A família Porcellanidae é composta por anomuros que se assemelham morfologicamente aos representantes da Infraordem Brachyura, os chamados caranguejos verdadeiros, devido ao processo de carcinização bastante acentuado. Considerando a reduzida quantidade de informações biológicas sobre estes crustáceos litorâneos, especialmente nas regiões tropicais e subtropicais, o presente trabalho avaliou aspectos ecológicos de Petrolisthes armatus habitante da região do Araçá, São Sebastião (SP) que permitam conhecer melhor o ciclo de vida desta espécie, podendo assim desenvolver projetos de preservação e manejo de seus estoques naturais em uma área não preservada. Além disso, foram realizadas comparações entre o perfil obtido e os padrões de populações viventes em áreas preservadas. As coletas foram realizadas no período de Março de 2005 a Julho de 2006 e no período analisado foram coletados 775 indivíduos (333 machos, 157 fêmeas ovígeras, 228 fêmeas ovígeras e 57 indivíduos de sexo não determinado). A distribuição de freqüência de tamanho obtida foi bimodal não normal para o total dos indivíduos coletados. A razão sexual obtida não diferiu do valor esperado (1; 1.00) sendo a população enquadrada no modelo Anômalo de ocorrência dos sexos em relação às classes de tamanho. O dimorfismo sexual em relação ao tamanho foi caracterizado, sendo que os machos foram significativamente maiores do que as fêmeas. De acordo com a dispersão dos pontos empíricos, foi possível determinar como possível intervalo para a maturidade sexual o tamanho entre 3.5 e 4.5 mm de LC. Fêmeas ovígeras estiveram presentes em altas porcentagens em todos os meses amostrados. A alta porcentagem de fêmeas com ovos em estágio inicial de desenvolvimento seguida pela baixa ocorrência de fêmeas portando ovos em estágio final implicam em rápido desenvolvimento embrionário, com fecundidade superior a encontrada para a maioria dos Porcellanidae estudados. A reprodução contínua verificada justifica o recrutamento contínuo observado nesta população. A ocorrência dos indivíduos coletados não apresentou correlação significativa com os fatores abióticos. A população apresentou índice de infestação de 4% pelo Isopoda Bopyridae Abopopyrus sp, variando nos meses amostrados, porém, não foi verificada nenhuma alteração nos processos de crescimento e reprodução aparentemente causados pela presença do parasita. Sabe-se das implicações de se viver em um ambiente constantemente perturbado pela ação antrópica, mas ao contrário do que se esperava, a população de P. armatus demonstra indícios de estabilidade, apresentando perfil populacional semelhante ao obtido para a mesma espécie localizada em áreas preservadas, estando, portanto, segundo o presente estudo, bem estabelecida na região estudada. / The Porcellanidae Family is composed by anomurans that are morphologically similar to members of the Infraordem Brachyura, those called \"true crabs\", because of the accentuated carcinization process. Considering the reduced amount of biological information about this litoranean crustaceans, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, this study evaluated ecological aspects of Petrolisthes armatus inhabitants of the Araçá region, São Sebastião, SP, in order to better knowledge of its life cycle and thus to the development of projects of preservation and maintenance of its natural stocks on a non-preserved area. Furthermore, comparisons of the obtained pattern were made with populations from preserved areas. The samplings were realized from March 2005 to July 2006 and during this period 775 (333 males, 157 non-ovigerous females, 228 ovigerous females and 57 non-determined sex) individuals were collected. The frequency distribution size for all the individuals collected was bimodal and non-normal. The sex ratio obtained was not different from the expected (1: 1) and the population is classified on the Anomalous pattern. Sexual dimorphism in relation to size was characterized, being males significantly larger than females. According to the dispersion points of the empiric data, it was possible to infer that the probable size interval of sexual maturity was 3.5 to 4.5 mm CL. Ovigerous females were present on high percentages during all months. A high percentage of females with eggs in early developmental stages, followed by the low presence of females with eggs in the final stage were indicatives of fast embryonary development, with fecundity superior than that registered for the major number of Porcellanidae species studied. The continuous reproductive activity verified justify the continuous recruitment activity observed in this population. No significant correlation between collected individuals and abiotic parameters was verified. The population presented infestation index of 4% by the Isopod Bopyrid Aporobopyrus sp, which varied in sampled months but none alteration was verified in the growth and reproduction processes caused by the parasite presence. Its well know the implications of living in an environment frequently disturbed by the human action, but the contrary of what was expected, the P. armatus population demonstrated stability traces, showing a profile similar to the obtained for the same species inhabiting preserved areas, and being therefore in the present study, classified as well established in the studied area.

A família Porcellanidae é composta por anomuros que se assemelham morfologicamente aos representantes da Infraordem Brachyura, os chamados caranguejos verdadeiros, devido ao processo de carcinização bastante acentuado. Considerando a reduzida quantidade de informações biológicas sobre estes crustáceos litorâneos, especialmente nas regiões tropicais e subtropicais, o presente trabalho avaliou aspectos ecológicos de Petrolisthes armatus habitante da região do Araçá, São Sebastião (SP) que permitam conhecer melhor o ciclo de vida desta espécie, podendo assim desenvolver projetos de preservação e manejo de seus estoques naturais em uma área não preservada. Além disso, foram realizadas comparações entre o perfil obtido e os padrões de populações viventes em áreas preservadas. As coletas foram realizadas no período de Março de 2005 a Julho de 2006 e no período analisado foram coletados 775 indivíduos (333 machos, 157 fêmeas ovígeras, 228 fêmeas ovígeras e 57 indivíduos de sexo não determinado). A distribuição de freqüência de tamanho obtida foi bimodal não normal para o total dos indivíduos coletados. A razão sexual obtida não diferiu do valor esperado (1; 1.00) sendo a população enquadrada no modelo Anômalo de ocorrência dos sexos em relação às classes de tamanho. O dimorfismo sexual em relação ao tamanho foi caracterizado, sendo que os machos foram significativamente maiores do que as fêmeas. De acordo com a dispersão dos pontos empíricos, foi possível determinar como possível intervalo para a maturidade sexual o tamanho entre 3.5 e 4.5 mm de LC. Fêmeas ovígeras estiveram presentes em altas porcentagens em todos os meses amostrados. A alta porcentagem de fêmeas com ovos em estágio inicial de desenvolvimento seguida pela baixa ocorrência de fêmeas portando ovos em estágio final implicam em rápido desenvolvimento embrionário, com fecundidade superior a encontrada para a maioria dos Porcellanidae estudados. A reprodução contínua verificada justifica o recrutamento contínuo observado nesta população. A ocorrência dos indivíduos coletados não apresentou correlação significativa com os fatores abióticos. A população apresentou índice de infestação de 4% pelo Isopoda Bopyridae Abopopyrus sp, variando nos meses amostrados, porém, não foi verificada nenhuma alteração nos processos de crescimento e reprodução aparentemente causados pela presença do parasita. Sabe-se das implicações de se viver em um ambiente constantemente perturbado pela ação antrópica, mas ao contrário do que se esperava, a população de P. armatus demonstra indícios de estabilidade, apresentando perfil populacional semelhante ao obtido para a mesma espécie localizada em áreas preservadas, estando, portanto, segundo o presente estudo, bem estabelecida na região estudada. / The Porcellanidae Family is composed by anomurans that are morphologically similar to members of the Infraordem Brachyura, those called \"true crabs\", because of the accentuated carcinization process. Considering the reduced amount of biological information about this litoranean crustaceans, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, this study evaluated ecological aspects of Petrolisthes armatus inhabitants of the Araçá region, São Sebastião, SP, in order to better knowledge of its life cycle and thus to the development of projects of preservation and maintenance of its natural stocks on a non-preserved area. Furthermore, comparisons of the obtained pattern were made with populations from preserved areas. The samplings were realized from March 2005 to July 2006 and during this period 775 (333 males, 157 non-ovigerous females, 228 ovigerous females and 57 non-determined sex) individuals were collected. The frequency distribution size for all the individuals collected was bimodal and non-normal. The sex ratio obtained was not different from the expected (1: 1) and the population is classified on the Anomalous pattern. Sexual dimorphism in relation to size was characterized, being males significantly larger than females. According to the dispersion points of the empiric data, it was possible to infer that the probable size interval of sexual maturity was 3.5 to 4.5 mm CL. Ovigerous females were present on high percentages during all months. A high percentage of females with eggs in early developmental stages, followed by the low presence of females with eggs in the final stage were indicatives of fast embryonary development, with fecundity superior than that registered for the major number of Porcellanidae species studied. The continuous reproductive activity verified justify the continuous recruitment activity observed in this population. No significant correlation between collected individuals and abiotic parameters was verified. The population presented infestation index of 4% by the Isopod Bopyrid Aporobopyrus sp, which varied in sampled months but none alteration was verified in the growth and reproduction processes caused by the parasite presence. Its well know the implications of living in an environment frequently disturbed by the human action, but the contrary of what was expected, the P. armatus population demonstrated stability traces, showing a profile similar to the obtained for the same species inhabiting preserved areas, and being therefore in the present study, classified as well established in the studied area.

In an attempt to describe, explain, and show the demographic significance of annual variations in the nesting distribution of Uinta ground squirrels, a study was conducted during the summers of 1964 through 1967 in northern Utah. Procedures included both trapping and direct observation. It was found that females tended to nest in open, previously inhabited, grassy areas. Males resided throughout a variety of habitats. This typical nesting distribution was established initially in the summer by juveniles shortly after they first appeared aboveground. The extent to which the distribution was maintained the following spring depended largely upon the number of female s which emerged from hibernation and the pattern in which they emerged. The number of females which appeared depended upon the previous year's breeding density and productivity. The pattern of emergence appeared to be a function of an inherent pattern of physiological arousal from hibernation and the prevailing weather conditions. The number and sequence of emergence of females in the early spring affected breeding and social organization in a manner which limited the number of females which retained residences in the study area. This determined the actual breeding density. In addition, emergence influenced the production of offspring by altering both the breeding density and the number of non-productive females in the population. The adaptive significance of the system and its applicability to other species are discussed.

This study investigated alarm calls given by Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus) in the presence of a ground predator. I observed predator responses of 18 groups of three to four squirrels each for an average of three trials apiece. r~y objectives were: (1) to describe prey-predator interactions resulting in alarm calls, and (2) to test the following hypotheses: 1. Each Uinta ground squirrel (by sex and age) has an equal probability of giving an alarm call at any time of the season. 2. All Uinta ground squirrels are equally likely to call regardless of their distance to a burrow, closest conspecific, and the predator. 3. Alarm calls are as likely to occur in the search stage of predation as in the pursuit stage. 4. Callers and noncallers are equally vulnerable to predation. I found that: ( 1) each Uinta ground squirrel (by sex and age) in the experimental population had an equal probability of giving an alarm call in the presence of a predator through the season, (2) callers and noncallers were equally close to burrows at the time of the call, (3) the caller was typically located farther away from its closest conspecific than noncallers at the time of the cal l, (4) the caller was significantly closer to the predator than were noncallers at the time of the call, (5) alarm calls occurred significantly more often in the pursuit stage of predation than in the search stage, and (6) noncallers suffered significantly more predation than did callers. There appeared to be little risk and energetic cost associated with calling. Squirrels that called usually were being pursued by the predator and were very close to a burrow when they called. The callers had little to lose and could increase their inclusive fitness by warning relatives of the presence of danger. This study dealt only with responses to ground predators. Squirrels are likely to respond differently to avian predators. It is suggested that responses of animals to avian and terrestrial predators should vary with the potential threat that the predator poses. The apparent inhibition of secondary calls is discussed. Once animals are aware of the presence of danger, there is no need for another animal to repeat the message and reveal its location to the predator.

Hematological comparisons were made on the Uinta ground squirrel (Citellus armatus) trapped at different altitudes and during vari ou s stages of seasonal activity in 1965 and 1966. Hematological variation due to sex, sexual activity and body weight were also analyzed. Ground squirrels were secured from the Mt. Timpanogos area near Provo, Utah County, Utah. Erythrocyte count, hematocrit, total blood hemoglobin, mean erythrocyte volume, mean erythrocyte hemoglobin and reticulocyte counts were measured using standard procedures; banding patterns of hemoglobin and serum proteins wer e determined by means of electrophoresis with polyacetate strips.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the weight changes of selected internal organs to determine possible physiological variation occurring at six different altitudes ranging from 5,800 to 8,500 feetand during the summer season. This report was limited to the study of changes in the adrenal glands, kidneys, testes, heart and intestines. Electrocardiogram, heart and respiration rates were investigated also. These changes were statistically analyzed to determine possible seasonal differences along with any significant changes occurring at different elevations. The results of the study should in part overcome the lack of current experimental data for Citellus armatus.

Submitted by Cleide Dantas (cleidedantas@ufpa.br) on 2014-11-10T12:10:53Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_DinamicaPopulacionalDistribuicao.pdf: 1597744 bytes, checksum: 7d9598721003b7cc43ec7b683a575751 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2014-11-11T12:13:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_DinamicaPopulacionalDistribuicao.pdf: 1597744 bytes, checksum: 7d9598721003b7cc43ec7b683a575751 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-11-11T12:13:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_DinamicaPopulacionalDistribuicao.pdf: 1597744 bytes, checksum: 7d9598721003b7cc43ec7b683a575751 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A dissertação foi elaborada conforme formatação do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Universidade Federal do Pará, sendo separada em capítulos, contendo um capítulo geral e mais três capítulos no formato de artigos. O capítulo geral contém uma breve introdução sobre a biologia do porcelanídeo Petrolisthes armatus baseada na literatura disponível. O capítulo 1 verificou a flutuação da densidade populacional de P. armatus ao longo do ano e em relação a um gradiente de salinidade de um estuário amazônico brasileiro. O capítulo 2 investiga simultaneamente a relação da densidade larval e de adultos de Petrolisthes armatus. O capítulo 3 relata alguns aspectos da dinâmica populacional de P. armatus em um estuário na Região Equatorial do Atlântico Ocidental, ressaltando a importância deste trabalho para efetuar comparações desta população em diferentes latitudes. Ao final, apresenta-se os principais avanços encontrados, ampliando o conhecimento existente sobre a espécie.

This research describes and analyzes the behavior of free-living Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus) temporally, spatially and with reference to differences in sex, age, population density and habitat. In addition, the relationships between local meteorological parameters and time spent above ground are described and analyzed. The frequency of eight behaviors, feeding, moving, encounters, upright, motionless, grooming, nest gathering and calling, among ground squirrels was found to be labile, varying in frequency with time of day, period of the season, sex, age, population density and habitat, and varying in spatial distribution within the home range. The dominant behavior, feeding, was most frequent during the first and last two hours of the day and tended to occur within the home range core during these hours. During the midday periods home range use became more general and the frequency of the other behaviors increased as feeding frequency decreased. During periods of sexual activity (the beginning and end of the homeothermic season), male ground squirrels displayed high frequencies of encounters, moving and calling behaviors.

A study of the conccidia of the Uinta ground squirrel, Spermophilus (Citellus) armatus, was undertaken to determine the incidence of coccidia in a population of these ground squirrels, the life cycle and pathogenicity of the coccidia, and the host specificity of certain of the species of coccidia found in this and five other species of ground squirrels (S. richardsoni, S. variegatus, S. lateralis, S. columbianus, and S. beecheyi). Uinta ground squirrels were live trapped and their feces examined to determine the incidence of coccidian infection. Specimens of S. armatus were maintained in the laboratory and given a pure inoculum of Eimeria callospermophili, E. larimerensis, or E. bilamellata. The animals were then killed at 12 to 24 hour intervals, and tissues were prepared by routine histological methods for microscopical examination. Oocysts of these three species of coccidia from other species of ground squirrels caused patent infections in S. armatus. Spermophilus richardsoni could not be infected with E. larimerensis or E. bilamellata. The incidence of infection in each of the three species of coccidia was similar in adult and juvenile animals. Eimeria bilamellata had the lowest incidence of the three species, and was the only one that caused immunity or was pathogenic in experimental infections. Eimeria callospermophili was recovered from five of the six species of ground squirrels examined and from the prairie dog, Cynomys leucurus. This is evidently the first time that a specis of Eimeria has been found in two rodent genera. Eimeria larimerensis, a species previously reported from prairie dogs, was found in S. armatus. Endogenous stages of E. callospermophili were located above the host cell nuclei of epithelial cells on the villi of the small intestine. Two asexual stages preceded the sexual stages, and oocysts were first discharged five days after inoculation. The life cycle of E. larimerensis was similar to that of E. callospermophili, except that greater numbers of merozoites were produced during schizogony and the endogenous stages were located below the host cell nuclei. Developing macrogametes of these two species differed in that those of E. callospermophili contained basophilic plastic granules that later assumed eosinophilic properties. The plastic granules of E larimerensis were eosinophilic throughout the development of the macrogamets. Microgametocytes of E. callospermophili had a simple type of development, in which the microgametes were formed around the periphery of the gametocyte; the microgametes of E. larimerensis developed around internal formative areas of the gametocyte as well as peripherally. The asexual development of E. bilamellata was determined only in part. Mature schizonts were present on the seventh day after inoculation, and gametogenesis began at this time; oocysts were first discharged on the tenth day after inoculation. Eimeria bilamellata differed from the other two species in that gametocytes developed in epithelial cells, which became displaced, finally being located deep in the lamina propria of the mucosa. Macrogametes contained both basophilic and eosinophilic plastic granules. Microgametogony was more complex than in the other two species, and the microgametocytes were much larger, producing thousands of gametes. Excysted sporozoites of the three species of coccidia differed in morphology and staining properties. The sporozoites of E. callospermophili and E. E. larimerensis had unusually large posterior refractile bodies. Eimeria callospermophili was also unusal in that no PAS positive material was found in the sporozoites.

No description available.