Análisis espacio-temporal de las condiciones biofísicas y ecológicas de Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) en la region nororiental de los Andes de Colombia

Introduction: Due to the lack of information regarding biophysical and spatio-temporal conditions (hydrometheorologic and vegetal coverage density) in areas with Triatoma dimidiata in the Colombian departments of Santander and Boyacá, there is a need to elucidate the association patterns of these variables to determine the distribution and control of this species.Objective: To make a spatio-temporal analysis of biophysical variables related to the distribution of T. dimidiate observed in the northeast region of Colombia.Materials and methods: We used the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (IPCC SRES) data bases registering vector presence and hydrometheorologic data. We studied the variables of environmental temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and vegetal coverage density at regional and local levels, and we conducted spatial geostatistic, descriptive statistical and Fourier temporal series analyses.Results: Temperatures two meters above the ground and on covered surface ranged from 14,5°C to 18,8°C in the areas with the higher density of T. dimidiata. The environmental temperature fluctuated between 30 and 32°C. Vegetal coverage density and rainfall showed patterns of annual and biannual peaks. Relative humidity values fluctuated from 66,8 to 85,1%.Conclusions: Surface temperature and soil coverage were the variables that better explained the life cycle of T. dimidiata in the area. High relative humidity promoted the seek of shelters and an increase of the geographic distribution in the annual and biannual peaks of regional rainfall. The ecologic and anthropic conditions suggest that T. dimidiata is a highly resilient species.Introducción. Ante el desconocimiento del contexto espacio-temporal de las condiciones biofísicas (hidrometereológicas y de densidad de la cobertura vegetal) de las zonas con presencia deTriatoma dimidiata en Santander y Boyacá, es necesario dilucidar los patrones asociados con estas variables para determinar su distribución y control.Objetivo. Hacer el análisis espacio-temporal de las variables biofísicas relacionadas con la distribución de Triatoma dimidiata de los departamentos de Santander y Boyacá en la región nororiental de Colombia.Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron las bases de datos de los registros de presencia deT. dimidiata y de factores hidrometereológicos del Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) del Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC. Se estudiaron las variables de temperatura, humedad relativa, pluviosidad y densidad de la cobertura vegetal a nivel regional y local, se hizo el análisis espacial y el geoestadístico, así como el análisis estadístico descriptivo y temporal de las series de Fourier.Resultados. En las áreas con mayor presencia de T. dimidiata, las temperaturas a dos metros del suelo y en suelo cubierto oscilaron entre 14,5 y 18,8 °C, y la temperatura ambiente fue de 30 a 32 °C. La densidad de la cobertura vegetal y la pluviosidad en las áreas de mayor presencia de T. dimidiata exhibieron patrones de picos anuales y bienales. Los valores de la humedad relativa fluctuaron entre 66,8 y 85,1 %.Conclusiones. Las temperaturas a nivel de superficie y a dos metros del suelo fueron las variables determinantes de la distribución espacio-temporal de T. dimidiata. La elevada humedad relativa incentivó la búsqueda de refugios e incrementó la distribución geográfica en los picos anual y bienal de pluviosidad a nivel regional. Las condiciones ecológicas y antrópicas sugieren que T. dimidiata es una especie de gran resiliencia

Evaluation of the environmental sustainability of massive forestry fragments of the coastal plain and lower slopes of Bertioga (SP)

