Evolutionary perspectives on seed consumption and dispersal by fishes

Fishes probably were the first vertebrate seed dispersers, yet little research has examined this phenomenon. We review evidence of fruit and seed consumption by fishes, and analyze the evolution of frugivory and granivory using South American serrasalmids as a model. Frugivory and granivory are observed among diverse fish taxa worldwide, although most reports are from the Neotropics. Frugivory and granivory among serrasalmids apparently are derived from omnivory, with powerful jaws and specialized dentition appearing as major adaptations. No particular fruit traits seem to be associated with seed dispersal by fishes (ichthyochory). Recent experimental evidence of ichthyochory suggests that fishes can influence riparian vegetation dynamics. Because of deleterious human impacts on aquatic ecosystems worldwide, many critical interactions between plants and fishes have been disrupted before they could be studied. Exotic frugivorous fishes have recently become established on foreign continents, with unknown ecological consequences.

Effects of forest fragmentation, anthropogenic edges and fruit colour on the consumption of ornithocoric fruits

We investigated effects of fruit colour (red, black or white), habitat (anthropogenic edges and forest interior) and fragment size on the removal of artificial fruits in semideciduous forests in south-east Brazil. Eight forest fragments ranging from 251 to 36,000 ha were used. We used artificial fruits, which were placed on shrubs between I and 2 m in height and checked after 48 and 96 h for peck marks in the fruits. All three variables affected the probability of consumption of our fruit models. Red and black fruits were statistically more pecked than the white fruits. The probability of fruit consumption was lower in the interior than at the edge and less in small than in large fragments. However, the decrease fruit consumption in small compared with large fragments was more accentuated for red and black fruits than for white fruits. Our results show that habitat reduction and edges affect the chances of a fruit being eaten by birds, which may ultimately affect plant fitness in forest fragments. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cytogenetic damage of oral mucosa by consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs

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

Influence of consumption of probiotics on presence of enterobacteria in the oral cavity

Clinical benefits of probiotics have been clearly reported in different gastrointestinal disorders, many of them caused by enterobacteria. The oral cavity is a port of entry and can be an important reservoir of these microorganisms. This work evaluated whether consumption of probiotics was able to influence the presence of enterobacteria in the oral cavity and the specific secretory response against these microorganisms. Saliva samples of healthy individuals were collected and plated in Mac-Conkey agar. Carriers of Gram-negative, rod-shaped microorganisms in the oral cavity were selected and instructed to use the probiotic Yakult LB for 20 days. Saliva was then collected and enterobacteria species were identified using the API 20 E system and by ELISA using anti-enterobacteria IgA. The results showed reduction in the prevalence of enterobacteria, but no significant changes in enterobacterial counts (log CFU/mL; p = 0.3457). The species most frequently isolated were Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella oxytoca, both before and after probiotic consumption. No significant changes were observed in anti-enterobacteria IgA levels. In conclusion, probiotic consumption had some influence on enterobacterial presence in the oral cavity, but did not affect enterobacterial counts or the specific immune secretory response against them.

OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION RELATED TO SIZE AND SEX IN THE TROPICAL MILLIPEDE PSEUDONANNOLENE-TRICOLOR (DIPLOPODA, SPIROSTREPTIDA)

1. The oxygen consumption of the tropical millipede, Pseudonannolene tricolor (Spirostreptida, Pseudonannolenidae) was studied in both male and female animals (body mass varying from 0.242 to 2.802 g) using a Warburg microrespirometer at 25-degrees-C.2. The allometric equation M = a W(b) was used in order to check the metabolic increases with increasing body mass. The b exponents were, respectively, 0.68 for males and 0.60 for females.3. Results are discussed in terms of the meaning of the b values in Diplopoda and animals in general.4. A relationship between volume and body mass in P. tricolor is also reported.

Weekend ethanol consumption and high-sucrose diet: resveratrol effects on energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, lipid profile, oxidative stress and hepatic energy metabolism

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

Energy Expenditure and Oxygen Consumption as Novel Biomarkers of Obesity-induced Cardiac Disease in Rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Chronic consumption of fructose rich soft drinks alters tissue lipids of rats

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

Oxygen consumption of the amphibious snail Pomacea lineata; Influence of weight, sex and environments

1. 1. Under normoxic conditions at 25°C Pomacea lineata, free to move into or out of water, showed an increase in O2 consumption with increase in body size (dry wt), the slope of the log-log plot of these two parameters being b = 0.76. 2. 2. The metabolic rate decreased with weight. 3. 3. Males and females in a sexually receptive state did not exhibit significantly different QO2 values. 4. 4. The metabolic rates of animals when under water using ctenidium did not differ significantly from when out of water using the lung. © 1981.