Aproxima����es te��ricas sobre a quest��o ambiental internacional na sociedade global: de estocolmo 1972 ao rio de janeiro 2012

O artigo apresenta os principais elementos que comp��em a quest��o ambiental na sociedade global, atrav��s de sua rela����o entre economia, meio ambiente e pol��tica internacional. A primeira parte exp��e o debate ambiental no contexto internacional, enfocando-o a partir dos anos 1960, per��odo em que os problemas ambientais surgem com mais intensidade e com eles os protestos sociais nos pa��ses centrais. Os encontros sobre pol��tica ambiental internacional foram realizados com mais frequ��ncia nos anos setenta como a confer��ncia internacional sobre meio ambiente, a primeira chancelada pela ONU em Estocolmo, 1972. Nas d��cadas de 1970/1980 as autoridades governamentais reconheceram a urg��ncia na resolu����o da crise ambiental e passaram a tra��ar estrat��gias para a mitiga����o e conten����o da crise. A d��cada de 1990 �� marcada pela Confer��ncia Rio 1992, que lan��ou o desenvolvimento sustent��vel, o qual recomenda que as gera����es presentes devem se reproduzir sem comprometer a capacidade de reprodu����o das gera����es futuras. Os encaminhamentos da terceira confer��ncia internacional sobre meio ambiente (Johanesburgo, 2002) condicionaram a quest��o ambiental �� necessidade da formula����o de leis ambientais por parte dos Estados Nacionais e instrumentos econ��micos de gest��o ambiental. Na Rio + 20, o tema central foi a economia verde, que surge como alternativa ao desenvolvimento sustent��vel e se relaciona a mitiga����o das mudan��as clim��ticas, produ����o de baixo carbono, efici��ncia energ��tica, energia renov��vel etc. O texto se encerra explanando sobre a quest��o ambiental internacional na sociedade global.

Aproxima����es te��ricas sobre a quest��o ambiental internacional na sociedade global: de estocolmo 1972 ao rio de janeiro 2012

O artigo apresenta os principais elementos que comp��em a quest��o ambiental na sociedade global, atrav��s de sua rela����o entre economia, meio ambiente e pol��tica internacional. A primeira parte exp��e o debate ambiental no contexto internacional, enfocando-o a partir dos anos 1960, per��odo em que os problemas ambientais surgem com mais intensidade e com eles os protestos sociais nos pa��ses centrais. Os encontros sobre pol��tica ambiental internacional foram realizados com mais frequ��ncia nos anos setenta como a confer��ncia internacional sobre meio ambiente, a primeira chancelada pela ONU em Estocolmo, 1972. Nas d��cadas de 1970/1980 as autoridades governamentais reconheceram a urg��ncia na resolu����o da crise ambiental e passaram a tra��ar estrat��gias para a mitiga����o e conten����o da crise. A d��cada de 1990 �� marcada pela Confer��ncia Rio 1992, que lan��ou o desenvolvimento sustent��vel, o qual recomenda que as gera����es presentes devem se reproduzir sem comprometer a capacidade de reprodu����o das gera����es futuras. Os encaminhamentos da terceira confer��ncia internacional sobre meio ambiente (Johanesburgo, 2002) condicionaram a quest��o ambiental �� necessidade da formula����o de leis ambientais por parte dos Estados Nacionais e instrumentos econ��micos de gest��o ambiental. Na Rio + 20, o tema central foi a economia verde, que surge como alternativa ao desenvolvimento sustent��vel e se relaciona a mitiga����o das mudan��as clim��ticas, produ����o de baixo carbono, efici��ncia energ��tica, energia renov��vel etc. O texto se encerra explanando sobre a quest��o ambiental internacional na sociedade global.

Preval��ncia de sintomas do climat��rio em mulheres dos meios rural e urbano no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

OBJETIVO: avaliar a sintomatologia climat��rica e fatores relacionados entre mulheres dos meios urbano e rural do Rio Grande do Norte. M��TODOS: estudo transversal, descritivo, envolvendo casu��stica de 261 mulheres climat��ricas residentes em Natal e Mossor�� (grupo urbano; n=130) e Urua��u, em S��o Gon��alo do Amarante (grupo rural; n=131). A sintomatologia climat��rica foi avaliada pelo ��ndice Menopausal de Blatt-Kupperman (IMBK) e Escala Climat��rica de Greene (ECG). A an��lise estat��stica constou de compara����es das medianas dos escores entre os grupos e regress��o log��stica. Defi niram-se como ���muito sintom��ticas��� as pacientes com escores ���20, para ambos instrumentos (vari��vel dependente). As vari��veis independentes foram: idade, proced��ncia, alfabetiza����o, obesidade e pr��tica de atividade f��sica. RESULTADOS: o grupo urbano apresentou escores signifi cativamente superiores ao grupo rural, tanto para o IMBK (medianas de 26,0 e 17,0, respectivamente; p<0,0001), quanto para a ECG (medianas de 27,0 e 16,0, respectivamente; p<0,0001). Na amostra total, evidenciou-se que 56,3% (n=147) das mulheres foram classifi cadas como ���muito sintom��ticas���. Na compara����o intergrupos, essa preval��ncia foi signifi cativamente mais elevada nas mulheres urbanas em rela����o ��s rurais (79,2 e 33,6%, respectivamente; p<0,05). Pela an��lise de regress��o log��stica, evidenciou-se que a chance de pertencer ao grupo defi nido como ���muito sintom��ticas��� foi maior para mulheres do meio urbano [odds ratio ajustado (OR)=7,1; 95% intervalo de confi an��a a 95% (IC95%)=3,69-13,66] e alfabetizadas (OR=2,19; IC95%=1,16-4,13). A idade superior a 60 anos associou-se com menor chance de ocorr��ncia de sintomas signifi cativos (OR=0,38; IC95%=0,17-0,87). CONCLUS��ES: a preval��ncia de sintomas climat��ricos signifi cativos �� menor em mulheres do meio rural, demonstrando que fatores socioculturais e ambientais est��o fortemente relacionados ao surgimento dos sintomas climat��ricos em nossa popula����o.___________________________________ABSTRACT PURPOSE: to evaluate climacteric symptoms and related factors in women living in rural and urban areas of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. METHODS: a cross-sectional study involving 261 women in the climacteric was performed. A total of 130 women from Natal and Mossor�� (urban group) and 131 from Urua��u, in S��o Gon��alo do Amarante (rural group), were studied. Climacteric symptoms were assessed by the Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index (BKMI) and Greene Climacteric Scale (GCE). Statistical analysis involved comparison of median between groups and logistic regression analysis. Patients were defi ned as ���very symptomatic��� when the climacteric score was ���20 for both questionnaires (dependent variable). Independent variables were: age, living area, schooling, obesity and physical activity. RESULTS: the urban group had signifi cantly higher scores than those of the rural group, both for BKMI (median of 26.0 and 17.0, respectively; p<0.0001) and for GCE (median of 27.0 and 16.0, respectively; p<0.0001). For the entire sample, a total of 56.3% (n=147) of the women were classifi ed as ���very symptomatic���. This prevalence was signifi cantly higher in urban than in rural women (79.2 and 33.6%, respectively; p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the likelihood of belonging to the group defi ned as ���very symptomatic��� was greater for urban women [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=7.1; confi dence interval at 95% (95%CI)=3.69-13.66] who were literate (OR=2.19; 95%CI=1.16- 4.13). Individuals over the age of 60 years had less chance of having signifi cant symptoms (OR=0.38; 95%CI=0.17-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of signifi cant climacteric symptoms is less in women from a rural environment, showing that sociocultural and environmental factors are strongly related to the appearance of climacteric symptoms in our population

Cr��tica descentrada para o senso comum: amostragem da reflex��o acerca da comunica����o contempor��nea realizada na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Cr��tica descentrada para o senso comum: MUNIZ, Euz��bia Maria de Pontes Targino; DANTAS, Juliana Bulh��es Alberto; ALBANO, Sebasti��o Guilherme (Orgs). Amostragem da reflex��o acerca da comunica����o contempor��nea realizada na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Natal, RN: EDUFRN, 2012.

Achados fundosc��picos em crian��as portadoras de anemia falciforme no estado do Rio Grande do Norte

Detectar os principais achados fundosc��picos em crian��as portadoras de hemoglobinopatias falciformes. M��todos: Foram estudados 26 pacientes com hemoglobinopatias falciformes, no Servi��o de Oftalmologia do Hospital Universit��rio Onofre Lopes, Natal, RN, que foram submetidos a protocolo de pesquisa pr��-estabelecido. Os resultados foram avaliados estatisticamente pelo teste qui-quadrado. Resultados: A idade m��dia foi de 10,6 anos, com acuidade visual igual ou melhor que 20/25 na maioria, excetuando-se 3 olhos, que apresentavam outras doen��as associadas. O tipo mais freq��ente foi o SS com 57,7% (15/26) dos casos, seguido pelos SC e SA com 15,4% (4/26) cada, e pelo S-Thal com 11,5% (3/26). A freq����ncia da retinopatia por c��lulas falciformes foi maior ap��s os 10 anos de idade, sendo mais freq��ente, em valores relativos, no tipo S-Thal (100% dos casos) e, em valores absolutos, no tipo SS (9 casos). Os dois achados mais comuns foram tortuosidade venosa (12/26) e ���black sunburst��� (7/26). Conclus��es: Observamos que a incid��ncia de retinopatia por c��lulas falciformes aumentou ap��s os 10 anos de idade e n��o evidenciamos achados da doen��a proliferativa. Portanto, enfatizamos a necessidade do exame oftalmol��gico precoce nos portadores de anemia falciforme, como forma de prevenir futuras complica����es oculares

Cultura e clima organizacionais: um estudo multicasos em ind��strias de latic��nios do estado do Rio Grande do Norte

The objective of this study is to investigate if exist relationship between organizational culture and the organizational climate, having as research s locus three dairy industries in the Rio Grande do Norte State. As such, an exploratory-descriptive and conclusive-causal study, with a sample composed of 211 employees of all firms hierarchical levels was undertaken. By way the data collection, the employees personal characteristics, the predominant organizational culture profile and the predominant organizational climate in the industries researched were identified. In order to analyse the organizational culture, the Competing Value Model (CAMERON; QUINN, 2006), with adaptations by Santos (1998, 2000), was used. In order to analyse the organizational climate, the Organizational Climate Measurement Scale, proposed by Martins (et al., 2004, 2008), with modifications, was used. The data were submitted to quantitative statistical analyses, firstly to the set of firms and afterwards to the firms alone, that permitted arrival to the following conclusions: the cultural profiles was met in a balanced way in the researched organizations, with emphasis to clan culture and market culture profiles; the researched organizations have a good organizational climate, based in the Martins (2008) classification, with emphasis to boss and organization s support and physical comfort , being these factors coherent whit the clan culture profile; the personal variables are correlated with the cultural profiles and with the organizational climate factors, however, each organization show its singular form of relation; and the cultural profiles showed influence on organizational climate factors. Thus, the results permitted to conclude that there are relations between the cultural profiles and the organizational climate factors in the researched organizations

Maturidade de escrit��rio de gerenciamento de projetos: o caso do Minist��rio P��blico do Rio Grande do Norte

The research aimed to evaluate the level of maturity of the project management office of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, on the model PMO Maturity Cube. It was based on a theoretical framework that includes project management, project management office and maturity of the project management office. The research was classified as to the purpose as exploratory and descriptive. According to the methods used was a case study, and how to approach is qualitative and quantitative. The research unit was the prosecutor of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, by two guys who represent all of the participants in the project management office of the institution. These subjects were chosen because they act with the office since the foundation of the same, having the knowledge necessary to deepen the research required, and experience with projects and work experience in the area. Data were collected through an adaptation of the evaluation form for the amplitude corporate developed and presented to the scientific environment for Pinto, Cota and Levin (2010). The results revealed that the level of maturity in the current strategic approach is 77%, and 97% desired; tactical approach in current is 66% and 97% desired, and the current operational approach is 78%, and 100% desired. He pointed out that several factors influence the level of maturity of the project management office of the Public Prosecutor and the recurrent related to information technology, regarding the storage and sharing of information. Concluded that the level of maturity of the project management office of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio Grande do Norte is advanced

Abund��ncia das formas imaturas de Psaroniocompsa incrustata ( Lutz, 1910) (Diptera: Simuliidae) em um criadouro natural no rio Pium/RN, e sua fauna associada

The species psaroniocompsa incrustata (Lutz, 1910) was studied in relation to its abundance in different and seasonal periods, the physico-chemical of the breending ground and the fauna predation added to the immature of the species. The study was developed during eight months, from April to July, 2005 (rainy season) and from October, 2005 to January, 2006 (drought season), in one natural breending ground situated in the Pium river, that is part of the hydrographical basin of the Pirangi river in Rio Grande do Norte. The immature of Simuliidae were collected manually in vegetal substrate. At the same place, it was made one sampling of the associated fauna using Suber collectors and the measurement of the environment variants. It was also made one analysis of the stomach content of possible enemies of the simul��deos, to observe the predation of the associated fauna. It was collected 7.713 samples, all from de species P. Incrustata, it was observed a bigger abundance in the drought season, and the entomologic fauna associated totalizing 20.1314 species, distributed in the kinds: Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera, e Hemiptera, with a bigger representativity of Dipteros. The analysis of the stomach content of the species from the families Libellulidae and Hydropsychidae showed the presence of the simul��deos in only 4% of the material analysed, therefore it was not confirmed the presence of one efficient biological control of the simul��deos in this breending ground

Potencialidades de cultivo de macroalgas no litoral do Rio Grande do Norte (NE, Brasil): uma perspectiva de integra����o de dados ambientais em sistemas de informa����o geogr��fica (SIG)

Since centuries ago, the Asians use seaweed as an important source of feeding and are their greatest world-wide consumers. The migration of these peoples for other countries, made the demand for seaweed to increase. This increasing demand prompted an industry with annual values of around US$ 6 billion. The algal biomass used for the industry is collected in natural reservoirs or cultivated. The market necessity for products of the seaweed base promotes an unsustainable exploration of the natural banks, compromising its associated biological balance. In this context, seaweed culture appears as a viable alternative to prevent the depletion of these natural supplies. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide space and produce information that can facilitate the evaluation of important physical and socio-economic characteristics for the planning of seaweed culture. This objective of this study is to identify potential coastal areas for seaweed culture in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, from the integration of social-environmental data in the SIG. In order to achieve this objective, a geo-referred database composed of geographical maps, nautical maps and orbital digital images was assembled; and a bank of attributes including physical and oceanographical variables (winds, chains, bathymetry, operational distance from the culture) and social and environmental factors (main income, experience with seaweed harvesting, demographic density, proximity of the sheltered coast and distance of the banks) was produced. In the modeling of the data, the integration of the space database with the bank of attributes for the attainment of the map of potentiality of seaweed culture was carried out. Of a total of 2,011 ha analyzed by the GIS for the culture of seaweed, around 34% or 682 ha were indicated as high potential, 55% or 1,101 ha as medium potential, and 11% or 228 ha as low potential. The good indices of potentiality obtained in the localities studied demonstrate that there are adequate conditions for the installation of seaweed culture in the state of Rio Grande do Norte

Estudo sobre a participa����o de rodedores na cadeia de transmiss��o de Leishmania infantum (Protozoa: Trypanosomatidae) no Rio Grande do Norte

American visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis caused by Leishmania infantum and transmitted by the bite of the sand flies Lutzomia longipalpis.The main domestic reservoir is the dog, while foxes and opposums are the known wild reservoirs. However, identification of natural infections with L. infantum in rodents appears for need of investigating the participation of these rodents how source of infection of the parasite. In the present work the Leishmania infantum infection was investigated in rodents captured in Rio Grande do Norte, aiming at to offer subsidies to the understanding of the epidemic chains of LVA in the State. Thirteen Galea spixii were distributed in four groups, being G1 the group control with four animals and the others, G2, G3 and G4, with three animals each. Those animals were intraperitoneally inoculated with 107 promastigotas of L. infantum and accompanied for, respectively, 30, 90 and 180 days. Weekly the animals were monitored as for the corporal weight and rectal temperature. At the end of each stipulated period the animals were killed. Blood were used for determination of the parameters biochemical and haematological, PCR, ELISA, microscopic examination and cultivation in NNN medium. Liver, spleen and lymph node were used in Giemsa-stained impression and cultivation in NNN medium. Liver and spleen fragments were still used in PCR and histopathological, respectively. At the same time 79 rodents of the species Rattus rattus, Bolomys lasiurus, Oligoryzomys nigripis, Oryzomys subflavus and Trichomys apereoides were captured in the Municipal districts of Brejinho, Campo Grande, Coronel Ezequiel, Passa e Fica and V��zea for identification of natural infection with L. infantum. Evidence of infection was checked by direct examination of Giemsa-stained impression of liver, spleen and blood and culture of these tissues in NNN medium. Antibodies were researched by ELISA. They were not found differences among the weigh corporal final, rectal temperature and biochemical and haematological parameters of the Galea spixii controls and infected. The rectal temperature of the animals varied from 36OC to 40OC. For the first time values of the haematocrit (33,6% to 42,8%), hemoglobin (10,2 to 14,5g/dl), erythrocyts number (4,67x106 to 6,90x106/mm3), total leukocytes (0,9x103 to 9,2x103/mm3), platelets (49x103 to 509x103/mm3) total proteins (1,56 to 6,06 g/dl), albumin (1,34 to 3,05 g/dl) and globulins (0,20 to 3,01 g/dl) of the Galea spixii were determined. The lymphocytes were the most abundant leucocytes. Infection for L. infantum was diagnosed in two animals euthanasied 180 days after the infection. In one of the animals was also identified antibodies anti-Leishmania. The parasite was not found in none of the five other species of rodents captured. Galea spixii are resistant to the infection for L. infantum and they are not good models for the study for visceral leishmaniose, although they can act as infection sources. More studies are necessary to determine the paper of the rodents in the epidemic chain of transmission of the visceral leishmaniose in the State of Rio Grande do Norte

An��lise da contribui����o de fatores gen��ticos e ambientais na manuten����o da hanseniase nos estados do Rio Grande do Norte e Par��

Coordena����o de Aperfei��oamento de Pessoal de N��vel Superior

Caracteriza����o de comp��sitos Nb-20%cu obtidos por moagem de alta energia e sinterizados por fase l��quida

In this work, was studied the formation of a composite of the refractory metal niobium with copper, through the process of high-energy milling and liquid phase sintering. The HEM can be used to synthesize composite powders with high homogeneity and fine size particle distribution. It may also produce the solid solubility in immiscible systems such as Nb-Cu, or extend the solubility of systems with limited solubility. Therefore, in the immiscible system Cu-Nb, the high-energy milling was successfully used to obtain the composite powder particles. Initially, the formation of composite particles during the HEM and the effect of preparation technique on the microstructure of the material was evaluated. Four loads of Nb and Cu powders containing 20%wt Cu were synthesized by MAE in a planetary type ball mill under different periods of grinding. The influence of grinding time on the metal particles is evaluated during the process by the withdrawal of samples at intermediate times of milling. After compaction under different forces, the samples were sintered in a vacuum furnace. The liquid phase sintering of these samples prepared by HEM produced a homogeneous and fine grained. The composite particles forming the sintered samples are the addition of a hard phase (Nb) with a high melting point, and a ductile phase (Cu) with low melting point and high thermal and electrical conductivities. Based on these properties, the Nb-Cu system is a potential material for many applications, such as electrical contacts, welding electrodes, coils for generating high magnetic fields, heat sinks and microwave absorbers, which are coupled to electronic devices. The characterization techniques used in this study, were laser granulometry, used to evaluate the homogeneity and particle size, and the X-ray diffraction, in the phase identification and to analyze the crystalline structure of the powders during milling. The morphology and dispersion of the phases in the composite powder particles, as well the microstructures of the sintered samples, were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Subsequently, the sintered samples are evaluated for density and densification. And finally, they were characterized by techniques of measuring the electrical conductivity and microhardness, whose properties are analyzed as a function of the parameters for obtaining the composite

Estudo da adi����o do res��duo proveniente da extra����o de min��rio de ferro em argilas do Rio Grande do Norte

The mining industry is responsible for the generation of waste from their natural process of extraction. The mining impacts in urban areas are of special importance due to the high urban occupation, which are exacerbated due to the proximity of the mined areas and populated areas. Some solutions to wastedisposal have the potential to significantly reduce the environmental risks and liabilities, but represent higher costs in the stages of deployment and operation. The addition of mining waste as raw material in the development of commercial products reduces the environmental impacts, transforming the waste into a positive element in the generation of employment and income. This thesis studies the incorporation of waste iron ore in two clays, one from the ceramic industry of the City of Natal and the other from the ceramic industry of the Serid�� Region, both in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Percentages of iron ore waste of 5%, 10% , 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% were used in the tested ceramic matrix. The two clays and the iron ore waste used as part of this investigation were characterized by X-ray diffraction tests, X-ray fluorescence tests, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and dilatometric analysis. The samples were sintered under temperatures of 850 ��C, 950 ��C and 1050��C at a heating rate of 5 ��C/min with isotherms of two hours. The following tests were performed with the samples: linear shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent density, mass loss in fire and bending resistance in order to obtain their physical and mechanical properties. An amount of 5% of waste iron ore in the matrix clay at a temperature of 850 0C resulted in na increase of about 65% in the tensile strength of the clay samples from the Natal ceramic industry. A linear shrinkage of only 0.12% was observed for the samples, which indicates that the physical properties of the final product were not influenced by the addition of the waste

Aspectos da biologia reprodutiva de Eretmochelys imbricata (testudines, cheloniidae) no litoral sul do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Female hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting along the southeastcoastline of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil (6��13'40"S, 35��03'05"W) were captured and weighed during the four months from January to April 2007, in the course of the annual egglaying season, which extended from 06 rd November 2006 to 30 rd May 2007. In all, 99 weight measurements were performed. On first contact the females exhibited an average post-oviposition weight of 79.1 kg (range 56.2-98.9 kg, SD = 10.9 kg, n = 44 females). Those individuals which were subsequently recaptured showed a mean weight loss of 1.7 kg (range 0.7-4.5 kg, SD = 1.0 kg, n = 39 sets of measurements on 20 females) in the interval between two consecutive post-ovipositions, separated by a maximum time interval of 17 days. In the cases where the female aborted the nesting process, the pre-oviposition weight was measured. The clutch weight, that is to say, the weight loss between consecutive pre-oviposition and post-oviposition measurements (separated by a maximum time interval of 3 days), was found to be 5.2 kg (range 4.3-6.0 kg, SD = 0.9 kg, n = 6 sets of measurements). This value is significantly higher (t-test, p<0.001) than the loss between two consecutive post-oviposition measurements with the same female. The mean recovery in body weight, that is to say, the average gain in weight between successive post-oviposition and pre-oviposition captures of the same individual (separated by a time interval of 12 to 17 days), was found to be 3.0 kg (range 1.9-4.3 kg, SD = 1.0 kg, n = 4 sets of measurements) Although the small sample size makes it unwise to generalise, the recovery in body weight was found to be always significantly lower (t-test, p<0.005) than the clutch weight. This fact is in agreement with the observed weight loss tendency throughout the breeding season for this species. Considering the clutch weight and the internidal recovery in body weight we found that the total weight loss of the adult hawksbill females after three to five nesting events varied from 10.4% (range 8.7-11.9%, SD = 1.6%, n = 3) to 14.1% (range 11.8-15.4%, SD = 1.3%, n = 6) in relation to their initial pre-oviposition weight. If there were no body weight recovery during the internesting interval we estimate that a female that nests three to five times in the course of the season would lose from 19% to 31% of its initial weight. We emphasise that our clutch weight estimate was performed by weighing the females and not by multiplying the number of eggs in the nest by their average unit weight. In this way, our measurements take into account the loss of liquid during the oviposition. Despite the unequivocal evidence of body weight recovery during the internidal interval, it is not clear if the cause of this process is rehydration or feeding

Flebotom��neos (Diptera: Psychodidae) em um sistema agroflorestal da Regi��o Metropolitana de Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Sandflies stand out as important vectors of leishmaniasis. The females need to ingest blood meals, enabling them to transmit protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which may give rise to visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), in addition to transmitting other parasites. Leishmaniasis are important infirmities, distributed worldwide, whose infection results from the interaction of reservoir animals, the vector insect, parasitic protozoa and the healthy host. In the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, these insects are important transmitters of VL, which usually presents in the most serious form. It occurs mainly in metropolitan areas, with the dog as its main reservoir and Lutzomyia longipalpis as the vector. ATL is most present in the highland areas of the state. In addition to hematophagia, engaged in by the females, both sexes need to ingest carbohydrates, which are essential to the sand flies energy requirements and may interfere in the development of Leishmania. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and abundance of sand flies in different environments on the farm belonging to the Empresa de Pesquisas Agropecu��rias do RN (Institute of Agricultural Research of RN), in the municipality of Parnamirim, in order to relate this occurrence with climatological and biological references and eating habits. Three consecutive monthly collections were carried out with CDC traps in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest, in a residence, on a goat breeding farm and on cashew, dwarf and giant coconut, mango, banana, eucalyptus, acacia and bean plantations. A total of 1241 sandflies from eight species (Lutzomyia evandroi, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lutzomyia shannoni, Lutzomyia sordellii Lutzomyia walkeri, Lutzomyia wellcomei, Lutzomyia whitmani, and Lutzomyia intermedia) were collected, most in the forest environment. L. longipalpis, the main VL transmitter, was confirmed as a species adapted to anthropic environments, whereas others such as L. wellcomei, the vector of ATL, occurred predominantly in forests. Carbohydrate characterization of the sand flies and plants of the region demonstrated that a number of exotic plants such as hay and eucalyptus may play some role in the adaptation of these species to modified environments. Breeding in laboratory showed a mean biological cycle of 53.5 days from egg to adulthood for L. shannoni and the possibility of diapause behavior in L. wellcomei. This study serves as a source of information that may contribute to the epidemiological vigilance of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis in the state, given that it analyzes the bioecology of transmitting species, as well as their potential to adapt to new environments