Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-09-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:47:10Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bernarde_ps_dr_rcla.pdf: 3528491 bytes, checksum: e06755e72c8044a60283b938c4063f37 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Em Espigão do Oeste (Rondônia) foi registrada uma riqueza de 56 espécies de serpentes, apresentando uma maior similaridade faunística com a Usina Hidrelétrica de Samuel (RO), localizada relativamente próximo da área de estudo. As serpentes mais comuns foram Liophis reginae (18,6% do total), Oxyrhopus melanogenys (8,4%), Chironius exoletus (6%), Boa constrictor (5,8%), Dipsas catesbyi (5,6%) e Drymarchon corais (5,6%). A freqüência de Bothrops atrox, o viperídeo mais abundante na Amazônia, foi considerado baixo (2%). Um menor número de serpentes foi registrado durante os meses mais secos (junho - agosto), que também coincidiu com a menor ocorrência de anfíbios anuros. Observando a freqüência de potenciais presas (anuros, lagartos, marsupiais e roedores) sazonalmente registrada através das armadilhas de interceptação e queda (todos os grupos), procura limitada por tempo (lagartos dormindo sobre a vegetação à noite e anuros em atividade de vocalização), observa-se que houve disponibilidade de alimento ao longo do ano, embora cada grupo tenha ocorrido em diferentes níveis e picos de abundância. Os principais tipos de presas utilizados pelas serpentes nesta comunidade são lagartos (55,3% das espécies), seguido de anuros (48,2%), mamíferos (26,8%), aves (12,5%) e serpentes (12,5%). Uma análise de agrupamento utilizando dados de tamanho (comprimento rostro-cloacal) e de utilização de recursos (hábitos alimentares, período e substrato de forrageio) originou oito grupos (guildas) de serpentes. Nesta análise de agrupamento, foram reunidas tanto espécies próximas como distantes filogeneticamente, denotando a importância de fatores históricos e ecológicos na estruturação desta comunidade. Maior número de espécies de serpentes foi encontrado dentro de florestas, em relação aos ambientes de pastagens, demonstrando o decréscimo de espécies... / A snake richness of as much as 56 species was recorded at Espigão do Oeste (Rondônia). This makes the studied area faunistically similar to the Samuel Hydroelectric Plant (Rondônia), which is located close to it. The commonest snakes were Liophis reginae (18.6% of the total), Oxyrhopus melanogenys (8.4%), Chironius exoletus (6%), Boa constrictor (5.8%), Dipsas catesbyi (5.6%) and Drymarchon corais (5.6%). It is noticed a low frequency of Bothrops atrox (2%), the most abundant viperid in the Amazon. A lesser number of snakes was recorded during the driest months (from June to August), when there was a lesser occurrence of anuran amphibians as well. By seasonally observing the frequency of potential prey (anurans, lizards, marsupials and rodents), recorded by means of pitfall traps with drift fences (all groups) and time constrained search (lizards sleeping on the vegetation at night and calling anurans), it is noticed that there was availability of food supply throughout the year, although each group occurred at different abundance levels and peaks. Lizards (55.3% of the species), followed by anurans (48.2%), mammals (26.8%), birds (12.5%) and snakes (12.5%), are the main prey for the snakes in this community. A cluster analysis was carried out to produce a dendrogram with information on size (snout-vent length), feeding habits, period and forage substratum. Eight guilds of snakes were formed, according to the similarities in the use of resources. This cluster analysis grouped together species that, phylogenetically, were either close or distant, in order to mark the importance of historical and ecological factors to the structuring of this community. Most snake species were found throughout forested lands more than on pasture lands, showing that the weaker the vegetal structure, the lesser the number of species. Among the causes that may be enhancing or restraining the occurrence...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Specimens from the National History Museum, London, and from the United States National Parasite Collection, Beltsville, United States of America., which had all previously been identified as Mescoelium monas from a variety of definitive hosts (amphibians, reptiles and/or fish), were evaluated using all available literature and the body-type keys developed by Norman Dronen. None of these 85 putative M. monas specimens appeared to fit the original description of M. monas. There are likely multiple species of Mescoelium worldwide, and the M. monas complex, as currently defined, is not a unified monospecific grouping. The present study leads to the conclusion that there can be no fewer than 9 species of Mescoelium (6 body types, 3 of which can be divided into 2 separate groups based on the median or submedian placement of the genital pore). The specimens of M. monas I examined represented 3 of the 6 body types identified by Norman Dronen: the M. monas body type, the M. lanceatum body type, and the M. pesteri body type. Because Mesocoelium is a difficult group within which to distinguish species, it may be expedient in endoparasitic surveys of amphibians, fish and reptiles to consider any specimen of Mesocoelium found to be M. monas. Because Mesocoelium is a difficult group within which to distinguish species, it may be expedient in endoparasitic surveys of amphibians, fish and reptiles to consider any specimen of Mesocoelium found to be M. monas. Subsequent reevalations must consider these key characteristics: genital pore placement, cecal length, vitelline follicle distribution, along with other supporting characteristics.

Orientador: Augusto Shinya Abe / Banca: Marcio Roberto Costa Martins / Banca: Otavio Augusto Vuolo Marques / Banca: Julio Cesar de Moura Leite / Banca: Francisco Luiz Franco / Resumo: Em Espigão do Oeste (Rondônia) foi registrada uma riqueza de 56 espécies de serpentes, apresentando uma maior similaridade faunística com a Usina Hidrelétrica de Samuel (RO), localizada relativamente próximo da área de estudo. As serpentes mais comuns foram Liophis reginae (18,6% do total), Oxyrhopus melanogenys (8,4%), Chironius exoletus (6%), Boa constrictor (5,8%), Dipsas catesbyi (5,6%) e Drymarchon corais (5,6%). A freqüência de Bothrops atrox, o viperídeo mais abundante na Amazônia, foi considerado baixo (2%). Um menor número de serpentes foi registrado durante os meses mais secos (junho - agosto), que também coincidiu com a menor ocorrência de anfíbios anuros. Observando a freqüência de potenciais presas (anuros, lagartos, marsupiais e roedores) sazonalmente registrada através das armadilhas de interceptação e queda (todos os grupos), procura limitada por tempo (lagartos dormindo sobre a vegetação à noite e anuros em atividade de vocalização), observa-se que houve disponibilidade de alimento ao longo do ano, embora cada grupo tenha ocorrido em diferentes níveis e picos de abundância. Os principais tipos de presas utilizados pelas serpentes nesta comunidade são lagartos (55,3% das espécies), seguido de anuros (48,2%), mamíferos (26,8%), aves (12,5%) e serpentes (12,5%). Uma análise de agrupamento utilizando dados de tamanho (comprimento rostro-cloacal) e de utilização de recursos (hábitos alimentares, período e substrato de forrageio) originou oito grupos (guildas) de serpentes. Nesta análise de agrupamento, foram reunidas tanto espécies próximas como distantes filogeneticamente, denotando a importância de fatores históricos e ecológicos na estruturação desta comunidade. Maior número de espécies de serpentes foi encontrado dentro de florestas, em relação aos ambientes de pastagens, demonstrando o decréscimo de espécies...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: A snake richness of as much as 56 species was recorded at Espigão do Oeste (Rondônia). This makes the studied area faunistically similar to the Samuel Hydroelectric Plant (Rondônia), which is located close to it. The commonest snakes were Liophis reginae (18.6% of the total), Oxyrhopus melanogenys (8.4%), Chironius exoletus (6%), Boa constrictor (5.8%), Dipsas catesbyi (5.6%) and Drymarchon corais (5.6%). It is noticed a low frequency of Bothrops atrox (2%), the most abundant viperid in the Amazon. A lesser number of snakes was recorded during the driest months (from June to August), when there was a lesser occurrence of anuran amphibians as well. By seasonally observing the frequency of potential prey (anurans, lizards, marsupials and rodents), recorded by means of pitfall traps with drift fences (all groups) and time constrained search (lizards sleeping on the vegetation at night and calling anurans), it is noticed that there was availability of food supply throughout the year, although each group occurred at different abundance levels and peaks. Lizards (55.3% of the species), followed by anurans (48.2%), mammals (26.8%), birds (12.5%) and snakes (12.5%), are the main prey for the snakes in this community. A cluster analysis was carried out to produce a dendrogram with information on size (snout-vent length), feeding habits, period and forage substratum. Eight guilds of snakes were formed, according to the similarities in the use of resources. This cluster analysis grouped together species that, phylogenetically, were either close or distant, in order to mark the importance of historical and ecological factors to the structuring of this community. Most snake species were found throughout forested lands more than on pasture lands, showing that the weaker the vegetal structure, the lesser the number of species. Among the causes that may be enhancing or restraining the occurrence...(Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

A prominent scenario for the evolution of reptilian placentation infers that placentotrophy arose by gradual modification of a simple vascular chorioallantoic placenta to a complex structure with a specialized region for nutrient transfer. The structure of the chorioallantoic placenta of Niveoscincus ocellatus, apparently described originally from a single embryonic stage, was interpreted as a transitional evolutionary type that provided support for the model. Recently, N. ocellatus has been found to be as placentotrophic as species with complex chorioallantoic placentae containing a specialized region called a placentome. We studied placental development in N. ocellatus and confirmed that the chorioallantoic placenta lacks specializations found in species with a placentome. We also found that this species has a specialized omphaloplacenta. The chorioallantoic placenta is confined to the region adjacent to the embryo by a membrane, similar to that found in some other viviparous skinks, that divides the egg into embryonic and abembryonic hemispheres. We term this structure the "inter-omphalopleuric" membrane. The position of this membrane in N. ocellatus is closer to the embryonic pole of the egg than to the abembryonic pole and thus the surface area of the omphaloplacenta is greater than that of the chorioallantoic placenta. In addition, the omphaloplacenta is regionally diversified and more complex histologically than the chorioallantoic placenta. An impressive and unusual feature of the omphaloplacenta of N. ocellatus is the development of extensive overlapping folds in the embryonic component of midgestation embryos. The histological complexity and extensive folding of the omphaloplacenta make this a likely site of placental transfer of nutrients in this species.

Dans son Historia Animalium en 343 av. J.C., Aristote proposait déjà deux critères qui continuent d’être les bases fondamentales de notre compréhension de la diversité des modes de reproduction : l’origine des nutriments des embryons (lécitotrophie vs. matrotrophie) et le mode de parition (oviparité vs. viviparité). Depuis plusieurs décennies la compréhension de la transition évolutive vers la viviparité a attiré un intérêt scientifique considérable. En effet les analyses phylogénétiques récentes reconnaissent une évolution indépendante de la viviparité dans plus de 150 lignées de vertébrés dont au moins 115 concernent uniquement le taxon des reptiles squamates actuels (lézards, serpents et amphisbènes). Les lignées présentant une transition évolutive de l’oviparité à la viviparité chez les squamates se retrouvent généralement associées aux climats froids, mais pas uniquement. Les explications proposées pour ce patron reposent sur le contrôle comportemental de la température de développement chez les femelles gestantes, offrant ainsi des températures plus favorables que celles des sites de ponte situés sous la surface du sol. Durant cette thèse doctorale nous avons étudié une espèce à reproduction bimodale (Zootoca vivipara) chez qui coexistent des populations ovipares et vivipares disjointes. Ce contexte nous a permis de comparer les modes reproducteurs en minimisant les biais phylogénétiques. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence et quantifier différents coûts « potentiels » de la reproduction (énergétique, contrainte volumique, phénotype des nouveau-nés) et certains bénéfices (phénologie et performance des nouveau-nés) associés à la régulation maternelle du développement. Nos résultats nous amènent à discuter des différentes pressions de sélection s’exerçant sur la durée de rétention des embryons, dont les directions seraient opposées et/ou dont l’intensité serait variable au cours du développement embryonnaire. Dans ce schéma, la viviparité ne devrait être favorisée que dans des contextes plus contraignants et où les bénéfices thermiques compensent les coûts de prolongation de la rétention. Ce contexte sélectif aurait abouti chez les squamates à l’existence de deux modalités reproductives avec entre elles une instabilité évolutive des états intermédiaires. / In his Historia Animalium in 343 B.C., Aristotle proposed two fundamental distinguishing criteria for reproductive diversity: the source of nutrients for embryonic development (lecitotrophy vs. matrotrophy) and partuition mode (oviparity vs. viviparity). Understanding the evolutionary transition to viviparity attracted considerable scientific interest over the past few decades. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that viviparity has originated independently in more than 150 vertebrate lineages, including in a minimum of 115 clades of extant squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians). Transitions from oviparity to viviparity in squamate reptiles seem closely related to cold climates, but not exclusively. Explanations for this pattern are based on the fact that pregnant females can behaviouraly thermoregulate and thus offer more suitable developmental temperatures than those available in nests under the soil surface. During this PhD thesis we studied a reproductively bi-modal species (Zootoca vivipara) in which non-overlapping oviparous and viviparous populations exist. This context allowed us to compare oviparous and viviparous reproductive modes while minimizing phylogenetic biases. We identified and quantified potential reproductive costs (energy, volume constraints, offspring phenotype) and also benefits (phenology and offspring performances) associated with maternal thermoregulation. Our results provide support for multiple selective pressures on embryo retention, with variable intensities and opposite directions depending on embryonic developmental stage. In this scheme, viviparity should be selected in constraining environments where thermal advantages exceed the costs of increased retention. This context may explain the dichotomy observed in squamate reproductive modes and the evolutionary instability of intermediate stages.

The family Papillomaviridae contains more than 320 papillomavirus types, with most having been identified as infecting skin and mucosal epithelium in mammalian hosts. To date, only nine non-mammalian papillomaviruses have been described from birds (n = 5), a fish (n = 1), a snake (n = 1), and turtles (n = 2). The identification of papillomaviruses in sauropsids and a sparid fish suggests that early ancestors of papillomaviruses were already infecting the earliest Euteleostomi. The Euteleostomi clade includes more than 90 per cent of the living vertebrate species, and progeny virus could have been passed on to all members of this clade, inhabiting virtually every habitat on the planet. As part of this study, we isolated a novel papillomavirus from a 16-year-old female Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) from Cape Crozier, Ross Island (Antarctica). The new papillomavirus shares similar to 64 per cent genome-wide identity to a previously described Adelie penguin papillomavirus. Phylogenetic analyses show that the non-mammalian viruses (expect the python, Morelia spilota, associated papillomavirus) cluster near the base of the papillomavirus evolutionary tree. A papillomavirus isolated from an avian host (Northern fulmar; Fulmarus glacialis), like the two turtle papillomaviruses, lacks a putative E9 protein that is found in all other avian papillomaviruses. Furthermore, the Northern fulmar papillomavirus has an E7 more similar to the mammalian viruses than the other avian papillomaviruses. Typical E6 proteins of mammalian papillomaviruses have two Zinc finger motifs, whereas the sauropsid papillomaviruses only have one such motif. Furthermore, this motif is absent in the fish papillomavirus. Thus, it is highly likely that the most recent common ancestor of the mammalian and sauropsid papillomaviruses had a single motif E6. It appears that a motif duplication resulted in mammalian papillomaviruses having a double Zinc finger motif in E6. We estimated the divergence time between Northern fulmar-associated papillomavirus and the other Sauropsid papillomaviruses be to around 250 million years ago, during the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition and our analysis dates the root of the papillomavirus tree between 400 and 600 million years ago. Our analysis shows evidence for niche adaptation and that these non-mammalian viruses have highly divergent E6 and E7 proteins, providing insights into the evolution of the early viral (onco-)proteins.

Virginia striatula is a viviparous snake with a complex pattern of embryonic nutrition. Nutrients for embryonic development are provided by large, yolked eggs, supplemented by placental transfer. Placentation in this species is surprisingly elaborate for a predominantly lecithotrophic squamate reptile. The embryonic-maternal interface consists of three structurally distinct areas, an omphalallantoic placenta and a regionally diversified chorioallantoic placenta. The chorioallantoic placenta over the embryonic hemisphere (paramesometrial region) of the egg, features close apposition of embryonic and uterine blood vessels because of the attenuate form of the interceding epithelial cells. The periphery of the chorioallantoic placenta, which is adjacent to the omphalallantoic placenta, is characterized by a simple cuboidal uterine epithelium apposed to a stratified cuboidal chorionic epithelium. There are no sites with attenuate epithelial cells and close vascular apposition. The morphology of the omphalallantoic placenta is similar to that of the peripheral chorioallantoic placenta, except that the height of uterine epithelial cells is greater and allantoic blood vessels are not associated with the embryonic epithelium. The functional capabilities of the three placental regions are not known, but structural characteristics suggest that the omphalallantoic placenta and peripheral zone of the chorioallantoic placenta are sites of nutritional provision via histotrophy. The paramesometrial region of the chorioallantoic placenta is also nutritive, in addition to functioning as the primary embryonic respiratory system. The structure of the chorioallantoic placenta of V. striatula is a new placental morphotype for squamate reptiles that is not represented by a classic model for the evolution of reptilian placentation.

ABSTRACT Sexual selection may influence aspects of male morphology associated with territoriality, female choice, aggression and contest success. Attributes that are most commonly selected for include body size, condition, weaponry, endurance and bright coloration. I investigated the relationships between morphology, use of space and home range quality, and access to females. Specifically, I examined the relationships between colour, body size and condition, and whether morphology could predict aggression or contest success. Colour spectral data were analyzed using both traditional measures of colour (hue, chroma, brightness) and principal components. Males with darker, more saturated chests, and more saturated throats, had larger home ranges. Home range quality, as determined by refuge number and prey availability, was associated with blue chests and blue throats and chests, respectively. Males with larger home ranges had higher numbers of associated females and spent more time courting females. Larger males in better condition had darker, more saturated chests. Males in better body condition were also more aggressive. There was a consistent trend for larger males to win more contests, but this relationship was only significant in analyses using traditional measures of colour.

L-Lactate dehydrogenases (LDH) are ¡§house keeping¡¨ enzymes. The LDH isozymes are known to be a very stable, slow-evolving and suitable to be a model to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among various species. The cDNA sequences of LDH-A4 (muscle) and LDH-B4 (heart) from green iguana (Iguana iguana) were determined. The results of isozyme electrophoresis demonstrated that there are two isoforms of Iguana iguana LDH-B isozyme and called LDH-B and LDH-b. The protein structures of LDH-B and LDH-b monomer were constructed, and these two proteins have the same structure except the 5 different amino acids. The phylogenetic relationships between green iguana and other vertebrates, whose LDH cDNA sequences published previously, were analyzed by phylogenetic tree construction methods Mega2 program as well as Phylip program. These results on the relationships among lizards indicate that Iguana iguana is closer to Sceloporus woodi than to Sceloporus undulates. The divergent times between Iguana iguana and Sceloporus woodi, Iguana iguana and Sceloporus undulatus were estimated about 98 and 188 million years, respectively. The sequences of mitochondrial DNA(12S, 16S and ND1) among these three lizards were also analyzed, and the results were consistent with the traditional phylogenetics that species in the same genus were closer. The unexpected relationship that different genus of Iguana iguana and Sceloporus woodi is closer than that within same genus of Sceloporus woodi and Sceloporus undulates by analyzing among vertebrates LDH isozymes remained to be further confirmed.

Brazilian tegus (Tupinambis merianae) were instrumented with telemetry encoder implants that measured and broadcast heart rate (HR), breathing rate (fR), and deep body temperature (Tb) and were then allowed to freely roam in outdoor enclosures mimicking their natural environment for a full year (2004) in order to monitor the circadian and circannual patterns in behaviour and cardio-respiratory physiology. The year was divided up into 5 seasons based upon the physiology and behaviour of the tegus: early activity season (Sept.-Nov.), late activity season (Dec.-Feb.), entrance into hibernation (March-April), hibernation (May-July), and arousal from hibernation (August). The activity seasons were characterized by warm weather with frequent rainfall which slowly decreased in temperature and precipitation as tegus started entering hibernation so that the end of the dormant season was marked by dry, cold weather. Tegus in the early activity season demonstrated high activity associated with breeding demands, displayed elevated HR and fR, and were able to maintain a large temperature differential (4-7°C) between deep body temperature (Tb) and their respective burrow (Tburrow) during sleep. As the season progressed into late activity season, average Tb remained constant but average HR and fR progressively declined indicating nightly torpor. Periods of inactivity during the active seasons were rare and associated with inclement weather. Tegus entered hibernation through bouts of inactivity that progressively increased in frequency and duration. During this time, Tb was regulated but declined at different rates in regards to daytime and nighttime values. Heart rate through the entrance into hibernation and hibernation periods frequently demonstrated arrhythmias that increased in duration but decreased with frequency as hibernation progressed. Through hibernation, Tb continued to decline for the first month but HR and fR were constant, demonstrating a temperature independent suppression of metabolism. Through the hibernation season tegus sporadically aroused and emerged from their burrows to warm up and after a short basking period would return to the burrows and swiftly resume hibernation. While hibernating, heart rate was characteristically regular but breathing was sporadic orepisodic. Arousals became more frequent towards the end of hibernation so that when they entered arousal from hibernation season most tegus were emerging daily. At this time daily maximum deep body temperature (Tbmax) swiftly returned to active season values but nighttime daily minimum deep body temperature (Tbmirt) values only showed a gradual increase through August, indicating different body temperature set points (Tbset) for active and sleep states. Changes in heart rate and breathing rate during the year showed greatest correlation with changes in photoperiod, although throughout hibernation HR and fR also showed tight correlation with Tb.