The biodiversity of many Brazilian rivers is seriously threatened by industrial and municipal pollution, and Rio Paraiba do Sul, located between two major industrial centers is one example of this situation. A survey of the fish assemblage was conducted from October 1998 to September 1999 and the data were used to develop an index of biotic integrity (IBI). We sampled three zones in bracketing a large urban-industrial complex to evaluate water quality changes and the usefulness of the IBI as a monitoring tool. Water quality was classified as poor upstream of the effluent discharges, very poor near the discharges, and poor-fair downstream of the discharges, with this latter situation revealing the current biological capacity of the river. Physical and chemical habitat characteristics were also measured at each site to construct an independent environmental index to validate the IBI. The habitat and IBI indices were highly correlated, suggesting this IBI would be applicable to other large rivers in southeast Brazil.

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This work aims to analyze changes in the fish assemblages along a longitudinal reaches of the rio Paraíba do Sul, one of the most used Brazilian aquatic systems, to assess the river "health" and to identify eventual recovery trends. Standardized monthly samplings were carried out at six sites, from October 1997 to September 1999, using casting, sieves, seine and gill nets. Three zones were searched: upstream (Z I), downstream (Z III) and nearby the source of pollution (Z II). Three univariate distribution methods were used: ABC (abundance-biomass curves), K-dominance curves, and geometric class's distribution. Additionally, cluster analysis was applied to detect eventual patterns. The ABC and K-dominance curves showed Z II with evident indication of stress in both yearly cycles, followed by Z III and Z I. Few rare species and absence of common species in Z I, presence of common and abundant species, mainly opportunist, in Z II, and the highest number of rare species in Z III, was the overall pattern showed by geometric class. Number of fish was higher at Z II, while number of species did no change significantly among zones. Cluster analysis separate Z II samples from Z I and III. All the three univariate methods showed evident signals of stress at Z II, which showed indication of organic enrichment as expressed in the high abundance of common species, although physicochemical variables (ammonia, nitrogen, total phosphorous and DBO) have increased slightly from Z1 to Z III. A lesser stress condition was shown at the downstream zone (Z III), indicating the river recovery capacity. The use of biological indicators in this study proved to be a better tool to assess non-point sources pollution when compared to traditional physicochemical measurements.Objetiva-se no presente trabalho, analisar mudanças nas assembléias de peixes ao longo de um trecho longitudinal do rio Paraíba do Sul, um dos sistemas aquáticos mais usados do Brasil, para avaliar a "saúde" do rio e identificar eventuais tendências de recuperação. Amostragens mensais foram realizadas em seis locais, de outubro de 1997 a setembro de 1999, utilizando redes de espera, tarrafas, peneiras e picaré. Foram atribuídas três zonas para avaliar as assembléias de peixes: Z II (complexo industrial da cidade de Volta Redonda -fonte da poluição), Z I (montante do complexo industrial) e Z III (jusante do complexo industrial). Três métodos univariados foram usados: ABC (curvas de abundância-biomassa), curvas de K-dominância, e distribuição por classes geométricas. Adicionalmente, foram aplicadas análises de agrupamento para verificar padrões de distribuição das espécies. A curva ABC e a curva de K-dominância indicaram maior estresse para a Z II, em ambos os ciclos anuais seguido pelas Z III e I. A classe geométrica apresentou um padrão de poucas espécies raras e ausência de espécies comuns para a Z I, presença de espécies comuns e abundância de espécies oportunistas para a Z II, e maior número de espécies raras na Z III. O número de indivíduos foi maior na Zona II, enqu...

Cyprinodontiformes fishes (guppies) are widely distributed in Neotropical regions and use deteriorated microhabitats in rivers where few species can occur. This study was carried out in a stretch of the Paraíba do Sul River in bracketing a large urban-industrial complex. The aim was to assess eventual effects that the industrial complex could have on distribution of two closely related fish species of guppies, Phalloceros caudimaculatus and Poecilia reticulata. The area was divided into three zones: Z1, 40 km upriver of the major urban-industrial complex of Volta Redonda; Z2, just down river of the complex; and Z3, 30 km down river of the complex. Six sites (two in each zone) were sampled monthly between November 1998 and October 1999, using a standardized fishing effort with cast net throws, trays lifts and seine hauls, covering different microhabitats, that is, riffles, pools and the proximity of the river's margins. Poecilia reticulata was widely distributed, peaking at Z2, the most polluted area, while P. caudimaculatus showed the highest abundance at Z3, being almost absent in Z1. Both species occurred in high numbers throughout the year but they were scarce between April and June. Females outnumbered males for both species in most size classes and at all sites. Juveniles were more abundant than adults, with non-pregnant females outnumbering pregnant ones. Condition factor was always higher in males than females but only males P. reticulata showed significant difference among the three zones, with the highest values at Z2. The higher number of females confirms the expectation that these species can use very polluted areas and that availability of food provided by organic loads allowed their distribution all over the area. Although these two species have shown indication of spatial separation in the study area, their similar seasonal patterns of occurrence suggest that they respond in a similar way to changes in environmental conditions. Keywords: pollution, distribution, Cyprinodontiformes, population structure, Paraíba do Sul River. Redonda; Z2, imediatamente abaixo do complexo industrial; e Z3, 30 km abaixo do complexo. Seis locais (dois em cada zona) foram amostrados mensalmente entre novembro de 1998 e outubro de 1999, usando um esforço de pesca estandardizado com tarrafas, peneiras e arrastos, cobrindo diferentes microhábitats, isto é, corredeiras, remansos e a proximidade da margem dos rios. Poecilia reticulata foi largamente distribuído, apresentando pico na Z2, área mais poluída, enquanto P. caudimaculatus apresentou a maior abundância na Z3, sendo quase ausente na Z1. Ambas as espécies ocorreram em elevados números ao longo do ano, mas foram escassas entre abril e junho. Fêmeas foram mais numerosas do que machos para ambas as espécies na maioria das classes de tamanho e em todos os locais. Jovens foram mais abundantes que adultos, com fêmeas não grávidas predominando sobre fêmeas grávidas. Fator de condição foi sempre maior nos machos do que nas fêmeas, mas somente machos de P. reticulata a...

ABSTRACT. Spatial Variation in Fish Assemblage in the Paraíba do Sul River (Barra Mansa, Barra do Piraí), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Paraíba do Sul is a major running water system in southeastern Brazi I (22°24 ' -22°26 ' S; 43°43' _44° 16' W), draining one of the most important industrial regions in the country. Because of its location, it has suftered a large amount 01' alteration due to discharges of urban and industrial eftluents with direct innuence in the ichthyotàuna. The aim ofthis study is to up-to-date information on fish assemblage structure and its variation in the vic inity 01' a major industrial effluent outfall at Volta Redonda industrial complex. A standardized fishing sampling program, using seines, casting nets, gill nets and net trays, was carried out from October 1997 to September 1999, at six sites in three zones of the river (upstream, nearby and downstream lhe industrial complex), aiming to compare variation in fish assemblage due to anthropogenic alteration. Fifty-two species in 13 families were identified in the total of 7286 fish specimens. Characidae was the most divel'se family contributing with 28,85% to total number of species, followed by Cichlidae (17,31 %). Overall 15,38% ofthe species were introduced from other watershed systems, four exotic cichl ids (genera Oreochromis Günther, 1862 and Tilapia A. Smith, 1840) and three aloctone (CieMa oeellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801 , Hyphessobrieol1 eallis/us (Boulenger, 1900) e Me/yl1l1is maeula/us (Kner, 1860)). Lebistes retielllatlls (Peters, 1859) was the most abundant tish species contributing to 39,7% of the total number of fish, followed by Geophagus brasiliellsis (Quoy & Gaim ard, 1824) amounting to 27,4%. Fish abundance was higher in the industrial zone, but only a few very dominant species were captured, while the upstream zone showed the most even community. Species replacement tolerance along the altel'ations gradient in the three zone seems to be a strategy to use the limited resources in the area. KEY WORDS. Rivers, tish taxocenose, pollution, ichthyofauna, fish ecology o rio Paraíba do Sul é um ecossistema de grande importância, pois suas águas são utilizadas, tanto para consumo doméstico e industrial, como para a produção de energia, suprindo cerca de 90% da demanda do município do Rio de Janeiro e arredores (SILVEIRA el a!. 1979;BARROSO 1989). Apesar desta importância, poucas são as informações atualizadas sobre a biota, tais como as assembléias de peixes, organismos estes importantes como indi cadores da qualidade ambien tal do rio. O trecho mais utilizado, e portanto mais alterado do rio, situa-se entre Barra Mansa e Barra do Piraí, onde o rio atravessa o complexo industrial

The control of Rhipicephalus microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is achieved using synthetic acaricides. However, resistant tick populations are widespread around the world. Plant essential oils can act as repellents, keeping ticks away from hosts and decreasing the selection pressure on synthetic acaricides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro repellent effect of Lippia alba essential oil on R. microplus larvae. Leaves from two L. alba genotypes maintained under the same agronomic and environmental conditions were collected. Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major monoterpenes detected in the chemical analysis were commercially acquired and tested. For the repellency test, a glass rod was vertically fixed to measure active climbing of approximately 30 R. microplus larvae aged 14-21 days in response to essential oils and monoterpenes. Repellency was evaluated at 1 h, 3 h and 5 h after treatment. Variation in repellent action was detected between the genotypes. The major monoterpenes identified in the essential oils (limonene and carvone) showed low repellent effects in comparison with intact essential oils. Thus, the present results showed that L. alba essential oil contains bioactive compounds with great repellent activity against ticks that varies according to the plant genotype.

Esta publicação tem como principal escopo orientar pessoas, que embora não sejam diretamente ligadas à área de assistência à saúde, desejam se capacitar para atuar na primeira abordagem de um acidentado, prestando os primeiros e fundamentais cuidados. Esta abordagem inicial é de fundamental importância para o êxito de todas as demais fases de tratamento e reabilitação. Pode-se afirmar ainda que a integridade do acidentado, possibilidades de sequelas, de reabilitação, qualidade de vida pós-acidente e mesmo vida e morte, dependem deste primeiro momento. Este e-book visa também possibilitar o conhecimento de primeiros socorros em várias situações de urgência e emergência. Trazemos de modo simples e claro definições importantes, situações que podem ocorrer e como podemos salvar vidas.