RESUMO -Um dos fatores limitantes ao cultivo da goiabeira no Brasil é a 'seca dos ponteiros', causada por Erwinia psidii, presente nas regiões Sudeste e Centro-Oeste, onde se concentram grandes áreas produtoras. Considerando a pequena disponibilidade de informações sobre a epidemiologia e níveis de incidência dessa bacteriose, este estudo teve como objetivos: confirmar a distribuição e verificar a dispersão da seca dos ponteiros da goiabeira no Distrito Federal; investigar o efeito da temperatura sobre a multiplicação in vitro de E. psidii; desenvolver um teste de patogenicidade prático e eficiente e avaliar a sobrevivência in vitro da bactéria em diferentes substratos. A doença foi identificada em 56% das propriedades produtoras avaliadas no DF, com 81,9% de correlação entre a presença de sintomas e o diagnóstico laboratorial. A melhor faixa de temperatura para multiplicação de E. psidii foi de 24 a 33 ºC, e a bactéria permaneceu viável por até 120 dias em suspensão em água. A inoculação da bactéria em folhas ou hastes destacadas levou ao aparecimento de sintomas a partir do sétimo dia e mostrou-se eficiente como um teste rápido para se avaliar a patogenicidade de isolados. Termos para indexação: Psidium guajava, bacteriose, sobrevivência in vitro, teste de patogenicidade. GUAVA BACTERIAL BLIGHT DUE TO ERWINIA PSIDII: INCIDENCE LEVELS AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTSABSTRACT-A major disease that affects guava is 'bacterial blight', caused by Erwinia psidii, which has been reported in Southeastern and Central Regions of Brazil where the major producing areas are located. Considering the lack of information on epidemiology and incidence levels of this disease, the objectives of this study were to confirm the presence and to verify the spread of the disease in Distrito Federal (DF); to determine optimal temperature for in vitro multiplication of E. psidii; to develop a simple and effective method for pathogenicity testing and to evaluate in vitro bacterial survival on different substrates. The disease was detected in 56% of producing orchards evaluated in DF, with a correlation of 81, 9% between presence of symptoms and positive laboratorial diagnosis. The best temperature range for E. psidii growth was from 24 to 33 ºC, and the best method for short term preservation (up to 120 days) was in water suspension. Inoculation of the pathogen on detached leaves or stems allowed symptom development in seven days and it was shown to be a quick and suitable method for testing isolate pathogenicity.

Neotropical monkeys of the genera Cacajao, Chiropotes, and Pithecia (Pitheciidae) are considered to be highly arboreal, spending most of their time feeding and traveling in the upper canopy. Until now, the use of terrestrial substrates has not been analyzed in detail in this group. Here, we review the frequency of terrestrial use among pitheciin taxa to determine the ecological and social conditions that might lead to such behavior. We collated published and unpublished data from 14 taxa in the three genera. Data were gleaned from 53 published studies (including five on multiple pitheciin genera) and personal communications of unpublished data distributed across 31 localities. Terrestrial activity was reported in 61% of Pithecia field studies (11 of 18), in 34% of Chiropotes studies (10 of 29), and 36% of Cacajao studies (4 of 11). Within Pithecia, terrestrial behavior was more frequently reported in smaller species (e.g. P. pithecia) that are vertical clingers and leapers and make extensive use of the understory than in in the larger bodied canopy dwellers of the western Amazon (e.g. P. irrorata). Terrestrial behavior in Pithecia also occurred more frequently and lasted longer than in Cacajao or Chiropotes. An apparent association was found between flooded habitats and terrestrial activity and there is evidence of the development of a "local pattern" of terrestrial use in some populations. Seasonal fruit availability also may stimulate terrestrial behavior. Individuals also descended to the ground when visiting mineral licks, escaping predators, and responding to accidents such as a dropped infant. Overall, the results of this review emphasize that terrestrial use is rare among the pitheciins in general and is usually associated with the exploitation of specific resources or habitat types.

The uniqueness of the Mamirauá Sustenainable Development Reserve (MSDR), a continuous area of floodplain and 1.124.000 ha bounded by large rivers (Solimões, Japurá and Auati-Paraná), allows only the survival of aquatic, arboreal or scansorial animals in the area throughout the seasonal cycle. Thus the profile of hunting in RDSM should be distinct from those reported in other studies. The aim of this study was to describe the hunting activity conducted in five communities in a flooded forest area, characterizing the wildlife killed and the profile of hunters in these communities. Between January and December of 2005, 238 hunting events were held and 459 animals were slaughtered, totalizing 1850.5 Kg. Reptiles are the main group hunted and accounted for 92.12% of those killed and 64.27% of the total weight obtained. The most susceptible species are those hunted (Podocnemis unifilis, Podocnemis sextuberculata, Podocnemis expansa, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, Crax globulosa, Alouatta seniculus, Cairina moschata and Pauxi tuberosa). Despite the frequency of hunting events, the activity did not contribute much to the income of the families. Hunting is a predominantly male activity and starts at early ages in the monitored communities. RESUMOA singularidade da Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (RDSM), uma área contínua de várzea de 1.124.000ha e limitada por grandes rios (Solimões, Japurá e Auatí-paraná), permite que somente animais aquáticos, arborícolas ou escansoriais sobrevivam durante todo o ciclo sazonal na área. Dessa forma o perfil da caça na RDSM deve ser distinto daqueles registrados em outros estudos. O objetivo desse estudo foi descrever a atividade de caça realizada em cinco comunidades de várzea, caracterizando a fauna abatida e o perfil dos caçadores dessas comunidades. Entre os meses de janeiro e dezembro de 2005 foram realizados 238 eventos de caça, e foram abatidos 459 animais que totalizaram 1.850,5 Kg. Os répteis constituem o principal grupo caçado, e representaram 92,12% dos indivíduos abatidos e 64,27% do peso total obtido. As espécies mais susceptíveis à caça são as principais abatidas (Podocnemis unifilis, P. sextuberculata, P. expansa, H. hydrochaeris, Crax globulosa, Alouatta seniculus, Cairina moschata e Pauxi tuberosa). Apesar da caça ser realizada com frequência, a atividade tem pouca contribuição na renda das famílias estudadas. A caça é uma atividade predominantemente masculina e é iniciada precocemente nas comunidades monitoradas. HUNTING AND HUNTERS IN LOWLAND COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION OF THE MIDDLE SOLIMÕES, AMAZONAS, BRAZIL.A

Pitheciids are known for their frugivorous diets, but there has been no broad-scale comparison of fruit genera used by these primates that range across five geographic regions in South America. We compiled 31 fruit lists from data collected from 18 species (three Cacajao, six Callicebus, five Chiropotes, and four Pithecia) at 26 study sites in six countries. Together, these lists contained 455 plant genera from 96 families. We predicted that 1) closely related Chiropotes and Cacajao would demonstrate the greatest similarity in fruit lists; 2) pitheciids living in closer geographic proximity would have greater similarities in fruit lists; and 3) fruit genus richness would be lower in lists from forest fragments than continuous forests. Fruit genus richness was greatest for the composite Chiropotes list, even though Pithecia had the greatest overall sampling effort. We also found that the Callicebus composite fruit list had lower similarity scores in comparison with the composite food lists of the other three genera (both within and between geographic areas). Chiropotes and Pithecia showed strongest similarities in fruit lists, followed by sister taxa Chiropotes and Cacajao. Overall, pitheciids in closer proximity had more similarities in their fruit list, and this pattern was evident in the fruit lists for both Callicebus and Chiropotes. There was no difference in the number of fruit genera used by pitheciids in habitat fragments and continuous forest. Our findings demonstrate that pitheciids use a variety of fruit genera, but phylogenetic and geographic patterns in fruit use are not consistent across all pitheciid genera. This study represents the most extensive examination of pitheciid fruit consumption to date, but future research is needed to investigate the extent to which the trends in fruit genus richness noted here are attributable to habitat differences among study sites, differences in feeding ecology, or a combination of both.

The black-faced black spider monkey (Ateles chamek) is endangered because of hunting and habitat loss. There are many gaps in our understanding of its geographic distribution. The Ucayali-Solimões-Amazon fluvial complex is currently recognized as the northern boundary of the species' range, although published reports have indicated that it occurs north of the Rio Solimões. In this study we investigate published records, generate new field records, and assess the current information concerning the northern boundary of this species' range. We conducted the study at the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in the central Brazilian Amazon, an area of 1,124,000 ha that consists entirely of Amazonian flooded forest (várzea). We collected data on the occurrence of the species from museum specimens and through field surveys, including interviews with local residents, direct observations, and the collection of new museum specimens. We confirmed the presence of A. chamek at 17 locations in the reserve, one of which was an island formed by a river bend cut-off that would have effectively taken any resident spider to the (new) north bank of the Solimões. We therefore conclude that fluvial dynamics were involved in creating the conditions for the dispersal and colonization of the species on the northern bank of the Rio Solimões. The data we present extends the known distribution of the species and increases its representation in protected areas.