ABSTRACT Studies related to centipede feeding and predatory behavior are rare in the literature, and are limited to observations made during fieldwork. Furthermore, they lack descriptions of prey capture. We conducted a laboratory experiment using South American specimens of Scolopendra viridicornis Newport, 1844 (n = 5), Otostigmus tibialis Brölemann, 1902 (n = 5), and Cryptops iheringi Brölemann, 1902 (n = 5), as well as 13 different kinds of prey, to map and describe their predatory behavior. The analysis of video images (65 hours of recordings) resulted in 15 behavioral categories that describe foraging, prey capture, feeding, and cleaning habits. Almost all observations (95%) concluded with the centipede killing the prey. Although we witnessed that a stimulus triggered the movement of the centipede toward the prey in all observation events (suggesting a sit-and-wait strategy), our experiments also showed that these arthropods actively forage to seek food. Field observations during the experiment allowed us to document that scolopendromorphs feed on plants when animal prey items are not available. Moreover, we observed that the size and aggressiveness of the prey determined the centipede capture process. Our results revealed that two behavioral categories were performed only by S. viridicornis , and thus might be genus or species-specific. These are: raising the first third of the body while the rest of the body remains adjacent to the substrate; and restraining the prey along the ventral region of the first third of the body with the aid of locomotory legs. We also observed some peculiar behaviors performed only by O. tibialis . Our results confirm that S. viridicornis , O. tibialis and C. iheringi hold prey between their ultimate pair of legs.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o estágio de desenvolvimento do gerenciamento costeiro da cidade de Florianópolis, tomando como base indicadores de gestão e governança costeira. Para tanto, foi utilizada a metodologia do Decálogo, na qual dez itens considerados fundamentais para o gerenciamento costeiro integrado são avaliados: 1. política, 2. normativa, 3. competências, 4. instituições, 5. instrumentos e estratégias, 6. formação e capacitação, 7. recursos, 8.conhecimento e informação, 9. educação para a cidadania e 10. participação. Após o levantamento das informações, foi produzida uma matriz, atribuindo-se notas para cada item de acordo com a existência, a implementação e o monitoramento dos itens analisados. Ao analisar a matriz, foi possível indicar como pontos fortes do gerenciamento costeiro no município de Florianópolis a existência de instrumentos, a geração de conhecimento e algumas iniciativas de educação ambiental. Em contraponto, o município deixa a desejar nas questões de disponibilidade de recursos financeiros, na formação de gestores capacitados e na inexistência de políticas municipais claras para a gestão costeira. Verificou-se, também, que os demais itens apresentaram notas intermediárias a baixas, tendo como principal motivo o fato de que os instrumentos de gestão definidos até o momento não foram devidamente implementados. Por fim, a análise realizada permitiu inferir que o município de Florianópolis encontra-se ainda nas primeiras etapas do ciclo do gerenciamento costeiro integrado, no entanto já foram dados os primeiros passos, com a implementação e o monitoramento dos itens analisados.

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the development stage of Coastal Management in the Municipality of Florianópolis using management indicators of coastal Governance. Brazil established strategies for coastal management only at the end of the 1980s, having formulated the National Coastal Management Act in 1988. After the second version, made in 1997, a number of management tools were formulated. With this proposal states and municipalities must adapt instruments to establish their spheres of activity. The Municipality of Florianópolis is located in the central coast of the state of Santa Catarina. Because of its dimension and proximity to the sea, the entire municipality is situated in the coastal zone. With a total of 671.58 square kilometers (417.30 square miles) the city has a small continental area, with much of its territory in portion insular. The island’s scenic beauty is related to the diversity of coastal ecosystems, with the presence of numerous sandy beaches, dunes, marshes, lakes, cliffs, and lush hillside vegetation. The city is a strong point of attraction with a large tourist population. The large expanse of flat land and coastal plains facilitated development within the island; this also promoted the expansion of the city. Occupation by the immigrant population occurred during the eighteenth century, with the formation of numerous settlements/population centers, which were strongly sustained by fishing and the use of the land. In this sense, land use appeared in a decentralized manner. Only in the mid-nineteenth century did the city’s spatial organization change, with the growth of coastal villages. During the 1980’s tourism emerged as a great economic importance. The result was an intense transformation of the natural and cultural landscape of the city. The occupation and anthropization of coastal ecosystems, mischaracterization of traditional villages, and marginalization of traditional populations appear as negative impacts of this transformation. This panorama indicated a centralized management model of decision making, contributing to an increase in social conflicts and distrust of municipal public agencies. In terms of procedure, the Decalogue methodology was used to perform this evaluation, in which, ten items, considered fundamental for integrated coastal management, were analyzed: 1) Policies; 2) Norms; 3) Responsibility; 4) Institutions; 5) Tools and Strategies; 6) Capacity building; 7) Financial resources; 8) Knowledge and Information; 9) Education; 10) Participation. The survey data was collected through documental research, literature and visiting sites, as well as telephone contact and interviews with municipal agencies linked with the city management. First, information was compiled to produce a governance evaluation scoring each item according to the existence, implementation, monitoring and assessment of the activities. The analysis of the Decalogue was conducted descriptively. The main considerations raised were: the lack of an explicit policy for coastal management and the poor integration between the municipal management agencies and those at the state level. The low number of management tools and limited resources available can also be considered as coastal issues. Although recognized as a principle of public policy, organized citizen participation in the management process appeared greatly limited. The disconnection between scientific knowledge, managers and communities, as well as the limited education of citizens appear as a result of this limited participation. The achievement of the city planning director, the main instrument of municipality management in a participatory manner, appeared as one of the predominant causes of social conflict, due to the highly centralized and corporatist political culture. After a positive initial process of participation, there was a break in dialogue with the population. Currently there is a continuation of the plan, through technical analysis of the guidelines formulated by society, where there was a noted difference between the proposals and models of the city, bringing to light the weak participation culture by both government agencies and civil society, with the participation of only a few institutions representing the community. By analyzing the matrix, it was possible to identify the strongest elements of Coastal management in the Municipality of Florianópolis, which were, the existence of tools and the generation of knowledge and some community education. However it also pointed out the low availability of financial resources and limited formation of capable coastal Managers and the lack of clear Municipal policies pertaining to coastal Management. The other items received low to intermediate scores, due to the absence of implementation of existing management tools. An important analysis element of coastal management; the monitoring and assessment of processes and management tools is performed absent. Without the evaluation of the undertaken actions it becomes more difficult to understand the points of weakness of the management process, limiting the concept of continuous improvement and adaptation; recognized as crucial point in the field of coastal management. In conclusion, this analysis led to the inference that the Municipality of Florianopolis is still in the first stages of the process of integrated coastal management. Nevertheless, the initial steps have been taken and the implementation and monitoring of the items have been analyzed.