Unravelling seed dispersal through fragmented landscapes: Frugivore species operate unevenly as mobile links

Seed dispersal constitutes a pivotal process in an increasingly fragmented world, promoting population connectivity, colonization and range shifts in plants. Unveiling how multiple frugivore species disperse seeds through fragmented landscapes, operating as mobile links, has remained elusive owing to methodological constraints for monitoring seed dispersal events. We combine for the first time DNA barcoding and DNA microsatellites to identify, respectively, the frugivore species and the source trees of animal-dispersed seeds in forest and matrix of a fragmented landscape. We found a high functional complementarity among frugivores in terms of seed deposition at different habitats (forest vs. matrix), perches (isolated trees vs. electricity pylons) and matrix sectors (close vs. far from the forest edge), cross-habitat seed fluxes, dispersal distances and canopy-cover dependency. Seed rain at the landscape-scale, from forest to distant matrix sectors, was characterized by turnovers in the contribution of frugivores and source-tree habitats: open-habitat frugivores replaced forest-dependent frugivores, whereas matrix trees replaced forest trees. As a result of such turnovers, the magnitude of seed rain was evenly distributed between habitats and landscape sectors. We thus uncover key mechanisms behind "biodiversity-ecosystem function" relationships, in this case, the relationship between frugivore diversity and landscape-scale seed dispersal. Our results reveal the importance of open-habitat frugivores, isolated fruiting trees and anthropogenic perching sites (infrastructures) in generating seed dispersal events far from the remnant forest, highlighting their potential to drive regeneration dynamics through the matrix. This study helps to broaden the "mobile-link" concept in seed dispersal studies by providing a comprehensive and integrative view of the way in which multiple frugivore species disseminate seeds through real-world landscapes.This study was funded by grants (to P.J.) of the Spanish MINECO (CGL2013-47429P) and Junta de Andalucía Excellence Projects (RNM-5731), and 632 supported by a Severo Ochoa Award for Centres of Excellence in R+D+I (SEV-2012-0262). While writing this paper, J.P.G.V. was funded by an Individual Fellowship from the Marie 634 Sklodowska-Curie Actions (H2020-MSCA- IF-2014-656572: MobileLinks). C.C. received scholarships from the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq, 636 401258/2012-2) and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, 2014/01029-5)

Sward Management Targets in Natural Grasslands of Southern Brazil

The relationship between environment, plant and animal is one of the most important focuses in the ecological and productive context of natural grasslands. The limited knowledge of the complexity of this environment can lead to inappropriate management strategies, determining degradation, biodiversity and productivity losses. This study is based on the concept that the best way to conserve natural grasslands is through adequate management targets. This study aimed to identify sward management targets that maximize productivity in natural grasslands of Southern Brazil

A taxonomic revision of the Neotropical termite genera Labiotermes Holmgren and Paracornitermes Emerson (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae)

The taxonomy of the South American termite genus Labiotermes Holmgren (sensu novo) is revised,including identification keys to soldiers and workers, and distribution maps for all 10 species.Paracornitermes Emerson is treated as a new synonym of Labiotermes. Two new species aredescribed: L. guasu, from the Amazon rain forest and L. oreadicus, from the Cerrado of centralBrazil. Paracornitermes caapora Bandeira & Cancello and P. hirsutus Araujo are placed under thesynonymy of L. orthocephalus. The imagos of L. emersoni and L. orthocephalus are described forthe first time. The workers of all species are described and illustrated, including the enteric valve armature and the mixed segment. The soldiers of the species previously included inParacornitermes are redescribed.Fil: Constantino, Reginaldo. Universidade de Brasília; BrasilFil: Acioli, Agmo N. S.. PPG Entomologia; BrasilFil: Smith, Karen. Universidade de Brasília; BrasilFil: Cuezzo, Adriana Carolina. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Carvalho, Sergio H. C. Universidade de Brasília; BrasilFil: Vasconcellos, Alexandre. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; Brasi

Phytochemical Composition of Extractives in the Inner Cork Layer of Cork Oaks with Low and Moderate Coraebus undatus Attack

The beetle Coraebus undatus, during its larval stage feeds, and excavates galleries on the cork-generating layer of Quercus suber L. trees, seriously affecting the cork quality with significant economic losses for the cork industry. This work compared the composition of the extracts present in the innermost cork layers (the belly) of cork planks from Q. suber trees with low and moderate C. undatus attack in one stand. The total extractives in the inner cork layer from trees with moderate and low C. undatus attacks were similar (on average 22% of the cork mass) with a high proportion of polar compounds (91% of the total extractives). The chemical composition of the inner cork lipophilic extractives was the same in trees infested and free of larvae, with triterpenes as the most abundant family accounting for 77% of all the compounds, predominantly friedeline. The hydrophilic extractives differed on the levels of phenolic compounds, with higher levels in the inner cork extracts of samples from trees with low attack (90.0 mg GAE g1 vs. 59.0 mg GAE g1 of inner cork mass) The potential toxic activity of phenolic compounds may have a role in decreasing the larval feedinginfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Laboratory and field evaluation of acetic acid-based lures for male Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is a vector of a pathogen associated with greening and thus a major problem in citriculture worldwide. Lures are much needed for improving ACP trapping systems for monitoring populations and surveillance. Previously, we have identified acetic acid as a putative sex pheromone and measured formic acid- and propionic acid-elicited robust electroantennographic responses. We have now thoroughly examined in indoor behavioral assays (4-way olfactometer) and field tests the feasibility of these three semiochemicals as potential lures for trapping ACP. Formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid at appropriate doses are male-specific attractants and suitable lures for ACP traps, but they do not act synergistically. An acetic acid-based homemade lure, prepared by impregnating the attractant in a polymer, was active for a day. A newly developed slow-release formulation had equal performance but lasted longer, thus leading to an important improvement in ACP trap capture at low population densities

Characterization and Technological Features of Autochthonous Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci as Potential Starters for Portuguese Dry Fermented Sausages

The manufacture of dry fermented sausages is an important part of the meat industry in Southern Europeancountries. These products are usually produced in small shops from a mixture of pork, fat, salt, and condiments andare stuffed into natural casings. Meat sausages are slowly cured through spontaneous fermentation by autochthonousmicrobiota present in the raw materials or introduced during manufacturing. The aim of this work was to evaluate thetechnological and safety features of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) isolated from Portuguese dry fermented meatsausages in order to select autochthonous starters. Isolates (n = 104) obtained from 2 small manufacturers were identifiedas Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus saprophyticus,andStaphylococcus carnosus. Genomically diverseisolates (n = 82) were selected for further analysis to determine the ability to produce enzymes (for example, nitrate-reductases, proteases, lipases) and antibiotic susceptibility. Autochthonous CNS producing a wide range of enzymes andshowing low antibioresistance were selected as potential starters for future use in the production of dry fermented meatsausages

PROP1 and CTNNB1 expression in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas with or without β-catenin mutations

INTRODUCTION: Activating mutations in exon 3 of the β-catenin gene are involved in the pathogenesis of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. Recently, the interaction between β-catenin and PROP1 has been shown to be responsible for pituitary cell lineage determination. We hypothesized that dysregulated PROP1 expression could also be involved in the pathogenesis of craniopharyngiomas OBJECTIVES: To determine whether dysregulated gene expression was responsible for tumor pathogenesis in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, the β-catenin gene was screened for mutations, and the expression of the β-catenin gene and PROP1 was evaluated. β-catenin gene was amplified and sequenced from 14 samples of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. PROP1 and β-catenin gene expression was assessed by real-time RT-PCR from 12 samples, and β-catenin immunohistochemistry was performed on 11 samples. RESULTS: Mutations in the β-catenin gene were identified in 64% of the adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas samples. Evidence of β-catenin gene overexpression was found in 71% of the tumors with β-catenin mutations and in 40% of the tumors without mutations, and β-catenin immunohistochemistry revealed a nuclear staining pattern for each of the analyzed samples. PROP1 expression was undetectable in all of the tumor samples. CONCLUSION: We found evidence of β-catenin gene overexpression in the majority of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, and we also detected a nuclear β-catenin staining pattern regardless of the presence of a bcatenin gene mutation. These results suggest that WNT signaling activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. Additionally, this study was the first to evaluate PROP1 expression in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, and the absence of PROP1 expression indicates that this gene is not involved in the pathogenesis of this tumor, at least in this cohort

HEALTH MANAGEMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: THREE CASE STUDIES

Information Technology (IT) may offer organizations and their members an alternative for the future that is not based in the automation logic of Taylor’s Scientific Management. Nevertheless, this paper demonstrates that when managers do not comprehend the transforming potential of IT or the need to implement strategies that contemplate the social characteristics of the organizational environment, they may face adverse results. This research analyses three cases of IT implementation in a large private hospital. Its main objective was to verify the increase in social complexity due to the growing use of IT.As tecnologias da informação (TI) poderão oferecer às organizações e seus membros uma alternativa para o futuro que não esteja calcada na lógica da Administração Científica da automação. Entretanto, como mostra este trabalho, a não-compreensão do potencial transformador da TI e a não-adoção de uma estratégia de implementação que contemple as características do contexto social poderá resultar em efeitos adversos para as organizações. Esta pesquisa analisa três casos de implementação de TI em um hospital privado de grande porte. Seu principal objetivo foi analisar o aumento da complexidade social e técnica que emerge com o emprego crescente de TI