Spatial determinants of Atlantic Forest loss and recovery in Brazil

Context

Despite continued forest cover losses in many parts of the world, Atlantic Forest, one of the largest of the Americas, is increasing in some locations. Economic factors are suggested as causes of forest gain, while enforcement has reduced deforestation.

Objectives

We examine three aspects of this issue: the relative importance of biophysical versus anthropogenic factors in driving forest dynamics; role of forest mean patch age influencing areas targeted for losses; and what future forest mean patch age mosaic we can expect (more forest cover and full forest maturity?).

Methods

Three land cover maps from 1990, 2000 and 2010, were used in the study. We selected six biophysical and six anthropogenic spatial determinants to analyze by means of weights of evidence, using Dinamica software.

Results

Results show that forest regrowth is influenced by multiple factors, working in synergy. Biophysical variables are related to forest gain while anthropogenic are associated with loss. Clear patterns of regrowth on pasture and sugarcane plantations occurred, especially near rivers and forest patches, on steeper slopes and with sufficient rainfall. Forest loss has targeted both older and newer forests. Future projections reveal forest gain in a slow pace, followed by specific ecosystem service losses, due to continuous trends of older mature forest loss.

Conclusions

Regrowth is linked to land abandonment, and to neighboring environmental conditions. It is important to question which mechanisms will guarantee and potentiate new regrowth, thus contributing to landscape restoration and reestablishment of ecosystem services in the Atlantic Forest.

     

Compensatory growth and digestive enzyme activity of Litopenaeus vannamei submitted to feeding restriction in a biofloc system

Feeding restriction is a strategy in shrimp farming management that may promote compensatory growth after feeding is re‐established. This study aims to evaluate the effects of two feeding restriction regimens on the compensatory growth and digestive enzymes activity of Litopenaeus vannamei reared in biofloc system. Juvenile shrimp (0.46 ± 0.18 g) were stocked (320 individuals/m³) in 310 L tanks. The experiment comprised two phases: (a) Feeding Restriction (30 days) when shrimp were submitted to three feeding regimes, Control (fed daily), R1F1 (repetitively fasted one day and fed one day) and R2F1 (repetitively fasted 2 days and fed 1 day); and (b) Refeeding (28 days) when shrimp were fed daily. In the restriction phase, shrimp growth and digestive enzyme activities were reduced in R2F1 and R1F1. However, during the refeeding phase, enzyme activities and feed conversion improve significantly in R2F1 and R1F1. Control group attained higher final weight, but its final biomass was similar to R1F1. Litopenaeus vannamei exhibited partial compensatory growth, probably due to improved feed conversion efficiency driven by increased enzyme activity. It is possible to reduce feeding by 50% (R1F1) in biofloc systems for 28 days, without compromising the biomass produced at the end of a 30‐day refeeding period.     

Sperm vitrification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis>: effect of cryoprotectant solutions on sperm viability and spawning quality after artificial insemination

Vitrification is a fast freezing method with promising results for penaeids sperm cryopreservation. This study evaluated the efficiency of three cryoprotectant solutions for sperm vitrification and artificial insemination with cryopreserved spermatophores of Litopenaeus vannamei. The cryoprotectant solutions tested were 30% methanol, 2% soy lecithin, and 30% methanol?+?2% soy lecithin. Fully mature females were artificially inseminated with vitrified and fresh spermatophores as a control group. The vitrification method was efficient in maintaining high rates of sperm survival and membrane integrity. Although the egg fertilization was successfully attained by artificial insemination with cryopreserved spermatophores, low hatching rates suggested that possible DNA fragmentation of sperm cells should be further investigated. This is the first report of artificial insemination using vitrified sperm in penaeids.     

Integration of AFLP markers into an RFLP-based map of durum wheat

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) is a powerful technique which can readily be applied to a wide range of species for mapping purposes. AFLPs were added to a linkage map of durum wheat constructed using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). The mapping population included 65 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between the durum wheat cultivar ‘Messapia’ and accession ‘MG4343’ of the wild Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (Körn.). Genomic DNA was digested with MseI (4‐cutter) and Sse83871 (8‐cutter). Using a silver‐staining protocol, 14 primer combinations revealed 421 clearly scorable amplicons including 100 polymorphisms. The presence of nine pairs of bands linked in repulsion phase with each pair generated by one primer combination suggested the presence of codominant alleles; sequence analysis of four band pairs confirmed their codominant nature. The integration of 80 AFLP loci extended the map in several telomeric regions, reduced the size of four large gaps present in the previous map, and eliminated one gap. The new map obtained after the inclusion of the 80 AFLP loci and eight additional RFLP loci spans 2063cM which represent a 52.6% increment compared with the previous map. Compared with the distribution of RFLPs, no significant clustering of AFLP markers was observed.     

Hereditary early-onset Parkinson's disease caused by mutations in PINK1

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. We previously mapped a locus for a rare familial form of PD to chromosome 1p36 (PARK6). Here we show that mutations in PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1) are associated with PARK6. We have identified two homozygous mutations affecting the PINK1 kinase domain in three consanguineous PARK6 families: a truncating nonsense mutation and a missense mutation at a highly conserved amino acid. Cell culture studies suggest that PINK1 is mitochondrially located and may exert a protective effect on the cell that is abrogated by the mutations, resulting in increased susceptibility to cellular stress. These data provide a direct molecular link between mitochondria and the pathogenesis of PD.     

Species‐specific distribution model may be not enough: The case study of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) habitat distribution in Pelagos Sanctuary

1. Geospatial models are used to predict the distribution of terrestrial and marine species, according to their ecological and ethological habits. The bottlenose dolphin is a cosmopolitan marine top predator, inhabiting most of the ocean, with the exception of polar and subpolar waters. This wide distribution is associated with a remarkable plasticity in ecological and behavioural habits, which makes it difficult to model and predict its distribution.
2. This study proposes a ‘multi‐type approach’ to predict the presence and distribution of the bottlenose dolphin in the Pelagos Sanctuary, a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance located in the north‐west Mediterranean Sea. A multi‐type model based on random forest regression was developed, analysing the distribution habits of two geographical units living in the Pelagos area.
3. When compared with a classical single‐type model, the multi‐type model performed much better in a prediction test (true skill statistics, TSS = 85% vs. 52%), confirming the value of this experimental approach. This work suggests that wild species should not be considered as one single‐type entity, as local specialization may change and shape their distribution habits.

     

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antifungal furanosesquiterpenoids isolated from Commiphora erythraea (Ehrenb.) Engl. resin

The topical anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging and antifungal activities of essential oils and extracts of Commiphora erythraea (Ehrenb.) Engl. resin were investigated. The hexane extract significantly inhibited oedema when applied topically in Croton oil-induced ear oedema assay in mice. The same extract showed antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging assay. A bioguided separation of the hexane extract led to the isolation of furanosesquiterpenoids 1 and 2 that showed a weak antifungal activity, while compounds 3-5 resulted to be antioxidant (EC₅₀ 4.28, 2.56 and 1.08 mg/mL, respectively) and anti-inflammatory (30, 26 and 32% oedema reduction, respectively).     

Partition of Nonylphenol and Related Compounds Among Different Aquatic Compartments in Tiber River (Central Italy)

Nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylate (NP1EO, NP2EO) and bisphenol A (BPA) were determined in water, suspended particulate matter (s.p.m.) and bed sediment collected from the most polluted stretch of Tiber river (Italy) in the neighbourhood of Rome. Analytes were recovered from water samples by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on Si–C₁₈ cartridges and analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Solid samples were extracted by using an aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant Tween 80. Results indicated that 2–42% of NP, 9–45% of NP1EO, 11–18% of NP2EO and 4–62% of BPA respectively occurred in the suspended phase. In general, for all compounds a higher affinity for s.p.m. than for bed sediments was observed, reflecting differences in the nature of particles and in their sorption capacity for organic micro-pollutants. The partition of target compounds in river compartments was affected by differences in hydrological conditions between the two sampling campaigns. Run-off from the basin or resuspension/redissolution from sediments was an important source of nonylphenol and bisphenol A during high discharge regimes. Partition coefficients of compounds (log K _oc ) between water and s.p.m. were calculated under stable flow condition. K _oc values, experimentally measured in the river, were higher than those predicted by K _ow , implying that specific chemical interaction could occur in the sorption mechanisms for these group of compounds.     

Cell Response Associated to NaCI Effect in a Freshwater Telecost Epidermis

Sixteen adult fresh water teleosts ( Pimelodus maculatus) were used in an examination of the effect of salt water on the ultrastructure of the epidermis. Six animals were treated for 3 hours with 2% saline and six were treated with 1% saline for 8 hours. No diffrenences between treated groups were noted. Four animals served as untreated controls. Both transmission and freeze-facture electonmicroscopy was utilized in examining the epidermis.
The significant alterations in epidermis were observed within the superficial cell layer, in which a decreased density of micropolicae occurred, suggesting streching of the cell surface. An increased intercellular space was also observed in this layer. The cells demonstrated an increase in intracytoplasmic vesicles, and an enhancement of Golgi membranes in treated animals as compared to untreated animals.