Efeito da intensificação do uso do solo na comunidade de artrópodes da ilha Terceira

13º Congresso da APDR (Associação Portuguesa para o Desenvolvimento Rural). Angra do Heroísmo, Julho de 2007.As actividades económicas têm um impacto no território, verificando-se em estudos na área da conservação da natureza, de fragmentação de habitats e de agro-ecossistemas que as alterações no Uso do Solo afectam a Biodiversidade. O processo histórico de colonização dos Açores é responsável pela redução da área da floresta nativa das ilhas, com consequências na riqueza específica da fauna insular. O objectivo deste trabalho é de analisar a distribuição da riqueza da fauna de artrópodes em diferentes usos do solo na ilha Terceira. Cartografou-se com uma quadrícula de 500X500 m os seguintes usos do solo: Pastagem Intensiva, Pastagem Semi-Natural, Plantação Exótica de Eucalipto, Plantação Exótica de Criptoméria e Floresta Nativa. Na análise efectuada adicionou-se ainda o Prado Natural e a Turfeira, habitats de área mais reduzida. Proporcionalmente à área de cada uso do solo efectuou-se a implantação de transeptos de 150 m, com 30 armadilhas cada, num total de 82 transeptos. Com o recurso ao Software Spatial Analysis in Macroecology (SAM), utilizaram-se métodos de regressão para determinar a relação entre a riqueza em espécies do conjunto de artrópodes, das espécies introduzidas, das indígenas e das endémicas e variáveis ambientais (climáticas) e a percentagem de cada uso do solo. Os nossos resultados confirmam que as comunidades de artrópodes são afectados por um gradiente de intensificação do uso do solo. A pastagem semi natural funciona como um habitat de transição, podendo ser potencialmente um corredor para um mecanismo de substituição de espécies indígenas por espécies exóticas na floresta Nativa. Quaisquer medidas de conservação e gestão da biodiversidade poderão ser avaliadas com o recurso a técnicas de modelação, a partir das relações quantificadas neste estudo

Patterns of alpha and beta diversity of epigean arthropods at contrasting land-uses of an oceanic island (Terceira, Azores)

"[…]. To study the effect of land-use change in biological communities it is necessary to understand how are the different components of diversity distributed in space. Diversity has long been separated into different components according to the phenomena that interest ecologists (Whittaker, 1960, 1972): i) local species richness, i.e., alpha (community) diversity that measures the species richness of a local assemblage; ii) beta diversity, the degree of difference between communities (Whittaker et al., 2001), that measures turnover of species between communities and; iii) gamma (regional) diversity, which can be considered an equivalent to alpha diversity on a larger scale, but reflects the allopatric distribution of related taxa. Alpha diversity, of which species richness is just the most visible measure, is perhaps the most studied aspect of diversity. However, probably more important than knowing how many species live in a site at a given time, it is to know what species are these. In islands, where the introduction of non-indigenous species is one of the major threats to indigenous species (Borges et al., 2006; Martín et al., 2008), especially endemics, this question is even more significant. Even if man-made habitats are species rich, they may be empty of species considered as conservation priority and abundant in exotic species (Cardoso et al. 2009a). […]" (da Introdução)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal

On the Influence of Local-Distortional Interaction in the Behavior and Design of Cold-Formed Steel Web-Stiffened Lipped Channel Columns

This paper reports the results of a numerical (ABAQUS shell finite element analysis) investigation on the influence of local-distortional (L-D) interaction in the ultimate strength and design of cold-formed steel fixed-ended web-stiffened lipped channel columns -- hereafter termed “WSLC columns”. These results concern columns with various geometries and yield stresses, ensuring a wide variety of combined ratios between (i) the distortional and local critical buckling stresses, and (ii) the yield and the higher of the above buckling stresses. The objectives of this work are two-fold: (i) to acquire in-depth understanding on the mechanics underlying the L-D interaction in the WSLC columns analyzed, all selected to ensure that local buckling is triggered by the flanges, and also (ii) to provide a first contribution towards the efficient Direct Strength Method (DSM) design of these structural elements. The results presented and discussed concern the (i) post-buckling behavior (elastic and elastic-plastic), (ii) ultimate strength and (iii) failure mechanisms of the WSLC columns previously selected to undergo L-D interaction. Special attention is paid to comparing the ultimate strength erosions, due to L-D interaction, exhibited by the WSLC columns investigated here and the “plain cross-section” (i.e., without intermediate stiffeners) columns studied earlier by the authors (Martins et al. 2014a). Finally, the paper closes with some considerations about the impact of the findings reported in this work on the design of cold-formed steel columns undergoing different levels of L-D interaction

Insect and spider rarity in an oceanic island (Terceira, Azores): true rare and pseudo-rare species

