Partindo das evidencias encontradas na literatura sobre o desenvolvimento do uso de ferramentas de percussão para quebra de frutos encapsulados, propomos um projeto focalizando não apenas quando as alterações motoras aparecem, mas também na relação dessa trajetoria de mudança com duas possíveis vias de influencia do nicho ecológico sobre a trajetoria de mudança comportamental que da origem ao uso de ferramentas de percussão para quebra de frutos encapsulados em macacos-prego (Sapajus libidinosus). Em primatas, os aspectos físicos e sociais (isto é, artefatos: martelos, bigornas e restos de cocos, e o comportamento dos coespecíficos) canalizam as oportunidades individuais de aprendizagem, permitindo maiores níveis de manipulação de objetos apropriados em contextos apropriados para o surgimento do uso de ferramentas e facilitando a exploração de várias fontes de forrageamento. Por tanto, procuramos determinar o papel de duas variáveis específicas de influência de nicho construídas: reuso dos artefatos e scrounging, no processo de desenvolvimento do repertório manipulativo em um grupo silvestre de macacos-prego (Sapajus libidinosus). Especificamente: 1) Como é a trajetória de mudança na atração e reutilização de artefatos relacionados ao craqueamento de noz (martelos, bigornas e cascas de nozes) e como isso se relaciona com o surgimento de ferramentas de percussão; E, 2) Como relaciona-se o scrounging, no contexto da quebra de frutos, com a emergencia de habilidades manipulativas adequadas para a quebra de frutos encapsulados. Propomos uma pesquisa de campo longitudinal de uma população de macacosprego livres no Brasil, através da observação naturalista. O resultados indicam que não só a idade está relacionada tanto com as mudanças na atração e reuso dos artefatos e com o scrounging, mas também que ambas variaveis estão relacionadas e podem estar em função das mudanças no repertorio manipulative exibido pelos individuos, de tal forma que não só os individuos mais velhos exibem maiores indices de reuso e menores indices de scrounging, como também os indices de variabilidade comportamental e proficiencia na quebra estão intimamente relacionados com os indices de reuso dos artefatos e scrounging / Based on the evidence found in the literature on the development of the use of percussion tools for encapsulated fruit breakage, we propose a project focusing not only \"when\" motor alterations appear, but also on the relation of this trajectory of change with two possible ways of influencing the ecological niche on the trajectory of behavioral change that gives origin to the use of percussion tools to crack nuts in capuchin-monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus). In primates, physical and social aspects (ie, artifacts: hammers, anvils and remains of coconuts, and co-specific behavior) channel individual learning opportunities, allowing greater levels of manipulation of appropriate objects in appropriate contexts for the emergence of use of tools and facilitating the exploration of various foraging sources. Therefore, we sought to determine the role of two niche-specific variables constructed: artifact reuse and scrounging, in the process of developing the manipulative repertoire in a wild group of monkey-prey (Sapajus libidinosus). Specifically: 1) How is the trajectory of change in the attraction and reuse of artifacts related to nut cracking (hammers, anvils and walnut shells) and how does this relate to the emergence of percussion behavior. And, 2) How scrounging is related, in the context of the fruit break, with the emergence of adequate manipulative skills for the breaking of encapsulated fruits. We propose a longitudinal field survey of a population of free monkey-natives in Brazil, through naturalistic observation. The results indicate that not only age is related both to changes in attraction and reuse of artifacts and to scrounging, but also that both variables are related and may be due to changes in the manipulative repertoire exhibited by individuals, such that not only do older individuals exhibit higher reuse rates and lower scrounging rates, but also the indices of behavioral variability and proficiency in the break are closely related to the artifact reuse indices and scrounging

