Potencial reprodutivo de Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): Efeito da proporção sexual e período de acasalamento

In this study the effects of the time of male permanence with females and different sex ratios on the reproductive capacity of Chrysoperla externa F 3 adults was evaluated. The insects were kept at 25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10% RH, under a 12 h photoperiod. The first experiment consisted of mating females with males that were subsequently removed after 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 days; the control group consisted of males remaining with the females during the entire experimental period. The second experiment consisted of mating: one male with one female (1:1); one male with two females (1:2); one male with three females (1:3); one male with four females (1:4); and one male with five females (1:5), and then evaluating their pre-ovipositioning periods, daily and total ovipositioning, egg viability percentages, and efficiency indices (which considered total ovipositioning, mean egg viability, and the ovipositioning period). It was found that alternating the sexual proportions from one male with one female to one male with three females did not alter the reproductive performance of these insects, and that there was no need to replace the males after five days as they were able to provide sufficient numbers of spermatozoa during this period to maintain consistent reproductive rates.

Relação entre o desempenho e período de recuperação após enfermidades ósseas do membro torácico distal de cavalos puro sangue inglês

It is well established in the literature that musculoskeletal injuries are important compromising agents in the performance of Thoroughbred horses. In Brazil, there are no studies on the interrelation between lay-up period post-injury and retirement of racehorses due to musculoskeletal injures. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between rehabilitation times of track injures and variables of prior race performance and later return to competitions. The radiographic reports and athletic history of 416 thoroughbreds during the period between 2003 and 2006 were examined; they were selected based on continued presentations after injury diagnosis. The temporal variables (post-injury rehabilitation time) and performance variables (race score before and after injury) were evaluated by multivariate correspondence analysis of the data and represented in perceptual maps. Correspondence was observed between most of the animals that had a short lay-up post-injury and variables that denote decline in subsequent performance. Considering the integrity of the bone healing process as crucial for the horse to be able to handle later training routines and competitions, shortening this period could lead to an imbalance of the bone repair metabolism, thus resulting in performance decline and compromise of the horse athletic career.