Isotopic niches of juvenile and adult green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in feeding and nesting areas in Brazil, southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Stable isotope analysis is an approach that allows inferring feeding ecology and trophic structure of populations, especially for species that are difficult to observe in natural habitats, such as marine turtles. This study investigated the niche breadth of adult and juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) through δ15N and δ13C values in carapace scutes. During 2017 and 2018, tissues were collected from juveniles in a feeding area in southeastern Brazil (n = 60) and from adults in a nesting area in northeastern Brazil, at Fernando de Noronha (n = 21). Our results revealed no temporal variations in the isotopic values of adult green turtles and the mean δ15N values are compatible with the isotopic values of primarily herbivorous animals. In southeastern Brazil, the δ13C values and isotopic niche breadth differences observed in juvenile green turtles suggest that variations in habitat (i.e., channel between the municipalities of Ilhabela and São Sebastião - “SSC” and region comprising the other two municipalities of Ubatuba and Caraguatatuba - “CAU”, as defined in this study based on oceanographic current dynamics) can influence their isotopic niche. The isotopic values observed in juvenile green turtles demonstrated a high degree of feeding behavior plasticity and individual variability, which were possibly influenced by the dynamic of oceanographic currents and seasonal nutrient inputs. These findings help to elucidate the feeding behavior of green turtles at different life stages and the potential influence of oceanographic current dynamics in key feeding sites for juvenile green turtles

Turismo em unidades de conservação: parques estaduais de Campos do Jordão

This work has as objective to present some beginnings, importance, impacts and situation of the conservation units, with relationship the tourism practice.With study case it is discuss the tourism in the State Parks of Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil.Apresenta alguns princípios, importância, impactos e situação das unidades de conservação, em relação à prática do ecoturismo. Como estudo de caso é apresentada a realidade de sua prática em parques estaduais de Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brasil

'Offensive' snakes: cultural beliefs and practices related to snakebites in a Brazilian rural settlement

This paper records the meaning of the term 'offense' and the folk knowledge related to local beliefs and practices of folk medicine that prevent and treat snake bites, as well as the implications for the conservation of snakes in the county of Pedra Branca, Bahia State, Brazil. The data was recorded from September to November 2006 by means of open-ended interviews performed with 74 individuals of both genders, whose ages ranged from 4 to 89 years old. The results show that the local terms biting, stinging and pricking are synonymous and used as equivalent to offending. All these terms mean to attack. A total of 23 types of 'snakes' were recorded, based on their local names. Four of them are Viperidae, which were considered the most dangerous to humans, besides causing more aversion and fear in the population. In general, local people have strong negative behavior towards snakes, killing them whenever possible. Until the antivenom was present and available, the locals used only charms, prayers and homemade remedies to treat or protect themselves and others from snake bites. Nowadays, people do not pay attention to these things because, basically, the antivenom is now easily obtained at regional hospitals. It is understood that the ethnozoological knowledge, customs and popular practices of the Pedra Branca inhabitants result in a valuable cultural resource which should be considered in every discussion regarding public health, sanitation and practices of traditional medicine, as well as in faunistic studies and conservation strategies for local biological diversity

ETHNOECOLOGY OF Mussismilia braziliensis (Verrill 1868) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CARAVELAS, BAHIA, BRAZIL

This work is the first record of the perception of fishers and artisanal fishers in the Caravela city- Bahia and its respective districts (Ponta de Areia and Barra de Caravelas) regarding the species Mussismilia braziliensis, its ethnozoological aspects and its socio-environmental importance. The main objective is to associate the knowledge of these artisanal fishers about this species with the ethnoconservation of the Abrolhos Marine National Park (PARNAM-Abrolhos). Data collection was conducted from March to August 2019 through semi-structured interviews with 14 fishers from each fishing communities (Caravelas, Ponta de Areia and Barra de Caravelas). An ethno-mapping was carried out with two focal groups in order to know if the fishing grounds have received their names due to the presence or absence of corals. Using morphological characteristics, the focus species is grouped together with other corals belonging to different families, which are all considered to be brain corals. Other studies are recommended to appreciate the knowledge of the Caravelas fishers and use it for future environmental education, management and conservation projects of the PARNAM-Abrolhos

Local knowledge of traditional fishermen on economically important crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura) in the city of Conde, Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This article records the traditional knowledge of crab gatherers in the city of Conde, in the North Coast Region of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data on biological and ecological aspects of economically important brachyuran crustaceans have been obtained from semi-structured interviews and <it>in loco</it> observations conducted from September 2007 to December 2009. A total of 57 fishermen of both genders, aged between 10 and 78 years have been interviewed (individually or collectively) in different contexts; interviewees were asked about aspects such as external morphology, life cycle, trophic ecology, and spatial and temporal distribution of the major economically important brachyuran crustaceans in the region. Seven fishing communities were visited: Siribinha, Sítio do Conde, Poças, Ilha das Ostras, Cobó, Buri and Sempre Viva. Data were analyzed by comparing the information provided by participants with those from the specialized academic literature.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results show that artisanal fishermen have a wide ranging and well-grounded knowledge on the ecological and biological aspects of crustaceans. Crab gatherers of Conde know about growth and reproductive behavior of the animals they interact with, especially with regard to the three major biological aspects: “molt”, “walking dance” and “spawning”.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This knowledge constitutes an important source of information that should be considered in studies of management and sustainable use of fishery resources in the North Coast Region of Bahia State.</p

CLASSIFICAÇÃO ETNOBIOLÓGICA DE CRUSTÁCEOS (DECAPODA: BRACHYURA) POR PESCADORES ARTESANAIS DO MUNICÍPIO DE CONDE, LITORAL NORTE DO ESTADO DA BAHIA, BRASIL

Os sistemas de classificação etnobiológicos frequentemente difundem-se pela oralidade. Sua interpretação leva a compreender como as sociedades humanas nomeiam e ordenam os elementos de seu ambiente. O presente estudo teve por objetivo registrar a classificação etnobiológica de crustáceos braquiúros de importância econômica no município de Conde, Litoral Norte da Bahia, Nordeste do Brasil. O trabalho de campo foi realizado no período de setembro de 2007 a dezembro de 2009, mediante o uso de técnicas etnográficas usuais, como entrevistas abertas e semiestruturadas, bem como observações comportamentais. Foram entrevistados, individual ou coletivamente em variados contextos, pescadores artesanais (n = 57), de ambos os gêneros, com idades entre 10 e 78 anos, acerca dos nomes populares e dos principais critérios adotados na identificação etnotaxonômica dos braquiúros de importância econômica na região. Foram visitadas sete comunidades pesqueiras: Siribinha, Sítio do Conde, Poças, Ilha das Ostras, Cobó, Buri e Sempre Viva. Os dados referentes à etnotaxonomia dos crustáceos foram analisados segundo os Princípios de Classificação Etnobiológica de Brent Berlin. Os resultados mostram que braquiúros de importância econômica são classificados na Forma de Vida Marisco. Seis táxons específicos de siris (Portunidae) foram registrados e nomeados com base em critérios ecológicos e morfológicos. Alguns dos nomes comuns referentes à Ucides cordatus e Cardisoma guanhumi obedecem a esses mesmos critérios. Com base nos resultados, percebe-se que o sistema de classificação etnobiológico adotado em Conde reflete os saberes relacionados a aspectos biológicos e ecológicos dos braquiúros.

Conexões entre pescadores e polvos na comunidade de Coroa Vermelha, Santa Cruz Cabrália, Bahia

Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and apart from carrying out important ecologicalfunctions, they have an important socioeconomic role because they are source of income and livelihoods for severalcommunities. Coroa Vermelha, is a district of Santa Cruz Cabr&aacute;lia, State of Bahia, and, together with the northern portionof Porto Seguro, it comprises the Coroa Vermelha APA (Environmental Protection Area). The artisanal fishing of octopusstill plays an important role for the local population, although tourism is a more promising alternative. This study coversthe behaviour of the octopus fishermen from Coroa Vermelha relating to their catch, other elements of the ecosystem, andpossible conservation implications, following a broad ethnoecological approach. Non-structured interviews, followed bysemi-structured and structured interviews, with randomly selected octopus fishermen and with &ldquo;native specialists&rdquo;, werecarried out. The semi-structured interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The technique of direct observation,when fishermen were accompanied during the fishing, was also used. Twenty fishermen were interviewed; eight of whomwere considered &ldquo;native specialists&rdquo;. Two techniques of capture were reported, the catching of octopus over the reef andthrough diving, and five sampling points were cited as the most frequently fished by the local octopus fishermen. Amongstthe proposed interactions, that of human/plant interactions was found to be the weakest and that of human/animal thestrongest when fishing for octopus.Os recifes de corais est&atilde;o entre os ecossistemas mais diversos do mundo e, al&eacute;m de desempenharem fun&ccedil;&otilde;esecol&oacute;gicas importantes, possuem relevante papel socioecon&ocirc;mico por serem fonte de renda e subsist&ecirc;ncia de diversascomunidades. O distrito de Coroa Vermelha, situado no munic&iacute;pio de Santa Cruz Cabr&aacute;lia, estado da Bahia, comp&otilde;e,juntamente com a parte norte do munic&iacute;pio de Porto Seguro, a APA Coroa Vermelha. A pesca artesanal de polvo (Octopusspp.) tem grande import&acirc;ncia para a sobreviv&ecirc;ncia de boa parte da popula&ccedil;&atilde;o local, ainda que o turismo seja umaalternativa cada vez mais promissora. Neste estudo, &eacute; abordado o comportamento de pescadores de polvo de CoroaVermelha com rela&ccedil;&atilde;o ao recurso explotado e demais elementos do ecossistema, bem como suas poss&iacute;veis implica&ccedil;&otilde;esconservacionistas segundo a proposta etnoecol&oacute;gica abrangente. Inicialmente foram realizadas entrevistas n&atilde;o-estruturadase, posteriormente, semiestruturadas e estruturadas, com pescadores de polvo encontrados casualmente e com os&ldquo;especialistas nativos&rdquo;. As entrevistas semiestruturadas foram gravadas e transcritas de forma verbatim. Foi empregadatamb&eacute;m a t&eacute;cnica de observa&ccedil;&atilde;o direta, onde informantes foram acompanhados durante a pesca. Vinte pescadores foramentrevistados; dentre os quais, oito foram considerados &ldquo;especialistas nativos&rdquo;. Duas t&eacute;cnicas de captura foram registradas,o polvejamento por cima do recife e atrav&eacute;s de mergulho, e cinco s&iacute;tios de coleta foram citados como os mais frequentementeexplotados pelos polvejadores locais. Dentre as conex&otilde;es propostas, a ser humano/vegetal foi a mais fraca e a ser humano/animal a mais forte na pesca de polvo