Ocorrência do besouro tigre Neotropical, Cylindera suturalis helvaea (W. Horn, 1903) (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae), em bancos de areia do Reservatório da Barragem da Pedra, Rio de Contas, Bahia, Brasil

The occurrence of the tiger beetle Cylindera (Plectographa) suturalis helvaea (W. Horn, 1903) in sandbanks of Reservoir Barragem da Pedra, Bahia, Brazil, is registered. Adult beetles were collected using entomological nets on sandbanks between May and September 2003. Cicindelids are one of the most conspicuous groups among invertebrates. That is why thay are well suited for bioindication of biodiversity as well as of disturbance and modification in terrestrial ecosystems.Neste estudo é registrada a ocorrência do besouro tigre Cylindera (Plectographa) suturalis helvaea (W. Horn, 1903) em bancos de areia no Reservatório da Barragem da Pedra, Bahia, Brasil. Indivíduos adultos foram coletados utilizando-se de redes entomológicas, entre os meses de Maio e Setembro de 2003. Cicindelídeos são um dos mais conspícuos grupos de invertebrados, sendo considerados como bons indicadores de biodiversidade assim como de distúrbios e modificações nos ecossistemas terrestres

Novos registros e ampliação da distribuição geográfica de aranhas (Arachnida: Araneae) no Estado da Bahia

This paper reported four new species of spiders in the city of Lafaiete Coutinho, Bahia, Brazil, from a sample of 87 species collected with pitfall traps in fragments of caatinga and mata de cipó. In the samples, Alpaida xavantina Levi, 1988 and Mesabolivar togatus (Keyserling, 1891) have been detected, which are new records for Bahia, increasing to 306 the number of species in this state. Attacobius carranca Brescovit & Bonaldo, 2005 and Otiothops atlanticus Platnick Grismado & Ramírez, 1999 have been registered for the municipal areas, which occurrence extends the geographical distribution of these species in the state of Bahia, since they were recorded only to Barreiras, Ilhéus, Itabuna, and Una.Neste trabalho são registradas quatro espécies inéditas de aranhas no município de Lafaiete Coutinho, Bahia, Brasil, de uma amostra de 87 espécies coletadas com armadilhas de solo em fragmentos de caatinga e mata de cipó. Foram detectadas entre as amostras Alpaida xavantina Levi, 1988 e Mesabolivar togatus (Keyserling, 1891), que constituem registros novos para Bahia, elevando para 306 espécies o elenco de aranhas nesse estado. São registradas para as áreas do município as espécies Attacobius carranca Bonaldo & Brescovit, 2005 e Otiothops atlanticus Platnick, Grismado & Ramírez, 1999, cuja ocorrência amplia a distribuição geográfica das espécies no estado da Bahia, onde eram conhecidas apenas em Barreiras, Ilhéus, Itabuna e Una

É ecologia ou educação ambiental professora? / Is ecology or teacher environmental education?

A Ecologia e a Educação Ambiental são a mesma coisa? Essa dúvida persiste entre professores e alunos da educação básica? Apesar de serem bastante próximas, possuem suas particularidades e funções. A pesquisa foi realizada com 6 professoras de Ciências, de escolas distintas, na rede pública, noMunicípio de Itabuna. Três destas com formação em Pedagogia e três com formação em Biologia. O objetivo foi conhecer as visões destes professores sobre Educação Ambiental e Ecologia, se na concepção deles são sinônimas ou se distinguem?A pesquisa é qualitativa e foi utilizada uma entrevista semiestruturada na coleta dos dados. Os resultados sinalizam que quatro professoras compreendem e definem a ecologia e a educação ambiental, quanto as outras duas ainda confundem os termos e ensinam como se tratassem do mesmo conteúdo

Molecular Identification and Traceability of Illegal Trading in Lignobrycon myersi

Lignobrycon myersi is a threatened freshwater fish species and endemic of a few coastal rivers in northeastern Brazil. Even though the Brazilian laws prohibit the fisheries of threatened species, L. myersi is occasionally found in street markets, being highly appreciated by local population. In order to provide a reliable DNA barcode dataset for L. myersi, we compared mitochondrial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from fresh, frozen, and salt-preserved specimens. Phylogenetically related species (Triportheus spp.) and other fish species (Astyanax fasciatus) commonly mixed with L. myersi in street markets were also included to test the efficiency of molecular identification. In spite of the differences in conservation processes and advanced deterioration of some commercial samples, high-quality COI sequences were obtained and effective in discriminating L. myersi specimens. In addition, while populations from Contas and Almada River basins seem to comprise a single evolutionary lineage, the specimens from Cachoeira River were genetically differentiated, indicating population structuring. Therefore, DNA barcoding has proved to be useful to trace the illegal trading of L. myersi and to manage threatened populations, which should focus on conservation of distinct genetic stocks and mitigation on human impacts along their range

