Submitted by Pedro Barros (pedro.silvabarros@ufpe.br) on 2018-09-21T21:15:54Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO Danielle de Jesus Gama Maia.pdf: 1683717 bytes, checksum: 92abcf9e88f84b32e96cb7f23591f17e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alice Araujo (alice.caraujo@ufpe.br) on 2018-09-24T17:58:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO Danielle de Jesus Gama Maia.pdf: 1683717 bytes, checksum: 92abcf9e88f84b32e96cb7f23591f17e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-24T17:58:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO Danielle de Jesus Gama Maia.pdf: 1683717 bytes, checksum: 92abcf9e88f84b32e96cb7f23591f17e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-26 / CNPq / No ambiente marinho, a ausência de barreiras óbvias parece indicar ecossistemas marinhos resilientes que facilitam o fluxo gênico entre populações. Contudo, fatores físicos tais como correntes marítimas, temperatura e salinidade contribuem para a definição dos limites biogeográficos e ecológicos através da formação, manutenção e distribuição de uma fauna em especial. O objetivo deste estudo foi utilizar a metodologia de DNA barcode para investigar o efeito da escala geográfica sobre a variação genética e conectividade entre populações de espécies de peixes marinhos ao longo de um gradiente latitudinal no Atlântico Ocidental. Um total de 1549 sequências do gene citocromo oxidase I (COI) pertencentes a 54 espécies foi obtido para quatro províncias biogeográficas do Atlântico Ocidental (Província da Carolina-CR, Caribe-CA, Brasil-BR e Argentina-AR). Na comparação entre espécimes provenientes de diferentes províncias biogeográficas, foram observadas divergências genéticas profundas (>2%) nas espécies Polydactylus virginicus, Achirus lineatus, Harengula clupeola, Elops Saurus, Haemulon plumieri e Pomatomus saltatrix. O DNA Barcode mostrou-se uma ferramenta útil em detectar descontinuidades genéticas ao longo de uma gradiente latitudinal no Atlântico Ocidental. Além disso, a análise de métodos filogenéticos comparativos mostrou que a variação nas distâncias genéticas entre populações de diferentes províncias biogeográficas pode ser influenciada por características biológicas das espécies, como a capacidade de formar cardumes. Contudo, outras características biológicas, como período de reprodução podem ter influência sobre a divergência genética das espécies. Nossos resultados destacam a eficiência deste marcador em uma primeira avaliação sobre o status taxonômico das espécies, assim como na detecção de unidades evolutivas significativas, que poderá nortear futuras revisões taxonômicas, estudos filogeográficos e consequentemente programas de conservação. / In the marine environment, the absence of obvious barriers seems to indicate resilient marine ecosystems that facilitate gene flow between large marine populations. However, physical factors such as ocean currents, temperature and salinity contribute to the definition of biogeographical and ecological limits through training, maintenance and distribution of a special fauna. The aim of this study was to use the barcode DNA methodology to investigate the effect of geographic scale on genetic variation and connectivity among populations of marine fish species along a latitudinal gradient in the western Atlantic. 1.549 sequences of the gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) belonging to 54 species of marine fish they were obtained for four biogeographical provinces of the western Atlantic (Carolina Province -PC, Caribbean-CA, Brazil-BR and Argentina-AR). When comparing specimens from different biogeographic provinces, deep genetic differences were observed (>2%) the species Polydactylus virginicus, Achirus lineatus, Harengula clupeola, Elops Saurus, Haemulon plumieri and Pomatomus saltatrix. The DNA Barcode proved to be a useful tool in detecting genetic discontinuities along a latitudinal gradient in the western Atlantic. Moreover, the comparative phylogenetic analysis methods showed that genetic variation in populations of different distances between biogeographic provinces can be influenced by biological characteristics of the species, such as the ability to form schools. However, other biological characteristics, such as breeding period can influence the genetic diversity of the species. Our results highlight the effectiveness of this marker in a first assessment of the taxonomic status of the species, as well as in the detection of significant evolutionary units, which may guide future taxonomic revisions, phylogeographic studies and consequently conservation programs.

Submitted by Setor de Tratamento da Informa??o - BC/PUCRS (tede2@pucrs.br) on 2015-05-26T11:51:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 469145 Texto Completo.pdf: 7532257 bytes, checksum: 3edfcf4b53ba804d0a33894959a8c48e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-26T11:51:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 469145 Texto Completo.pdf: 7532257 bytes, checksum: 3edfcf4b53ba804d0a33894959a8c48e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-22 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / The members of Cicadidae are insects popularly known as cicadas, easily recognized in your environment because of male singing. Cicadoidea is currently divided into Tettigarctidae and Cicadidae, and this into three subfamilies: Cicadinae, Cicadettinae and Tibicininae. Cicadinae has many neotropical tribes, Fidicinini, one of the most representative, is divided into Fidicinina and Guyalnina and has 16 genera. Into Fidicinina, Fidicina and Fidicinoides are the ones with highest number of described species and none of the other genera of the tribe has a taxomic revision, being absent publications that establish characters to distinguish them. Into Guyalnina, Dorisiana has economic importance as pest of coffee and also taxonomic problems, besides the lack of morphological characters needed for its determination, which is increased by the lack of a review covering all genera present in the tribe. The general goal of this work was execute the taxonomic revision of Dorisiana species improving the knowledge about the taxon, with the specific objective to analyze the morphology of the genus from deposited specimens of collections of national and international institutions; describe the morphological species, including photographs and ilustrations, mostly of the male genitalia; produce a pictorial dichotomous key to distinguish the Dorisiana species. Therefore, of the 16 species of the genus, previously known, four were synonymized, two new combinations and two new species were described, totaling 16 valid species, covered in the pictorial dichotomous key.From these results and studies that led to it, is perceived a great lack of group by works that delimit characters needed for your determination, for genus and species, which is also shared by others neotropical tribes. Starting of these assumptions suggested in the future more studies on characters for a cladistics analysis of the Dorisiana species and the continuity of the studies with the members of the tribe to establish reliable characters in recognition of evolutionary lineages. / Os cidad?deos s?o insetos conhecidos popularmente como cigarras, sendo facilmente reconhecidos no seu ambiente devido ao som emitido pelos machos. Cicadoidea se encontra atualmente dividida em Tettigarctidae e Cicadidae e, esta ?ltima em tr?s subfam?lias: Cicadinae, Cicadettinae e Tibicininae. Cicadinae comporta muitas tribos neotropicais, sendo uma das mais representativas Fidicinini, subdividida em Fidicinina e Guyalnina e contendo 16 g?neros. Em Fidicinina, Fidicina e Fidicinoides s?o os ?nicos que apresentam maior n?mero de esp?cies descritas e nenhum dos demais g?neros da tribo possui uma revis?o tax?mica, sendo ausentes publica??es que estabele?am caracteres para distingui-los. Dentro de Guyalnina, Dorisiana apresenta import?ncia econ?mica como praga do cafeeiro e tamb?m problemas taxon?micos, al?m da car?ncia de caracteres morfol?gicos necess?rios para sua determina??o, o que ? acrescido pela falta de uma revis?o que contemple todos os g?neros presentes na tribo. O objetivo geral desse trabalho foi realizar a revis?o taxon?mica das esp?cies de Dorisiana aprimorando os conhecimentos acerca do t?xon, tendo como objetivos espec?ficos analisar a morfologia das esp?cies do g?nero a partir de exemplares depositados em cole??es de institui??es nacionais e estrangeiras; descrever as esp?cies morfologicamente, incluindo fotografias e desenhos, principalmente das pe?as da genit?lia do macho; produzir uma chave dicot?mica pict?rica para determina??o das esp?cies. Para isso, a partir da an?lise dos exemplares encontrados nas cole??es nacionais e pelo envio de fotografias de material das institui??es estrangeiras, foi realizado o estudo morfol?gico dos esp?cimes e ilustra??es das principais estruturas para a distin??o das esp?cies de Dorisiana.Dessa forma, das 16 esp?cies do g?nero anteriormente conhecidas, quatro foram sinonimizadas, duas novas combina??es e duas novas esp?cies foram descritas, totalizando 16 v?lidas contempladas na chave dicot?mica pict?rica. A partir desses resultados, e dos estudos que levaram a ele, percebe-se uma grande car?ncia do grupo por trabalhos que delimitem caracteres necess?rios para a sua determina??o, tanto em n?vel de g?nero quanto de esp?cie, o que tamb?m ? compartilhado por outras tribos da regi?o neotropical. Partindo-se desse presuposto, sugere-se no futuro o levantamento de mais caracteres objetivando uma an?lise clad?stica de Dorisiana e a continuidade dos estudos com representantes da tribo para se estabelecer caracteres confi?veis no reconhecimento de linhagens evolutivas.

Submitted by Cássio da Cruz Nogueira (cassionogueirakk@gmail.com) on 2016-12-05T13:03:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_DescricaoNovoGenero.pdf: 3673947 bytes, checksum: 3e18e91ae4576a2ad1b53f13fd6dceeb (MD5) / Rejected by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br), reason: Primeiro nome cientifíco em maiusculo. Corrigir as palavras-chaves, iniciar com letra maiusculas. Corrigir na citação após o (mestrado) inserir - e não ponto. Renomear Pdf de acordo com o titulo da dissertação. Falta sigla do Museu. on 2016-12-05T15:37:43Z (GMT) / Submitted by Cássio da Cruz Nogueira (cassionogueirakk@gmail.com) on 2016-12-28T12:24:39Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 9 bytes, checksum: 42dd12a06de379d3ffa39b67dc9c7aff (MD5) Dissertacao_DescricaoNovoGenero.pdf: 3678351 bytes, checksum: 4e1b69f7e54dfd2f354fb9dc6b34760c (MD5) / Rejected by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br), reason: Licença Creative Commons com erro on 2017-01-03T12:58:22Z (GMT) / Submitted by Cássio da Cruz Nogueira (cassionogueirakk@gmail.com) on 2017-01-04T14:25:08Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_DescricaoNovoGenero.pdf: 3678351 bytes, checksum: 4e1b69f7e54dfd2f354fb9dc6b34760c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br) on 2017-01-06T17:32:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_DescricaoNovoGenero.pdf: 3678351 bytes, checksum: 4e1b69f7e54dfd2f354fb9dc6b34760c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-06T17:32:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_DescricaoNovoGenero.pdf: 3678351 bytes, checksum: 4e1b69f7e54dfd2f354fb9dc6b34760c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-12 / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Edessinae é uma subfamília de Pentatomidae que possui sete gêneros, dentre os quais Edessa figura como o maior, com mais de 250 nomes propostos e uma estimativa de mais de 300 espécies a serem descritas. Tamanha diversidade gerou um histórico taxonômico complexo, tornando Edessa o gênero com maiores problemas taxonômicos e nomenclaturais em Edessinae. A revisão do gênero a partir de grupos de espécies é a proposta mais aceita para