Fungi comprehend a heterogeneous group of heterotrophic microorganisms that act as saprobes or parasites or, less frequently, as symbionts living in association with other organisms. They are cosmopolitan and important components of ecosystems. Considering the small number of Brazilian papers on the filamentous mycota in marine environments, and the need to improve knowledge of the diversity of these microfungi in "Casa Caiada" and "Bairro Novo" beaches, Olinda, PE, the aim of this work was to isolate and identify the fungi from sand and water samples of these ecosystems. Thirty two samplings of sand (surface and 20 cm deep) and water (surface and 1 m deep) were carried out during the dry and rainy seasons, in low and high tide. From each sand sample, a suspension was made with 50 g of sand diluted in 90 mL of sterilized distilled water. From each sand suspension and water sample, 0.5 mL was spread, in triplicate, onto Petri dishes containing Sabouraud Agar added of chloramphenicol. The plates were incubated at 28 °C ( 2 °C). Fifty seven species were isolated, identified, and classified in 20 genera. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most frequent genera in both sand and water, with a total of 11 and 19 species, respectively. Keywords: taxonomy, filamentous fungi, marine environments. Fungos filamentosos isolados do solo e da água nas praias deBairro Novo e Casa Caiada, Olinda, Pernambuco, Brasil ResumoOs fungos compreendem um grupo heterogêneo de microorganismos heterotróficos, atuando como sapróbios ou parasitas, ou menos freqüentemente como simbiontes, vivendo em associação com outros organismos. São cosmopolitas e componentes importantes dos ecossistemas. Considerando-se a escassez de trabalhos no Brasil que tratam da micota filamentosa em ambientes marinhos, e ainda a necessidade do conhecimento da diversidade desses microfungos nas praias de Casa Caiada e Bairro Novo, Olinda, PE, este trabalho teve como objetivo o isolamento e identificação de fungos, em amostras de solo e de água, desses ecossistemas. Foram realizadas 32 coletas do solo (em superfície e a 20 cm de profundidade) e da água (em superfície e a 1 m de profundidade), nos períodos de estiagem e chuvoso, na baixa-mar e preamar. De cada amostra de solo, foi feita uma suspensão de 50 g de solo em 90 mL de água destilada esterilizada, e de cada amostra de solo e água foi retirado 0,5 mL para o semeio em triplicata em placas de Petri contendo ágar Sabouraud acrescido de cloranfenicol e incubadas sob temperatura ambiente (28 2 °C). Foram isoladas e identificadas 57 espécies correspondentes a 20 gêneros. Aspergillus e Penicillium dominaram tanto no solo quanto na água, com um total de 11 e 19 espécies, respectivamente.Palavras-chave: taxonomia, fungos filamentosos, ambiente marinho.Gomes, DNF. et al.

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RESUMOHá inúmeros trabalhos realizados com Sotalia guianensis, todavia somente alguns descrevem quantitativamente os comportamentos utilizados por estes animais no ambiente. Sendo assim o presente trabalho se reveste de uma grande importância, porquanto registra além de seu comportamento a presença de jovens no ambiente. O local de observação foi na Baía dos Golfinhos, em Pipa, município de Timbáu do Sul no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Os animais foram observados por 360 horas, realizados durantes os anos de 1995, 1996 e 2000, As formas comportamentais observadas foram: alimentação (caça e manipulação da presa); salto (total, parcial, mortal). O número registrados de golfinhos variou entre 1 e 8. O maior número ocorreu pela manhã, sendo mais freqüentes nas baixa-mares. O número máximo de jovens foi três. o salto total é realizado com mais freqüência quando observa-se mais de três golfinhos na baía (p<0,001). Os resultados mostram que, as estratégias comportamentais cambalhota, caudal, manipulação do alimento, periscópio e salto total, apresentam um maior índice com a participação dos filhotes (p<0,001) Palavras chave: Sotalia guianensis; comportamento animal, Baía dos Golfinhos. ABSTRACTThere are numerous papers dealing with the behavior of Sotalia guianensis. However, only a few describe quantitatively the strategies used by these animals. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to observe some behavioral strategies of the estuarine dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), indicating the most frequent ones and comparing them. Moreover, our aim was also to register the presence of young and their behavior. The work was carried out in Dolphin Bay (Pipa, municipality of Tibau do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte -Brazil). The animals were observed for 360 hours in 1995, 1996 and 2000. The observed forms of conduct were: feeding (chase and prey manipulation), leaps (total, partial and somersaults), tailslap, spy-hopping and surfing. The number of estuarine dolphin present ranged from one to eight animals. The maximum number of dolphins occurred in the morning, with the largest frequency being at low tide. The maximum number of young was three individuals, and the largest frequency was of only one young. The results showed that somersaults, tailslap, prey manipulation, spy-hopping and total leaping presented their largest frequency of occurrence when they included the presence of the young (p<0,001).

The aim of this work was to isolate and identify yeasts from sand and sea water collected in two beaches of Olinda, Pernambuco state, Brazil. Thirty two samples of both sand and water in both beaches were obtained in the dry (December 2000 and February 2001) and rainy (June and July 2001) seasons. Two hundred and ninety two strains of yeast were obtained, and they belonged to four genera and 31 species. Candida was the most prevalent genus. Candida catenulata, C. fenica, C. sake, Brettanomyces bruxelenses and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa were the most commonly found species in both beaches Bairro Novo and Casa Caiada.

1. The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is a large-bodied marine mammal found in fresh, brackish, and marine habitats throughout the Caribbean Islands and Central and South America. Antillean manatees in Brazil are classified as critically endangered, with a census size of approximately 500 individuals. The population in the Northeast region of Brazil is suspected to have approximately 300 manatees and is threatened by habitat alteration and incidental entanglement in fishing gear.2. A high incidence of dependent calf strandings have been identified near areas of altered critical manatee habitat. The majority of the calves are neonates, discovered alive, with no potential mothers nearby. These calves typically require human intervention to survive.3. Since 1989 the calves have been rescued (N=67), rehabilitated, and released (N=25) to supplement the small wild manatee population. The rescued calves, and those born in captivity, are typically, not released to their rescue location, mainly for logistical reasons. Therefore, phylogeographic analyses can help to identify related populations and appropriate release sites. 4. Here, mitochondrial DNA analyses identified low haplotype (h=0.08) and nucleotide (p=0.0026) genetic diversity in three closely related haplotypes. All three haplotypes (M01, M03, and a previously unidentified haplotype, M04) were found in the northern portion of the region, while only a single haplotype (M01) was represented in the south. This suggests the presence of two genetic groups with a central mixing zone. Release of rehabilitated calves to unrelated populations may result in genetic swamping of locally adapted alleles or genotypes, limiting the evolutionary potential of the population.5. The small population size coupled with low genetic diversity indicates that the Northeast Brazil manatee population is susceptible to inbreeding depression and possible local extinction. Further conservation measures incorporating genetic information could be beneficial to the critically endangered Brazilian manatee population.

Recebido em 5/11/2007. Aceito em 15/07/2008 RESUMO -(Estrutura sazonal e espacial do microfitoplâncton no estuário tropical do rio Formoso, PE, Brasil). Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar as variações espaço-temporal do microfitoplâncton e variáveis ambientais no estuário do rio Formoso, litoral sul do estado de Pernambuco. As coletas ocorreram em três pontos, no período chuvoso (maio a julho/2002) e estiagem (outubro a dezembro/2002). As amostras do plâncton foram obtidas através de arrastos horizontais superficiais, com rede de abertura de malha de 64¼m. Foram registrados in situ dados sobre temperatura e transparência e, concomitantemente, coletadas amostras de água utilizando a garrafa tipo Kitahara para a análise de salinidade, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, sais nutrientes e biomassa. Foram identificados 204 táxons predominando o grupo das diatomáceas (75%), destacando-se como dominantes Chaetoceros costatus Pavillard, Chaetoceros curvisetus Cleve, Chaetoceros sp., Coscinodiscus centralis Ehrenberg, seguidas dos dinoflagelados (10,79%), cianofíceas (6,37%), clorofíceas (3,92%), euglenofíceas (3,43%) e silicoflagelados (0,49%). As concentrações de oxigênio demonstraram uma alta capacidade de renovação do ambiente devido ao aporte de águas marinhas; maiores concentrações de nutrientes e biomassa algácea ocorreram durante o período chuvoso e nas baixa-mares. A pluviometria e o aporte marinho foram os parâmetros que mais influenciaram na hidrologia e na distribuição da comunidade fitoplanctônica com reflexo na riqueza taxonômica. Palavras-chave: distribuição espacial, ecologia, estuários, fitoplâncton, sazonalidade, taxonomiaABSTRACT -(Seasonal and spatial structure of microphytoplankton in the tropical estuary of Formoso River, Pernambuco State, Brazil). This work aimed to evaluate spatial and temporal variations of the microphytoplankton and environmental variables in the Formoso River estuary, southern coast of Pernambuco state. The samples were collected at three stations, in the rainy season (May to July/2002) and dry season (October to December/2002). The plankton samples were obtained through horizontal superficial hauls, with a 64ìm-mesh net. Temperature and transparency were recorded in situ and, at the same time, water samples were collected using a Kitahara bottle to analyze salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and biomass. A total of 204 taxa were identified with the diatom group (75%) ranking first; dominant species were Chaetoceros costatus Pavillard, Chaetoceros curvisetus Cleve, Chaetoceros sp., Coscinodiscus centralis Ehrenberg, followed by the dinoflagellates (10.79%), cyanophycea (6.37%), chlorophycea (3.92%), euglenophycea (3.43%) and silicoflagellates (0.49%). Oxygen concentrations evidence a high capacity of environment renewal due to sea-water input; higher concentrations of nutrients and microalgae biomass occurred during the rainy season and at low tide. The parameters rainfall and sea-water input influenced hydrology and phytoplankton community distribution to the greatest ...

The Antillean subspecies of the West Indian manatee is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. In Brazil, the manatee population is listed as endangered with an estimated population size of 500–1,000. Historic hunting, recent habitat degradation, and fisheries bycatch have decreased the population size. The Amazonian manatee is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN with unknown population sizes within Brazil. The Antillean manatee occurs in sympatry with the Amazonian manatee in Brazil and hybridization has been previously indicated. To provide information on the genetic structure, diversity, and degree of hybridization in the sympatric zone near the Amazon River mouth, the mitochondrial DNA control region and 13 nuclear microsatellite markers were assessed on the two species. Samples were analyzed from the Antillean subspecies across its distribution in Brazil (n = 78) and from the Amazonian species (n = 17) at the Amazon River mouth and inland mainstem river. To assess the previously defined evolutionary significant units of Antillean manatees in the area, an additional 11 samples from Venezuela and Guyana were included. The Antillean manatee was found to be a single population in Brazil and had lower than average number of alleles (3.00), expected heterozygosity (0.34), and haplotype diversity (0.15) when compared to many other manatee populations. The low values may be influenced by the small population size and extended pressures from anthropogenic threats. Gene flow was identified with Venezuela/Guyana in admixed Antillean Brazil samples, although the two populations were found to be moderately divergent. The nuclear loci in Venezuela/Guyana Antillean manatee samples indicated high differentiation from the samples collected in the Amazon River (FST = 0.35 and RST = 0.18, p = 0.0001). No indication of nuclear hybridization was found except for a single sample, “Poque” that had been identified previously. The distribution of Antillean manatees in Brazil is extensive and the areas with unique habitat and threats would benefit from independent management and conservation actions. Gene flow, resulting in genetic diversity and long-term population stability, could be improved in the southern range through habitat restoration, and the establishments of travel corridors and protected areas, which are particularly important for successful parturition and neonatal calf survival.

Treze peixes-boi em cativeiro foram liberados com radiotransmissores em três diferentes áreas na costa do nordeste brasileiro como parte do programa de reintrodução do peixe-boi no Brasil, entre outubro de 1994 e dezembro de 2004. Todos os indivíduos foram monitorados localmente com transmissores VHF e quatro também monitorados via satélite por diferentes períodos. Os animais foram monitorados a partir de Praia do Forte, Bahia (12.538º S/38.474ºW) até Macau, Rio Grande do Norte (5.084ºS/36, 682ºW) em seis estados do litoral do Nordeste ao longo de 1200 km. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os processos de readaptação dos peixes-bois, no intuito de pesquisadores na tomada de decisões futuras. Foram escolhidas duas áreas de soltura, praias com águas rasas, presença de algas marinhas, recifes e proximidade de pequenos rios, e outro localizado em um grande estuário, com menor presença de algas marinhas. O tempo de cativeiro não foi considerado nesta avaliação, mas pode ser um fator importante no sucesso do programa de reintrodução de peixes-bois. Cinco peixes-boi ocuparam áreas de vida com locais de alta fidelidade, onde passaram um tempo significativo. Dois peixes-boi foram recapturados logo após a soltura, os quais percorreram deslocamentos de longas distâncias, incluindo os movimentos marítimos em águas profundas. Seis peixes-boi foram rastreados durante um curto prazo. Embora os peixes-boi tivessem poucos anos, quando reintroduzidos eles encontraram condições naturais para a sobrevivência, incluindo o comportamento reprodutivo. Os sítios de fidelidade escolhidos pelos peixes-boi liberados em termos de características ambientais foram muito semelhantes. Área de ocorrência descontínua têm sido utilizada por alguns peixes-boi liberados, o primeiro peixe-boi fêmea reintroduzido teve um filhote durante o período de estudo. Recomendamos continuidade deste programa de reintrodução do peixe-boi, para proteger este três áreas liberadas, desenvolver estudos em sítios de fidelidade e uma nova área de liberação na costa do Ceará.