Diel and seasonal changes in the spatial behaviour of a soft-sediment fish (Solea senegalensis) inside a marine reserve

The protection provided by marine reserves directly depends on the short and long-term movement patterns of local organisms. Although there has been an increase in research assessing the behavioural patterns of fishes in reef-based habitats, there is still a paucity of studies addressing the benefits of marine protected areas (MPAs) for soft-sediment species. Here, we investigated both diel and seasonal shifts in spatial behaviour of the Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis, within a recently-established marine reserve using long-term passive acoustic telemetry. Results showed variable levels of site attachment, with nearly half of the fish (n = 8) disappearing from the monitored area within 30 days, and the remaining (n = 9) being detected for periods up to 293 days and spending 95% of their time within an average area of 0.88 ± 0.46 km2. Although detection frequency was higher during daytime periods, the larger home range areas and greater movement observed during nighttime periods are consistent with a nocturnal activity regime, which might increase the vulnerability of S. senegalensis to illegal fishing. Additionally, patterns observed during the spawning season suggest the existence of shifts in habitat use linked with reproductive activity, opening the door to further research on soles' fine-scale interaction dynamics. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the ecology of a flatfish species and suggests that small no-take areas encompassing suitable soft-sediment habitats can offer adequate protection to at least part of the Senegalese sole population.EU LIFEBIOMARES Project (LIFE06 NAT/P/000192)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reduced global genetic differentiation of exploited marine fish species

Knowledge on genetic structure is key to understand species connectivity patterns and to define the spatiotemporal scales over which conservation management plans should be designed and implemented. The distribution of genetic diversity (within and among populations) greatly influences species ability to cope and adapt to environmental changes, ultimately determining their long-term resilience to ecological disturbances. Yet, the drivers shaping connectivity and structure in marine fish populations remain elusive, as are the effects of fishing activities on genetic subdivision. To investigate these questions, we conducted a meta-analysis and compiled genetic differentiation data (FST/ΦST estimates) for more than 170 fish species from over 200 published studies globally distributed. We modeled the effects of multiple life-history traits, distance metrics, and methodological factors on observed population differentiation indices and specifically tested whether any signal arising from different exposure to fishing exploitation could be detected. Although the myriad of variables shaping genetic structure makes it challenging to isolate the influence of single drivers, results showed a significant correlation between commercial importance and genetic structure, with widespread lower population differentiation in commercially exploited species. Moreover, models indicate that variables commonly used as proxy for connectivity, such as larval pelagic duration, might be insufficient, and suggest that deep-sea species may disperse further. Overall, these results contribute to the growing body of knowledge on marine genetic connectivity and suggest a potential effect of commercial fisheries on the homogenization of genetic diversity, highlighting the need for additional research focused on dispersal ecology to ensure long-term sustainability of exploited marine species.MAR-01.04.02-FEAMP-0015, UIDB/04326/2020, PTDC/BIA-CBI/6515/2020, DL57/2016/CP1361/CT0035, DL 57/2016/CP1361/CT0036info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The multi-annual residency of juvenile smooth hammerhead shark in an oceanic island nursery

The increased risk of local extinction becomes critical for sharks depending on the narrow and isolated coastal habitats of oceanic islands. This includes large pelagic oceanic sharks that use such habitats as nurseries, as previously hypothesized for the smooth hammerhead Sphyrna zygaena, the least known of cosmopolitan large hammerhead sharks. We used a combination of acoustic and satellite telemetry in a juvenile population of Faial and Pico islands, Azores, mid-north Atlantic, to confirm if this isolated archipelago holds nurseries, and to answer questions related to their function and spatial-temporal stability. Our long-term acoustic tracking data showed a cluster of individual core home ranges in specific areas of north shore Faial, and surface positions from five Argos-linked tagged individuals also showed a clustering overlap in those areas for up to 1 year. These patterns seem to reveal a true habitat preference within the Faial-Pico island (sub) population of juvenile smooth hammerhead shark, and thus constitute strong evidence for this area to be considered a nursery. Some individuals remained in this nursery for up to 4 years, especially during summers. Sharks also showed a strong diel behavior, typically using the inshore nurseries during the day and moving further offshore during the night, during which they increased activity and dove deeper, most possibly to feed. We speculate that a combination of increased feeding opportunities, expanded trophic niche, and reduced predatory pressure may be a key evolutionary driver for the existence, prolonged use, and even preference of coastal nurseries at oceanic islands by juvenile smooth hammerhead shark. Given that these nurseries may constitute essential fish habitat for this species, they should be explicitly included in spatial management measures at the local and regional scales, as they may also play a role of greater importance to the north Atlantic population of this oceanic species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A dataset of cetacean occurrences in the Eastern North Atlantic

