Orientador: Flávio Antonio Maes dos Santos / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T20:07:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Costa_RafaelCarvalhoda_D.pdf: 1311824 bytes, checksum: 85743140022a2ac62af3db32ea1dcf15 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A alta diversidade em florestas tropicais tem motivado questionamentos sobre a importância da diferenciação de nicho como mecanismo de coexistência. Nessa hipótese, a heterogeneidade ambiental proporcionaria eixos de diferenciação que facilitariam a coexistência, sendo, portanto, esperadas diferenças entre espécies na associação a gradientes espaciais de recursos e condições. Estudos em pequenas escalas têm encontrado muita variação no percentual de espécies associadas a microambientes, deixando dúvidas sobre a relevância da divergência de nicho como mecanismo de coexistência nessa escala. Neste estudo, avaliamos evidências da importância da divergência de nicho como mecanismo de coexistência investigando padrões de divergência ecológica em dimensões verticais e horizontais, ao longo da ontogenia, de duas espécies arbóreas congenéricas simpátricas em uma floresta tropical úmida. Esse é um sistema útil para este objetivo pois, dada a similaridade ligada a ancestralidade comum, a coexistência seria mais difícil entre essas espécies. Estudamos padrões ao longo do desenvolvimento, utilizando uma classificação de estádios ontogenéticos. Para isso, descrevemos estádios e verificamos o quanto marcadores morfológicos são indicadores adequados de mudanças ontogenéticas de tamanho, sobrevivência, reprodução e crescimento. Para avaliar divergências relacionadas à gradientes verticais de luz, testamos diferenças ontogenéticas de alometria e arquitetura aérea sob a expectativa de que as espécies tivessem morfologias adequadas à sobrevivência na sombra ou ao ganho de altura. Para avaliar divergências em gradientes horizontais, testamos a segregação espacial interespecífica de indivíduos e da mortalidade e crescimento por estádio ontogenético. As espécies apresentaram marcadores morfológicos semelhantes que permitiram identificar os estádios plântula, juvenil e reprodutivo ramificado. Na fase pré-reprodutiva, as características morfológicas sinalizam adequadamente diferenças de tamanho e sobrevivência, mas não crescimento, enquanto a entrada na fase reprodutiva foi melhor indicada pela altura. As trajetórias ontogenéticas dos aspectos demográficos analisados sugerem histórias de vida semelhantes entre espécies. Não encontramos diferenças de alometria e arquitetura aérea conforme as expectativas. Isso ocorreu principalmente por semelhanças ontogenéticas nas dimensões de troncos e copa. No entanto, houve diferenças na forma como as espécies preenchem suas copas, enquanto uma espécie tem copas muito ramificadas com folhas menores, a outra tem copas pouco ramificadas com folhas maiores. Estudos posteriores são necessários para verificar se essas diferenças conferem vantagem diferencial, contribuindo para a coexistência. As expectativas de segregação espacial interespecífica só foram confirmadas em estádios iniciais. Porém, não foi possível excluir a influência da dispersão no estabelecimento desses padrões. Raramente houve segregação espacial interespecífica nos estádios posteriores e não houve evidência de melhor desempenho em microhabitats preferenciais. Ao contrário, as localidades propícias ao crescimento foram comumente semelhantes. A grande variabilidade dos padrões interespecíficos entre estádios e localidades, e a aderência a modelos nulos de sobrevivência e mudança de estádios espacialmente aleatórios sugerem que as relações espaciais interespecíficas são dependentes de eventos estocásticos (tempo e espaço), sendo a mortalidade e crescimento correntes aparentemente incapazes de alterar padrões espaciais pré-existentes na escala temporal estudada. Neste estudo, as expectativas de divergências ecológicas entre espécies não foram corroboradas. Os resultados apontam para a possibilidade de que a diferenciação de nicho não seja essencial para a coexistência de espécies arbóreas em florestas tropicais / Abstract: High biodiversity in tropical forests has motivated an extensive debate on the importance of niche divergence as a coexistence mechanism. According to this hypothesis, coexistence would be promoted by specialization to portions of niche axis and, therefore, spatial associations of species in gradients of resources and conditions are expected. The spatial evidence for niche divergence is doubtful, because small scale studies have been finding large differences in the percentage of species associated with microhabitats. In this study, we aimed to search for evidences of niche divergence as a coexistence