Through the Looking-Glass: reflection of ant-diversity in ant-mimics

Trabalho final de mestrado integrado em Medicina, apresentado à Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra.Todos os anos nascem cerca de 15 milhões de crianças prematuras em todo o mundo e mais de 1 milhão morre no primeiro mês devido a várias complicações. A sobrevivência de um prematuro é cada vez maior devido aos avanços nos cuidados perinatais, contudo estas crianças sofrem frequentemente de morbilidade respiratória crónica. Os recém-nascidos prematuros têm um risco aumentado de possuírem alterações na função pulmonar durante a infância, adolescência e idade adulta, bem como um risco aumentado de infeções respiratórias, asma e doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica. Estes problemas respiratórios são particularmente evidentes quando estas crianças prematuras desenvolvem displasia broncopulmonar. O objetivo deste trabalho passa deste modo por destacar quais as principais complicações a nível do sistema respiratório dos nascimentos pré-termo, salientando a importância de um correto desenvolvimento do aparelho respiratório na fase pré-natal e pósnatal.An estimated 15 million of babies are born too early every year around the world and over 1 million die in the first month due to various complications. Recent advances in perinatal care have increased the survival rates of preterm birth however, this improved survival has led to an increase in significant chronic respiratory morbidity. The children born preterm have an increased risk of abnormal lung function during childhood, adolescence and adulthood, as well as respiratory infections, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These respiratory problems are particularly evident when these preterm birth develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BDP). The purpose of this work is thus to highlight what are the main complications in the respiratory system due to preterm birth emphasizing the importance of a correct development of the respiratory system in prenatal and postnatal phase

Evidence in stable isotope ratios for lichen‐feeding by Lithosiini moths from a tropical rainforest but not from a temperate forest

Lithosiini (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) is distinctive in having some species that feed on lichens, whereas the majority of moths feed on vascular plants. However, the larval diet of most Lithosiini species is poorly known. This study examines whether Lithosiini species, collected in a tropical rainforest of Borneo (nine species) and a temperate forest of Japan (eight species), feed on lichens as larvae, based on stable isotope analyses. As a result, the δ¹⁵N values for eight of nine Lithosiini species collected from Borneo were notably lower than those of nine co-occurring herbivorous non-Lithosiini species, and were similar to those of sympatric, lichen-feeding termites; however, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of one Lithosiini species (Adites sp.) were significantly higher than those of the other moth species and similar to those of humus-feeding termites and predatory insects occurring at the same site. These results have suggested that the Lithosiini in the Southeast Asian tropical rainforests contain some species that feed on lichens as their larval main diet and at least one species whose larvae feed on humus or animal-derived materials. In contrast, the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of all examined Lithosiini species (eight species) in the temperate forest have suggested that their larvae fed on plants and not on lichens. Our stable isotope ratio analysis presented quantitative evidence suggesting lichen-feeding by Lithosiini moths in a tropical rainforest without observation of feeding behavior during the larval stages

キノコシロアリ ニ オケル キョウセイ キノコ ノ ヤクワリ ト ソノ シンカ

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(理学)甲第9375号理博第2510号新制||理||1282(附属図書館)UT51-2002-G133(主査)教授 清水 勇, 教授 山村 則男, 教授 今福 道夫学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of ScienceKyoto UniversityDA

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis on the diet of Jomon populations from two coastal regions of Japan

We report on a stable isotope paleodietary reconstruction of Jomon populations in Japan during the Middle to Final Jomon period (ca. 5000–2300 years BP), focusing on dietary differences within and among populations and between regions. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was performed on human and faunal bone collagen from six coastal sites along the Inland Sea in the Sanyo (Ota, Funamoto, and Tsukumo) region and along Mikawa Bay and the Pacific Ocean in the Tokai (Kawaji, Yoshigo, and Inariyama) region. We found that carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were positively correlated, indicating that the Jomon people consumed a mixed diet of marine (shellfish and marine fish) and terrestrial (C3 plants and terrestrial mammals) protein. In the Ota samples (n = 25, during the Middle Jomon period, 5000–4000 years BP), sex was one of the main reasons for the intra-population dietary variation. Ota males consumed greater amounts of marine food, while Ota females consumed greater amounts of terrestrial food; these dissimilar diets may have been related to the sexual division of labor. Significant inter-population dietary differences were found, which may have been related to differences in age or site location. Notably, the two coastal regions showed clear isotopic differences. Nitrogen isotope ratios of individuals from the Sanyo region were significantly higher than ratios of individuals from the Tokai region. The individuals in the Sanyo region might have consumed a diet high in aquatic foods, particularly high trophic level marine fish, whereas the individuals in the Tokai region might have consumed a lot of marine shellfish. Another possible reason for the regional isotopic difference might have been different baseline of nitrogen isotope ratios of the marine ecosystems

Seasonal Effects on Microbial Community Structure and Nitrogen Dynamics in Temperate Forest Soil

The soil microbial community and nitrogen (N) dynamics change seasonally due to several factors. The microbial community structure (MCS) can regulate N dynamics. However, there is insufficient information on seasonal changes in MCS and the relationship between MCS and N dynamics. We investigated MCS and N dynamics in forest soils with two different fertilities throughout a year. MCS, measured with phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, showed a consistent seasonal trend, regardless of the fertility. Microbial indices (particularly the Saturated-/monounsaturated-PLFA ratio; Sat/mono) indicated a major PLFA shift among seasons, with temperature likely the most important factor. The fungal-/bacterial-PLFA ratio in the dormant season (December–April) was approximately 1.3 times greater than in the growing season (June–November). The trend in N dynamics showed that in summer (June–August), the gross N mineralization potential was greater than immobilization, whereas in winter (December–April), immobilization was dominant. The net mineralization potential in the growing season was approximately 1.6 times higher than in the dormant season. Moreover, a relationship was found between Sat/mono and N transformation potentials. We highlight the microbial sensitivity to seasonal dynamics which can be associated with temperature, as well as carbon and N dynamics