Morfologia larval e sua importância para a sistemática e taxonomia de anfíbios anuros

Os anfíbios anuros formam um grupo comprovadamente monofilético e apresentam várias características em comum que estão relacionadas, principalmente, a adaptação das espécies à ambientes úmidos, aonde estas se desenvolvem e reproduzem. Apesar da restrição do ambiente de reprodução, as espécies de anfíbios anuros apresentam grande diversidade morfológica, como também a maior diversidade de modos reprodutivos relatados para todos os grupos de tretápodas atuais. O Brasil é o país com maior riqueza de anfíbios anuros com, aproximadamente, 950 espécies descritas até o momento. A maioria das espécies do território brasileiro apresentam uma fase larval que, na maioria dos casos, se desenvolve no ambiente aquático e não apresenta qualquer semelhança com a sua forma adulta, seja na sua morfologia ou no nicho ecológico que ocupa. As larvas de anfíbios anuros são comumente utilizadas em estudos taxonômicos e fornecem informações importantes que auxiliam na classificação das espécies. Além disso, a identificação das espécies baseadas na forma larvária facilitam estudos de ecologia de populações e comunidades, como também, tornam mais precisos inventários faunísticos. Apesar disso, aproximadamente 50% dos girinos das espécies de anuro que ocorrem no território brasileiro não são conhecidas e existem poucos trabalhos com foco na variação dos caracteres larvais ao longo de várias populações, o que dificulta a avaliação da sua utilidade em estudos taxonômicos e pode contribuir, por exemplo, para a existência de espécies crípticas. Além disso, existem poucos trabalhos que descrevem a diversidade morfológica larval com enfoque em regiões específicas e, no Brasil, exsitem, apenas, três chaves de identificação de espécies com base nos caracteres larvais. A falta de descrições afeta diretamente trabalhos sobre anurofauna no país, e dificultam o desenvolvimento de trabalhos experimentais ou de interações ecológicas, por exemplo. Logo, descrições de girinos são necessários para tornar mais completo o conhecimento sobre a anurofauna das espécies que ocorrem no território brasileiro. Com isso, este trabalho teve como objetivo fornecer dados que complementam o conhecimento existente sobre as formas larvais no território brasileiro, com foco na anurofauna da região sudeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Neste trabalho, são descritos os girinos de cinco espécies cuja forma larval ainda não era conhecida, como também, elaboro uma chave de identificação dicotômica baseada em caracteres larvais para a região sudeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte e comento sobre a utilidade dos caracteres larvais para a taxonomia e sistemática dos diversos grupos de anfíbios anuros abordados neste trabalho. Além disso, uma nova espécie do gênero Pseudopaludicola é descrita e os caracteres larvais auxiliaram em sua diagnose e na diferenciação de congeneros. Os resultados gerados aqui poderão ser úteis ou auxiliar em trabalhos futuros que necessitem da identificação das formas larvais de anfíbios anuros, principalmente, no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte.

Elaboração de pós de ferrita de cobalto, CoFe2O4, nanoestruturados e hierarquizados: influência da morfologia sobre a detecção e oxidação catalítica de gases poluentes

This thesis is part of research on new materials for catalysis and gas sensors more active, sensitive, selective. The aim of this thesis was to develop and characterize cobalt ferrite in different morphologies, in order to study their influence on the electrical response and the catalytic activity, and to hierarchize these grains for greater diffusivity of gas in the material. The powders were produced via hydrothermal and solvothermal, and were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (electron diffraction, highresolution simulations), and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The catalytic and electrical properties were tested in the presence of CO and NO2 gases, the latter in different concentrations (1-100 ppm) and at different temperatures (room temperature to 350 ° C). Nanooctahedra with an average size of 20 nm were obtained by hydrothermal route. It has been determined that the shape of the grains is mainly linked to the nature of the precipitating agent and the presence of OH ions in the reaction medium. By solvothermal method CoFe2O4 spherical powders were prepared with grain size of 8 and 20 nm. CoFe2O4 powders exhibit a strong response to small amounts of NO2 (10 ppm to 200 ° C). The nanooctahedra have greater sensitivity than the spherical grains of the same size, and have smaller response time and shorter recovery times. These results were confirmed by modeling the kinetics of response and recovery of the sensor. Initial tests of catalytic activity in the oxidation of CO between temperatures of 100 °C and 350 °C show that the size effect is predominant in relation the effect of the form with respect to the conversion of the reaction. The morphology of the grains influence the rate of reaction. A higher reaction rate is obtained in the presence of nanooctahedra. In order to improve the detection and catalytic properties of the material, we have developed a methodology for hierarchizing grains which involves the use of carbonbased templates.

Sistema de contagem com morfologia matemática fuzzy

Mathematical Morphology presents a systematic approach to extract geometric features of binary images, using morphological operators that transform the original image into another by means of a third image called structuring element and came out in 1960 by researchers Jean Serra and George Matheron. Fuzzy mathematical morphology extends the operators towards grayscale and color images and was initially proposed by Goetherian using fuzzy logic. Using this approach it is possible to make a study of fuzzy connectives, which allows some scope for analysis for the construction of morphological operators and their applicability in image processing. In this paper, we propose the development of morphological operators fuzzy using the R-implications for aid and improve image processing, and then to build a system with these operators to count the spores mycorrhizal fungi and red blood cells. It was used as the hypothetical-deductive methodologies for the part formal and incremental-iterative for the experimental part. These operators were applied in digital and microscopic images. The conjunctions and implications of fuzzy morphology mathematical reasoning will be used in order to choose the best adjunction to be applied depending on the problem being approached, i.e., we will use automorphisms on the implications and observe their influence on segmenting images and then on their processing. In order to validate the developed system, it was applied to counting problems in microscopic images, extending to pathological images. It was noted that for the computation of spores the best operator was the erosion of Gödel. It developed three groups of morphological operators fuzzy, Lukasiewicz, And Godel Goguen that can have a variety applications

Crescimento inicial e morfologia foliar em plantas de Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth. Em função do manejo microbiano, sob estresse salino

The sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.) is an endemic species of the Caatinga biome, considered tolerant to salt and water stress. The process of salinization of soil and groundwater and surface water is one of the most important problems of environmental degradation, with its harmful effects being more pronounced in the areas of arid and semiarid regions, and rapidly growing in many parts of the globe, causing problems of the major crop yield. Organic conditioners as barnyard manure, and rice hulls can contribute to reducing the PST, possibly due to the release of CO2 and the production of organic acids during the decomposition of organic matter, and act as sources of calcium and magnesium and inhibit the availability sodium. The intimate association of mycorrhizae and beneficial to plants results in increased uptake of water and nutrients by plants, especially phosphorus, due to their low mobility in soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial growth of thrush seedlings under inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and fertilized with manure corral and irrigated with water of different salinity levels. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions of vegetation on the premises of the Agricultural School of Jundiaí - UFRN, Campus Macaíba. The adopted statistical design was randomized composed of twelve treatments - three substrates (sterile soil, manure and FMA), four salinity levels (0.2, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 dS m-1 ) and five repetitions, totaling sixty experimental units. The results indicate that inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi own contributions to the growth of plants, especially in roots and shoots, which suggests that its application is beneficial in establishing thrush plants in natural conditions, with poor soil in P. Levels salinity caused no effects with statistical significance in plant development, indicating Sabia resistance to it.

Estratégias tróficas do peixe traíra, Hoplias malabaricus e do peixe cascudo, Hypostomus pusarum do açude Marechal Dutra, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

The fish, Hoplias malabaricus (Osteichthyes: Erythrinidae) and armored catfish, Hypostomus pusarum (Loricariidae) are of freshwater origin from the neotropical region, and are considered ecologically and economically of important. This work investigated the trophic strategies, the morphology and histology of the digestive tract of these fish captured from the Marechal Dutra reservoir, Acari, the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. A total of 133 individuals of H. malabaricus and 118 specimens of H. pusarum were analyzed. The two study species occupy different levels in the food chain and spatial distribution in the water column of the reservoir. The results of this study are presented in the form of four scientific papers. The first article describes the morphology and histology of the digestive tract and the feeding habits of H. malabaricus (Bloch, 1794). This fish has a short intestine, with an intestinal coefficient of 0.72 ± 0.09. The dietary importance index indicates that H. malabaricus feeds preferentially on animal matter, especially on fish (72.8%) and prawns (27.2%). The histology of its digestive tract confirms the carnivorous feeding habit. The second article discusses about the pioneering work on the feeding strategy and the characterization of anatomy and histology of the digestive tract of H. pusarum. The intestine of this fish is long, with an intestinal coefficient of 10.8±0.7. The dietary importance index indicates that H. pusarum feeds preferentially on organic matter in decomposition (88.7%) and on filamentous microalgae and diatoms (11.3%). The third article compares the morphological aspects of the digestive tract of H. malabaricus and H. pusarum, in relation to their food habits. The arrangement of the digestive organs in both species is directly related to the shape of the peritoneal cavity and the form of the body. The short intestine of H. malabaricus and the long intestine of H. pusarum are associated with their feeding habits. The morphology of the digestive tracts of H. malabaricus and H. pusarum confirm their food habits, carnivorous and detritivorous / herbivorous, respectively. The fourth article discusses the food and reproductive aspects (length and weight, length-weight relationship, type of growth and sex ratio) of H. pusarum. This species has a negatively allometric growth, with the predominance of females in the sampled population. H. malabaricus inhabits the pelagic environment and is a carnivore, while H. pusarum, lives in the benthic environment and is characterized as a detritivore/herbivore. Each species studied shows a very different diet, without trophic competition between them. The morphological and anatomical structures of the digestive tract reflect their feeding strategy.

Monitoramento da morfologia costeira em setores da bacia potiguar sob influência da indústria petrolífera utilizando geodésia de alta precisão e laser escâner terrestre

The objective of this Doctoral Thesis was monitoring, in trimestral scale, the coastal morphology of the Northeastern coast sections of Rio Grande do Norte State, in Brazil, which is an area of Potiguar Basin influenced by the oil industry activities. The studied sections compose coastal areas with intense sedimentary erosion and high environmental sensitivity to the oil spill. In order to achieve the general objective of this study, the work has been systematized in four steps. The first one refers to the evaluation of the geomorphological data acquisition methodologies used on Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of sandy beaches. The data has been obtained from Soledade beach, located on the Northeastern coast of Rio Grande Norte. The second step has been centered on the increasing of the reference geodetic infrastructure to accomplish the geodetic survey of the studied area by implanting a station in Corta Cachorro Barrier Island and by conducting monitoring geodetic surveys to understand the beach system based on the Coastline (CL) and on DEM multitemporal analysis. The third phase has been related to the usage of the methodology developed by Santos; Amaro (2011) and Santos et al. (2012) for the surveying, processing, representation, integration and analysis of Coastlines from sandy coast, which have been obtained through geodetic techniques of positioning, morphological change analysis and sediment transport. The fourth stage represents the innovation of surveys in coastal environment by using the Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), based on Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), to evaluate a highly eroded section on Soledade beach where the oil industry structures are located. The evaluation has been achieved through high-precision DEM and accuracy during the modeling of the coast morphology changes. The result analysis of the integrated study about the spatial and temporal interrelations of the intense coastal processes in areas of building cycles and destruction of beaches has allowed identifying the causes and consequences of the intense coastal erosion in exposed beach sections and in barrier islands