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Copyright of Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente is the property of Universidade Federal do Parana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Historically, Brazilian fisheries management has not considered the knowledge of fish taxonomy from within fishing communities. This study points out processes of recognition, classification and nomenclature of sharks achieved by fishermen from South Bahia, Brazil. Data were obtained through semistructured interviews visually stimulated by exhibiting images of 30 species of elasmobranch fishes. Regionally, elasmobranch species are inserted into the folk taxon called "leather fishes" and in a category known as "cação" (shark) family. In addition to hierarchical classification, the fishermen organize shark species by adopting an ethnodimorphic and sequential model based on ethnoontogeny. Ethnodiagnostic characteristics are mainly related to the morphology, ecology and even physiology of a species. A total of 144 epithets is recorded, with a mean value of 4.8 ethnospecies for each scientific correspondent. Richness of vernacular names impedes species-specific information gathering regarding shark landings if fisher knowledge is not considered and applied in the improvement of fisheries data. Thus, this study encourages the employment of fishermen as parataxonomists in order to assist in the identification of sharks to specific levels. This study further emphasizes the potential of using ethnotaxonomic knowledge of fishing communities in initiatives related to participative management of shark fisheries in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of faunal resources and their utilization potentials for the benefit of mankind is well known, and constitute important natural resources in local communities in the Atlantic forests of region Northeastern Brazil, including in their protected areas. In order to gain access to these resources, hunters have developed a series of techniques and strategies that are described in the present work from interviews with 109 hunters in 4 official conservation units. Fifteen different techniques for the hunting and capture of wild animals have been registered, divided into 3 categories: Trapping (n=27,9%), active search (n=31%) and passive waiting (n=41,1%). All the techniques listed under the active search and passive waiting categories are complemented by the use of firearms. The environmental and administrative characteristics of the studied areas and the socioeconomic profile of the hunters interviewed, influenced the differences in the techniques and hunting strategies. Additional studies concerning these hunting activities will be useful to contribute to proposals for oversight and management plans for hunting in the region, with the objective of attaining sustainable use of faunal resources to the local human communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild animals are involved in a commerce chain in various parts of the world, even in countries where such practices are prohibited, such as Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the origin and destination of wild animals seized in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), located in Northeast Brazil, through the analysis and quantification of the vertebrates sent to the Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (CETAS/RN; Wild Animal Triage Center/RN). Data on the entry and exit of wild animals between 2005 and 2016 were provided by CETAS/RN. During this period, a total of 16,316 animals were received, 12,893 of which came from seizures, 1302 collected from urban environments and 2026 from voluntarily delivery. Of the animals received, birds represented 84.80%, with a total of 13,837 specimens; an additional of 1539 reptiles and 940 mammals were also received. The bird family Thraupidae was the most seized (67.25%), followed by Cardinalidae (7.92%), Psittacidae (7.72%) and Icteridae (7.54%). Thirteen of the species of seized vertebrates are included in the IUCN red list of threatened species and nine are included in the Brazilian list. A total of 64.84% of the seized animals were released in areas of the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes in the state. The prohibition of illegal trade, associated with environmental education programs, can reduce the number of animals that arrive at CETAS. Furthermore, more efficient inspection is necessary since illegal trafficking of animals in the region occurs clandestinely, even in the face of prohibitive legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research performed in recent years indicates that efforts are still needed to understand the advances in the Caatinga, an important dry seasonal forest, and identify its potential for bioprospecting. These efforts are also important for pinpointing the challenges that should be addressed in future research focused on identifying new candidates for pharmacological studies in this complex region. Thus, in this review, we present the main advances of studies on plants and medicinal animals in the Caatinga region and their implications for ethnopharmacology, and we then discuss future challenges to promote the search for candidates with pharmacological potential. Based on an exploration of the available literature, we performed a critical reading of the available evidence to provide a good scenario on the studies in the region. We find that despite the large number of studies available, it is necessary to organize efforts to fill gaps in different areas of knowledge and optimize the search for new natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals (and their by-products) are used worldwide in the preparation of many traditional medicines. Despite this, research on medicinal use of animals is still neglected in comparison to studies on medicinal plants. This paper documents the medicinal use of animals by hunters residing in rural communities in the semiarid region (Caatinga) of Brazil. A total of 117 hunters provided information about the animal species used, body parts useful for preparing remedies and which diseases are treated with animal-based remedies. The 'Informant Consensus Factor' and 'Use Value - Current / Potential' were calculated to determine the consensus on which species are effective in treating specific diseases, and to measure hunting pressure on each species. The medicinal use of 39 animal species was registered, which were indicated to cure 46 ailments. The local medicinal fauna is largely based on wildlife, including endangered species. The high number of animals used by hunters makes it possible to conclude that any conservation strategy should include, in addition to an environmental approach, access to modern healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals and products derived from different organs of their bodies have constituted part of the inventory of medicinal substances used in various cultures since ancient times. Regrettably, wild populations of numerous species are overexploited around the globe, the demand created by the traditional medicine being one of the causes of the overexploitation. Mammals are among the animal species most frequently used in traditional folk medicine and many species of bovids are used as medicines in the world. The present work provides an overview of the global usage of bovids in traditional folk medicine around the world and their implications for conservation. The results demonstrate that at least 55 bovids are used in traditional folk medicine around the world. Most of species (n=49) recorded were harvested directly from the wild, and only six species of domestic animals. Of the bovids recorded, 50 are included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and 54 are listed in the CITES. By highlighting the role played by animal-based remedies in the traditional medicines, we hope to increase awareness about zootherapeutic practices, particularly in the context of wildlife conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tank bromeliads harbour aquatic microcosms with many endemic species among their leaves. We performed a set of experiments to determine which factors maintain the bromeliad aquatic fauna in isolation from neighbouring ponds. We cultivated three invertebrates species (an ostracod, an annelid and a cladoceran) from a pond surrounded by terrestrial bromeliads in Southeastern Brazil and introduced them inside cleaned bromeliads, using recipients with the same volume as controls. The pH, conductivity and organism densities were monitored in the bromeliad samples and controls for 41 days. The samples introduced inside the cleaned bromeliads showed a significant decrease in pH and conductivity compared to the controls. The pond organism populations introduced in the bromeliads presented a high extinction rate and a significant population decrease when compared to the ones introduced in the controls. We attributed the population decline experienced by the pond organisms to the oligotrophic conditions generated inside the tanks by the bromeliads due to the nutrient absorption. We suggest that the changes in water chemistry induced by the bromeliads could play an important role in isolating their microcosm communities from other freshwater systems. Other mechanisms that could produce the high rates of endemism in bromeliad fauna are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baturité Ridge is an important Atlantic Forest remnant inserted in the Caatinga Morphoclimatic Domain located in the Ceará state, Northeast Brazil. Although this area presents high rates of endemism and has been investigated by many researchers in the past, there was never an investigation regarding local mammals. In this context, this study aims to survey the non-volant mammals of this region to serve as a basis for future ecological and conservation studies. The work was conducted between 2009 and 2014, based on analyses of voucher specimens from zoological collections, capture of specimens in fieldwork, visual and photographic records, and interviews with selected local residents. Altogether, 32 species were documented and seven are present on lists of endangered animals. In addition, interviews indicated that three non-recorded species probably occur in the area and another two were pointed out by local people as locally extinct. Discussions about identification and conservation aspects were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Phrynops geoffroanus is a small turtle that inhabits lakes, rivers, and streams throughout South America. The body fat of this animal is used as a folk medicine in Brazil for treating illnesses such as sore throats, ear aches, mumps, rheumatism, and arthritis. The present study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of oil extracted from Phrynops geoffroanus (OPG), determined its chemical composition, and discussed the implications of its use in traditional medicine. The OPG was obtained from the ventral region of this turtle using hexane as a solvent. The antimicrobial activity of OPG was tested against standard and multiresistance strains of bacteria and fungi and its composition was determined indirectly by analyzing the methyl esters of the component fatty acids. The OPG presented a clinically relevant antifungal activity against Candida krusei ATCC 6258 (MIC 128 Μg/mL). When the OPG was associated with the antibacterial and antifungal drugs, was observed a synergistic effect when associated the OPG with the gentamicin against the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa 22. Our results indicated that OPG has clinically relevant antifungal activity against G krusei, and demonstrated synergetic antibacterial activity in combination with commercial antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptodactylus macrosternum and L. vastus (family: Leptodactylidae) are commonly encountered in the "Caatinga" biome in northern Brazil. The body fat of L. vastus is used as a zootherapeutic for treating a number of human maladies. The aim of this work was to determine the chemical composition of the body fats of L. macrosternum and L. vastus and to evaluate their antimicrobial activities as well as the ecological implications of their use in traditional folk medicine. Oils were extracted from body fat located in the ventral region of L. macrosternum (OLM) and L. vastus (OLV) using hexane as a solvent. The fatty acids were identified by GC-MS. The antimicrobial activities of the oils, either alone or in combination with antibiotics and antifungal drugs, were tested on standard strains of microorganisms as well as on multiresistant strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus. OLM contained 40% saturated and 60% unsaturated fatty acids, while OLV contained 58.33% saturated and 41.67% unsaturated fatty acids. Our results indicated that both OLM and OLV demonstrated relevant antimicrobial activities (with MIC 256 µg/mL for both) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida krusei. However, no antimicrobial effects were observed when these oils were combined with antibiotics or antifungal drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]