Novos táxons de Hemilophini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) sem carenas nos élitros da Região Neotropical

Novos registros e novas espécies de Hemilophini (Cerambycidae) coletados por pulverização de inseticida nas copas das árvores no Equador: Olivensa megacephala (Bates, 1866); Icupima laevipennis (Gahan, 1892); Hemilomecopterus alienus Galileo & Martins, 2004; Acapiata gen. nov., espécie-tipo A. dilatata sp. nov.; Acaiu gen. nov., espécie-tipo A. spinosus sp. nov.; Okamira gen. nov., espécie-tipo O. pulchra sp. nov. Duas espécies novas de Erana Bates, 1866 também são descritas: E. costaricensis sp. nov. da Costa Rica (Heredia) e E. flaviventris sp. nov. de Honduras (Yoro).

Características físico-químicas, polifenóis e flavonoides amarelos em frutos de espécies de pitaias comerciais e nativas do Cerrado

Apesar do grande potencial comercial da pitaia, ainda são escassos os estudos de caracterização físico-química de frutos da pitaia, principalmente considerando espécies nativas do Cerrado. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se analisar a caracterização físico-química, polifenóis e flavonoides amarelos totais de frutos de espécies de pitaia Hylocereus costaricensis, Hylocereus undatus, Selenicereus setaceus e Selenicereus megalanthus. Para as avaliações físico-químicas, foram realizadas as análises de sólidos solúveis, pH e acidez total titulável. Para a determinação dos compostos fenólicos, realizaram-se as análises de polifenóis extraíveis totais e flavonoides amarelos. Foram observadas diferenças significativas entre as espécies de pitaia e entre as partes basal, mediana e apical dos frutos, quanto às características físico-químicas e a concentração de compostos fenólicos. A espécie S. megalanthus apresentou maior quantidade de sólidos solúveis, apresentando, assim, a polpa mais doce. Tal característica foi mais pronunciada na parte mediana do fruto de todas as espécies. Houve diferença significativa entre o pH, com valores variando de 4,84 a 5,67, classificando-se como alimentos pouco ácidos. A acidez variou de 0,10 % a 0,15 % de ácido cítrico. H. costaricensis merece destaque pela presença de maior quantidade de polifenóis totais e de flavonoides amarelos, diferenciando-se significativamente das demais espécies.

Comunidades de helmintos parasitos de Steindachnerina insculta e Astynax fasciatus como indicadores de impacto ambiental no rio Taquari, São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBB

Helminth fauna of Astyanax fasciatus Cuvier, 1819, in two distinct sites of the Taquari River, São Paulo State, Brazil

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

Estudos parasitológicos em cães domésticos errantes e carnívoros selvagens generalistas no Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Foz do Iguaçu

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

Novos táxons e notas sobre Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) da Costa Rica

Nova espécie descrita: Eupogonius intonsus sp. nov. de Guanacaste. Nova subespécie descrita: Eburia lanigera costaricensis subsp. nov. de Guanacaste. Novos registros: Cymatonycha meridionalis Martins & Galileo, 1995 (Puntarenas) e Nesozineus triviale Galileo & Martins, 1996 (Guanacaste). É comentada a variabilidade no colorido elitral de Eburodacrys havanensis Chevrolat, 1862.

Angiostrongrylus cantonensis as a cause of cerebrospinal disease in a yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) and two tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides)

A captive yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) and 2 free-living tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides), both native Australian species, were presented with neurologic signs including depression and pelvic limb paresis and paralysis. Despite supportive treatment, all 3 birds died or were euthanatized. On histologic examination, sections of metastrongyloid nematode larvae were found in the central nervous system of all 3 birds, whereas intact larvae, identified as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, were recovered from the brain and spinal cord of 2 birds. Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm. has an obligatory migratory phase through the host's central nervous system, which can cause severe pathologic lesions. Natural infections in accidental hosts have been documented only in mammals, and to our knowledge, angiostrongyliasis in avian hosts has not been previously reported.

Molecular analysis of evolutionary relationships of Phaseolus dumosus with the gene pool of common bean

Valuable genetic variation for bean breeding programs is held within the common bean secondary gene pool which consists of Phaseolus albescens, P. coccineus, P. costaricensis, and P. dumosus. However, the use of close relatives for bean improvement is limited due to the lack of knowledge about genetic variation and genetic plasticity of many of these species. Characterisation and analysis of the genetic diversity is necessary among beans' wild relatives; in addition, conflicting phylogenies and relationships need to be understood and a hypothesis of a hybrid origin of P. dumosus needs to be tested. This thesis research was orientated to generate information about the patterns of relationships among the common bean secondary gene pool, with particular focus on the species Phaseolus dumosus. This species displays a set of characteristics of agronomic interest, not only for the direct improvement of common bean but also as a source of valuable genes for adaptation to climate change. Here I undertake the first comprehensive study of the genetic diversity of P. dumosus as ascertained from both nuclear and chloroplast genome markers. A germplasm collection of the ancestral forms of P. dumosus together with wild, landrace and cultivar representatives of all other species of the common bean secondary gene pool, were used to analyse genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and structure of P. dumosus. Data on molecular variation was generated from sequences of cpDNA loci accD-psaI spacer, trnT-trnL spacer, trnL intron and rps14-psaB spacer and from the nrDNA the ITS region. A whole genome DArT array was developed and used for the genotyping of P. dumosus and its closes relatives. 4208 polymorphic markers were generated in the DArT array and from those, 742 markers presented a call rate >95% and zero discordance. DArT markers revealed a moderate genetic polymorphism among P. dumosus samples (13% of polymorphic loci), while P. coccineus presented the highest level of polymorphism (88% of polymorphic loci). At the cpDNA one ancestral haplotype was detected among all samples of all species in the secondary genepool. The ITS region of P. dumosus revealed high homogeneity and polymorphism bias to P. coccineus genome. Phylogenetic reconstructions made with Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods confirmed previously reported discrepancies among the nuclear and chloroplast genomes of P. dumosus. The outline of relationships by hybridization networks displayed a considerable number of interactions within and between species. This research provides compelling evidence that P. dumosus arose from hybridisation between P. vulgaris and P. coccineus and confirms that P. costaricensis has likely been involved in the genesis or backcrossing events (or both) in the history of P. dumosus. The classification of the specie P. persistentus was analysed based on cpDNA and ITS sequences, the results found this species to be highly related to P. vulgaris but not too similar to P. leptostachyus as previously proposed. This research demonstrates that wild types of the secondary genepool carry a significant genetic variation which makes this a valuable genetic resource for common bean improvement. The DArT array generated in this research is a valuable resource for breeding programs since it has the potential to be used in several approaches including genotyping, discovery of novel traits, mapping and marker-trait associations. Efforts should be made to search for potential populations of P. persistentus and to increase the collection of new populations of P. dumosus, P. albescens and P. costaricensis that may provide valuable traits for introgression into common bean and other Phaseolus crops.

Parasitoses internas e frequência de desparasitação em cães do concelho de Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária