Padrões de distribuição e ocorrência espaço-temporal de ovos e larvas de peixes nos rios Pardo e Anhanduí, bacia do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

In this study we assessed the spatial and temporal distribution of ichthyoplankton and their reproductive strategies into the Pardo and Anhanduí rivers, located on the right bank of the Paraná river, MS. Samples were obtained from October/2009 to March/2010 using conical-cylindrical plankton net for surface samples at nightfall. In general, the family  Anostomidae was the most abundant in this study. We also registered eight migratory species: Prochilodus lineatus; Salminus brasiliensis; Brycon orbignyanus; Rhaphiodon vulpinus; Hemisorubim platyrhynchos/Pseudoplastytoma corruscans; Pimelodus maculatus; Sorubim lima and Zungaro zungaro. However, the sedentary species without parental care were more representative. Considering larval stages of development, significant differences were found for the stage of post-flexion at the mouths of rivers. A spatial pattern of eggs and larvae was registered: eggs were more abundant in the upstream stretches of the rivers and larvae in the downstream stretches. Higher abundances of eggs were found from october to january, and larvae in november, december and january. We conclude that Pardo as Anhanduí are suitable areas for spawning and early development of several fish species. This was clearly observed for the marginal lagoon into the Pardo river, where we registered higher occurrences of larvae in relation to the other sampling stations performed for both rivers.O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a distribuição espacial e temporal do ictioplâncton e suas respectivas estratégias reprodutivas ao longo dos rios Pardo e Anhanduí, situados na margem direita do rio Paraná, bacia do alto rio Paraná, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul. As coletas foram realizadas entre os meses de outubro/2009 a março/2010 na superfície ao anoitecer, com rede de plâncton cônico-cilíndrica em diversos locais de amostragem. Em geral, a família Anostomidae foi a mais abundante. Foram registradas a presença de oito espécies migradoras: Prochilodus lineatus; Salminus brasiliensis; Brycon orbignyanus; Rhaphiodon vulpinus; Hemisorubim platyrhynchos/Pseudoplastytoma corruscans; Pimelodus maculatus; Sorubim lima and Zungaro zungaro. Porém, as espécies não migradoras sem cuidado parental tiveram maior representatividade. Com relação aos estágios larvais de desenvolvimento, foram verificadas diferenças significativas para o estágio de pós-flexão na foz dos rios. Um padrão espacial de ovos e larvas foi encontrado: os ovos foram mais abundantes nos trechos mais à montante dos rios e as larvas nos trechos mais à jusante. Quanto aos meses amostrados, as abundâncias de ovos foram mais elevadas de outubro a janeiro, e de larvas em novembro, dezembro e janeiro. Assim, pode-se concluir que tanto o rio Pardo como o Anhanduí constituem locais adequados para reprodução e desenvolvimento inicial de várias espécies de peixes, especialmente a lagoa do rio Pardo, onde foram registradas as maiores ocorrências de larvas em relação aos demais pontos de amostragens realizados para ambos os rios

The use of morphometric analysis to predict the swimming efficiency of two Neotropical long-distance migratory species in fish passage

This study investigated the external body morphology (based on morphometric data) and the swimming efficiency in fish passages (based on the ascent time in a fish ladder) of two Neotropical long-distance migratory species. The fish were collected in the fish ladder of the Porto Primavera Hydroelectric Power Plant (known as Engenheiro Sergio Motta), upper Paraná River, Brazil. The species differ in several morphometric ratios related to swimming performance. Prochilodus lineatus exhibited a higher muscle ratio and caudal fin length ratio. However, Leporinus elongatus showed higher values for the fineness ratio, a higher length from snout to pectoral fin base ratio, and a higher caudal peduncle depth factor. Although both species show good swimming performance, the characteristics listed above may enable L. elongatus to apply greater power and propulsion, allowing it to reach a high swimming speed and to exhibit greater efficiency than P. lineatus. Leporinus elongatus moves faster than P. lineatus and has a lower mean ascent time (1.39 hours) than P. lineatus (3.76 hours). Prochilodus lineatus would require a somewhat longer time to pass through the fish ladder

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora