WELFARE OF BROILERS INGESTING A PRE-SLAUGHTER HYDRIC DIET OF LEMON GRASS

ABSTRACTThe pre-slaughter period is considered critical in broiler production. Several factors contribute to increase the birds' stress, such as handling, harvesting, and transportation, negatively affecting their welfare. This study aimed at evaluating the addition of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratusStapf) to the drinking water of broilers during the pre-slaughter period on their behavior, blood cortisol, and surface temperature. The study was carried out at the experimental farm of the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, MS, Brazil. In total, 2594 broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design, in a 3x2x2 factorial arrangement, with four replicates per treatment. Treatments consisted of three different lemon grass levels (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) used in the form of an infusion (0, 0.1, and 5 g per L of water), sex (male or female), and genetic strain (Ross(r) 308 or Cobb(r) 500). The infusion was offered when birds were 42 days old. On that day, blood was collected for blood cortisol level determination, broiler surface temperature was recorded, and an ethogram was applied to register broiler behavior. Blood cortisol level and broiler surface temperature were not affected by treatments (p>0.05). The behavior of beak opening was different between the genetic strains (p<0.05), being more frequent in Ross(r) 308 broilers. Lemon grass water content did not affect broilers' surface temperature when consumed during the pre-slaughter period

Medium- and long-term temporal trends in the fish assemblage inhabiting a surf zone, analyzed by Bayesian generalized additive models

The present study characterizes the fish assemblage in the surf zone of Cassino Beach, Rio Grande, Brazil, and analyzes temporal fluctuations in richness and abundance of these species in medium (months) and long terms (years), associating them also with abiotic covariates. Data were collected monthly between 1996 and 2012 at two locations. Bayesian generalized additive models (GAMs) were used as statistical tool, placing this study among few that have used Bayesian GAMs in Ecology. Our results show a decrease in both species richness and abundance of the most representative species, over the last 16 years, but no significant distinction between locations. Water temperature and salinity along with seasonality were the statistically most influential explanatory covariates to describe fluctuations in richness and abundance. Higher discharge rates of the three main rivers that flow into Patos Lagoon (Jacuı´, Taquari, Camaqua˜) were associated with increased richness and abundance of some species in the assemblage. Hence, our findings show that medium- and long-term fluctuations in richness and species abundance are controlled by abiotic factors related to seasonal cycles (temperature) and productivity of the ecosystem. Long-term changes seem to be also related to man-induced factors and climate change; but further research is needed

Review and consideration on habitat use, distribution and life history of Lycengraulis grossidens (Agassiz, 1829) (Actinopterygii, Clupeiformes, Engraulididae)

In this paper, we present a summary of the current knowledge of Lycengraulis grossidens, a widely distributed coastal fish that occurs from Belize to Argentina. This species is abundant in estuaries along the Southwest Atlantic Coast and is important for recreational fishing, and as bycatch of shrimp fisheries. We compiled data available on taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology, fisheries and organized conceptually the life cycle of the species according to modern estuarine-use classification. Our review showed that along its geographic distribution and inside some particular environments (i.e., estuaries and costal lagoons) the species have been classified in a variety of ways in order to describe the remarkable complexity of habitat use that varies from freshwater resident, anadromous, marine migrant, estuarine resident, marine stragglers, catadromous to semicatadromous. We conclude that L. grossidens is able to reproduce either in freshwater or estuarine water and postulate that it has a high plasticity in habitat use and life history, with migratory and resident contingents in the same local population. There seems to be a latitudinal change in migratory behavior of this species along the South America Coast, prevailing anadromous or semi-anadromous pattern at higher latitudes and marine migrants at the tropical northeast coast of Brazil.Neste trabalho é apresentada uma compilação do conhecimento atual de Lycengraulis grossidens, uma espécie de peixe amplamente distribuído pela costa oeste do Atlântico Sul, ocorrendo de Belize a Argentina. Esta espécie é abundante nos estuários e tem importância na pesca recreacional além de sofrer impacto da pesca do camarão. São revisados dados publicados sobre a taxonomia, filogenia, ecologia, pesca e ciclo de vida da espécie. Nossa revisão mostrou que, ao longo de sua distribuição, a espécie tem sido classificada de várias formas na tentativa de descrever seu uso do habitat, desde residentes de água doce, anádromos, marinhos migrantes, estuarinos residentes, catádromo e semi-catádromo. Conclui-se que a espécie é capaz de se reproduzir em água doce ou salgada, com uma alta plasticidade no uso do habitat e na sua história de vida, com componentes migrantes e residentes no mesmo local. Além disso, parece haver uma mudança no comportamento migratório da espécie em diferentes latitudes, mostrando um padrão anádromo ou semi-anádromo nas maiores latitudes e marinhos migrantes ao longo da costa tropical do Brasil