Ocurrence of male morphotypes of Macrobrachium amazonicum (Caridea, Palaemonidae) in a population with an entirely freshwater life cycle

This study records, for the first time, the occurrence of all four male morphotypes in a population of Macrobrachium amazonicum from a continental environment, with an entirely freshwater life cycle. The specimens studied came from the Tietê River, state of São Paulo, Brazil, and were collected in a lotic environment downstream from Ibitinga Dam. This population was compared with other continental populations, including a population from the dam itself, collected in a previous study. Four samples of 30 minutes were taken monthly, using a trap, from January to April 2011. Each male specimen was measured with respect to seven body dimensions as follows: carapace length (CL), right cheliped length (RCL), dactyl length (DCL), propodus length (PPL), carpus length (CRL), merus length (ML) and ischium length (IL). The relative growth was analyzed based on the change in growth patterns of certain body parts in relation to the independent variable CL. The four male morphotypes proposed for the species were found using morphological and morphometric analyses. Different biological characteristics were found between the populations studied. The male population of the lake of Ibitinga and from Pantanal presented mean sizes and number of morphotypes lower than the population studied here. These differences seem to be closely related to ecological characteristics of the environments inhabited by these populations. Our results supported the hypothesis that coastal and continental populations of M. amazonicum belong to the same species.

Life cycle of Cosmolaelaps jaboticabalensis (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) on Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and two factitious food sources

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

Life cycle of Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) on ornamental plants, mostly Arecaceae

The red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst, has been primarily found associated with coconut and musaceous plants in the New World. However, it has also been recorded on several other palms, heliconiaceous and zingiberaceous species. This study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of different botanical families on which R. indica has been collected in the field and of arecaceous plants of the natural vegetation of the neotropics. In total, ten species of Arecaceae as well as Heliconia psittacorum [Heliconiaceae] and Alpinia purpurata [Zingiberacae] were evaluated, using coconut as a control. The study was carried out under controlled conditions (29 +/- A 0.5 A degrees C, 60 +/- A 10 % RH and photoperiod 12 h of light). Raoiella indica was able to complete immature development only on coconut, Adonidia merrillii, Ptychosperma macarthurii, H. psittacorum and A. purpurata. Duration of the immature phase (egg-adult) ranged between 21.5 days on coconut to 34.1 days on A. purpurata. Longevity was at least 50 % greater and oviposition at least 38 % higher on coconut than on other plants. Intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)) was higher on coconut (0.166) and A. merrillii (0.042), but negative on the other two plant species. Raoiella indica could not reach adulthood on any of the other ten arecaceous species considered in the study. The results suggested R. indica to be a threat to A. merrillii in addition to coconut, but not to other evaluated plants. However, complementary studies should be conducted to investigate whether the experimental procedures adopted in this study could not have prevented the mite from a better performance than it could have been under field conditions, especially in relation to Mauritia flexuosa, one of the dominant arecaceous plants in South America.

Diferenças regionais do cultivo de café no Brasil

Brazil is one of the major coffee producers in the world, because of this, the goal of this study was to assess the regional differences of coffee cultivation for the reference crops 2001/2002 and 2002/03 by means of a life cycle assessment (LCA) in order to generate detailed production inventory data as well as quantify the potential environmental impacts of this crop. All information considered in this study (use of water, fossil based energy, fertilizers, pesticides and correctives) was taken from data collected from the producing farms. Four Brazilian coffee producer regions located at the Southeastern region were evaluated: Sul de Minas Gerais and Cerrado Mineiro in Minas Gerais State, and Mogiana and Alta Paulista regions in São Paulo State. The data refer to a production of 25.2 million kg of green coffee. Depending on the considered region, the production of 1,000 kg of green coffee requires, on average, approx. 9,300 to 13,000 kg of total energy, 70 to 130 kg of diesel, 6,500 to 12,700 kg of process water, 270 to 340 kg of fertilizers (NPK), 2.0 to 13.0 kg of pesticides, 230 to 600 kg of correctives, and yield around 1,600 to 1,900 kg/ha. Despite 20% of the coffee growers showing a good environmental performance, i.e. consumption of pesticides, fertilizers and correctives lower than the regional averages, this study has also identified some farms that can probably reduce the amount of some inputs and enhance their environmental performance.