mechanism by investigating ecological divergence related to vertical and horizontal dimensions between a pair of sympatric congeneric tree species in a wet tropical forest. Congeneric species are useful for our objectives because due to common heritage, coexistence should be more difficult for such species. Because we chose to study a broad developmental coverage, we adopted an ontogenetic stage classification. To utilize this approach, we described stages and verified the suitability of morphological markers as indicators of size and performance transitions. Divergence related to vertical light gradients was assessed by tests of aboveground alometric and architectural differences under the expectation of morphological differences related to either survival in shade or rapid height gain. Divergence in horizontal gradients was assessed by tests of interspecific spatial segregation (ISS) of individuals and performance in ontogentic stages. We found similar morphological markers between species that enabled us to recognize seedling, juvenile, and branched reproductive stages. Morphological markers were able to indicate size and performance (except for growth) transitions at vegetative phase, but they were not efficient in indicating the onset of reproduction, of which size was a better indicator. Similarities in ontogenetic trajectories of size and performance suggests life history coincidence between species. Our expectations on allometry and architecture were not met, mainly because both species had similarly constructed crowns and trunks throughout ontogeny. However, we found differences among species in the mode of crown filling. One species had small leafed, intensely ramified crowns, whereas the other seemed to compensate for low branching levels by having large leaves. Future studies are needed to verify whether this can be related to a differential advantage contributing to coexistence. The expected ISS was only common in early stages, but we were not able to exclude the possibility of dispersal driven patterns. In later stages, we rarely found ISS, and there was no evidence of better performance of either species in preferred microhabitats. Otherwise, we found that suitable sites for growth often coincided. High variability of interspecific spatial patterns among stages and sites and adherence to null models of spatially random survival and transition to other stages suggests that spatial relationships between species are mainly due to stochastic events (space, time) and that current mortality and growth are not able to change preceding spatial patterns during the studied timescale. In summary, the general expectations of ecological divergence between species were not met. Our results point to the possibility that niche divergence should not be an essential requisite for tree species coexistence in tropical forests / Doutorado / Biologia Vegetal / Doutor em Biologia Vegetal

Orientador: Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T07:27:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nagai_MicaelEiji_M.pdf: 3849182 bytes, checksum: 92cd2402854619961d0d6bfedddb7009 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O estudo do silídeo Exogone (Exogone) breviantennata foi realizado em dois bancos de Mytella charruana (sururu) nas praias do Camaroeiro e da Cidade, localizadas na enseada de Caraguatatuba, Litoral Norte de São Paulo. Para caracterizar as áreas de estudo foram realizadas amostragens mensais, entre fevereiro de 2006 e fevereiro de 2007, no Camaroeiro, e entre abril de 2006 e março de 2007, na Cidade, e avaliados os parâmetros ambientais: perfil praial, granulometria, temperaturas do ar e do sedimento, salinidade da água intersticial e teores de calcário e matéria orgânica. O perfil praial do Camaroeiro apresentou uma declividade acentuada desde o supralitoral, terminando em uma pequena planície no nível d'água; a praia da Cidade apresentou um extenso platô na região superior e em seguida um declive contínuo. A composição granulométrica dos dois bancos foi semelhante, com predominância de areia fina, pobre a moderadamente selecionada. As temperaturas médias do ar e do sedimento no banco do Camaroeiro foram de 23,08°C e 23,73°C, respectivamente, e na Cidade de 22,55°C e 23,98°C, respectivamente. As áreas médias dos bancos do Camaroeiro e da Cidade foram de 586,73 m2 e de 464,48 m2, respectivamente. Em ambos os bancos houve uma diminuição gradual na área. No banco do Camaroeiro a salinidade da água intersticial variou de 22 a 34, enquanto na Cidade de 25 a 34. O teor médio de calcário no banco do Camaroeiro apresentou uma variação de 3,74 a 11,99%, já na Cidade foi de 5,55 a 14,30%. O teor médio de matéria orgânica apresentou valor mínimo de 0,74 % e máximo de 8,40% no Camaroeiro, enquanto na Cidade foi de 2,62% e 7,98% / Abstract: The study of the syllid Exogone (Exogone) breviantennata was conducted in two soft bottom beds of the mytilid Mytella charruana at Camaroeiro and Cidade beaches, located on the northern coast of São Paulo. To characterize the study areas, samples were taken monthly between february 2006 and february 2007 at Camaroeiro, and between april 2006 and april 2007 at Cidade, where the following environmental parameters were analyzed: beach slope, granulometry, air and sediment temperatures, interstitial salinity and levels of calcareous and organic matter. The beach slope of Camaroeiro showed a sharp decline from the supralitoral, ending with a narrow flat at water level, with processes of deposition and erosion; the Cidade beach presented an extensive plateau at the upper region and then a sharp decline, with erosion as the main process. The granulometric composition of the two beds was very similar, with a predominance of fine sand, with low to moderate selection. The average air and sediment temperatures at Camaroeiro were 23.08°C and 23.73°C, respectively, while in the Cidade was 22.55°C and 23.98°C, respectively. The mean areas of the Camaroeiro and Cidade beds were 586.73 m² and 464.48 m², respectively. On both beds there were gradual decreases in these areas. At Camaroeiro the interstitial salinity ranged from 22 to 34, while at Cidade from 25 to 34. The average percentage of calcareous on the Camaroeiro bed showed a variation from 3.74 to 11.99%, while on the Cidade bed it ranged from 5.55 to 14.30%. The average percentage of organic matter presented minimum and maximum of 0.74% to 8.40% at Camaroeiro, while the Cidade bed presented 2.62% and 7.98% / Mestrado / Ecologia / Mestre em Ecologia

This study focuses on certain urban forestry aspects of the City of Tshwane (previously Pretoria) and in particular that of growth rate and carbon sequestration estimates of street trees with the aim of quantification of the value of these trees. The relationships between tree height and crown dimensions to stem diameter and tree age, as well as the relationship between stem diameter to tree age enable the development of growth rate equations that predict tree dimensions and carbon storage. This permits the calculation of monetary values of urban trees and thus the modelling of costs and benefits of urban forests. The main objectives were (1) to develop tree height, crown diameter, crown height, and crown base height to stem diameter relationships for the indigenous street tree species Combretum erythrophyllum, Rhus lancea andRhus pendulina, (2) to develop tree height, crown diameter, crown height, crown base height and stem diameter to tree age relationships for the above street tree species, (3) to determine the 30 year carbon sequestration estimate and monetary value of 115 000 street trees to be planted mainly in poorer previously disadvantaged communities during the period 2002 to 2008 and (4) to determine the monetary value of the 33 630 Jacaranda mimosifolia street trees in the City based on the quantity of carbon stored in the trees. Combretum erythrophyllum had the most rapid growth rate in many instances, thereafter came Rhus pendulina and then Rhus lancea, which consistently had the slowest growth rate for the investigated parameters. It is estimated that the 115 000 street trees to be planted will sequestrate more than 200 000 tonne CO2 equivalent and have an estimated monetary value of more than US$2 million if a market related CO2 price of US$10.00 per tonne is assumed. The Jacaranda street trees have an estimated carbon stock of 41 978 tonne CO2 equivalent and this would value the Jacaranda urban forest at US$419 786. Copyright / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Plant Science / unrestricted

L’estimation du Nombre Minimum d’Individus (NMI) constitue une étape essentielle de l’étude des ensembles osseux, à la fois en contexte funéraire et médico-légal. En anthropologie funéraire, cette estimation va permettre d’affiner les profils paléodémographiques mais aussi de proposer de meilleures hypothèses quant à la gestion et l’utilisation de l’espace funéraire, tandis qu’en anthropologie médico-légale, elle revêt un intérêt majeur en vue de l’identification des victimes et des implications judiciaires qui en résultent.Les méthodes actuellement connues permettant d’estimer le NMI possèdent certaines limites dépendantes de la subjectivité des critères utilisés. Considérant ces limites, nous proposons une nouvelle méthode mise en place via une approche biométrique basée sur le principe de l’allométrie. A partir d’une sélection de 136 mesures ostéométriques, nous avons calculé les paramètres de 18360 équations de régressions linéaires permettant d’obtenir la prédiction d’une mesure biométrique à partir d’une autre ainsi que les bornes de l’intervalle de prédiction individuelle à 99% associé.Nous avons élaboré un outil informatique de tests itératifs permettant d’obtenir, à partir de l’exclusion très hautement probable d’appartenance des os à un même individu, une estimation du NMI.Les résultats du NMI par exclusions obtenus dans diverses applications montrent que ce NMI se révèle être particulièrement performant dans de nombreux cas.Au final, nous proposons une nouvelle méthode, objective et fiable, d’estimation du Nombre Minimum d’Individus - le NMI par exclusions - pouvant être utilisée aussi bien en contexte funéraire que dans un cadre médico-légal. / Estimation of the Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) constitutes an essential stage of the study of commingled remains, both in physical and forensic anthropology. In physical anthropology, this estimation allow to improve paleodemographic profiles but also to propose better hypotheses as for the management and the use of the funeral space, whereas in forensic anthropology, it takes a major interest in identification procedures of victims and in the judicial involvement which result from it.Nowadays used methods estimating the MNI possess certain limits dependent on the subjectivity of the used criteria. Considering these limits, we propose a new method organized through a biometric approach based on the allometric principle. From a selection of 136 osteometric measures, we calculated the parameters of 18360 equations of linear regressions allowing us to obtain the prediction of a biometric measure from another one as well as the borders of the interval of individual prediction at 99 %.We elaborated a computer tool of iterative tests allowing to obtain, from the very highly likely exclusion from membership of bones in the same individual, an estimation of the MNI.The results of the MNI by exclusions obtained in different applications show that this NMI is particularly successful in numerous cases.In the final, we propose a new method, objective and reliable, of estimation of the Minimum Number of Individuals - the MNI by exclusions - useful as well in archaeological and forensic context.

Orientador: Flavio Antonio Maes dos Santos / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T23:32:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Costa_RafaelCarvalhoda_M.pdf: 1027231 bytes, checksum: c931924474731a019f3be441174bbcb0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: O domínio dos cerrados compreende uma grande variação de tipos vegetacionais, com fisionomias indo de campestres a florestais. Estas diferenças estão relacionadas a vários fatores ecológicos que podem ter influência em aspectos de populações vegetais como relações alométricas e padrão espacial. Comparações desses aspectos entre espécies são importantes na distinção entre diferentes estratégias de espécies do cerrado que as permitam ocupar tipos diferentes de habitats. Nesse sentido, este estudo analisou variações em 1) relações alométricas entre altura e diâmetro e 2) padrão espacial de espécies de Vochysiaceae, em fragmentos de cerrado de diferentes fisionomias. As espécies comparadas entre fragmentos, Qualea grandiflora Mart. e Vochysia tucanorum Mart, diferiram em plasticidade da relação entre altura e diâmetro entre fragmentos: Q. grandiflora apresentou diferenças de forma e V. tucanorum diferenças de tamanho. A variação de Q. grandiflora parece não ser resposta ao estresse causado pelo vento, pois as diferenças encontradas não corresponderam às ocorrências dos indivíduos em fisionomias abertas ou fechadas. As variações de V. tucanorum sugerem um efeito do estresse causado pelo vento, mas não foram possíveis comparações independentes dos fatores fogo e vento entre fragmentos. Comparações de espécies de Vochysiaceae com uma espécie externa ao grupo, no mesmo fragmento, indicam tendência filogenética da variação de forma no nível genérico (Qualea x Vochysia). Por outro lado, semelhanças entre Q. grandiflora e Eriotheca gracilipes (K.Schum.) A.Robyns indicam convergência relacionada à ação de fatores ecológicos, como distúrbios, por exemplo.Quanto aos padrões espaciais, Q. grandiflora e V. tucanorum diferiram nas escalas estudadas: entre e no interior de fragmentos. Na escala ampla, os padrões parecem consistentes com informações da literatura sobre o habitat preferencial das espécies. Na escala restrita, os padrões de classes de tamanho sugerem diferenças entre as espécies nos processos determinantes dos padrões espaciais. Q. grandiflora, cujos padrões foram aleatórios na menor classe de tamanho e passaram a agregados nas demais, teria padrões determinados por condições específicas ao estabelecimento de indivíduos em classes de tamanho maiores. Tais condições estariam estruturadas no espaço. V.tucanorum teve uma diminuição de agregação nas classes maiores indicando a ação de algum fator de mortalidade dependente de densidade. Os resultados indicam diferenças importantes entre as espécies de cerrado estudadas no que diz respeito à plasticidade de forma e padrão espacial, tais resultados podem representar tendências para espécies arbóreas do cerrado de uma maneira geral. No entanto, estudos com um número maior de espécies incluindo um número maior de fisionomias são necessários para propor generalizações mais seguras / Abstract: The Brazilian savannas, known as cerrado, comprises a wide range of physiognomies, from grasslands to forests. This physiognomic variation is probably related to changes in a number of ecological factors that can influence features of plant populations as plant form and spatial pattern. Comparisons among species are important to identify distinct strategies that enable cerrado plants to occupy different kinds of habitats. Following this approach, this study compared height x diameter allometric relationship and spatial pattern among populations of cerrado tree species of Vochysiaceae in fragments of different physiognomies. The relationship between height and diameter of two studied species was compared among fragments. Qualea grandiflora Mart. and Vochysia tucanorum Mart. shown different trends, the first had variable allometric coefficients and the second had differences only in allometric constants. For Q. grandiflora, variation of allometric coefficients does not seem to be related to wind stress since the estimated parameters do not correspond to differences between closed and open physiognomies. Variation of allometric constants for V. tucanorum suggests differences related to wind stress but we weren¿t able to make independent comparisons of open x closed and fire x protected fragments for this species. We compared the allometries of close and distant related sympatric species searching evidence for a phylogenetic effect. We found differences among Vochysia x Qualea as evidence for such effect. However, we have not found statistical differences among Q. grandiflora and Eriotheca gracilipes (K.Schum.) A.Robyns, a species used as a taxonomic control. This finding evinces form convergence among cerrado tree species, probably due to ecological factors like disturbance. Q. grandiflora and V. tucanorum also differed when compared in a two-scale spatial pattern study considering four cerrado fragments with different physiognomies. The species¿ differences in large scale (considering density patterns among fragments) were consistent with literature information on preferential habitat of each one. V. tucanorum was more aggregated than Q. grandiflora being restricted to a fire protected fragment of closed physiognomy. In local scale (spatial patterns of five soil level diameter classes-SLD in plots of 50 x 200 m), differences among species were they co-occurred suggest distinct process acting upon different stages of plant development structuring their populations. The first size class (SLD < 5cm) of Q. grandiflora had a change from random spatial pattern to aggregated in larger SLD classes. A space-structured factor can be responsible for higher recruitment chances only in certain places promoting the observed change from random to aggregated pattern in larger SLD classes of Q. grandiflora. V. tucanorum had a change from aggregated to random pattern with SLD class what can be a consequence of density dependent process related to competition or natural enemies. Our findings points out to the importance of differences among cerrado tree species concerning plant form and spatial pattern. However, studies including more species and cerrado physiognomies are required to make generalizations concerning the trends found here / Mestrado / Mestre em Ecologia

Sarcopenia (Sc) é uma doença caracterizada por sintomas patológicos sem causas específicas que acomete parte dos idosos. A Sc promove reduções na massa muscular (MM) e força muscular (FM), com sérios impactos funcionais e motores. A força de preensão manual (FPM) utilizada para diagnosticar Sc não é representativa da FM global, especialmente para FM de membros inferiores (MMII), quando idosos passam por intervenção com treinamento de FM. Embora utilizada para definir a Sc, FM é considerada de forma absoluta ou relativizada pela massa corporal (MC), cuja relação nem sempre é linear. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer parâmetros válidos para diagnóstico da Sc, a partir de diferentes expressões da FM de MMII em idosos. Uma amostra de 98 idosos fisicamente independentes foi medida pela absorciometria radiológia de dupla energia (DXA) para determinação do Tecido Mole Magro apendicular. Os idosos foram classificados por sexo e Sc (1=Sc; 0=não Sc), segundo os critérios do European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP). A FM de extensão de joelhos (FMEJ) isocinética determinada a 60º/s (Biodex, System 4 Pro), foi considerada como FM referencial (FMEJTorquePico-60°/s), e a FMEJ Estimada em cadeira extensora (CMáxEstFMEJcad-ext), em protocolo de repetição máxima. Análise descritiva com medidas de tendência central foi utilizada para caracterização da amostra. A validação da FMEJ Estimada foi testada por correlação com a FMEJ de referência. Os valores de CMáxEstFMEJcad-ext foram relativizados pela massa corporal (FMEJ/MC) e por ajustes alométricos (FMEJ/MCb), onde b é o expoente gerado por regressão log-linear entre FMEJ e MC. Para determinar um modelo explicativo da Sc a partir de cada expressão da CMáxEstFMEJcad-ext (absoluta, FMEJ/MC e FMEJ/MCb) foi empregada a regressão logística simples. Os pontos de corte para Sc a partir da CMáxEstFMEJcad-ext foram definidos pela curva Característica de Operação do Receptor (ROC) e localizados pelo índice de Youden. As análises foram realizadas no Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) 20.0 e MedCalc 15.2 com níveis de significância previamente estabelecidos (?=0,05). Os resultados indicaram que a Sc esteve presente em 12,9% dos homens e 9,0% das mulheres. Houve alta correlação entre a medida de FMEJ de referência e a Estimada (r=0,81), mesmo entre idosos com Sc (r=0,72). Os expoentes b obtidos foram de 0,96 e 0,70 para homens e mulheres, respectivamente. Na regressão logística, as expressões relativas (FMEJ/MC e FMEJ/MCb) não explicaram a probabilidade para ocorrência da Sc em nenhum dos sexos. Somente a CMáxEstFMEJcad-ext absoluta explicou a chance para homens (?2=3,869; p=0,049) e mulheres (?2=4,145; p=0,042). A área abaixo da curva foi elevada (AUC>0,70), com pontos de corte de 65,0kg para homens e 34,9kg para mulheres. Conclui-se que a CMáxEstFMEJcad-ext é uma medida válida para monitorar Sc como parâmetro de FM em idosos, mesmo quando apresentam Sc. Os limiares de carga (kg) propostos como pontos de corte podem ser usados em um simples teste FMEJ da prática clínica profissional. Além disso, tem boa sensibilidade para monitorar a distância do ponto corte para Sc, o que não é possível com o modelo dicotômico do EWGSOP / Sarcopenia (Sc) is a disease characterized by pathological symptoms without specific causes that affects part of the elderly. Sc promotes reductions in muscle mass (MM) and muscle strength (MS), with serious functional and motor impacts. The handgrip strength (HS) used to diagnose Sc is not representative of global MS, especially for lower limb (LL) MS, when the elderly go through an intervention with MS training. Although used to define Sc, MS is considered absolutely or relativized by body mass (BM), whose relationship is not always linear. Thus, the objective of this study was to establish valid parameters for the diagnosis of Sc, from different MS expressions of LL in the elderly. A sample of 98 physically independent elderly subjects was measured by dual energy absorptiometry (DXA) to determine appendicular lean soft tissue. The elderly were classified by sex and Sc (1=Sc; 0=not Sc), according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP). The isokinetic knee extension MS (KEMS) determined at 60º/s (Biodex, System 4 Pro) was considered as referential (KEMSPeakTork-60°/s), and KEMS Estimated in extensor chair (EstMaxLoadKEMSext-ch), in maximal repetition protocol. Descriptive analysis with measures of central tendency was used to characterize the sample. Validation of the estimated KEMS was tested by correlation with the reference KEMS. The values of EstMaxLoadKEMSext-ch were relativized by body mass (KEMS/BM) and by allometric adjustments (KEMS/BMb), where b is the allometric exponent generated from the log-linear regression between KEMS and BM. To determine an explanatory model of Sc from each expression of EstMaxLoadKEMSext-ch (absolute, KEMS/BM and KEMS/BMb), simple logistic regression was used. The cutoff points for Sc from the EstMaxLoadKEMSext-ch were defined by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve and located by the Youden index. The analyzes were performed in Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) 20.0 and MedCalc 15.2 with previously established levels of significance (? = 0.05). The results indicated that Sc was present in 12.9% of men and 9.0% of women. There was a high correlation between the reference KEMS and the estimated (r=0.81), even among the elderly with Sc (r=0.72). The exponent b obtained was 