scholarly journals Living among thorns: herpetofaunal community (Anura and Squamata) associated to the rupicolous bromeliad Encholirium spectabile (Pitcairnioideae) in the Brazilian semi-arid Caatinga

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Jaqueiuto S. Jorge ◽  
Raul F.D. Sales ◽  
Roberto L. Santos ◽  
Eliza M.X. Freire
Keyword(s):  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Air Humidity ◽  
Rock Outcrop ◽  
Rock Outcrops ◽  
Green Leaves ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Inflorescence Stems ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Santa Maria ◽  
Semi Arid

Bromeliads are important habitats for reptiles and amphibians, and are constantly used as shelter, refuge, foraging or thermoregulation sites due to their foliar architecture, which allows for constant maintenance of humidity and temperature. This study aimed to identify the herpetofauna inhabiting the non-phytotelmata rupicolous bromeliad Encholirium spectabile Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f. and to analyze the microhabitat usage of these bromeliads by different species in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. From January 2011 to August 2012, we collected data by active search throughout three paralel transects in a rock outcrop in the municipality of Santa Maria, state of Rio Grande do Norte. We recorded four species of anuran amphibians, six lizards, and seven snakes in the bromeliads. The average air temperature was lower and air humidity higher inside than outside the bromeliads, and bromeliads at the rock outcrop borders had lower temperatures and higher humidity than those at the center. We found a significant difference in the distribution of individuals throughout the rock outcrop, with most specimens found at the borders. We also found significant differences regarding the use of each microhabitat by the taxonomic groups, with lizards and snakes using green leaves and dry leaves evenly, along with fewer records in inflorescence stems, and anurans mainly using green leaves, with few records on dry leaves, and no records in the inflorescence stems. This study highlights rupicolous bromeliads as key elements in the conservation and maintenance of amphibians and reptiles in the rock outcrops of Brazilian semi-arid Caatinga.

scholarly journals Scorpion diversity in two types of seasonally dry tropical forest in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Felipe Rodrigues Carmo ◽  
Heyde Polyana Amorim ◽  
Simão Dias Vasconcelos
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

Knowledge on arthropod assemblages in the Brazilian semideciduous dry forest (caatinga) is scarce, despite the increasing exposure to degradation due to human activities such as logging and intensive agriculture. We performed a short-term survey on the diversity of scorpions in two types of caatinga (hipoxerophytic and hiperxerophytic) in Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil. A combination of active collection and pitfall traps was used to sample soil scorpions. Six species belonging to two families were registered: Bothriurus asper, Bothriurus rochai (Bothriuridae), Tityus stigmurus, Tityus pusillus, Rhopalurus rochai and Ananteris franckei (Buthidae). There was no significant difference in the richness and the abundance of scorpions in the two types of caatinga. Bothriurus asper was the most abundant species in both environments. Regarding constancy, all species were classified as accidental.

Clinical, epidemiological and climatic factors related to the occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic area in northeastern Brazil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Oliveira ◽  
K. B. A. Pimentel ◽  
M. L. Moura ◽  
C. F. Aragão ◽  
A. S. Guimarães-e-Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Air Humidity ◽  
Disease Occurrence ◽  
Relative Air Humidity ◽  
Age Range ◽  
And Control

Abstract Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease with a wide distribution in the Americas. Brazil is an endemic country and present cases in all states. This study aimed to describe the occurrence, the underlying clinical and epidemiological factors, and the correlation of climatic variables with the frequency of reported CL cases in the municipality of Caxias, state of Maranhão, Brazil. This is a retrospective and descriptive epidemiological study based on data extracted from the Brazilian Information System of Diseases Notification, from 2007 to 2017. Maximum and minimum temperature, precipitation, and relative air humidity data were provided by the Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology. A total of 201 reported autochthonous CL cases were analyzed. The predominance of cases was observed in males (70.1%). The age range between 31 and 60 years old was the most affected, with 96 cases (47.9%). Of the total number of registered cases, 38.8% of the affected individuals were engaged in agriculture-related activities. The georeferenced distribution revealed the heterogeneity of disease occurrence, with cases concentrated in the Western and Southern regions of the municipality. An association was detected between relative air humidity (monthly mean) and the number of CL cases per month (p = 0.04). CL continues to be a concerning public health issue in Caxias. In this context, there is a pressing need to strengthen measures of prevention and control of the disease through the network of health services of the municipality, considering local and regional particularities.

