piedade is just an exploratory area, possibly due to shark occurrence. Olinda is only occasionally used. Concentration areas seem to be used for feeding, and incidence of caudal exhibition suggests that most of the estuarine dolphin prey items are demersal. Environmental conditions (seasonality, tide and time) did not show to be significant when related to the estuarine dolphin behavior.

Abstract: Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein, 1823) and P. patagoniesis (Girard, 1857) are species of colubrid snakes of the opisthoglyphous series restricted to South America. Several accidents caused by these snakes have been reported and they are mainly characterized by marked effects at the site of bite, such as pain, swelling and hemorrhage. Such accidents are similar to those caused by snakes of the genus Bothrops , and thereby patients bitten by Philodryas sp. are frequently treated with Bothrops antivenom. Since few studies have dealt with the characterization of these venoms, our aim was to study the venoms of P. olfersii and P. patagoniensis . They presented protein contents between 75 and 90%. No defibrinogenating activity could be detected when tested in mice. Experimental envenomation induced by P olfersii or P. patagoniensis evoked intense pain symptoms in mice, but the venom of P. patagoniensis was more active. Both venoms presented minimum edematogenic doses around 1 µg/mouse, peaking at 30 mm. The onset of hemorrhagic activity was rapid, and their minimum hemorrhagic doses were alike. The toxic activity of both venoms was similar, showing values around 60.0 µg/mouse, which are comparable to those of Bothrops Wagler, 1824 venoms.

Abstract: A composicao taxonomica, a densidade e a distribuicao espacial de moluscos bentonicos nos reservatorios do baixo rio Tiete (Sao Paulo) foram analisadas. A amostragem dos moluscos foi realizada em novembro de 2002 e agosto de 2003. As caracteristicas fisicas e quimicas dos reservatorios tambem foram avaliadas buscando-se correlaciona-las a composicao taxonomica e a distribuicao dos taxons atraves da Analise de Correspondencia Canonica (ACC). A especie exotica Melanoides tuberculata esteve distribuida em todas as porcoes amostradas e foi a especie mais abundante, correspondendo a 65,9% ou mais da abundância total, sendo dominante em todos os reservatorios, com densidade maxima de 23753 ind.m –2 registrada na profundidade de 2 m da porcao superior do reservatorio de Nova Avanhandava. As demais especies exoticas, Corbicula fluminea e Helisoma sp., foram bem menos abundantes e nao foram registradas em todas as porcoes dos reservatorios. As especies nativas foram Aylacostoma tenuilabris , Biomphalaria glabrata , B. intermedia, Physa cubensis e Pomacea canaliculata . Essas especies representaram menos de 20% das especies presentes nos reservatorios, ocorreram em abundância baixa e em densidades bem inferiores aquelas das especies exoticas, principalmente em relacao a M. tuberculata , podendo indicar o impacto das especies exoticas invasoras sobre as populacoes nativas.

Abstract: An alternative method for identifying and inventorying rodents and marsupials inhabiting forests and grasslands of Brazilian Cerrado is presented and discussed. Ink tracking tunnels were designed according to the size of target species and used to build a reference collection of small mammal footprints composed of 1408 footprints belonging to 251 individuals from 30 species (21 rodents and nine marsupials). Sherman traps and ink tracking tunnels were used to conduct inventories in gallery forests. Footprints obtained in ink tracking tunnels were digitalized and compared with those in reference collection using Discriminant Analysis (DFA). DFA allowed good footprint differentiation, even among congeneric species. In DFA analysis, the first two axis were related to size and arboreality. The efficiency of ink tracking tunnels was higher (track-success = 31%) than conventional trapping (trap-success = 14%) in inventories. Ink tracking tunnels gave a good description of the small mammal community of gallery forest by detecting rodents and marsupials of different habits, including trap-shy species. This paper also discusses advantages and limitations of ink tracking tunnels use in inventories and ecological studies, and concludes that this technique can be efficient in long-term studies and in rapid inventories as a complementary technique for trapping.

Abstract: Long-term monitoring of bird communities provides fundamental data to build population models which are valuable instruments to biodiversity conservation. The Saco da Fazenda aquatic avifauna was monitored monthly through three-daily visual censuses from January 1996 to December 2005, adopting the monthly average number of birds as a standard measurement of abundance. A total of 50 species were registered, and considering the frequency of occurrence, 34.0% were considered regular, 12.0% seasonal and 54.0% occasional. Resident birds represented 72.0% of the total species observed, seasonal visitors from the North Hemisphere (22.0%), South America visitors (4.0%) and a single species representing a possible new occurrence for Brazil. Seven were classified as shorebirds, 39 were limnic waterbirds and four species were border inhabitants or visitors coming from the Atlantic Forest. The families Ardeidae, Scolopacidae, Laridae and Charadriidae contributed with 64.0% of the species, being Phalacrocorax brasilianus(Gmelin, 1789) and Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein, 1823 the predominant ones. Despite the seasonal fluctuations observed, monthly average abundances of avifauna presented no differences, but when comparing the 10-year censuses data set, abundances were significantly different. While the diversity index showed significant differences for both monthly and annual values, the evenness index showed moderate fluctuations along the sampled years, remaining statistically similar but monthly distinct. Long-term uninterrupted studies involving waterbird communities are unique and support the need to consider seasonality, time of the day and the number of censuses to adequately determine population's size. The continuity of such long-term monitoring, could give a substantial contribution to understand interactions among species and to evaluate the importance of the estuarine populations, in a regional context.

Abstract: Characteristic of humid habitats, Rapanea ferruginea produces globose drupes containing a single seed covered by a thin black-purplish pulp. The feeding behavior and the contribution of birds in dispersing R. ferruginea fruits was examined in a gallery forest edge in Sao Manuel (22°43’S, 48°34’W), state of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. In 38 hours and 40 minutes of focal observations carried out between October 20 to November 12, 2005, an amount of 11618 fruits were consumed by 31 bird species, probably due to both superabundance of food and exposure of fruits on tree. From the total, 25 species could be considered potential seed dispersers by swallowing the whole diaspore and having short and frequent visits. The most common feeder were Turdus amaurochalinus Cabanis, 1851, Dryocopus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1766) and Turdus leucomelas Vieillot, 1818, accounting for 43% of the total fruits consumed, being the former the most frequent in R. ferruginea . The birds involved removed fruits mainly by the picking technique, while hanging was the least employed, but for Vireo olivaceus (Vieillot, 1817) and D. lineatus . Aggressive interactions were minimal, being Mimus saturninus Hellmayr, 1903 the responsible for most interespecific encounters, in contrast to intraspecific actions dominated by T. amaurochalinus and T. leucomelas .

Abstract: This study aims to identify food resource plants used by social wasp species in a Caatinga area, as well as describe the local patterns of cactus fruit resources used by wasps. Nine hundreds and eight foraging wasps, belonging to nine species, were captured while visiting six cactus species. Cereus jamacaru DC. and Pilosocereus catingicola (Gurke) Byles & G.D. were the most frequently visited plants. Several wasp species and a great number of individuals visited them. Polybia paulista von Ihering, 1896, Polybia ignobilis (Haliday, 1836), Polistes versicolor (Olivier, 1791), Polistes simillimus Zikan, 1951, Polistes billardieri Fabricius, 1804, Polistes canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758), Polybia occidentalis (Olivier, 1791) and Polybia sericea (Olivier, 1705) had the larger trophic niche breadth. The highest trophic niche overlap was between Mischocyttarus lanei Zikan, 1949 and Polistes simillimus Zikan, 1951 (0.83). The high niche overlap among social wasps seems to be resulting of the generalist behavior of the social wasp, as well as of the intensive exploration of few cactus species.

Abstract: The populational structure, reproduction and feeding features of banded croaker in southern coast of Parana State are presented. Samplings were performed through bottom trawl from March 1999 to January 2000 at depths 10 and 15 m. Paralonchurus brasiliensis is more abundant during spring, when the youngest individuals, smaller than 93 mm, are recruited. The relation weight/length for grouped sexes is TW(g) = 2.74E -6 TL(mm) 3.22 (n = 659; R 2 = 0.99). Gonadal maturation is recorded since the length class 130-165 mm and the average length of the first maturation (grouped sexes) is estimated in 175 mm. Sand worms (Polychaeta) are the feeding item more usual for the all size classes and seasons, followed by crustacean and fishes. Species reproductive period extends from autumn (start maturation) to summer (end the spawning). After spring, youngs probably leave the area 10 m of depth. The prohibition of the shrimp bottom trawl in this depth during the spring and the summer must be efficient to reduce P. brasiliensis by-catch, today composed by recruits or spawning proximity individuals.