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A B S T R A C TThis study analyzed the governance of the Cassurubá Extractive Reserve or RESEX in Bahia State, Brazil, exploring the favorable conditions and the difficulties faced by this newly established and complex governance system. RESEXs are protected areas that involve traditional communities in its administration through majority representation in a Deliberative Council (DC). Research was conducted through literature and documents review, participant observation through direct involvement in community activities along several years (2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016), and semi-structured and structured interviews applied respectively to members of the DC and to users of the RESEX during 2012 and 2013. The Institutional Design Principles were used as an analytical tool to reflect on the strengths, limitations, and the multiple factors affecting its governance. Interview results suggest a more negative perception of resource users about RESEX functioning and prospects than DC members. Participation of resource users in RESEX meetings was low and a passive performance of council members was observed. Since 2012-2013, participation of users and council members has been gradually increasing. Several of the design principles were found to be present (boundaries, congruence, collective arrangements though enhanced participation is needed, conflict resolution mechanisms, recognition of rights to organize, nested enterprises), and only two were deemed insufficient or mostly absent: monitoring (4A and 4B), but improving in terms of community participation in vigilance, and graduated sanctions (5), present in legislation but hardly implemented. Further studies should be pursued for continuing adding blocks to the understanding of CPR governance systems with diverse degrees of complexity.

BackgroundFishermen’s knowledge is a source of indispensable information in decision-making processes related to efforts to stimulate the management and conservation of fishing resources, especially in developing countries. This study analyzed the knowledge of fishermen from three municipal areas of Bahia in northeast Brazil regarding the behavior repertoire of sharks and the possible influence that these perceptions may have on the inclination to preserve these animals. This is a pioneering study on the ethnobiological aspects of elasmobranchs in Brazil.MethodsOpen, semi-structured interviews with shark fishing specialists were conducted between September 2011 and October 2012. The interviews addressed the fishermen’s profile, fishing techniques and knowledge about sharks, focusing on the behaviours exhibited by sharks. The data were analysed with quantitative approach and conducted with the use of descriptive statistical techniques.ResultsSixty-five fishermen were interviewed. They descend from the rafting subculture of Brazil’s northeast, which has historically been disregarded by public policies addressing the management and conservation of fishing resources. The fishing fleet involved in shark fishing includes rafts, fishing boats and lobster boats equipped with fishing lines, gillnets, longlines and “esperas”. The informers classified sharks’ behaviour repertoire into 19 ethological categories, related especially to feeding, reproduction, and social and migratory behaviours. Because they identify sharks as predators, the detailed recognition of the behaviours exhibited is crucial both for an efficient catch and to avoid accidents. Therefore, this knowledge is doubly adaptive as it contributes to safer, more lucrative fishing. A feeling of respect for sharks predominates, since informers recognize the ecological role of these animals in marine ecosystems, attributing them the status of leader (or “the man”) in the sea.ConclusionsThis work demonstrates the complexity and robustness of artisanal fishermen’s ichthyological knowledge of sharks. Therefore, we suggest that such knowledge should be considered to develop public policies for the control of the fishing activity, as well as to develop and consolidate the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Shark and Ray Species (PAN - Tubarões e Raias).

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) have strong social matrilineal bonds and form groups and long‐lasting associations, but little is known about their population or social structure in an equatorial setting such as the waters around the Galápagos Islands. Using 91 encounters and identification photographs from 1991 to 2017, we identified 64 killer whales of which 18 individuals were locals with high resighting rates. Group size was small, ranging from 1 to 15 animals, with 69% of the groups containing four or fewer animals. Using social network analysis (SOCPROG 2.7) whales grouped into three distinct units and one loose association with frequent exchange between different groups. One male–male unit showed a strong association (association strength = 0.55). Overall, associations lasted over at least 3 years. Our data give first evidence of a loose social organization of Galápagos killer whales, similar to fission‐fusion societies.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a valuable forage legume grown alone or in mixture with grasses in temperate regions of the world. Red clover is adapted to a wide range of soil types, pH levels, environmental and management conditions. However, the main limitation of this species is the lack of persistence related to the high mortality of plants. In Chile the main biotic factor affecting survival of plants is the root borer Hylastinus obscurus (Marsham) (Coleoptera; Scolytidae). In 1989, a red clover (T.

The available information on the biology of freshwater crabs, in contrast with marine crabs, remains very scarce making it an important and interesting target for new studies. The objective of the present study was to determine basic parameters of the population structure ofTrichodactylus fluviatilis in Ubatuba, northern coast of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. MontWy nocturnal collections were carried out by hand, from March 1998 to February 1999. A total of 306 individuals were captured, 138 males and 168 females. Ovigerous females were not caught during the sampling period, which is probably the result of their cryptic behavior during egg incubation. Female mean size (23.53 ± 4.8 mm CW) was significantly larger than males (22.32 ± 4.8 mm CW)o There was no significant deviation from a I: 1 sex ratio during the studied period and the size distribution of the sampled population presented a normal distribution.

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