Comparación de las comunidades de aves en dos áreas de conservación ex-situ: El Jardín Botánico-Vivero Santa Elena y Arboretum Alain Meyrat, Managua 2016

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo la comparación de la diversidad de aves en dos sitios de la ciudad de Managua: 1. Arboretum Alain Meyrat y 2. Jardín Botánico y Vivero Santa Elena. A la vez, se identificaron las acciones y actividades antropogénicas que ejercen presión en las aves, valorando paralelamente la cultura ambientalista de la población aledaña a cada sitio. En ambos sitios se establecieron dos puntos de conteo de aves, los cuales fueron visitados con una frecuencia de dos días a la semana entre los meses de agosto y diciembre del año 2014 y febrero y abril del año 2015. En los dos sitios se observaron 263 individuos agrupados en 47 especies, 40 géneros, 21 familias y 11 órdenes. Tanto los valores de riqueza de especie como de diversidad calculada por el índice de Shannon-Wiener fueron significativamente mayores en el Arboretum Alain Meyrat comparados con el Jardín Botánico y Vivero Santa Elena. Sin embargo la composición de especies no varió marcadamente entre los dos sitios. A pesar de esto,es posible que las aves hayan preferido el Arboretum porque la composición florística es más diversa. La mayoría de las especies observadas prefieren hábitats abiertos, borde de bosque, sistemas agroforestales y áreas urbanas, exceptuando para algunos mayormente reportados en la literatura en bosques secundarios e interior de bosques como Pachyramphus aglaiae,Trogon melanocephalus y Cholorostilbon canivetii. En su mayoría, las especies pertenecían al gremio alimenticio insectívoro –frugívoro. El 95 %de los pobladores aledaños y estudiantes manifestaron, a través de sus respuestas a encuestas estructuradas, que no se ha promovido ninguna acción de protección de la biodiversidad en sus barrios. Además, 5% de los mismos exteriorizaron que en su momentose habían hecho jornadas de reforestación.

A comparison of in situ vs. ex situ filtration methods on the assessment of dissolved and particulate metals at hydrothermal vents

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the filtration method (in situ vs. ex situ) on the dissolved/particulate partitioning of 12 elements in hydrothermal samples collected from the Lucky Strike vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge; MAR). To do so, dissolved ( <0.45 mu m) and particulate Mg, Li, Mn, U, V, As, Ba, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu were measured using different techniques (HR-ICP-MS, ICP-AES and CCSA). Using in situ filtration as a baseline, we showed that ex situ filtration (on-board and on shore after freezing) resulted in an underestimation of the dissolved pool, which was counterbalanced by an overestimation of the particulate pool for almost all the elements studied. We also showed that on-board filtration was acceptable for the assessment of dissolved and particulate Mn, Mg, Li and U for which the measurement bias for the dissolved fraction did not exceed 3%. However, in situ filtration appeared necessary for the accurate assessment of the dissolved and particulate concentrations of V, As, Fe, Zn, Ba, Cd, Pb and Cu. In the case of Fe, on-board filtration underestimated the dissolved pool by up to 96%. Laboratory filtration (after freezing) resulted in a large bias in the dissolved and particulate concentrations, unambiguously discounting this filtration method for deep-sea chemical speciation studies. We discuss our results in light of the precipitation processes that can potentially affect the accuracy of ex situ filtration methods.

Avaliação preliminar da produção de jacareúba (Calophyllum brasiliense cambess.) em plantio ex situ no Amazonas.

Este trabalho objetivou contribuir com a ampliação do conhecimento sobre a espécie jacareúba (Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess.).

Can gut microbiota analysis be beneficial for ex-situ and in-situ conservation of threatened animal species?

