CARACTERIZAÇÃO HIDROQUÍMICA DE AQUÍFERO ALUVIAL PARA USO AGRÍCOLA

Composition of collared peccary seminal plasma and sperm motility kinetics in semen obtained during dry and rainy periods in a semiarid biome

The content and chemical composition of the essential oil may vary in certain species according to the climatic period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of seasonality on the chemical composition of the essential oil from Hyptis dilatata flowers, to perform biological activities such as antimicrobial, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme and to evaluate the toxicity of the essential oil using for the test as indicator Artemia salina. H. dilatata flowers were collected in rainy and dry periods and extracted by hydro distillation using extractor of Clevenger condenser double Spell model. Analysis of essential oil resulted in 22 chemical components. The major constituents for dry and rainy periods were α-pinene (26.2 and 10.9%), 3-Carene (12.2 and 3.7%), fenchone (17% and 14.8%) and β-cariophyllene (16.36 and 30.9%), respectively. The essential oil inhibited the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in 93.4% (rainy period) and 92.4% (dry period). Between the dry and rainy periods, the best LC50 in microbial activity in vitro was obtained in the rainy period tested in Staphylococcus aureus bacterium (LC50 49.8 mg ml-1). The cytotoxic activity of A. salina in H. dilatata essential oil proved LC50 results below of 100 μg ml-1. Therefore, the chemical characterization and testing of biological activities of essential oils showed promising results in the search for new active substances and development of bioproducts of vegetable origin. Key words: Hyptis dilatata, α-pinene, fenchone, β-cariofilene, 3-carene.

The study was undertaken to investigate the effects of rainy and dry periods on the gross and histological features of ovaries of Oreochromis niloticus in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Twenty-four (24) adult wild tilapia fish with average weight of 300.17 ± 25.71 gm and 229.94 ± 23.68 gm was used during rainy and dry periods, respectively. They measured a standard body length of 24.00 ± 0.76 cm and 23.83±0.60 cm during rainy and dry periods, respectively. The fish were sourced from Zaria dam and transported live in open plastic troughs containing clean water to the Gross Anatomy Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Each fish was euthanized using tricaine anaesthetic at 8 drops/litre of water. The ovaries were extracted, weighed and fixed in Bouin’s fluid for 24 hours and processed histologically. Grossly, the ovaries of O. niloticus were highly vascularized and well developed during both rainy and dry periods. The average weight of both ovaries showed insignificant variation across the periods (0.125). The Gonado-somatic index value was insignificantly higher during rainy period (0.115) compared to dry period. Histologically, the ovaries were predominated by vitellogenic and post-vitellogenic follicles across both periods of the year. The tunica albuginea and interstitial connective tissues were thin during both periods. In conclusion, the results in this study revealed that adult wild tilapia fish had developed ovaries with predominant mature follicles during both rainy and dry periods suggesting that adult wild tilapia fish spawns during both rainy and dry periods in Zaria, Nigeria.
 Keywords: Follicles, Gonado-Somatic Index (GSI), Ovaries, Wild tilapia, Zaria dam

The study was undertaken to investigate the effects of rainy and dry periods on the gross and histology of the testes of Oreochromis niloticus in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Twenty-four adult wild tilapia fish with average weight of 234.74±5.20 gm and 177.84±31.07 gm was used during rainy and dry periods, respectively. They measured a standard body length of 23.50±0.29 cm and 22.17±0.73 cm during rainy and dry periods, respectively. The fishes were sourced from Zaria dam and transported live in open plastic troughs containing clean water to the Gross Anatomy Laboratory in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Each fish was euthanized using tricaine anaesthetic at 8 drops/litre of water. The testes were extracted, weighed and fixed in bouin’s fluid for 24hours. Each testis was then dehydrated through series of ascending concentrations of ethanol, cleared in xylene, embedded in paraffin wax and sectioned at 5µm. Hematoxylin (H) & Eosin (E) were used for histological evaluation. Grossly, the testes of O. niloticus were whitish, non-lobulated and well developed during both rainy and dry periods. Each testis had a smooth lateral and medial edge. Seminal vesicles and Bulbourethral glands were absent. The average weight of both testes shows insignificant variation across both periods (0.458). The Gonado-somatic index value was insignificantly higher during rainy period (0.159) compare to dry period. Histologically, the lumen of seminiferous lobules was filled with spermatozoa during both rainy and dry periods. The tunica albuginea and interstitial connective tissues were thin across both periods. In conclusion, Gross and histological results which coincide with the values of Gonado-somatic index revealed that wild adult tilapia fish spawns during both rainy and dry periods in Zaria, Nigeria.
 Keywords: Gonado-somatic index, Testes, Seminiferous lobules, Spermatozoa, Wild Tilapia, Zaria dam

