Pandora is on Earth: new species of Eukoenenia (Palpigradi) emerging at risk of extinction

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maysa F. V. R. Souza ◽  
Rodrigo L. Ferreira

In 2008 the change to the Brazilian legislation regarding the use of natural caves has caused an increase in the number of studies on environmental impacts involving caves. The legislation requires the classification of such environments according to their importance, and caves that are not classified highly may be irreversibly impacted. Thus, caves in rocks of high economic interest have been intensively sampled, which has resulted in the collection of several specimens of Palpigradi in them. The Iron Quadrangle (in Minas Gerais state) stands out among these areas as one the most important sources of iron ore in Brazil. Several palpigrades from this region are housed in collections: most of them belong to the edaphic species Eukoenenia ferratilis, and a small portion belong to new species that are morphologically quite distinct from E. ferratilis, with longer bodies and more elongated appendages, indicating the presence of troglomorphisms. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe three new troglobitic species of Eukoenenia, which can be distinguished morphometrically and by means of some qualitative characters. These descriptions are important for the preservation of the caves where they occur, since the presence of troglobitic species increases the relevance of the caves, which have been severely threatened by mining activities.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maysa F. V. R. Souza ◽  
Rodrigo L. Ferreira

In 2008 the change to the Brazilian legislation regarding the use of natural caves has caused an increase in the number of studies on environmental impacts involving caves. The legislation requires the classification of such environments according to their importance, and caves that are not classified highly may be irreversibly impacted. Thus, caves in rocks of high economic interest have been intensively sampled, which has resulted in the collection of several specimens of Palpigradi in them. The Iron Quadrangle (in Minas Gerais state) stands out among these areas as one the most important sources of iron ore in Brazil. Several palpigrades from this region are housed in collections: most of them belong to the edaphic species Eukoenenia ferratilis, and a small portion belong to new species that are morphologically quite distinct from E. ferratilis, with longer bodies and more elongated appendages, indicating the presence of troglomorphisms. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe three new troglobitic species of Eukoenenia, which can be distinguished morphometrically and by means of some qualitative characters. These descriptions are important for the preservation of the caves where they occur, since the presence of troglobitic species increases the relevance of the caves, which have been severely threatened by mining activities.


2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maíra Fonseca Moreira Castro ◽  
Hernani Mota de Lima ◽  
José Cruz do Carmo Flôres

Despite closure regulations being recent in Brazil, many mining companies are attempting to adopt best practice and are facing the challenge of closing their mines properly instead of simply complying with current legislation or abandoning the mine site. This paper summarizes mine closure according to both the Brazilian legislation and the "Deliberação Normativa" COPAM Nº 127, that establishes the directives and procedures for environmental assessment at the mine closure stage. Even with the lack of laws and regulations addressing mine closure, the Brazilian mining industry today is at the forefront of environmental impact minimisation techniques. Some case studies in Minas Gerais State, two of them located in the Iron Quadrangle, provide excellent evidence of the industry's rehabilitation expertise. This paper presents an overview of mine closure legislation in Brazil and in the State of Minas Gerais and gives some examples of mine closure programmes in effect. It is intended to highlight the changes on mine closure requirements as well as the best practices on mine closure in the State.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 794-801
Author(s):  
Caroline Oliveira Andrino ◽  
Marcelo Fragomeni Simon ◽  
Jair Eustáquio Quintino Faria ◽  
André Luiz da Costa Moreira ◽  
Paulo Takeo Sano

