Evaluation of Plant Stress Monitoring Capabilities Using a Portable Spectrometer and Blue-Red Grow Light.

Remote sensing offers a non-destructive method to detect plant physiological response to the environment by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence (CF). Most methods to estimate CF require relatively complex retrieval, spectral fitting, or modelling methods. An investigation was undertaken to evaluate measurements of CF using a relatively straightforward technique to detect and monitor plant stress with a spectroradiometer and blue-red light emitting diode (LED). CF spectral response of tomato plants treated with a photosystem inhibitor were assessed and compared to traditional reflectance-based indices: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and photochemical reflectance index (PRI). The blue-red LEDs provided input irradiance and a "window" in the CF emission range of plants (~650 to 850 nm) sufficient to capture distinctive "two-peak" spectra and to distinguish plant health from day to day of the experiment, while within day differences were noisy. CF-based metrics calculated from CF spectra clearly captured signs of vegetation stress earlier than reflectance-based indices and by visual inspection. This CF monitoring technique is a flexible and scalable option for collecting plant function data, especially for indicating early signs of stress. The technique can be applied to a single plant or larger canopies using LED in dark conditions by an individual, or a manned or unmanned vehicle for agricultural or military purposes.

A biodiversity hotspot losing its top predator: The challenge of jaguar conservation in the Atlantic Forest of South America.

The jaguar is the top predator of the Atlantic Forest (AF), which is a highly threatened biodiversity hotspot that occurs in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. By combining data sets from 14 research groups across the region, we determine the population status of the jaguar and propose a spatial prioritization for conservation actions. About 85% of the jaguar's habitat in the AF has been lost and only 7% remains in good condition. Jaguars persist in around 2.8% of the region, and live in very low densities in most of the areas. The population of jaguars in the AF is probably lower than 300 individuals scattered in small sub-populations. We identified seven Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs) and seven potential JCUs, and only three of these areas may have ≥50 individuals. A connectivity analysis shows that most of the JCUs are isolated. Habitat loss and fragmentation were the major causes for jaguar decline, but human induced mortality is the main threat for the remaining population. We classified areas according to their contribution to jaguar conservation and we recommend management actions for each of them. The methodology in this study could be used for conservation planning of other carnivore species.

Alkaline phosphatase activity in airway fluid obtained by tracheal wash from adult horses.

BACKGROUND: Collection of fluid from the lower respiratory tract (LRT) plays an important role in both the pathophysiological investigation and diagnosis of respiratory tract disease. Enzymes such as ALP are, among others, indicators of cell damage or death, type II pneumocyte proliferation, and neutrophil invasion, and have been useful as biomarkers of respiratory disease in other species. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine and compare tracheal wash (TW) ALP activity in healthy horses and horses with LRT inflammation (LRTI) determined by TW cytology profile. METHODS: Tracheal washes were collected from asymptomatic adult geldings to measure ALP activity. The horses were allocated to the healthy group or the group with LRT inflammation based on differential leukocyte counts of TW preparations. Horses with > 20% neutrophils and > 1% eosinophils were allocated to the LRTI group, the horses with < 20% neutrophils and < 1% eosinophils were the controls. RESULTS: Tracheal wash ALP activity, measured using a semiautomatic chemistry analyzer, was statistically significantly higher in 18 horses with LRTI (18.9 ± 11.2 × 10(3) U/L) than in healthy horses (10.3 ± 5.9 × 10(3) U/L) (P = .021). CONCLUSIONS: Determining tracheal wash ALP activity is a simple, inexpensive and safe technique that can be used to facilitate the early diagnosis of equine respiratory disease, since it is higher in asymptomatic adult horses with a TW cytology profile consistent with LRT inflammation than in healthy adult horses with a normal TW cytology profile.

Diet Overlap and Foraging Activity between Feral Pigs and Native Peccaries in the Pantanal.

