Restinga De Jurubatiba National Park Research Articles

Evidence of reassortment of avian influenza A (H2) viruses in Brazilian shorebirds.

Influenza A viruses of the H2 subtype represent a zoonotic and pandemic threat to humans due to a lack of widespread specific immunity. Although A(H2) viruses that circulate in wild bird reservoirs are distinct from the 1957 pandemic A(H2N2) viruses, there is concern that they could impact animal and public health. There is limited information on AIVs in Latin America, and next to nothing about H2 subtypes in Brazil. In the present study, we report the occurrence and genomic sequences of two influenza A viruses isolated from wild-caught white-rumped sandpipers (Calidris fuscicollis). One virus, identified as A(H2N1), was isolated from a bird captured in Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park (PNRJ, Rio de Janeiro), while the other, identified as A(H2N2), was isolated from a bird captured in Lagoa do Peixe National Park (PNLP, Rio Grande do Sul). DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences revealed that each virus belonged to distinct subtypes. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis indicated that the genomic sequence of the A(H2N1) virus isolated from PNRJ was most closely related to other A(H2N1) viruses isolated from North American birds. On the other hand, the A(H2N2) virus genome recovered from the PNLP-captured bird exhibited a more diverse origin, with some sequences closely related to viruses from Iceland and North America, and others showing similarity to virus sequences recovered from birds in South America. Viral genes of diverse origins were identified in one of the viruses, indicating local reassortment. This suggests that the extreme South of Brazil may serve as an environment conducive to reassortment between avian influenza virus lineages from North and South America, potentially contributing to an increase in overall viral diversity.

Reproductive maturity and sexual dimorphism of a population of Amerotyphlops brongersmianus from a Restinga area in southeastern Brazil (Serpentes: Typhlopidae).

Natural history data are important for a better understanding of distinct aspects of snake biology, and this information in scarce on Scolecophidia. Here we focus on sexual maturity and sexual dimorphism within a population of Amerotyphlops brongersmianus from the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The smallest sexually active male and female showed snout-vent length of 117.5 and 158.4 mm, respectively. Females had statistically significant larger body and head length sizes, whereas males had longer tails. Juveniles showed no sexual dimorphism for any analyzed feature. Secondary vitellogenic follicles had a more opaque, yellowish/darker aspect, being larger than 3.5 mm. We reinforce that in addition to traditional features for determining sexual maturity, morphological and histological characteristics of kidneys should be evaluated in males, as well as the morphology of the infundibulum in females. Histological data show development of seminiferous tubules and presence of spermatozoa in males, and infundibulum receptacles and uterine glands in females as a sign of sexual maturity. This type of information is essential for a more accurate description of data on sexual maturity, allowing access to information on the development of reproductive structures that are not available macroscopically.

Green Nanobioinsecticide of a Brazilian endemic plant for the Aedes aegypti control

The search for sustainable alternatives for larval control of the Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquito, the vector that transmits Dengue Fever, is urgently needed in tropical and subtropical regions. This work aims to realize the chemical characterization of the essential oil from Xylopia ochrantha Mart. Leaves, prepare a stable nanoemulsion, and determine its hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and larvicidal activity against the 3rd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Aerial dried parts of Xylopia ochrantha were collected at Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park (Brazil), and the essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical characterization was done by gas chromatography, revealing germacrene D (17.8%), bicyclogermacrene (17.4%), and δ-elemene (13.9%) as the major compounds. The nanoemulsion prepared by the low-energy method presented a droplet size of 75.56 nm, a polydispersion index of 0.271, and a relative hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of 14.22. The LC50 was 192.5 μg/mL within 48 h against the 3rd instar Ae. Aegypti larvae. This study concluded that the nanoemulsion obtained from the essential oil of X. ochrantha leaves proved helpful for controlling this vector, which is responsible for causing diseases with a great impact on public health. Moreover, it gives visibility to the restinga, an important ecosystem. It points to the possibility of developing environmentally friendly products to help solve significant public health problems.

