Physiological Determinants of Invasive Success Linking Distribution Patterns to Metabolic Physiology in Native and Invasive Blue Mussels (genus Mytilus)

In the early 20th century, a blue mussel species from the Mediterranean invaded the California coast and subsequently out-competed the native species south of Monterey Bay. Like other invasive species, Mytilus galloprovincialis has physiological traits that make it successful in habitats formerly occupied by the native M. trossulus, namely its adaptation to warm sea surface temperatures. This study looks at the current genotype distributions and enzymatic activities of field-acclimatized mussels within the hybrid zone where the species co-occur as well as mussels that have been acclimated for four weeks to different temperature and salinity conditions. In the field-acclimatized and laboratory-acclimated mussels, the native species exhibited significantly higher enzyme rates, which may reflect an evolutionary adaptation to compensate to low habitat temperatures. Indeed, the results of the laboratory acclimation indicate that these differences are genetically based. Whether an acclimation capacity exists may require even longer-term acclimation to different temperatures. Current findings suggest that the further spread of the invasive species is likely to be governed in large measure by the potentially counteracting effects of rising temperatures, which would favor the northerly spread of M. galloprovincialis, and increased winter precipitation, which would favor the persistence of M. trossulus. However, the success of M. galloprovincialis during acclimation to ‘dilute’ salinity (25 ppt) suggests that the invasive species can tolerate a greater salinity range than previously thought. Thus, further investigation is needed to build a comprehensive predictive model of the movement of M. galloprovincialis and the hybrid zone along the California coast.

An Evaluation of the area stratification used for sampling tunas in the eastern Pacific Ocean and implications for estimating total annual catches

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) staff has been sampling the size distributions of tunas in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) since 1954, and the species composition of the catches since 2000. The IATTC staff use the data from the species composition samples, in conjunction with observer and/or logbook data, and unloading data from the canneries to estimate the total annual catches of yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), and bigeye (Thunnus obesus) tunas. These sample data are collected based on a stratified sampling design. I propose an update of the stratification of the EPO into more homogenous areas in order to reduce the variance in the estimates of the total annual catches and incorporate the geographical shifts resulting from the expansion of the floating-object fishery during the 1990s. The sampling model used by the IATTC is a stratified two-stage (cluster) random sampling design with first stage units varying (unequal) in size. The strata are month, area, and set type. Wells, the first cluster stage, are selected to be sampled only if all of the fish were caught in the same month, same area, and same set type. Fish, the second cluster stage, are sampled for lengths, and independently, for species composition of the catch. The EPO is divided into 13 sampling areas, which were defined in 1968, based on the catch distributions of yellowfin and skipjack tunas. This area stratification does not reflect the multi-species, multi-set-type fishery of today. In order to define more homogenous areas, I used agglomerative cluster analysis to look for groupings of the size data and the catch and effort data for 2000–2006. I plotted the results from both datasets against the IATTC Sampling Areas, and then created new areas. I also used the results of the cluster analysis to update the substitution scheme for strata with catch, but no sample. I then calculated the total annual catch (and variance) by species by stratifying the data into new Proposed Sampling Areas and compared the results to those reported by the IATTC. Results showed that re-stratifying the areas produced smaller variances of the catch estimates for some species in some years, but the results were not significant.

A influência da espécie exótica invasora Artocarpus heterophyllus (jaqueira) sobre a comunidade de anuros de serrapilheira em uma área de Mata Atlântica no Sudeste do Brasil

O processo de introdução de espécies é reconhecido como a segunda causa mais importante de erosão da diversidade biológica em muitos ambientes no Brasil e no mundo. As espécies invasoras possuem não apenas o poder de sobrevivência e adaptação em outros ambientes, mas a capacidade de dominar a diversidade biológica nativa através da alteração das características básicas dos processos ecológicos naturais e das interações. A jaqueira, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamarck (Moraceae), tem sua origem nas florestas tropicais da Índia, tendo sido introduzida no Brasil ainda no período Colonial e atualmente é invasora em áreas de Mata Atlântica. Este estudo fornece os primeiros dados sobre a influência da espécie exótica invasora Artocarpus heterophyllus sobre comunidades de anuros de folhiço. As amostragens foram realizadas em uma área de Mata Atlântica, no litoral sudoeste do estado do Rio de Janeiro, incluindo informações sobre riqueza de espécies, densidades específicas e parâmetros ambientais. Nosso estudo foi realizado no Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande entre janeiro de 2009 e março de 2011. Para amostrar a comunidade de anuros de folhiço usamos 154 parcelas de 5 x 5 m, sendo 77 delas em áreas com jaqueiras e 77 em áreas sem jaqueiras, totalizando 3.850 m de chão de floresta amostrados. Nós amostramos um total de 613 anuros habitando o chão da floresta, pertencentes a dez espécies: Brachycephalus didactylus; Chiasmocleis sp.; Haddadus binotatus; Ischnocnema guentheri; Ischnocnema octavioi; Ischnocnema parva; Leptodactylus marmoratus; Physalaemus signifer; Rhinnela ornata e Zachaenus parvulus. Seis das dez espécies foram comuns às áreas com e sem jaqueiras, sendo a similaridade entre as duas áreas de 60%. As áreas com jaqueiras tiveram o dobro (N = 18) de parcelas sem nenhum anfíbio. O número de anfíbios registrados nas parcelas com jaqueiras (38%) foi menor do que o encontrado nas áreas sem jaqueiras (62%). O anfíbio predominante no folhiço em ambas às condições foi Ischnocnema parva, tendo abundancia maior nas parcelas sem jaqueiras. A densidade total de anuros vivendo no chão da floresta nas áreas com jaqueiras (12,2 ind/100 m) foi menor que nas áreas sem jaqueiras (19,7 ind/100 m). Entre os parâmetros ambientais analisados os que possuíram maior influência sobre a abundância de anfíbios foram a profundidade do folhiço e o pH do solo. Os dados sugerem que a jaqueira, além de ocupar o habitat de espécies nativas, é capaz de promover alterações na estrutura desses habitats que irão intervir na fauna do local.

Analysis of the differences between the rates of inflation associated with two aggregate price level: The case of the euro area and the United States

Idioma: Inglés Abstract: This project focuses on two indicators of prices, the GDP deflator and the consumer price index (CPI), and analyzes the differences and similarities they present. These price indexes have been chosen taking into account its great representativeness and importance to economic and social level, and its direct relationship to the overall functioning of the economy and, in particular, inflation. It should be also mentioned that this study was conducted for cases of the euro area and the United States, as the impact of these economies in the economic and social situation at international level is very significant.

Report upon the commercial fisheries in the Lancashire River Authority Area and their effect upon rod angling and spawning stock in the rivers and particularly the River Lune

The stock of salmon in any river is largely dependent upon the escapement of sufficient fish to ensure that an adequate quantity of ova is deposited and full use is made of all suitable spawning areas. At the present time, no accurate information is available on the numbers of fish entering rivers. Therefore, catch returns provide valuable information on fish stocks. This report summarises the catch returns for salmon in the Lancashire River Authority in the North of England for the years 1960-1964. Rivers included are the Lune, Ribble, Kent, Leven and Duddon.

Plan de internacionalización de una empresa industrial concreta (area marketing)

[ES]Este proyecto recoge el plan de internacionalización comercial a Brasil, Marruecos y Francia de la empresa de ámbito industrial; concretamente del sector de la siderurgia, en adelante, A.P.S., que se dedica a la elaboración de productos auxiliares para la desulfuración del acero. El plan se ha desarrollado de forma que impulse a la empresa a cumplir una serie de objetivos como son un mayor crecimiento, mejora de la rentabilidad o un aumento de cuota de mercado, entre otros. Las pautas seguidas en la elaboración del plan de acciones, han sido desarrolladas gracias a un adecuado análisis tanto para la empresa como para el entorno, que ha sido de especial ayuda para ajustarnos a las necesidades de esta.

A construção da representação social de hierarquia na Força Aérea Brasileira

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo geral analisar as representações sociais da hierarquia construídas pelos militares da FAB, considerando suas segmentações em termos dos círculos de oficiais e graduados, dos respectivos processos de formação, dos sexos de seus componentes e dos estágios, se formados ou em formação, em que se encontram. A fundamentação teórica discorre sobre a hierarquia, princípio geral das instituições militares, previsto por lei e regulador do comportamento militar, conforme prevê o Estatuto dos Militares (BRASIL, 1980); a respeito do poder, na perspectiva de Max Weber (1999) que trata a obediência, a partir da autoridade de uma pessoa sobre outras, e de acordo com Amitai Etzioni (1974), que entende o poder como a capacidade que uma pessoa tem de induzir outra a seguir suas orientações. Apresenta ainda a Teoria das Representações Sociais, proposta por Serge Moscovici (1961), para quem as representações sociais servem de instrumento de leitura da realidade, e a partir da abordagem estrutural, proposta por Jean-Claude Abric (1976), segundo a qual a representação social é composta pelo sistema central, constituído pelo núcleo central, e pelo sistema periférico, formado por elementos periféricos. A amostra foi composta por 600 militares, oriundos das escolas de formação de oficiais e de graduados, do âmbito do Comando da Aeronáutica (COMAER): Academia da Força Aérea (AFA), cuja finalidade é a formação dos Oficiais da Ativa dos quadros de Aviação, de Intendência e de Infantaria, a Escola de Especialistas da Aeronáutica (EEAR), responsável pela formação e pelo aperfeiçoamento dos graduados e o Centro de Instrução Especializada da Aeronáutica (CIEAR), responsável pela capacitação de oficiais e graduados em áreas afins à sua especialização. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio da técnica de evocação livre ao termo indutor hierarquia, da aplicação do questionário de caracterização e do questionário geral, composto por questões abertas e fechadas. As evocações foram processadas pelo software EVOC, desenvolvido por Pierre Vergès (2005), as questões fechadas receberam o processamento com o auxílio do software SPSS e as questões abertas sofreram uma categorização para o refinamento das análises. Os resultados encontrados nas comparações do conteúdo temático e da estrutura das representações sociais entre os diferentes segmentos permitem afirmar que os temas respeito e disciplina são os prováveis elementos centrais da hierarquia para o conjunto dos 600 militares pesquisados e caracterizam a base comum e consensual compartilhada na caserna. A hierarquia, norteada por um conjunto de regras que regula e assegura a disciplina e o respeito, direciona o comportamento dos militares, durante a formação e no decorrer da carreira. Da análise, conclui-se que os diferentes segmentos de militares da FAB possuem a mesma representação social de hierarquia.

Salmon stocking by the Lancashire River Authority: investigations into the requirements and methods best suited to the area

All species of fish are able to propagate and maintain their numbers provided that no adverse influence occurs to change the compatible environment, the salmon is no exception. Propagation of fish by artificial means has long been a subject of discussion amongst fishery workers and views have been expressed (both favourable and unfavourable) on the merits of the various methods employed. In an attempt to discover whether artificial propagation was necessary and also to find the best methods of propagation to adopt in the various rivers, a phased programme of investigation into natural spawning efficiency and the results obtained by various methods of artificial propagation was started in the Lancashire River Board area during 1957. The object being to seek information on: (1) The survival of ova from natural spawnings to the eyed and alevin stages. (2) The population density of feeding fry (from natural spawnings) at various intervals of development. (3) The viability of green ova and eyed ova- when planted artificially. (4a) The survival to 0+ parr from implants of eyed ova unfed fry and fed fry. (4b) Populations per unit area of 0+ parr from various planting densities of eyed ova, unfed fry and fed fry. Sampling stations were selected on the Rivers Ribble, Lune and Wyre watersheds for the purpose of marking and examination of natural salmon redds.

Investigations into migratory fish propagation in the area of the Lancashire River Board

This report explores salmon propagation in the Lancashire River Board area (North West of England), looking at the Rivers Lune, Wyre, Ribble, and Hodder, showing salmon catch statistics, methods of propagation and habitat conditions investigations.

Celiac disease in the Mediterranean area

Background: The World Gastroenterology Organization recommends developing national guidelines for the diagnosis of Celiac Disease (CD): hence a profile of the diagnosis of CD in each country is required. We aim to describe a cross-sectional picture of the clinical features and diagnostic facilities in 16 countries of the Mediterranean basin. Since a new ESPGHAN diagnostic protocol was recently published, our secondary aim is to estimate how many cases in the same area could be identified without a small intestinal biopsy. Methods: By a stratified cross-sectional retrospective study design, we examined clinical, histological and laboratory data from 749 consecutive unselected CD children diagnosed by national referral centers. Results: The vast majority of cases were diagnosed before the age of 10 (median: 5 years), affected by diarrhea, weight loss and food refusal, as expected. Only 59 cases (7.8%) did not suffer of major complaints. Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) assay was available, but one-third of centers reported financial constraints in the regular purchase of the assay kits. 252 cases (33.6%) showed tTG values over 10 times the local normal limit. Endomysial antibodies and HLA typing were routinely available in only half of the centers. CD was mainly diagnosed from small intestinal biopsy, available in all centers. Based on these data, only 154/749 cases (20.5%) would have qualified for a diagnosis of CD without a small intestinal biopsy, according to the new ESPGHAN protocol. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study of CD in the Mediterranean referral centers offers a puzzling picture of the capacities to deal with the emerging epidemic of CD in the area, giving a substantive support to the World Gastroenterology Organization guidelines.