Abstract—We describe and illustrate Paepalanthus fabianeae, a new species of Eriocaulaceae from the central portion of the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Previous phylogenetic evidence based on analyses of nuclear (ITS and ETS) and plastid (trnL-trnF and psba-trnH) sequences revealed P. fabianeae as belonging to a strongly supported and morphologically coherent clade containing five other species, all of them microendemic, restricted to the Espinhaço range. Due to the infrageneric classification of Paepalanthus being highly artificial, we preferred not assigning P. fabianeae to any infrageneric group. Paepalanthus fabianeae is known from two populations growing in campos rupestres (highland rocky fields) in the meridional Espinhaço Range. The species is characterized by pseudodichotomously branched stems, small, linear, recurved, and reflexed leaves, urceolate capitula, and bifid stigmas. Illustrations, photos, the phylogenetic position, and a detailed description, as well as comments on habitat, morphology, and affinities with similar species are provided. The restricted area of occurrence allied with threats to the quality of the habitat, mainly due to quartzite mining, justifies the preliminary classification of the new species in the Critically Endangered (CR) category using the guidelines and criteria of the IUCN Red List.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-173
Author(s):  
A.P. Kassatkina

Resuming published and own data, a revision of classification of Chaetognatha is presented. The family Sagittidae Claus & Grobben, 1905 is given a rank of subclass, Sagittiones, characterised, in particular, by the presence of two pairs of sac-like gelatinous structures or two pairs of fins. Besides the order Aphragmophora Tokioka, 1965, it contains the new order Biphragmosagittiformes ord. nov., which is a unique group of Chaetognatha with an unusual combination of morphological characters: the transverse muscles present in both the trunk and the tail sections of the body; the seminal vesicles simple, without internal complex compartments; the presence of two pairs of lateral fins. The only family assigned to the new order, Biphragmosagittidae fam. nov., contains two genera. Diagnoses of the two new genera, Biphragmosagitta gen. nov. (type species B. tarasovi sp. nov. and B. angusticephala sp. nov.) and Biphragmofastigata gen. nov. (type species B. fastigata sp. nov.), detailed descriptions and pictures of the three new species are presented.


2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 4177-4186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Sueli de Lima Rodrigues ◽  
Guilherme Malafaia ◽  
Adivane Terezinha Costa ◽  
Hermínio Arias Nalini Júnior

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy D. Holloway ◽  
Scott E. Miller

The biosystematic position of the Parallelia generic complex is reviewed and a revised generic classification of its component taxa is presented. Bastilla Swinhoe (= Xiana Nye, syn. nov., Naxia Guenée, syn. nov.) is identified as the most appropriate genus for a large number of these taxa, including the joviana-group, which is reviewed in detail, with description of two new species, B. nielseni, sp. nov. and B. binatang, sp. nov. Parallelia prouti Hulstaert, syn. nov. and P. cuneifascia Hulstaert, syn. nov. are recognised as junior synonyms of Bastilla vitiensis Butler and two newly described Tahitian taxa are transferred into the joviana-group. Larval host records are examined in relation to this new generic system and significant preference for the Euphorbiaceae is noted for several groups: Bastilla, Buzara Walker (= Caranilla Moore, syn. nov., another segregate from Parallelia) and an Australian group within Grammodes Guenée.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 781-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maowei Ji ◽  
Xiaojing Li ◽  
Shunchuan Wu ◽  
Yongtao Gao ◽  
Linlin Ge

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Volleth ◽  
Faisal A. A. Khan ◽  
Stefan Müller ◽  
Robert J. Baker ◽  
Daniela Arenas-Viveros ◽  
...  

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4958 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-166
Author(s):  
OSÉIAS MARTINS MAGALHÃES ◽  
GUSTAVO LISBOA VIEIRA MACHADO ◽  
MARCO ANTONIO ALVES CARNEIRO ◽  
FELIPE FERRAZ FIGUEIREDO MOREIRA

Microvelia joceliae Magalhães & Moreira, sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on material from Parque Natural Municipal das Andorinhas, Minas Gerais State, in southeastern Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from congeners occurring in the region by the pronotum of the apterous form covering almost the entire thorax dorsally, proepisternum with black denticles, male abdominal segments V–VII ventrally depressed, shape of the asymmetrical parameres, and female abdominal laterotergites reflected over the mediotergites and almost touching over segments V–VII. 


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