Comparação de métodos de avaliação do uso do habitat pela lontra (Lutra lutra L.) : indícios de presença e rádio-telemetria

Neste estudo aferiu-se a utilidade da prospecção de indícios de presença para avaliar áreas de maior actividade de lontra. O trabalho realizou-se no sul de Portugal numa zona com clima marcadamente Mediterrânico, tendo-se comparado a ocorrência e número de dejectos com a actividade avaliada com recurso a rádio-telemetria. Seguiram-se 6 lontras tendo sido realizados transectos pedestres para pesquisa de dejectos nas manhãs imediatamente seguintes ao rádio-seguimento. Comparou-se a presença de dejectos frescos e a abundância total de dejectos com as localizações dos animais e a influência nesta relação, da estação do ano, do sexo, da abundância de locais de marcação e da quantidade de precipitação. Para tal utilizaram-se várias combinações de Modelos Lineares Generalizados Mistos. Globalmente obteve-se uma relação significativa e positiva entre as localizações de lontra e a presença de dejectos frescos. A abundância total de dejectos esteve igualmente relacionada significativamente com as localizações, no entanto, esta relação é influenciada pelas outras co-variáveis. Este método apresenta-se útil para avaliar de forma expedita o uso do habitat pela lontra no Mediterrâneo, podendo ser usado com baixos custos na em acções de gestão e conservação....ABSTRACT:This study evaluated the utility of presence signs surveys to assess areas of otters activity. The work took place in southern Portugal in an area with Mediterranean climate. We compared the occurrence and number of spraints with the otter activity measured through radio-telemetry. Six otters were radio tracked and pedestrian surveys searching for spraints were performed during the following morning in the area used by the otters. We compared the presence of fresh and total abundance of spraints with the locations of animals and evaluated the influence season, sex, plenty of places to mark and amount of precipitation on this relationship. For this purpose we used various combinations of Generalized Linear Mixed Models. Overall we obtained a significant and positive relationship between the locations of otter and the presence of fresh spraints. The total abundance of spraints was also significantly correlated with the otter locations; however, this relationship was influenced by other co-variables. We concluded that otter presence signs surveys is a useful method to assess expeditiously otter habitat selection in the Mediterranean, and can be used with low costs in management and conservation programs

Pathophysiological and cognitive mechanisms of fatigue in multiple sclerosis

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS), with a major impact on patients’ quality of life. Currently, treatment proceeds by trial and error with limited success, probably due to the presence of multiple different underlying mechanisms. Recent neuroscientific advances offer the potential to develop tools for differentiating these mechanisms in individual patients and ultimately provide a principled basis for treatment selection. However, development of these tools for differential diagnosis will require guidance by pathophysiological and cognitive theories that propose mechanisms which can be assessed in individual patients. This article provides an overview of contemporary pathophysiological theories of fatigue in MS and discusses how the mechanisms they propose may become measurable with emerging technologies and thus lay a foundation for future personalised treatments

An annotated checklist of ladybeetle species (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos

Research ArticleA comprehensive annotated checklist of the ladybeetle species of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, is presented. The Coccinellidae fauna comprises a total of 101 species: 83 from the Mainland, 39 from Madeira, and 32 from the Azores. The listed species are distributed among 2 sub-families and 13 tribes: within the subfamily Microweiseinae, Madeirodulini (1 species), Serangiini (2 species), and within the subfamily Coccinellinae, Azyini (1 species), Chilocorini (4 species), Coccidulini (7 species), Coccinellini (30 species), Epilachnini (4 species), Hyperaspidini (7 species), Noviini (2 species), Platynaspini (1 species), Scymnini (37 species), Stethorini (3 species), and Sticholotidini (2 species). The Portuguese fauna comprises 10 exotic species: 5 present in the Mainland, 7 in Madeira, and 6 in the Azores. Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) from Madeira, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Azores, Delphastus catalinae (Horn, 1895) from the Azores and Madeira, Nephus (Geminosipho) reunioni (Fürsch, 1974) and Nephus (Nephus) voeltzkowi Weise, 1910 from Madeira and Microserangium sp. from the Mainland, are reported for the first time. Some species are considered doubtful records, as explained in the text. These results were obtained by compiling information on the available literature regarding ladybeetle species on the Portuguese mainland and insular territories, and original datainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio