Diversity and evolution of macrohabitat use, body size and morphology in a monophyletic group of Neotropical pitvipers (Bothrops)

The Neotropical pitviper genus Bothrops comprises about 40 species, which occur in all main ecosystems of cis-Andean South America. We explored the relationships of body size and form (tail length and stoutness) with macrohabitat use in 20 forms of Bothrops. Sen-ii-arboreal habits appeared only in forest forms. Semi-arboreals are significantly more slender and have longer tails than terrestrials; body size is not significantly different between terrestrials and semi-arboreals. Within Bothrops, independent contrasts for macrohabitat use were significantly correlated with contrasts of tail size (positively) and stoutness (negatively); thus, the more arboreal the species, the longer its tail and the more slender its body. Contrasts of adult body size seems to remain constant over the lower range of macrohabitat use, but to decrease in species of Bothrops which are more arboreal. Reconstructions of character states indicate that: (1) the ancestor of Bothrops was a small, stout, terrestrial species; (2) semi-arboreal habits appeared one to three times in the genus; (3) a decrease in stoutness and an increase in tail length occurred along with an increase in arboreality in some clades. Although macrohabitat use seems to be important in determining body form in Bothrops, our results also indicate that tail size, stoutness and body size may also be affected by selective agents other than macrohabitat use. The selective agents responsible for the shifts in macrohabitat use in Bothrops are still uncertain, although they may have included prey availability and/or predation pressure. The plasticity of macrohabitat use, morphology and body size described in this study may have been key features that facilitated the highly successful ecological diversification of Bothrops in South America.

A new titanosaur from western São Paulo State, Upper Cretaceous Bauru Group, south-east Brazil

Material from a new titanosaur from the Bauru Basin (Bauru Group), Brazil is described and compared with well-known titanosaurs. Adamantisaurus mezzalirai gen. et sp. nov. is based on six articulated anterior caudal vertebrae and two haemapophyses collected from the Adamantina Formation, which is considered to be Campanian-Maastrichtian? in age. Adamantisaurus mezzalirai is characterized by the following combination of characteristics: anterior caudal vertebrae with straight or slightly backwardly-projecting neural spines with strongly expanded distal ends, stout prespinal lamina, very wide pre- and postzygapophyseal articular facets, and concave postzygapophyseal articular facets on anterior caudal vertebrae. Although our cladistic analysis has produced equivocal results, Adamantisaurus mezzalirai shares with DGM 'Series B' (Peiropolis titanosaur) and Aeolosaurus the presence of postzygapophyses with concave articular facets, and shares with DGM 'Series B' the presence of laterally expanded neural spines and stout prespinal lamina. Additionally, A. mezzalirai shares with DGM 'Series' C (other titanosaur from Peiropolis) the presence of short neural spines.

Reliability of carnitine concentrations measured in single postprandial urine samples from dogs

Objective - To evaluate the reliability of urine carnitine concentrations measured in single postprandial samples, compared with carnitine concentrations measured in 24-hour urine samples. Animals - 19 healthy Beagles. Procedure - After emptying the urinary bladder by catheterization, dogs were fed a canned canine maintenance diet. Approximately 8 hours later, urine, plasma, and serum samples were obtained for determination of urinary carnitine fractional excretion and urine carnitine-to-creatinine concentration ratio. Results were compared with 24-hour urinary carnitine excretion rate. Results - Fractional excretion of carnitine and urine carnitine-to-creatinine ratios correlated poorly with 24-hour urinary carnitine excretion. Conclusion - Determination of 24-hour urinary carnitine excretion is recommended to measure urine carnitine concentrations in dogs.

Ecomorfologia e uso de recursos das espécies de Chironius (Serpentes, Colubridae) na Serra do Mar

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

TPACK (Conhecimento pedagógico de conteúdo tecnológico): relação com as diferentes gerações de professores de matemática

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

Épocas e extensões do período de convivência das plantas daninhas interferindo na produtividade da cultura do milho (Zea mays)

Q field experiment was carried out at the Gralha Azul Experimental Farm/PUCPR, in the municipality of Fazenda Rio Grande-PR, to evaluate the effect of different times and coexistence extension periods of weeds interfering in corn yield. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized complete block design and the treatments in a 4x5+2 factorial, with four replications. The treatments were as follows: four initial weed control periods (0-0, 0-7, 0-14 and 0-21 DAE) and five restarted weed control periods until the harvest (28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 DAE) and two checks, weedy and weed-free. The experiment was carried out under a no-till system. The period prior to weed interference (PBWI), the start of the critical period of weed interference (CPWI) and the infesting community were evaluated. When the initial weed control period was 0-0 day, the PPWI was at 9 DAE of corn; however, with increasing initial weed control periods (0-7, 0-14 and 0-21 DAE) the period prior to weed interference inncreased in relation to 0-0 day of the initial weed control, evidencing the existence of PPWI-S of 17, 24 and 28 DAE of corn, respectively. Thus CPWI initiates at the end of PPWI-S, the period when weed control is indispensable to prevent a significant reduction in corn yield. Coexistance with the weeds throughout the crop cycle reduced yield in 15%, compared to the weed-free check. Nine species of seven botanical families were assessed in the infesting community. Reduced density and dry mass were verified in the weeds that coexisted with corn, compared to those that grew without it, thus evidencing a suppressive effect of corn over the infesting plants.

High Levels of Diversity Uncovered in a Widespread Nominal Taxon: Continental Phylogeography of the Neotropical Tree Frog Dendropsophus minutus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Factors Influencing Expression of Antixenosis in Soybean to Anticarsia gemmatalis and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)