DIFFERENCES IN JUMPING PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN FROM DIFFERENT SPORTS

The ability of high rate of force development is crucial in many high power sports. The aim of this study was to examine the possible differences in jumping skills of children participating in sports with different demands of leg strength, in order to investigate if specific training influenced different jump performances. 175 children from four different sports participated. The subjects performed squat jumps; counter movement jumps and drop jumps from 0.2 m and 0.4 m. The study showed that the nature of the sport has influence on the performance of drop jumping ability on children, though natural selection may also have an influence

O que é o Pampa?

O Pampa visto sob diferentes olhares

Recent records of the Star-throated Antwren, Rhopias gularis (Spix, 1825) (Aves, Thamnophilidae), in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

For over 130 years, the Atlantic Forest antwren Rhopias gularis (Spix, 1825) remained known in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul from 2 undated specimens collected by Hermann von Ihering at Taquara in the early 1880s. We located 1 couple plus 2 lone females along the border with Santa Catarina in the Josafaz stream valley, municipality of Mampituba, in October 2017 and January 2018. These records confirm the present-day occurrence of R. gularis in Rio Grande do Sul and establish a new southern limit of its distribution. We briefly discuss the validity of Ihering’s record and the historical occurrence of the species at Taquara.&nbsp

Breeding biology and conservation of the Marsh Seedeater Sporophila palustris

El Capuchino Pecho Blanco Sporophila palustris es uno de los capuchinos menos conocidos y uno de los más amenazados. Sus poblaciones reproductivas son locales, fragmentadas y ocurren en el nordeste de Argentina, sudeste de Brasil y en Uruguay. Presentamos datos reproductivos describiendo nidos y huevos, comportamiento (incluyendo cortejo, nidificación, incubación y cuidado parental), sitios de anidación y datos sobre alimentación. El Capuchino Pecho Blanco nidifica en pastizales altos y húmedos en buen estado de conservación. Estos hábitats en general se han convertido en áreas ganaderas. Las principales amenazas son sobrepastoreo, uso generalizado del fuego, drenaje de humedales, reemplazo total del hábitat por pasturas y forestaciones y captura ilegal. La mayoría de los sitios se localizan en AICAs, pero sólo uno en Brasil y otro en Argentina se encuentran protegidos. Finalmente, proponemos una serie de medidas que contribuyen a la preservación del Capuchino Pecho Blanco y de otras aves amenazadas que conviven con este.The Marsh Seedeater Sporophila palustris is one of the most endangered and least known of the capuchino seedeaters. Breeding populations are patchy, occurring in north-east Argentina,southern Brazil, and Uruguay. We present data on the breeding biology of the species, and describe nests and eggs, behaviour (including courtship, nesting, incubation and parental care), breeding sites and food items. Marsh Seedeaters breed in well-preserved grasslands with wet soils and tall vegetation. In general, these habitats are used for extensive livestock ranching. Main threats are overgrazing, widespread use of fire, conversion of grasslands to pastures of exotic grasses and rice fields, afforestation, and illegal trapping. Most breeding sites are located in Important Bird Areas, but only one in Brazil and one in Argentina are protected. We propose a series of actions to promote the conservation of Marsh Seedeaters and other endangered birds that coexist in grassland habitats.Fil: Vizentin Bugoni, Jefferson. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; Brasil;Fil: Areta, Juan Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina;Fil: Di Giacomo, Alejandro G.. Asociación Ornitológica del Plata. Aves Argentinas. Departamento de Conservación; Argentina;Fil: Di Giacomo, Adrian Santiago. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Laboratorio de Ecología y Comportamiento Animal; Argentina;Fil: Jacobs, Fernando. Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Instituto de Biologia. Departamento de Zoologia e Genética; Brasil;Fil: Afonso Coimbra, Marco A.. Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Instituto de Biologia. Núcleo de Reabilitação da Fauna Silvestre e Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres; Brasil;Fil: Dias, Rafael A.. Universidade Católica de Pelotas. Laboratório de Biologia e Ecologia de Cordados. Setor de Ornitologia; Brasil

Annotated checklist of the birds of Brazil by the Brazilian Ornithological Records Committee-second edition

An updated version of the checklist of birds of Brazil is presented, along with a summary of the changes approved by the Brazilian Ornithological Records Committee's Taxonomy Subcommittee since the first edition, published in 2015. In total, 1971 bird species occurring in Brazil are supported by documentary evidence and are admitted to the Primary List, 4.3% more than in the previous edition. Eleven additional species are known only from undocumented records (Secondary List). For each species on the Primary List, status of occurrence in the country is provided and, in the case of polytypic species, the respective subspecies present in Brazilian territory are listed. Explanatory notes cover taxonomic changes, nomenclatural corrections, new occurrences, and other changes implemented since the last edition. Ninety species are added to the Primary List as a result of species descriptions, new occurrences, taxonomic splits, and transfers from the Secondary List due to the availability of documentation. In contrast, eight species are synonymized or assigned subspecific status and thus removed from the Primary List. In all, 293 species are endemic to Brazil, ranked third among the countries with the highest rate of bird endemism. The Brazilian avifauna currently consists of 1742 residents or breeding migrants, 126 seasonal non-breeding visitors, and 103 vagrants. The category of vagrants showed the greatest increase (56%) compared to the previous list, mainly due to new occurrences documented in recent years by citizen scientists. The list updates the diversity, systematics, taxonomy, scientific and vernacular nomenclature, and occurrence status of birds in Brazil.Peer reviewe

Effect of plyometric training on handspring vault performance and functional power in youth female gymnasts

This study aimed to determine the effect of plyometric training (PT) when added to habitual gymnastic training (HT) on handspring vault (HV) performance variables. Twenty youth female competitive gymnasts (Age: 12.5 ± 1.67 y) volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to two independent groups. The experimental plyometric training group (PTG) undertook a six-week plyometric program, involving two additional 45 min PT sessions a week, alongside their HT, while the control group (CG) performed regular HT only. Videography was used (120 Hz) in the sagittal plane to record both groups performing three HVs for both the baseline and post-intervention trials. Furthermore, participants completed a countermovement jump test (CMJ) to assess the effect of PT on functional power. Through the use of Quintic biomechanics software, significant improvements (P < 0.05) were found for the PTG for run-up velocity, take-off velocity, hurdle to board distance, board contact time, table contact time and post-flight time and CMJ height. However, there were no significant improvements on pre-flight time, shoulder angle or hip angle on the vault for the PTG. The CG demonstrated no improvement for all HV measures. A sport-specific PT intervention improved handspring vault performance measures and functional power when added to the habitual training of youth female gymnasts. The additional two hours plyometric training seemingly improved the power generating capacity of movement-specific musculature, which consequently improved aspects of vaulting performance. Future research is required to examine the whether the improvements are as a consequence of the additional volume of sprinting and jumping activities, as a result of the specific PT method or a combination of these factors