Linking appraisal to behavioral flexibility in animals: implications for stress research

In fluctuating environments, organisms require mechanisms enabling the rapid expression of context-dependent behaviors. Here, we approach behavioral flexibility from a perspective rooted in appraisal theory, aiming to provide a better understanding on how animals adjust their internal state to environmental context. Appraisal has been defined as a multi-component and interactive process between the individual and the environment, in which the individual must evaluate the significance of a stimulus to generate an adaptive response. Within this framework, we review and reframe the existing evidence for the appraisal components in animal literature, in an attempt to reveal the common ground of appraisal mechanisms between species. Furthermore, cognitive biases may occur in the appraisal of ambiguous stimuli. These biases may be interpreted either as states open to environmental modulation or as long-lasting phenotypic traits. Finally, we discuss the implications of cognitive bias for stress research.FCT Ph.D. fellowships: (SFRH/BD/79087/2011, SFRH/BD/68528/2010), FCT strategic grant: (PEst-OE/MAR/UI0331/2011)

Eficiência do processo de biodigestão em fossa séptica biodigestora inoculada com esterco de ovino.

bitstream/CNPDIA-2009-09/11043/1/DOC34_2007.pd

Designing a shipboard line transect survey to estimate cetacean abundance off the Azores archipelago

Management schemes dedicated to the conservation of wildlife populations rely on the effective monitoring of population size, and this may require the accurate and precise estimation of this parameter. Line transect distance sampling can be an effective approach for estimating abundance. Little information is available regarding cetacean abundance in the Azores. This paper had two aims: 1) to design a line transect shipboard survey to estimate the absolute abundance of the most common cetaceans off the Azores; and 2) to provide a set of potential survey effort scenarios to policy makers and environmental managers. Three survey scenarios are assessed, and one detailed survey design is presented. A total of 8,800 km of survey effort is recommended; at this level the expected coefficient of variation of estimates is less than 0.3 for most species. However, if logistic constraints prevent this, at least 5,000 km of survey effort should be used to achieve minimum sample size requirements; this is estimated to take 36 days of effort. It is also recommended to conduct a pilot survey. This would provide more detailed information that could be used to improve the survey design of what would be the first survey of this magnitude ever to be implemented in the Azores

Ecological host fitting of Trypanosoma cruzi TcI in Bolivia: mosaic population structure, hybridization and a role for humans in Andean parasite dispersal.

An improved understanding of how a parasite species exploits its genetic repertoire to colonize novel hosts and environmental niches is crucial to establish the epidemiological risk associated with emergent pathogenic genotypes. Trypanosoma cruzi, a genetically heterogeneous, multi-host zoonosis, provides an ideal system to examine the sylvatic diversification of parasitic protozoa. In Bolivia, T. cruzi I, the oldest and most widespread genetic lineage, is pervasive across a range of ecological clines. High-resolution nuclear (26 loci) and mitochondrial (10 loci) genotyping of 199 contemporaneous sylvatic TcI clones was undertaken to provide insights into the biogeographical basis of T. cruzi evolution. Three distinct sylvatic parasite transmission cycles were identified: one highland population among terrestrial rodent and triatomine species, composed of genetically homogenous strains (Ar = 2.95; PA/L = 0.61; DAS = 0.151), and two highly diverse, parasite assemblages circulating among predominantly arboreal mammals and vectors in the lowlands (Ar = 3.40 and 3.93; PA/L = 1.12 and 0.60; DAS = 0.425 and 0.311, respectively). Very limited gene flow between neighbouring terrestrial highland and arboreal lowland areas (distance ~220 km; FST = 0.42 and 0.35) but strong connectivity between ecologically similar but geographically disparate terrestrial highland ecotopes (distance >465 km; FST = 0.016-0.084) strongly supports ecological host fitting as the predominant mechanism of parasite diversification. Dissimilar heterozygosity estimates (excess in highlands, deficit in lowlands) and mitochondrial introgression among lowland strains may indicate fundamental differences in mating strategies between populations. Finally, accelerated parasite dissemination between densely populated, highland areas, compared to uninhabited lowland foci, likely reflects passive, long-range anthroponotic dispersal. The impact of humans on the risk of epizootic Chagas disease transmission in Bolivia is discussed

Catálogo provisional de hongos hipogeos de Asturias y posibles fitobiontes asociados

Censo provisional de hongos con ciclo vital hipogeo hallados en la Comunidad Autónoma del Principado de Asturias y relación de posibles fitobiontes a ellos asociados. Se describen recolecciones de algunos infrecuentes táxones hallados en la zona: Arcangeliella stephensii, Elaphomyces aculeatus, E. cyanosporus. E. decipiens, E. leucosporus, E. mutabilis, E. papillatus, E. persoo nii y E. septatus, Genabea fragi lis, Genea vagans, G/01l1US flavisporum. Gymnomyces xanthosporus, Hysterangium calcareum, H. pompholyx, Stephensia bombycina , S. crocea, Tuber excavatum f. ntonticellianum, T foetidum, T fulgens , T mesentericum y T regianum. Un total de 85 táxones han sido censados para el área de estudio.This is a provisional ccnsus of hypogeous fungi from the Autonomous Community of the "Principado de Asturias", and it reports their possible hosts. Collections of sorne infrequent taxa found in the area are included, i.e, Arcange/iella ste phensii, Elaphomy ces aculeatus, E. cyanosporus, E. decipiens, E. leucosporus , E. muta bilis, E. papillatus. E. persoonii and E. septatus, Genabea fragilis, Genea vagans, G/O/llUS flavisporum, Gymnomyces xanthosporus , Hysterangium calcareum, H. pompholyx, Stephensia bombycina, S. crocea, Tuber excavatum f. monticellianum, T foetidum, T fulgens, mesentericum and T regianum. . A total of 85 taxa are recorded

Candida clinical species identification : molecular and biochemical methods

In the last decade, the number and diversity of nosocomial Candida infections has increased significantly, resulting in an emergent need for rapid and accurate methods for Candida identification. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of three biochemical systems (Auxacolor, ID32C, and Vitek 2 YST) for the identification of Candida species, comparing them with molecular identification (polymerase chain reaction and gel agarose electrophoresis). These methods were used to assess Candida spp. (229 clinical isolates) prevalence and distribution among clinical specimens. The biochemical methods with higher percentages of correct identification were Vitek 2 YST (79.6%) and Auxacolor (78.6%). However, overall the biochemical methods assayed differed from the molecular identification. Thus, due to their rapid and precise identification, molecular methods are promising techniques for Candida species identification in clinical laboratories. Candida albicans and Non Candida albicans Candida species had a similar prevalence (50.4 and 49.6%, respectively), corroborating the epidemiological shift observed for these pathogens in the recent years

Catálogo provisional de hongos hipogeos de Asturias y posibles fitobiontes asociados

Censo provisional de hongos con ciclo vital hipogeo hallados en la Comunidad Autónoma del principado de Asturias y relación de posibles fitobiontes a ellos asociados. Se describen recolecciones de algunos infrecuentes táxones hallados en la zona: Arcangeliella stephensii, Elaphomyces aculeatus, E. cyanosporus. E. decipiens, E. leucosporus, E. mutabilis, E. papillatus, E. persoo nii y E. septatus, Genabea fragilis, Genea vagans, Glomus flavisporum. Gymnomyces xanthosporus, Hysterangium calcareum, H. pompholyx, Stephensia bombycina, S. crocea, Tuber excavatum f. ntonticellianum, T foetidum, T fulgens, T mesentericum y T regianum. Un total de 85 táxones han sido censados para el área de estudio.This is a provisional census of hypogeous fungi from the Autonomous Community of the "Principado de Asturias", and it reports their possible hosts. Collections of sorne infrequent taxa found in the area are included, i.e, Arcangeliella stephensii, Elaphomyces aculeatus, E. anosporus, E. decipiens, E. leucosporus, E. muta bilis, E. papillatus. E. persoonii and E. septatus, Genabea fragilis, Genea vagans, Glomus flavisporum, Gymnomyces xanthosporus, Hysterangium calcareum, H. pompholyx, Stephensia bombycina, S. crocea, Tuber excavatum f. monticellianum, T foetidum, T fulgens, mesentericum and T regianum. A total of 85 taxa are recorded