Eficiência do Estrotect® na identificação de estros em vacas leiteiras mestiças

Dentre os problemas que diminuem a eficiência reprodutiva em rebanhos leiteiros a falha de detecção de estro é um dos fatores mais importantes. Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência de um dispositivo que auxilia a detecção de estros – Estrotect® e compará-lo com a detecção visual em 58 vacas mestiças leiteiras Holandês/Gir com produção média de 18,5 kg de leite/dia/vaca. Os animais foram distribuídos em dois grupos: o grupo IATF (n= 21) foi submetido a um protocolo de inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) e 10 dias após a inseminação foi fixado o dispositivo nos animais. No grupo PG (n=37), foi administrado prostaglandina 25mg/animal/IM e imediatamente colado o adesivo. Essas vacas foram monitoradas por meio de exame ultrassonográfico num período de 28 dias para verificação do desenvolvimento do corpo lúteo. Para verificar se ocorreram alterações na eficiência do dispositivo quanto aos grupos utilizou-se a regressão logística e para comparar a eficiência do mesmo em relação à observação visual utilizou-se o teste de MCNemar. Não foi detectado efeito de grupo (P>0,05) na eficiência da detecção visual de estro ou da ferramenta auxiliar. Também não foi detectada diferença entre a eficiência da detecção visual de estro e o dispositivo (P>0,05). A ferramenta auxiliar de detecção de estro (Estrotect®) se mostrou tão eficiente quanto a detecção visual e pode ser utilizada em programas de inseminação artificial de vacas leiteiras.Among the problems that reduce the reproductive efficiency in dairy cows the failure in estrus detection is a major factor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Estrotect®, a device that aids heat detection in cattle, and to compare it with visual detection in 58 crossbred Holstein/Gyr dairy cows producing 18.5Kg/milk/cow. The animals were divided into two groups: the TAI (n = 21) underwent a fixed-time artificial insemination protocol (TAI), and 10 days after insemination, the device was fixed to the cows. In the PG group (n = 37) prostaglandin (dinoprost tromethamine) 25mg/animal/IM was administered, and then the device was put in place. These cows were then monitored by ultrasound over a period of 28 days to verify the development of the corpus luteum. Logistic regression was used to find out if there were alterations in the efficiency of Estrotect® within the groups, and the McNemar test was used to compare its efficiency to that of visual observation. No group effect was detected (P> 0.05) on the efficiency of visual detection nor on that of the auxiliary device. Neither was there observed any difference between the efficiency of visual detection of estrus and that of the device (P> 0.05). The auxiliary tool for the detection of estrus, (Estrotect ®), proved to be just as effective as visual detection. Thus, it can be used as an auxiliary device in conjunction with visual observation, and also as a unique tool for the detection of estrus in order to simplify the management of large herds

The Amazonian Croton mollis (Euphorbiaceae): morphology and leaf anatomy help to understand its preference for the extreme igapó habitat

Identifying traits contributing to the success of organisms living in harsh environments has always been of great interest in evolutionary ecology. Here we focused on morphological features that could be advantageous for the survival of Croton mollis, a slender shrub occurring in the extreme white-sand habitats of the Amazonian igapos (black/clear-water rivers). We examined macro-morphological characters, as well as leaf micro-morphology using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We also estimated areas of habitat suitability for C. mollis based on climatic, soil, and elevation variables using species distribution modelling (SDM) and available herbarium collections. Our results show that C. mollis presents morphological attributes similar to those of rheophytes, which may allow the species to overcome drastic seasonal changes in water level. We report the presence of five secretory structures (extrafloral nectaries, colleters, idioblasts, glandular trichomes, and laticifers) in the leaves. The size and position of the secretory idioblasts support the hypothesis of the existence of a transitional storage for secondary metabolites from idioblasts to secretory trichomes. Besides glandular trichomes, we also found stellate trichomes and trichome-like emergences in leaves. We hypothesize that these emergences could have an important role in the species’ survival due to their capacity of absorbing atmospheric moisture. Finally, the SDM supported the known habitat preferences of C. mollis and estimated a relatively wider geographic range than the currently known distribution based on herbarium records, suggesting that collecting efforts in the Amazonian region need to be increased in the future

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora