O Gênero Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) no Paraná : levantamento e delimitação de espécies

Orientador : Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Machado FeitosaDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Entomologia). Defesa: Curitiba, 26/02/2016Inclui referências : f. 345-350Área de concentração : EntomologiaResumo: O gênero de formigas Pheidole Westwood 1839 é o maior gênero de Myrmicinae contando atualmente com 1003 espécies descritas. Cerca de 630 destas espécies estão presentes no Novo Mundo, com aproximadamente 611 espécies nos Neotrópicos e cerca de 150 no Brasil. Considerado um gênero hiperdiverso, informações sobre a distribuição espacial de Pheidole contribuem para estudos envolvendo diferentes áreas do conhecimento, no entanto, sua diversidade real e os limites taxonômicos são difíceis de serem acessados em grande escala. A revisão proposta por Wilson em 2003 para Pheidole no Novo Mundo pode ser considerada o maior estudo para o gênero em abrangência geográfica, porém, como esperado para gêneros diversos, essa publicação não abrange toda a riqueza do gênero, especialmente levando-se em consideração as espécies presentes na metade sul da região Neotropical. Devido a este déficit de conhecimento, é esperado que diferentes biomas brasileiros apresentem um elevado número de espécies desconhecidas deste gênero, levando em conta as diferentes fitofisionomias do país. Entre as diferentes formações fitogeográficas do Brasil, podemos encontrar no estado do Paraná uma diversidade única de habitats. A presente proposta teve como objetivo realizar um estudo taxonômico das espécies de Pheidole no Paraná, redescrevendo espécies já conhecidas e descrevendo as novas espécies, além de atualizar a sua distribuição para o estado. No total, 1.366 espécimes foram examinados representando 53 espécies, das quais 12 são novas para a ciência e Pheidole paranana representa um novo status, além de três novos sinônimos. Esta pesquisa cobriu 16 cidades no Paraná, abrangendo as principais fitofisionomias do estado, com 27 novos registros para o Paraná, dos quais sete passam a representar a área de ocorrência mais ao sul na região Neotropical e o primeiro registro de Pheidole scapulata para o Brasil. Revisamos o status de Pheidole saviozae e a reconhecemos como espécie válida. Diagnoses foram elaboradas para todas as espécies. Adicionalmente, descrevemos pela primeira vez castas antes não conhecidas, incluindo as rainhas de Pheidole sospes e Pheidole sarcina, o macho de P. sospes e operárias menores de Pheidole lucretii e Pheidole paranana. Finalmente, no presente estudo foi possível avaliar a diversidade de Pheidole, sua distribuição e a delimitação de suas espécies no Paraná, contribuindo para uma melhor compreensão sobre este grande gênero de formigas em perspectivas taxonômicas e ecológicas. Palavras-chave: Brasil, distribuição, formiga, hiperdiversidade, morfologia, subtropical, taxonomia.Abstract: The ant genus Pheidole Westwood 1839 is the largest Myrmicinae genus with 1003 currently described species. About 630 of these species are present in the New World, with nearly 611 species in Neotropics and 150 in Brazil. Considered a hyperdiverse genus, information about the spatial distribution of Pheidole contributes for studies involving different areas of knowledge; however, its real diversity and taxonomic limits are difficult to be accessed in a large scale. The 2003 Wilson's revision on Pheidole in the New World can be considered the most important study for the genus in geographic coverage; however, as expected for such diverse genus, this publication does not cover all the richness of the genus, especially regarding the species occurring in the southern half of the Neotropics. Due to this knowledge deficit, it is expected that the different Brazilian biomes present a high number of undescribed species for this genus, in view of the different phytophysiognomies of the country. Among the different phytogeographic formations in Brazil, we can found in the state of Paraná a unique habitat diversity. The present proposal aims to access the Pheidole species distribution and delimitation in the state of Paraná, Brazil. In total, 1.366 specimens were examined representing 53 species, and of these 12 new species and Pheidole paranana as the new status, and three new combinations. The research covered 16 cities in Paraná, encompassing the main phytophysiognomies in state, with 27 new records for Paraná, seven of which will represent the occurrence of the southern area in the Neotropics, and Pheidole scapulata as a new record for Brazil. We review the status of Pheidole saviozae and recognized it as a valid species. Diagnoses were provided for all species. In addition, we describe for the first time the queens of Pheidole sospes and Pheidole sarcina, the male of P. sospes and the minors of Pheidole lucretii and Pheidole paranana. Finally, in this paper it was possible to characterize the genus diversity, distribution and species delimitation in Paraná, contributing to a better understanding about this large ant genus in taxonomic and ecological perspectives. Key words: Ant, Brazil, distribution, hyperdiversity, morphology, subtropical, taxonomy

Additions to the taxonomy of Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the southern grasslands of Brazil

The ant genus Pheidole is the most species-rich lineage of ants in the world and one of the dominant organisms in tropical regions. However, the knowledge of Pheidole diversity in the southern half of the Neotropical Region is fragmentary. Here, we offer contributions to the Pheidole taxonomy considering the species that occur in the grassland formations of South Brazil. The following species are revived from synonymy: P. idiota Santschi rev. stat., P. obscurior Forel rev. stat., P. paranana Santschi stat. rev. et n. stat. and P. strobeli Emery rev. stat. The following synonyms are proposed: P. idiota (= P. laticornis Wilson n. syn.), P. obscurior (= P. partita Mayr n. syn., = P. incisa evoluta Borgmeier n. syn.) and P. strobeli (= P. rufipilis divexa Forel n. syn., = P. nitidula daguerrei Santschi n. syn., = P. perversa Forel n. syn., = P. perversa richteri Forel n. syn., = P. strobeli misera Santschi n. syn.). Finally, six new species are described: P. abakytan n. sp., P. abaticanga n. sp., P. cangussu n. sp., P. curupira n. sp., P. mapinguari n. sp., and P. obapara n. sp

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from an Amazonian fragmented landscape, Juara, Mato Grosso, Brazil, with new records of ant species

The state of Mato Grosso is the 3rd largest Brazilian state, is covered with three major Brazilian biomes, including the Pantanal, Cerrado, and Amazonia. To date, 449 ant species are recorded in literature for the state. In the present work, we documented the ants sampled along a fragmented landscape, in the municipality of Juara, in the Cerrado-Amazon transition zone in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The ant species were captured with Pitfall traps installed in 20 trails with 10 traps in each (totaling 200). Our results show 151 species, belonging to 43 genera and eight subfamilies, of which 28 species were recorded for the first time in the state and five species recorded for the first time in Brazil. Most genera collected were Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (45 species) followed by Crematogaster Lund, 1831 (11 species). By highlighting species recorded for the first time in state of Mato Grosso and Brazil, we hope to encourage new discoveries and increase the general knowledge of the ant fauna of different biomes in the region

An overview of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the state of Maranhão, Brazil

The state of Maranhão, located in northeastern Brazil, comprises three biomes: Amazonian, Caatinga, and the Cerrado. To date, 99 ant species have been recorded in the literature from the state. In the present work, we provide for the first time a profile of the ant fauna in the state based on data from the historical literature and Brazilian institutional collections. The updated records on ant diversity for the state of Maranhão revealed a total of 279 species, belonging to 71 genera and 10 subfamilies. In total, 180 species are recorded for the first time in the state, of which four species recorded for the first time in Brazil. In summary, apart from documenting the ant fauna of the region, these results provide a basis for further studies and may contribute to future conservation efforts for the biomes present in this complex landscape

Exploring the impact of metabolic comorbidities on epicardial adipose tissue in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Background: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasingly prevalent worldwide due to aging and comorbidities. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), favored by diabetes and obesity, was shown to contribute to HFpEF pathophysiology and is an emerging therapeutic target. This study explored the relationship between ventricular EAT measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), metabolic factors, and imaging characteristics in controls, pre-HF patients, and HFpEF patients. Methods: Patients from a Belgian cohort enrolled from December 2015 to June 2017 were categorized by HF stage: pre-HF (n = 16), HFpEF (n = 104) and compared to matched controls (n = 26) and to pre-HF (n = 191) from the Beta3-LVH cohort. Biventricular EAT volume was measured in end-diastolic short-axis cine stacks. In the Belgian cohort, associations between EAT, HF stage, and various biological and imaging markers were explored. The clinical endpoint was a composite of mortality or first HF hospitalization in the HFpEF group. Results: EAT significantly differed between groups, with higher values in HFpEF patients compared to pre-HF and controls (72.4 ± 20.8ml/m2vs. 55.0 ± 11.8ml/m2 and 48 ± 8.9ml/m2, p < 0.001) from the Belgian cohort and to pre-HF (52.0 ± 15.0 ml/m2, p < 0.001) from the Beta3-LVH cohort. Subsequent analyses focused on the Belgian cohort. In contrast to atrial fibrillation, diabetes prevalence and body mass index (BMI) did not differ between pre-HF and HFpEF patients. Multivariable logistic regression and random forest classification identified EAT, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and H2FPEF score as strong markers of HFpEF status. EAT was significantly correlated with H2FPEF score (r = 0.41, p = 0.003), BMI (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), high‐sensitive troponin T (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), NT-proBNP (r = 0.37, p < 0.001), soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), E/e’ ratio (r = 0.33, p < 0.001), and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (r = 0.35, p < 0.001). In HFpEF patients, diabetes, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and elevated sST2 were independently associated with elevated EAT. In contrast with diabetes and BMI, increased EAT was not associated with prognosis. Conclusions: EAT assessed by CMR was significantly higher in HFpEF patients compared to controls and pre-HF patients, irrespective of diabetes and BMI. EAT was moderately associated with HFpEF status. HFpEF patients with elevated EAT exhibited a marked diabetic, ischemic, and inflammatory profile, highlighting the potential role of drugs targeting EAT. Trial registration: Characterization of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction; Assessment of Efficacy of Mirabegron, a New beta3-adrenergic Receptor in the Prevention of Heart Failure (Beta3_LVH). Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT03197350; NCT02599480. Graphical abstract

Search for squarks and gluinos with the ATLAS detector in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum using √s=8 TeV proton-proton collision data

A search for squarks and gluinos in final states containing high-p T jets, missing transverse momentum and no electrons or muons is presented. The data were recorded in 2012 by the ATLAS experiment in s√=8 TeV proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, with a total integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1. Results are interpreted in a variety of simplified and specific supersymmetry-breaking models assuming that R-parity is conserved and that the lightest neutralino is the lightest supersymmetric particle. An exclusion limit at the 95% confidence level on the mass of the gluino is set at 1330 GeV for a simplified model incorporating only a gluino and the lightest neutralino. For a simplified model involving the strong production of first- and second-generation squarks, squark masses below 850 GeV (440 GeV) are excluded for a massless lightest neutralino, assuming mass degenerate (single light-flavour) squarks. In mSUGRA/CMSSM models with tan β = 30, A 0 = −2m 0 and μ > 0, squarks and gluinos of equal mass are excluded for masses below 1700 GeV. Additional limits are set for non-universal Higgs mass models with gaugino mediation and for simplified models involving the pair production of gluinos, each decaying to a top squark and a top quark, with the top squark decaying to a charm quark and a neutralino. These limits extend the region of supersymmetric parameter space excluded by previous searches with the ATLAS detector

Jet size dependence of single jet suppression in lead-lead collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Measurements of inclusive jet suppression in heavy ion collisions at the LHC provide direct sensitivity to the physics of jet quenching. In a sample of lead-lead collisions at sqrt(s) = 2.76 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 7 inverse microbarns, ATLAS has measured jets with a calorimeter over the pseudorapidity interval |eta| < 2.1 and over the transverse momentum range 38 < pT < 210 GeV. Jets were reconstructed using the anti-kt algorithm with values for the distance parameter that determines the nominal jet radius of R = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5. The centrality dependence of the jet yield is characterized by the jet "central-to-peripheral ratio," Rcp. Jet production is found to be suppressed by approximately a factor of two in the 10% most central collisions relative to peripheral collisions. Rcp varies smoothly with centrality as characterized by the number of participating nucleons. The observed suppression is only weakly dependent on jet radius and transverse momentum. These results provide the first direct measurement of inclusive jet suppression in heavy ion collisions and complement previous measurements of dijet transverse energy imbalance at the LHC.Comment: 15 pages plus author list (30 pages total), 8 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Physics Letters B. All figures including auxiliary figures are available at http://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/GROUPS/PHYSICS/PAPERS/HION-2011-02

Measurement of the flavour composition of dijet events in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper describes a measurement of the flavour composition of dijet events produced in pp collisions at &#8730;s=7 TeV using the ATLAS detector. The measurement uses the full 2010 data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 39 pb−1. Six possible combinations of light, charm and bottom jets are identified in the dijet events, where the jet flavour is defined by the presence of bottom, charm or solely light flavour hadrons in the jet. Kinematic variables, based on the properties of displaced decay vertices and optimised for jet flavour identification, are used in a multidimensional template fit to measure the fractions of these dijet flavour states as functions of the leading jet transverse momentum in the range 40 GeV to 500 GeV and jet rapidity |y|&#60;2.1. The fit results agree with the predictions of leading- and next-to-leading-order calculations, with the exception of the dijet fraction composed of bottom and light flavour jets, which is underestimated by all models at large transverse jet momenta. The ability to identify jets containing two b-hadrons, originating from e.g. gluon splitting, is demonstrated. The difference between bottom jet production rates in leading and subleading jets is consistent with the next-to-leading-order predictions