Susana Trivinho-Strixino

Records of chironomidae larvae living on other aquatic animals in Brazil

In this study, we report forty-nine cases of Chironomidae larvae living on other animals in Brazilian aquatic ecosystems, including a wide range of hosts, such as hydrozoans, snails, insects and fish. We also discuss some empirical difficulties to establish the ecological interactions between chironomids and their hosts.

Phytophilous Chironomidae (Diptera) and other macroinvertebrates in the ox-bow Infernão Lake (Jataí Ecological Station, Luiz Antônio, SP, Brazil)

Infernão Lake, located within the Jataí Ecological Station in Luiz Ant nio Municipal district (São Paulo State, Brazil), is one of the most typical ox-bow lake of the Mogi-Guaçu River, and it presents, as the main feature, its great quantity of aquatic macrophytes, whose intensive development, in the last years practically covered the whole mirror of water. With the purpose to point out the composition and to establish the relative participation of the phytophilic zoocoenosis that inhabits the different macrophytes of that lake, a collection program of the main vegetation stands was established. The collections, were carried out randomly, during dry season (1994), in stands of Salvinia auriculata, Utricularia sp., Cabomba piauhyensis, Eichhornia azurea and Scirpus cubensis being used specific methodology for each vegetable type. The analysis of the different macrophytes showed the presence of 4,130 macroinvertebrates of 28 families, in which Chironomidae (Diptera) and Naididae (Oligochaeta) were the most representative, contributing on the average with 51% and 25% of the total fauna. Asheum, Beardius, Chironomus, Goeldichironomus, Parachironomus and Polypedilum were the most abundant Chironomidae genera. Species of the genus Dero (Dero) and D. (Aulophorus) represented the most typical Naididac of the phytofauna. With clear faunistic gradient from the shore to the center of the lake, the taxocoenosis indicated low similarity (PSc < 50%), evidencing its own characteristics of each biotope. On the contrary, there was a high similarity (PSc > 60%) among the associated communities on different vegetables, when grouped into feeding guilds, with expressive participation, in most of the macrophytes, of the collector-gatherers category, except on S. auriculata, whose predators (> 50%) and collector-filterers (> 20%) dominance turned that zoocoenosis distinct from the others.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Streams of the Jaragua State Park (Southeast of Brazil) Considering Multiple Spatial Scales

The study of the distribution of macroinvertebrates, considering multiple hierarchic scales and incorporating different spatial dimensions to assess the role of disturbance in aquatic environments, can contribute to conservation, environmental evaluation and improvement of analytical tools in ecology. The object of this study was to evaluate the diversity of macroinvertebrates in streams of the Jaraguá State Park (SP-Brazil), considering three spatial scales: mesohabitats, segments, and hydrographic basins with different land use parameters (forest, mixed agriculture, organic pollution and deforestation). The samples, collected with a Surber collector, were taken in the beginning of the dry season of 1998. Analysis of data through multiple correspondence analysis showed the importance of variables in macroscale (land use) for the distribution of the fauna in general and the relevance of variability in mesoscale for some taxa in particular. The work points to the necessity of considering different levels of spatial heterogeneity for the conservation of biodiversity in the streams of the park.

A review of chironomidae studies in lentic systems in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Information on the chironomid fauna in lentic habitats in the State of Sao Paulo is gathered from the literature, and suggestions for future studies are provided.

Relationship between sugar cane cultivation and stream macroinvertebrate communities

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to study the influence of the sugar cane cultivation on the macroinvertebrate communities of 11 streams under different land uses. Analysis of the sediment (organic matter contents and metals) and water complemented the study. Ninety six macroinvertebrates taxa were identified, of which 54 were Chironomidae and 42 of other aquatic macroinvertebrates. The streams located in the areas of sugar cane culture and pasture presented low taxa and a great participation of Chironomidae (78% of the total). In contrast, the streams located in the areas with riparian vegetation presented a rich aquatic fauna with less participation of Chironomidae (60% of the total). Keywords : Stream macroinvertebrates, sugar cane, land uses, riparian vegetation * Author for correspondence INTRODUCTION Brazilian colonization occurred without a specific planning and, as a consequence, natural resources, particularly forests, were greatly affected, especially by the economic interests. In the Brazilian history, the native land cover vegetation was removed and substituted by the agriculture, mainly of the sugar cane and also pastures. These processes result in deforestation, especially in the Brazilian southeast region (Martins, 2001). In Brazil, the sugar cane cultivation passed for different periods, always presenting an increasing cultivated area. From 1901 to 1950, the production increased five times. From 1950 to 1970, the cultivated area quadruplicated. In 1975, with the implantation of the Proalcohol Program, the production of the sugar cane grew up from 68 million tons/year to 223 million tons in the year of 1991 (Carvalho, 1993). In the last 15 years, sugar cane cultivation still continues to expand, reaching more than 338 million of tons (Carvalho Filho, 2000). Brazil is the main producer of the sugar cane, with 27% of the worldwide production (Institute of Agro-industrial Development, 1998). In Brazil, the sugar cane is the main source of sugar (sucrose) and for alcohol production through a fermentative process. The produced alcohol is exported to other countries and also is used as an alternative and renewable combustible for transport (Carvalho Filho, 2000). In the southeast Brazilian region, mainly in the state of Sao Paulo, the sugar cane culture has also been enlarged. The annual production of the state of Sao Paulo is of about 200x10

Chironomid species richness in low-order streams in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: a first approximation through a Bayesian approach

Abstract The Atlantic Forest of Brazil has been identified as a biodiversity hotspot of global significance. We assessed chironomid (Diptera:Chironomidae) taxa richness in 2 vegetation types in this region: the Atlantic Rain Forest and the Atlantic Semi-deciduous Forest. Taxa were collected from 15 low-order streams across multiple habitats. A total of 191 morphospecies were recognized (125 Chironominae, 28 Tanypodinae, and 38 Orthocladiinae). We estimated chironomid richness using a Bayesian statistical approach. Species-richness estimates ranged from 200 (credibility interval, 195–207) to 267 (248–288). These results place low-order streams from Atlantic Forest among the most chironomid speciose areas in the world.

Diversidade de Chironomidae (Diptera) em dois córregos de baixa ordem na região central do Estado de São Paulo, através da coleta de exúvias de pupa

We analyzed the diversity and richness of lotic Chironomidae by collecting pupal exuviae. Drift nets and hand nets were used in a 100 m section in each stream in the dry season (August/2001). We analyzed and identified 1264 pupal exuviae belonging to 61 taxa (36 taxa in Fazzari stream and 31 in Monjolinho river section). Both systems showed low faunistic similarity reflecting the different characteristics of the substrate, canopy and water of each stream. Probably the highest richness and the presence of mining taxa like Stenochironomus spp., Xenochironomus spp. and Endotribelos spp. reflect the presence of the riparian forest in Fazzari stream, which contribute to habitat heterogeneity and food resource to these groups. The collection of pupal exuviae proved to be very efficient for characterizing the biodiversity of low order lotic systems.

Occurrence of chironomid larvae living inside fallen-fruits in Atlantic Forest streams, Brasil

Occurrence of chironomid larvae living inside fallen-fruits in Atlantic Forest streams, Brazil - The Chironomidae larvae explore a wide variety of habitats and kinds of food. In this study we reported the use of fallen-fruits by chironomid larvae in low order streams in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We found chironomid larvae mining fruit tissue of 12 tree species. Seven morphospecies of Endotribelos were identified, including the species E. albatum and E. grodhaus found for the first time in Brazil. Our results suggest that larvae of Endotribelos are the commonest insect group living inside fallen-fruits in streams.

Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera, Nematocera) do Estado de São Paulo, Sudeste do Brasil

In this paper we present an updated inventory (June/2010) of the Chironomidae species from the State of Sao Paulo. Altogether 149 species are listed (91 Chironominae, 44 Orthocladiinae, 13 Tanypodinae and 1 Podonominae) accompanied by information about the known life stages and additional comments on some taxa with dubious nomenclature and / or modified nomenclature.

Records of oligochaetes in freshwater sponges, on bryozoans, and on colonial hydrozoans from Brazil

Centro Universitario de Araraquara, UNIARA, Araraquara, SP, BrazilCorrespondence to: Juliano J. Corbi, Laboratorio de Entomologia Aquatica, Departamento de Hidrobiologia,Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, C.P. 676, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil, e-mail: pjcorbi@iris.ufscar.brReceived April 24, 2003 – Accepted July 7, 2003 – Distributed February 28, 2005