Ex-situ conservation and the in-situ conservation of natural habitats are the tools to conserve biodiversity. Habitats and ecosystems have been becoming altered by human activities and a growing number of species requires form of management to ensure their survival. Conservation queries become more complex and urgent. Developing scientifically based and innovative approaches to ex-situ conservation is necessary. Recent studies underline importance of gut microbiome in animal health with implications for animal conservation and management. Animal and human studies have demonstrated that environmental factors can impact gut microbiome composition. Within this scenario, the present work focused on species belonging to different taxa, reptiles and mammals: Aldabrachelys gigantea, the giant tortoise of the Seychelles islands and Indri indri, the greatest leaving lemur of Madagascar. The Seychelles giant tortoise is vulnerable species with declining population, whereas the indri is a critically endangered species that could reach the extinction within 25 years. Both need research to help them to survive. Tortoises live for very long time and to observe how they can afford the environmental changes is very difficult. Indris, instead, are able to survive only in a small area of the Madagascar forest, with a very strong link between the species’ survival and the environment. The obtained results underline importance of environmental factors, both in-situ and ex-situ, for species conservation. Microbiome could help the organisms to respond on a short timescale and cope with, environmental changes. However, species with long generation time might not be able to adapt to fast changes but bacteria with a short generation time can adapt on a shorter timescale allowing the host to cope with fluctuating environment. Gut microbiome plays an important role in an animal’s health and has the potential to improve the management of individuals under human care for conservation purposes.

Spatial genetic structure of Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne assessed with chloroplast microsatellite markers

The use of chloroplast DNA markers (cpDNA) helps to elucidate questions related to ecology, evolution and genetic structure. The knowledge of inter-and intra-population genetic structure allows to design effective conservation and management strategies for tropical tree species. With the aim to help the conservation of Hymenaea stigonocarpa of the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) in Sao Paulo State, an analysis of the spatial genetic structure (SGS) was conducted in two populations using five universal chloroplast microsatellite loci (cpSSR). The population of 68 trees of H. stigonocarpa in the Ecological Station of Itirapina (ESI) had a single haplotype, indicating a strong founder effect. In turn, the population of 47 trees of H. stigonocarpa in a contiguous area that includes the Ecological Station of Assis and the Assis State Forest (ESA), showed six haplotypes ((n) over cap (h) = 6) with a moderate haplotype diversity ((h) over cap = 0667 + 0094), revealing that it was founded by a small number of maternal lineages. The SGS analysis for the population ESA/ASF, using Moran`s I index, indicated limited seed dispersal. Considering SGS, for ex situ conservation strategies in the population ESA/ASF, seed harvesting should require a minimum distance of 750 m among seed-trees.

Particle agglomeration study in rf silane plasmas: In situ study by polarization-sensitive laser light scattering

To determine self-consistently the time evolution of particle size and their number density in situ multi-angle polarization-sensitive laser light scattering was used. Cross-polarization intensities (incident and scattered light intensities with opposite polarization) measured at 135 degrees and ex situ transmission electronic microscopy analysis demonstrate the existence of nonspherical agglomerates during the early phase of agglomeration. Later in the particle time development both techniques reveal spherical particles again. The presence of strong cross-polarization intensities is accompanied by low-frequency instabilities detected on the scattered light intensities and plasma emission. It is found that the particle radius and particle number density during the agglomeration phase can be well described by the Brownian free molecule coagulation model. Application of this neutral particle coagulation model is justified by calculation of the particle charge whereby it is shown that particles of a few tens of nanometer can be considered as neutral under our experimental conditions. The measured particle dispersion can be well described by a Brownian free molecule coagulation model including a log-normal particle size distribution. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.

Particle agglomeration study in rf silane plasmas: In situ study by polarization-sensitive laser light scattering

To determine self‐consistently the time evolution of particle size and their number density in situ multi‐angle polarization‐sensitive laser light scattering was used. Cross‐polarization intensities (incident and scattered light intensities with opposite polarization) measured at 135° and ex situ transmission electronic microscopy analysis demonstrate the existence of nonspherical agglomerates during the early phase of agglomeration. Later in the particle time development both techniques reveal spherical particles again. The presence of strong cross‐polarization intensities is accompanied by low‐frequency instabilities detected on the scattered light intensities and plasma emission. It is found that the particle radius and particle number density during the agglomeration phase can be well described by the Brownian free molecule coagulation model. Application of this neutral particle coagulation model is justified by calculation of the particle charge whereby it is shown that particles of a few tens of nanometer can be considered as neutral under our experimental conditions. The measured particle dispersion can be well described by a Brownian free molecule coagulation model including a log‐normal particle size distribution.

In situ and genetic characterization of Gossypium barbadense populations from the states of Pará and Amapá, Brazil

The objective of this work was to characterize the populations of Gossypium barbadense in the states of Amapá and Pará, Brazil. In situ characterization was conducted through interviews with the owners of the plants and environmental observations. Leaf or petal tissue as well as seed samples were collected for genetic characterization by single sequence repeats markers and for storage in germplasm banks, respectively. The plants were maintained in dooryards and used mainly for medical purposes. The genetic analysis showed no heterozygous plants at the loci tested (f = 1), indicating that reproduction occurs mainly through selfing. The total genetic diversity was high (He = 0.39); and a high level of differentiation was observed between cotton plants from the two states (F ST = 0.36). Conventional methods of in situ maintenance of G. barbadense populations are not applicable. The conservation of the genetic variability of populations present in the two states could be achieved through germplasm collection and establishing of ex situ seed banks.

Conservação de sementes de ipê-roxo (Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl.) em nitrogênio líquido

O ipê-roxo (Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl.) é espécie de alto valor econômico, ornamental e medicinal e está na relação das espécies para conservação genética ex situ, no Instituto Florestal de São Paulo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de estudar o comportamento fisiológico de sementes de ipê-roxo, conservadas com diferentes teores de água em nitrogênio líquido, por 360 dias. Frutos maduros foram colocados sobre bancada de alvenaria, em interior de laboratório e sob luz indireta, para posterior extração manual das sementes. Primeiramente, foi determinado o grau de umidade do lote e obtida a amostra do tratamento controle, com o maior teor de água a ser estudado (18,3%). Em seguida, as sementes remanescentes foram submetidas à secagem, em secador com circulação de ar a 30ºC, para a obtenção dos demais tratamentos (12,5, 8,4 e 4,2% de água). Amostras de sementes de cada um dos teores de água foram armazenadas em nitrogênio líquido (-196ºC), sendo submetidas às avaliações fisiológicas no início e após 120, 240 e 360 dias de armazenamento. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (graus de umidade), avaliados separadamente para cada época de armazenamento. A comparação das médias foi realizada pelo teste Tukey, a 5% de probabilidade. As sementes de ipê-roxo podem ser previamente desidratadas a baixo teor de água (4,2%) e, posteriormente, conservadas em nitrogênio líquido por, pelo menos, 360 dias.

Challenges of in situ conservation of crop wild relatives

Crop wild relatives (CWRs) will gain in importance as changing climates put both traditional and advanced cultivars under increasing stress, leading to a need for plant breeding to produce new varieties able to grow under the new climate regimes. Traditionally, the approach to the conservation of CWRs has been ex situ - the collection and maintenance of seed accessions in national, regional, and international germplasm banks, supplemented by field genebanks for species with recalcitrant seeds. More recently the need to maintain CWRs in their natural habitats (in situ) has been advocated. This is very different from on-farm conservation of traditional land races and is a complex multidisciplinary process. Particular problems that have to be addressed include the adoption of a workable definition of what is a CWR, application of priority-determining mechanisms because of the large number of candidate species of CWRs, assessment of the effectiveness of conservation approaches, the relative costs of in situ and ex situ approaches, integration of CWR in situ conservation into national programmes, and the challenges posed by global change. CWRs may be conserved in both protected and non-protected areas. Presence in the former is no guarantee of their survival and in most cases some degree of management intervention is required. Experience derived from recent EU- and GEF-funded CWR conservation initiatives will be drawn upon.

Polimerização de propeno com catalisadores metalocênicos via suportação in-situ utilizando SMAO como suporte

Os catalisadores metalocênicos Me2Si(Ind)2ZrCl2 e Me2Si(2-Me-Ind)2ZrCl2 foram suportados in-situ sobre SMAO e empregados na polimerização de propeno na presença de alquilalumínios tais como TEA, IPRA ou TIBA. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o tipo e a concentração de alquilalumínio presente no meio reacional influenciaram tanto a atividade catalítica quanto as propriedades dos polímeros gerados. Os polímeros obtidos com o catalisador suportado in-situ apresentaram propriedades distintas das obtidas no polímero gerado através da polimerização homogênea, além de morfologia controlada, confirmando que de fato a polimerização ocorreu sobre a superfície do SMAO. Através da deconvolução das curvas de GPC foi constatado o aumento do número de tipos de sítios ativos no sistema catalítico suportado in-situ, resultado que também confirmou a heterogeneização do catalisador sobre o suporte. Com o auxílio de cálculos teóricos e da deconvolução das curvas de GPC foi possível propor estruturas para os sítios ativos dos sistemas homogêneo metaloceno/MAO e heterogêneo (suportado in-situ) metaloceno/SMAO/alquilalumínio. Quando eteno foi utilizado como monômero, o comportamento do sistema catalítico metaloceno/SMAO/alquilalumínio suportado in-situ foi distinto do obtido com propeno. O catalisador Me2Si(Ind)2ZrCl2 suportado ex-situ sobre SMAO através de técnicas convencionais de suportação foi avaliado por EXAFS e foi constatado que a vizinhança eletrônica do zircônio é influenciada pela razão Zr/SMAO. Os resultados obtidos por EXAFS foram correlacionados com a variação na atividade catalítica na polimerização de eteno em função da alteração na razão Zr/SMAO.

Caracterização in situ e diversidade genética de algodoeiros mocós (Gossypium hissutum raça marie galante) da Região Nordeste do Brasil

Brazil is one of the major centers of diversity for polyploid cotton plants; these plants belong to the genus Gossypium, which has three known species: G. hirsutum, G. barbadense and G. mustelinum. The Northeast is the only region where the three species occur, the last group being endemic. Northeast s cotton plants can be important sources of variability for genetic breeding. It is believed that great part of local diversity is being lost, due to economic, political, cultural and agricultural problems. In an attempt to mitigate this loss and delineate conservation strategies it is necessary to know how the species are found where they occur. The objective was to characterize and determine how plants are maintained in situ in the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba at the beginning of the XXI century. The in situ characterization of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense was conducted through structured interviews with the cotton plants owners and through the analysis of the environment. The data were collected during expeditions undertaken between the years 2004 to 2005. Twenty-two plants were collected in the state of Paraíba, forty-four in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, one hundred and forty-six in the state of Ceará, forty in the state of Maranhão and ninety-one plants in the state of Piauí. All plants collected in the states of Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte belonged to moco type. Moco cotton plants also predominated in the other states, representing 92%, 62% and 78% of plants collected in Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão, respectively. The other cotton plants collected belong to the species G. barbadense. The cotton plants were found in situ as dooryard plants, roads side, feral populations, cultivation or local varieties. Great part were dooryard plants (45.2%), being major in Piauí and Maranhão. Cultivation predominated in Ceará; in Rio Grande do Norte feral populations were the most frequent and, in Paraíba, local varieties. The maintenance of moco plants is related, mainly, to the phytotherapic domestic use (20.9%) and to confection of lamp wicks (29.7%). Few inhabitants in Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí and none in Maranhão used harvest the plants, storage the seeds or gin; however, in Ceará, 40.5% of owners affirmed that they harvested and commercialized the fiber. It was found that the maintenance of species is dependent of the fragile cultural habits of local inhabitants, therefore the maintenance in situ is not a suitable way to conservation of genetic resources. The efforts must be directed to the continuity of collections, maintenance and characterization ex situ

caracterização in situ e estrutura genética de populações de Gossypium mustelinum

Gossypium mustelinum Miers ex Watt is the only cotton species native from Brazil. It is endemic of the semi-arid region from North-east of the country, where it occur near from resilient water sources. The threats to the in situ conservation of the populations are caused by human interference in its habitat, mainly by excessive cattle graze and deforestation. Establish efficient strategies of in situ conservation depend on the accomplishment of a diagnosis of how the specie is found in its natural environment, and the knowledge about the genetic structure of the populations. The objectives of this work were i) to determine the in situ conditions of two populations present in rivers from basin of Rio Paraguaçu at the Bahia State, ii) to evaluate the structure and genetic variability presented in both populations, iii) to establish in situ and ex situ conservation strategies. It were realized collection in november 2007, when was realized in situ characterization of G. mustelinum. SSR markers were used for analyze 218 genotypes deriving from two populations of the G. mustelinum, localized at Tocó river and the Capivara river. The allelic frequencies, the heterozigosity and the F statics were estimated. All the plants were classified as wild and natives, and there was no evidence of the use the plants or its parts. The populations showed different conservation conditions in situ. Few plantlets were found in sites with excessive cattle feed, an indication that the damages in young plants should be high enough to compromise the renovation of the populations. On the other hand, populations were well preserved when the anthropic damages was low or inexistent. The 14 SSR primer pairs amplified 17 loci with a medium number of 5 alleles per locus (a total of 85 alleles). The high level of endogamy estimated (FIS=0,808) and the low observed heterozygosity (H0=0,093) were indicatives that the populations reproduce mainly by selfing, geitonogamy and crosses between related individuals. The genetic diversity was high (HE=0,482) and the differentiation between the populations was very high (FST=0,328). At least two sites from both populations of G. mustelinum must be preserved to achieve suitable in situ conservation. Actions that preserve the gallery forest and keep the cattle away should implemented, and could be as simple as erecting a fence. It is not possible anticipated if the in situ preservation will be possible. Therefore collections and ex situ preservation of representative specimens are essential to conserve the genetic diversity of native G. mustelinum