The CETUS project is a cetacean monitoring program that takes advantage of cargo ships to undertake survey routes between Continental Portugal, Macaronesian archipelagos and West Africa. From 2012 to 2017, over 50 volunteers participated in the program, actively surveying more than 124.000 km, mostly beyond national jurisdictions in the high seas, for which little or no previous data existed. In total, the collection comprises 3058 georeferenced transect lines and 8913 positions, which are associated with 2833 cetacean sightings, 362 occurrences of other pelagic megafauna, 5260 estimates of marine traffic and 8887 weather observations. This dataset may provide new insights into the distribution of marine mammals in the Eastern North Atlantic and was published following the OBIS-ENV-DATA format (with the most recent biodiversity data standards at the time of writing). Consequently, it may serve as a model for similar visual line transect data collections yet to be published.Portuguese national funding agency for science, research and technology (FCT) /BD/100606/2014info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Suplementação de acidificantes em rações de leitões desmamados: desempenho e digestibilidade

Em dois ensaios experimentais avaliou-se efeito dietético da suplementação de acidificantes sobre o desempenho (ensaio 1) e coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes (ensaio 2) em suínos. No ensaio 1, com duração de 42 dias, 120 leitões desmamados aos 21 dias foram distribuídos em oito blocos experimentais com três leitões por baia, foram aplicados cinco tratamentos, sendo um controle e quatro com a inclusão de acidificantes. No ensaio 2, dez leitões com peso médio inicial de 16,4 kg foram distribuídos em dois blocos experimentais, cada um com cinco repetições, sob dois tratamentos (ração sem acidificante ou com 1,0% de ácido fumárico). No estudo de desempenho, a adição de ácido fumárico nas rações determinou aumentos no consumo de ração nos períodos de 0 aos 15 dias, 0 aos 32 dias e ganho de peso de 0 aos 42 dias, quando comparado ao tratamento controle. No ensaio 2, a adição de 1,0% de ácido fumárico na ração não alterou os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca e demais componentes químicos das dietas. A ausência de diferenças nos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes dietéticos com a inclusão do acidificante, provavelmente deveu-se ao curto período de avaliação. A inclusão de ácido fumárico nas rações de leitões desmamados favoreceu o desempenho dos leitões.In two experimental assays it was evaluated the diet acidifier supplementation effect on performance (assay 1) and on nutrient apparent digestibility coefficients (assay 2). During 42 days in assay 1, 120 piglets weaned at 21-days years old were allotted in eight experimental block design with three pigs per experimental unit. The treatments were a control and four acidified diets. In assay 2, 10ten piglets with an average weight of 16,4 kg were allotted in two experimental block design receiving two treatments under five replications (control diet without acidifier or supplied with 1,0% fumaric acid). On performance study the fumaric acid inclusion in the diet permitted a feed intake increase from 0 to 15 days, and weight gain from 0 to 32 days and from 0 to 42 days. In assay 2, the diet 1,0% of fumaric acid inclusion did not modified the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and moreover diet chemical compounds. The similar apparent digestibility coefficient of dietetic nutrients with the acidifier inclusion probably occurred due to the short period of evaluation. The fumaric acid inclusion in weaned piglet diets improved performance of piglets

Influence of socio-economic indicators and territorial networks at the spatiotemporal spread dynamics of Covid-19 in Brazil

This work aims to provide an overview of the territorial evolution of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in Brazil using socio-demographic variables, for the time span between February 26, 2020 until January 24, 2021. Socio-demographic indicators, basic sanitation infrastructure data, and epidemiological bulletins were integrated using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to develop a social vulnerability index (SVI), to estimate the degree of exposure risk of the Brazilian population to COVID-19. The results indicate that the majority of confirmed cases were reported from the main Brazilian capitals, linked to well-developed port and airport modes. In terms of deaths, the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará and Pernambuco were at the top of the ranking. On the contrary, there were some states of the mid-west (Mato Grosso do Sul) and the north (Acre, Amapá, Roraima, Rondônia and Tocantins), that recorded low mortality indexes. The SVI reveals that the states of the north and north-east are the most vulnerable. Regarding the metropolitan areas, it was observed that the main capitals of the north and north-east, with the exception of Salvador, present significantly more critical numbers in terms of dissemination and deaths by COVID-19 than the capitals of the south-southeast, where the SVI is lower. The comparative exception was Santa Catarina state metropolitan areas. Finally, as the virus does not strike everyone in the same way, one of the great challenges is to search for solutions to cope with COVID-19 in the face of very unequal realities. Thus, a reflection on the strategies adopted by the Brazilian government is relevant, while considering the continental dimensions and the diversity of the Brazilian regions, to obtain a better analysis of the more vulnerable populations and social groups

Construção de política para gestão de resíduos na Universidade de São Paulo como modelo para implementação da PNRS em IES

The actual scenario of the University of São Paulo (USP) has, in an isolated form, various environmental initiatives in diverse fronts, according to the reality of its campi. In 2010, USP designated an Environmental Management coordinator attached to the university’s rectory. The following year USP approved the its Environmental Policy, that promotes environmental sustainability in all its campi. In 2012 the Environmental Management Superintendence (SGA) was created as an office responsible for environmental management of the university, with the objective of developing norms for environmental issues in agreement to the proposed environmental policy. This superintendence created in 2012 a Working Group for dealing with issues related to solid residues generated in USP. This group, composed of specialists in this area and coordinated by an member of the SGA, developed, using participative processes, strategies and procedures for the elaboration and implementation of the Solid Residue Management Policy (PGRUSP). This policy following a previous model (PUSP-C, 2010), has as objective adequate the National Solid Residue Policy (PNRS) to the university’s environment. An initial version of the PGRUSP was presented to the academic community in a Forum promoted by the SGA. In this occasion, representatives of all the categories coming from the university’s different campi, apart from members of the external community, analyzed the document and made suggestions on its contents that were later included in the final document. PGRUSP determines the elaboration of Residue Management Plans in all the units that belong to USP. At this moment, the Working Group is elaborating directives for the training of the academic community for the execution of an ample residue diagnosis, with the objective of also mobilizing and publicizing the directives of the PGRUSP. The training and residue management plan construction presupposes learning about the practical issues of residue management. Data production and indicator construction will be the basis for the continuous and efficient implementation of this policy. For the ordering of the data a virtual platform is being developed. With such a platform, USP pretends to control generation, stocking, treatment and destination of Solid Residues produced in its academic units. It pretends with this database, to generate information that will permit the SGA to make decisions that will improve residue management in USP’s campi and, consequently, minimize environmental impacts caused in all levels of its activities. O cenário atual da Universidade de São Paulo (USP) tem, isoladamente, diversas ações ambientais em diferentes frentes, de acordo com a realidade de seus campi. Em 2010, a USP designou um coordenador de Gestão Ambiental junto à Reitoria. No ano seguinte, regulamentou a Política Ambiental da USP, que visa promover a sustentabilidade ambiental nos campi. Em 2012, foi criado um órgão institucional responsável pela gestão ambiental, a Superintendência de Gestão Ambiental (SGA), que tem como premissa ditar normas para questões ambientais em consonância com a política ambiental proposta. Esta superintendência formou, em 2012, um Grupo de Trabalho para cuidar das questões relativas aos resíduos gerados na USP. Tal grupo, composto por especialistas na área, sob a coordenação de um assessor de gabinete da própria SGA, priorizou desenvolver, através de processos participativos, estratégias e procedimentos para elaboração e implantação de uma Política de Gestão de Resíduos (PGRUSP), com base na Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos. A PGRUSP prevê a elaboração dos planos de gerenciamento de resíduos em todas as unidades pertencentes à USP e prevê também a capacitação da comunidade acadêmica para a realização de um diagnóstico de resíduos e sistematização dos indicadores numa plataforma virtual unificada de resíduos. Assim, pretende-se controlar tanto os insumos utilizados como a geração, o armazenamento, os tratamentos e os descartes relacionados aos resíduos gerados em nossas Unidades e, consequentemente, minimizar impactos ambientais causados em todos os níveis e atividades

Construction of a Residue Management Policy in the University of São Paulo: A model for the implementation of the NSRP in HEI

O cenário atual da Universidade de São Paulo (USP) tem, isoladamente, diversas ações ambientais em diferentes frentes, de acordo com a realidade de seus campi. \ud Em 2010, a USP designou um coordenador de Gestão Ambiental junto à Reitoria. No ano seguinte, regulamentou a Política Ambiental da USP, que visa promover a \ud sustentabilidade ambiental nos campi. Em 2012, foi criado um órgão institucional responsável pela gestão ambiental, a Superintendência de Gestão Ambiental (SGA), \ud que tem como premissa ditar normas para questões ambientais em consonância com a política ambiental proposta. Esta superintendência formou, em 2012, um \ud Grupo de Trabalho para cuidar das questões relativas aos resíduos gerados na USP. Tal grupo, composto por especialistas na área, sob a coordenação de um assessor \ud de gabinete da própria SGA, priorizou desenvolver, através de processos participativos, estratégias e procedimentos para elaboração e implantação de uma Política de \ud Gestão de Resíduos (PGRUSP). Esta Política, aos moldes de um trabalho anterior (PUSP-C, 2010), tem como proposta adequar as especificidades contidas na Política \ud Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos, para o contexto universitário.Uma versão inicial da PGRUSP foi apresentadapara a comunidade acadêmica em um Fórum promovido \ud pela SGA. Nesta ocasião, representantes de todas as categorias advindos dos diversos campi da USP, além de outros da comunidade externa, fizeram considerações \ud sobre o conteúdo desta versão, que foi, então, reformulada. A PGRUSP prevê a elaboração dos planos de gerenciamento de resíduos em todas as unidades pertencentes \ud à USP. Neste momento, o Grupo de Trabalho está elaborando diretrizes para a capacitação da comunidade acadêmica para a realização de um diagnóstico de resíduos, \ud com intuito também de mobilizar e conscientizar sobre os ditames da PGRUSP. A partir da capacitação e da elaboração dos planos de gerenciamento de resíduos, \ud pressupõe-se um aprendizado sobre questões práticas da gestão de resíduos. A geração de dados e de indicadores fornecerá embasamento para uma implementação \ud contínua e eficaz da política. Para sistematização destes dados, está sendo desenvolvida uma plataforma virtual unificada. Assim, pretende-se controlar tanto os \ud insumos utilizados como a geração, o armazenamento, os tratamentos e os descartes relacionados aos resíduos gerados em nossas Unidades. Pretende-se, ainda, com \ud esta sistematização, fornecer informações que permitam à SGA atomar medidas norteadoras para melhora na gestão dos resíduos nos campi, e,consequentemente, \ud minimizar impactos ambientais causados em todos os níveis e atividades