Freshwater conservation assessments in (semi-)arid regions: testing river intermittence and buffer strategies using freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionida) in Morocco

The IUCN Red List assessments are essentially based on population trends and range, namely Area of Occupancy (AOO) and Extent of Occupancy (EOO). Range estimations are based on fixed grids, but this is likely inappropriate for species living in river networks. Furthermore, AOO and EOO are measured using the whole hydrographic network, therefore disregarding temporary sections, which is particularly problematic in arid and semi-arid regions. Here we mapped the permanent hydrographic network of Morocco using satellite imagery, complemented with field surveys to collect samples for molecular analyses of the five freshwater mussel species present and assess their distribution. The phylogeographic patterns are described for each species and used to identify priority areas and evolutionary significant units for conservation. Permanent hydrographic river sections represent only 18.3% of the whole hydrographic network. A north-to-south gradient of genetic diversity, species richness and distribution range was found, being coherent with water availability and river intermittence. Isolated evolutionary units were detected in southern basins that should also receive particular attention in conservation planning. We propose the mean river width multiplied by the extent of the river network as the best and the most adequate way to estimate both EOO and AOO. Given the worldwide degradation of freshwater systems and biodiversity, an accurate (re)assessment of species conservation status supported with maps of intermittent water bodies will be essential for prioritizing and guiding conservation actions and management plans, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.This work was partially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under grant SFRH/BD/115728/2016 (MLL) and grant SFRH/BD/137935/2018 (AGS). This research was developed under ConBiomics: the missing approach for the Conservation of freshwater Bivalves Project N° NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-030286, co-financed by COMPETE 2020, Portugal 2020 and the European Union through the ERDF, and by FCT through national funds. This study was additionally conducted within the scope of project “Biodiversity and conservation of the critically endangered freshwater mussels in Morocco: ecogeographic, genetic and physiological information”, funded by Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (Reference 15256799) and project “Breeding the most endangered bivalve on Earth: Margaritifera marocana”, funded by IUCN SOS save our species fund (Reference 2015B-015). Official capture and sampling licenses were issued by the Université Cadi Ayyad (Faculté des Sciences, Semlalia, Marrakech, Maroc)

Modelos semi-empíricos para o método do 137Cs na determinação da erosão de um solo LRd

Usando o método do 137Cs, foram estudadas duas parcelas de experimento convencional de erosão, em solo do tipo Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico, localizadas no Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR) na cidade de Londrina. Através da redução percentual do conteúdo de 137Cs em relação ao local de referência, foram calculadas as perdas de solo utilizando os modelos proporcional, balanço de massa e distribuição de perfil. Usando a correlação entre as concentrações de 137Cs e a erosão medida pelo método convencional, obteve-se duas equações de calibração que foram aplicadas às medidas realizadas na bacia do rio Unda e comparados com três modelos encontrados na literatura. Como local de referência foi escolhida uma floresta natural localizada próxima às parcelas. O inventário médio de 137Cs foi de 555 ± 16 Bq.m-2. Os inventários das parcelas de erosão variaram de 112 a 136 Bq.m-2 para amostras coletadas até 30 cm de profundidade. As taxas de erosão estimadas pelos modelos variaram de 64 a 85 Mg.ha-1.ano-1 para os modelos proporcional e distribuição de perfil, de 137 a 165 Mg.ha-1.ano-1 para o modelo de balanço de massa, enquanto que a erosão média obtida pelo método convencional foi de 86 Mg.ha-1.ano-1. Das duas equações de calibração obtidas, a que leva em conta a distribuição de 137Cs com o perfil do solo foi a que apresentou maior consistência. Esta forneceu taxas de erosão para a bacia do rio Unda (que é da mesma classe de solo) no intervalo de 4 a 48 Mg.ha-1.ano-1. Os modelos proporcional e distribuição de perfil, forneceram taxas que variara, respectivamente, de 7 a 45 Mg.ha-1.ano-1 e de 6 a 69 Mg.ha-1.ano-1

Carcinoma medular da tireóide associado a bócio nodular autônomo: relato de caso

Os autores relatam caso de paciente feminina com 55 anos, que mostrou carcinoma medular da tireóide associado a bócio nodular autônomo compensado. Na evolução evidenciou metástase pulmonar iodocaptante, que se beneficiou do tratamento com 176mCi de 131-1. A despeito da raridade desta associação, sugerem que os nódulos quentes tenham conduta cirúrgica e que o tratamento com radioiodo seja considerado como alternativa nas metástases captantes

Attenuation of motor deficits by hydroethanolic extract of Poincianella pyramidalis in a Parkinson's disease model

The present study aimed to evaluate the possible neuroprotective effect of the hydroethanolic extract of Poincianella pyramidalis (EFIPp) (Tul.) L. P. Queiroz (Fabaceae), an endemic plant found in Northeastern Brazil, commonly used in folk medicine, on the motor deficits induced by repeated treatment with reserpine (RES) in rats. Adult male Wistar rats received 10 s.c. injections of 0.1 mg/kg RES or vehicle (VR), every 48 h, and daily i.p. injections daily of HEPp (25 mg/kg) or vehicle (VE). Throughout treatment, catalepsy behavior and oral movements were scored. After behavioral tests, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were evaluated in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum. RES treatment induced a progressive increase of catalepsy time in the treated group compared to control groups starting at day 15. RES also increased the number of vacuous chewing movements, tongue protrusions and duration of facial twitching. Treatment with HEPp attenuated the motor deficit in the catalepsy test and delayed the onset of oral movements induced by RES. No significant changes were observed in the antioxidant assay. Taken together, these results show a beneficial effect of HEPp on motor deficits induced by reserpine, suggesting a neuroprotective effect in a rat model of PD.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa e a Inovação Tecnologica do Estado de Sergipe (FAPITEC)Pro-reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Sergipe (POSGRAP/UFS)Univ Fed Sergipe, Dept Physiol, Sao Cristovao, SE, BrazilUniv Massachusetts, Neurosci & Behav Program, Amherst, MA 01003 USAMinist Educ, CAPES Fdn, BR-70040020 Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biosci, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sergipe, Dept Biosci, Itabaiana, SE, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biosci, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

The silent extinction of freshwater mussels in Portugal

Freshwater mussels are one of the most threatened animal groups in the world. In the European Union, threatened and protected mussel species are not adequately monitored, while species considered to be common and widespread receive even less attention. This is particularly worrying in the Mediterranean region, where species endemism is high and freshwater habitats are severely affected by water scarcity. In the absence of hard data on population trends, we report here a long-term comparison of freshwater mussel assemblages at 132 sites covering 15 different hydrological basins in Portugal. This study reveals a widespread decline of 60 % in the number of sites and 67 % in the overall abundance of freshwater mussels across Portugal over the last 20 years, indicating that all species are rapidly declining and threatened with extinction. These results show that current legislation and conservation measures are largely ineffective and highlight the importance of updating the Habitats Directive to enforce standard monitoring protocols for threatened species in the European Union and to extend monitoring to other freshwater species thought to be common and widespread. Efficient water management, restrictions on irrigation expansion in important biodiversity areas, mitigation of hydrological changes and loss of aquatic habitat connectivity caused by physical alterations are urgently needed to reverse these declining population trends. For the severely endangered species Margaritifera margaritifera, Potomida littoralis, and Unio tumidiformis, where populations are now critically low, more urgent action is needed, such as ex-situ conservation, protection of remaining populations and large-scale habitat restoration.We would like to thank Jake Dimon, José Tourais, Filipe Rolo, and Elza Fonseca for their help in the surveys. This research was developed under the project EdgeOmics - Freshwater Bivalves at the edge: Adaptation genomics under climate-change scenarios (PTDC/CTA-AMB/3065/2020) funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through national funds. FCT also funded MLL under contract 2020.03608.CEECIND, EF under contract CEECINST/00027/2021/CP2789/CT0003, AGS under the grants SFRH/BD/137935/2018 and COVID/DB/152933/2022, and JGN under the grant 2020.04637. BD. The baseline survey was funded by the project “Documentos Estruturantes” (POA 1.100021) of the Instituto da Conservaçã da Natureza

Genetic diversity of carotenoid-rich bananas evaluated by Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the carotenoid content and genetic variability of banana accessions from the Musa germplasm collection held at Embrapa Cassava and Tropical Fruits, Brazil. Forty-two samples were analyzed, including 21 diploids, 19 triploids and two tetraploids. The carotenoid content was analyzed spectrophotometrically and genetic variability was estimated using 653 DArT markers. The average carotenoid content was 4.73 μg.g -1 , and ranged from 1.06 μg.g -1 for the triploid Nanica (Cavendish group) to 19.24 μg.g -1 for the triploid Saney. The diploids Modok Gier and NBA-14 and the triploid Saney had a carotenoid content that was, respectively, 7-fold, 6-fold and 9-fold greater than that of cultivars from the Cavendish group (2.19 μg.g -1). The mean similarity among the 42 accessions was 0.63 (range: 0.24 to 1.00). DArT analysis revealed extensive genetic variability in accessions from the Embrapa Musa germplasm bank