ECOMORPHOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF SMALL SYMPATRIC FISH FROM A NEOTROPICAL RESERVOIR

In this study, we sought to identify ecomorphological patterns of ten species of sympatric small fish (Astyanax altiparanae, Astyanax fasciatus, Bryconamericus stramineus, B. iheringi, Cheirodon stenodon, Characidium fasciatum, Geophagus brasiliensis, Hyphessobrycon anisitsi, Piabina argentea and Steindachnerina insculpta) in a stretch of the Veados River (23º16’80’’S/48º38’67’’W), under the influence of the Jurumirim reservoir (Paranapanema River, Brazil). Samples were collected monthly between August/96 and December/97 using seine nests. Biometric measurements were taken from fifteen individuals of each species following the criteria proposed by Lagler et al. (1977) for determination of the sixteen ecomorphological attributes used in ordination techniques (Principal Component Analysis - PCA). The first axis of the component explained 36.63% of the total variance and the second axis explained 25.96%. The ecological variables that influenced the disposition of the species in the morphological space were swimming ability, distribution in the water column and position of the mouth (where food is ingested). These variables separated nektonic species from benthic species. The attributes related to swimming ability and position of the species in the water column distinguished two groups of species. The nektonic species were continuous and active swimmers occupying the intermediate and upper region of the water column (A. altiparanae, A. fasciatus, B. stramineus, B. iheringi, C. stenodon, H. anisitsi, P. argentea and S. insculpta), and the nectobenthic species were identified as stationary (C. fasciatum and G. brasiliensis), obtaining food from the substrate. These analyses showed that species that share morphological similarities were also similar with regard to habitat occupation, which was to be expected. This reinforces the hypothesis that the period of feeding activity and food availability minimize the effects of competition by the species studied. The results demonstrate the importance of applying the Principal Component Analysis in ecomorphological studies, revealing its use as an excellent tool to estimate the ecological relationship between fish species and their distribution in the water column

TROPHIC ECOLOGY OF THE FISH IN THE RIO DOS VEADOS (UPPER PARANAPANEMA RIVER, SP) DURING THE DRY AND RAINY SEASONS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the trophic ecology of the principal species of fish (Astyanax altiparanae, A. fasciatus, Bryconamericus stramineus, B. iheringii, Cheirodon stenodon, Characidium fasciatum, Geophagus brasiliensis, Hyphessobrycon anisitsi, Piabina argentea and Steindachnerina insculpta) captured in the littoral region of the Rio dos Veados (23º16’80’’S/48º38’67’’W), an affluent of the Rio Paranapanema, SP. The collections were conducted monthly with a seine-type trawling net with a 5.0mm mesh size, taking place between August, 1996 and December, 1997. This collection time was subdivided into the dry (April to September) and rainy (October to March) seasons. The food contents were analyzed by a volumetric method, and the food overlap determined by the Morisita-Horn index. The ten species of fish consumed different food resources, which varied in abundance (volume percentage): detritus/sediment (30.0%), aquatic insects (23.4%), microcrustaceans (17.6%), terrestrial insects (13.9%), higher plants (6.2%), algae (5.6%), fish (1.8%), and macroinvertebrates and microinvertebrates grouped together (1.5%). Patterns of similarity among the species were constructed utilizing Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) with removal of the arch effect and tested by analysis of variance (unifactorial ANOVA), showing that there was no significant variation in the composition of food resources utilized by the species during the dry and rainy seasons. The main  resources consumed by the ten species were classified into three trophic categories: omnivores, detritivores and insectivores. Interspecies food overlap revealed indices of 0.059 to 0.961, showing it to be independent of the period studied, since the resources utilized were similar, both in qualitative and quantitative terms. Intraspecies food overlap in the different periods was minimal for A. altiparanae (0.662) and maximal for S. insculpta (1.0). The species studied showed little variation in relative length of intestine, with the exception of S. insculpta which had an elevated intestinal index. The variations in food resources utilized between the periods were of little relevance, indicating that the temporal factor did not influence the resources utilized by the species studied. Of the ten species  studied, nine could be viewed as generalists, considering the food resources utilized during the two periods, and only  S. insculpta behaved as a specialist

Mariliasuchus: um novo crocodylomorpha (notosuchia) do cretáceo da bacia bauru, brasil

Os notossuquídeos são um grupo de crocodilomorfos bastante peculiar e que têm uma ampla ocorrência em rochas cretácicas da América do Sul e África. Fazem parte de uma fauna terrestre característica do Gondwana. Devem ter tido hábitos terrestres, e devido a dentição altamente especiaIizada, algumas espécies poderiam inclusive ser omnívoras. Na Bacia Bauru, região do municipio de Marília (estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil) em rochas do? Coniaciano no Grupo Bauru (Formação Adamantina/Araçatuba) ocorre uma nova espécie da infraordem Notosuchia. Trata-se de Mariliasuchus amarali, cujas características morfológicas viabilizam a análise das relações entre os notossúquios das regiōes norte e sul da América do Sul, bem como a reavaliação de algumas das interpretações paleoecolóqicas e cronoestratiqráficas da Bacia Bauru. Mariliasuchus amarali é um notossùquio da familia Notosuchidae, cujo crânio tem pequeñas dimensōes com a região rostral curta. As órbltas são grandes e estão na região mediana do crânio. As fenestras supratemporais são circulares e pequenas. As narinas externas dlspōem-se na extremidade anterior do crânio, não possuindo septa de divisão. Na pré-maxila ocorrem dois dentes anteriores, cônicos e um terceiro hipertrofiado (caniniforme). Os dentes incisiformes possuem estrias longitudinais. / Resumen. Los crocodilomorfos Notosuchia presentan una amplia distribución en las rocas cretácicas de América del Sur y África. Fueron cocodrilos terrestres y debido a la dentición especializada, algunas especies probablemente tuvieron hábitos omnívoros. En la Cuenca Bauru, en la región del municipio de Marília (estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil) en rocas de la Formación Adamantina/Araçatuba (Coniaciense? del Grupo Bauru) se ha encontrado una nueva especie del infraorden Notosuchia definida aquí como Mariliasuchus amarali. Sus características morfológicas posibilitan el análisis de las relaciones entre los notosuquios del norte y sur de América del Sur, así como interpretaciones paleoecolóqicas y cronoestratiqráficas en la Cuenca Bauru. Mariliasuchus amarali presenta un cráneo de pequeñas dimensiones, con la región rostral corta.  Las órbitas son grandes y se disponen en la región mediana del cráneo. Las fenestras supratemporales son circulares y pequeñas. Las narinas externas están dispuestas en el extremo anterior del cráneo, y carecen de un septo de división. En el premaxilar ocurren dos dientes incisiformes anteriores con estrías longitudinales, y un tercero hipertrofiado (caniniforme). En el maxilar aparecen tres dientes, separados del caniniforme (premaxilar). Muestran tamaño pequeño y presentan un estrechamiento en la base de la corona. La serie dentaria esta limitada a la región más anterior del maxilar.  EI aspecto general del cráneo de Mariliasuchus es similar a Notosuchus pero por sus dimensiones, morfología de la fenestra supratemporal, posicion de la fenestra mandibular, y por la disposición de los dientes en la región premaxilar es posible su diferenciación. / Abstract.The notosuchians are a peculiar crocodylomorph group, that show a wide distribution in Cretaceous rocks from South America and Africa. They belong to the characteristic Gondwana terrestrial biota.  These crocodylians of small size were terrestrial and probably omnivorous. Their morphological aspects allow to associate them to the most primitive members of this order. In the Bauru Basin, at Marilia County (São Paulo, Brazil), it was found in Adamantina/Araçatuba Formation (Bauru Group - ?Coniacian) a new species of the Notosuchia infraorder. It was named as Mariliasuchus amarali, and its morphology allow the analyses of the relationships among the notosuchians from the northern and southern regions of South America. Besides it is possible some new paleoecological and chronostratigraphic interpretations to Bauru Basin. Mariliasuchus amarali is a notosuchian of Notosuchidae family that presents a small skull with a short rostrum. The premaxilla-maxilla contact is vertically oriented presenting an indentation. The orbits are large and they are located on the middle area of the skull. The supratemporal fenestrae are small and circular. The external nares are anterolaterally oriented without internarial bar. In the premaxilla there are two smaller anterior conical teeth, and a third large caniniform tooth. The maxilla has three molariform teeth whose roots are separated from the crown by a constriction. These teeth show a bulbous crown shape. They decrease in size backwards. They are limited to the first half of the maxilla. The general morphology of  Mariliasuchus is similar to Notosuchus, although are clearly distinct by the skull size, the supratemporal fenestrae shape, the mandibular fenestra and the teeth distribution on the premaxilla and maxilla.Los crocodilomorfos Notosuchia presentan una amplia distribución en las rocas cretácicas de América del Sur y África. Fueron cocodrilos terrestres y debido a la dentición especializada, algunas especies probablemente tuvieron hábitos omnívoros. En la Cuenca Bauru, en la región del municipio de Marília (estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil) en rocas de la Formación Adamantina/Araçatuba (Coniaciense? del Grupo Bauru) se ha encontrado una nueva especie del infraorden Notosuchia definida aquí como Mariliasuchus amarali. Sus características morfológicas posibilitan el análisis de las relaciones entre los notosuquios del norte y sur de América del Sur, así como interpretaciones paleoecolóqicas y cronoestratiqráficas en la Cuenca Bauru. Mariliasuchus amarali presenta un cráneo de pequeñas dimensiones, con la región rostral corta.  Las órbitas son grandes y se disponen en la región mediana del cráneo. Las fenestras supratemporales son circulares y pequeñas. Las narinas externas están dispuestas en el extremo anterior del cráneo, y carecen de un septo de división. En el premaxilar ocurren dos dientes incisiformes anteriores con estrías longitudinales, y un tercero hipertrofiado (caniniforme). En el maxilar aparecen tres dientes, separados del caniniforme (premaxilar). Muestran tamaño pequeño y presentan un estrechamiento en la base de la corona. La serie dentaria esta limitada a la región más anterior del maxilar.  EI aspecto general del cráneo de Mariliasuchus es similar a Notosuchus pero por sus dimensiones, morfología de la fenestra supratemporal, posicion de la fenestra mandibular, y por la disposición de los dientes en la región premaxilar es posible su diferenciación

