Yeasts and filamentous fungi carried by the gynes of leaf-cutting ants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Alterations following a fire in a forest community of Alto Rio Xingu

This study records the consequences of fire upon the soil and structure of the Amazonian Forest of Gaucha do Norte, Mato Grosso state, Brazil (13degrees12'S and 53degrees20'W). For this, the number of individuals sampled in 1 ha of the forest, during a phytosociological survey completed 2 days before the accidental fire, was compared with the survivors recorded afterwards in the reinventory of the area taken 2 days and 10 months after the fire. For the surveys, the area of 1 ha was subdivided into 50 plots of 10 m x 20 m, and all the individuals with circumference at breast height (CBH) greater than or equal to 15 cm were sampled. Chemical analysis of the 30 soil samples collected 2 days before the fire were compared with those obtained 15 days and 1 year after the fire. It was seen that, soon after the fire, there was a significant increase in the nutrient levels in the soil, an increase in the pH and a decrease in the aluminum toxicity. However, after 1 year, losses by lixiviation resulted in a nutrient reserve in the soil of less than that before the fire. The tree mortality was extremely high (23.98%), particularly amongst the younger individuals of the population (93.68% of the total of deaths in the period). There was no significant reduction in the forest richness analyzed: 60% of the species had reduced populations after the fire, but just four species were locally extinct. Results, however, demonstrated a role for fire in the selection of resistant species or those adapted to fires, since some species demonstrated a greater tolerance to the fire than others. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of the surface treatment of plain carbon fiber posts on the retention of the composite core: an in vitro evaluation

Foi avaliado o possível efeito de tratamentos superficiais em pinos de fibra de carbono lisos, quando comparados aos pinos serrilhados, na retenção à resina composta empregada na confecção de núcleos de preenchimento. Foram utilizados cinqüenta pinos de fibra de carbono, divididos em cinco grupos: os quatro primeiros grupos eram constituídos por pinos do tipo liso, cujas superfícies foram tratadas, e o último grupo por dez pinos do tipo serrilhado. Foram desenvolvidas matrizes de resina acrílica com um leito ajustado para conter o pino, com um alargamento na porção coronária para posterior preenchimento com resina composta. Após o tratamento superficial, todos os pinos receberam camadas de primer, foram secos e então ajustados à matriz de resina, colocando-se a resina composta autopolimerizável na porção coronária para um núcleo de preenchimento de 3 mm. As amostras foram submetidas a termociclagem e armazenadas em água destilada por uma semana. Os espécimes foram testados por meio de ensaios mecânicos de tração, à velocidade de 0,5 mm/min, até o deslocamento do conjunto ou a fratura da resina do núcleo. As conclusões foram as seguintes: a) o tratamento superficial nos grupos tratados por meio de jateamento (Grupo A), pontas diamantadas marcadoras de profundidade para facetas laminadas (Grupo C) e alteração da morfologia da extremidade coronária (Grupo D) conferiu aos pinos lisos valores de retenção comparáveis aos dos pinos serrilhados (Grupo E) nos ensaios de tração, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significativa entre estes grupos; b) os pinos tratados por meio de pontas diamantadas de granulação média (Grupo B) obtiveram valores de retenção menores que os demais grupos.

Deciphering the weathering processes using environmental mineralogy and geochemistry: Towards an integrated model of laterite and podzol genesis in the Upper Amazon Basin

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ocorrência de Atelocynus microtis (Sclater, 1882) na Floresta Nacional do Jamari, estado de Rondônia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fenologia de espécies arbóreas em floresta de planície litorânea do sudeste do Brasil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fenologia de Rubiaceae do sub-bosque em floresta Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estrutura de um trecho de floresta Amazônica na bacia do alto rio Xingu

Este estudo apresenta a estrutura de florestas em Gaúcha do Norte-MT (13° 10'S e 53° 15' O), na borda sul-amazônica. Para o levantamento fitossociológico, três áreas amostrais de 1ha foram subdivididas em 50 parcelas de 10x20m, nas quais foram amostrados todos os indivíduos com perímetro à altura do peito (PAP) >15 cm. Para verificar a similaridade estrutural entre as áreas utilizou-se a Análise de Correspondência. As espécies indicadoras dos ambientes de interflúvio e das áreas sujeitas à inundação foram obtidas através do TWINSPAN e de um sistema de pesos. Concluiu-se que as florestas presentes na bacia do rio Pacuneiro pertencem à mesma unidade fitogeográfica, mas com subtipos florísticos e estruturais de acordo com a posição no relevo, a proximidade dos cursos d'água e o estrato analisado, apresentando predominância de algumas espécies, ou até mesmo possíveis endemismos, em determinados trechos ou estratos. A formação apresentou baixa diversidade alfa (2,91 a 3,50) e beta (3,62 a 3,86), o que não é comum em florestas amazônicas. Várias hipóteses podem explicar essa baixa diversidade, entre elas a baixa precipitação e a alta sazonalidade, o ambiente físico regional aparentemente homogêneo e favorável às espécies competidoras, ou os eventos históricos, relacionados à possível exploração por tribos indígenas ou à recente expansão dessas florestas sobre as áreas savânicas.

Classificação fitogeográfica das florestas do Alto Rio Xingu

Este trabalho propõe a inclusão da categoria Floresta Estacional Perenifólia no sistema oficial de classificação da vegetação brasileira, devido às particularidades florísticas e fisionômicas da floresta da borda sul-amazônica, que atinge maior amplitude geográfica na região do Alto Rio Xingu. Para justificar essa inclusão são apresentadas as características ambientais (clima, solo, hidrologia) e diferenças fisionômicas e florísticas entre as florestas do Alto Xingu e demais florestas ombrófilas da Bacia do Amazonas e estacionais do Planalto Central.

Podzolization as a deferralitization process: a study of an Acrisol-Podzol sequence derived from Palaeozoic sandstones in the northern upper Amazon Basin

Morphological, geochemical and mineralogical studies were carried out in a representative soil catena of the low-elevation plateaux of the upper Amazon Basin to interpret the steps and mechanisms involved in the podzolization of low-activity clay soils. The soils are derived from Palaeozoic sandstones. They consist of Hydromorphic Podzols under tree savannah in the depressions of the plateaux and predominantly of Acrisols covered by evergreen forest elsewhere.Incipient podzolization in the uppermost Acrisols is related to the formation of organic-rich A and Bhs horizons slightly depleted in fine-size particles by both mechanical particle transfer and weathering. Weathering of secondary minerals by organic acids and formation of organo-metallic complexes act simultaneously over short distances. Their vertical transfer is limited. Selective dissolution of aluminous goethite, then gibbsite and finally kaolinite favour the preferential cheluviation of first Fe and secondly Al. The relatively small amount of organo-metallic complexes produced is related to the quartzitic parent materials, and the predominance of Al over Fe in the spodic horizons is due to the importance of gibbsite in these low-activity clay soils.Morphologically well-expressed podzols occur in strongly iron-depleted topsoils of the depression. Mechanical transfer and weathering of gibbsite and kaolinite by organic acids is enhanced and leads to residual accumulation of sands. Organo-metallic complexes are translocated in strongly permeable sandy horizons and impregnate at depth the macro-voids of embedded soil and saprolite materials to form the spodic Bs and 2BCs horizons. Mechanical transfer of black particulate organic compounds devoid of metals has occurred later within the sandy horizons of the podzols. Their vertical transfer has formed well-differentiated A and Bh horizons. Their lateral removal by groundwater favours the development of an albic E horizon. In an open and waterlogged environment, the general trend is therefore towards the removal of all the metals that have initially accumulated as a response to the ferralitization process and have temporarily been sequestrated in organic complexes in previous stages of soil podzolization.

Dinâmica espaço-temporal de taxocenoses de crisopídeos (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) em ecossistemas naturais

In order to study the interactions of green lacewings toxocenosis on natural ecossystems, samplings were carried out in the Parque Ecologic Quedas do Rio Bonito, located in Lavras, Alto Rio Grande region, South of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The species inventory was accomplished in two vegetation types: semi-evergreen forest and open field formations, including areas of montane grassland, rocky montane grassland and "cerrado". Insects were captured with a butterfly net during 2h, walking through each vegetation formation. Sampling resulted in 1,948 specimens belonging to 30 species, of which 14 were Chrysopini and 16 Leucochrysini. Representatives of these tribes were observed both in forest and in open field formations. Species of the genera Ceraeochrysa, Chrysoperla, Chrysopodes, Plesiochrysa and Leucochrysa were found in forests and in open field formations, except for Plesiochrysa. The highest richness and diversity of species were observed in the forest. The similarity index among the communities of green lacewings in the studied areas was 27%.

