The continued existence of New Zealand’s critically endangered and endemic black stilt or kakï (Himantopus novaezelandiae) relies on an intensive captive management programme. While this is successful at rearing large numbers of birds for release to the wild, poor survivability of these birds is limiting significant increases in the wild population. Predation and starvation are suspected to be the most common causes of death in released birds, but underlying contributing factors to these mortalities have not been fully evaluated. This research investigates the possible contribution of gastrointestinal (GI) helminth burdens and suboptimal digestive organ development to the high mortality rates of released kakï. Emphasis is placed on evaluating the methods used to assess the importance of these factors and to make informed recommendations for future management. The efficacy of the anthelmintic regime used for kakï was assessed by dosing half of the 80 captive birds with praziquantel (PZQ) prior to release in 2007. Faecal samples were collected before and after anthelmintic treatment, and before and after release to the wild. Post mortem worm counts were conducted on 11 birds that died following release and historical worm count records dating back to 1997 were accessed. The main findings were: PZQ had high efficacy against trematodes; treatment did not prevent re-infection; birds were exposed to helminths at release site; and there was no advantage of treatment for survival. Overall, the results suggest that anthelmintic treatment is an unnecessary cost. Consequently, recommendations were made to cease anthelmintic treatment or reduce its intensity, continue health screening, and incorporate annual efficacy testing to monitor the emergence of anthelmintic resistance. The reliability of faecal screening for GI helminths was evaluated. Faecal egg counts (FECs) were found to be poor indicators of worm burden. The two modified sedimentation methods used to detect trematodes provided relatively low egg recovery rates. Trematode egg shedding varied between days but not by hour of the day or temperature. The collection and analysis of pooled faecal samples proved to be more cost and time-effective than samples from individual birds and the larger masses collected resulted in greater sensitivity. In conclusion, faecal analysis of pooled samples is a useful qualitative indicator of helminth presence or absence but is quantitatively unreliable. In order to assess the importance of digestive organ development to captive-reared and released kak?, the digestive organs of healthy and emaciated captive, released and wild Himantopus sp. were compared. Captive and released kak? had generally smaller digestive organs than wild birds, released birds did not increase digestive organ size to match the high fibre wild diet, and emaciated birds did not have atrophied organs. However, the greatest mortality rates occur soon after release, while the birds were still being supplementary fed. These results suggest that reduced digestive efficiency is probably not contributing significantly to mortality rates and the direct impacts of the translocation are probably greater risk factors. The continued provision of supplementary food to released birds and an increased focus on habitat enhancement and predator control at release sites were recommended. The reliability of comparing fresh and formalin fixed Himantopus sp. gut specimens was evaluated. Significant differences in fresh and formalin fixed organ dry masses and variation in preserved organ lengths indicate that this variation should be considered in future studies. In conclusion, current management practices appear to be successful in ensuring that GI helminths and reduced digestive efficiency do not significantly lower the survivorship of captive-reared and released kakï. There is a need for further research into developing a more direct physiological assessment of the impacts of GI helminths and gut morphology as well as considering the role that starvation may have on poor survivability.