organizar Edessa e já resultou na descrição de dois novos gêneros de Edessinae. Considerando essa proposta, este trabalho selecionou três espécies relacionadas por Breddin (1905), em adição a oito espécies novas reunidas por estados de caracteres morfológicos potencialmente sinapomórficos. Um Gênero novo para Edessinae é proposto, reunindo espécies que apresentam quatro faixas negras longitudinais e pontuadas na superfície dorsal da cabeça; ângulos umerais projetados lateralmente, levemente achatados dorso-ventralmente; processo metasternal com braços da bifurcação estreitos, longos, afilados no ápice; ambos os tricobótrios abdominais deslocados lateralmente, não alinhados ao espiráculo; gonocoxitos 8 e laterotergitos 8 sempre pontuados; gonocoxitos 8 grandes, de comprimento subigual aos laterotergitos 9; pigóforo com bordo ventral com escavação semicircular, parâmero projetado posteriormente, processo superior da taça genital escuro, laminar, parcialmente fundido à taça genital. Edessa pallicornis, E. bugabensis, E. rorativentris e E. stillativentris foram redescritas e transferidas para o novo gênero. Edessa strigiceps é proposta como sinônimo júnior de Gen. nov. pallicornis. Um sintipo de Gen. nov. bugabensis será designado como lectótipo da espécie. São descritos pela primeira vez os machos de Gen. nov. bugabensis e Gen. nov. rorativentris. As distribuições foram estendidas para Gen. nov. bugabensis (Costa Rica), Gen. nov. rorativentris (Brasil), Gen. nov. stillativentris (Colômbia). São descritas oito espécies novas dentro do novo gênero: Gen. nov. sp. n. 203a, Gen. nov. sp. n. 203e, Gen. nov. sp. n. 205, Gen. nov. sp. n. 206, Gen. nov. sp. n. 207, Gen. nov. sp. n. 207c, Gen. nov. sp. n. 297 e Gen. nov. sp. n. 297b. / Edessinae have seven genera, among them Edessa is the largest with more than 250 names proposed and more than 300 species to be described. The diversity resulted in a complex taxonomical history, so Edessa is the genus with more taxonomical and nomenclatural problems in Edessinae. Review the genus in groups of species is the best proposal to organize Edessa and it already resulted in description of two new genera of Edessinae. This study selected three species described by Beddin (1905), in addition to eight new species chosen for morphological characters. A new genus to Edessinae is proposed, uniting species with four black and punctured stripes longitudinal on dorsal surface of the head; humeral angles laterally projected, slightly flattened dorso-ventrally; metasternal process with branches of bifurcation narrow, long, thin in the apex; abdominal trichobothria placed laterally, not aligned with spiracles; gonocoxites 8 and laterotergites 8 always punctured in females; gonocoxites 8 large, subequal in length to laterotergites 9; pygophore with dorsal rim with semicircular excavation, paramere posteriorly projected, genital cup superior process dark, laminar, partially fused to the cup process. Edessa pallicornis, E. bugabensis, E. rorativentris and E. stillativentris are redescribed and transferred to the new genus. E. strigiceps is proposed as junior synonym of Gen. nov. pallicornis. This study gives the first description of males of Gen. nov. bugabensis and Gen. nov. rorativentris. Extended distribution of Gen. nov. bugabensis (Costa Rica), Gen. nov. rorativentris (Brazil), Gen. nov. stillativentris (Colombia). The lectotype of Gen. nov. bugabensis is here designated. Eight new species are described to the new genus: Gen. nov. sp. n. 203a, Gen. nov. sp. n. 203e, Gen. nov. sp. n. 205, Gen. nov. sp. n. 206, Gen. nov. sp. n. 207, Gen. nov. sp. n. 207c, Gen. nov. sp. n. 297 e Gen. nov. sp. n. 297b.

Pine wilt disease is the result of a complex interaction between a nematode, a host tree and an insect vector. The pine wood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle is the causal agent, being pines the most important hosts. To be dispersed between hosts the nematode requires a vector insect, being the most effective the cerambycid beetles of the genus Monochamus Dejan. The first detection of PWN in Portugal occurred in 1999, and in 2001 it was associated with its local vector; the pine sawyer Monochamus galloprovincialis (Olivier). Since then M. galloprovincialis has been the main focus of a complex and detailed strategic plan to fight this disease. Management and control strategies against PWN are directed in three ways; controlling the nematode’s populations; creation of trees resistant to the disease and avoiding the spread of the nematode by the dispersal of vector insects, being presently the most effective one. This is done with the implementation of strict sanitary measures in affected forests, by locating, felling and removing/destroying symptomatic trees during autumn and winter, to prevent adult emergences carrying the PWN. During spring and summer, M. galloprovincialis adults are exhaustively controlled by the use of baited traps, diminishing beetles populations. Despite such efforts, the PWN still causes significant mortality in native maritime pine forests in Portugal, and between 2000 and 2007 the number of felled pine trees with wilting symptoms significantly increased, causing significant economic and environmental impacts. Simultaneously, the spread of wilt disease to Spain underlines the necessity to develop and promote innovative control strategies against this sanitary problem. With the intention of developing new biological control strategies, the works here presented were focused on: i) improving a laboratory reared population of M. galloprovincialis, ii) reveal M. galloprovincialis actual distribution and the associated parasitoid guild, iii) discover the most promising entomopathogenic fungi associated with this insect and an effective method for field application. The initial studies concerning the artificial rearing of a laboratory population of M. galloprovincialis allowed the attainment of adults on shorter periods and with less effort. Such objective was successfully accomplished by the development of an artificial rearing substrate which is cheaper to produce and does not require fresh pine material recently extracted from live trees. Concerning the unveil of the insect distribution across the country and its parasitoid guild, it was found that the cerambycidae is present on more than 90% of the surveyed regions, without showing signs of strong susceptibilities to the edaphoclimatic variations of each site. Also, the parasitoid guild associated with this insect showed to be relatively disperse and diverse across the studied regions. Most of the parasitoids found were larval parasitoids, being the most common among them Cyanopterus flavator (Fabricius). Regarding the assays with entomopathogenic fungi, it was revealed that Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill was an important mortality agent for M. galloprovincialis adults while Metarhizium sp. strongly affected the larvae of this insect. A successful application method was also developed using fiber bands to impregnate entomopathogenic fungi under laboratory conditions. It is now possible to state that it was comprehensively studied the parasitoid guild associated with the pine sawyer and the effects of the more common entomopathogenic fungi found in Portugal and associated with this beetle, being now unveiled the basis for a biological control program against M. galloprovincialis populations. / La enfermedad del decaimiento súbito del pino (Pine Wilt Disease, PWD) consiste en una interacción entre tres organismos; el nematodo Bursaphelencus xylophilus (Steiner y Buhrer) Nickle, un insecto vector del genero Monochamus Dejan, y un árbol huésped del género Pinus Linnaeus. Se cree que la enfermedad llegó a Portugal en 1999 a través de la entrada de madera contaminada proveniente de China. En Europa, Portugal es el único país con una gran área de árboles afectados por esta enfermedad, siendo el único huésped el pino marítimo (Pinus pinaster Aiton). La entrada del nematodo en un árbol sano suele llevar a su muerte en algunos meses o mismo semanas y en este país, su principal insecto vector pertenece a la especie Monochamus galloprovincialis (Olivier). Las técnicas actualmente existentes para combatir esta enfermedad son en gran parte basada en metodologías biotécnicas, químicas y culturales para disminuir las poblaciones del insecto, todavía estas medidas no fueron suficientes, pues en el bienio de 2011/2012 aproximadamente 900.000 árboles fueron identificadas como portadores de síntomas de PWD y cortados en el terreno. Su detección en España enfatiza la necesidad de descubrir nuevos métodos de control. Con este objetivo en mente se desarrollaron los trabajos presentados en esta tesis. Se prospectó el país para encontrar la actual distribución del insecto, el complejo de enemigos naturales nativos, y los hongos entomopatógenos que lo afectan. La prospección ha demostrado que este insecto se encuentra ampliamente distribuido por todo el territorio. Juntamente, se descubrió que existen 14 especies de parasitoides en la región Paleártica que pueden afectar esta escarabajo. Los resultados de los ensayos con hongos entomopatógenos demostraron que la especie Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill suele ser más eficaz en el control de adultos de mientras que Metarhizium sp. afecta más los estadios larvales. La técnica de aplicación de estos hongos utilizando bandas de polyester impregnadas con esporos demostró también resultados muy promisores. Se puede considerar que se estudiaron algunos elementos esenciales de un futuro programa de control biológico contra M. galloprovincialis.

El estudio del desgaste microscópico sobre las superficies del esmalte dental es una importante fuente de información para interpretar la dieta y hábitos alimentarios de diferentes grupos de humanos y Primates no-humanos, tanto extintos como actuales. Para ello se han normalizando metodologías de análisis semi-automáticos. Se ha asociado la abrasividad de las partículas presentes en los alimentos (intrínsecas o extrínsecas) a determinados patrones de microdesgaste sobre las superficies vestibulares de los dientes post-caninos analizados mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM). La estandarización metodológica del análisis del microdesgaste vestibular requiere obtener información sobre los posibles obstáculos asociados a la técnica por la influencia en la robustez de los resultados y su posterior interpretación, tanto para especies actuales como especímenes extintos. En este trabajo se propone estudiar los efectos abrasivos y erosivos sobre los patrones de microdesgaste en superficies vestibulares por procesos post-mortem, simulando experimentalmente las acciones provocadas por agentes considerados tafonómicos (partículas de arenas y cenizas y ácidos). También se estudia la aplicación del análisis discriminante lineal (LDA) a partir de variables que explican el patrón de microdesgaste vestibular de especies de Primates no-humanos y homininos fósiles, analizando la capacidad predictiva de las funciones discriminantes e identificando las variables más explicativas e informativas, además, se busca establecer criterios adecuados para permitir una óptima ejecución de éstas pruebas estadísticas de forma práctica. Por último, se analiza la variabilidad interespecífica del microdesgaste vestibular en especies Primates no-humano actuales (Cercopithecidae y Hominoidea) y homininos africanos del Plio-Pleistoceno (A. afarensis, A. africanus y P. robustus) mediante el análisis en 3D de los patrones de la textura con una novedosa metodología de análisis realizada hasta ahora esencialmente sobre las superficies oclusales. Los resultados muestran que la densidad de microestrías disminuye a medida que el esmalte se expone a diferentes agentes tafonómicos, evidenciando que los cambios en el patrón de microdesgaste varían entre un agente y otro, en función del grado de acidez y de la dureza y tamaño de las partículas, revelando la influencia de la primera exposición. Los resultados demuestran que para una óptima aplicación de un LDA es necesario cumplir los supuestos a priori, destacado las recomendaciones relacionadas al tamaño y número de los grupos, al número de predictores y a la homocedasticidad. Se observó que un alto número de variables predictoras conlleva un mayor error en la clasificación, pese a que la discriminación aumenta, junto con demostrar que la colinealidad entre las variables también aumenta el error. Se recomienda la aplicación de estas pruebas sin las variables de la desviación estándar de las longitudes de las microestrías y, en lo posible, evitando la inclusión de las variables que resumen la densidad y la longitud de las microestrías. El análisis de textura del microdesgaste vestibular muestra que es posible reconocer la variabilidad interespecífica entre Primates no-humanos y relacionarla a factores ecológicos y dietarios asociados a la abrasividad de los alimentos, siendo la complejidad (Asfc) el parámetro más revelador. El análisis de textura indica que probablemente las propiedades físicas de la dieta entre los homininos africanos estudiados fueron similares, estos se distinguieron dentro de la variabilidad de Primates no-humanos actuales comparados. Los patrones de los australopitecinos gráciles se asemejaron de gorilas de tierras bajas (Gorilla g. gorilla), sugiriendo comportamientos alimentarios y ecológicos en base a alimentos resistentes y dúctiles, aunque con flexibilidad hacia una mayor dureza en fractura y abrasividad, aunque A. africanus mostraría una dieta más frugívoro-granívora que A. afarensis. Los patrones de P. robustus revelan similitud a los observados en P. anubis y P. t. verus, sugiriendo una dieta basada en alimentos resistentes y provenientes de hábitats más abiertos. / The study of microscopic wear on dental enamel surfaces is an important source of information to interpret the diet of different groups of hominins and non-human Primates, both extant and extinct. The methodological standardization of buccal microwear analysis requires detailed information about the possible obstacles that could influence the robustness of the results and its subsequent interpretation. In this regard, one of the aims of this research was to study experimentally the abrasive and erosive effects of post-mortem processes on microwear patterns on buccal surfaces, simulating the action of different taphonomic agents (particles of sand and ash, and acids). Additionally, the application of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) with the variables that explain the buccal microwear patterns was studied on a wide sample of several species of both non-human primates and fossil hominins using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the interspecific variability of buccal microwear texture patterns on extant non-human Primates (Cercopithecidae and Hominoidea) and African Plio-Pleistocene hominins (A. afarensis, A. africanus and P. robustus) was studied using a innovative 3D method of analysis that so far has been used fundamentally on occlusal surfaces. The results showed that the striations density decreases as the enamel was exposed to different taphonomic agents, showing variations in the changes of the microwear patterns according to the agent, depending on the acidity and the hardness and size of the particles, and revealing the influence of the first exposure. Our results indicate that for an optimal application of LDA is necessary to meet some a priori assumptions, especially recommendations related to the size and number of groups, the number of predictors, and homoscedasticity. It was observed that a large number of predictors lead to higher misclassification, although discrimination increases along also. The association between the collinearity of predictor variables and misclassification was demonstrated. The application of this statistical method without the variables of standard deviation of the lengths of striations is recommended and, if possible, avoiding to include the variables that summarize the density and length of striations. Buccal microwear texture analysis showed that it is possible to recognize interspecies variability among non-human Primates, and relate them to environmental and dietary factors that are associated with abrasiveness food, showing that Complexity (Asfc) was the most determinant parameter. The texture analysis indicated that probably the physical properties of diet among African hominins studied were similar, albeit distinguishing within the variability of extant non-human Primates species. Texture patterns of gracile australopithecines were similar to lowland gorillas, suggesting food and ecological behaviours based on tough items, but with flexibility towards greater abrasiveness and fracture hardness, although A. africanus would have a more frugivorous–granivorous diet. P. robustus patterns were similar to those observed in P. anubis and P. t. verus, suggesting a tough food diet, probably from more open habitats.

Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystems of the ocean and they provide notable ecosystem services. Nowadays, they are facing a number of local anthropogenic threats and environmental change is threatening their survivorship on a global scale. Large-scale monitoring is necessary to understand environmental changes and to perform useful conservation measurements. Governmental agencies are often underfunded and are not able of sustain the necessary spatial and temporal large-scale monitoring. To overcome the economic constrains, in some cases scientists can engage volunteers in environmental monitoring. Citizen Science enables the collection and analysis of scientific data at larger spatial and temporal scales than otherwise possible, addressing issues that are otherwise logistically or financially unfeasible. “STE: Scuba Tourism for the Environment” was a volunteer-based Red Sea coral reef biodiversity monitoring program. SCUBA divers and snorkelers were involved in the collection of data for 72 taxa, by completing survey questionnaires after their dives. In my thesis, I evaluated the reliability of the data collected by volunteers, comparing their questionnaires with those completed by professional scientists. Validation trials showed a sufficient level of reliability, indicating that non-specialists performed similarly to conservation volunteer divers on accurate transects. Using the data collected by volunteers, I developed a biodiversity index that revealed spatial trends across surveyed areas. The project results provided important feedbacks to the local authorities on the current health status of Red Sea coral reefs and on the effectiveness of the environmental management. I also analysed the spatial and temporal distribution of each surveyed taxa, identifying abundance trends related with anthropogenic impacts. Finally, I evaluated the effectiveness of the project to increase the environmental education of volunteers and showed that the participation in STEproject significantly increased both the knowledge on coral reef biology and ecology and the awareness of human behavioural impacts on the environment.

In the behavioral sciences, the concept of phenotypic plasticity can be roughly categorized into two classes: developmental and activational plasticity. Developmental plasticity denotes the capacity of an individual carrying a specific genetic background to adopt different developmental trajectories under distinct settings. Complementarily, activational plasticity refers to the differential activation of adaptation mechanisms: an individual with high activational plasticity would be able to detect a wide range of environments, and to respond to it using a psychobiological phenotype from a relatively large catalogue. In this context, it is feasible postulating that several etiopathogenic mechanisms of depression-related phenotypes can be clarified by expanding on processes of biobehavioral plasticity in response to the experience. This expansion can be elaborated on the basis of both neurodevelopmental phenomena (developmental plasticity) and novel biological mechanisms detectable through neuroimaging and epigenetics approaches (activational plasticity). The present work expands on two specific hypotheses. First, depression-related psychopathological phenotypes are induced by factors altering the early neurodevelopment, and these long-lasting changes can be assessed in adulthood (depression and developmental plasticity). Secondly, the clinical manifestation of depression-related psychopathological phenotypes can be understood as activational plasticity deficits; these deficits can be assessed as neurobiological disease traits using novel epigenetic and neuroimaging techniques (depression and activational plasticity). The results of this work provide support to the neuroplasticity hypothesis of depression, from both developmental and activational perspectives. Developmentally, they suggest putative etiopathogenic pathways leading from an altered early neurodevelopment to an increased risk for depression-related phenotypes. By exploring and combining genetic, environmental and psychopathologic concepts, the feasibility of these results has been explained by combining the popular genetic pleiotropy hypothesis in psychiatry with a notion of disease-specificity liability driven by the environment. With regards to activational plasticity, this work has proposed novel genetic and epigenetic signatures potentially underlying the clinical manifestation of neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive features of depression (i.e., the genetics of DNMT3B and the epigenetics of DEPDC7); additionally, it has proposed new putative neurobiological mechanisms to explain depressive traits (i.e., a combination of differential and variable methylation, a genetically-mediated hippocampal communication deficit, and a new amygdalar synchrony failure driven by the genes).

Tesi realitzada a l'Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal (IATS - CSIC) / En esta tesis doctoral se estudia el efecto de una dieta de restricción calórica de mantenimiento a largo plazo (14 meses), en machos de lubina prepúberes, sobre el inicio y desarrollo de la pubertad. Para ello se consideró el papel que los sistemas kisspeptina/GnRH juegan en el cerebro y la gónada de esta especie en términos reproductivos. Nuestros resultados evidencian que tanto las neuronas que expresan kiss1 y kiss2 como sus receptores se encuentran localizadas en zonas hipofisiotrópicas que regulan procesos relacionados con la reproducción. En particular, las células kiss1 y kiss2 se distribuyen en zonas diferentes y específicas del cerebro, lo que sugiere que estas neuronas ejercen funciones distintas en la lubina. Se postula que kiss1 puede además estar involucrado en el control de los factores ambientales, como el fotoperiodo, ya que tiene una expresión notable en la habénula al igual que kiss1r. Sin embargo, el kiss2r tiene una distribución más amplia desde zonas del telencéfalo hasta el hipotálamo ventral. Asimismo hemos encontrado que neuronas kiss1 presentes en el hipotálamo expresan los receptores de estrógenos de tipo alfa y beta 2. Además, con los estudios de localización de las neuronas gnrh1, hemos descartado la interacción de fibras Gnrh1 en células que expresan kiss2r en el área preóptica. La detección de las proyecciones de fibras de neuronas Kiss sólo fue posible con el anticuerpo anti Kiss2 puesto que lamentablemente el anticuerpo anti Kiss1 no dio resultados. La distribución de fibras Kiss2 se localizan en regiones hipofisiotrópica, desde la región del subpallium y continúan en el área preóptica, neurohipófisis y finalmente en la región del receso lateral del tuber. Los resultados biométricos mostraron que los animales experimentales crecieron menos en peso y talla en comparación a los controles a lo largo de todo el experimento. Cabe mencionar que a pesar de ello, los animales experimentales fueron capaces de desarrollar sus gónadas y madurar. Por el contrario, el contenido de grasa mesentérica fue significativamente menor en los animales experimentales, lo que se relaciona con la restricción de alimento al que este grupo de animales estuvo sometido durante la experiencia. Los análisis hormonales del factor de crecimiento insulínico tipo I (Igf-i) y de leptina confirmaron un descenso en el grupo experimental, lo que se relacionó con la menor tasa de crecimiento en peso y talla en comparación al grupo control. Asimismo, se cree que los niveles bajos de Igf-i podían ser responsables de una tasa reducida de la proliferación celular y un aumento de la apoptosis de células espermatogoniales a nivel gonadal en los animales experimentales. Por otro lado, los niveles plasmáticos de leptina mostraron una relación directa entre el contenido de grasa perivisceral y la concentración sérica de esta hormona, como se ha descrito en mamíferos. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran además que los animales sometidos a restricción nutricional mostraron una regulación al alza de los niveles de expresión de kiss1, kiss2, kiss1r y kiss2r en el cerebro de la lubina, en comparación a los niveles detectados en los controles. Por otra parte, los niveles plasmáticos de Fsh fueron significativamente mayores en los animales experimentales, lo que podría sugerir un mecanismo de retroalimentación positiva en estos animales para llevar a cabo el proceso de espermatogénesis. Más aún, evaluando los niveles de fshr mRNA mediante qRT-PCR comprobamos que su expresión aumentaba considerablemente a nivel gonadal. Por el contrario, los niveles plasmáticos de Lh fueron mayores en los animales controles. En cuanto a los niveles plasmáticos de 11-KT y T, éstos fueron similares entre ambos grupos lo que explicaría el desarrollo gonadal de los animales experimentales y su capacidad de alcanzar la maduración sexual. / In the European sea bass, kiss1-expressing cells were consistently detected in the habenula and, in mature males and females, in the rostral mediobasal hypothalamus. In both sexes, kiss2-expressing cells were consistently detected at the level of the preoptic area, but the main kiss2 mRNA-positive population was observed in the dorsal hypothalamus, mainly above, but also below, the lateral recess of the third ventricle. Specific antibodies has been raised against the preprokiss2, but not the preoprokiss1. The data indicate that kiss2 neurons are mainly located in the hypophysiotropic regions. The expression of kiss1r messengers was more limited to the habenula, the ventral telencephalon and the proximal pars distalis of the pituitary. In the sea bass long-term exposure to maintenance diets alters the rhythm of reproductive and metabolic hormones, delays spermatogenesis and increases the incidence of apoptosis at earlier stages of gametogenesis. Thus, maintenance feed regimes in the experimental group over 14 months (EX) not only strongly decreased growth rates, the mesenteric fat index (MFI), muscle lipid content, and the hepatosomatic index (HIS), but also the gonadosomatic index (GSI), thus delaying testis progression and milt production in comparison to the control (CT). Igf-i plasma levels were high at periods during which spermatogonial proliferation was enhanced, suggesting that Igf-i plays a crucial role during mitotic proliferation. Leptin levels and MFI were reduced in the EX group and its suggested tha leptin might acts as a permissive signal that allows puberty to take place during the reproductive period in male sea bass. Finally, gene expression analysis in the brain of male sea bass exposed to restricted feed diets provided evidence of an overexpression of the kiss1, kiss2, kiss1r and kiss2r genes in the main hypophysiotropic regions of the brain throughout gametogenesis. Similarly, plasma Fsh levels of treated fish, showed an up regulation but specifically during the spermiation period. These results show that kisspeptin system and plasma Fsh levels are strongly modulated by the maintenance diets. Sea bass males were able to get into puberty and achieve spermiation under nutritional restriction, suggesting an adaptive strategy may exist for preserving reproductive function in this species.

Exposure to contaminants, such as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), is currently considered a serious anthropogenic threat to marine predators and their food webs. Exposure to contaminants by marine wildlife is mainly related to their trophic ecology, distribution and movements. However, the contribution of these biological features to pollutant levels remains poorly understood in most marine predators, including seabirds. New methodologies, including dietary and geographic tracers, such as stable isotope analyses, and a wide array of devices to track movement at different spatial and temporal scales, can provide new light into this issue. Although stable isotope signatures in marine wildlife provide valuable information about their trophic ecology, isotopic baseline levels also show geographical differences. Therefore, to understand isotopic differences among separate wildlife populations we first need to evaluate the influence of spatial variability in stable isotope signatures. In the present dissertation, some ecological factors, mainly feeding ecology, breeding locality and movements, and their influence shaping the isotopic signatures and the contaminant burdens, were examined in most Procellariiformes breeding in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In particular, the isotopic signatures of Carbon and Nitrogen (δ13C and δ15N) as well as burdens of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorinated compounds (OCs), e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides such as DDT, in seabirds were determined. In this study, firstly, we evaluate the relative influence of geographic origin, movements and trophic ecology in shaping stable isotope signatures and contaminant burdens in pelagic seabirds. Then, we show the spatial patterns in the isotopic signatures, OCs and PAHs that emerge among Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic seabirds and evaluate pollutant sources and the influence of long-range transport mechanisms on these basins. Secondly, we provide evidences that show no marked differences in the trophic ecology of the studied seabird species throughout their breeding distributions, but clearly differ among species, pointing out the marked relationship of seabird trophic ecology with their PCB, DDT and PAH burdens. Overall, this study underlines the usefulness of combining environmental chemistry methodologies with new approaches in the study of animal ecology, showing the value of pelagic seabirds in marine contamination monitoring / La exposición a sustancias químicas altamente tóxicas como los contaminantes orgánicos persistentes (COP), representa una seria amenaza para los depredadores marinos y sus redes tróficas. Dicha exposición depende en gran medida de la ecología, distribución y áreas de alimentación de la fauna marina. Sin embargo, la contribución relativa de estas características biológicas para explicar los niveles de contaminación que se encuentran en los organismos es aún desconocida para la mayoría de los depredadores, incluyendo las aves marinas. Metodologías novedosas como el análisis de isótopos estables y los sistemas de geolocalización proporcionan información esencial para poder entender la influencia de los distintos factores que determinan la exposición a los contaminantes marinos. En la presente tesis se evalúa la influencia de factores ecológicos clave, principalmente posición trófica, áreas de forrajeo, distribución y movimientos, sobre las relaciones isotópicas de carbono y nitrógeno (δ13C y δ15N) y los niveles de contaminación encontrados en la mayor parte de las especies de Procellariiformes que crían en el Atlántico Nordeste y en el mar Mediterráneo. En particular, se determinaron los niveles de hidrocarburos policíclicos aromáticos (HAP), bifenilos policlorados (PCB) y pesticidas organoclorados como el DDT. En este trabajo, en primer lugar, se evalúa la influencia relativa de la distribución y la ecología trófica de las aves marinas sobre las firmas de isótopos estables y las cargas de contaminantes encontradas. A continuación se exponen los patrones geográficos encontrados para δ13C y δ15N y los contaminantes estudiados en el NE Atlántico y el Mediterráneo. En segundo lugar, se expone la marcada relación encontrada entre la ecología trófica, incluyendo posición trófica y áreas de forrajeo, de las aves estudiadas y los niveles de contaminación que presentan. En conjunto, esta tesis pone de manifiesto la utilidad de combinar los avances y metodologías propios de la química ambiental con las nuevas metodologías utilizadas para el estudio de la ecología de la fauna salvaje, así como el gran valor de las aves marinas pelágicas como centinelas del estado de contaminación que sufren nuestros océanos.

