Biology and ecology of the world’s largest invertebrate, the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni): a short review

The colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni (Robson 1925) is the largest (heaviest) living invertebrate and although it is preyed upon by many top predators, its basic biology and ecology remain one of the ocean’s great mysteries. The present study aims to review the current biological knowledge on this squid. It is considered to be endemic in the Southern Ocean (SO) with a circumpolar distribution spreading from the Antarctic continent up to the Sub-Antarctic Front. Small juveniles (<40 mm mantle length) are mainly found from the surface to 500 m, and the late juvenile stages are assumed to undergo ontogenetic descent to depths reaching 2000 m. Thus, this giant spends most of its life in the meso- and bathypelagic realms, where it can reach a total length of 6 m. The maximum weight recorded so far was 495 kg. M. hamiltoni is presently reported from the diets of 17 different predator species, comprising penguins and other seabirds, fishes and marine mammals, and may feed on various prey types, including myctophids, Patagonian toothfish, sleeper sharks and other squid. Stable isotopic analysis places the colossal squid as one of the top predators in the SO. It is assumed that this squid is not capable of high-speed predator–prey interactions, but it is rather an ambush predator. Its eyes, the largest on the planet, seem to have evolved to detect very large predators (e.g., sperm whales) rather than to detect prey at long distances. The study of this unique invertebrate giant constitutes a valuable source of insight into the biophysical principles behind body-size evolution

Lazer, esporte e cultura na agenda local: a experiência de promoção da saúde em Manguinhos Leisure, sports and culture on the local agenda: the Manguinhos’ health promotion experience

Localizada na Zona Norte da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e composta por 11 favelas, a região de Manguinhos é marcada pela pobreza e pela desigualdade, demonstrando o estado de omissão de políticas públicas. Constituiu-se naquela região uma política de Desenvolvimento Local (DL) e de Promoção da Saúde que provocou uma revitalização da vida associativa e um intenso debate acerca das demandas presentes nas comunidades. Lazer, cultura e esporte apareceram como forte demanda das lideranças comunitárias. Este artigo trata da compreensão dos significados e valores que os líderes comunitários atribuem ao lazer, à cultura e ao esporte. Buscamos entender a prática e a ação dessas lideranças e seus conflitos internos no papel de mediadores culturais. Foram identificadas diferenças na prática política entre os líderes comunitários. Trata-se de um cenário permeado por clivagens e desconfianças que representam consideráveis "dilemas da ação coletiva". Assim, a baixa capacidade de ação cooperativa entre as diversas lideranças locais acaba por prejudicar a elaboração de uma agenda comum a ser negociada com o poder público e demais organizações sociais do local, dificultando o encaminhamento das demandas, em particular, aquelas em torno de lazer, esporte e cultura.<br>Located in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro City and consisting of eleven slums, Manguinhos is marked by poverty and social inequalities, showing a lack of public policies. The constitution of a Local Development (DL) and Health Promotion policy in the region revitalized the association life and raised a heated debate about the present demands. The main focus is to understand the meanings and values that the community leaders attribute to leisure, sport and culture and the political practice and relation between these leaderships, and their internal conflicts. Differences in the everyday political practice of the community leaders were identified. This creates a scenario permeated by cleavages and political distrust which represent "collective action dilemmas". Consequently, one of the conclusions indicates little ability for cooperative action between the different local leaderships, which as a result impairs the development of a common agenda to be negotiated with the public sector or other local social organizations and makes it difficult to put forward the demands, particularly those concerning leisure, culture and sport. Additionally, we concluded that initiatives in these subject are very important to Manguinhos’ communities