Malformation in the crab Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ocypodidae), in São Vicente (SP), Brazil.

In the seventies, the region known as Baixada Santista was a large repository of environmental contamination mainly resulting from industrial waste. In effect, the contaminated residues came from different toxic substances including chemical, biochemical and others. Industrial waste was dumped or even stored in inadequate fragile ecological sites without any previous treatment and it resulted in significant amounts of air, soil and water pollution. A male specimen of U. cordatus presenting a malformation of the pollex (immovable finger) of its major claw (left) was captured in São Vicente city, raising concern to the local press and community. The immovable finger of the propodus segment in the claw of this specimen was modified into a structure in the form of a talon. This structure resembling an avian claw was comprised of five fixed ends united at the base. This might be a result from an injury of the original corpus structure while in a confrontation with another specimen. The newly found sample showed a high incidence of micronucleated cells in the haemolymph, approximately three times higher than normally reported. Perhaps this suggests the effect of an environmental influence in the morphology of the organism, most likely linked to the several sources of pollution in the region (public dump of Alemoa/Sambaiatuba, and the industrial conglomerate of Cubatão). We propose that similar measurements could be used in the estuarine area to assess and evaluate ecological risks and adverse biological effects

Ablação ocular no camarão Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae): efeitos sobre a reprodução, pigmentação epidérmica e atividade alimentar

This study analyze the consequences of unilateral and bilateral ablation based on ovigerous percentage, consecutive spawns, and secondary effects of the surgical process in the females of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879). Two experiments were carried out with four and seven months old females in intermolt stage. Each experiment was comprised of control, unilateral and bilateral ablation. Eyestalk ablation was done with a bistoury with a topic hot cauterization followed by application of antibiotic pomades. The animals were maintained at constant temperature (28 ± 1,05ºC) and photoperiod of 12L: 12D within fibercement boxes with sandy bottom and biological filter. Females were observed once a day during fourteen weeks, registering gonadal condition, ecdysis and presence of spermatophore (mating) and spawning. Unilateral ablation technique is more efficient due to the anticipation of the first spawn, repeatability between spawns, expressive rate of ovigerous females and survival, that favored its applicability. Bilateral eyestalk ablation produced the mortality of ali the females with change in coloration and food activity patterns. These results corroborate other observations on penaeid shrimps. though bilateral ablation on some lobsters was a success. These results showing an interespecific variation and can be used in aquaculture projects

Quantification of extinction risk for crustacean species: an overview of the National Red Listing process in Brazil

Crustacean species from Brazil were evaluated to define their conservation status under the Categories and Criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species at the regional level. This study represents an effort of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), the Brazilian agency for conservation of biodiversity, and the Brazilian Crustacean Society (SBC) to systematically collate specific data for these species and to determine their risks of extinction. The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria were applied to 130 candidate species, following IUCN Red List Guidelines. Assessments to determine the risk of extinction were conducted during a three-day workshop held in Brasília in September 2010, which brought together about 30 experts to share information about species and threats. A total of 14 species (11.6%), 12 of them endemic to Brazil, qualified for one of the three Red List categories of threat (CR, EN, or VU). Twenty-five species (20.8%) were listed as Data Deficient, and because of this lack of data the extinction risk for crustaceans may be under-estimated. IUCN Criterion B was most often used during the assessments (85%), and the main threats identified are associated with removal of riparian forest causing siltation, and discharge of domestic, urban, industrial, and agricultural effluents, degrading water quality, as well as uncontrolled fishery activities. The South Atlantic hydrological basin contains the largest number of threatened species, which indicates that increased attention from agencies, institutions, and researchers is needed to develop appropriate strategies and regulations to aid in their conservation.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq