ABSTRACT Elephant grass stands out among lignocellulosic biomass plants utilized for second-generation biofuel production due to several advantageous characteristics compared to other raw materials. Its short production cycle and ability to thrive in adverse soil and climate conditions contribute to its appeal. Additionally, breeders seek genotypes with high productivity potential and adaptability to various favorable cultivation environments. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters, predict genetic values using mixed models (REML/BLUP), and evaluate stability and adaptability for energy biomass production in elephant grass genotypes. The experiment was conducted in Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, utilizing a two-replicate experimental block design that included 40 elephant grass genotypes. Four harvest assessments were performed between 2016 and 2019. Genetic parameter estimation and selection of superior genotypes based on genetic value using the REML/BLUP procedure were performed using Selegen software. Stability and adaptability analyses were obtained through the harmonic mean of genotypic values (HMGV), enabling the identification of stable and highly productive genotypes. Genotypes 17, 18, 32, 16, 36, 6, 15, 31, and 34 exhibited outstanding performance in terms of HMGV, indicating enhanced stability, adaptability, and simultaneous productivity, thus ensuring robustness in cultivation. These selected genotypes hold potential for future breeding programs aimed at improving elephant grass yield for biomass production.

ABSTRACT During fieldwork in the Campos Amazônicos National Park, Amazonas state, Brazil, a new endemic species of Mabea was collected in savanna areas. Field collections and specimens in RON, MG, and HRCB were analyzed. To understand the species distribution and verify possible areas of occurrence, niche modeling was conducted using the sdm package in R. Mabea dalyana, the new species is a subshrub with xylopodia and reduced size (less than 1 m height) and small, yellow thyrses. There are several allopatric species of Mabea growing in Amazonian savannas, some widespread but others locally restricted, such as M. uleana from central Amazonia that has some superficial resemblance in leaves and inflorescences but can be distinguished from M. dalyana by pubescent adaxial leaf surface (vs. glabrous), 12-21 submarginal glands (vs. 10 submarginal glands), thyrse brownish to red (vs. yellow thyrse) and conspicuous caruncle (vs. caruncle inconspicuous). M. dalyana is endemic to hyperseasonal savanna, very well adapted to savanna, and fire tolerant. It has notable characteristics, such as a subshrub habit, a xylopodium, glabrous leaves, and sepals noticeably larger than the ovary.

ABSTRACT Vocalization and behavior are non-invasive methods of animal welfare analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the welfare of piglets during Australian ear notching, tooth wear and castration, from vocalizations and behavioral aspects of pigs. For this, 281 piglets were used, with measurements of the maximum and minimum intensity of the noise emitted by the piglets and the time of accomplishment. The behavior of the piglets was obtained according to the activity performed during handling and containment. For behavioral analysis a specific etogram was used. The comparison of means was performed by T-test and PDIFF. The castration was the practice with the highest average of time of accomplishment, followed by the wear of teeth and ear notching. The highest mean values of minimum and maximum intensity were found for male castration in the slow process. It was observed that sex did not influence the time when the ear notching and tooth wear were performed, but at the same time the avoidance behavior was the most observed (P <0.05), with low frequency in castration. Therefore, it can be concluded that the procedures caused pain, characterized by vocal demonstrations and negative behavior.

RESUMO Vocalização e comportamento são métodos não invasivos de análise de bem-estar animal. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o bem-estar de leitões durante as práticas de mossa australiana, desgaste de dentes e castração, a partir de vocalizações e aspectos comportamentais dos suínos. Para tal, foram utilizados 281 leitões, com aferições da intensidade máxima e mínima do ruído emitido pelos leitões e o tempo de realização. O comportamento dos leitões foi obtido de acordo com a atividade desempenhada durante o manejo e contenção. Para análise comportamental um etograma específico foi utilizado. A comparação de médias foi realizada pelo teste-T e PDIFF. A castração foi a prática com maior média de tempo de realização, seguida pelo desgaste de dentes e mossa. Os maiores valores de média de intensidade mínima e máxima foram encontrados para a castração de machos, no processo lento. Observou-se que o sexo não influenciou no tempo em que a mossa e o desgaste de dentes foram realizados, mas durante os mesmos o comportamento de esquiva foi o mais observado (P<0,05), com baixa frequência na castração. Portanto, pode-se concluir que os procedimentos ocasionaram dor, caracterizada por demonstrações vocais e de comportamento negativo.