The decomposition of senescent leaves of the mangrove species Riiizophora mangle L., Avicennia schaueriana Stapf et Leechman and Lagunculana racemosa Gaertn. was investigated at Baguagu tidal creek (Paranaguä Bay, SE Brazil), under subtidal, intertidal and supratidal conditions. Overall decomposition rates were evaluated by weight loss over time in litter bags. Half-life for decomposition varied between 10.5 days for Avicennia leaves permanently immersed in the water column and 249 days for Rhizophora leaves under supratidal conditions. Instantaneous decomposition constants (k), that ranged from -0.003 (Rhizophora, supratidal) to -0.043 (Avecennia, immersed), were consistently higher with decreasing elevation of site location, indicating that submersion frequency is important in determining the rate of plant breakdown. Decomposition rates at the study site, much faster than many others reported for tropical or subtropical regions, were probably accelerated by the presence of an active grazing macrofauna.

Th e genus Trichorhina Budde-Lund, 1908 in Brazil includes 22 described species, four of which occur in caves. Th e present work aims at describing the fi rst cave species for the state of Paraná. Trichorhina kaingangi n. sp. was collected in Água Boa cave, municipally of Almirante Tamandaré, and Ermida Paiol do Alto cave, municipally of Adrianópolis, both in the Açungui karst area.

We report the first record of Furipterus horrens (Cuvier, 1828) in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. A male specimen was captured using a harp trap in the entrance of a cave in the Parque Municipal Gruta do Bacaetava. The morphometric data and morphological characters of the specimen are within the known range documented for this species. This new record fills a gap in the known distribution of F. horrens and provides potentially valuable information that can be used to plan conservation measures.