Sobre a relação humano-cão / Concerning the human-dog relationship / La relation homme-chien / Sobre la relación humano-perro

Resumo Neste artigo são discutidos aspectos concernentes ao início do convívio entre cães e humanos e às diferenças culturais que afetam as relações entre as duas espécies. O estudo das interações entre humanos e cães precisa trazer à tona a pluralidade de fenômenos interconectados: o processo de domesticação iniciado há milhares de anos, os efeitos evolutivos da relação entre as duas espécies e os aspectos culturais que influenciam a convivência entre nós. Considerando essa visão holística, enxergamos de maneira ampla o cenário interacionista, estabelecendo paralelos muitas vezes ignorados por estudos pontuais e/ou enviesados por paradigmas experimentais de baixa relevância ecológica para os animais.

Abstract This article discusses the beginning of the relationship between dogs and humans and the cultural differences that affect the relationships between the two species. The study of interactions between humans and dogs needs to bring to light its plurality of interconnected phenomena: the domestication process that began thousands of years ago, the evolutionary effects of their relationship and the cultural aspects that influence such coexistence. Given this holistic view, we perceive this interaction scenario broadly, establishing parallels often ignored by one-off studies and/or biased by experimental paradigms of low ecological relevance to animals.

Résumé Dans cet article sont discutés des aspects liés au début de la cohabitation entre les chiens et les humains et les différences culturelles qui affectent ces relations interspécifiques. L'étude des interactions entre humains et chiens doit faire apparaître la pluralité des phénomènes reliés entre eux : le processus de domestication qui a commencé il y a milliers d'années, les effets évolutifs de cette relation et les aspects culturels qui influencent la coexistence entre nous. Compte tenu de cette vision holistique, c'est possible de voir largement le scénario interactionniste, et d'établir des parallèles souvent ignorés par les études individuelles ou biaisé par des paradigmes expérimentaux d'importance écologique négligeable pour les animaux.

Resumen Este artículo analiza los aspectos relacionados con el comienzo de la relación entre perros y humanos, y las diferencias culturales que afectan las relaciones entre las dos especies. El estudio de las interacciones entre humanos y perros necesita sacar a la luz la pluralidad de fenómenos interconectados: el proceso de domesticación que comenzó hace miles de años, los efectos evolutivos de la relación entre las dos especies y los aspectos culturales que influyen en la convivencia entre nosotros. Teniendo en cuenta esta visión holística, vemos el panorama interaccionista de manera general, estableciendo paralelos a menudo ignorados por estudios específicos y/o sesgados por paradigmas experimentales de baja relevancia ecológica para los animales.

Investigation of Chigger Mites on the Rat Eothenomys miletus in Yunnan / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To understand the species,species distribution,the dominant species and their interspecies interaction of chigger mites on Eothenomys miletus(a dominant species of rats)in Yunnan.Method The rats were captured with mouse traps in 16 counties(or cities)during 2000-2004.All mites on the surface of two auricles of the hosts were collected and identified.The patch index(m*/m)and the coefficient of association(V)were adopted to judge the spatial distribution patterns and interspecies interaction of the dominant chigger mite species among different individuals of the rats(E.miletus).Results 1157 individuals of E.miletus were captured from 16 counties(citys).37613 chigger mites(belonging to 3 subfamily,9 genus and 80 species)were collected from the auricles(body surface)of 1157 rat hosts with a high “overall mite infestation rate”(68.2%)and “overall mite index”(32.5).Six species of mites were found dominant on E.miletus:Leptotrombidium scutellare,Leptotrombidium sinicum,Helenicula simena,Leptotrombidium eothenomydis,Herpetacarus hastoclavus and Leptotrombidium hiemalis.The distribution of the chigger mites among different individuals of E.miletus showed an aggregation pattern.Both positive and negative association existed between each two dominant species of chigger mites.Conclusion The species composition of chigger mites on Eothenomys miletus is complex with abundant individuals,which reflects a high species diversity of the mites.The main species of chigger mites tend to an aggregation on the body surface of E.miletus.