Assessment of Mercury Concentration in Turtles (Podocnemis unifilis) in the Xingu River Basin, Brazil

The first report of Sartor (Anostomidae) and Tatia intermedia (Auchenipteridae) for the Upper Tapajós River Basin are presented here. Sartor is very rare on collections, and is reported only from the Trombetas, Tocantins and Upper Xingu river basins. Tatia intermedia is registered in the upper reaches of the Araguaia, Tocantins, Xingu, and Capim rivers, tributaries of the lower Amazon River in Brazil, northwards to the Suriname coastal rivers and the Essequibo River in Guyana.

Download Full-text

OBSOLETE: The Natural and Social History of the Indigenous Lands and Protected Areas Corridor of the Xingu River Basin and Prospects for Protection

Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences ◽

10.1016/b978-0-12-409548-9.10021-1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Barb Zimmerman

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Social History ◽

River Basin ◽

Xingu River ◽

Indigenous Lands ◽

History Of

Download Full-text

Nesting and neonates of the yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis, Podocnemididae) in the Araguari River basin, eastern Amazon, Brazil

Acta Amazonica ◽

10.1590/1809-4392201302864 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 387-392 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Débora Regina dos Santos Arraes ◽

Marcos Tavares-Dias

Keyword(s):

Urban Area ◽

River Basin ◽

Condition Index ◽

The Body ◽

Turtle Species ◽

Strategic Actions ◽

Podocnemis Unifilis ◽

Nesting Site ◽

The Mean ◽

Body Parameters

Predation and alteration of microhabitats may represent high risk for nesting of Amazonian turtles. This study aimed at investigating the nesting and body parameters of neonates of Podocnemis unifilis in the Araguari River basin, State of Amapá, Brazil. The spawning sites of this turtle were monitored along the Falsino River (a region with two reserves) and in the urban area of the Porto Grande city along the Araguari River, from August to December 2011. A total of 180 nests were found and the nesting occurred from September to November, with prevalence in October. Eggs hatching occurred in December. The mean incubation period was 63.5 ± 5.2 days and the eggs hatching success was 25%. However, approximately 80% of the nests had suffered predation mainly by humans, which occurred in both the protected areas of the reserves and the urban area. The pattern of nesting site choice was discussed. Egg size was larger than that previously described for the same turtle species in the other regions. The body condition index of neonates indicated a good use of vitelline reserves. The results indicate the urgent need for strategic actions to conserve and maintain the natural stocks of this relatively vulnerable turtle in the region.

Download Full-text

Cladocera from the Upper Xingu River Basin with the description of a new genus of the Chydoridae (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anomopoda)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4418.6.3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4418 (6) ◽

pp. 545 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

FRANCISCO DIOGO R. SOUSA ◽

LOURDES M. A. ELMOOR-LOUREIRO

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

New Genus ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

High Potential ◽

Sampling Effort ◽

Central Brazil ◽

Xingu River ◽

Cryptic Biodiversity

In this study, we investigated cladocerans (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) collected in six water bodies from the Upper Xingu River Basin, Central Brazil. In total, we found eighteen species belonging to three families. Furthermore, we also describe a new and highly specialized genus of Chydoridae. Kisakiellus aweti gen. nov., sp. nov. which shares some morphological traits with members of Chydorinae, particularly the exopodite of the fourth limb armed with seven setae. The new genus bears several autapomorphies and does not exhibit any clear affinities with any other genus of the subfamily. Apparently, K. aweti gen. nov., sp. nov. has a positive rheotactic behavior and the morphological characters related to this habitat trait are discussed. Many regions of the Upper Xingu River Basin are still in need of faunal inventories, a fact that gains more relevance due to the high potential for cryptic biodiversity. So, it is possible that an increase on the sampling effort in this basin will have a positive impact on the known diversity of Cladocera.

Download Full-text

Spatial patterns of water quality in Xingu River Basin (Amazonia) prior to the Belo Monte dam impoundment

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.02914bm ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 75 (3 suppl 1) ◽

pp. 34-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

JL. Rodrigues-Filho ◽

DS. Abe ◽

P. Gatti-Junior ◽

GR. Medeiros ◽

RM. Degani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

River Basin ◽

Spatial Patterns ◽

Amazon Basin ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Data Sampling ◽

Anthropogenic Pressures ◽

Xingu River ◽

Belo Monte

Abstract The Xingu River, one of the most important of the Amazon Basin, is characterized by clear and transparent waters that drain a 509.685 km2 watershed with distinct hydrological and ecological conditions and anthropogenic pressures along its course. As in other basins of the Amazon system, studies in the Xingu are scarce. Furthermore, the eminent construction of the Belo Monte for hydropower production, which will alter the environmental conditions in the basin in its lower middle portion, denotes high importance of studies that generate relevant information that may subsidize a more balanced and equitable development in the Amazon region. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the water quality in the Xingu River and its tributaries focusing on spatial patterns by the use of multivariate statistical techniques, identifying which water quality parameters were more important for the environmental changes in the watershed. Data sampling were carried out during two complete hydrological cycles in twenty-five sampling stations. The data of twenty seven variables were analyzed by Spearman's correlation coefficients, cluster analysis (CA), and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed a high auto-correlation between variables (> 0.7). These variables were removed from multivariate analyzes because they provided redundant information about the environment. The CA resulted in the formation of six clusters, which were clearly observed in the PCA and were characterized by different water quality. The statistical results allowed to identify a high spatial variation in the water quality, which were related to specific features of the environment, different uses, influences of anthropogenic activities and geochemical characteristics of the drained basins. It was also demonstrated that most of the sampling stations in the Xingu River basin showed good water quality, due to the absence of local impacts and high power of depuration of the river itself.