Caracterização genética e in situ de Gossypium barbadense na região norte do Brasil

Brazil has been considered one of the diversity centers of Gossypium barbadense species. It is believed that a relatively big erosion genetic process occurs with the species, due to economic, cultural and agricultural problems. A local diagnostic about species situation is the first step for reducing the diversity loss and establishing conservation strategies in situ. This research aimed the identification of the presence of Gossypium populations, characterization, determination of the main risks and collection of the accesses to store in germoplam banks, in Para and Amapa States. Expeditions were conducted in November 2004. An interview was carried out with the plant proprietor for characterizing in situ of G. barbadense species and of the environment where the plants were inserted. On hundred seventy nine plants in 22 municipal districts were collected in Para State and 117 plants in nine municipal districts in Amapa State. The majority of plants belong to G. barbadense species (98% in Amapa and 94% in Para). Plants occur in back yards, beside roads and spontaneously. That ones from back yards were more abundant (97% in Amapa and 95% in Para) and maintained as medicinal plants as the principal reason. Plants in natural environments in both states evaluated were not found, therefore, the creation of reserves and the application of others conventional methods of maintenance in situ are not applicable. The plant proprietors do not use to store or process seeds. Seed storage was reported as a practice by only 1% of the plant proprietors from Para and 11% from Amapa. The most plants collected were from two to three years of age (58% in Amapa and 93% in Para). As conclusions G. barbadense is the species most spread in the two studied states and are found in back yards. In Amapa State the botanical variety barbadense or Quebradinho is predominant, whereas in Para State the predominant variety is brasiliense or Rim-de-boi. Adequate conservation of thestudied species must be carried out in germoplasm collections maintained ex situ

Polinização de Cacauí (Theobroma speciosum Willd. ex Spreng. - Sterculiaceae): implicações para conservação

O cacauí (Theobroma speciosum) é uma fruteira típica da Região Norte, cujas flores sapromiofílicas atraem dípteros. Os recursos que os insetos utilizam são muito variados e entre eles estão as flores, as quais podem ser utilizadas como alimento e local para reprodução. Este trabalho visou fazer uma comparação do sistema de polinização de T. speciosum em duas áreas de preservação distintas, contribuindo para a avaliação das estratégias de conservação da espécie. O trabalho foi realizado nos anos de 2000 a 2002, no Centro de Pesquisa do Trópico Úmido da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA/CPATU) e na Estação Científica Ferreira Penna (ECFPn/MPEG). Foram realizados estudos sobre estrutura populacional e fenologia de T. speciosum nas duas áreas de preservação, observação comportamental dos insetos no campo, coletas de insetos visitantes das flores de cacauí, análise de carreamento de pólen pelos insetos e verificação dos insetos emergentes no laboratório. As árvores de cacauí, em ambos os locais, florescem em períodos mais secos e frutificam em períodos mais úmidos. As populações de cacauí nas duas áreas diferem pela distribuição espacial e etária dos seus indivíduos. A falta de jovens e subadultos na área de preservação ex situ, mostra falha no "tum over' populacional, demonstrando fragilidade no sistema estabelecido. As inflorescências de T. speciosum são utilizadas por uma grande diversidade de invertebrados. Nove ordens de insetos, e pelo menos duas ordens de outros invertebrados, visitaram as flores de cacau'. As ordens com maior quantidade de indivíduos foram Hymenoptera, Thysanoptera, Diptera e Coleoptera. Os visitantes das flores de cacauí foram classificados como: oportunistas, predadores e polinizadores. Drosofilideos foram indicados como polinizadores de T speciosum, com a possibilidade da participação de alguns forídeos. As guildas dos drosofilídeos foram distintas nas duas áreas de preservação e mais diversa na área de preservação in situ. Quatro espécies foram comuns as duas áreas. A perda de diversidade e alteração na composição na guilda de polinizadores parece não ter afetado a população de T. speciosum na área de preservação ex situ. No caso em estudo o sistema de polinização apesar de profundamente alterado, ainda apresenta sinais de viabilidade.