GENETIC ARCHITECTURE, EVOLUTION AND MAINTENANCE OF A COLOR CLINE AT A CONTINENTAL SCALE

On a geological time scale the conditions on earth are very variable and biological patterns (for example the distributions of species) are very dynamic. Understanding large scale patterns of variation observed today thus requires a deep understanding of the historical factors that drove their evolution. In this thesis, we reevaluated the evolution and maintenance of a continental color cline observed in the European barn owl (Tyto alba) using population genetic tools. The colour cline spans from south-est Europe where most individual have pure white underparts to north and east Europe where most individuals have rufous-brown underparts. Our results globally showed that the old scenario, stipulating that the color cline evolved by secondary contact of two color morphs (white and rufous) that evolved in allopatry during the last ice age has to be revised. We collected samples of about 700 barn owls from the Western Palearctic to establish the first population genetic data set for this species. Individuals were genotyped at 22 microsatellites markers, at one mitochondrial gene, and at a candidate color gene. The color of each individuals was assessed and their sex determined by molecular methods. We first showed that the genetic variation in Western Europe is very limited compared to the heritable color variation. We found no evidences of different glacial lineages, and showed that selection must be involved in the maintenance of the color cline (chapter 1). Using computer simulations, we demonstrated that the post-glacial colonization of Europe occurred from the Iberian Peninsula and that the color cline could not have evolved by neutral demographic processes during this colonization (chapter 2). Finally we reevaluated the whole history of the establishment of the Western Palearctic variation of the barn owl (chapter 3): This study showed that all Western European barn owls descend from white barn owls phenotypes from the Middle East that colonized the Iberian Peninsula via North-Africa. Following the end of the last ice age (20'000 years ago), these white barn owls colonized Western Europe and under selection a novel rufous phenotype evolved (during or after the colonization). An important part of the color variation could be explained by a single mutation in the melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) gene that appeared during or after the colonization. The colonization of Europe reached until Greece, where the rufous birds encountered white ones (which reached Greece from the Middle East over the Bosporus) in a secondary contact zone. Our analyses show that white and rufous barn owls in Greece interbreed only to a limited extent. This suggests that barn owls are at the verge of becoming two species in Greece and demonstrates that European barn owls represent an incipient ring species around the Mediterranean. The revisited history of the establishment of the European barn owl color cline makes this model system remarkable for several aspects. It is a very clear example of strong local adaptation that can be achieved despite high gene flow (strong color and MC1R differentiation despite almost no neutral genetic differentiation). It also offers a wonderful model system to study the interactions between colonization processes and selection processes which have, for now, been remarkably understudied despite their potentially ubiquitous importance. Finally it represents a very interesting case in the speciation continuum and appeals for further studying the amount of gene flow that occurs between the color morphs in Greece. -- Sur l'échelle des temps géologiques, les conditions sur terre sont très variables et les patrons biologiques (telle que la distribution des espèces) sont très dynamiques. Si l'on veut comprendre des patrons que l'on peut observer à large échelle aujourd'hui, il est nécessaire de d'abord comprendre les facteurs historiques qui ont gouverné leur établissement. Dans cette thèse, nous allons réévaluer, grâce à des outils modernes de génétique des populations, l'évolution et la maintenance d'un cline de couleur continental observé chez l'effraie des clochers européenne (Tyto alba). Globalement, nos résultats montrent que le scenario accepté jusqu'à maintenant, qui stipule que le cline de couleur a évolué à partir du contact secondaire de deux morphes de couleur (blanches et rousses) ayant évolué en allopatrie durant les dernières glaciations, est à revoir. Afin de constituer le premier jeu de données de génétique des populations pour cette espèce, nous avons récolté des échantillons d'environ 700 effraies de l'ouest Paléarctique. Nous avons génotypé tous les individus à 22 loci microsatellites, sur un gène mitochondrial et sur un autre gène participant au déterminisme de la couleur. Nous avons aussi mesuré la couleur de tous les individus et déterminé leur sexe génétiquement. Nous avons tout d'abord pu montrer que la variation génétique neutre est négligeable en comparaison avec la variation héritable de couleur, qu'il n'existe qu'une seule lignée européenne et que de la sélection doit être impliquée dans le maintien du cline de couleur (chapitre 1). Grâce à des simulations informatiques, nous avons démontré que l'ensemble de l'Europe de l'ouest a été recolonisé depuis la Péninsule Ibérique après les dernières glaciations et que le cline de couleur ne peut pas avoir évolué par des processus neutre durant cette colonisation (chapitre 2). Finalement, nous avons réévalué l'ensemble de l'histoire postglaciaire de l'espèce dans l'ouest Paléarctique (chapitre 3): l'ensemble des effraies du Paléarctique descendent d'effraie claire du Moyen-Orient qui ont colonisé la péninsule ibérique en passant par l'Afrique du nord. Après la fin de la dernière glaciation (il y a 20'000 ans), ces effraies claires ont colonisé l'Europe de l'ouest et ont évolués par sélection le phénotype roux (durant ou après la colonisation). Une part importante de la variation de couleur peut être expliquée par une mutation sur le gène MC1R qui est apparue durant ou juste après la colonisation. Cette vague de colonisation s'est poursuivie jusqu'en Grèce où ces effraies rousses ont rencontré dans une zone de contact secondaire des effraies claires (qui sont remontées en Grèce depuis le Moyen-Orient via le Bosphore). Nos analyses montrent que le flux de gènes entre effraies blanches et rousses est limité en Grèce, ce qui suggère qu'elles sont en passe de former deux espèces et ce qui montre que les effraies constituent un exemple naissant de spéciation en anneaux autour de la Méditerranée. L'histoire revisitée des effraies des clochers de l'ouest Paléarctique en fait un système modèle remarquable pour plusieurs aspects. C'est un exemple très claire de forte adaptation locale maintenue malgré un fort flux de gènes (différenciation forte de couleur et sur le gène MC1R malgré presque aucune structure neutre). Il offre également un très bon système pour étudier l'interaction entre colonisation et sélection, un thème ayant été remarquablement peu étudié malgré son importance. Et il offre finalement un cas très intéressant dans le « continuum de spéciation » et il serait très intéressant d'étudier plus en détail l'importance du flux de gènes entre les morphes de couleur en Grèce.

Segunda adición a la fauna malacológica del litoral del Garraf (NE de la Península Ibérica)

Se presenta una tercera lista de 68 especies de moluscos marinos (4 Caudofoveata, 1 Solenogastre, 32 Gastropoda, 15 Bivalvia y 16 Cephalopoda) que no habían sido citados anteriormente en ahuas del litoral del Garraf (Barcelona, NE de la Península Ibérica).

Análisis arqueomorfológico de la llanura litoral al Norte de Valencia. Estructuración territorial y revisión de las tramas centuriadas

This paper is the result of the archaeo-morphological analysis of an area located to the north of the city of Valencia (Spain). This research has been developed in the context of one of the author’s PhD, which aims to analyse the whole of the city’s historical territory. The morphology of Valencia’s historical landscape and its different features have been analysed with a diachronic and multidisciplinary approach, combining data obtained from different types of analysis and through methodological procedures based on archaeo-morphology, traditional archaeology and landscape archaeology. For the first time, this methodology has been used in this territory. The results obtained represent a challenge regarding traditionally defended theses.

Ocupación y estructuración del paisaje litoral de "Valentia" durante el período romano

El territorio de Valentia está siendo analizado en el contexto de un nuevo proyecto de investigación, Valentia Landscape Project, que busca modelizar la evolución de paisaje cultural valenciano desde la protohistoria a época moderna. Una parte importante de este proyecto se centra en el período romano, puesto que uno de los principales objetivos es la revisión, a través de un nuevo análisis arqueomorfológico, de las hipótesis propuestas hasta la fecha para la red viaria y los parcelarios antiguos. Se presentan los primeros resultados.

El viaje fue necesarios: lecturas renacentistas del viaje portugués

Al dar noticia de los contenidos del mundo, el viaje oceánico portugués ofreció al proceso intelectual renacentista la experiencia imprescindible para construir las bases del mundo moderno. Esas noticias se divulgaron rápidamente por Europa y, a su vez, se entrelazaron con las antiguas creencias y se inmiscuyeron en las novedosas e humanistas formas de explicación de la realidad.

Els organismes animals del litoral gironí

Article que descriu els organismes animals del litoral gironí

FFQ para el estudio del consumo de cacao (portugués)

Cocoa has been highlighted as a food with potential benefits to human health due to it being animportant source of polyphenols. However, few studies show the contribution of cocoa andchocolate products in polyphenol intake. The aim of this work was to develop and validate afood frequency questionnaire (FFQ) evaluating the intake of food products containing cocoa (CFFQ).A sample of university students was recruited to complete the 90-item questionnaire inSpain and therefore in Spanish (http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/handle/2445/60475) and in Portugalin a Portuguese version, which is the present document. The developed FFQ questionnaire canbe considered as a valid option for assessing the consumption frequency of cocoa- andchocolate-derived products, thereby allowing the evaluation of cocoa polyphenol intake infurther studies.

Estudo das diferentes formas de fósforo nas águas da plataforma continental do Amazonas

Hydrological samples were collected on the continental shelf of the Amazon river to determine particulate organic and inorganic matter, dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP), phosphate, total particulate phosphorus (TPP), chlorophyll a, temperature, salinity, pH, water transparency, dissolved oxygen (DO) and saturation rate. The objective was to study the forms of DOP, phosphate and TPP. In the euphotic layer, the fluvial discharge from the Amazon river favored the distribution of phosphate, TPP and DOP. In the aphotic layer, the phosphate concentration increased due to the decomposition of DOP and TPP. This increase is due to the absence of photosynthetic processes.

Deep-water macroalgal-dominated coastal detritic assemblages on the continental shelf off Mallorca and Menorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean)

We present a quantitative physiognomic characterization of major macroalgal-dominated assemblages on coastal detritic bottoms of the continental shelf off Mallorca and Menorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean). In late spring of 2007 and 2008, 29 samples were collected by bottom trawling at depths between -52 and -93 m. These samples were then sorted and identified to their lowest taxonomic level. Statistical analyses distinguished six different assemblage types: shallower water environments (-52 to -65 m in depth) were characterized by Osmundaria volubilis and Phyllophora crispa meadows and two types of Peyssonnelia beds; two assemblage types, Laminaria rodriguezii beds and maërl beds, were only present in deep-water environments (-77 to -81 m); and an assemblage dominated by P. crispa and Halopteris filicina was found in both shallow and deep waters (-57 to -93 m). We assess the distribution of these six assemblage types through the studied area.

Distribuição espacial de compostos orgânicos de estanho em sedimentos costeiros e em Phallusia nigra da Baía de Todos os Santos e litoral norte da Bahia - Brasil

Organic tin compounds were investigated in the sediment of twenty-four stations located in the Todos os Santos Bay and the north coast of Bahia - Brazil. The concentration of these organic tin was also determined in a ascidium species of Phallusia nigra. The speciation and quantification was performed by GC-MS/MS. The highest concentrations were: tributyltin (TBT) 438 ng g-1, dibutyltin (DBT) 207 ng g-1, monobutyltin (MBT) 423 ng g-1, diphenyltin (DPT) 25.8 ng g-1 and monophenyltin (MPT) 55.0 ng g-1. DBT and MBT were found in Phallusia nigra, with highest concentrations of 294.1 and 148.5 ng g-1, respectively.

Distribuição de Hg total e suas associações com diferentes suportes geoquímicos em sedimentos marinhos da margem continental brasileira: Bacia de Campos - Rio de Janeiro

Mercury distribution and geochemical support on the Continental Margin was evaluated at the Campos Basin, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The average concentrations for all analyzed elements were, respectively, 20 ± 5 ng g-1 (Hg); 30 ± 14 mg g-1 (Al); 16 ± 6 mg g-1 (Fe), and 254 ± 83 µg g-1 (Mn). Silt and clay content, total carbonate and Hg, and organic carbon increased with depth. Finally, the relationship between Hg and silt clay showed significant positive correlation. Total Hg concentrations are the background level described primarily (~40 ng g-1).

Vicente Seabra Telles e a criação da nomenclatura em português para a Química 'Nova' de Lavoisier

In 1787, Lavoisier and coworkers published a 314-page book entitled Méthode de nomenclature chimique in which a novel system for the naming of compounds and elements was presented. The Brazilian chemist Vicente Coelho de Seabra Telles (1764-1804) was responsible for translating it into Portuguese. Telles proposed the adoption not only of the Latin etymology, but decided to use Latin suffixes as well, because of the similarity between Latin and the Portuguese language. In doing so, he made the names of the compounds in Portuguese bear a closer resemblance to the names in Latin than to those in French or Spanish.

Reencontro de Balanoglossus gigas Fr. Muller no litoral brasileiro

Re-finding of Balanoglossus gigas FR. MUULLER on the brasilian sea shore. Balanoglossus gigas, the giant Enteropneusta, has been described for the first time by Fritz Muller in his notes collected and published by Dr. HERMANN VON IHERING (1898, pg. 35). FR. MULLER found the Balanoglossus on the coats of the State of Santa Catarina in 1884. Once again in 1885 several specimens of that animal were captured by FR. MULLER in the same place. Since that time up to now no references on the occurrence of this animal have been found in the zoological bibliography. During the spring of 1948 Prof. W. BESNARD, Director of he Instituto Paulista de Oceanografia saw some signals indicating the existence of Balanoglossus at the beach of São Sebastião, State of São Paulo. From 1948 to now several attempts have been made to catch the animal alive and complete. On the last September during a shorts visit to the beach of São Sebastião one Balanoglossus was captured and brought to the Department of General and Animal Physiology in good conditions. The animal measured 1.80 m in length. It seems to be the largest Balanoglossus known. According to the descriptions of SPENGEL (1893, pg. 158), and VAN DER HORST (1939) pg. 717) it was possible to identify this Enteropneusta as Balanoglossus gigas FR. MULLER, refound at the Brazilian coast sixty six years after its discovery by FR. MÜLLER.

Nota sôbre variação específica em Ceratium furca Dujardin, do plancton do litoral paulista

Trata a presente nota do aparecimento de um exemplar de Ceratium furca encontrado no plancton do litoral paulista, provido de um terceiro prolongamento suplementar, ao lado da placa antapical direita. O autor examina alguns casos de variações constatadas no mesmo gênero e regista o fato ocorrido no material proveniente do litoral paulista.

Ocorrência de Pseudocycnus appendiculatus Heller: Copépodo da família Pseudocycnidae, em águas do litoral paulista

During April 9 to 15, 1949, some parasitic copepods have been caught at the northern seashore region of São Paulo State (Brazil), in the Channel of São Sebastião. All copepods belong to the family Pseudocycnidae and to the species Pseudocycnus appendiculatus Heller. The animals were found in the gills of Gymnosarda alleterata (Rafinesque). This paper deals with the geographical distribution of the species, for the first time captured in brazilian waters.