Elasmobranchs represent a well-defined group, composed of about 1,150 species inhabiting diverse aquatic environments. Currently, several of these species have been classified as threaten due to overexploitation. Therefore, we used DNA barcode to identify traded species of sharks and stingrays in the municipality of Bragança (Amazon coastal region), a major fishery landing site in northern Brazil. We collected a total of 127 samples labeled into 24 commercial nomenclatures over 1-year period. Twenty species were discriminated and 13 of them are recognized under some threatening status. In relation to sharks, Carcharhinidae showed the highest number of species, half of them classified as endangered, followed by hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae), with four species also regarded as threatened with extinction. The Rhinopteridae and Dasyatidae rays were the most abundant groups, with trade records of the following threatened species: Rhinoptera brasiliensis, Rhinoptera bonasus, Hypanus berthalutzae, and Fontitrygon geijskesi. It is noteworthy that threatened species of elasmobranchs have been frequently and regularly exploited because of inefficient fishery management policies. Therefore, effective inspection practices need to be incorporated in fisheries, including the use of DNA barcode to enable a reliable method of species authentication and to assure the proper commercialization.

Os morcegos apresentam grande diversidade de hábitos alimentares, o que faz com que possam ser utilizados como indicadores de qualidade ambiental, além de prestarem serviços ecossistêmicos, como dispersão de sementes, estruturação de comunidade de plantas e controle de insetos. Além disso, o estudo da interação de morcegos com ectoparasitas pode possibilitar melhor compreensão dos processos ecológicos e evolutivos associados. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse estudo é contribuir para o conhecimento de algumas espécies de morcegos e suas moscas ectoparasitas no Parque Nacional da Serra do Pardo, interflúvio Xingu-Tapajós, estado do Pará, Brasil. A captura dos morcegos foi realizada em quatro pontos amostrais, através de redes de neblina e busca ativa. Em cada indivíduo capturado foi realizada inspeção da pelagem e das asas para retirada das moscas ectoparasitas. Foram amostrados 13 indivíduos de morcegos, representados por duas famílias (Phyllostomidae e Molossidae), seis gêneros e seis táxons, sendo C. perspicillata a mais amostrada. Quanto à guilda trófica, observamos espécies insetívoras e frugívoras, sendo a última a mais abundante. Para moscas ectoparasitas, observamos apenas a família Streblidae. Todos os ectoparasitas estavam relacionados aos indivíduos de C. perspicillata.

Bragança is an important municipality in Brazil regarding fishery production. In spite of its important for regional economy, data related to local fisheries such as the production and consumption profiles of commercial species are scarce. Therefore, the goal of this study was to provide an inventory of commercialized fishes in the street market of Bragança along with commercialization parameters. The data collection comprised information based on a questionnaire directed to fishmongers in two sites of the street market (“mercado” or indoor market and “feirinha” or outdoor market) for a 17-month period. The analyzed data included the abundance, seasonality and price of the commercialized species. A total of 103 commercial names were reported, representing about 98 species from 40 families and 15 orders. The indoor and outdoor market differed in relation to consumer’s profile and to the structure, volume, variety, quality and prices of commercial species. The volume and the diversity of commercial species in the indoor market were inferior to those observed in the outdoor market. The most abundant species in the outdoor market were influenced by dry and rainy seasons. This work represents the most reliable analysis in the street market of Bragança, being relevant to the management of regional fisheries. Keywords: Bragança, M. ancylodon, fishing dynamics, fish.

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Background This is the first record of the alien shrimp Mierspenaeopsis sculptilis in Brazil. The invasion was detected within Marine Extractive Reserves based on eight specimens accidentally caught by local fishermen using trawlnets focused on fisheries of native species. These specimens were transported to the Laboratory of Applied Genetics and morphologically identified as Mierspenaeopsis sculptilis (rainbow shrimp). The taxonomic status of analyzed samples was confirmed by DNA barcoding using a 627-bp fragment of the Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene. Results A single haplotype was recovered from the eight specimens, being identical to a haplotype reported in India, where this species naturally occurs, and in Mozambique, where the rainbow shrimp is considered an invasive species. The present analyses indicated a putative invasive route (i.e., India-Mozambique-Brazil) mediated by shipping trade. Conclusions This study presents the first record of Mierspenaeopsis sculptilis in Brazil, in areas of extractive reserves on the Amazon coast. Notably exotic species can cause imbalance in the ecosystem, harming native species. In view of this, the registration of new invasions is essential as they contribute to the implementation of control plans.

Molecular genetic techniques are an effective monitoring tool, but high-quality DNA samples are usually required. In this study, we compared three different protocols of DNA extraction: NaCl (saline); phenol-chloroform and commercial kit (Promega)—from three biological tissues of five individuals of Lutjanus purpureus under two methods of storage. The evaluated items included DNA concentration and purity, processing time and cost, as well as the obtaining of functional sequences. The highest average values of DNA concentration were obtained using the saline procedure and the commercial kit. Pure DNA was only obtained using the saline protocol, evaluated by the ratio of 260/280. The saline and phenol-chloroform protocols were the least expensive methods. The commercial kit costs are counterbalanced by the short time required. The procedure based on phenol-chloroform presented the worst results regarding DNA yield and the time required to perform all steps. The saline and commercial kit protocols showed similar results concerning the amount and quality of extracted DNA. Therefore, the final choice should be based on the available financial resources and the available time for carrying out each procedure of DNA extraction.

In the Xingu river basin, Brazil, occurs two genera of Potamotrygonidae family: Potamotrygon and Paratrygon. In this region, the taxa have signifi cant economic importance for the ornamental fi shing industry, being intensively captured, especially the species Potamotrygon leopoldi, which is endemic to this basin. In the attempt to propose a species-specifi c DNA marker for the species from Xingu, as well as ensuring a robust and reliable molecular identifi cation, the present work analysed mitochondrial gene portions Cytochrome Oxidase C -subunit I (COI) and Cytochrome B (Cytb) of fi ve species: P. leopoldi; Potamotrygon orbignyi; Potamotrygon motoro; Potamotrygon scobina and Paratrygon aiereba. We found haplotype sharing, with a total absence of reciprocal monophyly in the majority of taxa. Individuals morphologically identifi ed as a species showed mitochondrial DNA from another, suggesting the fi rst record of hybridization amongst freshwater stingrays of Xingu. Also, we detected a deep divergence among Paratrygon aiereba haplotypes, indicative of speciation, suggesting the possibility of anew species for the Xingu river. Therefore, although the is still confusing and controversial taxonomy of freshwater stingrays, and evidencing hybridization processes that may have shaped the evolutionary history of this Family, the genes COI and Cytb can successfully help in the their species identifi cation.