Prevalence and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii in goats slaughtered for human consumption in the semi-arid of northeastern Brazil

2022 ◽  
Vol 86 ◽  
pp. 102457
Author(s):  
Samira Pereira Batista ◽  
Samara dos Santos Silva ◽  
Wlysse Ferreira Sarmento ◽  
Rômulo Fylipe Silva ◽  
Larissa do Nascimento Sousa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Semi Arid

Temporal variation in the weight-size relationship of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus L. (Decapoda: Ucididae) in relation to its life cycle phases

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos de Miranda Leão Leite ◽  
Cynthia Yuri Ogawa ◽  
Carla Ferreira Rezende ◽  
José Roberto Feitosa Silva
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Condition Factor ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Total Weight ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Annual Life Cycle ◽  
Ucides Cordatus ◽  
Mangrove Crab ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between weight and size of individuals can be used to evaluate the status of a population, which is particularly useful for natural populations that are being exploited. Ucides cordatus occurs on the Atlantic coast of the American continent, from Florida (USA) to Santa Catarina (Brazil). This species is economically very important, most of all in the Northeastern area of Brazil, as well as in the Dominican Republic and Suriname. The objective of this study was to analyze life phases (‘fattening’, ‘matumba’, ‘milk-crab’, ‘maturation’ and ‘walking’) by use of the weight-length relationships, as well as temporal variations in this condition factor for each sex of U. cordatus. For this purpose, individuals were sampled monthly for twenty-four months at the Jaguaribe River estuary, Ceará State, Northeastern Brazil. The relationship between total weight and cephalothorax width was established using regression analysis, adjusted by a power equation. The dynamics of the condition factor were analyzed for each sex using the variation of its averages related to annual life cycle; this was done for each of the previously-mentioned phases. The relationship between total weight and cephalothorax width showed an isometric growth in males and negative allometric growth in females suggesting that, for the same reference size, males are heavier than females. When considering the average of the female condition factors, these were greater than those for males during the annual life cycle, except during the ‘maturation’ phase, which is the phase with a higher demand of energetic reserves for males. Annual variation of the condition factor in females presented no significant difference.

scholarly journals Ethnopharmacological study of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium in two communities in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dayanne Rakelly de Oliveira ◽  
Washington Soares Ferreira Júnior ◽  
Vanessa de Carvalho Nilo Bitu ◽  
Patricia Gonçalves Pinheiro ◽  
Cicero Diego Almino Menezes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Productive performance and parasitological control of kids supplemented with umbu fruits (Spondias tuberosa Arruda)

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 520-528
Author(s):  
Thiago Vinicius Costa NASCIMENTO ◽  
Daniel Maia NOGUEIRA ◽  
Nilton de Brito CAVALCANTE
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Productive Performance ◽  
Buffel Grass ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

Summary Native fruits from Caatinga vegetation can be an important alternative to improve the productive performance of kids in the semi-arid region of Brazil. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with Umbuzeiro fruits in natura over the weight gain and anthelmintic control of kids kept in Buffel grass pasture in the semi-arid zone of Pernambuco, Brazil. Twenty-four castrated, crossbreed kids were allocated into three treatments: 1) Control (n = 8) fed exclusively with Buffel grass; 2) Umbu 1x (n = 8) fed with fruits once a week and 3) Umbu 3x (n = 8) fed with fruits for three times a week. The following parameters were evaluated: variation of body weight, faecal egg counts (FEC) and coproculture. Overall, the average consumption of Umbu fruits in natura was 1.48 kg/animal/day, which corresponded to 133.5 g daily dry matter intake (DMI/animal/day). There were no significant difference (P>0.05) for any parameters evaluated. During the experimental period, the overall daily weight gain was variable between 108.75 to 116.70 g/animal/day and the average FEC was 436 eggs. In the present study, the goat kids supplemented with fresh umbu fruits showed a good productive performance, however the supplementation with umbu did not control the infestation of gastrointestinal nematodes in kids.

scholarly journals Prevalence and intensity of pentastomid infection in two species of snakes from northeastern Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 759-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
WO Almeida ◽  
A Vasconcellos ◽  
SG Lopes ◽  
EMX Freire
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
W State ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
New Host ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
New Host Records ◽  
Semi Arid

This study aimed to evaluate the infection rates of snakes by pentastomids in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Fifteen snakes (four Micrurus ibiboboca (Merrem, 1820) and eleven Philodryas nattereri Steindachner, 1870) were collected between January and April of 2005, in the municipality of Crato (07° 14' S and 39° 24' W), State of Ceará, Brazil. Laboratorial analysis of the respiratory tracts of the sampled snakes indicated differences in host infection rates: four individuals of P. nattereri (36.4%) were infected by Cephalobaena tetrapoda Heymons, 1922 (mean infection intensity 1.5 ± 0.28, 1-2) and three specimens (27.3%) by Raillietiella furcocerca (Diesing, 1863) (2.3 ± 1.32, 1-5). Only one individual of M. ibiboboca (25%) was infected by a non-identified species of Raillietiella sp. These are the first data on pentastomid infection in snakes in Northeastern Brazil and both snake species comprise new host records for the pentastomids. The results also indicate that the generalist parasites C. tetrapoda and R. furcocerca share their definitive hosts.