La metamorfosi és un procés de canvi morfològic radical que succeeix en un període específic durant el desenvolupament postembrionari de diverses espècies animals, tals com amfibis o insectes. En el cas dels insectes, hi ha dos tipus principals de metamorfosi: de tipus hemimetàbol, on els individus fan una metamorfosi progressiva i les nimfes s’assemblen als adults, com succeeix en les xinxes, paneroles i saltamartins. En la metamorfosi holometàbola, en canvi, es dóna una transformació morfològica radical, de larva a pupa i de pupa a adult, com s’observa en papallones, escarabats i mosques. La metamorfosi holometàbola s’originà a partir d’ancestres hemimetàbols, i aquesta innovació va tenir molt d’èxit si considerem que més del 80% dels insectes actuals són espècies holometàboles. En tots dos tipus de metamorfosi la regulació és propiciada per l’acció de dues hormones, l’esteroide 20-hidroxiecdisona (20E), o hormona de la mud,a i el sesquiterpenoide hormona juvenil (HJ). Mentre que la 20E indueix les mudes, l’HJ reprimeix la metamorfosi. L’objectiu general d’aquesta tesi doctoral és ajudar a comprendre els mecanismes moleculars pels quals l’HJ reprimeix la metamorfosi, utilitzant com a model la panerola Blattella germanica, un insecte amb metamorfosi hemimetàbola poc modificada, i emmarcar aquests resultats en un context evolutiu. Així, hem estudiat el paper del receptor de l’HJ, el factor de transcripció Methoprene-tolerant (Met). Els estudis suprimint l’expressió d’aquest gen mitjançant RNA d’interferència (RNAi) en fases nimfals mostren que Met és necessari en la transducció del senyal hormonal, ja que la seva supressió provoca una metamorfosi precoç. El factor de transcripció Taiman (Tai) es postula com a millor candidat a actuar com a heterodímer de Met en la recepció de l’HJ, encara que cap experiment in vivo ha pogut demostrar aquesta funció degut a que la seva supressió en diversos models d’insectes resultà letal. A B. germanica Taiman s’expressa en quatre isoformes resultants de la combinació de dues insercions/delecions (indels) a la regió carboxi-terminal de la seqüència. La reducció de l'expressió de les isoformes que contenen la inserció-1 de Tai provoca una metamorfosi precoç. La presència d’aquesta inserció en isoformes de Tai d’altres espècies suggereix que el mecanisme de transducció de l’activitat antimetamòrfica de l’HJ mitjançant aquestes isoformes és un fenomen conservat en altres insectes. Un altre factor de transcripció que participa en la senyalització de l'HJ és Broad-Complex (BR-C). A les espècies holometàboles BR-C s’expressa al darrer estadi larvari i la seva expressió transitòria és essencial per una formació de la pupa. Els estudis a B. germanica revelen funcions ancestrals de BR-C relacionades amb divisió cel·lular i creixement de l’ala, alhora que aporten noves pistes que ajuden a entendre l’evolució de la metamorfosi dels insectes. Un altre element important que participa en la transducció del senyal de l’HJ en relació amb la metamorfosi és el factor de transcripció Krüppel-homolog 1 (Kr-h1). Hem mostrat que la reducció de nivells d'expressió de Kr-h1 a fases nimfals a B. germanica indueix una metamorfosi precoç. Aquests resultats, conjuntament amb els resultats previs obtinguts en espècies holometàboles, suggereixen que el paper repressor de Kr-h1 en la metamorfosi és una condició ancestral que s’ha conservat en espècies hemimetàboles i holometàboles. Els microRNAs (miRNAs) són una classe d’RNAs petits no codificants que regulen l’expressió de gens a nivell transcripcional mitjançant la regulació de l’mRNA. Per tal de desvetllar la funció dels miRNAs durant el desenvolupament de B. germanica, es van dur a terme experiments suprimint l’expressió de Dicer-1, enzim que participa en la biosíntesi dels miRNAs, i el resultat va ser una inhibició de la metamorfosi. Els resultats presentats en aquesta tesi suggereixen aquest fenotip és la conseqüència principal d’una davallada de l’expressió d’una sola família de miRNAs, miR-2. El conjunt d’experiments realitzats indiquen que miR-2 regula la davallada de l’expressió del transcrit de Kr- h1 a la darrera fase nimfal de B. germanica, la qual cosa propicia que la metamorfosi es desenvolupi correctament. / Metamorphosis is a process were a sudden and conspicuous morphological change occurs at a specific time point during the postembryonic development of several animal groups, like amphibians and insects. Insect metamorphosis proceeds in two modes: hemimetaboly, defined by a gradual change along the life cycle, as occurs in bugs, cockroaches and locusts, and holometaboly, characterized by an abrupt change from larvae to adult mediated by a pupal stage, has observed in butterflies, beetles and flies. Metamorphosis evolved from hemimetaboly to holometaboly and the latter innovation was most successful because more than 80% of present insects are holometabolan species. From an endocrine point of view, both hemimetabolan and holometabolan metamorphosis is regulated by two kinds of hormones: 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), which induce molts, and juvenile hormone (JH), which inhibits metamorphic changes. Using the cockroach Blattella germanica as a basal hemimetabolous model, the general objective of this thesis is to study the molecular action of JH in repressing insect metamorphosis. One of the main players in hormonal signalling is Methoprene-tolerant (Met), which plays the role of JH receptor. Depletion of Met in young nymphal instars triggers precocious metamorphosis, suggesting that Met transduces the antimetamorphic signal of JH. Recent studies report that Met heterodimerizes with Taiman (Tai) forming the receptor complex of JH in metamorphosis repression. However, there is no data in vivo demonstrating a role of Tai in metamorphosis, because its depletion in a number of insect models resulted in 100% mortality. B. germanica possesses four Tai isoforms resulting from the combination of two indels in the C-terminal region of the sequence. RNAi depletion of insertion-1 isoforms results in a precocious adult development, demonstrating its involvement in metamorphosis. The insertion-1 of Tai is conserved in other insect species, which suggests that the mechanism of signal transduction of the antimetamorphic action of JH I conserved in other species. An important JH-dependent factor is BR-C, whose expression in holometabolan species is inhibited by JH in young larvae and enhanced in mature larvae to specify to pupal stage. The functional study of BR-C in cockroach reveal ancestral functions related to cell division and wing pad growth. Krüppel-homolog 1 (Kr-h1) is a transcription factor whose function as transductor of the antimetamorphic action of JH has been demonstrated in holometabolan species. RNAi experiments depleting Kr-h1 in young nymphal instars of B. germanica results in precocious metamorphosis, suggesting that their role as a JH transductor in metamorphosis is evolutionary conserved in hemimetabolan and holometabolan species. Finally, it has been reported that depletion of dicer-1, the enzyme that catalyzes the final step of miRNA biosynthesis, prevents metamorphosis in B. germanica. This thesis has addressed the question of how miRNAs act in metamorphosis and why their absence impairs it. The whole data of experiments reported here indicate that miR-2 scavenges Kr-h1 transcripts in the last nymphal instar of B. germanica, which contributes to the correct development of metamorphosis.