Daily Variation on Soil Moisture and Temperature on Three Restinga Plant Formations

Restinga forests and open scrubby formations establish on sandy well-drained soils alongside the Brazilian coastline. Restinga plants are exposed to extreme conditions and vegetation types are mainly structured by species access to groundwater. But to date, no systematic evaluations have been done in order to characterize soil microclimatic conditions and understand how they are associated with variations in climatic drivers. We evaluated hourly soil moisture and temperature along 84 days at Restinga Seasonal Dry Forest (SDF), sparse (Open Clusia Scrubs—OCS), and dense (Open Ericacea Scrubs—OES) tickets at Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, at Rio de Janeiro state (Brazil). Due to distinctions on physical structure and access to groundwater between plant formations, we expected higher daily soil moisture and lower daily moisture and temperature variations on forests than on open vegetated areas. Daily soil moisture was higher, respectively, on SDF, OES, and OCS, whereas soil moisture and temperature variability presented the opposite trend (SDF < OES < OCS), supporting our hypotheses. Daily soil temperature dynamics are quite well predicted by solar radiation incidence patterns, whereas daily soil moisture is mainly regulated by precipitation at OCS, an interaction of precipitation and temperature at OES and delayed effects of precipitation at SDF. Our results corroborate our expectations that forests are more effective in buffering both air temperature and precipitation effects on soil conditions than open vegetated areas. They also indicate that soil moisture and temperature conditions are important aspects differentiating Restinga vegetation types.

DETERMINANT DRIVERS FOR THE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES IN COASTAL LAGOONS AT THE RESTINGA DE JURUBATIBA NATIONAL PARK, IN THE STATE OF RIO DE JANEIRO STATE (BRAZIL)

This study aimed to characterize and evaluate factors driving the structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate community in coastal lagoons at the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park. Sixteen lagoons were sampled in July 2010 during the dry season. At each lagoon, three samples were taken in the central region and three samples were taken near the sandbar. At each point, the limnological variables and the benthic community were collected. Richness and abundance were calculated for each sample. The correlations among the environmental parameters were tested using Pearson's correlation. A Principal Component Analysis using environmental variables was performed to visualize the similarity among samples. Simple regressions were used to assess the correlation between macroinvertebrates' metrics and environmental parameters. A redundancy test was performed to link environmental parameters to the community structure of macroinvertebrates. A total of 1,719 macroinvertebrates were identified in 25 taxa groups that were classified as exclusive marine taxa, five as brackish/marine taxa, seven as freshwater taxa, and two taxa as groups with marine and freshwater representatives. The most abundant taxa were Leonereis sp., Heleobia australis, and Kalliapseudidae. Richness and abundance were negatively related to salinity. The redundancy test indicated pH, salinity, coarse grain size, and dissolved oxygen as the environmental variables explaining the macroinvertebrate community structure variation among the lagoons. Understanding the drives and dynamics which guide the macroinvertebrates communities' turnover in coastal lagoons is a relevant tool to subsidize environmental management decisions due to the increasing threats around the park.

LEAF LITTER WITH CONTRASTING CHEMICAL TRAITS AND DECOMPOSITION PROMOTE SIMILAR BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES COMMUNITIES

In aquatic ecosystems, allochthonous inputs of leaf litter are common substrates for the invertebrates communities. The quality and physical structure of these substrates are expected to strongly determine benthic invertebrates structure and functioning. Therefore, we carried out an experiment to evaluate the association between these organisms and the chemical traits of leaf litter from 16 restinga plant species in Jurubatiba lagoon, a coastal aquatic ecosystem at Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park. After 123 days, litter mass loss varied from 14 - 30%, indicating that decomposition was in the initial stage for most species. Litter converged to have a similar nutritional quality after this time submerged. Initial K concentration positively affected, whereas initial lignin and C concentration negatively affected species richness and diversity. It indicates that nutrients attract whereas structural compounds limit benthic species colonization. Chemical compounds such as C, nutrients (N, P, K and Na), lignin and cellulose tended to be positively associated with the dominant taxa (Chironominae n.i. and Heleobia australis) and functional feeding groups (scrapers and collector-gatherers). However, no significant associations were detected by the redundancy analyses. We may conclude that litter quality affect benthic structure, but not community composition nor FFG distribution at Jurubatiba lagoon. The benthic composition and FFG may be randomly distributed among litter substrates or may be better explained by some other litter aspect(s) different from those considered in this study. Future studies may also consider the temporal dynamic of litter colonization to better elucidate the relationship between litter traits and invertebrate community.

Palynological and microfossil-based environmental reconstruction at 7,147–6,435 cal yr BP of the Lagoa Comprida coastal lagoon in the restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The restinga vegetation and environment dynamics during the Mid-Holocene have been reconstructed through microfossil analysis of a 153 cm-long core from the Lagoa Comprida coastal lagoon of the Parque Nacional Restinga de Jurubatiba (Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park), in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The analysis was supported by core stratigraphy, 14C dating, and evaluation of microfossil frequency and concentration. Core sediments were dated from ∼7,147 to 6,435 cal yr BP. Four zones of environmental changes were characterized. A high concentration of marine diatoms was recorded in the basal portion of the core, suggesting possible sea-water influence, corroborating a Holocene Marine Transgression event. The marine diatoms disappeared from the record before ∼7,005 cal yr BP when a major inflow of freshwater began. Palynoforaminifers remained until ca. 6,470 cal yr BP, revealing a mixohaline environment. The restinga vegetation was present in the surroundings from the beginning of the record. The open-scrub plant community was predominant, mainly characterized by Solanum, Borreria, Euphorbia, Pteridium, Garcinia, Guapira and Protium. This plant formation is the most representative vegetation physiognomy in the area nowadays. Clusia lanceolata was well established during the period studied but has since changed its distribution limit to being dominant further south, in the municipality of Maricá.

Sea turtle strandings and the importance of the restinga de Jurubatiba National Park in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nesting sites

Protected areas represent important refuges for several species of fauna, mitigating human impacts and providing food resources and reproductive sites. In this study, analyzed the stranding pattern of sea turtles and the importance of the largest restinga protected area in Brazil, the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a potential nesting site for Caretta caretta. A total of 352 strandings were recorded from October 2017 to September 2020 by direct monitoring on the beaches. The species with the highest recorded stranding was Chelonia mydas (n = 146), followed by Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 100), Caretta caretta (n = 91), Dermochelys coriacea (n = 11) and Eretmochelys imbricata (n = 4). The highest number of stranding records occurred in the end of winter and during spring. A total of 223 nests were registered, mostly in spring and summer, with most records of C. caretta nesting between November and December. The occurrence of nesting in the park area demonstrates it is importance for the conservation of sea turtles, since the lack of urbanization reduces anthropogenic impacts such as overfishing, egg collection, running over and artificial lighting, which favors that these animals complete their cycle of life.

PRECIPITATION DEFICITS AND HIGH TEMPERATURE INCREASE LEAF LITTERFALL IN OPEN RESTINGA VEGETATION, IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Climate is an important driver of litterfall along different ecosystems. However, little is known about how climate affects litter production in plant communities of Restinga. The aim of this study is to characterize the temporal variation in leaf litter production in an Open Clusia Formation in Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, from 2001 to 2018, and assess how local variability in litter production reflects the local climatic conditions and its variability. We tested the hypothesis that monthly leaf litterfall increases in dry months and in drier and warmer than average months; we also evaluated if annual leaf litterfall increases in wetter and warmer years following leaf production patterns, that increases in these conditions. We found that litterfall peaks in the drier months. This pattern is consistent for many tropical ecosystems, even evergreen ecosystems, and may have evolved as a strategy that result in reduced water stress by plants, during drier and warmer periods, or may simply be a stress symptom. However, we also found that decreases in monthly rainfall and increases in monthly ∆Temperature (temperature observed minus estimated based on 1970-2000 interval) stimulate leaf litter production. Hot and warmer than average years also seem to stimulate leaf litterfall. It suggests that annual leaf litterfall and leaf production are less affected by precipitation regimes than variations in temperature (or radiation, which is directly related to temperature). It may result from the fact that Clusia hilariana, the dominant species in this ecosystem which accounts to 80 % of leaf litterfall, is a CAM photosynthesis species, a characteristic commonly associated with avoidance of water stress by plants. Although leaf litterfall seems to be predominantly driven by climate at annual scale, only 15 % of its variation was associated to climate at seasonal scale, suggesting that local factors control litterfall at lower temporal scales in Open Clusia Formation.

Collembola Poduromorpha from two littoral areas of northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Knowledge on Poduromorpha fauna from the littoral of Rio de Janeiro mainly come from studies conducted in "restinga" areas of Itaipuaçu, Maricá, and Marambaia. In this study two "restinga" areas were sampled for the first time to increase the taxonomic knowledge of Poduromorpha in littoral areas of Rio de Janeiro: Costa do Sol State Park and Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, located respectively at Lake Region ("região dos lagos") and at northern Rio de Janeiro State. The analysis of the material showed the presence of six families, 14 genera and 20 species. All records are new for both areas; Neanuridae had the highest diversity, with seven genera and 10 species. One of them, Paleonura Cassagnau, 1982, was registered for the first time in the littoral of Rio de Janeiro. A key was proposed for the Poduromorpha genera found in the littoral of Rio de Janeiro.

Breeding review of Gray-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus in Brazil with contributions on nests and egg biometry

The Gray-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) is a seabird distributed in almost all South American countries. However, breeding information on the species in Brazil is scarce. In this study, literature review and search in online databases (WikiAves and eBird) were carried out to gather breeding information on the species in the country and nests of the Gray-hooded Gull were recorded on the northern coast of the Rio de Janeiro state. Literature review indicated breeding records in Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Norte states. On WikiAves, 19 records of the species with nests, eggs, chicks and breeding colonies were reported between 2009 and 2020, in Macau, Rio Grande do Norte and one adult hatching at Rio Grande do Sul. In August 2019, two nests were recorded at Ubatuba lagoon (22°09′S and 41°18′W) in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, in the Quissamã municipality in Rio de Janeiro. The nests were described and monitored during five weeks. Each nest contained two eggs and was built with the grass Paspalum vaginatum. Over time, the eggs were degraded and disappeared from the nests, without signs of hatching and possible predation. This study compiles for the first time all the breeding information on the species in Brazil and contributes with data about the nests and egg biometry.

Anatomy of the reproductive system of a population of Amerotyphlops brongersmianus from southeastern Brazil (Serpentes: Scolecophidia).

Amerotyphlops brongersmianus (Vanzolini, 1976) is distributed in Brazil from the Atlantic Rainforest to the Cerrado biome. Only few studies have focused on the gross anatomy, reproductive organs, and histological data of typhlopids. We accessed information from the anatomy of gonads of 95 individuals collected at different months in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. This included histological sections of the testes, ductus deferens and sexual segment of kidney (SSK) in males, and oviducts in females, from which fecundity was determined. Results revealed a correlation between gross morphology and histology of the reproductive system. Testes volume increased during spermatogenesis, and the ductus deferens diameter increased with the presence of spermatozoa. Additionally, changes occurred in kidney morphology, which showed a smooth or rough surface, the latter corresponding to the development of the SSK. Spermatozoa were found inside the lumen of the SSK of some males. Females lacked left oviducts and showed changes in morphological and histological aspects of the right oviducts throughout the year. In summer and spring the uterus showed undeveloped structures, while during winter this organ showed conspicuously developed glands and appeared pleated and opaque upon gross examination. The infundibulum was pleated in most females throughout the year and one female had spermatozoon in a receptacle located in the posterior infundibulum. In spring, this organ was enlarged compared to winter, with a thinner epithelium. Fecundity corresponded to 7-11 eggs.

Palinomorfos Não Polínicos Provenientes de Sedimentos de Superfície de Fundo da Lagoa Comprida, Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, RJ, Brasil

Non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) are organic elements found in preparations for palynological analyses, excluding pollen grains. NPP are important paleoenvironmental e paleoecological indicators, complementing studies in Quaternary Palynology. The present work aims to provide reference material for the identification of NPP occurring in “restinga” environments. Bottom surface sediments were collected at three points along a transect at “Lagoa Comprida” lake, in “Restinga de Jurubatiba” National Park (RJNP), Northern Rio de Janeiro State. For the physicochemical treatment HF, HCl, KOH, classical acetolysis and sonication were used in sequence, accordingly to the methodology proposed as standard for quaternary sediments. Seven NPP were identified (3 Algae, 1 Incertae sedis and 3 Ferns) and their morphological descriptions, ecological data and habitats in the RJNP are here presented. NPP, especially algae, provide local ecological information and, in the present work, indicate a shallow, fresh-water environment with humidity oscillations. The presence of fern spores confirms the influence of local humidity. These results integrate those obtained by pollen grains analysis and will help the interpretation and environmental reconstitution of “Lagoa Comprida” lake at “Restinga de Jurubatiba” National Park.

Record of insects in two fern species of the genus Microgramma (Polypodiaceae) in the Atlantic Rain Forest, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

species, Microgramma vacciniifolia (Langsd. et Fisch.) Copel. and Microgramma geminata (Schrad.) R.M.Tryon et A.F.Tryon.M. vacciniifolia is a fern epiphyte with Neotropical geographic range. It occurs in many types of vegetation and also in urban trees. In field work in the restinga (sandy coastal plains) of the Marica Environmental Protection Area, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, two morphological types of galls, ellipsoid and ovoid ( Figure 1a, b), were reported. Both galls were collected in a Myrtaceae “thicket” community from June 2008 to August 2009 and transported to the laboratory. Part of the sample was packed in transparent plastic bags with moist cotton and checked daily for adult emergence. The botanical dried specimens were deposited in the herbarium of the Faculdade de Formacao de Professores, UERJ (RFFP) and the zoological material were incorporated into the holdings of the Museu Nacional (MNRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cecidomyiidae), Agencia Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegocios (APTA), Ribeirao Preto (wasps) and Instituto Uiracu, Bahia (micromoths).The ellipsoid galls are induced by a micromoth (Microlepidoptera), Tortrimosaica polypodivora (Brown et Baixeras, 2004) (Figure 1a). One parasitoid wasp - Cheloninae (Braconidae) - and one inquiline species - Dasineura sp. (Cecidomyiidae) - are also found in the galls and this is the first record of both being connected to M. vacciniifolia. T. polypodivora also induces galls in another fern, Microgramma squamulosa (Kaulf.) de la Sota (Brown et al., 2004). Maia and Santos (2011) described Primadiplosis microgrammae (Maia, 2011) (Cecidomyiidae, Diptera) ( Figure 1b) as producing the ovoid galls found in M. vacciniifolia. In the present note, we record the occurrence of two parasitoids Torymidae and Tetrastichinae (Eulophidae). Hymenoptera is also recorded in these galls for the first time.Although these new records of wasps are presented at family or subfamily levels, they represent an important contribution due to the scarceness of data on insect-fern interactions in the neotropics. The new data indicate that these interactions are much more complex than our previous knowledge indicated.A compilation of gall midges and host plant species of the neotropical region revealed that 92% of these species were monophagous (inducing galls on a single host plant species) and only 5.6% were oligophagous (Carneiro et al., 2009). There is currently no data available for micromoths.The galls induced by micromoths (ellipsoid) are more frequent than those induced by midges (ovoid). The first galls can be found in M. vacciniifolia occurring in natural areas and urban trees, while the second galls are rare even in natural areas. This fern is cyanogenic. The cyanogenesis always occurs in the leaves and there is variation in the stem ( Santos et al., 2005 ). Studies suggest that insect oviposition is stimulated by cyanoglucosides and these compounds could play an important role in host selection (Honda et al., 1997). In field work in a Clusia “scrub” community, in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park (Carapebus municipality, Rio de Janeiro state) another micromoth (not identified) in the pupal stage was found to use the stem of

Barn Owl pellets (Aves: Tyto furcata) reveal a higher mammalian richness in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Southeastern Brazil

The northern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro harbors the largest coastal sandy plains (restingas) of southeastern Brazil, severely threatened due to recent human occupation. In this context, mammal inventories becomes urgent to support biodiversity conservation and management policies. This paper aims to update the knowledge on the mammalian species richness of Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park by analyzing pellets of the Barn owl Tyto furcata. The analyses of 4745 mammalian bone fragments (1739 individuals) revealed the occurrence of 17 species belonging to the orders Rodentia (9 spp.), Didelphimorphia (2 spp.) and Chiroptera (6 spp.). The rodents Mus musculus and Cerradomys goytaca accounted for 77.2% of the total individuals preyed, suggesting that the Barn owl hunts in both disturbed and natural open shrub formations. A compilation of previous records, together with those provided in the present study, indicates the occurrence of 44 species of mammals in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, of which six (13.6%) were exclusively detected in pellets. These new records include species adapted to open formations of the interior of Brazil that were not previously reported in restingas on the basis of voucher-specimens, such as the rodents Necromys lasiurus and Calomys tener, the latter being recorded for the first time in the littoral of Rio de Janeiro state. This study underscores the importance of owl pellet analysis as a complementary and indispensable method for inventorying mammals. The results highlight the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park as one of the restingas in Southeastern Brazil with the highest number of mammal species.

Secondary Metabolites from Leaves of Manilkara subsericea (Mart.) Dubard.

Background:Manilkara subsericea (Sapotaceae) is a species widely spread in the sandbanks of Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). It is commonly known as “maçaranduba”, “maçarandubinha” and “guracica”, being used in this locality as food, and timber. However, M. subsericea remains almost unexplored regarding its chemical constituents, including secondary metabolites from the leaves.Objective:Identify the chemical constituents from the leaves of M. subsericea.Materials and Methods:Leaves were macerated with ethanol (96% v/v), and dried crude ethanolic extract was sequentially washed with the organic solvents in order to obtain an ethyl acetate fraction. Substances from this fraction were identified by different techniques, such as negative-ion electrospray ionization Fourier and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Fresh leaves from M. subsericea were also submitted to hydrodistillation in order to obtain volatile substances, which were identified by gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometer.Results:NMR1H and 13C spectra allowed for the identification of the compounds myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol from the ethyl acetate fraction. The negative-ion electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry mass spectrum also revealed the presence in this fraction of a polyhydroxytriterpene acid (pomolic acid), and some flavonoids, such as quercitrin, and myricitrin. In all 34 volatile compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and long chain hydrocarbons.Conclusion:This study describes the first reports concerning the phytochemical information about leaves from M. subsericea.SUMMARY Manilkara subsericea fruits proved to be a rich source of triterpenes. However, no phytochemical studies were carried out with leaves. Thus, we described identification of volatile substances from its essential oils, in addition to non-reported triterpene and flavonoids from this species.

Structure and phytogeographic relationships of swamp forests of Southeast Brazil

Swamp forests are associated with soils that are saturated or inundated because of a high water table. In Brazil, little is known about the plant ecology of such forests. In this paper, we aimed to describe the phytosociological structure of the tree layer of swamp forests in Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, in the northern part of the state of Rio de Janeiro, and to evaluate the floristic similarities between these forests and some other possibly related types of vegetation formations in Brazil. The sampling included 84 species, within 62 genera and 34 families. The Shannon diversity index was 3.42, and the Shannon evenness index was 0.77. The forests studied showed an oligarchic structure; Tapirira guianensis, Calophyllum brasiliense and Protium icicariba were the most important species. Oligarchy, or monodominance, and relatively low species richness are the norm in the swamp forests of southeastern Brazil and result from the strong selective character of the saturated/inundated soils. In comparison with local areas of restinga (coastal woodland), Atlantic Forest sensu stricto, other swamp forests and flooded riparian forests, the similarity was low (Jaccard similarity coefficient < 0.25). In addition to the similar ecological conditions, geographic proximity was a key factor determining the patterns of similarity found. Our results indicate that the swamp forests of southeastern Brazil do not represent a distinguishable floristic unit, due to sources of local variation, notably migration and the establishment of adaptive species from neighboring vegetation formations (some 70% of the species surveyed).

Vegetation cover and land use of a protected coastal area and its surroundings, southeast Brazil

We applied remote sensing techniques on a TM Landsat 5 image (1:50,000) to map land use and vegetation cover of the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park and surroundings. The thematic map generated from the digital classification of the image allowed us to spatially characterize and quantify the different land uses and soil covers of the area. Thirteen classes were identified. The most representative classes in the park were the Clusia (31.99%) and Ericaceae formations (29.14%). More than 90% of the park is occupied by native vegetation and coastal lagoons. The surroundings are very much altered by human activities (e.g. 70.64% is used for agriculture and/or cattle raising). Two hundred and three forest fragments (0.3 to 235 ha) were identified, of which 45.3% are less than 5 ha. Most fragments (56.7%) have a very elongated shape, and are thus submitted to an intense edge effect. The intense fragmentation of the surroundings and the isolation of this protected area can imply, in the long run, the loss of genetic diversity.

An update on the fish composition (Teleostei) of the coastal lagoons of the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park and the Imboassica Lagoon, northern Rio de Janeiro State

AIM: We present an update on the composition of the fish species of the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park and the Imboassica Lagoon, in the northern portion of Rio de Janeiro State, based on collecting efforts of almost two decades, historical museum records, and a review of the literature. METHODS: Specimens were collected using a variety of techniques, mostly between 1994 and 2012, and were fixed with the use of a 10% solution of formalin and subsequently stored in 70% alcohol solution. All specimens examined are deposited in the fish collections of the Nucleo em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento Socioambiental de Macae, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (NPM), and Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ). Continental (freshwater) fishes and some marine or estuarine species frequently collected were regarded as Resident, whereas marine species collected only sporadically were regarded as Occasional. Possible associations between the orientation of the lagoons and the composition of Resident fishes were explored through a Correspondence Analysis (CA). RESULTS: A total of 100 species, belonging to 19 orders and 41 families of the Teleostei were recorded. When both Resident and Occasional species are considered, families Carangidae and Engraulidae, with nine and eight species respectively, are the most representative. When only Resident species are considered, the Gerreidae and Gobiidae, both with seven species, are the most representative families. The Imboassica Lagoon, with 76 species, has the highest species richness among lagoons included in this study. A total of 81 species were recorded in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, a number two times higher than reported on previous studies. An identification key, including 57 Resident species, is also presented. CONCLUSIONS: Parallel lagoons were characterized by a small group of continental species presumably of marine ancestry (Secondary Division), while marine species were more representative in Orthogonal lagoons. The higher frequency of marine species in Orthogonal lagoons is possibly associated with sandbar openings. Temporary and sporadic connections between Parallel lagoons during periods of higher rainfall may promote a higher similarity in terms of species composition.

Evaluation of Groundwater Quality used in the Districts of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contamination of septic tanks in the supply wells of a population settled over a sandbank area, the Lagomar neighborhood, in the city of Macaé (RJ). The neighborhood is located in the macro areas of the northern border, adjacent and buffer zone of Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, with great ecological relevance and scenic beauty, and shelter for numerous coastal lagoons and endemic species. The studied area has low-income population, and no systems of wastewater treatment and public water supply, thus increasing the risk of diseases related to poor environmental sanitation. The presence of fecal coliforms in all samples, including a sample of treated water, indicates health risks to the local population, as well as risks of ecosystem change in the National Park and its surroundings.