The phenotypic plasticity of wing size and wing shape of Zaprionus indianus was investigated in relation to growth temperature (17 degrees C to 31 degrees C) in two natural populations living under different climates, equatorial and subtropical. The two populations were clearly distinguished not only by their wing size (the populations from the colder climate being bigger in size), but also by the shape of the response curves to growth temperature i.e., their reaction norms. In this respect, the temperature at which the size of the wing was maximum was about 3 degrees C higher in the equatorial population. Such a difference in size plasticity is already found in two other nonclosely related species, might be a general evolutionary pattern in drosophilids. Wing shape was investigated by calculating an ellipse included into the wing blade, then by considering the ratio of the two axes, and also by analysing the angular position of 10 wing-vein landmarks. For an overall shape index (ratio of the two axes of the ellipse), a regular and almost linear increase was observed with increasing temperature i.e., a more round shape at high temperatures. Wing shape was also analysed by considering the variations of the various angles according to temperature. A diversity of response curves was observed, revealing either a monotonous increase or decrease with increasing temperature, and sometimes a bell shape curve. An interesting conclusion is that, in most cases, a significant difference was observed between the two populations, and the difference was more pronounced at low temperatures. These angular variations are difficult to interpret in an evolutionary context. More comparative studies should be undertaken before reaching some general conclusions.

Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an African species that was introduced in Brazil near the end of the 1990's decade. To evaluate the adaptive potential of morphological traits in natural populations of this recently introduced species, we have investigated wing size and shape variation at Rio de Janeiro populations only two years after the first record of Z. indianus in Brazil. Significant genetic differences among populations from three distinct ecological habitats were detected. The heritability and evolvability estimates show that, even with the population bottleneck that should have occurred during the invasion event, an appreciable amount of additive genetic variation for wing size and shape was retained. Our results also indicated a greater influence of environmental variation on wing size than on wing shape. The importance of quantitative genetic variability and plasticity in the successful establishment and dispersal of Z. indianus in the Brazilian territory is then discussed.

Aechmea nudicaulis is a clonal bromeliad common to the Brazilian Atlantic forest complex and is found abundantly in the sandy coastal plain vegetation (restinga) on the north coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. This restinga site is structured in vegetation islands, and the species plays a key role as a nurse plant, much favoured by its clonality. We studied the clonal structure and consequences of clonality on the population spatial genetic structure (SGS) of this species using six nuclear microsatellites. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed to study the effects of sexual and clonal reproduction on the dispersal of A. nudicaulis. Analyses were performed at the genet (i.e. excluding clonal repeats) and ramet levels. Genotypic richness was moderate (R = 0.32), mostly as a result of the dominance of a few clones. The spatial distribution of genets was moderately intermingled, the mean clone size was 4.9 clonal fragments per genet and the maximum clonal spread was 25 m. Expected heterozygosities were high and comparable with those found in other clonal plants. SGS analyses at the genet level revealed significantly restricted gene dispersal (Sp = 0.074), a strong SGS compared with other herbaceous species. The clonal subrange extended across 23 m where clonality had a significant effect on SGS. The restricted dispersal and SGS pattern in A. nudicaulis, coupled with high levels of genetic diversity, indicated a recruitment at windows of opportunity (RWO) strategy. Moreover, the spatial distribution of genetic variation and the habitat occupation pattern in A. nudicaulis were dependent not only on the intrinsic biological traits of the species (such as spacer size and mating system), but also on biotic interactions with neighbouring species that determined suitable habitats for germination and the establishment of new genets. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 178, 329–342.

RESUMO(Variação morfo-fisiológica em plantas sob distintos extremos ambientais em vegetação de restinga) Este trabalho é uma síntese das informações obtidas em mais de dez anos de pesquisas sobre variação morfofisiológica entre populações e dentre indivíduos de uma mesma população para seis espécies da restinga de Jacarepiá: os arbustos Alchornea triplinervia, Andira legalis, Clusia fluminensis e Myrsine parvifolia, a bromélia Aechmea maasii (anteriormente identificada como Aechmea bromeliifolia, que agora é como são denominadas plantas ocorrentes no Brasil central) e a palmeira geófita Allagoptera arenaria. Forma, porte e crescimento de indivíduos, anatomia foliar, fotoinibição da fotossíntese e uso de carbono, nitrogênio e água foram os principais parâmetros estudados. Com freqüência, a análise isolada da variação de um desses parâmetros não permite distinguir aclimatação de sintoma de injúria. Logo, os estudos aqui revisados apresentam uma abordagem que integra os diferentes parâmetros auto-ecológicos mencionados, assim como estes a parâmetros populacionais. Variação em caracteres morfológicos, anatômicos e fisiológicos foi detectada para a maioria destas espécies e, em geral, apontou para uma grande capacidade de aclimatação das mesmas a distintas circunstâncias ambientais. Tal capacidade de ajuste deve ter sido essencial para que várias destas espécies, na maioria oriundas de ambientes florestais, pudessem vir a colonizar um ambiente extremo como as restingas. Esta mesma capacidade é um elemento a mais a ser contabilizado como componente da grande biodiversidade existente no complexo vegetacional atlântico. Por fim, discutimos as implicações para conservação da biodiversidade da variação intra-específica encontrada ao nível populacional. Palavras-chave: aclimatação, anatomia foliar, crescimento clonal, fotoinibição, restinga, variação intra-específica. ABSTRACT(Plant morpho-physiological variation under distinct environmental extremes in restinga vegetation) This paper is a synthesis of over ten years of research on inter-and intra-population variation in morphophysiology of six plant species at the Jacarepiá restinga: the shrubs Alchornea triplinervia, Andira legalis, Clusia fluminensis and Myrsine parvifolia, the bromeliad Aechmea maasii (formerly identified as Aechmea bromeliifolia, now recognized as a species only found in Central Brazil) and the geophyte palm Allagoptera arenaria. Individual shape, stature and growth, leaf anatomy, photoinhibition, and carbon, nitrogen and water use were the main parameters studied. The isolated study of intra-specific variation in one or a few of the above-mentioned traits often does not allow a distinction between acclimation and stress symptoms. Thus, we used an approach that integrated morphology, anatomy, physiology and also population parameters. Variation in morphological, anatomical and physiological traits was found for the majority of these species, and often indicated great acclimation capacity to distinct environmental extremes. This acclimation capacity ma...

No abstract

Gene movement in plants is determined by seed and pollen flow and its limitation results in spatial structuring of genetic variation, affecting potential levels of inbreeding within populations. In clonal plants, clonal propagation may also play an important role in spatial genetic structure (SGS). Characterization of SGS usually is done by analysing several spatial scales with large sample sizes to ensure a reliable measure. Several sampling strategies are available, but most are not suitable for clonal plants. Here, two sampling strategies were used to characterize within-population SGS structure and gene dispersal in a natural population of the clonal species Aechmea nudicaulis (Bromeliaceae) and the results between them were compared. The first was based on exhaustive sampling in a rectangular closed area, and the second was a stratified design along a linear transect. Different intensities and patterns of SGS were detected for each design and the linear design revealed stronger SGS over a wider range. The significant SGS revealed a restricted dispersal and comparisons of sexual versus vegetative components of gene dispersal suggest that clonal spread can be at least as important as sexual reproduction. Thus, the results suggest that for clonal plants the best strategy is the combination of both sampling schemes since each one unveils important aspects of spatial structure of the population.

O monitoramento das unidades de conservação (UCs) é fundamental para avaliar seatingem seus objetivos. Felinos são bons indicadores ambientais e suas fezes podem fornecer informaçõesrelevantes para o monitoramento de UCs. Utilizamos fezes encontradas em trilhas do Parque Nacionalda Serra dos Órgãos para registrar a presença de felinos e outros mamíferos, analisamos sua distribuiçãoespacial e discutimos o potencial do uso dessas amostras como ferramenta de monitoramento ambiental.Entre 2009 e 2019, foram coletadas 486 amostras em 21 trilhas. Foi possível identificar um mamífero em61% das 315 amostras analisadas por microscopia óptica dos pelos-guarda. As cinco espécies de felinoscom ocorrência confirmada no parque foram registradas, com destaque para o gato maracajá (Leoparduswiedii), frequentemente registrado em altitudes mais elevadas que o conhecido. Foram identificadosmamíferos com poucos registros anteriores no parque, como o mão-pelada (Procyon cancrivorous).A distribuição espacial das amostras reflete a altimetria da área amostrada, com uma concentração noscampos de altitude, onde outros métodos têm-se mostrado menos eficazes no registro de mamíferos,destacando-se a importância de usar métodos complementares de monitoramento. Fezes podem serutilizadas em análises moleculares, que, além de refinar a identificação taxonômica, podem desvendarinformações como o grau de isolamento genético das populações. As fezes podem fornecer informaçõessobre a saúde animal através do estudo de parasitos gastrointestinais, que também são bons indicadoresde qualidade ambiental e sobre contaminação ambiental. Apesar de seu potencial, o uso de fezes defelinos como ferramenta de monitoramento ainda é raro.