A complex biogeographic history of diversification in Neotropical lancehead pitvipers (Serpentes,Viperidae)

Based on the literature, we had predicted that the diversification within the Neotropical snake genus Bothrops occurred along a latitudinal gradient from north to south, with diversification into unoccupied niches through ecological opportunity, not correlated with geoclimatic events. Using a dated phylogeny and estimating likelihoods of ancestral states at cladogenesis events, we reconstructed ancestral areas and assessed major events of the diversification of Bothrops clades, and we also discuss systematic implications for this group. Based on the phylogeny we produced, B. lojanus was not considered as part of the genus Bothrops since the results recovered this species nested within the Bothrocophias clade. We infer that the diversification of the Miocene Bothrops pictus and Bothrops alternatus clades may be related to the uplift of the western slopes of the Andes and the Argentinian Patagonian Andes, respectively. The Pliocene Bothrops taeniatus and Bothrops osbornei clades may be related to the uplift of the eastern and northern Andes, respectively. The Plio-Pleistocene Bothrops neuwiedi clade may be related to the habitat transitions from a warmer and forested environment to a cooler and open landscape; the Bothrops jararaca (i.e. island endemic species) and Bothrops lanceolatus clades to over-water dispersal with island speciation; and Bothrops atrox clade to the appearance of the Panamanian land bridge. We found that a multitemporal and multidirectional history of diversification may be correlated with geoclimatic and dispersalist events. We argue that the vacant niche hypothesis by itself does not explain Bothrops diversification.     

Trophic resource partitioning among five flatfish species (Actinopterygii, Pleuronectiformes) in a tropical bay in south-eastern Brazil

Five species of flatfishes in a tropical bay in south-eastern Brazil were studied to test the hypothesis that resource partitioning along the spatial and size dimensions has been used as a mechanism to enable coexistence. Three zones in the study area were defined according to environmental characteristics (inner, middle and outer). Sampling was conducted by otter trawl tows during daylight hours, between October 1998 and September 1999. Achiridae species ( Achirus lineatus and Trinectes paulistanus ) showed narrow niche width, indicating a specialized feeding strategy, preying on Polychaeta, and occurring mainly in the inner bay zone. Paralichthyidae ( Citharichthys spilopterus and Etropus crossotus ) and the Cynoglossidae ( Symphurus tessellatus ) showed broad niche width and a generalized feeding strategy preying on a large number of Crustacea. Symphurus tessellatus did not change diet with size-dimension feeding on Amphipoda and Polychaeta, whereas C. spilopterus and E. crossotus shifted diet with growth. Citharichthys spilopterus fed mainly on Mysida and secondarily on shrimps, with juvenile preying on large amounts of Calanoida, whereas adults consumed large amounts of fishes. Isaeidae amphipods were a significant prey for both small and large E. crossotus , whereas Polychaeta Errantia were used mainly by large fishes. Etropus crossotus and S. tessellatus share similar feeding resources in outer bay zone preying on Isaeidae and Polychaeta Errantia. Differences in the Pleuronectiformes diet composition along with spatial and size changes in the use of the available resources contributed to allow the organisms' coexistence in Sepetiba Bay. The high item diversity used by flatfishes indicates that the system plays an important role as a feeding ground, and that interspecific competition for food was unlikely.     

The Ultrastructure of the Fungus Trichoderma viride and Investigation of its Growth on Cellulose

Changes in the ultrastructure of Trichoderma viride during growth in shake cultures on cellobiose and cellulose fibres were examined. Electron micrographs of thin sections of germinating conidia, septate hyphae with ascomycete pores and other cell organelles are presented. Extensive autolysis of hyphae was observed after growth for 20 h on cellobiose. The fungus grew in the lumina and within the walls of cellulose fibres. The hyphae followed the directions of the laminar structure but did not grow across them. The observations indicated that the hyphae penetrated the fibres by causing cracks and by dissolving enzymatically the cellulose.     

