The database of the Brazilian Program for Biodiversity Research (PPBio; GIVD ID SA-BR-001) includes data on the environment and biological groups such as plants. It is organized by site, which is usually a grid with 10 to 72 uniformly-distributed plots, and has already surveyed 1,638 relevés across different Brazilian ecosystems. The sampling design is based on the RAPELD system to allow integration of data from diverse taxa and ecosystem processes. RAPELD is a spatially-explicit sampling scheme to monitor biodiversity in long-term ecological research sites and during rapid appraisals of biodiversity that has attracted support from many management agencies, which are using it as their long-term monitoring system. Vegetation surveys include measurements of cover, biomass and number of individuals from woody and herbaceous vascular plants, along with environmental data. We have recently migrated to a metadata catalog and data repository which allows searching for specific groups across all sites. All RAPELD data have been collected since 2001, though the site also allows data from other long-term plots to be archived as associated projects. Database manager(s): Flávia Fonseca Pezzini (flaviapezzini@gmail.com) Owner: [NA] Web address: http://ppbio.inpa.gov.br Availability: after blocking period Online upload: yes Online search: yes Database format(s): CSV file, TXT file Export format(s): CSV file Publication: [NA] Plot type(s): normal plots Plot-size range: 1-10000 m² Non-overlapping plots: 1,843 Estimate of existing plots: [NA] Completeness: [NA] Total plot observations: 1,843 Number of sources: [NA] Valid taxa: [NA] Countries: BR: 100.0% Forest: [NA] -Non-forest: [NA] Guilds: all vascular plants: 100% Environmental data: altitude: 100%; slope inclination: 35%; soil pH: 92%; other soil attributes: 92% Performance measure(s): cover: 100%; number of individuals: 100%; biomass: 100% Geographic localisation: GPS coordinates (precision 25 m or less): 100% Sampling periods:

The distribution of Trichoptera of the Hozgarganta River (Los Alcornocales Natural Park, SW Spain) in relation with environmental factors was examined.Three groups of species were recognised according to the altitudinal gradient. In the headwaters the caddisflies Rhyacophila fonticola, Lepidostoma hirtum, Silonella aurata, Allogamus gibraltaricus, Hydropsyche infernalis and Diplectrona felix predominated; in the constrained section of the tributaries Polycentropus kingi, Chimarra marginata, Hydropsyche iberomaroccana, R. fonticola and Tinodes sp. prevailed; finally, in the main channel H. iberomaroccana, C. marginata, Hydropsyche lobata, Leptocerus lusitanicus and Rhyacophila munda were the most important species. A direct ordination analysis (CCA) was used to describe assemblage changes among sites and corroborated that conductivity and temperature were the variables that best explained Trichoptera distribution.The temporal analysis showed changes in the Trichoptera diversity and richness in permanent stretches, as well as variations in the structure of the communities according to the season. We identified autumn-winter species (H. infernalis, H. siltalai, H. lobata, R. fonticola and R. munda) and summer ones (Ithytrichia sp, Oxyethira unidentata, Mystacides azurea and Setodes argentipunctellus). In the basin we distinguished permanent, intermittent and ephemeral reaches with similar caddisfly richness and diversity, however the species composition associated with each one was different.

We have recognised significant incongruences among the most commonly used taxonomic characters in the European species of Wormaldia genus of the Philopotamidae caddisfly family. During taxonomical analysis and ranking procedures we have recorded incongruent, discorcordant characters also in the taxa in Rhyacophilidae, Hydropsychidae and Limnephilidae caddisfly families. Based on theoretical background we concluded that taxa of examined caddisflies and probably all living creatures are chimeric entities composed of components of different origin. Genomes and phenomes are tree-like on the surface but more reticulated in the deep. We understand chimerism with universal consequences, expanding well beyond the evolutionary tree-thinking of reductionism and determinism. Taxa are chimeric or at least chimerical in a stochastic universe under the permanent fluxes of the external and internal impacts created by intercourses between entropy and energy gradients. We have surveyed how to create and correct synonymies in the splitter/lumper perspectives along the principles of compositional and specification hierarchies understood as quantitative variability of non-adaptive neutral and qualitative stability of adaptive, non-neutral traits. We outlined how the apophantic (declaratory) hybris creates synonymies and underestimates biodiversity. After redrawing the diverging genitalic structures, particularly the speciation traits we have reinstated species status of eight taxa: W.

The stoneflies and caddisflies of North Africa are still poorly known as vast areas of Algeria have yet to be investigated. A survey of the macroinvertebrates of the Seybouse River, northeast Algeria, was carried out from July 2014 to December 2016. Three species of stoneflies (Capnopsis schilleri, Capnioneura petitpierreae, and Tyrrhenoleuctra tangerina) and five taxa of caddisflies (Mesophylax aspersus, Hydropsyche maroccana, H. resmineda, H. artax/lobata, and H. gr. pellucidula) were identified. All taxa are new records to the Seybouse River and seven of them are new to northeastern Algeria. A multivariate analysis indicated that the Hydropsychidae exhibited a clear longitudinal gradient along the Seybouse River while Mesophylax aspersus seemed adapted to species-poor, intermittent streams. Further investigations of the stoneflies and caddisflies may inform conservation efforts and will prove useful to monitor the Seybouse River and similarly threatened North African rivers and streams.

Optimización del cultivo de queratinocitos humanos para el desarrollo de un modelo de piel artificial humana: alternativas celulares como capa alimentadora ResumenObjetivos: En el presente estudio se persigue optimizar el cultivo de queratinocitos para desarrollar un modelo de piel artificial humana. Para ello, se utilizan como capa alimentadora células de origen humano: fibroblastos dérmicos humanos y células mesenquimales troncales derivadas de tejido adiposo. Los resultados obtenidos se comparan con los fibroblastos 3T3, capa alimentadora de origen murino utilizada desde hace décadas. Metodología: Se llevó a cabo un estudio experimental, utilizando células de origen humano y células de origen murino subletalmente irradiadas, como capa alimentadora para el establecimiento del cultivo de queratinocitos. Se evaluó la tasa de expansión celular y la tasa de duplicación en el pase celular de queratinocitos y en la recuperación celular final que se llevó a cabo a las 3 semanas de cultivo; así como el rendimiento celular y la viabilidad celular, que también se evaluaron en el procesamiento inicial. Resultados: Los resultados determinan que los fibroblastos dérmicos humanos irradiados y las células mesenquimales troncales derivadas de tejido adiposo pueden actuar como capa alimentadora promoviendo la adhesión y la expansión celular de los queratinocitos. Los fibroblastos dérmicos humanos proporcionan resultados equiparables a los obtenidos con los fibroblastos 3T3 murinos. Conclusiones: Los fibroblastos dérmicos humanos irradiados proporcionan una capa alimentadora funcional que permite la expansión in vitro de manera eficaz de los queratinocitos que se van a utilizar con fines clínicos para el desarrollo de un modelo de piel artificial humana. AbstractPurpose: This study aims to optimize keratinocyte culture to develop an artificial human skin model. For this purpose, human cells are used as feeder layer: human dermal fibroblasts and adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells. The results obtained are compared with 3T3 fibroblasts, murine feeder layer used for decades. Methods: We conducted an experimental study using human and murine sub-lethally irradiated cells as feeder layer for the establishment of keratinocyte culture. Cell expansion rate and doubling rate were evaluated in the keratinocyte cell passage and in the final cell recovery (was carried out at 3 weeks). The yield and viability of keratinocytes were also evaluated in the initial processing. Results:The results determine that irradiated human dermal fibroblasts and irradiated adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells can act as feeder layer promoting adhesion and expansion of keratinocytes. Human dermal fibroblasts provide comparable results to those obtained with murine 3T3 fibroblasts. Conclusions: Irradiated human dermal fibroblasts provide a functional feeder layer which allows effectively in vitro expansion of keratinocytes to be used for clinical purposes for the development of an artificial human skin model.