O uso do DNA barcoding para identificar barbatanas de tubarão comercializadas ilegalmente no Brasil.

A demanda por barbatanas de tubarão tem aumentado nos últimos anos, estimulando o comércio ilegal e técnicas de captura predatórias que ameaçam a sobrevivência das populações naturais. As barbatanas de tubarão são normalmente removidas imediatamente após a captura e o corpo do animal é jogado de volta ao mar, o que impede a identifi cação morfológica da espécie. Quando a identifi cação morfológica está comprometida, a identifi cação genética pode ser usada para associar amostras desconhecidas com amostras de referência por meio da comparação de sequências de genes mitocondriais. Neste estudo, nós usamos sequências de 650 pares de base da subunidade I do gene citocromo c oxidase (COI) associadas com o Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) para identifi car uma carga de barbatanas de tubarão apreendidas pela Polícia Federal do Brasil em 2011. Nós conseguimos associar com sucesso 25 das 26 amostras encaminhadas para o laboratório com três espécies diferentes, sendo elas Prionace glauca, Isurus oxyrinchus e Sphyrna zygaena. Embora as três espécies não estejam atualmente protegidas pelas leis brasileiras, este estudo reforça a utilidade da ferramenta do DNA barcoding na casuística forense.The demand for shark fi ns has increased in the last years, stimulating the illegal trade and predatory capture techniques that threaten the survival of natural populations. Shark fi ns are usually removed immediately after the catch and the body of the animal is thrown back into the ocean, preventing the morphological identifi cation of the species. When morphological identifi cation is compromised, genetic identifi cation can be used to associate unknown samples to a reference sample by comparing sequences of mitochondrial genes. In this study we used sequences of 650 base pair of the subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase gene (COI) associated with the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) to identify a cargo of shark fi ns seized by the Brazilian Federal Police in 2011. We have successfully matched 25 of 26 samples sent to the laboratory to three different species, Prionace glauca, Isurus oxyrinchus and Sphyrna zygaena. Although none of them are currently protected by Brazilian laws, this study reinforces the utility of DNA barcoding in forensic casework

Breeding strategies of a socially monogamous neotropical passerine: extra-pair fertilizations, behavior and morphology.

Blue-black Grassquits (Volatima jacarina) are small, granivorous, Neotropical birds that are abundant in central Brazil. During the reproductive season, the socially monogamous males acquire a blue-black plumage and defend very small, clustered territories that resemble leks. They execute a conspicuous courtship display that consists of a leap, revealing white under-wing patches, synchronized with a vocalization. We collected data on the morphology and behavior of banded males and characteristics of their territories to determine how these factors may influence acquisition of mates and nesting. For a second group of birds in the area, we used microsatellite genotyping to test the breeding synchrony hypothesis, which predicts that tropical species that breed synchronously should exhibit high rates of extra-pair fertilization (EPF). We found that males that successfully formed a pair bond differed from unsuccessful males in their behavior, but not in morphological attributes or territory features. Successful males spent more time in their territories, executed displays for longer periods and at greater rates, and their display leaps were higher. These results point to the greater importance of behavior relative to other factors in the successful reproduction of Blue-black Grassquit males. In the second group of birds, EPFs occurred in 63% of I I nests and involved 50% of the 20 chicks sampled. This exceptionally high incidence of EPF in the small sample analyzed occurred in diverse contexts, including intraspecific parasitism and quasi-parasitism, a rare type of maternity loss where the resident female is parasitized by other females that were fertilized by the resident male. A short and highly synchronized breeding season, clustered breeding in small territories, and granivorous habits may contribute to the high rates of EPF in this tropical species.</p

Reproduction of Blue-black Grassquits in central Brazil

During the reproductive season Blue-black grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) males are found in clusters, wherein they exhibit a distinctive display that consists of repeated, vertical leaps while simultaneously producing a brief vocalization. The main objective of this study was to describe details of the species' reproductive behavior in a "Cerrado" area of central Brazil and compare these data with some studies carried out in other areas. The data obtained concerning different aspects of nesting, laying and hatching were generally similar to those obtained in previous studies in other areas. However, we found that the typical clutch size of two eggs per nest is lower, and egg and nestling mortality rates higher in our area than what has been reported elsewhere. Our results suggest that males differ in time expended with different activities according to their reproductive condition and also provide extensive parental care. We found that display execution rates peak in the early morning and in the late afternoon and are higher in the middle of the breeding season. We also found that there is an inverse relation between the height of the display leap and the height of the perch

DNA-based identification reveals illegal trade of threatened shark species in a global elasmobranch conservation hotspot

Abstract Here, we report trading of endangered shark species in a world hotspot for elasmobranch conservation in Brazil. Data on shark fisheries are scarce in Brazil, although the northern and northeastern regions have the highest indices of shark bycatch. Harvest is made primarily with processed carcasses lacking head and fins, which hampers reliable species identification and law enforcement on illegal catches. We used partial sequences of two mitochondrial genes (COI and/or NADH2) to identify 17 shark species from 427 samples being harvested and marketed on the northern coast of Brazil. Nine species (53%) are listed under some extinction threat category according to Brazilian law and international authorities (IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature; CITES – Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The number increases to 13 (76%) if we also consider the Near Threatened category. Hammerhead sharks are under threat worldwide, and composed 18.7% of samples, with Sphyrna mokarran being the fourth most common species among samples. As illegal trade of threatened shark species is a worldwide conservation problem, molecular identification of processed meat or specimens lacking diagnostic body parts is a highly effective tool for species identification and law enforcement

Multimodal flight display of a neotropical songbird predicts social pairing but not extrapair mating success

Models of sexual selection predict that socially monogamous females may gain direct or indirect (genetic) benefits by mating with multiple males. We addressed current hypotheses by investigating how, in the socially monogamous blue-black grassquit (Volatinia jacarina), male courtship and territory quality varied with social and extrapair paternity. Males of this tropical granivorous passerine exhibit multimodal displays integrating motor (leap displays) and acoustic components. Across 3 years, we found that extrapair paternity ranged from 8 to 34 % of all nestlings and from 11 to 47 % of all broods. Extrapair and socially paired male territories had similar seed densities. Females preferred to pair socially with males executing higher leaps, but no other male display characteristic associated with paternity loss and extrapair fertilizations. Extrapair and social mates did not differ in genetic similarity to female partners nor in inbreeding levels. Additionally, inbreeding and body condition of extrapair and within-pair nestlings did not differ. Thus, not only did we reject the direct benefits hypothesis for extrapair copulations, but our results also did not support the additive and nonadditive genetic benefits hypotheses. Instead, we found support for benefits through selection of potentially “good fathers,” specifically for females that chose to pair socially with males exhibiting enhanced performance in their displays.</p