Why study the use of animal products in traditional medicines?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that as many as 80% of the world's more than six billion people rely primarily on animal and plant-based medicines. The healing of human ailments by using therapeutics based on medicines obtained from animals or ultimately derived from them is known as zootherapy. The phenomenon of zootherapy is marked both by a broad geographical distribution and very deep historical origins. Despite their importance, studies on the therapeutic use of animals and animal parts have been neglected, when compared to plants. This paper discusses some related aspects of the use of animals or parts thereof as medicines, and their implications for ecology, culture (the traditional knowledge), economy, and public health.     

Does fin damage allow discrimination among wild,escaped and farmed Sparus aurata (L.) and Dicentrarchus labrax (L.)?

The present study compares fin damages in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) according to their wild, escaped or farmed origins. In addition, the potential applicability of fin condition indices (Fin Erosion Index ‘FEI’ and Fin Splitting Index ‘FSI’) as identification tools is discussed. Farmed seabream fins evidenced more erosion and splitting (FEI ± SD: 2.1 ± 0.3; FSI ± SD: 1.9 ± 0.6) than wild seabream fins (FEI: 0.8 ± 0.6; FSI: 1.2 ± 0.9), a result of farming conditions in open‐sea cages. Escaped seabream fin erosion was between that of farmed and wild seabream (FEI: 1.6 ± 0.4), which could indicate that fins in farmed fish recover over time from farming abrasions once they are in the wild. However, the fins of escaped seabream seem to be weaker than those of the wild fish, and therefore might be more susceptible to suffer other types of erosion such as splitting or nipping (FSI: 2.3 ± 0.7). No significant differences were found in seabass FEI according to their origins, although wild seabass presented significantly more split caudal fins (FSI: 3.3 ± 2.8) than the farmed seabass (FSI: 1.2 ± 1.1) and escapees (FSI: 2.5 ± 1.6). Therefore, FEI for seabream could be used as tools not only to distinguish between wild and farmed fish, but also to identify recent escapees, improving further assessments on the contribution of seabream escapees in fishery landings. However, the healing potential of damaged fins must be considered for the proper identification of escapees. Use of fin condition indices from both species could be helpful for aquaculture management, to assess fish welfare in fish farms stocks, and improve the knowledge of handling, stock densities and open‐sea cage environment conditions.     

Algistatic effect of a quinonamethide triterpene on Microcystis novacekii

Cyanobacteria proliferation represents a problem to water treatment for human consumption supply. Species of the genus Microcystis, commonly found in continental waters, can bloom and produce microcystine and other toxic compounds associated to human and animal poisoning, depending on the nutrient levels present in the water. The use of natural products to control cyanobacteria blooms is promising since they are less harmful to the environment than compounds obtained by organic syntheses. Triterpenes, which are associated with several biological activities, have been isolated from species of the genus Maytenus (Celastraceae), commonly found in Cerrado regions of Brazil. Tingenone is a pentacyclic triterpene that has cytotoxic properties and induces growth inhibition in some microorganisms. In this study, the effects of tingenone isolated from Maytenus gonoclada at distinct concentrations (e.g., 50, 150, 500, 1,500, and 4,500 μg? L^?1) on the growth rates of Microcystis novacekii was investigated. The algicide activity was verified using M. novacekii cultures growing in ASM1 culture medium at 23 °C and continuous illumination for 96 h. Growth inhibition was monitored by light microscopy and optical density (OD_680 nm). The median effective concentration associated to the M. novacekii inhibition growth induced by tingenone was 12.2 μg? L^?1. The result indicates that tingenone has algicide effect and can be potentially applied in water management for public supply, replacing synthetic algicides.     

Determination of acid α-naphthyl acetate esterase enzyme activity in peripheral blood leukocytes of gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa)

We examined gazelle peripheral blood leucocytes using the α-Naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) staining technique (pH 5.8). Our purpose was to determine the percentage of ANAE positive lymphocytes. The proportion of ANAE positive T-lymphocytes was 72%. T-lymphocytes showed an ANAE positive reaction, but eosinophilic granulocytes and monocytes also showed a positive reaction. By contrast, no reaction was detected in B-lymphocytes, neutrophil granulocytes or platelets. The reaction observed in T-lymphocytes was a red-brown coloration, usually 1–2 granules, but enough granules to fill the cytoplasm were detected rarely. As a result of ANAE enzyme staining, we concluded that the staining technique can be used as a cytochemical marker for gazelle T-lymphocytes.