Sentinels in Saltator atricollis (Passeriformes: Emberizidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Association of two new Coryphasia species (Araneae, Salticidae) with tank-bromeliads in southeastern Brazil: Habitats and patterns of host plant use

Two allopatric species of Coryphasia (Araneae: Salticidae), both described for the first time in this study, have been found associated with Bromeliaceae in distinct phytophysiognomies (e.g., inselbergs, highland forests and restingas) from southeastern Brazil. In this study, we investigated whether these salticids were associated specifically with bromeliads, and whether they used bromeliads of different species and sizes in distinct geographic regions. The Coryphasia species were rarely found outside bromeliads, occupied larger bromeliad species among those available, and were generally more frequent on bromeliads in open areas, such as inselbergs on mountain tops. The two Coophasia species were observed submerging in phytotelmata, possibly as an anti-predatory behavior. The patterns of spatial and microspatial distribution and the submergence behavior of these species were similar to those of other bromeliad-dwelling salticids, which suggests a convergence among spiders that live on bromeliads.

Relationship between predation by Podisus nigrispinus and developmental phase and density of its prey, Plutella xylostella

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Microemulsões biocompatíveis de anfotericina B para administração oral: estudo estrutural, liberação in vitro e farmacocinética pré-clínica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

AVALIAÇÃO POR MEIO DE MODELOS DE GESSO DAS ALTERAÇÕES DENTOESQUELÉTICAS, PROMOVIDAS PELA EXPANSÃO RÁPIDA DA MAXILA ASSISTIDA CIRURGICAMENTE (ERMAC)

Este estudo avaliou as alterações produzidas nos arcos dentais superiores de pacientes submetidos à Expansão Rápida da Maxila Assistida Cirurgicamente (ERMAC). A amostra utilizada foi composta de 50 modelos de gesso superiores de 18 pacientes, sendo seis do sexo masculino e 12 do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 23,3 anos. Para cada paciente foram preparados três modelos de gesso obtidos em diferentes fases: Inicial, antes do procedimento operatório (T1); três meses pós-expansão (travamento do expansor) e momento da remoção do aparelho expansor tipo Hyrax e colocação da placa removível de acrílico para contenção (T2); seis meses pós-expansão e momento de remoção da placa de acrílico (T3). O dispositivo expansor utilizado foi o disjuntor tipo Hyrax. O procedimento cirúrgico adotado foi a osteotomia lateral da maxila sem o envolvimento da lâmina pterigóide, osteotomia da espinha nasal à linha média dental (incisivos centrais superiores), separação da sutura palatina mediana por meio de cinzel e separação do septo nasal. O início da ativação ocorreu no terceiro dia pós-operatório, sendo ¼ de volta pela manhã e ¼ à noite, sendo que as ativações seguiram critérios clínicos para o controle da expansão. As medidas foram realizadas por meio da máquina de medição tridimensional (SAC), baseando-se nas alterações nos três planos (vertical, sagital e transversal) que ocorreram nos modelos de gesso. Concluiu-se que: 1. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significante nas distâncias transversais em todos os grupos de dentes (de incisivos centrais até segundos molares) de T1 para T2, demonstrando a efetividade do tratamento. De T2 para T3 não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para nenhuma variável, indicando, assim, estabilidade após seis meses do término da ERMAC; 2. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significante nas inclinações dos primeiros e segundos molares dos lados direito e esquerdo e dos segundos pré-molares apenas do lado esquerdo, sugerindo um comportamento assimétrico dos dentes avaliados; 3. Houve um aumento na largura palatina nos intervalos analisados, com diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre T1 x T2 e T1 x T3; 4. Não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes na profundidade palatina nos intervalos analisados.(AU)

AVALIAÇÃO POR MEIO DE MODELOS DE GESSO DAS ALTERAÇÕES DENTOESQUELÉTICAS, PROMOVIDAS PELA EXPANSÃO RÁPIDA DA MAXILA ASSISTIDA CIRURGICAMENTE (ERMAC)

