Morphometric analysis of sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), Sergentomyia anodontis Quate and Fairchild, 1961, populations in caves of southern Thailand

To determine the morphological characteristics of variations in populations of female adult sand fly, Sergentomyia anodontis Quate and Fairchild, 1961 in caves in southern Thailand using morphometric analysis. Methods: A total of 107 female Sergentomyia anodontis were isolated from 651 sand flies captured by CDC light traps overnight in caves in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Satun and Songkhla provinces from February to December 2017. Measurement of 23 external and internal morphological characteristics was conducted. Data were tested with preliminary statistics (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Levene's test and Box's test of equality of covariance matrices) and by one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. Measurements were analyzed using canonical discriminant analysis. Results: There were 11 morphological characteristics with high variability while two characteristics exhibited low variation. The sand fly populations from Nakhon Si Thammarat, Satun and Songkhla provinces were very similar but were separate from that in Surat Thani province based on canonical discriminant analysis data. This indicates that the morphological variation founding is a result of the diversity of habitats in each population and the geographic features of caves in each area, such as their altitude above sea level. Conclusions: There is a certain variation in the morphology of Sergentomyia anodontis sand flies at the population level which may be used for future classification of sand flies.

Morphometric analysis of sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), Sergentomyia anodontis Quate and Fairchild, 1961, populations in caves of southern Thailand

To determine the morphological characteristics of variations in populations of female adult sand fly, Sergentomyia anodontis Quate and Fairchild, 1961 in caves in southern Thailand using morphometric analysis. Methods: A total of 107 female Sergentomyia anodontis were isolated from 651 sand flies captured by CDC light traps overnight in caves in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Satun and Songkhla provinces from February to December 2017. Measurement of 23 external and internal morphological characteristics was conducted. Data were tested with preliminary statistics (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Levene's test and Box's test of equality of covariance matrices) and by one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. Measurements were analyzed using canonical discriminant analysis. Results: There were 11 morphological characteristics with high variability while two characteristics exhibited low variation. The sand fly populations from Nakhon Si Thammarat, Satun and Songkhla provinces were very similar but were separate from that in Surat Thani province based on canonical discriminant analysis data. This indicates that the morphological variation founding is a result of the diversity of habitats in each population and the geographic features of caves in each area, such as their altitude above sea level. Conclusions: There is a certain variation in the morphology of Sergentomyia anodontis sand flies at the population level which may be used for future classification of sand flies.

Selection of Indicators to Discriminate Soil Tillage Systems and to Assess Soil Quality in a Red Latosol

Abstract The soil tillage practiced over a long period of time impacts soil quality. The first step in soil quality assessment is to select which indicators should be used. The objective of this study was to identify the soil attributes that discriminate soil tillage systems and can be used as indicators for soil quality assessments. Sixteen soil physical and chemical attributes were evaluated: macroporosity (MaP), microporosity (MiP), total porosity (TP), bulk density (BD), field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs), soil resistance to penetration (SRP), pH (H2O), pH (CaCl2), aluminium (Al), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), available phosphorus (P), total organic carbon (TOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS), of a very clayey Red Latosol, cultivated for a long period in no-till (NT), conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT). The soil attributes (indicators) were selected using canonical discriminant analysis. MiP, Kfs, pH (CaCl2), Ca, Mg, CEC e BS were the most efficient indicators to discriminate soil tillage systems. In the indicator interpretation step was sustained MiP as the indicator that represents the function of physical stability and support, Kfs as the indicator that represents the function of water relations, BS as the indicator that represents the function of nutrient cycling and pH (CaCl2) as the indicator that represents the function of filtering and buffering. These indicators can be used for future soil quality assessment and monitoring of tillage systems in similar regions and conditions.

Multivariate techniques in the analysis of carcass traits of Morada Nova breed sheep / Aplicação de técnicas multivariadas em características de carcaça de ovinos da raça Morada Nova

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to use multivariate techniques of principal component analysis and canonical discriminant analysis in a data set from Morada Nova sheep carcass to reduce the dimensions of the original data set, identify variables with the best discriminatory power among the treatments, and quantify the association between biometric and performance traits. The principal components obtained were efficient in reducing the total variation accumulated in 19 original variables correlated to five linear combinations, which explained 80% of the total variation present in the original variables. The first two principal components together accounted for 56.12% of the total variation of the evaluated variables. Eight variables were selected using the stepwise method. The first three canonical variables were significant, explaining 92.25% of the total variation. The first canonical variable showed a canonical correlation coefficient of 0.94, indicating a strong association between biometric traits and animal performance. Slaughter weight and hind width were selected because these variables presented the highest discriminatory power among all treatments, based on standard canonical coefficients.