The continued existence of New Zealand’s critically endangered and endemic black stilt or kakï (Himantopus novaezelandiae) relies on an intensive captive management programme. While this is successful at rearing large numbers of birds for release to the wild, poor survivability of these birds is limiting significant increases in the wild population. Predation and starvation are suspected to be the most common causes of death in released birds, but underlying contributing factors to these mortalities have not been fully evaluated. This research investigates the possible contribution of gastrointestinal (GI) helminth burdens and suboptimal digestive organ development to the high mortality rates of released kakï. Emphasis is placed on evaluating the methods used to assess the importance of these factors and to make informed recommendations for future management. The efficacy of the anthelmintic regime used for kakï was assessed by dosing half of the 80 captive birds with praziquantel (PZQ) prior to release in 2007. Faecal samples were collected before and after anthelmintic treatment, and before and after release to the wild. Post mortem worm counts were conducted on 11 birds that died following release and historical worm count records dating back to 1997 were accessed. The main findings were: PZQ had high efficacy against trematodes; treatment did not prevent re-infection; birds were exposed to helminths at release site; and there was no advantage of treatment for survival. Overall, the results suggest that anthelmintic treatment is an unnecessary cost. Consequently, recommendations were made to cease anthelmintic treatment or reduce its intensity, continue health screening, and incorporate annual efficacy testing to monitor the emergence of anthelmintic resistance. The reliability of faecal screening for GI helminths was evaluated. Faecal egg counts (FECs) were found to be poor indicators of worm burden. The two modified sedimentation methods used to detect trematodes provided relatively low egg recovery rates. Trematode egg shedding varied between days but not by hour of the day or temperature. The collection and analysis of pooled faecal samples proved to be more cost and time-effective than samples from individual birds and the larger masses collected resulted in greater sensitivity. In conclusion, faecal analysis of pooled samples is a useful qualitative indicator of helminth presence or absence but is quantitatively unreliable. In order to assess the importance of digestive organ development to captive-reared and released kak?, the digestive organs of healthy and emaciated captive, released and wild Himantopus sp. were compared. Captive and released kak? had generally smaller digestive organs than wild birds, released birds did not increase digestive organ size to match the high fibre wild diet, and emaciated birds did not have atrophied organs. However, the greatest mortality rates occur soon after release, while the birds were still being supplementary fed. These results suggest that reduced digestive efficiency is probably not contributing significantly to mortality rates and the direct impacts of the translocation are probably greater risk factors. The continued provision of supplementary food to released birds and an increased focus on habitat enhancement and predator control at release sites were recommended. The reliability of comparing fresh and formalin fixed Himantopus sp. gut specimens was evaluated. Significant differences in fresh and formalin fixed organ dry masses and variation in preserved organ lengths indicate that this variation should be considered in future studies. In conclusion, current management practices appear to be successful in ensuring that GI helminths and reduced digestive efficiency do not significantly lower the survivorship of captive-reared and released kakï. There is a need for further research into developing a more direct physiological assessment of the impacts of GI helminths and gut morphology as well as considering the role that starvation may have on poor survivability.

abstract: The Committee on Rare and Endangered Wildlife Species (CREWS) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) made important and lasting contributions to one of the most significant pieces of environmental legislation in U.S. history: the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). CREWS was a prominent science-advisory body within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in the 1960s and 1970s, responsible for advising on the development of federal endangered-wildlife policy. The Committee took full advantage of its scientific and political authority by identifying a particular object of conservation--used in the development of the first U.S. list of endangered species--and establishing captive breeding as a primary conservation practice, both of which were written into the ESA and are employed in endangered-species listing and recovery to this day. Despite these important contributions to federal endangered-species practice and policy, CREWS has received little attention from historians of science or policy scholars. This dissertation is an empirical history of CREWS that draws on primary sources from the Smithsonian Institution (SI) Archives and a detailed analysis of the U.S. congressional record. The SI sources (including the records of the Bird and Mammal Laboratory, an FWS staffed research group stationed at the Smithsonian Institution) reveal the technical and political details of CREWS's advisory work. The congressional record provides evidence showing significant contributions of CREWS and its advisors and supervisors to the legislative process that resulted in the inclusion of key CREWS-inspired concepts and practices in the ESA. The foundational concepts and practices of the CREWS's research program drew from a number of areas currently of interest to several sub-disciplines that investigate the complex relationship between science and society. Among them are migratory bird conservation, systematics inspired by the Evolutionary Synthesis, species-focused ecology, captive breeding, reintroduction, and species transplantation. The following pages describe the role played by CREWS in drawing these various threads together and codifying them as endangered-species policy in the ESA. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Biology 2011

As doenças respiratórias são muito comuns na produção intensiva de suínos, já em javalis são escassas informações sobre prevalência, etiologia e apresentação clínico-patológica destas enfermidades. No entanto, a presença de patógenos respiratórios comuns entre javalis selvagens e confinados e suínos domésticos já foi relatada. Este trabalho descreve as principais lesões macroscópicas e histológicas de pneumonias de javalis e os agentes comumente envolvidos. Foram examinados pulmões de javalis, ao abate, provenientes de criatórios comerciais e a principal lesão macroscópica foi consolidação crânio-ventral dos lobos craniais e médios e lesões crônicas cursando com hiperplasia linfóide na histologia. O principal agente bacteriano detectado foi o Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (58,6%). Outros patógenos bacterianos detectados foram Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (48,8%), Haemophilus parasuis (49,6%), Mycoplasma hyorhinis (41,3%), Pasteurella multocida (9,1%) e Streptococcus suis (9,1%). Na segunda parte do trabalho, a pesquisa de patógenos virais foi direcionada para o Vírus da influenza suína (VIS) com objetivo de estudar o envolvimento em pneumonias de javalis de criatórios e a relação com agentes bacterianos encontrados. O vírus pandêmico A/H1N1/2009 foi detectado em 18,3% (11/60) e sua identidade foi confirmada por sequenciamento. A carga viral para H1N1 clássico variou de 4,58 a 6275 cópias/μL e para o H1N1 pandêmico, de 4,65 a 3863 cópias/μL. Nenhuma amostra apresentou título viral após a inoculação em ovos embrionados. As lesões histológicas principais foram broncopneumonia crônica difusa e pneumonia intersticial mononuclear leve, além de hiperplasia linfóide. As amostras positivas por RT-PCR para o VIS para o pH1N1 foram testadas por IHQ, sendo todas negativas para influenza A, mas todas eram positivas para M. hyopneumoniae. Quando testadas por bacteriologia, 18,2% das amostras foram positivas para P. multocida. O estudo mostrou que as pneumonias em javalis de criatório apresentaram lesões e patógenos associados similares aos encontrados em suínos domésticos ao abate. Este é o primeiro relato da infecção pelo vírus pH1N1 em javalis no Brasil. / Respiratory diseases are very common in swine intensive production, although in wild-boars the knowledge of the prevalence, etiology and clinic-pathological presentation of these diseases are very limited. However, the presence of common respiratory pathogens among wild-boar, captive wild-boar and domestic pigs has been reported. This paper describes the main macroscopic and histologic pneumonic lesions of captive wild-boars and pathogens commonly involved. Captive wild-boar lungs at slaughter were examined and the main macroscopic lesion observed was cranio-ventral consolidation of cranial and middle lobes and chronic lesions associated with lymphoid hyperplasia by histology. The main bacterial pathogen detected was Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (58.6%). Other bacterial pathogens detected were Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (48.8%), Haemophilus parasuis (49.6%), Mycoplasma hyorhinis (41.3%), Pasteurella multocida (9.1%) and Streptococcus suis (9.1%). In the second part of this work, the survey of viral pathogens was directed to swine influenza virus (SIV) in order to study the involvement in captive wild-boar pneumonias and the relation with bacterial pathogens. The A/H1N1/2009 pandemic virus was detected in 18.3% (11/60) and its identity was confirmed by sequencing. The classical H1N1 viral load ranged from 4.58 to 6275 copies/uL and the pandemic H1N1, from 4.65 to 3863 copies/uL. No samples had viral titers after inoculation in embryonated eggs. The main histological lesions were chronic diffuse bronchopneumonia and interstitial mononuclear pneumonia as well as mild lymphoid hyperplasia. Samples positive to pH1N1 were assayed by IHC for SIV, all with negative results, and to M. hyopneumoniae, all were positive. When assayed by bacteriology, 18.2% of samples were positive to P. multocida. This study showed that pneumonia in captive wild-boar had similar lesions and associated pathogens were similar to those found in domestic pigs at slaughter. This is the first report of pH1N1 virus infection in captive wild-boars in Brazil.

As doenças respiratórias são muito comuns na produção intensiva de suínos, já em javalis são escassas informações sobre prevalência, etiologia e apresentação clínico-patológica destas enfermidades. No entanto, a presença de patógenos respiratórios comuns entre javalis selvagens e confinados e suínos domésticos já foi relatada. Este trabalho descreve as principais lesões macroscópicas e histológicas de pneumonias de javalis e os agentes comumente envolvidos. Foram examinados pulmões de javalis, ao abate, provenientes de criatórios comerciais e a principal lesão macroscópica foi consolidação crânio-ventral dos lobos craniais e médios e lesões crônicas cursando com hiperplasia linfóide na histologia. O principal agente bacteriano detectado foi o Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (58,6%). Outros patógenos bacterianos detectados foram Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (48,8%), Haemophilus parasuis (49,6%), Mycoplasma hyorhinis (41,3%), Pasteurella multocida (9,1%) e Streptococcus suis (9,1%). Na segunda parte do trabalho, a pesquisa de patógenos virais foi direcionada para o Vírus da influenza suína (VIS) com objetivo de estudar o envolvimento em pneumonias de javalis de criatórios e a relação com agentes bacterianos encontrados. O vírus pandêmico A/H1N1/2009 foi detectado em 18,3% (11/60) e sua identidade foi confirmada por sequenciamento. A carga viral para H1N1 clássico variou de 4,58 a 6275 cópias/μL e para o H1N1 pandêmico, de 4,65 a 3863 cópias/μL. Nenhuma amostra apresentou título viral após a inoculação em ovos embrionados. As lesões histológicas principais foram broncopneumonia crônica difusa e pneumonia intersticial mononuclear leve, além de hiperplasia linfóide. As amostras positivas por RT-PCR para o VIS para o pH1N1 foram testadas por IHQ, sendo todas negativas para influenza A, mas todas eram positivas para M. hyopneumoniae. Quando testadas por bacteriologia, 18,2% das amostras foram positivas para P. multocida. O estudo mostrou que as pneumonias em javalis de criatório apresentaram lesões e patógenos associados similares aos encontrados em suínos domésticos ao abate. Este é o primeiro relato da infecção pelo vírus pH1N1 em javalis no Brasil. / Respiratory diseases are very common in swine intensive production, although in wild-boars the knowledge of the prevalence, etiology and clinic-pathological presentation of these diseases are very limited. However, the presence of common respiratory pathogens among wild-boar, captive wild-boar and domestic pigs has been reported. This paper describes the main macroscopic and histologic pneumonic lesions of captive wild-boars and pathogens commonly involved. Captive wild-boar lungs at slaughter were examined and the main macroscopic lesion observed was cranio-ventral consolidation of cranial and middle lobes and chronic lesions associated with lymphoid hyperplasia by histology. The main bacterial pathogen detected was Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (58.6%). Other bacterial pathogens detected were Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (48.8%), Haemophilus parasuis (49.6%), Mycoplasma hyorhinis (41.3%), Pasteurella multocida (9.1%) and Streptococcus suis (9.1%). In the second part of this work, the survey of viral pathogens was directed to swine influenza virus (SIV) in order to study the involvement in captive wild-boar pneumonias and the relation with bacterial pathogens. The A/H1N1/2009 pandemic virus was detected in 18.3% (11/60) and its identity was confirmed by sequencing. The classical H1N1 viral load ranged from 4.58 to 6275 copies/uL and the pandemic H1N1, from 4.65 to 3863 copies/uL. No samples had viral titers after inoculation in embryonated eggs. The main histological lesions were chronic diffuse bronchopneumonia and interstitial mononuclear pneumonia as well as mild lymphoid hyperplasia. Samples positive to pH1N1 were assayed by IHC for SIV, all with negative results, and to M. hyopneumoniae, all were positive. When assayed by bacteriology, 18.2% of samples were positive to P. multocida. This study showed that pneumonia in captive wild-boar had similar lesions and associated pathogens were similar to those found in domestic pigs at slaughter. This is the first report of pH1N1 virus infection in captive wild-boars in Brazil.

O campus da Universidade de São Paulo em Ribeirão Preto consiste em uma área de 450 ha, caracterizada por um mosaico de remanescentes de mata e construções, sendo uma das maiores áreas verdes do município. Para suplementar a população de bugios-pretos (Alouatta caraya) existente no campus, este estudo realizou a soltura de um casal cativo. O grupo residente, composto por quatro bugios, foi rastreado seis dias por mês num período de seis meses para verificação da área de vida com finalidade de definir uma área para a soltura do casal. Um macho adulto e uma fêmea subadulta foram unidos em cativeiro no Parque Municipal Morro de São Bento. A formação do casal foi realizada em três fases (familiarização, junção e pós-junção) com gradativo aumento de aproximação. O padrão de atividades foi registrado pelo método de varredura a cada 5 minutos por 2 horas durante 10 dias (para cada fase). Os valores obtidos ficaram próximos ao relatado para o gênero, com aumento do comportamento social no decorrer das fases: 4,4 16 e 35,2% (p<0,001). O casal foi transferido para um cativeiro na área de soltura, onde permaneceu por 44 dias. Neste período foi realizada a avaliação pré-soltura e a reeducação alimentar. Na avaliação pré-soltura foi verificado que a mudança de área não afetou significativamente o comportamento social do casal, cujo valor obtido foi de 29% (p=0,083 em comparação com o valor obtido na última fase da formação do casal). Na reeducação alimentar, gradativamente a dieta inicial de 2000 g de frutas por dia, teve 1200 g substituídas por folhas de cinco espécies vegetais. A soltura do casal foi realizada no dia 10 de novembro de 2009. O casal foi acompanhado das 6 às 18 h, quatro dias por mês num período de um ano novembro/09 à outubro/10, com exceção de janeiro/10 com total de 528 h de observação. O padrão de atividades foi registrado pelo método de varredura a cada 20 minutos. Durante o ano, o casal dedicou 61,7% do tempo para descanso, 5,9% para locomoção não-direcional, 6,1% para locomoção direcional, 10,9% para alimentação e 15,4% para comportamento social. A locomoção direcional, comportamento que melhor expressa a exploração da área, teve os registros de cada mês comparados com sua média anual (18,6). Os meses dezembro, fevereiro e março apresentaram registros acima da média, sendo o mês de dezembro significativamente maior (p<0,001). Os meses maio, junho, julho, agosto, setembro e outubro, apresentaram registros menores, sendo o mês de julho significativamente menor (p=0,032). A alimentação foi registrada pelo método 1-0 a cada 5 minutos. Durante o ano, o casal utilizou 146 indivíduos (árvores e lianas) de 38 espécies pertencentes a 18 famílias. As seis espécies mais consumidas correspondem a 61,3% do total de registros: Maclura tinctoria (14,8%), Leucaena leucocephala (13,3%), Ficus insipida (11,8%), Handroanthus impetiginosus (7,6%), Poincianella pluviosa (7%) e Terminalia catappa (6,8%). O total de espécies consumidas em cada mês foi comparado com a média anual de 9,8. Os meses de dezembro, fevereiro, março, abril e maio apresentaram mais espécies consumidas que a média. Os meses junho, julho, agosto, setembro e outubro apresentaram menos espécies que a média, sendo o mês de julho significativamente menor (p=0,033). A área de vida foi registrada pelo método de varredura a cada 1 hora. Durante o ano, o casal utilizou 50 quadrantes de 50 x 50 m (0,25 ha), totalizando uma área de 12,5 ha. O total de quadrantes utilizados por mês foi comparado com a média anual de 9. Os meses de dezembro, fevereiro e março apresentaram maior quantidade de quadrantes utilizados que a média, sendo os meses de dezembro e março significativamente maiores (p=0,039 e p=0,025). Os meses junho, julho, agosto, setembro e outubro apresentaram menor quantidade de quadrantes utilizados que a média. Foram encontradas duas áreas centrais (utilização > 10%), ambas correspondem à localização dos recursos alimentares mais utilizados e bambuzais altos e densos utilizados como árvores-dormitório. Com esses resultados, foi possível verificar que o casal explorou a área desconhecida até o 5° - 6° mês de soltura. A partir daí, espécies vegetais e quadrantes foram selecionados, evidenciando que o casal se organizou para atingir o equilíbrio das suas necessidades energéticas. Portanto, podemos concluir que já no primeiro ano o casal de bugios se adaptou ao campus, pois garantiu sua sobrevivência. Com um ano e meio de soltura ocorreu o nascimento do primeiro filhote, acrescentado que, além da sobrevivência o casal também garantiu sua reprodução. / The University of São Paulo campus in Ribeirão Preto is an area of 450 hectares, characterized by a mosaic of forest remnants and buildings, one of the largest green areas of the city. For this study a captive couple of black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) was released to supplement the existing campus population. In order to define an area for the release of the couple the resident group, composed of four monkeys, was tracked six days per month for a period of six months to determine their home range adult male and a sub-adult female were united in captivity in the Municipal Park Morro de Sao Bento. The couple formation was accomplished in three phases (familiarization, junction and post-junction) with gradual proximity increase. The activity pattern was recorded using the scanning method, every 5 minutes for 2 hours for 10 days (for each phase). Recorded values were close to those reported for the genus, with increased social behavior during the phases: from 4.4 to 16 and 35.2% (p<0.001). The couple was moved to a cage at the release site, where they stayed for 44 days. During this time the pre-release assessment and rehabilitation diet were implemented. During the pre-release it was verified that the change of area did not significantly affect the social behavior of the couple, whose value was 29% (p = 0.083 compared with the value obtained in the last phase of formation the couple). In the rehabilitation diet, of the initial 2000 g of fruit per day, 1200 g were gradually replaced by leaves of five plant species. The couple was release on November 10, 2009. The couple was followed from 6 am to 18 pm, four days per month for a period of one year - November/09 to October/10, except January/10 - a total of 528 observation hours. The activity pattern was recorded by the scanning method every 20 minutes. During the year they spent 61.7% of the time at rest, 5.9% non-directional movement, 6.1%directional movement, 10.9% feeding and 15.4% in social behavior. The directional movement, behavior that best expresses the exploration of the area, monthly records were compared to the annual average (18.6). December, February and March had above-average results with the month of December significantly higher (p<0.001). May, June, July, August, September and October, showed lower results, with the month of July being significantly lower (p=0.032). The feeding was recorded by the method 1-0 every 5 minutes. During the year the couple used 146 individuals (trees and vines) of 38 species belonging to 18 families. The six most consumed species account for 61.3% of total records: Maclura tinctoria (14.8%), Leucaena leucocephala (13.3%), Ficus insipida (11.8%), Handroanthus impetiginosus (7.6%) Poincianella rainfall (7%) and Terminalia catappa (6.8%). The total number of species consumed in each month was compared with the annual average of 9.8. More species than average were consumed during the months of December, February, March, April and May. Fewer species than the average were consumed during the months of June, July, August, September and October, July was significantly lower (p=0.033). The home range was recorded by the scanning method every 1 hour. During the year the couple used 50 quadrants of 50 x 50 m (0.25 ha), totaling an area of 12.5 hectares. The total number of quadrants used per month was compared with the annual average of 9. The months of December, February and March had a higher number of quadrants that the medium used, with December and March significantly higher (p=0.039 and p=0.025). June, July, August, September and October had fewer quadrants used than average. We found two core areas (use > 10%), both correspond to the most used food resources locations and dense tall bamboo ares used as dormitory trees. The results showed that the couple had explored the new area by the 5th - 6th month of release. Thereafter, plant species and quadrants were selected, showing that the couple had organized itself to balance its Therefore, we conclude that in the first year the couple adapted to the campus, ensuring its survival. After a year and a half of release the birth of first infant occurred. Thus, beyond survival, the couple also assured its reproduction.

As doenças respiratórias são muito comuns na produção intensiva de suínos, já em javalis são escassas informações sobre prevalência, etiologia e apresentação clínico-patológica destas enfermidades. No entanto, a presença de patógenos respiratórios comuns entre javalis selvagens e confinados e suínos domésticos já foi relatada. Este trabalho descreve as principais lesões macroscópicas e histológicas de pneumonias de javalis e os agentes comumente envolvidos. Foram examinados pulmões de javalis, ao abate, provenientes de criatórios comerciais e a principal lesão macroscópica foi consolidação crânio-ventral dos lobos craniais e médios e lesões crônicas cursando com hiperplasia linfóide na histologia. O principal agente bacteriano detectado foi o Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (58,6%). Outros patógenos bacterianos detectados foram Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (48,8%), Haemophilus parasuis (49,6%), Mycoplasma hyorhinis (41,3%), Pasteurella multocida (9,1%) e Streptococcus suis (9,1%). Na segunda parte do trabalho, a pesquisa de patógenos virais foi direcionada para o Vírus da influenza suína (VIS) com objetivo de estudar o envolvimento em pneumonias de javalis de criatórios e a relação com agentes bacterianos encontrados. O vírus pandêmico A/H1N1/2009 foi detectado em 18,3% (11/60) e sua identidade foi confirmada por sequenciamento. A carga viral para H1N1 clássico variou de 4,58 a 6275 cópias/μL e para o H1N1 pandêmico, de 4,65 a 3863 cópias/μL. Nenhuma amostra apresentou título viral após a inoculação em ovos embrionados. As lesões histológicas principais foram broncopneumonia crônica difusa e pneumonia intersticial mononuclear leve, além de hiperplasia linfóide. As amostras positivas por RT-PCR para o VIS para o pH1N1 foram testadas por IHQ, sendo todas negativas para influenza A, mas todas eram positivas para M. hyopneumoniae. Quando testadas por bacteriologia, 18,2% das amostras foram positivas para P. multocida. O estudo mostrou que as pneumonias em javalis de criatório apresentaram lesões e patógenos associados similares aos encontrados em suínos domésticos ao abate. Este é o primeiro relato da infecção pelo vírus pH1N1 em javalis no Brasil. / Respiratory diseases are very common in swine intensive production, although in wild-boars the knowledge of the prevalence, etiology and clinic-pathological presentation of these diseases are very limited. However, the presence of common respiratory pathogens among wild-boar, captive wild-boar and domestic pigs has been reported. This paper describes the main macroscopic and histologic pneumonic lesions of captive wild-boars and pathogens commonly involved. Captive wild-boar lungs at slaughter were examined and the main macroscopic lesion observed was cranio-ventral consolidation of cranial and middle lobes and chronic lesions associated with lymphoid hyperplasia by histology. The main bacterial pathogen detected was Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (58.6%). Other bacterial pathogens detected were Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (48.8%), Haemophilus parasuis (49.6%), Mycoplasma hyorhinis (41.3%), Pasteurella multocida (9.1%) and Streptococcus suis (9.1%). In the second part of this work, the survey of viral pathogens was directed to swine influenza virus (SIV) in order to study the involvement in captive wild-boar pneumonias and the relation with bacterial pathogens. The A/H1N1/2009 pandemic virus was detected in 18.3% (11/60) and its identity was confirmed by sequencing. The classical H1N1 viral load ranged from 4.58 to 6275 copies/uL and the pandemic H1N1, from 4.65 to 3863 copies/uL. No samples had viral titers after inoculation in embryonated eggs. The main histological lesions were chronic diffuse bronchopneumonia and interstitial mononuclear pneumonia as well as mild lymphoid hyperplasia. Samples positive to pH1N1 were assayed by IHC for SIV, all with negative results, and to M. hyopneumoniae, all were positive. When assayed by bacteriology, 18.2% of samples were positive to P. multocida. This study showed that pneumonia in captive wild-boar had similar lesions and associated pathogens were similar to those found in domestic pigs at slaughter. This is the first report of pH1N1 virus infection in captive wild-boars in Brazil.

La diversification de la production, par la domestication de nouvelles espèces de poissons, constitue l’une des solutions pour une aquaculture durable. Dans ce contexte, l’élevage de la perche Eurasienne, Perca fluviatilis, s’est bien développé ces dernières années permettant aujourd’hui une production stable et croissante. Le progrès de la filière requiert, la mise en œuvre de programmes de sélection génétique pour améliorer, entre-autres, la croissance, la reproduction, et la résistance aux maladies. Pour ce faire, la caractérisation génétique des stocks de poisson actuellement en élevage est un pré-requis indispensable afin d’évaluer si la variabilité génétique est suffisante. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons analysé la variabilité génétique entre les populations sauvages de deux lacs alpins (lacs Léman et Neuchâtel) dont les populations sont utilisées comme fondatrices par les perciculteurs et les stocks de deux fermes d’élevage. Nous avons trouvé une seule population panmictique dans le lac Léman, alors que deux sous-populations ont été identifiées dans le lac Neuchâtel et dont la variabilité génétique est plus forte. Par contre, ces populations sauvages ne sont pas représentées dans les stocks d’élevage bien qu’elles étaient utilisées pour fonder les stocks de géniteurs. De plus, la variabilité génétique est plus forte dans les populations captives. Entre les géniteurs et leurs descendances, la diversité génétique n’a pas diminué malgré une faible augmentation de la consanguinité. Ainsi, ce travail permettra aux perciculteurs de mettre en place une réelle gestion génétique de leurs cheptels et par la suite de développer des programmes de sélection. De plus, il a permis de mieux comprendre les liens possibles entre le processus de domestication et l’évolution de la variabilité génétique / The diversification of production, by the domestication of new fish species, is one of the possible solutions for sustainable aquaculture. In this context, the farming of the Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis, has developed well in recent years allowing today a stable and increasing production. The progress of the sector requires, among others, the establishment of breeding programs to improve, growth, reproduction and disease resistance. For this, the genetic characterization of currently farmed fish stocks is an essential prerequisite to assess whether genetic variation is sufficient. In this work, we analyzed the genetic variability among wild populations of two alpine lakes (lakes Geneva and Neuchâtel) whose populations are used by fish farmers to establish their stocks. We found one panmictic population in Lake Geneva, while two sub-populations were identified in Lake Neuchâtel, whose genetic variability is higher. However, those wild populations are not found in captive stocks. In addition, the genetic variability is higher in captive populations. Between parents and their offspring, the genetic diversity has not decreased despite a small increase in inbreeding. Thus, this work will allow fish farmers to set up a real genetic management of their stocks and subsequently to develop breeding programs. Moreover, it provides a better understanding of the possible links between the process of domestication and the evolution of genetic variability

In Sweden, intense human land use, especially forestry, has led to profound changes in the landscape over time, especially within the forest ecosystems. A consequence of this is that several specialist species have become endangered. One group of specialists is the woodpeckers. The middle spotted woodpecker became extinct in Sweden in 1982 and the white-backed woodpecker is today Sweden’s most critically endangered forest-living bird. The white-backed woodpecker is dependent on old deciduous forests, rich in dead wood. The woodpecker is areademanding and hence one of the best indicators or umbrella species for biodiversity in this region. A long-term goal within the conservation of the species is to be able to make more accurate predictions of what is needed in the species habitat to establish a viable population, both in terms of composition of landscape and breeding territories. In addition to earlier studies better tools are needed for measuring the distribution of suitable and potential habitats and finding faster ways of creating optimal habitats. In an attempt to secure the future existence of the white-backed woodpecker in Sweden, restocking of birds are carried out. This presupposes availability of suitable habitats as well as strong enough landscape. Due to intense forestry the presumption for the species is, as stated above, alarming. Comparing the different populations around the Baltic Sea and Norway, great differences but also similarities can be seen, in landscape as well as in territory composition. It seems that fragmentation of foraging patches as well as amount of dead deciduous wood within the breeding territory is critical matters. Grey alder stands in Sweden should have high priority in conservation of habitat for the species. / <p>Funding agency: Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC)</p>

<p>  </p> <p>The Eastern Hellbender (<em>Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis</em>) is a fully aquatic salamander found throughout the eastern United States. Hellbenders require cool, fast-moving rivers and streams with flat rock substrates for shelter. Due to habitat degradation and anthropogenic changes across landscapes, Hellbenders have required intervention programs to reduce extirpation and extinction risks. Over 5000 Hellbenders are found in captive-rearing and breeding programs throughout 15 different states. However, captive-rearing standards vary from facility to facility. </p> <p>Currently, Hellbender captive-rearing programs are based on established zoo guidelines that recommend rearing in traditional glass aquaria until they reach releasable mass (~60 g) at approximately three years of age. To achieve releasable size, the guidelines provide density and food availability requirements based on the amount of available floor space of the enclosure. Unfortunately, because these guidelines lack empirical data, it is unclear whether these recommendations are optimizing captive-rearing efforts for Hellbenders and, therefore, optimizing conservation potential. </p> <p>There is an overall lack of available information on housing conditions and requirements for Hellbenders outside of intraspecies aggression or cannibalism. Because many facilities use different types of housing conditions, there is substantial variation in the time needed to achieve the release size threshold. Our objectives were to: 1) understand how different raceway sizes impact growth rates of juvenile Hellbenders and 2) understand the effects of density and food availability on larval Hellbender growth. Both of these goals will allow us to develop optimal housing and husbandry standards and optimizing conservation potential within rearing facilities. Our study will build on our current knowledge of Hellbender captive-rearing techniques and provide empirical data to create optimal rearing standards nationwide. </p>