The study investigated effects of rainy and dry periods on the ovaries of wild adult Clarias gariepinus in Zaria, kaduna State Nigeria. Twenty-four wild adult catfish with average weight of 1000.00 ± 0.00 gm was used during both periods. They measured a standard body length of 50.17±1.01 cm (rainy) and 44.83 ± 2.09 cm (dry). The fish were sourced from Zaria dam and transported live to Gross Anatomy Laboratory in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Each fish was euthanized using tricaine anaesthetic at 8 drops/litre of water. The ovaries were extracted, weighed and fixed in Bouin’s fluid for 24 hours, and processed histologically. Grossly, the ovaries were observed to be well-developed and highly vascularized during rainy period while, regressed and poorly vascular- ized ovaries were seen during dry pe- riod. The mean weight of the ovaries (0.025) and Gonado-somatic index (GSI) value (0.034) were significantly higher during rainy period. Histologically, the ovaries were predominated by vitellogenic and post-vitellogenic follicles during rainy period while, pre-vitellgenic follicles predominates dry periods. The tunica albuginea and interstitial connective tissues were thin during rainy period but thick during dry period. Hence, the result of this study revealed that wild adult catfish spawns during rainy period while, dry period is characterized by low gonadal activities in Zaria, Nigeria.

The influence of environmental factors in a semiarid climate on characteristics of fresh and frozen/thawed sperm collected from collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) was assessed. Semen from 11 male collared peccaries was collected by electroejaculation during the peaks of the dry and rainy periods while rainfall indices, air temperatures, relative humidity levels, and wind speeds were measured. The number, motility, morphology, osmotic response, and membrane integrity of sperm in the collected ejaculates were assessed. Samples were then frozen in liquid nitrogen, thawed, and reassessed. The rainfall index of the rainy period (73.2 mm) was significantly higher than that of the dry period (13.6 mm) and the relative humidity was significantly higher during the rainy period (74.6%) than it was during the dry period (66.8%). Air temperature and wind speed did not differ between the two periods. Characteristics of sperm in the fresh samples were not affected by environmental parameters. In contrast, computerized analysis revealed that sperm in samples frozen during the rainy period exhibited better post-thaw membrane integrity (28.6 ± 6%), motility (29.5 ± 7.7%), and rapid sperm population (13.7 ± 6.2%) than did sperm in samples frozen during the dry period (23.4 ± 3% membrane integrity, 14.6 ± 4.1% motility, and 4.1 ± 1.2% rapid sperm; p < 0.05). Other characteristics of the frozen/thawed sperm did not differ depending on the period in which they were collected. We demonstrated that environmental parameters did not affect the quality of fresh sperm, but could influence the freezability of sperm collected from collared peccaries raised under a semiarid climate.

Avaliou-se o efeito de quatro doses de nitrogênio (100, 300, 500 ou 700 kg/ha) e seis lâminas d'água (0, 20, 40, 80, 100 ou 120% da evapotranspiração) na produção de matéria seca, nos teores de proteína bruta (PB) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e na digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) do capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum) durante os períodos seco e chuvoso. As doses de nitrogênio constituíram as parcelas e as lâminas d'água, as subparcelas, segundo delineamento experimental de blocos completos ao acaso com quatro repetições. A produção de matéria seca acumulada no ano experimental e durante o período chuvoso aumentou linearmente em relação às doses de nitrogênio e às lâminas d'água aplicadas. Durante o período seco, a produção do capim-elefante aumentou linearmente de acordo com as doses de nitrogênio, mas ajustou-se ao modelo quadrático com as lâminas d'água aplicadas. O teor de PB de lâminas foliares + pseudocolmo aumentou linearmente com as doses de nitrogênio, tanto no ano experimental quanto nos períodos seco e chuvoso, e não foi influenciado pelas lâminas d'água aplicadas. O teor de FDN nas lâminas foliares + pseudocolmo das plantas foi influenciado negativamente pelas doses de nitrogênio durante o ano experimental e no período seco, positivamente pela irrigação no período chuvoso. A digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca de lâminas foliares + pseudocolmo ajustou-se ao modelo quadrático de regressão de acordo com as doses de nitrogênio apenas no ano experimental e no período chuvoso e não foi influenciada pelas lâminas d'água aplicadas. No período seco, a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca não foi influenciada por nenhuma das lâminas d'água nem pelas doses de nitrogênio avaliadas.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of seasonality on the diversity and richness of the edaphic macrofauna during the dry and rainy periods, in an area of Caatinga in the Brazilian semiarid region. Samples were collected in a sample grid, totaling 10 points, spaced 30 meters apart, in rainy and dry seasons. For quantitative assessment of macrofauna, the total number of organisms (species abundance) was measured, according to diversity. The diversity of the soil macrofauna for this research corresponds to the following order: Hymenoptera&gt; Diptera&gt; Aranaea&gt; Orthoptera&gt; Coleoptera, for the rainy and dry periods, with a greater predominance of the order Hymenoptera. The influence of seasonality was observed in relation to the richness and diversity of the region's macrofauna, with marked fluctuations between the rainy and dry periods.

Bibitalkhone spring with an average annual discharge of 2 m3/s is one of the important karstic springs in the Southwest of Iran which has a special hydrochemical behavior different from the other karstic springs. This study shows that the dominant water types of the spring are Cl–Na and HCO3–Ca for dry (approximately 8 months of year) and rainy (about 4 months of year) periods, respectively. While the host rock of the spring is composed of limestone and dolomite, the dominant type of the spring water doesn’t match the lithology of the host aquifer. The monthly physico-chemical parameters and major ions of the spring measured for 24 months (from October 2012 to September 2014) and the results analyzed using factor analysis and hydrochemical diagrams (including the composition, dissolution domains and Piper diagrams) to understand the odd behavior of this spring and also the factors which control the spring hydrochemistry. The oxygen-18 and deuterium contents of the spring water measured in four periods at February (rainy period), June (after the rainy period), October (before the next rainy period) and December (the next rainy period) of 2013. The results indicate that the water chemistry of the Bibitalkhone spring is controlled by various factors. One of the most important factors is the input of exotic waters from the neighboring karstic catchment which has circulated within a lithology of high limestone purity. Although these waters contribute to recharge of the Bibitalkhone spring throughout the year, their effect is more obvious during the rainy period. The other important factor is the dissolution of salty/gypsum layers (mostly salt). These layers are in direct contact with the southern limb of the host aquifer and their effects on the chemistry of spring water are more evident in the dry period. However, the available structural evidences suggest that the tectonic factor plays an important role in the chemistry of the spring water, since the main faults in the region somehow control the two previous factors.

Differences in the availability of solar radiation can cause modifications in the structure and function of coffee plant leaves, such as physiological, growth and disease incidence alterations. The objective of this work was to evaluate the physiological characteristics and development of developing coffee plants submitted to five shading levels (0, 35, 50, 65 and 90% of shading) in the dry and rainy period. The evaluations were conducted in coffee plants of the Coffea arabica L. species, cultivar Catucai Amarelo 2SL. The treatments were disposed in a randomized block design with plots subdivided in time, in which the shading levels and the evaluation periods were disposed in the plots and split-plots, respectively. The different shading levels and the seasonal modifications (rainy and dry period) to which the coffee plants were submitted promoted effects on the physiological characteristics, presenting better photosynthetic performance under 35, 50 and 65% shading levels in the rainy period. However, in the dry period, the plants submitted to the 50% shading level present higher CO 2 assimilation. The 35, 50 and 65% shading levels provide better growth for coffee plants. Coffee plants under full sun present higher cercosporiosis incidence.

Differences in the availability of solar radiation can cause modifications in the structure and function of coffee plant leaves, such as physiological, growth and disease incidence alterations. The objective of this work was to evaluate the physiological characteristics and development of developing coffee plants submitted to five shading levels (0, 35, 50, 65 and 90% of shading) in the dry and rainy period. The evaluations were conducted in coffee plants of the Coffea arabica L. species, cultivar Catucaí Amarelo 2SL. The treatments were disposed in a randomized block design with plots subdivided in time, in which the shading levels and the evaluation periods were disposed in the plots and split-plots, respectively. The different shading levels and the seasonal modifications (rainy and dry period) to which the coffee plants were submitted promoted effects on the physiological characteristics, presenting better photosynthetic performance under 35, 50 and 65% shading levels in the rainy period. However, in the dry period, the plants submitted to the 50% shading level present higher CO2 assimilation. The 35, 50 and 65% shading levels provide better growth for coffee plants. Coffee plants under full sun presenthigher cercosporiosis incidence

It is a high priority to account for methane emissions from cattle grazing grasslands in order to evaluate the strategies for mitigating GHG emissions in livestock. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro ruminal methane production and nutritional content of the consumed diet by bovines grazing an open medium grassland in atypical dry and rainy periods in the semi-arid region of the state of Durango, Mexico. Four rumen fistulated bovines were subjected of an ad libitum graze under a repeated measure design. Chemical analysis showed that DM, OM, NDF and ADF increased in rainy period (p&lt;0.05). Otherwise, CP, EE, phosphorus contains and IVDMD increased in dry period (p&lt;0.05). Ruminal fermentation parameters as pH and volatile fatty acids as acetic, propionic and butyric, showed no changes among periods (p&gt;0.05). However, ammonia increased in rainy period (p&lt;0.05). Moreover, gas production kinetics only showed differences in lag phase (p&lt;0.05); whereas, maximum gas production and production constant rate showed no changes among periods (p&gt;0.05). Likewise, methane production showed no changes among both periods (p&lt;0.05). As conclusion, it is observed that nutritional quality of the consumed diet by bovines grazing and open medium grasslands in dry and rainy periods presents acceptable protein values (8-10 %). In addition, phosphorus contents are higher than the minimum requirements for growing bovines. Furthermore, methane production was not affected by dry and rainy periods.

Microwave links are widely used for wireless data exchange, particularly between base stations of mobile phone networks. Because of the range of frequencies used for data transmission, the link signal is attenuated when rainfall occurs along the link path. This attenuation can be related to the path-averaged rain rate. A critical issue in this procedure is the ability to separate the attenuation due to rainfall from the attenuation occurring during dry periods. This letter presents a technique to separate dry and rainy periods and to estimate a time-varying attenuation baseline using path-integrated attenuation measurements from operational telecommunication microwave links. Dry and rainy periods are separated by analyzing the local variability of the link signal. The attenuation baseline is estimated in real time through the classification into dry and rainy periods. The method is applied to four different links and ten different rain events. Measurements from a nearby C-band weather radar are used to evaluate the performance of the algorithm. The new method performs well, identifying about 92% of all rainy periods, 86% of all dry periods, and 93% of the total rain amount on average.

This paper intent to verify if the rainfall indices influence sewage sludge’s heavy metals concentrations. So, it’s possible to establish which period is suitable for the sewage sludge to agricultural use. The weekly collection has been done since November until Mars and since June until October, rainy and dry period respectively. It’s been verified that some chemical elements concentrations have been changed, like nickel and zinc. They have become greater in dry period than in the rainy. The terrigenous material supply transported by rain is the responsible for the greater concentrations of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 and TiO 2 in the rainy period. Statistical analyses have shown that there were not significant differences between iron, manganese, strontium, chromium, copper and lead concentration in both periods. These chemical elements seem to be in insoluble form or have been discarded in industrial effluent. However, the chromium and copper maximum and minimum concentrations have changed too much in the same period. The sewage sludge quality is linked to many climatic, chemical and industrial variables and may compromise its agricultural use without previous treatment.

The spatial distribution of biological communities may be regulated by environmental and spatial processes, and the intensity of these processes depend on the species characteristics, spatial heterogeneity and spatial extent. We investigated the relationship between the non‐migratory fish metacommunity with environmental and spatial variables using the variance partitioning procedure. We used data from lakes of four Neotropical floodplains: Amazon, Araguaia, Pantanal and Paraná. We hypothesised that the processes that drive the spatial distribution of non‐migratory fish in floodplain systems depend on connectivity driven by flood pulse. We predict that spatial variables are less important to explaining the fish community structures during rainy periods when there is no dispersal limitation. In contrast, environmental variables influence these structures during rainy and dry periods. During dry periods, metacommunities depend on species' dispersal abilities, but during rainy and dry periods, spatial distribution depends on the environmental filters selected by each species. For most of the environmental variables, it was possible to observe more similarity in the rainy period. Our results showed different patterns of fish communities for the lakes of the four floodplains systems, which led us to reject our hypothesis. Non‐migratory fish remain in their natal environment and perform only small lateral movements. In this scenario, we found a little influence from spatial variables in both periods and a great contribution of environmental variables for Amazon (16%) and Pantanal (32%) floodplains in structuring fishes' distribution in the rainy period.