Interest in the question of when and how species recognition and mate preferences emerge in animals with strong species-typical predispositions has faded since the time of the classical ethologists. In its place, the role of plasticity has surfaced as a central emphasis in the study of animal behavior. Here, I step back and examine the origin and execution of sexual behavior in a tropical frog for which auditory predispositions are key. These experiments challenge assumptions about behavioral development, auditory perception, and stereotyped behavior. First, I illustrate when and how a sex- and species-typical behavior—conspecific phonotaxis—emerges during development. This study demonstrates that phonotaxis, presumably restricted to mature females, is present in both sexes early in postmetamorphic development—potentially long before such behavior might serve an adaptive function. I place this result in the context of hypotheses regarding the development of learned versus non-learned behaviors, and in light of the potential for perception to be altered by physiological changes occurring concomitantly with ontogeny. Next, I describe a set of dynamic mate choice studies that highlight how decision-making in a relatively simple system is more flexible, and less stereotyped, than was previously assumed. Results here show that frogs temporally update their mate choice decisions in a moment-to-moment fashion as advertisement signals change in real time. By decomposing the decision-making process, I determine the stimulus parameters essential for commitment to an initial phonotactic approach. These studies are followed up by experiments that reveal a high level of individual variation in female choosiness during mate choice. Lastly, I describe a mate choice study that revealed categorical perception in frogs, the first “lower” vertebrate now known to exhibit a perceptual mode previously considered a hallmark of “higher” organisms. Collectively, I make the following arguments: (1) constraints on sensory systems play a larger role in shaping behavior than is generally appreciated, irrespective of the involvement of learning; (2) unstudied sources of variation may contribute significantly to the raw material for sexual selection; and (3) phonotaxis in anurans amphibians is not the simple, stereotyped behavior that has been suggested of it in the past. / text

Objetivo. Diversos produtos de origem vegetal vêm sendo estudados por serem fontes de antioxidantes, podendo ser uma alternativa aos antioxidantes sintéticos. Este trabalho avaliou a atividade antioxidante in vitro de extratos de erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) verde e tostada e de chá verde (Camellia sinensis). Métodos. Extratos aquosos, etanólicos e etéreos foram analisados quanto ao teor de sólidos solúveis, fenólicos totais e atividade antioxidante por dois métodos: captação do radical livre DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil) e inibição da oxidação sistema ?-caroteno/ácido-linoléico. A análise estatística foi efetuada pela estimativa do erro-padrão dos intervalos de confiança das diferenças das médias. Resultados. Extratos aquosos e etanólicos apresentaram os maiores teores de sólidos solúveis. Em relação aos fenólicos totais, o extrato etanólico de chá verde apresentou o maior teor (13,0mg/mL/EAC), enquanto o extrato etanólico de erva-mate tostada apresentou o menor (3,4mg/mL/EAC). Em relação à porcentagem de captação do DPPH, todos os resultados obtidos foram similares ou superiores aqueles encontrados para o BHT. No teste de inibição da oxidação, o extrato aquoso de erva-mate tostada (1,0mg/mL) apresentou resultado médio 10,1% maior do que o extrato aquoso de erva-mate verde e o extrato etanólico da erva-mate tostada (1,0mg/mL) resultado médio 11,7% maior do que o extrato de erva-mate verde. Apenas os extratos aquoso e etéreo de chá verde apresentaram resultados inferiores ao BHT. Conclusão. Evidenciou-se a elevada atividade antioxidante de diferentes extratos de erva-mate (verde e tostada) e de chá verde, indicando o potencial uso dessas ervas como antioxidantes alimentícios. / Objective. Different products from vegetal origin have been studied due to the fact that they are known as sources of antioxidants, which could be an alternative to the synthetic antioxidants. This research investigated in vitro antioxidant activity of extracts of green and roasted mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and green tea (Camellia sinensis). Methodology. Soluble solid, total phenolics and antioxidant activity were analyzed in aqueous, ethanolic and etheric extracts. Two methods were used: free radical DPPH. (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl) quenching assay and ?-carotene/linoleic-acid oxidation model system. Data were analysed by the standard error estimative of the confidence intervals from average differences. Results. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts presented the highest content of soluble solids. Ethanolic extracts of green tea had the highest phenolic content (13,0mg/mL/EAC), while ethanolic extracts of roasted mate presented the lowest (3,4mg/mL/EAC). All results from DPPH. quenching assay were similar or superior to those found for BHT (synthetic antioxidant). The ?-carotene/linoleic acid oxidation model system showed that the aqueous extract of roasted mate (1,0mg/mL) had an average value 10.1% higher than aqueous extract of green mate, and the roasted mate ethanolic extract (1,0mg/mL) showed higher values (11.7%) than green mate ethanolic extract. Only aqueous and etheric green tea extracts presented lower values when compared to the BHT. Conclusion. It was evident the high antioxidant activity of different extracts from mate (green and roasted) and green tea, indicating the potential use of these herbs as natural antioxidants in food systems.

