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Aim: Myrcia is a plant genus exclusive of the Neotropical region and one of the most important components of the tree diversity in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest domains. However, no mapping of its taxonomic diversity for this region exists. Our aim was to describe the spatial patterns of diversity and biogeographical history for Myrcia in the Neotropical region based on a phylogenetic regionalization. Location: Neotropics. Taxon: Genus Myrcia (Myrtaceae). Methods: We derived distributions for 307 species from occurrence records using buffering and species distribution modelling. We used stacked distributions to generate a richness map of the genus and its clades (sections). In addition, we used phylogenetic regionalization methods to define evolutionary regions (evoregions) and ancestral area reconstruction to reveal the biogeographical history across these evoregions. Results: We found high species richness in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, with some sections restricted to the East coast of South America, while others were widespread across the Neotropics. We defined five evoregions, named A–E; the ancestral reconstruction revealed that Myrcia originated in evoregion B, under a tropical climate, with further specialization of distant‐related lineages to the colder environmental condition in evoregion A. Main Conclusions: High species richness of Myrcia in South America eastern coast and in the Brazilian highlands coincides with the evoregions with most diversification. Our genus‐specific regionalization together with the ancestral area reconstruction showed that evoregions A and B were the main evolutionary regions where diversification took place. In addition, the biogeographical history of the group suggests that some lineages have adaptations to deal with colder environments, that probably evolved in response to cooling periods since the mid‐Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the case of the São Paulo Metropolitan Region, the largest urban centre in South America, this study provides evidence of the effect of job accessibility on three different labour market dimensions: participation, employment and informality. The evidence is obtained by combining information about household and employment locations and using a probit model together with an instrumental variable strategy. The results indicate that better job accessibility increases the probability of employment for both males and especially females, with employment probability elasticities of about 0.05% and 0.15%, respectively. In addition, we found that better access to jobs positively influences the probability of participation only for females. The set of evidence favours policies promoting higher residential density, transport infrastructure, and family support services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imprint left by niche evolution on the variation of biological diversity across spatial and environmental gradients is still debated among ecologists. Furthermore, understanding to what extent dispersal limitation may reinforce or blur such imprint is still a gap in the ecological knowledge. In this article we introduce a simulation approach coupled to approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) that parameterizes both the adaptation rate of species' niche positions over the evolution of a monophyletic lineage and the intensity of dispersal limitation associated with the variation of species alpha diversity among assemblages distributed across spatial and environmental gradients. The analytical tool was implemented in the R package 'mcfly' (www.r‐project.org). We evaluated the statistical performance of the analytical framework using simulated datasets, which confirmed the suitability of the analysis to estimate adaptation rate parameter but showed to be less precise in relation to the dispersal limitation parameter. Also, we found that increased dispersal limitation levels improved the parameterization of the adaptation rate of species' niche positions in simulated datasets. Further, we evaluated the role played by niche evolution and dispersal limitation on species alpha diversity variation of Phyllostomidae bats across the Neotropics. The framework proposed here shed light on the links between niche evolution, dispersal limitation and gradients of biological diversity, and thereby improved our understanding of evolutionary imprints on current biological diversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport and delivery digital platforms symbolize the uberisation of labor relations within the capitalist neoliberal phase, and they have become increasingly present in daily life. In order to reveal political-electoral reverberations of such process, this article presents an analysis of candidates' ballot names considering their Electoral Geography when it comes to the Municipal Elections (2016 and 2020) referring to uberisation. Initially, based on data from the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the growth in the number of these candidates is understood, such as their profile, their distribution across the territory, and political parties. In a second step, it is considered the trajectory of a particular app driver, who has become a public persona, being elected councilor for São Paulo in 2020. Then, it is presented how the national candidate network has articulated based on issues related to drivers' activity by apps. Some final considerations have indicated a considered growth regarding the adoption of ballot names linked to uberisation, this is geographically selective but indicative of a trivialization about this process in social and political life. Besides, there are institutional limits to City Councils actions concerning a national regulated process. Other tensions are also indicated between the public and private sphere stemming from digital platforms in the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of ongoing research, presenting analyzes regarding a new type of service offered by the Uber corporation in Brazil, Uber Moto (from motorcycle), subsequently also offered by 99/DiDi. The text discusses a new stage in the process of making work conditions more precarious, as well as the company's appropriation (or "vampirization") of typical displacement forms of the popular economy in peripheral countries, such as Brazil. The empirical focus of the analysis is on the municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH), although analyzes are also developed on a national scale, along with a discussion on the standardization of services in other municipalities. Methodologically, the research was based on the analysis of various secondary data and the use of location emulators to prove the existence of the service in cities. Lastly, it presents conclusions on the conflict between municipal and metropolitan traffic management and the use of the territory by app transport companies, which operate in municipalities where there are no specific regulations on the motorcycle taxi service, which also implies new forms of precarious work and the risk of accidents for passengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, an unsupervised learning method is presented with the objective of modeling, in real-time, the main operating modes (OM) of distribution transformers. This model is then used to assess the operational condition through use of two tools: the operation map and the health index. This approach allows, mainly, for a reduction in the need for the interpretation of results by specialists. The method used the concepts of k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) and Gaussian mixture model (GMM) clustering to identify and update the main OMs and characterize these through operating mode clusters (OMC). The evaluation of the method was performed using data from a case study of almost one year in duration, along with five in-service distribution transformers. The model was able to synthesize 11 magnitudes measured directly in the transformer into two latent variables using the principal component analysis technique, while preserving on average more than 86% of the information present. The operation map was able to categorize the transformer operation into previously parameterized levels (appropriate, precarious, critical) with errors below 0.26 of standard deviation. In addition, the health index opened the possibility of identifying and quantifying the main abnormal variations in the operating pattern of the transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-individual differences have been described in circadian timing organization, including the characteristics of phase preferences known as chronotypes. Social, biological and geophysical factors can influence the characteristics of morning-evening preference. Although morning individuals report inability to return to sleep after waking up and difficulties in maintaining nocturnal sleep most complaints are reported by evening individuals. The objective of the present study was to analyze the temporal organization of chronotypes at different phases. We measured the rhythms of activity/rest, sleep/wake, wrist temperature, attention and cycles of exposure to light of 32 university volunteers over 21 consecutive days of data collection. The acrophases of the analyzed rhythms correlate with the score of Horne & Östberg Questionnaire, but not the parameters of the cycle of exposure to light. The evening type volunteers who have morning classes showed no corresponding phase advanced of the rhythms, social jet lag and disruption in the rhythm of attention, suggesting difficulty to entrainment by the university schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Cancer mortality in the central region of Argentina is among the highest in the country. Two possible environmental factors could explain this situation: agricultural activity and drinking water quality. The objective of the study is to evaluate the interaction between these variables. Methods. This is a retrospective ecological study. Total cropland over 10-year periods as well as the percentage of the population exposed to high levels of arsenic and nitrates in drinking water were analyzed and compared to total mortality rates (TMR) and organ-specific mortality rates (SMR); the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was then calculated. Results. Positive and significant correlations were found between the first two 10-year periods of total cropland and the first 10-year period of TMR, as well as correlations with lung, pancreatic, and colon cancers in men and colon cancer in women. Elevated arsenic levels are associated with TMR in both sexes across all 10-year periods but are specifically associated with lung cancer in men. No significant correlation was found with nitrates. Conclusions. The association between total cropland and TMR/SMR is stronger with proximity over time, with greater impact from the oldest crops. The association between TMR and consumption of water containing arsenic, as well as the association with lung SMR in men and colon SMR in women, show that exposure over time is essential to understanding regional epidemiological conditions. The synergy between these variables should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Taxon Methods Results Main Conclusions We address the relative importance of biogeographic regions (areas of endemism), regional climate and spatial factors on taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic beta diversity of bird assemblages in upland terra‐firme forests in the Amazon.Amazon biome.Birds.We gathered 27,498 occurrence records of 873 bird species for 115 bird assemblages distributed in all nine biogeographic regions delimited by the major Amazonian rivers. Only data from studies surveying whole communities with standard sampling methods and exhaustive sampling effort were included. We partitioned the fractions of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic beta diversity explained by climate, biogeographic regions, spatial factors and the variation shared between them.Across the entire Amazon, we found higher total taxonomic (0.68 ± 0.10) than phylogenetic (0.46 ± 0.08) β‐diversity, and low functional β‐diversity (0.34 ± 0.08). Biogeographic regions showed the highest unique contributions explaining taxonomic and phylogenetic β‐total (7% and 5%, respectively) and turnover components (7% of β‐jtu taxonomic, 7% of β‐jtu phylogenetic), but accounted for only 2% of total functional β‐diversity and trait turnover. Climatic variables explained slightly more trait nestedness (5%) compared with species and lineage turnover (3% each). Species composition was clearly distinct between biogeographical regions limited by the Amazon River, but support for the effect of other rivers was mixed.Our study highlights the significant influence of biogeographic regions and climate on species composition in the Amazon. However, our findings also suggest that the Amazon River exerts a more pronounced impact on species distribution compared with other major Amazonian rivers. Species turnover across biogeographical regions is particularly evident at the species level, with minor effects observed in functional traits, suggesting that taxonomic turnover is driven mainly by functionally redundant species. In addition, recent diversification events, occurring predominantly at the tips of the phylogeny without substantial turnover at deeper nodes, are likely responsible for the patchy distribution of species across Amazonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the measures taken to lessen its impact have had side effects affecting timely care of other diseases. The aim of this paper is to quantify the impact of the pandemic on the cancer care line in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Method: It is an observational cross-sectional study comparing the impact on selected variables of the pre-pandemic and intra-pandemic periods. The formula of percentage variation was used to show the differences. The positivity index was calculated and expressed as a percentage. The proportions of both periods were compared through the chi-squared test and its p-value. Results: Reductions were observed in all the variables under study. However, the deeper impact was evident in screening, with 56%-87% decreases in the number of procedures carried out. A 26% reduction was seen in diagnosis. Treatment was the variable with the least impact, with a 3% decrease. Discussion: COVID-19 as well as the measures taken to reduce its impact caused alterations in the cancer care line in the province, with clear differences according to the variable under study. Measures related to cancer screening were displaced, prioritising the care of patients already diagnosed and treated. Conclusion: Considering the new increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, it is essential to adapt the healthcare system, and design new innovative strategies to reduce longterm consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reduced scale prototype of a fully passive flapping foil turbine has been designed and tested in a confined channel at a chord Reynolds number of 60 000. Thanks to an original dynamic tuning strategy of the mechanical properties, experiments have been conducted in a wide range of pitching structural parameters for three different pitching axis locations. The best performances have been achieved when the pitching axis is located at one third of the chord length, for which a hydraulic efficiency of 31.9% has been reached. Relatively good harvesting metrics have also been obtained while moving the pitching axis back to the trailing edge, as long as the pitching stiffness is increased accordingly. The experimental results showed as well that the energy harvested by the pitching motion is negligible compared with the heaving motion. However, a non-zero pitching viscous damping is required in order for the turbine to achieve its best performances. • Optimised configuration reaches a hydraulic efficiency of 31.9%. • Best performances when the pitching axis is close to one third of the chord length. • Some pitching stiffness is needed if the pitching axis is further downstream. • Energy harvested from pitching is negligible compared to that from heaving. • Non-zero pitching viscous damping enhances energy harvesting from heaving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular illicit drug. Given its adverse effects, the growing abuse of MDMA worldwide, and the need for forensic chemistry methods that minimize environmental issues, here we report a green approach for quantitative MDMA analysis in ecstasy tablets based on phenyl reversed-phase liquid-chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector. Water with 0.1% formic acid (pH adjusted to 5.00 with ammonium hydroxide) and ethanol (85:15, v/v) was employed as the mobile phase. The method showed good analytical performance in terms of linearity (0.0031–0.1 mg mL−1, R2 = 0.9998), precision (1.26–7.79%), accuracy (93.5–107.7%), and recovery (96.6–100.6%). The limits of detection and quantification were 0.0007 and 0.0031 mg mL−1, respectively. The MDMA purity ranged from 14.7% to 35.1% (m/m). Additionally, greenness assessment using an eco-scale metric provided a score. The results indicated that the simultaneous use of ethanol and phenyl-bonded phase provides high selectivity and is suitable and reliable for routine analysis of seized ecstasy samples, constituting a powerful alternative to expensive mass spectrometer-based liquid chromatography and common reversed-phase columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire plays a key role in grasslands, determining the distribution and evolution of species and boundaries with neighboring ecosystems. Evidence of community-wide responses to fire is largely based on taxonomic and functional descriptors, while the phylogenetic dimension is overlooked. Here we evaluated how the taxonomic and phylogenetic structure of grassland plant communities responded to a time since fire (TSF) gradient. We sampled 12 communities in Southern Brazil under varying TSF and calculated taxonomic species richness (S) and dominance (D), phylogenetic diversity (PD), and mean phylogenetic distances (MPD). We used Structural Equation Models to test the relationships between the environmental gradient and community descriptors. Communities with longer TSF presented higher PD and MPD but lower species richness and increased taxonomic dominance. These sites were dominated by monocots, specifically C4 grasses, but also presented exclusive clades, whereas recently-burned sites presented lower taxonomic dominance and more species distributed in a wider variety of clades. Our results indicate that these scenarios are interchangeable and dependent on fire management. Fire adaptation was not constrained by phylogenetic relatedness, contrasting with previous findings for tropical savannahs and indicating that temperate and tropical non-forest ecosystems from South America respond differently to fire, possibly due to different evolutionary histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic behaviour of a fully passive flapping foil hydrokinetic turbine is experimentally investigated at a Reynolds number of 6 × 104. Previous numerical simulations showed that, depending on the location of the pitching axis l θ and the rotational stiffness k θ , four different responses may emerge from the system. Only one of them is suitable for energy harvesting purposes, which is characterised by large amplitude pitching and heaving oscillations about the equilibrium position. The present work experimentally validates these findings. A nondimensionalised chart delimiting the boundaries between the different responses in the parameter space l θ × k θ is provided, relying upon an original quantitative classifying map. It has been found that the pitching axis must be placed at least 29% of the chord length behind the leading edge in order for the foil to present a non stationary response. The ideal behaviour for harvesting purposes can be achieved without any pitching stiffness for a pitching axis location from 31% to 39% of the chord length, some pitching stiffness being needed for values above that range. Finally, sensitivity tests revealed a slight dependence of the transition boundaries on the heaving mass m y and stiffness k y , suggesting that an increase in the heaving natural frequency of the baseline prototype may help the system respond in the desired way for an energy extraction scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focused on the city of Recife, the fourth most densely populated state capital in Brazil, this study uses a probit model and precise and unique information about individuals' residential and job locations to estimate the effect of job accessibility on the individual probability of being a low-wage worker. To deal with the potential endogeneity of the job accessibility measure, we consider an instrumental variable based on the historical railways of the city. The results indicate that better job accessibility significantly reduces the chance of being a low-wage worker, and this effect is stronger for individuals using private vehicles than for those using public transport. The evidence indicates that the spatial location of an individual's residence matters for its labor market results and is consistent with the poor functioning of the city's public transport system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microrganisms such as cyanobacteria have been often considered as exhibiting wide distribution mainly driven by environmental heterogeneity. Recently, however, new findings have evoked the role of previously neglected processes, such as dispersal limitation, determining the distribution of a wide range of microorganisms, including cyanobacteria. Here, we reviewed the biogeographic patterns of cyanobacteria with focus on molecular data and the evidences from the published literature for the processes driving these patterns. Also, considerations are made about concept of species, discordances in the taxonomic concepts, and level of taxonomic resolution, and how these affect the biogeographic study of cyanobacteria. From a overview, it can be observed that both environmental and historical factors are important to structure cyanobacteria diversity across time and space. Moreover, different species may exhibit significant differences in their distribution patterns, from possibly cosmopolitan species to other endemic species. However, distribution patterns are closely dependent on the concept of species, besides the taxonomic resolution, spatial and environmental scales, and the biases of the molecular methodologies applied in the studies. Thus, efforts to broaden sampling and sequencing of unknown and less-known species, as well as geographic regions and habitats poorly exploited, are crucial for a better understanding of cyanobacteria biogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Functional traits mediate ecological responses of organisms to the environment, determining community structure. Community‐weighted trait means (CWM) are often used to characterize communities by combining information on species traits and distribution. Relating CWM variation to environmental gradients allows for evaluating species sorting across the metacommunity, either based on correlation tests or ordinary least squares (OLS) models. Yet, it is not clear if phylogenetic signal in both traits and species distribution affect those analyses. On one hand, phylogenetic signal might indicate niche conservatism along clade evolution, reinforcing the environmental signal in trait assembly patterns. On the other hand, it might introduce phylogenetic autocorrelation to mean trait variation among communities. Under this latter scenario, phylogenetic signal might inflate type I error in analysis relating CWM variation to environmental gradients. We explore multiple ways phylogenetic history may influence analysis relating CWM to environmental gradients. We propose the concept of neutral trait diffusion, which predicts that for a functional trait x, CWM variation among local communities does not deviate from the expectation that x evolved according to a neutral evolutionary process. Based on this framework we introduce a graphical tool called neutral trait diffusion representation (NTDR) that allows for the evaluation of whether it is necessary to carry out phylogenetic correction in the trait prior to analyzing the association between CWM and environmental gradients. We illustrate the NTDR approach using simulated traits, phylogenies and metacommunities. We show that even under moderate phylogenetic signal in both the trait used to define CWM and species distribution across communities, OLS models relating CWM variation to environmental gradients lead to inflated type I error when testing the null hypothesis of no association between CWM and environmental gradient. To overcome this issue, we propose a phylogenetic correction for OLS models and evaluate its statistical performance (type I error and power). Phylogeny‐corrected OLS models successfully control for type I error in analysis relating CWM variation to environmental gradients but may show decreased power. Combining the exploratory tool of NTDR and phylogenetic correction in traits, when necessary, guarantees more precise inferences about the environmental forces driving trait‐mediated species sorting across metacommunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylobetadiversity is defined as the phylogenetic resemblance between communities or biomes. Analyzing phylobetadiversity patterns among different vegetation physiognomies within a single biome is crucial to understand the historical affinities between them. Based on the widely accepted idea that different forest physiognomies within the Southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest constitute different facies of a single biome, we hypothesize that more recent phylogenetic nodes should drive phylobetadiversity gradients between the different forest types within the Atlantic Forest, as the phylogenetic divergence among those forest types is biogeographically recent. We compiled information from 206 checklists describing the occurrence of shrub/tree species across three different forest physiognomies within the Southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Dense, Mixed and Seasonal forests). We analyzed intra-site phylogenetic structure (phylogenetic diversity, net relatedness index and nearest taxon index) and phylobetadiversity between plots located at different forest types, using five different methods differing in sensitivity to either basal or terminal nodes (phylogenetic fuzzy weighting, COMDIST, COMDISTNT, UniFrac and Rao’s H). Mixed forests showed higher phylogenetic diversity and overdispersion than the other forest types. Furthermore, all forest types differed from each other in relation phylobetadiversity patterns, particularly when phylobetadiversity methods more sensitive to terminal nodes were employed. Mixed forests tended to show higher phylogenetic differentiation to Dense and Seasonal forests than these latter from each other. The higher phylogenetic diversity and phylobetadiversity levels found in Mixed forests when compared to the others likely result from the biogeographical origin of several taxa occurring in these forests. On one hand, Mixed forests shelter several temperate taxa, like the conifers Araucaria and Podocarpus. On the other hand, tropical groups, like Myrtaceae, are also very representative of this forest type. We point out to the need of more attention to Mixed forests as a conservation target within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest given their high phylogenetic uniqueness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of phylogenetic conservatism in plant ecological traits has accumulated over the past few years, suggesting an interplay between the distribution of phylogenetic clades and major environmental gradients. Nonetheless, determining what environmental factors underlie the distribution of phylogenetic lineages remains a challenge because environmental factors are correlated with spatial gradients where the latter might indicate some degree of dispersal limitation in phylogenetic pools. We analyzed the phylogenetic structure of plant assemblages across the Brazilian Araucaria forests and assessed how phylogenetic structure responds to environmental and spatial gradients. We compiled data on plant occurrence in 45 plots across the Araucaria forest biome. The phylogenetic structure of the plots was characterized using phylogenetic fuzzy-weighting followed by principal coordinates of phylogenetic structure (PCPS). We used distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) to analyze the relationships between phylogenetic clades and environmental and spatial factors. Variation partitioning showed that the phylogenetic structure of Brazilian Araucaria forests was better explained by environment factors (altitude and annual mean temperature) than by space. Yet, spatially-structured environmental variation explained about one-third of total variation in the phylogenetic structure. Thus, the influence of spatial filters on the phylogenetic structure was more related to environmental gradients across the Brazilian Araucaria forest biome than to dispersal limitation of phylogenetic lineages. Furthermore, the influence of explanatory factors on the phylogenetic structure was concentrated in few nodes, the one splitting tree ferns from seed plants, and a second splitting malvids from other eurosids. Assessing the functional links between species distribution patterns and environmental gradients is not an easy task when we have to deal with large species pools. Identifying major phylogenetic gradients across an environmental and/or geographical range of interest can represent a first step towards a better understanding of general assembly processes in ecological communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Do small rocky outcrops favor forest plant colonization and establishment in grasslands? If so, what are the potential mechanisms involved in this process? Location: Araucaria forest and Campos grassland mosaic in southern Brazilian highlands (29°29′S, 50°12′W). Methods: We collected data on the density of forest woody species in plots located on rocky outcrops and in open fields subject to different management regimes. We evaluated the influence of outcrops on the density of forest plants ≤60-cm tall, and the effects of other environmental variables and of site on plant density; we also used information on diaspore traits of the species to discuss the way in which plants disperse to the outcrops. Results: Rocky outcrops harbored a significantly higher density of forest plants than open fields, irrespective of site effect, and rock height was the best predictor for plant density on outcrops. Diaspores of all recorded species possess characteristics associated with dispersal by birds or mammals or by both. Conclusions: Small rocky outcrops markedly influence forest expansion by acting as perches for vertebrate dispersers and as nurse objects and safe sites for plants. Forest expansion starting in small outcrops possibly occurs as follows: perching of dispersers and increase of seed rain on rocks, promotion of better conditions of establishment for forest plants by nurse rocks, protection of plants sensitive to grazing and fire, and nucleation of forest vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because species-environment interactions are mediated by phenotypic tradeoffs, the maintenance of ancestral traits in some phylogenetic clades and the emergence of evolutionary novelties in others are likely to limit the types of habitats that species occupy, generating phylogenetic habitat filtering. To test for phylogenetic habitat filtering in woody sapling communities in vegetation patches scattered in southern Brazilian grasslands, I estimated if patches of different sizes encompassed species of different phylogenetic groups. I analyzed patch composition with principal coordinates of phylogenetic structure (PCPS), extracted from a matrix of phylogeny-weighted species composition, and compared these results against net relatedness index (NRI) analyses. NRI analysis revealed that most communities were phylogenetically random, and that patches of different sizes did not differ from each other with respect to NRI. The first four PCPS contained ≅ 91% of total variation in phylogeny-weighted species composition. In the first two PCPS, scores of large patches differed from those of small and medium patches, which did not differ from each other. Large patches were associated with basal plant clades, whereas small patches were mostly related to asterids, and medium patches were phylogenetically diverse. Phylogenetic habitat filtering was detected only by PCPS analysis, possibly because NRI analysis does not take into account the habitat specificity of species. Taking phylogenetic habitat filtering into account in comparative studies likely enhances our capability to understand the ways that plants interact with their environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possible case of agreement ad sensum could be gaining popular acceptance in the Venezuelan Spanish variation spoken in Mérida. This kind of agreement involves a noun and a numeral adjective which can be seen in examples such as "Dame diez pan francés" (Give me ten baguettes). In the following pages, I will show how this example could represent a case of agreement ad sensum. Thus, the general objective of this study is to define the term "agreement ad sensum" as clear as possible together with the semantic features around it. The specific objectives are to compare and contrast an example of agreement ad sensum given by singular noun and a verb in its plural form define the term "agreement ad sensum" as clear as possible together with the semantic features around it. The specific objectives are to compare and contrast an example of agreement ad sensum given by singular noun and a verb in its plural form with another example given by a singular noun and a plural adjective. Finally, I will define those features that could explain (or not) how this could be considered a case of agreement ad sensum. Data will be collected from previous studies about subject-verb agreement focusing on syllepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study analyzed the influence of vegetation structure variation along a natural vegetation mosaic formed by Araucaria forest and Campos grassland in the southern Brazilian highlands, on the species richness and composition of epigeic ants. The study site consisted of two different grassland–forest ecotones, where 76 pitfall traps were installed. We estimated the area covered by canopy vegetation by hemispherical photographs, and the structure of the understory vegetation by counting the number of vegetation touches, using a graduated stick. We collected 31 species or morphospecies of epigeic ants belonging to 17 genera and 6 subfamilies. Cluster analysis defined three habitat groups (grassland, edge, and forest) with different ant species composition as revealed by ordination analysis. The highest richness was observed at the forest edge, and decreased towards the grassland and the forest interior. Variation in the richness and composition of epigeic ant species was significantly explained by the factor of distance from the forest. The relationship between species richness and understory density was negative. On the other hand, species composition of epigeic ant assemblages was significantly explained by canopy cover. This finding indicates that the ecological responses of ant assemblages resulted predominantly from edge effects mediated by changes in vegetation structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Questions: Perching and nursing effects drive initial steps of forest expansion over grasslands. Nursing effect is obviously related to niche mechanisms, while perching effect is likely to result both from neutral and niche factors. This study assessed the effect of neutral and niche factors on species composition in sapling communities developing beneath isolated trees/shrubs (ITS) in grassland. Location: A mosaic of Campos grassland and Araucaria forest in São Francisco de Paula, southern Brazil (29°28′S, 50°13′W). Methods: We described sapling communities beneath 32 ITS using mean number of forest woody saplings of different species. We performed a stepwise canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to select ITS traits that maximized the association with species composition. Then we evaluated the contribution of distance from seed source, ITS traits and distance-structured ITS traits on sapling community assembly using a variation partitioning method based on CCA and partial CCA. Results: Sapling species composition was significantly explained by ITS traits (ITS dispersal mode, ITS growth form, crown area:ITS height ratio, crown area, ITS height and crown area:volume ratio). Distance from seed sources explained only a minor, non-significant fraction of sapling species composition. Distance-structured trait variation was negligible. Conclusions: Sapling community assembly beneath ITS was mostly explained by niche factors related to both nursing and perching effects. Dispersal limitation explained only a small fraction of variation in species composition beneath ITS, suggesting that neutral-based perching effect had a minor role in community assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 587–596 It is well known that species evolutionary history plays a crucial role in community assembly. Here, we offer a formal analytical framework to integrate in metacommunity analysis the species’ phylogeny with their functional traits and abundances. We define phylogenetic structure of a community as phylogenetically weighted species composition. This is used to reveal patterns of phylogenetic community variation and to measure and test by specified null models the phylogenetic signal at the metacommunity level, which we distinguish from phylogenetic signal at the species pool level. The former indicates that communities more similar in their phylogenetic structure are also similar in their average trait values, which may indicate species’ niche conservation for the given traits. We apply this framework to an example from grassland communities and find that traits with significant phylogenetic signal at the metacommunity level exhibit ecological filtering along the resource gradient, but since both mechanisms act independently on traits, niche conservatism is not supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Our objective was to evaluate the influence of distinct macroecological factors (space, floristics and environment) on the variation in seed dispersal strategies of shrubs and trees in the Araucaria forest biome in the southern and south-eastern Brazilian highlands. We hypothesize that history-related factors (space, floristics) are major determinants of the proportion of endo- and syn-zoochorous species in Araucaria forests, despite the current gradients in environmental conditions. Location Araucaria forest is the main forest biome in southern Brazil, at altitudes above 500 m a.s.l. (latitude ≤ 30° S). Their northern limit in Brazil is at latitude 20° S, where forests occur at elevations above 1000 m a.s.l. Methods We compiled information from 27 floristic checklists comprising shrub and tree species distributed along the geographical range of the Brazilian Araucaria forest biome. We classified species as zoochorous and non-zoochorous, based on morphological attributes of their diaspores. Sites were described by geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude) and five environmental variables. We evaluated separately the influence of floristic, spatial and environmental variables on zoochory using correspondence analysis and linear regressions. Further, we evaluated causal connections between these variable groups using Mantel tests and path analysis. Results Zoochory increased with both latitude and longitude. Regression analysis showed that rainfall seasonality was the only environmental variable explaining the variation in the proportion of zoochorous species. All pairwise Mantel correlations between space, rainfall seasonality, floristics and zoochory were significant. Path analysis showed that rainfall seasonality was strongly determined by spatial distances between sites, and floristics was directly determined by rainfall seasonality. Further zoochory was mostly determined by floristics. Main conclusions Taking into account historical factors in the interpretation of macroecological patterns improves our understanding of biodiversity gradients. Hypotheses based on long-term dynamics of distinct floristic groups provide some useful insights into patterns shown by studies elsewhere. Here we offer an analytical solution to incorporate history-related factors into macroecological analyses. While history-based hypotheses do not replace any other ideas concerning macroecological patterns, they are likely to improve our understanding on factors determining present-day ecological patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: In a natural grassland-forest mosaic: What is the influence of phylogeny and diaspore traits related to disperser attraction (DAT) on (1) seed size/number trade-off (SSNT) in woody species colonizing forest patches; (2) on the frequency of the species? 3. What is the influence of forest patch area on mean seed size and number. 4. Do phylogeny and DAT expressed at the species level affect this relationship? Location: Campos grassland and Araucaria forest in São Francisco de Paula, RS, Brazil, at ca. 29°28′ S; 50° 3′ W. Methods: Forest patches of different sizes in a grassland site recovering for ten years since human disturbances were surveyed by the relative abundance of vertebrate-dispersed woody saplings. We described colonizer species according to taxonomic phylogenetic relationships and diaspore type, size and color. We analyzed with a variation partitioning method their influence on SSNT and on species frequency in the patches. At the community level we regressed mean seed size and number on forest patch area and evaluated how these relationships were affected by phylogeny and DAT at the species level. Results: 1. Phylogeny and DAT mostly explained seed size and seed number per diaspore variation. 2. By controlling phylogeny and DAT influence the frequency of species in forest patches was positively associated with their seed number in the diaspores, and negatively associated with their seed size. 3. Mean seed size and seed number at the community level were positively associated with patch area. 4. When phylogeny and DAT influences on seed size were removed this relationship was stronger for seed size and weaker for seed number. Conclusions: 1. Energy allocation to dispersal in detriment of offspring survival increased the successful establishment of colonizer species in forest patches, despite phylogenetic relationships and DAT variation in their diaspores. 2. Although patch area exerted a selective pressure on seed size, habitat preferences of dispersers may also influence patch colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: 1. Do the species composition, richness and diversity of sapling communities vary significantly in differently sized patches? 2. Do forest patches of different sizes differ in woody plant colonization patterns? Location: São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 29°28′ S, 50°13′ W. Methods: Three woody vegetation types, differing in structural development (patch size) and recovering for 10 years from cattle and burning disturbances, were sampled on grassland. We analysed the composition and complexity of the woody sapling communities, through relative abundance, richness and diversity patterns. We also evaluated recruitment status (residents vs. colonizers) of species in communities occurring in different forest patch size classes. Results: 1. There is a compositional gradient in sapling communities strongly associated with forest patch area. 2. Richness and diversity are positively correlated to patch area, but only in poorly structured patches; large patches present richness and diversity values similar to small patches. 3. Resident to colonizer abundance ratio increases from nurse plants to large patches. The species number proportion between residents and colonizers is similar in small and large patches and did not differ between these patch types. 4. Large patches presented a high number of exclusive species, while nurse plants and small patches did not. Conclusions: Woody plant communities in Araucaria forest patches are associated with patch structure development. Richness and diversity patterns are linked to patch colonization patterns. Generalist species colonize the understorey of nurse plants and small patches; resident species cannot recruit many new individuals. In large patches, sapling recruitment by resident adults precludes the immigration of new species into the patches, limiting richness and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we compare rhythmic parameters of human body temperature simultaneously measured with digital thermometers and thermistors with memory (Thermochron iButtons®). Thirteen healthy male and female volunteers (mean age of 25) measured oral and axillary temperatures with digital thermometers every hour during wakefulness for two days and every three hours for three days, totalling five consecutive days. Concomitantly, they wore badges with thermistors in the thorax and the wrist. Temporal series circadian rhythmicity was evaluated with the Cosinor technique. Acrophases average were 17:32 h±2:02 h for axillary temperature, 10:12 h±7:26 h for thoracic temperature, 17:18 h±00:50 h for oral temperature and 4:15 h±1:55 h for wrist temperature. The rhythmic parameters of the wrist are more robust than those of the thorax. The collection of data in humans, generally performed with digital thermometers, is restricted to the waking phase and depends on the discipline of the volunteers. We suggest that the use of the thermistor with memory in the wrist can be adopted as alternative methodology to studies of human body temperature rhythmicity, especially recommended for long temporal series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the investigation of a circadian pattern in the positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) and a comparison between the chronotypes, 28 medical students (22 ± 2.5 years) answered initially the Morningness – Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and then the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) and two visual analogue scales (VAS) every three hours during wakefulness for two weeks. The words we chose to represent the PA and NA in the VAS were “attentive” and “upset”. Considering the Cosinor method analyses for the PANAS and the VAS results, 85.71% of subjects displayed significant circadian variation of PA (for p [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Araucaria Forest expansion over grassland takes place under wet climate conditions and low disturbance and it is hypothesized that isolated trees established on grassland facilitate the establishment of forest woody species beneath their canopies. Forest with Araucaria angustifolia is a particular type of Brazilian Atlantic Forest and the main forest type on the highland plateau in south Brazil, often forming mosaics with natural Campos grassland. The objectives of this paper were to evaluate the role of isolated shrubs and trees as colonization sites for seedlings of Araucaria Forest woody species on grassland, to determine which species function as preferential nurse plants in the process and the importance of vertebrate diaspore dispersal on the structure of seedling communities beneath nurse plants. The study was conducted in São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul State, where we sampled isolated shrubs and trees in natural grassland near Araucaria Forest edges. Seedlings were counted and identified, and seedling diaspore dispersal syndromes, size and colour were registered. We detected 11 woody species with a potential role in nucleating grassland colonization by forest species. Beneath the canopies of nurse plants more forest species seedlings were found compared with open field grassland and the seedlings had diaspores mostly dispersed by vertebrates. Also, more seedlings were found under the canopy of A. angustifolia than beneath other nurse plant species. We conclude that A. angustifolia trees established on grassland act as nurse plants, by attracting disperser birds that promote colonization of the site by other forest species seedlings, and that under low level of grassland disturbance, conservation of frugivorous vertebrate assemblages may increase forest expansion over natural grassland and also facilitate the regeneration of degraded forest areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to the present study, Nematomystes scapteromi (Ganzorig, Oku, Okamoto, Malgor & Kamiya, 1999) Jiménez-Ruiz & Gardner, 2003 had been reported in Scapteromys tumidus Waterhouse, 1837 from Uruguay. Here, eight specimens of S. tumidus were collected in southern Brazil and necropsied. The nematodes encountered were determined as N. scapteromi through their morphometric traits. Prevalence was 87.5% and the mean intensity of infection of 18.3 helminths/host. This is the first report of N. scapteromi parasitizing S. tumidus in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the implementation and validation of a strongly coupled numerical model of a fully passive flapping foil turbine operating at a high Reynolds number. Thanks to a strong fluid–solid coupling strategy, the well known added-mass instability is mitigated while simulating a lightweight flapping foil. The numerical results are first validated in the case of a fixed foil undergoing static stall. The model is then validated with respect to numerical results available in the literature for a heavy flapping foil turbine. Finally, the numerical results of the strongly coupled model are compared to experimental data of a lightweight turbine prototype tested in a confined channel. The numerical results have shown to be in good agreement with the experimental measurements. Indeed, the kinematics and harvesting performances of the turbine prototype have been accurately reproduced by the numerical simulations. Besides, the leading edge vortex shedding observed in the experiments has also been precisely reproduced by the numerical results. The strongly coupled model implemented and validated in the present paper constitutes a useful tool for expanding the parameter space in the search for an optimised design of the fully passive flapping foil turbine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to diversity-dependent diversification (DDD) theory, diversification slows down as niches are gradually filled by cladogenesis. A corollary of DDD is to assume a richness ceiling, a contentious topic for continental clades. Evolutionary priority effect is a related phenomenon whereby secondary colonizers have their diversification constrained owing to pre-emption of niches by incumbent groups. South American aerial insectivorous bats are composed of incumbent, non-Vespertilionidae groups (SA non-vesper) and the later immigrant Vespertilionidae (SA vesper). We investigated whether DDD and priority effects explain SA vesper diversification history, while also comparing it with North/Central American vespertilionids (NA vesper), an incumbent lineage in that region. Diversification analysis supported a single regime of diversification rates across all groups, with little decrease through time. Geographical state diversification of vespertilionids selected a best-fitting model with different speciation rates for NA endemics, SA endemics and widespread species, but equal extinction. The model presented higher speciation for SA endemics over NA endemics. Thus, DDD and priority effects are inconsistent with the diversification of South American aerial insectivorous bats. We discuss how SA vesper are comparatively depauperate, probably because of a shorter evolutionary history and/or cryptic diversity when compared with NA vesper, instead of niche conservatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the disjunct distribution of the Amazonian and the Atlantic forests, three historical connections between those biomes have been hypothesized: through Northeast Brazil, the Brazilian Cerrado, and the Southeast–Northwest. Temporal variation has been suggested to occur in these connections, with recent connections for the Northeast and older connections for the Southeast–Northwest. We tested for the hypothesis of temporal variation in these connections using Neotropical mammals as a study group. Phylogenetic and spatial data of sister groups from each forest were combined to access the spatiotemporal patterns of these connections. The relationship between distance route and divergence times was tested using linear regression. The results revealed that the previously suggested spatiotemporal pattern was corroborated only for Rodentia but not for Didelphimorphia and Chiroptera, showing both old and recent connections for all routes. In addition, each family revealed specific connections at different times. We refute the previously proposed absence of old connections through the Northeast route. Rather, temporal variation in the Northeast differs among the mammalian groups according to their evolutionary histories. Owing to the biogeographical history of each group, different connections were found at different times. Therefore, connections between these forests cannot be explained by a single spatiotemporal pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Speciation, extinction and historical dispersal are the ultimate factors generating and maintaining biodiversity. However, methods of macroevolution used to detect historical processes usually ignore the variation of macroevolutionary processes at scales finer than entire regions. Likewise, biogeography and community ecology often ignore deep‐time evolutionary processes. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to integrate data from ancestral state reconstructions, current species distributions and biogeographical regionalization. Herodotools is an R package designed to perform this integration. Location: Global application, with an example from Neotropics. Major taxa studied: Any taxa, with an example from small rodents (genus Akodon and subfamily Sigmodontinae). Methods: Herodotools streamline analyses of historical biogeography, including regionalization, calculation of assemblage age, lineage in situ diversification and community phylogenetic metrics, merging species occurrence with macroevolutionary methods of ancestral area and trait reconstruction. The main functions of our R package are presented with toy examples and by analysing the historical biogeography of small rodent assemblages in the Neotropics. Results: Our package can integrate methods from biogeography, macroevolution and community ecology, allowing us to downscale the effects of historical processes and calculate important historical variables (e.g., age of assemblages, in situ diversification, phylogenetic regionalization, phylogenetic transition zones, metrics of trait macroevolutionary dynamics and new metrics of phylogenetic diversity and endemism) in different scales, from entire regions to communities of co‐occurrent species. Main Conclusions: Herodotools is the first platform to streamline the analysis of historical biogeography, enabling a better understanding of historical processes at different levels of organization, from local assemblages to entire biogeographical regions and incorporating macroevolutionary models in commonly used community phylogenetic metrics. This integration bridges the gap between macroevolutionary, biogeography and community ecology methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several determinants of mental health symptoms, ranging from individual characteristics to social factors. Consistent with patterns in the general population, students with evening characteristics tend to exhibit more anxiety symptoms and poorer sleep quality compared to morning students. Meal timing also appears to affect sleep and may be associated with mental health symptoms. In this context, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the timing of the main and last meals of the day with sleep quality and anxiety levels, according to the chronotype of university students. This study was conducted in colleges in São Paulo, Brazil, and involved application of a questionnaire to 162 university students. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic information meal and study times, and included scales assessing eveningness and morningness, sleep quality, and anxiety. Students demonstrating a phase delay in both chronotype and dinner timing exhibited higher levels of anxiety compared to morning-type students. Although no associations were observed between meal timing and sleep quality, sleeping later was associated with poorer sleep quality. The study suggests that evening students and those who eat late at night are more prone to presenting mental health symptoms. More studies are needed to further investigate this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronotype is a circadian phenotype expressed in the preference of individuals to perform their activities and sleep in specific phases along the day. The objective of the study was to identify anxiety levels, quality of sleep and different chronotypes of university students and investigate their possible relationships. This is a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, in which 103 undergraduate students answered the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). There is a relationship between chronotype, quality of sleep and anxiety in the investigated population. Evening chronotype students showed higher anxiety status and have poor sleep quality when compared with morning chronotype students. The high occurrence of anxiety levels and poor sleep quality in evening students may be a consequence of high academic demand in a shift incompatible with the phase delay of the circadian timing system of these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Free‐living bacteria have long been assumed to have little biogeographic signature because of their high potential for passive dispersal. Raphidiopsis raciborskii and Microcystis aeruginosa are free‐living cosmopolitan cyanobacteria with a probable tropical origin, that frequently form toxic blooms and are considered invasive species in middle latitudes. Despite these similarities, their phylogeographic patterns have seldom been directly compared. Our aim was to reconstruct the phylogeographic histories of R. raciborskii and M. aeruginosa, in order to explore whether their current distributions could be attributed to the same biogeographic events. Location: Global. Taxa: Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Nostocales) and Microcystis aeruginosa (Chroococcales). Methods: The phylogeography of these species was studied based on global genetic diversity patterns from a dataset of worldwide 16S rRNA gene sequences. Genetic diversity indices were measured globally and by latitude. Analyses based on distance matrices were performed to evaluate the correlation between genetic divergence, geographic distance and climatic conditions. Demographic history was investigated through neutrality tests and Bayesian Skyline Plot analysis. Results: For both species, the genetic diversity is highest in tropical latitudes, and the data provided evidence of recent population expansions (in the last 2,500 years). R. raciborskii showed much lower genetic diversity than M. aeruginosa. A significant phylogeographic structure was found for R. raciborskii but not for M. aeruginosa. Climatic conditions had a significant influence on the genetic structure of both species, but this influence was stronger and varied according to latitude only for R. raciborskii. Main Conclusions: Supporting the hypothesis of a tropical origin and recent dispersal to temperate habitats, both species had higher genetic diversity in tropical latitudes and showed evidence of recent population expansions. R. raciborskii populations showed a significant decline in genetic similarity with increasing geographic distance, indicating an interaction between drift and some dispersal limitation on its phylogeography. In contrast, M. aeruginosa seemed to have a high frequency of intercontinental dispersal. Finally, the particularities of each species, such as the ability to form akinetes in R. raciborskii and high genome plasticity and niche specialization in M. aeruginosa, may be associated with the lower genetic diversity of R. raciborskii when compared to M. aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity can be represented by different dimensions. While many diversity metrics try to capture the variation of these dimensions they also lead to a 'fragmentation' of the concept of biodiversity itself. Developing a unified measure that integrates all the dimensions of biodiversity is a theoretical solution for this problem, however, it remains operationally impossible. Alternatively, understanding which dimensions better represent the biodiversity of a set of communities can be a reliable way to integrate the different diversity metrics. Therefore, to achieve a holistic understand of biological diversity, we explore the concept of dimensionality. We define dimensionality of diversity as the number of complementary components of biodiversity, represented by diversity metrics, needed to describe biodiversity in an unambiguously and effective way. We provide a solution that joins two components of dimensionality – correlation and the variation – operationalized through two metrics, respectively: evenness of eigenvalues (EE) and importance values (IV). Through simulation we show that considering EE and IV together can provide information that is neglected when only EE is considered. We demonstrate how to apply this framework by investigating the dimensionality of South American small mammal communities. Our example evidenced that, for some representations of biological diversity, more attention is needed in the choice of diversity metrics necessary to effectively characterize biodiversity. We conclude by highlighting that this integrated framework provides a better understanding of dimensionality than considering only the correlation component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years, a debate about the relative roles of distinct factors on the evolution of lineages has gained prominence. The family Canidae is an excellent group for exploring this idea, owing to its rich fossil history. One of the most intriguing traits in canids is social organization, which varies from highly social to solitary species. However, we do not have a complete understanding of how sociality evolved in this clade. Here, we use a combination of phylogenetic analyses, ancestral character reconstructions and comparative methods on the only extant subfamily, Caninae, to understand how traits expressing ecological features evolved over the last 12.6 Myr. Our findings suggest that the evolution of low, medium and high sociality forms was abrupt and highly correlated with the evolution of hypo-, meso- and hypercarnivorous forms, respectively. In addition, our results suggest that the evolution of phenotypic traits in Caninae occurred through a sequential cause–effect relationship, where changes in habitat use and body size probably triggered changes in social behaviour, which in turn drove the evolution of diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human exposure to contaminants of emerging concern, like pesticides, has increased in the past decades. Diclofop-methyl (DFM) is a chiral herbicide that is employed as a racemic mixture (rac -DFM) in soybean and other crops against wild oats. Studies have shown that DFM has enantioselective action (higher for R -DFM), degradation (faster for S -DFM), and metabolism, producing diclofop (DF) which is also a pesticide. Although toxic effects have been reported for DFM, information regarding how DFM affects humans is lacking, especially when its chirality is concerned. In this study, the in vitro metabolism of rac -DFM and its isolated enantiomers was assessed by using a human model based on human liver microsomes. The kinetic model and parameters were obtained, and the hepatic clearance (CL H) and hepatic extraction ratio (E H) were estimated. Enzyme phenotyping was carried out by employing carboxylesterase isoforms (CES 1 and CES 2). DFM was metabolized through positive homotropic cooperativity with slight preference for (−)-DFM metabolism to (−)-DF. CL H and E H were above 19.60 mL min−1 kg−1 and 98 % for all the monitored reactions, respectively, and CES 1 was the main enzyme underlying the metabolism. These findings point out that liver contributes to DFM metabolism, which is fast, resulting in nearly complete conversion to DF after exposition to DFM. [Display omitted] • Enantioselective in vitro metabolism of diclofop-methyl in a human model. • Carboxylesterase 1 was the main enzyme involved in the metabolism. • In vitro-in vivo correlation of a chiral pesticide. • Hepatic clearance was above 19.60 mL min−1 kg−1 for all the monitored reactions. • Hepatic extraction ratio was above 98 % for all the monitored reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple factors drive species interactions in ecological networks, such as morphological barriers, spatio–temporal distribution, abundances and evolutionary histories of species. Novel methods are making it possible to evaluate the relative importance of each of these drivers. However, the lack of appropriate methods has prevented evaluating the extent to which interaction networks are shaped by species’ evolutionary histories. This study includes the evolutionary histories of species among the potential drivers of interactions, allowing the comparative analysis of its importance in structuring ecological networks. We hypothesized different possible phylogenetic scenarios to predict frequencies of interactions between species by combining concepts from the fields of ecological networks and ecophylogenetics. The usage of these scenarios is illustrated in a plant–hummingbird interaction network database from the Atlantic Forest, southeastern Brazil. We first evaluated which phylogenetic hypotheses better predict the observed network; subsequently, we evaluated the relative importance of species evolutionary histories, abundances, and matching on species morphologies and phenologies as drivers of their frequencies of interactions. The results suggest that the evolutionary histories of hummingbirds are more important than the species abundances in structuring the studied plant–hummingbird network but less important than the morphological and phenological matching among species. The approach developed here offers the potential to advance our understanding of the multiple factors structuring ecological networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Daylight Saving Time (DST) annually moves clocks 1 hour forward, when daytime is longer than night. Previous studies from medium and high latitude locations have pointed to a disruptive effect of DST on human circadian rhythms. Since Brazil is an equatorial country implementing DST, a different relationship between photic and social synchronisers may interfere with DST effects. Aim:To explore the prevalence and duration of self-reported discomfort related to DST among Brazilian residents (latitude 12–33° S, longditude 39–57° W). It was hypothesised that an elevated prevalence of self-reported discomfort would be found in Brazil, due to the pronounced uncoupling between social and geophysical synchronisers. Subjects and methods:In total, 12 467 volunteers completed a web-based, Brazilian version of Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, provided demographic information, and answered questions related to DST complaints (discomfort, duration of discomfort). Results:Of the total sample, 45.43% reported no discomfort related to DST, with meaningful proportions for all chronotypes. However, eveningness was most associated with discomfort. About one fourth of the total sample reported discomfort over the whole DST period. Gender interaction is largely supported by these results. Conclusions:DST at low latitude locations may be disruptive for circadian rhythms, since seasonality of sunrise near the equator is negligible or very mild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthropods and land plants are the major macroscopic sources of biodiversity on the planet. Knowledge of the organization and specialization of plant-herbivore interactions, such as their roles in food webs is important for understanding the processes for maintaining biodiversity. A limited number of studies have examined herbivory through geological time. The most have analyzed localities from one restricted interval within a geological period, or a time transition such as the Paleocene-Eocene boundary interval. In the present study, we analyzed the frequency of herbivory and density of damage type ( DT) from the Middle Devonian to the early Miocene. The data were compiled from literature sources and focused on studies that describe occurrences of leaves with DTs indicating herbivore consumption as a proportion of the total number of leaves analyzed. The data were standardized based on the DT categories in the Damage Type Guide, and the age of each locality was updated based on the most recent geochronological standard and expressed in millions of years. Temperature and geological age were the best descriptors of the variation in herbivory frequency, which tended to increase at higher temperatures. Two models were equivalent to explain DT density: the interaction between CO2 levels and geological age, and O2 levels and geological age had the same predictive power. The density of DT tended to increase with higher content of atmospheric CO2 and O2 compared to modern values. The frequency of herbivory and the density of DTs appear to be influenced by long-term atmospheric variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on literature review and malacological collections, 168 native freshwater bivalve and five invasive species have been recorded for 52 hydrographic regions in South America. The higher species richness has been detected in the South Atlantic, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Amazon Brazilian hydrographic regions. Presence or absence data were analysed by Principal Coordinate for Phylogeny-Weighted. The lineage Veneroida was more representative in hydrographic regions that are poorer in species and located West of South America. The Mycetopodidae and Hyriidae lineages were predominant in regions that are richest in species toward the East of the continent. The distribution of invasive species Limnoperna fortunei is not related to species richness in different hydrographic regions there. The species richness and its distribution patterns are closely associated with the geological history of the continent. The hydrographic regions present distinct phylogenetic and species composition regardless of the level of richness. Therefore, not only should the richness be considered to be a criterion for prioritizing areas for conservation, but also the phylogenetic diversity of communities engaged in services and functional aspects relevant to ecosystem maintenance. A plan to the management of this fauna according to particular ecological characteristics and human uses of hydrographic regions is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question Do regional differences in latitude, and local factors of disturbance and distance from mature forest, influence dispersal syndromes, rate of accumulation of species and total richness in a recovering temperate, subtropical and tropical forest? Location Temperate old-growth red pine forest, Canada; subtropical Araucaria Atlantic forest, southern Brazil; tropical Gallery forest, central Brazil. Methods We used path analysis to determine causal relationships of regional (latitude) and local (disturbance intensity, distance of recovering site from forest) factors on percentage zoochory, exponent z from species-area relationships and total richness. Results Path results showed linear decreases in percentage zoochory, z and richness with increasing latitude. Disturbance and distance from mature forest each reduced richness by similar amounts; however responses of percentage zoochory and z were inconsistent between the two local factors. A second path model, using only the subtropical and tropical forest, greatly increased model significance, yielded insignificant regional effects and strengthened effects of local factors on the three richness responses. Important results from this path model were linear decreases of z (0.1) and percentage zoochory (10%) and a log-decrease of richness (five-fold) 100 m from the mature subtropical and tropical forest. Conclusions Regional differences in latitude and local effects of dispersal limitation can influence forest richness as strongly as disturbance alone. Isolated, recovering subtropical and tropical forest fragments of southern and central Brazil may therefore be recovering at much slower rates than estimates made from those adjacent to mature forest stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question Are trait-convergence assembly patterns ( TCAP) and/or trait-divergence assembly patterns ( TDAP) of tree sapling communities related to microhabitat gradients in forest patches? If so, which traits are related to such patterns? What are the niche mechanisms potentially responsible for community assembly? Location Grassland-forest mosaic in Serra do Sudeste region, southern Brazil (ca. 30.8°S, 53.1°W). Methods We used individual-based trait information of 1132 tree saplings in 40 plots along gradients of canopy openness and grazing intensity in forest patches in southern Brazil. We used a trait-based approach, bypassing taxonomic identification, as a first assessment of sapling community assembly in forest patches. Results Both TCAP and TDAP indicate niche mechanisms underlying assembly of tree sapling communities. Specific leaf area ( SLA), mean leaf area ( LA) and relative abundance of toothed leaf margin ( TLM) maximized TCAP. SLA and TLM tended to increase under more closed canopies, whereas LA had higher values at intermediate canopy openness. SLA and LA maximized TDAP and tended to vary more in more closed canopies, whereas SLA and presence of spines, which also maximized TDAP, showed higher variation under lower grazing intensity. Conclusion The taxon-free approach was very useful to infer niche mechanisms of tree sapling assembly in forest patches. By adopting an individual-based trait approach, we assumed that both intra-specific and intra-population trait variability were relevant for revealing assembly patterns. We highlight that the use of individual-based trait data in a metacommunity framework is an excellent way to evaluate TCAP and TDAP at the metacommunity scale, since it takes into account the entire variation of traits throughout communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated whether evolution is faster at ecotones as niche shifts may be needed to persist under unstable environment. We mapped diet evolution along the evolutionary history of 350 sigmodontine species. Mapping was used in three new tip‐based metrics of trait evolution – Transition Rates, Stasis Time, and Last Transition Time – which were spatialized at the assemblage level (aTR, aST, aTL). Assemblages were obtained by superimposing range maps on points located at core and ecotone of the 93 South American ecoregions. Using Linear Mixed Models, we tested whether ecotones have species with more changes from the ancestral diet (higher aTR), have maintained the current diet for a shorter time (lower aST), and have more recent transitions to the current diet (lower aLT) than cores. We found lower aTR, and higher aST and aLT at ecotones than at cores. Although ecotones are more heterogeneous, both environmentally and in relation to selection pressures they exert on organisms, ecotone species change little from the ancestral diet as generalist habits are necessary toward feeding in ephemeral environments. The need to incorporate phylogenetic uncertainty in tip‐based metrics was evident from large uncertainty detected. Our study integrates ecology and evolution by analyzing how fast trait evolution is across space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]