Local Abundance Patterns of Noctuid Moths in Olive Orchards: Life-History Traits, Distribution Type and Habitat Interactions

Local species abundance is related to range size, habitat characteristics, distribution type, body size, and life-history variables. In general, habitat generalists and polyphagous species are more abundant in broad geographical areas. Underlying this, local abundance may be explained from the interactions between life-history traits, chorological pattern, and the local habitat characteristics. The relationship within taxa between life-history traits, distribution area, habitat characteristics, and local abundance of the noctuid moth (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) assemblage in an olive orchard, one of the most important agro-ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin, was analyzed. A total of 66 species were detected over three years of year-round weekly samplings using the light-trap method. The life-history traits examined and the distribution type were found to be related to the habitat-species association, but none of the biological strategies defined from the association to the different habitats were linked with abundance. In contrast to general patterns, dispersal ability and number of generations per year explained differences in abundance. The relationships were positive, with opportunistic taxa that have high mobility and several generations being locally more abundant. In addition, when the effect of migrant species was removed, the distribution type explained abundance differences, with Mediterranean taxa (whose baricenter is closer to the studied area) being more abundant

Intensity modulated radiation therapy or stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy for infratentorial ependymoma in children: a multicentric study.

This study was to evaluate the treatment dosimetry, efficacy and toxicity of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) in the management of infratentorial ependymoma. Between 1999 and 2007, seven children (median age, 3.1 years) with infratentorial ependymoma were planned with either IMRT (3 patients) or SFRT (4 patients), the latter after conventional posterior fossa irradiation. Two children underwent gross total resection. Median prescribed dose was 59.4 Gy (range, 55.8-60). The median follow-up for surviving patients was 4.8 years (range, 1.3-8). IMRT (median dose, 59.4 Gy) and FSRT (median dose, 55.8 Gy) achieved similar optimal target coverage. Percentages of maximum doses delivered to the cochleae (59.5 vs 85.0% Gy; P = 0.05) were significantly inferior with IMRT, when compared to FSRT planning. Percentages of maximum doses administered to the pituitary gland (38.2 vs 20.1%; P = 0.05) and optic chiasm (38.1 vs 14.1%; P = 0.001) were, however, significantly higher with IMRT, when compared to FSRT planning. No recurrences were observed at the last follow-up. The estimated 3-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 87.5 and 100%, respectively. No grade >1 acute toxicity was observed. Two patients presented late adverse events (grade 2 hypoacousia) during follow-up, without cognitive impairment. IMRT or FSRT for infratentorial ependymomas is effective and associated with a tolerable toxicity level. Both treatment techniques were able to capitalize their intrinsic conformal ability to deliver high-dose radiation. Larger series of patients treated with these two modalities will be necessary to more fully evaluate these delivery techniques

Qualidade do solo em sistemas de produção de hortaliças orgânico e convencional Soil quality in organic and conventional vegetables production systems

Sendo o solo um dos principais pilares de sustentabilidade de todo sistema de produção, a análise integrada dos atributos edafobiológicos pode constituir-se em ferramenta importante para avaliar a qualidade do mesmo. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade do solo em função das práticas agrícolas adotadas, mediante a análise integrada de atributos físicos, químicos e biológicos. A pesquisa foi realizada em 2006 e 2007 nas microrregiões de Ibiúna e Socorro, no estado de São Paulo, em pequenas propriedades familiares orgânicas e convencionais. Foram avaliados os atributos físicos, químicos e biológicos, mediante coletas de amostras de solos sob cultivo de hortaliças e em solos de mata ou pastagem. O levantamento de dados sobre as práticas agrícolas foi realizado em cada sistema de produção. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de componentes principais (ACP). A ACP identificou maior grau de similaridade entre os solos sob cultivo em Socorro e suas respectivas testemunhas que os solos de Ibiúna, nitidamente separados em função do seu uso (mata ou cultivo) e indicando melhor manejo dos mesmos em Socorro. De maneira geral, concluiu-se que as práticas agrícolas utilizadas na maioria das propriedades orgânicas e convencionais favoreceram a degradação do solo, devida principalmente ao revolvimento intensivo e à ausência de cobertura do solo. Estes fatores provocaram redução dos teores de matéria orgânica do solo, da biomassa microbiana, da emergência de plântulas e da estabilidade de agregados nas áreas de cultivo em relação às áreas testemunhas.<br>The soil is one of the most important sustainability columns of the production system. The integrated analysis of the edaphobiological attributes can be an important tool for soil quality evaluation. We evaluated the soil quality regarding the adopted agriculture practices, using the integrated analysis of physical, chemical and biological attributes. The research was carried out in Ibiúna and Socorro, São Paulo state, Brazil, in organic and conventional production, on small and family farms. Physical, chemical and biochemical parameters were evaluated during 2006 and 2007 in soils under vegetable cultivation, native forest or fallow, taken as reference of natural soil. Agricultural practices data were collected in each production system. The obtained data were submitted to principal component analysis (PCA). There was no pronounced grouping trend according to the production system, organic or conventional, but there was a grouping according to the soil use (forest/fallow land or cultivation). The PCA identified greater degree of similarity between Socorro's cultivation soil and its respective controls compared to Ibiuna's soil, clearly separated according to its use (forest or cropping), indicating better soil management in Socorro. In general, the results allow to conclude that agricultural practices in most of both organic and conventional production systems, caused soil degradation, due to, mainly, intensive soil tillage and no soil mulching, as indicated by the reduction of soil organic matter, microbial biomass, plant emergence and aggregate stability in cultivated areas relative to control ones