Bem-Estar Animal: uma forma interdisciplinar de integrar a Escola e a Comunidade

Anais do 35º Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul - Área temática: EducaçãoCom o enfoque na interdisciplinaridade, devido às diversas mudanças nos paradigmas da sociedade, o projeto visou abordar, com os alunos do 7° ano da Escola de Ensino Fundamental São José, no município de Jaguari/RS, as medidas de proteção, a luta pelos direitos dos animais, além de proporcionar esclarecimento sobre as leis e trabalhos de organizações não-governamentais, para conscientizar alunos, professores e consequentemente a comunidade. O tema foi ministrado por meio de diálogo e vídeo, abordando assuntos importantes vivenciados por estes estudantes, instigando sua curiosidade e esclarecendo aspectos socioculturais que influenciam nos maus-tratos aos animais. Buscou-se de forma simples e descontraída, trabalhar a temática com esses alunos, voltando sempre para o cotidiano, no âmbito familiar, educacional, demonstrando a eles, a conexão existente entre estes ambientes, além de tratar o assunto dentro das diversas disciplinas estudadas pelos educandos. Para averiguarmos a relevância da atividade foi elaborado um questionário sucinto e objetivo, a fim de que os jovens descrevessem a experiência vivenciada. Com base nos resultados obtidos, pode-se perceber a importância que o bem-estar animal tem sobre essa faixa etária e como as crianças são capazes de contribuir criticamente sobre um assunto complexo e polêmic

Monitoramento e controle de larvas de Culicidae em criadouros artificiais na área da Usina Hidrelétrica de Dona Francisca, Agudo, Rio Grande do Sul

The aim of this work was to monitory and control of the immature mosquitoes around Dona Francisca Hydroelectric (DFH), Agudo, RS. There was a great concern to avoid the introducing of human diseases vectors in this place. Six areas were selected for sampling larva: The hotel swimming pool, the clubhouse near Jacui river, the station of water treatment, the administration square, workers lodgings and tyre fixing places. The collections were taken at three months intervals, during the building period of DFH (June/2000 to February/2001). Lectures were provided for about three thousand people in schools near DFH. No important epidemic species was found, only Aedes fluviatilis and other species of genus Culex, Limatus, and Orthopodomyia. The numbers of artificial breeding places and captured immature mosquitoes decreased throughout the study. There was not significant correlation between the number of mosquitoes captured and the environment factors (temperature, precipitation, and air relative humidity) probably due to the control and decreasing in artificial breeding places.O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar um monitoramento e controle das larvas de Culicidae na área da Usina Hidrelétrica de Dona Francisca (UHDF), Agudo, RS. Havia uma grande preocupação de se evitar a introdução de mosquitos vetores de doenças humanas nesta localidade, durante a construção da usina. Foram determinados seis pontos estratégicos na vila da UHDF, ao lado do canteiro de obras, onde foram realizadas as inspeções e capturas de larvas, trimestralmente, de junho/2000 a fevereiro/2001 (piscinas do hotel, clube dos funcionários, estação de tratamento de água, quadra administrativa, alojamento dos trabalhadores e borracharia). Além do monitoramento de larvas, foram proferidas palestras para cerca de três mil pessoas, em escolas próximas à UHDF. Durante o estudo não foram encontrados vetores da dengue e febre amarela, somente larvas de Culex, Limatus, Orthopodomyia e Aedes fluviatilis. O número de criadouros e de mosquitos amostrados foi decrescente durante o período. A correlação entre o número de larvas e os fatores ambientais (temperatura, precipitação e umidade relativa do ar) não foi significativa, provavelmente em função do controle e redução dos criadouros artificiais

Comparative analysis of shell occupation by two southern populations of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Decapoda, Diogenidae)

The present study aimed to comparatively verify the relation between the hermit crabs and the shells they use in two populations of Loxopagurus loxochelis. Samples were collected monthly from July 2002 to June 2003, at Caraguatatuba and Ubatuba Bay, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The animals sampled had their sex identified, were weighed and measured; their shells were identified, measured and weighed, and their internal volume determined. To relate the hermit crab's characteristics and the shells' variables, principal component analysis (PCA) and a regression tree were used. According to the PCA analysis, the three gastropod shells most frequently used by L. loxochelis varied in size. The regression tree successfully explained the relationship between the hermit crab's characteristics and the internal volume of the inhabited shell. It can be inferred that the relationship between the morphometry of an individual hermit crab and its shell is not straightforward and it is impossible to explain only on the basis of direct correlations between the body's and the shell's attributes. Several factors (such as the morphometry and the availability of the shell, environmental conditions and inter- and intraspecific competition) interact and seem to be taken into consideration by the hermit crabs when they choose a shell, resulting in the diversified pattern of shell occupancy shown here and elsewhere.CAPESCAPESFAPESP Programa BiotaFAPESP - Programa Biota [Proc. 98/07090-3]CNPq [471794/2006-6, 473050/2007-2, 301350/2007-5]CNP

Comparative analysis of shell occupation by two southern populations of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Decapoda, Diogenidae)

The present study aimed to comparatively verify the relation between the hermit crabs and the shells they use in two populations of Loxopagurus loxochelis. Samples were collected monthly from July 2002 to June 2003, at Caraguatatuba and Ubatuba Bay, São Paulo, Brazil. The animals sampled had their sex identified, were weighed and measured; their shells were identified, measured and weighed, and their internal volume determined. To relate the hermit crab's characteristics and the shells' variables, principal component analysis (PCA) and a regression tree were used. According to the PCA analysis, the three gastropod shells most frequently used by L. loxochelis varied in size. The regression tree successfully explained the relationship between the hermit crab's characteristics and the internal volume of the inhabited shell. It can be inferred that the relationship between the morphometry of an individual hermit crab and its shell is not straightforward and it is impossible to explain only on the basis of direct correlations between the body's and the shell's attributes. Several factors (such as the morphometry and the availability of the shell, environmental conditions and inter- and intraspecific competition) interact and seem to be taken into consideration by the hermit crabs when they choose a shell, resulting in the diversified pattern of shell occupancy shown here and elsewhere

Radio-telemetry techniques in the study of displacement of freshwater anomurans

In an ecological context, information on the movement and activity is important for understanding the requirements of habitat, resource usage patterns and the potential of interspecific interactions. The aim of this study was to examine the displacement pattern on daily activity and occupancy of substrates by Aegla manuinflata using radio-telemetry technique on field on Southern Brazil. Four adult males were monitored during nine days. The aeglids showed a significantly greater displacement toward upstream than downstream. Aegla manuinflata individuals showed higher displacement activity during the night period. Although activity was not constant: the animals spent one or more days without displacement. All aeglids showed locomotion activity concentrated between 11:43 p.m. and 02:25 a.m., although it was not restrict to sunset period and night. Individuals showed specific occupation of different types of substrate, but a pattern in the occupation of substrates as a function of the photoperiod was not observed. In this study, using a new technique for tracking aeglids, it was concluded that A. manuinflata is capable of actively dislocate throughout the stream, either toward upstream and downstream, passing through obstacles which may represent ability of re-colonization. The animals are more active during the night period, probably a strategy to avoid predators that are active during the day; the selection of substrate is not associated to sediment texture

Comportamento agonístico e deslocamento em ambiente natural de anomuros de água doce (Crustacea, Decapoda, Aeglidae)

Os eglídeos (Anomura, Aeglidae) são um grupo de crustáceos endêmicos do sul da América do Sul e restritos ao ambiente de água doce. Muitos aspectos da biologia e ecologia desses animais são bem conhecidos, porém, pouco se sabe sobre seu comportamento, principalmente o comportamento agressivo e a atividade em ambiente natural. É sabido que entre os animais, os conflitos são resolvidos por comportamentos agonísticos, termo que abrange uma gama de comportamentos de escape, exibições (“displays”), até um extremo do combate físico. Em um contexto ecológico, informações sobre os movimentos e a atividade dos animais são importantes para uma compreensão das exigências de hábitat, padrões de utilização dos recursos e o potencial de interações interespecíficas. A presente tese teve como objetivos: padronizar uma metodologia para análise do comportamento agressivo de eglídeos em laboratório; descrever o comportamento agressivo de Aegla longirostri; avaliar o comportamento agonístico de espécies provenientes de vertentes do lado Pacífico (espécies basais) e Atlântico (espécies derivadas) da América do Sul; comparar os padrões agressivos de fêmeas de A. longirostri e A. manuinflata, e; examinar os padrões de deslocamento, de atividade diária e de ocupação dos diferentes substratos por A. manuinflata em ambiente natural. Para os estudos sobre comportamento agressivo, os animais coletados foram mantidos em aclimatação por uma semana em aquários individuais, pareados para realização de interações intra-específicas e filmados durante 20 minutos, período que foi subdivido para realização das análises. A parir dos confrontos com A. longirostri foram descritos os atos comportamentais, com 16 atos agressivos, e foi estabelecida uma tabela de intensidade da agressividade, variando de -2 (fuga) a 5 (combate intenso). No estudo comparativo entre quatro espécies de Aegla, foi verificado que todas apresentaram comportamentos semelhantes, porém um indivíduo de Aegla denticulata denticulata, apresentou tanatose. O período de latência foi superior ao tempo investido em todos os encontros agressivos. Aegla longirostri, a espécie mais derivada (da vertente do Atlântico) foi a que apresentou maior intensidade agressiva média e a mais basal (da vertente do Pacífico), A. d. denticulata a menor intensidade. Aegla abtao, A. longirostri e A. manuinflata gastaram significativamente mais tempo lutando, prendendo ou agarrando o oponente do que os demais atos, enquanto A. d. denticulata passou 18,2% do tempo sem deslocamento, e não apresentou confronto intenso. Em todas as espécies foi verificada reversão da dominância. Entre as fêmeas, o comportamento é semelhante àquele observado nos machos das mesmas espécies. O período de latência foi mais longo do que qualquer encontro, e o primeiro foi em média mais longo que os demais. Houve uma baixa freqüência na reversão da dominância, o animal que venceu o primeiro encontro, conseqüentemente teve uma probabilidade maior de ser o vencedor final. Para ambas as espécies, o ato mais freqüente foi o de lutar e/ou prender e agarrar com o quelípodo, seguido pelo uso das antenas. A agressividade das fêmeas pode chegar a altos níveis, por vezes, superando a agressividade observada em machos. Para avaliar o deslocamento e a atividade de A. manuinflata em ambiente natural, machos adultos e em intermuda foram monitorados a cada três horas durante nove dias, através da técnica de rádio-telemetria. Os eglídeos apresentaram um deslocamento significativamente maior à montante e apresentaram maior atividade de deslocamento na fotofase escura; a atividade locomotora não foi constante, sendo verificado que os animais passaram um ou mais dias sem deslocamento. Os indivíduos apresentaram especificidade em relação à ocupação dos diferentes tipos de substrato. Esses estudos trazem informações inéditas relativas ao comportamento agressivo de eglídeos, o qual é semelhante ao observado em outros decápodos com quelípodos bem desenvolvidos, porém, muitas peculiaridades foram observadas. Além disso, os resultados do estudo de rádio-telemetria forneceram mais uma informação importante para estudos de conservação das espécies, demonstrando a importância da manutenção dos ambientes naturais para esses indivíduos.The aeglids (Anomura, Aeglidae) are endemic crustaceans from south region of South America and restricted to freshwater environments. Although several biological and ecological aspects of these animals has already been studied little is known about their behavior, mainly its aggressive behavior and activity in the natural environment. It is known that among animals, conflicts are resolved through agonistic behavior, an expression of which embraces a range of fleeing behaviors, displays, up to the extreme of physical combat. In an ecological context, information on the movements and activity of animals is important for understanding their requirements of habitat, resource usage patterns and the potential of interspecific interactions. This thesis has the following goals: to standardize a method in order to analyze the aggressive behavior of aeglids in laboratory; to describe the aggressive acts of Aegla longirostri; to evaluate the agonistic behavior of species originated from slopes on the Pacific (basal species) and Atlantic (derived species) sides of South America; to compare aggressive pattern of A. longirostri and A. manuinflata females; and to examine the displacement pattern on daily activity and occupancy of substrates by A. manuinflata in natural environment. For the aggressive behavior studies the animals were kept for one week of acclimation in individual fishbowls, then paired for experiments of intraspecific interactions and videotaped for 20 minutes, period which were subdivided for analyzes. From combats with A. longirostri the behavioral acts were described, 16 were considered aggressive acts, and a table of aggression intensity was established, ranging from -2 (fleeing) to 5 (intense combat). Concerning the comparative study among four species of Aegla it was verified that all of them exhibited similar behaviors, but one individual of Aegla denticulata denticulata displayed thanatosis. The latency period was greater than the time invested in all aggressive encounters. Aegla longirostri, the most derived species (from Atlantic slope), was the species that displayed the highest average aggressive intensity and, the most basal species (from Pacific slope), A. d. denticulata the lowest intensity. Aegla abtao, A. longirostri and A. manuinflata spent significantly more time fighting, holding or catching the opponent than the other acts, while A. d. denticulata spent 18.2% of the time without any displacement and did not exhibit intense combat. Reversal of dominance was observed in all species. Female’s behavior is similar to that observed in conspecific males. The latency period was longest than any other encounter and the first one was in average the longest. There was a low reversal of dominance; the animal which won the first encounter consequently had a higher probability of being the final winner. For both species the most frequent act was fighting and/or holding and catching with the cheliped, following by the use of antennae. Female’s aggressiveness can reach high levels, overcoming sometimes the aggressiveness observed in males. To evaluate the displacement and activity of A. manuinflata in natural environment adult males in intermolt stage were monitored at every three hours during nine days through radio-telemetry technique. The aeglids showed a significantly greater displacement toward upstream and had the highest displacement activity on dark photophase; the locomotor activity was not constant, it was observed that the animals spent one or more days without any displacement. Individuals showed specific occupation of different types of substrate. These studies bring novel information concerning aggressive behavior of aeglids which is similar to the behavior observed in other decapods with developed chelipeds, although several peculiarities were noticed. Besides, the results from the radio-telemetry study provided more important information for conservation studies of species, demonstrating the importance of maintenance of natural environment for these animals

Patterns of distribution of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Moreira, 1901) (Decapoda, Diogenidae) in two coastal areas of southern Brazil

The present study determined the distribution pattern of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis by a comparison of catch, depth and environmental factors at two separate bays (Caraguatatuba and Ubatuba) of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The influence of these parameters on the distribution of males, non- ovigerous females and ovigerous females was also evaluated. Crabs were collected monthly, over a period of one year (from July/2002 to June/2003), in seven depths, from 5 to 35 m. Abiotic factors were monitored as follows: superficial and bottom salinity (psu), superficial and bottom temperature (C), organic matter content (%) and sediment composition (%). In total, 366 hermit crabs were sampled in Caraguatatuba and 126 in Ubatuba. The highest frequency of occurrence was verified at 20 m during winter (July) in Caraguatatuba and 25 m during summer (January) in Ubatuba. The highest occurrences were recorded in the regions with bottom salinities ranging from 34 to 36 psu, bottom temperatures from 18 to 24 C and, low percentages of organic matter, gravel and mud; and large proportion of sand in the substrate. There was no significant correlation between the total frequency of organisms and the environmental factors analyzed in both regions. This evidence suggests that other variables as biotic interactions can influence the pattern of distribution of L. loxochelis in the analyzed region, which is considered the limit of the northern distribution of this species

Epibiont occurrence on gastropod shells used by the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Anomura: Diogenidae) on the northern coast of S\ue3o Paulo, Brazil

Gastropod shells occupied by hermit crabs are an important attachment substrate for epifauna, and these shells are often damaged. The present study aimed to characterize the epibionts and extent of damage for gastropod shells occupied by the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Moreira, 1901). Samples were collected monthly over a period of one year (from July 2002 through June 2003), in the Caraguatatuba and Ubatuba regions, on the northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil. The sampling was performed using a fishing boat equipped with double-rig nets. The shells were identified and weighed. Loxopagurus loxochelis occupied 14 gastropod shell species in Caraguatatuba and five in Ubatuba. In the two areas, approximately 55% of these gastropod shells bore epibionts, and a significantly large number (p < 0.05) showed no damage. The presence of epibionts did not significantly change the mean weight of shells. This cover may provide camouflage to the animals when they are associated with the sandy substrate, which possibly affects the occupancy of the shells by the hermit crabs. Undamaged shells may reflect a high availability of shells in good condition in the environment