Atherinella blackburni (Schultz, 1949) at Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba, SP: ecological characterization and distribution on the Brazilian coast (Teleostei: Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae).

Atherinella blackburni is a silverside species whose occurrence on the Brazilian coast was not properly registered until recently. So far, records of its distribution along the Brazilian shore were limited to Itaparica Island, Bahia State, and Porto Inhaúma, Rio de Janeiro State. In a recent survey of the ichthyofauna of Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, 100 specimens of this species were collected, yielding a considerable source of information regarding its ecology and a new southern limit of its distribution. A detailed survey of an ichthyological collection revealed lots of this species from regions of the Brazilian Northeast, resulting in a northward expansion of the occurrence of A. blackburni in Brazilian waters. Besides the populations found on the Brazilian coast, the species also occurs discontinuously in the Atlantic coasts of Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela. Meristic and morphometric analysis showed overlapped values between Brazilian populations and the ones closer to the Caribbean. An ecological study of A. blackburni at Itamambuca Beach revealed that it is a predominantly diurnal species with preference for warm and salty waters, often occurring in sandy-bottom environments. It was more abundant in Summer and Winter, when individuals with smaller values of length and weight also occurred.

Atherinella blackburni (Schultz, 1949) at Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba, SP: ecological characterization and distribution on the Brazilian coast (Teleostei: Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae) / Atherinella blackburni (Schultz, 1949) na praia de Itamambuca, Ubatuba, SP: caracterização ecológica e distribuição na costa brasileira (Teleostei: Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae)

Atherinella blackburni is a silverside species whose occurrence on the Brazilian coast was not properly registered until recently. So far, records of its distribution along the Brazilian shore were limited to Itaparica Island, Bahia State, and Porto Inhaúma, Rio de Janeiro State. In a recent survey of the ichthyofauna of Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, 100 specimens of this species were collected, yielding a considerable source of information regarding its ecology and a new southern limit of its distribution. A detailed survey of an ichthyological collection revealed lots of this species from regions of the Brazilian Northeast, resulting in a northward expansion of the occurrence of A. blackburni in Brazilian waters. Besides the populations found on the Brazilian coast, the species also occurs discontinuously in the Atlantic coasts of Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela. Meristic and morphometric analysis showed overlapped values between Brazilian populations and the ones closer to the Caribbean. An ecological study of A. blackburni at Itamambuca Beach revealed that it is a predominantly diurnal species with preference for warm and salty waters, often occurring in sandy-bottom environments. It was more abundant in Summer and Winter, when individuals with smaller values of length and weight also occurred.

Atherinella blackburni é uma espécie de peixe-rei cuja ocorrência na costa brasileira não havia sido precisamente registrada até recentemente. Ainda assim, sua distribuição no litoral brasileiro estava restrita à Ilha de Itaparica, Bahia e Porto Inhaúma, Rio de Janeiro. Em um recente levantamento da ictiofauna da Praia de Itamambuca, Ubatuba, São Paulo, foram coletados 100 espécimes desta espécie, originando uma fonte considerável de informações no tocante à sua ecologia e a um novo limite sul de sua distribuição. Um estudo detalhado revelou lotes desta espécie em regiões do nordeste brasileiro em coleção ictiológica, resultando na expansão para o norte da ocorrência de A. blackburni em águas brasileiras. Além das populações encontradas na costa brasileira, a espécie também ocorre descontinuamente na costa Atlântica da Costa Rica, Panamá e Venezuela. Análise merística e morfométrica revelou valores sobrepostos entre populações brasileiras e aquelas mais próximas ao Caribe. O estudo ecológico de A. blackburni na Praia de Itamambuca evidenciou que é uma espécie predominantemente diurna com preferência por águas quentes e salgadas, freqüente em ambientes com fundo arenoso. Foi mais abundante no verão e inverno, quando indivíduos com menores valores de comprimento e peso também ocorreram.

HPLC separation of heterocyclic beta-diketonates of actinide, lanthanide and transition metals.

Liquid-chromatography conditions for the separation of neutral chelates of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone with transition metals, lanthanides and actinides have been established. The use of reverse-phase liquid chromatography, instead of ion-exchange, is a novel approach for actinide separation. The high molar absorptivities of the beta-diketonates in the ultraviolet region allow for their detection at the nanogram level. The potential exists, therefore, for the rapid solvent extraction, concentration and determination of traces of actinides and other metals.

Primary sulfates in atmospheric sulfates: estimation by oxygen isotope ratio measurements.

The relative amounts of primary and secondary sulfates in atmospheric aerosols and precipitation can be estimated from measurements of the stable oxygen isotope ratios. The oxygen-18 content of sulfates formed in power plant stack gases before emission into the atmosphere is significantly higher than that of sulfates formed from sulfur dioxide after emission. Results show that 20 to 30 percent of the sulfates in rain and snow at Argonne, Illinois, are of primary origin.

Spectroscopic observation of acid sulfate in atmospheric particulate samples.

Infrared spectra of time- and size-classified atmospheric particulate samples collected with a inertial impactor reveal the presence of acid sulfate in the submicrometer-sized fraction. Although the degree of acidity is highly variable with time, the acidic nature of the particles is observed at all times of the day and may persist for several days in urban areas.