RESUMO Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, determinar o efeito do ambiente e do balanço eletrolítico sobre os índices ambientais, fisiológicos e produtivos de codornas japonesas. Utilizaram-se 288 aves distribuídas no delineamento em blocos casualizados com seis tratamentos e seis repetições de oito aves por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos consistiram em uma ração basal com nível de 20,0% PB e os demais com redução de 3,0% PB, para alcançar seis níveis de balanço eletrolítico (166,54; 153,47; 139,63; 139,63; 117,13 e 166,49). Quanto ao ambiente, verificou-se uma elevação na temperatura do ar e no índice de temperatura e umidade nos horários mais quentes do dia, causando desconforto às aves, que elevaram a frequência respiratória, porém com a manutenção da homeotermia. Foram observadas diferenças no consumo de ração, consumo de água, produção, peso e massa de ovo, em razão dos níveis eletrolíticos da ração. Quanto à conversão alimentar tanto por massa quanto por dúzia de ovos, não foi observada diferença estatística. O balanço eletrolítico e os índices ambientais nos horários mais quentes do dia não interferiram na produção das aves.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effects of environment and electrolyte balance on environmental, physiological and productive indices of Japanese quails. For the experiment, 288 quails were distributed in a randomized block design with six treatments and six replicates of eight birds per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of one basal feed with 20.0% of crude protein (CP) and the others with a reduction of 3.0% CP to achieve six electrolyte balance levels (166.54; 153.47; 139.63; 139.63; 117.13 and 166.49). As to the environment, there was an increase in air temperature and temperature-humidity index at the hottest hours of the day, causing discomfort to the birds, which increased respiratory rate, but with the maintenance of homeothermy. Differences were observed in feed consumption, water consumption, production, weight of eggs and mass of eggs, due to the electrolyte levels in the feed. For feed conversion, both per mass and per dozen of eggs, there was no statistical difference. The electrolyte balance and environmental indices at the hottest hours of the day did not affect quail production.

When two similar species co-occur in time and space, strong mechanisms isolating them from each other are expected. Acanthoscurria suina Pocock, 1903 and Eupalaestrus weijenberghi (Thorell, 1894) are two sympatric and synchronic tarantulas that inhabit burrows in Uruguay's meadows. Here we test how and when reproductive isolation operates between these species. We exposed females of each species simultaneously to two males: either one male of each species, or two males of the same species. Males courted females of both species. Contrary to expectations, however, females of A. suina responded more effusively to heterospecific than to conspecific males, whereas females of E. weijenberghi only responded to conspecific males. Clasping (prelude of mating) was only recorded for couples of the same species. Females of A. suina at first seem to prefer the stronger body vibrations performed by heterospecific courting males than by males of their own species.

O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência ambiental nos índices de conforto térmico e produtivo, em instalações abertas de frangos de corte, cobertos com telha de cimento amianto, com três sistemas de acondicionamento térmico: ventilação artificial e aspersão sobre a cobertura (TAVA), ventilação artificial (TACV) e ventilação artificial e nebulização (TAVN), localizados no distrito de São José da Mata, município de Campina Grande, PB. A avaliação ambiental foi feita com base na umidade relativa do ar (UR), no índice de temperatura do globo negro e umidade (ITGU), na carga térmica radiante (CTR) e pela umidade da cama. Os índices produtivos foram avaliados pelo peso final, ganho de peso diário, conversão alimentar e taxa de mortalidade. Em todos os sistemas, os índices de conforto variaram ao longo do dia, sendo que o ITGU apresentou valores considerados acima do ideal e a UR e a CTR ficaram dentro da zona de conforto térmico recomendada. O sistema TAVN aumentou a umidade da cama em relação aos outros sistemas. Os valores dos índices de desempenho das aves estiveram dentre as faixas consideradas ideais para a indústria de frangos de corte, no Nordeste do Brasil.

The principal objective of this work was to evaluate the environmental influence on the thermal comfort and productive indices, in poultry farm installations, covered with cement asbestos tiles using three diferent thermal air conditioning systems: artificial ventilation and water sprinkling over the roof, artificial ventilation and artificial ventilation and humidification. The poultry farm is located in the district of São José da Mata, in the municipality of Campina Grande, Paraiba state, Brazil. The environmental evaluation was based on the relative humidity of the air, black globe temperature and humidity index, thermal radiation load, and humidity of the bed. The production indices were evaluated through the final weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion and mortality rate. In all systems the comfort indices varied during the day. Black globe temperature and humidity index presented above ideal values. Relative humidity and thermal radiation load indices were within the recommended thermal comfort zone. Artificial ventilation and humidification systems increased the humidity of the bed when compared to the other systems. The values of the poultry performance indices were within the ideal range considered for the broiler industry in the Northeast of Brazil.

Ethological isolation of individuals from three allopatric Grammostola populations of Uruguay, G. iheringi (Keyserling, 1891), G. mollicoma (Auserer, 1875) northern population and G. mollicoma southern population, was tested under laboratory conditions. Grammostola iheringi behaved as a reproductive isolated species, whereas the two populations of G. mollicoma did not show ethological isolation between them. However, ecological isolating reproductive mechanisms could be acting on G. mollicoma populations. Artificial burrows seem to be important for reproductive isolation in these species.

Se testeó bajo condiciones de laboratorio, el aislamiento etológico de individuos de poblaciones alopátridas de Grammostola de Uruguay, G. iheringi (Keyserling, 1891), G. mollicoma (Auserer, 1875) población norte y G. mollicoma población sur. Grammostola iheringi se comportó como una especie aislada, mientras que las dos formas de Grammostola no mostraron aislamiento etológico. Sin embargo, mecanismos de aislamiento reproductivo ecológico podrían estar actuando entre las poblaciones de G. mollicoma. Las cuevas artificiales serían importantes para el aislamiento reproductivo de estas especies.

Specialized setae placed on proximal segments of appendages in tarantulas have been related to sound production (stridulation), used in defense or sexual communication. The surface structure of called stridulatory setae of Acanthoscurria suina Pocock, 1903 was studied by SEM. Three morphological types of setae were recognized and at least two of them could be involved in stridulation. Their role in sexual communication was tested by experimental removal. Our results showed no differences in the sexual success between the setaeless and control individuals. Consequently, a defensive function for stridulatory setae seems to be more likely than a sexual function.

Las setas especializadas que las tarántulas presentan en los segmentos proximales de los apéndices han sido relacionadas con la producción de sonidos (estridulación), utilizados en defensa o comunicación sexual. La estructura superficial de las setas llamadas estridulatorias en Acanthoscurria suina Pocock, 1903 fue estudiada mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido. Tres patrones morfológicos de setas fueron reconocidos y al menos dos de ellos podrían estar involucrados en la estridulación. Su rol en la comunicación sexual fue estudiado mediante remoción experimental. Los resultados no mostraron diferencias en el éxito sexual entre individuos sin setas e individuos control. Consecuentemente, parece más probable una función defensiva que sexual para dichas setas.