scholarly journals A multi-approach analysis of the genetic diversity in populations of Astyanax aff. bimaculatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Teleostei: Characidae) from Northeastern Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa de Carvalho Cayres Pamponet ◽  
Paulo Luiz Souza Carneiro ◽  
Paulo Roberto Antunes de Mello Affonso ◽  
Viviam Souto Miranda ◽  
Juvenal Cordeiro Silva Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Main Channel ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Dam Reservoir ◽  
Effective Barrier ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Genetic Patterns ◽  
Structure Index

Few reports are available about the ichthyofauna of typical semi-arid rivers, although the regional diversity has been constantly threatened by human activities, mainly related to impoundment and construction of dams. The goal of the present work was to evaluate using different methods, the population genetic structure of a characin fish, Astyanax aff. bimaculatus, widespread throughout hydrographic basins of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Morphological (meristic and morphometric data), cytogenetic (karyotype and Ag-NOR), and molecular (RAPD and SPAR) analyses were carried out in specimens collected upstream and downstream of Pedra Dam, in the main channel of Contas River (Contas River Basin), and in the Mineiro stream, which belongs to the adjacent Recôncavo Sul basin. Few external differences were detected among populations, where the individuals collected upstream of Pedra Dam were slightly larger than the others. Cytogenetic data also showed a similar karyotypic pattern (2n=50; 6m+28sm+12st+4a; FN= 96) and NORs located on the short arms of up to two chromosome pairs, with numerical inter- and intra-populational variation. Nonetheless, RAPD and SPAR analyses differentiated reliably the three populations, revealing striking differences in the allele frequencies among the localities studied and a significant difference in population structure index (Fst=0.1868, P<0.0001). The differences between populations within a same river were as significant as those between distinct hydrographic basins, indicating that the dam/reservoir represents an effective barrier to gene flow. Additionally, environmental peculiarities from each locality are also believed to influence the genetic patterns detected herein. On the other hand, the similarity between samples from Contas River and Recôncavo Sul basins could be related to a common evolutionary history, since both basins are geographically close to each other. Finally, the present study shows that a multi-approach analysis is particularly useful in identifying the population structure of widely distributed species and to evaluate the impacts of human activities on natural fish populations.

scholarly journals THERMAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FAVELONE DERIVATIVES (CNIDOSCOLUS QUERCIFOLIUS) BY THERMOGRAVIMETRY AND DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY

2006 ◽  
Vol 05 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-20
Author(s):  
José Carlos Oliveira SANTOS ◽  
Lionete Dantas NUNES ◽  
Sylvia Berenice NÓBREGA ◽  
Dantas José Pires PUZINSKI ◽  
Antonio Gouveia SOUZA
Keyword(s):  
Differential Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Thermal Characterization ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Derivatives Of ◽  
Semi Arid

A thermal analysis has been applied to characterization of food and food products. Taking into account the problems of desertification and agricultural practices able to provide income to the population at the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil, this work presents the results of the chemical, thermal and kinetic characterization by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry of the seed derivatives of favelone (cnidoscolus quercifolius), aiming at the application of these materials as an alternative of food source for animals and for the human population at this brazilian region.

scholarly journals Prevalence of paralytic shellfish poison-producing Planktothrix agardhii and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in a Brazilian semi-arid reservoir

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismael Keslley Carloto Lopes ◽  
Mario Ubirajara Gonçalves Barros ◽  
Carlos João Pestana ◽  
José Capelo Neto
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Drinking Water Supply ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Cylindrospermopsis Raciborskii ◽  
Planktothrix Agardhii ◽  
Paralytic Shellfish Poison ◽  
Paralytic Shellfish ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
Semi Arid

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the composition and toxicity of the phytoplankton in Sítios Novos reservoir, used mainly as drinking water supply for approximately 30,000 people.MethodsSamples were collected between January 2010 and June 2011.ResultsDuring this period 19 taxa of cyanobacteria and 22 of algae were identified. Out of 45 samples collected, algae accounted for no more than 10% of the quantified organisms in 44 samples. Cyanobacteria accounted for 100% of the organisms quantified in three samples and for 99% in other 29 samples. Among the cyanobacteria group, Planktothrix agardhii (Gomont) Anagnostidis & Komárek and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenaya & Subbaraju prevailed and both strains were isolated and identified as paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) producers. C. raciborskii strain has shown to produce SXT and dcSXT while P. agardhii strain has shown to produce dcGTX2 or 3.ConclusionsTo the author’s knowledge, this is the first report of PSP-producer cyanobacteria species isolated in Northeastern Brazil and the first reported of a P. agardhii synthesizing dcGTX2/3.

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