Este estudo avaliou as alterações produzidas nos arcos dentais superiores de pacientes submetidos à Expansão Rápida da Maxila Assistida Cirurgicamente (ERMAC). A amostra utilizada foi composta de 50 modelos de gesso superiores de 18 pacientes, sendo seis do sexo masculino e 12 do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 23,3 anos. Para cada paciente foram preparados três modelos de gesso obtidos em diferentes fases: Inicial, antes do procedimento operatório (T1); três meses pós-expansão (travamento do expansor) e momento da remoção do aparelho expansor tipo Hyrax e colocação da placa removível de acrílico para contenção (T2); seis meses pós-expansão e momento de remoção da placa de acrílico (T3). O dispositivo expansor utilizado foi o disjuntor tipo Hyrax. O procedimento cirúrgico adotado foi a osteotomia lateral da maxila sem o envolvimento da lâmina pterigóide, osteotomia da espinha nasal à linha média dental (incisivos centrais superiores), separação da sutura palatina mediana por meio de cinzel e separação do septo nasal. O início da ativação ocorreu no terceiro dia pós-operatório, sendo ¼ de volta pela manhã e ¼ à noite, sendo que as ativações seguiram critérios clínicos para o controle da expansão. As medidas foram realizadas por meio da máquina de medição tridimensional (SAC), baseando-se nas alterações nos três planos (vertical, sagital e transversal) que ocorreram nos modelos de gesso. Concluiu-se que: 1. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significante nas distâncias transversais em todos os grupos de dentes (de incisivos centrais até segundos molares) de T1 para T2, demonstrando a efetividade do tratamento. De T2 para T3 não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para nenhuma variável, indicando, assim, estabilidade após seis meses do término da ERMAC; 2. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significante nas inclinações dos primeiros e segundos molares dos lados direito e esquerdo e dos segundos pré-molares apenas do lado esquerdo, sugerindo um comportamento assimétrico dos dentes avaliados; 3. Houve um aumento na largura palatina nos intervalos analisados, com diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre T1 x T2 e T1 x T3; 4. Não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes na profundidade palatina nos intervalos analisados.(AU)

(Table T1) Clay-mineral composition of ODP Site 184-1146 sediments

The preliminary results of a comprehensive study of clay minerals (<2 µm) are presented for the upper 2 m.y. of sediments from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 184 Site 1146 from the northern margin of the South China Sea, close to the Pearl River mouth. More than 500 samples were analyzed, and four main mineral species are present: smectite, illite, chlorite, and kaolinite. On a general basis, illite + chlorite and smectite display anti-correlated behavior in relation to changes in the proportion of primary to secondary minerals in the sediment. Low-frequency and high-frequency changes are observed in the smectite/(illite + chlorite) ratio.

AVALIAÇÃO POR MEIO DE MODELOS DE GESSO DAS ALTERAÇÕES DENTOESQUELÉTICAS, PROMOVIDAS PELA EXPANSÃO RÁPIDA DA MAXILA ASSISTIDA CIRURGICAMENTE (ERMAC)

Este estudo avaliou as alterações produzidas nos arcos dentais superiores de pacientes submetidos à Expansão Rápida da Maxila Assistida Cirurgicamente (ERMAC). A amostra utilizada foi composta de 50 modelos de gesso superiores de 18 pacientes, sendo seis do sexo masculino e 12 do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 23,3 anos. Para cada paciente foram preparados três modelos de gesso obtidos em diferentes fases: Inicial, antes do procedimento operatório (T1); três meses pós-expansão (travamento do expansor) e momento da remoção do aparelho expansor tipo Hyrax e colocação da placa removível de acrílico para contenção (T2); seis meses pós-expansão e momento de remoção da placa de acrílico (T3). O dispositivo expansor utilizado foi o disjuntor tipo Hyrax. O procedimento cirúrgico adotado foi a osteotomia lateral da maxila sem o envolvimento da lâmina pterigóide, osteotomia da espinha nasal à linha média dental (incisivos centrais superiores), separação da sutura palatina mediana por meio de cinzel e separação do septo nasal. O início da ativação ocorreu no terceiro dia pós-operatório, sendo ¼ de volta pela manhã e ¼ à noite, sendo que as ativações seguiram critérios clínicos para o controle da expansão. As medidas foram realizadas por meio da máquina de medição tridimensional (SAC), baseando-se nas alterações nos três planos (vertical, sagital e transversal) que ocorreram nos modelos de gesso. Concluiu-se que: 1. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significante nas distâncias transversais em todos os grupos de dentes (de incisivos centrais até segundos molares) de T1 para T2, demonstrando a efetividade do tratamento. De T2 para T3 não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para nenhuma variável, indicando, assim, estabilidade após seis meses do término da ERMAC; 2. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significante nas inclinações dos primeiros e segundos molares dos lados direito e esquerdo e dos segundos pré-molares apenas do lado esquerdo, sugerindo um comportamento assimétrico dos dentes avaliados; 3. Houve um aumento na largura palatina nos intervalos analisados, com diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre T1 x T2 e T1 x T3; 4. Não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes na profundidade palatina nos intervalos analisados.(AU)

