ABSTRACT. Eugl ossine bees (Apidae) frem Atlantic Forest sites: abundance, richness, and bi ological aspects. Co llection data of Euglossinae males from Parque Estadual do Rio Doce (PERD) and Viçosa, both areas w ith remnants of Atlantic Rain Forest (Mata Atlântica) in Minas Gerais state, Brazil are presented. Comparisons made among three fragments with different sizes and states of di sturbance fi'om Viçosa showed difterences in abundance of most common spec ies and apparently, Eu/aema nigrita Lepeletir, 1841 can be an useful indicator of disturbed sites . Some populations of euglossine bees seems to be restrict to a forest fragment, there being few or no tlow of individuais OI' species of one fi'agment to another, even when they are only I km apal1. 15 species of euglossines were sampled in PERD, and the most abundant was Eu/aema cingu/ata (Fabricius, 1804). At Viçosa, 10 species were samp led, E. nigrita was the predominant one. Methyl sali cylate attracted no males at both sites, in spite of large numbers of species and individuais sampled using this bait in other regions. The majority ofspecies and indi viduais were collected in the rainy season. Only 0,58% ofsampled males carried orchid pollinia (Cataselum Richard, Cycnoches Lindley and Coryanthes Hook) on their bodies. Emergence data of [our species 01' Eug/ossa Latreille, 1802 reared from trap nests suggest lhat sex ralio in Euglossini is not a constant w ithin the lribe. A li sl of 57 eugloss ine spec ies now known to occur in Mata Atlântica are oftered. KEY WORDS. Apidae, Euglossini, Atlantic Forest, conservation, bioindicator Há 35 anos machos de Euglossini vêm sendo coletados com auxílio de iscas contendo compostos aromáticos similares aos encontrados em flores de algumas Orchidaceae e de outras plantas e em alguns fungos. Foi LOPES (1963) o primeiro a verificar que machos dessas abelhas podiam ser atraídos e capturados utilizando-se armadi lhas contendo compostos aromáticos como iscas. Isto, associado a sua grande diversificação ecológica e taxonômica, abundância e importância em alguns ecossistemas, faz desses insetos candidatos a indicadores das qualidades ambientais de áreas naturais ou de conservação (BROWN 1991).

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Although the transfer of organo-metallic mercury (OrgHg) in aquatic food webs has long been studied, it has only been recently recognized that there is also accumulation in terrestrial systems. There is still however little information about the exposure of grazing animals to OrgHg from soils and feed as well as on risks of exposure to animal and humans. In this study we collected 78 soil samples and 40 plant samples (Lolium perenne and Brassica juncea) from agricultural fields near a contaminated industrial area and evaluated the soil-to-plant transfer of Hg as well as subsequent trophic transfer. Inorganic Hg (IHg) concentrations ranged from 0.080 to 210mgkg(-1) d.w. in soils, from 0.010 to 84mgkg(-1) d.w. in roots and from 0.020 to 6.9mgkg(-1) d.w. in shoots. OrgHg concentrations in soils varied between 0.20 and 130μgkg(-1) d.w. representing on average 0.13% of the total Hg (THg). In root and shoot samples OrgHg comprised on average 0.58% (roots) and 0.66% (shoots) of THg. Average bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for OrgHg in relation to soil concentrations were 3.3 (for roots) and 1.5 (for shoots). The daily intake (DI) of THg in 33 sampling sites exceeded the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of THg of both cows (ADI=1.4mgd(-1)) and sheep (ADI=0.28mgd(-1)), in view of food safety associated with THg in animal kidneys. Estimated DI of OrgHg for grazing animals were up to 220μgd(-1) (for cows) and up to 33μgd(-1) (for sheep). This study suggested that solely monitoring the levels of THg in soils and feed may not allow to adequately taking into account accumulation of OrgHg in feed crops and properly address risks associated with OrgHg exposure for animals and humans. Hence, the inclusion of limits for OrgHg in feed quality and food safety legislation is advised.

As plants constitute the foundation of the food chain, concerns have been raised about the possibility of toxic concentrations of metals and metalloids being transported from plants to the higher food chain strata. In this perspective, the use of important phytotoxicity endpoints may be of utmost significance in assessing the hazardous nature of metals and metalloids and also in developing ecological soil screening levels. The current study aimed to investigate the role of glutathione (GSH) and its associated enzymes in the metabolic adaptation of two grass species namely Eriophorum angustifolium Honck. and Lolium perenne L. to metals and metalloids stress in the vicinity of a chemical industrial complex (Estarreja, Portugal). Soil and plant samples were collected from contaminated (C) and non-contaminated (reference, R) sites, respectively, near and away from the Estarreja Chemical Complex, Portugal. Soils (from 0 to 10 and 10 to 20 cm depths) were analyzed for pH, organic carbon, and metals and metalloids concentrations. Plant samples were processed fresh for physiological and biochemical estimations, while oven-dried plant samples were used for metals and metalloids determinations following standard methodologies. Both soils and plants from the industrial area exhibited differential concentrations of major metals and metalloids including As, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn. In particular, L. perenne shoot displayed significantly higher and lower concentrations of Pb and As, respectively at contaminated site (vs. E. angustifolium). Irrespective of sites, L. perenne shoot exhibited significantly higher total GSH pool, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and oxidized protein (vs. E. angustifolium). Additionally, severe damages to photosynthetic pigments, proteins, cellular membrane integrity (in terms of electrolyte leakage), and lipid peroxidation were also perceptible in L. perenne shoot. Contrarily, irrespective of the sites, activities of catalase and GSH-regenerating enzyme, GSH reductase, and GSH-metabolizing enzymes such as GSH peroxidase and GSH sulfotransferase were significantly higher in shoot of E. angustifolium. Despite the higher total GSH content, L. perenne is vulnerable to multi-metals-induced stress in comparison to E. angustifolium as depicted by increased GSH- and protein oxidation, low reactive oxygen radical-processing potential (exhibited in terms of low catalase activity) and poor GSH pool utilization efficiency (in terms of lower GSH-associated enzymes activities). The outcome of the present study may be significant for understanding vital GSH-mediated metals and metalloids tolerance mechanisms in plants as well as their unsuitability for animal consumption due to higher metals and metalloids burdens.

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