Sporepolinic morphology of fluvial terrace sediments in the Western Amazon

Morphological descriptions were made for pollen grains and spores extracted from samples from three sedimentary sections - Chandless 1, Purus 10 and Purus 30 - from fluvial terraces on the Chandless and Purus rivers, Acre State, Brazil. Level CH1-12 at Chandless 1 was C14-dated to 4861 - 5050 cal yr BP, P10-3 of Purus 10 was dated through the OSL method at 8200 +/- 65 yr BP, while P30-6 at Purus 30 was C14 dated to 7845 - 7998 cal yr BP. For pollen analysis, 2 cm3 of each sample was removed, treated with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and acetolysed, followed by palymorph separation with bromoform/alcohol density 2.0 solution. A total of 49 palynomorphs were morphologically described (39 pollen types and 10 Pteridophyte spores). The most frequent pollen types belonged to Anacardiaceae, Arecaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Rutaceae and Amaranthaceae, while the most frequent spores belonged to Polypodiaceae and Pteridaceae. The pollen richness found in the studied samples reflects the current vegetation occupying the banks of the rivers

Propagação vegetativa de Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson por meio das técnicas de estaquia e embriogênese somática

Vegetative propagation techniques, such as cutting and somatic embryogenesis, can be an advantageous alternative to the production of native species seedlings with social-environmental and economic importance as Himatanthus sucuuba. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different types of cuttings and indole butyric acid (IBA) concentration, on the survival and rooting of cuttings of H. sucuuba, as well as to induce somatic embryogenesis in callus originating from nodal and foliar segments in different cultivation conditions. In the cuttings, the experimental design used was in randomized complete blocks, with a factorial arrangement: 2 types of cuttings (with and without leaves) and 3 concentrations of IBA (0, 1000 and 3000 mg L–1). After 100 days, were evaluated the following variables: survival (%), rooting (%), number of roots per cutting, length of the largest root (cm), number of leaves and dry biomass. The somatic embryogenesis experiment was subdivided into three distinct phases: induction (I), maturation (II) and germination of somatic embryos (III). In phase I, the explants' responses to callus formation in MS medium, with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D) and Thidiazuron (TDZ) (18.08+9.8 μM and 4.52+6.81 μM), were evaluated using descriptive statistics. In phase II, the effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on the formation of embryogenic structures in the callus were evaluated, in MS and B5 medium, with and without the addition of activated carbon. And in phase III, the potential for conversion of embryos to seedlings in B5 medium supplemented with IBA+BAP (6-benzylaminopurine). The design used in the last two phases was completely randomized, with a 2x2x4 and 2x2x2 factorial arrangement, respectively: 2 explants (nodal and leaf segment callus), 2 light conditions (white and dark light), 4 concentrations of ABA (0, 10, 20 and 30 μM) or 2 concentrations of AIB+BAP (1+2.5 μM and 1+5 μM). The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means compared by Tukey’s test at p<0.05. As for the percentage of survival and rooting of cuttings, average values above 70% were observed in all treatments. There was no significance for the interaction of the factors analyzed, neither for the effect of AIB, analyzed in isolation. The cutting of H. sucuuba was considered viable, and the maintenance of the leaves, associated with juvenility of the propagules, were determining factors in the conditions in which this study was developed. The results obtained for somatic embryogenesis demonstrate a double interaction between the type of explant and the luminosity and absence of significant differences for ABA. Despite the success in callus induction, the following maturation and germination protocols were ineffective for obtaining seedlings using this technique. New studies must be carried out in order to intensify the expression of somatic embryogenesis, bypass the phenolic oxidation of the culture and increase the rooting and survival percentages in the cutting technique.As técnicas de propagação vegetativa, tais como a estaquia e a embriogênese somática, podem ser alternativas vantajosas para a produção de mudas de espécies nativas com importância socioambiental e econômica, como Himatanthus sucuuba. Neste contexto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de diferentes tipos de estacas e concentrações de ácido indolbutírico (AIB), sobre a sobrevivência e enraizamento das estacas de H. sucuuba, bem como, induzir a embriogênese somática em calos originados a partir de segmentos nodais e foliares em diferentes condições de cultivo. Na estaquia, o delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com arranjo fatorial duplo: 2 tipos de estacas (com e sem folhas) e 3 concentrações de AIB (0, 1000 e 3000 mg L–1). Após 100 dias, foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: sobrevivência (%), enraizamento (%), número de raízes por estaca, comprimento da maior raiz (cm), número de folhas e biomassa seca. O experimento da embriogênese somática foi subdividido em três fases distintas: indução (I), maturação (II) e germinação de embriões somáticos (III). Na fase I foram avaliadas as respostas dos explantes quanto à formação de calos em meio MS, com ácido diclorofenoxiacético (2,4-D) e Tidiazuron (TDZ) (18,08+9,8 μM e 4,52+6,81 μM), por meio de estatística descritiva. Na fase II, foi avaliado os efeitos do ácido abscísico (ABA) sobre a formação de estruturas embriogênicas nos calos, em meio MS e B5, com e sem a adição de carvão ativado. E na III, o potencial de conversão de embriões a plântulas, em meio B5 suplementado com AIB+BAP (6-benzilaminopurina). O delineamento utilizado nas duas últimas fases foi o inteiramente casualizado, com arranjo fatorial 2x2x4 e 2x2x2, respectivamente: 2 explantes (calos de segmentos nodais e foliares), 2 condições de luminosidade (luz branca e escuro), 4 concentrações de ABA (0, 10, 20 e 30 μM) ou 2 concentrações de AIB+BAP (1+2,5 μM e 1+5 μM). Os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância (ANOVA), e tiveram suas médias comparadas entre si, pelo teste de Tukey a p<0,05. Quanto aos percentuais de sobrevivência e enraizamento das estacas, foram observados valores médios superiores a 70% em todos os tratamentos. Não houve significância para a interação dos fatores analisados, tampouco para o efeito do AIB, analisado isoladamente. A estaquia de H. sucuuba foi considerada viável, sendo que a manutenção das folhas, associada a juvenilidade dos propágulos, foram fatores determinantes nas condições em que o presente estudo foi desenvolvido. Já os resultados obtidos para embriogênese somática, demonstram uma interação dupla entre o tipo de explante e a luminosidade, e ausência de diferenças significativas para o ABA. Apesar do sucesso na indução de calos, os protocolos seguintes de maturação e germinação foram ineficazes para a obtenção de plântulas por meio desta técnica. Novos estudos devem ser realizados no sentido de intensificar a expressão da embriogênese somática, a fim de controlar a oxidação fenólica da cultura e aumentar os percentuais de enraizamento e sobrevivência na técnica de estaquia

