Effects of geophysical cycles on the rhythm of mass mate searching of a harvested mangrove crab

The harvested mangrove crab Ucides cordatus exhibits conspicuous cycles of searching for mates en masse. This phenomenon, called andada, always occurs at the syzygies, but the particular moon phase, full, new or rarely both, varies for unknown reasons. The presence and absence of andada activities of a Northeast Brazilian crab population was assessed by boat between 2006 and 2011. In 2008 crabs were additionally collected in sampling plots to determine the duration and intensity of andada events and in 2010 the timing of andada with respect to the light:dark cycle and tidal cycle was studied by observations from platforms. We found that andada occurred during the day and night and that the rhythm of mate searching was linked to the syzygy tide inequality cycle (STIC). Andada shifted between new and full moon, depending upon which moon phase had the higher amplitude tides. The ultimate cause of andada is likely to be increased larval survival after synchronous release at highest amplitude spring tides 1 month later. Such anticipatory behaviour is probably under endogenous control. The results of this study can help to improve temporal placements of capture bans for this harvested species and reduce current conflicts between fishers and regulatory agencies

First field record of mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Ucididae) recruits co-inhabiting burrows of conspecific crabs

Recruits of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763), rarely encountered in the field were found co-inhabiting burrows of larger male and female conspecifics in the mangrove forest. They were located in the sediment of the inner walls and burrow plugs. Average carapace width (CW) of the hosting and co-inhabiting crabs was 3.8 ± 0.20 and 0.9 ± 0.03, respectively. As shown by the size-frequency distribution, while most recruits leave the conspecific burrows after reaching 1.0 cm CW, some stay until they reach a size of 2.5 cm CW. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of recruitment patterns in this ecologically and economically important mangrove crab species. Follow-up studies are however needed to fully determine the role of conspecific burrows for juvenile habitat choice and survivorship in U. cordatus

Intraspecific facilitation of the recruitment of a burrowing mangrove crab species along an environmental gradient

The exploited mangrove crab Ucides cordatus, an important ecosystem engineer in South American mangroves, has a biphasic lifecycle with pelagic larvae developing offshore. Megalopae return to the mangrove forest to settle, i.e., metamorphose into benthic juveniles but its environmental drivers remain poorly understood. We postulate that conspecific crabs facilitate recruitment. In the field, we investigated whether the number of recruits is higher near conspecific burrows than in areas without conspecific bioturbation. Recruit sampling was conducted monthly from April 2008 to May 2009 along an environmental gradient. First, U. cordatus recruits of that year emerged from March to July. Intraspecific facilitation was indicated by significantly higher recruit numbers in bioturbated than in non-bioturbated substrates. Recruits were most abundant in zones with intermediate conditions of inundation, leaf litter standing stock, sediment consistency, luminosity, temperature, salinity, and pH. Avoidance of more inundated zones likely reduces predation by fishes and of less inundated zones helps individuals escape more stressful, drier environmental conditions. The observed habitat-specific recruitment pattern must be considered when designing field assessments of the population structure of U. cordatus (which should include sampling recruits) and enhancing stocks by releasing laboratory-cultivated larvae and first juveniles into the wild

DIAGNÓSTICO DE PESQUISAS REALIZADAS EM UNIDADES DE CONSERVAÇÃO: SUBSÍDIO AO PROGRAMA DE MONITORAMENTO DA BIODIVERSIDADE DE MANGUEZAIS

O presente artigo traz um diagnóstico que integra o processo de planejamento do “Programa de Monitoramento da Biodiversidade de Manguezais de UCs Federais (MoMa)”, do ICMBio. O objetivo foi levantar e avaliar as pesquisas sobre a biodiversidade de manguezais com potencial de contribuição ao monitoramento deste ecossistema. A metodologia envolveu consultas ao Cadastro Nacional de Unidades de Conservação (CNUC), acessos ao Sistema de Autorização e Informação em Biodiversidade (SISBIO), e uma pesquisa junto a representantes de UCs, que responderam a questionários estruturados. Foram levantadas 50 UCs com manguezal, sendo 32% do grupo de proteção integral e 68% do grupo de uso sustentável. Das 48 UCs cujos gestores responderam aos questionários, 56% ainda não possuíam dados de medição de área de cobertura de manguezal. Segundo os gestores, em 48% das UCs não eram executadas pesquisas científicas sobre biodiversidade de manguezal. Adicionalmente, as 162 pesquisas registradas com potencial de contribuição para monitoramento estavam mal distribuídas geograficamente, com uma maior concentração nos estados do Pará e Paraíba, o que dificulta a formação de redes nacionais de monitoramento. Observou-se uma concentração das pesquisas em algumas espécies, notadamente ameaçadas de sobrexplotação (p. ex., caranguejo-uçá, Ucides cordatus) ou ameaçadas de extinção (p. ex., peixe-boi, Trichechus manatus). Esta concentração de pesquisas poderá facilitar a formação das redes de monitoramento destas espécies. Por outro lado, é preocupante a carência de pesquisas sobre espécies importantes para a conservação, como as aves congregatórias (p. ex., guará-vermelho, Eudocymus ruber). O fato de 60% das pesquisas existentes à época serem executadas por universidades indica que estas instituições são potenciais parceiras das UCs na condução desses monitoramentos. No entanto, foi observada uma curta duração (média de dois anos), provavelmente devido ao tempo limitado para a finalização de teses e dissertações e/ou à limitação de recursos financeiros, cerceando os monitoramentos de longo prazo. Assim, o grande desafio para elaborar e implementar um programa de monitoramento da biodiversidade de manguezais não é apenas o de estabelecer métodos padronizados e viáveis, mas também permitir o encadeamento e a continuidade dos estudos realizados por sucessivas gerações de pesquisadores no interior das UCs. Para tanto, a captação de recursos através da vinculação de monitoramentos a condicionantes de licenciamento ambiental de empresas privadas e o investimento em monitoramentos participativos são duas estratégias promissoras, e podem viabilizar a execução do Programa de Monitoramento

Field emissions of N2O during biomass production may affect the sustainability of agro-biofuels

Field emissions of N2O during cultivation of bioenergy crops may counterbalance a considerable part of the avoided fossil CO2 emissions that are achieved by fossil fuel displacemen

Certification of Cystatin C in the Human Serum Reference Material ERM-DA471/IFCC - Certified Reference Material ERM®-DA471/IFCC

The production of ERM-DA471/IFCC, certified for the mass concentration of cystatin C, is described. Serum was produced from blood collected in 2 collection centres according to a procedure ensuring that it was obtained from healthy donors, and that the lipid content of the serum was low. The serum was processed, spiked with recombinant cystatin C, and lyophilised. It was verified that the material is homogenous and stable. The material was characterised using a pure protein primary reference preparation (PRP) as calibrant. The PRP was prepared from recombinant cystatin C, and its concentration determined by dry mass determination. The characterisation of ERM-DA471/IFCC was performed by particle enhanced immuno-nephelometry, particle enhanced immuno-turbidimetry and enzyme amplified single radial immuno-diffusion. The certified cystatin C mass concentration in ERM-DA471/IFCC, if reconstituted according to the specified procedure, is 5.48 mg/L, the expanded uncertainty (k = 2) is 0.15 mg/L.JRC.DG.D.2-Reference material

Greenhouse gas emissions from cultivation of energy crops may affect the sustainability of biofuels

Field emissions of N2O during cultivation of bioenergy crops may counterbalance a considerable part of the avoided fossil CO2 emissions that are achieved by fossil fuel displacemen

Relating N2O emissions from energy crops to the avoided fossil fuel-derived CO2 – a study on bioethanol and biogas produced from organically managed maize, rye, vetch and grass-clover

Field emissions of N2O during cultivation of bioenergy crops may counterbalance a considerable part of the avoided fossil CO2 emissions that are achieved by fossil fuel displacement