Submitted by Sandro Camargo (sandro.camargo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2015-03-09T02:24:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 116110001.pdf: 1574524 bytes, checksum: 48077bd97e3cbf3cc22e4347e94b7abf (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-09T02:24:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 116110001.pdf: 1574524 bytes, checksum: 48077bd97e3cbf3cc22e4347e94b7abf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-11-16 / A erva-mate, cientificamente denominada, Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. Var. paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae), trata-se de uma árvore que cresce naturalmente em florestas da América do Sul (na Argentina, sul do Brasil, Uruguai e Paraguai). Bebidas a base de ervas-mate denominadas “mate”, “chimarrão” ou “tererê” fazem parte dos hábitos e costumes da população local. Nos últimos anos, através da ampliação do conhecimento científico a respeito de seus efeitos na saúde, os usos da planta têm se expandido para outras partes do mundo e são descritas diversas possibilidades de aplicação. Suas ações incluem atividades antioxidante, antiinflamatória, antimutagênica, antiglicação entre outras, sendo estas diretamente relacionadas aos compostos bioativos presentes, especialmente na folha da árvore (principal parte utilizada para produção da erva-mate). Entre as substâncias conhecidas estão os polifenóis, saponinas, xantinas, minerais e vitaminas. Muitos fatores influenciam o teor desses compostos no produto final que é comercializado e por conseqüência no que é ingerido pelo consumidor. O presente estudo avaliou a composição fitoquímica e os potencias antioxidantes de extratos de ervas comercializados no Brasil, Argentina e Uruguai. Objetivando a obtenção de extratos com composição similar aos ingeridos pela população, preparou-se a bebida da forma tradicional e empregou-se uma forma de extração que mimetiza seu consumo. A partir desses extratos (mates) foram quantificados o conteúdo total de polifenóis, as concentrações das substâncias: ácido clorogênico, ácido cafeico, cafeína e teobromina e analisados os potenciais antioxidantes dos extratos. Para este fim foram utilizadas análises cromatográficas, espectrofotométricas e desenvolvidos ensaios, in vitro, que testaram a capacidade dos extratos seqüestrarem óxido nítrico e quelarem ferro. Foi possível verificar que a seqüência de extrações é um fator que influência no conteúdo extraído, visto que houveram diferenças significativas entre os primeiros e os últimos extratos. Além disso, verificou-se que a capacidade antioxidante dos extratos é expressiva e se mantêm mesmo em extratos onde a concentração de compostos apresenta decaimento significativo. No entanto, foram notadas variações relacionadas principalmente às nacionalidades das ervas. Este estudo sintetiza uma contribuição importante para futuras pesquisas, pois elucida o que é ingerido quando a bebida é consumida da forma que a população o faz, colocando a forma de extração como um importante fator, relacionado ao desfecho de seu consumo na saúde. / The yerba-mate, scientifically named, Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. Var. paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae), it is a tree that grows naturally in forests of South America (in Argentina, southern Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay). Yerba mate based drinks are part of the customs and habits of the population and are called "mate", "chimarrão" or "tererê". In recent years, through the expansion of scientific knowledge about their effects in health, the plant uses has been expanded to other parts of the world and are described various possibilities of the application. Their actions include antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, anti-glycation and others, which are directly related to the bioactive compounds presents, especially in the leaves of the tree (the main part used for the production of yerba mate). Among the substances known are polyphenols, saponins, xanthines, vitamins and minerals. Many factors influence the content of these compounds in the end product that is marketed, and consequently in what is ingested by the consumer. The present study evaluated the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant potential of yerba-mate extracts sold in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Aiming to get extracts with composition similar to the population consumes, the beverage was prepared in the traditional way and to extraction was used a method that mimics its consumption. From these extracts (mates) were quantified the total polyphenol content, the concentrations of the substances: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, caffeine and theobromine, and analyzed the antioxidant potential of the extracts. To this end were developed chromatographic, spectrophotometric analysis and, in vitro, carried out trials that tested the ability of the extracts to scavenger oxide nitric and to chelate iron. Was observed that the sequence of extraction is a factor that influences the extracted content, since there were significant differences between the first few and the last ones extracts. It was found that the antioxidant activity of the extracts is quite significant and remains in extracts where the concentration of compounds presents significant decline. However variations were noted, it’s related primarily to the nationalities of herbs. This study summarizes an important contribution to other research, because it clarifies what is ingested when it is drunk the way that people do it, putting the extraction as an important factor related to the outcome of their consumption on health.

Orientador: Anadalvo J. dos Santos / Co-orientadores: Vitor Afonso Hoeflich e Luiz Roberto Graça / Dissertaçao (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná. Setor de Ciências Agrárias. Curso de Pós-Graduaçao em Engenharia Florestal / Inclui bibliografia / Area de concentração: Economia e política florestal / Dentre os países participantes do Mercado Comum do Sul - Mercosul, a Argentina é o principal parceiro comercial do Brasil. A província de Misiones, localizada na região nordeste da Argentina, faz divisa com os Estados de Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina e Paraná e é responsável por cerca de 90% da erva-mate cancheada, produzida naquele país. Este trabalho analisou a competitividade da cultura de erva-mate no Estado do Paraná, em diferentes níveis tecnológicos num contexto de integração econômica com a erva-mate produzida na Província de Misiones, Argentina. Após a eliminação das barreiras e restrições alfandegárias entre os países membros do Mercosul, o comércio de erva-mate intensificou-se entre o Paraná e Misiones, conforme se pode constatar através da análise da evolução das quantidades totais de erva-mate importadas e exportadas, das variações de preços recebidos pelos produtores rurais pela erva-mate verde (emv) e pelas agroindústrias e cooperativas - erva-mate cancheada (eme) - decorrentes desta modificação de mercado, entre as regiões citadas. Comparou-se a evolução das áreas plantadas, a produção, a produtividade, os custos de implantação e de produção, os preços recebidos e o nível de rentabilidade da cultura de erva-mate nas duas regiões, nos principais sistemas de plantio de erva-mate existente. A partir de 1995, início da vigência do acordo do Mercosul, até o final de 1997 ocorreu um incremento nas importações brasileiras de erva-mate cancheada originária da Argentina (província de Misiones), em nível superiora 300%. Em 1998, pode-se observar uma redução de cerca de 17% nas importações em relação à 1997. Em janeiro de 1999 ocorreu mudança na política cambial brasileira, desvalorização da moeda real em relação ao dólar americano, o que provocou uma redução ainda mais significativa das importações brasileiras, devido à elevação de seus custos, uma vez que o peso argentino manteve-se paritário com o dólar americano. O reflexo desta mudança pode ser observado no decorrer de 1999, com a redução de 37% das importações de erva-mate cancheada em relação ao ano de 1998. Convém destacar que mais de 90% do total de erva-mate importada da Argentina, em 1999, foi internalizada por empresas do Estado do Paraná, visando atender sua demanda industrial. Este fato contribuiu para que ocorresse a redução dos preços recebidos pelo produtor rural paranaense, devido menor procura pela erva-mate produzida no Estado. As análises econômicas mostram que o preço recebido pela erva-mate, pelos produtores rurais no Paraná, tem correlação com o preço recebido pelos produtores de Misiones, em especial a partir do início do mercado comum. Isto pode ser explicado pela maior facilidade de importação após eliminação das barreiras comerciais existentes, a partir de 1995. Este trabalho indica que a erva-mate é uma atividade economicamente rentável e a rentabilidade no Estado do Paraná é superior à rentabilidade obtida na Província de Misiones, nos três níveis tecnológicos considerados (baixa, média e alta tecnologia), quando considerado ou não os custos fixos da cultura, nas duas regiões. No desenvolvimento e discussão do estudo foram incorporadas várias informações macroeconômicas sobre o Brasil (Paraná) e a Argentina (Misiones), referente o produto erva-mate, e, indicadas algumas tendências para o setor produtivo. Também foram elencadas diversas recomendações que, poderão auxiliar na melhoria sócio-econômica do setor ervateiro paranaense, bem como das famílias dos proprietários rurais que exploram a erva-mate no Estado do Paraná. / Among the participating countries of the South Common trade Market - Mercosul, Argentina is the main commercial associate of Brazil. The province of Misiones, placed in the North-eastern region of Argentina, bordered by the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná, is responsible for approximately 90% of the mate plant fragments produced in that country. This study analyzed the competivity in the mate plant culture in the state of Paraná, in different technological standards in restrained economical integrity with the mate plant produced in Misiones, Argentina. After eliminating custom barriers and restrictions between the member countries of Mercosul, the mate plant commerce became intense between Paraná and Misiones, as you may verify through analysis of the evolution of total mate plant quantities imported and exported, from the variety of prices received for the unripe mate plant by rural producers and for the mate plant fragments by agro industries and cooperative societies arising from the change of commerce between the mentioned regions. Comparisons were made between the evolution of the planted areas, the produce, the productiveness, the cost of plantation and production, level of profit from the mate plant culture in both regions, in the principle systems of existing mate plant plantations. Practices of simple adaptation were also identified in level of rural producers of Paraná, which contributed to the increasing productiveness of mate plant culture in Paraná, aiming at a better competivity. From 1995 on initiated the validity from the Mercosul agreement, until the end of 1997 there was a development in standards superior to 300% in the Brazilian import of mate plant fragments primarily from Argentina (province of Misiones). In 1998 an importation reduction in about 17% was observed in relation to 1997. In January/1999 there came a change in the Brazilian political exchange rate, a depreciation of the Brazilian currency (real) in relation to the American Dollar, which provoked an even more significant decrease of the Brazilian importations, due to the increase of its cost, seeing that the Argentine - peso kept itself similar to the American dollar. The reflects of this change can be observed throughout the year of 1999 with the reduction in 37% of the mate plant fragments in relation to 1998. It is proper to stress that more than 90% total of the mate plant imported from Argentina in 1999 were interned by industries in the state of Paraná, aiming to attend its industrial demands. This fact contributed to a price reduction received by the rural producers of Paraná, for the mate plant due to a less demand of the mate plant produced in the state. The economical analysis show that the price received for the mate plant by the rural producer of Paraná correlated to the price received by the producers of Misiones, especially since the beginning of the common trade market. This can be explained because of the greater facility of importation after the elimination of the existing commercial barriers since 1995. This study indicates that the profit from the mate plant in the state of Paraná is superior to the province of Misiones, considered in the three technological standards (low - medium - high technology), when considering the fixed costs of culture in the two regions. Incorporated in the development and discussion of the study is various macro-economy information about Brazil (Paraná) and Argentina (Misiones) referring to the mate plant product, and indicates some tendency towards the productive sector. After concluding a diversity of recommendations are mentioned that may assist in the process of economical orientation in the mate plant producers sector of Paraná. As a consequence in part of rural properties that explore the production of mate plant in the state of Paraná for seeing with the adaptation of these recommendations an improvement in the profit of the rural family and a reduction in the process of rural exodus.

Objetivo. Diversos produtos de origem vegetal vêm sendo estudados por serem fontes de antioxidantes, podendo ser uma alternativa aos antioxidantes sintéticos. Este trabalho avaliou a atividade antioxidante in vitro de extratos de erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) verde e tostada e de chá verde (Camellia sinensis). Métodos. Extratos aquosos, etanólicos e etéreos foram analisados quanto ao teor de sólidos solúveis, fenólicos totais e atividade antioxidante por dois métodos: captação do radical livre DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil) e inibição da oxidação sistema ?-caroteno/ácido-linoléico. A análise estatística foi efetuada pela estimativa do erro-padrão dos intervalos de confiança das diferenças das médias. Resultados. Extratos aquosos e etanólicos apresentaram os maiores teores de sólidos solúveis. Em relação aos fenólicos totais, o extrato etanólico de chá verde apresentou o maior teor (13,0mg/mL/EAC), enquanto o extrato etanólico de erva-mate tostada apresentou o menor (3,4mg/mL/EAC). Em relação à porcentagem de captação do DPPH, todos os resultados obtidos foram similares ou superiores aqueles encontrados para o BHT. No teste de inibição da oxidação, o extrato aquoso de erva-mate tostada (1,0mg/mL) apresentou resultado médio 10,1% maior do que o extrato aquoso de erva-mate verde e o extrato etanólico da erva-mate tostada (1,0mg/mL) resultado médio 11,7% maior do que o extrato de erva-mate verde. Apenas os extratos aquoso e etéreo de chá verde apresentaram resultados inferiores ao BHT. Conclusão. Evidenciou-se a elevada atividade antioxidante de diferentes extratos de erva-mate (verde e tostada) e de chá verde, indicando o potencial uso dessas ervas como antioxidantes alimentícios. / Objective. Different products from vegetal origin have been studied due to the fact that they are known as sources of antioxidants, which could be an alternative to the synthetic antioxidants. This research investigated in vitro antioxidant activity of extracts of green and roasted mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and green tea (Camellia sinensis). Methodology. Soluble solid, total phenolics and antioxidant activity were analyzed in aqueous, ethanolic and etheric extracts. Two methods were used: free radical DPPH. (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl) quenching assay and ?-carotene/linoleic-acid oxidation model system. Data were analysed by the standard error estimative of the confidence intervals from average differences. Results. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts presented the highest content of soluble solids. Ethanolic extracts of green tea had the highest phenolic content (13,0mg/mL/EAC), while ethanolic extracts of roasted mate presented the lowest (3,4mg/mL/EAC). All results from DPPH. quenching assay were similar or superior to those found for BHT (synthetic antioxidant). The ?-carotene/linoleic acid oxidation model system showed that the aqueous extract of roasted mate (1,0mg/mL) had an average value 10.1% higher than aqueous extract of green mate, and the roasted mate ethanolic extract (1,0mg/mL) showed higher values (11.7%) than green mate ethanolic extract. Only aqueous and etheric green tea extracts presented lower values when compared to the BHT. Conclusion. It was evident the high antioxidant activity of different extracts from mate (green and roasted) and green tea, indicating the potential use of these herbs as natural antioxidants in food systems.

Zugl.: Bremen, Universiẗat, Diss., 2003.

Mate choice decisions have long-term effects on both party's well-being as well as reproductive outcomes. Consequently, evolutionary biology and psychology devoted a large body of research on investigating human mate choice. The evolutionary psychology of human partner selection can be perceived as inter-connected processes, such as mating strategy, mate preferences, and mate choice. This dissertation thesis consists of two larger segments. The first segment is an Introduction to my four original research papers in the second segment. In the Introduction, I discuss heterosexual partner selection in two parts. First, I describe how mating strategies affect mate preferences, what the key mate preference dimensions are - both positive and negative factors of partner evaluations -, how stable they are, and how they change over time within a person. Further, I review the concept of mate value and how mate preference factors are weighing in the overall perception of mate value on the mating market. In the second part, I discuss how partner preferences are integrated into mate choice, also known as the mate choice integration models. The Additive and Threshold models of mate choice, the Euclidean distance model, and Assortative mating will be discussed in detail since they are the most commonly applied...

Female choice is an important selective force shaping the evolution of communication and speciation in animals. However, predation risk can impose severe costs on longer searches and choosiness, thereby limiting the expression of female preferences for specific male traits. The work detailed in this dissertation explores how mate choice and sexual selection can be influenced by predation risk in túngara frogs. I begin by examining the effects of multiple simulated cues of predation risk on female search behavior and mate choice, taking a departure from the standard presence/absence paradigm used in similar studies to explore responses to quantitative variation in perceived predation risk. I demonstrate that light, longer travel times, and acoustic cues of predators are all sufficient to sway females away from otherwise more attractive conspecific males. Next, I explore the role of predation risk in altering female permissiveness, or the range of signals females will respond to. Using an artificial series of calls intermediate between heterospecific and conspecific, I demonstrate that predation risk dramatically increases the range of signals females will respond to, including a small number of females choosing pure heterospecific calls. Next I attempt to bridge a logical gap with our understanding of search costs, testing questions about how female search paths change with increasing distance. I demonstrate that females use more direct paths and move faster under higher light conditions, potentially reducing sampling but also reducing encounter rates with predators. Lastly, I examine factors that influence how individual females vary in their response to perceived risk, particularly hormonal state and experience. I demonstrate that naïve, captive-bred females respond to acoustic cues produced by natural predators in a manner similar to wild females and that, while hormonal state is obviously important in determining female receptivity, it has little effect directly on how females respond to predators. Together, these studies demonstrate that predation risk not only changes how females respond to conspecific males, but also increases female permissiveness and constrains search behavior. Predation risk can strongly influence and potentially even negate the expression of female preferences, having profound consequences for communication and the evolution of reproductive isolation between populations. / text

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