Green teams: Understanding their roles in the environmental management of companies located in Brazil

Green teams are frequently considered in the state-of-the-art literature as an essential factor for companies aiming to implement and improve environmental management approaches and practices. However, most of the available literature on green teams is conceptual and theoretical by nature. Therefore, the main purpose of this article is to evaluate the main characteristics of green teams in Brazilian companies and to analyse the relationships between green teams and the maturity level of environmental management in those companies. Based on a conceptual background on corporate environmental management and green teams, a research was done in two complementary phases: a survey of 94 companies with ISO 14001 certification; and a multiple case study of four industrial companies. Survey results suggest that 82% of the studied companies have cross-functional green teams, i.e. involving various companies' departments; and 65% have functional green teams, i.e. individual department teams. The results of the case study suggest that the use of green teams is an instrument to the greening of companies with ISO 14001 in Brazil. The company with the most proactive and advanced environmental management is the same company which uses green teams more intensely. Green teams are especially necessary for implementing more technical environmental management practices, e.g. Life Cycle Assessment. Since this is one of the first studies analysing green teams, the results presented can be useful for companies and public policies aiming to implementation of environmental initiatives. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sustainable production of biologically active molecules of marine based origin

The marine environment offers both economic and scientific potential which are relatively untapped from a biotechnological point of view. These environments whilst harsh are ironically fragile and dependent on a harmonious life form balance. Exploitation of natural resources by exhaustive wild harvesting has obvious negative environmental consequences. From a European industry perspective marine organisms are a largely underutilised resource. This is not due to lack of interest but due to a lack of choice the industry faces for cost competitive, sustainable and environmentally conscientious product alternatives. Knowledge of the biotechnological potential of marine organisms together with the development of sustainable systems for their cultivation, processing and utilisation are essential. In 2010, the European Commission recognised this need and funded a collaborative RTD/SME project under the Framework 7-Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) Theme 2 Programme 'Sustainable culture of marine microorganisms, algae and/or invertebrates for high value added products'. The scope of that project entitled 'Sustainable Production of Biologically Active Molecules of Marine Based Origin' (BAMMBO) is outlined. Although the Union is a global leader in many technologies, it faces increasing competition from traditional rivals and emerging economies alike and must therefore improve its innovation performance. For this reason innovation is placed at the heart of a European Horizon 2020 Strategy wherein the challenge is to connect economic performance to eco performance. This article provides a synopsis of the research activities of the BAMMBO project as they fit within the wider scope of sustainable environmentally conscientious marine resource exploitation for high-value biomolecules. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Análise dos impactos na construção civil: avaliação do ciclo de vida em chapas de partículas para forros

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo da aplicabilidade dos conceitos da manufatura sustentável no rerrefino de óleos lubrificantes usados

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Inventário do ciclo de vida do sistema de gerenciamento de resíduos sólidos urbanos do município de Piedade/SP e projeções de cenários para avaliação de impactos ambientais

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil e Ambiental - FEB

Sustentabilidade ambiental da criação de camarões de água doce e uso do aguapé no tratamento dos efluentes

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

Policultivos de peixes integrados à produção vegetal: avaliação econômica e sócio ambiental (Peixe-verde)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise de propostas de sequestro mineral de carbono para usinas termoelétricas no Brasil

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Avaliação de ciclo de vida comparativa dos processos de anodização e oxidação eletrolítica com plasma de liga de alumínio

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC

Avaliação do ciclo de vida dos tubos de PVC produzidos no Brasil

Naturally characterizes the human being the interference in the environment to ensure their survival and also convenience. After numerous environmental accidents caused by unbridled pursuit of this goal, the concern about providing for current needs without compromising the ability of the future generations to supply their own, gained space. In order to contribute to sustainable development the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was implemented. This tool is based on the concept that if the environmental impacts of a product or service are known, it is possible to take better decisions concerning its environmental aspects. The purpose of this research is to conduct the LCA of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the world’s second most consumed thermoplastic. The methodology described in NBR ISO 14040 and NBR ISO 14044 was followed. As a result, the LCA of polyvinyl chloride produced in Brazil was obtained, and, therefore, the inventory of the product in question adapted to Brazilian reality. The research can be applied to various studies considering that actions were taken to ensure that it represents the Brazilian reality. Moreover, the procedures were described to guarantee the greatest transparency possible