The three phases of the ensemble forecasting of niche models: geographic range and shifts in climatically suitable areas of Utetheisa ornatrix (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae)

Species' geographic ranges are usually considered as basic units in macroecology and biogeography, yet it is still difficult to measure them accurately for many reasons. About 20 years ago, researchers started using local data on species' occurrences to estimate broad scale ranges, thereby establishing the niche modeling approach. However, there are still many problems in model evaluation and application, and one of the solutions is to find a consensus solution among models derived from different mathematical and statistical models for niche modeling, climatic projections and variable combination, all of which are sources of uncertainty during niche modeling. In this paper, we discuss this approach of ensemble forecasting and propose that it can be divided into three phases with increasing levels of complexity. Phase I is the simple combination of maps to achieve a consensual and hopefully conservative solution. In Phase II, differences among the maps used are described by multivariate analyses, and Phase III consists of the quantitative evaluation of the relative magnitude of uncertainties from different sources and their mapping. To illustrate these developments, we analyzed the occurrence data of the tiger moth, Utetheisa ornatrix (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae), a Neotropical moth species, and modeled its geographic range in current and future climates.

Relationship of intestinal histology with the resistance to Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection in three breeds of sheep

The study was carried out to evaluate the relationship of inflammatory intestinal cells with the resistance to Trichostrongylus colubriformis infections in three breeds of sheep (Santa Ines, Suffolk and Ile de France), naturally infected. Mast cells, eosinophils, and globule leucocytes were enumerated in intestinal mucosa. Histamine concentration was estimated in intestinal tissue samples and the length of male and female specimens were determined. The three breeds of sheep showed similar cellular response in the small intestine mucosa (P>0.05). There was extensive variation among sheep in the parasitological and inflammatory cell variables, even in lambs of the same breed. In general, animals presenting less inflammatory cells had a larger worm burden, higher fecal egg counts, and larger T. colubriformis worms. The inflammatory cells possibly impaired the parasite's establishment, development, and survival.

Bees visitors of three species of Clusia (Clusiaceae) flowers in Central Amazonia

Observations on bees visitors to three species of Clusia (Clusiaceae) flowers in the Reserva Adolpho Ducke, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil were made during three two-week periods. The three species of Clusia, namely C. grandiflora, C. panapanari and C. insignis, presented variations regarding the species of bee visitors. A total of 23 bee species visited the three species of Clusia. The Euglossini and Meliponinae bees were the most frequent visitors of the Clusia flowers. Bee collecting behavior of floral resources is described.

Degree of host-parasite compatibility between Schistosoma mansoni and their intermediate molluscan hosts in Brazil

The compatibility of Biomphalaria tenagophila, B. straminea and B. glabrata from Minas Gerais with different strains of Schistosoma mansoni was evaluated using the method of Frandsen (1979b) in standardized experiments. One hundred and fifty of each species of snail were individually exposed in the laboratory to 50 miracidia of S. mansoni lines LE, SJ and AL. The cercariae from the infected snails were counted and used to calculate TCP/100 indices, which were compared with those of Frandsen (1979b). For B. tenagophila the TCP/100 indices varied from 37,996 to 74,266 (class II and III). The snail was poorly compatible with LE (class II) and compatible with SJ and AL (class III). For B. straminea the indices varied from 9,484 to 20,508. The snail was not very compatible with SJ (class I) and poorly compatible with LE and AL (class II). For B. glabrata the indices varied from 588,828 to 1,039,065. The snails was extremely compatible (class VI) with the three lines of S. mansoni. These results confirm the epidemiological importance of B. glabrata in Brazil followed by B. tenagophila and B. straminea.

