Matching pollution with adaptive changes in mangrove plants by multivariate statistics. A case study, Rhizophora mangle from four neotropical mangroves in Brazil

Roots of mangrove trees have an important role in depurating water and sediments by retaining metals that may accumulate in different plant tissues, affecting physiological processes and anatomy. The present study aimed to evaluate adaptive changes in root of Rhizophora mangle in response to different levels of chemical elements (metals/metalloids) in interstitial water and sediments from four neotropical mangroves in Brazil. What sets this study apart from other studies is that we not only investigate adaptive modifications in R. mangle but also changes in environments where this plant grows, evaluating correspondence between physical, chemical and biological issues by a combined set of multivariate statistical methods (pattern recognition). Thus, we looked to match changes in the environment with adaptations in plants. Multivariate statistics highlighted that the lignified periderm and the air gaps are directly related to the environmental contamination. Current results provide new evidences of root anatomical strategies to deal with contaminated environments. Multivariate statistics greatly contributes to extrapolate results from complex data matrixes obtained when analyzing environmental issues, pointing out parameters involved in environmental changes and also evidencing the adaptive response of the exposed biota. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.Fil: Souza, Iara da Costa. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Morozesk, Mariana. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Duarte, Ian Drumond. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Bonomo, Marina Marques. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Rocha, Lívia Dorsch. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Furlan, Larissa Maria. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Arrivabene, Hiulana Pereira. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Monferran, Magdalena Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Matsumoto, Silvia Tamie. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Milanez, Camilla Rozindo Dias. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Wunderlin, Daniel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Fernandes, Marisa Narciso. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasi

COMÉRCIO DE RAIAS DE ÁGUA DOCE NA REGIÃO DO MÉDIO RIO NEGRO, ESTADO DO AMAZONAS, BRASIL

Este trabalho descreve o comércio, os conflitos da pesca, além dos mecanismos legais que permitiram a exploração das raias de água doce (Família Potamotrygonidae) no Médio Rio Negro, Amazônia Central. Os resultados foram baseados nos dados de captura disponíveis na literatura, entrevistas com pescadores locais, entrevistas com o setor produtivo, além de informações oficiais sobre comercialização e legislação sobre ordenamento pesqueiro das raias de água doce entre os anos de 1998 a 2008. Constatou-se que a pesca comercial de elamosbrânquios já está ocorrendo nas áreas do Rio Negro onde só existia pesca ornamental. A pesca está incidindo principalmente as espécies Paratrygon aiereba e Potamotrygon motoro que são raias de maior porte e que apresentam padrão reprodutivo K-estrategista. Em relação à pesca ornamental, os potamotrigonídeos representam menos de 0,1% do número total de peixes ornamentais exportados pelo Estado do Amazonas no ano de 2003. De acordo com as cotas de exportação regulamentada pelo IBAMA (1998-2008), as principais espécies exportadas foram: P. motoro= 37,5%; Potamotrygon sp. = 34,2%; P. schroederi= 12,8%; P. orbignyi= 11,9% e P. leopoldi= 2%, P. henlei= 1,6%. Considerando o sistema de cotas, desde 1998 foram exportadas mais de 130 mil raias de água doce vivas pelos Estados do Amazonas e Pará. Contudo, se incluídos os dados de mortalidade pós-captura, rejeição e mortalidade mais de 190 mil raias foram removidas de seus ambiente. Globalmente, o valor estimado do comércio das raias de água doce foi de US$ 20 milhões nos últimos 10 anos. Os pescadores locais receberam apenas 0,3% deste total

Gill dimensions in near-term embryos of Amazonian freshwater stingrays (Elasmobranchii: Potamotrygonidae) and their relationship to the lifestyle and habitat of neonatal pups

This comparative study of gill morphometrics in near-term embryos of freshwater stingray potamotrygonids examines gill dimensions in relation to neonatal lifestyle and habitat. In embryos of the potamotrygonids Paratrygon aiereba, Plesiotrygon iwamae, Potamotrygon motoro, Potamotrygon orbignyi, and cururu ray Potamotrygon sp. the number and length of filaments, total gill surface area, mass-specific surface area, water-blood diffusion distance, and anatomical diffusion factor were analysed. In all potamotrygonids, the 3rd branchial arch possessed a larger respiratory surface than the other gill arches. Larger embryos had more gill surface area and large spiracles, which are necessary to maintain the high oxygen uptake needed due to their larger body size. However, the higher mass-specific gill surface area observed in near-term embryos may be advantageous because neonates can use hypoxic environments as refuges against predators, as well as catch small prey that inhabit the same environment. As expected from their benthic mode of life, freshwater stingrays are sluggish animals compared to pelagic fishes. However, based on gill respiratory morphometry (such as gill area, mass-specific gill area, the water-blood diffusion barrier, anatomical diffusion factor, and relative opening of the spiracle), subtypes of lifestyles can be observed corresponding to: active, intermediate, and sluggish species according to Gray's scale

Gill dimensions in near-term embryos of Amazonian freshwater stingrays (Elasmobranchii: Potamotrygonidae) and their relationship to the lifestyle and habitat of neonatal pups

This comparative study of gill morphometrics in near-term embryos of freshwater stingray potamotrygonids examines gill dimensions in relation to neonatal lifestyle and habitat. In embryos of the potamotrygonids Paratrygon aiereba, Plesiotrygon iwamae, Potamotrygon motoro, Potamotrygon orbignyi, and cururu ray Potamotrygon sp. the number and length of filaments, total gill surface area, mass-specific surface area, water-blood diffusion distance, and anatomical diffusion factor were analysed. In all potamotrygonids, the 3rd branchial arch possessed a larger respiratory surface than the other gill arches. Larger embryos had more gill surface area and large spiracles, which are necessary to maintain the high oxygen uptake needed due to their larger body size. However, the higher mass-specific gill surface area observed in near-term embryos may be advantageous because neonates can use hypoxic environments as refuges against predators, as well as catch small prey that inhabit the same environment. As expected from their benthic mode of life, freshwater stingrays are sluggish animals compared to pelagic fishes. However, based on gill respiratory morphometry (such as gill area, mass-specific gill area, the water-blood diffusion barrier, anatomical diffusion factor, and relative opening of the spiracle), subtypes of lifestyles can be observed corresponding to: active, intermediate, and sluggish species according to Gray's scale

Effects of food deprivation in muscle structure and composition of traíra (Hoplias malabaricus): potential implications on flesh quality

Hoplias malabaricus (traíra) were experimentally starved (0 to 240 days) and subsequently re-fed for 30 days (after 90 and 240-d fasting). Long-term starvation produced minor changes in muscle composition, but shrinkage of muscle fibres was a conspicuous result. The diameter of muscle fibres decreased gradually and the spaces among them increased as the starvation period progressed. After re-feeding, fish prior starved for 90 days presented partial restoration on diameter of muscle fibres. However, the fibres remained shrunken after re-feeding following 240-d fasting. While the lipid content did not change, the protein levels fell after 240-d fasting, but they were restored after re-feedin

BRAZILIAN ARCHIVES OF BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY A N I N T E R N A T I O N A L J O U R N A L Effects of Food Deprivation in Muscle Structure and Composition of Traíra (Hoplias malabaricus): Potential Implications on Flesh Quality

ABSTRACT Hoplias malabaricus (traíra) were experimentally starved (0 to 240 days) and subsequently re-fed for 30 days (after 90 and 240-d fastin