Radiolarians of DSDP Site 136-842 and Hole 136-843C

Deep-sea cores recovered at Sites 842 and 843 on Leg 136 of the Ocean Drilling Program have yielded assemblages of Quaternary, Eocene, and Cretaceous radiolarians from the Hawaiian Arch region of the northern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Reddish-brown clays from Hole 842A (0-9.6 mbsf), Hole 842B (0-6.3 mbsf), and Hole 843C (0-4.2 mbsf) contain abundant and diverse assemblages of Quaternary radiolarians consisting of more than 80 species typical of the equatorial Pacific region. Quaternary radiolarians at these sites are assignable to the Quaternary Collosphaera tuberosa Interval Zone and Amphirhopalum ypsilon Interval Zone. The boundary between these zones cannot be determined precisely because of the rarity of zonal markers below surface sediments. Correlations have been made between radiolarian occurrences and magnetostratigraphic events elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean, but similar correlations are difficult at Sites 842 and 843 because of poor subsurface preservation. Chert samples collected from intervals in Cores 842B-10X and 842C-1W have yielded radiolarian ages of lower Cenomanian to Santonian and lower Cenomanian, respectively. Radiolarian assemblages in volcanic sand layers in Sections 6 and 7 of Core 842A-1H (7.5-9.6 mbsf) contain lower and middle Eocene radiolarians admixed with abundant Quaternary faunas. Reworked Eocene radiolarians appear to be restricted to thin layers of volcanic sands within the cores, suggesting deposition by turbidity currents.

Dinoflagellates of multicorer surface sediments

Only very few studies focus on recent calcareous dinoflagellate cyst diversity, geographic distribution and ecology, so that information on the distribution patterns and environmental affinities of individual cyst species is extremely limited. This information is, however, essential if we want to use calcareous dinoflagellate cysts for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Surface sediment samples from the generally oligotrophic western equatorial Atlantic Ocean, offshore northeast Brazil, were therefore quantitatively analysed for their calcareous dinoflagellate cyst content, including the calcareous vegetative coccoid Thoracosphaera heimii. Seven calcareous dinoflagellate cyst species/morphotypes and T. heimii were encountered in high concentrations throughout the area. Substantial differences in the distribution patterns were observed. The highest concentrations of cysts are found in sediments of the more oligotrophic, oceanic regions, beyond the influence of Amazon River discharge waters. Dinoflagellates producing calcareous cysts thus appear to be capable of surviving low nutrient concentrations and produce large numbers of cysts in relatively stable and predictable environments affected by minimal seasonality. To test for the environmental affinities of individual species, distribution patterns in surface sediments were compared with temperature, salinity, density and stratification gradients within the upper water column (0-100 m) over different times of the year, using principal components analysis and redundancy analysis. T. heimii and four of the seven encountered cyst species (Sphaerodinella? albatrosiana, two morphotypes of Sphaerodinella? tuberosa and Scrippsiella regalis) relate to these parameters significantly and the variations in the cyst associations appear to be associated with the different surface water currents characterising the area. The results imply that calcareous dinoflagellate cyst distributions can potentially be used to distinguish between different open oceanic environments and they could, therefore, be useful in tracing water mass movements throughout the late Quaternary.

Diaporthe asclepiadis; Diaporthaceae

Diaporthe asclepiadis Ellis & Everh.

Dinoflagellates of sediment core GeoB1523-1

Large numbers of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts and the vegetative calcareous coccoid species Thoracosphaera heimii are generally found in sediments underlying oligotrophic and/or stratified (sub)surface water environments. It is difficult to distinguish between the relative importance of these two environmental parameters on calcareous cyst and T. heimii distribution as they usually covary, but this information is essential if we want to apply cysts properly in the reconstruction of palaeoenvironments and past surface water hydrography. In the multi-proxy core GeoB 1523-1 from the Ceará Rise region in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean (covering the past 155 ka), periods of greatest oligotrophy are not synchronous with periods of greatest stratification (Rühlemann et al., 1996, doi:10.1016/S0025-3227(96)00048-5; Mulitza et al., 1997, doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1997)025<0335:PFAROP>2.3.CO;2; 335-338; Mulitza et al., 1998, doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(98)00012-0), giving us the unique opportunity to differentiate between the effects of both parameters on cyst accumulation. The calcareous cyst record of the core reflects prominent increases in accumulation rate of nearly all observed species only during the nutrient-enriched but more stratified isotopic (sub)stages 5.5, 5.3, 5.1 and 1. In this respect, the distribution trends in the core are more similar to those of the eastern equatorial upwelling region (GeoB 1105-4) than they are to those of the oligotrophic north-eastern Brazilian continental slope (GeoB 2204-2), even though temporal changes in bioproductivity are principally in antiphase between the eastern and western equatorial regions. We conclude that stratification of the upper water column and the presence of a well-developed thermocline are probably the more important factors controlling cyst distribution in the equatorial Atlantic, whereas the state of oligotrophy secondarily influences cyst production within a well-stratified environment.

Abundance of calcareous dinoflagellates of sediment cores from the South Atlantic Ocean

Despite the increasing interest in the South Atlantic Ocean as a key area of the heat exchange between the southern and the northern hemisphere, information about its palaeoceanographic conditions during transitions from glacial to interglacial stages, the so-called Terminations, are not well understood. Herein we attempt to increase this information by studying the calcareous dinoflagellate cysts and the shells of Thoracosphaera heimii (calcareous cysts) of five Late Quaternary South Atlantic Ocean cores. Extremely high accumulation rates of calcareous cysts at the Terminations might be due to a combined effect of increased cyst production and better preservation as result of calm, oligotrophic conditions in the upper water layers. Low relative abundance of Sphaerodinella albatrosiana compared with Sphaerodinella tuberosa in the Cape Basin may be the result of the relatively colder environmental conditions in this region compared with the equatorial Atlantic Ocean with high relative abundance of S. albatrosiana. Furthermore, the predominance of S. tuberosa during glacials and interglacials at the observed site of the western Atlantic Ocean reflects decreased salinity in the upper water layer.

Phytoplanktonic microfossil groups of sediments from the South and Equatorial Atlantic

Individual planktonic microfossil species, or assemblage groups of different species, are often used to, qualitatively and/or quantitatively, reconstruct past (sub)surface-water conditions of the world's oceans and seas. Until now, little information has been available on the surface sediment distribution patterns and paleoenvironmental reconstruction potential of coccolith, calcareous dinoflagellate cyst and organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst assemblages of the South and equatorial Atlantic, especially at the species level. This paper (i) summarizes the distributions of these three phytoplanktonic microfossil groups in numerous Atlantic surface sediments from 20°N-50°S and 30°E-65°W and determines their relationship with the physicochemical and trophic conditions of the overlying (sub)surface-waters, and (ii) determines the synecology of the three phytoplankton groups by carrying out statistical analyses (i.e. detrended and canonical correspondence analyses) on all groups simultaneously. Ecological relationships are additionally strengthened by statistically comparing the distribution patterns of the phytoplankton groups with those of planktonic foraminifera (Pflaumann et al. 1996; Niebler et al. 1998), as the ecological preferences of the latter are much better known. Many of the analyzed phytoplanktonic microfossil species or groups of species in the surface sediments do show restricted distributions which primarily reflect the environmental conditions of the upper water masses above them (e.g. sea-surface temperature, productivity, stratification). The acquired 'reference' data sets are large and diverse enough to allow future development of transfer functions for the reconstruction of past surface-water conditions, and show that there is still an enormous paleoenvironmental reconstruction potential concealed in many fossil coccolith and dinoflagellate cyst assemblages.

(Table T3) Distribution of radiolarian taxa in sediments of ODP Leg 180 sites

Cores from the 11 sites drilled during Leg 180 showed radiolarian assemblages that appear only in the Quaternary sediments. The most diverse and well-preserved assemblages were found in hemipelagic sediments from Holes 1108A, 1110A, and 1115B.

Aspectos fisiologicos do umbuzeiro.

Realizou-se um estudo objetivando avaliar a resistencia estomatica, transpiracao e temperatura da folha do umbuzeiro (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam.), no seu habitat natural, no final da estacao seca e apos as primeiras chuvas. A resistencia estomatica comecou a aumentar em torno das 7 horas nos dois periodos, porem de forma mais brusca durante a seca, resultando em baixa transpiracao. Apos as primeiras chuvas, a resistencia estomatica comecou a aumentar em torno de 13 horas, quando as condicoes ambientais ainda eram favoraveis a uma grande demanda evapotranspiratoria. Estes resultados sugeram uma acentuada economia de agua pelo umbuzeiro. Nao se observaram diferencas na temperatura das folhas relativas aos dois periodos.

Intervenção precoce na Estímulopraxis, Centro de Desenvolvimento Infantil

O presente relatório descreve as atividades desenvolvidas durante o estágio realizado na Estímulopraxis – Centro de Desenvolvimento Infantil no âmbito do mestrado em Reabilitação Psicomotora, da Faculdade de Motricidade Humana. Este estágio envolveu sessões de observação participada e de intervenção psicomotora com crianças dos zero aos 13 anos, na área da intervenção precoce e do desenvolvimento infantil. O relatório descreve dois estudos de caso, enquanto exemplos do trabalho desenvolvido, e apresenta o enquadramento teórico, legal e institucional atualizado, bem como uma reflexão crítica sobre esta experiência. Um dos estudos de caso é referente à problemática Paralisia Cerebral e o outro à Esclerose Tuberosa. Para cada estudo de caso, é descrito o processo de avaliação, os objetivos de intervenção, a intervenção e os resultados. Após a intervenção, constataram-se melhorias e, por isso, a terapia psicomotora tem um contributo na área da intervenção precoce e do desenvolvimento infantil.

Plantas forrageiras das caatingas: usos e potencialidades.

Coleta de analises; descricao e usos das especies: camaratuba, carqueija, catingueira-verdadeira, espinheiro/jacurutu/jiquiri, facheiro, favela/faveleira, feijao-brabo, imbuzeiro/umbuzeiro, juazeiro, jurema-preta, jurema-vermelha, macambira, mandacaru/mandacaru-de-boi, manicoba, marmeleiro/marmeleiro-preto, moleque-duro, mororo/unha-de-vaca, quebra-faca, sabia, sete-cascas/cascudo/pau-de-casca. Comentarios gerais e recomendacoes.

Rotinas de vida diária de crianças portadoras de deficiência : estudos de caso

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Atividade Física, especialização em Desporto Adaptado.