Dyckia semperflorenssp. nov. (Bromeliaceae: Pitcairnioideae) from the cold region of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

The HIV-1 subtype C has spread efficiently in the southern states of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná). Phylogeographic studies indicate that the subtype C epidemic in southern Brazil was initiated by the introduction of a single founder virus population at some time point between 1960 and 1980, but little is known about the spatial dynamics of viral spread. A total of 135 Brazilian HIV-1 subtype C pol sequences collected from 1992 to 2009 at the three southern state capitals (Porto Alegre, Florianópolis and Curitiba) were analyzed. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods were used to explore the degree of phylogenetic mixing of subtype C sequences from different cities and to reconstruct the geographical pattern of viral spread in this country region. Phylogeographic analyses supported the monophyletic origin of the HIV-1 subtype C clade circulating in southern Brazil and placed the root of that clade in Curitiba (Paraná state). This analysis further suggested that Florianópolis (Santa Catarina state) is an important staging post in the subtype C dissemination displaying high viral migration rates from and to the other cities, while viral flux between Curitiba and Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul state) is very low. We found a positive correlation (r2 = 0.64) between routine travel and viral migration rates among localities. Despite the intense viral movement, phylogenetic intermixing of subtype C sequences from different Brazilian cities is lower than expected by chance. Notably, a high proportion (67%) of subtype C sequences from Porto Alegre branched within a single local monophyletic sub-cluster. These results suggest that the HIV-1 subtype C epidemic in southern Brazil has been shaped by both frequent viral migration among states and in situ dissemination of local clades.

Situated on the northern coast of the Rio Grande do Sul state, in the southern region of Brazil, the Torres municipality contains beautiful landscapes, with a variety of natural sights such as great dunes, lagoons, and its famous volcanic rock natural towers. The main geological processes that sculpted this region are associated with wind activity and the numerous rises and falls of the sea level that occurred between the Pleistocene to the present day. Torres is a highly popular tourist beach, and sees its population grow by nearly 500% during the summer months. Due to it being a tourism hotspot and its incredible geodiversity, Torres is one of the main areas of the “Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul” Geopark (CCSG), a 2,830 km2 area that encompasses seven municipalities situated at the boundary of the Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states. The geopark has three pillars, education, geoconservation, and tourism, and it aims to boost the economic, sociocultural, and environmental growth of the region in a sustainable manner. The geopark also seeks to help in the preservation of geological sites that most represent its regional diversity, such as the great Juro-Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary rock towers that give the city of Torres its name (which translates from the Portuguese to “Towers”). These structures, which can be seen throughout Torres’ coastline, are composed mostly of the basalts of the Serra Geral Group, which overlay the sandstones of the Botucatu paleodesert. In this municipality, the CCSG has, through lectures, itinerant exhibitions, training courses, and participation in cultural and scientific events, helped increase public consciousness regarding the importance of preserving and valorizing the area's geoheritage. In this work, we present a project developed through a partnership involving the Torres prefecture, the CCSG, and the GeoRoteiros group, which has as its objective the installation of information plaques about the geological evolution of the “Morros Testemunhos” and the state's Coastal Plain. We plan to install 10 plaques throughout the beach, each displaying didactic images and texts in an accessible language for the general public. The information available on these plaques will be summarized; in case the reader wishes to learn more, a QR Code will be available to take them to the websites of the organizing institutions, where they can not only read additional information, but also watch videos discussing the geosites of the geopark. This is a pilot project which will ascertain the viability of developing similar projects for the other municipalities that compose the CCSG.

A new species of Hypsiboas is described from the Atlantic Forest in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. The new species is morphologically similar to Hypsiboas marginatus, from which it differs by its smaller size, flanks with white blotches, a white stripe on the upper lip exceeding posteriorly to the tympanum, a white dorsolateral stripe reaching the inguinal region, tadpole with body black, tail whitish-yellow translucent, and labial tooth row formula 2(2)/5(1). The new species inhabits Atlantic Forest environments within mountain ranges from eastern Santa Catarina State, denominate Serras do Leste Catarinense, while H. marginatus occurs in the Serra Geral mountain range, in southern Santa Catarina and northeast Rio Grande do Sul State, and thus have allopatric distributions. The new species is included in the Hypsiboas pulchellus species group, and its relationship with other members of the group is discussed herein. We also discuss the conservation status of the new species in relation to...

This contribution presents and describes Tradescantia schwirkowskiana, a narrow endemic new species from Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. We assess here the conservation status of this new species as critically endangered, according to the IUCN criteria. We present here a complete description, illustrations and comments on the new species, along with an identification key to the species of Tradescantia that occur in Santa Catarina. Furthermore, we designate here a lectotype and an epitype for T. crassula, the morphologically-closest species to T. schwirkowskiana.

This study aimed to detect the occurrence of infection by Leishmania spp.in bats from 34 municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul state (RS; southern Brazil) from 2016 to 2021. A total of 109 bats were provided by the Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde of RS, including six species belonged to Molossidae family, six to Vespertilionidae family, and two to Phyllostomidae family. Leishmania spp. was identified using the nested-PCR method by amplifying the SSU rDNA ribosomal subunit gene into four organ pools: (1) the liver, spleen, and lymph node; (2) heart and lungs; (3) skin; and (4) bone marrow of each bat. Three (3/109, 2.7%) animals tested positive for Leishmania spp. The respective PCR-positive organs came from pools 1 and 3. Two bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) were from the municipality of Canoas, and sequences analysis confirms the species identification as Leishmania infantum. In the third bat (Molossus molossus), from Rio Grande, it was not possible to determine the protozoa species, being considered Leishmania spp. Our results indicate that bats can participate in the biological cycle of Leishmania spp. and perform as host, reservoir, and/or source of infection of the protozoa in different areas of RS. More studies will be needed to elucidate the role of these Chiropteras in the circulation of Leishmania spp. This is the first study reporting the occurrence of Leishmania spp. in bats in Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil.

The present work aims to provide a discussed floristic treatment for Cuphea (Lythraceae) from the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Morphological, ecological and geographic distribution data were obtained through the revision of several herbaria and from collection expeditions. A morphological analysis of the seeds under scanning electron microscopy and a preliminary assessment of the conservation status of the species were included. As a result, 12 native species and one variety were recorded for Rio Grande do Sul, often found in wet to dry grasslands of the Pampa biome. Cuphea campylocentra, C. linifolia and C. lysimachioides were preliminarily classified as threatened according to the categories and criteria of IUCN, joining C. confertiflora, which was officially cited in the List of threatened flora in Rio Grande do Sul. This study provides an identification key, illustrations, maps, morphological descriptions, and comments on the ecology, taxonomy, and geographic distribution of the Cuphea species in Rio Grande do Sul state.

Late middle to late Pleistocene paleoecology and paleoenvironments in the coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil, from stable isotopes in fossils of Toxodon and Stegomastodon

Integrative taxonomy of small worm lizards from Southern South America, with description of three new species (Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae)

The paper records the first occurrence of the genus Microcrocis P. Richter (Chroococcales, Cyanobacteria), represented by M. pulchella (Buell) Geitler, in Brazil. The species was found in two zones, one with freshwater and the other with brackish water, of a coastal lagoon of Rio Grande do Sul State (31°15’-31°30’ S and 50°54’-51°09’ W). Comparison between M. pulchella and its most closely related species is presented. Up to now this species had occurrence records limited to freshwater systems in temperate regions. Its presence in a subtropical coastal lagoon from southernmost Brazil, either in fresh or in brackish water, broadened the knowledge of the distribution area of M. pulchella.

