Respuesta conductual de Canis lupus familiaris a diferentes movimientos gestuales realizados por el ser humano.

Se analiza el comportamiento del perro (Canis lupus familiaris) en función de una serie de movimientos gestuales realizados por humanos (dueño, persona conocida y desconocido). Se observó que el patrón de comportamiento viene determinado por la persona que realiza los gestos. La respuesta de comportamiento se asocia al reconocimiento, o no, de una estructura jerárquica interespecífica, donde el dueño del animal ocupa el mayor rango. Ante personas extrañas el perro no reconoce dicha jerarquización, cambiando claramente su respuesta ante los mismos movimientos gestuales. / The behavior of the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) depending on different universal gestural movements made by different humans individuals was studied (dog owner, person known by the dog and person unknown by the dog). It was observed that the decisive factor is the individual who performs the gestures. The behavioral response is associated with the recognition or not of an interspecific hierarchical structure, and the owner of the animal occupies the highest rank. With strangers the dog does not recognize this hierarchy, changing their response to the same gestural movements.

Pathogenic effect of microorganisms on loggerhead eggs

[EN] Different types of fungi and bacteria have been isolated from hatched and non-hatched as well as failed and non-failed eggs in natural sea turtles nests (Marco et al. 2006, Phillott and Parmenter, 2001, Phillott et al. 2001). Microbiota infections are common in artificial incubation activities and they seem to have an important negative impact on embryo development (Phillott, 2002). However, no clear evidences of their pathogenic effects have been described. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fungi and bacteria represent pathogenic agents to sea turtle eggs, and to assess whether there exists a specific period during incubation in which eggs are more susceptible to microorganisms.

Influence of loggerhead egg agregation on survival: why does single eggs buried into natural sand dye in few days?

[EN] The incubation is an essential life period for oviparous species that very often experiences a high mortality. In some reptile species the number of eggs that develop together in the incubation chamber affects survival and hatchling phenotype. Sea turtle eggs develop in underground locations on sandy beaches in large masses that usually have more than 80 eggs. Natural egg mortality seems to vary among species and for the sensitive leatherbacks, external eggs seems to survive better than internal ones within the nest.

Natural colonization of loggerhead turtle eggs by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum

[EN] Sea turtle nests are exposed to different environmental risks that may affect their hatching success. Human exploitation, predation by wild or domestic animals, nest flooding or severe beach erosion or accession are common causes of egg mortality. However, there is very little information about the impact of microorganisms on turtle eggs. We analyzed loggerhead turtle eggs from Boavista Island (Republic of Cabo Verde) which were incubated under different environmental conditions in order to evaluate the presence and impact of fungus. We have isolated Fusarium oxysporum from dead and live eggs after three days of incubation.