Leukocyte profile of the helmeted manakin, Antilophia galeata (Passeriformes: Pipridae) in a Cerrado forest fragment

Changes in the amounts and proportions of leukocytes, known as leucocyte profiles, have been documented for several bird species and have been used to measure stress levels in these animals. The present work ascertained the biological and ecological attributes that influence the leukocyte profile of Antilophia galeata (Lichtenstein, 1823), the helmeted manakin. This species has been deemed useful in ecological studies because it responds to environmental changes. Blood samples drawn from 89 individuals of A. galeata captured in a Cerrado forest fragment were subjected to analysis under optical microscopy to identify and quantify leukocytes and micronuclei. The number of lymphocytes was greater for males, non-reproductive individuals and individuals infected with ticks. None of the leukocyte components differed in relation to age, molting or body condition index. The amount of micronuclei was correlated with values for total leukocytes, H/L ratio, heterophils, basophils and monocytes. The results suggest that reproduction may be an immunosuppressive factor for the species, producing sexual differences in lymphocyte availability. In addition, biomarkers of genotoxic damage (micronuclei) were related to the amount of leukocytes, indicating that individuals may be sensitive to environmental disturbances. Leukocyte profiles can be considered a useful tool for addressing ecological questions that are relevant to the conservation of species in degraded environments

Haemosporidian parasites prevalence associated with physical conditioning of avian species from the Brazilian Cerrado

Blood parasites can infect myriad avian species and thereby affect the fitness and survival of their hosts. There is wide interspecific variation in parasite prevalence related to biological, ecological, and evolutionary host factors. This study aimed to determine the blood parasite prevalence in avian species from the Brazilian Cerrado and to investigate the associations among biomass, body condition, and blood parasitism. A total of 1,098 blood smears from 549 individuals (56 species) collected in four forest fragments were analyzed. Of these, 109 (19.85%) individuals from 33 species were infected: 13 (2.36%) were positive for Haemoproteus and 103 (18.76%) for Plasmodium. There was co-infection between both genera of parasites in 7 individuals. Among bird species, prevalence ranged from zero to 100%. There were significant positive correlations between prevalence and biomass and the body condition index. Hemosporid vectors track their hosts by carbon dioxide detection. Since large organisms emit more carbon dioxide, our results suggest that larger birds may be more susceptible to hemosporid vectors. Additionally, species with higher body condition indices can be more tolerant to parasites, possibly because they have more energy reserves. This study showed that species with higher biomass and body condition indices were associated with higher blood parasite prevalence, a finding that suggests these factors are efficient predictors to explain the interspecific variations. This information could be important for the understanding parasite-host relationships and useful for bird conservation programs

Micronucleus analysis in birds as a biomonitoring tool for pollution effect in forest and urban environments

