Abstract The aim of this study is to estimate the population size of Aegla longirostri Bond-Buckup and Buckup, 1994 in a subtropical low-order stream using the mark-recapture technique. We also tested if the Bayesian model is a promising estimator of population size. Data were collected in two periods, in spring 2010 (seven-day sampling) and in fall 2011(five-day sampling). The animals were sexed, measured, marked in the field, and released in the same spots from which they were collected. During the study period, 445 adults were captured (343 in the spring and 102 in the fall). The estimated population size was 1,005-1,028.8 individuals in the spring and 234-236 in the fall, according to the Schumacher-Eschmeyer and Schnabel methods, respectively. The estimated population size using the Bayesian analysis was 950.13 individuals in the spring and 210.08 in the fall. Although the Bayesian model is a more conservative approach, all methods showed similar and relevant estimations of population size.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a suficiência amostral para estudos de impacto ambiental sobre a comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos em arrozais irrigados (Oryza sativa L.). Amostragens de solo foram realizadas com auxílio de coletor cilíndrico, nos anos agrícolas 2007/08 e 2012/13. As amostras foram triadas e os espécimes identificados até o nível de família. Os dados foram submetidos à análise da curva do coletor e os índices de diversidade de Shannon e equabilidade de Pielou foram calculados para o total de amostras e o número de amostras definido pela curva do coletor, em cada ano amostral. Considerando o método de amostragem verificado no presente trabalho, indica-se um mínimo de 12 réplicas para se obter o maior número de famílias sem perda de informação, quando em estudos de impacto ambiental sobre a comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos em área de cultivo de arroz irrigado.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to determine the sample sufficiency in environmental impact studies on the benthic macroinvertebrate community in irrigated rice fields (Oryza sativa L.). Soil samplings were conducted with a cylindrical collector in the agricultural years of 2007/08 and 2012/13. Individuals were sorted out and identified up to family level. Data were analyzed through the collector curve, Shannon's Diversity and Pielou's Evenness Index were calculated for the total number of samples and the number of samples defined by the collector curve in each year. Considering the results observed in this study, we indicate a minimum of 12 replicates to obtain the largest number of families without loss of information, in environmental impact studies on benthic macroinvertebrate community in irrigated rice fields.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito do inseticida carbofurano e do herbicida metsulfuron-methyl na abundância e diversidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos em campo de arroz irrigado. MÉTODOS: Para isto, dois tratamentos com agrotóxicos [o inseticida carbofurano (IC) e o herbicida metsulfuron-methyl (HM)] e um controle (Co), tratamento sem pesticida, foram aplicados em uma área experimental no Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Amostras de solo foram coletadas em triplicatas em cada tratamento 30 dias antes (DBA) e 1, 10 e 51 dias após a aplicação dos pesticidas, posteriormente a macrofauna foi identificada. RESULTADOS: Vinte e um (21) taxa foram identificados, entre esses Trichoceridae esteve presente apenas em Co, enquanto que Hydroptilidae foi coletado apenas em IC, e Corixidae em HM. Em Co e IC, o grupo mais abundante foi Annelida, e em HM foi Diptera (Chironomidae) que prevaleceu. Diferenças significativas foram observadas entre Co e IC, na densidade de Odontoceridae (Co>IC) e Hydrophilidae (Co<IC), e entre Co e HM na densidade de Odontoceridae (Co>HM) e Hirudinea (Co<HM). CONCLUSÃO: Entretanto, apesar dos possíveis efeitos negativos dos pesticidas sobre a comunidade bentônica verificados nos primeiros dias após a aplicação, verificou-se que de forma geral a comunidade recuperou-se rapidamente.

AIM: This study evaluated the effect of the insecticide carbofuran and the herbicide metsulfuron-methyl on the abundance and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in a paddy ricefield. METHODS: To achieve this goal, two pesticide treatments [the insecticide carbofuran (IC) and the herbicide metsulfuron-methyl (HM)] and a control (Co) treatment with no added pesticide were established in an experimental area of the Plant Science Department of the Federal University of Santa Maria. Soil samples were collected in triplicate from each treatment 30 days before and 1, 10, and 51 days after the pesticide application, for macrofauna identification. RESULTS: Among the 21 taxa identified, Trichoceridae was present only in Co, Hydroptilidae was recorded only in IC, and Corixidae in HM. In Co, the most abundant group was Annelida, while in IC and HM Diptera (Chironomidae) was dominant. Significant differences were observed between Co and IC, in the density of Odontoceridae (Control>IC) and Hydrophilidae (Control<IC), and between Co and HM in the density of Odontoceridae (Control>HM) and Hirudinea (Control<HM). CONCLUSION: In spite of the possible negative effects of the pesticides on the benthic community, the assemblages recovered rapidly.

In an ecological context, information on the movement and activity is important for understanding the requirements of habitat, resource usage patterns and the potential of interspecific interactions. The aim of this study was to examine the displacement pattern on daily activity and occupancy of substrates by Aegla manuinflata using radio-telemetry technique on field on Southern Brazil. Four adult males were monitored during nine days. The aeglids showed a significantly greater displacement toward upstream than downstream. Aegla manuinflata individuals showed higher displacement activity during the night period. Although activity was not constant: the animals spent one or more days without displacement. All aeglids showed locomotion activity concentrated between 11:43 p.m. and 02:25 a.m., although it was not restrict to sunset period and night. Individuals showed specific occupation of different types of substrate, but a pattern in the occupation of substrates as a function of the photoperiod was not observed. In this study, using a new technique for tracking aeglids, it was concluded that A. manuinflata is capable of actively dislocate throughout the stream, either toward upstream and downstream, passing through obstacles which may represent ability of re-colonization. The animals are more active during the night period, probably a strategy to avoid predators that are active during the day; the selection of substrate is not associated to sediment texture.

O presente estudo determinou o efeito de metsulfuron-metílico, azimsulfuron e carbofuran nas comunidades: Cladocera, Copepoda e Rotifera presentes em lavouras de arroz irrigado com o sistema de rizipiscicultura. O experimento foi conduzido durante a safra agrícola 2004/05 com oito tratamentos. As espécies de peixes utilizadas foram: Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella e Aristichthys nobilis, introduzidas sete dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos. Amostras de água foram coletadas 17 dias antes e no(s) 1°, 3°, 10°, 18°, 31°, 51° e 75° dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos para a identificação e a avaliação de zooplâncton. Os resultados indicam que os herbicidas estudados não afetaram a comunidade zooplanctônica e a aplicação do inseticida carbofuran provocou efeitos negativos em Cladocera. Copepoda e Rotifera foram pouco afetados pelo carbofuran.

This study determined the effects of metsulfuron-methyl, azimsulfuron and carbofuran in communities: Cladocers, Copepods and Rotifers that are present in irrigated rice farming with the rice-fish system. The field experiment was conducted in the 2004/05 growing season with eight treatments. The fish species were: Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella and Aristichthys nobilis, introduced seven days after treatments were applied. Water samples were collected 17 days before and 1st, 3rd, 10th, 18th, 31th, 51th, and 75th days after the agrochemicals were applied for identification and evaluation of the zooplankton. The results indicated that the herbicides did not affect the zooplankton community studied and carbofuran insecticide application provoked negative effects in Cladocers. Copepods and Rotifers were slightly affected by carbofuran.

Em lavoura de arroz irrigado, é utilizada uma grande quantidade de agroquímicos que, dependendo da sua persistência a campo e toxicidade, podem contaminar corpos d’água e afetar organismos vivos. Com o objetivo de determinar o efeito de concentrações de campo dos herbicidas Clomazone, Quinclorac, Metsulfuron-methyl e Propanil na comunidade zooplanctônica (Cladocera, Copepoda e Rotifera), conduziu-se um experimento em viveiros de aqüicultura, de março a maio de 2005, na estação do outono. Nos dias 1°, 2°, 3°, 7°, 10°, 18°, 31° e 51° após a aplicação dos herbicidas, foram coletadas amostras de água para se determinarem parâmetros físico-químicos da água, concentração dos herbicidas e comunidade zooplanctônica. Os parâmetros médios da qualidade da água foram: oxigênio dissolvido (3,5mg L-1), temperatura (20,1°C), pH (6,0), dureza total (18mg L-1 de CaCO3) e alcalinidade total (9mg L-1 de CaCO3). A ordem decrescente de persistência dos herbicidas na água foi Clomazone = Quinclorac > Propanil > Metsulfuron-methyl, com média de 31, 31, 10 e 7 dias, respectivamente. Os resultados indicaram que os herbicidas provocaram poucas alterações na densidade de organismos dos grupos Rotifera e Copepoda (Adulto e Nauplio). A densidade do grupo Cladocera permaneceu baixa para todo o período experimental.

In the rice paddy field it is used a large amount of agrochemical that, depending on their field persistence and toxicity, can contaminate water bodies and may affect living organism. With the objective of determining the effect of field concentrations of Clomazone, Quinclorac, Metsulfuron-methyl and Propanil herbicides on zooplankton community (Cladocers, Copepods and Rotifers), it was carried an experiment in aquaculture ponds, during March to May 2005, in autumn season. In the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 18th, 31th and 51th days after the herbicides application, water samples were collected to evaluate the physical chemical water parameters, herbicides concentration and zooplankton community. The water physical chemical parameters means were: dissolved oxygen (3.5mg L-1), temperature (20.1°C), pH (6.0), total hardness (18mg L-1 CaCO3) and total alkalinity (9mg L-1 CaCO3). The decreasing of herbicides persistence in water was: Clomazone = Quinclorac > Propanil > Metsulfuron-methyl with average of 31, 31, 10 and 7 days, respectively. The results indicated that the herbicides provoke little alteration in density of Rotifers and, Copepods (Adults and Nauplii). The Cladocers group density remained low for the whole experiment period.

Exposição a inseticidas em concentrações elevadas no ambiente podem ocasionar efeitos adversos subletais em organismos aquáticos. Alevinos de carpa húngara (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus, 1758), carpa capim (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Valenciennes, 1844) e carpa cabeça grande (Aristichthys nobilis, Richardson, 1845) foram expostos ao diafuran, um inseticida utilizado na cultura do arroz no sul do Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a relação entre concentração letal mediana (CL50) do diafuran e a atividade da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE) em cérebro e músculo dessas espécies, como um possível biomarcador inicial da exposição a este inseticida. A CL50 foi determinada com peixes expostos a concentrações de diafuran em 96 h: carpa húngara: controle; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; 2,0; 2,5 e 3,0 mg L-1; carpa capim: controle; 1,0; 2,0; 3,0 e 3,5 mg L-1 e carpa cabeça grande: controle; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; 2,0; 3,0 e 4,0 mg L-1, bem como a determinação da AChE em concentrações próximas da CL50 para essas espécies. Valores de CL50 (concentrações nominais) foram de 1,81 mg L-1 para carpa húngara, 2,71 mg L-1 para carpa capim e 2,37 mg L-1 para carpa cabeça grande. Todas as carpas expostas ao diafuran estavam letárgicas (menores concentrações) ou imóveis. Diafuran inibiu significativamente a atividade da AChE em cérebro (~38 %) e músculo (~50 %) de todas as espécies estudadas. Atividade da AChE em músculo para carpa cabeça grande foi mais alta que cérebro (14,44 contra 5,94 µmol min-1 g proteína-1, respectivamente). Este estudo demonstrou que concentrações de diafuran utilizadas na cultura do arroz podem afetar o comportamento de Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella e Aristichthys nobilis, e a atividade da acetilcolinesterase cerebral e muscular pode ser um biomarcador inicial de toxicidade deste inseticida.

Sublethal adverse effects may result from exposure of aquatic organisms to insecticides at environmentally relevant concentrations. Fingerlings of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus, 1758), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Valenciennes, 1844), and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis, Richardson, 1845) were exposed to diafuran, an insecticide widely used during rice cultivation in Southern Brazil. The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between the lethal concentration (LC50) of diafuran and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain and muscle tissues of these species as a possible early biomarker of exposure to this insecticide. LC50 was determined for fish exposed to diafuran concentrations during 96 h (short term): common carp: control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mg L-1; grass carp: control, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 mg L-1 and, bighead carp: control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mg L-1, as well as the determination of AChE at concentrations near LC50 for these species. LC50 values (nominal concentrations) were 1.81 mg L-1 for the common carp, 2.71 mg L-1 for the grass carp and, 2.37 mg L-1 for the bighead carp. All carps exposed to diafuran were lethargic (lower concentrations) or immobile. Diafuran inhibited the acetylcholinesterase activity in brain (~38%) and muscle (~50%) of all species. Muscle of bighead carp under control treatment showed higher specific AChE activity than brain (14.44 against 5.94 µmol min-1 g protein-1, respectively). Concentrations of diafuran used for rice cropping may affect Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella and Aristichthys nobilis behaviors and the AChE activities in brain and muscle of these species may be an early biomarker of toxicity of this insecticide.