Biodiversity recovery of Neotropical secondary forests

Old-growth tropical forests harbor an immense diversity of tree species but are rapidly being cleared, while secondary forests that regrow on abandoned agricultural lands increase in extent. We assess how tree species richness and composition recover during secondary succession across gradients in environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbance in an unprecedented multisite analysis for the Neotropics. Secondary forests recover remarkably fast in species richness but slowly in species composition. Secondary forests take a median time of five decades to recover the species richness of old-growth forest (80% recovery after 20 years) based on rarefaction analysis. Full recovery of species composition takes centuries (only 34% recovery after 20 years). A dual strategy that maintains both old-growth forests and species-rich secondary forests is therefore crucial for biodiversity conservation in human-modified tropical landscapes. Copyright © 2019 The Authors, some rights reserved

Occurrence and risk factors assessment associated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection in chickens in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection and risk factors of this disease in three hundred serum samples from on 23 familiar agricultural properties in the semiarid region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. ELISA was used to study antibodies anti-Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The univariate analysis (chi-squared test or Fischer's exact test) followed by multivariate analysis (logistic regression) were used to assess the risk factors with two variables: management and sanity of the poultry. It was detected a frequence of 53.33% (157/300) of the birds were positive for MG, with 100% foci. The risk factors confirmed by multivariate analysis, in the present study, were the presence of other poultry species on the property, including Numida meleagris (OR=2.22; p=0.005), parrots (OR=1.72; p=0.027), and of passerines (OR=1.88; p=0.007). These results showed that Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection is endemic among backyard poultry in the semiarid region of the state of Pernambuco. These birds could be a source of infection for other wild or domestic poultry. . This is the first report of the occurrence of avian mycoplasmosis in backyard poultry in the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil. The risk factors identified should serve as a parameter for the health authorities to seek solutions related to controlling the disease

Avaliação antropométrica e de composição corporal de atletas paraolímpicos brasileiros Anthropometric and body composition evaluation of Brazilian paralympic athletes

Estudos de aspectos relacionados à dimensão, proporção, composição e maturação humanas evidenciaram estreitas relações entre formas e proporções com o movimento humano (Ross e Marfell-Jones apud Petroski, 1999)¹. Estudos têm demonstrado haver uma relação de algumas medidas antropométricas humanas com risco de doenças metabólicas (assim como o IMC (índice de massa corporal) com o desenvolvimento do diabetes em homens e também em mulheres2-4.Não obstante à sua estreita correlação com várias patologias a avaliação antropométrica dos atletas paraolímpicos brasileiros visou identificar o perfil dos diferentes grupos de atletas, descrever suas condições sob o ponto de vista da formação corporal, visando otimizar o seu rendimento atlético durante os Jogos Paraolímpicos de Sydney. Medidas de distribuição da gordura corporal, soma das dobras cutâneas, IMC e RCQ foram alguns dos parâmetros utilizados para se prescrever dietas e treinamentos específicos. Foram detectadas várias alterações nesses itens em vários grupos de atletas. A partir dos dados coletados poder-se-á criar um banco de dados com os parâmetros antropométricos de cada grupo de atletas para futuras comparações.<br>A number of studies featuring aspects related to the dimension, proportion, composition, and human maturation show very close relationships between forms and proportions and human movements¹. It has also been shown that there is a clear relationship between some anthropometric human measurements and the risk of metabolic diseases². Helmrich et al.³ have shown the relationship between the IMC (index of corporal mass) and the development of diabetes in men, and Manson et al.4 showed similar relationships for women. An anthropometric evaluation of Brazilian paralympic athletes was performed to identify the profile of different groups of athletes and define their status under the light of corporal formation. This study aimed at finding out new methods of optimizing athletic performance during the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Some of the main parameters used to define diets and specific training were the measures of the body fat distribution, total number of cutaneous folds, IMC and RCQ. A number of alterations were detected when comparing those parameters with the different groups of athletes. These data can be used to create a data bank for future studies of anthropometric parameters of disable athletes