Climate change poses a serious threat to species that demonstrate temperature dependent sex determination (TDS), including marine turtles. Increased temperatures can result in highly female skewed sex ratios and decreased hatchling success. In situ sand temperature data was collected from the nesting depth of hawksbill and green turtles at five study sites along the coast of the Red Sea. The sand temperature profile at four of the sites exceeded the pivotal temperature of 29.2°C (commonly cited in literature) throughout the study duration, which suggests feminization of turtles could be occurring, but further studies need to identify the pivotal temperature in this region. The percentage of days exceeding the commonly cited maximum thermal threshold (33 and 35°C) was calculated for each site at 30 and 50 cm. Sand temperature recordings were as high as 36.0°C at 30 cm depth, and 35.3°C at 50 cm. This suggests that the turtle hatchlings in some areas of the Red Sea could already have high mortality rates due to high temperatures, unless they are locally adapted to these high temperatures. The Red Sea is home to five out of the seven extant species of marine turtles in the world, but not much is known about these populations. The Red Sea is an understudied region of the world, but it has the potential to provide insight on how species might adapt to future climate change due to its high and variable water temperatures (range of 20°C to 35°C) and high salinity (40 PSU). Sites with lower sand temperatures (and lower risk of feminization) may represent priority areas for conservation efforts, particularly in regions facing imminent coastal development.

Orientador: Reinaldo José da Silva / Banca: Tânia de Freitas Raso / Banca: Alessandro Francisco Talamini do Amarante / Resumo: O presente estudo relata o resultado da análise parasitológica de 62 exemplares juvenis da espécie Chelonia mydas (L.) necropsiadas no Centro de Reabilitação de Tartarugas Marinhas do Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA na região de Ubatuba, Litoral Norte do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Trinta e três animais apresentaram parasitas da classe Trematoda das seguintes espécies: Cricocephalus albus, Cricocephalus megastomum, Pleurogonius longiusculus, Pronocephalus obliquus (Pronocephalidae), Deuterobaris proteus, Neoctangium travassosi, Polyangium linguatula, Microscaphidium reticulare (Angiodictyidae) e Metacetabulum invaginatum (Metacetabulidae). A prevalência variou de 3 a 66,7%, sendo as espécies N. travassosi, D. proteus e M. invaginatum, aquelas de maior prevalência nos animais estudados. A intensidade média de infecção foi maior na espécie da família Metacetabulidade (80,2) em relação às famílias Angiodictyidae (35,7) e Pronocephalidae (7,3). Em 13 (39,4%) animais o parasitismo foi monoespecífico, com predomínio das espécies N. travassosi e D. proteus. Por outro lado, em 20 (60,6%) tartarugas foi observada associação entre parasitas, sendo encontrado 2, 3, 4 ou 5 parasitas, sendo as freqüências desta associação de 33,3%, 0,06%, 0,18% e 0,03%, respectivamente. Observamos associação entre sinais de debilidade e carga parasitária (p = 0,03). / Abstract: A parasitological survey of 62 juvenile specimens of the Chelonia mydas (L.) necropsied in the Centro de Reabilitação de Tartarugas Marinhas of the Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA, Ubatuba city, North Coast of the São Paulo State, Brazil, is presented. Thirty three animals were parasitized by flukes of the following species: Cricocephalus albus, Cricocephalus megastomum, Pleurogonius longiusculus, Pronocephalus obliquus (Pronocephalidae), Deuterobaris proteus, Neoctangium travassosi, Polyangium linguatula, Microscaphidium reticulare (Angiodictyidae) and Metacetabulum invaginatum (Metacetabulidae). The prevalence varied from 3 to 66.7%, and the species N. travassosi, D. proteus and M. invaginatum, presented the higher prevalence among the studied animals. The mean intensity of infection was higher in the species of the family Metacetabulidade (80.2) in comparison to the families Angiodictyidae (35.7) and Pronocephalidae (7.3). In 13 (39.4%) animals the parasitism was monospecific, and the species N. travassosi and D. proteus were predominates. On the other hand, in 20 (60.6%) sea turtles an association among parasites was observed. It was found 2, 3, 4 or 5 parasites and the frequencies of this association were 33.3%, 0.06%, 0.18% and 0.03%, respectively. The relation between signs of weakness and mean intensity of infection was also observed (p = 0.03). / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-07-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:28:41Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 almeida_cg_me_jabo.pdf: 262158 bytes, checksum: e8cda0a8e35fd8da7b1fe19380c02e53 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O estudo foi realizado para se determinar os coeficientes de disponibilidade aparente (CDA) da matéria mineral (MM), cálcio (Ca) e fósforo (P) da farinha de carne e ossos (FCO), farinha de vísceras de aves (FV), farinha de peixe (FP) e fosfato bicálcico (FB) e os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE) e energia bruta (EB) da farinha de carne e ossos, farinha de vísceras de aves e farinha de peixe apresentados pela tartaruga-da-Amazônia. Foram utilizados 226 filhotes provenientes do Projeto Quelônios da Amazônia no Estado do Mato Grosso, mantidos em caixas plásticas com renovação de água e temperatura média de 29,0oC. Os CDA foram determinados pela utilização de dietas contendo 0,1% do marcador óxido de crômio III (Cr2O3). Os CDA da MM, Ca e P foram, respectivamente, de 69,32; 69,46 e 73,28% para FCO; 87,53; 92,48 e 92,19% para FV; 92,53; 95,83 e 94,93% para FP e 41,18; 81,01 e 54,46% para FB. Os CDA da MS, PB, EE e EB foram, respectivamente, de 79,10; 87,61; 93,83 e 79,61% para FCO; 92,45; 94,89; 96,55 e 92,71% para FV e 93,53; 95,13; 94,05 e 93,18% para FP. / Apparent availability coefficient (AAC) of the ash, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) of the meat and bone meal (MBM), poultry by-products meal (PBM), fish meal (FM) and dicalcium phosphate (DP) and apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and gross energy (GE) of the meat and bone meal, poultry by-products meal and fish meal were determined in the Arrau sideneck. The turtles used were 226 hatchlings from Projeto Quelônios da Amazônia, State of Mato Grosso. Experimental animals were raised in plastic containers, with continuous water flow and mean temperature kept at 29,0oC. AAC and ADC were accessed by diets labeled with 0.1% of chromium oxide III (Cr2O3). The AAC of ash, Ca and P were, respectively, 69.32, 69.46 and 73.28% for MBM, 87.53, 92.48 and 92.19% for PBM, 92.53, 95.83 and 94.93% for FM and 41.18, 81.01 and 54.46% for DP. The ADC of DM, CP, EE and GE were, respectively, 79.10, 87.61, 93.83 and 79.61% for MBM, 92.45, 94.89, 96.55 and 92.71% for PBM and 93.53, 95.13, 94.05 and 93.18% for FM.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-02-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:08:45Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 werneck_mr_me_botib.pdf: 1984153 bytes, checksum: 8fe7df123d7db009ca20e57b7b9f8439 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O presente estudo relata o resultado da análise parasitológica de 62 exemplares juvenis da espécie Chelonia mydas (L.) necropsiadas no Centro de Reabilitação de Tartarugas Marinhas do Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA na região de Ubatuba, Litoral Norte do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Trinta e três animais apresentaram parasitas da classe Trematoda das seguintes espécies: Cricocephalus albus, Cricocephalus megastomum, Pleurogonius longiusculus, Pronocephalus obliquus (Pronocephalidae), Deuterobaris proteus, Neoctangium travassosi, Polyangium linguatula, Microscaphidium reticulare (Angiodictyidae) e Metacetabulum invaginatum (Metacetabulidae). A prevalência variou de 3 a 66,7%, sendo as espécies N. travassosi, D. proteus e M. invaginatum, aquelas de maior prevalência nos animais estudados. A intensidade média de infecção foi maior na espécie da família Metacetabulidade (80,2) em relação às famílias Angiodictyidae (35,7) e Pronocephalidae (7,3). Em 13 (39,4%) animais o parasitismo foi monoespecífico, com predomínio das espécies N. travassosi e D. proteus. Por outro lado, em 20 (60,6%) tartarugas foi observada associação entre parasitas, sendo encontrado 2, 3, 4 ou 5 parasitas, sendo as freqüências desta associação de 33,3%, 0,06%, 0,18% e 0,03%, respectivamente. Observamos associação entre sinais de debilidade e carga parasitária (p = 0,03). / A parasitological survey of 62 juvenile specimens of the Chelonia mydas (L.) necropsied in the Centro de Reabilitação de Tartarugas Marinhas of the Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA, Ubatuba city, North Coast of the São Paulo State, Brazil, is presented. Thirty three animals were parasitized by flukes of the following species: Cricocephalus albus, Cricocephalus megastomum, Pleurogonius longiusculus, Pronocephalus obliquus (Pronocephalidae), Deuterobaris proteus, Neoctangium travassosi, Polyangium linguatula, Microscaphidium reticulare (Angiodictyidae) and Metacetabulum invaginatum (Metacetabulidae). The prevalence varied from 3 to 66.7%, and the species N. travassosi, D. proteus and M. invaginatum, presented the higher prevalence among the studied animals. The mean intensity of infection was higher in the species of the family Metacetabulidade (80.2) in comparison to the families Angiodictyidae (35.7) and Pronocephalidae (7.3). In 13 (39.4%) animals the parasitism was monospecific, and the species N. travassosi and D. proteus were predominates. On the other hand, in 20 (60.6%) sea turtles an association among parasites was observed. It was found 2, 3, 4 or 5 parasites and the frequencies of this association were 33.3%, 0.06%, 0.18% and 0.03%, respectively. The relation between signs of weakness and mean intensity of infection was also observed (p = 0.03).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:58:53Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_asl_me_jabo_parcial.pdf: 2687109 bytes, checksum: 4a9da01c1f4ac418df3e71140a00d0a3 (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2014-11-14T12:16:58Z: silva_asl_me_jabo_parcial.pdf,Bitstream added on 2014-11-14T12:17:45Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000687902.pdf: 10599910 bytes, checksum: 8c88496f3479be7989fe894823c7598c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente trabalho relaciona-se à pesquisa experimental com Kinosternon scorpioides adultos em cativeiro e teve como objetivo descrever e analisar aspectos da biologia reprodutiva e do comportamento de Kinosternon scorpioides adultos em cativeiro, mediante parâmetros relacionados ao ciclo sexual e desempenho reprodutivo de exemplares adultos de Kinosternon scorpioides do Criadouro Científico de Muçuã do Projeto Bio-Fauna, no Campus Sede da Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia — UFRA, em Belém, Pará. Foram formados dois lotes de machos e fêmeas, na proporção de 1:3, compreendendo 18 reprodutores e 54 matrizes. Os animais foram alimentados às segundas, quartas e sextas-feiras, na proporção de 1% PV/dia, entre 11h e 14h. A alimentação foi constituída de 70% ração para peixe (22%PB) + 30% mix (subprodutos de origem animal). Ao longo de três anos, mensalmente foi realizada biometria dos animais e, diariamente, o monitoramento dos animais e da areia dos recintos para identificação de ninhos e ovos. Registros radiográficos das fêmeas foram realizados durante uma estação reprodutiva, mediante exame mensal individual, compreendendo 12 meses. Foram realizadas análises de variância (ANOVA) e correlações e regressões lineares simples, estabelecendo-se relações alométricas entre femêas e ovos. Para kinosternideos em cativeiro nas condições deste trabalho destacam-se alguns resultados. 0 comportamento agonístico apresentado pela espécie foi determinante, de maneira geral, para ordenar o acesso à área de forrageio, ao alimento, aos locais de descanso e, no caso de machos, o acesso às fêmeas. Verificou-se que a hierarquia social entre indivíduos da espécie está relacionada com o peso e tamanho corporal (p<0,05). Fêmeas mais pesadas realizaram posturas em maior número e tamanho, verificando-se... / This study is related to experimental research with Kinosternon scorpioides adults in captivity and aimed to describe and analyze aspects of the reproductive biology and behavior of these animals through the assessment of parameters related to sexual reproductive cycle and performance of adult specimens. The animals in the study were from the Criadouro Científico de Muçuã in the Bio-Fauna Project at the Main Campus of the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia — UFRA in Belém, State of Pará. Two groups of animals were formed in the ratio of 3:1 including a total of 54 females and 18 males . The animals were fed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 11 am and 2pm, in the proportion of 1% PV/day. The food was constituted of 70% fish food (22% PB) + 30% mix (by-products of animal origin). During the course of 3 years the animals were biometrically measured monthly and the sand in the cages monitored daily for the presence of nests and eggs. Radiographic records of females were performed during one reproductive season through individual monthly examination, comprising 12 months. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) and simple linear correlation and regression were conducted establishing allometric relationships between females and eggs. Some results are highlighted for this study with the Kinostemidae turtles in the captivity conditions used. The agonistic behavior presented by the species was in general decisive for an orderly access to the foraging area, food, resting areas and, in the case of males, to females. It was observed that the social hierarchy among individuals is related to body weight and size (p<0.05). Heavier females laid eggs in greater numbers and size and a positive correlation between these variables was evident. The body mass proved to be a limiting factor for the females to be a cyclic female in... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Wilter Ricardo Russiano Vicente / Coorientador: Maria das Dores Correia Palha / Banca: Márcia Rita Fernandes Machado / Banca: Claudio Alvarenga de Oliveira / Resumo: O presente trabalho relaciona-se à pesquisa experimental com Kinosternon scorpioides adultos em cativeiro e teve como objetivo descrever e analisar aspectos da biologia reprodutiva e do comportamento de Kinosternon scorpioides adultos em cativeiro, mediante parâmetros relacionados ao ciclo sexual e desempenho reprodutivo de exemplares adultos de Kinosternon scorpioides do Criadouro Científico de Muçuã do Projeto Bio-Fauna, no Campus Sede da Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia - UFRA, em Belém, Pará. Foram formados dois lotes de machos e fêmeas, na proporção de 1:3, compreendendo 18 reprodutores e 54 matrizes. Os animais foram alimentados às segundas, quartas e sextas-feiras, na proporção de 1% PV/dia, entre 11h e 14h. A alimentação foi constituída de 70% ração para peixe (22%PB) + 30% mix (subprodutos de origem animal). Ao longo de três anos, mensalmente foi realizada biometria dos animais e, diariamente, o monitoramento dos animais e da areia dos recintos para identificação de ninhos e ovos. Registros radiográficos das fêmeas foram realizados durante uma estação reprodutiva, mediante exame mensal individual, compreendendo 12 meses. Foram realizadas análises de variância (ANOVA) e correlações e regressões lineares simples, estabelecendo-se relações alométricas entre femêas e ovos. Para kinosternideos em cativeiro nas condições deste trabalho destacam-se alguns resultados. 0 comportamento agonístico apresentado pela espécie foi determinante, de maneira geral, para ordenar o acesso à área de forrageio, ao alimento, aos locais de descanso e, no caso de machos, o acesso às fêmeas. Verificou-se que a hierarquia social entre indivíduos da espécie está relacionada com o peso e tamanho corporal (p<0,05). Fêmeas mais pesadas realizaram posturas em maior número e tamanho, verificando-se... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study is related to experimental research with Kinosternon scorpioides adults in captivity and aimed to describe and analyze aspects of the reproductive biology and behavior of these animals through the assessment of parameters related to sexual reproductive cycle and performance of adult specimens. The animals in the study were from the Criadouro Científico de Muçuã in the Bio-Fauna Project at the Main Campus of the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia - UFRA in Belém, State of Pará. Two groups of animals were formed in the ratio of 3:1 including a total of 54 females and 18 males . The animals were fed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 11 am and 2pm, in the proportion of 1% PV/day. The food was constituted of 70% fish food (22% PB) + 30% mix (by-products of animal origin). During the course of 3 years the animals were biometrically measured monthly and the sand in the cages monitored daily for the presence of nests and eggs. Radiographic records of females were performed during one reproductive season through individual monthly examination, comprising 12 months. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) and simple linear correlation and regression were conducted establishing allometric relationships between females and eggs. Some results are highlighted for this study with the Kinostemidae turtles in the captivity conditions used. The agonistic behavior presented by the species was in general decisive for an orderly access to the foraging area, food, resting areas and, in the case of males, to females. It was observed that the social hierarchy among individuals is related to body weight and size (p<0.05). Heavier females laid eggs in greater numbers and size and a positive correlation between these variables was evident. The body mass proved to be a limiting factor for the females to be a cyclic female in... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The life history theory studies the characteristics combinations that maximize the organisms reproduction and survival in the environment where they live. The species use the habitat in a diverse way and this use depends on the environmental conditions in the available habitats. Phrynops tuberosus, a freshwater turtle found in the north-northeastern regions of Brazil, is the animal-model chosen for the life history traits and habitat use studies. This work aims understand how this species reproduce, maintain and use the habitat in Caatinga. The study generated biological and ecological knowledge of the species and allowed the testing of hypotheses and predictions of life history traits, sexual dimorphism and habitat use. Selection of clutching sites, males smaller than females and preference of larger animals for environments most exposed were found in the populations studied. The results facilitate understanding of reproduction and survival of turtles in a semiarid environment. / A teoria de histÃria de vida estuda as combinaÃÃes de caracterÃsticas que maximizam a reproduÃÃo e a sobrevivÃncia dos organismos no ambiente onde vivem. As espÃcies utilizam o ambiente de modo diverso, e esse uso depende das condiÃÃes existentes nos hÃbitats disponÃveis. Phrynops tuberosus, cÃgado encontrado nas regiÃes norte-nordeste do Brasil, Ã o animal-modelo escolhido para o estudo dos traÃos de histÃria de vida e de uso de hÃbitat. Esse trabalho objetiva entender como a espÃcie se reproduz, organiza-se e utiliza o hÃbitat na caatinga. O estudo gerou conhecimentos biolÃgicos e ecolÃgicos da espÃcie e permitiu o teste de hipÃteses e previsÃes sobre traÃos de histÃria de vida, dimorfismo sexual e uso de hÃbitat. SeleÃÃo de locais de desova, machos menores que fÃmeas e preferÃncia de animais maiores por ambientes mais expostos foram encontradas nas populaÃÃes estudadas. Os resultados encontrados facilitam a compreensÃo da reproduÃÃo e da sobrevivÃncia dos quelÃnios em um ambiente do semiÃrido.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-02-12T17:34:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 robsonhenriquedecarvalho.pdf: 3308952 bytes, checksum: 15b338c6950df1516539e069a54dbee2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-02-26T12:21:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 robsonhenriquedecarvalho.pdf: 3308952 bytes, checksum: 15b338c6950df1516539e069a54dbee2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-26T12:21:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 robsonhenriquedecarvalho.pdf: 3308952 bytes, checksum: 15b338c6950df1516539e069a54dbee2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-27 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A costa brasileira é área prioritária para conservação das tartarugas marinhas, pois cinco das setes espécies de tartarugas existentes no mundo podem ser encontradas no Brasil, estando todas ameaçadas de extinção. As ameaças para esses animais incluem: Ocupação da costa, poluição, doenças e principalmente capturas incidentais em artefatos de pesca. Resgatar a sabedoria popular de pescadores e o conhecimento local é essencial para a conservação desses quelônios. O Objetivo desse trabalho foi apresentar e comparar o conhecimento de pescadores sobre tartarugas de três cidades do sul do Espírito Santo. O estudo foi realizado nas cidades de Anchieta, Piúma e Guarapari, ES, Brasil. As informações relacionadas ao conhecimento local e interação entre as pessoas e tartarugas marinhas foram coletadas através de entrevistas utilizando questionário semiestruturado. Foram entrevistados 44 pescadores e 7 marisqueiras, sendo 19 pescadores em Piúma, 5 pescadores e 7 marisqueiras em Guarapari e 20 pescadores em Anchieta. A tartaruga-de-couro é mais conhecida em Piúma e a verde a mais conhecida em Anchieta e Guarapari. As características que permitem diferenciar os animais são formas do casco e cor e os animais são conhecidos por vários nomes populares. Em Piúma e Anchieta foram citadas altas taxas de captura em rede e consumo de carne de tartaruga. As atitudes em relação as tartarugas marinhas e o conhecimento sobre a reprodução desses animais são diferentes em cada cidade devido a fatores como: Cidade que reside e arte de pesca. Os resultados desse estudo indicam que a conservação de quelônios marinhos requer conhecimento das práticas diárias de comunidades locais e as peculiaridades envolvidas na relação entre os pescadores e as tartarugas marinhas, além do levantamento dos impactos causados pelas práticas diárias. / The Brazilian coast is a priority for conservation of sea turtles, because five of the seven species in the world and they can be found in Brazil and all of them are endangered. The threats to this animal include: Occupancy of the coast, pollution, disease and mostly incidental catches in fishing artifacts. Rescue the folk wisdom of fishermen and local knowledge is essential to the conservation of these turtles. The aim of this present study was to show and compare the knowledge of fishermen on turtles from three cities in southern of Espírito Santo. The study was conducted in the cities of Anchieta, Piuma and Guarapari, ES, Brazil. The information related to local knowledge and interaction between people and sea turtles were collected through interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. Forty-four fishermen and seven seafood were interviewed, where nineteen were fishermen on Piuma, five fishermen and seven seafood in Guarapari and twenty fishermen in Anchieta. The leatherback turtle is best known in Piúma and the Green one is best known in Anchieta and Guarapari. The characteristics to differentiate these animals are shell shape and color and they are known by several common names. In Piuma and Anchieta were cited high rates of capture on fishing net and consumption of turtle meat. Attitudes and knowledge about reproduction is different in each city due to factors such as location and fishing gear. The results of this study indicate that the conservation of marine turtles requires knowledge of the practices of local communities and the peculiarities involved in the relationship between fishermen and turtles, and a survey of impacts caused by everyday practices.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-11T13:55:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 carlos augusto.pdf: 504574 bytes, checksum: 3854d950ea6aba0375c92952b55a0884 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-11-30 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The illegal trade of wildlife for human consumption or to supply the pets and adornment markets is historically widespread in Amazonia, but few studies have been conducted to evaluate this activity in that biome. This study assessed the history of the illegal trade in the state of Amazonas, from the records of arrest mined by the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA) in Manaus / AM between 1992 and 2007. Data was obtained between February and December 2008 by checking files of the Division of Control and Supervision (DICOF) IBAMA / AM. accessed 818 records that represents for 49% of the sample period of 16 years. In total, 48974 animals were seized, 30276 being turtles, 16084 caimans, 1792 mammals and 808 birds. The number of individuals seized ranged from one to 4800 (mean = 50.4, SD = 279.5). Most animals were seized in the Purus river (n = 17334), Solimões river (n = 13940), Juruá river (n = 8528), in Manaus (n = 4330) and Negro river (n = 3156), in was seized one species of amphibian, two of snakes, two of crocodilians, eight turtles, 12 birds and 21 mammals. Podocnemis sextuberculata was the most frequent species with 13077 individuals seized. Four or five of the 46 species sold in Amazonia were considered endangered at a regional or national level, these species were jaguar (Phantera onca), puma (Puma concolor), margay (Leopardus wiedii) the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) and spider (Ateles belzebuth). The realization of this study is opportune to create a base to delineate the future of public policies for the conservation of wildlife in the Brazilian Amazonia. / O comércio ilegal de animais silvestres para o consumo humano ou para abastecer o tráfico de animais de companhia ou de adornos é historicamente intenso na Amazônia, mas poucos estudos foram realizados para avaliar esta atividade naquele bioma. Neste estudo foi avaliado o histórico do comércio ilegal de fauna silvestre no Estado do Amazonas, a partir de autos de apreensão lavrados pelo Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente (IBAMA) em Manaus/AM no período entre 1992 e 2007. A coleta de dados foi realizada entre fevereiro e dezembro de 2008, mediante triagem nos arquivos da Divisão de Controle e Fiscalização (DICOF) do IBAMA/AM. Foram acessados 818 autos de apreensão, correspondendo a 49% dos 192 meses compreendidos no período amostral de 16 anos. No total foram apreendidos 48974 animais, sendo 30276 quelônios, 16084 jacarés, 1792 mamíferos e 808 aves. O número de indivíduos apreendidos por auto variou de um a 4800 (média = 50,4, DP = 279,5). A maioria dos animais foi apreendida nos rios Purus (n = 17334), Solimões (n = 13940), Juruá (n = 8528), em Manaus (n = 4330) e no Rio Negro (n = 3156). Foram apreendidas uma espécie de anfíbio, duas de serpentes, duas de crocodilianos, oito de quelônios, 12 de aves e 21 de mamíferos. Podocnemis sextuberculata foi a espécie mais apreendida com 13077 indivíduos. Quatro ou cinco das 46 espécies comercializadas no Amazonas são consideradas ameaçadas de extinção biológica em nível nacional ou estadual, sendo estas a onça-pintada (Phantera onca), a onça-parda (Puma concolor), o gato-maracajá (Leopardus wiedii) o peixe-boi-amazônico (Trichechus inunguis) e o coatá (Ateles belzebuth). A realização deste estudo foi oportuna, visando contribuir para o balizamento futuro de políticas públicas para a conservação da fauna silvestre na Amazônia brasileira.

A beach conservation programme protecting nesting loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles in South Africa was started in 1963. As initial numbers of nesting females were low for both species (107 loggerheads and 24 leatherbacks) it was proposed that the protection of eggs, hatchlings and nesting females along the nesting beach would induce population growth and prohibit local extinction. Today, 50 years later, the loggerhead population exceeds 650 females per annum, whereas the leatherback population counts about 65 nesting females per year. The trend for leatherback turtles is that the population has been stable for about 30 years whereas loggerheads are increasing exponentially. Thus, this thesis investigated several life-history traits to explain the differing responses to the ongoing beach conservation programme. Reproductive output and success were assessed for both species; it was hypothesised that environmental conditions are sub-optimal for leatherback turtles to reproduce successfully. It was ascertained that nesting loggerhead females deposit larger clutches than leatherbacks (112 ± SD 20 eggs and 100 ± SD 23 eggs, respectively), but that annual reproductive output per individual leatherback female exceeds that of loggerhead turtles (±700 eggs and ±448 eggs, respectively) because they exhibit a higher intra-seasonal nesting frequency (leatherbacks n = 7 and loggerheads n = 4 from Nel et al. 2013). Emergence success (i.e. the percentage of hatchlings produced) per nest was similar for both species (loggerhead 73.6 ± SD 27.68 % and leatherback turtles 73.8 ± SD 22.70 %), but as loggerhead turtles nest in greater numbers, i.e. producing more hatchlings per year, the absolute population growth potential favours the loggerhead turtle. The second factor investigated was sex ratio because sea turtles display temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) where extreme incubation temperatures can skew the sex ratio (i.e. feminising or masculinising a clutch). It was suspected that leatherback turtles are male-biased as this is the southern-most rookery (for both species). Further, leatherback nests are generally closer to the high tide mark, which might induce a cooling effect. Standard histological techniques were applied to sex hatchlings and a generalized linear model (GLM) was used to approximate annual sex ratio. Loggerhead sex ratio (2009 - 2011) was estimated at 86.9 ± SE 0.35 % female-biased; however, sufficient replication for the leatherback population was only obtained for season 2010, which indicated a 97.1 % (95 % CI 93.3 - 98.7) female bias. Both species are, thus, highly female-biased, and current sex ratio for leatherback turtles is not prohibiting population growth. Current sex ratios, however, are not necessarily indicative of sex ratios in the past which would have induced present population growth. Thus, to account for present population growth profiles, sex ratios from the past needed to be ascertained. Annual sex ratios (1997 - 2011) were modelled from historical air and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) but no significant change over time was obtained for either loggerhead or leatherback turtles (linear regression; p ≥ 0.45). The average sex ratio over this 15-year period for the South African loggerhead turtle was approximated at 77.1 ± SE 3.36 % female-biased, whereas leatherbacks exhibited a 99.5 ± SE 0.24 % female bias. Re-analysing data from the mid-80s by Maxwell et al. (1988) also indicated a 77.4 % female bias for the South African loggerhead population. It is, therefore, highly likely that sex ratios of the South African loggerhead and leatherback sea turtle populations have been stable for at least three decades and are not accountable for the differing population growth profiles as they are displayed today. Another possibility that could explain the opposed population growth profiles is the time taken for animals to replace themselves, i.e. age at maturity. It was suspected that age at maturity for the South African loggerhead turtle is comparable with that for leatherbacks. Using data from a 30-year mutilation tagging experiment (i.e. notching), age at first reproduction for South African loggerhead females was estimated. Results ranged broadly but a mean of 36.2 ± SD 7.71 years was obtained using a Gaussian distribution. Age at reproduction of the South African leatherback turtle was not determined but the literature suggests a much younger age of 13.3 - 26.8 years (Zug & Parham 1996, Dutton et al. 2005, Avens et al. 2009, Jones et al. 2011). Therefore, population growth would favour leatherback turtles as they exhibit a much shorter generation time. Finally, it was concluded that all life-history parameters investigated favour leatherback turtles, yet loggerheads are displaying population growth. However, as there were no obvious constraints to population growth on the nesting beach, it is suspected that population growth of the South African leatherback turtle is either unobserved (due to inadequate monitoring not capturing sufficient numbers of nesting events to establish a trend) or that population growth is prohibited by some offshore factor such as industrial fisheries (or some other driver not yet identified). Monitoring should, thus, be expanded and offshore mortality monitored as the leatherback population nesting in South Africa is still critically endangered with nesting numbers dangerously low.