Evolutionary history and species delimitations: a case study of the hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius

Robust identification of species and significant evolutionary units (ESUs) is essential to implement appropriate conservation strategies for endangered species. However, definitions of species or ESUs are numerous and sometimes controversial, which might lead to biased conclusions, with serious consequences for the management of endangered species. The hazel dormouse, an arboreal rodent of conservation concern throughout Europe is an ideal model species to investigate the relevance of species identification for conservation purposes. This species is a member of the Gliridae family, which is protected in Europe and seriously threatened in the northern part of its range. We assessed the extent of genetic subdivision in the hazel dormouse by sequencing one mitochondrial gene (cytb) and two nuclear genes (BFIBR, APOB) and genotyping 10 autosomal microsatellites. These data were analysed using a combination of phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation methods. Multilocus analyses revealed the presence of two genetically distinct lineages (approximately 11 % cytb genetic divergence, no nuclear alleles shared) for the hazel dormouse in Europe, which presumably diverged during the Late Miocene. The phylogenetic patterns suggests that Muscardinus avellanarius populations could be split into two cryptic species respectively distributed in western and central-eastern Europe and Anatolia. However, the comparison of several species definitions and methods estimated the number of species between 1 and 10. Our results revealed the difficulty in choosing and applying an appropriate criterion and markers to identify species and highlight the fact that consensus guidelines are essential for species delimitation in the future. In addition, this study contributes to a better knowledge about the evolutionary history of the species

Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America

Rhodnius prolixus is one of the main vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease. In Central America, it was first discovered in 1915 in El Salvador, from where it spread northwest to Guatemala and Mexico, and southeast to Nicaragua and Costa Rica, arriving also in Honduras in the late 1950s. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) by the antimalaria services of Costa Rica prevented its spread southwards, and similar IRS programmes appear to have eliminated it from El Salvador by the late 1970s. In 1997, by resolution of the Ministers of Health of the seven Central American countries, a multinational initiative against Chagas disease (IPCA) was launched with one of the specific objectives being the elimination of R. prolixus from the region. As a result, more and more infested areas were encountered, and progressively sprayed using an IRS strategy already deployed against Triatoma infestans in the southern cone countries of South America. In 2008, Guatemala became the first of these countries to be formally certified as free of Chagas disease transmission due to R. prolixus. The other infested countries have since been similarly certified, and none of these has reported the presence of R. prolixus since June 2010. Further surveillance is required, but current evidence suggests that R. prolixus may now been eliminated from throughout the mesoamerican region, with a corresponding decline in the incidence of T. cruzi infections

Gestão estratégica: um estudo de caso de percepção de mudança de cultura organizacional Strategical management: a study of case of change’s perception of organizational culture

O presente trabalho objetiva analisar a influência da cultura de uma organização no processo de implementação de novo modelo de gestão, além de descrever as percepções dos empregados sobre transformações na cultura organizacional vigente, mostrando suas crenças e percepções compartilhadas acerca do processo de mudança. Foram realizadas quinze entrevistas semi-estruturadas em uma empresa pública da cidade de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. Os resultados indicaram que crenças dos trabalhadores dificultam a efetiva implementação do planejamento estratégico. Fatores positivos e negativos foram apontados como entraves e/ou facilitadores do referido processo, propondo-se, ao final, iniciativas que promovam mudanças na cultura organizacional, culminando com a adoção da gestão estratégica.<br>The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of the organizational culture on the implementation process of a new management models, and also to describe the employees’ perception about the organizational culture transformations, showing their beliefs and shared perceptions related to the changing process. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted in a public company of Juiz de Fora, in Minas Gerais State. Data showed that employees’ beliefs block the effective implementation of the strategic planning. Positive and negative factors were pointed out as obstacles and/or facilities of the same process, and actions for promoting changes in the organizational culture were suggested and leading to the adoption of the strategic management