Population structure of the seahorse Hippocampus reidi (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) in a Brazilian semi-arid estuary

Abstract The longsnout seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) is a vulnerable species found along most of the Brazilian coastline, such as semi-arid estuaries with strong rainfall seasonality, hypersalinity, and low depth. To evaluate the population structure of H. reidi over time, we monitored the seahorse population in the Pacoti estuary (Brazil) for one year, based on 248 registered specimens. Salinity, water transparency, sex, pregnancy, body height, and holdfast use were registered. Mixed linear models revealed that sampling month, salinity, and transparency had no influence on population density in the lower zone of the estuary. Pregnant individuals were more frequent in the dry season and at higher salinities. Mean body height (12.7 cm) increased in the dry season. Bright colors were predominant. The seahorses employed nine types of holdfasts, most often mangrove roots, and were found to reproduce throughout the year, peaking in the dry season. Salinity and transparency did not impact population density. In Brazilian semi-arid estuaries, the longsnout seahorse is strongly associated with mangrove vegetation, used as holdfast. Therefore, the conservation of seahorse populations depends on the conservation of the local mangrove forests

Development of technologies to support the diagnosis of infectious diseases and cancer to support the primary health care

54/2017). Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).Purpose: Primary Health Care (PHC) is the coordinator of health care in Brazil and needs to be strengthened in the diagnostic field to increase health care quality. Aiming to improve the diagnostic tools currently available in PHC, this work describes the process of development and validation of two point-of-care biomedical devices for screening patients with syphilis or different kinds of cancer. Methods: The development of these devices followed nine stages of action based on the requirements established by the Ministry of Health. During development, both systems followed the stages of circuit planning, software simulation to verify the components used, cost assessment for the acquisition of features, simulation in contact matrix, development of the embedded system, and planning of the printed circuit board and storage box. Results: Both devices underwent preliminary functionality tests to assess their quality. The performance tests applied on the device to diagnose syphilis performed 8,733,194 requests, with a flow of 2426 requests/second, reaching the desired parameters of robustness, integrity, durability, and stability. In addition, functioning tests on the cancer-screening device indicated the ability to detect standard fluorescence in a minimal (150 uL) sample volume. Conclusions: Together, the methodology used for developing the devices resulted in promising equipment to improve the diagnosis and meet the requirements for executing technologies for testing and triaging patients in PHC.publishersversionpublishe

Efeito de invasões biológicas na dieta da ictiofauna : um estudo de caso e uma revisão sistematizada

Orientador: Prof. Dr. André Andrian PadialCoorientador: Prof. Dr. Gustavo Henrique Zaia AlvesDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação. Defesa : Curitiba, 14/10/2021Inclui referênciasResumo: O estabelecimento de espécies exóticas invasoras é um dos maiores problemas para a conservação de espécies nativas. Compreender os papéis de exóticos invasores na cadeia alimentar de ecossistemas invadidos é fundamental para a previsão dos possíveis impactos gerados pelos invasores, auxiliando na criação de estratégias de prevenção e mitigação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar como a dieta de peixes nativos é alterada pela presença de espécies exóticas. O capítulo 1 analisa a influência de uma espécie de macrófita invasora sobre a diversidade da dieta do peixe carnívoro Hoplias malabaricus, a traíra. A hipótese deste estudo é que a diversidade da dieta deve ser menor nas áreas dominadas pela planta invasora. O estudo foi realizado no Rio Guaraguaçu, um rio subtropical de maré localizado no estado do Paraná, Brasil. A amostragem foi realizada em pontos amostrais dispostos de forma pareada em habitats com e sem a presença da gramínea aquática invasora Urochloa arrecta. As dietas de peixes capturados associados à espécie de macrófita invasora e peixes associados às espécies de macrófitas nativas foram comparadas utilizando o volume dos itens alimentares para calcular a diversidade da dieta em cada habitat. A análise indicou que indivíduos de H. malabaricus associados à U. arrecta apresentam uma menor amplitude de nicho e diversidade de itens alimentares quando comparados aqueles associados a bancos multiespecíficos de macrófitas nativas. Contudo, é necessária a análise de mais espécies de predadores de topo da ictiofauna para indicar se há simplificação de dieta afetando de forma generalizada peixes de diversos níveis tróficos. O capítulo 2 tem como objetivo sintetizar informações de artigos que reportaram alterações na dieta de peixes nativos após eventos de invasão biológica. Após busca de artigos, 199 estudos foram selecionados para nossas análises. As áreas de estudo estavam distribuídas entre 38 países, mas a maioria dos estudos foram realizados nos Estados Unidos. Lagos, rios e reservatórios foram os ecossistemas de água doce mais estudados. Peixes classificados como não ameaçados foram os mais analisados, com o foco dos estudos sendo espécies com importância comercial e esportiva. As presas invasoras mais frequentes foram espécies de peixes exóticos. Foram registrados 15 tipos de alterações na dieta de peixes, sendo mais relatada a inclusão da espécie exótica na dieta do peixe nativo. Usamos características das espécies de predador e presa para explicar a participação de espécies invasoras em dieta de peixes nativos. Dentre essas, a relação de tamanho entre espécie invasora e nativa foi o principal fator relacionado com a participação das espécies exóticas na dieta de peixes nativos.Abstract: The establishment of invasive introduced species is one of the biggest problems for the conservation of native species. Understanding the roles of introduced invaders in the food chain of invaded ecosystems is essential for predicting the possible impacts generated by introduced species, helping to create prevention and mitigation strategies. The aim of this dissertation was to analyze how the diet of native fish is altered by the presence of exotic species. Chapter 1 analyzes the influence of an invasive macrophyte species on the dietary diversity of the carnivorous fish Hoplias malabaricus, the trahira. The hypothesis of this study is that dietary diversity should be lower in areas dominated by the invasive plant. The study was carried out on the Rio Guaraguaçu, a subtropical tidal river located in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Sampling was carried out with sampling points arranged in pairs in habitats with and without invasion of the invasive aquatic grass Urochloa arrecta. The diets of captured fish associated with the invasive macrophyte species and fish associated with the native macrophyte species were compared using the volume of food items to calculate the dietary diversity in each habitat. The analysis indicated that individuals of H. malabaricus associated with U. arrecta have a smaller niche breadth and diversity of food items when compared to those associated with multispecific banks of native macrophytes. However, it is necessary to analyze more species of top predators of the ichthyofauna to indicate whether there is a simplification of diet affecting in a generalized way fish of different trophic levels. Chapter 2 aims to synthesize information from articles that reported changes in the diet of native fish after biological invasion events. After searching for articles, 199 studies were selected for our analyses. The study areas were distributed among 38 countries, but most studies were carried out in the United States. Lakes, rivers and reservoirs were the most studied freshwater ecosystems. Fish classified as non-threatened were the most analyzed, with the focus of the studies being species with commercial and sporting importance. The most frequent invasive prey were exotic fish species. Fifteen types of changes in the diet of fish were recorded, with the most reported inclusion of the exotic species in the diet of native fish. We use characteristics of predator and prey species to explain the participation of invasive species in native fish. Among these, the size ratio between invasive and native species was the main factor related to the participation of exotic species in the diet of native fish

Efeito de invasões biológicas na dieta da ictiofauna : um estudo de caso e uma revisão sistematizada

Orientador: Prof. Dr. André Andrian PadialCoorientador: Prof. Dr. Gustavo Henrique Zaia AlvesDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação. Defesa : Curitiba, 14/10/2021Inclui referênciasResumo: O estabelecimento de espécies exóticas invasoras é um dos maiores problemas para a conservação de espécies nativas. Compreender os papéis de exóticos invasores na cadeia alimentar de ecossistemas invadidos é fundamental para a previsão dos possíveis impactos gerados pelos invasores, auxiliando na criação de estratégias de prevenção e mitigação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar como a dieta de peixes nativos é alterada pela presença de espécies exóticas. O capítulo 1 analisa a influência de uma espécie de macrófita invasora sobre a diversidade da dieta do peixe carnívoro Hoplias malabaricus, a traíra. A hipótese deste estudo é que a diversidade da dieta deve ser menor nas áreas dominadas pela planta invasora. O estudo foi realizado no Rio Guaraguaçu, um rio subtropical de maré localizado no estado do Paraná, Brasil. A amostragem foi realizada em pontos amostrais dispostos de forma pareada em habitats com e sem a presença da gramínea aquática invasora Urochloa arrecta. As dietas de peixes capturados associados à espécie de macrófita invasora e peixes associados às espécies de macrófitas nativas foram comparadas utilizando o volume dos itens alimentares para calcular a diversidade da dieta em cada habitat. A análise indicou que indivíduos de H. malabaricus associados à U. arrecta apresentam uma menor amplitude de nicho e diversidade de itens alimentares quando comparados aqueles associados a bancos multiespecíficos de macrófitas nativas. Contudo, é necessária a análise de mais espécies de predadores de topo da ictiofauna para indicar se há simplificação de dieta afetando de forma generalizada peixes de diversos níveis tróficos. O capítulo 2 tem como objetivo sintetizar informações de artigos que reportaram alterações na dieta de peixes nativos após eventos de invasão biológica. Após busca de artigos, 199 estudos foram selecionados para nossas análises. As áreas de estudo estavam distribuídas entre 38 países, mas a maioria dos estudos foram realizados nos Estados Unidos. Lagos, rios e reservatórios foram os ecossistemas de água doce mais estudados. Peixes classificados como não ameaçados foram os mais analisados, com o foco dos estudos sendo espécies com importância comercial e esportiva. As presas invasoras mais frequentes foram espécies de peixes exóticos. Foram registrados 15 tipos de alterações na dieta de peixes, sendo mais relatada a inclusão da espécie exótica na dieta do peixe nativo. Usamos características das espécies de predador e presa para explicar a participação de espécies invasoras em dieta de peixes nativos. Dentre essas, a relação de tamanho entre espécie invasora e nativa foi o principal fator relacionado com a participação das espécies exóticas na dieta de peixes nativos.Abstract: The establishment of invasive introduced species is one of the biggest problems for the conservation of native species. Understanding the roles of introduced invaders in the food chain of invaded ecosystems is essential for predicting the possible impacts generated by introduced species, helping to create prevention and mitigation strategies. The aim of this dissertation was to analyze how the diet of native fish is altered by the presence of exotic species. Chapter 1 analyzes the influence of an invasive macrophyte species on the dietary diversity of the carnivorous fish Hoplias malabaricus, the trahira. The hypothesis of this study is that dietary diversity should be lower in areas dominated by the invasive plant. The study was carried out on the Rio Guaraguaçu, a subtropical tidal river located in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Sampling was carried out with sampling points arranged in pairs in habitats with and without invasion of the invasive aquatic grass Urochloa arrecta. The diets of captured fish associated with the invasive macrophyte species and fish associated with the native macrophyte species were compared using the volume of food items to calculate the dietary diversity in each habitat. The analysis indicated that individuals of H. malabaricus associated with U. arrecta have a smaller niche breadth and diversity of food items when compared to those associated with multispecific banks of native macrophytes. However, it is necessary to analyze more species of top predators of the ichthyofauna to indicate whether there is a simplification of diet affecting in a generalized way fish of different trophic levels. Chapter 2 aims to synthesize information from articles that reported changes in the diet of native fish after biological invasion events. After searching for articles, 199 studies were selected for our analyses. The study areas were distributed among 38 countries, but most studies were carried out in the United States. Lakes, rivers and reservoirs were the most studied freshwater ecosystems. Fish classified as non-threatened were the most analyzed, with the focus of the studies being species with commercial and sporting importance. The most frequent invasive prey were exotic fish species. Fifteen types of changes in the diet of fish were recorded, with the most reported inclusion of the exotic species in the diet of native fish. We use characteristics of predator and prey species to explain the participation of invasive species in native fish. Among these, the size ratio between invasive and native species was the main factor related to the participation of exotic species in the diet of native fish

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Performance of a modular ton-scale pixel-readout liquid argon time projection chamber

International audienceThe Module-0 Demonstrator is a single-phase 600 kg liquid argon time projection chamber operated as a prototype for the DUNE liquid argon near detector. Based on the ArgonCube design concept, Module-0 features a novel 80k-channel pixelated charge readout and advanced high-coverage photon detection system. In this paper, we present an analysis of an eight-day data set consisting of 25 million cosmic ray events collected in the spring of 2021. We use this sample to demonstrate the imaging performance of the charge and light readout systems as well as the signal correlations between the two. We also report argon purity and detector uniformity measurements, and provide comparisons to detector simulations

Performance of a modular ton-scale pixel-readout liquid argon time projection chamber

International audienceThe Module-0 Demonstrator is a single-phase 600 kg liquid argon time projection chamber operated as a prototype for the DUNE liquid argon near detector. Based on the ArgonCube design concept, Module-0 features a novel 80k-channel pixelated charge readout and advanced high-coverage photon detection system. In this paper, we present an analysis of an eight-day data set consisting of 25 million cosmic ray events collected in the spring of 2021. We use this sample to demonstrate the imaging performance of the charge and light readout systems as well as the signal correlations between the two. We also report argon purity and detector uniformity measurements, and provide comparisons to detector simulations

Performance of a modular ton-scale pixel-readout liquid argon time projection chamber

International audienceThe Module-0 Demonstrator is a single-phase 600 kg liquid argon time projection chamber operated as a prototype for the DUNE liquid argon near detector. Based on the ArgonCube design concept, Module-0 features a novel 80k-channel pixelated charge readout and advanced high-coverage photon detection system. In this paper, we present an analysis of an eight-day data set consisting of 25 million cosmic ray events collected in the spring of 2021. We use this sample to demonstrate the imaging performance of the charge and light readout systems as well as the signal correlations between the two. We also report argon purity and detector uniformity measurements, and provide comparisons to detector simulations