O presente estudo objetivou investigar, identificar e analisar os mecanismos legais para a concessão do seguro defeso para os pescadores artesanais de caranguejo-uçá (Ucides cordatus - Linnaeus, 1963) do litoral bragantino, estado do Pará, da Amazônia brasileira. A principal pergunta de pesquisa partiu de muitas inquietações, dentre as quais, a indagação sobre quais as razões em que alguns estados brasileiros conseguem executar a política de repasse de recurso para o seguro defeso, no entanto, os pescadores de caranguejo do litoral norte, não o conseguem. Quais as razões para que em alguns estados a política seja efetivada e em outros ficam somente nas normativas? Os procedimentos metodológicos foram delineados a partir da abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa, em que as principais técnicas e instrumentos foram a entrevista por meio de um roteiro com perguntas semiestruturadas, respectivamente, aplicadas para 10 pescadores de caranguejo-uçá. O processo analítico ocorreu por meio da organização, sistematização e interpretação/compreensão a partir da análise de conteúdo, dentre leis, jurisprudências, decretos e decisões judiciais. Os resultados revelam que os pescadores de caranguejo-uçá do litoral norte do País, estão completamente desassistidos em termos de políticas públicas voltadas à regularização e valorização do trabalho do pescador artesanal e também quanto a políticas de seguridade do trabalho e da renda em época de defeso do caranguejo-uçá. A conclusão é que enquanto o Estado continuar negando o direito ao seguro desemprego (seguro defeso) aos pescadores artesanais de caranguejo-uçá do litoral norte, a lei que garante a preservação e  proteção à espécie estará fadada ao descumprimento, pois de um lado há a proibição da captura do caranguejo no período do defeso, por outro, a ausência de uma política capaz de estimular alternativas de renda ao pescador de caranguejo nesse período em que a captura e a comercialização do crustáceo são proibidas. Vez que o direito ao seguro defeso garante a proteção social do pescador e por consequência a conservação do meio ambiente, alcançando assim a efetivação do cumprimento da Justiça Ambiental, tendo uma relação mais equânime, entre sociedade e meio ambiente.

numerical modeling; Delft 3D; hydrodynamics; waves; amazon coastline.

The Brazilian coastline faces a growing threat of solid waste pollution, with plastic debris widely recognized as a significant marine environmental pollutant. Currently, a substantial portion of these waste materials is found in the oceans in the form of microplastics (MPs) (less than 5 mm). Due to their floating and persistent properties, MPS have the potential to disperse widely through hydrodynamic processes and ocean currents, raising increasing concerns about their effects on environmental and human health. The issue of MPs pollution in aquatic environments is a matter of considerable concern. This study focused on analyzing the abundance, characteristics, and distribution of MPs at 9 sampling stations in tidal channels along the Ajuruteua Peninsula, Bragança - Pará. The results described throughout the thesis revealed the presence of MPs in sediments (433 ± 261.6 items kg-¹) and surface waters (1.69 ± 1.73 items/m³) in the study area. Particle analysis included an investigation of shape, color, and polymer types, highlighting fibers, fragments, and films. Additionally, particle size was observed, with a predominance of small-sized MPs (<500 µm) in both compartments. Furthermore, chemical analysis using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy identified 7 types of polymers present on the Peninsula, revealing the presence of alkyd varnish (AV), dispersion resin (RD), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), polyethylene-polypropylene (PE-PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), hostaperm blue (HB), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Fishing activities were identified as the primary source of MPs disposal in the region. A risk assessment model was applied, considering MPs concentration data, with the aim of evaluating pollution risk in both surface waters and sediments of the Ajuruteua Peninsula. This risk assessment provides a crucial foundation for a deeper understanding of the distribution and characteristics of these particles, highlighting the urgency of intensive monitoring to mitigate the release of MPs into the environment. This study contributes a valuable perspective on the risks associated with MPs, providing essential insights for future research.

The analysis of mitogenomes in anurans has been widely covered in the literature, although many of these investigations are still predominantly restricted to descriptive approaches. In the current context, marked by significant advances in bioinformatics techniques, the assembly of mitogenomes from RNA-seq data has become increasingly common. With this in mind, we carried out a comprehensive survey of data to analyze patterns of gene organization, compiling data from 819 mitogenome sequences representing 37 families, 91 genera, and 334 species of anurans. In addition, we conducted the reconstruction of 15 mitochondrial genomes of bufonids using the RNA-seq approach. During this analysis of mitogenomes, we identified 52 distinct patterns of gene organization, two of which are notably prominent and are called patterns I and II. Pattern I is associated exclusively with the Archaeobatrachia clade, while pattern II is characteristic of the Neobatrachia group. A relevant finding was the identification of frequent rearrangements in the WANCY, IQM, and LTP tRNA gene clusters, with many of these rearrangements revealing phylogenetic importance. Interestingly, we observed that the variability of mitogenomic arrangements in Neobatrachia (AR=0.32) is higher than that observed in Archaeobatrachia (AR=0.21), indicating a more intense diversification in the latter group. In turn, the reconstruction of mitogenomes from transcriptomes was positive, the validation of which was corroborated by the phylogeny, highlighting the monophyly of the genera and their close relationships. In addition, dating revealed significant evolutionary events. Despite the success achieved through this approach, we face challenges related to the coverage and depth of the genomes, especially in repetitive regions. However, the speed and efficiency of this technique contrasted positively with more time-consuming classical methods. We conclude that anurans exhibit a remarkable diversity of mitogenomic patterns, which have phylogenetic relevance, providing valuable information for understanding molecular evolution and mitogenomic arrangements in the various clades of this taxon. We also emphasize that the assembly of mitogenomes from RNA-seq emerges as a crucial tool for validation in studies on
evolutionary biology, presenting a promising approach to exploring genomic diversity in anurans of the Bufonidae family, contributing substantially to phylogenetic studies with this group.

O guaracavuçu (Cnemotriccus fuscatus) é uma espécie de ave de gênero monotípico, composto por sete subespécies. Apresenta ampla distribuição na América do Sul, podendo ser encontrado em ambientes muito distintos, desde as florestas de várzea às campinaranas. Levando em conta estes aspectos, acreditamos que uma avaliação filogeográfica deste táxon permitirá compreendermos aspectos de sua diversificação histórica, fornecendo insights a respeito dos eventos biogeográficos ocorridos na América do Sul. Neste estudo, utilizamos marcadores moleculares (Cyt-b – mitocondrial / I7BF – nuclear), em cinco das sete subespécies existentes. Nossos resultados recuperaram o monofiletismo de Cnemotriccus, além da existência de três linhagens reciprocamente monofiléticas dentro do gênero, as quais denominamos linhagem 1 - Cnemotriccus fuscatus, linhagem 2 – Cnemotriccus fumosus, e linhagem 3 – Cnemotriccus bimaculatus, baseado em uma divergência molecular profunda, formada durante o Mioceno e o Plioceno. Nossos resultados reforçam a necessidade de uma revisão taxonômica do táxon, com o intuito de validar as linhagens encontradas como espécies plenas, contribuindo para o entendimento correto da diversidade neotropical de aves.

Mangroves are coastal ecosystems limited to regions with tropical and subtropical climates, in the transition between terrestrial and marine environments, and considered areas of high biological productivity. Insects are widely known because they play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter, nutrient cycling, and energy flow. They are often used as indicators of environmental integrity. However, we are far from knowing which species of aquatic insects and how many of them are present in Brazil, especially, in the Amazon biome, where there is still a huge knowledge gap, particularly in estuarine environments. Likewise, in Brazilian mangroves, there are only a few studies that present the composition and/or abundance of aquatic insects. This research aimed to carry out an inventory of the populations of aquatic insects in this ecosystem. Samplings were carried out at four sampling places, with a standardized light trap, approximately every two months, over the period of one year. The species inventory demonstrates that in the studied area, there are seven orders of insects with aquatic representatives: Coleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Trichoptera, distributed in 20 families and 44 genera. Diptera presented greater abundance, mainly by the genus Culicoides present in all sampled collection points, being dominant in the rainy season. A single genus of the order Ephemeroptera was observed only in the rainy season in Furo do Taici, when the salinity was closest to zero. The order Trichoptera was also present in Furo do Taici, the furthest point from the sea (approx. 23km), with the average salinity during the collection period being 5.77 ppt for the dry and 0.35 ppt in the rainy season. However, we observed the occurrence of individuals of this order in Furo da Ostra only during the rainy season, which had the second-lowest average salinity of 4.95 ppt. The PERMANOVA analysis showed us significant differences in taxon composition between the four sampling points (p > 0.05), which can also be observed in the MDS. Likewise, we can also note that there was no significant difference in this composition in relation to the collection periods (dry/rainy). These results reveal high abiotic tolerances in some groups of insects, however, it is also evident the relevance of taxonomic studies of the mangrove fauna, as well as the knowledge of the biological characteristics of the taxa.

This study analysed the influence of canopy opening and the topography/flooding gradient on composition, distribution and cover of seedlings and saplings of trees and woody lianas, as well as their dispersion patterns in the Caeté river floodplain forest along four transects and an area of 0.074 ha. In total, eight plots were established (6 m×14 m; two per transect). Each plot was divided into 2 m×2 m subplots. Seedlings and saplings of trees and woody lianas were inventoried. The study area had been previously subject to topographic and floristic assessments. According to these previous surveys, subplots were divided in microtopography categories “low”, “intermediate” and “high”. Light availability was estimated using three categories: “well-lit”, “partially shaded”, “shaded”. The dispersal syndrome of species with high frequency and relative dominance investigated using literature and own observations of diaspore characteristics. The topographic gradient varied between 1 m and 4 m. The lowest levels belonged to channels with daily influence of tidal inundation, even during the dry season. The highest áreas remained dry during the dry season and suffered flooding during spring tides only. The forest received intermediate light levels with a mostly closed canopy, typical for a late successional forest. Topography and flooding significantly influenced seedling and sapling cover, with increasing cover towards higher elevation/less frequent inundation. However, flooding did not determinate species composition and dispersion. The forest presented a high diversity and species richness of young plants. A total of 139 morpho-species was recorded. Combretum sp1 and Sarcaulus brasiliensis were the species with highest frequency, Gustavia augusta with highest relative dominance. The recruitment of seedlings and saplings depended on the season. Diaspore dispersal occurred for most species during the wet season. The tides played an important role in dispersal and establishment of young plants. They enabled mixing of floating diaspores from different topographic zones. Their bidirectional flux guaranteed higher variability and gene flow. There was a variety of dispersal syndromes but most plants depended on water for dispersal, being exclusively or facultatively hydrochoric or ichthyochoric.

The present study focuses on the ethnoecological, ethnobiological and ethnozoological knowledge of artisanal fishermen in a community belonging to the Marine Extractive Reserve (RESEX-Mar) of Maracanã, northeast region of Pará. The work aimed to understand the traditional knowledge of fishermen from Vila do Mota, in order to answer the question: to what extent does the traditional knowledge of fishermen from Vila do Mota contribute to the conservation of the environment in the Marine Extractive Reserve of Maracanã? The research has qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches, based on interview techniques, participant observation and document analysis, using specific instruments such as a questionnaire, a semi-structured script and a field diary, respectively. Sampling was obtained through the “snowball methodology” and had the collaboration of 30 artisanal fishermen, all of them residents of Vila do Mota, beneficiaries of RESEX-Mar, in addition, their main activity is fishing and has been doing it for more of 10 years. The quantitative data were organized and tabulated into Excel software, to produce graphs, charts and tables, and the qualitative data, referring to the interviewees' speeches, were transcribed and analyzed in the light of Content Analysis, through the categorization of themes and crossing of the fishermen's speeches, in order to present discursive elements relevant to the research objectives. The results showed that the main fishing modality carried out in the community is fishing corral, followed by gillnets, seine, beach trawling and cast net, which are most commonly carried out in a complementary way in the off-season. The fishermen demonstrated to have a close relationship with the environment and the species of fish that occur in the region, and their productive practices are extremely associated with the dynamics and environmental processes, the main variables mentioned were the seasonality and the lunar cycles, which interfere significantly in species composition and captured biomass. In addition, fishermen have accurate knowledge of ethnoecological aspects, such as eating habits, reproduction and migratory movements of the main aquatic species in the locality. The transmission of knowledge is threatened due to the low entry of young people into the fishing activity, these, as well as their families, do not want to be involved in fishing, given the difficulties faced, such as the abandonment of public power and the lack of development policies for the community and for fishermen, in addition to the overexploitation of fishing stocks by industrial fleets along the country's coast. This puts the conservation of the environment and populations whose experiences are extremely connected to nature and its cycles at risk.

A biodiversidade é o conjunto de variações existentes entre os seres vivos, que podem ser analisadas sob os aspectos taxonômico, ecológico e genético. Seu estudo é fundamental para compreender os processos evolutivos, ecológicos e biogeográficos que vem moldando a vida na Terra. De uma forma geral, nesta tese, vamos abordar questões referentes às mudanças climáticas e seu efeito nas pescarias, e a importância das ferramentas genéticas, como o DNA barcoding e análise mitogenômica comparativa, para a identificação e caracterização de espécies de peixes coletadas na costa de Moçambique, no Oceano Índico Ocidental. Assim, esta tese foi construída a partir da compilação de oito capítulos, dos quais seis deles estão escritos na linguagem de artigos científicos. No primeiro artigo, fazemos uma abordagem sobre impacto das mudanças climáticas nas pescas e no setor aquícola, principalmente os efeitos do ciclone IDAI e KENNETH que assolaram Moçambique no ano de 2020. Os resultados demostraram que existem, tanto impactos diretos, quanto indiretos. O efeito sobre os ecossistemas marinhos e costeiros, configuram na perda de diversidade de peixes que já tem sido discutida pelos pesquisadores, e que as consequências dos eventos não são apenas projeções futuras, mas sim atuais. Como resultado de uma campanha de coleta com alta investigação sobre a diversidade de peixes costeiros ao longo da costa de Moçambique, s ferramentas que utilizam o DNA para identificação das espécies foi aplicada, e os seguintes artigos (2o, 3o, 4o e 5o artigos) foram resultantes desta abordagem. Baseado nestas análises, o DNA barcoding recuperou 143 espécies correspondentes a 104 gêneros e 59 famílias evidenciadas. Paralelamente a isso, evidenciou-se a existência de espécies ameaçadas e outras que a sua ocorrência na região nunca tinha sido reportada anteriormente, incluindo Bolepthalmus dussumieri (artigo 3); Hippocampus kellogi (artigo 4) e Maculabatis gerrardi discutido no artigo 5. O sexto e último artigo teve como objetivo montar o genoma mitocondrial da espécie B. dussumieri, bem como investigar as variações evolutivas dentro dos mitogenomas da subfamília Oxudercinae. Os resultados demostraram estrutura gênica altamente conservada. No entanto, encontramos uma diferenciação na proporção de genes no grupo mudskipper e vários rearranjos diferentes, incluindo variação gênica, espaçador intergênico longo e replicação. Além disso, as análises filogenéticas mitogenômicas suportaram bem a monofilia dos mudskippers. Os resultados obtidos nesta tese trazem um contributo inequívoco sobre a diversidade dos peixes em Moçambique bem como compreender pela primeira vez as variações dos mitogenomas dos mudskippers por meio das análises genéticas.

The Neotropics has long been the object of study by researchers who aim to understand the process and characterization of the abundant diversity existing in this region, both in terms of fauna and flora. The birds constitute one of the richest groups of vertebrates in diversity and best studied in this region , something that contributes significantly to the understanding of the history of the formation of this biota. Within this perspective, the woodcreeper family (Dendrocolaptidae), which is endemic to this region and has several aspects that make it suitable for studies on Neotropical genetic divergence, such as a high rate of diversification. Also it is shown the impressive variation in the morphological traits, such as the beaks. One of the species of this family is Glyphorynchus spirurus, a small woodcreeper easily found in the Amazon, part of Central America and Atlantic Forest. It has 13 subspecies and is usually associated with centers of endemism. Phylogenetic relationships of Glyphorynchus have already been inferred in some studies, mainly with mitochondrial genes, but in all of them the low support values allowed questions about the presented relationships. In all these studies, the possibility of cryptic diversity in this group is noted, since, in addition to some subspecies not being monophyletic, G. spirurus presents a wide variation in plumage color, mainly in the throat and chest, and in vocalization. Therefore, in this thesis I sought to understand the evolutionary history of the species through ultra-conserved elements (UCEs) and morphological data (plumage coloration). Our data show the existence of at least seven genetic populations, among the nine subspecies that we sampled genetically. This does not reflect the amount of phylogenetically recovered lineages, something that suggests a complex phylogeographic history for the group. Furthermore, we found that, although the rivers play an important role in the diversification of the group, some do not behave as an effective barrier, allowing the possibility of gene flow. This gene flow may also be influencing the establishment of the plumage color pattern exhibited  by the species. Our data show at least six coloration patterns in the Amazon, which is related with the number of genetic populations recovered for the same region. The color differentiation suggests a gradient, from a reddish one in the northwestern to lightening towards the southeastern. Although in some groups we can relate the color pattern to abiotic factors (such as climate), in general the possibility of cryptic diversity and the existence of great geographic distance between some populations is an important reason for the pattern the species presents. Finally, understanding the cryptic diversity existing in the complex is an important step towards describing the evolutionary history of the group and, for that, proposing the use of an integrative taxonomy is necessary for a better understanding of the diversification of G. spirurus.

Trawling is a controversial fishing method due to the perceived lack of selectivity of the net and the consequent catch of a large amount and diversity of non-target species. In this study, the DNA barcode method was used to identify the composition of fish species caught as bycatch fauna in the shrimp trawl fishery on the northern Brazilian coast. A total of 182 species belonging to 18 orders and 62 families were captured, including 17 species under some degree of threat in nature according to the Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN). These results highlight the impact on marine biodiversity in northern Brazil caused by incidental catch from small-scale, unregulated industrial fishing operations, and support the application of DNA-based methods for identifying species caught by data-poor fisheries as a powerful tool for improving the quality of fishery catch statistics and more accurate bycatch records.

Migrant birds prepare differently to fly north for breeding in spring, and for the flight to lower latitudes during autumn avoiding the cold and food shortages of the north hemisphere's harsh winter. The molecular events associated with these two fundamental stages in the life history of migrants include the differential expression of regulatory genes in different tissues. Semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) are Artic breeding shorebirds that migrate to the coast of South America during non-breeding season. Although the winter period of latitudinal migrants occupies eight of the twelve months of the year, the adaptive molecular changes in the telencephalon of these birds at lower latitudes have not yet been investigated in detail. Here, we searched for telencephalic differential gene expression in the semipalmated sandpiper, of recent arrived birds (RA) from autumnal migration (captured in September and October) and that of individuals in the premigratory period (PM) in the spring (captured in April and May). All individuals were collected in the Otelina Island at the Amazon estuarine coastal zone of northern Brazil (00°47'09.07” S and 46°43'11.29” W). We generated a De novo neurotranscriptome for C. pusilla of RA and PM individuals and compared read mapping and gene expression profiles across libraries for neurotranscriptome differential expression. To that end we mapped RNA-seq reads to the C. pusilla neurotranscriptome assembly in a total of 8 brain samples, 4 from RA and 4 from PM individuals. Telencephalic samples were sequenced, and readout mapping and gene expression profiles compared in libraries for differentially expressed transcripts. A total of 266,414 transcripts were reconstructed that ultimately yielded 615 differentially expressed genes in the brain of RA and PM birds. The present report revealed a remarkable differential gene expression in the brain of wintering recently arrived and premigratory individuals highlighting the molecular telencephalic changes of these two contrasting stages in the life history of migrant C. pusilla.

Este estudo analisou a florística e estrutura das espécies arbóreas que compõem a vegetação da mata inundável de um rio urbano, o rio Cereja, Bragança, Pará. O levantamento foi realizado em 3 áreas, Área 1 e Área 2 na parte menos urbana da cidade, e Área 3 na parte mais urbana, em um total de 1,78 ha. Dentro dessas áreas foram estabelecidas parcelas ao longo de transecções ortogonais ao curso de água que foram divididas em sub-parcelas contínuas de 10 × 15 m. Foram incluídas no levantamento árvores que tinham diâmetro à altura do peito de ≥5 cm. Foram coletadas 70 morfo-espécies pertencentes a 58 gêneros e 36 famílias. Nas áreas menos urbanizadas e com vegetação mais preservada as espécies com os mais altos valores de importância foram Virola surinamensis, Mauritia flexuosa, Symphonia globulifera e Euterpe oleracea. Na Área 3, na parte mais urbana, as palmeiras (Arecaceae) Mauritia flexuosa e Euterpe oleracea tiveram um destaque ainda maior nos parâmetros de estrutura florestal analisados. Parâmetros da estrutura florestal e composição florística mostraram que as comunidades arbóreas nas áreas foram diferentes. Da mesma forma, análises multivariadas da comunidade (NMDS, CCA) baseadas em área basal, abundância e presença-ausência de espécies mostraram uma diferença entre as áreas. A vegetação estudada é afetada pela influência antrópica, principalmente a Área 3, na parte mais a jusante, mas apresenta potencial de se auto-regenerar caso os atuais impactos sejam reduzidos. Assim, faz-se necessárias ações mais rígidas dos órgãos públicos. A floresta a montante (Áreas 1 e 2) mostra-se como
um possível fonte de sementes para a recuperação de áreas mais a jusante.

It has been shown that morphological characters are difficult to interpret in representatives of Neotropical Peripatidae due to the high degree of morphological conservation, homoplasy, conflicts between molecular results with traditional generic designations, cryptic species, small number of specimens normally available for study. (usually due to low population density) and fixation artifacts. Taxonomic studies based exclusively on morphology are subject to limitations, and even with the use of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) tend to underestimate the existing biological diversity in Peripatidae. In this way, the use of molecular data becomes a powerful tool to increase phylogenetic resolution and to delimit species when morphological diversity does not allow to do so. In this sense, the Brazilian diversity of Peripatidae has been unveiled through an integrative approach of different methods. Even so, only a small amount of work has been published on Brazilian onychophores, reflecting the reduced number of known species for the country. In order to investigate the diversity of onychophoran populations present in remaining forest fragments in eastern Amazonia, morphological (light microscopy and SEM) and molecular (sequence-based markers) data were integrated to examine distribution patterns, describe new taxa studied and identify candidate species, aiming to expand taxonomic knowledge and contribute to the conservation of the group in the region. Our different lines of evidence were in agreement, making it possible to identify potential new species studied here by morphology, which contradicts the general conserved morphology that has been seen in Neopatida. It was also possible to identify them through genetic data, as reciprocally monophyletic clades. Here we describe four new candidate species and their respective relationships within the Neotropical Peripatidae. These results are a call for a necessary investigation of the real distribution and diversity of species that exist in the Amazon.

Feeding, aquarism, ornamental shrimp, crustacean, juvenile, lecytotrophy.

impact, ecosystem, fishing waste, abandon.

Testar hipóteses evolutivas é uma das maiores ferramentas para o entendimento dos processos e mecanismos evolutivos, aqui testamos a hipótese do tecido caroe a hipótese da compensação. A hipótese do tecido caro (HTC) sugere que o aumento cerebral é possibilitado pela redução de outros órgãos metabolicamente caros. Esta hipótese sugere que existe assimetria direcional entre os testículos, onde um destes se desenvolve mais e o outro desempenha função compensatória. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar o teste das hipóteses do tecido caro e hipótese da compensação verificando a aplicabilidade para nove espéciesde anuros: Boana multifasciata, Leptodactylus fuscus, Leptodactylus latrans, Leptodactylus podicipinus, Physalaemus ephippifer, Pithecopus hypochondrialis,Rhinella major, Rhinella marina, Scinax x-signatus. As coletas ocorreram nos meses de março a maio de 2020 e 2021 em Capitão Poço, Pará, sendo coletadosum total de 317 indivíduos. Para verificar a aplicabilidade da hipótese do tecidocaro foram realizadas correlações de Pearson entre as medidas do cérebro e osoutros órgãos. A fim de verificar se existia assimetria realizamos o teste t de Student e para identificar correlações entre os testículos e a massa corporal, comprimento rostro-cloacal, massa dos testículos, condição corporal e tamanhorelativo testicular realizou-se a correlação de Pearson. O resultado do estudo não encontrou uma correlação negativa entre o tamanho do cérebro e os outrosórgãos entre as nove espécies analisadas. Portanto, em espécies amazônicas, não foi observada nenhuma correlação negativa que dê suporte para HTC, ondetodas as medidas revelaram uma significativa correlação positiva tanto nos dados absolutos quanto nos relativos. Foi encontrada significativa diferença entre a massa dos testículos, para as espécies B. multifasciatus, R. marina, P. hypochondrialis, L. fuscus, L. latrans e P. ephippifer demonstrando grau de assimetria testicular para estas espécies. Rhinella major e S. x-signatus não apresentaram nenhuma assimetria. Os dados não demonstraram significância comparando a condição corporal e o grau de assimetria testicular.

Cytochrome b; Molecular Identification; Rhodopsin; Teleosts

Impact; Stream; Riparian habitat; Benthos; RHDI.

O presente estudo foi guiado pela Teoria das Representações Sociais, onde as falas dos respondentes representam o conhecimento tradicional dos pescadores mais experientes sobre os emburateuas, através da aplicação de questionários semiestruturados. A análise dos dados agrupou palavras evocadas a partir das falas dos respondentes, organizando-as pela frequência e importância, trabalhando as suas coocorrências, conexidades e correlações. As espécies de peixe (“bagre”, “pacamum” e “tainha”) tiveram a maior representação nos emburateuas pelo índice cognitivo (Cognitive Salience Index) aplicado. O monitoramento das pescarias registrou 15 espécies, com presença de jovens e adultos de quase todas as espécies, principalmente no período chuvoso, com maior ocorrência para as famílias Sciaenidae e Ariidae, incluindo o “mero” (espécie ameaçada). Os respondentes (n=16) são pescadores experientes (prática média de 41 anos), com idade média de 57 anos e ensino fundamental incompleto. A palavra “peixe” é a principal representação das características dos emburateuas por abrigar uma importante assembleia de peixes, enquanto “pescar”, “peixe", “pegar" e “maré” representam o modus operandi nos emburateuas. A análise fatorial mostra que 27,12% da variância traduzem as características físicas dos emburateuas, enquanto 29,22% as atividades pesqueiras. As representações ambientais melhor caracterizaram os emburateuas e as atividades pesqueiras neles praticadas, mostrando a complementariedade entre o conhecimento ecológico local e o acadêmico, evidenciando a necessidade de construção conjunta para o planejamento estratégico da conservação e uso sustentável dessas ecozonas dentro e fora de áreas protegidas na costa amazônica.

The catfishes of the Pimelodidae family, Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, Brachyplatystoma vaillantii and Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii, which are sold in Brazil under the common names as "filhote", “piramutaba” and “dourada”, respectively. These species are fishery resources economically important in Brazil, especially in the Amazon region, where they are sold fresh or in the form of fillets. These species have morphological similarity, making their identification difficult, a problem that is accentuated when they are commercialized as fillets. In fact, there are records of substitutions in the fillet trade of the three species, with evidence of commercial fraud, as the substitutes were species of lower economic value. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop multiplex PCR assays to identify B. rousseauxii, B. vaillantii and B. filamentosum. Two databases from the mitochondrial regions Cytochrome oxidase C subunit I (COI) (565 bp) and Control Region (950 bp) were used, containing the target taxa and other Siluriformes, mainly members of the Pimelodidae family closely related to them. Speciesspecific forward primers were developed, which combined with universal reverse primers generated amplicons that unequivocally discriminated the target species in multiplex assays. In the COI protocol, fragments of approximately 254 bp were amplified for B. rousseauxii, 405 bp for B. vaillantii and 466 bp for B. filamentosum, while in the Control Region protocol generated 290 bp for B. filamentosum, 451 bp for B. vaillantii and 580 bp for B. rousseauxii. In all reactions, 16S rDNA primers were inserted to generate a control band, and these resulted in fragments of approximately 650 bp for the COI protocol and approximately 160 bp for the Control Region. There was no cross amplification between the target taxa, nor with the other six Siluriformes species traded with the target taxa in the Amazon. The protocols were also sensitive for the amplification of species-specific fragments at concentrations of up to 1 ng/µL, except for B. vailantii, whose Control Region fragment was detected with up to 10 ng/µL of DNA. The validation of the protocols in frozen fillets generated the same pattern obtained in the fresh samples. Therefore, the protocols are efficient, robust, sensitive, fast, and costeffective for the discrimination of species commercialized fresh and as frozen fillets. Thus, we suggest that these can be used by processing companies, for certification of their products, and by government agencies, for inspection and fraud prevention.