A zona costeira paulista alterna extensas zonas de grande diversidade de biótopos, com outras de intensa degradação ambiental. Essas características são observadas no município de Bertioga e seus maciços florestais, localizados entre as bacias hidrográficas dos rios Itaguaré e Guaratuba. Por suas características especiais, essas bacias em conjunto receberam a denominação de Sistema Bertioga. Este trabalho pretendeu mapear o panorama da região sob a perspectiva do planejamento ecológico, com a finalidade de dar elementos teóricos e práticos para proteger, reparar e/o desenvolver a natureza e a paisagem cênica desse território. Nesse contexto foi avaliada a sustentabilidade ambiental desse sistema, a partir da análise de risco ecológico e a sensibilidade às mudanças ambientais dos diferentes ecótopos presentes. Para atingir essa meta, foi elaborado um inventário dos recursos naturais do território (biológicos, climáticos, hídricos, edáficos) para todo o sistema, e, com esses elementos, estabelecer um zoneamento ambiental do território, segundo critérios de proteção, reparação e desenvolvimento (manejo) para as diferentes formações vegetais. Foi realizado um refinamento espacial tanto dos ambientes sedimentares como dos ecótopos estudados, e foi quantificado o grau de artificialização do sistema. Um cruzamento dessa informação permitiu propor um sistema de classificação da cobertura vegetal baseado nos grupos funcionais observados. Com base nessa classificação, foi feito um agrupamento das geoformas que ajudasse a entender sua incidência sobre a disposição espacial dos ecótopos. Foi possível realizar uma primeira aproximação sobre o funcionamento hidráulico do sistema, e sugerir as características do pulso hidrossedimentológico que rege o mesmo. Por outra parte, foram confeccionados mapas probabilísticos das características físico-químicas v das águas subsuperficiais do sistema, com base na medição do lençol freático em uma série temporal. Foram definidas as características das águas superficiais e sua incidência no sistema. Foram confeccionados mapas probabilísticos dos diferentes tipos de solos, com os quais foram definidas algumas linhas gerais de sua evolução e os elementos críticos que afetariam sua conservação, tanto do ponto de vista da estabilidade da sua estrutura superficial como de suas características físico-químicas. Por fim, com base em toda a informação compilada foi possível propor uma mapa de objetivos ambientais zonificados, classificados em Zonas Prioritárias para a preservação do Meio Ambiente e em Zonas Preferenciais para o desenvolvimento equilibrado do Meio Ambiente.The São Paulo coastal zone alternates extensive zones of great diversity of biotopes with others intensively degradated. These characteristics are observed in the municipality of Bertioga and its forest regions localized among Itaguaré and Guaratuba river basins. Due to their special characteristics these basins are denominated Bertioga System. The aim of this work was to map the region scenario under the perspective of ecological planning in order to give the theoretical and practical elements to protect, repair and/or develop the nature and the landscape of this territory. In this context, the environmental sustainability of the system was evaluated using the ecological risk analysis and the sensibility to environmental changes to the different ecotopes. An inventory of the territory natural resources for all the system was performed (biologic, climatic, hydric, edaphic), from which an environmental zone division of the territory following criteria of protection, reparation and development (management) for all the vegetal formations. A spatial refinement of both sedimentary environment and ecotopes was performed, as well as the quantification of the artificialization grade of the system. An exchange of that information was the base to propose a classification system of the vegetation cover based on observed functional groups. A geoshape clustering was performed to help in the understanding of its incidence on the ecotopes spatial disposition. It was possible to perform a first approach about the hydraulic functioning of the system and to suggest the hidrosedimentological pulse characteristics that rule the system. On the other hand, probabilistic maps of the physical and chemical characteristics of the subsuperficial waters of the system were made, on the basis of the freatic level in a temporal vii series. The characteristics of the superficial waters and their incidence on the system were also defined. Probabilistc maps of soil types were made, which were used to define some general lineaments about their evolution and the critical elements that could affect its conservation from two points of view: superficial structure stability, and physical and chemical characteristics. Finally, a zone division map of ambient objectives was proposed. Those ambient objectives were classified in Prioritary Zones for the preservation of the environment and Preferential Zones for the balanced development of the environment

Human Genetic Ancestral Composition Correlates with the Origin of Mycobacterium leprae Strains in a Leprosy Endemic Population.

Recent reports have suggested that leprosy originated in Africa, extended to Asia and Europe, and arrived in the Americas during European colonization and the African slave trade. Due to colonization, the contemporary Colombian population is an admixture of Native-American, European and African ancestries. Because microorganisms are known to accompany humans during migrations, patterns of human migration can be traced by examining genomic changes in associated microbes. The current study analyzed 118 leprosy cases and 116 unrelated controls from two Colombian regions endemic for leprosy (Atlantic and Andean) in order to determine possible associations of leprosy with patient ancestral background (determined using 36 ancestry informative markers), Mycobacterium leprae genotype and/or patient geographical origin. We found significant differences between ancestral genetic composition. European components were predominant in Andean populations. In contrast, African components were higher in the Atlantic region. M. leprae genotypes were then analyzed for cluster associations and compared with the ancestral composition of leprosy patients. Two M. leprae principal clusters were found: haplotypes C54 and T45. Haplotype C54 associated with African origin and was more frequent in patients from the Atlantic region with a high African component. In contrast, haplotype T45 associated with European origin and was more frequent in Andean patients with a higher European component. These results suggest that the human and M. leprae genomes have co-existed since the African and European origins of the disease, with leprosy ultimately arriving in Colombia during colonization. Distinct M. leprae strains followed European and African settlement in the country and can be detected in contemporary Colombian populations

Dirichlet distributions of the ancestral components of the study population.

<p>The European component had a normal distribution and consisted of 40–60% of the study population. The African component had a non-normal distribution and consisted of less than 30% of the study population. The Native American (Amerindian) component had a non-normal distribution and consisted of 20% of the study population.</p

(A) Geographic distribution of African (green), (B) European (blue), (C) Amerindian (orange) ancestry based on individual estimates.

<p>To facilitate comparison, color intensity transitions occur at 10% ancestry intervals for all maps. Maps were obtained using Kriging interpolation (see <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004045#sec002" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>).</p

Comparison of medians of ancestral components according to the geographical origin of the population, Andean vs. Atlantic regions (Mann-Whitney U-test).

<p>Comparison of medians of ancestral components according to the geographical origin of the population, Andean vs. Atlantic regions (Mann-Whitney U-test).</p