On October 2011, a newborn franciscana dolphin with an anomalously coloration was sighted in Babitonga Bay, southern Brazil. The calf was totally white. Besides the potential mother and newborn, the ...group also had the presence of another adult, who always was swimming behind the pair. Both adults had the typical coloration of the species, with the back in grayish brown. The group, composed by the white franciscana calf, his pontential mother and one more adult, was reported in five occasions. The group was always in the same area where it was first recorded and showed the same position during swimming. Between first and last sighting of the white calf (113 days) the color has not changed. This is the first case of a white franciscana dolphin. This coloration has never been reported despite the high number of dead franciscanas recovered each year along the distribution of the species, resulting from accidental capture in fishing nets. This fact leads us to believe that this is a very rare characteristic for this species. We considered the possibility that this franciscana could be an albino dolphin.
The influence of Plasmodium spp. infection in the health of Southern brown howler monkey, Alouatta guariba clamitans, the main reservoir of malaria in the Atlantic Forest, is still unknown.
The aim ...of this study was to investigate the positivity rate of Plasmodium infection in free-living howler monkeys in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Joinville/SC and to associate the infection with clinical, morphometrical, haematological and biochemical alterations.
Molecular diagnosis of Plasmodium infection in the captured monkeys was performed by Nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (18S rRNA and coxI). Haematological and biochemical parameters were compared among infected and uninfected monkeys; clinical and morphometrical parameters were also compared.
The positivity rate of Plasmodium infection was 70% among forty captured animals, the highest reported for neotropical primates. None statistical differences were detected in the clinical parameters, and morphometric measures comparing infected and uninfected groups. The main significant alteration was the higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in infected compared to uninfected monkeys.
Therefore, Plasmodium infection in howler monkeys may causes haematological/biochemical alterations which might suggest hepatic impairment. Moreover, infection must be monitored for the eco-epidemiological surveillance of malaria in the Atlantic Forest and during primate conservation program that involves the animal movement, such as translocations.
Este estudo objetivou a caracterização da assembleia de pequenos mamíferos não voadores em termos de riqueza, abundância e sazonalidade na restinga do Parque Estadual Acaraí, localizado no nordeste ...de Santa Catarina. O sucesso total de captura foi de 2.78%, sendo 5.93% no inverno e 0.64% no verão. A espécie mais abundante e amplamente distribuída foi o roedor Akodon montensis (n = 71), com 56.35% dos indivíduos, seguido do roedor Nectomys squamipes (n = 42), com 33.33%, e do marsupial Marmosa paraguayana (n = 6), com 4.76%. O parque apresentou uma reduzida riqueza de espécies, ao ser comparado com outras áreas de restinga próximas.
The present study provides information about the diet of sympatric populations of small cetaceans in the Babitonga Bay estuary. This is the first study on the diet of these species in direct ...sympatry. The stomach contents of seven Guiana dolphins Sotalia guianensis and eight franciscanas Pontoporia blainvillei were analyzed. The prey of both cetaceans was mostly teleost fishes, followed by cephalopods. We identified 13 teleost fishes as part of the diet of the franciscanas, and 20 as part of the diet of Guiana dolphins. Lolliguncula brevis was the only cephalopod recorded, and was the most important prey for both cetaceans. Stellifer rastrifer and Gobionellus oceanicus were also important for franciscana, so as Mugil curema and Micropogonias furnieri were important for Guiana dolphins. Stellifer rastrifer and Cetengraulis edentulus were the fishes with the highest frequency of occurrence for franciscana (50%), while Achirus lineatus, C. edentulus, S. brasiliensis, Cynoscion leiarchus, M. furnieri, M. curema, Diapterus rhombeus, Eugerres brasilianus and G. oceanicus showed 28.6% of frequency of occurrence for Guiana dolphins. Franciscanas captured greater cephalopods than the Guiana dolphins in both total length (z= -3.38; n= 40; p< 0.05) and biomass (z = -2.46; n = 40; p<0.05). All of the prey species identified occur inside the estuary, which represents a safe habitat against predators and food availability, reinforcing the importance of the Babitonga Bay for these cetacean populations.
