Integration of genomic and ecological methods inform management of an undescribed, yet highly exploited, sardine species

Assessing genetic diversity within species is key for conservation strategies in the context of human-induced biotic changes. This is important in marine systems, where many species remain undescribed while being overfished, and conflicts between resource-users and conservation agencies are common. Combining niche modelling with population genomics can contribute to resolving those conflicts by identifying management units and understanding how past climatic cycles resulted in current patterns of genetic diversity. We addressed these issues on an undescribed but already overexploited species of sardine of the genus Harengula. We find that the species distribution is determined by salinity and depth, with a continuous distribution along the Brazilian mainland and two disconnected oceanic archipelagos. Genomic data indicate that such biogeographic barriers are associated with two divergent intraspecific lineages. Changes in habitat availability during the last glacial cycle led to different demographic histories among stocks. One coastal population experienced a 3.6-fold expansion, whereas an island-associated population contracted 3-fold, relative to the size of the ancestral population. Our results indicate that the island population should be managed separately from the coastal population, and that a Marine Protected Area covering part of the island population distribution can support the viability of this lineage.

NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES: A dataset of occurrence and abundance of freshwater fishes in the Neotropics

The Neotropical region hosts 4225 freshwater fish species, ranking first among the world's most diverse regions for freshwater fishes. Our NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set is the first to produce a large-scale Neotropical freshwater fish inventory, covering the entire Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean in the north to the southern limits in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. We compiled 185,787 distribution records, with unique georeferenced coordinates, for the 4225 species, represented by occurrence and abundance data. The number of species for the most numerous orders are as follows: Characiformes (1289), Siluriformes (1384), Cichliformes (354), Cyprinodontiformes (245), and Gymnotiformes (135). The most recorded species was the characid Astyanax fasciatus (4696 records). We registered 116,802 distribution records for native species, compared to 1802 distribution records for nonnative species. The main aim of the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set was to make these occurrence and abundance data accessible for international researchers to develop ecological and macroecological studies, from local to regional scales, with focal fish species, families, or orders. We anticipate that the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set will be valuable for studies on a wide range of ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, fishery pressure, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, and the impacts of species invasion and climate change. There are no copyright restrictions on the data, and please cite this data paper when using the data in publications.

Lumbar Myelopathy Caused by Multiple Cartilaginous Exostoses in a Dog

A 6-months-old male mixed-breed dog was admitted to the veterinary hospital with lameness in the right pelvic limb, proprioceptive ataxia, and suspected spinal cord injury in the lumbosacral segment. Upon palpation, firm nodules were noted on the bony surface of the thoracic and pelvic limbs, ribs, vertebrae, and tail. The radiographic study showed nodules of low radiopacity with well-defined limits and smooth contours, one of which was overlapping the fifth lumbar vertebra. Given the clinical presentation indicative of spinal cord injury, the animal was subjected to hemilaminectomy for nodular resection. Histopathological examination of the biopsy enabled the diagnosis of osteochondroma. The clinical follow up after surgery showed improvement in walking, despite persistent monoparesis in the right pelvic limb. The radiographic study in association with clinical and histopathological exams allowed the diagnosis and monitoring of the lesions.

Phylogeographic patterns in suckermouth catfish Hypostomus ancistroides (Loricariidae): dispersion, vicariance and species complexity across a Neotropical biogeographic region

The upper Paraná River system (UP) is a highly diverse biogeographic province for freshwater fishes, but little is known about processes which shaped that diversity. This study describes the phylogeographic pattern in Hypostomus ancistroides, a suckermouth catfish species that is widespread in the UP and also reported from the adjoining Ribeira do Iguape basin. We used complete mtDNA sequences of ATPase 6/8 of 162 specimens to infer haplotype distribution using phylogenetic and demographic analyses and a Bayesian molecular clock. Results suggest that during the Quaternary H. ancistroides has undergone superimposed phylogeographic histories, alternating between isolation and subsequent merging of different populations. Occurrence of an isolated population on the Ribeira de Iguape is demonstrated to be a Pleistocene headwater capture event. Widely distributed haplotypes indicate deep genetic differences and suggest that populations of H. ancistroides were isolated for considerable time, but did not undergo speciation because of recurrent population mixing.

A new species of the Hypostomus cochliodongroup (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Aripuanã basin in Brazil

A new species of Hypostomus, H. dardanelos, is described from the rio Aripuanã basin, a southern tributary to the rio Madeira, in northern Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The new species is assigned to the Hypostomus cochliodon group by the possession of few teeth, spoon-shaped teeth, angle between dentaries usually less than 80°, and by the absence of a notch between hyomandibular and the metapterygoid. The new species can be diagnosed from its congeners by its unique color pattern of yellowish-brown ground color covered by well-defined dark spots of relatively equal size, evenly spaced and moderately set along the dorsal region of the body and fins, except on the ventrolateral region of the caudal peduncle and proximal region of anal and caudal fins, which are devoid of spots. The new species is further diagnosed by having teeth with very small lateral cusp, fused to the mesial one and almost imperceptible; by the absence of medial buccal papillae, and by nuptial odontodes all along the body (odontodes more pronounced in some few larger specimens).

Rediscovery, taxonomic and conservation status of the threatened catfish Listrura camposi (Miranda-Ribeiro) (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)

The genus Listrura, Glanapteryginae, currently comprises six valid species of small and elongated trichomycterid catfishes that inhabit coastal plains of Southern and Southeastern Brazil. As primarily fossorial dwellers, species of the genus display unusual morphological adaptations and restricted habitats, which make these fishes particularly susceptible to environmental disturbance. Listrura camposi is poorly known and ranked as a Critically Endangered catfish species, according to current Brazilian list of threatened species. Description of the species was based on a single specimen collected in 1940, and for seven decades no additional specimens were reported. As a consequence, basic information about the species is unavailable. Recently, a population of L. camposi was found inhabiting a small stream tributary to rio Ribeira de Iguape basin, São Paulo State, relatively close to the type locality. On the basis of newly collected material, the species is redescribed and the first data on its habitat and ecology are presented. Conservation status is also discussed.

Two new species of the Hypostomus cochliodon group (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Negro basin in Brazil

Two new species of Hypostomus are described from the middle and upper rio Negro in Brazil. They are assigned to the Hypostomus cochliodon group (sensu Armbruster, 2003) by possessing few spoon-shaped teeth, and dentary angle averaging less than 80º. Hypostomus kopeyaka is described from the rio Tiquié, a tributary of the rio Uaupés, upper rio Negro basin, presents a unique color pattern among the Hypostomus species belonging to the Hypostomus cochliodon group, consisting of conspicuously horizontally elongated, closely-set black spots over the entire dorsal and lateral surfaces of the body. Hypostomus weberi is described from the middle rio Negro and can be distinguished from all remaining Hypostomus species belonging to the Hypostomus cochliodon group by possessing a unique color pattern consisting in large, rounded, widelyspaced black spots over body and fins.

[Correlation between diagnostic hypothesis and result of cranial computed axial tomography]

The use of computed axial tomography (CT) in the investigation of neurologic disorders is attractive for its disponibility in the health services. However, the indications of the exam and the correlation with the clinical features has not been frequently studied. We study correlation between the requests of CT and the findings reported by the radiologist, in 367 exams performed from 07/1995 to 07/ 1996. The mean age was 31.7 +/- 22.9 years. The CT were requested in decrescent order of frequency by the Services of Neurology (36.2%), Emergency room (17.4%), Pediatric Neurology (16.9%) and Internal Medicine (5.9%). The CT was more indicated in cases of seizures (30%), headache (26.2%), motor impairment (20.2%) and reduction of conscience level (16.9%). The main hypothetic diagnosis were "to discard anatomic lesions" (9.0%), not specified stroke (8.2%) and neurocisticercosis (8.2%). The result of the CT was normal in 50.4% of the exams specially those requested in cases of headache (94.4%), seizures (71.4%) and "to discard anatomic lesions"(66.7%). The more frequently CT abnormalities were hydrocephalus (5.4%), ischemic stroke (5.4%) and neoplasm (3.5%) The greatest rates of correlation were among those to discard anatomic lesions (66,7%), hydrocephalus (50%), ischemic stroke (50%) and hematoma (50%). We concluded that CT is more helpful if more clinical data is provided in the request form, so aiding the radiologist in the final report.

[An analysis of the socioeconomic and reproductive conditions of women from a peripheral community of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul]

This work is based on the analysis of a research where the socioeconomic conditions of women, with ages ranging from 15 to 44 years old, living in a community situated in the outskirts of Porto Alegre, were investigated. A relation was established between those conditions and the reproductive behavior of the subjects.