Until now the mechanisms of how recent historical land-use (hereafter called "habitat") changes in island ecosystems shape the distribution of individual insect species have been poorly understood in the field of conservation biology. In the present study we concentrate on the delicate equilibrium of the contribution of habitat island composition (i.e. habitat resource availability) with respect to island insect distribution patterns. In this context we study in detail the distribution patterns of four functional groups (herbivorous sucking insects, herbivorous chewing insects, spiders and other arthropod predators) of endemic, native and exotic arthropod species in a well-studied island of the Azores archipelago (Terceira). Within the bigger context of a standardized sampling program both for epigean and canopy insects and spiders we want to find out which species are truly rare and which are pseudo-rare species in each target habitat. Two dimensions of rarity were measured: abundance and habitat specialization. Two domains of rarity were identified: "among habitats" and "geographic". Some interesting patterns emerged. The high dispersal abilities of many insect and spider species together with the fact that many species from islands tend to be generalists imply that many species tend to be vagrants in several habitats and consequently are locally habitat pseudo-rarities. Two types of local pseudorare species were identified: "habitat (or land-use)" and "host plant" pseudorarities. Some species are rare in one habitat type whilst they are more common in another, often related habitat, or they are relatively rare in many habitats. This is a consequence of a "mass effect", with many species demonstrating a "source-sink" dynamics. Truly regionally rare species are those that are habitat specialists and many of them are threatened endemic species or recently introduced exotic species. We suggest several hypotheses for the patterns found, based on the former larger distribution and disturbance regimes of the native Laurel forest. Insufficient spatial replication in sampling can lead to the conclusion that numerous species appear to be rare because they were sampled in marginal sites or in the edge of their distribution. Since habitat occurrence is a less reliable predictor of the rarity status, more attention should be given to the standardized sampling of many habitats before extracting conclusions about the threatened status of a particular insect or spider species. Our results provide clear evidence that without adequate spatial data on abundance and habitat requirements, rarity status for insects and spiders on islands and elsewhere cannot be appropriately assessed

A spatial scale assessment of habitat effects on arthropod communities of an oceanic island

Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.Most habitats in the Azores have undergone substantial land-use changes and anthropogenic disturbance during the last six centuries. In this study we assessed how the richness, abundance and composition of arthropod communities change with: (1) habitat type and (2) the surrounding land-use at different spatial scales. The research was conducted in Terceira Island, Azores. In eighty-one sites of four different habitat types (natural and exotic forests, semi-natural and intensively managed pastures), epigaeic arthropods were captured with pitfall traps and classified as endemic, native or introduced. The land-use surrounding each site was characterized within a radius ranging from 100 to 5000 m. Non-parametric tests were used to identify differences in species richness, abundance and composition between habitat types at different spatial scales. Endemic and native species were more abundant in natural forests, while introduced species were more abundant in intensively managed pastures. Natural forests and intensively managed pastures influenced arthropod species richness and composition at all spatial scales. Exotic forests and semi-natural pastures, however, influenced the composition of arthropod communities at larger scales, promoting the connectivity of endemic and native species populations. Local species richness, abundance and composition of arthropod communities are mostly determined by the presence of nearby natural forests and/or intensively managed pastures. However, semi-natural pastures and exotic forests seem to play an important role as corridors between natural forests for both endemic and native species. Furthermore, exotic forests may serve as a refuge for some native species

Helicobacter pylori in both the sinuses and the stomach

Background: The role played by Helicobacter pylori in the sinuses, and its association with the same organism’s gastric infection, are still unclear. Methods: In order to compare H.pylori colonization patterns in the nose and stomach we conducted a cohort analysis of 14 patients, eligible for sinus surgery due to chronic medically refractory rhinosinusitis, who were tested for simultaneous presence of H. pylori, by histology, culture and polymerase chain reaction, in pathologic sinus tissue collected during surgery and in gastric mucosa obtained through gastroduodenal endoscopy. Results: H. pylori DNA was found in the sinus mucosa of 15.4% of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and all of them showed concurrent H. pylori stomach infection. Sinus colonization was not found without simultaneous gastric colonization, although most patients with gastric infection did not have the bacterial DNA in their sinuses. H. pylori’s presence in the nose was not associated with local inflammatory status, and no cultures could be obtained from any of the sinus tissue samples, including those positive for H. pylori DNA. Conclusions: Only H. pylori DNA, and not the culturable active form of the microorganism, could be found in the sinus mucosa of some patients with H. pylori gastric infection. We could not find evidence, however, that the bacterium’s presence in the nose contributes to local mucosal inflammation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Descrição da biodiversidade terrestre dos Açores

