Littorina flava is used as bioindicator to measure environmental impacts and to assess the quality of the environment and how it changes over time. The main objective of this work was to determine the reproductive characteristics of L. flava and its relationship with environmental variables and the influence of contaminants in a rocky coast of Mel Island, Paraná, Brazil. Monthly sampling during eight months were performed in the intertidal region during spring low tide in two periods (Winter/Spring and Summer/Fall) in three levels (Upper, Middle and Lower) with three replicates. Monthly 40 individuals of L. flava were collected in the three levels. Environmental parameters (air and water temperature and water salinity) were also obtained. The organisms' height and width were measured, examined for sex identification and gonadal maturation stage. Gonad maturation of L. flava was verified in the end of the first sampling cycle (Winter/Spring). Sexual intercourse behavior was observed in September and October 2010. This reproductive behavior was less observed in the second period (Summer/Fall) together with a decrease in matured gonads. Sexual proportion demonstrated high predominance of males, indicating a possible imposex occurrence due to pollutants verified in the area (fuel from boats, sewer discharge).
Four species of shell-less marine gastropods, collectively called “sea slugs”, are newly recorded from outlets of estuarine systems, the Paranaguá estuarine complex and Guaratuba Bay, on the coast of Paraná state. These include a marine pulmonate slug, Onchidella indolens (Gould, 1852) (Eupulmonata: Systellommatophora: Onchidellidae); two species of sea hares, Bursatella leachii de Blainville, 1817 (Euthyneura: Sacoglossa: Aplysiidae) and Elysia serca Er. Marcus, 1955 (Euthyneura: Sacoglossa: Plakobranchidae); and one species of nudibranch, Spurilla braziliana MacFarland, 1909 (Nudipleura: Aeolidiidae). Egg mass shapes of E. serca and B. leachii are newly described.
Este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever o crescimento do bivalve A. ovalis cultivados na desembocadura da baía de Guaratuba, Paraná. Foram coletados 200 exemplares associados aos resíduos de pesca artesanal em dois pontos localizados no município de Pontal do Paraná. Em laboratório, os organismos com altura entre 2,0 a 5,0 mm foram separados dos resíduos e colocados em uma lanterna de cultivo na desembocadura da baía de Guaratuba. O crescimento foi monitorado durante dois períodos: abril a setembro de 2011 e setembro de 2012 a outubro de 2013. Mensalmente, 30 espécimes foram medidos em relação ao comprimento (C), altura (A) e largura (L) da concha. A taxa de crescimento médio foi de 1,74 mm/mês para C, 1,73 mm/mês para A e 1,18 mm/mês para L de A. ovalis. Observou-se uma alta taxa de mortalidade desta espécie em águas com menores salinidades e uma possibilidade de cultivo em ambientes euhalinos. Palavras chaves: curva de crescimento, bivalve de areia, aquacultura, litoral paranaense.
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