Human activities impact the natural environment in many ways, often with negative consequences for the ecosystem. Environmental pollution is one of the biggest problems generated by these activities, as it has genotoxic characteristics that trigger anomalies, such as micronuclei. Birds are sensitive to environmental changes and may be useful as biomonitors, and it is interesting to unite the micronucleus technique with birds. The objectives were to verify if there is a difference in the micronucleus frequency of the birds captured in forest areas with different proximity to urban centers and between the dry and rainy seasons. Determine the frequency of micronuclei in captured bird species. To evaluate whether factors, life stage, biomass, body condition, sex, food guild and presence of ectoparasites interfere with the frequency of micronuclei. To analyze if bird populations present differences in micronucleus frequency between areas. To compare the micronucleus frequency of Belgian canaries kept in urban and rural areas and to verify if this frequency is related to the exposure time in a polluted environment. The study was carried out in six areas of semideciduous seasonal forests of Minas Gerais, grouped into: areas far from urban centers and highways (Água Fria and Galheiro), areas near urban centers and highways (Glória and São José) and areas inserted in centers urban and close to highways (Sabiá and Siquierolli). There were six capture campaigns per area from 2014 to 2018, using fog nets. After capture, the birds were removed from the nets, identified at species level, ringed, weighed and the tarsos haved measured. And it was verified age, sex and presence of ectoparasites. Body condition was assessed by Index Mass Relative (IMR) and species were classified in relation to food guilds. Belgian canary individuals were kept for 120 days in the city of Uberlândia and in a control area (rural). Blood was collected for two blood extensions per individual and 10000 erythrocytes per bird were analyzed. 1308 birds of 87 species with a total of 1403 micronuclei were captured. The frequency of micronuclei in birds varied among study areas, with lower values in distant cities and higher in cities. In the dry season the frequency of micronuclei in birds was significantly higher than in rain. The frequency of micronuclei varied among bird species, between food guilds, biomass and IMR and did not vary between age, sex and presence of ectoparasites. Five species were selected to be used as biomonitors, since they presented higher frequency of micronuclei in the most polluted areas. There was a significant difference in the frequency of micronuclei between Belgian canaries exposed in the city and the control area and the longer the exposure time the greater the frequency of micronuclei in the kept canaries in the city. Thus, we conclude that the micronucleus technique combined with birds becomes an excellent tool for biomonitoring of areas with pollution.CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorTese (Doutorado)Atividades humanas impactam o ambiente natural de várias maneiras, muitas vezes com consequências negativas para o ecossistema. A poluição ambiental é um dos maiores problemas gerados por essas atividades, pois apresenta características genotóxicas que desencadeiam anomalias, como micronúcleos. As aves apresentam sensibilidade às mudanças ambientais e podem ser úteis como biomonitores, sendo interessante unir a técnica de micronúcleos às aves. Os objetivos foram verificar se existe diferença na frequência de micronúcleos das aves capturadas em áreas florestais com diferentes proximidades aos centros urbanos e entre as estações seca e chuvosa. Determinar a frequência de micronúcleos nas espécies de aves capturadas. Avaliar se os fatores, fase de vida, biomassa, condição corporal, sexo, guilda alimentar e presença de ectoparasitas interferem na frequência de micronúcleos. Analisar se as populações de aves apresentam diferenças na frequência de micronúcleos entre as áreas. Comparar a frequência de micronúcleo de canários-belga mantidos na área urbana e rural e verificar se esta frequência está relacionada ao tempo de exposição em ambiente poluído. O estudo foi realizado em seis áreas de florestas estacionais semideciduais de Minas Gerais, agrupados em: áreas distantes de centros urbanos e rodovias (Água Fria e Galheiro), áreas próximas a centros urbanos e rodovias (Glória e São José) e áreas inseridas em centros urbanos e próximas a rodovias (Sabiá e Siquierolli). Foram realizadas seis campanhas de captura por área de 2014 a 2018, utilizando redes de neblina. Após capturadas, as aves foram retiradas das redes, identificadas em nível de espécie, anilhadas, pesadas, tiveram os tarsos medidos e foi verificado idade, sexo e presença de ectoparasitas. A condição corporal foi avaliada através do Índice de Massa Relativa (IMR) e as espécies foram classificadas em relação às guildas alimentares. Indivíduos de canários-belga foram mantidos por 120 dias na cidade Uberlândia e em área controle (rural). Foi feita a coleta de sangue para confecção de duas extensões sanguíneas por indivíduo e foram analisados 10000 eritrócitos por ave. Foram capturadas 1308 aves de 87 espécies com um total de 1403 micronúcleos. A frequência de micronúcleos nas aves variou entre as áreas de estudo, com menores valores nas distantes de cidades e maiores nas inseridas em cidades. Na estação seca a frequência de micronúcleos nas aves foi significativamente maior que na chuva. A frequência de micronúcleos variou entre as espécies de aves, entre as guildas alimentares, biomassa e IMR e não variou entre idade, sexo e presença de ectoparasitas. Foram selecionadas cinco espécies para serem utilizadas como biomonitoras, umas vez que apresentaram maior frequência de micronúcleos nas áreas mais poluídas. Houve diferença significativa na frequência de micronúcleos entre os canários-belga mantidos na cidade e na área controle e quanto maior o tempo de exposição maior a frequência de micronúcleos nos canários expostos na cidade. Com isso, concluímos que a técnica de micronúcleo aliada às aves se torna uma excelente ferramenta para biomonitoramento de áreas poluídas

Birds as biomonitors of environmental quality in forest fragments of the Cerrado

Human actions, such as fragmentation and urbanization, are considered one of the major threat to global biodiversity, and may cause drastic changes in the structure and composition of flora and fauna. Due to the sensitivity of birds to changes of environmental conditions, they are considered excellent indicators of environmental quality because they respond quickly to changes in local, regional and global level. There are several monitoring practices of populations held in natural and disturbed habitats, such as the evaluation of the Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA), analysis of body condition through the Relative Mass Index (RMI) and the micronucleus analysis. Thus, studies evaluating the responses of this group are relevant to the assessment environments in various degrees of conservation. The aim of this work were: to determine whether the FA values, RMI and micronucleus vary between species, areas and feeding guilds. Besides, analyze from these three tools that you can use birds as biomonitoras. The study was conducted in four fragments of semideciduous forests of the Triângulo Mineiro, where the birds were captured with mist nets between 2013 and 2014. We collected 406 individuals of 50 species at approximately 6,400 hours*network. For FA and RMI analysis were used 304 individuals of 17 species and nine families, and micronucleus analysis used 245 individuals of 15 species and eight families, because it is necessary the minimum number of five individuals. The 17 species showed FA (wings / tarsus). There was no significant difference in FA values (wings / tarsus) between species, but there was between the areas. There was also a difference between the feeding guilds for wings, where omnivores showed the highest values. The RMI of birds differed between species, the areas and feeding guilds, being omnivores with the highest RMI values, followed by, frugivorous and insectivorous. Of the 15 species analyzed only Neopelma pallescens had not micronucleus. There was a significant difference in the frequency of micronuclei between species, the areas and feeding guilds in São José, being omnivores guild with higher frequency of micronuclei. With this work, we concluded that the tools FA, RMI and micronucleus can be used successfully in birds, and they can be used as biomonitoras.Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas GeraisMestre em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos NaturaisAções antrópicas, como a fragmentação e a urbanização, são consideradas uma das maiores ameaças à biodiversidade global, podendo gerar alterações drásticas na estrutura e composição da fauna e flora. Devido à sensibilidade das aves às variações das condições do ambiente, elas são consideradas excelentes indicadores de qualidade ambiental, pois respondem rapidamente às mudanças que ocorrem em nível local, regional e global. Existem várias práticas de monitoramento de populações realizadas em ambientes naturais e alterados, como a avaliação da Assimetria Flutuante (AF), análise da condição corporal, através do Índice de Massa Relativa (IMR) e a análise de micronúcleo. Assim, estudos que avaliam as respostas deste grupo são relevantes para a avaliação de ambientes em diversos graus de conservação. Os objetivos desta dissertação foram: verificar se os valores de AF, IMR e micronúcleo variam entre espécies, áreas e guildas alimentares. Além de analisar, a partir dessas três ferramentas, se é possível utilizar as aves como biomonitoras. O estudo foi realizado em quatro fragmentos de florestas estacionais semideciduais do Triângulo Mineiro, onde as aves foram capturadas com redes de neblina entre 2013 e 2014. Foram capturados 406 indivíduos de 50 espécies em aproximadamente 6.400 horas*rede. Para análise de AF e IMR foram utilizados 304 indivíduos de 17 espécies e nove famílias, e para análise de micronúcleo foram utilizados 245 indivíduos de 15 espécies e oito famílias, pelo fato de ser necessário o número mínimo de cinco indivíduos. As 17 espécies apresentaram AF (asas/tarsos). Não houve diferença significativa nos valores de AF (asas/tarsos) entre as espécies, mas houve entre as áreas. Também houve diferença entre as guildas alimentares para asas, onde os onívoros apresentaram os maiores valores. O IMR das aves apresentou diferença entre as espécies, as áreas e as guildas alimentares, sendo os onívoros com os maiores valores de IMR, seguido por, frugívoros e insetívoros. Das 15 espécies analisadas para micronúcleo apenas Neopelma pallescens não houve registro. Houve diferença significativa na frequência de micronúcleo entre as espécies e as áreas. As guildas alimentares apresentaram diferença apenas em São José, sendo onívoros, a guilda com maior frequência de micronúcleo. Com este trabalho, foi possível concluir que as ferramentas AF, IMR e micronúcleo podem ser utilizadas com êxito em aves, e que as mesmas podem ser utilizadas como biomonitoras