De acordo com o modelo de seleção intersexual mediado por parasitas, variações nas condições de ornamentos ou taxa de displays sexuais refletem diferentes graus de resistência ao parasitismo. Em coros naturais de anfíbios, vocalizações mais altas, longas e complexas e/ou emitidas a maiores taxas são, provavelmente, mais facilmente detectadas e atraem mais fêmeas. Entretanto, o esforço vocal está positivamente relacionado aos níveis plasmáticos de esteróides potencialmente imunossupressores, tais como testosterona e corticosterona. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as relações entre taxa de vocalização, imunocompetência e níveis plasmáticos de corticosterona em Hypsiboas albopunctatus, um anuro de médio porte que ocorre na América do Sul. Tais relações foram estudadas a partir de observação focal do comportamento vocal em coro natural, seguido de coleta de sangue para dosagem de corticosterona e avaliação de alguns parâmetros imunitários. O presente estudo demonstrou uma relação positiva entre a taxa de vocalização com níveis plasmáticos de corticosterona e negativa entre estes dois parâmetros com a imunocompetência mediada por células. Estes resultados apontam para a corticosterona como possível hormônio mediador do compromisso entre esforço vocal e imunidade mediada por células em anuros. / According to the model of intersexual selection mediated by parasites, changes in conditions of sexual ornaments or display rates reflect different degrees of resistance to parasitism. In natural choruses of amphibians, calls that are higher, longer, more complex and / or issued at higher rates are probably more easily detected and attract more females. However, the vocal effort is positively related to plasma levels of potentially immunosuppressive steroids, such as testosterone and corticosterone. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between calling rates, immunocompetence and plasma levels of corticosterone in Hypsiboas albopunctatus, a midsize anuran occurring in South America. Such relationships were studied from focal observations of calling behavior, followed by blood collection for measurements of corticosterone plasma levels and evaluation of some immune parameters. The present study showed a positive relationship between the calling rate with plasma levels of corticosterone, and a negative correlation between these two parameters with cell-mediated immunocompetence. These results highlight the importance of the hormone corticosterone as a possible mediator of trade-off between vocal effort and cell-mediated immunity in anurans.

Diversos aspectos metabólicos e comportamentais possuem uma estreita relação com as condições do ambiente, havendo um compromisso entre as condições naturais e a dinâmica de modificações sobre os organismos. Devido ao grande índice de degradação ambiental proveniente da atividade humana nos últimos tempos, populações de anfíbios têm sido particularmente mais afetadas devido a sua alta sensibilidade a alterações ambientais. Em uma paisagem fragmentada, a manutenção de metapopulações viáveis é um importante fator a persistência das populações. Dentro deste contexto, este estudo propõe investigar as relações entre a fragmentação florestal e habilidade das algumas espécies de anuros para se deslocar entre os fragmentos, ou entre estes e corpos d\'água. Assim, realizamos comparações, fisiológicas e comportamentais intra e interespecífica de espécies de anuros residentes em paisagens contínuas e fragmentadas em duas localidades da Floresta Atlântica, com base em suas características morfológicas. De acordo com nossos resultados, as diferenças ambientais entre as paisagens estão relacionadas com as diferenças morfofisiológicas entre as espécies. / In the last few decades, human activity has changed environmental condition, resulting in amphibian populations decline all around the world. In this study we analyze the relationships between forest fragmentation and the ability of some frog species to move between forest fragments or between fragments and breeding sites. Our study focus relies on anuran locomotor performance and supporting physiology, and the relationship between these traits and resistance to forest fragmentation. We compare morphological, physiological and behavioral traits between populations of anurans species living in different landscapes (continuous or fragmented) of two sites in the Atlantic Forest. According to our data, differences in environmental conditions of landscape are related to morpho-physiological traits. This relationship, however, depends on the site of the Atlantic Forest and also varies between species.

Orientador: Luís Felipe de Toledo Ramos Pereira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T14:12:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lambertini_Carolina_M.pdf: 6513639 bytes, checksum: 76f60b46e28d803521c2f06db67818b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Os anfíbios são os animais mais ameaçados do planeta, tendo como fatores mais impactantes a perda de habitat e a quitridiomicose. Esta doença em anuros é causada pelo fungo Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), que já foi registrado em todos os continentes e no Brasil estende-se por toda a Mata Atlântica, e já foi encontrado no Cerrado e na Amazônia. Existem diversos fatores que podem influenciar a dinâmica de infecção na natureza, e como fatores intrínsecos ao Bd podemos citar a variação genotípica, morfológica, variação na virulência e taxas de crescimento. Com isso, o presente estudo teve como objetivos realizar a caracterização genotípica e fenotípica de cepas de Bd provenientes de um gradiente de elevação na Mata Atlântica, e verificar se existem associações entre o tamanho dos zoósporos e zoosporângios das cepas isoladas com dados de prevalência e intensidade de infecção e taxa de crescimento do Bd. Adicionalmente, foi analisado se as taxas de infecção aumentam conforme o aumento da elevação. Para tanto, foram isoladas e genotipadas cinco cepas de Bd. Foi realizado o diagnóstico e quantificação da doença, assim como a confecção de suas curvas de crescimento. Com base nos resultados foram desenvolvidos dois índices relacionados à variação em tamanho e dados de prevalência e intensidade de infecção. Todas as cepas isoladas pertencem à linhagem Bd-GPL2. Foi detectada variação fenotípica entre as cepas e associações entre tamanho das cepas com prevalência e intensidade de infecção, e não houve associação com as taxas de crescimento. A prevalência e intensidade de infecção não aumentaram com a altitude. Os índices de tamanho e infecção também foram associados. Com isso, a variação fenotípica pode ser considerada preditora da dinâmica de infecção do Bd na natureza. Isto poderá ser utilizado como eficiente ferramenta de baixo custo para estudos que busquem reconhecer áreas nas quais o fungo pode ser mais prevalente e apresentar maior intensidade de infecção. Estes fatores podem ser cruciais para determinar populações de anfíbios ameaçadas / Abstract: Amphibians are the most threatened animals of the world. Habitat loss and chytridiomicosys are considered the main causes for their declines. Chytridiomycosis is a disease caused in anurans by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), detected worldwide. In Brazil it was registered all over the Atlantic rainforest and in some localities of the Cerrado and Amazonia. Several factors influence this disease dynamics, such as intrinsic factors related to Bd: different lineages, morphology, virulence, and growth rate. Given these factors, the present study aimed to genotype and analyze Bd strain¿s size from an elevational range, and verify if these factors were correlated to Bd size, prevalence, infection load, growth rate, and elevation. We isolated and genotyped five strains, and quantified growth rates. We developed two indexes related to Bd size, prevalence, and infection load. The five strains were Bd-GPL2. We found size variation and correlations between Bd size, prevalence, and infection load, but not with growth rate. Prevalence and infection load did not increase with elevation. The size and infection indexes were correlated. The phenotypic variation can be considered as a predictor to disease dynamics on environment. It can be used in other studies as a tool to efficiently (cheap and fast) identify areas where the fungus can develop faster and be more deleterious to amphibian populations / Mestrado / Biodiversidade Animal / Mestra em Biologia Animal

The Coeur d’Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) is a species of special concern throughout its global range, which includes southeastern BC (COSEWIC, Nov 2007), Idaho, and Montana, due to disjunct populations and sensitivity to human disturbance. Within the Interior Cedar-Hemlock forest on Mount Revelstoke, BC, Coeur d’Alene salamanders occur at their highest abundance between 600 m and 800 m. Beyond the Mount Revelstoke National Park boundaries, the low-order stream habitat of this species is subject to disturbance from forestry, mining, road building, road maintenance, and watercourse diversions such as run-of-the-river hydro projects. We conducted nocturnal salamander surveys and assessed habitat characteristics on 12 Sites (750 m² – 1000 m² stream transects) along three streams from June through September 2006. Coeur d’Alene salamanders were detected from 600 m - 1000 m on seven of the 12 study sites. Relative abundance of Coeur d’Alene salamanders ranged from 0.005 ± 0.001 per m² to 0.025 ± 0.005 per m² on six sites below 950 m. Coeur d’Alene salamanders occurred at an average of 0.001 ± 0.001 per m² at 972 m, the only site above 950 m where we detected salamanders. Our capture-mark-recapture efforts of three surveys per month in June and August yielded a very low recapture rate (3.95 %). Coeur d’Alene salamanders are challenging to enumerate due to their vertical distribution within the soil and underlying geological material. Neonate, juvenile, and adult Coeur d’Alene salamanders were observed from June to September and the highest proportion of neonates occurred in June, soon after the salamanders emerged from winter hibernation. Results of a logistic regression analysis of 1-m² plots reflected the importance of fine scale habitat characteristics (quadrat gradient, boulder, cobble, moss, grass, and shrub) in addition to site-level habitat features (water volume and elevation) that in combination describe the association of Coeur d’Alene salamanders with cool and moist conditions. Coeur d’Alene salamanders appear to select streambed habitat during warm, dry periods, which may be a behavioural response to minimize dehydration during periods of activity at the surface of the forest floor. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Swamp-breeding treefrogs form conspicuous components of many tropical forest sites, yet remain largely understudied. The La Selva Biological Station, a rainforest reserve in Costa Rica, harbors a rich swamp-breeding treefrog fauna that has been studied in only one of the many swamps found at the site. To understand if the species composition of treefrogs at La Selva varies over space or time, frogs were censused in 1982-83, 1994-95, 2005 and 2011 at two ponds located in the reserve. Data on treefrog habitat utilization were also collected. Species composition varied spatially only in 2011. Temporal variation was observed at both ponds for all groups tested. Habitat use varied among species and between swamps. The pattern of variation suggests that temporally dynamic systems such as temporary Neotropical forest swamps will converge and diverge in species composition over time.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are some of the causes of biodiversity decline. Naturally fragmented landscapes serve as analogues to anthropogenically fragmented landscapes. Recent studies have shown that the matrix between patches has an important role in the dynamics of patch-dwelling species. I studied phenology and habitat utilization of Hyla cinerea and Hyla squirella, the two most common yet understudied frogs, in two patchy landscapes of the Big Cypress National Preserve. Frogs were sampled in five domes and in their adjacent matrix, monthly, between 2006 and 2008. Using nighttime visual encounter surveys, specimens encountered were identified to species, and perch type, perch height and capture location were recorded. Analysis showed differences in abundance and habitat use patterns between patches and matrices for the two species across the two landscapes. These differences indicate that the matrix is important in shaping patterns of abundance and habitat use in fragmented landscapes.

Humans are modifying the global landscape at an unprecedented scale and pace. As a result, species are declining and going extinct at an alarming rate. Here, I investigate two main aspects of species’ declines: what factors are contributing to their declines and how effective our conservation efforts have been. I assessed one of the main mechanisms for protecting species by looking at the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the United States. I examined three separate indicators of species declines for different groups of species: range contractions in Canadian imperilled species, declines in abundance in global amphibian populations and increases in temporal variability in abundance in North American breeding birds. I found that change in recovery status of ESA listed species was only very weakly related to the number of years listed, number of years with a recovery plan, and funding. These tools combined explained very little of the variation in recovery status among species. Either these tools are not very effective in promoting species’ recovery, or species recovery data are so poor that it is impossible to tell whether the tools are effective or not. I examined patterns of species’ declines in three different groups in relation to a number of anthropogenic variables. I found high losses of Canadian imperiled bird, mammal, amphibian and reptile species in regions with high proportions of agricultural land cover. However, losses of imperiled species are significantly more strongly related to the proportion of the region treated with agricultural pesticides. This is consistent with the hypothesis that agricultural pesticide use, or something strongly collinear with it (perhaps intensive agriculture more generally), has contributed significantly to the decline of imperiled species in Canada. Global increases in UV radiation do not appear to be a major cause of amphibian population declines. At individual sites, temporal changes in amphibian abundance are not predictably related to changes in UV intensity. Variability in species’ abundance of North American breeding birds, after accounting for mean abundance, is not systematically higher in areas of high human-dominated land cover or climate change. Rather, it appears that areas with a high proportion of human-dominated cover come to have a higher proportion of highly abundant, and thus more variable, species.

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the dominant pesticide on the market and are utilized worldwide in both the agricultural and forestry industries. Their prevalence comes at a time when concern over the potential effects of pesticide application in amphibian spawning grounds is growing. The primary goal of this thesis was to determine if the glyphosate-based herbicide WeatherMax® has the potential to disrupt sexual differentiation and growth in the wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) in a pulse exposure at the predicted maximal environmental concentration (PMEC) of 2.88 mg acid equivalent per liter. This was carried out in laboratory, mesocosm and in-situ field exposures, in an attempt to determine how a potential disruption might vary between experimental environments. In this study, tadpoles from three split-wetlands targeted at the PMEC for WeatherMax were found to display no significant change in survival or growth, however gene expression of several genes involved in steroidogenesis during sexual differentiation (cyp19, cyp17, star, foxl2) were found to be affected. The effects on these genes appeared to be dependant on the exposure concentration of WeatherMax in each wetland, which varied even though all three wetlands were meant to target the PMEC. The wetland that was measured as having the highest herbicide concentration (PMEC 13) was found to have a female biased sex ratio. The results found in the field varied from those found in the more artificial exposures. In the laboratory the PMEC of WeatherMax experienced complete mortality, whereas in the mesocosms survival was not significantly affected. Sex ratios were unaffected in the laboratory, however at the PMEC there was a significant male bias in the mesocosms. The discrepancies in the results obtained from the different exposure types highlights the importance of real world exposures. That the same concentration that caused complete mortality in the laboratory caused sublethal effects in the field is of importance as it denotes that these endpoints may not be easily investigated in these synthetic exposures. This project is a part of the Long Term Experimental Wetlands Area (LEWA) and contributes to the body of information amassed therein on the impact of a glyphosate-based herbicide on amphibians in a wetland ecosystem.

Peccaries are known to play a significant role in shaping the diversity of habitats and structure of plants in rain forests. However, very little is known about their roles in regulating animal populations. I review the ways peccaries increase disturbance, create habitat diversity, provide resources, act as predators, and might otherwise directly and indirectly affect other animals. To determine effects of simulated peccary extirpation on the detrital food web, I examined the hypotheses that a reduction of peccary density on fenced exclusion plots would cause changes in the amount and quality of leaf litter as habitat for leaf litter reptiles and amphibians. I found that compared to open controls, exclusions had significantly deeper litter and more rapid cellulose decomposition. Exclusions were thus expected to provide more habitat and prey for litter amphibians and reptiles than control plots, but, paradoxically, encounters of reptiles and amphibians were greater on controls.

Submitted by biblioteca unifenas (biblioteca@unifenas.br) on 2017-05-18T14:36:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ronei Aparecido Barbosa-dissertação parcial.pdf: 397687 bytes, checksum: 9a50189b51685adfdd60a147fc71e819 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-18T14:36:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ronei Aparecido Barbosa-dissertação parcial.pdf: 397687 bytes, checksum: 9a50189b51685adfdd60a147fc71e819 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-16 / The propolis is a biodegradable substance with effect imunostimulant, anti-inflammatory and with antioxidant properties used mainly in the form of extract. In the aquiculture there are studies developed with fishes at which the effect of the extract was valued of propolis on the zootechnic performance. However at the ranicultuae few experiments value the effect of the crude propolis, mainly at the fattening phase. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different doses of propolis at the hematology and histology of Rana catesbeiana in fattening phase. A completely randomized design with four treatments: T1 = control (ration without propolis); T2 = 5 g of crude propolis/Kg ration; T3 = 15 g of crude propolis/Kg ration and T4 = 45 g of crude propolis/Kg ration.. Each treatment was valued with five repetitions (bail) with 5 animals between males and females, when 100 animals are totalizing with complete metamorphosis. The initial middle weight of the animals of 150,4 (± 23,2) grass. The animals they received commercial ration with 44 % of protein added with the different doses of crude propolis for 45 days. The analysed quantitative variables were a final weight, hematocrit, total erythrocytes and Total Plasma Protein (PPT), and the qualitative variable to presence or absence injuries in the liver and intestine. In the collection two animals of each repetition were chosen at random, rendered insensible in basin with water and ice (50 % / 50 %) and hydrochloride of benzocaine in the concentration 250mg/L. After the desensitization the animals were weighed and beheaded for collection of approximately 2 mL of blood by dropping in becker of 5 mL containing 1 drop of EDTA. All the analyses hematological were carried out up to 6 hours after the collection. The erythrocytes counting in the blood (n°/μ L) was carried out in camera of Neubauer, when 0,65 % is used physiologic solution, the determination of the hematocrit was already done by the method of - hematocrit, whereas the determination of the tenor of PPT was done when the refractometer previously calibrated with distilled water is used. For histology the liver and the intestine were fixed in formol 10 % and there followed the techniques of preparation and coloration of the blades with hematoxylin and eosin . The addition of crude propolis in the ration not interfere in the hematocrit and PPT, however, the addition of 45 g of crude propolis/Kg of ration interfered negatively in the weight of the animals and positively in the total number of erythrocytes. The use crude propolis not cause injury in the liver, small and thick intestine of the animals. This study indicates that crude propolis not cause injury and not interfere in the hematocrit and Total Plasma Protein however alters the values of weight and erythrocytes during the fattening phase / O própolis é uma substância biodegradável que apresenta efeito imunoestimulante, anti-inflamatório e com propriedades antioxidantes, utilizadas principalmente na forma de extrato. Na aquicultura há estudos desenvolvidos com peixes, nos quais se avaliou o efeito do extrato de própolis sobre o desempenho zootécnico. Porém, na ranicultura, poucos experimentos avaliam o efeito do própolis bruto, principalmente na fase de engorda. Portanto, objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de própolis bruto na hematologia e histologia de rã-touro Rana catesbeiana em fase de engorda. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos: T1 = controle (ração sem própolis); T2 = 5 g de própolis bruto/Kg de ração; T3 = 15 g de própolis bruto/Kg de ração e T4 = 45 g de própolis bruto/Kg de ração. Cada tratamento foi avaliado com cinco repetições (baia) com 5 animais entre machos e fêmeas, totalizando 100 animais com metamorfose completa. O peso médio inicial dos animais de 150,4 (± 23,2) gramas. Os animais receberam ração comercial com 44% de proteína bruta acrescidas com as diferentes doses de própolis por 45 dias. As variáveis quantitativas analisadas foram peso final, hematócrito, eritrócitos totais e proteína plasmática total (PPT), e a variável qualitativa a presença ou ausência lesões no fígado e no intestino. Na coleta, dois animais de cada repetição foram escolhidos ao acaso, insensibilizados em bacia com água e gelo (50% / 50%) e hidrocloreto de benzocaína na concentração 250 mg/L. Após a insensibilização, os animais foram pesados e decapitados para coleta de aproximadamente 2 mL de sangue por gotejamento em béquer de 5 mL contendo 1 gota de EDTA. Todas as análises hematológicas foram realizadas até 6 horas após a coleta. A contagem de eritrócitos no sangue (n°/μL) foi realizada em câmara hemocitométrica de Neubauer, utilizando-se solução fisiológica 0,65%. Já a determinação do hematócrito foi feita pelo método do micro-hematócrito, enquanto que a determinação do teor de PPT foi feita utilizando-se o refratômetro previamente calibrado com água destilada. Para histologia o fígado e o intestino foram fixados em formol 10% e seguiram-se as técnicas de preparação e coloração das lâminas com hematoxilina e eosina. A adição de própolis bruto na ração não interfere no hematócrito e PPT, porém, a adição de 45 g de própolis por Kg de ração interferiu negativamente no peso dos animais e positivamente no número total de eritrócitos. O própolis bruto não causou lesão no fígado, intestino delgado e grosso dos animais. Conclui-se que própolis bruto não causa lesão e não interfere no hematócrito e proteína plasmática total porém altera os valores de peso e eritrócitos durante a fase de engorda.