Ecological specialization and niche overlap of subterranean rodents inferred from DNA metabarcoding diet analysis

Knowledge of how animal species use food resources available in the environment can increase our understanding of many ecological processes. However, obtaining this information using traditional methods is difficult for species feeding on a large variety of food items in highly diverse environments. We amplified the DNA of plants for 306 scat and 40 soil samples, and applied an environmental DNA metabarcoding approach to investigate food preferences, degree of diet specialization and diet overlap of seven herbivore rodent species of the genus Ctenomys distributed in southern and midwestern Brazil. The metabarcoding approach revealed that these species consume more than 60% of the plant families recovered in soil samples, indicating generalist feeding habits of ctenomyids. The family Poaceae was the most common food resource retrieved in scats of all species as well in soil samples. Niche overlap analysis indicated high overlap in the plant families and molecular operational taxonomic units consumed, mainly among the southern species. Interspecific differences in diet composition were influenced, among other factors, by the availability of resources in the environment. In addition, our results provide support for the hypothesis that the allopatric distributions of ctenomyids allow them to exploit the same range of resources when available, possibly because of the absence of interspecific competition.     

Purification of rabies virus glycoprotein produced in Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells: An efficient immunoaffinity method

Most rabies vaccines are based on inactivated virus, which production process demands a high level of biosafety structures. In the past decades, recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein (RVGP) produced in several expression systems has been extensively studied to be used as an alternative vaccine. The immunogenic characteristics of this protein depend on its correct conformation, which is present only after the correct post-translational modifications, typically performed by animal cells. The main challenge of using this protein as a vaccine candidate is to keep its trimeric conformation after the purification process. We describe here a new immunoaffinity chromatography method using a monoclonal antibody for RVGP Site II for purification of recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein expressed on the membrane of Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells. RVGP recovery achieved at least 93%, and characterization analysis showed that the main antigenic proprieties were preserved after purification.     

Leaf manganese concentrations as a tool to assess belowground plant functioning in phosphorus-impoverished environments

Plant and Soil - Root-released carboxylates enhance the availability of manganese (Mn), which enters roots through transporters with low substrate specificity. Leaf Mn concentration ([Mn]) has been...     

Male-Directed Object Use by Proceptive Female Bearded Capuchin Monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in Captivity

International Journal of Primatology - Some nonhuman primates use tools to modify the behavior of other animals in social contexts. For example, during their proceptive periods, female bearded...     

Validation of a Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Assay in Three Platyrrhine Primates (Alouatta caraya,Aotus azarae infulatus,and Sapajus apella)

International Journal of Primatology - The hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate ester (DHEAS) are the most abundant circulating steroids in human and some nonhuman primates, and...     

New conservation opportunities: Using citizen science in monitoring non-native species in Neotropical region

The combination of highly equipped smartphones, with the increased use of social media, has offered a wide database. Given this, citizen science can be used to record and monitor non-native fish fauna, target new samples and collaborate with monitoring occurrences in new areas. We aimed to demonstrate the efficiency of social media in citizen science as a tool to cooperate with monitoring studies of non-native species. Consequently, we determined the occurrence points of S. brasiliensis in the Iguaçu River basin, indicating sites of greatest occurrence and analyzing the impact of the invasion on the native fauna of the basin. Files and information available on the YouTube^® and Facebook^® media platforms were used as data, was carried out from April 2019 to April 2020. The results were 40 records, 22 videos obtained from Youtube, and seven videos and 11 photos from Facebook, the oldest record was from April 2013, while the largest number of posts was in 2016. Fish records available from online platforms can reveal the occurrence and progressive dispersion of species, in the context of biological invasions, these tools can be of great value in studies that aim to follow the progress of introduced species, contributing by helping to direct new sampling programs and corroborating the occurrence of species in new areas in conjunction with standard monitoring programs. Based on citizen science records, it was possible to update the range of occurrence of the non-native S. brasiliensis in the Iguaçu River basin, cooperating with scientific knowledge. Innovative monitoring and control measures are necessary to deal with invasive species, with citizen science proving to be competent for determining the occurrence of species and showing promise in the entire field of ichthyology.     

Gamma-Decanolactone Alters the Expression of GluN2B,A1 Receptors,and COX-2 and Reduces DNA Damage in the PTZ-Induced Seizure Model After Subchronic Treatment in Mice

Neurochemical Research - Gamma-decanolactone (GD) has been shown to reduce epileptic behavior in different models, inflammatory decreasing, oxidative stress, and genotoxic parameters. This study...     

Parasitism Behavior of Tetrastichus howardi (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on Larvae and Pupae of Sugarcane Borers

Journal of Insect Behavior - Control of the sugarcane borers, Diatraea saccharalis and Diatraea impersonatella (= D. flavipennella) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), in Brazil, is based on mass release of...     

Sampling and distribution pattern of Trioza erytreae Del Guercio, 1918 (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in citrus orchard

Developing efficient sampling protocols is essential to monitor crop pests. One vector of the citrus disease HLB, the African citrus psyllid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio, 1918 (Hemiptera: Triozidae), currently threatens the lemon industry throughout the Mediterranean region. In this work, a pool of sampling methods devoted to monitoring the population of T. erytreae was compared, its spatial distribution in the orchard was assessed, and the minimum sampling effort for the best sampling method was estimated. Three lemon orchards in North-western Portugal were sampled for one year using two types of yellow sticky traps (standard yellow and fluorescent Saturn yellow), B-vac sampling and sweep net sampling. The method that best performed, in terms of cost-efficiency, was the yellow sticky traps. The two colours of the sticky traps tested did not yield a significantly different number of catches. The spatial distribution throughout the orchards was found to be aggregated towards the borders. A minimum of three sticky traps per hectare was found to be enough to estimate the population at 90% accuracy for the mean during the outbreak. These results should help to monitor and anticipate outbreaks that may even colonize neighbour orchards. Studies on the local dispersion patterns of T. erytreae throughout the orchard are mandatory to further refine and optimize efficient monitoring protocols.     

Functional unit influence on building life cycle assessment

Purpose

The building sector is one of the most relevant sectors in terms of environmental impact. Different functional units (FUs) can be used in life cycle assessment (LCA) studies for a variety of purposes. This paper aimed to present different FUs used in the LCA of buildings and evaluate the influence of FU choice and setting in comparative studies.

Methods

As an example, we compared the “cradle to grave” environmental performance of four typical Brazilian residential buildings with different construction typologies, i.e., multi-dwelling and single dwelling, each with high and basic standards. We chose three types of FU for comparison: a dwelling with defined lifetime and occupancy parameters, an area of 1 m² of dwelling over a year period, and the accommodation of an occupant person of the dwelling over a day.

Results and discussion

The FU choice was found to bias the results considerably. As expected, the largest global warming indicator (GWi) values per dwelling unit and occupant were identified for the high standard dwellings. However, when measured per square meter, lower standard dwellings presented the largest GWi values. This was caused by the greater concentration of people per square meter in smaller area dwellings, resulting in larger water and energy consumption per square meter. The sensitivity analysis of FU variables such as lifetime and occupancy showed the GWi contribution of the infrastructure more relevant compared with the operation in high and basic standard dwellings. The definition of lifetime and occupancy parameters is key to avoid bias and to reduce uncertainty of the results when performing a comparison of dwelling environmental performances.

Conclusions

This paper highlights the need for adequate choice and setting of FU to support intended decision-making in LCA studies of the building sector. The use of at least two FUs presented a broader picture of building performance, helping to guide effective environmental optimization efforts from different approaches and levels of analysis. Information regarding space, time, and service dimensions should be either included in the FU setting or provided in the building LCA study to allow adjustment of the results for subsequent comparison.