The dietary composition of the semiferal cattle population in the Alberes Natural Park in northeastern Spain was determined four times per year, from June 2002 to February 2004, by microhistological analysis of a total of 120 fecal samples. Woody species, mainly the Quercus and Erica genera, formed the bulk of the diet, reaching 89% of it in winter. However, in spring and summer, the proportion of woody and herbaceous species varied between samples, depending on the habitat where they were collected. The forest samples contained 67% woody species in summer, whereas grassland samples only contained 44%. The results showed that the Alberes cattle population grazed actively in Mediterranean forests and consumed a high proportion of the most combustible species, such as the Erica genus (39% of the epidermal fragments in winter samples). Even when grassland habitat was utilized, in spring and summer, one-third of the diet was from woody species. Some bovines, such as the Alberes cattle breed, can therefore survive year-round in a forest habitat with little forage supplementation, and the consumption of a predominantly woody diet would be expected to reduce forest fire hazards. Resumen En este trabajo se determinó la composición anual de la dieta de una población semi-salvaje que habita el Parque Natural de la Albera (Paratge Natural d'Interè s Nacional de l'Albera) en el NE de Españ a. El estudio se llevó a cabo desde Junio de 2002 hasta Junio de 2004, a partir del análisis del contenido de 120 muestras fecales. Las especies leñ osas, principalmente de los géneros Quercus y Erica constituyeron la mayor parte de la dieta, alcanzando el 89% de la misma en invierno. Sin embargo, en primavera y verano la proporción de especies leñ osas y herbáceas fue diferente según el hábitat donde se recogieron las muestras. Las muestras recogidas en los bosques tuvieron el 67% de especies leñ osas en verano mientras que las recogidas en los pastizales solamente un 44%. Los resultados muestran que la población de ganado Alberes pastorea activamente en los bosques Mediterráneos y consume altas proporciones (39% de los fragmentos epide´rmicos en las muestras de invierno) del ge´nero Erica, cuyas especies son altamente combustibles. Se concluye que algunos bovinos, como la raza Alberes, pueden sobrevivir a lo largo del añ o en ambientes forestales, con escasa suplementación de alimento y que además el hecho de mantener una dieta predominantemente leñ osa podría contribuir a reducir el riesgo de incendio forestal.

Three copper(ii) coordination compounds have been prepared from three different 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-based ligands, which have been selected to investigate the potential role of supramolecular interactions on the DNA-interacting and cytotoxicity properties of the corresponding metal complexes. Hence, the ligands 4'-((naphthalen-2-yl)methoxy)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine () and 4'-((1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methoxy)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine () have been synthesized from commercially-available 4'-chloro-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (), and their copper(ii) complexes have been obtained by reaction with copper(ii) nitrate. The DNA-interacting abilities of the corresponding compounds [Cu()(H2O)(NO3)2] (), [Cu()(NO3)(H2O)](NO3)(MeOH) () and [Cu()(NO3)(H2O)](NO3) () have been investigated using different techniques, and cytotoxicity assays with several cancer cell lines have revealed interesting features, viz. the more efficient complex is , which although it does not act as a DNA cleaver, displays the most effective DNA-interacting and cytotoxic properties, compared to and .

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Five copper complexes supported by terpyridine ligands were prepared and characterized, viz. 4) and [Cu(Cltpy)2](ClO4)2 ( 5); (where Naphtpy stands for 4'-((naphthalen-2-yl)methoxy)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine and Cltpy for 4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine). Their DNA-interaction abilities were investigated, and their cytotoxic behaviors were examined with three cells lines, namely with human ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780) and its derived cisplatin-resistant line (A2780cis), and human cervix adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa). All compounds show good cytotoxic properties (especially after 72 h incubation). Remarkably, two compounds, i.e. 4 and 5, are almost inactive after 24 h (particularly 4), but are highly active after 72 h, with IC50 values in the low micromolar to submicromolar range. Compounds 1 and 2 induce necrosis, whereas late apoptosis is observed with 3−5, 4 exhibiting a behaviour close to that of cisplatin. Results and Discussion Preparation of the copper complexesReaction of Naphtpy with 1.5 equiv. of CuCl2•2H2O in methanol at 40 ºC produces the mixed-valence Cu I Cu II compound [a]

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