Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time, and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space. While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes, vast areas of the tropics remain understudied. In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity, but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases. To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge, it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Cashew nut meal as feed supplement for lambs

Cashew nut meal (CNM) is widely used in tropical countries due to the high protein and energy levels; therefore, it has potential to be an alternative feed supplementation for livestock. Our objective was to evaluate the use of CNM as feed supplement for lambs. Twenty-four lambs were divided into a randomized block design with four treatments, starting with a diet control of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) hay and CNM as a supplement at three different levels representing 6, 12, and 18% of the total mixed ration (TMR) provided. There were evaluated intake (g/day and g/kgBW0.75); the digestibility of DM and nutrients; nitrogen balance; and ingestive behavior. The CP and ether extract (EE) intake (g/day) as well as DM, and organic matter (OM) intake (g/kgBW0.75) were influenced by supplementation with CNM in a positive linear increase (P < 0.05). The digestibility of DM, OM and NDF increased according to the levels of CNM up to 12% and markedly decreased at the higher level (P < 0.05). The EE and CP digestibility raised according to the CNM levels (P < 0.05) and consequently increased the nitrogen retention resulting in a positive nitrogen balance. The protein and energetic characteristics of CNM show that it can be used as an alternative supplementation to low-quality forages for lambs. However, its use as a single supplement ingredient above 7% on total mixed ration may reduce fiber digestibility

Parâmetros nutricionais e padrões nictemeral do comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros Somalis Brasileira alimentados com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável

O presente estudo foi conduzido para determinar o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, bem como o comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros Somalis Brasileira, alimentados com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável (EM). Foram utilizados 40 animais, não castrados, com peso vivo médio de 13,47±1,76kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco dietas com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável (1,18; 2,07; 2,25; 2,42 e 2,69Mcal/kg de MS). O consumo de MS, PB, FDN, CF (g/dia), MS (g/kg0,75) e FDN (%PC e g/kg0,75) apresentaram efeito quadrático (P<0,05), assim como os coeficientes de digestibilidade (P<0,05) da PB, da FDN e dos CF. Foi averiguado efeito linear crescente (P<0,05) para digestibilidade da MS, da MO e dos CNF com o aumento da EM na dieta. Os tempos de alimentação e ócio (h/dia) foram influenciados pelos níveis de energia (P<0,05), e as eficiências de alimentação e ruminação (g FDN/h) apresentaram efeito quadrático (P<0,05). Conclui-se que o aumento dos níveis de EM das rações influencia o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, bem como o comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros Somalis Brasileira

Phenolic compounds of Triplaris gardneriana can protect cells against oxidative stress and restore oxidative balance

This work aimed to add value to an underexploited plant species from Brazil, Triplaris gardneriana. To that, the phenolic compounds profile of its seed ethanolic extract and fractions was examined by HPLC and the antioxidant capacity assessed using chemical assays as well as in vitro cell imaging. Twelve compounds were quantified and classified as either phenolic acids or flavonoids. The fractionation process did not generate fractions with different compositions except for chloroformic fraction, which showed only 6 out of 12 standard compounds used. DPPH assay revealed samples with a concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity, being methanolic fraction the one with the largest activity (SC50 11.45 ± 0.02 μg/mL). Lipid peroxidation assessment, in the presence and absence of stress inducer, showed that particularly the ethanol extract (IC50 26.75 ± 0.08 μg/mL) and the ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 6.14 ± 0.03 μg/mL) could inhibit lipid peroxidation. The ethyl acetate fraction performed best in chelating iron (48% complexation at 1000 μg/mL). Cell imaging experiments showed that the ethanolic extract could protect cells against oxidative stress as well as restore the oxidative balance upon stress induction. In conclusion, T. gardneriana seeds showed a promising phenolic compounds profile and antioxidant activity that may be further exploited

Phenolic compounds of Triplaris gardneriana can protect cells against oxidative stress and restore oxidative balance

This work aimed to add value to an underexploited plant species from Brazil, Triplaris gardneriana. To that, the phenolic compounds profile of its seed ethanolic extract and fractions was examined by HPLC and the antioxidant capacity assessed using chemical assays as well as in vitro cell imaging. Twelve compounds were quantified and classified as either phenolic acids or flavonoids. The fractionation process did not generate fractions with different compositions except for chloroformic fraction, which showed only 6 out of 12 standard compounds used. DPPH assay revealed samples with a concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity, being methanolic fraction the one with the largest activity (SC50 11.45 ± 0.02 μg/mL). Lipid peroxidation assessment, in the presence and absence of stress inducer, showed that particularly the ethanol extract (IC50 26.75 ± 0.08 μg/mL) and the ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 6.14 ± 0.03 μg/mL) could inhibit lipid peroxidation. The ethyl acetate fraction performed best in chelating iron (48% complexation at 1000 μg/mL). Cell imaging experiments showed that the ethanolic extract could protect cells against oxidative stress as well as restore the oxidative balance upon stress induction. In conclusion, T. gardneriana seeds showed a promising phenolic compounds profile and antioxidant activity that may be further exploited