Biologia Animal

Forensic entomology uses biological and ecological aspects of necrophagous insects to help in criminal investigations to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) or to determine the cause of death. Recent papers demonstrated that the presence of toxins in decomposing tissues may alter the insect developmental rate of insects exploiting such tissues as food. Thus, preliminary tests with artificial diets in laboratory are necessary to create a database to investigate and quantify the modifications that can occur with the collected insects from a criminal scene, avoiding any errors on the PMI estimates. The present study aimed to evaluate the developmental rate of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) reared on: a) artificial diets containing animal tissues: bovine liver (D1), raw muscle (D2), stomach (D3), and chicken heart (D4); b) artificial diet without animal tissue (D5); and c) a control group (C), which had only meat. The efficiency of each substrate was assessed by immature weight gain (mg), larval developmental time, larval and pupal survival, emergence interval and adult size. D1 to D4 diets did not restrict C. albiceps development; however, larvae reared on D1 and D2 diets presented a lower adult emergence rate. D3 and control group showed similarities regarding the efficiency parameters (rate and emergence interval). Thus, the use of diet D3, artificial diet with stomach, is the most recommended.

This study aimed to identify ethnozoological knowledge about amphibians of people living around a protected area, the Wildlife Refuge of Una (REVIS), located in the Atlantic Forest, in southern Bahia, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were performed on a random sample of residents right outside the REVIS limits. Photos of several amphibians that live in the REVIS were also shown for recognition of the regional species. We analysed the use value (VU) of each species, calculating the ratio between the number of times that each species was mentioned and the total number of interviews. Biophilic relationships, using Kellert´s (1993) classification, were inferred from their statements. We interviewed 40 individuals (22 males and 18 females) with ages between 10 and 82 years. There was a gender-related bias regarding the recognised species (Chi Sq = 0.013, p < 0.05) with men having more knowledge than women. The Butter Frog, Leptodactylus latrans, had the highest VU of 0.73 and was th...

This study aimed to identify ethnozoological knowledge about amphibians of people living around a protected area, the Wildlife Refuge of Una (REVIS), located in the Atlantic Forest, in southern Bahia, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were performed on a random sample of residents right outside the REVIS limits. Photos of several amphibians that live in the REVIS were also shown for recognition of the regional species. We analysed the use value (VU) of each species, calculating the ratio between the number of times that each species was mentioned and the total number of interviews.

The diploid number 2n = 30 is a presumed synapomorphy of Dendropsophus Fitzinger, 1843, although a noticeable variation in the number of biarmed/telocentric chromosomes is observed in this genus. Such a variation suggests that several chromosomal rearrangements took place after the evolutionary origin of the hypothetical ancestral 30-chromosome karyotype; however, the inferred rearrangements remain unknown. Distinct numbers of telocentric chromosomes are found in the two most cytogenetically studied species groups of Dendropsophus. In contrast, all three species of the Dendropsophus marmoratus (Laurenti, 1768) group that are already karyotyped presented five pairs of telocentric chromosomes. In this study, we analyzed cytogenetically three additional species of this group to investigate if the number of telocentric chromosomes in this group is not as variable as in other Dendropsophus groups. We described the karyotypes of Dendropsophus seniculus (Cope, 1868), D. soaresi (Caramaschi & Jim, 1983) and D. novaisi (Bokermann, 1968) based on Giemsa staining, C-banding, silver impregnation and in situ hybridization with telomeric probes. Dendropsophus seniculus, D. soaresi and D. novaisi presented five pairs of telocentric chromosomes, as did the remaining species of the group previously karyotyped. Though the species of this group show a high degree of karyotypic similarity, D. soaresi was unique in presenting large blocks

The genus Pseudis comprises six frogs of the family Hylidae and only P. tocantins had heteromorphic sex chromosomes detected by classical cytogenetics. In this species, the W chromosome is larger than the Z chromosome and has a large heterochromatic block located between the centromere and the nucleolus organizer region (NOR) in the long arm. This large heterochromatic band is enriched for the PcP190 satellite DNA (satDNA), whereas the Z chromosome bears a smaller C-band adjacent to the centromere in the long arm that is not detected by PcP190 probes. To assess sex chromosome differentiation in the genus Pseudis, we investigated the PcP190 satDNA in P. bolbodactyla, P. cardosoi, P. minuta, and P. paradoxa and in one species of Lysapsus, which is the sister genus of Pseudis. PcP190 sequences were isolated, sequenced, and the diversity of this class of satDNA was analyzed. To evaluate whether sex-related variations in PcP190 satDNA were present, we used in situ hybridization (for P. bolbodactyla, P. paradoxa, P. cardosoi, and P. minuta) and Southern blotting analysis (for all species). We found a low level of sex chromosome heteromorphism in P. bolbodactyla, as a PcP190 cluster was detected in the short arm of one of the homologs of pair 7 exclusively in females. In P. paradoxa, P. minuta, and P. cardosoi, PcP190 satDNA is not sex-related, although a cluster of PcP190 sequences could be recognized in the NOR-bearing chromosomes 7 of P. paradoxa and P. minuta and their homologous chromosome 5 of P. cardosoi. By tracking cytogenetic data in a species tree, we may hypothesize that the positioning of the PcP190 site adjacently to the NOR (as observed in the long arm of the W chromosome of P. tocantins) is a derived condition with respect to the location of the PcP190 site apart from the NOR, in the short arm of the NOR-bearing chromosomes 7 (as present in P. bolbodactyla, P. paradoxa, and P. minuta) or 5 (as present in P. cardosoi) and we discuss about the emergence of PcP190 satDNA as a sex-related trait.

In the frog genus Pseudis, previous works found a sex-linked heteromorphism of the PcP190 satellite DNA in the nucleolus organizer region (NOR)-bearing chromosome pairs of Pseudis bolbodactyla and Pseudis tocantins, which possess a ZZ/ZW sex determination system. A pericentromeric inversion was inferred to have occurred during W chromosome evolution, moving a chromosomal cluster enriched by the PcP190 from the short arm (as observed in P. bolbodactyla) to the NOR-bearing long arm (as observed in P. tocantins). However, whether such an inversion happened in P. tocantins or in the common ancestor of Pseudis fusca and P. tocantins remained unclear. To assess this question, we mapped PcP190 in the karyotype of P. fusca from three distinct localities. Southern blotting was used to compare males and females. The mitochondrial H1 fragment (which contains the 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), tRNAval, and 16S rRNA genes) and cytochrome b gene were partially sequenced, and a species tree was inferre...

This study aimed to identify ethnozoological knowledge about amphibians of people living around a protected area, the Wildlife Refuge of Una (REVIS), located in the Atlantic Forest, in southern Bahia, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were performed on a random sample of residents right outside the REVIS limits. Photos of several amphibians that live in the REVIS were also shown for recognition of the regional species. We analysed the use value (VU) of each species, calculating the ratio between the number of times that each species was mentioned and the total number of interviews.

This study aimed to identify ethnozoological knowledge about amphibians of people living around a protected area, the Wildlife Refuge of Una (REVIS), located in the Atlantic Forest, in southern Bahia, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were performed on a random sample of residents right outside the REVIS limits. Photos of several amphibians that live in the REVIS were also shown for recognition of the regional species. We analysed the use value (VU) of each species, calculating the ratio between the number of times that each species was mentioned and the total number of interviews.

We re-describe and confirm the validity of Ophiothrix trindadensis Tommasi, 1970 (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). This is a native species from Brazil, however it lacked a type series deposited in scientific collections. The recognition of O. trindadensis was made possible using integrative taxonomy applied to many specimens from the type locality (Trindade Island) as well as from different locations along the Brazilian coast (Araçá Bay and Estuarine Complex of Paranaguá). Initially, 835 specimens were studied and divided into four candidate species (CS) inferred from external morphological characters. Afterwards, the CSs were compared using integrative taxonomy based on external morphology, arm microstructures morphology (arm ossicle), morphometry, and molecular studies (fragments of the mitochondrial genes 16S and COI). Analyses indicated CS1 and CS2 as O. trindadensis, and CS3 as O. angulata, both valid species. CS4 remains O. cf. angulata as more data, including their ecology and physiology, are needed to be definitively clarified. Our integrative investigation using specimens from the type locality overcame the lack of type specimens and increased the reliable identification of O. trindadensis and O. angulata.

One of the many taxonomic challenges found in the Dendropsophus microcephalus species group is the Dendropsophus walfordi distinction from D. nanus. Recent phylogenetic inferences have indicated the paraphyly of these species, although they were not designed to assess this issue. To contribute to the delimitation of these species, we analyzed the 12S, 16S and COI mitochondrial genes, the morphological traits, and the advertisement calls of specimens from northern Amazonia to Argentina, including the type localities of D. nanus and D. walfordi. Paraphyly of D. nanus with respect to D. walfordi was inferred by maximum-parsimony and Bayesian analyses, and five major clades exhibiting nonoverlapping geographic distributions were recognized. The bPTP and ABGD analyses supported the existence of five independently evolving lineages in this complex. Acoustic and morphological data clearly distinguished the clade that included the topotypes of D. walfordi from the others, corroborating the ...

Por ser um dos principais países megadiversos do mundo, o Brasil abriga um número imenso de invertebrados terrestres. O conhecimento atual desta biota é extremamente heterogêneo. Diversos táxons são suficientemente conhecidos para serem utilizados como indicadores de integridade ecológica ou de endemismo. As atuais listas vermelhas nacionais e regionais brasileiras incluem 130 espécies de invertebrados terrestres, dos quais 42% são borboletas. Tais listas são bastante dependentes do conhecimento disponível e muitos táxons omitidos certamente incluem espécies ameaçadas. O conhecimento de diversos biomas e habitats é bastante irregular. Há necessidade de mais estudos sobre a Caatinga e o Pantanal, em comparação à Mata Atlântica, à Amazônia e ao Cerrado. As faunas de solo, de dossel e associadas a hospedeiros também necessitam de estudos intensivos. A conservação de invertebrados será promovida mais eficientemente através da preservação e do manejo de habitats do que através de iniciativas de preservação de espécies isoladas. Para esse fim, são necessários estudos geográficos melhores de taxocenoses ou grupos funcionais completos. Uma melhor compreensão do papel dos invertebrados em processos ecossistêmicos fortalecerá enormemente os argumentos para sua conservação.

The research project "Atlantic Forest butterflies in southeastern Brazil" had been developed between 2011-2014 aiming to (1) identify and sample poorly known areas in different Atlantic Forest habitats, (2) make available and update data on butterfly ecology and conservation, (3) increase knowledge about most threatened species in Brazil.

This work presents new records and extends the geographic distribution of Heliconius sara apseudes in the Atlantic Forest of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Five new records were taken along butterfly inventories carried out between 2005 and 2010 in distinct phytophysiognomies at Rio Grande do Sul northeast region: Swamp Forest, Atlantic Forest stricto sensu and Araucaria Moist Forest. The fact that all registers occurred in well preserved habitats of the Atlantic Forest emphasizes the need of conservation of this biome in Rio Grande do Sul. 

Schistosomiasis, an important disease in Brazil, is caused by a trematode of the genus Schistosoma, reaching millions of person in one of the most endemic region of this disease in the whole globe. The main goal of this work was to syntetize the 6-formyl-oxamniquine derivative and evaluate its biological activity. The 6-formyl-oxamniquine derivative was obtained by the oxidation of oxamniquine with MnO 2 , applying CH 2 Cl 2 as solvent at room temperature for 24 hours. The obtaintion of 6-formyl-oxamniquine derivative compound was confirmed by IR spectroscopy and 13 C NMR and 1 H NMR, presenting similar activity when compared to the commercial oxamniquine (Mansil ® ). UNITERMS: Schistosomiasis. Ooxamniquine. Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease with large geographic distribution worldwide. Among the several different species of this parasite, S. mansoni is the most common and relevant one; its pathogenesis is also known to vary according to the worms' strain. High parasitical virulence is directly related to granulomatous reactions in the host's liver, and might be influenced by one or more molecules involved in a specific metabolic pathway. Therefore, better understanding the metabolic profile of these organisms is necessary, especially for an increased potential of unraveling strain virulence mechanisms and resistance to existing treatments. In this report, MALDI-MSI and the metabolomic platform were employed to characterize and differentiate two Brazilian S. mansoni strains: males and females from Belo Horizonte (BH) and from Sergipe (SE). By performing direct analysis, it is possible to distinguish the sex of adult worms, as well as identify the spatial distribution of chemical markers. Phospholipids, diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols were located in specific structures of the worms' bodies, such as tegument, suckers, reproductive and digestive systems. Lipid profiles were found to be different both between strains and males or females, giving specific metabolic fingerprints for each group. This indicates that biochemical characterization of adult S. mansoni may help narrowing-down the investigation of new therapeutic targets according to worm composition, molecule distribution and, therefore, aggressiveness of disease.