Os Açores constituem um arquipélago de nove ilhas oceânicas isoladas, onde os organismos terrestres chegaram através do vento, do mar, noutros animais e, nos tempos históricos, com a ajuda humana. Este capítulo analisa de forma detalhada aquilo que se conhece sobre a biodiversidade terrestre dos Açores. Para tal analisámos os quatro grandes grupos de organismos listados no capítulo 4: Bryophyta (musgos, antocerotas e hepáticas), Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta (fetos e fanerogâmicas), Mollusca (lesmas e caracóis) e Arthropoda (centopeias, diplópodes, crustáceos, aranhas, ácaros, insectos, etc.). O número total de espécies e/ou subespécies dos Açores pertencentes aos quatro grupos de organismos acima referidos é de cerca de 3705 (3666 espécies e 224 subespécies). No entanto, adicionando outros grupos como os vertebrados (Chordata, Vertebrata), anelídeos (Annelida), nemátodos (Nematoda) e líquenes, aquele número sobe para 4487 espécies e/ou subspecies (4443 espécies e 232 subespécies). O número total de espécies e/ou subespécies endémicas dos Açores pertencentes aos Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Spermatophyta, Mollusca e Arthropoda totaliza as 393 (384 espécies e 44 subespécies). Os filos animais são os mais diversos em taxa endémicos (Mollusca = 49; Arthropoda = 267), com cerca de 80 % dos endemismos dos Açores. Deve ser ainda de assinalar a elevada percentagem de endemismo nos caracóis e lesmas (Mollusca) terrestres dos Açores, com cerca de 44% de endemismo. As plantas vasculares possuem 68 endemismos e os briófitos 9. Usando um estimador não paramétrico, a estimativa conservadora da riqueza de taxa endémicos terrestres de briófitos, plantas vasculares, moluscos e artrópodes rondará 530 taxa, pelo que apenas 77% dos endemismos dos Açores serão conhecidos. Em apenas alguns géneros se verificou uma taxa de especiação elevada, na sua maior parte pertencentes aos filos Mollusca e Arthropoda. A maior parte das espécies de artrópodes e moluscos endémicos são conhecidas apenas de uma ilha, enquanto que, nas plantas, uma grande fracção das espécies ocorre na maioria das ilhas. A análise das proporções das várias categorias de colonização mostra que uma grande proporção da phanerofauna de artrópodes e da flora de plantas vasculares do arquipélago é constituída por espécies introduzidas. Deste modo, as invasões por espécies exóticas constituem um problema actual e terão impactos futuros na biodiversidade dos Açores, criando um padrão de uniformização da fauna e flora. Os Açores constituem o arquipélago da Macaronésia geologicamente mais recente, estando situado mais a norte. As suas nove ilhas isoladas no meio do oceano Atlântico possuem uma grande diversidade de histórias geológicas e constituem laboratórios ecológicos e evolutivos extraordinários. Torna-se cada vez mais importante um esforço adicional nos estudos de taxonomia e ecologia de comunidades que envolvam o estudo de grupos taxonómicos mal conhecidos (fungos, líquenes, muitos grupos de artrópodes) mas também a revisão taxonómica de muitas espécies de briófitos e plantas vasculares.ABSTRACT: The Azores is a remote oceanic archipelago of nine islands where the terrestrial organisms arrived by wind, on the sea, on other animals and on historical times by human assistance. This chapter highlights what we know about Azorean terrestrial biodiversity. Four important terrestrial taxonomic groups listed in Chapter 4 are analysed in detail: Bryophyta (mosses, liverworts), Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta (ferns and phanerogamics), Mollusca (slugs and snails) and Arthropoda (millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, insects, etc.). Currently the total number of terrestrial species and/or subspecies of the above mentioned organisms in the Azores is estimated of about 3705 (3666 species and 224 subspecies). However, if we add other groups like vertebrates (Chordata, Vertebrata), annelids (Annelida), nematodes (Nematoda) and lichens, this number reaches 4487 species and/or subspecies (4443 species and 232 subspecies). The total number of endemic species and/or subspecies from the Azores belonging to Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Spermatophyta, Mollusca and Arthropod is about 393 (384 species and 44 subspecies). The animals Phyla are the most diverse in endemic taxa (Mollusca = 49; Arthropoda = 267), comprising about 80% of the Azorean endemics. The percentage of endemismo within Mollusca (44%) is remarkable. Vascular plants have 68 endemic species while bryophytes have 9 endemics. Using a non-parametric estimator we obtained a conservative estimate for endemic Azorean terrestrial vascular plants, bryophytes, molluscs and arthropods around 530 taxa, which mean that only about 77% have already been described. In only some genera there was a substantial inter and intra-island speciation, most cases occurring in Mollusca and Arthropoda. Most of the endemic arthropods and molluscs are known in only one island, whereas in plants a large proportion of species occur in most islands. Na analysis of the proportions of the colonization categories in arthropods and vascular plants shows that a major proportion of the species are introduced. Therefore, invasions of alien organisms are an actual and future environmental threat in the Azores, creating a pattern of biotic homogenization that is of great contemporary concern. The Azores is the northernmost and the most recent Macaronesian archipelago. The nine islands, isolated in the middle of the Atlantic, with different geological histories, are wonderful ecological and evolutionary laboratories. An additional effort on taxonomic and community-level research implies the detailed examination of poorly studied groups (fungi, lichens, many arthropod groups), but a revision of the taxonomic status of many bryophyte and vascular plants is also deeply needed

A utilização do ATLANTIS – Tierra 2.0 e de ferramentas SIG para predizer a distribuição espacial e a adequação do habitat de espécies endémicas

O conhecimento da distribuição de espécies raras requer muito esforço devido às dificuldades inerentes à detecção das suas populações. Neste capítulo, apresenta-se um exemplo de modelação da distribuição potencial de espécies endémicas de insectos, que constituem uma preocupação de conservação nos Açores. São analisados dados extraídos da base de dados ATLANTIS com o objectivo de desenvolver mapas preditivos da distribuição de quatro escaravelhos endémicos (Insecta, Coleoptera) na ilha Terceira: Cedrorum azoricus azoricus Borges & Serrano, 1993; Trechus terceiranus Machado, 1988; Trechus terrabravensis Borges, Serrano & Amorim, 2004; e Alestrus dolosus (Crotch, 1867). São usadas duas técnicas amplamente aplicadas nestas situações (BIOCLIM e BioMapper) de forma a desenvolver os mapas de distribuição, mas igualmente a obter a descrição do nicho ecológico de cada espécie. Todas as espécies, excepto T. terceiranus, apresentam grandes restrições de habitat. As outras três espécies parecem estar ambientalmente restringidas a duas áreas espaciais bem definidas, localizadas nas partes oeste (Serra de Santa Bárbara) e central (Terra Brava) da ilha Terceira. Contudo, enquanto A. dolosus estará potencialmente espalhado em ambas as áreas, de acordo com os seus requisitos de habitat, C. azoricus azoricus e T. terrabravensis parecem possuir adaptações ambientais muito mais restritivas. No entanto, como os dados sobre a distribuição conhecida destas espécies se revelaram escassos, a eficácia dos mapas de predição não é propriamente a ideal. Deste modo, é discutida de forma exaustiva a utilidade das técnicas utilizadas, num contexto de gestão da conservação. São igualmente discutidos os problemas surgidos durante o processo de modelação dos dados e como estes podem ser resolvidos. Finalmente são apresentadas sugestões para melhorar a informação a obter da base de dados ATLANTIS.ABSTRACT: Ranges of rare species require great efforts to be mapped due to the low detect ability of their populations. In this chapter, we provide an example focusing on several endemic insect species of conservation concern in the Azores. We explore the use of data extracted from ATLANTIS database to develop predictive maps of the distribution of four endemic beetle species (Insecta, Coleoptera) in Terceira Island: Cedrorum azoricus azoricus Borges & Serrano, 1993; Trechus terceiranus Machado, 1988; Trechus terrabravensis Borges, Serrano & Amorim, 2004; and Alestrus dolosus (Crotch, 1867). We use two widely used methodologies (BIOCLIM and BioMapper) to develop such maps, as well as to provide a description of the niche of these species. All species except for T. terceiranus presented highly restricted habitat requirements. The other three species seem to be environmentally restricted to two spatially well-defined areas, placed in the west (Serra de Santa Bárbara) and the centre of the island (Terra Brava). However, while A. dolosus seems to be potentially widespread in these two areas according to its habitat requirements, C. azoricus azoricus and T. terrabravensis appear to have very restricted environmental adaptations. As data (recorded presences) for these species is scarce, the performance of the predictions was not ideal. Therefore, we discuss extensively the utility of such methodologies in the context of conservation management. We also discuss how the problems arose during this work can be overcome, and how ATLANTIS information could be improved

Introdução ao e-Manual de Otorrinolaringologia : projectos pedagógicos

Organização e Coordenação: Prof. Óscar DiasA Clínica Universitária de Otorrinolaringologia da Faculdade de Medicina foi fundada em 1914 e reúne um vasto património, que cobre mais de um século de actividade clínica, pedagógica e de investigação. O espólio que resulta da actividade desenvolvida pelos Professores da Cadeira de Otorrinolaringologia é de grande importância para a compreensão da evolução do ensino e prática da Otorrinolaringologia, do desenvolvimento da medicina hospitalar universitária e da promoção de saúde junto da sociedade. O espólio, organizado em Catálogos, é constituído por instrumental antigo, documentação bibliográfica e iconografia associadas, o que torna particularmente interessante para a investigação, exposição e divulgaçãoinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio