High Connectivity among Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) Populations in the Western South Atlantic.

Population connectivity in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus was evaluated along 740 km of the Western South Atlantic coast. Blue crabs are the most exploited portunid in Brazil. Despite their economic importance, few studies report their ecology or population structure.

Biodegradation of microcystins by aquatic Burkholderia sp. from a South Brazilian coastal lagoon.

Biological degradation of cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystins in estuarine and coastal water samples from the Patos Lagoon estuarine system, a coastal lagoon situated at the southernmost region of Brazil, was observed. Samples of natural surface water were spiked with purified and semi-purified microcystins (MC-LR and [D-Leu(1)]MC-LR) and their concentrations were monitored by HPLC analysis. After 15 days, the toxins were no longer detectable and after 43 days less than 90% of the initial concentration added to the samples was detected by ELISA.

Geographic differences in species boundaries among members of the Montastraea annularis complex based on molecular and morphological markers.

The three members of the Montastraea annularis complex (M. annularis, M. franksi, and M.