Feasibility of the Reintroduction of Wolves in Maine: a GIS Study

The eastern timber wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) once inhabited Maine, as well as the rest of the eastern United States and southern Canada. As a result of human land use and widespread extermination campaigns, wolf numbers dramatically decreased, and by the early twentieth century, no wolves remained in Maine. As large carnivorous and territorial mammals, wolves require contiguous undeveloped areas with abundant prey. This project is a feasibility study that identifies the areas in Maine that are suitable for the reintroduction of wolves. We used GIS modeling to identify contiguous forested areas over 1,000 km2, calculate road and population density, and map the presence or absence of prey throughout the state. These variables were combined in a habitat suitability model to determine the location and amount of suitable wolf habitat in Maine. The northwestern part of the state appears most suitable for wolf reintroduction as it is relatively undeveloped with low road and population densities. There is also a smaller isolated area in Washington County that might be suitable, but further investigation is required.

Reaction of sugarcane genotypes to Pratylenchus brachyurus and P. zeae

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Susceptibility of winter crops to Pratylenchus brachyurus and effect on the nematode population in the maize crop

The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of winter crops to Pratylenchus brachyurus and their effect on the population of phytonematodes in the maize. To study the effect of the plants on nematodes, an experiment was set up in sandy, naturally-infested soil. The area was divided into strips, consisting of six blocks of 16 treatments, with eight winter treatments, subdivided on the basis of the fertilizer used (organic: bird litter, and synthetic: NPK). The initial nematode population was determined by sampling the soil (100 cm(3)) and weeds (10 g of root). The winter treatments put in place (bristle oats, chickpea, vetch bean, common bean, oilseed radish, wheat, intercropped bristle oats + oilseed radish and fallow), and the nematode population determined 100 days after sowing. Subsequently, two maize crops (summer and short season) were planted, and the nematode population in the soil and roots determined during crop full bloom. To evaluate the susceptibility of winter crops to nematodes, an experiment was conducted under controlled conditions, determining the nematode reproduction factor (RF) in the treatments described above. Both in the field and under controlled conditions, it was observed that the bristle oats, oilseed radish and intercropped oats + oilseed radish exhibited lower reproduction rates for P. brachyurus. In the field, lower population of nematodes was observed with the application of bird litter. Under controlled conditions, the highest RF were observed in the fallow plot and under common bean and chickpea, in that order.

Crystallization, preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis and Patterson search of oxyhaemoglobin I from the wolf (Chrysocyon brachiurus)

Oxyhaemoglobin I isolated from the Brazilian wolf Chrysocyon brachiurus has been crystallized and X-ray diffraction data has been collected to 2.06 A resolution using a synchrotron-radiation source. Crystals were determined to belong to the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and preliminary structural analysis revealed the presence of one tetramer in the asymmetric unit. The structure was determined using standard molecular-replacement techniques and is currently being refined using maximum-likelihood protocols. This is the first haemoglobin isolated from a member of the Canidae family to be crystallized and it will provide further insights in the comparative biochemistry of vertebrate haemoglobins.

Reação de porta-enxertos de videira a Pratylenchus brachyurus e Pratylenchus zeae

Nesse trabalho, o objetivo foi avaliar a reação de oito porta-enxertos de videira aos nematoides das lesões radiculares. As estacas dos porta-enxertos Kober, SO4, 101-14, R99, 420-A, Rupestris du Lot, Riparia do Traviú e Telek 5C, cedidas pelo Centro APTA de Frutas/IAC, foram plantadas em vasos contendo mistura de solo:areia na proporção 2:1 (v:v) e mantidas em casa de vegetação. Após quatro meses, os porta-enxertos foram inoculados com 1.200 espécimes de Pratylenchus brachyurus ou P. zeae, e o milho foi usado para comprovar a viabilidade do inóculo. Aos 180 dias após a inoculação, avaliou-se o número de nematoides por sistema radicular e em 100 cm³ de solo. O milho foi avaliado aos 90 dias após a inoculação e cada vaso recebeu uma nova planta, que foi avaliada juntamente com os porta-enxertos. No milho, as populações finais de P. brachyurus e P. zeae foram respectivamente iguais a 8.040 e 6.940 indivíduos. Todos os porta-enxertos comportaram-se como imunes a P. brachyurus e P. zeae, isto é, a população final dos nematoides e o fator de reprodução foram iguais a zero. Recuperaram-se seis e 11 espécimes de P. zeae nas amostras de solo cultivadas com os porta-enxertos Kober e 420-A, respectivamente. Conclui-se que os porta-enxertos estudados apresentam potencial para serem usados em áreas infestadas com esses nematoides das lesões.

Chromosomal similarity between the Scaly-headed parrot (Pionus maximiliani), the Short-tailed parrot (Graydidascalus brachyurus) and the Yellow-faced parrot (Salvatoria xanthops) (Psittaciformes: Aves): a cytotaxonomic analysis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo das inter-relações patógeno-hospedeiro de Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood, M. Javanica (Treub) Chitwood e Pratylenchus brachyurus (Godfrey) Filipjev & Schuurmans Stekhoven em cana-de-açúcar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Distribuição espacial de Pratylenchus brachyurus em soja no leste do Maranhão

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Estudo de variáveis ecológicas de Pratylenchus brachyurus em soja e elaboração de uma escala de notas para seleção de genótipos a campo

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Entomologia Agrícola) - FCAV

Agressividade comparada de Pratylenchus brachyurus com P. zeae e eficácia de métodos de controle de nematoides em cana-de-açúcar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aggressiveness of pratylenchus brachyurus to sugarcane, compared with key nematode p. zeae

Pratylenchus zeae, Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita are considered key species of nematodes in sugarcane in Brazil, but P. brachyurus is also frequently found. This study was conducted to determine the aggressiveness of P. brachyurus compared with P. zeae to sugarcane. Plants were grown in pots (100 L) in an open area with initial inoculation of 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 and 100,000/plant for P. brachyurus and P. zeae. The nematode inocula were from in vitro, carrot-cylinder cultures. Sampling was performed every 60 days until 300 days after inoculation. At harvest, we evaluated the population dynamics of the nematodes and plant growth characteristics. The population for the initial levels of 10 and 100,000 specimens/plant, for P. brachyurus and P. zeae at 300 days after inoculation were similar. This fact shows that, upon detection of nematodes in a certain place during the planting of sugarcane, the ratoon on this area should be treated so as to control populations of P. brachyurus and/or P. zeae. The damage caused by the initial population of 10 specimens of P. brachyurus was similar to those of 10.000 specimens of P. zeae. The variety CTC 2 was classified as susceptible to P. zeae and intolerant to P. brachyurus. Compared to the control, the losses as measured by the volume and fresh weight of shoots by the nematode species were 29.82% and 40.34%, respectively. Pratylenchus brachyurus was more aggressive than P. zeae to the CTC 2 sugarcane variety.

Metodologias de aplicação de sulfonamida heterocíclica no controle de Meloidogyne javanica e Pratylenchus brachyurus em soja

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Metodologias de aplicação de sulfonamida heterocíclica no controle de Meloidogyne javanica e Pratylenchus brachyurus em soja

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Inter-relação de Meloidogyne enterolobii e Pratylenchus brachyurus em variedades de goiabeiras

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV