Monitoreo de invertebrados marinos en estaciones fijas del Callao, 2008-2012

Se presentan resultados de investigaciones sobre reclutamiento, estructura por tallas y abundancia de Stramonita chocolata, Argopecten purpuratus, Cancer setosus (= Romaleon polyodon) y Glycymeris ovata efectuados en los bancos naturales de Callao durante el 2008-2012, así como del experimento de marcación - recaptura de A. purpuratus en la bahía del Callao el 2011-2012. Con los resultados del monitoreo de invertebrados marinos en estaciones fijas del 2008 al 2012 se establecieron patrones temporales y espaciales del reclutamiento y abundancia que tendrían fuerte impacto en la determinación de medidas alternativas de manejo en la regulación pesquera. Con los resultados de marcación – recaptura de A. purpuratus se determinaron parámetros de crecimiento von Bertalanffy: 100 mm para longitud infinita, 0,891 y 0,931 año-1 para k para los años 2011 y 2012 respectivamente, y -0.04 para t0. También se presentan resultados del monitoreo de Octopus mimus en las islas de la región Lima (Ancón- Asia) los cuales muestran por primera vez índices de abundancia, distribución y aspectos biológicos.

Aves como potenciais dispersoras de sementes de Ocotea pulchella Mart. (Lauraceae) numa área de vegetação de cerrado do sudeste brasileiro

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

Vigilance towards raptors by nuclear species in bird mixed flocks in a Brazilian savannah

A nuclear or leader species is the one around which foraging activity is organized. In the campo-cerrado (Brazilian savannah) up to four bird species (Saltator atricollis, Cypsnagra hirundinacea, Mimus saturninus, and Neothraupis fasciata) may function as nuclear or leader species in mixed species flocks. The aim of this study was to assess the features shown by these nuclear species. I quantified parameters of sociality, communication and alertness of nuclear bird species in mixed flocks with different composition. Parameters related to sociality (mean intraspecific group size) and communication (frequency of contact calls) were not correlated with the leadership. on the other hand, the most alert species was in the front of a given mixed flock most of the time. The leader species spent more time in vigilance and gave most alarm calls due to approaching raptors earlier. The results of this study strongly suggest that the alertness of a species is the major character of nuclear bird species in mixed flocks of the campo-cerrado.

Frugivoria e dispersão de sementes de Talauma ovata (Magnoliaceae) no sudeste brasileiro

Some plants are widely distributed, ranging in different vegetation types. Since bird distribution can be directly associated to vegetational cover, we expect that seed dispersers can also vary following phytophysiognomy for some ornithochorous plants. The purpose of this paper was to describe potential seed disperser birds of Talauma ovata (Magnoliaceae) in semideciduous Atlantic forest and cerrado fragments in south-east Brazil. In 79 h of focal observations we recorded 1085 visits of 25 different bird species consuming T. ovata diaspores. Although most bird species observed consuming T. ovata diaspores present generalist habits, they were potential seed dispersers, presenting high visits rate and do not staying a long time on the plants, favoring seed dispersal efficiency. Fruit consumption was not different between species in the study sites and the time spending on the plants was not different between species in semideciduous forest, but was different in cerrado. Agonistic encounters were observed mainly in the end of fruiting season, but was not relevant to decrease the number of seeds dispersed by birds. The occurrence of different potential seed dispersers between areas, such as Cyanocorax cristatellus (Corvidae), Schistochlamys ruficapillus (Emberizidae) and Mimus saturninus (Mimidae), which are endemic from the cerrado ecosystem and could rarely be found in semideciduous forest, suggests that seed dispersers can vary according to phytophysiognomy characteristics. Our results also indicate that the evolution of a generalist seed dispersal system such as observed for T. ovata can make possible the colonization of different ambients. Furthermore, the high number of visits recorded for both areas suggests that the fleshy arils of T. ovata are important feeding resources for birds.

Componentes quantitativos e qualitativos da dispersão de sementes de Struthanthus flexicaulis (Loranthaceae) em uma área de campo rupestre do sudeste brasileiro

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessment of gait spatio-temporal parameters in neurological disorders using wearable inertial sensors

Movement analysis carried out in laboratory settings is a powerful, but costly solution since it requires dedicated instrumentation, space and personnel. Recently, new technologies such as the magnetic and inertial measurement units (MIMU) are becoming widely accepted as tools for the assessment of human motion in clinical and research settings. They are relatively easy-to-use and potentially suitable for estimating gait kinematic features, including spatio-temporal parameters. The objective of this thesis regards the development and testing in clinical contexts of robust MIMUs based methods for assessing gait spatio-temporal parameters applicable across a number of different pathological gait patterns. First, considering the need of a solution the least obtrusive as possible, the validity of the single unit based approach was explored. A comparative evaluation of the performance of various methods reported in the literature for estimating gait temporal parameters using a single unit attached to the trunk first in normal gait and then in different pathological gait conditions was performed. Then, the second part of the research headed towards the development of new methods for estimating gait spatio-temporal parameters using shank worn MIMUs on different pathological subjects groups. In addition to the conventional gait parameters, new methods for estimating the changes of the direction of progression were explored. Finally, a new hardware solution and relevant methodology for estimating inter-feet distance during walking was proposed. Results of the technical validation of the proposed methods at different walking speeds and along different paths against a gold standard were reported and showed that the use of two MIMUs attached to the lower limbs associated with a robust method guarantee a much higher accuracy in determining gait spatio-temporal parameters. In conclusion, the proposed methods could be reliably applied to various abnormal gaits obtaining in some cases a comparable level of accuracy with respect to normal gait.

Contribution of woody habitat islands to the conservation of birds and their potential ecosystem services in an extensive Colombian rangeland

The conservation of birds and their habitats is essential to maintain well-functioning ecosystems including human-dominated habitats. In simplified or homogenized landscapes, patches of natural and semi-natural habitat are essential for the survival of plant and animal populations. We compared species composition and diversity of trees and birds between gallery forests, tree islands and hedges in a Colombian savanna landscape to assess how fragmented woody plant communities affect forest bird communities and how differences in habitat characteristics influenced bird species traits and their potential ecosystem function. Bird and tree diversity was higher in forests than in tree islands and hedges. Soil depth influenced woody species distribution, and canopy cover and tree height determined bird species distribution, resulting in plant and bird communities that mainly differed between forest and non-forest habitat. Bird and tree species and traits widely co-varied. Bird species in tree islands and hedges were on average smaller, less specialized to habitat and more tolerant to disturbance than in forest, but dietary differences did not emerge. Despite being less complex and diverse than forests, hedges and tree islands significantly contribute to the conservation of forest biodiversity in the savanna matrix. Forest fragments remain essential for the conservation of forest specialists, but hedges and tree islands facilitate spillover of more tolerant forest birds and their ecological functions such as seed dispersal from forest to the savanna matrix.

Avian occupancy probabilities, vegetation structure, and presence of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in eastern and central Oklahoma (2009-2011)

Changes in land use and land cover throughout the eastern half of North America have caused substantial declines in populations of birds that rely on grassland and shrubland vegetation types, including socially and economically important game birds such as the Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter bobwhites). As much attention is focused on habitat management and restoration for bobwhites, they may act as an umbrella species for other bird species with similar habitat requirements. We quantified the relationship of bobwhites to the overall bird community and evaluated the potential for bobwhites to act as an umbrella species for grassland and shrubland birds. We monitored bobwhite presence and bird community composition within 31 sample units on selected private lands in the south-central United States from 2009 to 2011. Bobwhites were strongly associated with other grassland and shrubland birds and were a significant positive predictor for 9 species. Seven of these, including Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii), Dicksissel (Spiza americana), and Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), are listed as species of conservation concern. Species richness and occupancy probability of grassland and shrubland birds were higher relative to the overall bird community in sample units occupied by bobwhites. Our results show that bobwhites can act as an umbrella species for grassland and shrubland birds, although the specific species in any given situation will depend on region and management objectives. These results suggest that efficiency in conservation funding can be increased by using public interest in popular game species to leverage resources to meet multiple conservation objectives.

MIMU sensors for joint kinematic estimation: anatomical landmarking and frame correction

The ability to capture human motion allows researchers to evaluate an individual’s gait. Gait can be measured in different ways, from camera-based systems to Magnetic and Inertial Measurement Units (MIMU). The former uses cameras to track positional information of photo-reflective markers, while the latter uses accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to measure segment orientation. Both systems can be used to measure joint kinematics, but the results vary because of their differences in anatomical calibrations. The objective of this thesis was to study potential solutions for reducing joint angle discrepancies between MIMU and camera-based systems. The first study worked to correct the anatomical frame differences between MIMU and camera-based systems via the joint angles of both systems. This study looked at full lower body correction versus correcting a single joint. Single joint correction showed slightly better alignment of both systems, but does not take into account that body segments are generally affected by more than one joint. The second study explores the possibility of anatomical landmarking using a single camera and a pointer apparatus. Results showed anatomical landmark position could be determined using a single camera, as the anatomical landmarks found from this study and a camera-based system showed similar results. This thesis worked on providing a novel way for obtaining anatomical landmarks with a single point-and-shoot camera, as well aligning anatomical frames between MIMUs and camera-based systems using joint angles.

Evaluación de bancos naturales de invertebrados marinos comerciales, Región La Libertad-Perú, 2011

La evaluación de los bancos naturales, se realizó entre 07°10’27”S, 79°41’18”W (Punta Chérrepe) y 08°45’44,9”S, 78°47’42,2”W (Isla Chao), del 13 al 24 de diciembre 2011. Se evaluó ocho especies de invertebrados de importancia comercial en 15 bancos naturales. Las especies fueron: Platyxanthus orbignyi cangrejo violáceo, Stramonita chocolata caracol negro, Octopus mimus pulpo, Argopecten purpuratus concha de abanico, Semele sp. almeja, Emerita analoga muy muy, Pattalus molli pepino de mar, Donax sp. palabritas.