Transcriptome profiling of the early developmental stages in the giant mussel Choromytilus chorus exposed to delousing drugs.

The giant mussel Choromytilus chorus is a marine bivalve commonly collected in central - southern Chile from fishery zones shared with the salmon industry. These economically relevant areas are also affected by the use of pesticides for controlling sea lice infestations in salmon aquaculture. Their main target is the sea louse Caligus rogercresseyi. However, other than some physiological impacts, the molecular effects of delousing drugs in non-target species such as C. chorus remain largely understudied. This study aimed to explore the transcriptome modulation of Trochophore and D larvae stages of C. chorus after exposure to azamethiphos and deltamethrin drugs. Herein, RNA-seq analyses and mRNA-lncRNAs molecular interactions were obtained. The most significant changes were found between different larval development stages exposed to delousing drugs. Notably, significant transcriptional variations were correlated with the drug concentrations tested. The biological processes involved in the development, such as cell movement and transcriptional activity, were mainly affected. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were also identified in this species, and the transcription activity showed similar patterns with coding mRNAs. Most of the significantly expressed lncRNAs were associated with genes annotated to matrix metalloproteinases, collagenases, and transcription factors. This study suggests that exposure to azamethiphos or deltamethrin drugs can modulate the transcriptome signatures related to the early development of the giant mussel C. chorus.

Artificial Light at Night Drives Earlier Singing in a Neotropical Bird.

Anthropogenic noise and artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt the morning singing routines of urban birds, however, its influence on tropical species remains poorly explored. Here, I assessed the association between light and noise pollution with the dawn chorus onset of the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) in a city in Colombia. I studied 32 sites comprised of different conditions of urban development based on built cover. I recorded the time of the first song of the Saffron Finch, the conspecific density and measured anthropogenic noise and ALAN using smartphone apps. The findings of this study show that Saffron Finches living in highly developed sites sang earlier at dawn than those occupying less urbanized sites. Unexpectedly, this timing difference was related to ALAN instead of anthropogenic noise, suggesting that light pollution could drive earlier dawn chorus in a tropical urban bird. Saffron Finches could take advantage of earlier singing for signaling territorial ownership among neighbors. Future studies need to assess the influence of ALAN on the dawn chorus timing of Neotropical urban birds.

Biotic and abiotic sounds affect calling activity but not plasma testosterone levels in male frogs (Batrachyla taeniata) in the field and in captivity.

In animals, the expression of diverse reproductive behaviors is hormonally regulated. In particular, vocalizing during courtship has been related to circulating androgen levels, and reciprocally, conspecific vocalizations are known to modulate androgen secretion in vertebrates. The effect of natural sounds of abiotic origin on hormonal status has virtually not received attention. Therefore, we evaluated the vocal responses of male Batrachyla taeniata frogs to conspecific chorus and rainfall sounds in natural and controlled laboratory settings, measuring the testosterone levels of exposed individuals. In field and laboratory conditions, testosterone levels of frogs exposed to 31.5 min of chorus and rain sounds and non-exposed individuals were similar. In the field, frogs increased their call rate in response to playbacks of chorus and rain sound, but the evoked calling activity was unrelated to plasma testosterone. In contrast to the field, frogs showed limited responsiveness to 31.5-min acoustic exposures in the laboratory. Similarly to the field, for vocally active males tested in the laboratory there was no association between call rate and testosterone levels. Additionally, in this group, testosterone levels were higher in vocally active males relative to non-calling individuals. Overall, these results indicate that in B. taeniata testosterone levels are not altered following a short-term exposure to conspecific biotic and to abiotic sounds. Our results are suggestive of a threshold influence of testosterone on the vocal activity of the species studied. Further explorations of the influence of abiotic sounds on endocrine activation are required to understand how animals respond to variable acoustic environmental conditions.

Anatomical and histological characteristics of the nervous system of the Chilean giant mussel, Choromytilus chorus (Molina 1782) (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) / Características anatómicas e histológicas del sistema nervioso del mejillón gigante, Choromytilus chorus (Molina 1782) (Bivalvia, Mytilidae)

The anatomy and histology of the nervous system in the mussel Choromytilus chorus were studied. Juvenile specimens of C. chorus and adult broodstock were collected in Laraquete Cove, Chile (37°09'S; 37°11'O). The juveniles were used for histological analysis and the adults for a macroscopic description of anatomical. The histological description was carried out by Gallego´s trichrome technique. The macroscopic analysis showed that nervous system network includes three pairs of ganglia of orange color and little size (20-40 mm) (cerebral, pedal and visceral) located in the anterior, middle and posterior zone of the specimen, respectively. The histological analysis showed many type de cells inside the ganglia (neurosecretory, granulated and glial cells). The ganglia network could be involving in regulating several physiological processes in the mussels through of their neurosecretions.

Se estudió la anatomía e histología del sistema nervioso en el coro Choromytilus del mejillón. Se recolectaron especímenes juveniles de C. coros y reproductores adultos en Laraquete Cove, Chile (37 ° 09'S, 37 ° 11'O). Los especímenes juveniles se utilizaron para el análisis histológico y los adultos para una descripción macroscópica de anatómica. La descripción histológica se realizó mediante la técnica de tricrómico de Gallego. El análisis macroscópico mostró que la red del sistema nervioso incluye tres pares de ganglios de color naranjo y poco tamaño (20-40 mm) (cerebral, pedal y visceral) localizados en la zona anterior, media y posterior de la muestra, respectivamente. El análisis histológico mostró muchos tipos de células dentro de los ganglios (células neurosecretoras, granuladas y gliales). La red de ganglios podría estar involucrada en la regulación de varios procesos fisiológicos en los mejillones a través de sus neurosecreciones.

Approaches between the roda de capoeira and the dithyrambic chorus in the dionysian rituals of ancient greece / Aproximações entre a roda de capoeira e o coro ditirâmbico nos rituais dionisíacos da grécia antiga

ABSTRACT One of the Brazilian phenomena that presents the most possibilities of interpretation is, without a doubt, the performance art of capoeira. This is because it has a polysemic character that carries marks of dance, of fight, of game, of ritual and spectacle. Our research, based on the philosophical aesthetics perspective, sought to identify similar meanings between the dithyrambic chorus of the Dionysian cults and the practice of the roda de capoeira. We focus our analysis on the relationship between the meanings that may be manifest in the phenomenon of the roda de capoeira and how they resemble certain Dionysian cults. We seek to refer in particular to Nietzsche's analysis, which shows us how the Dionysian rituals represented, for the Greek people, more than mere distraction or religious dogma, becoming a central element in the relationship between man and nature, man and the divine, man and his fellow men. Our interpretations led us to identify mainly three congruences, namely: the breaking of the principle of individuation, a circular aesthetic orientation and a sense of ecstasy. From these possibilities of cross-interpretation we have identified that, although capoeira has suffered consequences on its aesthetic potential, it still maintains elements of its genesis, which presents a Dionysian power.

RESUMO Um dos fenômenos brasileiros que reserva mais possibilidades de interpretação é, sem dúvida, a arte performática da capoeira. Isso por ela adquirir um caráter polissêmico que possui características da dança, da luta, do jogo, do ritual e do espetáculo. Nossa pesquisa, fundamentada no método estético filosófico, buscou identificar sentidos semelhantes entre os coros ditirâmbicos do culto a Dioniso e o fenômeno da roda de capoeira. Buscamos referência, em especial, na análise de Nietzsche (1844 - 1900), que nos mostra como os rituais dionisíacos representavam, para o povo grego, mais do que mera distração ou dogma religioso, configurando-se como um elemento central na relação entre o homem e a natureza, o homem e o divino, o homem e seu semelhante. Nossas interpretações nos levaram a identificar principalmente três congruências, a saber: uma orientação estética circular, um sentido do ecstasis da cena e, como ponto chave, a quebra do princípio de individuação. Por essas possibilidades de interpretações cruzadas, identificamos que, por mais que a capoeira tenha sofrido transformações acerca do seu potencial estético, ela ainda mantém elementos que apresentam características próximas à potência dionisíaca.

Underwater soundscape of marine protected areas in the south Brazilian coast.

The Laje de Santos Marine State Park (LSMSP) and Xixová-Japuí State Park (XJSP) are two protected areas (PA), close to the Santos Bay in the south Brazilian coast. The region encompasses both important biodiversity and anthropogenic activities. This study aims to serve as a first reference survey of the underwater soundscape of these PAs. Additionally it evaluates the presence of the anthropogenic and biological sound in these areas. One month of continuous recorded underwater sound, at selected locations in XJSP and LSMSP, is used in this study. The data were characterized by its spectral content and by the temporal evolution of Sound Pressure Levels (SPL). Both locations showed sound events with daily periodicities, mainly related with boats and fish chorus.

Species interactions and the structure of complex communication networks.

A universal challenge faced by animal species is the need to communicate effectively against a backdrop of heterospecific signals. It is often assumed that this need results in signal divergence to minimize interference among community members, yet previous support for this idea is mixed, and few studies have tested the opposing hypothesis that interactions among competing species promote widespread convergence in signaling regimes. Using a null model approach to analyze acoustic signaling in 307 species of Amazonian birds, we show that closely related lineages signal together in time and space and that acoustic signals given in temporal or spatial proximity are more similar in design than expected by chance. These results challenge the view that multispecies choruses are structured by temporal, spatial, or acoustic partitioning and instead suggest that social communication between competing species can fundamentally organize signaling assemblages, leading to the opposite pattern of clustering in signals and signaling behavior.