Mourao, G. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2022

The survival of the fastest: Reproductive behavior of the Brazilian three-banded armadillo in the wild

The Brazilian three-banded armadillo, Tolypeutes tricinctus is endemic to Northeastern Brazil and is classified as a "Vulnerable" (A2cd) species according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. During a study of wild carnivores at Fazenda Trijuncao, located at the intersection of the Minas Gerais, Goias and Bahia states, in Cerrado biome, one of our camera traps recorded three individuals of T. tricinctus chasing a fourth one in an area of savanna woodland. This seems to be the record of multiple males competing for access to a receptive female, as a similar behavior is known to occur in some armadillo species. This is the first video record of the chasing behavior for this species, being an indicative that multiple males physically compete to mate with a single female, benefitting fastest males. Information about in situ reproductive behavior is essential to contribute to the efficient species conservation planning.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2019

Genetic regulators of mineral amount in Nelore cattle muscle predicted by a new co-expression and regulatory impact factor approach

Mineral amount in bovine muscle affect meat quality, growth, health and reproductive traits in beef cattle. To better understand the genetic basis of this phenotype, we implemented new applications of use for two complementary algorithms: the partial correlation and information theory (PCIT) and the regulatory impact factor (RIF), by including GEBVs as part of the input. We used PCIT to determine putative regulatory relationships based on significant associations between gene expression and mineral amount. Then, RIF was used to determine the regulatory impact of genes and miRNA expression over mineral amount. We also investigated over-represented pathways, as well as evidences from previous studies carried in the same population, to determine regulatory genes for mineral amount e.g. NOX1, whose expression was positively correlated to Zn and was described as regulated by this mineral in humans. With this methodology, we were able to identify genes, miRNAs and pathways not yet described as important for mineral amount. The results support the hypothesis that extracellular matrix interactions are the core regulator of mineral amount in muscle cells. Putative regulators described here add information to this hypothesis, expanding the molecular relationships between gene expression and minerals.

genomics↗