Six freshwater microturbellarian species (Platyhelminthes) in permanent wetlands of the Coastal plain of southern Brazil: new records, abundance, and distribution

Microturbellarians occur in a wide range of ecosystems, but their diversity and distribution are largely unknown. In this work, we report on the morphology, abundance, and distribution of 6 species of microturbellarians, namely Baicalellia evelinae, Catenula evelinae, C. leuca, C. turgida, Gieysztoria chiqchi, and Stenostomum hemisphericum. We provide photographs and schematic drawings of the specimens in vivo. Three of them were known only for their type localities. Most species showed low to moderate abundance and were found in a single wetland in this study. Gieysztoria chiqchi is reported from Brazil for the first time. All records extend the ranges of the species at least 800 km to the southeast.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Six freshwater microturbellarian species (Platyhelminthes) in permanent wetlands of the Coastal plain of southern Brazil: new records, abundance, and distribution

Microturbellarians occur in a wide range of ecosystems, but their diversity and distribution are largely unknown. In this work, we report on the morphology, abundance, and distribution of 6 species of microturbellarians, namely Baicalellia evelinae, Catenula evelinae, C. leuca, C. turgida, Gieysztoria chiqchi, and Stenostomum hemisphericum. We provide photographs and schematic drawings of the specimens in vivo. Three of them were known only for their type localities. Most species showed low to moderate abundance and were found in a single wetland in this study. Gieysztoria chiqchi is reported from Brazil for the first time. All records extend the ranges of the species at least 800 km to the southeast.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

In vivo and in vitro genotoxicity studies of aqueous extract of Xanthium spinosum

The use of plants as a source of palliative or cure for pathological conditions is quite common worldwide. Xanthium spinosum (Asteraceae), popularly known in Brazil as 'espinho de carneiro', is an annual weed from South America, which has been used by empiric medicine to treat neoplasias. Owing to the extensive use of the above-mentioned plant and to the lack of reports about the real effects of its infusion, current study evaluated the genotoxic potential of its aqueous extract at concentrations 0.02 g L-1, 0.1 g L-1 and 0.2 g L-1 by fish micronucleus test and by comet human leukocytes assay. The micronucleus test featured at least 50 cells with micronuclei to every 2,000 cells scored, as a mutagenic parameter. The comet assay was used as a parameter for assessing the level of cell damage and the damage index. Since no significant changes in strain cells exposed to the aqueous extract in the comet and micronucleus assays were reported, it seems that no genotoxicity evidence is extant at the concentrations and in the assays performed.Em diversos lugares do mundo a utilização de plantas como fonte paliativa ou de cura para determinadas condições patológicas é bastante comum. No Brasil, essa prática não se torna diferente devido à ampla biodiversidade da fauna e flora presentes no País. Nesse contexto, surge a Xanthium spinosum (Asteraceae), conhecida popularmente como "espinho-de-carneiro", um arbusto anual introduzido na América do Sul, o qual tem sido utilizado empiricamente no tratamento de neoplasias. Sabendo do extensivo uso dessa planta em contrapartida com nenhum estudo reportando os reais efeitos de sua infusão, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a genotoxicidade do extrato aquoso nas concentrações de 0,02 g L-1, 0,1 g L-1 e 0,2 g L-1, através do ensaio do micronúcleo písceo e do ensaio cometa em leucócitos de sangue humano. O ensaio do micronúcleo tem como parâmetro mutagênico a presença de no mínimo 50 células com micronúcleo em uma contagem de 2.000 células por amostra, enquanto o ensaio cometa utiliza como parâmetro o nível de dano e o índice de dano. Os resultados mostram que não foi possível observar mudanças significativas nas células expostas ao extrato aquoso, em ambos os testes, o que sugere não existir evidência de genotoxicidade nas concentrações utilizadas no ensaio

Six freshwater microturbellarian species (Platyhelminthes) in permanent wetlands of the Coastal plain of southern Brazil: New records, abundance, and distribution

Microturbellarians occur in a wide range of ecosystems, but their diversity and distribution are largely unknown. In this work, we report on the morphology, abundance, and distribution of 6 species of microturbellarians, namely Baicalellia evelinae, Catenula evelinae, C. leuca, C. turgida, Gieysztoria chiqchi, and Stenostomum hemisphericum. We provide photographs and schematic drawings of the specimens in vivo. Three of them were known only for their type localities. Most species showed low to moderate abundance and were found in a single wetland in this study. Gieysztoria chiqchi is reported from Brazil for the first time. All records extend the ranges of the species at least 800 km to the southeast.Fil: Braccini, João A. L.. Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos; BrasilFil: Brusa, Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División de Zoología Invertebrados; ArgentinaFil: Leal Zanchet, Ana M.. Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos; Brasi

Figures 2–7 in Six freshwater microturbellarian species (Platyhelminthes) in permanent wetlands of the Coastal Plain of southern Brazil: new records, abundance, and distribution

Figures 2–7. Photographs of specimens in vivo after squeeze preparation (2, 4, 6) and diagrammatic reconstructions in dorsal view(3,5,7)of speciesofCatenula recordedinthe CoastalPlainof southernBrazil.2,3.Catenulaevelinae.4,5.C.leuca.6,7.C.turgida. Scalebars=100µm

Progresso genético e efeito ambiental na cultura do milho no estado do Acre

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo estimar o ganho genético visando conhecer eficiência inicial do programa de melhoramento de milho do Estado do Acre, conduzido pela Embrapa Acre. Foram utilizadas as médias de rendimento de grãos dos ensaios de avaliação de cultivares de milho, no período de 1985 a 1993, empregando-se a metodologia dos mínimos quadrados generalizado. Os resultados mostraram que houve ganho genético médio anual, no período, de 1,78%, embora tenha sido detectado efeito ambiental de -4.52%, demonstrando a necessidade do desenvolvimento de cultivares que apresentem maior estabilidade nas diversas condições ambientais da região.Using the averages of grain yield from the corn crops evaluation essays, during the period 1985 to 1993, the present study aimed to estimate the genetic gains and the environmental effect on corn improvement in Acre. Thegeneralized least squares method was used. The results showed that there was an annual genetic gain of 1.78%, although an environmental effect of -4.52% had been detected, showing that the development of cultivars presenting greater stability over the diverse environmental conditions of the region must be implemented