Chilling to the bone: Lower temperatures increase vertebrate predation by tonatia bidens (chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

The greater round-eared bat, Tonatia bidens (Spix, 1823), is a medium-sized phyllostomid bat distributed in the north of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. The diet and foraging patterns of this species are poorly known. We analyzed the composition of the diet of a population of T. bidens and how the temperature influences the consumption of vertebrates and invertebrates. To describe diet composition, we conducted weekly collections of food scrap from two monospecific night-perches. Data of temperature for the study period were taken from the meteorological station installed 300 m from the collection perches. The influence of temperature was evaluated using generalized linear models (GLMs) with negative binomial distribution. Tonatia bidens consumed 28 taxons (204 records), being at least 17 Artropods and 11 Passeriformes birds. Temperature explained a greater proportion of vertebrate abundance (R2 = 0.23) than invertebrate (R2 = 0.16) or to both pooled (R2 = 0.11). The relation with temperature was positive with invertebrates and negative with the vertebrates. The diet of the population of T. bidens comprised mainly invertebrates, which were the most frequent and diverse taxa. Data suggests that T. bidens has a diverse diet, with proportion of the item’s consumption varying temporally. Environmental factors, such as the temperature presented on this work, seems to be good proxies for the dietary traits of this species. © 2020 Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia

New species from the nivicola group of Hypogastrura Bourlet, 1839 (Collembola, Poduromorpha, Hypogastruridae) from Canada

A new Hypogastrura species of the nivicola group from Canada is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by postantennal organ with outer anterior lobe elongated, head interocular tubercles not prominent, all terga with some extra chaetae, dens dorsally with 8-9 conical, bi- or tridentate spines, and a boat-shaped mucro with subapical tooth. A discussion on the morphology of the nivicola group is given and an identification key for all eight species of this group found in the Nearctic is provided. Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Pres

Description of the immature stages of the Neotropical whirligig beetle Gyrinus (Neogyrinus) rozei Ochs, 1953 (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) and first report of the parasitoid wasp Melanosmicra sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) on a Gyrinus species

In most species of Gyrinidae, the immature stages are unknown, especially due to the difficulty in collecting the juveniles and assigning them to a particular species. Molecular association is a feasible technique that may solve this problem. Recent studies have used DNA sequence data, specifically the gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), to associate immature and adult stages, thus enabling the description of the former. The objectives of this study were (1) to describe and illustrate the immature stages of Gyrinus (Neogyrinus) rozei Ochs, 1953 including morphometric, chaetotaxic and bionomic information, and (2) to assess the usefulness of the gene COI to associate immatures and adults of Gyrinus. The studied specimens were collected in Roraima state, northern Brazil. The association of immature and adult stages was done either by rearing adults under laboratory conditions or by using DNA sequence data (COI). Eggs were described based on scanning electron microscopy; they are distinguished mainly by several features of chorion, micropyle and reticulation. Larvae of G. (N.) rozei can be distinguished from those of other Neotropical Gyrinidae by a combination of several characters, including the stipes with five robust hook-like additional setae on the dorsointernal margin, and the lacinia roughly hook-shaped. The pupa is similar to that of G. argentinus Steinhel, 1869, except for the number of setae on the body. The first record of the parasitoid wasp Melanosmicra sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) on a Gyrinus species is also provided. Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Press

Freshwater fish diversity hotspots for conservation priorities in the Amazon Basin

Conserving freshwater habitats and their biodiversity in the Amazon Basin is a growing challenge in the face of rapid anthropogenic changes. We used the most comprehensive fish-occurrence database available (2355 valid species; 21,248 sampling points) and 3 ecological criteria (irreplaceability, representativeness, and vulnerability) to identify biodiversity hotspots based on 6 conservation templates (3 proactive, 1 reactive, 1 representative, and 1 balanced) to provide a set of alternative planning solutions for freshwater fish protection in the Amazon Basin. We identified empirically for each template the 17% of sub-basins that should be conserved and performed a prioritization analysis by identifying current and future (2050) threats (i.e., degree of deforestation and habitat fragmentation by dams). Two of our 3 proactive templates had around 65% of their surface covered by protected areas; high levels of irreplaceability (60% of endemics) and representativeness (71% of the Amazonian fish fauna); and low current and future vulnerability. These 2 templates, then, seemed more robust for conservation prioritization. The future of the selected sub-basins in these 2 proactive templates is not immediately threatened by human activities, and these sub-basins host the largest part of Amazonian biodiversity. They could easily be conserved if no additional threats occur between now and 2050. © 2020 Society for Conservation Biolog

Systematics and biogeography of Salina MacGillivray (Collembola: Entomobryoidea), with emphasis on the species groups in the New World

Nine new species of the collembolan genus Salina MacGillivray from South America are described and illustrated. Two Neotropical species were recorded for the first time from Brazil: S. dedoris Mari-Mutt and S.Tristani Denis. Salina was previously known to occur in three Brazilian states, and this is now updated to include 19 states with 12 recorded species. A new proposal of morphological character description and illustration, and an identification key for the celebensis group are provided. A hypothesis for the phylogenetic relationships among 34 species of Salina (about 50% of the 72 described species) allowed three main pursuits: (a) a reevaluation of Salina species groups; (b) the first explicit interpretation of how morphological characters of these springtails may have changed during the course of the diversification of the taxon; and (c) an evaluation of the historical biogeographic connections of Salina, with an emphasis on the celebensis group distribution to the New World. © 2018 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden