Density and Organic Matter Influence on Egg‐laying and Hatching of Branchiura sowerbyi (Oligochaeta)

This study aimed to assess the combined effects of density of adults of Branchiura sowerbyi and the source of organic matter on the production of eggs and young species. The experimental units used were 250‐mL beakers with 100 mL of fine sand (0.074–0.210 mm) and 150 mL of chlorine‐free water with constant aeration at the temperature 25 C. The experiment was conducted based on a two‐factor model with six treatments and three repetitions, applied in a completely random design. The densities 5 individuals/38.5cm² (D5; 1298/m²) and 8 individuals/38.5cm² (D8; 2078/m²) were assessed with commercial fish feed (FF), commercial poultry feed (PF), and turkey manure (TM) as sources of organic matter. A total of 1223 cocoons and 2138 eggs were produced, with average hatching of 40.0 ± 15.1%. The highest number of cocoons and eggs was found with the use of PF, D8 having produced the highest number of cocoons and eggs. The hatching rate was not influenced by the source of organic matter or density and no influence was registered from the density of adults on the survival. The PF provided the highest growth of adults, and generally the use of TM provided the worst performance.     

Nutrients removed by Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta, Solieriaceae) in integrated cultivation with fishes in re-circulating water

The potential of the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii to remove nutrients was tested to treat effluents of Trachinotus carolinus fish cultivation, and the production of carrageenan in this condition was analyzed. Experiments were conducted in four tanks of 8000 L with approximately 1200 fishes of 30 g each integrated with three tanks of 100 L with 700 g of K. alvarezii, as initial biomass per tank. Seawater was re-circulated between tanks with seaweed and with fish. As a control, three tanks with seawater circulating in an open system were utilized. Seawater samples were collected daily for 10 days and concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and phosphate were determined in the inflow and outflow water of the tanks. Significant differences between both collecting points were considered as nutrient removal by the seaweed. Growth rates and carrageenan yields were also analyzed in seaweed cultivated in seawater and in effluents. Growth rates of seaweed cultivated in tanks were lower than those obtained in open sea and in laboratory cultivation. Effluents had concentrations of nitrate and nitrite ca. 100 times higher than in the control. Maximum values of nutrient removal on effluents were: nitrate = 18.2%; nitrite = 50.8%; ammonium = 70.5% and phosphate = 26.8%. All plants survived throughout the experimental period, but some developed “ice–ice”, a disease associated with physiological stress. After the experimental period, some plants selected and cultivated in open sea presented higher growth rates in 40 days, indicating nutrient storage. No significant differences between carrageenan yields of K. alvarezii cultivated in seawater and in the effluents were observed. Our results show that K. alvarezii can be utilized as a biofilter for fish cultivation effluents, reducing the eutrophication process and can also be processed for carrageenan production, which provides an additional benefit to the fisheries.     

Genetic structure of the migratory catfish Pseudoplatystoma corruscans (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) suggests homing behaviour

Abstract –  Pseudoplatystoma corruscans is distributed widely in the La Plata Basin in Brazil, where it is a very important species because of its high commercial value and ecological role as a voracious predator. This species undertakes long migrations during the dry and rainy seasons to feed and reproduce, respectively. In this study, we analysed seven microsatellite loci to test the hypotheses of the existence of a single panmictic population of P. corruscans in the La Plata Basin. All microsatellites analysed were highly polymorphic with the number of alleles per locus ranging from seven (Pcor28) to 30 (Pcor10). Across all samples, 107 alleles were detected. Thirty alleles were private, i.e., found in only one sample. Highly significant genetic differentiation was observed among samples in three of the four analyses performed: F _ST (from 0.03435 to 0.16349, P  < 0.05), Analysis of molecular variance (amova) F _ST = 8.25% ( P  < 0.0001) and amova R _ST = 9.72% ( P  < 0.0001). A microsatellite multilocus Bayesian assignment test with the programme structure confirmed the division of the fishes into six groups largely concurrent with main branches on a population neighbour-joining tree. The obtained results rejected the panmixia hypothesis. On the other hand, the documented long-distance movements of P. corruscans and the geographical scale of genetic differentiation found in this study indicate a strong tendency for fish of this species to utilise their natal nursery regions for reproduction, which represents the first demonstrated example of homing in a freshwater catfish in South America.     

Dynamics of natural infection by Toxoplasma gondii in goat herds in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil: transitional antibody observation

Veterinary Research Communications - This study aimed to describe the transmission of T. gondii in naturally infected goats in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil, through evaluating the...     

Antibacterial activity of Persea cordata stem barks

The antibacterial effects of extracts obtained from Persea cordata stem bark, employed in Brazil to treat infectious diseases, were studied. The ethyl acetate fraction of the hydroalcoholic extract showed activity against pathogenic bacteria which may justify the popular use of the plant.     

Pimarane diterpene from Viguiera arenaria (Asteraceae) inhibit rat carotid contraction

ent-Pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (PA) isolated from Viguiera arenaria (Asteraceae; Heliantheae) inhibited rat carotid rings contraction induced by phenylephrine (10(-8) mol/l) or potassium chloride (45 mmol/l) at concentration ranging from 5 to 20 microg/ml. This inhibitory effect was not reversible after the removal of this compound from the medium bath.     

Modelling cork oak production in Portugal

The layout of 32 permanent plots in the most important cork production regions of Portugal and the measurement of the most representative tree parameters were performed for statistically sound cork weight modelling. The establishment of cork weight equations is presented for the different cork oak study areas considered alone or grouped according to the most representative tree parameters. For the presented cork weight models was chosen independent variable the total stripping surface (artmax). For the selection criteria five statistic were used, including PRESS, APRESS and Mallows's statistic. The crossvalidation of the best classified models was performed and to discuss the importance of the “study area” factor, a regression analysis with “dummy” variables was performed.     

Sensitivity of fungi isolated from onychomycosis to Eugenia cariophyllata essential oil and eugenol

The antifungal activity of Eugenia cariophyllata essential oil and eugenol, its major constituent, on fungal strains isolated from onychomycosis was evaluated. The natural products presented prominent antifungal action with MIC of 1% and 4%, respectively.     

Inhibitory action of kaurenoic acid from Viguiera robusta (Asteraceae) on phenylephrine-induced rat carotid contraction

ent-kaurenoic acid (KA) isolated from Viguiera robusta was tested for activity on vascular smooth muscle contactility. Cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained for a stepwise increase (10(-10)-10(-05) mol/l) in the concentration of phenylephrine (Phe), a selective alpha(1)-adrenergic agonist. The effects in the presence of KA (0.2, 2.0 and 20.0 microg/ml), and 90 min after the removal of KA from the medium bath were compared to controls. At 20.0 microg/ml, KA inhibited the in vitro contractility of rat carotid artery elicited by Phe, but had no effect at lower concentrations (0.2 and 2.0 microg/ml). The effect elicited by KA was reversible after 90 minutes.