scholarly journals Somatic and population adaptations of Polysarcus denticauda (Orthoptera) in extreme altitudes

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kaňuch ◽  
Anton Krištín
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Hind Femur ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Species Survival ◽  
Montane Meadows ◽  
Gis Software ◽  
Body Parameters ◽  
Bush Cricket ◽  
Study Species

Altitudinal preferences, somatic and population adaptations in different ecological conditions were analysed in flightless bush-cricket species Polysarcus denticauda (Charpentier, 1825). Altitudinal analysis was performed in GIS software (more than 60 sites in Slovakia, Central Europe). Seasonal occurrence and population density were recorded in selected sites. To compare differences, absolute values of measurements (length of body, hind femur and tibia, cerci and weight) and Body Condition Index were taken from males. Study species prefers mesophilous montane up to alpine meadows in higher elevations (over 600 m a.s.l.). The development started over one month earlier in lowlands and populations reached several fold higher density there. Males from lowlands had body parameters significantly bigger apart from cerci. Cerci were significantly longer in males from mountains. However, males of the same size were significantly heavier in higher altitudes. In conclusion, refuges of montane meadows ecosystem support species survival nowadays.

Sexual dimorphism, deformations, and epibionts of Phrynops tuberosus (Testudines, Chelidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Fabrício Mota Rodrigues ◽  
José Roberto Feitosa Silva
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year ◽  
Effective Conservation

Studies focusing on the natural history of species are essential for developing effective conservation measures and evaluating ecological hypotheses. To this end, we describe natural history data of the Cotinga River toadhead turtle, Phrynops tuberosus, in the Banabuiú River in Ceará, Brazil, and evaluated sexual dimorphism, epibionts, and mutilation effects. We hand-captured 134 individuals by snorkeling, over a period of one year, resulting in the capture of 94 males, 24 females, and 16 juveniles. Females had larger head width and body mass than males, while males had longer tail length. One quarter of the turtles captured had some sort of injury or deformation, most common injuries being missing claws, mutilations, and shell deformations. We found no difference in body condition index between mutilated and non-mutilated animals. Mollusks, insects, and leeches were found as epibionts on P. tuberosus and most of the captured turtles had extensive algal cover. Future studies should focus on understanding the effect of mutilations on animal fitness and reproductive success.

scholarly journals Rodent helminths in fragmented Atlantic Forest areas in the western region of the state of Paraná

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danise Benatti ◽  
Luis Felipe Andrietti ◽  
José Flávio Cândido Júnior ◽  
Alexandre Vogliotti ◽  
Marcela Figueirêdo Duarte Moraes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
The Body ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
New Host ◽  
The Western Region

Abstract Rodents are small mammals that can be parasitized by various helminths. This study aimed to identify and describe the ecological indicators of infection in rodents captured in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the western region of Paraná State, Brazil. Sixty-eight specimens of five rodent species were collected, necropsied, and inspected in search of helminths. The parasites were stored in 70% ethanol, morphologically identified, and counted for calculation of infection indicators. Fourteen species of helminths and one species of Crustacea were recorded: ten in Akodon montensis, four in Mus musculus, two in Thaptomys nigrita, two in Oligoryzomys nigripes, and one in Euryoryzomys russatus. The registered species of parasites were: Rodentolepis akodontis, Angiostrongylus sp., Protospirura numidica criceticola, Trichuris navonae, Syphacia alata, Syphacia criceti, Syphacia evaginata, Trichofreitasia lenti, Stilestrongylus aculeata, Stilestrongylus eta, Stilestrongylus gracielae, Stilestrongylus franciscanus, Stilestrongylus moreli, Stilestrongylus sp., and Pentastomida gen. sp. A positive correlation between the intensity of infection of T. navonae and T. lenti was observed with the body condition index of the host A. montensis. For all species, this study represents a new register of locality, and for eight of them a new host.

scholarly journals Korelasi Antara Resistensi Survival Rate dan Body Condition Index (BCI) dengan Stress Suhu Pada Kerang Hijau di Muara Kamal, Jakarta

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-76
Author(s):  
Yasser Ahmed ◽  
Armin Fabritzek ◽  
Neviaty P. Zamani ◽  
Karen Von Juterzenka ◽  
Mark Lenz
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Body Condition Index

Pergerakan organisme dipengaruhi oleh penyebaran alami dan aktivitas manusia.Beberapa spesies yang terbawa, memiliki sebaran yang melebihi distribusi batas normal oleh pengaruh tertentu (vector).Penelitian ini melakukan pengujian pada skala laboratorium untuk melihat survival rate yang terkait dengan body condition index selama diberikan stress suhu yang terkait perubahan iklim dan ini juga dapat dijadikan sebagai simulasi transportasi kapal, sehingga dapat diketahui pergerakan organisme.Distribusi organisme tersebut mempengaruhi kemampuan bertahan hidupselama transportasi.Oleh karena itu, perlu dilakukan penelitian dengan mengekspose grup pra-stress dan grup non stress sebelum masuk ke fase stress dan membandingkan survival rate dan body condition index (BCI) pada organisme tersebut. Organisme yang dipilih adalah Kerang Hijau (P. viridis) dengan menggunakan stress suhu.Pengukuran respon variabel dari organisme tersebut yaitu survival rate dan body condition index (BCI).Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa survival rate dan body condition index memiliki korelasi linier.

Activity-related variation in blood parameters associated with oxygen transport and chronic stress in little penguins

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Mortimer ◽  
Alan Lill
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Stress Indicators ◽  
Nutrient Demand ◽  
Blood Haemoglobin ◽  
Oxygen Carrying Capacity

Some birds facing energy ‘bottlenecks’ display elevated oxidative metabolism and oxygen delivery to tissues and could be particularly susceptible to chronic stress. We examined whether there was evidence for such trends in little penguins (Eudyptula minor) over the period from breeding to the post-moulting stage and particularly during the onshore moult-fast. Penguin parents contribute equally to incubation, brooding and brood provisioning. A few weeks post-breeding, adults undergo a protracted, terrestrial moult-fast and then make brief visits to the colony during the post-moulting stage. Provisioning nestling(s) and moulting could theoretically be particularly energetically and nutritionally demanding. We determined for adults whether mass, a body condition index and blood parameters influencing vascular oxygen carrying capacity (hematocrit, Hct; whole blood haemoglobin, Hb) and indicating chronic stress (leukocyte count, WBC; heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, H/L) varied from August to May in a manner reflecting likely variation in energy and nutrient demand. Female mass and body condition index decreased significantly between the incubation and guard stages, before returning to incubation levels between the guard and post-guard nestling stages. Both parameters declined to their lowest levels between the post-guard and moult stages, before increasing to levels comparable with those during nestling care between the moult and post-moult stages. Blood parameters in both sexes exhibited temporal variation similar to that in female mass and body condition index, declining to their lowest levels during moult and increasing after the moult to levels comparable with those during breeding. Results indicated that the period of most intense provisioning of nestlings was associated with a decrease in blood oxygen carrying capacity, but no pronounced change in chronic stress indicators. However, the penguin’s moult-fast involved a loss of female body condition and, in both sexes, a reduction in body mass, vascular oxygen carrying capacity and possibly specific immune competence. Thus, regulation of human disturbance in accessible little penguin colonies may be particularly important during moult.

scholarly journals Genetic variation and natural selection on blue tit body condition in different environments

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. MERILÄ ◽  
R. PRZYBYLO ◽  
B. C. SHELDON
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
The Body ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Blue Tit ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
The Poor

An increasing amount of evidence indicates that different forms of environmental stress influence the expression of genetic variance in quantitative traits and, consequently, their evolvability. We investigated the causal components of phenotypic variance and natural selection on the body condition index (a trait often related to fitness in wild bird populations) of blue tit (Parus caeruleus) nestlings under contrasting environmental conditions. In three different study years, nestlings grown under a poor feeding regime attained lower body condition than their full-sibs grown under a good feeding regime. Genetic influences on condition were large and significant in both feeding regimes, and in all three study years. However, although estimates of additive genetic variance were consistently higher in the poor than in the good environment, heritability estimates for body condition index were very similar in both environments due to higher levels of environmental variance in the poor environment. Evidence for weak genotype×environment interactions was obtained, but these contributed little to variance in nestling condition. Directional natural selection on fledging condition of nestlings was detected, and there were no indications of year or environmental effects on the form and intensity of selection observed, in a sample of 3659 nestlings over four years. However, selection on fledging condition was very weak (standardized selection gradient, β=0·027±0·016 SE), suggesting that, in the current population, the large additive genetic component to fledging condition is not particularly surprising. The results of these analyses are contrasted with those obtained for other populations and species with similar life-histories.

scholarly journals Nesting and neonates of the yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis, Podocnemididae) in the Araguari River basin, eastern Amazon, Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora Regina dos Santos Arraes ◽  
Marcos Tavares-Dias
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
The Body ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Strategic Actions ◽  
Podocnemis Unifilis ◽  
Nesting Site ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Body Parameters

