Further Than Fur: Effects of Sex, Body Site, and Season on Hair Color and Hair Cortisol Concentration in Captive <i>Addax nasomaculatus</i> Antelopes

The Addax nasomaculatus is an African antelope currently considered “critically endangered”. There is little scientific knowledge about the species, which could potentially aid in species conservation. The objective of this study was to determine how hair cortisol concentration and hair color vary according to sex, body site, and season across a whole year in zoo-housed addax. The addax population was housed at Parque Lecocq Zoo, Uruguay. Hair samples were taken from the shoulder and rump in autumn, winter, spring, and summer. Hair cortisol concentration in addax varied according to sex, with males exhibiting a higher hair cortisol concentration than females (1.03 ± 0.05 pg/mg vs. 0.91 ± 0.05 pg/mg, p = 0.016, respectively), with these differences being more significant in the spring (p p p p < 0.05). Sex and season-driven variation in hair cortisol concentration and hair color seem to be important elements to consider in relation to thermal comfort and animal welfare in addax, highlighting the warmer seasons as critical

Color identity in South American natural landscapes: herbs, flowers and fruits crops

Natural landscape is associated to national identity. Particularly, local flora expresses national differences and diversity through a number of sensory characteristics. For example, national flowers are symbols representing a country, that may have cultural or religious roots. Depiction of color landscapes may be related to the naturalization of the region, which gives primacy to nature and is typically found in countries which have been former colonies, such as South American countries. Thus in this region, borders of each country become diffuse and a regional identity is historically established. This work is an outcome of a CYTED network composed by members of eight Iberoamerican countries. This network focused in the valorization of unexplored plant sources of bioactive compounds for food, medical and cosmetic applications and in spreading their advantages in several workshops and seminars. The meetings were held at several different locations. During these meetings the different natural and cultural resources prompted the attention of participants and the idea of sharing photographs sprang up. Inspired by the AIC meeting call, color characterization of local flora peculiarities became appealing. For the purpose of this work several plant materials considered of special value, have been selected in different countries of the network. The chromatic coordinates have been thus obtained. The color characteristics were evaluated through all seasons, from January to September, and throughout several South American regions. This work displays the relevance of multidisciplinary and multicultural networks which enable a shared vision and multiple and unexpected outcomes.EEA San PedroFil: Gabilondo, Julieta. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Pepa, Lorena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Químicos; Argentina.Fil: Fernández Varela, Aldo. Universidad Popular del César; Colombia. Fundación para la Ciencia y la Agroindustria Tropical Tropilogía. Valledupar; ColombiaFil: Villagrán dos Santos, Nicolás. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Talevi, Lucía. Actividad privada. Diseñadora; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Fabiano Freire. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. Faculdade de Farmácia. Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Rodríguez, Analía. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Química. Montevideo; UruguayFil: dos Santos, Cristina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Busch, Verónica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Farroni, Abel Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; ArgentinaFil: Panizzolo, Luis. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Química. Montevideo; UruguayFil: Cortés, César. Universidad Popular del César; Colombia. Fundación para la Ciencia y la Agroindustria Tropical Tropilogía. Valledupar; ColombiaFil: Buera, María Pilar. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina