José Marcelino

Using species spectra to evaluate plant community conservation value along a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on the partitioning of plant communities (species spectra) across a landcover gradient of community types, categorizing species on the basis of their biogeographic, ecological, and conservation status. We tested a multinomial model to generate species spectra and monitor changes in plant assemblages as anthropogenic disturbance rise, as well as the usefulness of this method to assess the conservation value of a given community. Herbaceous and arborescent communities were sampled in five Azorean islands. Margins were also sampled to account for edge effects. Different multinomial models were applied to a data set of 348 plant species accounting for differences in parameter estimates among communities and/or islands. Different levels of anthropogenic disturbance produced measurable changes on species spectra. Introduced species proliferated and indigenous species declined, as anthropogenic disturbance and management intensity increased. Species assemblages of relevance other than economic (i.e., native, endemic, threatened species) were enclosed not only in natural habitats, but also in human managed arborescent habitats, which can positively contribute for the preservation of indigenous species outside remnants of natural areas, depending on management strategies. A significant presence of invasive species in margin transects of most community types will contribute to an increase in edge effect that might facilitate invasion. The multinomial model developed in this study was found to be a novel and expedient tool to characterize the species spectra at a given community and its use could be extrapolated for other assemblages or organisms, in order to evaluate and forecast the conservation value of a site.

Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS): a proposal for the long-term coordinated survey and monitoring of native island forest biota

Islands harbour evolutionary and ecologically unique biota, which are currently disproportionately threatened by a multitude of anthropogenic factors, including habitat loss, invasive species and climate change. Native forests on oceanic islands are important refugia for endemic species, many of which are rare and highly threatened. Long-term monitoring schemes for those biota and ecosystems are urgently needed: (i) to provide quantitative baselines for detecting changes within island ecosystems, (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation and management actions, and (iii) to identify general ecological patterns and processes using multiple island systems as repeated ‘natural experiments’. In this contribution, we call for a Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS) for monitoring the remaining native island forests, using bryophytes, vascular plants, selected groups of arthropods and vertebrates as model taxa. As a basis for the GIMS, we also present new, optimized monitoring protocols for bryophytes and arthropods that were developed based on former standardized inventory protocols. Effective inventorying and monitoring of native island forests will require: (i) permanent plots covering diverse ecological gradients (e.g. elevation, age of terrain, anthropogenic disturbance); (ii) a multiple-taxa approach that is based on standardized and replicable protocols; (iii) a common set of indicator taxa and community properties that are indicative of native island forests’ welfare, building on, and harmonized with existing sampling and monitoring efforts; (iv) capacity building and training of local researchers, collaboration and continuous dialogue with local stakeholders; and (v) long-term commitment by funding agencies to maintain a global network of native island forest monitoring plots.

Principal Group of Infectious Insect Diseases

Provides a comprehensible and copious illustrated description of the most common diseases in laboratory reared insect colonies, comprising Viruses (Baculoviridae, Reoviridae, Poxviridae, and Iridoviridae); Bacteria (Bacillaciae, Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae); Rickettsia (Rickettsiaceae); Protozoa (Amebiases, Gregarine and Coccidian); Fungi (Entomophthorales and Muscardine) and Microsporidia. The morphology of the pathogen, its external signs and symptoms in infected hosts, the pathomorphism of disease and the most common insect host for each pathogen group are described. Descriptions for the different species or families of microorganism agents of disease varied according to the current scientific knowledge of the organisms being described, its pathogenic importance and management potential.

Common Infectious Diseases of Insects in Culture

Common infectious diseases of insects in culture , Common infectious diseases of insects in culture , کتابخانه مرکزی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تهران

Using Bayesian Inference to Validate Plant Community Assemblages and Determine Indicator Species

Recently, we described changes in plant community composition along gradients of anthropogenic disturbance, using a multinomial distribution in a Bayesian framework. Species were organized into categories (e.g. endemic, native, naturalized, invasive) and the proportions of each category in each community were represented by a multinomial vector. We now extend the use of the multinomial distribution to represent all the species in a community, individually, and use this approach to (i) validate plant community assemblages according to their specific composition, and (ii) determine indicator species for each community assemblage. Communities were assembled according to different models: null (all together); saturated (all separated); semi-saturated (only community replicates together); random (random assemblages); gradient (communities assembled in types along an ecological gradient). The models were calculated by using WinBugs and model fit was evaluated using Deviance Information Criterion (DIC). After the best community assemblage was found, we used Bayes rule to estimate the probability of a community, given the presence of a species, and compared the resulting indicator species with those determined by using conventional indicator values (IndVal). Both community assemblage and indicator species analysis gave good results when using two comprehensive plant community data sets for the Azores, i.e., a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance and an altitude gradient. Our method allows to (i) statistically validate plant community assemblages; and (ii) incorporate the prevalence of a plant community in the calculations pertaining to indicator species analysis.

Methods of Practical Diagnostic

Includes detailed guidelines for practical, expedient and accessible diagnostic methodologies of infectious diseases in insects. Techniques described provide reliable alternatives for preliminary pathogen identification which do not require special equipment or intensive training, in a step by step protocol format, and for an easy orientation and accurate learning.

Prophylactic of Infectious Diseases in Insect Cultures

Gives recommendations for prophylactics and control of infectious diseases in insect cultures. Sanitary measures for the establishment of axenic insect cultures using gnotobiotic insects are described. In addition, insect sanitation and therapy of disease are explained. Protocols for sterile and biosafety laboratory use, as well as insect culture handling are listed.

Manifestation of Infectious Diseases in Insect Cultures

Describes the peculiarities of initial disease manifestation (cryptic, mild or acute) in insect cultures for prompt detection of abnormalities in the colony, namely external and internal symptoms and signs of disease (e.g. change of morphology and metamorphosis patterns, behavioral changes, etc.). This chapter is mostly useful for timely detection of infectious diseases in insect laboratory cultures and should be used when problems in the colonies are observed and as a regular checklist for colony health.