Predation and alteration of microhabitats may represent high risk for nesting of Amazonian turtles. This study aimed at investigating the nesting and body parameters of neonates of Podocnemis unifilis in the Araguari River basin, State of Amapá, Brazil. The spawning sites of this turtle were monitored along the Falsino River (a region with two reserves) and in the urban area of the Porto Grande city along the Araguari River, from August to December 2011. A total of 180 nests were found and the nesting occurred from September to November, with prevalence in October. Eggs hatching occurred in December. The mean incubation period was 63.5 ± 5.2 days and the eggs hatching success was 25%. However, approximately 80% of the nests had suffered predation mainly by humans, which occurred in both the protected areas of the reserves and the urban area. The pattern of nesting site choice was discussed. Egg size was larger than that previously described for the same turtle species in the other regions. The body condition index of neonates indicated a good use of vitelline reserves. The results indicate the urgent need for strategic actions to conserve and maintain the natural stocks of this relatively vulnerable turtle in the region.

scholarly journals Low population density of a tropical forest carnivore, Cryptoprocta ferox: implications for protected area management

Oryx ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare E. Hawkins ◽  
Paul A. Racey
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
The Body ◽  
Range Data ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Cryptoprocta Ferox ◽  
Viable Population ◽  
Global Population ◽  
Study Species

The widespread geographical distributions of mammalian carnivores such as the Carnivora and the Dasyuridae have often been erroneously equated with abundance. Their low densities and high demands on habitat area can render mammalian carnivores especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and destruction. The fossa Cryptoprocta ferox (Viverridae) is a mammalian carnivore threatened by the rapid loss of Madagascar's forests, to which it is endemic. A 3-year mark-recapture study, comprising four censuses, generated an estimate of fossa population density at 0.18 adults km−2, or 0.26 individuals km−2. This was supported by a similar estimate from home range data. The fossa is thought to be unusually common in the study area, yet the estimated density was lower than that predicted for a typical tropical carnivorous mammal of the body mass of a fossa. Ecologists are frequently under pressure to provide estimates of local and global population numbers of their study species; we discuss the numerous factors that limit our ability to do this on the basis of a single population estimate. Nonetheless, our findings are sufficient to suggest that none of Madagascar's 46 protected areas supports a viable population of fossas, indicating a demand for corridors and enlarged reserves to ensure this species' long-term survival. Loss of the top predator can have a knock-on effect on an ecosystem. The findings indicate that, to maintain intact tropical forest ecosystems, it may be essential to consider the requirements of their often little-known mammalian carnivores. These requirements could be far greater than previously assumed.

Assessing the importance of nursery areas of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) using a body condition index

2017 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 383-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalucia Cantafaro ◽  
Giandomenico Ardizzone ◽  
Marco Enea ◽  
Alessandro Ligas ◽  
Francesco Colloca
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Merluccius Merluccius ◽  
Nursery Areas ◽  
European Hake

Test of a Body Condition Index with Amphibians

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G. MacCracken ◽  
Jennifer L. Stebbings
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Body Condition Index

scholarly journals Potential Use of Distinct Biomarkers (Trace Metals, Micronuclei and Nuclear Abnormalities) in a Heterogeneous Sample of Birds in Southern Brazil.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOANA TOMAZELLI ◽  
Gabriela Zimmermann Prado Rodrigues ◽  
Danielle Franco ◽  
Mateus Santos de Souza ◽  
Jorge Henrique Burghausen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Metals ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Trophic Guilds ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Nuclear Abnormalities ◽  
Sampling Points ◽  
Potential Use

Abstract The analysis of metal concentrations in feathers and the micronuclei (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities (NA) test in birds are tools used for evaluating the impacts that anthropogenic actions have been causing to the environment and organisms. Here we used these biomarkers to investigate the response of birds to disturbances observed in three areas with different environmental characteristics (natural, agricultural and urban) in southern Brazil. We obtained a diverse sample (108 individuals from 25 species and 17 families) without significant differences in metal concentrations, frequency of MN and AN between sampling points. The concentrations of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were significantly different between trophic guilds (Zn: p = 0.0006, Cu: p = 0.04) and age classes (Zn: p = 0.01, Cu: p = 0.03). Omnivore birds contributed to the increase in the number of MN (∆AICc: 0.00; w = 0.40) and NA, which was also influenced by age classes and body condition index (BCI) (∆AICc: 0.00; w = 0.34; ∆AICc: 0.89; w = 0.22; ∆AICc: 1.15; w = 0.19; ∆AICc: 1.33; w = 0.18). We showed that in a diverse sample of birds, the variables analyzed affected each biomarker in distinct ways.

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