One more step in solving the Chydorus puzzlea morphological comparison between Chydorus tilhoi Rey & Saint-Jeans, 1969 and Chydorus sphaericus (O.F. Mller, 1776) (Crustacea: Cladocera).

A number of species of Chydorus Leach, 1816 (Crustacea: Cladocera) need improvements in their taxonomy much more than any other genus within the family Chydoridae Dybowsky & Grochowski, 1894 emend. Frey, 1967, which makes the systematics of the genus still a puzzle that lacks several pieces. Here, we redescribe the African species Chydorus tilhoi Rey & Saint-Jeans, 1969 and compare its morphology with that of Chydorus sphaericus (O.F. Mller, 1776). The two taxa might be easily differentiated because C. tilhoi has a single and relatively large major head pore with a wide rim, labral keel elongated with a large spine, and postabdomen with postanal part elongated, narrowing distally and with denticles near its anal margin, organized in groups. These morphological traits are absent in C. sphaericus. Chydorus tilhoi and C. sphaericus also differ in the morphology of the first (Inner Distal Lobe setae), third (exopodite proportion), and fifth (exopodite shape) limbs. Based on the literature and our observations, the limb morphology of C. tilhoi has important similarities with that of C. breviceps, C. nitidulus and C. dentifer, and their translocation to a new genus seems to be a fundamental piece in the puzzle of Chydorus.

Three new records of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) for the State of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil.

Brazilian biodiversity is still poorly studied, especially in the northeast region of Brazil. In the state of Maranhão, the rich fauna is still under-explored in relation to the Cladocera, and this geographic area covers four biomes, which makes it an important field of research on the Cladocera community. In this work, the record of three species is reported: Dadaya macrops Sars, 1901 first record of the genus for the state, Simocephalus serrulatus (Koch, 1841) and Simocephalus latirostris (Stingelin, 1906). The work presents brief descriptions and illustrations of the morphology of the studied species.

Revision of the guttata-group of Alona s. lato leads to its translocation to Prendalona Sousa, Elmoor-Loureiro & Santos, 2018 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae).

Revision of the guttata-group of Alona s. lato justifies its translocation to the genus Prendalona Sousa, Elmoor-Loureiro & Santos, 2018. Emended diagnosis of the genus and diagnoses for all its species are provided. Prendalona belong to the Hexalona-clade of Alona s. lato, it is a sister-group of genus Flavalona Sinev & Dumont, 2016, but differs from the latter in: (1) minute lateral head pores without any pockets below, (2) absence of the genital process on male postabdomen, and (3) absence of inner setae on endites 1-2 of thoracic limb I. Morphology of North American P. barbulata (Megard, 1967) and widely distributed P. guttata (Sars, 1862) is investigated in detail for the first time. Prendalona julietae sp. nov.,sibling-species of P. guttata, is described from Brazil. Global diversity and distribution patterns of Prendalona are discussed.

Richness and composition of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) in Brazilian rupestrian cerrados, with comments on distribution and taxonomy.

Several studies that involve a faunal survey of Cladocera in Brazil have been carried out in recent years; however, knowledge of the distribution and diversity of species of this group in semiterrestrial and aquatic bodies of rupestrian cerrado is still rare. The present study evaluated the richness and composition of cladoceran species in these environments in the central parts of the country. Samples were collected at nine sites of rupestrian cerrado from 2011 to 2012. In total, 47 cladocerans species were identified, belonging to six families, emphasizing the Chydoridae family with the greatest richness (32 species) and abundance. The species Bryospilus repens had its first record for the state of Goiás and the Brazilian Midwest. Other species were also recorded for the first time: Leberis davidi for the state of Minas Gerais, and Alona yara and Flavalona asymmetrica for the state of Bahia. This demonstrates that rupestrian cerrados are relevant for cladoceran diversity on a regional scale. Carrying out new inventories of cladocerans in similar phytophysiognomies could contribute significantly to the knowledge of the biodiversity of these animals in Brazil, in addition to providing updates on the geographic distribution of species already recorded in previous studies.

Brazilian assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services: summary for policy makers / Diagnóstico brasileiro sobre biodiversidade e serviços ecossistêmicos: sumário para tomadores de decisão

Abstract: Biodiversity and ecosystems are important elements for addressing national and global socioeconomic and environmental crises, since they provide new development opportunities, for example, as source of job and income creation, and reduction in poverty and socioeconomic inequity. Brazilian biological diversity is also expressed in its immense cultural diversity, with a great variety of knowledge holders. These peoples possess vast knowledge on agrobiodiversity, fishing, fire management, natural medicine, among others of commercial, cultural and spiritual value. The main conclusions of this Summary for Police Makers is that land use changes and climate changes have been - and will continue to be throughout this century - the main drivers that result in the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the country. Political interventions at different levels (from local to national, from public to private) and the enforcement of existing laws (regulatory mechanisms and incentives) are required to cope with the mitigation of the negative impacts of biodiversity and ecosystem services loss. Brazil has already a wide variety of policy instruments and socioenvironmental governance options, as well as global commitments (ODS, Aich Targets, Paris Agreement) related to the objective of a sustainable future. However, inefficient management control or lack of incentive to comply with the rules pose risks to consolidating the path to this future. The country has strong and capable institutions, but infrastructural problems, slow processes, inefficient measurements and judicial, social and ecological conflicts obstruct a proficient performance. There is a lack of communication between science and society which needs to be improved by establishing an effective flow that makes communication inclusive and representative, reaching public and private decision makers. Permanent efforts to integrate Science and policy knowledges are desirable to build confidence between policy makers and researchers.

Resumo: A biodiversidade e os ecossistemas são elementos importantes para enfrentar as crises socioeconômicas e ambientais nacionais e globais, uma vez que proporcionam novas oportunidades de desenvolvimento. Incorporar a biodiversidade na vida cotidiana é uma oportunidade de ouro para promover o uso sustentável da biodiversidade e dos serviços ecossistêmicos. A conservação e a restauração da biodiversidade, dos ecossistemas e de seus serviços associados mostram potencial para um novo desenvolvimento social e econômico, como fonte de geração de emprego e renda, redução da pobreza e da desigualdade socioeconômica. A diversidade biológica brasileira também se expressa em sua imensa diversidade cultural, com uma grande variedade de detentores de conhecimento indígenas e tradicionais. Esses povos possuem vasto conhecimento sobre agrobiodiversidade, pesca, manejo do fogo, medicina natural, entre outros de valor comercial, cultural e espiritual. As principais conclusões deste Sumário para Tomadores de Decisão é que as mudanças no uso da terra e as mudanças climáticas tenham sido - e continuarão sendo ao longo deste século - os principais vetores da perda de biodiversidade e serviços ecossistêmicos no país. Intervenções políticas em diferentes níveis (do local ao nacional, do público ao privado) e a aplicação das leis existentes (mecanismos regulatórios e incentivos) são necessárias para promover a mitigação dos impactos negativos sobre a biodiversidade e a perda de serviços ecossistêmicos. O Brasil já possui uma ampla variedade de instrumentos de política e opções de governança socioambiental, bem como compromissos globais (ODS, Metas de Aichi, Acordo de Paris) relacionados à possibilidade de um futuro sustentável. Entretanto, o controle ineficiente da gestão ou a falta de incentivo para cumprir as regras traz riscos para a consolidação do caminho para esse futuro. O país tem instituições fortes e capazes, mas problemas de infraestrutura, processos lentos, medidas ineficazes e conflitos judiciais, sociais e ecológicos impedem a realização de um desempenho eficiente. Há uma falta de comunicação entre a ciência e a sociedade que precisa ser melhorada por meio do estabelecimento de um fluxo efetivo que torne a comunicação inclusiva e representativa, alcançando os tomadores de decisão públicos e privados. Esforços permanentes para integrar essas duas esferas de conhecimento na sociedade são desejáveis para criar confiança entre os formuladores de políticas e os pesquisadores.

Redescription of Coronatella poppei (Richard, 1897) (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Chydoridae) and a revision of the genus in Brazil, with descriptions of new taxa.

The description of the genus Coronatella Dybowski & Grochowski, 1894 (Cladocera: Chydoridae: Aloninae) pointed towards the need for a revision of species on a worldwide scale. For the Neotropical region, the main challenge noted was the redescription of Coronatella poppei (Richard, 1897). We redescribed this species and revised populations from Brazil that had previously been assumed to be Alona poppei (= C. poppei). Our results indicate that C. poppei is distributed in the southern part of South America. In Brazil, two other taxa are recognized, Coronatella paulinae sp.nov. and Coronatella serratalhadensis sp.nov., which are morphologically distinguished both from each other and from C. poppei. These species also have different geographic distributions. The Brazilian Coronatella fauna also comprises Coronatella monacantha (Sars, 1901) and a related species, Coronatella undata sp.nov. Our results point towards a previously unknown high diversity of Coronatella in the Neotropical region with several implications for to biogeography of the genus.

Alona kaingang (Crustacea, Cladocera, Aloninae): a new species of the pulchella-group, with identification key to Neotropical species.

BACKGROUND: The subfamily Aloninae has been the focus of extensive studies on the Chydoridae because it has a higher diversity of species and due to the necessity of a detailed redescription of many taxa, especially using characters related to thoracic appendages. The polyphyletic genus Alona was redefined recently, and many species complexes were translocated to natural groups. The pulchella-group is a candidate for removal from Alona because it forms a well-defined complex of species, besides possessing higher species diversity. At present, 50 % of the known species occur in the Neotropics. RESULTS: In this study, we described Alona kaingang, a new species of pulchella-group distributed in southern South America. The new species shares with other species similarities in general features of limbs but, for instance, differs from South American Alona glabra because it has a short postabdomen. Alona kaingang sp. nov. differs from Andean Alona altiplana because it has thick denticles on the postabdomen and longitudinal lines on the carapace are absent. Differences in the limbs were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Alona kaingang sp. nov. is part of the group that contains species with complete connection between the main head pores. Like other species of the pulchella-group, A. kaingang sp. nov. also has similarities with the genus Ovalona. The relationship between these two species groups still needs to betested.

Cladocerans (Crustacea, Anomopoda and Ctenopoda) from Cerrado of Central Brazil: Inventory of phytophilous community in natural wetlands / Cladoceros (Crustacea, Anomopoda e Ctenopoda) do Cerrado do Brasil Central: Inventario da comunidade associada a macrofitas em zonas umidas naturais

The aim of this study was to inventory the cladoceran fauna in wetlands located in two large areas that protect fragments of Cerrado. Located in the Brasília National Park-DF and Campo de Instrução de Formosa-GO, these wetlands are formed by upwelling groundwater, with extensive vegetation cover. We found 24 species in the Brasília National Park and 30 in the Campo de Instrução de Formosa. The observed richness reached approximately 80% of the estimated values for both protected areas. Moreover, the community of cladocerans in the kind of environment studied appears to be influenced by depth, with higher values of richness and similarity in wetlands of higher average depths. However, shallow wetlands contributed to the total richness with exclusive species, which shows the importance of these habitats for species richness.

O objetivo deste estudo foi inventariar a fauna de Cladocera em zonas úmidas localizadas em duas grandes áreas que protegem fragmentos de Cerrado. Estas estão localizadas no Parque Nacional de Brasília, DF, e Campo de Instrução de Formosa, Goiás, e são formadas pelo afloramento de lençol freático, com extensa cobertura vegetal. Foram encontradas 24 espécies no Parque Nacional de Brasília e 30 no Campo de Instrução de Formosa. A riqueza observada alcançou, aproximadamente, 80% dos valores estimados para ambas as áreas protegidas. Além disto, a comunidade de Cladocera no tipo de ambiente estudado parece ser influenciada pela profundidade, com maiores valores de riqueza e similaridade para áreas com maiores médias de profundidade. Contudo, as zonas úmidas mais rasas contribuíram para a riqueza total com espécies exclusivas, o que mostra a importância desses ambientes para a riqueza de espécies.

Cladóceros fitófilos (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) do Parque Nacional das Emas, estado de Goiás / Phytopilous cladocerans (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) of the Parque Nacional das Emas, State of Goiás

Este trabalho apresenta um inventário preliminar de cladóceros fitófilos do Parque Nacional das Emas. Onze amostras qualitativas foram coletados de diferentes ambientes (lagoa, vereda e campo úmido), no período de 2000 a 2006. Foram identificadas 18 espécies, pertencentes a famílias tipicamente não planctônicas, sendo Chydoridae a mais especiosa. Todas elas representam o primeiro registro para a região sudoeste de Goiás.

This paper presents a preliminary inventory of the phytophylous cladocerans from the Parque Nacional das Emas. Eleven qualitative samples were taken from different sites (lagoon, vereda, and wet campo), from 2000 to 2006. Eighteen species, belonging to typically non-planktonic families, were identified; the most specious family was the Chydoridae. All species are recorded for the first time in Southwest region of Goiás.