Foram imunizados 27 macacos-prego (Cebus apella), por via intramuscular, com vacina anti-rábica inativada, produzida a partir de cérebros de camundongos lactentes (VARCCL), empregada nas campanhas de prevenção da raiva animal de cães e gatos. Os animais permaneceram em cativeiro, durante o período de junho de 1995 a junho de 1997, sendo divididos em 3 grupos experimentais e vacinados conforme o esquema: grupo I, com 3 doses a intervalo de 30 dias; o II, com 2 doses a intervalo 30 dias e reforço aos 210 dias; e, o III com uma dose e reforço aos 210 dias. A revacinação anual foi realizada em todos os animais aos 365 dias. As amostras de soros foram obtidas aos 0, 30, 60, 90, 150, 210, 240, 300, 365, 395, 545 e 730 dias, e armazenadas à temperatura de -20ºC, e a dosagem dos anticorpos realizada através do teste simplificado da inibição da fluorescência. Verificou-se que os animais do grupo I apresentaram soroconversão mais duradoura (12232 dias) do que os dos grupos II e III (p<0,05) após a vacinação inicial, e os animais do grupo I apresentaram soroconversão mais duradoura (183,6120,6 dias) do que os dos grupos II (p<0,05), após a revacinação anual aos 365 dias. A VARCCL induziu a resposta imune nos macacos-prego, após vacinação e revacinação, respectivamente, em 81,4 por cento e 76,0 por cento dos animais; com produção de anticorpos neutralizantes, iguais ou superiores a 0,5 UI/ml, porém, de curta duração; não constituindo assim, imunógeno apropriado para ser utilizado na rotina de imunização destes animais de difícil lide, mantidos em cativeiro / Twenty-seven capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) were intramuscularly immunized with inactivated suckling mouse brain rabies vaccine (SMBV) employed in campaigns for animal rabies prevention in dogs and cats. The animals were kept confined from June, 1995 to June, 1997. They were divided into 3 experimental groups and vaccinated according to the following scheme: group I, with 3 doses within a 30-day interval; group II, with 2 doses within a 30-day interval and a booster dose at the 210th day; and, group III; with a single dose and a booster dose at the 210th day. All animals were given the annual re-vaccination at the 365th day. Sera samples were obtained at the 0th, 30 th, 60th, 90 th, 150 th, 210 th, 240 th, 300 th, 365 th, 395 th, 545 th e 730 th days and kept stored at 20ºC. The antibodies dosage was carried out through the simplified inhibition fluorescent test. The following results were observed: animals belonging to group I had longer humoral immune response (12232 days) than the ones belonging either to group II or group III (p<0.05) after initial vaccination; animals of group I presented longer humoral immune response (183.6120.6 days) than the ones of the group II (p<0.05) after the annual re-vaccination at the 365th day. The SMBV induced humoral immune response in capuchin monkeys after vaccination and re-vaccination in respectively 81.4 per cent and 76.0 per cent of the animals, producing neutralizing antibodies equal to or higher than 0.5 IU/ml; however, they were short-lasting, being therefore not appropriate as an immunogen to be used routinely in the immunization of these animals which are difficult both to be deal with and to be held confined

A socioecologia investiga o efeito de fatores ecológicos sobre padrões de sistema social. Para muitos animais, o risco de predação tem sido apontado como a principal força seletiva favorecendo a sociabilidade. Entretanto, como determinante na variação dos sistemas sociais de primatas, esse fator tem sido considerado menos importante do que a competição por alimento. Os objetivos deste estudo foram (1) investigar a influência da disponibilidade de alimento e do risco de predação no uso do habitat pelo grupo estudado, para avaliarmos se o risco de predação é um fator relevante para essa população, (2) caracterizar o sistema social e (3) investigar se o risco de predação e/ou a oferta de alimento afetam o sistema social de Sapajus xanthosternos, espécie Criticamente ameaçada devido à caça e destruição do seu habitat, o que a torna relevante para o teste de hipóteses. Esta pesquisa foi realizada na Reserva Biológica de Una, cuja vegetação é classificada como floresta de tabuleiro e, na qual a população estudada ainda sofre pressão de caça. Um grupo foi acompanhado por 16 meses, num total de 2126 horas. O risco de predação foi avaliado em função do comportamento de vigilância, vocalizações de alarme, encontros com predadores e indícios de caça. Por meio do método focal árvore alimentação avaliamos o tamanho e qualidade das fontes agregadas. As interações agonísticas e afiliativas foram registradas pelo método de todas as ocorrências. A área de vida e os percursos diários foram calculados para avaliarmos a competição indireta intra e entre grupos. Os resultados foram comparados com os obtidos para uma população de S. nigritus e uma de S. libidinosus. O uso do habitat pelo grupo foi influenciado tanto pela distribuição e disponibilidade de recursos alimentares quanto pelo risco de predação. Os macacos-prego na Rebio Una formam grupos grandes e coesos, com filopatria de fêmeas e, a população é caracterizada por fissão de grupos grandes. O grande tamanho dos grupos favorece a hipótese de que o tamanho mínimo de grupo é determinado pelo risco de predação. O grupo apresentou um elevado número de machos (esperado devido ao número de fêmeas), o que também é considerado por alguns estudos como evidência de alto risco de predação. A estratégia reprodutiva das fêmeas foi relacionada à organização social e, consequentemente, ao risco de predação. S. xanthosternos consome tanto recursos agregados quanto dispersos e despendeu uma alta proporção de tempo forrageando por invertebrados. A hierarquia de dominância entre fêmeas foi parcial e as fêmeas de alto posto alimentaram-se conjuntamente com as fêmeas de baixo posto em fontes agregadas, enfatizando que fêmeas apresentaram relações tolerantes. A maioria das fontes agregadas utilizadas foi de tamanho intermediário em relação ao tamanho do grupo e produtiva e a competição direta por alimento envolvendo fêmeas intra-grupo não foi baixa. A competição indireta intra-grupo foi elevada, o que se constata pelas altas taxas de deslocamento e pelas grandes distâncias diárias percorridas. A competição direta entre grupos foi baixa e o risco de predação percebido foi alto em comparação com outros estudos. O padrão de sistema social, com grupo grande, elevado número de machos, e fêmeas com alto grau de afiliação e tolerância não está de acordo com o esperado por modelos que só consideram o efeito da competição por alimento, e sugere que o risco de predação afeta os componentes que caracterizam o sistema social deste grupo. Em conclusão, o sistema social de S. xanthosternos nesta população é uma resposta à pressão de predação e à oferta de alimento / Socioecology studies the effect ecological factors have on social system patterns. The predation risk has been said as the main selective force to favoring the sociability in many animals. However, as a determinant in variation of primates social systems, this fact has been considered less important than competition for food. The objectives of this study were (1) investigating how much the availability of food and the predation risk affect the habitat use by the group followed, in order to evaluate if the predation risk is a relevant issue in this population, (2) characterizing the social system and (3) investigating if the predation risk and/or availability of food affect the social system of Sapajus xanthosternos, a critically endangered species, owing to its hunting and habitat destruction, such fact makes it relevant for the hypothesis test. This study was made at the Una Biological Reserve, where the vegetation is classified as tabuleiro forest. The population in focus suffers from hunting stress. A group was followed during 16 months, a total of 2126 hours. The predation risk was evaluated concerning their vigilance behaviour, alarm vocalization, encounters with predators and hunting indication. We evaluated the size and the quality of the clumped food sources through the focal tree food method. Agonistic and affiliative interactions were recorded through all occurrences method. Home range and the daily traveling distances were calculated to evaluate if females experienced scramble competition within and between groups. The results were compared to the ones that had been obtained from a previous study with the population of the species S. nigritus and S. libidinosus. The use of habitat by the group was not only influenced by the distribution and availability food resources but also by the predation risk. The capuchin monkeys in Rebio Una live in large and cohesive groups, show female philopatry, and fission of very large groups. The large size of the groups favours the hypothesis that the minimum size of a group is determined by the predation risk. The group has shown a high number of males (expected due to the high number of females), a fact that is also considered by some studies as evidence of high predation risk. Female reproductive strategies were related to social organization and, therefore, to predation risk. S. xanthosternos consumes clumped and dispersed resources and spent more time foraging for invertebrates. There was a partial dominance hierarchy among females and the high-ranking females ate with the low-ranking females in clumped food sources. Such fact emphasizes that females hold tolerant relations. The majority of used clumped food sources had an intermediate size, concerning the size of the group, and was productive. The contest competition within group for food involving females was not low. Scramble competition within group was high, as shown by the high moving rates and the long daily travel distance. Contest competition between groups was low and the perceived predation risk was high in comparison to other studies. The social system pattern - large group size, high sex ratio, and females that show a high level of affiliation and tolerance - is not in accordance with the expected by models that only consider the result of competition for food. It suggests that the risk of predation affects the elements of social system in this group. As a conclusion, the social system of S. xanthosternos is affected by the risk of predation and food availability

A socioecologia investiga o efeito de fatores ecológicos sobre padrões de sistema social. Para muitos animais, o risco de predação tem sido apontado como a principal força seletiva favorecendo a sociabilidade. Entretanto, como determinante na variação dos sistemas sociais de primatas, esse fator tem sido considerado menos importante do que a competição por alimento. Os objetivos deste estudo foram (1) investigar a influência da disponibilidade de alimento e do risco de predação no uso do habitat pelo grupo estudado, para avaliarmos se o risco de predação é um fator relevante para essa população, (2) caracterizar o sistema social e (3) investigar se o risco de predação e/ou a oferta de alimento afetam o sistema social de Sapajus xanthosternos, espécie Criticamente ameaçada devido à caça e destruição do seu habitat, o que a torna relevante para o teste de hipóteses. Esta pesquisa foi realizada na Reserva Biológica de Una, cuja vegetação é classificada como floresta de tabuleiro e, na qual a população estudada ainda sofre pressão de caça. Um grupo foi acompanhado por 16 meses, num total de 2126 horas. O risco de predação foi avaliado em função do comportamento de vigilância, vocalizações de alarme, encontros com predadores e indícios de caça. Por meio do método focal árvore alimentação avaliamos o tamanho e qualidade das fontes agregadas. As interações agonísticas e afiliativas foram registradas pelo método de todas as ocorrências. A área de vida e os percursos diários foram calculados para avaliarmos a competição indireta intra e entre grupos. Os resultados foram comparados com os obtidos para uma população de S. nigritus e uma de S. libidinosus. O uso do habitat pelo grupo foi influenciado tanto pela distribuição e disponibilidade de recursos alimentares quanto pelo risco de predação. Os macacos-prego na Rebio Una formam grupos grandes e coesos, com filopatria de fêmeas e, a população é caracterizada por fissão de grupos grandes. O grande tamanho dos grupos favorece a hipótese de que o tamanho mínimo de grupo é determinado pelo risco de predação. O grupo apresentou um elevado número de machos (esperado devido ao número de fêmeas), o que também é considerado por alguns estudos como evidência de alto risco de predação. A estratégia reprodutiva das fêmeas foi relacionada à organização social e, consequentemente, ao risco de predação. S. xanthosternos consome tanto recursos agregados quanto dispersos e despendeu uma alta proporção de tempo forrageando por invertebrados. A hierarquia de dominância entre fêmeas foi parcial e as fêmeas de alto posto alimentaram-se conjuntamente com as fêmeas de baixo posto em fontes agregadas, enfatizando que fêmeas apresentaram relações tolerantes. A maioria das fontes agregadas utilizadas foi de tamanho intermediário em relação ao tamanho do grupo e produtiva e a competição direta por alimento envolvendo fêmeas intra-grupo não foi baixa. A competição indireta intra-grupo foi elevada, o que se constata pelas altas taxas de deslocamento e pelas grandes distâncias diárias percorridas. A competição direta entre grupos foi baixa e o risco de predação percebido foi alto em comparação com outros estudos. O padrão de sistema social, com grupo grande, elevado número de machos, e fêmeas com alto grau de afiliação e tolerância não está de acordo com o esperado por modelos que só consideram o efeito da competição por alimento, e sugere que o risco de predação afeta os componentes que caracterizam o sistema social deste grupo. Em conclusão, o sistema social de S. xanthosternos nesta população é uma resposta à pressão de predação e à oferta de alimento / Socioecology studies the effect ecological factors have on social system patterns. The predation risk has been said as the main selective force to favoring the sociability in many animals. However, as a determinant in variation of primates social systems, this fact has been considered less important than competition for food. The objectives of this study were (1) investigating how much the availability of food and the predation risk affect the habitat use by the group followed, in order to evaluate if the predation risk is a relevant issue in this population, (2) characterizing the social system and (3) investigating if the predation risk and/or availability of food affect the social system of Sapajus xanthosternos, a critically endangered species, owing to its hunting and habitat destruction, such fact makes it relevant for the hypothesis test. This study was made at the Una Biological Reserve, where the vegetation is classified as tabuleiro forest. The population in focus suffers from hunting stress. A group was followed during 16 months, a total of 2126 hours. The predation risk was evaluated concerning their vigilance behaviour, alarm vocalization, encounters with predators and hunting indication. We evaluated the size and the quality of the clumped food sources through the focal tree food method. Agonistic and affiliative interactions were recorded through all occurrences method. Home range and the daily traveling distances were calculated to evaluate if females experienced scramble competition within and between groups. The results were compared to the ones that had been obtained from a previous study with the population of the species S. nigritus and S. libidinosus. The use of habitat by the group was not only influenced by the distribution and availability food resources but also by the predation risk. The capuchin monkeys in Rebio Una live in large and cohesive groups, show female philopatry, and fission of very large groups. The large size of the groups favours the hypothesis that the minimum size of a group is determined by the predation risk. The group has shown a high number of males (expected due to the high number of females), a fact that is also considered by some studies as evidence of high predation risk. Female reproductive strategies were related to social organization and, therefore, to predation risk. S. xanthosternos consumes clumped and dispersed resources and spent more time foraging for invertebrates. There was a partial dominance hierarchy among females and the high-ranking females ate with the low-ranking females in clumped food sources. Such fact emphasizes that females hold tolerant relations. The majority of used clumped food sources had an intermediate size, concerning the size of the group, and was productive. The contest competition within group for food involving females was not low. Scramble competition within group was high, as shown by the high moving rates and the long daily travel distance. Contest competition between groups was low and the perceived predation risk was high in comparison to other studies. The social system pattern - large group size, high sex ratio, and females that show a high level of affiliation and tolerance - is not in accordance with the expected by models that only consider the result of competition for food. It suggests that the risk of predation affects the elements of social system in this group. As a conclusion, the social system of S. xanthosternos is affected by the risk of predation and food availability

Foram imunizados 27 macacos-prego (Cebus apella), por via intramuscular, com vacina anti-rábica inativada, produzida a partir de cérebros de camundongos lactentes (VARCCL), empregada nas campanhas de prevenção da raiva animal de cães e gatos. Os animais permaneceram em cativeiro, durante o período de junho de 1995 a junho de 1997, sendo divididos em 3 grupos experimentais e vacinados conforme o esquema: grupo I, com 3 doses a intervalo de 30 dias; o II, com 2 doses a intervalo 30 dias e reforço aos 210 dias; e, o III com uma dose e reforço aos 210 dias. A revacinação anual foi realizada em todos os animais aos 365 dias. As amostras de soros foram obtidas aos 0, 30, 60, 90, 150, 210, 240, 300, 365, 395, 545 e 730 dias, e armazenadas à temperatura de -20ºC, e a dosagem dos anticorpos realizada através do teste simplificado da inibição da fluorescência. Verificou-se que os animais do grupo I apresentaram soroconversão mais duradoura (12232 dias) do que os dos grupos II e III (p<0,05) após a vacinação inicial, e os animais do grupo I apresentaram soroconversão mais duradoura (183,6120,6 dias) do que os dos grupos II (p<0,05), após a revacinação anual aos 365 dias. A VARCCL induziu a resposta imune nos macacos-prego, após vacinação e revacinação, respectivamente, em 81,4 por cento e 76,0 por cento dos animais; com produção de anticorpos neutralizantes, iguais ou superiores a 0,5 UI/ml, porém, de curta duração; não constituindo assim, imunógeno apropriado para ser utilizado na rotina de imunização destes animais de difícil lide, mantidos em cativeiro / Twenty-seven capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) were intramuscularly immunized with inactivated suckling mouse brain rabies vaccine (SMBV) employed in campaigns for animal rabies prevention in dogs and cats. The animals were kept confined from June, 1995 to June, 1997. They were divided into 3 experimental groups and vaccinated according to the following scheme: group I, with 3 doses within a 30-day interval; group II, with 2 doses within a 30-day interval and a booster dose at the 210th day; and, group III; with a single dose and a booster dose at the 210th day. All animals were given the annual re-vaccination at the 365th day. Sera samples were obtained at the 0th, 30 th, 60th, 90 th, 150 th, 210 th, 240 th, 300 th, 365 th, 395 th, 545 th e 730 th days and kept stored at 20ºC. The antibodies dosage was carried out through the simplified inhibition fluorescent test. The following results were observed: animals belonging to group I had longer humoral immune response (12232 days) than the ones belonging either to group II or group III (p<0.05) after initial vaccination; animals of group I presented longer humoral immune response (183.6120.6 days) than the ones of the group II (p<0.05) after the annual re-vaccination at the 365th day. The SMBV induced humoral immune response in capuchin monkeys after vaccination and re-vaccination in respectively 81.4 per cent and 76.0 per cent of the animals, producing neutralizing antibodies equal to or higher than 0.5 IU/ml; however, they were short-lasting, being therefore not appropriate as an immunogen to be used routinely in the immunization of these animals which are difficult both to be deal with and to be held confined

In their native habitat of Central and South America, capuchin monkeys (Cebus) spend 45% to 55% of their day foraging and a further 20% travelling. Once these monkeys are introduced into captive environments their diets are selective, seasonal and presented to them by their keepers. The captive environment often leads to various behavioural abnormalities and compensatory behaviours or stereotypies. To address this issue, environmental enrichment can be employed to reduce, cure or prevent such an occurrence. Enrichment can reduce stress, while increasing animal well-being and health in captivity. Despite previous work a better understanding of enrichment, for most neo-tropical primate species, is necessary, in order to improve their captive lifestyles. Feeding of captive primates is more complex than providing a balanced nutritional diet as it must also meet their ethological needs. The manipulation of the presentation of the diet has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of resting, while significantly increasing the incidence of playing, grooming, foraging and manual manipulation of dietary items. Eleven capuchin monkeys were presented with four different feeding treatments (i.e. cut food presented in bowls, cut food presented around the enclosure, uncut food presented around the enclosure and novel feeding devices presented around the enclosure) from December 2007 until May 2008. At the start of every month one of three feeding treatments was introduced with the cut food in bowls feeding treatment interleaved between the treatments. The different feeding treatments required the monkeys to search for their food, break-up their food into manageable sizes, and obtain food in touch-, tool- and manipulative-dependent methods in order to allow the monkeys an opportunity to display increased activity more in line with their wild conspecifics. The capuchins displayed a period of intense foraging directly following feeding. This period significantly increased (from 44 to 121 min.), along with foraging events and the proportion of time spent foraging, which was more in line with their wild conspecifics. In addition, the frequency of occurrence and the proportion of time spent on locomotion and resting was shown to decrease. Also, abnormal behaviours ceased to occur during the study. Environmental enrichment is a useful tool for providing stimulation, redistributing activity levels more in line with wild conspecifics and to combat abnormal and compensatory behaviours.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:36:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RicardoAL_DISSERT.pdf: 2035586 bytes, checksum: ca26983e504667d744bf6cb052c449e0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-28 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / Recently, capuchin monkeys (Cebus spp.) inhabitants of dry environments and with restriction of fleshy fruits, have been the subject of several studies regarding the use of instruments. During behaviour of using stones to crack open nuts there is evidence of selection of more effective hammers, as well as selection of anvils related to reducing the risk of predation. The aim of this study was to determine whether two groups of capuchin monkeys (C.flavius and and C.libidinosus) inhabitants of the Caatinga of Rio Grande do Norte make choice of hammers and anvils. The record of weight and location of stones indicated active choices of with what (choice of hammers) and where (selection of anvils) to crack open encapsulated seeds. The choice of hammers to break nuts depended on the type and degree of ripeness seed. Thus, smaller seeds were smashed with lighter hammers and larger seeds with heavier hammers. Still, C. flavius was the only species that presented a refinement in the choice of hammers that depended on the ripeness of seeds. For both species of capuchin monkeys studied, the nut-crack sites were not spread in accordance with the spatial distribution of seed-producing species, suggesting that the capuchin monkeys promote active choice of anvils. Thus, in environments with more escape routes through the trees, the nut-crack sites were found further apart than in regions that had less chance of escape through the trees. Also, there was a difference in the spacing of the anvils to depend on the type of seed: sites used to crack larger and more caloric seeds were found farther apart than the sites used to crack smaller and less caloric seeds, suggesting a pattern of avoiding direct competition. We conclude that the capuchin monkeys maximize energy savings and reduced risk of predation and the costs of food competition during the behaviour of using stones to crack open nuts / Recentemente, macacos prego (Cebus spp.) habitantes de ambientes secos e com restri??o de frutos carnosos, v?m sendo alvo de diversos estudos acerca do uso de instrumentos. Em atividades de quebra de sementes, h? ind?cios de escolhas eficientes de martelos, bem como de sele??o de bigornas para redu??o dos riscos de preda??o. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se dois grupos de macacos prego (C. flavius e C. libidinosus) habitantes da caatinga do Rio Grande do Norte realizam escolhas de martelos e bigornas. O registro do peso e da localiza??o das pedras indicou escolhas ativas de com o que (escolha de martelos) e onde (sele??o de bigornas) quebrar sementes encapsuladas. O padr?o de escolha dos martelos para quebrar sementes dependeu da esp?cie e do estado de matura??o. Assim, sementes menores foram quebradas com martelos mais leves e sementes maiores com martelos mais pesados. Ainda, C. flavius foi a ?nica esp?cie que apresentou um refinamento na escolha de martelos que dependia do estado de matura??o de sementes. Para ambas as esp?cies de macacos prego estudadas, os s?tios de quebra n?o estavam dispostos de acordo com a distribui??o espacial das esp?cies produtoras de sementes, sugerindo que os macacos prego promovem escolha ativas de bigornas. Assim, em ambientes que havia maior chance de fuga atrav?s das ?rvores, os s?tios de quebra foram encontrados mais afastados entre si do que em regi?es que havia menor chance de fuga pelas ?rvores. Tamb?m, foi verificada diferen?a no espa?amento das bigornas a depender do tipo de semente: s?tios de quebra de sementes maiores e mais cal?ricas foram encontrados mais distantes entre si do que os s?tios de quebra de sementes menores e menos cal?ricas, sugerindo um padr?o de evitac?o de competi??o direta. Conclu?mos que os macacos prego maximizam os ganhos energ?ticos e reduziram os riscos de preda??o bem como os custos de competi??o por alimento durante o comportamento de uso de pedras para quebra de sementes

Predicting evaporation is essential for managing water resources in basins. Improvement of the prediction accuracy is essential to identify adequate inputs on evaporation. In this study, artificial neural network (ANN) is coupled with several evolutionary algorithms, i.e., capuchin search algorithm (CSA), firefly algorithm (FFA), sine cosine algorithm (SCA), and genetic algorithm (GA) for robust training to predict daily evaporation of seven synoptic stations with different climates. The inclusive multiple model (IMM) is then used to predict evaporation based on established hybrid ANN models. The adjusting model parameters of the current study is a major challenge. Also, another challenge is the selection of the best inputs to the models. The IMM model had significantly improved the root mean square error (RMSE) and Nash Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values of all the proposed models. The results for all stations indicated that the IMM model and ANN-CSA could outperform other models. The RMSE of the IMM was 18, 21, 22, 30, and 43% lower than those of the ANNCSA, ANN-SCA, ANN-FFA, ANN-GA, and ANN models in the Sharekord station. The MAE of the IMM was 0.112 mm/day, while it was 0.189 mm/day, 0.267 mm/day, 0.267 mm/day, 0.389 mm/day, 0.456 mm/day, and 0.512 mm/day for the ANN-CSA, ANN-SCA, and ANN-FFA, ANN-GA, and ANN models, respectively, in the Tehran station. The current study proved that the inclusive multiple models based on improved ANN models considering the fuzzy reasoning had the high ability to predict evaporation.

This thesis examines the missionary work of the Italian Capuchin Lorenzo da Brindisi. Renowned in his own day as a preacher, Bible scholar, missionary, chaplain, and diplomat, as well as vicar general of his Order, Lorenzo led the first organised, papally-commissioned Capuchin mission among the non-Catholics of Bohemia in the Holy Roman Empire from 1599 to 1602, and returned there, again under papal mandate, from 1606 to 1613. This thesis examines Lorenzo’s evangelistic and polemical activities in Central Europe in order to shed light on some of the ways the Capuchins laboured in religiously divided territories to confirm Catholics in their faith and to win over heretics. The introduction explains, principally, the thesis’s purpose and the historiographical background. Chapter one provides a brief biographical sketch of Lorenzo’s life followed by details of his afterlife. Chapter two examines his leading role in establishing the Capuchins’ new Commissariate of Bohemia-Austria-Styria in 1600, and specifically its first three friaries in Prague, Vienna, and Graz. Chapter three treats his preaching against heresy. Chapter four focuses on how Lorenzo, while in Prague, involved himself directly in theological disputations with two different Lutheran preachers. The first dispute, with Polykarp Leyser, took place in July 1607, and dealt with good works and justification. The second, with a Lutheran whose name is not known for certain, and which occurred in August 1610, concerned Catholic veneration of the Virgin Mary. Chapter five analyses the Lutheranismi hypotyposis, Lorenzo’s literary refutation of Lutheranism following additional contact with Polykarp Leyser in 1607. The conclusion considers briefly the effectiveness of Lorenzo’s apostolate and closes with a review of the thesis as a whole.

This master thesis deals with the history of the Capuchin order in Czech-Moravian territory during 1618-1673. The Czech-Austrian Capuchin province was established in 1618 and in 1673 was divided into Czech and Austrian part which led to formation of two individual provinces of the Capuchin order. The first chapter of the master thesis introduces the review of existing literature that deals with this theme and the characterization of sources. This chapter is focused on narrative sources that are fundamental for this master thesis. In the second chapter, the Capuchin order is characterized (with the emphasis on the structure and formation) and its history, because this information explains the behaviour of Capuchins in the Czech-Moravian territory. We could not omit the Franciscan order and its history in this passage, because these also influenced the orientation and spirituality of the Capuchin order. The whole history of the Czech-Austrian Capuchin province is comprised in the third chapter. This period witnessed a significant progress in admission of new members of the Capuchin order. We are interested in the national origin of the members and their social stratification. Further, we deal with the impact of the Thirty Years War on the order in the specified region. The reasons of founding new...