Evolutionary and biogeographic history of the subfamily Neoplecostominae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

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

4 SPECIES OF BRAZILIAN POISON FROGS RELATED TO EPIPEDOBATES-PICTUS (DENDROBATIDAE) - TAXONOMY AND NATURAL-HISTORY OBSERVATIONS

We present morphological and natural history data on Epipedobates pictus and three additional taxa currently regarded as synonyms of the former: Epipedobates braccatus, E. flavopictus, and E. hahneli. Topotypes of the four species were examined. Morphological data on tadpoles and adults, in addition to distribution patterns and vocalizations, indicate that the four taxa represent distinct species. Two groups are evident within them: (1) the slender-bodied, Amazonian E. hahneli with small flash marks on the thighs and a low-finned tadpole, and (2) the robust bodied, almost extra-Amazonian E. braccatus, E. flavopictus, and E. pictus with large flash marks on the thighs and tadpoles with fins of moderate height.

Nesting habits and colonial productivity of Polistes canadensis canadensis (L.) (Hymenoptera-Vespidae) in a Caatinga area, Bahia State Brazil

The paper aims at increasing the knowledge on the ecology of Polistes canadensis canadensis colonies in a Caatinga region. We studied some aspects of P.c. canadensis nesting habitats and colonial productivity. In the environmental conditions studied, this species nests on several types of substrata, particulary on thorny plants and in caves. The colony productivity and the cell reoccupation rate varies from one colony to another. In some colonies, we found cells with one, two and, more rarely, three reoccupations, this is upto four individuals produced in one cell only. The rate of the first reoccupation was 2.88-34.78%, with na average rate of 15.96%. The number of adults produced by the colonies of Flc, canadensis varied from 10 to 576 individuals. Productivity, given by the relationship between the number of born adults and the number of cell existing in the nest, varied from 31.25 to 123.19% and presented an average of 88.50%.

Four species of Brazilian poison frogs related to Epipedobates pictus (Dendrobatidae): taxonomy and natural history observations

Presents morphological and natural history data on Epipedobates pictus and three additional taxa currently regarded as synonyms of the former: Epipedobates braccatus, E. flavopictus and E. hahneli. Morphological data on tadpoles and adults, in addition to distribution patterns and vocalizations, indicate that the four taxa represent distinct species. -from Authors

The behavior and natural history of Chartergellus, a little-known genus of neotropical social wasps (Vespidae Polistinae Epiponini)

This study reviews published data on the behavior and natural history of Chartergellus and presents the first observations on social interactions in this genus of tropical swarm-founding wasps. Observations of Chartergellus golfitensis in Costa Rica and C. punctatior in Colombia showed that queens perform a post-oviposition egg-guarding vigil, and a bending display like that characteristic of epiponine social wasps that lack consistent morphological differences between workers and queens and have caste determination in the adult stage. Young, old, and queen (egg-laying) females of C. golfitensis showed small differences that indicate color changes with age, and structural differences that could be due to seasonal or colony-cycle changes in developmental conditions, but do not rule out the possibility of pre-adult caste determination, a phenomenon that needs to be carefully distinguished from pre-adult caste bias. Sexual dimorphism and the behavior of males at the nest in C. golfitensis is described, as well as the aggressive and avoidance behavior of females toward males. Nest structure in both species is as described previously for Chartergellus species, but some anomalies and their possible evolutionary significance are discussed. Cell initiation by an egg-laying queen, a behavior never seen by workers, and by a young female with slightly developed ovaries, may be vestiges of ancestral solitary reproductive traits where developed ovaries are associated with cell construction. © 2010 Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica dell'Università, Firenze, Italia.

Lepidobatrachus asper Budgett,1899 (Amphibia: Anura: Ceratophryidae): New country record, distribution map and natural history notes

Lepidobatrachus asper is a large to medium frog known from the Chaco lowlands of Paraguay and Argentina. We provide the first species record for the Brazilian Chaco, which extends the species geographical distribution ca. 73 km northeast from Puerto Casado, Alto Paraguay Departament, Paraguay. We also provide a distribution map and information about the species habitat conditions and diet. The Brazilian Chaco is still poorly surveyed, and the rapid environmental degradation can lead to local extinctions of certain species. © 2013 Check List and Authors.

Occurrence and natural history of Myrmelachista Roger (Formicidae: Formicinae) in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modeling Habitat Split: Landscape and Life History Traits Determine Amphibian Extinction Thresholds

Habitat split is a major force behind the worldwide decline of amphibian populations, causing community change in richness and species composition. In fragmented landscapes, natural remnants, the terrestrial habitat of the adults, are frequently separated from streams, the aquatic habitat of the larvae. An important question is how this landscape configuration affects population levels and if it can drive species to extinction locally. Here, we put forward the first theoretical model on habitat split which is particularly concerned on how split distance - the distance between the two required habitats - affects population size and persistence in isolated fragments. Our diffusive model shows that habitat split alone is able to generate extinction thresholds. Fragments occurring between the aquatic habitat and a given critical split distance are expected to hold viable populations, while fragments located farther away are expected to be unoccupied. Species with higher reproductive success and higher diffusion rate of post-metamorphic youngs are expected to have farther critical split distances. Furthermore, the model indicates that negative effects of habitat split are poorly compensated by positive effects of fragment size. The habitat split model improves our understanding about spatially structured populations and has relevant implications for landscape design for conservation. It puts on a firm theoretical basis the relation between habitat split and the decline of amphibian populations. © 2013 Fonseca et al.

Chromosomal organization and evolutionary history of Mariner transposable elements in Scarabaeinae coleopterans

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cyatta abscondita: Taxonomy, Evolution, and Natural History of a New Fungus-Farming Ant Genus from Brazil

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

Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeographic History of the Armored Neotropical Catfish Subfamilies Hypoptopomatinae, Neoplecostominae and Otothyrinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

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

Genomic alterations in patients showing multiple primary tumors and family history of cancer

Multiple primary tumors (MPT) are a major cause of mortality and morbidity among patients that have survived after the treatment of a first cancer. It has been proposed that after the first primary tumor, high risk of a subsequent tumor could be associated with radiotherapy used as treatment for the first cancer. Other potential risk factors include unhealthy lifestyle, genetic predisposition, aging, environmental determinants or an interaction between these factors. However, an association between the presence of MPT and family history of cancer in cases without clinical and molecular evidence of a known hereditary cancer syndrome is rarely described. Genomic DNA from 12 patients with at least two primary tumors and without mutations on TP53 was evaluated by CytoScan HD Array (Affymetrix). Chromosome Analysis Suite (ChAS) software v.2.0.1 was used considering at least 50 markers for gains; 25 for losses and a minimum of 5Mb for cnLOHs. Data from 1038 phenotypically healthy individuals (Affymetrix) and from Database of Genomic Variants were used as reference. Only alterations found in <1% (rare) or never described (new rare) in the reference population were considered. All cases, except one, presented a family history of cancer. Five cases developed MTP after radiotherapy and only one was located in the same treated area. It was detected 67 rare and 15 new rare genomic alterations encompassing 5.906 genes: 17 losses, 29 gains, and 36 cnLOH. X chromosome presented the higher number of alterations. Two patients with breast cancer presented a large deletion/cnLOH on 7q21. Enrichment analysis revealed 1275 genes associated with breast cancer (p= 0.001), which was diagnosed in 6 patients and their family members (all negative for BRCA1/2 or TP53 mutations). cnLOHs accounted for 44% of all the alterations. A significant proportion of cases (11/12) presented family history of cancer and the patients were not submitted to radiotherapy (7/12). We demonstrated the presence of rare genomic alterations in patients with MPT suggesting their involvement in the MPT development. cnLOH may arise as a new mechanism associated with the risk to develop MPT. All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

O olhar pós-colonial na construção de uma identidade irlandesa: um estudo da peça Translations, de Brian Friel

Pós-graduação em Letras - IBILCE

O poder municipal e as práticas mercantilistas no mundo colonial: um estudo sobre a Câmara Municipal de São Paulo – 1780-1822

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)