Biology subjects

Diniz, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Diniz, H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Habitat-specific environmental characteristics are associated with the movement of male and female loggerhead sea turtles

Linking animal movements to environmental drivers is essential for understanding ecological processes and anticipating species responses to climate change. We investigated habitat-specific movements in a globally significant aggregation of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting in Cabo Verde. Satellite tags on 15 adults (12 females, 3 males) provided multi-year tracks spanning breeding, migration, and foraging habitats. Movements and phenology differed by habitat. During the breeding season, females used either coastal areas, remaining within [~]20 m depth, or undertook long looping forays up to 360 km. Males showed two strategies: two remained resident in Cabo Verde waters, including Fra, the largest male tracked (Curved carapace length of 105 cm compared with a male mean of 90.7 {+/-} 10.3 cm), while the third migrated annually to distant foraging grounds and returned ahead of the subsequent breeding season. In foraging habitats, turtles adopted neritic or oceanic strategies: neritic turtles remained localised in warm, productive waters, whereas oceanic turtles ranged widely in deeper, less productive areas. Time- and space-shift analyses showed that oceanic foragers used intermediate sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a conditions relative to nearby or temporally shifted alternatives, consistent with movement within a thermal-trophic trade-off. Together, these results show how sex, body size, and energy balance drive habitat-specific movement dynamics in a changing ocean.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2024

Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers of chronic kidney disease and its association with renal and cardiovascular outcomes in non-dialysis patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 10% of the population worldwide and entails a significant risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), leading to a 500-fold increase in cardiovascular mortality in advanced stages. Still, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying kidney-heart intercommunication remain largely unknown. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) emerged as important key regulators of gene expression that may serve as biomarkers for several diseases, however, their role in kidney-heart crosstalk in CKD remains underexplored. In this study, we evaluated the expression of a miRNA panel in plasma samples from non-dialysis CKD patients and explored their association with main comorbidities and significant outcomes in a 5-year follow-up. Results show that miR-30c-5p and miR-132-3p were downregulated in CKD patients presenting a significant power to discriminate the disease state. Importantly, only miR-30c-5p was downregulated in early glomerular filtration rate (GFR) categories, being able to discriminate these CKD patients from non-diseased individuals. Concerning cardiovascular outcomes, miR-199a-5p was found to be associated with an increased frequency of CVD. When analyzing the major disease outcomes in a 5-year time, miR-199a-5p upregulation at baseline was associated with increased mortality, while miR-324-3p was downregulated in patients who progressed to more advanced stages of the disease. These findings highlight the involvement of novel circulating miRNAs in CKD onset and progression, and identify, for the first time, the enrollment of miR-199a-5p in kidney-heart pathophysiological crosstalk, paving the way for the establishment of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CKD and its outcomes.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Genetics survey reveals colonization and philopatry of the loggerhead sea turtles across geographic scales

AimUnderstanding the processes that underlie the distribution of genetic diversity in endangered species is a goal of modern conservation biology. Specifically, how population structure affects genetic diversity and contributes to a species adaptive potential remain elusive. The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) faces multiple conservation challenges due to its migratory nature and philopatric behaviour. LocationsAtlantic Ocean, Cabo Verde, island of Boavista MethodsHere, using 4207 mtDNA sequences, we analysed the colonisation patterns and distribution of genetic diversity within a major ocean basin (the Atlantic), a regional rookery (Cabo Verde Archipelago) and a local island (Island of Boavista, Cabo Verde). ResultsHypothesis-driven population genetic models suggest the colonization of the Atlantic has occurred in two distinct waves, each corresponding to major mtDNA lineages. We propose the oldest lineage entered the basin via the isthmus of Panama and sequentially established aggregations in Brazil, Cabo Verde and in the area of USA and Mexico. The second lineage entered the Atlantic via the Cape of Good Hope, establishing colonies in the Mediterranean Sea, and from then on, re-colonized the already existing rookeries of the Atlantic. At the Cabo Verde level, we reveal an asymmetric gene flow maintaining links across nesting groups despite significant genetic structure amongst nesting groups. This structure stems from female philopatric behaviour which could further be detected by weak but significant structure amongst beaches separated by only a few kilometres on the island of Boavista. Main conclusionTo explore demographic processes at diverse geographic scales improves understanding the complex evolutionary history of highly migratory philopatric species. Unveiling the past facilitates the design of conservation programmes targeting the right management scale to maintain a species adaptive potential and putative response to human-induced selection.

evolutionary biology↗