The present study investigated the diet of oysters from oyster farming installed in the estuary of the Emboraí Velho River (Augusto Corrêa-PA), focusing on the analysis of microalgae belonging to the diatom group, since they constitute the majority of the diet of these organisms. Thus, in order to understand the feeding biology of oysters, analyzes of the stomach contents of 60 adult individuals of the species Crassostrea gasar (Adanson, 1757) were performed. Additional samples for analysis of the diatomoflora of the estuary were collected to develop comparative studies in order to assess whether the cultivated oysters feed indiscriminately or whether there is some selective process in the ingestion process. For this purpose, water samplings were carried out in nycthemeral cycles at 3-hour intervals in the subsurface of the water column. In order to verify the influence of environmental variables on the distribution of the identified diatoms, firstly the temperature, salinity and turbidity of the water were measured in situ with the aid of a CTDO, while for the dissolved nutrients (NO-3, NO2-, PO₄³⁻ and SiO2) and chlorophyll-a concentrations additional water samples were collected using Niskin bottles. Thereafter, all variables were statistically tested in order to assess the existing relationships between abiotic and biological variables. The results obtained revealed that the environmental variables exerted a strong influence on the distribution of diatoms, since the highest mean densities occurred during the month of December (dry period - 1167.70 ± 995.63 x 103 cells. L-1), these values being related to rainfall reduction, which contributed to less turbid waters, favoring photosynthetic activity. The availability of nutrients, during both seasonal periods, turned the environment favorable for microalgal development. Silicate concentrations reached higher mean values during the month of June (97.6 ± 35.2 μmol.L-1), this nutrient being essential for the composition of diatom frustules. The species Cymatosira belgica and Thalassiosira sp. were responsible for the greatest algal contribution, with higher values of relative abundance and frequency of occurrence throughout the study period on both, the natural and stomach samples. Overall, it can be inferred that the environmental conditions of the estuary of the Emboraí Velho River contributed to the development of the diatoms studied, which provided an abundant and nutrient-rich diet for the oysters cultivated there.

The present study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal dynamics of phytoplankton in the estuary of the Emboraí Velho River (Augusto Corrêa, Pará, Brazil), relating it to environmental variables and local oyster cultivation. Rainfall data were obtained from IMENT-PA (Tracuateua station), while samplings were performed at two fixed stations (S1 and S2) located along the estuary, in 25-hour nyctemeral cycles, during the months of January, April, August and November (2018) and April, June, September and December (2019), totaling 144 samples. Samples for the study of environmental variables and phytoplankton were collected from the subsurface with Niskin bottles. Tidal height, temperature, salinity and turbidity were measured in situ with CTDOs. The pH was determined through an electronic pHmeter and the concentrations of oxygen and dissolved nutrients (NO2 -, NO3 -, PO4 -, SiO4 -, total nitrogen and total phosphorus), and of chlorophyll-a through spectrophotometric techniques. Sedimentation chambers were prepared for each sample and analyzed in an inverted microscope (400x), with the organisms counted and classified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. From the density data obtained, the frequency of occurrence, relative abundance, diversity and evenness of the species were calculated, and the abiotic and biological data were submitted to exploration methods and uni - and multivariate statistical analysis (CCA). Precipitation presented an accentuated seasonal profile, with high values in the first semester of each year and lower values in the second semester. Temperature, salinity, pH, nitrite and total phosphorus concentrations varied seasonally and interannually, while dissolved oxygen varied between sampling stations, and turbidity, nitrate and silicate, only between seasonal periods. Orthophosphate showed seasonal and spatial variations, and total nitrogen and chlorophyll-a (biomass indicator) concentrations only interannual variations. Two hundred twenty (220) taxa belonging to 7 divisions were recorded, with Bacillariophyta being the most representative of microphytoplankton (178 taxa), followed by Myozoa (19), Cyanobacteria (8), Chlorophyta (6), Euglenozoa (4), Charophyta (3) and Ochrophyta (2). The identified organisms were mostly classified as marine (91.8%), being generally marine and littoral. Cymatosira belgica occurred in all samples (100%), being very frequent and dominant throughout the study. The diversity ranged from very low to low and the maximum (average) value of evenness was 0.63 ± 0.08 (E1, rainy/2018). The high densities of C. belgica recorded during this study, mainly in December of 2019, contributed to the dominance of microphytoplankton in relation to phytoflagellates, as this species is epibenthic and euryhaline, being well adapted to the conditions found in Amazonian coastal environments. Lower densities in the S1 station of the
estuary were possibly related to herbivory carried out by oysters from the local farming, however, continuous and more specific studies need to be performed to confirm this hypothesis. The CCA demonstrated that Cymatosira lorenziana and S. costatum grouped with the rainy season samples and were positively correlated with temperature, turbidity, nitrite, nitrate and chlorophyll-a concentrations, while C. belgica proved to be well adapted to the estuary conditions, correlating positively with silicate and total phosphorus concentrations.

Many juvenile fish make use of estuaries as shelters during the initial stages of 99 life, where they first settle, feed and develop as adults. Some of these species adopt 100 behavioral strategies to maximize their chance of survival, including mimesis, through 101 which some fish species deceive both potential predators and preys. Juveniles of the target 102 species, the Maracaibo leatherjack Oligoplites palometa (Cuvier, 1833) are leaf mimetic 103 as a strategy to minimize the predation risk. Nevertheless, adults are relatively important 104 for human consumption, studies approaching its ecology, especially while juveniles, are 105 still scarce, as occurs with many other juveniles estuarine fish species. The present study 106 analyzed the behavioral patterns and feeding diet of juvenile O. palometa during daylight, 107 in a tidal channel in the estuary of Caeté river, NE Pará (Brazil). Our results show that 108 seasonal periods are associated with behavioral patterns and food items. During the dry 109 season, juvenile fish have active feeding behavior, through foraging while performing a 110 mimetic swimming pattern, as well as presenting a strong relationship with the abundance 111 of food items in diet. During the rainy season, a relatively smaller frequency in both 112 behavioral patterns (attack, drifting swimming pattern, swim and submerge) and food 113 items was observed. However, a higher diversity of food items and behaviors was 114 observed in the rainy season. Mimetic juvenile O. palometa presented zooplanktivore 115 habits, feeding mainly on Copepoda, especially the Order Harpacticoida. The lunar cycle 116 is associated with the composition of the diet, where Brachyura, Clupeidae larvae and 117 unidentified Crustacea were more frequently found during full, waning and new moon 118 respectively. Our results describe the behavioral strategies and diet of juvenile O. 119 palometa, in relation to season and lunar cycle, discussed in relation to seasonal variation 120 in habitat, prey availability and development stage of the species.

The freshwater prawns of the genus Macrobrachium Spence Bate, 1868 plays a relevant ecological and commercial importance for aquaculture and exploitation of natural stocks. In the culture of these crustaceans, the larviculture is the most complex phase main due the requirements, such as an adequate technology and efficient control of food. The morphological studies of the mouthparts and inner structures of the larvae of crustacean are considered importance because they can reveal important information about the feeding habits of these species. Therefore, as already observed in previous studies, these investigations may permit to choose suitable foods, which may act positively influencing improve of the larval quality and, consequently, contribute to increase in the survival rate and larval growth. In this sense, the present study aimed to describe and illustrate the main morphological aspects of the external feeding appendages and foregut of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium, relating these structure arrangements to their functionality throughout the ontogenetic development. Emphatically, this study was directed to the characterization of the setae, the descriptions of the main morphological changes and determination of the functionality of the digestive system of the species M. equidens, M. carcinus, M. surinamicum, M. rosenbergii and M. acanthurus. A standardized description was prepared for the main types of setae and structures that act on digestive processes throughout the ontogenetic development of the larvae. The morphological structural changes observed in the appendages and configuration of the types of setae found in the mouthparts and foregut during larval ontogenetic development, showed a closed developmental pattern among the analyzed species, as well as, other congeneric species. In general, the main morphological changes that occurred in the early larval stages, zoea I and II were more evident, followed by changes in the disposition and increasing in the setal number to the last larval stage and, later, in the metamorphosis for the first juvenile. Many similarities were recorded in the morphology of the mouthparts and foreguts of the larvae between the species investigated, as well as in relation to the larval descriptions of other congeneric species. In the first larval stage, the species showed poorly developed mouthparts showing absence or reduced number of setae, as well as, presented rudimentary foreguts, lacking setae, cardiopyloric valve and filter press; indicating functional limitation and, consequently, absence of feeding at this stage. From the second stage, the changes were significant and occurred closed similarly between the compared species. The feeding appendages are more complex than previous stage and showed increasing in the number of teeth in the mandibles, as well as, in the variety and amount of setae in the maxillulae, maxillae and maxillipeds. The foreguts of the zoea II larvae also showed relevant morphological changes, having cardiac and pyloric chambers clearly distinct, robust cardiopyloric valves surrounded by numerous setae and also, presence of the filter press. Such structures may possibility, for the larvae, efficiency for feeding behaviour. In all analyzed species, as well as, in the subsequent stages to the last zoeae, showed more specialized feeding appendages and foreguts, having an increasing in the number and types of setae, evidencing the increase in the ability for capture and digestion of external food. After the metamorphosis to the first juvenile (post-larvae), similar morphological changes were observed in all analyzed species, such as: increasing of setae of the feeding appendages and foreguts, robust mandibles, maxillipeds with larger endopods, decrease in the exopod size, enlargement of the cardiac chamber of the foregut, more specialized filter press, and absence of ossicles or lateral teeth in the foregut. These developmental pattern reflects the transition from the planktonic to the benthic life habit, in which the species begin to explore a wide variety of nutrients available in the environment. Finally, the results obtained in this study provide subsidies for a better understanding of the feeding behavior of the analyzed species.

The port regions represent the main sites of inoculation and dispersion of invasive species via ballast water. This thesis aimed to evaluate the seasonal distribution of limnological variables, inctiopâncton, decapod crustaceans and molluscs in the Direct Influence Area (DIA) of the port of Santarém, as well as to carry out the risk assessment of the introduction of NonIndigenous Species (NIS) in the Tapajós River. Limnological variables were measured at the subsurface of the water column. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, phosphate, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and chlorophyll were measured. The ichthyoplankton was captured with plankton nets with 300 µm mesh opening, in the same period of collection of the limnological variables. The crustaceans were captured with fixed traps, puçás and sieves between February 2016 and January 2017. The molluscs were collected with spatulas, sediment sampler, dredge and sieves between January and December 2018. ANOVA (one way, p <0,05) was used to evaluate the effect of the phases of the Tapajós river hydrometric regime (flood, flood, ebb and flow) on the limnological variables, larval density, absolute abundance and relative abundance of the ichthyoplankton. The PCA enabled the ordering of limnological variables, considering the hydrometric phases. The influence of limnological variables on ichthyoplankton density was assessed using an RDA. Shannon's richness, diversity index and dominance of assemblages of crustaceans and molluscs were estimated. ANOVA explained the differences in the abundance values of crustaceans and molluscs between places of capture and hydrometric phases. The Risk Assessment (AR) was conducted for ballast water donor ports in the port of Santarém, between 2014 and 2019. The AR included an Environmental Similarity and species-specific analysis. Ballast water forms from this period were also analyzed. The values of pH, dissolved oxygen and nitrate showed a significant difference between the hydrometric phases. The ichthyoplankton was composed of eight species, represented mainly by the Engraulidae, Hemiodontidae and Achiridae families. 1371 crustacean specimens were captured, distributed in six species and 903 mollusk specimens grouped into nine species. 3,650,018.6 t of ballast water were discharged at the port of Santarém. About 83.1% of the total volume discharged underwent oceanic exchange. Vessels from the estuary ports of Rotterdam, Cabedelo, Aughinish and Montoir and from the bioregions of the Mediterranean Sea and the Western Atlantic presented a high risk of species introduction due to the presence of organisms capable of settling on the Tapajós River. Regular monitoring of aquatic biota around the main Amazonian ports must be carried out to prevent the introduction of NIS. These results serve  as a basis for decision making on the construction of new ports in the Amazon and as a reference for programs for monitoring and controlling biological invasions, as recommended by the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ballast Water and Ship Sediments.

The present study was undertaken in the Caeté River estuary and aimed to understand the contamination by thermotolerant coliforms was affected in the last decade. The hypothesis of this study is that the conditions of the Caeté waters was affected in a decade, due to both the lack of investments in basic sanitation and the populational growth. The DPSWR management model was applied in this study. Hydrological and microbiological samples were collected at eight collection points, both in the dry and rainy periods, during the high and low tide phases of the years 2013-2014 and 2018- 2019. The results showed that the upper sector is the most affected with 100% of the samples showing values above of 1.100 NMP 100 mL-1 of thermotolerant coliforms. However, the condition unappropriated for the uses (following the Brazilian legislation) was also found for other variables. The waters were more affected during the rainy season. Even being under protected areas and with the Municipality Master Plan elaborated, the sanitary sewage plan was not implemented. Compared with previous studies carried out more than a decade ago, the contamination of the Caeté estuary was intensified. According to Brazilian legislation, all the types of uses are compromised, while the socioeconomic activities continue normally occurring. This situation affects the health of the population and compromises the economic activities. Management measures are urgently need. The conditions found in the Caeté River estuary can be found in other coastal Amazonian municipalities, with similar demographic density.

The Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum is a species native to Brazil that attracts unique attractiveness for large-scale production, due to the set of characteristics that favor its development in captivity. In addition, it is one of the most requested specimens at fairs and markets in Pará, making its trade profitable. There are different populations of species distributed in different locations in Brazil, some of which are isolated by natural barriers and have no contact with each other. Long-term isolation can generate new species and some studies have already proposed it in the genus Macrobrachium, however the low divergence value reported in these studies left doubts about the validation of new individuals. In this scenario, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can offer more robust responses to these problems, since it has good resolving power in phylogenetic analyzes and is present in all eukaryotes. Thus, the objective of this study was to obtain the mitochondrial genome of the species M. amazonicum from the coastal basin of Pará and to compare it with the mtDNA of other species available in public databases. To date, there are only five complete mtDNAs for the genus deposited in these databases. For M. amazonicum, mtDNA was obtained via transcriptome. It has 37 regions: 13 protein coders, 22 tRNAs and two ribosomal RNA subunits (12S and 16S). The fragment obtained through the De Novo assembly showed 14960 bp. One of the tRNAs was incomplete (tRNAIle) and the control region (D-loop) was not recovered, with a gap of 793 bp. The deposit of the sequences in the databases will assist in future phylogenetic analyzes between different populations of the species. 

Brazilian Amazon concentrates a great diversity of amphibian species, being represented by approximately 250 valid species described for this region. However, the study of the parasitological fauna of these organisms for this region is still extremely rare, especially in relation to monogenean parasites. Our knowledge about biodiversity of this group of parasites is limited to four polystomatid species, Polystoma knoffi Du Preez and Domingues, 2019 and Polystoma travassosi Du Preez and Domingues, 2019 from Trachycephalus nigromaculatus Tschudi, 1838 and Trachycephalus mesophaea (Hensel, 1867), respectively; and Polystoma cuvieri Vaucher, 1990 reported for the anuran Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826 and Polystoma lopezromani Combes e Laurent reported to Trachycephalus typhonius (Linnaeus, 1758) both from southern Brazil (i.e., Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná). Sample were collected in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 in the northeastern region of Pará, where specimens of Polystoma were reported parasitizing the urinary bladder of Physaleamus ephippifer (Steindachner, 1864). This species is described herein as a new species of Polystoma. This parasite and its respective host were analyzed in the present study, which aimed to study the ontogenetic development of the parasite through parasitic infection experiments, as well as using integrative taxonomy from molecular markers (ie, mtDNA) and morphological characters ( ie, histology, chaetotaxy, ultrastructure) to assess the taxonomic status of the polistomatids found in P. ephippifer.

The Great Amazon Reef System (GARS) is considered a hotspot for fish diversity, where the species Pagrus pagrus, abundant and widespread at the Atlantic Ocean, is also found and making different uses of this environment. Studies on metagenomics and stable isotopes have been proven to be important tools towards the understanding of the trophic relationships between organisms, as well as between microbiomes and their hosts. Therefore, the present work evaluated the microbiome of intestines and the stable isotopes of intestines, stomach and muscles of P. pagrus, seeking to understand the ecologic dynamics of this species and subsiding the understand of the GARS functionality. Fish specimens were collected at two distinct stations at the GARS and its border, whereas sponges, water, sediment and physical-chemical parameters were collected at several additional points. Dictyopteris undulata was the only species observed in the intestine of P pagrus, and this is the first known record in this study area. The isotopic analyses based on δ13C and δ15N show that specimens collected at the GARS present higher dietary plasticity, compared to those collected at its transition, despite statistical significance. Proteobacteria (40.7%), Planctomycetes (24%), Firmicutes (14.9%), Cyanobacteria (6.5%) e Actinobacteria (4.5%) were the most abundant groups within the microbiomes. The metagenomic profile of fishes from the GARS also showed substantial differences in comparison to those at the border. The isotopic data also suggest that there is an important and efficient incorporation and transference of continental organic matter in this marine ecosystem at the Amazon River mouth. Finally, this study revealed a complex and dynamic microbiome within P. pagrus, which in association with stable isotopes data, were proven to be excellent tools to evaluate trophic aspects and ecological adaptability of this species, as well as the functionality of the GARS as a whole. 

 O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a bioecologia de Bryconops melanurus em quatro riachos do nordeste paraense, com o intuito de estimar a relação peso comprimento, fator de condição e a dieta alimentar da espécie. Os indivíduos (n=211) foram capturados trimestralmente entre novembro de 2015 a agosto de 2016 através de redes de arrastos (2m de comprimento, 1m de altura e 2mm de abertura da malha entrenós). A relação peso-comprimento foi determinada a partir da seguinte equação com adaptações: Wt = a.Lb  e o fator de condição foi determinado utilizando a equação proposta por Vazzoler : K=Wt/Lb .Para a caracterização dos hábitos alimentares foram realizadas análises qualitativas e quantitativas, determinando-se a frequência de ocorrência (FO%) e o percentual volumétrico (VO%). Esses valores foram utilizados para calcular o Índice de Importância Alimentar proposto por Kawakami & Vazzoler. Análise de variância multivariada permutacional (PERMANOVA), utilizando o índice de dissimilaridade de Bray-Curtis e 10.000 permutações foi utilizada para testar diferenças nos valores de peso e comprimento e nas categorias alimentares entre os períodos sazonais, meses e fases dos indivíduos e para visualizar as variações na composição da dieta foi realizado um escalonamento multidimensional não-métrico (nMDS) e ANOSIM com o auxílio do software GNU-R. O comprimento padrão e peso médio dos exemplares analisados corresponderam a 34,4±12,19mm e 0,89±2,23g, respectivamente. O valor de b da relação peso-comprimento foi >3, indicando crescimento alométrico positivo para ambos os sexos, enquanto que os valores do fator de condição sugeriram que o pico energético ocorreu no período chuvoso, época de maior oferta de alimento para a espécie. A espécie estudada consumiu 114 itens alimentares. Em todos os riachos a categoria representada por partes de insetos foi a mais expressiva da dieta. A categoria representada por insetos aquáticos foi mais expressiva no período chuvoso enquanto que os insetos terrestres predominaram no período de estiagem. Já a categoria representada por algas filamentosas só ocorreu no período chuvoso e a categoria representada por material vegetal predominou em maio/2016. A categoria representada por microcrustáceos foi a menos importante da dieta (PERMANOVA, Pseudo-F = 3.08, P < 0.001). Entre as fases de desenvolvimento foi registrado maior ingestão de categorias vegetais nos indivíduos jovens e uma maior ingestão de insetos nos adultos. Tal fato reflete um mecanismo de coexistência existente entre os indivíduos da espécie para minimizar a competição. Contudo, os itens provenientes da mata ciliar se mostraram de grande importância para a alimentação da espécie, sendo indispensável práticas de conservação e recuperação das áreas de mata ciliar, visto que a permanência da zona ripária sustenta o equilíbrio biológico que é fundamental para a preservação da diversidade.

The influence of the 2015/16 El Niño event on environmental variables and the structure of the zooplanktonic community was investigated in a tropical estuary (Taperaçu, Northern Brazil). Specifically, study aimed to explore the response of dominant species and ecological indexes (diversity, envenness and richness) to temporal changes in the rainfall regime and hydrological parameters in a scenario of tropical meso-macro tides. To this end, eight field campaigns were performed between September 2014 and June 2016, with zooplankton samples collected at three fixed stations using conical nets (120 μm), with water and zooplankton samples analyzed by standardized methods. During the present study, the physical, chemical and biological variables of the water were directly affected by the decreases in rainfall levels resulting from the action of the El Niño event. This caused an increase in salinity and reductions in the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton biomass were observed in the studied area. These conditions had a direct effect on the monthly dynamics of zooplankton as a whole, and in particular the copepods Acartia lilljeborgii (5,066 ± 8,124 ind m⁻³, p <0.0001) and Euterpina acutifrons (880.81 ± 1,490 ind m⁻³, p <0.0001), and the appendicularia Oikopleura dioica (724.04 ± 1,153 ind m ⁻³, p <0.05), which were significantly related to the high values of salinity, pH and temperature, showing peak density in El Niño months. High rates of recruitment of copepod nauplii were also observed during these months, with the highest larval densities overlapping that of the dominant adult forms. The effects of anomalous climatic conditions (low rainfall) were also reflected in reduced diversity (2.45 ± 0.61 bits ind^-1, p <0.001) and equitability (0.57 ± 0.14, p <0.001), which not only affected the structure of the zooplankton community, but may also have caused changes in the estuarine trophic dynamics at its highest levels.

The hydrographic basin of the Caeté River has been affected in the last decades bydifferent environmental impacts  generated by natural and anthropogenic factors, that result in regional water security risks. In this context, it is essential to monitor environmental health indicators such as water quality, as well as social aspects. So, the main goal of this study was to analyze the impacts of anthropogenic and natural pressures in the Caeté river basin and their implications for the water security. For this, physico-chemical and microbiological parameters were analyzed using temporal and spatial scales through water samples collected of surface and groundwater along the basin. Socioeconomic aspects were also studied to propose guidelines and to guarantee the local water security. This information was collected through the participatory diagnosis carried out by the SWOT methodology, fieldwork andprevious studies. The results showed that microbiological contamination increased along the years, and the main cause was the lack of adequate basic sanitation system, irregular waste disposal and unplanned population growth in the region. Thus, water security in the basin is far from being attained, but there are priority paths that must be followed to subsidize measures to improve the living conditions of the populations and local ecosystems. These measures are related to implementation of effective actions for the conservation and management of the hydric resources, such as the recovery of springs and riparian shrubs, planning of the land use and construction of basic sanitation systems. It is expected that this work will contribute to subsidize social actions, evolving an adequate hydric management to guarantee water security and to minimize the impacts generated by anthropogenic and natural pressures in the Caeté River basin.

The amazon river prawn - Macrobrachium amazonicum presents the presence of morphotypes in adult males (TC, CC, GC1 and GC2) as a characteristic of ontogenetic development. These have distinct physiological patterns (growth, color, metabolism, digestion, excretion) and may be targets for the regulation of gene expression. In the present study, we used the New Generation Sequencing (NSG), on the platform Ilumina HiSeq 2500, to obtain the small non-coding RNAs, expressed in the muscular and reproductive system, of the morphotypes of M. amazonicum. Four miRNA (Mam-miR-6236, Mam-miR-2b, Mam-miR-1 e Mam-miR-12) were identified associated with five potential target genes involved in functional cell growth pathways in TC (Serine / threonine-protein kinase mTOR) and reproductive aspects in CC, such as hormonal biosynthesis (Delta (24) -sterol reductase), cell division control (Division Cycle 14A and Meiotic Recomnation 11) and cutting behavior (cAMP-specific 3 ', 5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase 4). Suggesting that the characters manifested by TC and CC may be the result of post-transcriptional gene regulation, via miRNA. These data collaborated with the development of the technological package of M. amazonicum, enabling future studies involving the development of moleculares tools, applied to the optimization of productive aspects in the species.

The Amazon comprises a large biological, water and mineral mosaic. Such wealth can be alternatives for local exploration and regional development. The work involved the production of artisanal canned prawns from the Amazon with tucupi and jambu sauce. The experiment consisted of thermal sterilization at 121 ° C with treatments at different exposure times, 15, 20 and 25 minutes (T1, T2 and T3) and another treatment at 15 minutes using the shelled shrimp (T4). The analyzes performed aimed to ascertain the safety, nutritional and sensory quality of the product. Sensory analysis of a hedonic scale was applied to 40 untrained tasters and proximate analysis following the Adolfo Lutz (2008) methodology. The analysis of yield and weight loss by cooking were calculated by the difference in weight after processing. Microbiological analyzes were carried out for Coliforms, Staphylococci, Salmonella and Clostridium over 12 months, the pH and the values of Total Nitrogen Bases (TVBN) were also evaluated. The Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) was performed using replicates of 10, for each treatment using only the treatments without shell. Colorimetric analyzes were performed in triplicate using raw material in natura and processed, making use of only treatments without shell. The data were processed by ANOVA statistical analysis. Sensory analysis showed significant differences in the Global Acceptance (GA) attribute, flavor, purchase intention and consumption frequency, with T1 and T2 being the treatments that obtained the best results, differing from the others. The results of the centesimal analysis showed the high protein value of the products, above 16%. The yield was reduced according to the application of heat, with T4 significantly higher value (77.42%), between treatments. The cooking loss was accentuated by the application of heat, with T4 having better results (22.58%) differing from the others. No sample, within 12 months, showed microbiological development, showing the success of the commercial sterilization process. The results of NBVT showed the inability of the product with peel, as it showed values above that allowed by Brazilian legislation (<30 mg N / 100g). The TPA showed a significant variation for the attributes cohesiveness, gummyness and chewability, with T3 varying from the others (T1 and T2). The colorimetric analysis showed a significant color variation of the fresh shrimp, from grayish to pinkish, in the processed. Tucupi and jambu darkened after heat treatment.

Carassius auratus is a teleost fish that has been largely used in behavioral studies. However, little is known about potential environmental influences on its performance of learning and memory tasks. Here, we investigated this question in C. auratus, and searched for potential correlation between exercise and visuospatial enrichment with the total number of telencephalic glia and neurons. To that end, males and females were housed for 183 days in either an enriched (EE) or impoverished environment (IE) aquarium. EE contained toys, natural plants, and a 12-hour/day water stream for voluntary exercise, whereas the IE had none of the above. A third plus-maze aquarium was used for spatial and object recognition tests. Different visual clues in 2 of its 4 arms were used to guide fish to reach the criteria to complete the task. The test consisted of 30 sessions and was concluded when each animal performed three consecutive correct choices or seven alternated, each ten trials. Learning rates revealed significant differences between EE and IE fish. The optical fractionator was used to estimate the total number of telencephalic cells that were stained with cresyl violet. On average, the total number of cells in the subjects from EE was higher than those from subjects maintained in IE (P=0.0202). We suggest that environmental enrichment significantly influenced goldfish spatial learning and memory abilities, and this may be associated with an increase in the total number of telencephalic cells.

Fish is one of the main sources of protein consumed by the world population, and through its processing, different forms of fish products reach the consumers, with added value, greater durability, sensorial quality and practicality. However, processing removes diagnostic traces facilitating substitution and mislabeling. Additionally, many genera of Sciaenidae family are morphologically similar and with sympatric distribution, there is no standardization of vernacular and commercial nomenclature of the species either, besides these species have different commercial values. All these factors might lead to substitution and mislabeling. Therefore, the present study aimed: i) to evaluate the authenticity of processed products of high commercial interest sold in the State of Pará under designation of “pescada amarela” (Cynoscionacoupa) and “pescada branca” (Plagioscionsquamosissimus e Cynoscionleiarchus), ii) and develop a protocol of rapid identification based on multiplex PCR in order to authenticate those products. From the barcoding portion of Cytochrome oxidase C subunit I (COI) were analyzed 145 fillets of “pescada amarela” and 143 processed products of “pescada branca”. The findings revealed substitution rate of 47,59% and > 70% to “pescada amarela” and “pescada branca”, respectively. Overall, the replaced species were Sciaenidae species of low or no commercial value, which characterizes fraud. From a fragment of 1209 bp of the COI gene, specific species reverse markers were developed, which were combined with a direct universal marker to an unambiguous identification of the target species and their substituents by multiplex PCR. In the two multiplex assays realized were possible to precisely identify the target species (C. acoupa e P. squamosissimus, C. leiarchus) and the substituents (Nebris microps, Macrodon ancylodon, Cynoscion microlepidotus, Plagioscion auratus e Cynoscion virescens). Our results confirm the specificity and sensibility of the barcoding DNA in the authentication of processed fish, besides the multiplex protocol developed provides a rapid and low-cost alternative that can be adopted by companies to certify their products, or by government agencies to identify substitution involving the species in study, preventing frauds and ensuring the safety of consumption.

The species Antilophia galeata (Lichtenstein, 1823), popularly known as helmeted manakin, belongs to the group of neotropical birds of the family of Piprids. This species presents ample and abundant distribution in the Cerrado Biome, in the central portion of Brazil, eastern Bolivia and northeastern Paraguay. It is considered as an endemic and typical species of gallery forests of this biome, showing a close relationship with humid forest environments. With the degradation of the vegetation formation of the Cerrado and, consequently, of the gallery forests present, the populations of A. galeata may be directly suffering the effect of this action, once the decrease in its area of occurrence is occurring. Its present conservation status, classified as not worrying, may not reflect the true reality of this bird, because studies show a breach of connectivity of many areas of gallery forests within the different watersheds that occur in Cerrado. Knowing the effects that habitat fragmentation can cause in populations, such as loss of variability and increased chances of endogamy events, we conducted a phylogeographic and genetic population study for A. galeata. The present study was divided into four chapters, where initially a theoretical basis was made on the area of occurrence of the species in study, followed by three studies based on multiloci analysis, using variable regions of mitochondrial DNA ( I hypervariable domain of the control region) and nuclear (microsatellites), with the objective of evaluating the population structure and genetic diversity of the species of the genus Antilophia with a focus on A. galeata. Firstly, we developed microsatellites markers for the genus Antilophia using the DNA of the sister species of A. galeata, the critically threatened A. bokermanni to perform the characterization of genetic diversity and structure population for both species of the genus. Subsequently we used Antilophia galeata as a model for the evolutionary understanding of the Cerrado landscape, evaluating the population structure and genetic diversity in large scale using the I hypervariable domain (HDI) of the Control region mitochondrial genome. Finalized with a more judicious evaluation of the genetic distribution and the contemporary diversity for this neotropical manakin considered common in its habitat, this being the first phylogeographic study for this species covering the entire area of occurrence.

Lutjanidae is a family of marine fishes which includes 21 genera and 135 species distributed throughout the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The phylogenetic relationships of the Lutjaninae, the largest and most diverse subfamily of the group remain uncertain. Also, the species Lutjanus alexandrei, endemic to the northeast coast of Brazil, has not been included in any phylogenetic hypothesis to date, neither its population has been studied concerning the phylogeographic process that influenced its distribution. Thus, we performed two works based on multilocos analysis, integrating mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, taking different approaches. At first, we analyzed the west Atlantic Lutjaninae species, directed to the controversial relationship between Lutjanus, Rhomboplites and Ocyurus, and phylogenetically allocated L. alexandrei and dated its origin. In this context, 4.4 kb-based phylogenetic trees including mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from 11 species corroborated the synonymy between the monotypic and Lutjanus. For dating of L. alexandrei, analyzes based on 3.0 kb and 53 species, genetically validated the species and placed it as sister of L. apodus, from which it separated between 2.5 - 6.5 Mya, which may be probably caused by the barrier represented by discharges from the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. The second part of the thesis investigated the genetical structure and connectivity in addition to demographic history of L. alexandrei population, which we recovered high rates of genetic variation and the existence of a single genetic stock, which could be explained by data from its bioecology. The species lacks further bioecological studies that could contribute substantially to the understanding of the results found here. Lastly, demographic history and neutrality tests indicated that L. alexandrei underwent population expansion during the Pleistocene. This work represents the most robust multiloci analysis directed to the synonymization of the three West Atlantic Lutjaninae genera and the first phylogenetic hypothesis to propose a position and origin for L. alexandrei, besides being the first phylogeographic analysis performed for the most recent Lutjanidae from western Atlantic.

The Amazonian continental shelf is a highly energetic environment, where the circulation is the result of combined and complex action of trade winds and associated waves and currents, tides, and the Amazon River plume (PRA). Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of an extensive mesophotic reef system in this region, despite supposedly adverse conditions. Occurring mainly at depths between 70 and 200 m, these reef systems differ from classical reef systems in several respects.The present study investigated the characteristics of the water column and the seabed that define this mesophotic reef environment and that would be controlling its occurrence. Three field campaigns were carried out, one in May/June 2017 (west, towards the PRA), a second campaign in April 2018 (central) and a third campaign during July 2019 (southeast), on the Maranhão continental shelf. Each campaign includes 9 to 13 stations with vertical profiling of temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and eventually chlorophyll-a, as well as bottom sediment sampling. The spacing between the stations was ~10 nautical miles. It was possible to observe a clear influence of the Amazon River plume (PRA) in the westernmost profile (2017) and in the central profile (2018), in terms of salinity and turbidity. Three water masses were identified: one related to the PRA dynamics (AP), tropical waters (TW) and the South Atlantic Central water (SACW). Sedimentological data showed that between the westernmost and the central profiles there are clear differences in mud and carbonate contents, indicating also the existence of a transitional zone between the two sectors (plume and non-plume area). In the southeastern profile carbonatic sediments prevail from ~60 km off the coast towards the shelf break at ~160 km, with siliciclastic sands close to the coastline. Using PCA, it was evident that carbonate contents are strongly bound to depth, and silicilastic sediments prevail near the coast and, therefore, in shallow waters. Turbidity is strongly correlated with mud content, average grain size and organic matter content. The sand amount and salinity correlates strongly with the (transverse) distance of the PRA. The integration of water column, bottom and meiofauna data show that in the central profile turbidity is not significant and light would not be the limiting factor, but mesophotic reefs do not fully occupy the potential depth range of its occurrence. In this case the alterations of the bottom and the eventual burial are limiting, instead. The results presented here further suggest that reefs in general (whether mesophotic or shallow water ones) have a tendency to expand to lower depths at the south and central profiles. In the southernmost profile, there was a clear prevalence of carbonatic sedimentation and the significant occurrence of rhodoliths and sponges at depths of ~30 m towards the shelf break. In the 20-30 m range, shallow water reefs appear to predominate as part of Parcel Manoel Luís. In this profile it was not observed the influence of the PRA (or any other river influence). In a correlation along the platform it is possible to identify a trend of expansion of mesophotic reefs and shallow water reefs from southeast to west, where the water column conditions were favorable, or at least not limiting. The scarce occurrence of consolidated substrates for shallow water reefs (e.g., scleratinid corals) or the high dynamics of the unconsolidated substrate for mesophotic reefs (e.g., rhodoliths and sponges) seem to be the limiters of this possible expansion. New dating definitively demonstrates that the mesophotic reef system is alive in the study area, and the meiofauna data presented here reinforce this statement, indicating a great species richness and adaptability, including a trend of expansion.

The tidal channel of Urumajó is an of the channels that flows into the estuary of the Caeté River, with a length of 50 km (source - mouth, near the city Augusto Corrêa and watershed of 544 km²). This study analyzed the existence of silting evidence of this channel by applying an integrated study of Ground Penetrating Radar tools (GPR), bathymetric and sedimentological analysis. Through the GPR it was generally possible to imagine the morphology of the studied tidal channel and identify geological forms (banks, meander bars, valleys), siltation signs, erosive processes and sediment accumulation in the channel during the comparison of radargrams. The results obtained with the bathymetry (profiles L8, L9, L10 / source and L1, L2 and L3 / mouth of the channel in the Caeté river estuary) allowed to identify silting indications such as: riparian forest degradation..  The silting was due to the anthropic action, as a consequence of the diverse activities in the margins of the channel, (livestock, agriculture, housing, ports, etc) that has caused a retreat of margins. In the central part of the tidal channel (points L4, L5 and L6) sediment accumulations were identified due probably to the influence of the tide. The tidal channel studied was characterized by sand sediments (30%) and mud (70%) in the rainy season.of 2018  In the dry period of 2018 the variation is almost the same: 28% sand and 72% mud sediment. The presence of mud sediment was predominant on the margins of the channel. In the dry period there was an increase in the presence of mud sediment in the region upstream of the channel. The siltation phenomenon identified along the studied channel is predominantly anthropic due to several identified factors: existence of small fishermen's port, houses, riparian forest deforestation, agriculture, livestock, etc.

The aim of the present study was to quantify and to describe the dynamics of litter production in a floodplain forest of the middle Caeté river between the villages of Chaú and Tauari, Bragança, Pará, Brazil. We delimited 16 plots (20 m×30 m) with six subplots (10 m×10 m each). A litter trap (0.45 m²) was installed in each subplot (n=96). The topographic height of the plots was mapped as proxy for inundation. The content of the litter traps was collected biweekly. In the lab, material was triaged and dried. Leaf fragments were separated according to type and each type was, if possible, associated with a plant species registered in the area. Annual litter fall (October 2017 to October 2018) was 12.3±18.9 t·ha^-1y^-1 (mean and standard deviation). The largest fraction of litter was leaves (54.6%), followed by wood (20.8%) and fruits (9.5%). Of 207 different litter types, 197 were leaves. Of these, 79 were associated with lianas, 3 and 7 with hemiepiphytes and epiphytes, respectively. The highest amounts of leaf material were contributed by Macrolobium angustifolium (Fabaceae; 5.2%), followed by Licania macrophylla (Chrysobalanaceae; 4.8%); each of the other species contributed ≤ 3.3% individually. Leaf fall was continuous but a number of species showed characteristic oscillations with mono- or bimodal patterns. Synchronisation among traps varied according to species, but was generally low. For traps installed on higher terrain, slightly elevated litter fall rates were recorded. In addition to height, river discharge had a significant effect on leaf litter production.

Mangroves are essential for estuarine-coastal extractivists because they are a permanent source of resources for their survival. However, there is a global concern directed at the economic benefits of the resources available in this system. And in order to understand how human well-being is influenced by the change in the quality or quantity of ecosystem goods and services, the present work aims to estimate the value of mangrove goods and services, through the economic valuation of its natural resources. Fieldwork was carried out in the communities within the limits (Bonifácio and Castelo) and in the surroundings (America and Tamatateua) of the Marine Extractive Reserve (RESEX-Mar) Caeté-Taperaçu located in the town of Bragança, Pará, Brazilian Amazon coast. Questionnaires with structured questions were elaborated and applied. The perception of estuarine-coastal extractivists was evaluated with respect to the use value (UV) estimated at R$ 11.724.745.500‬,00; the non-use value (NUV) or value of existence (VE), through the willingness to pay (WTP) and the voluntary work (VW) for mangrove recovery, using the contingent valuation method, estimated at R$ 103.950.000,00. In addition, most of the respondents (92%) stated that they would help with monthly fees of up to R$ 10.00 (49%) to restore the mangroves if they had any negative impact, and would be willing to volunteer weekly up to 2 hours for cleaning and replanting (39%). The total economic value (TEV) of the mangrove goods and services of the RESEX-Mar as a whole was estimated at R$ 11.828.695.500,00 or R$ 278.393,19 ha. Finally, the present study contributed information on the benefits of mangrove valuation through the estimations of the residents' perceptions of RESEX-Mar Caeté-Taperaçu on the feasibility of a cost analysis for possible ecosystem recovery, in addition to leaving values as reference for the establishment of financial penalties or compensation that may be applied as a result of negative environmental impacts.

The Hypophthalmus edentatus is a fishing resource distributed in the Amazonian and Araguaia-Tocantins basins, where it is one of the highly exploited catfish species in commercial fisheries. This is an abundant migratory species in the Araguaia-Tocantins basin, an ecosystem that is highly fragmented, possessing natural barriers such as waterfalls and rapids, and anthropic barriers such as hydroelectric dams, which can alter the population structure of fish, especially migratory species. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the genetic variability, population structure, phylogeographic patterns and demographic history of H. edentatus in the Araguaia-Tocantins basin. 547 base pairs of the control region of mitochondrial DNA were sequenced from 179 individuals sampled upstream and downstream of the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Power Plant. High levels of genetic diversity were observed in populations (h= 0,94-0,98; π= 0,014-0,019), suggesting that the environmental changes as well as the fishing pressure did not compromise in the short term the genetic diversity of these populations, so that the observed variation can be the result of the diversity of the species over the evolutionary time. The haplotype network, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and BAPS showed similar results evidencing absence of population subdivision in H. edentatus. Therefore, it is possible to infer that there is probably a gene flow, with adults, larvae or eggs being transported upstream, following the rapids and waterfalls, or the opening of the dam spillways of the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Power Plant, during the floods. The low differentiation observed between Conceição do Araguaia and Cametá, with some of the populations sampled, may be the result of genetic drift or contact with metapopulations of the Amazon basin, especially in the case of Cametá. Demographic history assessments revealed a process of population expansion in the Pleistocene, about 15,000 years ago in the OIS1 interglacial period, which may have been a result of changes in environmental conditions and habitat availability for the growth of H. edentatus populations. Our results can be used as a basis for the elaboration of future management plans, so that the genetic integrity of the species is maintained, even with the intense modification of habitats, by anthropic action, in the Araguaia-Tocantins basin.

The eastern sector of the Amazonian coastal zone is known as CMMA (Macrotidal Mangrove-estuarine Amazonian Coast). Its substantial environmental diversity and rapid evolution is a result of intense physical-geological incident factors. The CMMA is composed by several estuaries and coastal plain peninsulas that evolve from emerging sand barriers and back-barrier environment, within wide tidal channels that connect estuaries from both sides. The present work aimed to investigate the role of these high-connectivity tidal channels in the evolution of the area, whereas they would play a major role in the muddy sediments’ transfer and overall accumulation. On the other hand, it is expected that tidal propagation from both sides (estuaries) of such tidal channels would result in sediment transport convergence inside the channels, leading to higher sedimentation rates and closure of the connection and the formation of two regular tidal channels related to each of the estuaries. However, it is observed that several channels, including mature ones, keep an effective connection. Thus, two high-connectivity tidal channels, namely Furo do Taici and Furo Grande, part of the Bragança-Ajuruteua peninsula, were investigated. Data collection includes current velocity, water level, turbidity, salinity, bottom sedimentology and bathymetry, during rainy and dry seasons and spring-neap tidal cycles. The results have showed that even when the Furo do Taici is considered the oldest one in the peninsula, it corresponds still to an effective connection, transferring about 2,250 tons of mud annually from the Caeté to the Taperaçu estuary. This process takes place at the flood phase during about 2h, when there is no transport convergence within the channel. The investigation of the Furo Grande tidal channel, which is substantially younger than the Furo do Taici, revealed a sediment transport convergence in its interior. However, differences among both sides, i.e., Caeté and Taperaçu estuaries, would be resulting in a gradual migration of this convergence towards the Taperaçu estuary, which in term would prevent the connection closure as anticipated initially and resembling the Furo do Taici behavior. The maintenance of the high connectivity of estuaries through the channels would be therefore a fundamental part of the muddy sediments circulation within the CMMA, where the unbalanced suspended sediment transport from west to east, and the unequal local mud input from diverse river basins along the sector, would be finally balanced from the mud flux through the tidal channels, forced by tidal propagation from east to west and by the asymmetry of theconnected estuaries, contributing substantially to the mud retention along the coast and to the physiographic similarity of estuaries and peninsulas of this sector.

The genus Leptalpheus Williams, 1965 is currently compound by 17 known species, all of them found living in association with decapod crustaceans of the families Callianassidae Dana, 1852, Axianassidae Schmitt, 1924 and Upogebiidae Borradaile, 1903. These species are easily recognized by the morphology of the major queliped (chela), being extremely asymmetrical and usually carried folded. Because of their small size and extremely cryptic lifestyle, its biological and ecological aspects are still unknown. In addition, within the 17 species of the genus Leptalpheus, none of them had their larval development described completely or partially in the literature. To date, the distribution of these species occurs primarily in the western portion of the Atlantic and the eastern Pacific. In Brazil, only two species of the genus Leptalpheus were recorded: L. axianassae Dworschak & Coelho, 1999,found in the states of Ceará, Pernambuco, Bahia and São Paulo, and L. forceps Williams, 1965, with records for the states of Ceará, Paraíba, Sergipe and Bahia. The present study presents a new occurrence of L. forceps for the Brazilian coast and the first record of L. marginalis Anker, 2011 for Brazil and the west coast of the Atlantic. In addition, the present contribution presents for the first time a description and detailed illustrations of the first larval stages (zoea) of both species, reared under laboratory conditions. A total of 360 individuals (222 males, 37 non-ovigerous females and 101 ovigerous females) were collected from L. forceps and only 48 specimens (38 males, 2 non-ovigerous females and 8 ovigerous females) were collected from L. marginalis from 3,000 burrows belonging to callianassid shrimp Lepidophthalmus siriboia Felder & Rodrigues, 1993 in an area located in an intertidal area localized in Ajuruteua peninsula, northeast of Pará. In the laboratory, five larval stages of L. forceps and four stages of L. marginalis were obtained, independently of the presence or type of food tested, with total mortality of larvae reaching the stage of zoea V or IV, respectively. Although these results indicate a possible lecitotrophic behavior, larval mortality at these specific stages suggests a change in the planctotrophic behavior and/or the need for more specific food items and/or abiotic conditions more favorable for the complete larval development of both species. When comparing the first zoea stage among species, zoea I of L. forceps differs from L. marginalis by the presence of antennule with 3 aesthetascs; antenna with 6-segment exopod; maxillule presenting coxal endite with 2 simple setae, basal endite with 1 simple setae, and endopod with 2 simple setae; endopod of maxilla with 1 plumose setae and 2 simple setae, and exopod with 4 plumose setae; first maxilliped with a protopod with 2 spines; second maxilliped presenting protopod with 2 spines, endopod with 3 simple setae and 1 denticulate setae, and exopod with 1 simple setae; third maxilliped without setae or spines in the protopod, and endopod with 3 denticulate setae. Comparing the first larval stage of both Leptalpheus species with larvae of other species of Alpheus shrimp (genus: Alpheus, Synalpheus, Athanas and Automate) recorded on the Brazilian coast, morphologicaldifferences are observed in relation to the presence, quantity, arrangement and types of setae in some appendages, requiring a joint analysis of the characters in order to identify the species correctly. The cryptic lifestyle and difficulty in obtaining these animals may be the main reasons for the few studies carried out with these species. Moreover, the lack of adequate material for the identification of larval stages also makes it difficult to correctly diagnose them, and they are generally classified as decapod larvae. Thus, it is imperative that studies on larval development and morphology be carried out, not only to increase knowledge about larval diversity, behavior and dispersion, but also to develop identification keys for organisms collected in the pelagic environment.

The present study aimed to characterize the composition of the diet of the species Moenkhausia collettii in individuals of length classes different, in order to analyze possible temporal variations in feeding, in different orders streams of northeast of the Pará. The samples were collected from November 2015 to August 2016. The fishes were captured during the daytime using trawl nets (2m long, 1m high and 2mm aperture of the internodes mesh). The degree of repletion for each stomach was determined by visual evaluation and the stomachs were classified according to the scale from 0 to 3. The diet was characterized by the frequency of occurrence and the index of volumetric analysis, used to calculate the index of food importance. The dietary preferences of the species studied were determined. The parametric test (ANOVA) was applied, aiming to verify significant differences in the diet composition of the individuals and classification trees were developed to verify patterns in the diet of the species between the streams of distinct orders and length classes. The total of 812 individuals with sizes between 11.6 and 51.5 mm of standard length were analyzed. The species ingested a large amount of food items, adding a total of 112 items that were grouped in 23 categories, predominantly food category Digested Material, followed by Insects Parts and Filamentous Algae. The species was classified as omnivorous with a generalist feeding strategy. In both seasonal periods, items of autochthonous origin were more important in the diet. In the first-order streams, the items of allochthonous origin were more important (IAi = 0.5221) and in the fourth-order, autochthonous items presented greater importance in the diet of the species (IAi = 0.6171). According to the classification tree, Filamentous Algae were positively associated to the fourth-order streams, to the dry period and to individuals of larger sizes. The Digested Material category was related to the first-order streams, while Insect Parts were positively associated with the individuals of smaller size, to the first-order streams and to the rainy season. The other registered food categories did not present significant differences due to slight differences between them. The diversity of items consumed of autochthonous and allochthonous origin in the streams of different orders studied, independently of the seasonal period and along the size classes analyzed, reinforces the importance of riparian vegetation as a source of direct or indirect resource for the species, making necessary the development of measures of protection for these ecosystems, aiming at the preservation of riparian vegetation, as well as the conservation of the entire aquatic community.

Although of spreading of the use of New Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies that enables a high quantify of obtained loci, one or few gene loci still frequently used in Species Delimitation Approaches, and, in several fields leading of Comparative Biology. In the present study, we used the unilocus species delimitation algorithmsto Lutjaninae samples, and multilocus approaches to Lutjanus campechanus and Lutjanus purpureus species. For unilocus algorithms, divergences among methods were detected. ABGD, PTP and mTP methods tend to estimate fewer species. The Coalescent phylogenetic methods relating the sequences at a single threshold were congruents for the same number of lineages. While, algorithms with multiple thresholds tend to figure out a large number of potential species. In relation of delimitation process between L. campechanus and L. purpureus, coalescent methodologies of species delimitation molecular approach showed a congruous scenary to the L. campechanus and L. purpureus as distinct units. Albeit, an apparent unidirectional gene flow exchange from L. campechanus to L. purpureus can be observed. L. campechanus has a population size around three times smaller than L. purpureus. In cases, where, accentuated differences of efetive population size are observed, suggesting that is too difficult to define the gene flow and incomplete separation of lineages, due to the distinct effects of genetic drift into two populations. Thus, we suggest that L. campechanus and L. purpureus are distinct evolutionary units, with sharing of genes caused by large differences in effective size of their populations.

This thesis, composed of three scientific articles, describes the environmental integrity of first order streams (headwaters) of the Caeté river basin in the northeast of the State of Pará. The applicability of the use of benthic macroinvertebrates associated with water quality and characteristics of the riparian environment as evaluation tools. Moreover, it identifies the main anthropic impacts around the basin, especially arising from agriculture, pasture, mining and urbanization activities. This information may serve as a subsidy for biomonitoring programs, as well as help in the elaboration of measures for the management and conservation of headwater streams in the Eastern Amazon. The General Introduction presents a conceptual approach to hydrographic basins, lotic and lentic freshwater ecosystems and the importance of macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of the environmental integrity. In the first article covering Chapter I of the thesis, ecological integrity assessments of ten headwater streams of the Caeté basin were conducted using macroinvertebrate families and functional groups, water quality and a Riparian Habitat Diversity Index (RHDI). Field samples were collected in three months of the Amazonian rainy season (March, April and May) and in the three months of the dry season (September, October and November) in 2016, totaling 540 replicates. Macroinvertebrate structure was distinct for streams classed as natural by the RHDI, but similar in those classed as altered and impacted. The numbers of macroinvertebrate families, especially Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT), were higher in natural streams. The highest correlations with the RHDI score were positive for the number of EPT families and percentage shredders, and negative for Berger-Parker dominance and chironomid abundance. In altered and impacted streams, tolerant taxa (mainly Chironomidae and Tubificidae) and percentage predators were predominant. In natural streams, the percentage of gravel, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH and organic matter content were higher, whereas in altered and impacted streams, turbidity and percentage sand were higher. Thus, use of EPT and Chironomidae abundance, associated with the RHDI scores, facilitate rapid and reliable monitoring of eastern Amazon headwaters and may be generally applicable to other low-order tropical streams. The second article, in Chapter II, evaluates performance of two biological indexes based on macroinvertebrates (Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) and the Family Biotic Index (FBI) to evaluate water quality in six Caeté basin headwaters. In terms of biological water quality, BMWP distinguished natural streams from altered and impacted ones, but was unable to distinguish between the latter two. The FBI performed better, discerning among different biological water quality classes at each RHDI level. Organic matter, gravel and dissolved oxygen were higher in streams with excellent water quality, whereas turbidity, conductivity, were higher in lower quality waters. In this context, the FBI is recommended for use in biomonitoring water quality of Amazon headwater streams, due to efficiency, easy of use, low cost and strong correlation with RHDI. The third article, in Chapter III, describes for the first time in the eastern Amazon, the effect of small dams on macroinvertebrate assemblage structure and water quality in headwater streams. Abundance and composition of macroinvertebrate families and physicochemical water quality variables were compared between five streams without dams (stream habitat) and five streams with dams (reservoir habitat) in the Caeté basin. Macroinvertebrate diversity was lower in reservoirs, with higher temperature, conductivity and turbidity, and greater abundance of tolerant taxa (Chironomidae, Chaoboridae and Tubificidae). In stream habitat, where dissolved oxygen and pH were higher, macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance of sensitive taxa (EPT and Elmidae) were higher. As construction of small dams affects ecological integrity, regulation and management are urgently needed for headwater stream conservation in the Eastern Amazon. The General Conclusion of the thesis presents the main findings and perspectives for the conservation of headwater streams, as well as suggestions for future work on environmental and biological monitoring programs and aquatic ecosystem management in the Eastern Amazon.

The biogeography of american loliginid squids has been improved in recent years, but certain key taxa have been missing. Given that the most accurate phylogenies and estimated of divergence times to common ancestors depend heavily on good taxonomic coverage we have reevaluated these squid in light of new samples that increase the geographic and taxonomic coverage, especially including new species and many new samples of Lolliguncula as well as Pickfordiateuthis. New sequences were produced for these samples using standard methods to update our existing dataset for COI, 16S and Rhodopsin markers. The data was analysed using a range of species delimitation methods and rigorous phylogenetic analyses and estimates of divergence times between clades. Within Lolliguncula we recovered five monophyletic lineages that relate to the known species L. argus, L. diomedeae, L. panamensis, L. brevis North Atlantic and L. brevis South Atlantic. With the exception of the use of veyr low divergence thresholds in ABGD, species delimitation methods only identified four of these linegaes as distinct species, grouping L. argus and L. diomedeae as a single species. However, considering the reciprocal monophyly, recent divergence time estimate and morphological diagnoses we refrain from synonymization of L. argus within L. diomedeae, considering them very recently diverged species. Pickfordiateuthis is identified as closely related to the genus Doryteuthis, but with only one species represented there was little support for its exact placement, as part of a polytomy along with two clades of Doryteuthis. Further species samples and potentially more markers will be required to resolve its exact placement. Finally the biogeography of the American loliginds is discussed, wherein basal cladogenesis in both Lolliguncula and Doryteuthis occur between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts about 45 mya, with subsequent speciation between north and south american continents on both coastlines around 20 mya associated with seafloor changes during the formation of the caribbean. Finally, the recent speciation between L. argus and L. diomedeae is associated to the final closure of the panamanian isthmus and the formation of the gulf of california as a body of water isolated from the tropical eastern pacific by the resulting oceanic currents.

Extreme climatic events are becoming increasingly frequent and more intense, causing innumerous environmental and social problems. The aim goal of this study was to know the responses of hydrodynamic and hydrological variables under different climatic sceneries (Typical year, Drought, El Niño and La Niña events), between April 2012 and April 2017, in an Amazonian estuary. The Taperaçu estuary is not receive significant input of freshwater, whereas it is connected with Caeté estuary through the Taici creeck. For this study 21 campaigns were made. Each campaign was of 25 hours, and data were collected at three sampling stations. Climatological, hydrodynamic and hydrological variables were studies spatiotemporally, being described in three papers. For the first paper collections were made between June/2012 and June/2013. Hydrological variables were controlled by precipitation and tides, and water was more saline and oxygenated, with reduced concentrations of dissolved nutrients and chlorophyll-a when precipitation decreased. The second paper investigated the spatial-temporal variation of salinity in the estuary, between April/2012 and March/2015. The salinity reached its highest peak in the dry season, especially in the lower sector (40), the lowest values (<10) were recorded in the rainy season in the upper estuary. The drought years (2012-2013) presented higher salinity compared to 2014-2015. The third paper showed that in under normal conditions, Taperaçu waters were relatively turbid and rich in nutrients and chlorophyll-a concentrations. In 2012 and 2013, an intense drought event result in water extremely saline and richer in phosphorous compounds. During the 2015–2016 El Niño event, the temperature of the water increased slightly, and it became more alkaline, with reduced concentrations of ammonium. In 2017, the intense rains of the La Niña event resulted in a reduction in salinity and an increase in the concentrations of dissolved nutrients, as well as turbidity and consequently of phytoplankton biomass. The connectivity with Caeté estuary, adjacent mangrove and wetland areas contribute to the input of richer waters in terms of dissolved nutrients, mainly during the rainiest periods. In addition, it is possible that the effect of the climatic events affects the availability of nutrients and phytoplankton biomass, and consequently the composition of the plankton and of the fishery productivity in the region. It seems reasonable to expect similar effects in other, similar areas, not only on the Amazon coast, but also in other equivalent areas in the equatorial zone.

The genus Callithrix or ear tufted marmosets is composed of six species distributed in distinct plant formations such as moist and closed forests (Atlantic Forest) and dry and open tropical forests (Caatinga and Cerrado). The biogeographic origin that explains the current occurrence of the species in these forests is unknown and the evolutionary hypotheses among the species of the group, especially for more recent species, are still under discussion. The available molecular analyzes use with emphasis the mitochondrial DNA of Callithrix, being scarce the use of markers more conserved and free of homoplasia. Based on these data, more robust analyzes that delimit the species in these major biomes become fundamentally important for the group that currently includes species at risk of extinction. In this context we infer the Callithrix phylogeny using insertions of Alu elements and propose a delimitation of the species and biogeography history of the group. Our results were unanimous in recovering the monophyletic already proposed for the genre. The species C. jacchus and C. penicillata were grouped as sister species, and the supports that propose probable events of speciation and delimitation of two species are low. C. kuhlii had as center of origin the north of the Atlantic forest and presents itself as brother group of the most recent species. C. aurita represents the first group to diversify in the Atlantic Forest. Coalescence analyzes suggest the delimitation of two independent strains, C. aurita and C. geoffroyi, respectively to the south and north of the forest. The origin of Callithrix occurred in the south of the Atlantic Forest in three million years in the transition of Plio-Pleistocene. Vicarious events such as periods of forest fragmentation, formation of rivers and dispersions for the Caatinga and Cerrado from the northern Atlantic forest explain the current distribution of the species.

Aquaculture has shown a great growth in the World in large part by the increase of the production of fish. In Brazil, Colossoma macropomum has been the most cultivated native species driven by production in the northern region of the country. As in other species crop growth has been accompanied by concerns about the loss of genetic variability in crops, intraspecific hybridization with wild populations and the need to trace the individuals produced. In this work we evaluated the genetic variability and the tracking capacity of the individuals from seven breeding stations and one wild stock using twelve microsatellites and sequences from the mitochondrial DNA control region. Reduced levels of genetic variability were found in breeding stations, except for the breeding season of Santarém. The genetic variability found for the wild stock was high. High levels of FST and DEST were also found between most breeding seasons and wild stock. The drastic reduction of the genetic variability found in the seasons can be associated with the small number of founders, long cultivation time and absence of reproductive management. Plant renovation and adoption of reproductive management practices are advised. The use of individuals from breeding stations that have high rates of differentiation with wild stocks in network tanks or dams in the Amazon should be avoided. In the evaluation of genetic tracing capacity, full and Bayesian verisimilitude methods were the most efficient for individual identification and population identification, respectively. For screening, the population identification for most breeding stations may be potentially utilized through the Bayesian method. While the use of individual identification in the tracing requires the increase of the number of markers for most stations, except Santarém, due to the low genetic variability of the breeding stations. Application of the tracking system for C. macropomum integrated with other identification methods is feasible in technical and economic terms.

The semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla is a migratory bird species that carries out an uninterrupted flight from its reproductive site to its wintering site over the Atlantic Ocean. Within the factors that lead to the migration, the genetic characteristic of these birds is of great relevance. In this work the a telencephalic transcriptome analysis is performed because it represents the set of genes that are being expressed within the neural mechanisms related to migration. The differential expression between groups of migratory birds of different sexes collected in two periods of migration may reveal which genes are related to migratory behavior and if there is sexual dimorphism in the gene regulation of migration. For this, a de novo assembly of the transcriptome was performed with subsequent differential expression analysis. Differentially expressed transcripts between both sexes were annotated and compared with metabolic pathway databases to understand the biological processes that are agonized and antagonized during migration. Of these transcripts the ubiquitin B/C and the ribonuclease K were noted and differentially expressed. There is a strong influence of lipid metabolism, peroxisome proliferation and proliferation/differentiation of neurons and glial cells related transcripts. It is evident in this work differential expression related to sex and that males of the species C. pusilla exhibit an upregulated expression for cell proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells into neural cells at higher levels in the group of migratory birds in relation to the wintering ones.

The ecological niche modeling previews the potential distribution ofspecies and allows identifying antibiotic factors related to occurrence patterns, providing important information about the fundamental niche of an organism. Therefore, it’s an excellent tool to verify which environmental factors establish the variation of species that belong to the same clade, allowing tests of niches’ conservatism. In this study we used the complex of toad species Rhinella granulosa, which is widely distributed in South America and Panama, showing hybridization records in areas of sympatry. The ecological niches models were done aiming to estimate the potential distribution, identifying the main environmental factors related to the occurrence and indicating the potential areas of sympatry in South America. Besides, an additional study regarding equivalence and niches similarity between pairs of species that hybridize were realized. Predictive maps show that the potential distribution of species in the group R. granulosa matches to areas with open vegetation, supporting with their known distribution. The results obtained show that the variable altitude is strongly associated with the distribution of most species and vegetation cover possess a greater contribution in the distribution of two species of the group. Potential areas of sympatry were identified, however, presenting low niches’ overlapping degree to most pairs of toads. The greater overlapping values were observed between pairs of sibling species, showing certain niches’ conservatism degree in the group.

The low reaches of the Amazon River and its tributaries represents a Tidal River, where low relief and macrotidal regime at the coast result in strong tidal influence, despite the gigantic fresh water discharge of the Amazon River, reaching more than 800 km upstream. The Xingu River is one of these low tributaries, and its confluence area with the Amazon River is subject of both seasonal fluvial water level and discharge variations, as well as daily tidal variations in a similar magnitude. The present work aimed to investigate the hydrodynamics and sediment transport at the Xingu/Amazon confluence, with special regard to the tidal effects. Data were collected in three different periods, namely: Minimum water discharge period (e.g., November 2016); rising river/maximum sediment discharge (e.g., February 2016) and; maximum water discharge (e.g., June 2018), always under spring tide influence. Results have shown that for all evaluated periods tidal variation was observed at least as far as 162 km upstream, close to the Belo Monte dam. On the other hand, results showed that the tidal range at the confluence is strongly controlled by the Amazon River discharge, reaching 1.23 m during the minimum discharge, and 0.44 m during maximum discharge, within 1.02 m during the rising phase of the river. As tide propagated into the Xingu, results show that tidal range is controlled by the cross-sectional area within its longitudinal substantial variations. Results on the hydrodynamics and sediment transport indicate important upstream fluxes in all three situations, beside the expected downstream flow towards the Amazon main stem. The upstream sediment flux reached ~287 Tons per tidal cycle during minimum discharge, ~831 during rising river water (maximum sediment discharge) and ~214 Tons per tidal cycle during the maximum water discharge period. Nevertheless, for all periods the resulting flow was downstream, reaching ~1,600 Tons per tidal cycle during the rising river period and during maximum discharge period, while during minimum discharge period the net flow was ~100 Tons per tidal cycle. Both barotropic and baroclinic circulation were observed in the confluence. During low-discharge periods, tidal propagation and therefore the barotropic circulation is intensified, and during high-discharge periods, the baroclinic circulation is intensified, whereas during rising river level period both are important. As the Amazon River is highly suspended sediment loaded during the latter, fluxes are also more intense during this period (February). Furthermore, the results also indicate that the Xingu fresh-water discharge is the major limiting factor to the sediment flow from the Amazon River to the Xingu River, therefore any change in its hydrologic regime (i.e., regulation and retention of water at the Belo Monte dam), is very critical for the confluence area, especially during the minimum-discharge period, when barotropic circulation is particularly intense. This study represents an important contribution to the knowledge of the dynamics and transport at the Amazon and Xingu Tidal Rivers.

A correlation analysis was performed between physicochemical water parameters from headwater rivers in Caeté basin, in northern Pará, and land use and land cover (LULC) at the river surroundings. At first, we selected coordinates with measurements of dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature and pH from an extensive monitoring database available for Caeté basin from 2009 to 2010 and 2013 to 2014. Then, we created a georeferenced digital base of rivers enhanced to scale 1:30.000 based on Digital Elevation Models SRTM, Sentinel-2 satellite images and other river digital base available for the study area. Then we mapped land use and land cover for the area of study for periods near the ones from water data collection, based on images from Landsat 5, 7 and 8 and using Google Earth Engine and Spring. Each point had its sub catchment delimited, then had buffers from several distances generated from the river base within the watershed and then they were intersected with LULC data. Mantel tests were performed to find the distance from the river at which LULC had a more significant correlation with physicochemical water parameters. For the most significant one, the relation between each LULC variable and physicochemical water parameters was analyzed by running a Canonical Correspondence Analysis. The Mantel results showed a soft correlation (R=0.1953), but statistically significant (p<0.05) between physicochemical water parameters and LULC when considering the full extent of the sub catchment. For this extent, we also observed relations between conductivity and the presence forested and mining areas was well as relations between pH and the presence of flooded areas and farms.

The subspecies Pipra fasciicauda scarlatina presents a wide geographical distribution, being found in different biomes, such as Amazon Forest, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Caatinga. The only evidence of tangará P. f. scarlatina at Caatinga biome are from Serra de Baturité, in “brejos de altitude” of Ceará, characterizing a population isolated in these forest enclaves, without connectivity with the other populations distributed in other biomes. In the present study we used mtDNA sequences (ND2, ND3 and COI) and nDNA (I5BF and G3PDH) to analyze the genetic structure among the disclosed population of P. f. scarlatina from Brazilian Northeast (Ceará) with the population from North (Pará and Tocantins). The results of the phylogenetic analyzes showed a single clade for the two populations, and there was no reciprocal monophyletic between them. However, the population structure data showed that the population of the Northeast is differentiated from the population of the North. This molecular differentiation between the disclosed populations may be result of the geographic isolation combined with absence of gene flow between them, caused by the formation of the “brejos de altitude” during the climatic changes of the Pleistocene period. It was also evidenced that the population of the Northeast presents less genetic diversity, making it necessary to take measures of preservation for this population, since the brejos are places that are suffering different types of anthropic disturbances.

Inadequate disposal of tailings from fishing activities has several negative impacts. This is the case of solid waste from the processing activity of mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus). In this scenario, the present work aims to describe the profile of the actors involved in the production of in natura crab and its informal processing (by means of traders) or formal processing (via local enterprises), besides using these residues through flour production and evaluation of its quality. Of the 70 interviews conducted, the results showed that fishermen, but not the people who separate the crab meat (hereinafter referred to as “catadores”) from Vila do Treme in Bragança-PA have income below a minimum wage and both have low schooling. The income of the “catadores” is directly proportional (R2=0.62 to 0.84) to their production, reaching about 5 kg day-1 of meat. The processing of mangrove crab produces about 26% of meat and 71% of solid residue, losing 2.5% (organic matter and liquid). In the village of Treme, the waste zones receive most of these tailings, such as the Lixão do Mucurão whose area of 270 m2 contains about 3 Mg of solid waste from the mangrove crab meat processing activity. The use of this material through the production of crab flour is capable of yielding, from 4000 g of solid wer residue, 1073 g (26.8%) of flour with loss of approximately 4% in the grinding process. The analysis of this material showed that the mineralogical parameters were higher than those already recorded for the flour obtained from the dead or post-table crab, with the exception of potassium (K), which was not detected in the samples, and the presence of molds, yeasts, and aerobic mesophilic bacteria. The use of solid waste from the mangrove crab, through the production of flour, has proved to be a viable and easily reproduced product among fishing communities, showing its relevance in reducing the environmental impact and its potential for commercial applications, besides to promote the generation of alternative income for these traditional communities involved in the production chain of mangrove crab, as is the case of the village of Treme, in Bragança-PA.

The growth of continental fish farming must be accompanied by the development of research to determine the nutritional requirements of fish with productive potential, such as tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). Thus, the present study aimed to determine the requirement of lysine for tambaqui juveniles. For this, 150 juveniles of tambaqui with initial weight of 1.67 ± 0.30 g were used, distributed in 15 aquariums (300L) in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and three replications. Five isoproteic (30.49 g kg-1) and isoenergetic (4,188.33 kcal kg-1) experimental diets supplemented with crystalline L-lysine were used, resulting in diets containing 11.6; 14.4; 17.3; 20.1 and 22.9 g kg-1 lysine. The fish received four daily feeds corresponding to 5% of the aquarium biomass for 81 days. After the end of the experiment, the productive performance (weight gain, specific growth rate, average daily feed intake, feed conversion, protein efficiency rate, carcass yield, survival rate, hepaatosomal and viscerosomatic indexes), composition (glycemia, hematocrit and total protein) and haematological and metabolics variables (number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, VCM, HCM and CHCM) of the fish. Data were submitted to ANOVA One-Way variance analysis at 5% probability and, when they presented significant difference, were submitted to polynomial regression analysis and Linear Response Plateau. The different lysine levels influenced (P <0.05) the weight gain, the specific growth rate and the feed conversion, with an optimum level estimated at 18.7 g kg -1 of lysine. Lysine levels estimated at 18.2 and 22.0 provided the highest body protein deposition and the lowest lipid, respectively. The consumption of lysine did not influence the physiological and hematological variables of tambaqui. Therefore, based on the weight gain and the polynomial regression analysis associated with the Linear Response Plateau, 18.7 g kg-1 of lysine in diets for tambaqui juveniles is recommended.

The goal of this study was based on the effects of “anomalous” patterns of rainfall levels (drought, El Niño and La Niña events) on hydrological and hydrodynamic variables at Ajuruteua beach, northern Brazil. The environmental variables were monitored for six years, and nineteen field campaigns were made between April 2012 and April 2017. Precipitation level and wind velocity data were provided by the National Institute of Meteorology and Weather Prevision Center and Climate Studies, and riverine discharge by National Water Agency. The campaigns were undertaken during spring tides, over a period of 25 hours each. Tidal levels, waves and currents were measured using specific equipment. Salinity, temperature and turbidity were measured in situ by means of a CTD with turbidity sensor. Water samples were obtained for determination of pH, dissolved inorganic nutrient, chlorophyll-a and thermotolerant coliform values every 3 hours during 25h each, totalizing 171 samples. According to data recorded during the study period (2012-2017), only in 2014, the total rainfall level was similar to the average of the last 30 years (2,373 mm). A reduction in precipitation level in 2012 and 2013 was due to a drought event, and in 2015 and 2016 by an El Niño, whereas in 2017 an increase in rainfall level was market by a La Niña. These data reflected directly on the fluvial discharge and consequently on the studied hydrological variables. The values of salinity, pH and turbidity increased with the reduction of rainfall, and the opposite pattern was observed for the other analyzed variables. The salinity ranged from 25.54 ± 0.60 in the rainy season to 36.37 ± 0.6 in the dry season, being significantly higher in the latter period (U = 0.0, p < 0.001). Comparing the mean salinity data recorded among April of 2012 (22.00 ± 1.98), 2014 (9.87 ± 0.31) and 2017 (8.07 ± 0.78), a marked increase was observed for the first year, when precipitation was lower than those obtained in 2014 and 2017 (H = 23.2, p <0.001). The monthly averages for chlorophyll-a concentrations ranged from 1.31 ± 0.64 mg.m-3 in July 2016 to 28.50 ± 10.71 mg.m-3 in April 2014 (H = 114.5, p < 0.001). Among the samples collected in April (2012, 2014) was possible to register a typical rainfall level period in 2014 and as a consequence chlorophyll-a concentrations were significantly higher than those recorded in April 2012 (16.47 ± 5.05 mg.m-3, F = 11.6, p < 0.001). Peaks of (4.14 ± 1.07 μmol.L-1, H = 101.4, p < 0.001) and (0.69 ± 0.29 μmol.L-1, H = 83.5; <0.001) were recorded in April 2017 (La Niña). The concentrations of DSiC (55.77 ± 26.60 μmol.L-1, H = 103.0, p < 0.001) and (0.72 ± 1.27 μmol.L -1, H = 103.5, p <0.001) were higher in April 2012 (CDSi, drought event) and June 2015 (, El Niño period). The results obtained in the present study demonstrated local contaminations by thermotolerant coliforms in the waters of the beach of Ajuruteua. During the flood phase (when the tides reach the level of the commercial and residential cesspits), the water presents a higher contamination level (concentrations above 1,100 NMP/100 mL-1). A relationship between the levels of bacteriological contamination and rainfall level was recorded, and the lowest concentrations were registered in April of 2012 (120 NMP/100 mL-1) when compared to those values obtained in April 2014 (240 NMP / 100ml) and April 2017 (1,100 NMP/100 mL-1). Higher hydrodynamic energy can result in resuspension of fine material from bottom to surface, allowing an increase on the concentrations of many hydrological variables.

Genyatremus luteus is a demersal species, distributed from Central America to the South of Brazil, being the only species of this genus reported in these areas.In the coastal estuarine Amazonian region, it is part of the commercial fisheries, being captured by several fishing gears, thus compromising the species' ability to complete its life cycle and self-renewal of the local population. In this sense, this study proposes to characterize the ecological aspects as feeding and reproductive biology of the species according to ontogeny. The surveys took place in April / 2016 to April / 2017, monthly, in five fishing areas (A1 to A5) in the peninsula of Ajuruteua, using gill nets and fixed trap. The specimens were measured total length (CT) and heavy (g). In the stomachs were injected 10% formoldeido and later the stomach contents of each individual was identified and weighed, being classified according to the food category. he reproductive dynamics of the species was investigated by estimating the size of first gonadal maturation (L₅₀) and reproductive period (gonodossomal index - IGS and relative condition factor - Kr), relating this to the environmental factor rainfall and area. A fim de verificar o período sazonal e local de intensidade reprodutiva da espécie, realizou-se a Análise de redundância (RDA) testando a significância das variáveis (IGS e Kr) que contribuíram para a variabilidade dos dados. For the analysis of the diet, young size classes (≤ 14.80) and adults (≥ 14.80) were determined from the estimated L₅₀. Females were larger (length and weight) in individual means, mainly in the month of April. For both sexes, the results of Kr and mean IGS were equivalent indicating the months from June to September as the period of probable spawning of the species after the decrease of precipitation in the region. The L50 value was estimated at 15.13 cm for females, 14.29 cm for males and 14.78 cm for clustered genders. The L50 value was estimated at 15.13 cm for females, 14.29 cm for males and 14.78 cm for clustered genders. Demonstrating that in the rainy season, the behavior of the species is associated with reproduction in certain areas and fattening and shelter of adult juveniles in the dry season. When visualized the stomachs 52.66% had some stomach contentes. The group with the highest frequency of occurrence was plant material and the level of importance of the prey showed alga as the most representative group regarding weight and importance of food. The presence of food groups such as coral, poriferous and ofiuroid structures. From the analysis of SIMPER it was verified the alga group as the main contributor to the similarity of the young and adults. The food strategy of the adults was classified as generalist and the young showed tendency to specialist, feeding on algae. The cluster analyzes demonstrated the formation of a group of greater similarity for the young and two groups for the adults, showing that some areas may have the same characteristics regarding food availability, the occurrence of young and adult individuals, even in periods seasons.

Castalia ambigua (Hyriidae) is a bivalve with a wide distribution in Amazonian rivers. Barros
(2015) developed a molecular genetic study with specimens of C. ambigua collected from
three localities on the Tocantins River (Abaetetuba, Baião and Cametá) and found that this
species was divided into two distinct genetic groups at each locality, suggesting the
presence of a cryptic species. The aim of the present study was to verify through geometric
morphometry if there are differences in the shape of the shells of individuals studied by
Barros (2015) in relation to the genetic groups. In addition, differences between the sexes
of these specimens and among the sampling locations. Morphological variability in
freshwater bivalves may hinder their correct identification. Geometric morphometry allows
the analysis of components related to shape of structures independently of size. Landmarks
and semi-landmarks were identified on the internal morphology of the left shell and on the
outline of the closed shell of C. ambigua. Sex and molecular genetic grouping had very little
influence on shell shape of C. ambigua. However, the effect of locality was greater,
especially for the closed shell outline analysis but the differences were slight and did not
correspond with genetic groupings. Such differences in morphology between localities may
be caused by phenotypic plasticity, as a result of interaction with the environment. Thus, the
morphological data support the findings of Barros (2015) that C. ambigua is divided into two
cryptic species with similar morphology but that there is some differentiation in morphology
among localities

Fish is an important source of nutrients and protein, where fillets are widely accepted by consumers. Although processed fish provides high durability, praticity and reduction of mibrobial load, such processing eliminates morphological characteristics required for species identification. Thus, many intentional and unintentinal species substitution have been reported around the world, resulting in mislabeling, as well as economic, ecological, ethical and health damages. Thereby, we employed a DNA barcoding approach to authenticate the fillets labeled as “filhote” (Brachyplatystoma filanentosum), “dourada” (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) and “piramutaba” (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii) marketed in the Brazilian Amazon. Fragments of mitocondrial cytocrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene were sequenced from 91 batches totalizing 329 fillets. Moreover, 12 samples of whole fishes of genus Brachyplatystoma, Sciades e Macrodon were sequenced, which were morphologically identified based on specialized literature. These sequences, as well as those reference sequences of the BOLD and GenBank public databases were used to identify the fillets. We adopted the BOLD identification criteria, which considers that individuals of the same species show similarity ≥ 98%. DNA barcoding was able to identify 100% of fillets, showing that they belong to eight species distributed among the families Ariidae (Sciades proops and Sciades parkeri), Haemulidae (Genyatremus luteus), Pimelodidae (B. vailantii, B. rouseauxii and B. filamentosum), Sciaenidae (Macrodon ancylodon) and Serrasalmidae (Colossoma macropomum). The results showed that the overall substitution rate was 18%, where in most cases the replaced fillets were labeled by supermarkets (92%) whereas 8% were labeled by processing companies. The fillets labeled as “filhote” showed higher substitution rate (29%), followed by those labeled as “dourada” (26%) and “piramutaba” (9%). Considering that most of the substitutions involved species of lower commercial value when compared to those described on the label, we suggest that such substitutions are intentional, characterizing commercial fraud and causing economic losses. Furthermore, we identified the trading of S. parkeri, which is listed as vulnerable by IUCN, showing ecological damages to the biodiversity of Amazon fish. Addtionally, the results showed ethic damages, where although some species substituents have higher commercial price, such attitude jeopardizes consumers confidence and prevents them to make a conscious choice of the products. This study revealed the efficiency of DNA barcoding in the molecular identification os fillets of the three species of catfishes of the genus Brachyplatystoma, showing to be a sensitive and reliable molecular tool that can be applied to authenticate processed fish. Therefore, we suggest that the Brazilian governamental authorities should adopt this metodology to investigate the marketing of fishing products, as well as stablish eficient mechanisms to prevent such illegal practices.

South America is unique in relation to the occurrence of two species of the genus Trichechus: the Antillean manatee (T. manatus) and the Amazonian manatee (T. inunguis) (Husar 1978). Given the singularities of the Brazilian Amazon Coastal Zone (BACZ), allied to the presence of an area of sympatry between the two species and the status of "endangered species", the present study describes the distribution of manatees in the Amazonian estuary with a view to proposing priority areas for their conservation in the coastline of the State of Pará. Review of old and current records of these animals in South America was performed, highlighting the ones for the estuary of the Amazon River. This review generated the first gazetteer with geographic locations of manatees occurrence records in South America. Of the gaps in the occurrence of manatees in the BACZ, the region comprising the indented shores of Pará and Maranhão states presents suitable environmental conditions for their occurrence. These gaps certainly reflect the lack of research and not the absence of the animals in this region per se. In addition, species distribution models were generated by the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm to verify potential changes in the distribution of manatees between the seasons over an anual cycle in the BACZ. Predictive models of species distribution showed high predictive capacity for both dry season (AUC > 0.989) and wet one (AUC > 0.955), suggesting a decrease in the home range between seasons. The variables that contributed most to the model were "distance from the coast" and "salinity". The effect of environmental variables on potential threats and on occurrence of manatees in the Amazon estuary was verified in order to map the main sites of occurrence and of greater threat to propose the priority areas for their conservation. In 14 years (2005 - 2018), 100 occurrences of manatee were registered in the Marajó bay. The results showes that the animals are mostly found in shallower places (up to 1.5 m), at temperatures between 29-30.5°C and low salinity (up to 8), characterizing the localities mostly recorded for their occurrence. Approximately 81% (n = 27) of the studied sites (n = 33) present food availability, reinforcing the fact that these sites are where the manatees are most recorded. The abiotic components (tides and rainfall), together with occurrence data allow predicting daily movements of manatees during an annual cycle. Rescue number was higher in places with more conservation projects allowing the registration of both species along the Amazon estuary. Such a positive result confirmed the Marajó bay as a hybridization area between the two resident species. The main environmental conditions and the threats to manatees were used to determine both shores (circa of 70% including high and medium categories) in the Marajó as priority areas for conservation. Finally, a Wildlife Refugewas suggested on the coast of Salvaterra segment to protect both manatee species, which is essential for subsidizing decision-making and relevant public policies in that natural hybrid zone.

Eigthteen species (thirteen new) of monogenoids from the genera Anacanthorus Mizelle & Price, 1965, Constrictoanchoratus Ferreira, Rodrigues, Cunha & Domingues, 2017 and Urocleidoides Mizelle & Price 1964 are reported parasitizing the gills of Erythrinus erythrinus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829) and Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) from Coastal Drainages of the Northeast of Pará State: Anacanthorus sp. n. A, Anacanthorus sp. n. B, Urocleidoides sp. n. A and Urocleidoides sp. n. C from Erythrinus erythrinus; Anacanthorus sp. n. C, Anacanthorus sp. n. D, Anacanthorus sp. n. E, Anacanthorus sp. n. F, Anacanthorus sp. n. G, Anacanthorus sp. n. H, Anacanthorus sp. n. I and Urocleidoides sp. n. B from Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus; Urocleidoides sp. n. D, Urocleidoides bulbophallus Ferreira, Rodrigues, Cunha & Domingues, 2017, Urocleidoides cuiabai Rosim, Mendoza-Franco & Luque, 2011, Urocleidoides malabaricusi Rosim, Mendoza-Franco & Luque, 2011, Constrictoanchoratus ptilonophallus Ferreira, Rodrigues, Cunha & Domingues, 2017 and Constrictoanchoratus lemmyi Ferreira, Rodrigues, Cunha & Domingues, 2017 from H. malabaricus. In the present work, species of Urocleidoides are registered for the first time parasitizing the gills of H. unitaeniatus and E. erythrinus, as well as species of Anacanthorus are described for the first time for erythrinids of the Amazon region. Finally, an identification key for parasitic monogenoidean species of erythrinids is presented along with a phylogenetic hypothesis for the species of Urocleidoides that occur in Erythrinidae.

Lepidothrix is the most diverse genus of the family Pipridae, with eight recognized species. Although the genus' monophyly has been supported by both molecular and morphological characters, phylogenetic relationships and species limits within Lepidothrix remain uncertain. In fact, Lepidothrix vilasboasi has never been included in a phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data, given that it has long been assumed to be a hybrid between Lepidothrix iris and Lepidothrix nattereri. In the present study, we combined molecular sequences of mitochondrial (ND2 and COI) and nuclear (MYO, G3PDh and I5BF) markers in a multilocus analysis, to evaluate relationships and inter-specific limits among L. iris, L. nattereri, and L. vilasboasi. The results revealed a complex pattern, whereby events of secondary contact and gene flow after isolation and genetic and phenotypic differentiation prevented the recuperation of reciprocal monophyly among the studied taxa. The mitochondrial data indicate that L. nattereri is divided into two non-sister groups, one monophyletic, and the other, paraphyletic, and L. iris iris is more closely related to one of the two L. nattereri groups, while L. iris eucephala forms an undifferentiated clade with L. vilasboasi, probably resulting from an extensive process of mitochondrial introgression. We found no evidence that L. vilasboasi is the result of a recent hybridization between L. iris and L. nattereri.

The beach of Ajuruteua, located on the northeastern coast of the state of Pará / Brazil, is a highly dynamic environment, dominated by macromarés and classified as a sink, which currently presents an erosive process in the most urbanized region associated with sand formation banks of the tidal delta at the mouth of the Caeté estuary. In this context, morphodynamic surveys were performed on the face of the beach at the northwest and southeast ends, as well as at the forefoot, including the sandy bank and the channel that separates it from the face of the beach. Although topographic surveys on the beach face were based on the steady-state method using a level and ruler, bathymetric surveys were performed with echo sounder and the topography of the bench was performed with DGPS in post-processed kinematic mode on the emerging portion of the bank during low tide. After the analysis, it was observed that the variations in the morphology of the beach face were closely related to the tide cycles and the precipitation with the migration of sand bars to the upper part of the profile during the dry period, with superficial profiles ranging from 1 to 4 meters. On the other hand, variations related to changes in winds and precipitation were more important than those related to variations in tide height (e.g., neap and spring tide). The results showed that the channel formed had maximum depths ranging from 14 to 18 meters, with few changes in the configuration, where its dynamics seemed to be more related to the formation of ridge and channel characteristic of beaches dominated by tides. When the bank's changes were evaluated, the level changes in the quota remained about 3 meters over the months, where the most notable change was the migration of the bank crest when it approached the rainy season with more active north-easterly winds. However, the bank behaves like a sediment barrier where the most energetic waves break before reaching the coast. On the other hand, the effects of the currents and the action of the waves allowed the deposition of sediments at the ends of the beaches.

Among the Amazonian environments, the beaches are used for innumerous recreational activities, including the estuarine beaches of Murubira (at Mosqueiro Island), Colares (at Colares Municipality) and Marudá (at Marapanim Municipality) located in Pará state. The aim goal of this study was to understand the influence of climatic events, such as El Niño, on physical, hydrological and microbiological variables, considering temporal and spatial oscillations. Murubira and Marudá are semi-urban beaches and Colares is a rural beach that are under meso/macrotidal regime. Four field campaigns were undertaken, two during the rainy season in July 2015 and January 2016 and two in the dry season, November 2015 and August 2016. Each campaign was conducted during neap tides over a 13-h sample period. Sub-surface water samples were obtained every 3 hours. A total of 60 water samples were collected during the study period. These samples were used to determine hydrological (pH, dissolved oxygen and nutrients, and chlorophyll-a) and microbiological variables (thermotolerant coliforms). CTD with turbidity sensor was also used. In general, mesotidal condition was found under neap tide cycles. Water temperatures were high and stable. Water salinity varied seasonally and the lowest values were recorded during the rainy season. The waters were well oxygenated and pH values were slightly alkaline, mainly during the dry season. Nitrogenous compounds were also higher during the dry season, coinciding with higher values of chlorophyll-a. Conversely, orthophosphate and total dissolved phosphorus were higher during the rainy season. Thermotolerant coliform values were above the standards established by CONAMA, in Murubira and Colares, evidencing anthropogenic influence on those beaches. Due to the lack of a basic sanitation system, it is possible that a similar bad bathing condition can be also found in typical precipitation years. These results only report data obtained during an anomalous year, however this study is an excellent referential for future works elaborated for this area.

The genus Centropomus consists of twelve valid species, plus a newly discovered on the coast of Amapa, these six occur in the Brazilian coast. The centropomideos are eurialines, opportunistic predators, estuarine-dependent, and temperature as limiting factor (stenothermic). The species of this genus have conserved morphology, which relies on subtle characters, factor that can hinder your exact identification. A recent study that suggests the existence of this new species (Centropomus spn) in Amapá noted the absence of C. undecimalis, in this region. These two species are morphologically similar and genetically distinguishable through mitochondrial markers. This study evaluated the diversity of species of the genus Centropomus in Amapá through molecular and morphological identification methodologies. To this were analyzed a total of 54 samples from estuarine, freshwater and marine origin, using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI markers, and morphological identification keys for the genre. It was verified the occurrence of four species, being the most frequent Centropomus spn, besides C. ensiferus, C. pectinatus and C. mexicanus. No copy of C. undecimalis was identified in Amapá. It was also verified the occurrence of Centropomus spn in marine environment, estuarine and freshwater. The predominance of Centropomus spn and absence of C. undecimalis suggest the need to understand the actual occurrence of the species of this genus. Genetic methodology proved good applicability on identification, since there are sequences of references to all species of the Atlantic. The morphological analysis was compliant with the molecular to most species, however for some species, such as between C. undecimalis and Centropomus spn subtle differentiation can lead to misidentification based only on morphological characters.

Necromass is a relevant compartment that influences a large number of functions in forest ecosystems, such as mangroves, including C storage and nutrient cycles, contributing to the carbon balance of forests. We used an spectrop gas analyzer and closed and dynamic chamber to access CO2 and CH4 efflux from dead wood in mangrove areas of the Ajuruteua Peninsula, Bragança, Brazilian Amazon coast. The rates of CO2 and CH4 eflux between both sites varied significantly (p-value <0.05) reaching values of 0.16±0.31 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1 and 0.22±5.63 CH4 mg m-2 h-1 for Estiva and 0.30±0.40 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1 and 3.92±3.74 CH4 mg m-2 h-1 for Taici. In contrast, rates of CO2 and CH4 eflux did not vary among tree species, but they significantly influenced the positions of dead wood in relation to the soil. At both sites, the variation in rates of CO2 and CH4 efflux showed an inverse correlation with salinity, while stem temperature, moisture and content of N and C:N in the decay classes increased as the decay rate of the wood. We infer that this trend in elemental composition is also found in different forests of the Tropical and Subtropical regions and can be accessed on a global scale, mainly as a result of increased degradation of mangrove forests, which can reduce carbono sequestration rates and turn mangrove into a large source of greenhouse gas emissions.

The mangrove is one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. Such production is directly related to its structural development and accumulation of both below and aboveground biomass. The use of allometric equations for the quantification of aboveground biomass, for example, has become a common tool in studies carried out in mangrove areas worldwide. In Brazil, there are no many studies that develop allometric models for aboveground biomass estimates in mangroves, while for the Brazilian Amazon coast they have not yet been elaborated. In order to characterize the mangrove structure of the Ajuruteua Peninsula in Bragança, on the Brazilian Amazon coast, the main objective of this study was to develop allometric equations for the most dominant mangrove species of this region (Rhizophora mangle (L.), Avicennia germinans (L.) L., Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C.F. Gaertn.]. The models generated can estimate the total biomass aboveground, as well as the biomass of its different compartments (Stem, Branch, Leaf, and Prop Root), the latter compartment only for the prop roots of R. mangle. Multiplying the biomass values by the percentage of carbon in the wood of mangrove species, it was possible to convert biomass to carbon. Another objective was to estimate the increase of biomass and carbon over the four-year period of monitoring of L. racemosa, in order to test the difference between diameter classes of the tree stem and the variation between seasons (dry and rainy) and years. The other objective of this study was to estimate the loss of biomass and carbon made by the construction of PA-458 Highway and selective logging of mangrove trees. In the structural characterization 16,311 trees were measured, being 72% R. mangle, 20% A. germinans, and 08% L. racemosa, with DBH between 0.50 and 191 cm and height of 1 to 27 m. In general, R. mangle presented higher dominance (DoR = 51.1%) and A. germinans higher DAP and height, 37.4 cm and 13.0 m, respectively. A total of 22 models were selected, which provided the biomass values of A. germinans (129.3 Mg ha-1) with the highest biomass and the highest mean carbon content (52%) (56.91 Mg C ha^-1). As for the biomass increases, the average value obtained for L. racemosa was (547.36 g mo^-1) and carbon was 214.2 g mo^-1, and the increase was well evidenced in rainy seasons. Regarding the accumulation and losses of biomass and carbon, the aboveground biomass estimate for the Peninsula was 4230 Gg, of which A. germinans had the highest representativity (2130 Gg). The anthropogenic action caused a loss of 117,895.43 Mg of biomass in the area locally known as Degraded Area, corresponding to 91% of all biomass loss. Carbon loss values followed the same trend. Thus, it was concluded that the models selected in the present study for estimating aboveground biomass can be used to estimate the biomass and carbon of the mangrove forest along the eastern portion of the Brazilian Amazon coast. However, it is necessary that the forests in focus have the same structural and environmental characteristics, in order to guarantee the best accuracy and reliability of the results. In the same way, it was concluded that changes in rainfall patterns affect the growth of L. racemosa. The reduction of rainfall rates is a factor that decreases the biomass (plant growth) and carbon production of this species. Finally, the results revealed that the anthropic effects of the construction of the PA-458 Highway, especially the consequences of this event, such as the formation of a large Degraded Area and the formation of a Saltwater Lagoon, besides the logged area for the implementation of the highway and selective logging on the Ajuruteua Peninsula cause the loss of a considerable amount of biomass and carbon, the negative effects of which promote an accelerated increase of carbon emissions to the atmosphere, reducing the carbon storage in the ecosystem and contributing to the global warming, besides favoring the reduction of the resources and services inherent to the mangroves on the Brazilian Amazon coast.

The Amazon coast is impacted by an intense tidal influence, which, in association with low relief, causes the Amazon River and some of its great tributaries to be classified as tidal river. The combined effects of geometry, tides, and the extensive drainage network result in massive sedimentation in the region. In this context, this work presents the first study of the tidal variation in the area and detailed the sedimentology and morphology of the bottom of the Tapajós River, trying to understand the role of morphology and tides in the distribution patterns and sediment dynamics in the area. The main data used in the elaboration of the present work were collected in two campaigns, during low and high discharge periods, with water level data surveys, flow during semi-diurnal cycles (13 hours) and sampling sediment bottom. Measurements of the water level in the lower reaches of the Tapajós indicate that the oceanic tide reach up to 320 km upstream from the confluence of the Amazonas-Tapajós during periods of low discharge, when the largest variations in water level were recorded. Thus, semi-diurnal tides propagate and cause water level variation along the Tapajós by up to 1,100 km of the mouth of the Amazon River, which may represent the largest tidal incursion in the world. Although the effect of the tide on the area did not result in a reversal of the flow, its effect on the instantaneous flow measurements were notorious, even showing up to a period of slack tide during the flood phase. In other words, the instantaneous flow fell to levels close to zero at the flood tide and the discharge during the ebb tide reached values of 12,500 m3.s1 during the low discharge period and 18,000 m3.s1 during the low discharge period, In the station km 30 near the confluence with the Amazon. During high discharge, only minor variations of the flow were observed in the upper cross section, and these were not necessarily associated the tide. Tidal variations not only strongly influence hydrodynamic processes, but also affect the transport of suspended sediments. In relation to the distribution of the bottom sediments in the low Tapajós, it is remarkable that it resembles a typical estuarine estuary, marking a peculiar and complex morphology. The analyzes revealed that the morphology and hydrodynamics result in a perfect sediment trap, since the incoming energy of materials in the Tapajós, originating from the Tapajós basin upstream and the Amazon at the mouth, is higher than the output energy, incapable provide the significant amounts of sediments for the main channel of the Amazon. Distribution patterns show massive mud sedimentation in the Ria/lake, while the braided straight section of the Tapajós River transports fine sediments, but mainly sands, building a delta at the upstream end of the Ria in the transition sector. At the confluence (mouth), the Amazon River dikes block the Tapajós, and the water level changes due to the tides, also favoring the transport of sediments from the Amazon River into the Tapajós Ria. However, the action of the waves in the Ria creates sectors in constant erosion, with characteristics similar to the beach in the margins, fact that makes the tidal rivers and sediment dynamics of the Amazon even more atypical and diverse.

From biological collections in the region bragantina, samples were obtained from individuals of the Ariidae and Auchenipteridae Family, with the objective of studying the habitat use and fish production of the families in the region. The first chapter aims to elucidate how the species of the two families use the estuary. The objective of the later chapter is to characterize the fishery and to know the production of Ariidae landed on the north coast of Pará, specifically in the bragantina peninsula. For these surveys, two sample designs were considered. The collection site of the first chapter was the Caeté River estuary, whose data collection took place from September 2012 to September 2013. The collections always took place in the tides of syrup in a period of 12 hours with nets at two sites of tides), Furo Grande and Furo do taici. For the second chapter the information was collected through the Fishery Statistics Project of the state of Pará through census collections, with the support of the extinct Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture in agreement with the extinct Fisheries Secretariat of the State of Pará in the period of April 2008 to November 2010 in the main landing sites of the region of bragantina. The species Cathorops spixii and Sciades herzbergii were the most abundant in the catches, "and also because of the relative importance of Furo do Taici as a place of feeding and growth". It is important to note that both families use the estuary in some part of their life cycle. For the second chapter we have that the landings of Ariídeos realized in the North coast, are characterized as of small scale, since the small boats and canoes the candle were the most significant in the results, not leaving aside the importance of the variation species, as well as the fishing gear used, which are considered as selective factors.

The main objective of this thesis is to identify and analyze, where agro-extractivism is concerned and within the context of gender-related social relations, the most significant extractive income-generating activities and those intended for financial autonomy, and how they correlate with the productive cycles of the natural resources being used and the family arrangements that are built in the Cajueiro Community, located within the limits of the Caeté-Taperaçu Marine Extractive Reserve, in Pará State - part of the Brazilian Amazon. And as specific objectives: to understand how the main agroextractivist practices and the gender-based social relations related thereto are articulated; to identify how men and women work in the activities related to the use of natural resources aimed at financial autonomy and those geared at marketing; to investigate power relations that permeate the rules established as from the presence of the Resex and the day-to-day life of the dwellers; and to identify the most critical issues related to life in the community, in the perception of the local social players. The main theoretical foundation of this research was Michel Foucault’s contribution, particularly with regard to the notion of power relations. It was based on qualitative research and information-gathering techniques in the field: participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus group and circle of conversation. It can be concluded that agroextraticvism constitutes the basis of productive activities in the community being studied, with family agriculture being the most representativeness. In addition, fishing stands out for the many types of fish as well as shrimp and crab harvesting. Said activities are performed according to the productive and reproductive movement of the natural resources being used, which imply family arrangements anchored, in turn, by gender-based social relations. And, despite the implications of power that surround it, said community - following the example of most so-called traditional peoples - does not allow itself to be subdued, thus renewing itself and resisting in its way of life, even if in such way it would be contrary to the current global context.

Mangroves offer a variety of ecosystem services that influence the human well-being of estuarine-coastal communities, especially traditional ones. However, the degradation of these ecosystems has been increasing by natural and anthropogenic transformations, as well as unsustainable management. The main transformation factors of the mangrove ecosystem are caused by socio-environmental conflicts in environmental management because they are common resources for these traditional communities. The territorial relations of these communities influence on the one hand the quality and quantity of ecosystem services and, on the other hand, on social, economic and political factors such as the classification system in the mangroves of Peru and Brazil (Sanctuary and Extractive Reserve, respectively). In this context, the general objective of the present study was to evaluate holistically ecosystem services in the Caeté-Taperaçu Marine Extractive Reserve (RESEX Mar), as well as to identify and compare the ecosystem services of mangroves in Peru and Brazil and to evaluate the environmental representations of estuarine-coastal communities in the mangrove of the RESEX Mar. The results showed the classification of four classes of services: support, provision, regulation and cultural for both conservation units. No significant differences were found in both countries (χ² = 0.466, p>0.05), but, on the other hand, similarities and differences were found in the management of both mangrove protected areas. Similarly, the environmental representations of nine estuarine-coastal communities in the RESEX Mar were evaluated. Based on reports from local residents, it was concluded that the knowledge about "What the mangrove is", "its function" and "what the RESEX is" is related to factors such as: i) education level, age, gender, socioeconomic activity (artisanal fishermen, crab or shellfish fishermen) and ii) categories of ecosystem services, following the discursive distribution of environmental evocations. Finally, the identification of environmental representations and ecosystem services define the success of future conservation projects through participatory inclusion of key social actors and consultation on the implementation of public policies for mangrove environmental management.

The objective of this work was to study the spatial and temporal (monthly and seasonal) variations of the density, biomass and production rate of the Acartiidae (Acartia tonsa and A. lilljeborgi), relating them to the hydrological, biological and hydrodynamic variables of the estuary of the Caeté River (northeast of Pará-Brazil). The plankton collections were performed through horizontal trawls in the subsurface layer of the water column carried out with the help of conical plankton nets (200 μm). These collections were performed during spring tides at three fixed stations located along this estuary, during the months of September / 2014 and December / 2014 (dry period), March / 2015 and June / 2015 (rainy season), September / 2015 and December / 2015 (dry period), at three-hour intervals, during a nychtemeral cycles (25 hours). The hydrological variables such as temperature, salinity and turbidity were measured in situ through the use of CTDO’s, while for the other variables (pH and chlorophyll-a concentrations additional water samples were collected for later laboratory analyses. Spatial, monthly and seasonal variations were observed for water temperature, salinity and turbidity, with mean values of 29.42±0.25 ºC; 37.97±0.07 and 1099.37±356.58 NTU, respectively. Significantly higher values were observed during the dry period, except for values of turbidity that was higher in the rainy season. For pH and chlorophyll-a concentrations, only spatial and monthly significant differences were observed with mean values of 8.80±0.34 and 45.68±20.00 mg.m-3, respectively. The oscillations in the precipitation regimes and fluctuations in hydrological and hydrodynamic variables directly influenced the density, biomass and production of A. tonsa (0.019 ± 0.054 ind.m-3 to 312.71 ± 817.97 ind.m-3, F = 5.199, p <0.000; 0.121x10-3 ± 0.363x10-3 mgC m-3 at 885.59 ± 2396.36 mgC m-3, F = 5.211, p <0.000; Hirst-Sheader model: 227.44±612.92 mgC m-3 d-1, F= 5.637, p<0,000; Hirst-Bunker model: 253.68±693.29 mgC m-3 d-1, F= 6,462, p<0,000) and A. lilljeborgi (0.0 ind.m-3 at 478.33 ± 1169.26 ind.m-3, F = 5.737, p <0.000; 0.0 mgC m-3 at 1896.10 ± 3656.94 mgC m-3; Hirst-Sheader model: 405.92±777.62mgC m-3 d-1, F= 4.406, p<0.000; Hirst-Bunker model: 507.28±1001.39 mgC m-3 d-1, F= 4.691, p<0.000) in the Caeté River estuary. For A. lilljeborgi spatial, monthly and seasonal significant variations were observed, however, for the A. tonsa only spatial and monthly differences were observed. The variations of the average length of the A. tonsa and A. lilljeborgi prossome were higher during the rainy season, whereas the lower values were observed in the dry period. As for juveniles, the CIV stages of A. tonsa (43.79 ± 117.16 mgC m-3, F = 2.804, p˂0.003, Hirst-Sheader model: 13.30 ± 35.37 mgCm-3 d-1 , F= 2,400, p <0.01; Hirst-Bunker model: 14.61 ± 39.84 mgC m-3 d-1, F= 2,680, p <0.004) and A. lilljeborgi CV (46,.38±123.30 mgC m-3, F= 4.856, p˂0.000; Hirst-Bunker model: 33.19±89.96 mgC m-3 d-1 F= 5.093, p<0.000; Hirst-Sheader model: 112. 92 ± 2.84 mgC m-3 d-1, F= 4.296, p <0.000) presented the highest values of biomass and production with significant spatial, monthly and seasonal differences. In relation to adults (CVI), females of both species showed high values of biomass and production (A. tonsa: 593.27 ± 1.571.89 mgC m-3, F = 7.368, p˂0,000; Hirst-Sheader model : 147.72 ± 390.76 mgC m-3 d-1, F= 5.455, p <0.000; Hirst-Bunker model: 165.00 ± 442.34 mgC m-3d-1, F = 6.307, p <0.000; A. lilljeborgi: 1.719.49 ± 3.386.79 mgC m-3, F= 4.074, p˂0.000; Hirst-Sheader models: 362.44 ± 711.47, F= 3.800, p> 0.000; Hirst-Bunker: 452.70 ± 873.20, F= 4.134, p> 0.000), showing significant differences between months, collection stations and seasonal periods. This high productivity obtained in the present work (independently of the global model used) may be related to the peculiar characteristics of the estuary studied, such as the high availability of food (phytoplankton, suspended organic matter and microzooplankton) and nutrient rich waters, which may favor the development and reproduction of the two species studied, since the Acartiidae are considered omnivorous and capable of surviving and reproducing with different types of food. In view of this, it could be assumed that these species play an important role as producers in the Caeté estuary by transferring energy to the higher trophic levels such as zooplanktophagous fish and carnivorous invertebrates.

Species delimitation methods are getting more and more important in biology, especially when considering issues related to conservation of biodiversity and systematic biology. In this context, the use of these approaches become necessary to put together management plans. The Lutjanidae family represents one of the most exploited marine fishery resources. In this study, we compared four methods of species delimitation in a group of snapper species from the Atlantic South (L. purpureus, L. vivanus and L. buccanella), and L. peru. The compared methods are based on genetic distance similarities or trees: GMYC, PTP, BPP and ABGD. Additionally, we infered evolutionary relationships inside this group using a multilocus approach. We sequenced four molecular markers, two mitochondrial and two nuclear. Overall, all the methods supported the existence of four species of snappers, consistently with morphologic taxonomy. Some incongruencies in species delimitation occured between the mothodologies due to factors such as the choice of methods of phylogenetic reconstruction (maximum likelihood or neighbour joining) and tree priors (coalescent or yule tree priors). The comparison between nuclear and mitochondrial DNA revealed that the mitochondrial DNA is more suitable than nuclear DNA for discriminate species when using genetic similarity threshold. Based on genetic distance analysis, we can suppose that L. buccanella species descend from a lineage more ancient than the lineage that gave rise to the trio L. purpureus, L. peru and L. vivanus. The species tree analysis recovered that last group as being monophyletic with the species L. vivanus as sister group to the pair L. peru e L. purpureus, which are considered germinative species. This study is, in general, congruent with the morphology-based taxonomy of the red snappers.

In tropical aquatic ecosystems, benthic macroinvertebrates are strongly influenced by the integrity of riparian vegetation. The objective of this study was to investigate in first-order tropical lowland streams whether riparian deforestation and seasonality are associated with the structure of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. Macroinvertebrates and physical and chemical variables of the water were collected in the Camutá, Cururutuia and Fazendinha streams, all of the first order, in the lower Caeté river basin, Pará, Brazil during the dry and wet season in sites with low, medium and high degrees of deforestation. Comparisons among the three types of sites suggest that deforestation can alter macrofaunal structure by eliminating susceptible taxa and increasing abundance of tolerant taxa. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH and flow were the factors significantly associated with the taxonomic composition. The water temperature was significantly higher in sites with a high level of deforestation in the Camutá stream. The pH, conductivity and discharge varied significantly among periods in the three streams. The number of individuals was significantly higher in sites with a high level of deforestation and in the dry season only in the Camutá stream. Families of Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Coleoptera (Scirtidae) were associated with Low deforestation and Tubificidae, Naididae and Glossiphonidae with high. Deforestation is an important structuring factor of benthic assemblages in these first-order tropical lowland streams in the lower Caeté River. Due to the importance of first-order streams in the hydrological cycle and ecosystem functioning, adequate management of their riparian zones is essential to conserve biological diversity and aquatic resources for present and future generations.

The species Charadrius semipalmatus and Charadrius collaris are from the Plovers group (Charadriidae Family). These species are migratory and non-migratory birds, respectively. In the migratory birds, the hippocampus is important to recover memories related to the stopping places, details about the breeding and the wintering grounds. The hippocampus plays an important role the processing of spatial memory in these organisms, making them excellent models to investigate the effect of behavior in this brain region. This work aims to investigate whether the hippocampal adaptive responses to migratory behavior are related to the migration and/or evolutionary pattern between migrant and non-migrant species of Charadrius genus.The individuals of C. collaris and C. semipalmatus were collected in islands of the coast using mist nets. The birds were measured, anesthetized, identified at species level using morphological features, had samples of muscle tissue collected and were transcardially perfused. The brain was cut in the coronal plane, the sections were stained by the Nissl technique and immunolabelled for NeuN, DCX and C-fos. Cell numbers, hippocampal volume and cell volume were estimated through the Optical Fractionator, Cavalieri Estimator and Nucleator, respectively. The total DNA was extracted for subsequent sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I fragment (COI) to generate phylogenetic trees of Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, genetic distance measurements and analyzes of phylogenetic independent contrasts. The results showed that the anatomy of the hippocampal formations observed in C. semipalmatus and C. collaris corroborate that observed for birds in general. The stereological results evidenced that the migratory species had higher volume of hippocampal formation, number of mature neurons and neurogenesis, when compared to non-migratory species, however there was no difference in the volume of neurons and C-fos positive cells. Molecular results showed no correlation between the characteristics of the hippocampal formation and the evolutionary distances between migrant and non-migrant birds, indicating that the differences in the number of cells as well as the volume of hippocampal formation do not occur due to the phylogenetic distance between the species. Therefore, the existence of neuroanatomic differences in the hippocampal formation of migrant birds is evident, excluding evolutionary factors as responsible for these architectural arrangements.

Lizards are excellent models for the investigation of biogeographic and phylogenetic patterns, given their reduced dispersal capacity in comparison with other vertebrate groups, as well as being taxonomically diverse and relatively abundant. In this context, the Amazonian gecko Chatogekko amazonicus was selected as the target species for the present study, due to its ample distribution within the Amazon basin, which provides an important baseline for the investigation of the biogeographic and phylogeographic patterns of the region. The present study amplifies the area sampled in previous studies in search of possible zones of contact between lineages, as well as evaluating the role of Amazonian interfluves as barriers to the dispersal of these lineages, and identifying the probable center of diversification. The analyses were based on the amplification of the 16S (mitochondrial) and Cmos (nuclear) genes of 125 individuals sampled throughout the Amazon basin, as the basis for phylogenetic analyses. A zone of contact between lineages A and E was identified in the proximity of the Trombetas River, in the Óbidos Trombetas population, based on the distinctive sharing of haplotypes (both nuclear and mitochondrial) in this region. The group diversified during the marine incursions of the late Miocene, when the current drainage basin of the Amazon was formed, a period consistent with the diversification of a number of other South American taxa. Our results still suggest that the Amazon River is a partial barrier in the geographical isolation of the A and B strains. This study provides new data about the distribution areas of these strains, as well as areas of contact between strains. In this way, the present data are important for the delineation of the areas of the Chatogekko amazonicus lineages, as well as for the determination of areas of contact areas that can be used in future studies.

To determine a hypothetical scenario that accounts for the diversification of the two species of the genus Antilophia, we conducted multilocus molecular comparisons and species distribution modeling for the two taxa, which have distinct male plumage coloration patterns and allopatric geographic distributions, despite the high degree of genetic similarity indicated by recent studies. Three mitochondrial and three nuclear fragments were analyzed. The results indicate clear differences in the genetic diversity of the two species, but with ample sharing of haplotypes in all the markers analyzed, reflecting the absence of reciprocal monophyly, presumably due to the relatively recent and still incomplete separation of the two species. The paleoclimatic distribution models, together with the observed genetic profile indicate a recent process of divergence by geographic isolation in the ancestral populations of the two species. This scenario coincides with the recent climatic events of the South American dry diagonal, which involves the gallery forests of the Cerrado biome and the cloud forest enclaves of the seasonal tropical dry forest of the Caatinga between the late Pleistocene and the mid Holocene.

Initially classified as Saguinus, the genus Leontocebus had its taxonomy reviewed recently and currently group nine species. This genus has a wide distribution in the Peruvian Amazon and part of the Ecuadorian, Bolivian and Brazilian Amazon. One of the explanations for a distribution of Amazonian primates concerns dispersal from Pleistocene forest refuges. Several biogeographic studies suggest that Amazonian rivers can act as barriers, as well as Pleistocene refuges, are responsible for the current distribution of various groups of vertebrates, inclusive primates. A 1336 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial genome (Control Region + Cytochrome b) from Leontocebus weddelli specimens collected on the left banks of the Jamari River (Rondônia - Brazil) and two points from Peru (Rio Madre de Dios E Rio Tambopata), these sampling points being located in the endemism areas Rondônia and Inambari, respectively. In this way, this work aims to evaluate the pattern of population genetic structure at the extremes of the distribution of this species and to test as Pleistocene river/refugia hypotheses some influence on the structure and genetic variability of this species. All the analyzes of the present study show genetic structuring between sampling regions (Peru and Brazil). Note the absence of haplotype sharing between Peru and Brazil. The sharing of haplotypes was observed only among the points sampled in Brazil, evidencing that the Jamari River does not represent a barrier for this species of neotropical primate. In addition, the data demonstrate the existence of three established clusters in Rondônia, of these two are shown mixed between the right and left banks of the Jamari River, being only an exclusive cluster of the right margin. According to estimates of divergence time, the L. weddelli diversification of Peru and Rondônia occurred about 821,000 years ago, this separation probably occurred as a consequence of the formation of the complex drainage system of the basin. The two sampling regions are separated by the Beni and Mamoré rivers, tributaries of the Madeira River. However, only one hypothesis of rivers as barriers does not explain the entire pattern of structuring observed in any present study, within Rondônia we observe a formation of three different groups of L. weddelli that have diversified the latter physical barrier evident. The insulation in forest refuges of the Pleistocene seems to have been the object of a mediator of the diversification of the clusters. This genetic structuration is corroborated by the existence of forest refuge areas in the state of Rondônia, close to Porto Velho as postulated by Haffer & Prance (2002). This is the first work that analyzes the pattern of population structure of L. weddelli and relates it to the process of diversification in the area of occurrence of the species.

This study was structured in two main chapters. The first chapter evaluated the catches of the vessels licensed to bottom trawl for ‘diverse fishes’ on the Amazon continental shelf. Accompanying industrial fisheries licensed for the harvesting of an indeterminate variety of fish species were monitored by onboard observers between the Brazil-French Guiana border and the frontier between the Brazilian states of Piauí and Ceará, during January, April and July 2013 and April, May, August and September 2014. A total of 115,505 kg of fish was caught, representing 22 different species. The largest catch (49,183 kg) was taken in the dry season, followed by the rainy-dry transition period (43,152 kg), and the rainy season (23,170 kg). Macrodon ancylodon was the principal target species, based on catch volume (79,6%). Given that the new licensing scheme for a variety of fish was established as an alternative for the harvesting of marine shrimp during the closed season, it is essential to understand the diversity of species and the size of their catches, given that many less resilient species may be captured. The second chapter study investigates whether the recent catches of the fisheries of the northern Brazilian coast indicate a phenomenon described as “fishing down marine food webs”. The data analyzed refer to catches landed in the Brazilian states of Amapá and Pará between 1995 and 2010. The results indicate that fishery production in Pará reached almost 2400 t in 2002, declining sharply decline by 2010, whereas the opposite trend was observed in Amapá, with a marked increase in production from 2008 onwards. In the ecological categories of large, medium and small pelagic fish, an abrupt increase in the volume landed was observed in 1999, followed by marked fluctuations, except in the case of the small pelagic category. The production of demersal fish, chondrichthyes and crustaceans increased to 2002 and then fluctuated in subsequent years. In Amapá, the mean trophic level of the species landed was constant, whereas in Pará, a sharp decline was observed between 1995 and 1997, stabilizing to between 2.3 and 2.5, with some fluctuations, indicating a sharp decline in the trophic level of the species landed during this period.

Castalia ambigua is a species of Neotropical freshwater bivalve that depends on fishes for its dispersal, on which it is a parasite during its larval stage. Little is known about the consequences of natural barriers on the genetic diversity of Amazonian bivalves and, with the construction of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant on the Xingu River, downstream of rapids of the Volta Grande, there is an urgent need to study the species in this river, especially in the surroundings of the hydroelectric plant. The present study aimed to genetically compare the populations of C. Ambigua collected upstream and downstream of the rapids in order to verify if they were homogeneous. In addition, the presence of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy was investigated. Sampling consisted of 113 individuals collected at five sites upstream (N= 49) and three downstream (N= 64), which were identified and sexed. The DNA was extracted from the adductor muscles and gonads. Mitochondrial DNA fragments (mtDNA) of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) and the nuclear DNA fragment of the internal transcript spacer region 2 (ITS2) were sequenced. COI was sequenced from DNA extracted from muscles and gonads to investigate the presence of mtDNA heteroplasmy in male gonads. The results obtained from the COI sequences showed the presence of heteroplasmy (mtDNA M and F) in the male gonads and only mtDNA F in their muscles. Females presented only the mtDNA F lineage in both tissues. These results were consistent with the existence of DUI in this species. Structuring was verified among the populations collected upstream and downstream of the rapids, both for the COI sequences of mtDNA F and mtDNA M and those of ITS2. Dating, based on the sequences of COI mtDNA F suggests that the split between the upstream and downstream populations occurred about 10 million years ago (Miocene). These results are of importance for the elaboration of management and conservation projects in this area, which is being subjected to significant impacts caused by the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant.

Arapaima gigas is one of the largest freshwater fish and an icon species of the Amazonian. This species is a potential resource for aquaculture of Amazon native fish. However, the reproductive management of this species is hindered by the lack of apparent sex dimorphism in specimens when they are not in the breeding season. The reproduction is quite complex since it encompasses the formation of mating pairs, nest construction, partitioned spawning and the role of males as mouthbreeder. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the transcriptome and to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, to generate information about the functional genomics, useful for the development of new techniques that allow the reproduction of arapaima in captivity, thus contributing to the conservation of the species in its natural habitat. The sequencing of complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries obtained from skin, liver, ovary and testis tissues were performed on the GS FLX sequencer 454 (Roche), HiSeq 2000 and 2500 (Illumina) platforms, which generated reads that were assembled using de novo strategy. The contigs obtained were submitted to BlastX for comparisons with the Swissprot protein dataset, which identified a high number of specific and shared genes for both sexes and tissues analyzed. The functional analyses based on Gene Ontology revealed that most identified transcripts and targets genes of the most expressed miRNAs belong to biological processes, which include genes that are essential to the viability of organisms. The miRNAs interactions and their potential target genes showed that the more enriched pathways are related to transcription, reinforcing the importance of protein synthesis in cells, tissues and organs. Differential expression analyzes based on the RPKM (Reads Per Kilobase of Coding Sequence per Million Mapped), P-value and Log2 Fold Change values revealed that the gene expression in skin and gonad is highly differentiated between males and females, while the levels of expression in liver are similar between both sexes of arapaima. Several genes involved to sex determination and differentiation have been identified (Dmrt1, Sox9, Wt1, Wnt4). The present transcriptome data obtained by next-generation sequencing proved to be a robust technique for the identification of differentially expressed genes between males and females of Arapaima, and increase the genome information for this important Amazonian species that can be useful to their reproduction and management of captive and native stocks.

The present study aimed to determine the spatial and temporal variations of the phytoplankton community, relating them to the oscillations of the environmental variables in the Caeté Estuary (Pará, Brazil). The collections were performed during nictemeral cycles at three fixed stations located along this estuary during the years of 2013 (October), 2014 (April and September) and 2015 (March) at six hour intervals, during 24 hours. The hydrological parameters, such as temperature, salinity and turbidity were measured in situ with the aid of CTDO's, while the other variables (pH, chlorophyll-a and dissolved nutrients) were determined by means of subsequent analyzes of subsurface water samples obtained at the sampling stations. The samples destined to the qualitative study of the phytoplankton were obtained through horizontal hauls performed in the subsurface water column with the aid of plankton nets (64 μm), while for the quantitative study additional subsurface water samples were collected. Spatial and seasonal variations were observed for salinity, nitrate, phosphate and silicate concentrations, with significantly higher values observed during the dry period, while turbidity was higher in the rainy season. Spatially, significant variations were observed for pH and nitrite concentrations. During the dry period, between the years of 2013 and 2014, a few variations were observed for the values of the hydrologic variables along the estuary. Significant variations were recorded only for pH (max: 8,73-S3), turbidity (max. : 457.89 NTU-S1) and nitrate concentrations (max: 20.00 μmol.L-1-S2) with the highest values observed in 2014. Nitrite (max: 2.97 μmol.L-1) and phosphate (max: 0.70 μmol.L-1-S3) concentrations were higher in 2013. During the rainy season, between 2014 and 2015, only phosphate concentrations did not present significant differences, whereas for the others hydrological variables were recorded wide variations over the period studied. A total of 198 taxa were identified, belonging to the Bacillariophyta, Dinophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria, Charophyta and Ochrophyta phyla, with the dominance of diatoms (80.8%). Among these, the species Coscinodiscus jonesianus (Greville) Ostenfeld, Coscinodiscus perforatus Ehrenberge Dimeregramma minor Gregory were very frequent and not abundant, except the latter species that was considered abundant (50.73%). The total phytoplankton density ranged from 359.83 ± 51.01 x 103 cel.L-1 in the S1 station to 571.90 ± 312.02 x 103 cel.L-1 in the S3 station, both values recorded during the dry period (Maximum: 236,90 ± 23,24 x 103 cel.L-1-S2, F = 18,30, p <0,05). During the dry period of 2013 and 2014, significant differences were observed for total density, chlorophyll-a, microphytoplankton and phytoflagellate concentrations, with higher mean densities in 2013. During the rainy season of 2014 and 2015, significant variations for the density of total phytoplankton, microphytoplankton, phytoflagellates and phytoplankton biomass were observed, with higher mean values recorded in 2015. On the other hand, the diversity and equitability were significantly higher in 2014 (max .: 2.31 ± 0.39 bits .cél-1; 0.46 ± 0.08). Cluster analysis evidenced the formation of two spatially differentiated groups. The principal components analysis (PCA) confirmed the spatial distribution of the samples and showed that salinity, turbidity and nitrate, phosphate and silicate concentrations defined the main components of this analysis, being the main variables controlling the phytoplankton dynamics. The results obtained suggest that the composition, biomass, distribution and phytoplankton densities in the Caeté Estuary were directly influenced by precipitation and the high fluvial runoff, which influenced directly and/or indirectly the hydrological variables, mainly the concentration of dissolved nutrients, thus favoring phytoplankton development in the estuary under study.

This study aimed to determine the composition and distribution of zooplankton in the estuary Taperaçu evaluating, in temporal and spatial scales, the contribution of the main species of copepods for biomass and production in terms of organic carbon in the environment under study. Therefore, samples were taken bimonthly (zooplankton and hydrologic variables) from June 2012 to June 2013, in three fixed stations located along the estuary, totaling 117 samples. The zooplankton community was apparently homogeneous. With regard to biological attributes, significant variations related to circadian cycles (day/night) and tidal periods (flood/ebb) were not detected. High values of abundance of Paracalanus quasimodo, Labidocera fluviatilis and Pseudodiaptomus marshi were observed. The absence of a nichtemeral and tidal patterns, was possibly related to the morphodynamic characteristics of the estuary Taperaçu, such as the presence of sandbanks in its central portion, the absence of a river discharge, the small catchment area, low depths and strong tidal currents, which facilitate the processes of horizontal and vertical mixing of the water column. When analyzed on a monthly and spatial scale, it was observed the influence of seasonal periods on the dynamics of these organisms, these being directly related to variations in salinity, turbidity and chlorophyll-a concentrations. The zooplankton community was dominated by copepods, especially Acartia tonsa (22,230.9±46,145.7 ind.m^-3), Acartia lilljerborgi (4,011.6±10,326.5 ind.m^-3), P. marshi (3,267.3±4,565.1 ind.m^-3), P. quasimodo (9,270.7±17,593.3 ind.m^-3) and Oithona oswaldocruzi (30,221.9±28,328.4 ind.m^-3), together with Oikopleura dioica (15,284.6±26,060.6 ind.m^-3). The average diversity of species ranged from 2.0±0.6 bits.ind^-1 to 3.8±0.4 bits.ind^-1, while the evenness ranged from 0.5±0.1 to 0.7±0:03. Overall, the temporal variability (monthly and temporal) and spatial observed in the structure and dynamics of zooplankton population was mainly related to fluctuations in precipitation rates, which directly affect the salinity of the water and consequently the abundance of these organisms. In addition, it was also concluded that the presence of typically marine species such as P. quasimodo and O. dioica may be related to the significant increase in salinity as a result of reduced rainfall in 2012. Biomass and production A. tonsa and A. lilljeborgi were directly related to the local rainfall since, A. tonsa showed high values throughout the period, not only in the rainy season as previously observed in this same estuary. The immature stages (C1-C5) of A. tonsa were the dominant forms, especially the C4 stage (839.88±1518.80 mgC.m^-3), while for A. lilljeborgi the highest values were obtained for adults (1,347.84±499.95 mgC.m^-3). The obtained rates of secondary production were higher than those described for other estuaries located around the world, and these results are associated with the high temperatures recorded during the year as well as the observation of water rich in nutrients and particulate organic matter derived from adjacent to mangroves Taperaçu. In general, the results indicate that the influence of climate changes on the hydrological variables especially temperature, salinity, as well as the concentration of chlorophyll-a were the main responsible for the dynamics of mesozooplanctônicas species identified in the estuary of Taperaçu.

This study focuses on the occurrence of growth rings and the usage of dendrochronological methods to evaluate the influence of precipitation and substrate salinity on the growth of the mangrove tree species Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C. F. Gaertn. at two sites within the mangrove forests of the Caeté river estuary, Bragança, Pará, Brazil. Site 1 is a fragment of mangrove forest, located in the lower estuary, therefore it receives a greater influence of marine waters. The site 2 is in the inner most portion of the estuary, next a channel, so it is a brackish mangrove. In November 2010, cambial markings were applied to five trees at site 1. Trees were felled in November 2014 and the annual character of macroscopically visible, periodic changes in wood morphology (growth ring formation) was established after identification of the scars of the cambial marking in polished wood discs. Stem diameter increment of ten living trees was monitored fortnightly from January 2012 to December 2015 by permanent measurement tapes at site 1. Corresponding substrate pore water salinities were obtained from 10 and 50 cm depth. Wood disks were collected between 2010 and 2015 from thirteen additional trees with diameters between 5,4 and 16,8 cm from sites 1 and 2 and ring counts and measurements of ring width were obtained by a tree ring measurement station (LINTAB, Rinntech). Correlations between salinity and precipitation at site 1 were positive for 50 cm (r=0.87, p < 0.001) but negative for 10 cm (r=-0.80, p < 0.001) sediment depth; salinity ranged from 29 to 49 at site 1 (own measurements) and from 10 to 17 (literature data) at site 2. Diameter increment correlated positively with precipitation (r=0.71, p < 0.001) and salinity at 50 cm (r=0.73, p < 0.001) and negatively with salinity at 10 cm (r=-0.63, p < 0.001) depth; growth stalled during the dry season. Average annual diameter increment was 3.1±0.15 mm (n=10). Growth rings were formed due to seasonal changes in the proportions of space occupied by the vessels and surrounding parenchymatic tissue. Distinct growth ring boundaries were found at site 1 only; at site 2, where pore water salinity is low, ring boundaries were blurred by discoloured stains. At site 1, the average ring width was 4.52±1.27 mm (n=8). Tree age varied between 9 and 20 years. The mean curve of the ring width index showed no significant correlation with total precipitation (r = 0.23, p <0.31). However, when the years 2003 and 2009 were withdrawn, years with precipitation above 2900 mm, the correlation with the precipitation data was highly significant between growth index and total precipitation (r = 0.38, p <0 , 01) and rainfall (r = 0.32, p <0.01). Growth responded to ENSO events, with reduced increment rates during dry El Niño and increased increment rates during wet La Niña years, respectively. However, growth rates were lower than expected during extremely wet years (> 2,900 mm).

The main objective of this study was to perform a spatial and temporal comparison between population diversification patterns of two species of Ceratopipra that share similar ecological characteristics. We applied next generation sequencing (NGS), through genotyping by sequencing (GBS) methodology, and mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Several analyses of population genetics were performed, including computational modelling aiming to compare the observed phylogeographic status against a set of simulated scenarios. For C. rubrocapilla, my results showed an initial phase of population separation (allopatry), followed by secondary contact and gene flow, suggesting that the clinal pattern described for this species is an incomplete speciation, which was started in allopatry. The phylogeographic pattern observed in C. erythrocephala demonstrated a ring pattern of diversification. Here described two main groups in the Amazonia that are not completely isolated with a contact zone in the lower Negro river and Jaú is the population containing both groups. Besides these, the most remote populations are isolated. The phylogeographic patterns described for these two species are complementary in understanding of the process of speciation of the Amazon basin. They showed a complex patterns of speciation, involving isolation (vicariant) and dispersion, and these can be explained by the complex interaction between terra firme habitats and dry forests during the Pleistocene, as well as the potential barriers to the isolation of populations, such as rivers or mountain and savannah areas.

The present study investigated the effect of anomalous patterns in rainfall (La Niña event observed in 2011) on the hydrological components and their possible effect on the abundance and diversity of copepod community in the Taperaçu estuary, Northern Brazil. Samples were collected during neap tides, in three fixed stations located along the studied estuary (upper-S1 estuary, medium-S2 and lower-S3), using conical plankton nets with 120 μm mesh sizes. The samples were taken in October 2010, August and October 2011 (dry season), and in February, April and June 2011 (rainy season). In this estuary daytime haulings were performed monthly during flood tides and a total of 18 samples were obtained. The anomalous increase in rainfall recorded in the Taperaçu estuary in 2011 was responsible for the reduction of salinity, and also for the observation of increased concentrations of dissolved nutrients and phytoplankton biomass. These conditions have had a direct effect on the temporal dynamics of copepods, acconting for the observation of high densities of Oithona oswaldocruzi (169,090 ± 254,609 ind m-3; p < 0.0001), Pseudodiaptomus acutus (301,133 ± 518,065 ind m-3; p < 0.05), Pseudodiaptomus marshi (329,391 ± 563,009 ind m-3; p > 0.05) Oithona hebes (40,888 ± 64,893 ind m-3; p < 0.05) and Acartia tonsa (10,680 ± 13,877 ind m-3; p > 0.05) in February. There was also an extreme increase in the rate of copepods nauplii recruitment during this month (3,088.309 ± 5,206.645 ind m-3; p < 0.05), yielding higher values than those observed for the adult forms. This fact was also responsible for the reduction of the diversity (2.4 ± 0.5 bits.ind-1; p < 0.05) and richness (9.7 ± 2.5). This anomalous behavior in rainfall affected not only the copepods community structure, but may also have caused changes in the trophic dynamics at higher levels of the food chain, such as those represented by zooplanctivorous fish. Overall, the temporal variation of copepod community was mainly determined by the combined effect of climatological and hydrological variables, which modulated the population dynamics of these organisms in the studied estuaries.

Fishes are vertebrates that have the highest rates of infections by parasites, due to the characteristics of the aquatic environment, which represents a favorable environment for the spread and penetration of pathogens. Comparing knowledge of fish pathogens in the world, the knowledge of parasites that affect neotropical fish is considered incipient, especially for loricariids (Siluriformes) and gymnotiform knife fishes. Using monogenoidean platyhelminths as an example, recent reviews show that, despite the great diversity of loricariids and Gymnotiformes, only 4% of the species in both groups were investigated for this group of parasites. There are 34 species and nine species of Monogenoidea reported from loricariid and gymnotiform fishes, respectvely. In this context, it is unquestionable that any effort to document the diversity Monogenoidea parasites loricariids and gymnotiform knife fishes or any other group of hosts in the Neotropical region will raise awareness of our biodiversity, especially if treated taxonomic groups understudied. This study aimed to implement a survey of Monogenoidea diversity from loricariids and gymnotiform fishes in different basins of northeastern Pará, and the Lower Basin Xingu- Iriri in Pará State, Brazil. Also, new species of monogenoids belonging to two genera are described herein. As a result of Chapter II, eight species of dactylogyrids and two species of gyrodactylids previously described from loricariids and gymnotiforms are reported for new hosts and new localities. Two new species of monogenoids from the gill filaments of loricariids collected Low Xingu- Iriri and one new species from the gill filaments of gymnotiforms collected in Maracanã basin, are described: Unilatus sp. nov. A from Scobinancistrus aureatus Burgess 1994, Unilatus sp. nov. B for Panaque armbrusteri Lujan, Hidalgo and Stewart, 2010 e Urocleidoides sp. nov. from Brachyhypopomus sp.

The mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) has great ecological and economic importance, being among the items of higher food consumption in the north and northeast of Brazil. Its main source of food are the leaves in senescence that are stored and consumed in its galleries. The mangrove crab has slow growth and takes two to three years to mature reproductively. Therefore it is necessary to know their biochemical composition, both aimed at sustainable management of this species, as for food science and technology. In terms of its chemical composition, fatty acids play different biological roles at different stages of development of this crustacean. The composition of fatty acids are influenced by environmental factors, diet, age and season and it can vary from species to species. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of seasonal variation on the concentration of fatty acids in the land crab over a year in the estuary river Caeté, bragantina region, Pará (Brazil). Eight samples were taken, two for the periods of breeding and moulting and two collections before and after these periods. In each collection, 30 adults were captured, being 15 males and 15 females, totaling 240 individuals. Muscle and hepatopâncreas tissues of each specimen were lyophilized and their lipids were extracted, and after transesterification, they analyzed by gas chromatography to determine the fatty acid profile. Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical cluster analysis were applied to the fatty acids in order to find patterns of groups formation. Among the monounsaturated acids found, oleic acid appeared as the most important, and among the polyunsaturated class, linoleic acid had the highest concentration. In muscle, five fatty acids were identified and, in general, higher concentrations was of linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids, which represent together a concentration range from 61.37% to 73.73% in females and between 60.93% and 75.70% in males. There was no variation in the types of fatty acids between the sexes. The hepatopancreas presented higher amounts of fatty acids, indicating its importance for the metabolism of crustaceans. For females, higher fatty acid concentrations were find prior to molting and lower during the reproductive period, while in males the largest variations occurred in the period prior to molting, evidencing that males and females have different behavior in using energy reserves. In muscles, the higher concentration of fatty acids was present after ecdysis. In the multivariate analyses, the separation of groups related to reproduction and post reproduction in females was ; on the other hand, the formed groups in males were the ecdysis post-reproductive periods. Seveteen fatty acids were present in the hepatopancreas, and palmitic acid had the highest concentration in males (22.25% to 33.72%) and females (24.97% to 31.74%). This study indicated that the concentrations of fatty acids throughout the year in uçá crab has a very different behavior in the two tissues studied and the main variations occur during the period of breeding and intermolt.

The Amazon coast is rich in natural resources, with highly valued natural landscapes and ecological systems. These environments include estuarine beaches, which are important areas for recreational activities. This thesis presents data on the conditions of the recreational quality and carrying capacity in three estuarine beaches (Murubira, Colares and Marudá). The main environmental and social problems reported here are related to the lack of urban planning. Although these beaches present a high capacity for visitation, the number of visitors exceeds the permitted limits, mainly due to bacteriological contamination and the lack or efficient services and infrastructure. The lack of basic sanitation system, for example, and the presence of numerous sewage outlets have contributed to the high concentrations of thermotolerant coliforms, strong odor and visual pollution. Undermoderate hydrodynamic energy conditions (tidal range between 3 and 5 m and wave height-H_s up to 1-2.0 m), the contamination on these beaches is punctual (particularly when the tides reach the level of the sewage discharges). Moreover, moderate hydrodynamic energy conditions associated with irregular constructions can cause changes on the beach profile, destruction of edifications and degradation of natural environments such as dunes and mangroves. Other problems are related to presence of solid waste and lack of planning recreational activities that should include: zoning activities, a larger number of lifeguards, signs, etc. to avoid accidents for the beachgoers (e.g., drowning, injury caused by motorboat, jet ski, stingrays, amongst others). The socio-environmental diagnosis resulted in the elaboration of a Recreational Carrying Capacity equation and in the application of the DPSIR model for the studied estuarine beaches. All those information are essential tools for the development of future state and municipal coastal management programs. The procedures adopted in this study can be applied to other estuarine beaches on the Amazon coast, where coastal management measures are necessary to improve the regulation and planning of the use of coastal environments of the Amazon region.

Macrobrachium amazonicum is a freshwater prawn classified as a euryhaline species, with population distributed in coastal and continental environments. During its larval development, coastal individuals migrate to brackish water, requiring different osmoregulatory mechanisms. Larvae in zoea I tolerate freshwater and do not have osmoregulatory organs, zoea V require brackish water and do have gills, while the post- larvae tolerate freshwater. In order to investigate about putative genes responsible for osmoregulation was performed a transcriptome of larvae in the stage I, V and post- larvae (PL), using the Ion TorrentTM sequencer. We obtained a total of 11.481.928 reads comprising three libraries. Following the assembly and annotation were obtained 985 genes with known function and then were added 650 fragments with CDs (amino acid coding) unpaired in public databases. They were identified 39 putative genes with osmoregulatory function, grouped in three categories: transporters of ions and substances (8), energy and metabolism (22) and stress response (9). Among those transporters, 6 were proton bombs, of which stand out Na+/k+ATPase and V-ATPase, 1 ATP biding cassette and 1 Sollute carrier family. Those related to metabolism, were recorded 6 mitochondrial (Cytochroe oxidase), 6 of lipid metabolism (Fatty acid) and glycolytic pathway, which are important for storage and energy production through ATP and 5 of amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis. From the category stress response, highlights the presence of HSP70, which acts as chaperone. This study allowed the finding of genes expressed during the ontogeny, contributing to the understanding of osmoregulatory processes of this species.

Apesar da importância ecológica dos morcegos eles também podem estar associados à determinadas doenças, atuando como transmissores como no caso da raiva, uma encefalomielite viral aguda, transmitida, principalmente, pela inoculação do vírus presente na saliva do animal infectado. Devido ao seu hábito alimentar, o morcego hematófago Desmodus rotundus está entre os principais transmissores, sendo o responsável pelos surtos de raiva humana ocorridos em 2004 e 2005, nos estados do Pará e Maranhão. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivos i) a realização de uma investigação sorológica do Rabies lyssavirus (RABV) em morcegos e ii) a avaliação do conhecimento e das práticas relacionadas à doença desenvolvidas por moradores de localidades de risco da mesorregião Nordeste do Pará. Primeiramente, procurou-se identificar a ocorrência de circulação viral e variação interanual na soroprevalência de anticorpos contra o RABV em morcegos em locais com registros de ataques de D. rotundus aos animais, e, apesar de não ter sido detectada infecção rábica, mais da metade dos morcegos (64%) estavam soropositivos. Também foi identificado um aumento significativo (p<0.001) no percentual de morcegos soropositivos de um ano (38%) para o seguinte (86%), indicando a possível ocorrência de um pico de infecção viral recente entre os morcegos. Em um segundo momento, com a avaliação do conhecimento e das práticas relacionadas a raiva desenvolvidas por moradores de comunidades rurais com e sem registros de casos de raiva em humanos, constatou-se baixa probabilidade desses moradores saberem se prevenir contra essa zoonose. Com esses resultados e com os relatos de alguns moradores pode-se concluir que a falta de conhecimento foi um importante fator na ocorrência dos surtos supracitados e que ainda persiste entre esses moradores. Isso, associado à circulação do RABV em locais onde existem ataques aos animais, aumenta a probabilidade de ocorrência de novos casos da doença. Portanto, é fundamental a implementação de intervenções educacionais com a população, partindo principalmente das entidades de saúde pública.

Tetraodontidae family using three distinct molecular approaches. Initially, it was built a phylogeny of Sphoeroides, the third most specious genus of the family with about 20 species distributed in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Mitochondrial (16S and cytochrome oxidase I) and nuclear regions (exons of ENC1 and zic1) were used for characterization of twelve species of the genus. Overall it was observed a phylogenetic relatedness between S. testudineus and S. annulatus but with little resolution for the remaining species analyzed. Another approach involved the phylogeography of the Sphoeroides testudineus species, one of the most frequent puffer fish on the coast of the western atlantic, with distribution from the USA (New Jersey) to the south of Brazil (Santa Catarina). Population and phylogeographic analyzes were conducted using the mitochondrial markers ATPase, cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the control region (CR). Such analyses detected genetic structuring in S. testudineus species, revealing two genetically distinct clades corresponding to the north-south distribution of the species. It was also noticed a possible process of recent demographic expansion, probably related to paleogeographic events of the Pleistocene/Holocene, which changed the landscape occupied by this species. Finally, aiming to contribute to a better discrimination of species from Tetraodontiformes order, about 400 specimens were evaluated by assessing the genetic variability of the COI sequences, a marker commonly used for species identification by the DNA barcoding approach. The results obtained here were consistent with the morphological identification for all evaluated taxa. however, indication of species complex were revealed in Lagocephalus laevigatus (Linnaeus, 1766), Sphoeroides spengleri (Bloch, 1785), Sphoeroides testudineus (Llinnaeus, 1758), Sphoeroides annulatus (Jenyns, 1842) and Sphoeroides pachygaster (Muller & Troschel, 1848). Furthermore, it was also observed that in addition to specimen identification the DNA barcoding could be a useful tool for detecting population structuring.

A espécie P. fasciicauda é atualmente composta por cinco subespécies com ampla distribuição geográfica na região neotropical, mas inexistem trabalhos que visem avaliar os seus limites intraespecíficos e as relações filogenéticas do táxon. Para a espécie, dados comportamentais, morfológicos e de distribuição foram usados para a definição da atual taxonomia. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo realizar uma análise filogeográfica do complexo Pipra fasciicauda, buscando compreender sua história evolutiva por meio de marcadores moleculares. Para isso, utilizamos três subespécies das cinco existentes para P. fasciicauda. Foram selecionados três marcadores mitocondriais (ND2, ND3 e COI) e três regiões nucleares (I5BF, Myo2 e G3PDH). Os resultados apoiam a monofilia da espécie P. fasciicauda e a existência de duas linhagens, além da divisão em clados que apóiam a existência de três populações estruturadas. Análises baseada em delimitação de espécies também apoia a diferenciação de dois clados em P. f. scarlatina (Amazônia e Caatinga). Em P. fasciicauda a diversificação parece ter sido grandemente influenciada pela formação dos grandes rios amazônicos e pela constituição de refúgios devido às mudanças climáticas no Pleistoceno. Nossas análises sugerem que alguns clados subespecíficos encontrados possam representar novos táxons e apontam para a necessidade do incremento de dados morfológicos, bioacústicos e comportamentais, a fim de verificar a necessidade de alteração taxonômica.

