Summary Studies that seek to understand which factors influence the patterns of infection in the lizard Coleodactylus meridionalis are non-existent. In this way, we recorded the infection rates for these lizards from three different sized fragments of the Atlantic rainforest and investigated if there is influence of the size, mass and sex of the host regarding the endoparasite abundance. In addition, we investigated if there were possible associations between the host’s diet and parasitism, by calculating the diet niche breadth (based on the prey number of pooled stomachs) for each host population and comparing the diet between fragments and sexes (from the three sampled fragments). We collected 38 lizards across the three sampled forest fragments. We only found parasites in the lizards sampled from the smallest of the three forest fragments which included: Physaloptera lutzi, Haplometroides odhneri and Oligacanthorhynchus sp. For this population, lizards with greater length and body mass have a greater endoparasite abundance. In addition, based on the results obtained in our study, the diet of the lizards varies in food composition between sampled populations. Finally, knowing that among the infected lizards there is no sexual dimorphism in relation to size and body mass and that the stomach sampling for this population is insufficient to calculate the indexes related to the food niche; we used the number of prey lizards from all populations, thus we were able to associate the fact that female lizards have a greater endoparasite abundance due to variations in food composition between sexes.

Amphibians are a widespread Chordata taxon and are important for maintaining the balance of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Brazil has a rich amphibian fauna; however, little is known about the role of their ecology and phylogenetic relationships during the assembly processes of associated endoparasite communities. Herein, we describe an endoparasite community in an anuran assemblage in the Caatinga, a unique biome of dry forests in north-eastern Brazil. We studied endoparasite diversity, as well as the effects of body length, body mass, body volume and sex on parasite abundance. We also investigated the influence of ecological and historical factors and anuran microhabitat use on endoparasite composition. We analysed individuals from 13 anuran species distributed across five families: Odontophrynidae (Proceratophrys cristiceps); Leptodactylidae (Leptodactylus fuscus, Leptodactylus vastus, Leptodactylus macrosternum, Leptodactylus troglodytes and Physalaemus cuvieri); Hylidae (Pithecopus gonzagai, Scinax x-signatus, Boana raniceps and Dendropsophus nanus); Bufonidae (Rhinella diptycha and Rhinella granulosa); and Microhylidae (Dermatonotus muelleri). We found nine species of endoparasites, including seven nematodes (Aplectana membranosa, Cosmocerca sp., Oswaldocruzia mazzai, Raillietnema spectans, Rhabdias fuelleborni, Schrankiana sp. and Physaloptera sp.), one species of Trematoda (Glypthelmins pseudium) and one non-identified cestode. There was no significant relationship between endoparasite abundance and host body length, body mass, body volume and sex. A phylogenetic principal component analysis showed that ecological factors had a greater influence on endoparasite assemblage than historical factors. Similarly, our results showed that ecological factors had a greater influence on anuran microhabitat use compared to historical factors, which contributed to the generalist characteristics presented by most of the sampled endoparasite species.

SummaryIn the current study, the structural characteristics of the egg and larva of the pentastomid Raillietiella mottae (Almeida, Freire, & Lopes 2008), are described and compared with those of other pentastomids. The eggs and larvae were obtained from lizards Phyllopezus periosus (Rodrigues 1986) and Phyllopezus pollicaris (Spix 1825) which were collected in the environmental protection area of Cachoeira de Missão Velha, Ceará state, northeastern Brazil (7° 13’ S; 39° 08’ W). Following collection, the specimens were transported to the Laboratorio de Zoologia (LZ-URCA) and deposited in terrariums to obtain the feces, which were collected and analyzed for the presence of pentastomid eggs. The eggs found were typical of the genus Raillietiella, differing from those of other genera due to the lack of an outer fl exible membrane. The larva had two pairs of limbs, each with a pair of terminal hooks. The limbs were unsegmented, ventrally curved, and supported by conical muscle structures with visible segmentation. The tail was bifurcate, and each section had a terminal bristle. Information on egg and larval morphology can be useful in the identification of genera and species. The current study provides a description of the eggs and embryos of a Pentastomida species from the Neotropical Region.

A exploração e degradação dos solos brasileiros teve seu início em 1531, tendo como marco inicial a efetivação do processo de colonização portuguesa, quando aqui desembarcou em sua expedição, Martin Afonso de Sousa, o primeiro donatário da capitania hereditária de São Vicente. Diante da importância de se combater a desertificação, restaurar a terra e o solo degradado, incluindo terrenos afetados pelas secas e inundações, e lutar para alcançar um mundo neutro em termos de degradação do solo tão importante para a produção de alimentos, buscou-se por meio deste trabalho contribuir para o conhecimento das causas e consequências de práticas inadequadas de uso dos solos, o que leva ao surgimento de áreas degradadas e apontar soluções. Para tanto foi realizado um levantamento do tipo revisão de literatura em várias fontes, meios eletrônicos, e impressos de revistas, sites e periódicos especializados como o google acadêmico, Scielo e a Capes, como o objetivo de investigar a importância das técnicas de combate a degradação de solos como forma efetiva de combate a fome e garantia da segurança alimentar e promover a sustentabilidade. Verificou se que se deve identificar e classificar os níveis de degradação ambiental, conhecer as principais causas da degradação provocadas pelo uso inadequado do solo e de posse destas informações aplicar as técnicas de recuperação de áreas degradadas mais adequadas conforme a gravidade apresentada.

Kingsleya attenboroughi, conhecido popularmente como “Guajá”, é uma espécie de caranguejo de água doce, endêmica da Chapada do Araripe- Ceará, Brasil (predominância situada no distrito de Arajara- Município de Barbalha), região caracterizada com inúmeras fontes de água doce, e assim favorecendo condições ideais para a sobrevivência de K. attenboroughi na localidade. Esta pesquisa consiste em um levantamento de dados sobre a espécie, e diferentes bases científicas foram analisadas: Google acadêmico®, ScienceDirect®, Web of sciences®, e Pubmed® para obter as informações. K.  attenboroughi difere principalmente de suas congêneres por apresentar características próprias, como uma placa apical curta no primeiro gonópode. Poucos trabalhos foram relatados até o presente momento. Sua ecologia preocupa estudiosos uma vez que esta sobre constante ameaça de extinção. Desta forma, incentivos e pesquisas vem crescendo nesta região para evitar o colapso da biodiversidade.