L. A. Pereira

Bio: L. A. Pereira is an academic researcher from Federal University of Piauí. The author has contributed to research in topics: Nectar & Beekeeping. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 6 publications receiving 21 citations.

Bee Flora and Use of Resources by Africanized Bees

Abstract: Beekeeping is affected by adverse climatic conditions and availability of floral resources. This study aimed to survey and characterize the flora in Sao Joao do Piaui, a semi-arid region in Piaui, Brazil, and to identify species providing resources to bees. Flowering plants were observed for 18 months, and records were taken of flowering date, growth habit, visitation and resources collected by bees. Melissopalinological analysis of honey produced in the area was performed. A total of 67 flowering plant species were recorded, of which 49 were considered as bee plants, with a predominance of herbs and shrubs. The low rainfall reduces the number of flowering species, which makes important the conservation and multiplication of species which bloom in dry season, such as Ipomoea glabra, Myracrodruon urundeuva, Sida cordifolia and Ziziphus joazeiro, as well as species that contribute to honey production such as Mimosa tenuiflora, Mesosphaerum suaveolens and Croton sonderianus.

Levantamento da fauna e plantas apícolas na Embrapa Meio-Norte, em Teresina, PI.

Abstract: Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a composicao da fauna de abelhas e das especies vegetais visitadas em duas areas com diferentes niveis de intervencao humana na Embrapa Meio-Norte, em Teresina, PI. As amostragens foram feitas quinzenalmente, entre os meses de marco e agosto de 2008, em duas trilhas pre-estabelecidas. Cada trilha foi percorrida por dois coletores duas vezes ao dia, no periodo entre 6h30 e 17h30. As abelhas foram coletadas em flores ou em voo, utilizando-se redes entomologicas. As abelhas capturadas foram mortas em câmaras mortiferas, montadas e identificadas. As plantas em floracao foram coletadas, herborizadas, identificadas e depositadas em herbario da Embrapa Meio-Norte. A area com vegetacao menos adensada e menor area cultivada (area A) apresentou maiores numeros de individuos e especies de abelhas. Apis mellifera e Trigona spinipes foram especies predominantes nas duas areas estudadas e estiveram presentes em todas as coletas. Scaptotrigona sp.2 foi predominante somente na area A. Foram identificadas 29 especies de plantas visitadas por abelhas, pertencentes a 18 familias botânicas. Mimosaceae foi a familia botânica que apresentou maior numero de especies. Este estudo e o primeiro registro da fauna de abelhas em Teresina e podera servir de referencia para futuros monitoramentos de impactos ambientais.

Use of Kisser glycerol gelatin to prepare microscope slides of Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Appropriate preservation of specimens is important for taxonomic identification. In sandfly research, various methods have been used for slide preparation; however, high cost, low commercial availability, and associated hazards make their use impossible in some studies. Therefore, the efficacy of Kisser glycerol gelatin for sandfly slide preparation was tested. METHODS: Kisser glycerol gelatin, as a substitute for Canada balsam and Berlese’s fluid, was used for mounting sandflies. RESULTS: Forty-two mounted specimens were created and maintained even after 14 months. CONCLUSIONS: Use of Kisser glycerol gelatin is simple and efficient for preparing microscope slides of sandflies.

Biodiversidade Vegetal de uma Área do Parque Ambiental do Brejo dos Buritis em Gilbués, Piauí, Brasil

Abstract: A biodiversidade da flora, o funcionamento e a conservacao dos ecossistemas de ambientes degradados podem ser entendidos atraves de informacoes geradas por pesquisas floristicas. Assim, objetivou-se realizar um inventario floristico de fanerogamas do Parque Ambiental do Brejo do Buritis em Gilbues, Piaui. Para tal, foi realizado o metodo de ponto quadrante com quatro parcelas de 10x10 m2, na regiao que abrange uma nascente hidrica proxima a zona urbana. O material coletado foi herborizado, identificado, classificado e as duplicatas foram direcionadas ao acervo do Herbario Graziela Barroso da Universidade Federal do Piaui (TEPB), para ratificacao da classificacao e registro. Concomitantemente, foram realizadas analise observacional e estudo bibliografico para caracterizacao do ecossistema e identificacao de fatores relacionados a vulnerabilidade ambiental. A regiao em estudo apresentou vegetacao tipica com mata ciliar e trechos de vereda, no entanto, e uma area poluida com lixo domestico, construcao de moradia irregular e desmatamento, que podem influenciar o assoreamento do brejo. Foram coletadas trinta especies de fanerogamas distribuidas em vinte e tres familias, destas, 50% foram incluidas no herbario e estao disponiveis para estudantes e pesquisadores. As mais representativas em numero de especimes foram Piperaceae (17,7%), Poaceae (11,1%), Arecaceae (6,6%), Cucurbitaceae (6,6%) e Vitaceae (6,6%). Foram identificadas especies com propriedades farmacologicas, economicas, bioindicadores, ornamentais e de uso em recuperacao de areas degradadas. Esta pesquisa possibilitou o conhecimento de uma amostra da biodiversidade vegetal do Parque Ambiental do Brejo dos Buritis, primordial para estrategias de conservacao dos ecossistemas e reflorestamento, acoes preconizadas pelos Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentavel (ODS) da agenda 2030. Palavras-chave: Inventario Floristico. Degradacao Ambiental. Unidade de Conservacao. Abstract The biodiversity of flora, the functioning and conservation of ecosystems in degraded environments can be understood through information generated by floristic surveys. Thus, the objective was to carry out a floristic inventory of phanerogamous of Environmental Park Brejo dos Buritis in Gilbues, Piaui. Thus, the Quadrant Point method was performed with four 10x10 m2 plots, in the region that covers a water source near the urban area. The collected material was herborized, identified, classified and the duplicates were directed to the collection of Graziela Barroso Herbarium of the Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), for ratification of classification and registration. Concomitantly, observational analysis and bibliographic study were performed to characterize the ecosystem and identify factors related to environmental vulnerability. The region under study presented typical vegetation with riparian forest and stretches of path, however it is a polluted area with household waste, irregular housing construction and deforestation, which can influence the swamp siltation. Thirty species of phanerogams distributed in 23 families were collected, of which 50% were included in the herbarium and are available to students and researchers. The most representative in number of specimens were Piperaceae (17.7%), Poaceae (11.1%), Arecaceae (6.6%), Cucurbitaceae (6.6%) and Vitaceae (6.6%). Species with pharmacological, economic, bioindicator, ornamental and recovery use of degraded areas were identified. This research allowed the knowledge of a sample of the vegetal biodiversity of the Environmental Park Brejo dos Buritis, primordial for strategies of ecosystem conservation and reforestation, actions recommended by the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Keywords: Floristic Inventory. Ambiental Degradation. Conservation Unit.

Embryotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics in zebrafish Danio rerio

Abstract: In the recent years, increasing scientific and societal concern has been raised over the presence and accumulation of plastic debris in the environment and the effects of microplastics (MPs) that can easily interact with biota. In order to elucidate the impact of MPs at the critical development stages of freshwater fish species, a fish embryo toxicity test was herein performed on the zebrafish Danio rerio, exposed to 10 μm polystyrene MPs at 200 particles/mL for 120 hpf. After exposure, accumulation of MPs in larvae was measured, survival, hatching and larvae development were monitored and the oxidant/anti-oxidant responses and cellular detoxification evaluated. No impact on survival of developing zebrafish was revealed, but a moderate delay in hatching was observed. Alterations in larvae development were recorded with zebrafish exhibiting serious deformities, mainly at the level of column and tail, as well as a compromised integrity of the visual structure of the eyes. Moreover, increased levels of gene transcription involved in the oxidative stress (sod1, sod2 and cat) and in cellular detoxification (gst and cyp) were also detected in MPs-exposed zebrafish larvae. Overall, this research work provides new insights on the ecotoxicological impact of polystyrene MPs on the critical developmental stages of a freshwater fish species, therefore enhancing the current knowledge of the environmental risk posed by MPs to the aquatic ecosystem.