Antipredator Responses by Native Mosquitofish to Non-Native Cichlids: An Examination of the Role of Prey Naiveté

The strong impact of non-native predators in aquatic systems is thought to relate to the evolutionary naiveté of prey. Due to isolation and limited dispersal, this naiveté may be relatively high in freshwater systems. In this study, we tested this notion by examining the antipredator response of native mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, to two non-native predators found in the Everglades, the African jewelfish, Hemichromis letourneuxi, and the Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus. We manipulated prey naiveté by using two mosquitofish populations that varied in their experience with the recent invader, the African jewelfish, but had similar levels of experience with the longer-established Mayan cichlid. Specifically, we tested these predictions: (1) predator hunting modes differed between the two predators, (2) predation rates would be higher by the novel jewelfish predator, (3) particularly on the naive population living where jewelfish have not invaded yet, (4) antipredator responses would be stronger to Mayan cichlids due to greater experience and weaker and/or ineffective to jewelfish, and (5) especially weakest by the naive population. We assayed prey and predator behavior, and prey mortality in lab aquaria where both predators and prey were free-ranging. Predator hunting modes and habitat domains differed, with jewelfish being more active search predators that used slightly higher parts of the water column and less of the habitat structure relative to Mayan cichlids. In disagreement with our predictions, predation rates were similar between the two predators, antipredator responses were stronger to African jewelfish (except for predator inspections), and there was no difference in response between jewelfish-savvy and jewelfish-naive populations. These results suggest that despite the novelty of introduced predators, prey may be able to respond appropriately if non-native predator archetypes are similar enough to those of native predators, if prey rely on general antipredator responses or predation cues, and/or show neophobic responses.

Food supplementation mitigates dispersal-dependent differences in nest defence in a passerine bird

Funding. This work was supported by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (PICS France-Switzerland to BD), the Ministe`re de l’Enseignement Supe´rieur et de la Recherche (PhD fellowship to CR), the University of Aberdeen (stipend to CR), the Uppsala Universitet (stipend to GD), the Universite´ de Lausanne (grant to JT), the Re´gion Rhoˆne-Alpes (Programme Cible PhD fellowship to GD and Explora’doc mobility grants to CR and GD), the L’Ore´al Foundation-UNESCO ‘For Women in Science’ programme (fellowship to CR), the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities and the Fondation pour l’Universite´ de Lausanne (grants to CR).

Factors Influencing Movements and Foraging Ecology of American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in a Dynamic Subtropical Coastal Ecosystem

Top predators can have large effects on community and population dynamics but we still know relatively little about their roles in ecosystems and which biotic and abiotic factors potentially affect their behavioral patterns. Understanding the roles played by top predators is a pressing issue because many top predator populations around the world are declining rapidly yet we do not fully understand what the consequences of their potential extirpation could be for ecosystem structure and function. In addition, individual behavioral specialization is commonplace across many taxa, but studies of its prevalence, causes, and consequences in top predator populations are lacking. In this dissertation I investigated the movement, feeding patterns, and drivers and implications of individual specialization in an American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) population inhabiting a dynamic subtropical estuary. I found that alligator movement and feeding behaviors in this population were largely regulated by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors that varied seasonally. I also found that the population consisted of individuals that displayed an extremely wide range of movement and feeding behaviors, indicating that individual specialization is potentially an important determinant of the varied roles of alligators in ecosystems. Ultimately, I found that assuming top predator populations consist of individuals that all behave in similar ways in terms of their feeding, movements, and potential roles in ecosystems is likely incorrect. As climate change and ecosystem restoration and conservation activities continue to affect top predator populations worldwide, individuals will likely respond in different and possibly unexpected ways.

Court cleaning behavior of the white-bearded manakin (manacus manacus) and a test of the anti-predation hypothesis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anti-grazing properties of the toxic dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum during predator-prey interactions with the copepod Acartia tonsa

Karlodinium veneficum (syn. Karlodinium micrum, Bergholtz et al. 2006; J Phycol 42:170–193) is a small athecate dinoflagellate commonly present in low levels in temperate, coastal waters. Occasionally, K. veneficum forms ichthyotoxic blooms due to the presence of cytotoxic, hemolytic compounds, putatively named karlotoxins. To evaluate the anti-grazing properties of these karlotoxins, we conducted food removal experiments using the cosmopolitan copepod grazer Acartia tonsa. Wild-caught, adult female A. tonsa were exposed to 6 monoalgal or mixed algal diets made using bloom concentrations of toxic (CCMP 2064) and non-toxic (CSIC1) strains of K. veneficum. Ingestion and clearance rates were calculated using the equations of Frost (1972). Exposure to the toxic strain of K. veneficum did not contribute to an increased mortality of the copepods and no significant differences in copepod mortality were found among the experimental diets. However, A. tonsa had significantly greater clearance and ingestion rates when exposed to a monoalgal diet of the non-toxic strain CSIC1 than when exposed to the monoalgal diet of toxic strain CCMP 2064 and mixed diets dominated by this toxic strain. These results support the hypothesis that karlotoxins in certain strains of K. veneficum deter grazing by potential predators and contribute to the formation and continuation of blooms.

Acquisition of Pavlovian Fear Conditioning Using beta-Adrenoceptor Activation of the Dorsal Premammillary Nucleus as an Unconditioned Stimulus to Mimic Live Predator-Threat Exposure

In the present work, we sought to mimic the internal state changes in response to a predator threat by pharmacologically stimulating the brain circuit involved in mediating predator fear responses, and explored whether this stimulation would be a valuable unconditioned stimulus (US) in an olfactory fear conditioning paradigm (OFC). The dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMd) is a key brain structure in the neural processing of anti-predatory defensive behavior and has also been shown to mediate the acquisition and expression of anti-predatory contextual conditioning fear responses. Rats were conditioned by pairing the US, which was an intra-PMd microinjection of isoproterenol (ISO; beta-adrenoceptor agonist), with amyl acetate odor-the conditioned stimulus (CS). ISO (10 and 40 nmol) induced the acquisition of the OFC and the second-order association by activation of beta-1 receptors in the PMd. Furthermore, similar to what had been found for contextual conditioning to a predator threat, atenolol (beta-1 receptor antagonist) in the PMd also impaired the acquisition and expression of OFC promoted by ISO. Considering the strong glutamatergic projections from the PMd to the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG), we tested how the glutamatergic blockade of the dPAG would interfere with the OFC induced by ISO. Accordingly, microinjections of NMDA receptor antagonist (AP5, 6 nmol) into the dPAG were able to block both the acquisition, and partially, the expression of the OFC. In conclusion, we have found that PMd beta-1 adrenergic stimulation is a good model to mimic predatory threat-induced internal state changes, and works as a US able to mobilize the same systems involved in the acquisition and expression of predator-related contextual conditioning. Neuropsychopharmacology (2011) 36, 926-939; doi:10.1038/npp.2010.231; published online 5 January 2011

Hypothalamic sites responding to predator threats - the role of the dorsal premammillary nucleus in unconditioned and conditioned antipredatory defensive behavior

In this study we provide a comprehensive analysis of the hypothalamic activation pattern during exposure to a live predator or an environment previously associated with a predator. Our results support the view that hypothalamic processing of the actual and the contextual predatory threats share the same circuit, in which the dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMd) plays a pivotal role in amplifying this processing. To further understand the role of the PMd in the circuit organizing antipredatory defensive behaviors, we studied rats with cytotoxic PMd lesions during cat exposure and examined the pattern of behavioral responses as well as how PMd lesions affect the neuronal activation of the systems engaged in predator detection, in contextual memory formation and in defensive behavioral responses. Next, we investigated how pharmacological blockade of the PMd interferes with the conditioned behavioral responses to a context previously associated with a predator, and how this blockade affects the activation pattern of periaqueductal gray (PAG) sites likely to organize the conditioned behavioral responses to the predatory context. Behavioral observations indicate that the PMd interferes with both unconditioned and conditioned antipredatory defensive behavior. Moreover, we have shown that the PMd influences the activation of its major projecting targets, i.e. the ventral part of the anteromedial thalamic nucleus which is likely to influence mnemonic processing, and PAG sites involved in the expression of antipredatory unconditioned and conditioned behavioral responses. Of particular relevance, this work provides evidence to elucidate the basic organization of the neural circuits integrating unconditioned and contextual conditioned responses to predatory threats.