Fast recovery of soil macrofauna in regenerating forests of the Amazon.

The emergence of secondary forests in deforested tropical regions represents an opportunity to mitigate biodiversity loss and climate change, but there is still debate on how fast and to which level these forests can recover biodiversity. Recent studies have shown that the recovery of plant and vertebrate species richness is relatively fast, but the pace of recovery for other groups remains unclear. Soil macroinvertebrates play critical roles on litter decomposition and seed dispersal, therefore the pace of their recovery has consequences for the entire forest ecosystem. We investigated how fast broad taxonomic groups of soil macrofauna recover in the first 30 years of forest regeneration using forests older than 50 years as reference. We surveyed the number, diversity and abundance of 19 broad taxonomic groups of soil macrofauna in 85 sites located in Brazilian Amazon, covering forests of different ages and clearing frequencies. Forest age and clearing frequency were obtained accurately from Landsat images in forests up to 30 years old. We used regression analysis to determine (a) the effects forest age and clearing frequency on macrofauna groups in secondary forests up to 30 years old; and (b) the changes in macrofauna groups between young forests (up to 10 years old), median age forests (between 10 and 30 years old) and forests older than 50 years. We found that the number and diversity of macrofauna groups recover rapidly in the first 10 years of forest regrowth, but show slower change among older forests. This rapid recovery was also observed in the abundance of several taxonomic groups and for predators and detritivores as functional groups. Forest clearing frequency had no effect on the number or the diversity of macrofauna groups, but the abundance of ants increased as forest was cleared more often. Our results for soil macrofauna align with those in plant and vertebrate studies showing that secondary forests quickly recover a large part of their biodiversity and ecological functions. Therefore, global-scale conservation strategies are needed to ensure the opportunity for secondary forests to grow. ​.

Black kites of different age and sex show similar avoidance responses to wind turbines during migration.

Populations of soaring birds are often impacted by wind-power generation. Sex and age bias in turbine collisions can exacerbate these impacts through demographic changes that can lead to population decline or collapse. While several studies have reported sex and age differences in the number of soaring birds killed by turbines, it remains unclear if they result from different abundances or group-specific turbine avoidance behaviours, the latter having severer consequences. We investigated sex and age effects on turbine avoidance behaviour of black kites (Milvus migrans) during migration near the Strait of Gibraltar. We tracked the movements of 135 individuals with GPS data loggers in an area with high density of turbines and then modelled the effect of proximity of turbines on bird utilization distribution (UD). Both sexes and age classes showed similar patterns of displacement, with reduced UD values in the proximity of turbines and a clear peak at 700-850 m away, probably marking the distance at which most birds turn direction to avoid approaching the turbines further. The consistency of these patterns indicates that displacement range can be used as an accurate proxy for collision risk and habitat loss, and should be incorporated in environmental impact assessment studies.

The gateway to Africa: What determines sea crossing performance of a migratory soaring bird at the Strait of Gibraltar?

Large bodies of water represent major obstacles for the migration of soaring birds because thermal updrafts are absent or weak over water. Soaring birds are known to time their water crossings with favourable weather conditions and there are records of birds falling into the water and drowning in large numbers. However, it is still unclear how environmental factors, individual traits and trajectory choices affect their water crossing performance, this being important to understand the fitness consequences of water barriers for this group of birds. We addressed this problem using the black kite Milvus migrans as model species at a major migration bottleneck, the Strait of Gibraltar. We recorded high-resolution GPS and triaxial accelerometer data for 73 birds while crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, allowing the determination of sea crossing duration, length, altitude, speed and tortuosity, the flapping behaviour of birds and their failed crossing attempts. These parameters were modelled against wind speed and direction, time of the day, solar irradiance (proxy of thermal uplift), starting altitude and distance to Morocco, and age and sex of birds. We found that sea crossing performance of black kites is driven by their age, the wind conditions, the starting altitude and distance to Morocco. Young birds made longer sea crossings and reached lower altitude above the sea than adults. Crosswinds promoted longer sea crossings, with birds reaching lower altitudes and with higher flapping effort. Birds starting at lower altitudes were more likely to quit or made higher flapping effort to complete the crossing. The location where birds started the sea crossings impacted crossing distance and duration. We present evidence that explains why migrating soaring birds accumulate at sea passages during adverse weather conditions. Strong crosswinds during sea crossings force birds to extended flap-powered flight at low altitude, which may increase their chances of falling in the water. We also showed that juvenile birds assume more risks than adults. Finally, the way in which birds start the sea crossing is crucial for their success, particularly the starting altitude, which dictates how far birds can reach with reduced flapping effort.

Feeling the heat: Elevated temperature affects male display activity of a lekking grassland bird.

Most species-climate models relate range margins to long-term mean climate but lack mechanistic understanding of the ecological or demographic processes underlying the climate response. We examined the case of a climatically limited edge-of-range population of a medium-sized grassland bird, for which climate responses may involve a behavioural trade-off between temperature stress and reproduction. We hypothesised that temperature will be a limiting factor for the conspicuous, male snort-call display behaviour, and high temperatures would reduce the display activity of male birds. Using remote tracking technology with tri-axial accelerometers we classified and studied the display behaviour of 17 free-ranging male little bustards, Tetrax tetrax, at 5 sites in the Iberian Peninsula. Display behaviour was related to temperature using two classes of Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMMs) at different temporal resolutions. GAMMs showed that temperature, time of the day and Julian date explained variation in display behaviour within the day, with birds snort-calling significantly less during higher temperatures. We also showed that variation in daily snort-call activity was related to average daytime temperatures, with our model predicting an average decrease in daytime snort-call display activity of up to 10.4% for the temperature increases projected by 2100 in this region due to global warming. For lekking birds and mammals undertaking energetically-costly displays in a warming climate, reduced display behaviour could impact inter- and intra-sex mating behaviour interactions through sexual selection and mate choice mechanisms, with possible consequences on mating and reproductive success. The study provides a reproducible example for how accelerometer data can be used to answer research questions with important conservation inferences related to the impacts of climate change on a range of taxonomic groups.

Sarcomatous transformation of a hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumor: a case report.

Hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors are rare neoplasms that were first described in 2000. Initially considered a benign lipotamous lesion of the soft tissues, nowadays they are considered to be a locally aggressive tumor. They occur mainly in the foot and ankle of women in their fifth and sixth decades, although they may be found in any place in the lower limbs and, more rarely, in other parts of the body. Histologically, hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors consist of a mixture of mature adipose tissue, fusiform cell fascicles, macrophages that often contain cytoplasmic hemosiderin, mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, and stroma that may be focally myxoid. Local recurrence is observed in nearly one-third of all cases. There is no consensus in the literature whether this tumor is a part of a spectrum that comprises pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumors and myxoinflammatory fibroblastic malignant tumors, or if it is an independent entity. The authors report a case of a neoplasia after a diagnosis of a hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumor in a 38-year-old woman, with two recurrences and later sarcomatous transformation. An immunohistochemical study indicated myofibroblastic differentiation of a malignant neoplasm. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there are only few reported cases of malignant transformation in hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors.

