A first assessment of operator compliance and dolphin behavioural responses during swim-with-dolphin programs for three species of Delphinids in the Azores

The popularity of swim-with wild dolphin programs around the world is fast growing, with the studies required to investigate their impact lagging behind. In the Azores, species targeted include the short-beaked common (Delphinus delphis), the bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). To evaluate the effects of this activity on local dolphin populations, and thus provide support for management decisions, dolphin response data were collected onboard commercial boats off São Miguel Island between 2013 and 2015. All three species revealed high degree of neutral and avoidance behaviours, and very low approach rates. Tursiops showed higher frequency of neutral responses than Delphinus, while Stenella both avoided and approached more frequently than the other species. When boats intersected the path of dolphin groups, avoidance responses were more likely and the duration of swims was shorter. Swims were also shorter when animals were resting and travelling, and when groups were smaller. The operators generally complied with the legislation, except in respect to the number of swim attempts per dolphin group, which was higher than the legal maximum. Improvement of the current legislation and concurrent reinforcement of controls is essential to avoid detrimental long-term effects of this activity on dolphin populations in the Azores.This research was partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE – Operational Competitiveness Programme and national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013, by the Strategic Funding UID/Multi/04423/2013 through national funds provided by FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the programme PT2020 and by cE3c funding (Ref:UID/BIA/003329/2013). It was also partly supported by CIRN (Centro de Investigação de Recursos Naturais, University of the Azores), and CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Porto, Portugal). A. Cecchetti was supported by the Regional Fund for Science through the scholarship M.3.1.2/F/036/2011. K.A. Stockin was supported by a Royal Society of New Zealand Te Aparangi Rutherford Discovery Fellowship.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Primavera: arroz precoce 'agulhinha' para os cerrados de Rondonia.

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Efeito do ferro Dextran sobre parâmetros sanguineos, níveis de ferro séricos e hepáticos e desempenho de cabritos de aptidão leiteira.

Resumo: Experimento realizado com os objetivos de avaliar os efeitos do ferro dextran (FD) sobre os parâmetros sanguineos, niveis de ferro serico e hepático, e desempenho de cabritos de aptidao leiteira. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos: T1 - sem aplicação de FD; T2 - aplicacao de FD aos 2 dias de idade; T3 - aplicações de Fd aos 2 e 16 dias e T4 - aplicacoes de FD aos 2, 14 e 30 dias. Nao houve diferencas estatisticas entre tratamentos. Os teores de ferro sericos e hepaticos, ao final do experimento, foram: T1 - 172,09 mg/100ml e 146,25 ppm; T2 - 198,06 mg/100ml e 147,83 ppm; T3 - 186,46 mg/100ml e 253,00 ppm e T4 - 173,12 mg/100ml e 295,75 ppm. Para o desenvolvimento ponderal, os resultados firnais foram: T1 - 9,15 kg;T2 - 9,60 kg; T3 - 9,74 kg e T4 - 10,13 kg. [Effect of iron-dextran on the blood values, level in the liver and performance of the kids milk aptitude]. Abatract: Research was developed to evaluate the effect of iron-dextran (ID) on the blood values (hematocrit and hemoglobin), level serum iron and iron in the liver, and performance of the kids milk aptitude. The experiment was complety randomized with four treatments: Tl - no applications ofthe ID; T2 - applications of the ill at 2 days; T3 - applications of the ID at 2 and 16 days and T4 - applications of the ill at 2, 16 and 30 days. No significant difference was found among for all variables studied. The values for iron serum and livers, at the end of the experiment, were: Tl - 172,09 mg/lOOml e 146,25 ppm; T2 - 198,06 mg/lOOml e 147,83 ppm; T3 - 186,46 mg/lOOml e 253,00 ppm e T4 - 173,12 mg/lOOml e 295,75 ppm. Body weight gain the results final, were: Tl - 9,15 kg; T2 - 9,60 kg; T3 - 9,74 kg e T4 - 10,13 kg

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus: A multi-modality imaging perspective.

Mitral annulus calcification is a common echocardiographic finding, particularly in the elderly and in end-stage renal disease patients under chronic dialysis. Caseous calcification or liquefaction necrosis of mitral annulus calcification is a rare evolution of mitral annular calcification. Early recognition of this entity avoids an invasive diagnostic approach, since it is benign and, unlike intracardiac tumors and abscesses, has a favorable prognosis. The authors present the case of an 84-year-old woman with a suspicious large, echodense mass at the level of the posterior mitral leaflet with associated severe mitral regurgitation. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a hypoperfused mass with strong peripheral enhancement 10 minutes after gadolinium administration. Multislice computed tomography showed the calcified nature of the mass. A multi-modality imaging approach confirmed the diagnosis of caseous calcification of the posterior mitral annulus. The patient refused surgical treatment

Effects of fish removal in the Furnas Lake, Azores

The Furnas Lake is a small volcanic, monomitic and increasingly eutrophised water body. Next to agricultural nutrient inputs, high densities of herbivorous fish are thought to contribute to high levels of turbidity in the lake, through zooplankton consumption and re suspension of the nutrients accumulated in the sediment. According to the alternative state hypothesis a shift from turbid to clear water conditions is favoured by reduction of nutrient concentrations, increased light availability and reduction of planktivorous and benthos-feeding fish stock. To improve water quality in the Furnas Lake, a substantial part of the bottom-feeding fish population (62% of the estimated common carp population, Cyprinus carpio, and 5% of the estimated roach population, Rutilus rutilus) was removed. Effects of fish removal on turbidity and associated trophic state were analysed next to post-manipulation chlorophyll a concentration, zooplankton and macrophytes densities. Results suggest that fish removal was not enough to change lake conditions towards a lasting clear state dominated by macrophytes. Excessive nutrient load, in water and sediments, nutrient input from the lake basin and fish recruitment causing enhanced zooplankton grazing are appointed causes. Any further biomanipulation efforts should be associated to nutrient reduction; and continued monitoring of water quality, fish stock, macrophytes and zooplankton is needed

Life goes on : Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758) (Perciformes, Sparidae), the saddled seabream, expands its distribution range westwards to the Azores

A group of 10 individuals of the saddled seabream, Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758), was photographed at Lajes do Pico Bay, on Pico Island, Azores. This finding represents a significant westward expansion of the known range of this species and may be linked to global warming. A call is therefore made for a monitoring program of the coastal fish fauna of the Azores which would improve the understanding of the effects of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors on marine communities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comportamento produtivo de genótipos de mandioca em três microrregiões do Piauí.

Com o objetivo de estudar-se o comportamento produtivo de 14 genótipos de mandioca, foram conduzidos seis experimentos em três microrregiões do Estado do Piauí. Os experimentos foram instalados nos municípios de Teresina, anos agrícolas de 1995/96, 1996/97 e 1997/98; Parnaíba, em 1996/97 e 1997/98; e Jerumenha, em 1997/98. O delineamento experimental foi blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os genótipos usados foram: Vermelhinha (local), Maracanã, Fio de Ouro, Branquinha, Aipim Bahia, Macaxeira Branca, Pindaré, Engana Ladrão, Manipeba Branca, Aipim Bravo, Jaburu e os clones 8707/05, 8615/09 e 8611/18. Os genótipos foram plantados em parcelas de 4,00 m x 8,40 m, no espaçamento de 1 ,O0 m entre linhas e 0,60 m dentro das linhas, com uma área útil de 14,40 m2. Realizou-se a colheita 12 meses após o plantio. Os genótipos Manipeba Branca e Vermelhinha apresentaram as maiores percentagens de amido nos três anos e locais de avaliação. Em relação as demais características avaliadas, constatou-se que, em Teresina, no ano agrícola de 1995/96, os genótipos Aipim Bahia, Pindaré e Branquinha foram os mais promissores em relação a estande final e rendimento de raízes. Em 1996/97 e 1997/98, em Teresina e Parnaíba, o clone 8707/05 apresentou maiores rendimentos de raízes frescas e de matéria seca de raízes. Ainda em Teresina, em 1995/96 e 1996/97, o genótipo Maracanã apresentou os maiores rendimentos de parte aérea; em 1997/98, o genótipo Aipim Bahia superou os demais nessa característica. Em Jerumenha, o genótipo Vermelhinha apresentou os maiores rendimentos de raízes frescas, matéria seca nas raízes e de parte aérea. Em Parnaíba, o maior rendimento de parte aérea foi obtido com o clone 8611/18 em 1996/97 e Maracanã e Aipim Bravo em 1997/98. Os genótipos testados apresentaram comportamentos diferentes, variando com o ano e local, exceto em relação a percentagem de amido.bitstream/item/35783/1/BP27.pd

Exopolysaccharide production by Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a widespread Gram-negative bacterium that infects the stomach of humans leading to the onset of several gastric disorders, such as, gastritis, gastric ulcers, and cancers. Studies from developing countries with low socioeconomic status and poor management of the drinking water suggest that it may serve as an environmental reservoir of H. pylori and therefore contribute to human infection. It has been reported that H. pylori has the ability to form microbial consortia embedded by a highly hydrated exopolysaccharidic matrix (biofilms) on surfaces exposed to water. The enhanced protection provided to microbial cells by the exopolysaccharides (EPS) brings added concerns about the possibility of H. pylori being transmitted through drinking water. H. pylori EPS as been reported to be composed mainly by Gal:Glc:GlcN in a proportion of 1.0:2.1:7.0, respectively (Stark et al., 1999). The present work brings about microscopical evidences of the capability of H. pilory to form free swimming bacterial aggregates and biofilms when submitted to nutrient depletion and hydrodynamic stress. Evidences that H. pylori aggregation is an exopolysaccharidic mediated phenomena both in planktonic and sessile states are also showed. Ethanol fractioning of the material recovered from these aggregates revealed an EPS composed of Gal:Glc:GlcN in a proportion of 1.0:0.4:1.6 respectively. A further structural detail about this EPS is under progress

Pesca em águas interiores na ilha de S. Miguel (Açores)

XII congresso da Associação Espanhola de Limnologia/IV Congresso Ibérico de Limnologia, organizado pela Associação Espanhola de Limnologia, de 5 a 9 de Julho de 2004 no Porto, Portugal.A ilha de S. Miguel é dotada de lagoas e ribeiras abundantes em espécies piscícolas que levaram ao desenvolvimento da pesca desportiva. Todas as espécies existentes nas lagoas foram introduzidas por acção humana