O presente estudo fornece informações sobre a dieta de populações simpátricas de pequenos cetáceos no estuário da Baía da Babitonga. Este é o primeiro estudo sobre a dieta destas espécies em simpatria direta. Foi analisado o conteúdo estomacal de sete botos-cinza Sotalia guianensis e oito toninhas Pontoporia blainvillei. As presas de ambos cetáceos foram principalmente peixes teleósteos, seguida de cefalópodes. Foram identificadas 13 espécies de peixes teleósteos como parte da dieta de toninhas e 20 como parte da dieta de botos-cinza. Lolliguncula brevis foi o único cefalópode registrado e foi a presa mais importante para ambos cetáceos. Stellifer rastrifer e Gobionellus oceanicus foram também importantes para a toninha, assim como Mugil curema e Micropogonias furnieri foram importantes para os botos-cinza. Stellifer rastrifer e Cetengraulis edentulus foram as espécies de peixes com maior frequencia de ocorrência para a toninha (50%), enquanto Achirus lineatus, C. edentulus, S. brasiliensis, Cynoscion leiarchus, M. furnieri, M. curema, Diapterus rhombeus, Eugerres brasilianus e G. oceanicus apresentaram 28,6 % de frequência de ocorrência para os botos-cinza. As toninhas capturaram cefalópodes maiores do que os botos-cinza, tanto em comprimento total (z= -3,38; n= 40; p< 0,05) como em biomassa (z = -2,46; n = 40; p<0,05). Todas as espécies de presas identificadas ocorrem no interior do estuário, que representa um habitat seguro contra a ação de predadores com disponibilidade de presas, reforçando a importância da Baía da Babitonga para estas populações de cetáceos.
A juvenile subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) found dead in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, presented with disseminated verminous pneumonia due to Parafilaroides sp. A ...concomitant infection with two different gammaherpesviruses was identified by PCR in different tissues; one of them possibly a novel species (tentatively named Otariid herpesvirus 7). Sarcocystis sp. DNA was identified molecularly in skeletal muscle samples with intrasarcoplasmic bradyzoites and no apparent tissue response. All analyzed samples (mandibular, laryngeal, tracheal, and mesenteric lymph nodes, and lung) were PCR-negative for Brucella spp. The most likely cause of death was severe pulmonary parafilaroidiasis. The pathogenic role of the gammaherpesviruses in several of the tissues was not evident. This study describes the pathogenicity of Parafilaroides sp. in a subantarctic fur seal, widens the host range of herpesvirus in pinnipeds, and reports the first molecular identification of Sarcocystis sp. in this species.
There is some evidence that the presence of Tursiops truncatus in fishing areas represents a real economic threat to fishermen due the dolphin feeding on the entangled fish, damaging the nets and ...reducing the fish catch. We have carried out experiments to assess the efficiency of a pinger in decreasing the interaction between the dolphins and fishing nets, in a fishing area off the coast of southern Italy, where Tursiops truncatus is frequently observed to interact with bottom gill nets. Two identical monofilament bottom gill nets (900 m long), one equipped with pingers and the other without, were used to measure the effect of these pingers on the abundance of the catch and net damage. For each haul (58 in total), data on dolphin sightings near the nets, damage judged to have been done by dolphins, weight and species composition of the catch were collected. All damages to the nets were recorded at the end of each haul. Dolphins in the fishing area were sighted 11 times out of 29 fishing activities (38%). The net equipped with pingers contained 28% more fish (biomass) than the net without pingers (t test, P0.04) and was less damaged (-31%, t test, P0.01). To assess whether the efficacy of these pingers remain constant over long period, long-term experiments should be carried out.
O lixo marinho é uma realidade diagnosticada em diversos estudos ao longo do mundo que apontam impactos nos organismos marinhos, nos processos ecológicos, na paisagem, no turismo e na economia local. ...O presente estudo tem como objetivo a caracterização desta realidade para o litoral norte catarinense, na Praia Grande, município de São Francisco do Sul/SC. A metodologia de aquisição de lixo marinho em 5 parcelas de 100 m no ambiente praial propiciou a coleta de um total de 137,13 kg de lixo marinho. O plástico foi o material com maior expressividade, com 79,19%, seguido dos seguintes materiais: borracha (6,79%), vidros (6,67%), couro (4,16%), tecido (2,04%). Os demais tipos de materiais possuem baixa representatividade, com peso total inferior a 1%. A pesquisa indicou que na área de estudo podem ocorrer acumulações de lixo marinho na ordem de mais de 7.130 kg em um ano.
Marine mammal strandings provide valuable insights into local biodiversity. Strandings can be caused by both natural and anthropogenic factors. In the state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, ...organized marine mammal collections started in the 1980s through opportunistic and non-systematic collection efforts, representing a record of over 30 years of marine biodiversity. This study aimed to perform a preliminary review of 32 years of stranding records within this region. The secondary aim was to elucidate the stranding dynamics of the three most commonly recorded species. A total of 460 records were obtained, representing 17 species of odontocetes. The species registered most frequently were the franciscana, Pontoporia blainvillei (Gervais ampamp; d' Orbigny, 1844) (n = 173), bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) (n = 100), and Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénéden, 1864) (n = 97). Most of the stranding records were observed in the second half of the year during the austral winter and spring. The apparent causes of death could not be determined for most of the specimens due to carcass decomposition. For the specimens in which the apparent cause of death could be determined, 27% of the strandings were compatible with anthropogenic interactions. While the focus of this study was a preliminary assessment of stranding data obtained through opportunistic collection, it is evident that future systematic monitoring efforts and stable networks of collaborators will generate more reliable coastal biodiversity inventories and will allow the knowledge of population dynamics of marine mammal species. In particular, for threatened and vulnerable species, or species with poor natural history data, strandings are a fundamental tool for the understanding of marine biodiversity. Ideally, future more refined analyses of stranding data should be used to inform conservation and management policies and to elucidate the biology and ecology of marine and coastal ecosystems within this region.
Occupation pattern of a harbor inlet by the estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (P. J. Van Bénéden, 1864) (Cetacea, Delphinidae) Cremer, Marta Jussara(Universidade Federal de São Carlos Laboratório de Análise e Planejamento Ambiental Departamento de Hidrobiologia,Universidade da Região de Joinville Laboratório de Nectologia Departamento de Ciências Biológicas); Simões-Lopes, Paulo César(Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia); Pires, José Salatiel Rodrigues(Universidade Federal de São Carlos Laboratório de Análise e Planejamento Ambiental Departamento de Hidrobiologia)
Brazilian archives of biology and technology,
06/2009, Letnik:
52, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The occupation pattern of Sotalia guianensis in São Francisco do Sul harbor inlet, in Babitonga bay, southern Brazil, was studied between September 1996 and June 1998. A total of 200 h of ...naturalistic observations and 141.2 h of estuarine dolphin systematic observations were made using binoculars 7 x 50. At each three minutes interval, data about number of individuals and behavior were registered. The population used the harbor inlet intensively, mainly for fishing activities. Ebb tide was responsible for a higher occupation index. Considering the months analyzed, the higher occupation index occurred in May, and in January the lower occurrence was observed. The mean group size was four individuals.
Os padrões de ocupação da enseada do porto de cargas de São Francisco do Sul, no interior da Baía da Babitonga, sul do Brasil, pela população de botos cinza Sotalia guianensis foi estudada entre setembro/1996 e junho/1998. Totalizou-se 200 horas de observações naturalísticas e 141.2 horas de observação sistemática na área, utilizando-se binoculares 7 x 50. Foram registrados a cada intervalo de 3 minutos dados sobre o número de indivíduos presentes e comportamento. A população utilizou intensamente a enseada do porto, principalmente para atividades de pesca. A maré enchente foi responsável por maiores taxas de ocupação. Dentre os meses analisados, maio foi o mês com maior média nas taxas de ocupação, e janeiro o mês de menor ocorrência. O tamanho de grupo médio na área foi de quatro indivíduos.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2014v27n2p117 As aves aquáticas costumam reproduzir de modo agregado, formando grandes colônias reprodutivas com diferentes espécies. Este estudo descreve aspectos ...biológicos das aves aquáticas de uma colônia na ilha do Maracujá, no estuário da baía da Babitonga, litoral norte de Santa Catarina. Foram coletados dados sobre riqueza de espécies, abundância, cronologia reprodutiva, predação e distribuição dos ninhos na ilha. No período de setembro de 2010 a fevereiro de 2011, foram identificadas 15 espécies de aves aquáticas utilizando o local para alimentação e descanso, sendo que destas, cinco espécies se reproduziam na ilha (Nycticorax nycticorax, Nyctanassa violacea, Egretta caerulea, Phimosus infuscatus e Aramides cajanea). Foram registrados 154 ninhos ativos, sendo 79 ninhos de N. nycticorax, 14 ninhos de N. violacea, seis ninhos de P. infuscatus, cinco ninhos de E. caerulea e apenas um ninho de A. cajanea. A população estimada para o local foi de 308 indivíduos reprodutores, sendo que N. nycticorax foi a espécie mais abundante, correspondendo a 51% dos ninhos. Os meses com maior concentração de ninhos foram setembro, outubro e novembro. Além das aves aquáticas, também foram registradas quatro espécies de aves de rapina e carniceiras, as quais foram responsáveis por perdas de ovos e/ou filhotes, junto com Larus dominicanus. A ilha do Maracujá vem sendo utilizada para reprodução por pelo menos cinco espécies e sua proteção merece atenção, a fim de garantir a manutenção e possibilidade de ampliação desse sítio reprodutivo.
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