Call number: LD2668 .T4 1965 V145 / Master of Science

Background. Necator americanus is one of the major causes of human hookworm infection, affecting over 800 million people worldwide. Hookworm infections cause gastro-intestinal bleeding, anaemia and iron deficiency, and are associated with high rates of morbidity, especially in children. Although chemotherapy has proven effective, high rates of reinfection are reported in socioeconomically developing countries, possibly due to the short-term efficacy of anthelmintic drugs in addition to individual predisposition to these infections, raising interests in developing suitable alternatives to chemotherapy which are capable of providing complete, long-term protection against hookworms. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by Necator americanus larvae to penetrate the human skin and the vasculature would therefore aid the development of effective vaccines against this important pathogen. Methods. First, Necator americanus larval exsheathing fluid (EF) and excretory/secretory products (ES) were profiled using gel electrophoresis and enzyme assays. Protease inhibitors against the main protease classes were used to determine which proteases are present in larval products. Second, the interaction of larval EF and ES products with human skin and extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules including collagens I, III, IV and V, fibronectin and laminin was investigated using western blots and protein separation by gel electrophoresis. Third, the impact of Necator americanus larval EF and ES on the endothelial barrier was examined using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Permeability, an essential endothelial barrier function, was assessed during treatment with larval products, using transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), and post-treatment using albumin-tracer flux. Finally, at the cellular level, responses to treatment with larval products were assessed by investigating molecular changes at cell-cell vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin junctions and actin filaments, and by determining levels of secreted inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the culture medium. Results. It would appear that a repertoire of larval proteases, including serine, cysteine, aspartyl and metalloprotinases, caused partial degradation of skin macromolecules, collagens I, III, IV and laminin while fibronectin was fully degraded. Proteolysis of skin- and ECM macromolecules was related to the characteristic presence of proteolytic enzymes in larval products. The presence of transglutaminase activity was confirmed in both EF and ES products. Larval proteases caused a dose related increase in endothelial permeability, characterised by a decrease in monolayer resistance (TEER) with increased permeation of albumin tracer, which was minimal in the presence of a cocktail of protease inhibitors. These barrier changes were associated with disruption of junctional VE-cadherin and F-actin, the formation of intercellular gaps and an increase in endothelial secretion of IL-6 and IL-8. Conclusions. Necator americanus larvae produce a repertoire of proteolytic enzymes which could play an important role in negotiating the skin and breaching the endothelium to gain access to the host’s blood circulation.

A presente investigação teve por objetivo o isolamento de metabólitos secundários biologicamente ativos de nudibrânquios, moluscos conhecidos por produzirem ou acumularem substâncias a partir de suas presas. Foram investigados extratos de quatro espécies de nudibrânquios marinhos juntamente com suas respectivas presas. Além disso, também foi investigado o extrato ativo da esponja marinha Agelas sventres. O estudo realizado com o extrato bruto da esponja marinha Agelas sventres levou ao isolamento de uma série de alcalóides bromopirrólicos, compostos tipicamente encontrados em esponjas do gênero Agelas. Dentre os compostos isolados, a oroidina apresentou atividade inibitória frente à enzima Pdr5p de Saccharomyces cerevisiae. O estudo do nudibrânquio Tambja stegosauriformis e de sua presa, o briozoário Bugula sp., levou ao isolamento de diversos alcalóides da classe das tambjaminas. As tambjaminas C, D, K e o produto de hidrólise da tambjamina B foram observados nos dois animais; o produto de hidrólise da tambjamina A foi encontrado apenas no extrato do nudibrânquio, enquanto que a tambjamina A e um isômero da tambjamina J foram encontrados apenas no extrato do briozoário. O estudo do nudibrânquio Okenia zoobotryon e de sua presa, o briozoário Zoobotryon verticillatum, resultou no isolamento de um único alcalóide indólico conhecido, 2,5,6-tribromo-Nmetilgramina, presente nos dois animais. Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos a partir da investigação do extrato do nudibrânquio Hypselodoris lajensis e de sua presa, uma esponja do gênero Dysidea, com o isolamento de um único diterpeno, a lactona da furodisinina. Embora ambas substâncias sejam conhecidas, este foi o primeiro isolamento destes compostos a partir de espécies de nudibrânquios. Finalmente, a partir do extrato do nudibrânquio Pleurobranchus areolatus foram isoladas duas novas dicetopiperazinas modificadas, estruturalmente semelhantes às rodriguesinas A e B, outras dicetopiperazinas isoladas a partir da ascídia Didemnum sp., provável presa desta espécie de nudibrânquio. Vale ressaltar a utilização de análises por LC-UV-MS e MS/MS neste trabalho, que auxiliaram na identificação uma série de compostos presentes nos extratos estudados no presente trabalho, mesmo em quantidades muito pequenas. / Abstract The present investigation aimed the isolation of biologically active secondary metabolites from different species of nudibranchs, mollusks that can produce or accumulate substances from their preys. We investigated the extracts of four nudibranchs species and their respective preys. The active extract of the marine sponge Agelas sventres, has also been investigated. From the extract of the marine sponge Agelas sventres we could isolate a series of bromopyrrolic alkaloids, substances that are typically found in sponges of Agelas genus. Among the isolated compounds, oroidin was found to inhibit the activity and function of the Pdr5p enzyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. From the extract of the nudibranch Tambja stegosauriformis and its prey, the bryozoan Bugula sp., several known tambjamines alkaloids were isolated. The tambjamines C, D, K, and the aldehyde of the tambjamine B were found in both animals; aldehyde of tambjamine A was identified only in the nudibranch extract, whereas tambjamine A and an isomer of tambjamine J were found on the bryozoan. The study of the extract of the nudibranch Okenia zoobotryon and its prey, the bryozoan Zoobotryon verticillatum, resulted in the isolation of a single known brominated indole alkaloid, 2,5,6-tribromo-N-metilgramine, present on both animals. Similar results were obtained in the study of extract of the nudibranch Hypselodoris lajensis along with its prey, a Dysidea sponge, that led to the isolation of a single diterpene, the furodysinin lactone. Although both compounds are known, this is the first report on the isolation of those compounds from nudibranch species. Finally, the investigation of the extract from the nudibranch Pleurobranchus areolatus provided two new modified diketopiperazines, closely related to modified diketopiperazines, the rodriguesins A and B, isolated from the ascidian Didemnum sp. It is important to note the use of LC-UV-MS and MS/MS analysis in this work, which were important in the identification of several compounds present in the studied extracts in very small amounts.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a hipótese de que a decoada (alteração dos parâmetros físicos e químicos da água) é um fenômeno natural importante na estruturação da comunidade de invertebrados bentônicos do Pantanal do rio Paraguai, bem como a caracterizar a comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos quanto à composição, abundância de organismos e riqueza em função das alterações ambientais provocadas pela decoada. Além disso, pretendeu-se contribuir para o conhecimento da biota do pantanal de Mato Grosso do Sul com o intuito de subsidiar ações de prevenção e/ou mitigação de possíveis impactos ambientais. Os ambientes escolhidos foram dois corpos de água adjacentes ao rio Paraguai, sendo um com características lênticas (Baía Tuiuiú) e outro, semi-lóticas (Bracinho), Corumbá/MS, ambos sob o efeito do pulso de inundação. O capítulo um realizou uma caracterização limnológica dos dois corpos de água ao longo de um ciclo hidrológico, enfatizando as alterações provocadas pela decoada, por ocasião da subida das águas. O capítulo 2 objetivou estudar a composição e a distribuição da fauna de Chironomidae relacionando-as com as alterações limnológicas ao longo de um ciclo hidrológico (abril/2008 a fevereiro/2009), enfatizando a influência da decoada. O capítulo 3 pretendeu conhecer a composição de Oligochaeta, considerando as relações com fatores abióticos, no intuito de contribuir para o entendimento do fenômeno da decoada bem como subsidiar posteriores trabalhos e ações relacionados à gestão da planície pantaneira, objetivando sua manutenção e conservação. A decoada é um evento que potencializa a desestruturação do ambiente, agindo significativamente sobre as populações de invertebrados bentônicos. O fato de não ter sido encontrado nenhum organismo vivo durante a ocorrência do fenômeno destaca a sua importância enquanto fator ecológico essencial na dinâmica das populações biológicas dos ecossistemas pantaneiros. / This study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that the decoada(change in physical and chemical parameters of water) is an important natural phenomenon in the community structure of benthic invertebrates in the Pantanal of the Paraguay River, and to characterize the benthic macroinvertebrate community regarding the composition, richness and abundance of organisms as a function of environmental changes caused by the \'decoada\'. In addition, soughted to contribute to the knowledge of the biota of wetland of Mato Grosso do Sul in order to support programs to prevent and / or mitigate potential environmental impacts. The areas chosen were two bodies of water adjacent to the Paraguay River, one with lentic feature (Tuiuiú Bay) and another, semi-lotic (\'Bracinho\'), Corumbá / MS, both of them suffering the effect of pulse flood. The chapter 1 conducted a limnological characterization of the two water bodies along a hydrological cycle, emphasizing the changes caused by the \'decoada\', when the water level rises. Chapter 2 aimed to study the composition and distribution of Chironomidae fauna relating them to limnologicals changes over a hydrological cycle (the april/2008 to february/2009), emphasizing the influence of the decoada. Chapter 3 intended know the composition of Oligochaeta, considering the relationships with environmental factors in order to contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon of \'decoada\' and support further work and actions related to the management of the Pantanal, aiming to maintain the ecosystem and related services. The decoada is an event that enhances the disintegration of the environment, acting significantly on populations of benthic invertebrates. The fact that no organism had been found alive during the occurrence of the phenomenon underscores its importance as an essential ecological factor in the dynamics of biological populations of wetland ecosystems.

Ecological restorations have become increasingly important as humans have made irreversible changes to ecosystems; biogeochemical cycle alterations and land use changes have led to degraded conditions (Vitousek et al. 1997a). While some modifications to the environment are unavoidable, society is beginning to realize that changes are necessary. While some ecosystem functions may be beyond repair (e.g., biodiversity loss and extinction of species), it is important that the problem is faced head on and those functions that are still salvageable be restored. These environmental repairs can be done through ecological restoration. I looked at two different ecosystems, prairie streams and agricultural streams, that have undergone restoration to help functions. Patch-burn grazing (PBG) is increasingly used as a management practice on the few remaining tallgrass prairie parcels in an effort to simulate effects of large ungulate grazers. Yet, little is known about potential impacts and recovery of aquatic habitats from this management approach. My objective was to assess the influence of PBG with cattle on prairie streams and build on previous research at this site. I hypothesized that cattle grazing would negatively impact water quality and reduce stream biotic integrity, but riparian fencing would mitigate these impacts. We also assessed stream recovery for two years following the removal of ungulates from the study sites and hypothesized that biological and chemical effects would reverse. Six headwater streams (two controls, two PBG with 10 m fenced riparian zones, and two PBG with unfenced riparian zones) on Osage Prairie, Missouri, were sampled over seven years (2009-2015) encompassing pre-PBG (2 years), PBG (3 years), and post-PBG (2 years) periods. Macroinvertebrates and water chemistry were sampled monthly. Nitrate (NO3-) concentrations increased in the fenced and unfenced watersheds compared to the control watersheds (p = 0.015 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and between the fenced and unfenced watersheds (p = 0.001) during the PBG period relative to pre-PBG. Total phosphorus (TP) increased in the fenced and unfenced watersheds after grazing began compared to the control (both p < 0.0001) but did not differ between the fenced and unfenced watersheds (p = 0.187). Relative Chironomidae biomass and abundance increased in the unfenced watersheds in response to grazing (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively). No differences were observed in relative Chironomidae biomass and abundance, NO3-, and TP from pre-PBG to post-PBG indicating the recovery of these metrics. Results suggest that the negative effects of PBG on prairie streams can be somewhat mitigated by riparian fencing. Additionally, these streams are relatively resilient to PBG and recovery can take place during a rest cycle as brief as two years. Approximately one billion dollars is spent annually on restorations of degraded stream reaches in the United States. However, few projects are monitored upon completion, or monitoring focuses on a single parameter. Other than modifications to physical attributes of streams, the influence of restoration projects on ecosystem processes remains largely unknown. We sampled eleven Midwestern streams that had undergone habitat restorations from 3-15 years prior to sampling. Restoration techniques included in-stream habitat enhancements, bank stabilization, and riparian restoration. We predicted that gross primary production (GPP) would be lower in restored streams due to decreased nutrient inputs, and that respiration would be greater due to increased litter inputs from restored riparian areas. We also hypothesized that the restored streams would have greater invertebrate richness, abundance, and biomass, as well as high densities of intolerant taxa such as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT taxa) due to higher water quality and better habitat. Restored reaches and unrestored upstream reaches were sampled for physical characteristics, water chemistry, benthic algal biomass, whole-stream metabolism, and macroinvertebrate communities. GPP in restored sites was marginally higher than unrestored sites (t5 = 2.53, p = 0.05), despite no differences in PO4-3, NO3-, or NH4+ concentrations. Three restored sites were autotrophic (P/R > 1), while four unrestored sites were heterotrophic. Total macroinvertebrate biomass was marginally higher in the restored sites compared to unrestored sites (t10 = 1.94; p = 0.08). EPT biomass was also marginally higher in restored sites than unrestored sites (t10 = 1.91; p = 0.09) but no difference was observed in EPT abundance. Results suggest that stream habitat restorations enhance some, but not all ecosystem processes and marginally enhance macroinvertebrate communities.

Trabalhos objetivando a tafonomia de concentrações fossilíferas geradas em ambiente glacial ou periglacial são raros. Neste contexto, a presente dissertação realizou a caracterização tafonômica das concentrações fossilíferas da Formação Cape Melville, Grupo Moby Dick (Mioceno Inferior), Ilha Rei George, Antártica, tendo em vista a elucidação da gênese destes depósitos. Para tanto, dados relativos a um total de 534 espécimes foram obtidos nas camadas ricamente fossilíferas das quatro seções, denominadas Pingüineira (PRS), Hard Ground (HGS), Chaminé (CS) e Lava Crag (LCS), levantadas no topo da Península Melville entre Janeiro e Fevereiro de 2003. Destas, apenas a Seção PRS apresenta duas camadas fossilíferas distintas (PRS-C1 e PRS-C2). A fauna estudada é composta predominantemente por restos de moluscos bivalves. Restos menos abundantes de corais, caranguejos, gastrópodes e braquiópodes, além de icnofósseis, também estão presentes. A análise da composição taxonômica, ecológica e tafonômica permitiu identificar semelhanças entre as Seções PRS e HGS e entre as Seções CS e LCS. As seções PRS e HGS são compostas dominantemente por bivalves depositívoros da infauna rasa (Ennucula frigida, Enncula musculosa e Yoldia peninsularis), preservados preferencialmente com as valvas articuladas fechadas, porém fora da posição de vida, indicando remobilização da fauna pré-soterramento; a ausência de sinais de fragmentação, abrasão e incrustação indica que os bioclastos não foram afetados por processos bioestratinômicos químicos, físicos ou biológicos intensos. A ocorrência de bioclastos piritizados na Seção HGS é interpretada como resultante da decomposição dos organismos soterrados, ainda vivos, em ambiente anóxico. As assembléias das seções CS e LCS são constituídas dominantemente por bivalves suspensívoros da infauna profunda (Neilo (N.) rongelii), preservados preferencialmente com as valvas desarticuladas, indicando que os processos bioestratinômicos físicos foram mais atuantes, sendo, no entanto, raros os sinais de fragmentação e de outras assinaturas tafonômicas como incrustação e bioerosão. As valvas desarticuladas estão preservadas preferencialmente com a convexidade voltada para baixo indicando que os bioclastos foram colocados em suspensão e redepositados fora da posição de maior estabilidade hidrodinâmica; a orientação em planta destes bioclastos exibe direção preferencial, indicando atuação de correntes fracas e um maior tempo de exposição na interface água/sedimento; a ocorrência de raros restos de bivalves suspensívoros escavadores da infauna profunda (Panopea (P.) cf. P. regularis) e de caranguejos (Antarctidromia inflata) preservados em posição de vida é indicativa de que esta comunidade foi soterrada in situ por sedimentos em suspensão que trouxeram a tanatocenose de valvas desarticuladas. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo reiteram a importância dos estudos tafonômicos e paleoecológicos no entendimento da dinâmica deposicional do passado, contribuindo com um grande conjunto de dados úteis na caracterização de ambientes glaciais e periglaciais. / Works focusing on the taphonomy of fossil concentrations generated in glacial or periglacial environment are rare. In this context, the present dissertation carried out the taphonomic characterization of the fossil concentrations of the Cape Melville Formation, Moby Dick Group (Lower Miocene), King George Island, Antarctica, in order to elucidate the genesis of these deposits. To this end, data relative to a total of 534 specimens were obtained in the richly fossil layers of the four sections, called Pingüineira (PRS), Hard Ground (HGS), Chaminé (CS) and Lava Crag (LCS), investigated at the top of the Melville Peninsula between January and February of 2003. Of these, only the PRS Section presents two distinct fossil layers (PRS-C1 and PRS-C2). The studied fauna is mainly composed of remains of bivalve clams. Less abundant remains of corals, crabs, gastropods and brachiopods, as well as trace fossils, also are present. Taxonomic, ecological and taphonomic analyses allowed similarities to be identified between PRS and HGS and CS and LCS. PRS and HGS Sections are dominantly composed by shallow infaunal deposit-feeding bivalves (Ennucula frigida, Enncula musculosa Yoldia peninsularis), preserved preferentially with closed articulated valves, however out of life position, indicating remobilized fauna; the absence of signs of spalling, abrasion and incrustation indicates that the bioclasts were not affected by intense chemical, physical or biological bioestratinomic processes. The occurrence of pyritized bioclasts in HGS is interpreted as the result of decomposition of the entombed organisms, still alive, in an anoxic environment. The assemblages of CS and LCS Sections are dominantly constituted by deep infaunal suspension-feeding bivalves (Neilo (N.) rongelii), preserved preferentially with disarticulated valves, indicating that the physical biostratinomic processes were more operative; however there are few signs of spalling or other taphonomic signatures such as incrustation and bioerosion. Disarticulated valves are preferentially preserved convex down indicating that bioclasts were placed in suspension and redeposited in a position other than that of greatest hydrodynamic stability; the orientation of these bioclasts in plan view shows a preferential direction, indicating weak currents and a longer time of exposition at the water/sediment interface; the occurrence of rare remains of deep infaunal suspension-feeding bivalves (Panopea (P.) cf. P. regularis) and crabs (Antarctidromia inflata) preserved in life position is indicative that this community was entombed in situ by sediments in suspension that brought the thanatocenosis of disarticulated valves. The results obtained in the present study reiterate the importance of taphonomic and paleoecological studies for the understanding of the depositional dynamics of the past and contribute a great number of data useful in the characterization of glacial and periglacial environments.

The small nemertean <i>Maculaura alaskensis</i> is used as a model for studies of pilidiophoran development. During several microinjection experiments, it became clear several batches of oocytes obtained from wild-caught females contained an intracellular pathogen. Infected oocytes have large vesicles containing dozens to hundreds of refractile oval objects. Examination of oocytes with DIC and confocal microscopy showed the spores within the vesicles were diplokaryotic and contained a coiled tube, traits that are diagnostic of the phylum Microsporidia. The Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular parasites that infect cells of protists and animals. No other microsporidian has ever been found infecting cells of nemerteans and the association between <i>M. alaskensis</i> and this microsporidian is, thus far, undocumented. For my thesis, I described morphological characteristics, molecular phylogeny, and geographic range of the microsporidian. Additionally, I observed parasitic influences on development of infected <i>M. alaskensis</i> and explored other potential host species. / 2021-04-30

Despite major advances in the diagnosis of infections for many pathogenic organisms, there is still a problem obtaining an accurate immunodiagnosis of Echinococcus infection due to its serological cross-reactivity with other species of taeniid cestodes or at higher taxonomic levels. For this reason, there are ongoing efforts to develop a better method for diagnosis of echinococcosis, especially when the parasite has a crucial role in hypersensitivity reactions. Like other helminthic infections, one of the immunological hallmarks is an elevated serum concentration of parasite-specific IgE. Our aim was to assess the use of IgE reporter system as a possible new method for diagnosis Echinococcus spp infection, using RS-ATL8 NFAT Reporter System, which is a humanised rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL) cell line that can be used to detect the presence of specific human IgE directed against Echinococcus allergens and cross-link their receptors, depending on luciferase generation as an indication of presence of parasite-specific IgE, pointing to infection. Towards this goal, we first optimised the use of the humanised RS-ATL8 Reporter System. This was achieved by optimisation of experimental conditions, such as cell density, stimulation time, optimum conditions for sensitising factors and stimulant optimum concentration. Once a robust standard operating procedure had been elaborated, the second goal was to choose a few Echinococcus antigens for the investigation into their immunogenic properties and potential diagnostic value and to express them recombinantly for testing through the RS-ATL8 NFAT Reporter System. The chosen antigens were EF1-alpha, EgAg5, AgB2, Cyclophilin, Eg19, EgTeg, and EgTPx.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-10-04T20:06:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RaimundaSilva.pdf: 3007003 bytes, checksum: 6d2583372b22c581e239bf77c0d1338e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-04T20:06:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RaimundaSilva.pdf: 3007003 bytes, checksum: 6d2583372b22c581e239bf77c0d1338e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-06 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão / ABSTRACT: Soil is the habitat for a number of living organisms that perform essential functions to the ecosystem. The present work aimed to determine the edaphic diversity in large groups under different uses and management of the soil in Cerrado Biome. The study was developed in the city of Mata Roma (3º 70 '80.88' 'S and 43º 18' 71.27 '' W), in the eastern region of Maranhão state, Brazil. It were installed 130 pitfall traps in five areas with different management (millet, soybean, maize, eucalyptus, and pasture) and two reference areas with natural vegetation with different uses (anthropized Cerrado and preserved Cerrado). The traps remained in the field for a period of seven days, after this, the contents were maintained in plastic bottles and taken to the laboratory, where they were sampled and identified in large groups (orders and family). After identification, the biodiversity indexes were determined: (Shanon index, Pielou, Average and total richness and abundance). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate techniques using group dissimilarity. The geostatistical analysis was evaluated by a semivariogram, adjusted to a geostatistical, spherical, gaussian or exponential model. The multifractality was analyzed by the current method, in successive segments of different sizes of 2k , k=0 a k= 7 in the range of q = +10 to q = -10. 20,995 arthropods were collected throughout the study. The highest abundance was found for millet (9,974 individuals), and the lowest abundance values were reported for soybean (222) and maize (824), respectively. The highest biodiversity index is reported for the soybean area (2.69), although there is less abundance, in this area, the groups are evenly distributed due to the homogeneous management in the study area. The main axis in the analysis of the main components (PCA) explained 50.9% of the correlation of the groups with the sampled areas. The dendrogram had demonstrated that the area of soybean and maize are similar and had isolated the area of millet with the most dissimilar in relation to the others. The use and management of the soil in the study areas determine the occurrence of soil arthropods in function of food availability. For the areas of millet, maize, eucalyptus, anthropized Cerrado and pasture the Shanon diversity index obtained pure nugget effect. For the areas of millet, maize, anthropized Cerrado and pasture, the total diversity index was adjusted to the gaussian model. Only for the areas of soybean and pasture the staggered semivariograms showed similarity in the spatial variability of indexes, indicating that they behave similarly. The multifractality generated generalized dimension, D0, for all the indexes in the millet area, with invariant values, D0 = 1.000 ± 0.000. The singularity spectra were curves in concave parables with greater or smaller asymmetry for all areas sampled. In general, the fauna of soil presented spatial variability and multifractal parameters. / ABSTRACT: Soil is the habitat for a number of living organisms that perform essential functions to the ecosystem. The present work aimed to determine the edaphic diversity in large groups under different uses and management of the soil in Cerrado Biome. The study was developed in the city of Mata Roma (3º 70 '80.88' 'S and 43º 18' 71.27 '' W), in the eastern region of the State of Maranhão, Brazil. Were installed 130 pitfall traps in five areas with different management (Millet, Soybean, Maize, Eucalyptus, and Pasture) and two reference areas with natural vegetation with different uses (anthropized Cerrado and preserved Cerrado). The traps remained in the field for a period of seven days, after this, the contents were maintained in plastic bottles and taken to the laboratory, where they were sampled and identified in large groups (orders and family). After identification, the biodiversity indexes were determined: (Shanon index, Pielou, Average and total richness and abundance). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate techniques using group dissimilarity. 20,995 arthropods were collected throughout the study. The highest abundance was found for millet (9,974 individuals), and the lowest abundance values were reported for soybean (222) and maize (824), respectively. The highest biodiversity index is reported for the soybean area (2.69), although there is less abundance, in this area, the groups are evenly distributed due to the homogeneous management in the study area. The main axis in the analysis of the main components (PCA) explained 50.9% of the correlation of the groups with the sampled areas. The dendrogram had demonstrated that the area of soybean and maize are similar and had isolated the area of millet with the most dissimilar in relation to the others. The use and management of the soil in the study areas determine the occurrence of soil arthropods in function of food availability.

Trabalhos objetivando a tafonomia de concentrações fossilíferas geradas em ambiente glacial ou periglacial são raros. Neste contexto, a presente dissertação realizou a caracterização tafonômica das concentrações fossilíferas da Formação Cape Melville, Grupo Moby Dick (Mioceno Inferior), Ilha Rei George, Antártica, tendo em vista a elucidação da gênese destes depósitos. Para tanto, dados relativos a um total de 534 espécimes foram obtidos nas camadas ricamente fossilíferas das quatro seções, denominadas Pingüineira (PRS), Hard Ground (HGS), Chaminé (CS) e Lava Crag (LCS), levantadas no topo da Península Melville entre Janeiro e Fevereiro de 2003. Destas, apenas a Seção PRS apresenta duas camadas fossilíferas distintas (PRS-C1 e PRS-C2). A fauna estudada é composta predominantemente por restos de moluscos bivalves. Restos menos abundantes de corais, caranguejos, gastrópodes e braquiópodes, além de icnofósseis, também estão presentes. A análise da composição taxonômica, ecológica e tafonômica permitiu identificar semelhanças entre as Seções PRS e HGS e entre as Seções CS e LCS. As seções PRS e HGS são compostas dominantemente por bivalves depositívoros da infauna rasa (Ennucula frigida, Enncula musculosa e Yoldia peninsularis), preservados preferencialmente com as valvas articuladas fechadas, porém fora da posição de vida, indicando remobilização da fauna pré-soterramento; a ausência de sinais de fragmentação, abrasão e incrustação indica que os bioclastos não foram afetados por processos bioestratinômicos químicos, físicos ou biológicos intensos. A ocorrência de bioclastos piritizados na Seção HGS é interpretada como resultante da decomposição dos organismos soterrados, ainda vivos, em ambiente anóxico. As assembléias das seções CS e LCS são constituídas dominantemente por bivalves suspensívoros da infauna profunda (Neilo (N.) rongelii), preservados preferencialmente com as valvas desarticuladas, indicando que os processos bioestratinômicos físicos foram mais atuantes, sendo, no entanto, raros os sinais de fragmentação e de outras assinaturas tafonômicas como incrustação e bioerosão. As valvas desarticuladas estão preservadas preferencialmente com a convexidade voltada para baixo indicando que os bioclastos foram colocados em suspensão e redepositados fora da posição de maior estabilidade hidrodinâmica; a orientação em planta destes bioclastos exibe direção preferencial, indicando atuação de correntes fracas e um maior tempo de exposição na interface água/sedimento; a ocorrência de raros restos de bivalves suspensívoros escavadores da infauna profunda (Panopea (P.) cf. P. regularis) e de caranguejos (Antarctidromia inflata) preservados em posição de vida é indicativa de que esta comunidade foi soterrada in situ por sedimentos em suspensão que trouxeram a tanatocenose de valvas desarticuladas. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo reiteram a importância dos estudos tafonômicos e paleoecológicos no entendimento da dinâmica deposicional do passado, contribuindo com um grande conjunto de dados úteis na caracterização de ambientes glaciais e periglaciais. / Works focusing on the taphonomy of fossil concentrations generated in glacial or periglacial environment are rare. In this context, the present dissertation carried out the taphonomic characterization of the fossil concentrations of the Cape Melville Formation, Moby Dick Group (Lower Miocene), King George Island, Antarctica, in order to elucidate the genesis of these deposits. To this end, data relative to a total of 534 specimens were obtained in the richly fossil layers of the four sections, called Pingüineira (PRS), Hard Ground (HGS), Chaminé (CS) and Lava Crag (LCS), investigated at the top of the Melville Peninsula between January and February of 2003. Of these, only the PRS Section presents two distinct fossil layers (PRS-C1 and PRS-C2). The studied fauna is mainly composed of remains of bivalve clams. Less abundant remains of corals, crabs, gastropods and brachiopods, as well as trace fossils, also are present. Taxonomic, ecological and taphonomic analyses allowed similarities to be identified between PRS and HGS and CS and LCS. PRS and HGS Sections are dominantly composed by shallow infaunal deposit-feeding bivalves (Ennucula frigida, Enncula musculosa Yoldia peninsularis), preserved preferentially with closed articulated valves, however out of life position, indicating remobilized fauna; the absence of signs of spalling, abrasion and incrustation indicates that the bioclasts were not affected by intense chemical, physical or biological bioestratinomic processes. The occurrence of pyritized bioclasts in HGS is interpreted as the result of decomposition of the entombed organisms, still alive, in an anoxic environment. The assemblages of CS and LCS Sections are dominantly constituted by deep infaunal suspension-feeding bivalves (Neilo (N.) rongelii), preserved preferentially with disarticulated valves, indicating that the physical biostratinomic processes were more operative; however there are few signs of spalling or other taphonomic signatures such as incrustation and bioerosion. Disarticulated valves are preferentially preserved convex down indicating that bioclasts were placed in suspension and redeposited in a position other than that of greatest hydrodynamic stability; the orientation of these bioclasts in plan view shows a preferential direction, indicating weak currents and a longer time of exposition at the water/sediment interface; the occurrence of rare remains of deep infaunal suspension-feeding bivalves (Panopea (P.) cf. P. regularis) and crabs (Antarctidromia inflata) preserved in life position is indicative that this community was entombed in situ by sediments in suspension that brought the thanatocenosis of disarticulated valves. The results obtained in the present study reiterate the importance of taphonomic and paleoecological studies for the understanding of the depositional dynamics of the past and contribute a great number of data useful in the characterization of glacial and periglacial environments.