Download Full-text

Conclusion

Governing the Rainforest ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190949389.003.0007 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 234-254

Author(s):

Eve Z. Bratman

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

River Basin ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Development Discourse ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Xingu River ◽

Development Framework ◽

Big Dreams ◽

A Site

For many, the Xingu River basin continues to be a site where projections of big dreams for attaining wealth and opportunity simultaneously collide with cultural losses and landscape transformation. The conclusion of the book, Chapter 7, zooms back out to explore the sustainable development framework as it informs state–society relations and uneven manifestations in lived experiences of place. The conclusion also examines prospects for the transformative potential of sustainable development as a utopic vision and offers reflections on the possibilities for sustainable development discourse to become more deeply emancipatory through adopting a new metaphor, involving embroilment—as a means of better grasping the fundamental realities of the concept as it is practiced.

Download Full-text

A new Planothidium species (Achnanthidiaceae, Bacillariophyceae) from Xingu Ria, Amazon River basin, Brazil

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.477.2.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 477 (2) ◽

pp. 194-204

Author(s):

KRYSNA S. MORAIS ◽

LÍVIA F. COSTA ◽

CARLOS E. DE M. BICUDO ◽

LUC ECTOR ◽

CARLOS E. WETZEL

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽

New Species ◽

River Basin ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Diatom Species ◽

Amazon River Basin ◽

Sediment Samples ◽

Xingu River ◽

Scanning Electron

A new Planothidium species was found in sediment samples (~4,000 yr BP) from the Xingu Ria (Xingu River), Brazilian Amazon. The new species morphology was analyzed using light and scanning electron microscopy. Planothidium xinguense sp. nov., is mainly characterized by its elliptical, slightly asymmetrical valves, with strongly marked short rostrate ends in the small specimens, while long and strongly rostrate apices are observable in the larger valves. The taxon belongs to the group of species bearing a cavum on the rapheless valves around the name “Planothidium rostratum sensu lato”. Morphology and ecology of the new species is compared with that of morphologically related taxa. Information of core chronology and the co-occurrence of other diatom species in the sample is also provided.

Download Full-text

Taxonomic revision of thorny catfish genus Hassar (Siluriformes: Doradidae)

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/s1679-62252011000300006 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 515-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

José L. O. Birindelli ◽

Danielle F. Fayal ◽

Wolmar B. Wosiacki

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

River Basin ◽

Phylogenetic Relationships ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Junior Synonym ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Nominal Species ◽

Distal Half ◽

Xingu River ◽

Dorsal Fin

The genus Hassar (Doradidae) is diagnosed by a single exclusive feature: basioccipital with ventral ring-like arch surrounding aorta; and by the combination of several non-exclusive characters, including dark blotch in distal half of anterior branched rays of dorsal fin, and anteriormost postinfranuchal scutes reduced in size. Three nominal species are recognized and redescribed in Hassar: H. orestis from the Orinoco, Essequibo and Amazonas basins, excluding Tocantins and middle to upper Xingu drainages; H. wilderi from Tocantins; and H. affinis from northeastern Brazil, including Turiaçu, Pindaré-Mearim, Itapecuru and Parnaíba drainages. The nominal Hemidoras notospilus and Hassar ucayalensis are recognized as junior synonyms of Hassar orestis; Hassar woodi is considered a junior synonym of H. affinis; Hassar iheringi is recognized as a junior synonym of H. wilderi, and its type locality as originally reported is considered incorrect. A fourth new species, Hassar gabiru, is described from middle to upper Xingu river basin. Hassar is considered to be the sister taxon of Anduzedoras + Leptodoras. A detailed anatomical description and discussion of the phylogenetic relationships of Hassar among fimbriate-barbel doradids are provided.

Download Full-text

Evapotranspiration and Precipitation over Pasture and Soybean Areas in the Xingu River Basin, an Expanding Amazonian Agricultural Frontier

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10081112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1112

Author(s):

Gabriel de Oliveira ◽

Jing M. Chen ◽

Guilherme A. V. Mataveli ◽

Michel E. D. Chaves ◽

Jing Rao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Climate Impacts ◽

Primary Forest ◽

Annual Average ◽

Agricultural Frontier ◽

Xingu River ◽

Primary Finding ◽

Northern Portion ◽

Moderate Resolution ◽

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

The conversion from primary forest to agriculture drives widespread changes that have the potential to modify the hydroclimatology of the Xingu River Basin. Moreover, climate impacts over eastern Amazonia have been strongly related to pasture and soybean expansion. This study carries out a remote-sensing, spatial-temporal approach to analyze inter- and intra-annual patterns in evapotranspiration (ET) and precipitation (PPT) over pasture and soybean areas in the Xingu River Basin during a 13-year period. We used ET estimates from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and PPT estimates from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) satellite. Our results showed that the annual average ET in the pasture was ~20% lower than the annual average in soybean areas. We show that PPT is notably higher in the northern part of the Xingu River Basin than the drier southern part. ET, on the other hand, appears to be strongly linked to land-use and land-cover (LULC) patterns in the Xingu River Basin. Lower annual ET averages occur in southern areas where dominant LULC is savanna, pasture, and soybean, while more intense ET is observed over primary forests (northern portion of the basin). The primary finding of our study is related to the fact that the seasonality patterns of ET can be strongly linked to LULC in the Xingu River Basin. Further studies should focus on the relationship between ET, gross primary productivity, and water-use efficiency in order to better understand the coupling between water and carbon cycling over this expanding Amazonian agricultural frontier.

Download Full-text