Eduardo José Ely e Silva

Correlations between serum and salivary hormonal concentrations in response to resistance exercise

Abstract The aim of present study was to examine the relationships between serum and salivary values of free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and cortisol before and after a session of resistance exercise. Twenty-eight healthy men (mean age 40 years, s = 4) participated in the present study. Serum and salivary samples were collected at rest and after a multiple-sets resistance exercise protocol, of approximately 25 minutes duration. Concentrations of free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and cortisol were measured using radioimmunoassay kits. No significant correlation was observed between serum free testosterone and salivary testosterone (r = 0.22 to 0.26, P > 0.05). Serum cortisol was significantly correlated with salivary cortisol before (r = 0.52, P = 0.005) and after (r = 0.62, P = 0.001) the exercise protocol. Serum and salivary concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone were significantly correlated before (r = 0.68, P < 0.001) and after (r = 0.7, P < 0.001) exercise. The results of the present study suggest that even under exercise conditions, the salivary values of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone can reflect the behaviour of these hormones in blood. However, further studies are necessary to verify if salivary testosterone reflects the behaviour of serum free testosterone during resistance exercise.

Epigeic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in vineyards and grassland areas in the Campanha region, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

In order to characterize the epigeic myrmecofauna in fields and vineyards in the physiographic region of Campanha, located in the Pampa biome, state of Rio Grande do Sul, inventories were conducted on three farms. On each farm, samples were collected in three environments: the rows in the vineyards, the spaces between rows in the vineyards, and the adjacent areas, with vegetation similar to that which preceded the establishment of crops. In each environment, 20 points were sampled using pitfall traps. We collected 72 species distributed among 24 genera and seven subfamilies. The study provides the first inventory of the ant fauna in the region, contributing with new records for the state of Rio Grande do Sul and for Brazil. It is hoped that this inventory will stimulate further studies on the biodiversity of this biome that is still poorly known.

Caracterização do grupo Edessa rufomarginata e descrição de sete novas espécies (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Edessinae)

Caracterization of the group Edessa rufomarginata and description of seven new species (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Edessinae). The Edessa group rufomarginata is proposed to include E. rufomarginata (De Geer, 1773), E. marginalis (Dallas, 1851), E. albomarginata (Stal, 1855), E. abdominalis Erichson, 1848, E. corallipes Erichson, 1848, E. aulacosterna Stal, 1872, E. ovalis Stal, 1872, and E. nigropunctata Berg, 1884. Seven new species are described in this group, six from Brazil and one from Argentina: E. brasiliensis sp. nov., E. castaneolineata sp. nov., E. cerradensis sp. nov., E. chapadensis sp. nov., E. luteovenulata sp. nov., E. rufodorsata sp. nov. (Argentina) and E. virididorsata sp. nov. These species are known from Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.

Variações morfológicas em Edessa rufomarginata e revalidação de E. albomarginata e E. marginalis (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Edessinae)

Morphological variants in Edessa rufomarginata and revalidation of E. albomarginata and E. marginalis (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Edessinae). Based on the types of Edessa rufomarginata (De Geer, 1773) and its synonyms, on morphology of the paramere and coloration, seven patterns are described for E. rufomarginata. Pentatoma furcata Palisot de Beauvois, 1805, Cimex cruentus Fabricius, 1775, Aceratodes flavovirens Stal, 1855 and A. flavomarginatus Stal, 1855 are mantained as junior synonyms of E. rufomarginata. A. albomarginatus Stal, 1855 and A. marginalis Dallas, 1951 are removed from the synonymy of E. rufomarginata and are reinstated in Edessa. Aceratodes discolor Dallas, 1951 is removed from the synonymy of E. rufomarginata and is considered junior synonym of Edessa abdominalis Erichson, 1848.

Arranjos taxonômicos e nomenclaturais em Scaptocorini (Hemiptera: Cydnidae, Cephalocteinae)

Atarsocoris macroptera Becker, 1967 is a junior synonym of Atarsocoris giselleae (Carvalho, 1952); Atarsocoris brachiariae Becker, 1996 is a junior synonym of Scaptocoris carvalhoi Becker, 1967.

Levantamento populacional e análise faunística de lepidoptera em Eucalyptus spp. no município de Pinheiro Machado, RS

The objective of this research was to collect, to study and to characterize the fauna of lepidopterous associated with Eucalyptus spp., plantation in the Municipality of Pinheiro Machado, in RS state. In the period of October 2005 to October 2007, every 15 days, collections of insects were accomplished with three light traps. After selection and transfixion procedures, the lepidopterous were identified based on entomological collections and specialized literature. Two thousand and twenty individuals belonging to 14 families, 106 genera and 220 species were collected. The families with the highest number of species collected were: Noctuidae (59), Geometridae (30), Arctiidae (28) and Saturniidae (14). According to the fauna classification the most species were considered not dominant, uncommon, rare and accidental. Among the species identified, there were some whose larvae are defoliators of the eucalypts: Oxydia agliata , (Geometridae), Sarsina violascens (Lymantriidae), Automeris illustris , Eacles imperialis magnifica and Lonomia obliqua (Saturniidae), which needs to have their populations monitored.

Coleópteros coletados com armadilhas luminosas e etanólicas em plantio de Eucalyptus spp. no Sul do Rio Grande do Sul

The objective of this study was to collect, identify and study population fluctuation of Coleoptera species in a forest of Eucalyptus spp., on a farm in the municipality of Pinheiro Machado, Rio Grande do Sul State. Insects were collected with light traps and ethanol traps, once every fifteen days, in the period of February 2006 to October 2007. The insects, after selection procedures, were identified based on entomological collections and specialized literature. A total of 6172 individuals were collected and distributed among 40 families and 249 species, of which 130 were identified at the species level and 119 at the family level, representing 4498 and 1674 of total individuals collected, respectively. Cyclocephala sp. 1, Cyclocephala sp. 2, Dyscinetus sp. 1, Euetheola humilis (Scarabaeidae) and Neoclytus curvatus (Cerambycidae) were the most abundant species, representing 49.28% of the individuals identified in genus and/or species. Scarabaeidae presented the highest number of individuals (2588), distributed in 37 species. The families Cerambycidae (47) and Scolytidae (40) presented the largest number of species. Individuals of Coleoptera were trapped at all collections but the largest number of individuals was trapped in December 2006 and March 2007.

Besouros cerambycidae associados a Eucalyptus spp. no município de Pinheiro Machado, RS

The objective of this study was to collect, identify and carry out a faunistic characterization of Cerambycidae occurring in a forest of Eucalyptus spp., on Sao Manoel farm, in the municipality of Pinheiro Machado, RS. In the period from February 2006 to October 2007, collections of insects were performed every 15 days, with three ethanol traps. After selection procedures, the Cerambycidae were identified based on entomological collections and specialized literature. We collected 692 insects, distributed among 29 genera and 40 species. The most abundant species were Acanthoderes jaspidea , Chlorida costata , Compsocerus barbicornis , Eburodacrys sp., Eurysthea hirta , Neoclytus curvatus and Nyssodrysina lignaria , which represented 81.17% of the total individuals. Cerambycidae were collected during practically the entire sampling period, but the largest number at a single collection occurred in the month of December. Several species demonstrate potential for damaging Eucalyptus spp., of which Neoclytus curvatus deserves the most attention, because it represented almost half of the insects collected.