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ABSTRACT Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) pose a world-wide health and socio-economic threat. Accelerating climate change and globalization are exposing unforeseen ways that pathogens cope with their surroundings. The 2015 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak was an example of expansion into previously inaccessible fitness spaces, causing a sudden epidemic. Recent studies indicating the subsequent decrease in symptomatic cases means the virus is in remission, currently poses little threat, and therefore can be ignored. We present an evolutionary scenario derived from the Stockholm Paradigm, of oscillating phases of expansion and isolation, accompanied by changes in transmission, persistence, virulence, and pathology. Chief among these is the likelihood that asymptomatic strains are constantly transmitted sexually. This suggests that the currently quiescent virus retains capacities to reemerge abruptly and spread rapidly in an arena of changing opportunity.

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ABSTRACT Clinodiplosis quartelensissp. nov. (holotype male in MNRJ: Brazil, Minas Gerais State), a new gall midge species causing leaf galls on Banisteriopsis membranifolia (A. Juss.) B. Gates (Malpighiaceae), an endemic liana in Brazil, is described based on larva, pupa, adult male and female and its gall is characterized. Galls were collected in Quartel de São João, state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Larvae were removed from the galls and pupae and adults were obtained by rearing. Pupation takes place in the gall. The most important morphological characters were illustrated. The new species is compared with other Neotropical species of Clinodiplosis and belongs to the group with simple tarsal claws, curved beyond tarsus midlength. Clinodiplosis quartelensis sp. nov. shares the male cercus secondarily lobed, the 12th female flagellomere with setulose apical process, the deeply bilobed male hypoproct with convergent lobes, pupa lacking dorsal spines on abdominal segments, and larva with four pairs of setose terminal papillae with C. bellum from that might be distinguished by size of palpus, wing venation, level of sclerotization of eighth abdominal segment in the adults, as well as, by the pupal cephalic dorsal plate and larval spatula.

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ABSTRACT Two new species of Neanuridae from the Amazon Rainforest of Northern Brazil are described and illustrated. The new species Friesea multiclavata sp. nov. (holotype male in MNRJ: Brazil, Amazonas State) belongs to the reducta-group and represents the first record of Frieseinae for Amazonas State in Brazil. Within Pseudachorutinae, the new species Furculanurida boiuna sp. nov. (holotype male in MNRJ: Brazil, Amazonas State) represents the third species of this genus without eyes and body pigment, together with Furculanurida africana (Massoud, 1963) - type species of the genus - and Furculanurida emucronata Zon et al., 2014, both from Ivory Coast, in Africa. Lastly, an indefinite species of Ectonura sp. (Neanurinae) is the second record of the genus for the Neotropical Region.

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ABSTRACT The monotypic genus Loxozus Enderlein, 1922 is redescribed. After examining the holotypes of Tetanocera cornuta Walker, 1853 and Loxozus clavicornis Enderlein, 1922, we confirm that these species are synonyms and reiterate that the correct name of the nominal species is Loxozus cornutus (Walker, 1853). The male of L. cornutus is described for the first time and notes on the species’ sexual dimorphism and illustrations of the genitalia are provided, together with distribution data, including new records for Venezuela, Brazil and Peru.

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ABSTRACT A new species of the lizard genus Stenocercus Duméril & Bibron, 1837 is described based on six specimens from Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Similar to S. tricristatus (Duméril, 1851), S. dumerilii (Steindachner, 1867), S. quinarius Nogueira & Rodrigues, 2006, and S. squarrosus Nogueira & Rodrigues, 2006, the new species has a pyramidal head and an enlarged, dorsally projected post-supraciliary scale, like a small horn. It is most similar to S. tricristatus, from which it differs in having a more elongated head in ventral view; a larger number of scales around midbody; a distinctly enlarged, smooth preauricular scale; and probably a larger body size. Moreover, the new species has distinctly keeled scales, with phylloid and mucronate dorsals; no enlarged supraoculars; no neck folds; a vertebral, and a pair of dorsolateral and (weak) lateral crests. A redescription of S. tricristatus is presented for comparison with the new species.

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ABSTRACT Zooplankton exhibit several trends of variation in space and time, and these trends can be more evident in natural environments without anthropic perturbations. Examples of anthropic factors are climate change, eutrophication and construction of reservoirs. This study evaluated the influence of three factors - seasonality, type of environment and the presence of aquatic macrophytes - on various ecological attributes of rotifers in a river-lake system located in the Paraná River floodplain. Monthly samplings were conducted during 1993 and 1994. The mean species richness per sample was 60 species. The seasonality and the type of environment influenced the ecological attributes of rotifer assemblages, while the presence or absence of aquatic macrophytes did not. Species richness was highest in the lake system and during the months when water levels were low. Multivariate analysis indicates a small group of species associated with the low water-level phase. In contrast, many species were associated with high water levels or increasing water levels. The seasonal variation of hydrological cycle and the type of environment are the most important factors for rotifer structure in natural conditions.

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ABSTRACT Pomacentridae is a common family in the aquarium fish trade. Most species are harvested from nature. Here we evaluate the following water parameters in the pomacentrid sergeant major, Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnaeus, 1758), to assess their stress level during a 24, 48, and 72 hours transport: dissolved oxygen (DO), total ammonia, and pH. In addition, we evaluated the following physiological parameters: plasma osmolality, muscle water content, blood glucose, and the enzyme activities of the branchial carbonic anhydrase (CA), the hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The mortality of fish measuring >6 cm total length was 22%, while no mortality was observed for fish measuring <6 cm. The pH of the water was significantly correlated with fish mortality, especially for the initial 24 hours of transport. Hypoxia after 24-48 hours also led to fish mortality, but build up ammonia was not a problem even after 72 hours. We suggest that a minimum water volume of 125 ml/g fish is necessary for safe and cost-effective transport of the sergeant major, preferably with <6 cm in total length.

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ABSTRACT This study describes aspects of the life history of the Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus (Vieillot, 1808), including the breeding period, clutch size, nestlings and a list of plants used for nesting. Nests were monitored in an area of Restinga (sand-coastal plain) habitat in a protected area in southeastern Brazil. The data from 181 nests during five breeding seasons (2010-2014) showed that the Tropical Mockingbird has a long breeding season (26.1 ± 2.6 weeks) with up to two peaks of active nests from August to March. The breeding pairs made up to four nesting attempts in the same breeding season. The mean (± SD) clutch size was 2.4 ± 0.6 eggs (n = 169). The mean (± SD) incubation period was 14 ± 0.6 days, and the nestling remained in the nest for 14.5 ± 2.2 days. The nests were built on thirty plant species, and Protium icicariba (DC.) Marchand. was the plant species most commonly used for nesting. The breeding parameters of the Tropical Mockingbird are similar to those of other Mimidae species. The knowledge gained from this study makes the Tropical Mockingbird a good choice for future studies, particularly for testing ecological and evolutionary hypotheses regarding life history attributes, habitat selection and parental investment.

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ABSTRACT Acanthodactylus micropholis Heidari, Rastegar-Pouyani, Rastegar-Pouyani & Rajabizadeh, 2013 and A. khamirensis Blanford, 1874 are genetically and morphologically distinct, but their ecological differentiation has not previously been evaluated. The ecological niche models of these two sister species Acanthodactylus were reconstructed using climate and geographical data. Species distribution modeling for A. micropholis and A. khamirensis was used to make predictions and showed that most parts of southern and southeastern Iran are suitable for the distribution of both species. Habitat suitability was mostly dependent upon minimum temperature of the coldest month and seasonal precipitation for A. micropholis and A. khamirensis, respectively. Niche similarity tests (niche overlap and identity tests) were performed to evaluate species differentiation based on the ecological species criterion. Our results indicate that both species have different ecological niches and are significantly separated from each other. Therefore, our study corroborates previous analyses based on molecular and morphological evidences that suggested that A. micropholis and A. khamirensis were valid species.

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ABSTRACT Due to the important ecological role of Nymphalidae as consumers of fermented fruits, excrement, exudates of decomposed plants and animals, as well as bioindicators of environmental quality that attract the interest of the general public, this study aimed to characterize the fauna of frugivorous butterflies at the Serra Azul State Park - PESA (Mato Grosso, Brazil) with regards to composition, taxonomic richness and spatial distribution. Collections were carried out in 2014 from six 250 m plots in a RAPELD module (5x5 km). We defined five sampling points in each plot and placed a Van Someren-Rydon trap (VSR), with a bait made from banana fermented in cane juice, positioned 1 m above the ground for 24 hours. We collected 204 specimens of Nymphalidae from five subfamilies, 22 genera, and 40 species. Satyrinae was the most abundant and species-rich subfamily. The community structure varied spatially, with the gallery forest presenting the greatest richness, diversity, and equitability, while ‘cerrado ralo’ presented higher abundance and less diversity and equitability. Therefore, according to the pattern of abundance in the PESA, species were best adapted to the log series model. Yphthimoides renata (Stoll, 1780) (Satyrinae), Hamadryas feronia (Linnaeus, 1758), and Callicore sorana (Godart, 1824) (Biblidinae) were the most abundant species, 19 species were singletons, and eight were doubletons. Richness estimators showed that 63% of all species were sampled. Our results indicate that the frugivorous butterfly community is structured according to phytophysiognomies, and the dominance of species that are tolerant to disturbances indicates landscape fragmentation within the PESA, which interferes with species substitution pattern and their abundances in different environments of the park.

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ABSTRACT Body condition is an important measure to estimate the energy reserve of an organism. Scientists frequently use body condition indices (BCIs) with morphometric measures but direct measurements, such as blood glucose, seem to be more reliable. We observed oscillations in the body condition and glucose indexes of individuals of Artibeus planirostris (Spix, 1823) during 13 nights in the field. We assume that if glucose levels are proportional to feeding state and body condition is a measure of energy reserve, blood glucose and BCI should be positively correlated and both are expected to increase during the night as the bats leave their diurnal roost to feed. To test this, we examined the relationship between blood glucose levels, BCI and reproductive phase of free flying male bats (n = 70) for 12 hours after sunset for 13 nights. Bats were captured in Reserva Biológica de Guaribas (Paraíba, Brazil) using mist nets. Blood glucose was analyzed with a portable glucometer. Supporting our assumptions, the number of hours after sunset and BCI presented significant positive correlations with glucose levels in A. planirostris. Reproductive phase did not present a significant correlation with any other variables. As we predicted, glucose level can be used as proxy for morphometric BCI and it can be measured with a simple portable glucometer. The increase both in glucose and BCI around the night can be explained by the efficient assimilation of nutrients present in fruits ingested by bats and the quick metabolism that increases the levels of glucose (an other nutrients) in blood, increasing the body mass.

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ABSTRACT The nominal species Calomys tener (Winge, 1887) ranges broadly in open lands of the Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal and Mata Atlântica of Brazil, and was recently reported from the Pampas of southern Brazil, and in the Selva Paranaense of eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. This rodent can be infected with the pathogenic Araraquara hantavirus in Brazil. Given that most epidemiological studies have not taken into account updated taxonomic findings of their rodent hosts, in this study, we obtained sequence data of the Cyt-b and COI genes of specimens of C. tener from 22 different geographical localities from throughout the currently known distribution of the species (including individuals from Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil) to test if it constitutes a single genetic unit or if it presents genetic discontinuities that may represent different evolutionary lineages. Phylogenetic analyses including several species of Calomys recovered several clades with strong support. Regarding C. tener, it is recovered as sister to the node that cluster C. laucha (Fischer, 1814) sensu lato, C. expulsus (Lund, 1841) and species in the C. callosus (Rengger, 1830) species complex. At the intraspecific level there are no genetic gaps among haplotypes of C. tener that could suggest more than one species. The recent captures in the Pampas of southern Brazil and in the Selva Paranaense suggest that the species may be colonizing new geographic areas.

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ABSTRACT Symbiosis between decapods and mollusks provides a unique opportunity to examine some of the evolutionary strategies employed by marine invertebrates. We describe the sexual and reproductive traits of the pearl oyster shrimp, Pontonia margarita Verril, 1869, found symbiotically inhabiting the mantle cavity of the rugose pen shell, Pinna rugosa Sowerby, 1835. Solitary males and females (ovigerous and non-ovigerous) and heterosexual pairs (with ovigerous and non-ovigerous females) were found in a total of 47 rugose pen shells collected from a sandy area with seagrass meadows on the southeastern coast of the Gulf of California, Mexico. The body length (BL) of female P. margarita was correlated with the shell volume of their rugose pen shell host. The sex ratio was female-biased (0.85M:1F). Female P. margarita were larger than their male counterparts in terms of BL, cephalothorax length (CL), and the maximum chelae length of the second pereopod (MCL). The CL and MCL were more strongly correlated for males (r = 0.70, p = 0.01). The number and volume of eggs per ovigerous female varied from 95 to 1,571 and from 5.46 ± 0.48 to 8.85 ± 0.97 mm3, respectively. Our results indicate polygamous behavior and social monogamy among P. margarita, and a short-term pairing system for their association with P. rugosa.

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ABSTRACT Constant changes in natural environments impose challenges to wild animal populations, especially those that depend on social life. We gathered data on the activity budget and social interactions of a capuchin monkey (Sapajus sp.) group of 17 individuals confined to an urban green area receiving human food supplementation. We observed the capuchins between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, three days a month, between January 2012 and June 2013 (total of 530 hours of direct observations). We collected 15,208 behavioral records through instantaneous scan sampling and 2,538 events of social interaction in an adapted version of the “all occurrences” method. Activity budget of capuchins was dominated by traveling (42%) and foraging (38%), followed by feeding (10%), social interactions (5%), resting (4%), and others (2%). Except for feeding, the time spent on other activities varied across sex-age classes. Social interactions of capuchins were dominated by affiliative interactions (80%), mainly social play, followed by agonistic (11%) and cooperative (10%) interactions. Sexual interactions were rare (0.4%) and often involved juveniles (45% of the events). Juveniles performed most of the social interactions, followed by the alpha male, and were the main receptors of grooming, food sharing, and agonism. On the other hand, they were the main group involved in allocarrying of infants. Grooming between females and from them to alpha male was infrequent. However, grooming of the alpha male towards the adult females was frequent. We interpreted the deviations in the activity budget and social interactions of the urban capuchins as effects of human food supplementation and restriction on dispersal, illustrating the behavioral ability of capuchin monkeys to adjust their activity in human-altered environments.

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ABSTRACT The present paper describes the immature stages of the Neotropical satyrine butterfly Euptychia mollina (Hübner, [1813]) from the Brazilian Amazon Forest. Eggs were laid singly on the under surface of the fronds of its host plant, Selaginella sp. (Briophyta: Selaginellaceae). Larvae are solitary in all instars, presenting a color pattern and shape that make them cryptic on its host plant. The pupa is short, smooth and varies from rusty brown to green. Despite the lack of a close phylogenetic relationship, larvae of Euptychia are very similar to those of the paleotropical satyrines Ragadia and Acrophtalmia, suggesting that camouflage is likely to be one of the factors explaining the similarities among them.

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ABSTRACT Polynoid scale-worms have been found living as commensals with deep-water antipatharians (commonly known as black corals) in the Potiguar Basin, off Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil. In this paper two polychaete species and four black corals species are redescribed. Benhamipolynoe cf. antipathicola and Parahololepidella cf. greeffi, and the black coral Stylopathes adinocrada Opresko, 2006 are recorded for the Southwestern Atlantic. Benhamipolynoe cf. antipathicola was first described from off New Zealand and the Malay Archipelago, as symbiont with the black coral Stylopathes tenuispina (Silberfeld, 1909). It was later reported for the North Atlantic, off Florida, associated with Stylopathes columnaris (Duchassaing, 1870). In our study, B. cf. antipathicola was found in association with the black coral S. adinocrada. Parahololepidella cf. greeffi was first described as a free-living from shallow waters off São Tomé and Cabo Verde Islands, West Africa, and later reported as symbiont with the black coral Tanacetipathes cf. spinescens in the same location. Our data expand both the geographical distribution and the host range of this species which is reported for the first time as symbiont with Tanacetipathes barbadensis (Brook, 1889), T. tanacetum (Pourtalès, 1880) and T. thamnea (Warner, 1981) in Brazil. The aim of this study is to discuss commensal associations between two species of scale-worm polynoids and black corals found in the Southwestern Atlantic, and also reporting their global distribution. Finally, we provided an updated list of the commensal polynoids and their black coral hosts.

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ABSTRACT In this study we investigated the influence of landscape variables on the alpha taxonomic and functional diversity of fish communities in coastal lakes. We built an analytical framework that included possible causal connections among variables, which we analyzed using path analysis. We obtained landscape metrics for the area, shape and connectivity (estuary connectivity and primary connectivity to neighboring lakes) of 37 coastal lakes in the Tramandaí River Basin. We collected fish data from 49 species using standardized sampling with gillnets and obtained a set of traits related to dispersal abilities and food acquisition. The model that best explained the taxonomic diversity and functional richness took into account the shape of the lakes. Functional richness was also explained by estuary connectivity. Functional evenness and dispersion were not predicted by area or connectivity, but they were influenced by the abundant freshwater species. This indicates that all lakes support most of the regional functional diversity. The results highlight the importance of the dispersal process in this lake system and allow the conclusion that considering multiple diversity dimensions can aid the conservation of local and regional fish communities.

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ABSTRACT The anuran skin characteristically has different types of glands, most of which are microscopic and are spread throughout the skin. Some species have specialized regions where glands agglomerate, forming macroglands. The description of the external morphology of Ololygon centralis (Pombal & Bastos, 1996) revealed the presence of an inguinal gland. Ololygon centralis is the only species of the genus that has a macrogland. The present study found these inguinal macroglands to be present only on male specimens, thus characterizing it as a sexually dimorphic skin gland. Microscopic analysis revealed that these glands are composed of many syncytial units involved by myoepithelial cells. The center of the syncytium is full of a proteinaceous secretion with a basic pH and the absence of sugar residues. Similar glands observed in other anuran species have been associated with pheromone production, suggesting that the inguinal glands described for O. centralis males may have a similar function.

