-(Distribution and quantification of vegetation classes by aerial survey in the Brazilian Pantanal). An aerial survey was adapted and used for the first time to elaborate maps of distribution and quantification of vegetation classes in the Pantanal wetland, per sub-region. Sixteen vegetation classes where identified based on phytophysiognomic aspects, the most important being grassland (31.1%), cerradão woodland (22.1%), cerrado (14.3%), marshes (7.4 %), semideciduous forest (4.0%), gallery forest (2.4%) and floating mats (2.4%). These informations can support decisions in the conservation or selection of preserved areas, as well as to help to monitor vegetation over a vast and remote region. RESUMO -(Distribuição e quantificação de classes de vegetação do Pantanal através de levantamento aéreo). O método delevantamento aéreo foi adaptado e utilizado pela primeira vez para a elaboração de mapas de distribuição e quantificação de classes de vegetação no Pantanal Mato-Grossense por sub-região. Foram identificadas 16 classes, baseando-se em aspectos fitofisionômicos, sendo as principais campo (31,1%), cerradão (22,1%), cerrado (14,3%), brejos (7,4%), mata semidecídua (4,0%), mata de galeria e 2,4% de baceiro ou batume. Estas informações podem subsidiar a escolha de áreas de conservação ou preservação, bem como auxiliar o monitoramento de áreas com grande extensão e difícil acesso.

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Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0266467400009950How to cite this article: Marcos Coutinho and Zilca Campos (1996). Effect of habitat and seasonality on the densities of caiman in southern Pantanal,

Prevalence of Hepatozoon caimani has been reported in 76% of caimans Caiman yacare from the Pantanal region. Culex (Melanoconion) spp. mosquitoes were recently identified as natural vectors of this parasite. However, culicids are not typically eaten by crocodilians, suggesting that the main transmission route is through ingestion of insectivorous vertebrates, such as anurans. The susceptibility of wild frogs Leptodactylus chaquensis, Leptodactylus podicipinus and Scinax nasicus to infection by H. caimani was verified. Wild-caught anurans were force fed with sporulated oocysts from laboratory-bred Culex (Melanoconion) mosquitoes. Frogs were killed 30 days postinfection, and their internal organs were fed to caimans C. yacare and Caiman latirostris. Cystozoites were identified in fresh liver impression smears of L. chaquensis. C. yacare fed on anuran organ presented gametocytes in peripheral blood circulation between 74 and 80 days postinoculation (dpi). Gametocytes were also verified in C. latirostris fed on the internal organs of L. podicipinus and S. nasicus between 60-70 and 69-75 dpi, respectively. Since frogs used in experiment are sympatric with C. yacare and C. latirostris and may occur in the diet of these caimans, the results suggest these amphibians are paratenic hosts in the natural transmission cycle of H. caimani in Pantanal.