Influence of anti-filarial chemotherapy strategies on the genetic structure of Wuchereria bancrofti populations

Lymphatic filarial (LF) parasites have been under anti-filarial drug pressure for more than half a century. Currently, annual mass drug administration (MDA) of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin in combination with albendazole (ALB) have been used globally to eliminate LF. Long-term chemotherapies exert significant pressure on the genetic structure of parasitic populations. We investigated the genetic variation among 210 Wuchereria bancrofti populations that were under three different chemotherapy strategies, namely MDA with DEC alone (group I, n = 74), MDA with DEC and ALB (group II, n = 60) and selective therapy (ST) with DEC (group III, n = 34) to understand the impact of these three drug regimens on the parasite genetic structure. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA profiles were generated for the three groups of parasite populations; the gene diversity, gene flow and genetic distance values were determined and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Analysis of these parameters indicated that parasite populations under ST with a standard dose of DEC (group III) were genetically more diverse (0.2660) than parasite populations under MDA with DEC alone (group I, H = 0.2197) or with DEC + ALB (group II, H = 0.2317). These results indicate that the MDA may reduce the genetic diversity of W. bancrofti populations when compared to the genetic diversity of parasite populations under ST.

Interaction between the mineral content and the occurrence number of aquatic fungi in leaves submerged in a stream in the Atlantic rainforest, São Paulo, Brazil

Leaves of Ficus microcarpa L. f., Quercus robur L., and Alchornea triplinervia (Spreng.) Muell. Arg., submerged in a stream of the Atlantic rainforest in the "Reserva Biológica do Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba", State of São Paulo, Brazil, were collected monthly, from April to November 1990, in order to determine the number of fungal occurrences (zoosporic fungi and aquatic Hyphomycetes), and the content of total N (%), total P (%), K+ (%), Ca+2 (%), Mg+2 (%), S+3 (%), Fe+3 (ppm), Cu+3 (ppm), Mn+2 (ppm), Zn+2 (ppm), Bo (ppm), Na+2 (ppm) and Al+3 (ppm). According to the tests of Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon, the means of the mineral content of the three types of leaves were significantly different, except for Mg+2 (%), Mn+2 (ppm), Zn+2 (ppm) and Na+2 (ppm). On comparing the mineral content with the number of fungal occurrence, an independence test showed a positive correlation between the presence of zoosporic fungi on the leaves of A. triplinervia and the total nitrogen, phosphorus and S+3 content, whereas the aquatic Hyphomycetes depended on the amount of Ca+2 available. Regarding leaves of F. microcarpa, the occurrence of zoosporic fungi was linked to the S+3 level, and the presence of aquatic Hyphomycetes, to the content of K+, Ca+2, S+3 and Bo. On Q. robur leaves, zoosporic fungi showed a positive correlation with the Ca+2 content, but a negative one with Fe+3 and Al+3 levels, while the occurrence of aquatic Hyphomycetes was influenced by the content of Ca+2, Mg+2, Fe+3, Al+3, Mn+2, Zn+2 and Na+2. The correlation between the occurrence number of aquatic Hyphomycetes and a high mineral content indicates that their nutritional requirements may be more complex than those of zoosporic fungi. Further studies are still required to understand the implications of this tendency on the diversity of aquatic native mycota.

A spectral analysis of the myoelectric activity of the left colon in patients with schistosomiasis mansoni

The objective of the present study was to perform a spectral analysis of the electrical activity of the left colon of patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Thirty patients were studied, divided into 2 groups: group A was composed of 14 patients (9 males and 5 females) with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and group B was composed of 16 female patients without schistosomiasis mansoni. Three pairs of electrodes were implanted in the left colon at the moment of the surgical treatment. The signals of the electric activity of the colon were captured after postoperative recovery from the ileus and fed into a computer by means of a DATAQ data collection system which identified and captured frequencies between 0.02 and 10 Hz. Data were recorded, stored and analyzed using the WINDAQ 200 software. For electrical analysis, the average voltage of the electrical wave in the three electrodes of all patients, expressed as millivolts (mV), was considered, together with the maximum and minimum values, the root mean square (RMS), the skewness, and the results of the fast Fourier transforms. The average RMS of the schistosomiasis mansoni patients was 284.007 mV. During a long period of contraction, the RMS increased in a statistically significant manner from 127.455 mV during a resting period to 748.959 mV in patients with schistosomiasis mansoni. We conclude that there were no statistically significant differences in RMS values between patients with schistosomiasis mansoni and patients without the disease during the rest period or during a long period of contraction.

Stability of Citrus tristeza virus protective isolate 'Pêra IAC' according to SSCP analysis of old and new lines of three sweet orange varieties

Clonal cleaning, followed by pre-immunization with protective complexes of Citrus tristeza virus(CTV), allowed the commercial cultivation of Pêra sweet orange, a variety that has great importance for Brazilian citriculture but is sensitive to the virus. The use of mild protective isolates in other citrus varieties, even those more tolerant to CTV, can also be of interest to prevent the spread of severe isolates. The aim of this study was to characterize, by means of SSCP (Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism) analysis of the coat protein gene, CTV isolates present in plants of the sweet orange cultivars Pêra, Hamlin and Valencia propagated from four budwood sources: 1) old lines, 2) nucellar lines, 3) shoot-tip-grafted lines, and 4) shoot-tip-grafted lines pre-immunized with the mild CTV protective isolate 'PIAC'. We also evaluated the correlation of the obtained SSCP patterns to stem pitting intensity, tree vigor and fruit yield. SSCP results showed low genetic diversity among the isolates present in different trees of the same variety and same budwood source and, in some cases, in different budwood sources and varieties. Considering tristeza symptoms, lower intensity was noted for plants of new, shoot-tip-grafted and pre-immunized shoot-tip-grafted lines, compared to old lines of the three varieties. The observed SSCP patterns and symptomatology suggested that more severe CTV complexes infect the plants of old lines of all three varieties. The protective complex stability was observed in the SSCP patterns of CTV isolates of some shoot-tip-grafted and pre-immunized clones. It was concluded that the changes detected in other electrophoretic profiles of this treatment did not cause loss of the protective capacity of CTV isolate 'PIAC' inoculated in the pre-immunization.

Schistosoma mansoni: the sex ratios of worms in animals infected with cercariae from three species of Biomphalaria

The ratios of male to female worms of Schistosoma mansoni were determined in mice infected with cercariae from LE, SJ and AL strains shed by mollusc hosts of the parasite in Brazil. The sex ratios of worms in the animals were similar with cercariae from Biomphialaria glabrata and B. tenagophila varying from 1.1:1 to 1.6:1 with LE and AL strains and 1:1.1 with SJ. In the animals infected with cercariae from B. straminea the ratio of male to female worms was similar to those obtained using cercariae shed from the other two species of molluscs, 1.5:1 with LE strain. Inoculations by AL and SJ cercariae resulted in sex ratios of 3.1:1 and 6:1 respectively. The normal sex ratios of worms established in Brazil in animals inoculated with cercariae from B. glabrata and B. tenagophila is from 1:1 to 2:1. The higher number of male worms that developed from cercariae of the AL and SJ strains obtained from B. straminea indicate a lower compatibility of the snail concerning these strains of S. mansoni.

HTLV-I associated myelopathy in the northern region of Brazil (Belém-Pará): serological and clinical features of three cases

Three patients (males, black, ages 37, 40 and 57) attended a university clinic with a progressive paraparesis of obscure origin. One patient who referred disease duration of more than 16 years, showed diminished deep reflexes, bilateral Babinski's sign, diminished sensation of vibration, abnormal bladder function and back pain. The other two patients (with one and six years of disease duration) complained of weakness in one leg, increased deep reflexes and back pain. Babinski's sign and bladder disturbance were also present in the patient with six years of disease. Blood samples tested by an enzyme immune assay and a discriminatory Western blot were positive for HTLV-I. The familial analysis of one patient showed a possible pattern of sexual and vertical transmission of the virus. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first cases of a proven association between HTLV-I and TSP/HAM in Belem, Para, and emphasize the need to actively look for cases of neurological disease associated to the virus.

Importance of anatomical leaf features for characterization of three species of Mapania (Mapanioideae, Cyperaceae) from the Amazon Forest, Brazil

Mapania belongs to Mapanioideae, a quite controversial subfamily in Cyperaceae due to the existence of unusual characters in both reproductive and vegetative organs. The genus is represented by seven species in Northern Brazil but taxonomic valuable information related to the leaf organs is still unknown. The present study aimed the anatomical description of the leaf organs (either basal leaves or cataphylls and involucral bracts) of three representative Brazilian species of Mapania. Samples of cataphylls, basal leaves and involucral bracts were sectioned and stained for observations under light microscopy. The involucral bracts provide the most elucidative characters (ten) to distinguish the three species The basal leaves provides six distinguishing characters and are useful to M. macrophylla and M. pycnostachya, as they are absent in M. sylvatica. Mesophyll arrangement in the involucral bracts supports the circumscription of M. macrophylla and M. pycnostachya in M. sect. Pycnocephala and of M. sylvatica in M. sect. Mapania. Some features as thin-walled epidermal cells, stomata level and aerenchyma were considered to be adaptive to the humid environment in which the species occur. The translucent cells are here considered as aerenchyma precursors and a supportive function is assumed for the bulliform cells on the basal leaves and involucral bracts. No silica bodies were found which confirm it as a diagnostic character of Mapania among Hypolytreae genera.

Leaf anatomy of Qualea parviflora (Vochysiaceae) in three phytophysiognomies of the Mato Grosso State, Brazil

ABSTRACT Leaves have a variety of morphological and anatomical characters mainly influenced by climatic, edaphic and biotic factors. The aim of this study was to describe the anatomical leaf traits of Qualea parviflora from three phytophysiognomies. The studied phytophysiognomies were Amazon Savannah on rocky outcrops (ASR), Transition Rupestrian Cerrado (TRC), and Cerradão (CDA). Freehand sections of the leaf blade were made and stained with 0.5% astra blue and with basic fuchsin. From the adaxial and abaxial leaf surface, freehand paradermal sections were made for epidermis analysis. The Jeffrey´s method, with modifications, was used in the epidermis dissociation process. The samples from the TRC phytophysiognomy had relatively smaller ordinary epidermal cells, higher abundance of trichomes, and mesophyll with few intercellular spaces, in comparison to the other phytophysiognomies. The leaves from the ASR phytophysiognomy had higher stomatal index (SI = 21.02), and five to six layers of sclerenchyma surrounding the midrib vascular bundle. The secondary vascular bundles had thicker cell walls and the bundle sheath extended up to the epidermal tissue of both leaf sides. Leaves from the CDA phytophysiognomy had mesomorphic environmental traits, such as a thinner cuticle. It is concluded that trees from ASR and TRC phytophysiognomies have xeromorphic traits following the environmental conditions where they occur.

Ultramorphology of the metapleural gland in three species of Atta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Differences among the metapleural glands of four female castes of Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908, A. capiguara Gonçalves, 1944 and A. sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908 were examined by scanning electron microscope. There were no differences in gland size between the same castes of these species, although the opening gland in A. sexdens rubropilosa had been twice as large as A. bisphaerica. The relative size and functional significance of the metapleural gland among different castes is discussed and similarities between these and the other Formicidae till now studied is presented.

Reproductive isolation among three populations of the genus Grammostola from Uruguay (Araneae, Theraphosidae)

Ethological isolation of individuals from three allopatric Grammostola populations of Uruguay, G. iheringi (Keyserling, 1891), G. mollicoma (Auserer, 1875) northern population and G. mollicoma southern population, was tested under laboratory conditions. Grammostola iheringi behaved as a reproductive isolated species, whereas the two populations of G. mollicoma did not show ethological isolation between them. However, ecological isolating reproductive mechanisms could be acting on G. mollicoma populations. Artificial burrows seem to be important for reproductive isolation in these species.

Bird communities in three forest types in the Pernambuco Centre of Endemism, Alagoas, Brazil

The Pernambuco Center of Endemism (PCE) in northeastern Brazil is highly fragmented and degraded. Despite its potential conservation importance the bird fauna in this area is still relatively unknown and there are many remnant fragments that have not been systematically surveyed. Here, we report the results of bird surveys in five forest fragments (one pioneer, two ombrophilous and two seasonal). In total, 162 taxa were recorded, 12 of which are endemic to the PCE. The frequency of endangered species was lower than what has been reported in studies from the same area and most of the taxa considered to be at risk of extinction were sub-species of uncertain taxonomic validity. The comparatively low number of endemic/threatened species may be due to the small size of the fragments in the present study - a consequence of the high levels of habitat loss in this region. Analysis of species richness patterns indicates that ombrophilous forest fragments are acting as refuges for those bird species that are most sensitive to environmental degradation.