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ABSTRACT The trophic plasticity of most fish species of Astyanax Baird & Girard, 1854 in response to environmental changes and resource availability is high. This work evaluates the differences in the trophic characteristics of two congeneric species, Astyanax taeniatus (Jenyns, 1842) and Astyanax lacustris (Lütken, 1875), in Rio das Velhas Basin, which is highly impacted by the discharge of sewage from the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH). Eight sites were sampled and grouped into three regions: upper course (two sites upstream of the MRBH); middle course (three sites located in the middle portion of the Rio das Velhas, region with greater influence of the MRBH), and lower course (three sites downstream of the MRBH). Samples of fish and food resources were collected from all sites to obtain the isotopic composition of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C), and the stomach contents of the two species was analized. The most common items in the stomach of A. lacustris and A. taeniatus, respectively, were from plants and insects, followed by algae/periphyton (especially at the low course of Rio das Velhas). In contrast, stable isotope analyses indicated that algae (in polluted sites) and periphyton (in least-disturbed sites) were best assimilated both species. Both analyses indicated that the trophic niches of the two species overlap more in more polluted sites relative to less polluted sites. Astyanax taeniatus and A. lacustris only presented different isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in the upper course of the Rio das Velhas, probably in response to the greater diversity of food items consumed by each species. In the other regions, the species presented similar isotopic signatures, with δ15N and δ13C notably enriched in the most polluted regions (middle and low course). Our results suggest that pollution acts by increasing trophic niche overlap of these species, altering the type of resources most assimilated, and promoting a greater enrichment of δ15N in fish and resources.

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ABSTRACT Vocalizations are often useful for understanding taxonomic relationships among anuran species. Despite this usefulness, vocalizations are described in only nine of 29 in Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961. Here we describe the advertisement call of Melanophryniscus xanthostomus Baldo, Bornschein, Pie, Ribeiro, Firkowski & Morato, 2015 of a population from Serra Dona Francisca, municipality of Campo Alegre, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The advertisement call (of three males, total of 17 calls) comprises two segments (the first with short and single notes, followed by a multi-pulsed note), with a duration of 12.194-20.986 s, and dominant frequency of 3101-3618 Hz (first and second segments combined). The advertisement call of M. xanthostomus differs from its congeners mostly by the higher number of pulses in the second segment (294-1033; from 16 to 321 in the other Melanophryniscus species), except Melanophryniscus krauczuki Baldo & Basso, 2004 (1018-1502 pulses in the second segment). This is the first described call of a phytotelm breeding Melanophryniscus, but it presents the same prototype (a compound call formed by two segments, the first composed of short notes followed by a long trill) of its congeners not-phytotelm breedings. This might indicate the advertisement call of Melanophryniscus as a conserved trait and thus can be considered diagnostic for the genus.

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ABSTRACT Even though nest architecture has been useful for phylogenetic inferences among the Thamnophilidae (Aves: Passeriformes), the nests of only three out of five species of Myrmoderus (Ridgway, 1909) are known to science. Here we describe the nests, eggs, and nestling of the Squamate Antbird Myrmoderus squamosus (Pelzeln, 1868). Two nests were bulky bottom-supported cups, measuring 7.3 and 12 cm in maximum outside diameter, with a noticeably smaller egg cup, and they were placed within the crown of short, broad-leafed plants. Eggs were short-oval, with chalky white background color, and purple blotches and streaks more concentrated in the large end. One nestling was dark reddish grey, with bluish white feet, pinkish gray tarsi, and a blackish bill with bright yellow rictal flanges. In face of the great diversity of nest types found among the Thamnophilidae, we concluded that the nest of M. squamosus was similar to those of other congeners, giving support to this currently phylogenetically-defined genus.

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ABSTRACT The role of morphodynamic features such as grain size, swash climate and wave action on the macrofauna of beaches are well-known. However, few studies have investigated natural disturbances as potential drivers of temporal community variations. In southeastern Brazil, we sampled the intertidal macrofauna of two sandy beaches to test whether seasonal disturbances as the frequency of storm wave events (SWE) and rainfall have significant influence on their composition and abundance. The macrofauna assemblage differed significantly between the rainy and the dry seasons, but rainfall was not the main driver of community changes, although both beaches are in the vicinity of extensive river plumes. Actually, SWE explained most macrofauna richness overtime, with positive effects. Our results point to the importance of learning more about the effects of poorly studied disturbances on macrofaunal communities, and based on them we strongly recommend including these seasonal phenomena when monitoring sandy beaches.

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ABSTRACT The Amazon floodplains become periodically submerged as result of seasonal changes in the water levels throughout the year. These changes influence the availability of microhabitats and consequently the abundance of organisms in these ecosystems. In this study we investigated 1) how changes in the water level affect the richness and abundance of ardeid birds in the lowland floodplain lakes of the lower Amazon River, and 2) the microhabitats used by these birds throughout the seasonal cycle. Ten lakes were surveyed at each of the four phases of the seasonal cycle. In total, 3,280 individuals of 11 species were recorded. Of these, eight species occurred in the four phases, and three were observed in one or two phases. In the analysis including the entire family, there were more individuals in the phase with waters at lowest level and less in the phase that the water level was lowering. Many species were present throughout the seasonal cycle, suggesting that they might be resident species. However, their abundance varied throughut the cycle, suggesting that parts of their populations temporarily migrate elsewhere. The microhabitat that was most commonly used by most species at all phases of the seasonal cycle, with the excetions noted below, was “aquatic macrophytes”, suggesting that ardeid birds have a strong preperence for this kind of habitat. Three species - Egretta caerulea (Linnaeus, 1758), Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus, 1758) and Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) - preferred other microhabitats at some phase of their seasonal cycle. The present study shows that the floodplain lakes of the lower Amazon River are richer in ardeid bird species than other areas of the Amazon biome and other biomes in Brazil. The fact that we found rare species in our study and that they depend on aquatic macrophytes demonstrates the importance of conserving the floodplain lakes of the lower Amazon River.

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ABSTRACT In this article, the study and prediction of the state of fish resources in the Yesil River was carried out to determine the boundary reference points of the reserve and management decisions in case they are exceeded, to ensure sustainable fisheries and preserve biological diversity. Ichthyological studies, retrospective analyses and rankings of the effects of the water supply of the Yesil River on fish stocks have been carried out, critical values of the biomass of fishing reserves have been determined, as criteria for biologically safe fishing values and targets for management of fish stocks at reaching the boundary values of 24.03 tonnes have been established. According to the results of studies of basic biological indicators, it was determined that roach, bream, pike and perch populations each had an LC50 above LM50, which indicates their low utilization in the fishery industry. A strategy for management of fish stocks, recommendations for the conservation of fishery resources and their rational use has been developed as a result of these findings. The list and status of the monitored indicators for the careful management of fish stocks, as well as a list and indicators of the boundary indicators for the state of fish stocks, was established. These parameters included the fish size of 50% of the sampled fish and 50% of maturity achieved, where the LC50 was observed in the fish in question from 19 to 45.4 cm and LM50 from 12.3 to 41 cm, respectively. The minimum and maximum river levels that ranged from 111 up to 159 cm, as well as the critical value of the commercial reserve, corresponded to the boundary value of 24.03 tonnes. The results of this work will serve as the basis for making future managerial decisions, necessary for sustainable fisheries and conservation of the biological diversity of the Yesil River.

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ABSTRACT Cyanocorax chrysops (Vieillot, 1818) and Cyanocorax cyanopogon (Wied, 1821) are widespread jays. They are considered sister species according to recent molecular phylogenies. When analyzing museum specimens of both species, we found two individuals with intermediate plumage characteristics. They were collected near the range limits of both species, and we classified them as hybrids. Based on the sites where these specimens were found, we discuss the possible factors leading the interbreeding and compare our findings with information available in the literature. This is the first documented case of natural hybridization in jays in Brazil and the second case involving sister species within the New World jays.

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ABSTRACT A clear low-elevation skewed unimodal richness pattern is presented for hawkmoths in Southeast Peru. Several hypotheses offer plausible explanations for such a distribution. The effects of water-energy dynamics are partially supported by a strong correlation between temperature and species richness at higher elevations. Further, hypotheses of plant diversity influences on hawkmoth ranges are supported by species richness peaking in transitional habitats. Sphingid subfamilies do not appear to be influenced by habitat type or elevational factors, such as temperature. This may make subfamily analysis a poor means of characterizing sphingid community composition unless study sites vary in the level of disturbance. This study documents 134 species in 23 genera of Sphingidae from five Southeastern Peru sites from the 7,545 specimens collected for the study.

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ABSTRACT The gonadal development of the characin Astyanax aff. bimaculatus from Funil Reservoir, an impoundment in the middle reaches of the Paraiba do Sul River in southeastern Brazil was analysed through histological, histochemical and histometric techniques, and the spawning season was determined. Unbalanced sex ratio was found, with females outnumbering and reaching larger sizes than males. The following stages of oogenic cell development were identified for females: primary growth, pre-vitellogenic (cortical alveolar) and vitellogenic. In males, the following stages were determined: spermatogonia primary and secondary, spermatocyte primary and secondary, spermatid and spermatozoa. The spawning occurs most of the year, peaking in January-February, as indicated by the gonadosomatic index. In the peak of the spawning period, the condition factor and hepatosomatic indices decreased suggesting use of stored body energy reserves during the reproduction. Spawning in batches, small-sized oocytes and a long reproductive season suggest that Astyanax aff. bimaculatus fits to an opportunist strategy. Such strategy may facilitate the use of a wide range of lentic and lotic body waters in the Neotropical region.

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ABSTRACT A taxonomic revision of Megalothoracha Hendel, 1911 is provided, including a description of Megalothoraca rosalyae Wendt, sp. nov. from Colombia. The genus encompasses large species from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia (new record), and each species was described based either on males or females. These species can be diagnosed by long and slender mid and hind legs and wing longer than body, vein R2+3 with two strong curves on apical third, and short spurious vein medially. And males have costal vein conspicuously bowed anteriorly and thickened on medial portion. The following nomenclatural changes are made: Megalothoraca hendeli Enderlein, 1912, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of M. pterodontida Hendel, 1911; Batrachophthalmum teleopsis (Hennig, 1938) comb. nov. is transferred from Megalothoraca, and Batrachophthalmum quimbaya Carvalho, Wolff & Wendt, 2011, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of B. teleopsis. A key to species and illustrations of the female and male terminalia are provided.

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ABSTRACT The present study aimed to investigate the macroscopic structure of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of Schizothorax esocinus Heckel, 1838. The surface architecture of the buccopharynx, oesophagus and the entire intestinal tract of S. esocinus has been examined under scanning electron microscope (SEM) after fixing in 2.5% glutaraldehyde buffered with 0.1 M sodium cacodylate at pH 7.3 for 18-48 hours and post-fixation for two hours at room temperature in 1% osmium tetra oxide buffered at pH 7.3 with 0.1 M cacodylate. The mucosal surface of buccopharynx, esophagus, intestinal bulb, and intestine reveal prominent longitudinal major or primary mucosal folds which are further subdivided into the series of irregular and well-circumscribed folds called minor or secondary folds. However, in the intestinal bulb and intestine, the longitudinal major or primary folds themselves form wavy or zigzagging patterns along the mucosal surface. The fine structure of the surface epithelium further shows that the apical surfaces of the epithelial cells are ped with finger-print like microridges, arranged in various patterns and regularly spaced. The rectal mucosa, on the other hand, displays a highly irregular type of major mucosal folds. The separation can’t be seen between major mucosal folds. A thin film of mucous spread over the mucosal folds and the numerous pores through which mucous cells release their content has also been noted along the rectal mucosa. This investigation suggests the possible role of different digestive organs in relation to feeding, digestion, storage, absorption, and various other physiological processes, thereby providing a knowledge necessary to the understanding of pathological or physiological alterations in both aquaculture and natural environment.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Variation in the morphometry of individuals in a population may result from natural or sexual selection. In the present study we investigated morphometric differences between males and females of a bird species endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Hemitriccus nidipendulus (Wied, 1831), with no apparent sexual dimorphism. All individuals (n = 56) were sexed by PCR amplification of the intronic fragments of the CHDZ/CHDW alleles obtained from blood samples, and 12 morphometric measurements were recorded. The molecular configuration was similar to that described for other species of Passeriformes, with males presenting a single band of approximately 360 base pairs (bp), and females with two bands of 360 and 400 bp. Males had significantly larger tarsi and wings than the females, while the females had two larger beak measurements. This indicates that differential selection pressures may be modeling the morphometry of the Hangnest Tody-Tyrant. In the males, larger tarsi and wings may be beneficial for the exploration of the habitat or the acquisition of potential mates, while females with larger beaks may be able to exploit larger food items and forage more efficiently. However, these hypotheses need to be tested empirically in future studies.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT We describe a new species of the bee genus Xenochlora Engel, Brooks & Yanega, 1997, X. meridionalis sp. nov., based on a single female collected in the coastal forests of southeastern Brazil, in the state of Espírito Santo. The disjunct distribution exhibited by Xenochlora, with species in northern South America and in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil, is discussed in light of current knowledge about other taxa with similar distribution pattern.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Larvae of many-plumed moths (Alucitidae), especially in the world-wide genus Alucita Linnaeus, 1758 are known as borers or gall-inducers on flowers, fruits and shoots of a few dicotyledonous families, including Bignoniaceae, Caprifoliaceae and Rubiaceae. However, there is no study available on the biology of the monotypic, Neotropical genus Prymnotomis Meyrick, 1931 except for its original description that was based on a single male, the holotype of Prymnotomis crypsicroca Meyrick, 1931 from Espirito Santo, Brazil. We describe here a second species for this genus, Prymnotomis cecidicola sp. nov. whose larvae induce galls on Cordiera elliptica (Cham.) Kuntze (Rubiaceae), a dioecious plant with dimorphic inflorescences found in the Brazilian Cerrado, Planaltina City, Federal District. Adults, larvae, pupae and galls are illustrated under light and scanning electron microscopy. Galls are green, spherical, unilocular and develop individually on C. elliptica flower buds. During development they look like fruits in shape and colour but are larger, do not have style scars when on female plants, and are induced also in male inflorescences. Pupation occurs outside the gall within a silk cocoon, presumably in the litter. A preliminary analysis of DNA barcode sequences including putative members of other alucitid lineages and Neotropical BINs (Barcode Index Number) supports Prymnotomis cecidicola sp. nov. as an independent phylogenetic unit, with 12 to 18% divergence. Its nearest-neighbour was the BIN cluster 5 (BOLD:AAA0842) that includes specimens from Costa Rica.

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ABSTRACT The first fossil species of the wasp genus Tracheliodes from Dominican amber is described. Tracheliodes grimaldii sp. nov. is based on a single female specimen exhibiting a somewhat generalized morphology compared to the extant fauna. While the new species resembles the Neotropical species in a few characters, it does not possess the many specialized features exhibited by this species group, especially those related to the female legs. This is the 4th genus and the 7th species of apoid wasps described from Dominican amber.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Biotodomellagen. nov. (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) is proposed to accommodate Biotodomella mirospinata sp. nov., found on the gills of Biotodoma cupido (Heckel, 1840) (“cara bonita” or “green-streaked eartheater”), a freshwater cichlid from the Peruvian Amazon. The new genus and species differ from other Neotropical dactylogyrids in having the hooks of each hook pair well-differentiated from the remaining pairs, shafts varying in robustness, weakly sclerotized expansions at the proximal end of shaft, and a dorsal anchor with grooved shaft, bifid point. This study represents the first record of a monogenoid from a species of Biotodoma Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Phimophis guerini Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 is a Xenodontinae snake distributed in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. In Brazil, the species is broadly distributed, occurring mainly in open areas of the Cerrado, but also in the Amazon, Atlantic forest and Caatinga. We provide a new record for this species from the municipality of Santarém in the western portion of the state of Pará (Brazil). Five specimens were collected in a small area covered with Amazonian Savanna vegetation. We also provide the description of the morphological variation for the collected specimens. The new record extends the northern limit of the distribution by some 640 km (from Floresta Nacional de Carajás, Parauapebas municipality, eastern Pará). The record from Santarém provides a third locality for P. guerini within the Amazon biome and supports the hypothesis of a past ecological corridor linking the Cerrado and the open habitats within the Amazon.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The yellow-tailed woolly monkey, Lagothrix flavicauda (Humboldt, 1812), is a large atelid endemic to the cloud forests of Peru. The identity of this species was uncertain for at least 150 years, since its original description in 1812 without a voucher specimen. Additionally, the absence of expeditions to the remote Peruvian cloud forests made it impossible to collect material that would help to confirm the true identity of L. flavicauda during the 19th and first half of the 20th century. Until now, the specimens of L. flavicauda collected by H. Watkins, in 1925, in La Lejía (Amazonas, Peru) were thought to be the oldest ones deposited in any scientific collection. Nevertheless, after reviewing the databases of the several international museums and literature, we found one specimen of L. flavicauda deposited at the Muséum National d’histoire Naturelle (Paris, France) collected in 1900 by G.A. Baër, in the most eastern part of San Martín (Peru), where the presence of this species was not confirmed until 2011. Thus, Baër’s specimen represents the oldest known specimen of the yellow-tailed woolly monkey and the only one coming from the eastern part of the species’ distribution. Finally, we highlight the importance of online scientific databases for easily diagnosable species. However, caution needs to be taken when using them. We also discuss the value of scientific collections as sources of new discoveries.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT There are few studies about parasitic infections in Crotalus triseriatus (Wagler, 1830), an endemic rattlesnake from the highlands of central Mexico. This species occupies several habitats, from conserved forested regions to heavily impacted landscapes. To increase the parasitological knowledge of this reptile species without impacting populations, we obtained fecal samples of 16 rattlesnakes between 2012 and 2014 from Toluca Valley, Mexico. By using flotation technique, we found oocysts of Eimeria sp. and eggs of Capillariidae sp. The most frequent parasite was Eimeria sp. (62.5%). This study provides the first records of occurrence of parasites in reptilian feces from Mexico. Our results may be important for wildlife conservation purposes, for example, they could indicate of the population health of this species during processes of translocation.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Primates are in imminent risk of extinction due to different types of anthropogenic activities. Mortality due to road accidents and electrocution from power lines are among the major direct anthropogenic threats to the survival of primates. We collected primate mortality data from 2015 to 2017 at Lawachara National Park and Satchari National Park in northeastern Bangladesh. We recorded 27 fatalities in five species of primates caused by road accidents (n = 15) and electrocution (n = 12). Most mortality records were for Trachypithecus phayrei (Blyth, 1847) (n = 8) while the lowest recorded mortality was for Macaca mulatta (Zimmermann, 1780) (n = 3). Ninety percent of primates in Bangladesh are threatened and populations are gradually declining. Our results suggest that roads and power supply lines are major sources of primate mortality that should be managed in these two forests. We strongly suggest avoiding construction of roads and power supply lines inside forests. Furthermore, control of the speed limit of vehicles inside the forests, use of insulated power lines, maintenance of natural canopy bridges and preparation of artificial canopy bridges are strongly recommended.