Inter-specific competition is considered one of the main selective pressures affecting species distribution and coexistence. Different species vary in the way they forage in order to minimize encounters with their competitors and with their predators. However, it is still poorly known whether and how native species change their foraging behavior in the presence of exotic species, particularly in South America. Here we compare diet overlap of fruits and foraging activity period of two sympatric native ungulates (the white-lipped peccary, Tayassu pecari, and the collared peccary, Pecari tajacu) with the invasive feral pig (Sus scrofa) in the Brazilian Pantanal. We found high diet overlap between white-lipped peccaries and feral pigs, but low overlap between collared peccaries and feral pigs. Furthermore, we found that feral pigs may influence the foraging period of both native peccaries, but in different ways. In the absence of feral pigs, collared peccary activity peaks in the early evening, possibly allowing them to avoid white-lipped peccary activity peaks, which occur in the morning. In the presence of feral pigs, collared peccaries forage mostly in early morning, while white-lipped peccaries forage throughout the day. Our results indicate that collared peccaries may avoid foraging at the same time as white-lipped peccaries. However, they forage during the same periods as feral pigs, with whom they have lower diet overlap. Our study highlights how an exotic species may alter interactions between native species by interfering in their foraging periods.

Atividade da fosfatase alcalina no lavado broncoalveolar de equinos de policiamento montado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Alkaline phosphatase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage of police horses in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

A utilidade da determinação das atividades enzimáticas no trato respiratório posterior como ferramenta diagnóstica já foi demonstrada em várias espécies. Nesse contexto, este trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a atividade da Fosfatase Alcalina (FAL) no lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) de equinos da Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, comparando animais sadios com portadores assintomáticos de doença inflamatória das vias aéreas (DIVA). Para tal, foram avaliados 28 animais adultos, machos, sem histórico de doença respiratória nos dois meses anteriores ao estudo, com os resultados dos exames físicos e laboratoriais (FAL sanguínea, hematócrito, leucograma, proteína total e fibrinogênio plasmáticos) dentro dos parâmetros fisiológicos. Os equinos foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com o resultado da citologia broncoalveolar. A determinação da atividade da FAL foi realizada por meio de espectrofotometria a partir de alíquotas do sobrenadante do LBA preservadas em nitrogênio líquido. Para a estimativa do fluido epitelial pulmonar e da atividade da FAL neste, foi realizada a correção da diluição provocada pelo lavado. Os equinos com contagem diferencial de tipos celulares compatível com DIVA apresentaram atividade de FAL no LBA menor, quando comparados aos animais sadios, podendo essa dosagem ser utilizada como complementação do diagnóstico da DIVA.

The use of determining the enzymatic activities in the posterior respiratory tract as a diagnostic tool has already been demonstrated in several species. In this context, this paper aims to determine the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of horses from the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, comparing healthy animals with asymptomatic carriers of an inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Twenty-eight adult male animals with no history of respiratory diseases in the last two months prior to the study were studied. Physical exam and blood laboratory test results (ALP, hematocrit, leukogram, total protein and plasma fibrinogen) were within physiological parameters. The equines were separated into two groups according to the results of the bronchoalveolar cytology. The determination of ALP was done by spectrophotometry with aliquots of the supernatant of the BAL preserved in liquid nitrogen. To estimate pulmonary epithelial lining fluid and ALP activity, correction of the dilution caused by the lavage was done. The horses with a cell type differential count compatible with IAD presented a lower ALP activity in BAL when compared to healthy animals, therefore this dosage can be used as a complement in the diagnosis of IAD.

