Figuras da criança na sociologia da infância em Portugal

The sociology of childhood is a discipline that was born in Portugal two decades ago, since the publication of the first work that claimed to belong to this scientific area. As a discipline of the social sciences, it reflects the specificities of the social formation where it resides, as well as that of the language in which it is mostly expressed. Despite its strong articulation with the sociology of childhood developed in other linguistic universes, the theoretical work of these two decades is still defined by thematic, theoretical and methodological specificities. Rather than to present the work that has been carried out in this field of research, or to survey its productions, this article is concerned with pointing out the "child figures", that is, the constructs through which children are thought. These “figures” are the result of the theoretical work and are articulated with the normative production about children, and have an impact on policy making and on social and professional practices.La sociología de la infancia es una disciplina que tiene dos décadas de existencia en Portugal, desde la aparición del primer trabajo que se reivindica como parte de este campo científico. En tanto que disciplina de las ciencias sociales, refleja las especificidades de la formación social en la que está enraizada, así como las de la lengua en la que se expresa mayoritariamente. A pesar de su estrecho vínculo con la sociología de la infancia de otros universos lingüísticos, el trabajo teórico de estas dos décadas continúa marcado por especificidades temáticas, teóricas y metodológicas. Pero este artículo no se preocupa tanto por realizar un balance del trabajo en este campo o por presentar sus principales producciones, sino por señalar las “figuras de la infancia”. Es decir, los constructos a través de los cuales se piensan los niños y niñas, que se derivan de la producción teórica y se articulan con la producción normativa sobre ellos y ellas. Dichas figuras inciden en la elaboración de las políticas públicas y en las prácticas sociales y profesionales.A sociologia da infância é uma disciplina que em Portugal tem duas décadas de existência, desde o surgimento do primeiro trabalho que se reivindica desta área científica. Enquanto disciplina das ciências sociais não deixa de refletir as especificidades da formação social onde radica, bem como a da língua em que maioritariamente se expressa. Apesar da sua forte articulação com a sociologia da infância de outros universos linguísticos, o trabalho teórico de duas décadas não deixa de ser marcado por especificidades temáticas, teóricas e metodológicas. Mais do que fazer um balanço do trabalho no campo ou proceder ao levantamento das suas produções, este artigo preocupa-se em sinalizar as “figuras de criança”, isto é, os constructos através dos quais são pensadas as crianças, os quais emanam da produção teórica e se articulam com a produção normativa sobre as crianças, com incidência na construção das políticas públicas e nas práticas sociais e profissionais

GASTROPOD SHELLS USED BY Dardanus insignis (Decapoda, Anomura) NEAR ISLANDS IN THE UBATUBA REGION, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

The use of gastropod shells by hermit crabs is determined by the availability of shells in the environment or through selection for size and volume. This study analyzed patterns in the use of shells by Dardanus insignis (Saussure, 1858). From January 1998 to December 1999, 386 individuals were collected from two islands at Ubatuba, Sao Paulo. The crabs were measured for cephalothoracic shield length (CSL) and wet weight (CWW). The gastropod shells occupied by hermit crabs were identified, and the shell aperture width (SAW), dry weight (SDW) and internal volume (STY) were measured. The relationships between the dimensions of the gastropod shell and the hermit crabs were evaluated by linear regression analysis. Among the 11 species of gastropod shells used by D. insignis, the most often used was Olivancillaria urceus (31%), followed by Strombus pugilis (22%) and Siratus tenuivaricosus (18%). The shell of O. urceus was used most probably due to its high availability on Couves and Mar Virado islands. The most significant biometric parameter was shell aperture width (F=18.231; p<0.0001), highlighting the importance of this variable for the shell choice by D. insignis at both sites

Reproductive biology of Hepatus pudibundus (Crustacea: Brachyura), the most abundant crab on the southeastern Brazilian coast

This study analyzed the size at sexual maturity and reproductive period of populations of Hepatus pudibundus in three bays on the northern coast of So Paulo, Brazil. Crabs were collected monthly and the bottom-water temperature was measured at each collection point. The animals were sexed, measured for carapace width (CW), and their gonadal stages were determined. A total of 8,674 specimens were collected (2,435 males and 6,239 females). Adult males showed the highest mean CW; the size at maturity for both sexes was 32.5 mm CW. Reproduction was continuous and peaked in spring and summer, because of the greater availability of plankton food for the larvae. This pattern is typical in tropical and subtropical regions, unlike the seasonal reproduction found in temperate regions. Reproductive activity of females was not significantly correlated with bottom-water temperatures. Immatures and individuals in all stages of gonadal development were found throughout the sampling period and at all depths, probably because the species completes its entire reproductive cycle in that area.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP