Maria Eduarda de Larrazábal

Avian Influenza Virus (H11N9) in Migratory Shorebirds Wintering in the Amazon Region, Brazil

Aquatic birds are the natural reservoir for avian influenza viruses (AIV). Habitats in Brazil provide stopover and wintering sites for water birds that migrate between North and South America. The current study was conducted to elucidate the possibility of the transport of influenza A viruses by birds that migrate annually between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In total, 556 orotracheal/cloacal swab samples were collected for influenza A virus screening using real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR). The influenza A virus-positive samples were subjected to viral isolation. Four samples were positive for the influenza A matrix gene by rRT-PCR. From these samples, three viruses were isolated, sequenced and characterized. All positive samples originated from a single bird species, the ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), that was caught in the Amazon region at Caeté Bay, Northeast Pará, at Ilha de Canelas. To our knowledge, this is the first isolation of H11N9 in the ruddy turnstone in South America.

Estrutura trófica da avifauna na Reserva Estadual de Gurjaú, Zona da Mata Sul, Pernambuco, Brasil

O estudo da estrutura trofica da avifauna da Reserva Estadual de Gurjau (8o14’S, 35o03’W) envolveu 225 especies de aves identificadas, das quais, 220 registradas por meio de observacoes in situ e capturas, quatro por meio de entrevistas com moradores da area do entorno e uma atraves de consulta a Colecao Ornitologica da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. As familias que se destacaram com o maior numero de especies foram Tyrannidae (N = 43) e Emberizidae (N = 36). Dentre as guildas, os insetivoros (N = 99) e onivoros (N = 59) englobaram a maioria das especies.

Monitoramento de aves limícolas na Salina Diamante Branco, Galinhos, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Monitoring or the s horebirds in Diamante Branco saline, Galinhos, Rio Grand e do Norte, Brazil. Monit orin g of the shorebir ds oflhe Diamante Branco saline located at the municipality of Galinhos, in the coast o f the State o fRio Gra nde do Norte, was initi ated in 1998, with qualitati ve surveys, bird traps using mist net, captured and banding and field observati ons o n the diet of some species. Pa ra mete rs such as constancy were verified, specific diversity was calculated through Pearson correlati on. We regi stered 2 1 species of s horebird s, as fo ll ows: Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus , 1758), Charadrius semipalmatus Bonaparte 1825, Arenaria interpres (Li nnaeus, 17 58), Tringaflavipes (Gmelin, 1789), T. melanoleuca (Gmelin , 17 89) a nd AClitis macularia (Linnaeus, 1766). It was observed the reproduction of Charadrius collaris Vieillot, 18 18, C. wilsonia Ord, 18 14 a nd HimanlOpus himanlOpus (Muller, 1776), in the surroundings of lhe saline evaporation tanks. The observation of Calidris himantopus (Bonaparte, 1826) in the evaporation tanks comprised lhe firsl record of the species in Northeastern Brazil. It was ve rified that A. inlerpres, T. .flavipes, T. me/ano/euca and Calidru pusilla (Linnaeus, 1766) feed upon Artemia franciscana (Kell og, 1996) in the first hours ofthe day in lheevaporation tanks. The mean diversity comprised 2 and 3, and the resuJts of equibi lit y s howed thal the species are well dislributed in the samples. A positi ve associati on was registered between Haematopus palliatus Temminck, 1820, C. col/aris, C. wilsonia, and H. himanlopus. These, in turn , associated inversely to A. inlelpres, A. macularia, C. pusilla and C. mimllil/a (Vi eill ot, 18 19), which is possibly due to the fac t that some species are resident, reproducing in lhe locality, with movemenls di sti nct from that specie wich migrate during lhe boreal winter. Traps, surveys, re-traps , and recovers indicale that the Diamante Branco saline comprises na important area for the conservation of the shorebids .

Rotifera das zonas limnética e litorânea do reservatório de Tapacurá, Pernambuco, Brasil

The rotifers of Tapacura reservoir, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, were studied concerning the horizontal distribution in pelagic and littoral zones, in the rainy (August/2003) and dry seasons (January/2004). Qualitative and quantitative samples were carried out in nictimeral samplings in the different zones of the reservoir, with an interval of six hours in the two depths. Biotic parameters as richness, density, diversity and equitability were estimated. Similarity and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were also used. Twenty-eight species and two subspecies of Rotifer were found from which five species are considered new occurrences in State of Pernambuco. The littoral zone presented higher richness than the limnetic zone in both seasonal periods with nine exclusive species. The density and equitability differences between zones of the reservoir were not expressive in opposite to diversity that was higher in the littoral zone in the dry season (p<0.01). The similarity analysis indicated horizontal homogeneity of Rotifer community in the rainy season characterized by lower temperatures and higher wind velocity, and a tendency to horizontal stratification in the dry season characterized by higher temperatures and lower wind intensity. Presence of aquatic vegetation yielded peculiar features in the littoral zone.

Comunidade de aves da Reserva Estadual de Gurjaú, Pernambuco, Brasil

A qualitative and quantitative bird surveys were carried out in a forest fragment in Gurjau Reserve, Santo Agostinho Cape, Pernambuco State, Brazil. By qualitative census were registered 220 different bird species. Concerning the point counts, were identified 175 different species in 6.470 contacts (270 samples). A frequency of occurrence of 75% was registered for 43 species (19,6%); the most part of species had a frequency of occurrence below 25%.

Temporal variations of body mass and plumage in Arenaria interpres (Aves: Scolopacidae) along the Brazilian coast

Every year, Brazil receives large flocks of nearly 40 migratory shorebirds species. The accumulation of body fat and nutrients during the summer is necessary for the long return flights of these birds and is fundamental for feather moulting and the change of their plumage. We present here an examination of the relationship between body mass and plumage change in Arenaria interpres (Linnaeus, 1758), one of those birds, over time during its wintering period on the Brazilian coast. We analyzed information collected at five traditional stopover sites along the Brazilian coast, between 1997 and 2007. During the month of September, individuals with intermediate or breeding plumage had smaller body masses as compared to other months. From October to December, adult individuals were only observed with eclipse plumage and had average body masses of approximately 100 g. In March, individuals with intermediate, eclipse and breeding plumages were recorded, but their average body mass remained at approximately 100 g. In April and May the numbers of individuals with breeding or intermediate plumage increased, and they showed significant increases in body mass at a rate of approximately 1.5 and 2.3 g per day, in the north-northeastern and south coast, respectively, leading to an average mass of 124 and 143g in these months. That is suggested to be the departure mass of A. interpres in the Brazilian north-northeastern and south coast, respectively, when starting the migration to the breeding sites.

First record of Charadrius melodus Ord (Aves Charadriiformes) in Brazil

Charadrius melodus Ord, 1824 were captured at Diamante Branco saline, at Galinhos municipal district in Rio Grande do Norte, at the Northeast coast of Brazil. Four individuals were captured in October and two in December. All of them were in adult phase, showing the intermediary plumage with moults of the outline feathers. One individual captured in October showed moult for the first primary pinion and other captured also in October showed moult in the second pair of rectrices. The captures of C. melodus in Rio Grande do Norte consist in the first record of the species for Brazil.