To determine the feeding habits of the Amazonian manatee Trichechus inunguis in some Central

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Resumo Este estudo apresenta dados referentes à composição da dieta de Lontra longicaudis em um arroio costeiro com vegetação ripária, localizado na região sul da Planície Costeira do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Entre fevereiro de 2007 e maio de 2008, 242 amostras de fezes e seis restos alimentares foram coletados em um trecho de aproximadamente 1.100 m do arroio Bolaxa, na Área de Proteção Ambiental da Lagoa Verde. Os itens identificados como os mais consumidos foram peixes (82,6%), seguidos por crustáceos decápodes (20,6%). Outros itens, encontrados em menor freqüência, foram: aves, mamíferos, répteis, anfíbios, insetos e moluscos. Na análise dos restos alimentares, foi possível a identificação de Conepatus chinga (Carnivora: Mephitidae) e Rhamdia quelem (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae). Dentre os peixes, a família mais freqüente nas amostras fecais foi Cichlidae (59,5%), seguida por Curimatidae (32,6%). Outras famílias, encontradas em menor freqüência, foram Erythrinidae, Heptapteridae, Characidae, Mugilidae, Callichthyidae e Synbranchidae. Foi verificada uma dieta variada, reflexo, em parte, da influência dos ecossistemas adjacentes sobre a área de estudo.

Contamination of blubber tissues by organochlorine pesticides (OC) and PCBs was assessed in female and male pups and juveniles, as well as in adult females and subdominant adult males of the Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, from Elephant Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. All residues of persistent organochlorine contaminants analyzed were found in blubber samples, except for beta-HCH, endosulfan II, endrin, heptachlor, and aldrin. The relative concentrations of the analytes detected were sigmaDDT > sigmaPCB > sigmachlordane > mirex > dieldrin > HCB> sigmaendosulfan > methoxychlor > sigmaHCHs > other OC pesticides. OC and PCBs concentrations were 1 or 2 orders of magnitude lower than those found in pinnipeds from northern hemisphere. The ratio sigmaDDT/sigmaPCB was higher in southern elephant seals. The relative importance of some OC residues indicates that pesticides used either currently or in the recent past in countries in the southern hemisphere are the sources of contamination in the Antarctic region. Data showed that concentrations of contaminants generally increased from pups < juveniles < adults and suggested that pups accumulated contaminants through transfer from the mother seals via transplacental and lactational routes.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of in utero administration of bisphenol A (BPA) on semen parameters of vesper mice. Sixty female Calomys laucha were divided into six groups and received by gavage during gestation the following substances: Water (negative control), Olive Oil (vehicle control), Diethylstilbestrol (DES - positive control - 6.5 μg kg(-1) bw) and BPA (40, 80 and 200 μg kg(-1) bw). Male offspring were euthanised at 70 days of age, and sperm parameters were analysed. BPA reduced normal sperm morphology (water = 96.1 ± 0.65; BPA200 = 96.8 ± 2.3%), sperm membrane integrity (water = 88.8 ± 1,65; BPA200 = 70.6 ± 4,15%), sperm motility (water = 87.5 ± 1.71; BPA200 = 51.3 ±9.9%) and in vitro penetration rates (water = 55.0 ± 7.14; BPA200 = 7.47 ±2.96%), but it did not affect body weight, anogenital distance, sperm DNA integrity and acrosome integrity. In conclusion, in utero exposure to BPA caused a reduction in sperm parameters of adult C. laucha. Natural mating studies should be conducted to verify the effects of BPA on fertility of the animals.

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