RESUMO: Este estudo teve o objetivo de aplicar as técnicas multivariadas de componentes principais e discriminante canônica em um conjunto de dados de carcaça de ovinos da raça Morada Nova, a fim de reduzir a dimensionalidade do conjunto de variáveis originais, identificar quais as variáveis com o melhor poder discriminatório entre os tratamentos, além de quantificar a associação entre características biométricas e de desempenho. Os componentes principais gerados foram eficientes em reduzir a variação total acumulada em 19 variáveis originais, correlacionadas para cinco combinações lineares, os quais explicaram 80% da variação total contida nas variáveis originais. Os dois primeiros componentes principais juntos explicam 56,12% da variação total das variáveis avaliadas. Oito variáveis foram selecionadas pelo método stepwise. As três primeiras variáveis canônicas foram significativas, explicando 92,25% da variação total. A primeira variável canônica apresentou o coeficiente de correlação canônica de 0,94, o que indica uma alta associação entre as características de medidas biométricas e de desempenho animal. O peso corporal ao abate e a largura de garupa foram as variáveis selecionadas por apresentar o mais alto poder discriminatório dos tratamentos, com base nos coeficientes canônicos padronizados.

Application of multivariate techniques in the evaluation of pure lines of beans / Aplicação de técnicas multivariadas na avaliação de linhas puras de feijão

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to apply multivariate techniques, canonical discriminant analysis, and multivariate contrasts, indicating the most favorable inferences in the evaluation of pure lines of beans. The study was conducted at the experimental field of the Institute for Breeding and Molecular Genetics, in Lages, SC, Brazil. The experiment was composed of 24 pure lines of beans from the Santa Catarina test of cultivars. Plant height, numbers of pods and grains per plant, and stem diameter were the variables measured. The complete randomized block design was used with four replications. The data were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance, canonical discriminant analysis, multivariate contrasts and univariate contrasts. The first canonical discriminant function has captured 81% of the total variation in the data. The Scott-Knott test showed two groups of inbred lines at the average -of scores of the first canonical discriminant function. It was considered that testing hypotheses with the canonical scores may result in loss of information obtained from the original data. Multivariate contrasts indicated differences within the group formed by the Scott-Knott test. The canonical discriminant analysis and multivariate contrasts are excellent techniques to be combined in the multivariate assessment, being used to explore and test hypotheses, respectively.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi aplicar técnicas multivariadas (análise discriminante canônica e contrastes multivariados) indicando as inferências mais vantajosas na avaliação de linhas puras de feijão. O estudo foi conduzido na área experimental do Instituto de Melhoramento e Genética Molecular em Lages, SC. O experimento foi composto por 24 linhas puras de feijão provenientes do ensaio catarinense de cultivares. Os caracteres mensurados foram: estatura da planta, números de legumes e grãos por planta e diâmetro do caule. Foi usado o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância multivariada, análise discriminante canônica, contrastes multivariados e univariados. A primeira função linear discriminante canônica captou 81% da variação total contida nos dados. O teste de Scott-Knott formou dois grupos de linhas puras na média dos escores da primeira função linear discriminante canônica. Considera-se que testar as hipóteses com os escores canônicos pode causar perda de informações valiosas obtidas pelos dados originais. Os contrastes multivariados evidenciaram diferenças dentro do grupo formado pelo teste de Scott-Knott. A análise discriminante canônica e os contrastes multivariados são técnicas excelentes para serem combinadas na avaliação multivariada, sendo efetuadas para explorar e testar hipóteses, respectivamente.

The differences in body volume and skinfold thickness between basketball players and footballers / Diferencias en el volumen corporal y el grosor de los pliegues cutáneos entre los jugadores de baloncesto y jugadores de fútbol

The human body is composed of lean tissues that are metabolically active, and fat tissue that is not metabolically active, but is an essential part of human body. Training is a significant factor affecting body composition, performance, as well and physiological parameters. The aim of this study was through changeable of 13 measured anthropometrical variables, to research the influence of different sports in body composition. The anthropometrical tests were done on 90 basketball players and 512 footballers from Kosova. The gained results were analyzed in terms of basic statistical parameters, T-test, and Canonical Discriminant Analysis. T-test shows that basketballers and footballers have realized significant differences in almost all measured variables. Canonical Discriminative Analysis indicates the characteristics of tested sportsmen: The basketballers are taller and heavier than footballers, as well they have the greater bodily volume, and more skinfold thickness, compared with footballers. It seems that the bodily volume of the tested basketballers has been influenced by the elements of basketball, than the bodily volume of footballers by the elements of football. As for subcutaneous adipose tissue that is less disperse on the footballers body compared with basketballers, could be explained with different ratio between aerobic and anaerobic demands of different sports.

El cuerpo humano se compone de tejido blando que es metabólicamente activo y tejido graso que no es metabólicamente activo, pero es una parte esencial del cuerpo. El entrenamiento es un factor significativo que afecta la composición corporal, el rendimiento y los parámetros fisiológicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la influencia de los diferentes deportes en la composición corporal, a través de la medición de 13 variables antropométricas. Las pruebas antropométricas fueron realizadas en 90 jugadores de baloncesto y 512 jugadores de fútbol de la ciudad de Kosovo. Los resultados obtenidos fueron analizados estadísticamente utilizándose el T-test y el análisis discriminante canónico. El T-test mostró que los jugadores de baloncesto y los futbolistas poseen diferencias significativas en casi todas las variables estudiadas. El análisis discriminante canónico de las características de los deportistas evaluados mostraron que: los jugadores de baloncesto son más altos y de mayor peso que los futbolistas y tenían mayor volumen corporal y pliegues cutáneos en comparación con los futbolistas. El volumen corporal de los jugadores de baloncesto han sido más influenciados por los elementos del baloncesto, que el volumen corporal de los futbolistas por los elementos del fútbol. En cuanto a tejido adiposo subcutáneo, es menos disperso en el cuerpo de los futbolistas comparado con jugadores de baloncesto, lo que podría explicarse por una relación diferente entre las demandas aeróbica y anaeróbica exigidas en los diferentes deportes.

Geographic pattern of morphological variation of the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), using multivariate morphometry / Padrão geográfico de variação morfológica do ácaro do coqueiro, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), utilizando morfometria multivariada

The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer, has become one of the most important pests of coconut in the Americas and Africa and recently in Southeast Asia. Despite the great economic importance of this mite, there is a lack of information on its origin and invasion history that are important to guide the search of biological control agents as well as the adoption of quarantine procedures. This study evaluates morphometric variation among A. guerreronis populations throughout its occurrence area, relates this variation with historical sequence of records, looking for information on its biogeography. Samples of 27 populations from the Americas, Africa and Asia were analysed using Principal Component Analysis and Canonical Discriminant Analysis. Results showed significant morphometric variability of A. uerreronis throughout its distribution area, with a high variability among American populations and otherwise a high similarity among African and Asian populations. The geographic pattern of variation of mite populations observed supports the hypothesis that A. guerreronis originated in the Americas and was introduced into Africa and Asia. Some inferences related to taxonomy of Eriophyoidea mites were included.

O ácaro do coqueiro, Aceria guerreronis Keifer, se tornou uma das pragas mais importantes do coqueiro nas Américas e África e, recentemente, no sudeste da Ásia. Apesar da importância econômica deste ácaro, faltam informações sobre sua origem e seu histórico de invasão, o que é importante para orientar a busca de agentes de controle biológico assim como a adoção de medidas quarentenárias. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a variação morfométrica entre populações de A. guerreronis ao longo de sua área de ocorrência, relacionar esta variação com a sequência histórica de registros, buscando informações sobre sua biogeografia. Amostras de 27 populações das Américas, África e Ásia foram analisadas utilizando-se Análise dos Componentes Principais e Análise Discriminante Canônica. Os resultados mostraram uma significante variabilidade de A. guerreronis ao longo de sua área de distribuição, com uma alta variabilidade entre as populações americanas e, por outro lado, uma alta similaridade entre populações africanas e asiáticas. O padrão geográfico de variação de populações do ácaro observado suporta a hipótese de que A. guerreronis é originário da América e foi introduzido na África e Ásia. Algumas inferências relacionadas à taxonomia de ácaros Eriophyoidea foram incluídas.