Alternative reproductive modes of Atlantic forest frogs

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

Mites associated to Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart. (Annonaceae) in urban and rural fragments of semidecidual forest

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

Reproductive modes of Atlantic forest hylid frogs: A general overview and the description of a new mode

This paper reports a new reproductive mode in anurans, observed for the green treefrog, Hyla leucopygia, a species from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and a member of the H. albosignata group. The reproductive mode of H. leucopygia is defined as follows: aquatic eggs and embryos in subterranean constructed nests; subsequent to flooding, feeding tadpoles in ponds or streams. We suggest that the new reproductive mode is widespread among the species in the H. albosignata group. The specialized courtship behaviors of H. leucopygia, characterized by vocalizations and a stereotyped sequence of mutual touches between male and female, are described. A review of the reproductive modes of hylid frogs is provided, with 11 modes recognized for the Atlantic Forest hylids and 12 modes For hylids around the world.

Nests and nesting sites of Brazilian forest rodents (Nectomys squamipes and Oryzomys intermedius) as revealed by a spool-and-line device

Patterns of nest construction and nest site selection of two murid rodents of the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest were described. The animals were captured in an area of about 1.5 ha of primary forest, marked, equipped with a spool-and-line device and released at the capture point. The next day we followed the thread to find their nests. In total 11 nests of Nectomys squamipes (Brants, 1827) and 13 of Oryzomys intermedius (Leche, 1886) were found. They were all egg-shaped, about 15 cm long and 10 cm wide, without any apparent entrance and consisted of dry leaves and grass. The two species differed in the selection of nest sites. The nests of N. squamipes were close to streams and built inside decomposed fallen logs or using natural entrances between the soil and tangled roots or rocky crevices. Nests of O. intermedius were built under or inside fallen logs and inside aerial root systems of palms. The spool-and-line technique used here is useful to provide detailed information on several aspects of the ecology and natural history of small mammals.

Free activity in the cage associated with body weight and restoration of bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading

We investigated the importance of daily free activity in the cage and body weight gain during the recovering of bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (CG, n=24) and suspended (SG, n=24) groups. Animals from SG underwent a four-week hindlimb unloading period by tail-suspension. Animals from CG and those from SG after release were kept in collective cages and sacrificed at the age of 12, 16 and 20 weeks. Both femurs were removed and its area, bone mineral density (BMD), resistance to failure and stiffness were determined. Four-week hindlimb unloading decreased (p < 0.05) body weight (CG, 373.00 +/- 9.47 vs. SG, 295.86 +/- 9.19 g), BMD (CG, 0.19 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.15 +/- 0.01 g/cm(2)), bone resistance to failure (CG, 147.75 +/- 5.05 vs. SG, 96.40 +/- 5.95 N) and stiffness (CG, 0.38 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.23 +/- 0.02 N/m). Eight weeks of free activity in cage recovered (p > 0.05) the body weight (CG, 472.75 +/- 14.11 vs. SG, 444.75 +/- 18.91 g), BMD (CG, 0.24 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.22 +/- 0.01 g/cm(2)), bone resistance to failure (CG, 195.73 +/- 10.06 vs. SG, 178.45 +/- 8.48 N) and stiffness (CG, 0.56 +/- 0.02 vs. SG, 0.47 +/- 0.03 N/m) of SG animals. Body weight correlated strongly with bone structural and mechanical properties (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, free activity in the cage associated with body weight gain restored bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading.

Assessment of tropical forest degradation by selective logging and fire using Landsat imagery

Many studies have assessed the process of forest degradation in the Brazilian Amazon using remote sensing approaches to estimate the extent and impact by selective logging and forest fires on tropical rain forest. However, only a few have estimated the combined impacts of those anthropogenic activities. We conducted a detailed analysis of selective logging and forest fire impacts on natural forests in the southern Brazilian Amazon state of Mato Grosso, one of the key logging centers in the country. To achieve this goal a 13-year series of annual Landsat images (1992-2004) was used to test different remote sensing techniques for measuring the extent of selective logging and forest fires, and to estimate their impact and interaction with other land use types occurring in the study region. Forest canopy regeneration following these disturbances was also assessed. Field measurements and visual observations were conducted to validate remote sensing techniques. Our results indicated that the Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index aerosol free (MSAVI(af)) is a reliable estimator of fractional coverage under both clear sky and under smoky conditions in this study region. During the period of analysis, selective logging was responsible for disturbing the largest proportion (31%) of natural forest in the study area, immediately followed by deforestation (29%). Altogether, forest disturbances by selective logging and forest fires affected approximately 40% of the study site area. Once disturbed by selective logging activities, forests became more susceptible to fire in the study site. However, our results showed that fires may also occur in undisturbed forests. This indicates that there are further factors that may increase forest fire susceptibility in the study area. Those factors need to be better understood. Although selective logging affected the largest amount of natural forest in the study period, 35% and 28% of the observed losses of forest canopy cover were due to forest fire and selective logging combined and to forest fire only, respectively. Moreover, forest areas degraded by selective logging and forest fire is an addition to outright deforestation estimates and has yet to be accounted for by land use and land cover change assessments in tropical regions. Assuming that this observed trend of land use and land cover conversion continues, we predict that there will be no undisturbed forests remaining by 2011 in this study site. Finally, we estimated that 70% of the total forest area disturbed by logging and fire had sufficiently recovered to become undetectable using satellite data in 2004. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aesthetic posts and cores for metal-free restoration of endodontically treated teeth.

Utilization of contemporary post and core systems has facilitated the aesthetic restoration of endodontically treated teeth. Light transmission and biocompatibility have been enhanced by the introduction of metal-free post systems. The periodontal and endodontic status, root length, and histological structure of the devitalized teeth must be considered in order to achieve successful restoration following endodontic treatment. This article presents various restorative criteria for the aesthetic placement and buildup of post and core materials, as well as the preservation of maximum coronal and root structure.

Resistance to maxillary premolar fractures after restoration of class II preparations with resin composite or ceromer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance to fracture of intact and restored human maxillary premolars. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Thirty noncarious human maxillary premolars, divided into three groups of 10, were submitted to mechanical tests to evaluate their resistance to fracture. Group 1 consisted of intact teeth. Teeth in group 2 received mesio-occlusodistal cavity preparations and were restored with direct resin composite restorations. Teeth in group 3 received mesio-occlusodistal cavity preparations and were restored with ceromer inlays placed with the indirect technique. After restoration, teeth were stored at 37 degrees C for 24 hours and then thermocycled for 500 cycles at temperatures of 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that group 3 (178.765 kgf) had a significantly greater maximum rupture load than did group 1 (120.040 kgf). There was no statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2 or between groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: Class II cavity preparations restored with indirect ceromer inlays offered greater resistance to fracture than did intact teeth. The fracture resistance of teeth restored with resin composite was not significantly different from that of either the ceromer or intact teeth.

Reproductive phenology of Atlantic forest tree species in Brazil: An eleven year study

This paper describes the reproductive phenorhythms of tree species in a tropical seasonal lowland forest in Southeastern Brazil. Every two weeks, five individuals of 41 species were observed for the occurrence of flowering and fruiting, from May 1982 to December 1992. All phenophases showed high seasonality, when considering the whole set of species, but the amplitude of the cycles was much more variable between years; only 13 species had regular flowering. Infra-annual flowering and fruiting were found in 11 and four species, respectively, while only one species flowered and fruited continually. Supra-annual cycles were observed in four (flowering) and seven (fruiting) species. An increase was observed in number of species and individuals flowering and fruiting from 1990 to 1992, following mainly an elevation in the absolute minimum air temperature. These data suggest a relationship between reproductive phenology and major climatic phenomena like El Niño events and solar activity cycles. © International Society for Tropical Ecology.

Restoration of severely decayed primary incisors using indirect composite resin restoration technique

Caries of primary incisors is a common problem in paediatric dentistry in some countries. The restoration of primary incisors which have been severely damaged by early childhood caries or trauma is also a difficult challenge for clinicians. This case report describes an indirect technique for the restoration of primary anterior teeth using composite resin reinforced with a fibreglass post. Over a one-year period, the crowns have demonstrated good retention and aesthetic results. The restorations were provided in two short chair-side sections, with satisfactory patient cooperation. © 2005 BSPD and IAPD.

Environmental solutions of recovery of Amazonian forest mining operations

In order for the projects of recovery of degraded areas to be successful, it is necessary to have a perfect recovery of the soil where the revegetation will be implanted as an initial action in the recovery of the whole process. The use of native forest species fully adapted to these types of terrain is another aspect of great importance, once the non-selection of these species, even if abundant in the surrounding areas, as it is in our case, implies great mortality of individuals during the planting and their low fixation during the process. The establishment of a monitoring program that contemplates the advancements obtained in the soil, the vegetation and the return of wild animals also collaborate in the evaluation of the success of the process. And, finally, the effective participation of the mining company, accepting and applying the techniques tested and indicated by research, even if, initially, the return time is longer than expected, also guarantees the success of the process. The mining company not only implemented a partnership with important universities in Brazil to obtain solutions for the environmental problems but also applied the developed techniques and the monitoring program. In the present work, we have attempted to summarize important aspects to evaluate the advancements in the rehabilitation plan for those areas, being here presented some results of the monitoring of areas under different levels of recovery, in accordance with the techniques adopted. Biological parameters of the soil were used to verify the efficiency of these different techniques in the recovery process. This work is part of the monitoring program of areas in rehabilitation by the mining company, implemented as of 1999 and in partnership with universities. The microbial activity was determined through the quantification of the carbon and nitrogen microbial biomass (BMC and BMN) and the activity of the dehydrogenase evaluated in the mining floor and tailing areas in different levels of soil preparation and planting of native species. The analysis of the parameters studied revealed that the preparation of the soil, following the three years proposed by the methodology, was important for the success in establishing the rehabilitation process. Some of the areas analyzed already show some parameters with values close or superior to those found in the capoeira (secondary forest), the latter being the non-treated area. © 2010 WIT Press.

Restoration of a degraded area using soil tillage systems in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

In Brazil the intensive agriculture use, mainly pasture, is the main cause of the presence of extensive areas of degraded lands. This study aimed to assess the impact of different soil management practices in a pasture degraded area used as garbage disposal. The experiment was performed at the Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, in Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil, from 1990 to 1996. This area has undergone a process of recovery through removal of trash deposited on the surface, in 1985, levelling of soil, followed by application of limestone, subsoiling, planting of legumes (Crotalaria juncea) and crop rotation (soybean and maize). Since 1990 only popcorn maize was grown and established plots managed with different soil tillage systems, including harrow, chisel plow, moldboard plow, no tillage, disk plow and revolving hoe. One plot was planted exclusively with guinea grass (Panicum maximum) to serve as a reference for minimum loss of soil and another grown on a downhill direction to correspond to the expected maximum erosion. There were differences in sediment loss, nutrient loss and productivity of the popcorn maize in the period analyzed. The chisel plow and no tillage treatments caused the slightest loss of soil and nutrients, compared to other tillage systems. The results show that the soil management systems influenced the physical and chemical characteristics of soil, allowing an economical and environmental recovery of the area, providing the conditions for grain agricultural production.

The State, business and the restoration of the neoclassical paradigm

Includes bibliography