Bat community in a cave from eastern Brazil, including a new record of Lionycteris (Phyllostomidae, Glossophaginae)

A cave bat community from a semiarid region in eastern Brazil was studied during the dry season. A high diversity was observed, with thirteen species recorded. Except for Micronycteris minuta and Lionycteris spurrelli, these bats were also found in other Brazilian karstic areas. The commonest species were the hematophague Desmodus rotundus, the omnivore Carollia perspicillata, and the insectivore Natalus stramineus. The bats formed itinerant colonies, moving frequently inside the cave. L. spurrelli was previously known from Amazonia, usually associated with evergreen forests. The present record extends its range 1600 km to the south. A disjunct distribution explains some morphological differentiation between Amazonia and Olhos d'Agua cave populations. The latter may be a relict of former continuous forest vegetation, which has been fragmented after the climatic optimum. Dispersion through the Cerrado forest gallery is also possible.

Comportamento fisiológico e morfológico de clones de Eucalyptus urograndis submetidos a diferentes níveis de água no solo

The present study had as its objective the assessment of the possible effects of hydric stress on the growth, physiological characteristics of two different genetic materials from Eucalyptus urograndis. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas of UNESP, campus Botucatu from March to July, 2005. The hydric management was established based on the soil water potential. Two water levels were established, doing the evapotranspired water replacement by pot weighing. Two clones were used, Eucalyptus urograndis 105 and 433, being the first one more resistant to the hydric deficit and the 433 more sensitive to stress. The study was made from a 2×2 factorial (two levels of water × two genetic materials). For the hydric management, the plants were irrigated when they reached a soil water potential of -0.03 MPa or -1.5 MPa. The assessments made were: diffusive water vapor of stomato, transpiration, leaf temperature and leaf water potential. The physiological evaluations throughout the day, in the end of the experiment. Treatments without hydric stress had a higher performance in all studied characteristics, but the clones had no influence. The stomatic resistance followed the potentials, showing higher values in the treatments submitted to hydric deficiency, more intensely for clone 433, being that this also happened with the leaf water potential. The transpiration also followed the leaf water potential and the stomatic resistance more intensely for clone 105 both comparing stressed plants and non-stressed plants. Consequently, the leaf temperatures had higher values for clone 433 on the stressed treatment. Thus, it can be concluded that there was a better performance in plants kept on a soil water potential of -0.03 MPa and a higher resistance to hydric stress for clone 105.

Influência da posição diametral das tábuas e da vaporização nos defeitos de secagem de Eucalyptus grandis

This study evaluated the Eucalyptus grandis drying defects acting on boards diametrical position and on log steaming. Half of the logs, with diameter from 20 to <25, 25 to <30 and 30 to <35cm, were steamed during 20 hours at 90°C of temperature. Subsequently, the logs (control and steamed) were sawn. The boards were dried in the dry-kiln pilot and the resulting defects from the drying process were measured. The results indicate that: (1) the boards coming from control logs presented different magnitude defects in function of the diametrical position. The split and spring to increase in direction to pith, the bow to increase in direction to bark and cupping were bigger in intermediary boards; (2) the boards coming from steamed logs presented a reduction from drying defects in function of logs diameter and its more homogeneous index in the pith-bark direction.

Influence of the construction bite vertical and horizontal dimensions on dentoskeletal structures induced by the Klammt appliance in Class II treatment

Aim: To evaluate the influence of construction bite in the dentoskeletal changes induced by Klammt Appliance. Methods: The sample consisted of 17 children, with Class II malocclusion and initial mean age of 8.5 years. The construction bite was obtained using an Exactobite on edge-toedge anteroposterior relationship with 3 mm interincisal clearance. The height of the acrylic was determined by initial overbite associated to interincisal clearance and measured with digital caliper. The amount of advancement was obtained and measured by initial overjet in the lateral radiography. Pearson's correlation, linear regression and ANOVA were used to determine the relationship between dentoskeletal and construction bite variables. Results: The increase in the height of the acrylic promotes a greater inhibition of the forward displacement of the nasal spine and reduction in the facial growth index. The increase in the mandibular advancement induces more downward displacement of nasal spine and pogonion; a counter-clockwise rotation of palatine plane; an increase in mandibular length, maxillary alveolar height and interincisal angle; a decrease in mandibular alveolar height, the intermaxillary discrepancy and overjet; and palatal tipping of upper incisors. Conclusions: The different dimensions of the construction bite influence the dentoskeletal changes induced by the appliance in Class II treatment.