O ensino de ecologia em uma horta escolar / Teaching ecology in a school garden

A pesquisa avaliou os limites e possibilidades para aprender interações ecológicas no ensino fundamental II utilizando uma horta escolar. Participantes da pesquisa: o professor orientador, a professora regente e 30 alunos. Utilizamos fotografias, atividades, questionários e entrevistas. Durante a sequência didática, desenvolvemos aulas teóricas e aulas práticas na horta.O destaque esteve na oralidade, sinalizando que houve compreensão das interações ecológicas, interligando os conteúdos estudados a horta e ao cotidiano, com mobilização de conceitos e aprendizagem de conceitos, procedimentos e atitudes. Os limites da pesquisa: dificuldades na leitura e escrita, na falta de voluntários e falta de apoio técnico e administrativo da escola. 

The air-breathing cycle of Hoplosternum littorale (Hancock, 1828)(Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)

Hoplosternum littorale is a continuous air breather, which uses a portion of its intestine to extract oxygen from inspired air. Its air-breathing behavior occurs in four phases: 1) ascent to the water surface; 2) mouth emergence with expansion of the oral cavity for air inspiration; 3) downward swimming and oral cavity compression resulting in air swallowing and the expiration of old air from the anus; 4) return to bottom. The time required to complete the air-breathing cycle was significantly shorter for small fish compared to large fish

Diet of Hemigrammus marginatus (Characiformes: Characidae) in the Upper Contas River, Diamantina Plateau (Bahia, Brazil)

ABSTRACT Studies on the composition of fish diet and on how species exploit food resources are especially relevant in tropical freshwater systems, where dietary plasticity is a commonly used strategy. In this study, we analysed the food spectrum and the environmental, seasonal and ontogenetic variations in the diet of a characid species [Hemigrammus marginatus Ellis, 1911 (Characidae)] in the region of the Upper Contas River, in the Diamantina Plateau, Brazil. We verified an omnivorous/invertivorous and opportunistic food habit, with predominance of insects and microcrustaceans, followed by filamentous algae. Seasonality did not alter the food resources used by the species. However, differences were detected in the dominant categories when comparing the two sampled rivers, as well as in the food consumption throughout the development of the species. These data increase the knowledge about the biology of H. marginatus and allow understanding the influence of the characteristics of the rivers and their surroundings in the trophic ecology of the species, as our findings have shown that, although insects have been expressive in both studied localities, microcrustaceans exhibit a greater relative importance in the more lentic environment, which is probably related to the variation in the availability of these resources in the environment

Effects of deltamethrin pyrethroid on the respiratory metabolism of the neotropical spirostreptid millipedes Gymnostreptus olivaceus and Plusioporus setiger

The effects of deltamethrin on the respiratory metabolism of Gymnostreptus olivaceus and Plusioporus setiger were investigated. Acetone solutions corresponding to half the LD50 values, i.e., 20 μg.g-1g for G. olivaceus and 4.40 μg.g-1 for P. setiger, were used. Metabolism was determined with a Warburg respirometer at 25°C. Respirometric measurements were performed 1, 3 and 6 hours after administration of the pyrethroid to the same groups of millipedes. After 24 hours, daily respirometric measurements lasting 1 hour each were made on different millipede groups for a period of 10 days. Significant differences were detected only between the groups treated with the pyrethroid and the two control groups. In G. olivaceus, respiratory rates increased by about 1.65-fold compared to normal immediately after administration of the pyrethroid, followed by a gradual decrease up to 72 hours and a return to normal levels thereafter. In P. setiger the increase was about 1.1-fold compared to normal, with a decrease up to 96 hours and a return to normal thereafter. Although increased oxygen consumption was observed, a detoxification process occurred in both species, so that the possible metabolism of the pyrethroid may justify the low toxicity of deltamethrin for G. olivaceus and P. setiger