NThe polar regions are home to a great biodiversity of vertebrates that are highly impacted by cl... more NThe polar regions are home to a great biodiversity of vertebrates that are highly impacted by climate change. As extreme and pristine ecosystems, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) presents itself as a noninvasive tool for the monitoring of polar vertebrates’ species, essential for their preservation. In this article, we review the currently published research on vertebrate eDNA in the Arctic, as well as compare it with a similar already-published article on Antarctica. Our results show how the Artic region is well represented with several studies focusing on vertebrates, being the second most researched group of organisms (19%), only behind plants, and with several studies related to the development of new approaches and methodologies for the use of eDNA from cold regions being published in the last years. In opposite, the Antarctic eDNA science on vertebrates is still poorly developed, with the vast majority of studies focusing on microbial life; therefore, the Antarctic region still remains with a great potential for the research development in vertebrates and the effects of the past and recent climate changes on their populations
To evaluate the habitat loss due to climatic changes and their effect on Callithrix diversity in... more To evaluate the habitat loss due to climatic changes and their effect on Callithrix diversity in the next decades, the present manuscript studied the resilience of the Atlantic Rainforest primate genus Callithrix under the perspective of the forecasted climatic changes in South America, and the quick-pace of the changing environmental policies in Brazil. The study used the present-day distribution of the Atlantic Rainforest marmosets of the genus Callithrix and several bioclimatic layers to model and project the habitat suitability for all Callithrix species for recent and also for the next decades. The presented results are far from being optimistic. Almost all Callithrix species except for C. jacchus will experience about 30% to 70% reduction of potential habitats between 2040 and 2060. The observed climatic perspective together with all related anthropogenic threats, and the new conservation policies in Brazil should pose severe risk of extinction not only for the Atlantic Rainforest marmosets but also for several primate species under similar conditions.
ABSTRACTDespite the extent use of geochemical tracers to track warm air mass origin reaching the ... more ABSTRACTDespite the extent use of geochemical tracers to track warm air mass origin reaching the Antarctic continent, we present here evidences that microorganisms being transported by the atmosphere and deposited in fresh snow layers of Antarctic ice sheets do act as tracers of air mass advection from the Southern Patagonia region to Northern Antarctic Peninsula. We combined atmospheric circulation data with microorganism content in snow/firn samples collected in two sites of the Antarctic Peninsula (King George Island/Wanda glacier and Detroit Plateau) by using flow cytometer quantification. In addition, we cultivated, isolated and submitted samples to molecular sequencing to precise species classification. Viable gram-positive bacteria were found and recovered in different snow/firn layers samples, among dead and living cells, their number concentration was compared to northern wind component, stable isotopes of oxygen, δ18O, and the concentration of crustal elements (Fe, Ti and ...
ObjectivesFor many underdeveloped countries, strategies implemented by social communities allied ... more ObjectivesFor many underdeveloped countries, strategies implemented by social communities allied to scientific knowledge may be a rote to attenuate the rapid spread of Covid-19 cases and allow services to the population. This work presents a joint effort collaboration between scientists and underserved community groups from a Brazilian slum/Santa Marta in Rio de Janeiro City in the fight against Covid-19. Measurements of contamination in the air near the ground, georeferencing of data of infected people, were regressed with sanitization activities aiming at reducing the Covid-19 incidence.MethodsWe monitored aerosol containing SARS-Cov-2 virus in outdoor ambient air using various virus collection mediums (solid, liquid, and gelatinous substrates) at different aerodynamic sizes. We implemented a local statistics survey for the Covid-19 database correlated with varying sanitization levels between April 2020 and June 2021 developed in the Santa Marta slum.FindingsWe detected the SARS-C...
Vaccine is the only way out towards an effective action against Covid-19. Nevertheless, for many ... more Vaccine is the only way out towards an effective action against Covid-19. Nevertheless, for many underdeveloped countries, ordinary people's access will occur late within or even after the second disease wave. In this context, strategies implemented by social communities allied to the scientific knowledge may attenuate the rapid spread of cases and allow access of treatments at health care services to the population. Here, we present results of coordinate actions combining the aerosol SARS-Cov-2 virus monitoring and sanitization at Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro city, where profits were significantly achieved.
Here we present a mitogenomic perspective on the evolution of sharks and rays, being a first glan... more Here we present a mitogenomic perspective on the evolution of sharks and rays, being a first glance on the complete mitochondrial history of such an old and diversified group of vertebrates. The Elasmobranchii is a diverse subclass of Chondrichthyes, or cartilaginous fish, with about 1200 species of ocean- and freshwater-dwelling fishes spread all over the world's seas, including some of the ocean's largest fishes. The group dates back about 400 million years near the Devonian-Silurian boundary, being nowadays represented by several derivative lineages, mainly related to Mesozoic forms. Although considered of ecological, commercial and conservation importance, the phylogeny of this old group is poorly studied and still under debate. Here we apply a molecular systematic approach on 82 complete mitochondrial genomes to investigate the phylogeny of the Elasmobranchii. By using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses, we found a clear separation within the shark clade between the Galeomorphii and the Squalomorphii, as well as sister taxa relationships between the Carcharhiniformes and the Lamniformes. Moreover, we found that Pristoidei clusters within the Rhinobatoidei, having been recovered as the sister taxon of the Rhinobatos genus in a clade which also includes the basal Zapteryx. Our results also reject the Hypnosqualea hypothesis, which proposes that the Batoidea should be placed within the Selachii.
Forensic science international. Genetics, May 7, 2017
DNA is a powerful tool available for forensic investigations requiring identification of species.... more DNA is a powerful tool available for forensic investigations requiring identification of species. However, it is necessary to develop and validate methods able to produce results in degraded and or low quality DNA samples with the high standards obligatory in forensic research. Here, we describe a voluntary collaborative exercise to test the recently developed Species Identification by Insertions/Deletions (SPInDel) method. The SPInDel kit allows the identification of species by the generation of numeric profiles combining the lengths of six mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene regions amplified in a single reaction followed by capillary electrophoresis. The exercise was organized during 2014 by a Working Commission of the Spanish and Portuguese-Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (GHEP-ISFG), created in 2013. The 24 participating laboratories from 10 countries were asked to identify the species in 11 DNA samples from previous GHEP-ISFG profi...
Sapperichthys gen. nov. is described herein based on new Cenomanian specimens from the Sierra Mad... more Sapperichthys gen. nov. is described herein based on new Cenomanian specimens from the Sierra Madre Formation, Chiapas, Mexico. This new gonorynchid exhibits several diagnostic characters of the Gonorynchiformes such as the absence of orbitosphenoid and basisphenoid, the anterior neural arches expanded in the lateral plane, and the presence of three sets of intermuscular bones; and of the Gonorynchidae such as the elongate and narrow frontal bone except in postorbital region and the presence of two patches of conical teeth. It is diagnosed as a valid taxon and a basal gonorynchid on the basis of characters such as the presence of a rounded opercle with a spiny posterior border; a smooth subopercle; a vertical oriented and triangular hyomandibular head; a wide metapterygoid; a V-shaped dentary, loosely articulated with the anguloarticular; medially expanded supraneurals, not in contact with each other, and loosely articulated with the neural arches; about 40 vertebrae; and 11 dorsal ...
The gonorynchiform genus Dastilbe JORDAN, 1910 is one of the most common taxa within the Lower Cr... more The gonorynchiform genus Dastilbe JORDAN, 1910 is one of the most common taxa within the Lower Cretaceous western Gondwanan fauna, being very abundant in Brazilian basins, where several nominal species had been described: D. crandalli (Sergipe-Alagoas and Araripe basins), D. elongatus (Araripe Basin), D. moraesi (Sanfran-ciscana Basin), and D. minor, a nomen nudum (Tucano Basin), although there is a single record for D. batai in Equatorial Guinea. A revision of morphological features previously used to designate nominal species of Dastilbe was made using specimens from all localities. This study shows the impossibility of definitely distinguishing between different species on the basis of diagnostic morphological characters previously considered, due to their great plasticity. Therefore, we consider the species D. elongatus, D. moraesi, and D. minor as synonyms of Dastilbe crandalli JORDAN, 1910. The species D. batai is very badly preserved and therefore it is difficult to permit an...
The knowledge on the deposition and retention of the viral particle of SARS-CoV-2 in the respirat... more The knowledge on the deposition and retention of the viral particle of SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tract during the very initial intake from the ambient air is of prime importance to understand the infectious process and COVID-19 initial symptoms. To give some light on that, we propose to use a modified version of a widely tested lung deposition model developed by the ICRP, in the context of the ICRP Publication 66, that provides deposition patterns of microparticles in different lung compartments. In the model, we mimicked the “environmental decay” of the virus, determined by controlled experiments related to normal speeches, by the radionuclide 11C that presents comparable decay rates. Our results confirm clinical observations on the high virus retentions observed in the extrathoracic region and the lesser fraction on the alveolar section (in the order of 5), which relevance is a subject to be investigated.
NThe polar regions are home to a great biodiversity of vertebrates that are highly impacted by cl... more NThe polar regions are home to a great biodiversity of vertebrates that are highly impacted by climate change. As extreme and pristine ecosystems, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) presents itself as a noninvasive tool for the monitoring of polar vertebrates’ species, essential for their preservation. In this article, we review the currently published research on vertebrate eDNA in the Arctic, as well as compare it with a similar already-published article on Antarctica. Our results show how the Artic region is well represented with several studies focusing on vertebrates, being the second most researched group of organisms (19%), only behind plants, and with several studies related to the development of new approaches and methodologies for the use of eDNA from cold regions being published in the last years. In opposite, the Antarctic eDNA science on vertebrates is still poorly developed, with the vast majority of studies focusing on microbial life; therefore, the Antarctic region still remains with a great potential for the research development in vertebrates and the effects of the past and recent climate changes on their populations
To evaluate the habitat loss due to climatic changes and their effect on Callithrix diversity in... more To evaluate the habitat loss due to climatic changes and their effect on Callithrix diversity in the next decades, the present manuscript studied the resilience of the Atlantic Rainforest primate genus Callithrix under the perspective of the forecasted climatic changes in South America, and the quick-pace of the changing environmental policies in Brazil. The study used the present-day distribution of the Atlantic Rainforest marmosets of the genus Callithrix and several bioclimatic layers to model and project the habitat suitability for all Callithrix species for recent and also for the next decades. The presented results are far from being optimistic. Almost all Callithrix species except for C. jacchus will experience about 30% to 70% reduction of potential habitats between 2040 and 2060. The observed climatic perspective together with all related anthropogenic threats, and the new conservation policies in Brazil should pose severe risk of extinction not only for the Atlantic Rainforest marmosets but also for several primate species under similar conditions.
ABSTRACTDespite the extent use of geochemical tracers to track warm air mass origin reaching the ... more ABSTRACTDespite the extent use of geochemical tracers to track warm air mass origin reaching the Antarctic continent, we present here evidences that microorganisms being transported by the atmosphere and deposited in fresh snow layers of Antarctic ice sheets do act as tracers of air mass advection from the Southern Patagonia region to Northern Antarctic Peninsula. We combined atmospheric circulation data with microorganism content in snow/firn samples collected in two sites of the Antarctic Peninsula (King George Island/Wanda glacier and Detroit Plateau) by using flow cytometer quantification. In addition, we cultivated, isolated and submitted samples to molecular sequencing to precise species classification. Viable gram-positive bacteria were found and recovered in different snow/firn layers samples, among dead and living cells, their number concentration was compared to northern wind component, stable isotopes of oxygen, δ18O, and the concentration of crustal elements (Fe, Ti and ...
ObjectivesFor many underdeveloped countries, strategies implemented by social communities allied ... more ObjectivesFor many underdeveloped countries, strategies implemented by social communities allied to scientific knowledge may be a rote to attenuate the rapid spread of Covid-19 cases and allow services to the population. This work presents a joint effort collaboration between scientists and underserved community groups from a Brazilian slum/Santa Marta in Rio de Janeiro City in the fight against Covid-19. Measurements of contamination in the air near the ground, georeferencing of data of infected people, were regressed with sanitization activities aiming at reducing the Covid-19 incidence.MethodsWe monitored aerosol containing SARS-Cov-2 virus in outdoor ambient air using various virus collection mediums (solid, liquid, and gelatinous substrates) at different aerodynamic sizes. We implemented a local statistics survey for the Covid-19 database correlated with varying sanitization levels between April 2020 and June 2021 developed in the Santa Marta slum.FindingsWe detected the SARS-C...
Vaccine is the only way out towards an effective action against Covid-19. Nevertheless, for many ... more Vaccine is the only way out towards an effective action against Covid-19. Nevertheless, for many underdeveloped countries, ordinary people's access will occur late within or even after the second disease wave. In this context, strategies implemented by social communities allied to the scientific knowledge may attenuate the rapid spread of cases and allow access of treatments at health care services to the population. Here, we present results of coordinate actions combining the aerosol SARS-Cov-2 virus monitoring and sanitization at Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro city, where profits were significantly achieved.
Here we present a mitogenomic perspective on the evolution of sharks and rays, being a first glan... more Here we present a mitogenomic perspective on the evolution of sharks and rays, being a first glance on the complete mitochondrial history of such an old and diversified group of vertebrates. The Elasmobranchii is a diverse subclass of Chondrichthyes, or cartilaginous fish, with about 1200 species of ocean- and freshwater-dwelling fishes spread all over the world's seas, including some of the ocean's largest fishes. The group dates back about 400 million years near the Devonian-Silurian boundary, being nowadays represented by several derivative lineages, mainly related to Mesozoic forms. Although considered of ecological, commercial and conservation importance, the phylogeny of this old group is poorly studied and still under debate. Here we apply a molecular systematic approach on 82 complete mitochondrial genomes to investigate the phylogeny of the Elasmobranchii. By using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses, we found a clear separation within the shark clade between the Galeomorphii and the Squalomorphii, as well as sister taxa relationships between the Carcharhiniformes and the Lamniformes. Moreover, we found that Pristoidei clusters within the Rhinobatoidei, having been recovered as the sister taxon of the Rhinobatos genus in a clade which also includes the basal Zapteryx. Our results also reject the Hypnosqualea hypothesis, which proposes that the Batoidea should be placed within the Selachii.
Forensic science international. Genetics, May 7, 2017
DNA is a powerful tool available for forensic investigations requiring identification of species.... more DNA is a powerful tool available for forensic investigations requiring identification of species. However, it is necessary to develop and validate methods able to produce results in degraded and or low quality DNA samples with the high standards obligatory in forensic research. Here, we describe a voluntary collaborative exercise to test the recently developed Species Identification by Insertions/Deletions (SPInDel) method. The SPInDel kit allows the identification of species by the generation of numeric profiles combining the lengths of six mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene regions amplified in a single reaction followed by capillary electrophoresis. The exercise was organized during 2014 by a Working Commission of the Spanish and Portuguese-Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (GHEP-ISFG), created in 2013. The 24 participating laboratories from 10 countries were asked to identify the species in 11 DNA samples from previous GHEP-ISFG profi...
Sapperichthys gen. nov. is described herein based on new Cenomanian specimens from the Sierra Mad... more Sapperichthys gen. nov. is described herein based on new Cenomanian specimens from the Sierra Madre Formation, Chiapas, Mexico. This new gonorynchid exhibits several diagnostic characters of the Gonorynchiformes such as the absence of orbitosphenoid and basisphenoid, the anterior neural arches expanded in the lateral plane, and the presence of three sets of intermuscular bones; and of the Gonorynchidae such as the elongate and narrow frontal bone except in postorbital region and the presence of two patches of conical teeth. It is diagnosed as a valid taxon and a basal gonorynchid on the basis of characters such as the presence of a rounded opercle with a spiny posterior border; a smooth subopercle; a vertical oriented and triangular hyomandibular head; a wide metapterygoid; a V-shaped dentary, loosely articulated with the anguloarticular; medially expanded supraneurals, not in contact with each other, and loosely articulated with the neural arches; about 40 vertebrae; and 11 dorsal ...
The gonorynchiform genus Dastilbe JORDAN, 1910 is one of the most common taxa within the Lower Cr... more The gonorynchiform genus Dastilbe JORDAN, 1910 is one of the most common taxa within the Lower Cretaceous western Gondwanan fauna, being very abundant in Brazilian basins, where several nominal species had been described: D. crandalli (Sergipe-Alagoas and Araripe basins), D. elongatus (Araripe Basin), D. moraesi (Sanfran-ciscana Basin), and D. minor, a nomen nudum (Tucano Basin), although there is a single record for D. batai in Equatorial Guinea. A revision of morphological features previously used to designate nominal species of Dastilbe was made using specimens from all localities. This study shows the impossibility of definitely distinguishing between different species on the basis of diagnostic morphological characters previously considered, due to their great plasticity. Therefore, we consider the species D. elongatus, D. moraesi, and D. minor as synonyms of Dastilbe crandalli JORDAN, 1910. The species D. batai is very badly preserved and therefore it is difficult to permit an...
The knowledge on the deposition and retention of the viral particle of SARS-CoV-2 in the respirat... more The knowledge on the deposition and retention of the viral particle of SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tract during the very initial intake from the ambient air is of prime importance to understand the infectious process and COVID-19 initial symptoms. To give some light on that, we propose to use a modified version of a widely tested lung deposition model developed by the ICRP, in the context of the ICRP Publication 66, that provides deposition patterns of microparticles in different lung compartments. In the model, we mimicked the “environmental decay” of the virus, determined by controlled experiments related to normal speeches, by the radionuclide 11C that presents comparable decay rates. Our results confirm clinical observations on the high virus retentions observed in the extrathoracic region and the lesser fraction on the alveolar section (in the order of 5), which relevance is a subject to be investigated.
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Papers by Cesar Amaral