Influence of environmental patterns on the population structure and secondary production of the fiddler crab Uca maracoani (Latreille) in the Amazon mangroves.

Uca maracoani is a fiddler crab found in estuaries along the western Atlantic coast, with a notable preference for euhaline environments. This study aimed to analyze the population structure and dynamics of this species in an estuary on the North Coast of Brazil, specifically in an area of the upper estuary where seasonal rainfall fluctuations result in significant changes in salinity. Monthly crab samples were taken from December 2013 to November 2015, together with measurements of environmental variables, such as water and climate parameters. The population maintains a balanced sex ratio; however, males are generally larger, with lower mortality rates and longer lifespans than females. Reproduction is continuous but mainly takes place in the dry season when salinity levels are higher (above 12‰). Higher crab densities have been observed during the rainy season when, despite lower salinity levels (below 10‰), the conditions for survival (food availability and milder climate) seem to be more favorable. The estimated average annual biomass and production for the population were 2.62 g AFDM m-2 and 5.43 g AFDM m-2 year-1, respectively, characterized by a high turnover rate (P/B = 2.10 year-1). Our results suggest that U. maracoani has thriving populations in the Amazon coast's mangroves, benefiting from the vast muddy intertidal zone and the high organic content delivered by the estuaries.

Seasonal modulation of oxidative stress biomarkers in mangrove oyster (Crassostrea gasar) from an Amazon estuary.

Estuaries are the final destination of many pollutants derived from anthropogenic activity. Therefore, it is difficult to find this kind of ecosystem in a pristine condition. In this context, biomonitoring studies that characterize the organism's conditions against the environment' s natural variation are essential for future impact analysis due to anthropic activity. The present study aims to characterize the natural modulation of biochemical biomarkers in oysters Crassostrea gasar. The research was conducted in Japerica Bay, an estuary region located in the Eastern Amazon (Pará, Brazil), which has remained in pristine condition for many years. The samplings were carried out throughout one year during the rainy-dry transition period (June/2013), dry period (September/2013), dry-rainy transition period (November / 2013), and rainy period (February / 2014) in the lower and upper estuary. The activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and total antioxidant capacity (ACAP) were evaluated as biomarkers of exposure and lipid peroxidation (LPO) as an effect biomarker. In gills, GST decreased during the rainy season in both sites and increased during the salinity peak (dry-rainy transition period) for the upper estuary's organisms. In this organ, the lowest levels of LPO occurred during the dry season for both points. There was an induction of ACAP in muscle during the rainy-dry transition period compared to the dry and dry-rainy transition periods for the lower estuary's organisms, and there were no differences for GST suggesting low tissue sensitivity. There was an increase in LPO during the rainy season compared to the rainy-dry transition period for the lower estuaries animals. Biomarkers in gills suggest a metabolic challenge to the rainy season and stability during the dry season. The species shows high viability of use in biomonitoring programs. However, these seasonality-induced alterations in biomarkers responses must be taken into account to interpret the results.

Dataset from the Snakes (Serpentes, Reptiles) collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Pará, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: We present a dataset with information from the snake collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, known as the "Ophidia Collection". This collection currently has 26,728 specimens of snakes, including 9 families, 66 genera and 220 species. For the most part, it represents material from the Amazon Region. Specimens are preserved mostly in wet (alcohol) preparation, with some samples preserved in dry form, as is the case of the shells and skeletons of turtles. The dataset is now available for public consultation on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility portal (https://doi.org/10.15468/lt0wet). NEW INFORMATION: The Herpetological collection of Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi comprises the largest collection of its kind in the Amazon region with about 100,000 specimens of amphibians and reptiles (chelonians, alligators, lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians). This collection currently has 26,728 specimens of snakes, including 9 families, 66 genera and 220 species, some of which are endemic to the Amazon rainforest region. The Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi is the second oldest institution of science in Brazil in activity, founded in 1866.

Influence of seasonality on the natural modulation of oxidative stress biomarkers in mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Brachyura, Ucididae).

The estuaries are characterized by the formation of salinity gradients and are frequently associated with anthropic activities. Studies that show the condition of organisms against the natural environmental variations are fundamental for future evaluation of environmental change due to anthropic impacts. Biomarkers are useful tools defined as biological changes in low levels of organization induced by stressors and considered as predictive responses of more severe effects. The aim of this study was to characterize the modulation of biochemical biomarkers in Ucides cordatus against the natural variation a pristine mangrove forest in an Amazonic estuary (Japerica Bay). The samplings were carried out throughout one year at rainy-dry transitional period (June/2013), dry period (September/ 2013), dry-rainy transitional period (November/ 2013) and rainy period (February/ 2014) in the lower, middle and upper estuary. The biochemical biomarkers evaluated were glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutamate cysteine-ligase (GCL), total antioxidant capacity (ACAP), reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration and the lipid peroxidation (LPO). There was a decrease in the activity of both enzymes, GSH concentration and lower LPO in the rainy-dry transitional period for the organisms of all sites, pointing to this period as a season of greater metabolic stability. The organisms, especially those of the middle estuary, presented physiological plasticity against the variations of the environment which they are submitted. Seasonality, more than salinity influence due to position in estuary, is the main modulator of biomarkers. Also, our results indicate that the species presents high viability for biomonitoring studies.

Checklist of the Plecoptera of Brazilian Amazon (Insecta: Plecoptera: Perlidae).

The species diversity of the Plecoptera of the Brazilian Amazon is still little known, although some localities have been relatively well-studied. A preliminary list of 27 valid Plecoptera species, based on collections from 66 different localities is presented. Additional efforts to collect Plecoptera at new sites should considerably increase the number of recorded species of Amazonian.

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Brazilian Amazon: checklist and new records.

A list of the stink bugs (Pentatomidae) species of the Brazilian Amazon is provided for the first time, based on literature review and identification of the specimens of Pentatomidae deposited in the entomological collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG). Amazonian data base presented here has 324 species of Pentatomidae belonging to 102 genera, ten tribes and five subfamilies: Asopinae, Cyrtocorinae, Discocephalinae, Edessinae and Pentatominae. The Pentatominae has the largest number of species registered to Brazilian Amazon (144 species). The MPEG entomological collection has 122 species distributed in 53 genera, nine tribes and five subfamilies. Forty species from eight tribes and four subfamilies are recorded for the first time to Brazilian Amazon, including species from Podisus Herrich-Schäffer (Asopinae); Adoxoplatys Breddin, Macropygium Spinola, Neoadoxoplatys Kormilev, Ochlerus Spinola and Platycarenus Fieber (Discocephalinae); Edessa Fabricius (Edessinae); Arocera Spinola, Arvelius Spinola, Banasa Stål, Dichelops Spinola, Euschistus Dallas, Mormidea Amyot Serville, Oebalus Stål, Pellaea Stål, Piezodorus Fieber, Proxys Spinola and Thyanta Stål (Pentatominae). Three of these species-Podisus maculiventris (Say, 1831) Neoadoxoplatys saileri Kormilev, 1956 and Edessa laticornis Stål, 1872-are new records to South America. The number of species of Pentatomidae to Brazilian Amazon represents approximately 50% of the species registered to Brazil. Such list of species is important to better understand the distributional range and diversity of the species of Pentatomidae in the Amazon region.