0.96 and 0.70 for men and women, respectively. In the logistic regression, the relative expressions (KEMS/BM and KEMS/BMb) did not explain the probability for occurrence of Sc in any of the sexes. Only absolute EstMaxLoadKEMSext-ch explained the chance for males (?2=3,869, p=0.049) and females (?2=4.145, p=0.042). The area below the curve was elevated (AUC>0.70), with cutoff points of 65.0kg for men and 34.9kg for women. It is concluded that the EstMaxLoadKEMSext-ch is a valid measure to monitor Sc as MS parameter in the elderly, even when they present Sc. Load thresholds (kg) proposed as cutoff points can be used in a simple clinical practice test. In addition, it has good sensitivity to monitor the distance from the cut point to MS, which is not possible with the dichotomous model of the EWGSOP

O objetivo do estudo foi determinar e analisar o comportamento da potência aeróbia (VO2pico) em valores absolutos e relativos por meio de expoentes lineares e alométricos, em crianças e adolescentes de 10 a 16 anos de Marechal Candido Rondon Paraná. A amostra foi intencionalmente composta por 248 indivíduos, sendo 124 rapazes e 124 moças. Medidas de estatura, massa corporal (MC) e dobras cutâneas foram realizadas. A gordura corporal e a massa corporal magra (MCM) foram determinadas pela equação de Boileau et al. (1986) para ambos os sexos. A potência aeróbia foi determinada diretamente por meio de teste cardiopulmonar de esforço em esteira, segundo o protocolo modificado de Balke, para ambos os sexos. Medidas ventilatórias (VE, VO2, QR) e homodinâmicas (FC) foram obtidas através do analisador metabólico de gazes VO2000 e do transmissor Polar, a cada 10 segundos. No tratamento estatístico dos dados, foi utilizada a estatística descritiva e as diferenças entre os sexos foram verificadas pelo teste t para amostras independentes. Os expoentes alométricos foram determinados através de uma regressão log-linear. Os resultados demonstraram que dos 10 aos 16 anos, os ganhos na potência aeróbia absoluta foram de 107% para os rapazes (1,67 para 3,46 L·min-1) e 66% para as moças (1,57 para 2,61 L·min-1), com diferenças a partir dos 14 anos. Os ganhos da potência aeróbia relativa à massa corporal foram de 12% (48,8 para 54,5 mL·kg-1·min-1) e 1% (42,9 para 43,3 mL·kg-1·min-1), com diferenças significantes entre os sexos em todas as idades, enquanto que relativos à MCM foram de 8% (58,0 para 62,9 mL·MCM-1·min-1) e 6% (53,3 para 56,3 mL·MCM- 1·min-1) para rapazes e moças respectivamente, com diferenças significantes entre os sexos a partir dos 12 anos. Os expoentes nos diferentes grupos etários e sexos variaram de 0,30-0,94 para a MC e de 0,44-1,32 para a MCM. No ajuste alométrico da MC, o expoente 0,91 (r=0,88) foi obtido para todos os rapazes, 0,82 (r=0,85) para todas as moças e 0,85 (r=0,81) para ambos os sexos. O ajuste da MCM gerou o expoente 1,00 (r=0,94) para os rapazes, 1,01 (r=0,87) para as moças e 1,02 (r=0,89) para ambos os sexos. Concluiu-se que a potência aeróbia de crianças e adolescentes foi adequadamente ajustada pela MCM1,0 e alométricamente pela MC0,85 / The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the absolute e and relative aerobic power (VO2peak) by mean of linear and allometric exponents in children and adolescents, ages 10 to 16 years from Marechal Cândido Rondon Paraná. Body mass (BM), height end skinfold thickness were measure in an intentional sample of 248 schoolchildren (124 boys and 124 girls). Body fat and lean body mass (LBM) were estimated by the equation suggested by Boileau et al. (1982) in both sexes. Aerobic power was determinate directly using a treadmill by mean of a modified Balke protocol and a VO2000 portable metabolic system and heart rate by Polar transmission, each ten seconds. Descriptive statistics were use for all data. The difference between sexes was determined by t test, and the allometric exponents by log-linear regression. The gain in VO2peak absolute was 107% in boys (1,67 to 3,46 L·min-1) and 66% in girls (1,57 to 2,61 L·min-1) from 10 to 16 years old. Absolute VO2peak was similar for boys and girls in ages 10, 11, 12 and 13 years old. The gain was 12% (48,8 to 54,5 mL·kg-1·min-1) and 1% (42,9 to 43,3 mL·kg-1·min-1) to VO2peak relative to BM and 8% (58,0 to 62,9 mL·MCM-1·min-1) and 6% (53,3 to 56,3 mL·MCM-1·min-1) relative to LBM, for boys and girls respectively. The differences in VO2peak relative to BM were significant in all ages, with boys showing higher values. Boys also showed significantly higher values in VO2peak relative to LBM from ages 12 to 16 years. Allometry applied to VO2peak relative to BM determinate an exponent of 0.91 for boys, 0.82 for girls and 0.85 for both sexes. Allometry applied to VO2peak relative to LBM revealed an exponent of 1.00 for boys, 1.01 for girls and 1.02 for the both sexes. The data suggest that VO2peak were better adjust linearly by LBM and by MC0,85

Tropical forests are major components of Earth’s carbon stocks, but their diversity and structural complexity pose major challenges for making accurate estimates of their above ground biomass (AGB). Palms, in particular, are prominent and unique components of many tropical forests that have anatomical and physiological differences from dicot trees which affect their height - diameter allometry and consequently, our ability to accurately estimate their AGB. We focused on improving height estimates and AGB models for a highly abundant palm, Prestoea montana, in the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot, Puerto Rico. We measured stem height (Hstem), diameter at breast height (DBH) and basal diameter (DB) for 1215 individual palms. Although palms do not develop secondary xylem, we found a strong relationship both between Hstem:DBH and Hstem:DB for P. montana which indicates that its mechanical H:D scaling exhibits similar mechanical constraints of dicotyledonous trees. Additionally, we provide evidence that P. montana’s H:D allometry is mediated by several sources of environmental heterogeneity including slope, elevation, and neighborhood crowding (as a proxy for local competition). We applied our H:D allometric model to hindcast AGB dynamics in the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot. Finally, we demonstrated that neighborhood crowding has a negative effect on P. montana’s growth. Our study enables improved  estimates in Puerto Rico and provides novel insight to the growth dynamics of palms in tropical forests.

The objective of the present thesis was to study the effect of the selection for growth rate on the carcass and meat quality of line R, which is a line of rabbits selected for growth rate between the 4th and 9th week of age. This line is usually used in breeding schemes, where males from line R are mated with crossbreed females from two lines selected for litter size. When the line R was in the 7th generation of selection some embryos were recovered and vitrified. The selection of the line continued and the embryos were devitrified after some generations. The offspring of the rabbits obtained from the embryos formed the control group (Group C). This group was contemporary compared with the selected group (Group S), formed with rabbits from the present generation of selection. With groups S and C, two experiments were developed. The first experiment consisted in the study of the effect of selection for growth rate on the relative growth of offal, organs, tissues, carcass linear measurements and weight of several parts of the carcass. Group C was contemporary compared with Group S, formed with animals from the 18th generation of selection. A total of 313 animals from both groups and sexes were slaughtered at 4, 9, 13, 20, and 40 weeks old. Organs, tissues and retail cuts were weighed and several carcass linear measurements were recorded. Huxley's allometric equations relating the traits to liveweight by a parameter related to the scale (b) and an allometric coefficient (k) were fitted. Butterfield's quadratic equations relating the degree of maturity of the traits and the degree of maturity of the liveweight by an allometric coefficient (q) were also fitted. Values obtained for k and q coefficients led to similar patterns of growth in most of the traits studied. Full gastrointestinal tract and organs such as liver, kidneys, and thoracic viscera were early maturing (k<1 or q>1) whereas the chilled and reference carcass where late maturing (k>1 or q<1). The re / Pascual Amorós, MDLD. (2007). Effect of selection for growth rate on carcass composition and meat quality in rabbits [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/1938 / Palancia

Recent and anticipated global change has focused concern on the role of forests in ecosystem functioning and carbon sequestration. Of key importance is identifying relevant factors that drive carbon and nutrient dynamics and the consequences of changes in these processes. Systems undergoing invasion by invasive woody species are particularly prone to changes. This study examined the branch and crown biomass and decay dynamics for the invasive Chinese tallow tree in Mississippi, USA as well as the influences of stand and site conditions on biomass modeling and arthropod contributions to fine woody debris decay. Coupling biomass and decay models presents a method for modeling carbon sequestration and nutrient turnover rates at the stand level. These predictions will aid our understanding of the consequences of ecosystem change, especially those driven by invasive species.