Os tumores lipomatosos fibrohistiocíticos hemosideróticos são neoplasias raras que foram descritas pela primeira vez no ano 2000. Inicialmente considerada uma lesão lipomatosa benigna dos tecidos moles, atualmente é considerado um tumor localmente agressivo. Estas lesões ocorrem principalmente no pé e no tornozelo das mulheres na quinta e sexta décadas de vida, embora possam ser encontrados em qualquer lugar nos membros inferiores e, mais raramente, em outras partes do corpo. Histologicamente, tumores lipomatosos fibrohistiocíticos hemosideróticos são formados por uma combinação de tecido adiposo maduro, fascículos de células fusiformes, macrófagos que contêm frequentemente hemosiderina citoplasmática, infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear e estroma, que pode ser focalmente mixoide. Há recidiva local em quase um terço dos casos. Não existe consenso na literatura se este tumor faz parte de um espectro que envolve os tumores angiectásicos hialinizantes pleomórficos e os tumores fibroblásticos mixoinflamatórios malignos, ou se configura uma entidade independente.Relatamos um caso de uma neoplasia após o diagnóstico de tumor lipomatoso fibrohistiocítico hemosiderótico em uma mulher de 38 anos, com duas recorrências e posterior transformação sarcomatosa. Um estudo imuno-histoquímico indicou diferenciação miofibroblástica de uma neoplasia maligna. Para nosso conhecimento, há apenas poucos casos relatados de uma transformação maligna em tumores lipomatosos fibrohistiocíticos hemosideróticos.

Sarcomatous transformation of a hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumor: a case report / Transformação sarcomatosa de tumor lipomatoso fibro-histiocítico hemossiderótico: relato de caso

ABSTRACT Hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors are rare neoplasms that were first described in 2000. Initially considered a benign lipotamous lesion of the soft tissues, nowadays they are considered to be a locally aggressive tumor. They occur mainly in the foot and ankle of women in their fifth and sixth decades, although they may be found in any place in the lower limbs and, more rarely, in other parts of the body. Histologically, hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors consist of a mixture of mature adipose tissue, fusiform cell fascicles, macrophages that often contain cytoplasmic hemosiderin, mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, and stroma that may be focally myxoid. Local recurrence is observed in nearly one-third of all cases. There is no consensus in the literature whether this tumor is a part of a spectrum that comprises pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumors and myxoinflammatory fibroblastic malignant tumors, or if it is an independent entity. The authors report a case of a neoplasia after a diagnosis of a hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumor in a 38-year-old woman, with two recurrences and later sarcomatous transformation. An immunohistochemical study indicated myofibroblastic differentiation of a malignant neoplasm. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there are only few reported cases of malignant transformation in hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors.

RESUMO Os tumores lipomatosos fibro-histiocíticos hemossideróticos são neoplasias raras que foram descritas pela primeira vez em 2000. Inicialmente considerada uma lesão lipomatosa benigna dos tecidos moles, atualmente é considerado um tumor localmente agressivo. Essas lesões ocorrem principalmente no pé e no tornozelo das mulheres na quinta e sexta décadas de vida, embora possam ser encontrados em qualquer lugar nos membros inferiores e, mais raramente, em outras partes do corpo. Histologicamente, tumores lipomatosos fibro-histiocíticos hemossideróticos são formados por uma combinação de tecido adiposo maduro, fascículos de células fusiformes, macrófagos que contêm frequentemente hemossiderina citoplasmática, infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear e estroma, que pode ser focalmente mixoide. Há recidiva local em quase um terço dos casos. Não existe consenso na literatura se esse tumor faz parte de um espectro que envolve os tumores angiectásicos hialinizantes pleomórficos e os tumores fibroblásticos mixoinflamatórios malignos ou se configura uma entidade independente. Relatamos um caso de uma neoplasia com diagnóstico inicial de tumor lipomatoso fibro-histiocítico hemossiderótico em uma mulher de 38 anos, com duas recorrências e posterior transformação sarcomatosa. O estudo imuno-histoquímico indicou diferenciação miofibroblástica da neoplasia maligna. Encontramos apenas poucos casos relatados de transformação maligna de tumor lipomatoso fibro-histiocítico hemossiderótico.

Optimizing sampling design to deal with mist-net avoidance in Amazonian birds and bats.

Mist netting is a widely used technique to sample bird and bat assemblages. However, captures often decline with time because animals learn and avoid the locations of nets. This avoidance or net shyness can substantially decrease sampling efficiency. We quantified the day-to-day decline in captures of Amazonian birds and bats with mist nets set at the same location for four consecutive days. We also evaluated how net avoidance influences the efficiency of surveys under different logistic scenarios using re-sampling techniques. Net avoidance caused substantial declines in bird and bat captures, although more accentuated in the latter. Most of the decline occurred between the first and second days of netting: 28% in birds and 47% in bats. Captures of commoner species were more affected. The numbers of species detected also declined. Moving nets daily to minimize the avoidance effect increased captures by 30% in birds and 70% in bats. However, moving the location of nets may cause a reduction in netting time and captures. When moving the nets caused the loss of one netting day it was no longer advantageous to move the nets frequently. In bird surveys that could even decrease the number of individuals captured and species detected. Net avoidance can greatly affect sampling efficiency but adjustments in survey design can minimize this. Whenever nets can be moved without losing netting time and the objective is to capture many individuals, they should be moved daily. If the main objective is to survey species present then nets should still be moved for bats, but not for birds. However, if relocating nets causes a significant loss of netting time, moving them to reduce effects of shyness will not improve sampling efficiency in either group. Overall, our findings can improve the design of mist netting sampling strategies in other tropical areas.

Cellular fibroma of the ovary with multiloculated macroscopic characteristics: case report.

Ovarian fibroma is the commonest benign tumor of the ovarian stroma. The cellular subtype accounts for around 10% of ovarian fibromatous tumors. The cellular fibroma is a tumor of uncertain malignant potential that may recur or be associated with peritoneal implants. Usually these are solid tumors, sometimes with small areas of cystic degeneration. This case is reported to highlight an unusual feature for an ovarian fibroma: the tumor was predominantly cystic with a small solid part; the multiple cavities contents consisted of viscous liquid that solidified under room temperature. The multiloculated cysts, the mucinous contents, and the solid areas simulated a borderline mucinous ovarian tumor on both CT scan and gross pathologic examination.

Structuring of Amazonian bat assemblages: the roles of flooding patterns and floodwater nutrient load.

1. River system dynamics results in ecological heterogeneities that play a central role in maintaining biodiversity in riverine regions. In central Amazonia, large expanses of forest are seasonally flooded by nutrient-rich water (várzea forests) or by nutrient-poor water (igapó forests). Inundation patterns and the nutrient load of floodwaters are perhaps the most important abiotic factors determining spatial ecological variations in lowland Amazonia, and so they are expected to strongly influence the structuring of animal communities. 2. We examined how inundation patterns and water-nutrient load influence the structure of neotropical assemblages of bats, one of the most diverse vertebrate groups in tropical forests. Bat assemblages were sampled with mist nets in central Brazilian Amazonia, across a mosaic of várzea, igapó, and non-flooding nutrient-poor terra firme forests in the low- and high-water seasons. 3. An ordination analysis clearly separated the assemblages of the three forest types, demonstrating the structural relevance of both flooding and floodwater-nutrient load. Flooded forests had lower species richness because of the absence or rarity of species that make roosts out of leaves of understorey plants, and of those that feed on fruits of shrubs. Gleaning insectivores, also partly dependent on the understorey, were less abundant in flooded forests, but aerial insectivores more abundant, presumably because they benefited from a less cluttered foraging environment. These differences suggest that flooding affects bat assemblages mostly because it reduces the availability of niches associated with understorey vegetation, which tends to be sparser in flooded forests. 4. Nutrient-rich várzea forests had a bat biomass twice that of nutrient-poor igapó and unflooded forests. This difference was not only mostly due to a greater overall abundance of bats, but also attributable to a disproportionate higher abundance of large-bodied bat species. 5. We concluded that both flooding and floodwater-nutrient load are very important in the structuring of lowland Amazonian bat assemblages, with inundation mostly constraining the species composition of the assemblages, and water-nutrient load mostly influencing the abundance of species. The distinctiveness of bat assemblages associated with flooding emphasizes the need to preserve inundated forests, which are under particular pressure in Amazonia.