Alismataceae is a family of aquatic or semi-aquatic plants with a wide distribution in humid areas, occurring in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. Although Brazil accounts for 50% of the entire species diversity of this family, there are many gaps in knowledge of the species and their distribution, especially in the southern region of the country. This paper presents the study of Alismataceae species in the Biomes Pampa and Atlantic Forest of Rio Grande do Sul, highlighting taxonomic, ecological and distribution aspects. This study was based on the morphological analysis of specimens deposited in online data repositories and herbaria, as well as specimens collected in wetlands in the extreme south of Brazil. Ten taxa were registered for Rio Grande do Sul state: Echinodorus grandiflorus, E. longiscapus, E. macrophyllus, E. reptilis, E. uruguayensis, Helanthium tenellum, Hydrocleys nymphoides, Sagittaria lancifolia, S. rhombifolia and S. montevidensis. As a result of this study, an identification key for the taxa, morphological descriptions, images of the species and distribution maps are presented. Ecological and phenological data are also provided.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are important plant pathogens affecting rice in South-East Asia and southern Brazil in irrigated rice fields. In order to investigate the specific diversity of RKN associated with irrigated rice in southern Brazil, Meloidogyne spp. from Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC) States were characterised biochemically by esterase (Est) and malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) phenotypes. Fifty-six Meloidogyne spp. populations were detected in 48% of rice samples, and a total of five esterase phenotypes were identified, four of which presented as drawn-out bands in different positions. In RS State, M. graminicola (Est VS1), Meloidogyne sp. 2 (Est R2) and Meloidogyne sp. 3 (Est R3) were identified, which corresponded to ca 80, 40 and 10% of samples, respectively. In SC State, M. graminicola, M. javanica (Est J3), Meloidogyne sp. 1 (Est R1), Meloidogyne sp. 2 and Meloidogyne sp. 3 accounted for ca 93.75, 12.50, 62.50, 12.25 and 6.25% of samples, respectively. The esterase phenotypes R1, R2 and R3 are new, never having been detected on rice before. Meloidogyne javanica showed a N1 Mdh phenotype (Rm: 1.0), while four other populations exhibited a N1a (Rm: 1.4) phenotype. All populations were tested with two SCAR markers specific to M. graminicola, which confirmed that, but no specificity was obtained with both markers in relation to the atypical populations analysed. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer-rRNA (ITS) were performed to infer the phylogenetic relationship of these atypical Meloidogyne spp. populations. Meloidogyne sp. 1 grouped with the mitotic parthenogenetic species, while the two others (Meloidogyne sp. 2 and sp. 3) clustered with M. graminicola and other meiotic parthenogenetic species. Taken together, these data highlight the unprecedented specific diversity of RKN associated with irrigated rice in southern Brazil. Further morphological and phylogenetic studies involving these atypical isolates will be carried out to identify this complex of species.

The sylvatic cycle of rabies, caused by the Rabies lyssavirus (RABV), is maintained in the American Continent by aerial and terrestrial wild mammals. In this study, we combined passive surveillance of rescued wild animals with active serological surveillance in targeting areas at Rio Grande do Sul State and Santa Catarina State, south of Brazil, where bites of humans by wild animals have been reported. Circulation of RABV in Brazilian bats has been extensively demonstrated; however, the observation of such infections in unvaccinated terrestrial mammals is restricted to some regions of the Brazilian territory. The occurrence of rabies infection in unvaccinated animals has been identified by the detection of RABV antigens in brain tissues of dead animals or anti-rabies antibodies in live animals. Such strategies allow the surveillance of rabies and the assessment of spillover risks from infected animals to humans. Our aim included the identification of species of wild mammals that are involved in the sylvatic cycle of rabies virus in Southern Brazil and to assess the risk of rabies infection in patients bitten by wild animals in the state. To assess the anti-rabies seropositivity, sera were submitted to the Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT). Among the 100 mammals tested, five animals were seropositive (5%) including three (one primate and two wild canids) with rabies virus neutralizing antibodies titres >0.5IU/ml. Our results highlight the exposure to RABV of both primates and wild canids in Southern Brazil and suggest the occurrence of RABV exposure without the development of further symptoms. Further research should clarify the dynamics of rabies in wild canids and whether primates are accidental hosts or reservoirs for RABV at this region.

Nowadays, a fascinating landscape from mosaics of forest and grassland (Campos) vegetation can be seen in the highlands of southern Brazil. The different ecosystems of Campos, Araucaria forest and Atlantic rainforest belong to the Atlantic Forest biome, which represents the most devastated vegetation of Brazil. Palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic studies provide important information for the understanding of the development, the stability and the dynamics of these biodiverse ecosystems in the present and for the future. By the means of pollen analysis, vegetation and climate changes can be reconstructed for the past. Palynological studies can also be used as a link between palaeoenvironmental information and the development of conservation and management strategies. Here, palaeoenvironmental changes from subtropical southern Brazil highlands were interpreted for the late Quaternary from three pollen and charcoal records. Two sediment archives of the Serra Geral in Rio Grande do Sul state and one of the Serra do Tabuleiro in Santa Catarina state were studied by the means of pollen, charcoal and multivariate data analyses. The palaeoecological results for the subtropical southern Brazilian highlands showed strong relationships between vegetation composition and their dynamics and future global climate change.

The aim of this study was to recognize the mite fauna associated with apple orchards in southern Brazil and present a dichotomous key of the species sampled and those already reported in apple trees in southern Brazil. The studies were carried out in the 2020/2021 harvest in seven apple orchards of the Eva, Fuji and Gala cultivars located in the municipalities of Muitos Capões, Antônio Prado (Rio Grande do Sul state) and São Joaquim (Santa Catarina state). The orchards were divided into quadrants and sampling was carried out monthly. In each orchard, 40 plants were sampled, with three leaves of each plant collected in apical, median and basal regions of a median branch. In addition, monthly five species of spontaneous plants per orchard were sampled. A total of 8,425 mites were found, with the greatest abundance in Antônio Prado (50%), followed by Muitos Capões (35.5%) and São Joaquim (14.5%). The specimens found belong to 29 families, 64 genera and 99 species, in addition to mites of the order Oribatida. The greatest diversity was found in spontaneous vegetation (59 species), being 19 exclusives to apple trees and 21 species common to apple trees and spontaneous vegetation. Phytoseiidae was the family that presented the greatest richness, with 16 species, of which seven were common in apple trees and spontaneous plants. The most abundant species was Aculus schlechtendali Nalepa (Eriophyidae) (39.5%), followed by Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) (14.6%), Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Tarsonemidae) (9.4%) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Phytoseiidae) (7.4%). These results suggest that the mite fauna present in apple orchards in different landscapes and management are distinct, with a greater diversity of phytoseiid mites present in organic areas. Therefore, to maintain a greater diversity of predatory mites in these orchards, organic management seems to be the most appropriate. Furthermore, the high acarine diversity found in spontaneous vegetation demonstrates the importance of maintaining these plants in orchards that serve as refuges and reservoirs, favoring the permanence of natural enemies in these environments.

Phyllobaeis is mainly a Neotropical genus and contains six species. It has a squamulose primary thallus (except for one species with crustose primary thallus), stipitate podetia, and simple or 1-septate hyaline, ovoid to fusiform ascospores. The species occur mainly on soil in altitudes of 700 to 4,400 m. In Brazil three species are known, recorded mainly from the southeast. The aim of this work is contributing to the knowledge of the distribution of Phyllobaeis in Brazil. We studied specimens from southern Brazil. The morphological, anatomical and chemical analyses follow standard lichenological protocols. We found two species in southern Brazil: Phyllobaeis erythrella, which is the first record to Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul states; and P. rubescens, which is the first record to Paraná and Santa Catarina states. Both occur in environments on the plateau, as well as in high-grasslands, between 700 to 1400 m altitude. A distribution map in Brazil, descriptions, figures and a key to the species of Phyllobaeis are given.