O papel dos quintais urbanos na segurança alimentar, bem estar e conservação da biodiversidade

Residential homegardens have environmental and social roles in the urban environment. These green spaces can potentially minimize the impacts caused by the growth of cities, being an alternative to connect fragmented areas or offer refuge to wildlife and therefore support the conservation of biodiversity. In addition, the homegardens demonstrate a leading role in increasing human well-being by promoting socialization opportunities, contact with nature, local culture as well as improvements in food security for the urban families. Nevertheless, it is still unclear what specific characteristics of homegardens can act effectively in the conservation of the biodiversity, as well as in the construction of food security and well being of the homegardeners and their families. The first chapter of this thesis analyzed the diversity of plant species (native and exotic) and assessed the contribution of different types of urban gardens (ornamental and forest gardens alike) in the presence of wildlife such as birds, monkeys and lizards. In the second chapter we evaluated the contribution of those gardens to the welfare and food security of their owners. In order to do this, 41 gardens were visited in Pium, a southern coastal town in the northeastern Brazil, which also happens to be in a periurban region undergoing rapid urban expansion and pressure from the real estate market. We surveyed the planned biodiversity and fauna associated with homegardens. The data related to food security and welfare were sampled through interviews with the person in charge of taking care of the gardens. These interviews covered issues on the supply of food from the garden and absence of chemical products, as well as aspects of the GNH indicator (Gross National Happiness). The results showed that these homegardens generally contribute little to the maintenance of native plant species (native species = 29/ total = 187). From its main features, the gardens were classified as ornamental, forest gardens and forest farms. These groups had a different effect on the presence of the animals studied and the last two contained most of the sampled native species. The diversity of plants and trees was a good predictor of the presence of birds and monkeys. Thus, the contribution of yards for the conservation of biodiversity depends on the type of garden: some even can have negative effects on conservation. These results can direct new approaches to detailed understanding of gardens and also of public policies applied to urban planning. The results of the second chapter showed that the two types of forest gardens contributed to household food security, for providing food and medicinal herbs, which mostly did not have pesticides and chemical 12 fertilizers. But the three groups of gardens are important components for the well being of their stakeholders. Gardens help promote the transmission of knowledge on agriculture, socialization, contact with nature and bring up feelings related to peace and harmony. Thus, forest gardens can be considered important means to get through public projects and policies designed to encourage biodiversity and promote food security and well-being in urban areas

Adaptabilidade de híbridos entre Gossypium barbadense E G. hirsutum N contendo o gene cry1Ac

Hybrids among transgenic plants and related species are expected to occur if they are sympatric and when there are not crossing barriers; as is the case, in Brazil, of cry1Ac transgenic cotton and Gossypium barbadense. This species has been maintained as dooryard plants, and should be preserved as a genetic resource. Hybrids were evaluated about traits related to fitness, leading to infer about its chances of survivor and selection. A barbadense genotype collected at the state of Mato Grosso was outcrossed to the variety DP 404, containing the gene cry1Ac, and to the isoline DP 404. All the F1 individuals and 122 among 170 F2 individuals expressed the toxin, and presented levels of resistance to pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) and cotton leafworm (Alabama argillacea) equivalent to the transgenic parent and superior to the isoline, barbadense or non transgenic hybrids. The percentage of germination and number of days to germinate did not differ among genotypes. Anthesis of the first flower and opening of the first cotton boll occurred earlier for herbaceous cotton and F1 hybrids than F2 population in average; all the populations presented a number of days to flower and opening of the first boll smaller then barbadense. The highest plants were barbadenses, and herbaceus the smallest, with F1 and F2 populations presenting intermediary heights. The number of seeds per plants were superior for F1 hybrids an herbaceous cotton, F2 populations were in average intermediary; the barbadense genotype produced the smallest number of seeds per plant. Pink bollworm, mainly, and also cotton leafworm, are important barbadense pests, so the transgene positive effect could favor the selection of hybrids, and hence G. hirsutum genome, against the maintenance of pure G. barbadense genome. The selection may be influenced by the plant uses: the smaller size of hybrids when compared to the barbadense may lead them to be differentiated from these parents to which medicinal properties are attributed; on the other hand, the greater boll production may favor hybrids maintenance with the purpose of producing lamp wicks, or use as an ornamental or swab

A eliminação do mosquito do dengue em ambientes residenciais: uma questão de cuidado ambiental?

Dengue is currently considered one of the most relevant public health problems worldwide. Studies indicate the surroundings of the houses as the preferred sites for the proliferation of Aedes aegypti. The residential areas are privileged environments for human development and contribute to the formation of the individual s identity and for the establishment of affective, social and cultural bonds. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible links between psychological indicators of pro-environmentalism and conservation status of residential backyards. Data collection was performed in 147 homes and methodological strategy involved the use of interview, the Scale of Ecocentric and Anthropocentric Environmentalism, Scale of Consideration of Future Consequences and a tool for environmental evaluation. It was found that the participants expressed as environmental practices the garbage recycling, besides they had the knowledge of how the transmission of dengue occurs. These residents showed ecofriendly motivated commitment: pro-environmentalist ecocentric and anthropocentric. In evaluating the backyard it was verified that the conservation conditions, in almost half of the homes, appeared as carelessness on the part of residents and those conditions are conducive to the proliferation of Aedes aegypti. The pro-environmentalists and guidance for the future identified by the scales were not associated with the conservation status of the backyards. However, it was found that the trends of reduction and stability of infestation levels are associated with self-reported environmental care. These results can contribute to the discussion and design of new mosquito control actions and practices of education and health information among the population