The REDEMA project (Restoration of Degraded Mangrove in Bragança) aimed to promote methodologies for the recovery of degraded mangrove areas in Ajuruteua Peninsula, Bragança-Pará via environmental education with community participation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the activities and actions taken by REDEMA project on the residents of the communities of Tamatateua and Taperaçu-campo, from the environmental and socio-economic point of view. Interviews were conducted on the activities and aspirations, with respondents divided into five categories: i) Researchers ii) Teachers iii) Students iv) monitors and v) Volunteers. The present study concluded that the community recognize the importance of REDEMA Project and know how to describe the practices carried out in the mangroves. However, it is important to note that not all the participants realized the theoretical and practical benefits today, denoting not empowerment from the reconstruction of their memories.

The cupped oyster Crassostrea gasar has a wide distribution along the tropical estuarine waters of the South American and African coasts and the economic value of this species has lead to an increase in the number of oyster farms, especially along the Brazilian coast. The need for more information on the genetic diversity of natural beds of C. gasar in northern Brazil is justified by the intensification of oyster farming in North and North-East Brazil. A microsatellite CT/GT enriched genomic library was developed for C. gasar and twelve new polymorphic loci were isolated and characterized. The markers were successfully amplified from 25 individuals of C. gasar and 11 cross-amplified individuals of Crassostrea rhizophorae. A total of 300 specimens (50 specimens by sample effort) of C. gasar ranging from 3 to 5 cm in length were sampled from Salinópolis, Curuçá and São Caetano de Odivelas on the northern Brazilian coast on two occasions, 10 months apart (sample I and II, respectively). From the twelve microsatellite loci characterized, nine were chosen to be genotyped from all DNA samples. Drastic reductions in population size have been observed in marine bivalve populations along the northern Brazilian coast, however, large numbers of rare alleles but no bottleneck events, were detected in our analysis, suggesting that the observed seasonal decrease in population size is not substantial enough to cause a reduction in genetic variability. Pairwise Fst and AMOVA locus-by-locus analyses detected genetic heterogeneity among oysters from different sites. However, the global temporal analysis of specimens from all 3 sites together showed homogeneity between sample I and II. These results may be explained by predominance of local recruitment in the absence of physical barriers to gene flow, but with only low numbers of seasonally active individuals reproducing at each site. This study provides evidence to suggest that the commercial management of oysters that is currently being carried out by oyster culture associations, which translocate C. gasar seed from Curuçá for on-growing at other sites in Pará state, does not negatively affect the genetic diversity of this species in the wild.

The present study quantified the gas exchange between the soil and the atmosphere in the mangroves along the Ajuruteua Peninsula, Bragança, Brazilian Amazon coast. Fieldwork was conducted in three study sites: Furo do Taici, Bosque Anão, and Furo da Estiva. CO2 measurements emitted by the soil were made using closed chambers coupled to a CO2 analyzer with infrared (IRGA), LIQUOR-840 model. The data were tested for normality and homoscedasticity by the Shapiro-Wilk and Levene's test, respectively. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to reduce and eliminate overlapping physical and chemical abiotic variables. The particle size analysis classified Furo do Taici as Sandy Clay Loam, Furo da Estiva as Sandy Loam, and Bosque Anão as Silt Loam. The salinity gradient goes from Furo do Taici, the lowest value (16.5) to the Bosque Anão with 44.3. Overall, the average results for the emission of CO2 from soil ranged from 1.45 μmols.m-2.s-1, at Furo do Taici to 0.69 μmols.m-2.s-1 at Bosque Anão, and the difference between them was significant (KW, H=10.28, df=2, p=0.005). The comparative analysis of soil variables between sites was significant for almost all variables, except for Soil Temperature and Salinity. The results also showed that the CO2 flux varied on average 0.51 μmols.m-2.s-1 between sites, with the highest variation recorded between Furo do Taici and Bosque Anão. In fact, CO2 efflux was inversely proportional to values of rainfall intensity and this effect better captured in the mangroves at Bosque Anão, where these two variables were better correlated (R2=0.87, p<0.05). Therefore, the results showed that CO2 efflux from mangrove soil to the atmosphere is inversely proportional to salinity, given rainfall intensity rates directly influence the soil salinity in the mangrove swamps of the peninsula.

O presente estudo focalizou a relação entre o caranguejo-uçá e a distribuição das espécies vegetais arbóreas que formam os bosques de mangue no município de Viseu- Pará, dando-se ênfase ao potencial extrativo desse recurso para os extrativistas estuarino-costeiros dessa região. Nove pontos de coleta foram escolhidos através de entrevistas aplicadas aos pescadores de caranguejos locais. Os pontos foram georreferenciados e inseridos em uma base cartográfica para elaboração de mapas temáticos da distribuição espacial das espécies arbóreas de mangue e da largura da carapaça e densidade do caranguejo-uçá. O estudo botânico foi realizado em três transecções de 100 m paralelas e com intervalos de 20 m. Em cada transecção foram abertas cinco parcelas contíguas de 20x20 m (400 m²). De todas as árvores de mangue foram medidos DAP (cm) e Altura Total (m). Dos caranguejos foram medidos a Largura da carapaça (cm) e Peso (g), enquanto a Densidade foi estimada pelos métodos de contagem de galerias (CG; galerias^.m^-2) e contagem dos indivíduos (CI; ind^.m^-2). A análises de variância foram realizadas para os atributos da vegetação e do caranguejo-uçá em separado, bem como correlação entre esses atributos. Do total de 4545 registros, R. mangle obteve 2587 (56,9%), A. germinans 1625 (35,7% e L. racemosa 333 (7,3%). Avicennia germinans foi a espécie mais dominante em 70% dos pontos de coleta que foram considerados em desenvolvimento e o restante maduros.O método de contagem que melhor representou a densidade de Ucides cordatus foi o CG. Nesses bosques o solo tende a ser menos inconsolidado, tornando mais difícil o processo de extração do caranguejo-uçá pelo método do braceamento, o que, no caso do presente estudo, ambos poderiam ter contribuído para essa discrepância na proporção sexual. Os bosque de L. racemosa são pouco procurado pelos pescadores, pois para esses pescadores a baixa densidade e o menor tamanho dos caranguejos fazem com que esses bosques sejam raramente procurados para essa atividade.

 Estudos baseados em dados do DNA mitocondrial têm sugerido que espécies que apresentam ampla distribuição geográfica podem exibir algum nível de estruturação genética. Desta forma, a espécie M. americanus foi escolhida como objeto do presente estudo, visto que é uma espécie estuarino dependente e que apresenta uma ampla distribuição geográfica, indo dos Estados Unidos a Argentina, tais características sugerem uma possível estruturação populacional. No presente estudo foi analisado um fragmento da Região Controle do mtDNA de 224 indivíduos de 11 localidades da costa Atlântica da América do Sul (do Pará, no Brasil, ao Rio da Prata, no Uruguai). Os resultados revelaram a ocorrência de 3 grupos distintos dentre as populações: o grupo I, inclui as populações do Norte e Nordeste do Brasil; o grupo II, as populações das regiões brasileiras Sudeste e Sul; e o grupo III, com as populações do Uruguai. Dos 113 haplótipos identificados, 16 pertencem exclusivamente as populações do Uruguai, 67 são exclusivos do grupo I e 27 são exclusivos do grupo II, sendo apenas 3 haplótipos compartilhados entre os grupos I e II. Ficou evidente a completa separação das populações do Uruguai das do Brasil. Entretanto com relação as populações da costa brasileira há uma pequena estruturação envolvendo populações do sul-sudeste e norte-nordeste, sugerindo a existência de fluxo gênico recente ou mesmo a existência de um polimorfismo ancestral. Esse padrão filogeográfico pode ser decorrente da existência de barreiras ao fluxo gênico na altura do estado do Espírito Santo, coincidente com a cadeia de montanhas Vitória – Trindade, que pode estar atuando como barreira ao fluxo gênico em razão de fenômenos biológicos, físico-químicos decorrentes de mudanças climáticas, eventos de oscilação do nível do mar do Pleistoceno, etc., e mais ao Sul na altura do Rio da Prata, a Zona de Convergência Brasil/Malvinas, formada pelas correntes do Brasil e das Malvinas. Estas correntes se formam próximo à desembocadura do Rio da Prata e provocam mudanças físico-químicas (temperatura, salinidade da água, etc.) e mesmo biológicas (alteração na biodiversidade fitoplanctônica) na região, que podem ter proporcionado, às populações de M. americanus, adaptação às condições locais. Assim, os resultados aqui apresentados corroboram parcial ou totalmente outros estudos que mostraram que as características biológicas, geomorfológicas e hidrodinâmicas do Atlântico Sul Ocidental podem promover a estruturação genética de populações em peixes.

Propõe-se aqui fazer uma discussão em torno das relações de gênero e de geração presentes nas atividades de pesca artesanal. Trata-se de problematizar, a partir de uma pequena comunidade da Amazônia Oriental (Comunidade de Bonifácio, Bragança – Pará) de que forma essas relações estão sendo (re) construídas e representadas pelas pessoas desse contexto social.Para tanto, o trabalho de campo, que contou com entrevistas parcialmente estruturadas, grupos focais, associação livre, associações livres, observação do cotidiano da comunidade serviram como suporte na aproximação e na compreensão do fenômeno pesquisado. Ainda nesse sentido, a participação na rotina de várias famílias da comunidade, incluindo alimentação conjunta, pescarias, atividades domésticas e de manutenção dos instrumentos de pesca, fizeram parte do percurso metodológico. Assim, foi possível perceber que na Comunidade de Bonifácio o uso dos espaços e dos recursos naturais está rigidamente estruturado a partir da hierarquização de gênero – isso é de homem, aquilo é de mulher. Há trânsito de homens e de mulheres no variado conjunto de tarefas executadas na localidade (confecção e conserto de instrumentos de pesca, captura, processamento do pescado, por exemplo). Mas esse trânsito não pode ser lido apressadamente, como se indicasse que não há uma divisão sexuada do trabalho e que a sociedade não se estrutura nas relações de gênero.Também, foi percebido como a organização etária, a partir de grupos de idades, é também uma construção cultural. E embora essa organização varie de sociedade para sociedade, ela está presente em todas elas, o que em certa medida, acaba definindo, ainda na infância, os saberes, os valores, os papéis e os lugares de gênero e de geração, inclusive nas atividades pesqueiras. Por fim, nota-se que nas comunidades aonde se materializa a pesca artesanal são diversas as relações em rede – relações de gênero, relações de geração, relações com a natureza – que estruturam as diferentes formas complexas de manejo do ambiente social, cultural, simbólico, ambiental.

A hipótese da arquitetura da planta prediz que variações na complexidade estrutural da planta hospedeira influenciam a comunidade de insetos herbívoros, sua dinâmica e desempenho. Nós tentamos verificaro efeito da arquitetura da Avicennia germinans(L.)L.sobre a riqueza e abundância dos morfotipos de galhas em sítios de mangue plantado na península de Ajuruteua, Bragança, costa amazônica brasileira. As amostragens foram realizadas em cinco sítios usando 10 indivíduos e 20 ramos apicais por indivíduo. Os atributos estruturais (variáveis explicativas) e a riqueza e abundância de galhas (variáveis resposta) foram estimados e analisados com regressão múltipla através de modelos lineares generalizados (GLM). Vinte e dois morfotipos de galha foram registrados com a ocorrência de 16 em todos os sítios. Um total de 7.602 galhas com média de 1,3±0,4 galhas por folha foi registrado. Os morfotipos MF7 e MF4 foram os mais abundantes e representaram menos de 40% do total. Embora A. germinans seja uma planta super-hospedeira, o parasitismo das espécies indutoras de galha não afetou o seu desenvolvimento ou sua sobrevivência. Este fato somado à previsibilidade e atratividade do recurso aos artrópodes galhadores podem explicar a alta riqueza e abundância de morfotipos de galhas associadas a A. germinans nos manguezais. Contudo, a complexidade arquitetônica dessa espécie arbórea do mangue não influenciou a riqueza, apenas a abundância de morfotipos de galha, corroborando parcialmente com a hipótese da complexidade estrutural em sítios de mangue plantados.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal, estimar as diferenças nas taxas de CO₂E dos troncos entre as três principais espécies arbóreas de mangue, além de verificar se a salinidade da água intersticial, a espessura da casca e a temperatura do tronco atuam como fatores limitantes no CO₂E para esse compartimento das florestas de mangue da costa amazônica brasileira. O CO₂E mediu 0,76 µmol m^-2 s^-1 para Rhizophora mangle, 1,26 µmol m^-2 s^-1 para Laguncularia racemosa e 2,02 µmol m^-2 s^-1 para Avicennia germinans, com R. mangle diferenciando-se significativamente das outras duas espécies. Essa relação mostrou-se inversa quando da análise da espessura da casca e, por isso, assume-se que espécies com a casca mais espessa apresentam menor difusão do CO₂ para a atmosfera. Não houve correlação significativa do CO₂E do tronco com o diâmetro do tronco, mas sua temperatura foi positiva e significativamente correlacionada com o CO₂E somente para L. racemosa (r_s² = 0,47). A salinidade da água intersticial não teve correlação com o CO₂E, embora tenha sido observado uma tendência do CO₂E do tronco ser maior em salinidades intermediárias (de 15 a 30), em contraste, ambos os extremos de salinidade são correlacionados com as menores taxas de CO­₂E. A respiração anual do compartimento tronco para a floresta de mangue da região estudada foi de 2,80 Mg C ha^-1ano^-1, o que representa aproximadamente 10 % da respiração total, incluindo outros componentes da respiração autotrófica.

No estado do Pará, a espécie Crassostrea gasar é cultivada em localidades que, em geral, encontram-se inseridas em Reservas Extrativistas Marinhas (RESEX). É comum a prática de translocação de "sementes" da localidade de Lauro Sodré (município de Curuçá), o qual faz parte da RESEX Mãe Grande de Curuçá, para as demais localidades. O presente estudo buscou investigar, a partir da genotipagem de 07 loci de microssatélites, se haveria homogeneidade genética entre amostras de ostras coletadas em Lauro Sodré e as populações nativas de localidades receptoras de “sementes” como Santo Antônio de Urindeua (município de Salinópolis), São Caetano de Odivelas (RESEX Mocapajuba) e Nova Olinda (município de Augusto Corrêa; RESEX Araí Peroba), sendo que em Nova Olinda se encontra a principal produção de ostras comerciais cultivadas do estado do Pará. Também foram adicionados às análises os dados de São João de Pirabas, por apresentar potencialidade para ostreicultura. Altos níveis de diversidade genética foram verificados nas cinco populações, diversidade esta que se manteve constante ao longo de um período de 10 anos. Foram apontados desvios significativos do equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg na maioria dos locais amostrados, que podem ser explicados pela presença de alelos nulos na maioria dos locus, característica bastante comum em bivalves. Os valores de F_ST, R_ST e o resultado da AMOVA, indicaram não haver diferenciação genética significativa entre os locais. O resultado do STRUCTURE e da análise discriminante do componente principal (DAPC) apontaram homogeneidade entre as populações amostradas, embora os gráficos de frequências alélicas observadas mostrem pequenas flutuações nas frequências dos alelos de Nova Olinda e São João de Pirabas. No entanto, as mudanças nas frequências gênicas foram bastante discretas, a ponto de não serem capazes de causar estruturação e podem ser explicadas por oscilações das frequências gênicas no decorrer das gerações, já que as amostras destas localidades foram coletadas dez anos antes. O estudo mostrou, do ponto de vista genético, que as ostras podem ser manejadas entre os estuários da região sem causar impacto a diversidade genética daquelas encontradas na natureza, em razão de perfazerem um estoque homogêneo

Os primatas do Novo Mundo vivem nas florestas tropicais do continente americano e têm uma grande importância para a ciência. As restrições da identificação das espécies baseadas nas chaves morfológicas indicam a necessidade de um novo método para reconhecer um táxon válido. A utilização do DNA barcode para este fim vem encontrando sucesso em vários grupos (por exemplo, invertebrados, pássaros, peixes e mamíferos). Para primatas do Novo Mundo, o estudo desta técnica de DNA barcode é promissor e existem aspectos práticos para sua utilização, como a identificação das espécies, pois muitas são bastante parecidas morfologicamente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar geneticamente por meio da ferramenta DNA barcode oito espécies de primatas que ocorrem na área onde foi construída a Usina Hidrelétrica de Samuel, em Rondônia, Brasil (Aotus azarae, Ateles chamek, Callicebus brunneus, Leontocebus weddelli, Mico rondoni, Pithecia mittermeieri, Saimiri ustus e Sapajus apella). Foi obtido um total de 600 pb dos espécimes coletados neste estudo. O DNA barcode foi eficaz para caracterizar os primatas do Rio Jamari, em Rondônia, Brasil. A baixa divergência nucleotídica das espécies A. azarae e A. infulatus indica que estas são provavelmente a mesma espécie. A. chamek é uma espécie válida. C. brunneus pode estar espécie está passando por um processo de estruturação populacional. L. weddelli e M. rondoni são cada uma espécie válida. P. mittermeieri e P. monachus apresentaram baixa divergência, não podendo ser consideradas duas espécies. Saimiri ustus faz parte de um complexo parafilético. S. apella tem uma divergência haplotípica significativamente baixa em relação a S.macrocephalus não existindo suporte para a separação em duas espécies. O Rio Jamari não foi barreira geográfica para nenhuma das espécies amostradas com indivíduos da margem direita e margem esquerda, pois todas as espécies compartilharam pelo menos um haplótipo, havendo, portanto, populações homogêneas em Rondônia.

Reconhecer padrões de distribuição é uma importante ferramenta para se entender os processos por trás da estruturação de comunidades e planejar respostas diante das mudanças climáticas, especialmente no contexto da elevação da temperatura e acidificação dos oceanos. O uso de índices adequados de avaliação do estado dessas comunidades é essencial para que se possam traçar medidas de conservação efetivas da diversidade genética e taxonômica. A disponibilização de dados filogenéticos de clados monofiléticos permite a utilização de novas abordagens de investigação de padrões e respostas ambientais, uma vez que seu uso combinado com diferentes índices tradicionais pode ajudar a desvendar padrões que de outra forma poderiam permanecer ocultos. Este trabalho avaliou a informação obtida para diversos índices disponíveis no programa Biodiverse para investigar dois modelos de distribuição previamente validados (anos 2000 e 2050) baseados em Adequabilidade de Ambiente Relativo (RES > 0) para dois clados monofiléticos distintos e funcionalmente diferentes de cetáceos: filtradores (Mysticeti) e predadores ativos de médio porte (Delphinidae). Os mapas resultantes apresentam grupos de índices com respostas similares: diversidade básica (riqueza, Shannon, Simpson, Rao, diversidade filogenética), endemismo (endemismo ponderado e endemismo filogenético ponderado, por exemplo), turnover e dissimilaridade (Jaccard e Jaccard filogenético), e medidas que integram relações filogenéticas com proximidade filogeográfica (TD, VarTD e NRI, NTI). A maioria dos padrões observados são similares aos encontrados pelas análises de índices tradicionais, ou seja, a versão filogenética resulta em um padrão similar ao índice tradicional correspondente. Os resultados mostram a influência das mudanças climáticas previstas tanto sobre Mysticeti quanto Delphinidae, com expansões e retrações esperadas de áreas apresentando valores mais elevados para os índices. A classe final de índices filogenéticos identificou áreas de valor elevado que não foram sugeridas pelos outros índices, e que não possuem equivalentes nos índices tradicionais, podendo prover informação extra para futuras ações de conservação se o valor de tais áreas for reconhecido ao lado das medidas tradicionais existentes.

Hoplias malabaricus Bloch (Characiformes, Erythrinidae), comumente chamado de traíra, é conhecida pelo seu hábito alimentar carnívoro e por ser amplamente distribuído pela região Neotropical. Os diversos estudos citogenéticos e filogeográficos têm corroborado com a hipótese de que esta espécie representa um “complexo de espécies”. A traíra também é conhecida por apresentar a maior riqueza parasitária dentre os peixes marinhos e de água doce de águas brasileiras. Atualmente, são conhecidas 69 espécies de parasitos para H. malabaricus, sendo que deste total, os monogenóideos representam 12% desta diversidade. Informações sobre a diversidade de monogenóideos parasitando H. malabaricus são conhecidas para região da Amazônia Ocidental, bacias da região Sul, Sudeste e Centro–oeste do Brasil, todavia, nada se conhecia sobre a diversidade destes parasitos de traíras para drenagens costeiras da Amazônia Oriental. Desta forma, este projeto visou abordar dados moleculares e parasitológicos (identificação taxonômica) de Hoplias malabaricus, buscando a interação de ambos os componentes de estudo, em contraste com a sua história no cenário paleohidrológico. Como resultado do Capítulo I, foram descritas uma espécie nova de monogenóideos pertencente ao gênero Urocleidoides e um Gênero novo espécie nova parasitando H. malabaricus, assim como foram feitas a lista de ocorrência de espécies de parasitos monogenóideos das brânquias destes hospedeiros para as localidades amostradas. No Capítulo II, como resultado, os dados moleculares de Hoplias malabaricus demostraram uma alta divergência molecular entre populações de drenagens costeiras do nordeste paraense, principalmente para as localidades de Viseu (Bacia do Gurupi) e Irituia (Bacia do Rio Guamá). Por outro lado, os dados atestam que houve o compartilhamento de haplótipos de Bragança (Bacia do Rio Caeté) e Irituia (Bacia do Rio Guamá). A divergência molecular entre populações de H. malabaricus quando comparadas com a composição parasitológica foram congruentes para algumas bacias, pois algumas espécies de monogenóideos como Urocleidoides sp2 e Gênero n. sp2. n ocorreram apenas na localidade de Irituia, enquanto que Anacanthorus sp. ocorreu para as localidades do Piriá, Viseu e Bragança, visualizando–se um padrão de interação parasito/hospedeiro.

A costa Norte do Brasil é considerada um dos mais importantes bancos camaroneiros do mundo, tendo o camarão-rosa como espécie alvo da frota industrial que atua nessa região. Este trabalho objetivou analisar a influencia de variáveis ambientais (batimetria, fotoperíodo, tipo de substrato e precipitação) sobre a produção de camarão rosa e realizar o levantamento da composição e distribuição da ictiofauna acompanhante proveniente de pescarias industriais de camarão-rosa, a partir de dados da pesca industrial, no período de maio de 2010 a junho de 2011. Foram monitorados sete embarques, totalizando 151 dias de viagem, contabilizando 461 lances. Considerou-se as seguintes subdivisões da costa Norte do Brasil: Plataforma Continental do Pará (CPA); Foz do Rio Amazonas (FAM); e Plataforma Continental do Amapá (CAP). Em relação a produção, os resultados da Ancova indicam que a co-variável 'precipitação' explica a maior parte da variação da CPUE (kg.h-1), seguido em ordem decrescente de importância pelos fatores área, fotoperíodo e tipo de substrato. Entre as áreas avaliadas, a foz do Amazonas (FAM) apresentou a maior CPUE, seguida da plataforma continental do Amapá (CAP) e plataforma continental do Pará (CPA). A análise do fotoperíodo demonstrou que os arrastos diurnos apresentam maior produtividade. Em relação a cobertura sedimentar do substrato, a região de Lama fluvial (LF) apresentou maior valor médio de CPUE, seguida de Ondas de areia transgressiva (OAT) e baixios de areia transgressiva (BAT). A variação da CPUE na costa Norte seguiu uma dinâmica sazonal correlacionada com o ciclo de chuvas na região, com maiores valores no período chuvoso. Em relação fauna acompanhante, a ordem mais abundante foi Perciformes (68,91 %). A família Sciaenidae se destacou com 55,89% de ocorrência e a espécie mais representativa foi Macrodon ancylodon (23,48%). A FAM e CAP são áreas com maior diversidade biológica, maior densidade por espécies e composição da íctiofauna semelhante. Essa similaridade, entre FAM e CAP, pode ser explicada pelo efeito da corrente das Guianas, que transporta grande parte da descarga dos rios da bacia Amazônica ao longo da costa do Amapá, resultando em uma região de elevada produtividade. Considerando a extensão da costa Norte onde fatores ambientais incidem de forma distinta ao longo da mesma sugere-se a implementação de medidas conservacionistas como o zoneamento da pesca do camarão rosa, definindo as áreas apropriadas para captura do recurso garantindo a sustentabilidade da atividade. O monitoramento de pesca de arrasto de camarões na costa norte do Brasil poderá contribuir na manutenção dos estoques de espécies típicas da fauna acompanhante deste recurso, como Macrodon ancylodon e Stellifer rastrifer que, devido a elevada frequência de ocorrência nas pescarias, sofrem maior impacto desse sistema de pesca.

A geração de resíduos sólidos urbanos e sua destinação final é um problema mundial. O crescimento dos centros urbanos, a explosão demográfica e os conflitos socioambientais da humanidade têm sido os principais responsáveis pela pressão antrópica sobre os recursos hídricos na maioria das cidades. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a distribuição e a composição gravimétrica de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) depositados às margens do rio Cereja no município de Bragança-PA. Foram distribuídos ao longo de 3,5 km do trecho urbano do rio 5 pontos distintos para a coleta de RSU durante o período chuvoso e seco. Foi realizada a análise da composição gravimétrica dos resíduos sólidos urbanos, aplicação de questionário sobre percepção ambiental aos moradores do entorno do rio e as métricas do indicador de integridade ambiental (iia) nos pontos de coletas. A composição gravimétrica de RSU no período chuvoso foi composta de borracha (37%), metal (23%), vidro (13%) e papel/papelão (9%). No período seco, destacaram-se plástico polimerizado/rígido (35%), metal (28%), poliestireno (19%). O iia do rio Cereja apresentou classificação de médio a pobre em relação à diversidade de hábitats. Na caracterização ambiental, o ponto de coleta apresentou melhor estado de conservação foi o ponto 1(P1) e o ponto de coleta de pior estado de conservação foi P4 . A análise gravimétrica de RSU descartado ao longo do rio apresentou percentual significativo (67%) de material passiveis de reciclagem. Nota-se a necessidade de programa de educação ambiental a fim de promover ações de que reduzam e separem o RSU na fonte geradora, incentivo a reciclagem, coleta, tratamento e destinação final adequada.

O crescimento e o desenvolvimento juvenil de 4 espécies de crustáceos Brachyura que ocorrem na Amazônia foram investigados com ênfase no crescimento absoluto e na morfologia dos pleópodos. Em laboratório, os juvenis de Panopeus americanus, Acantholobulus bermudensis, Sesarma rectum e Armases rubripes foram cultivados individualmente e acompanhados diariamente quanto à muda e/ou mortalidade. Todas as espécies foram cultivadas ao menos até seus pleópodos alcançarem a forma final. Assim, P. americanus, A. bermudensis, S. rectum e A. rubripes foram cultivados até o juvenis IX, VIII, XIX e XI, respectivamente. As quatro espécies apresentaram crescimento indeterminado, no qual o período de intermuda e a carapaça aumentaram, enquanto que a porcentagem de incremento do tamanho após mudas consecutivas diminuiu ao longo do desenvolvimento juvenil. Nestas espécies, o surgimento e desenvolvimento dos pleópodos ocorreu em diferentes estágios: em P. americanus e A. rubripes, os pleópodos característicos para cada sexo surgiramno estágio de juvenil V e alcançaram sua forma final nos estágios juvenis VIII e IX respectivamente. Em A. bermudensis eles surgiram precocemente, no segundo estágio juvenil, e no juvenil V já estavam completamente formados, enquanto que em S. rectum eles surgiram apenas no 12º estágio juvenil e somente no 19º estavam completamente desenvolvidos. Os pleópodos de alguns estágios juvenis de S. rectum haviam sido descritos anteriormente, assim como os pleópodos de A. rubripes, no entanto importantes distinções foram encontradas e estas são concernentes principalmente ao número de cerdas e segmentações e padrão de distribuição das cerdas. Vários detalhes envolvidos durante o crescimento e desenvolvimento das espécies investigadas são descritas e discutidas com prévios estudos relatados ao cultivo de braquiúras reportados na literatura.

O presente trabalho traz resultados discutidos e abordados sobre a temática “Pesca artesanal: olhares sobre trabalho e relações intergeracionais de pescadores e pescadoras na comunidade de Quatipuru Mirim, Tracuateua, Pará” objetivando caracterizar o perfil sócio econômico e educacional, de pescadores e pescadoras, tais como: categorização; variáveis (idade, escolaridade, gênero, atividade econômica ou renda complementar) atividades produtivas; produtos extraídos da pesca artesanal, e ecossistema manguezal assim como, das relações intergeracionais entre pescadores e pescadoras. O estudo se deu no período de 2013 e 2014 na comunidade de Quatipuru Mirim. Os agentes sociais, foco da pesquisa foram os pescadores artesanais (homens e mulheres) que fazem uso dos recursos da pesca e extrativismo do ecossistema manguezal, no total de N=51 informantes adultos, sendo 27 masculinos e 24 femininos, destes 39 na faixa etária de 10 a 40 anos e 12 a partir de 41 anos. O número de jovens informantes foi no total de 39 informantes sendo 18 (masculino) na faixa etária de 10 a 16 anos e 21 anos a partir de 11 a 29 anos. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados a partir da abordagem qualitativa, com o uso do instrumento questionário com perguntas (semi)estruturada e aplicado por meio da entrevista, e, quantitativa, com resguardo à estatística descritiva. Adicionalmente, observação direta em campo, conversas informais e participação nas atividades lúdicas. A análise dos dados se deu por meio do tratamento estatístico, através dos programas Word e Excel 2010. Os resultados revelam que os pescadores artesanais estão classificados nas modalidades: 1) pescadores de mar, com idade entre 20 a 40 anos, 2) pescadores e pescadoras de beirada ou subsistência, com idade entre 10 a 60 anos. A maioria possui escolaridade nos níveis inicias do ensino fundamental. O trabalho, a título de conclusão, apresentou ainda quatro impressões: a primeira, secundarização do trabalho da mulher na pesca, visto que, aparece associada ao trabalho doméstico e complemento da renda familiar; segundo, o impacto causado pela evolução tecnológica na atividade pesqueira artesanal transformando paulatinamente os pescadores e pescadoras em produtores de mercadoria, cuja produção advém de sua força de trabalho; terceiro, a aprendizagem e transmissão de saberes na pesca, dá-se sob dois condicionantes: (1) acontece por meio de saberes repassados da geração adulta, por meio da técnica experienciada ao longo dos anos na pesca; (2) a aprendizagem, na maioria das vezes, configura-se pela educação informal, ou seja, não há a intenção de ensinar, embora o aprender acontece somente pela observação e pelo fazer na pesca. Quarto, relações intergeracionais na atividade pesqueira em Quatipuru Mirim: (1) os adultos (homens e mulheres) apresentaram o desejo de não continuar na atividade pesqueira desde que tivessem oportunidade de trabalhar em outra atividade; (2) para os pescadores de mar a pesca não constitui prioridade, sobretudo, para os mais jovens; (3) os adultos (pescadores de mar e pescadores de beirada) percebem o trabalho da mulher na pesca como extensão do trabalho doméstico; (4) os jovens, apresentaram, na maioria das vezes, não continuar a profissão dos pais. Por fim, concluiu-se que ainda há muito que se discutir e analisar acerca da temática em foco, visto que a categoria intergeracional na pesca artesanal têm sido pouca investigada na sociedade do conhecimento. 

Este estudo faz parte de um trabalho de maior amplitude que objetivou a elaboração do Relatório Antropológico de Vila Mariana, reivindicado por moradores desta comunidade junto à Fundação Palmares. Esse relatório antropológico é a base para a titulação definitiva da comunidade de Vila Mariana como remanescente quilombola.  A pesquisa focaliza, principalmente, as mudanças enfrentadas pelas comunidades rurais e mais detalhadamente na comunidade quilombola de Vila Mariana, ocorridas nas últimas décadas, sobre tudo, a partir das políticas modernizantes instauradas pelo regime militar, e a efetiva participação do Estado e dos movimentos sociais nessa dinâmica. Neste contexto, o trabalho aborda, principalmente, as questões socioambientais discutidas sob a visão sistêmica e destaca os processos de estruturação de relações, ocupação, dinâmica social, territorialização e re-territorialização a partir da perspectiva coletiva e individual dos integrantes da comunidade.  Ainda, discute o estimulo da capacidade resiliente-adaptativa, motivado por estas interferências, na manutenção e reprodução de suas características tradicionais. A pesquisa etnográfia indica que a condição de estresse social incitado pela interferência de agentes externos na comunidade causou fortes perturbações e condicionou certas alterações na ordem social pré-estabelecida na comunidade, o que modificou, em boa medida, a dinâmica socioambiental local. No entanto, em função da sua efetiva capacidade resiliente-ecológica a comunidade mostra-se ativa na emissão das respostas às interferências e mantém vivo seu caráter etnossocial.

O presente estudo investigou 5 sistemas estuarinos (Caeté, Urumajó, Taperaçu, Mocajuba e Gurupi) do setor oriental da costa amazônica, que apresentam características distintas entre eles (geologia, tamanho da bacia de drenagem e descarga fluvial), fazendo com que estes apresentem comportamentos hidrodinâmicos distintos, mesmo possuindo algumas similaridades com certa regularidade ao longo da costa (e.g., clima e regime de marés). Avaliando longitudinalmente os cincos ambientes em relação à variação do MPS (material particulado em suspensão), salinidade e a propagação da maré dinâmica (Gurupi e Mocajuba) em diferentes condições climáticas (estações seca/chuvosa). Mais especificamente correlacionar às condições hidrodinâmicas únicas de cada um dos ambientes estudados com a eventual formação, e suas variações espaço-temporais, de uma Zona de Turbidez Máxima (ZTM), fenômeno o qual contribui de forma significativa para a evolução dos sistemas estuarinos. Em relação à seção transversal da porção média de cada estuário, nota-se que a redução da área entre a maré média a maré baixa foi de 42 % para o Gurupi, 52 % para o Caeté, 60 % para o Urumajó, denotando a gradual redução de importância da vazão fluvial. Para o estuário do Taperaçu, com avançado processo de preenchimento, esta redução é de 93%, enquanto que o estuário do rio Mocajuba a redução foi de 18 %, como resposta de um canal bastante profundo controlado estruturalmente. A existência de uma ZTM nos estuários amazônicos é um dos fatores que retem e induzem a deposição dos sedimentos finos no leito estuarino  principalmente nas faixas intermareais, sendo também é responsável pela disponibilização das lamas estuarinas para as áreas de mangue, uma vez que os rios da região são de águas pretas que são pobres em sedimento em suspensão. Para os estuários amazônicos pode se afirmar que a salinidade é um bom indicador da ocorrência e localização da ZTM, mas sua formação é resultado de um complexo balanço entre a forçante de maré e a vazão fluvial, combinado com a geometria/morfologia estuarina, e todos estes fatores variam espacialmente entre os estuários e variam temporalmente em todos eles em diferentes escalas (e.g. sizígia/quadratura & seca/chuvas).

A demanda por frutos do mar tem aumentado notavelmente, e devido a isso, segmentos industriais tem diversificado a forma de apresentação do pescado, oferecendo produtos processados como filés, por exemplo. Tal tendência por um lado estimula o consumo, mas por outro diminui sua confiabilidade, uma vez que pescados processados apresentam altas taxas de substituição. O processamento remove partes do corpo utilizadas no reconhecimento das espécies, e então a identificação fica comprometida, especialmente em um grupo de peixes com grandes semelhanças morfológicas, como é o caso dos pargos ou vermelhos da Família Lutjanidae. Tais peixes tem grande interesse econômico mundialmente, e no Brasil a espécie mais procurada é o Pargo – Lutjanus purpureus. Existem vários outros fatores que propiciam a substituição dessa espécie: captura conjunta a outros lutjanídeos, registro estatístico impreciso, nomenclatura popular despadronizada e rotulagem inadequada do produto filetado. Portanto, o presente trabalho investigou se os filés comercializados em supermercados de Bragança-PA, sob o rótulo de “Pargo”, pertenciam de fato a espécie L. purpureus. Através da metodologia de DNA barcode, foi possível detectar que 22% dos filés amostrados correspondiam à espécie Rhomboplites aurorubens, lutjanídeo de baixo valor comercial na região. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de prevenir práticas dessa natureza, e fornecem subsídio para auxiliar no combate a substituições, junto a órgãos competentes, indústrias e supermercados. Apesar da eficácia da técnica de DNA barcode para identificação, há metodologias mais práticas e baratas que vêm sendo sugeridas para a elaboração de protocolos de autenticação de produtos pesqueiros, como aqueles baseados em PCR multiplex. Tendo em vista os inúmeros relatos de fraudes em produtos derivados de lutjanídeos, foi desenvolvido um protocolo de identificação forense por padrão de bandeamento, para três das principais espécies de vermelhos comercializadas no Brasil: L. purpureus, L. synagris e Ocyurus chrysurus. Esse protocolo representa uma alternativa a ser aplicada tanto pela fiscalização, na busca por substituição, como na proteção dos direitos do consumidor; quanto na rotina de setores comerciais e industriais, no sentido de controlar a qualidade e garantir a autenticidade dos produtos.

Os Pleuronectiformes são um grupo de peixes peculiar, com características anatômicas extraordinárias e que tem despertado grande interesse em diversas áreas da ciência. Contudo, estudos genéticos na ordem estão concentrados em espécies de importância comercial e as relações filogenéticas e evolutivas em famílias como Achiridae permanecem pouco conhecidas. Os representantes dessa família incluem um número relativamente pequeno de espécies com ampla distribuição em regiões estuarinas, dulcícolas e marinhas, características que os tornam ideais para uma análise filogenética ampla. Adicionalmente, os dados citogenéticos disponíveis, embora restritos, demonstram acentuada variabilidade cromossômica, raramente registrada em grupos predominantemente marinhos. As informações sobre as relações intergenéricas em Achiridae são ainda mais reduzidas e um consenso em relação ao monofiletismo e origem do grupo ainda não foi alcançado. A fim de testar o potencial da análise cromossômica para taxonomia e sistemática de Achiridae, dados citogenéticos foram obtidos para Trinectes inscriptus, 2n=42 (8m/sm+34st/a); Achirus achirus, 2n=33/34 (17m/sm+16st/a,X₁X₂Y em machos e 16m/sm+18st/a, X₁X₁/X₂X₂ nas fêmeas); T. microphthalmus e A. declives, 2n=36 (12m/sm+24a), A. lineatus 2n=40 (18m/sm+22st/a) e T. paulistanus 2n=42 (10m/sm+32st/a). Regiões organizadores de nucléolos (RONs) simples e intercaladas por blocos ricos em GC foram identificadas na maioria das espécies, com exceção de T. microphthalmus (dois pares portadores de DNAr 18S). Os genes de RNAr 5S foram mapeados apenas em Trinectes inscriptus (braços curtos de um par subtelocêntrico) e A. achirus (braços curtos de 10 a 12 cromossomos para machos e fêmeas, respectivamente). Em ambas as espécies a sintenia das duas classes de DNAr foi observada, permitindo a identificação de eventos como transposição, e inferências sobre a origem do cromossomo Y. Ainda, o padrão de distribuição de heterocromatina foi exclusivo para cada espécie, reforçando a dinâmica evolutiva do genoma dos Achiridae e demonstrando a eficiência dos marcadores cromossômicos na citotaxonomia. Os dados citogenéticos obtidos também sugerem problemas na caracterização prévia de A. declives, conforme corroborado pela análise de sequências do gene Citocromo Oxidase I (COI). De fato, a análise do COI permitiu identificar com precisão as espécies de Achiridae como grupos reciprocamente monofiléticos. Por fim, sequências desse gene foram analisadas simultaneamente com outros dois genes mitocondriais (16S e 12S) e dois nucleares (Rodopsina e Rag 1) para a reconstrução filogenética da família usando Máxima Parcimônia (MP), Máxima Verossimilhança (ML) e Inferência Bayesiana (BI). Os resultados obtidos recuperaram a família Achiridae como monofilética e refutaram algumas relações internas inferidas com dados morfológicos prévios. As topologias geradas trouxeram contribuições importantes para a família, com destaque para o não monofiletismo dos gêneros Achirus e Trinectes, e a estreita relação entre Hypoclinemus mentalis e Achirus achirus, os quais devem ser sistematicamente reavaliados. Agrupamentos entre espécies dulcícolas, estuarinas e marinhas também foram observados e sugerem que os representantes da família surgiram no estuário e evoluíram independentemente para ambientes mais caracteristicamente marinhos ou dulcícolas. Ainda, as árvores de MP e BI foram utilizadas numa análise comparativa com dados citogenéticos, os quais foram mapeados na filogenia molecular. Os resultados evidenciaram que os rearranjos cromossômicos não constituem sinapomorfias para reconstrução filogenética e parecem ter ocorrido isoladamente nas diferentes linhagens da família.

Análises filogeográficas ajudam a compreender a influência dos eventos geológicos na distribuição geográficas de espécies. Dentre os sapos do gênero Rhinella, existem 3 espécies próximas que ocupam biomas vizinhos, cuja as relações filogenéticas não são bem resolvidas e apresentam casos de hibridização, são elas: Rhinella marina, Rhinella schneideri e R. jimi. Neste estudo investigamos os padrões filogeográficos de diversidade genética e estrutura populacional destas espécies, aumentado a amostragem de trabalhos anteriores, e incluindo populações de R. jimi. A amostragem abrange a Amazônia Oriental, a Caatinga e pontos no Cerrado. Foram sequenciados três regiões nucleares e um mitocondrial. Os resultados gerados pelas genealogias haplotípica não mostram um separação clara entre R. marina e R. jimi. No entanto, as análises de clusterização demonstraram a existência de três grupos (K=3), e a distribuição espacial destes grupos não correspondem aos limites da distribuição atribuídas previamente às espécies estudadas. A análise do Structure mostra um clina entre a Região Amazônica e a Caatinga, ou seja, entre R. marina e R. jimi. Além disso, as estimativas de migração indicam um alto número de migrantes em direção à Caatinga. Deste modo, concluímos que R. jimi é uma linhagem derivada de R. marina, resultado de uma migração passada, que está evoluindo separadamente. Esta linhagem ocorre em toda a Caatinga e em parte do Cerrado e Amazônia.

Celeus é um gênero de pica-pau que comporta o maior número de espécies dentro da família Picidae. Estudos filogenéticos baseados em dados morfológicos e moleculares com representantes deste gênero resultaram em arranjos desarmônicos, havendo relações filogenéticas conflitantes para algumas espécies. Exemplo desse conflito é parafiletismo que envolve Celeus undatus e Celeus grammicus, onde o status taxonômico dessas espécies comporta questionamentos devido à similaridade morfológica, genética e de vocalização que as aproxima, a ponto de serem tratadas com unicidade. Sendo assim, neste trabalho nós verificamos a relação que existe entre essas espécies por meio de análises moleculares. Foram analisados três fragmentos mitocondriais (ND2, Cyt b e COI) e três nucleares (I7BF, G3PDH e Myo2). Nossos resultados evidenciam que não existe monofiletismo recíproco entre os táxons, onde a divergência genética interespecífica é reduzida para os marcadores mitocondriais e ausente para os genes nucleares. Não houve a formação de grupos definidos nas redes haplotípicas, existindo compartilhamento de haplótipos entre as espécies para todos os marcadores, exceto para o ND2. Por conta da presença de haplótipos exclusivos em todos os marcadores e da baixa divergência, as análises conjuntas sugerem que os táxons em questão estão em processo inicial de especiação, uma vez que existem caracteres de diagnose morfológica aceitos pela comunidade ornitológica. Este cenário de recente separação foi confirmado quando realizado o teste de delimitação de espécies com o programa BP&P, apresentando valor de 100% de serem espécies distintas. A própria separação incompleta das duas espécies impediu a realização de inferências filogeográficas a nível de subespécie, sendo estas interpretadas como prováveis artefatos de plasticidade fenotípica do grupo.

O turismo costeiro é uma das mais importantes atividades econômicas na geração de rendimentos financeiros em todo o mundo. O crescimento deste setor tem provocado inúmeros impactos negativos sobre habitats, biodiversidade e comunidade local. Nesse contexto surge o conceito de Capacidade de Carga Recreacional (CCR), e suas múltiplas aplicações, como uma ferramenta de planejamento e gestão costeira que busca avaliar os impactos socioambientais provocados pelo turismo e auxiliar na formulação de políticas públicas que visem diminuir tais impactos. O presente estudo realizado na praia de Ajuruteua entre os anos de 2012 e 2013, durante sete campanhas, compreendendo os feriados prolongados na estação chuvosa, estação seca e período de férias escolares, buscou avaliar espaço-temporalmente os valores de CCR e conhecer a percepção dos usuários quanto aos aspectos oceanográficos, biológicos e sanitários, infraestrutura, serviços e acesso, a avaliação da qualidade da praia, suas motivações para a escolha do local e as principais sugestões para a melhoria do turismo local. A CCR e a percepção dos usuários seguiram metodologias específicas. Os resultados indicam altas densidades de visitantes com valores de CCR abaixo de 5 m²/visitante. No período de férias escolares, principalmente no domingo, na Zona 1. Variações temporais (hora, dia da semana, anual, interanual) e espaciais (zonas x nível da maré local) foram encontradas durante a pesquisa. Em relação à percepção dos usuários, a maioria dos visitantes avaliaram a praia como um ambiente de alta qualidade, revelando bom entendimento das características hidrodinâmicas e oceanográficas locais, assim como diferentes percepções acerca dos aspectos biológicos e sanitários. A avaliação negativa feita para os aspectos de infraestrutura, serviços e acesso refletem as baixas condições destes componentes que são apresentadas no local. Baseado nos resultados, um conjunto de medidas são necessárias e deveriam ser tomadas pelas autoridades locais para melhorar o atual estado da praia de Ajuruteua, tais como: (i) melhorar a infraestrutura local, os serviços e acesso para garantir a satisfação do visitante; (ii) promover diferentes atividades recreacionais em toda a praia afim de evitar a aglomeração e, consequentemente, reduzir os riscos aos banhistas durante os períodos de alta temporada; (iii) impedira a ocupação imediata em dunas e áreas de manguezais; (iv) construir um sistema de tratamento de esgotos; (v) providenciar o fechamento imediato de todas as saídas de esgotos que descarregam efluentes diretamente dentro da praia; (vi) estabelecer um sistema de monitoramento permanente para a qualidade da água da praia usada para a recreação pela população local e turistas; e (vii) Estabelecer a implantação de um sistema diário de coleta de lixo, o qual inclua o aumento no número de lixeiras e pontos de coleta em toda a praia.

Sciades parkeri é um importante recurso pesqueiro da região Norte do Brasil. Diante da importância ecológica, econômica e social do sistema pesqueiro direcionado a Sciades parkeri ainda são desconhecidas informações primordiais que poderiam subsidiar um manejo mais efetivo. Além disso, levantamentos estatísticos sinalizam para uma diminuição drástica na produção e do tamanho médio de primeira captura, aliado a um aumento exponencial do esforço pesqueiro empregado. Este trabalho contempla a redação de três capítulos separados e apresentados no formato de artigo. No capítulo I foi estudada a Estrutura da população em comprimento e peso, assim como as relações mofométricas e biométricas. A população comercialmente explotada de Sciades parkeri é composta principalmente de fêmeas cujo tamanho e peso foram mais elevados que os machos. Houve um predomínio de indivíduos imaturos durante todo o período amostrado. Proporcionalmente, as fêmeas foram mais predominantes, chegando a 7.67 fêmeas por macho. Para todos os modelos lineares de regressão, foram registradas alometrias negativas, demonstrando que as fêmeas são maiores que os machos. No capítulo II foi estabelecida a categoria trófica através da identificação e frequência de itens alimentares. Sciades parkeri apresenta uma dieta essencialmente carnívora alimentando-se mais frequentemente de crustacea e peixes ósseos. Parece provável que a espécie apresente ao longo do ciclo de vida, uma variação na dieta condizente com a idade. O Capítulo III reflete a estatística de desembarque onde foram analisados os volumes de gurijuba proveniente da frota que desembarca na península bragantina através de dados censitários obtidos do projeto ‘Estatística pesqueira’. Na pesca de Sciades parkeri foram identificados sete categorias de arte de pesca, destas, o espinhel foi o mais frequentemente utilizado. Vários tipos de embarcações estão envolvidas sendo que os barcos de médio porte (BMP) são os mais representativos em volume desembarcado. Foi observado que a média da produção aumenta significativamente no início do período chuvoso local e se estende até os meses de transição. De todos os portos de desembarque, a sede do município de Bragança foi a que obteve a maior média de produção. As pescarias que empregam maior mão de obra obtiveram as maiores médias de produção. As pescarias que tiveram duração de 15 a 20 dias foram as que obtiveram as maiores médias de CPUE. De modo geral, os achados desse manuscrito podem servir de embasamento cientifico na tentativa de otimizar a produção pesqueira da gurijuba frente a capacidade suporte dos estoques.

The northern Brazilian coastal zone has being subjected to successive regressive-transgressive events during the Quaternary, controlling its morphology and sedimentology, including substantial differences of other regions of Brazilian coast. In this context the coastal plain of Maiandeua Island (Maracanã/PA – Brazil) is found, where the present study investigated the genesis and morpho-sedimentary characteristics of the Mupéua Beach and strandplain, at the southeastern sector of the Maiandeua Island, within the Holocene progradation. The collected data include mainly GPR survey with 200 and 400 kHz antennas, but also coring at key-points identified at GPR profiles, as well as topographic measurements, using a DGNSS (Differential Global Position System - GNSS) and a total station. Important plane-parallel and oblique reflectors were identified, correspond to the pre-transgression surface (e.g. Neogene deposits of the Barreiras Group and/or Pirabas Foramtion) and the progradational phases of the sand ridges, respectively. The former one was visible in a few profiles, but then it appears as a clear and strong reflector, irregular horizon, as the result of the erosional processes during the transgression and the substantial laterite presence, which even outcrops frequently in the area. Two groups of ridges were identified, where the landward most one presents distinct radarfacies. At the seaward ridge group chaotic reflectors prevail, as a possible result of the intense hydrodynamics observed nowadays. The topography of both ridge groups was very similar, suggesting that the progradation is rather controlled by sediment budget, instead sea-level variation. Furthermore, the progradation of ridges presents a southestern component, indicating that in the past this was the prevailing direction of the littoral drift, contrasting with the present direction and expected patterns due to trade winds, waves and even tidal currents.

A quitosana é um biopolímero obtido por processos de desacetilação da quitina. O objetivo deste estudo é a utilização daMetodologia de Superfície de Resposta para otimizar a desacetilação por meio de micro-ondas da quitina extraída do caranguejo-uçá (Ucidescordatus). A variável de resposta a ser otimizada foi o grau de desacetilação (GD) e as variáveis independentes foram: potência; tempo reacional; razão e tempo de maturação. A caracterização dasquitosanas obtidas segundo as condições do plano experimental foi por meio de titulação potenciométrica linear e viscosimetria. A desacetilação da quitina foi bem sucedida com valores de GD acima de 70% que corresponde à faixa dasquitosanas comerciais. A regressão linear múltipla do modelo de superfície de resposta para GD apresentou um bom ajuste com o coeficiente de determinação (R²) igual a 0,89. Os efeitos lineares de todas as variáveis independentes foram estatisticamente significativo (p<0.05) para GD, sendo que o tempo foi a variável com maior efeito para a variação do GD. O peso molecular dos ensaios variou de 304,2 a 1128,7 KDa, e estão de acordo com a faixa encontrada emdiferentes aplicações comerciais de quitosana.Valores de validação experimental concordam bem com os valores preditos pelo o modelo.

Estudos em ilhas permitiram uma maior compreensão da dinâmica populacional e processo evolutivo, principalmente devido o reduzido tamanho populacional e isolamento geográfico das mesmas. Ilhas tem sido reconhecidamente um ambiente com os maiores níveis de endemismo no mundo, sendo que as ilhas continentais, comparativamente com ilhas oceânicas receberam uma menor atenção, porém podem se constituir em uma excelente oportunidade para a investigação do processo evolutivo. Apesar de um canários geológico bastante atraente para estudos que visem o entendimento do cenário biográfico na Amazônia, pouco estudos estão disponíveis, revelando a necessidade de um número maior de estudos nesses ambientes. A espécie Rhinella marina pode ser encontrada na grande maioria das ilhas na Amazônia, sendo assim, estudos envolvendo esta espécie podem fornecer um importante panorama do cenário biogeográfico especificamente no contexto insular. No presente estudo foram isolados marcadores microssatélites para a utilização em populações insulares e continentais de R. marina ao longo da costa norte brasileira. Os resultados mostram que as alterações geológicas na linha de costa foram bastante atuantes nas populações, gerando padrões de diferenciação mediante escalas geográficas diferenciadas. As análises revelaram que o rio Amazonas consiste em uma barreira ao fluxo gênico, o que foi confirmado pelas não detecção de fluxo gênico contemporâneo e histórico. Foram observadas subestruturações, revelando isolamento populacional entre as populações insulares e costeiras. Os níveis de divergência entre as populações insulares e as populações costeiras adjacentes foram diferenciadas ao longo da costa, mostrando que as populações podem ter sido submetidas a diferentes cenários para o surgimento diversificação.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo descrever a composição e riqueza da fauna de térmitas, bem como suas estratégias alimentares e associações com os diferentes substratos disponíveis nas florestas de mangue do município de Soure, Ilha de Marajó, Pará. O trabalho foi realizado em seis sítios localizados nos manguezais do município de Soure. Para a coleta dos dados sobre a estrutura da vegetação foram delimitadas cinco parcelas contíguas de 20x10 m, nas quais todas as árvores presentes em cada parcela foram mensuradas o CAP e Altura total. Para as coletas de térmitas, em cada sítio foi delimitada uma transecção de 100 x 3 m, subdividida em 10 parcelas (5 x 3 m) com intervalos de 5 m entre cada parcela, sendo o esforço amostral de 1h/pessoa em cada parcela em busca por térmitas nos diferentes micro hábitats presentes no sistema. Desse total, quase 40% (n=367) dos exemplares compreendem espécies de mangue, sendo 330 pertencentes ao gênero Rhizophora spp., o qual apresentou os maiores valores percentuais de Densidade, Dominância e Valor de Importância em todos os sítios, bem como uma correlação significativa entre Densidade e DAP (F=11,7; gl=29; p=0,002). Por outro lado, a vegetação de várzea estuarina apresentou cerca de 60% (n=568), os indivíduos de Pterocarpus amazonicus (n=395) apresentaram os maiores valores com relação aos parâmetros estruturais. Sete espécies pertencentes a três famílias de térmitas (Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae e Termitidae), foram encontradas ao longo de um ciclo anual completo. Assim, três espécies de térmitas foram as mais frequentes: Nasutitermes corniger (n=48), Nasutitermes nigriceps (n=31) e Nasutitermes surinamensis (n=25), todas pertencentes à família Termitidae, representando 84% do total dos registros. A morfoespécie Neotermes sp. foi exclusiva no sítio chamado Praia do Pesqueiro. Em todos os sítios foram registradas cinco espécies de térmitas com hábito alimentar da categoria Xilófago (95,9%), ao passo que duas espécies da Intermediário (4,1%) foram registradas em apenas quatro sítios. Para todos os sítios, houve diferença significativa entre a riqueza de espécies observada e estimada (Jackknife1, F=14,7; gl=1; p=0,003; Chao2, F=38,6; gl=1; p=0,0002). A análise de similaridade mostrou diferença significativa na composição das espécies entre os períodos seco e chuvoso em todos os sítios (ANOSIM, R=0,401; p=0,01), assim como entre os sítios (ANOSIM, R=0,486; p=0,01) em ambos os períodos. No entanto, entre os substratos vegetais não houve diferença significativa (ANOSIM, R=0,025; p=21,2). Por fim, as informações presente aqui podem ser úteis para estudos futuros sobre a diversidade e ecologia da população de térmitas nesse ecossistema.

São descritas cinco novas espécies de girodactilídeos ovíparos parasitas da superfície corporal de peixes da família Loricariidae (Siluriformes) do rio Guamá, Pará, Brasil: Oogyrodactylus sp. n. 1 e Oogyrodactylus sp. n.2 de Farlowella sp. eRineloricaria sp.,  respectivamente; Phanerothecium  sp.  n. de LasiancistrussaetigerArmbruster; Nothogyrodactylus sp. n. deAncistrus sp. Gênero novo sp. n. é aqui proposto para acomodar uma nova espécie de parasito de Cochliodon  sp. Este novo gênero é caracterizado por apresentar órgão copulatório masculino com espinhos; peça acessória; e esclerotizações na abertura da câmara de incubação. É proposta uma hipótese sobre o relacionamento filogenético entre gêneros de girodactilídeos ovíparos eGyrodactylusbaseada em dados morfológicos (comprimento: 28passos; índice de consistência: 89%; índice de retenção: 83%). A presente hipótese recupera os clados (Nothogyrodactylus (Aglaiogyrodactylus(Onychogyrodactylus(Oogyrodactylus , Phanerothecioides(Gyrodactylus^vi, Hyperopletes, Phanerothecium, Gênero novo))))). Esta hipótese recupera Gyrodactylus (i.e., girodactilídeo vivíparo) compondo um clado polifilético com três gêneros de girodactilídeo ovíparos, concordando com hipóteses prévias que indicam que a família dos táxons ovíparos (Oogyrodactylidae) não constitui um clado.