Análise do líquido broncoalveolar de equinos portadoresde doença inflamatória das vias aéreas / Evaluation of bronchoalveolar fluid of horses with inflammatory airway disease

Objetivou-se caracterizar o perfil citológico broncoalveoar de equinos de policiamento portadores assintomáticos deDoença Inflamatória de Vias Aéreas (DIVA). Utilizaram-se 17 equinos adultos, machos e fêmeas, com idade entre 11 e24 anos. Os animais que constituíram o grupo controle (oito) apresentaram-se normais ao exame físico, à endoscopia eà mensuração da diferença máxima de pressão intrapleural. No lavado broncoalveolar a contagem deveria ser de até 4%,0,7%, 3,3% para neutrófilos, eosinófilos e células epiteliais e entre 17,0 e 56,7%, 29 e 75,7%, 0,7 e 13,7% para linfócitos,macrófagos e mastócitos, respectivamente. O grupo considerado doente (nove animais) apresentou achados compatíveiscom afecções do trato respiratório posterior, pelo menos à endoscopia, além de uma contagem de neutrófilos maiorque 5% e menor que 25%. O quadro assintomático de doença inflamatória das vias aéreas caracterizou-se por infiltradoneutrofílico, discreta redução no número de macrófagos, aumento no número de macrófagos espumosos, discretoinfiltrado eosinofílico e aumento marcante no número de células epiteliais. Em face do caráter assintomático dessaenfermidade nos equinos de policiamento, a utilização do LBA como método de diagnóstico e acompanhamento éfundamental, pois permite reconhecer, tratar e determinar uma utilização mais racional desses animais, de modo amelhorar a qualidade de vida e prolongar a utilização dos mesmos em serviço.

The aim of this study was to characterize the cytology profile of bronchoalveolar lavage from police horses withasymptomatic Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD). Seventeen adult horses, males and females, with ages ranging from11 to 24 years old were utilized. The control group (eight horses) presented vital signs within the physiologic range,normal pulmonary percussion and auscultation, no abnormalities at respiratory endoscopy and at the measurement ofthe maximal intra-pleural pressure difference. The cell count of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) should be up to 4%, 0.7%,3.3% to neutrophil, eosinophil and epithelial cell, and ranging of 17.0 to 56.7%, 29 to 75.7%, 0.7 to 13.7% to lymphocytes,macrophages and mast cell, respectively. The diseased group (nine animals) presented findings compatible with lowerairway disease, at least during endoscopy and showed a neutrophil counts above 5% and below 25%. AsymptomaticIAD was characterized by neutrophilic infiltrate, discrete reduction in macrophage count with increased number offoamy macrophages and discrete eosinophilic infiltrate and marked increase in the number of epithelial cells. Due to theasymptomatic character of IAD in police horses, BAL is the preferred diagnostic and follow-up method since it allowsrecognition of the disease, evaluation of treatment and helps the implementation of a graded and rational work regimethat aims at improving welfare of those animals as well as extending their usage as patrolling horses.

Can forest fragmentation disrupt a conditional mutualism? A case from central Amazon.

This is the first study to investigate whether scatter-hoarding behavior, a conditional mutualism, can be disrupted by forest fragmentation. We examined whether acouchies (Myoprocta acouchy, Rodentia) and agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina, Rodentia) changed scatter-hoarding behavior toward seeds of Astrocaryum aculeatum (Arecaceae) as a consequence of a decrease in forest-patch area. Our study was conducted at the 30-year-old Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, in central Amazon, Brazil. We tested whether forest size affected the number of Astrocaryum seeds removed and scatter-hoarded (and likely dispersed) by acouchies and agoutis, as well as the distance that the seeds were hoarded. The study extended over three seasons: the peak of the rainy season (March-April), the transition between the rainy and the dry season (May-June), and the peak of the dry season (August-September). Our results revealed that the number of seeds removed was larger in smaller fragments, but that the percentage of seeds hoarded was much lower, and seeds eaten much higher, in 1-ha fragments. Moreover, fewer seeds were taken longer distances in fragments than in the continuous forest. Site affected the number of seeds removed and season affected the percentage of seeds hoarded: more seeds were removed from stations in one site than in two others, and hoarding was more important in April and September than in June. Our study reveals that scatter-hoarding behavior is affected by forest fragmentation, with the most important disruption in very small fragments. Fragmentation converts a largely mutualistic relationship between the rodents and this palm in large forest patches into seed predation in small fragments.