Clinical, histological and electron microscopic aspects of vocal fold granulomas

SummaryGranulomas are bilateral and pediculated lesions of the vocal apophysis. Etiologies: intubation, reflux, trauma, vocal abuse, idiopathic origin. Aim: To analyze the clinical and morphological aspects of post intubation granulomas. Methods: retrospective study of patients submitted to microsurgery for post intubation laryngeal granulomas seen at our Medical School starting in 2002. We analyzed: age, gender, indication and time of intubation, symptoms, videolaryngoscopic diagnosis and biopsy findings. Light microscopy was performed on all specimens, and electron microscopy on three of them. Results: ten patients (7 females and 3 males), between the ages of 2 and 72 years, intubation time between 4h and 21 days. Hoarseness was a frequent symptom, starting in the first week following extubation. Histology shows mild epithelial hyperplasia, severe inflammation and vessel proliferation in the corion. Under SEM, the epithelium presented mild superficial desquamation. Under TEM, intracellular junctions showed widening with structural changes in the desmosomes. In the corion there were vessel proliferations, inflammation and fibroblasts with structural alterations. Conclusions: post intubation granulomas appear in any age and hoarseness is a frequent symptom. Morphological alterations occur in the corion as vessel proliferations, inflammation, and intracytoplasmatic alterations in fibroblasts suggesting cellular dysfunction and damage

PRIMER REGISTRO DE LERNAEA CYPRINACEA (COPEPODA) EN UNA ESPECIE NATIVA DE PEZ DE UN RÍO BRASILEÑO

This is the report of the occurrence of Lernaea cyprinacea (Linnaeus, 1758) parasitizing the native fish species Steindachnerina insculpta (Fernández-Yépez, 1948). Sixty host specimens were captured in Taquari River, municipality of Taquarituba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Three hosts were infested with L. cyprinacea. The infestation rate was low, with one parasite per host. Proper management should be applied in fish farms to prevent the escape of this parasite, and its consequent spread.Este estudio tiene como objetivo registrar por primera vez la presencia de Lernaea cyprinacea(Linnaeus, 1758) parasitando a la especie de pez nativa Steindachnerina insculpta(Fernández-Yépez, 1948). Una muestra de 60 especímenes fueron capturados en el río Taquari, Taquarituba, São Paulo, Brasil. Tres hospederos estaban infectados con L. cyprinacea. La tasa de infestación fue baja con un parásito por hospedero. Un manejo adecuado debe aplicarse en peces cultivados para impedir el escape de este parásito y su consiguiente dispersión

PHYSICAL-MECHANICAL WOOD PROPERTIES FROM INVASIVE EXOTIC SPECIES OF ATLANTIC FOREST

Invasive exotic tree species cause several problems to the world biota. Removing these trees is important for restoring ecosystem balance. However, after the removal, there is a concern regarding the proper destination of the generated materials. The lack of knowledge about the wood characteristics makes it difficult to recommend for the most appropriate uses, which leads to a low added value of the product. The aim of the study was to assess the physical and mechanical wood properties and indicate the alternatives for using wood from exotic invasive species at the Fiocruz Mata Atlântica Biological Station, Rio de Janeiro - RJ. The three species studied were Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamarck (Jackfruit), Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Java plum) and Clitoria fairchildiana R.A. Howard (Sombreiro). The physical and mechanical wood properties were determined in three distinct regions, denominated central, intermediate and external, ranging from pith-bark direction. The wood of Artocarpus heterophyllus had low basic density, retractions were lower in the central region, and the intermediate region had the highest mechanical resistance. The Syzygium cumini wood had medium density, the mechanical properties increased in the pith-bark direction, and the radial and volumetric retractions were lower in the central region. Clitoria fairchildiana wood had medium density and had the lowest mechanical resistance from the species evaluated. The three species have appropriate physical properties for the furniture sector, and the Syzygium cumini wood presented adequate mechanical resistance for civil construction

NUEVO HOSPEDADORES Y REGISTROS DE DESTRIBUCIÓN PARA NEMATODOS PARÁSITOS DE PECES DE ÁGUA DULCE DEL ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO, BRASIL

A study on the nematode parasites of nine species of freshwater fishes from Peixe River São Paulo, State, Brazil. was conducted. Fish were ollected between February 2010 and March 2011 and the following species were found: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus)inopinatus and Contracaecum sp. (larvae) in Astyanax altiparanae; Contracaecum sp. (larvae), Dioctophyma renale (larvae), Philometroides caudata, P. (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, P. (Spirocamallanus) neocaballeroi (larvae) and P. (Spirocamallanus) saofranciscensis in Acestrorhynchus lacustris; Contracaecum sp. (larvae), Guyanema sp., Hysterothylacium sp. (larvae) and Icthyouris sp. in Cyphocharax modestus; Contracaecum sp. (larvae), Cosmoxynemoides aguirrei and Pharyngodonidae gen. sp. in C. nagelii; Dioctophyma renale (larvae), Hysterothylacium sp. (larvae) and Rhabdochona sp. in Gymnotus sylvius; Capillariidae gen. sp. in Hoplosternum littorale; Cosmoxynema vianai, Guyanema sp., Ichthyouris sp. and Travnema travnema in Steindachnerina insculpta; Contracaecum sp. (larvae), Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) rebecae (larvae) in Triportheus angulatus and Rhabdochona acuminata in Triportheus nematurus. This is first study of nematode parasites from the Peixe River, therefore all the species found are new geographical records and 19 are new host records.Se llevó a cabo un estudio de los nematodos parásitos de nueve especies de peces de agua dulce del Río do Peixe, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Los peces fueron colectados entre febrero de 2010 y marzo de 2011 y las especies encontradas fueron: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus y Contracaecum sp. (larva) en Astyanax altiparanae; Contracaecum sp. (larva), Dioctophyma renale (larva), Philometroides caudata, P. (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, P. (Spirocamallanus) neocaballeroi (larva) y P. (Spirocamallanus) saofranciscensis en Acestrorhynchus lacustris; Contracaecum sp. (larva), Guyanema sp., Hysterothylacium sp. (larva) y Icthyouris sp. en Cyphocharax modestus; Contracaecum sp. (larva), Cosmoxynemoides aguirrei y Pharyngodonidae. gen. sp. en C. nagelii; Dioctophyma renale (larva), Hysterothylacium sp. (larva) y Rhabdochona sp. en Gymnotus sylvius; Capillariidae gen. sp. en Hoplosternum littorale; Cosmoxynema vianai, Guyanema sp., Ichthyouris sp. y Travnema travnema en Steindachnerina insculpta; Contracaecum sp. (larva), Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) rebecae (larva) en Triportheus angulatus y Rhabdochona acuminata en Triportheus nematurus. Este es el primer estudio de nemátodos parásitos de Río do Peixe, por lo tanto todas las especies son nuevos registros geográficos y 19 son nuevos registros de hospedadores