Teratogenic processes in an embryo without gills and low yolk absorption of Zapteryx brevirostris (Elasmobranchii: Rhinobatidae)

Este é o primeiro relato de anomalias morfológicas em embriões de Zapteryx brevirostris, espécie comum no Brasil. As brânquias estiveram ausentes, e as nadadeiras peitorais mostraram-se assimétricas e não totalmente formadas e fundidas à cabeça. A nadadeira esquerda, a maior, se projetou destacadamente em direção à cabeça, quase alcançando a altura dos olhos. A nadadeira pélvica esteve ausente, não foi possível a determinação do sexo do animal. A causa da deformidade morfológica é incerta, mas sugere-se que possa estar relacionada a problema nutricional durante o desenvolvimento do embrião.This is the first report of morphological anomaly in embryos of Zapteryx brevirostris (Lesser guitarfish), a very common species in Brazil. The gills were absent, and the pectoral fins were not fully formed nor were they completely fused to the head. They were asymmetrical, with the larger left pectoral fin projecting more toward the head (almost at the height of the eyes). The pelvic fin was absent, making sexing impossible. The cause of the morphological deformity is uncertain, although a nutritional problem of the embryo is evoked

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Caracterização da reprodução, idade e crescimento e acúmulo de metais em Zapteryx brevirostris (Elasmobranchii: Rhinobatidae), uma espécie endêmica do Atlântico Sul

Orientador : Dr. Luís Fernando FávaroTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação. Defesa: Curitiba, 06/03/2015Inclui referênciasÁrea de concentração : Ecologia e conservaçãoResumo: No presente estudo foi determinada estrutura, o ciclo reprodutivo, idade e crescimento e quantificação de metais de Zapteryx brevirostris (Müller & Henle, 1841), conhecida também por raia-viola, raia viola de focinho curto, banjo, cação-viola, bandolim, piçudinho e tuiuiú, sendo que a espécie é dos principais elasmobrânquios capturados pela frota de pesca artesanal no estado do Paraná, sofrendo pressão pesqueira por ser bycatch da pesca de arrasto e emalhe. As coletas foram realizadas mensalmente entre novembro de 2011 e novembro de 2013 no litoral do estado do Paraná. Quanto ao ciclo reprodutivo da espécie no estado do Paraná, a obtenção de um percentual elevado de fêmeas grávidas possibilitou a determinação da estação de cópula/fecundação (outono), além da determinação do período de gestação (entre seis e sete meses) e nascimento dos embriões (verão), caracterizando o litoral do estado do Paraná como área de parto para Z. brevirostris. As informações obtidas sobre idade e crescimento de Z. brevirostris representam a primeira estimativa destes parâmetros para uma espécie do gênero Zapteryx, e os resultados demonstram uma lenta taxa de crescimento e consequente suscetibilidade à sobrexploração. Em relação ao acúmulo de metais, a espécie pode ser considerada como um bom bioindicador, e, apesar da maioria dos valores de metais encontrados nas amostras serem considerados seguros pela legislação, as concentrações de Cd no músculo de machos e Pb no músculo de fêmeas merecem uma especial atenção, uma vez que os valores estão acima do estabelecido em legislação pela FAO/WHO, onde sugere-se o monitoramento dos metais em pescado de elasmobrânquios, já que estes consistem em importantes recursos pesqueiros. Os dados obtidos neste trabalho virão compor uma robusta base de dados a fim de subsidiar planos de manejo e controle da atividade pesqueira, solicitados pelo Ministério do Meio Ambiente em decorrência da vulnerabilidade da espécie de acordo com a PORTARIA 445/2014 e o livro vermelho da IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). Palavras-chave: Contaminação, Curva de von Bertalanffy (VBGF), taxa de crescimento, embriões, curva de maturação.Abstract: In the present study it was determined structure, reproductive cycle, age and growth, and quantification of metals in organs of Zapteryx brevirostris (Müller & Henle, 1841), also known as lesser guitarfish, viola ray, shortnose viola ray, banjo, cacao-viola, bandolim, piçudinho and tuiuiú, and this species is one of the most captured elasmobranchs by artisanal fishery in the state of Paraná, suffering fishing pressure for being bycatch in fishing using bottom otter trawls. The collection of samples occurred monthly between November 2011 and November 2013 in the state of Paraná coast. Regarding the reproductive cycle of the species, the obtainment of a high percentage of pregnant females allowed the determination of reproductive/fertilization (fall), besides the determination of gestational period and birth of the embryos (summer), characterizing the sea coast of Paraná as birth area for Z. brevirostris. The information obtained about age and growth of Z. brevirostris, represent the first estimative of these parameters for a species of the Zapteryx genus, and the results demonstrate a slow rate of growth and consequent susceptibility of overexploitation. Related to metal accumulation, the species can be considered a good bioindicator, and, even though most of the metal values found in the samples are considered by legislation as safe, the concentrations of Cd in male muscles and Pb in female muscles, deserve greater attention, once the values found are over the established, by the legislation of FAO/WHO, where it's suggested the monitoring of metals in elasmobranch meat, since these constitute important fishing resources. Data obtained in this work will compose a robust database to subsidize management planning and control fishing activities, requested by the Ministry of Environment due to the vulnerability of the species according to the Brazilian National list of endangered species (445/2014) and the red list of the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). Key-words: contamination, von Bertalanffy curves (VBGF), growth rate, Embryos, maturation curve

Teratogenic processes in an embryo without gills and low yolk absorption of Zapteryx brevirostris (Elasmobranchii: Rhinobatidae)

Abstract This is the first report of morphological anomaly in embryos of Zapteryx brevirostris (Lesser guitarfish), a very common species in Brazil. The gills were absent, and the pectoral fins were not fully formed nor were they completely fused to the head. They were asymmetrical, with the larger left pectoral fin projecting more toward the head (almost at the height of the eyes). The pelvic fin was absent, making sexing impossible. The cause of the morphological deformity is uncertain, although a nutritional problem of the embryo is evoked