Five species of calcified hydroids occur in shallow waters along the Brazilian coast: four milleporids –Millepora alcicornis Linnaeus, Millepora braziliensis Verrill, Millepora nitida Verrill, and a new species, Millepora laboreli – and one stylasterid – Stylaster roseus (Pallas). Compared to the scleractinian corals, the calcified hydroids of Brazil have received little attention. Nevertheless, Milleporidae are an important component of Brazilian reefs, with colonies that can reach up to 2 m in diameter. Among the aspects that have been studied for Millepora spp, their distributions and skeletal morphometries are the most distinctive. Due to their complex taxonomy, several morphometric characters have been used to facilitate their identification. Molecular systematics has also been used as a complementary technique to traditional taxonomic tools. Other aspects of Brazilian Millepora spp, such as their nematocysts, medusae and ecology, have received less attention; nevertheless, the few existing studies reveal several remarkable features of this genus. Comprehensive studies of Brazilian stylasterids are still lacking.

ResumoDistribuição espacial dos macroorganismos bentônicos nos recifes da Praia de Porto de Galinhas (nordeste do Brasil) com atenção especial aos corais e hidróides calcários. Apesar da sua importância ecológica e socioeconômica, os recifes de coral estão sob constante ameaça e requerem práticas de gestão adequadas. Dados sobre a estrutura espacial destes ecossistemas são essenciais para projetos de conservação de boa qualidade nestas áreas. Este estudo objetivou analisar a distribuição espacial dos macroorganismos bentônicos do ambiente recifal da praia de Porto de Galinhas, com enfoque especial nos corais e hidróides calcários. Realizou-se um levantamento da plataforma recifal através de mergulho autônomo, utilizando-se transectos em linha de 10m de comprimento. Grandes regiões cobertas por algas foram verificadas, totalizando 53% das observações. Os zoantídeos compreendem o segundo grupo mais representativo (11%). Um total de 173 colônias de corais e hidróides calcários foi observado sendo que 40% destas colônias estavam total ou parcialmente branqueadas. Unitermos: ambientes recifais, Brasil, corais, distribuição espacial, Praia de Porto de Galinhas AbstractDespite their ecological and social-economic importance, coral reefs are under constant threat and thus require proper management practices. Data on the spatial structure of these ecosystems are essential for good quality conservation projects in such areas. This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the spatial distribution of benthic macroorganisms from the reef environment of Porto de Galinhas Beach, with special focus on its corals and calcified hydroids. Reef flats of the area were surveyed by scuba diving, using 10m line transects. A high cover of macroalgae was verified, averaging 53% of the observations. Zoanthids were the second most representative group (11%). A total of 173 colonies of corals and calcified hydroids were observed and 40% of these colonies were partially or totally bleached.

This study aimed to collect information on the diversity of corals and calcified hydroids of the Manuel Luiz Marine State Park (state of Maranhão, Northeast Brazil) to aid in the development of a management plan for the park. A total of 21 cnidarian species were identified, of which 16 were corals and calcified hydroids. The bathymetric and geographic distribution of each of these species was extended. This area has a rich coral fauna in relation to other parts of Brazil and is comparable in diversity to the Abrolhos Islands (Bahia State) -an unexpected result considering the region's proximity to the Amazon River Basin. Most of the specimens of corals and calcified hydroids observed were bleached.Keywords FD et al. -Biota Neotropica, v7 (n3) -bn00907032007

Cnidarians are among the most venomous organisms known to man. They are characterized by stinging cells called cnidocytes, and several species, such as the Portuguese-man-of-war and the jellyfish, can cause harm to human beings. Despite not attracting () much attention on the Brazilian coast, the studies that have been carried out to date show that the occurrence of this kind of accident is significant. The aim of this study was to survey cnidarian related accidents with beach goers on some beaches of the state of Pernambuco, as well as to investigate the knowledge of relevant professions on this theme. () Archives of hospitals and life guard posts were visited for the survey, and 17 professionals were interviewed. During the visits, records were obtained for a total of 35 accidents at Boa Viagem Beach (Recife) over a two-year period, as well as informal records of an average of four to five cases a week at Piedade Beach and an average of two to three cases a week for Pontas de Pedras Beach. As to the knowledge of the professionals interviewed, most answers agree, in general, with the literature available, despite a certain level of inadequate or insufficient information on the theme.

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A análise das questões ambientais em um contexto político é um tema de estudo crescente na Ciência Política, mas que requer considerações metodológicas específicas. Um dos métodos utilizados com mais freqüência nas pesquisas ligadas à política ambiental é o estudo de caso. O objetivo deste artigo é discutir o papel dessa metodologia nessa subdisciplina. Delineia-se questões conceituais gerais sobre o método, suas vantagens e desvantagens; distingue-se o estudo da política ambiental de outros temas de pesquisa dentro da Ciência Política, contextualizando suas necessidades metodológicas específicas; e analisa-se o papel dos estudos de caso nas pesquisas sobre política ambiental, abordando suas ambigüidades inerentes e as vantagens e limitações gerais da metodologia e de cinco formas de análise e extração de inferências: análise de covariância, uso de contrafatuais, process tracing causal, teste de congruência e comparação entre casos. Dentre essas cinco abordagens, duas destacam-se para as pesquisas político-ambientais, apesar de ocuparem posições quase que opostas em termos de vantagens práticas e aplicabilidade: process tracing causal e uso de contrafatuais. O uso complementar dessas e outras abordagens, seja em um ou mais estudos sobre temas de política ambiental, é extremamente útil para o desenvolvimento empírico e teórico dessa subdisciplina.