Influência do uso e ocupação do solo na qualidade da água da bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão Guaratinguetá (SP)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ecologia molecular de fungos patogênicos onygenales em animais silvestres do interior do estado de São Paulo

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

Ecologia da germinação de sementes e desenvolvimento de plantas de Platymiscium floribundum Vog. (Sacambu) - Fabaceae em viveiro e sob dossel de floresta ombrófila densa, São Paulo, SP

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Atributos microbiológicos, químicos e granulométricos de organossolo e latossolos vermelhos: efeito sazonal e uso do solo

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Differential organotin sensitivity in two Leucozonia species from a ship traffic area in southeastern Brazil

Tributyltin exposure is the primary cause of imposex development in gastropods, making them excellent bioindicators. The present research represents the first examination of butyltin (BT) contamination in surface sediments associated with imposex in Leucozonia nassa and L. ocellata in a harbour complex area in Espirito Santo, southeastern Brazil. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the organotin pollution in the area and to assess the sensitivity of both species to BT pollution through imposex development. Specimens were collected between 2007 and 2010 and the sediments were sampled in 2007. Imposex intensity was evaluated based on the percentage of imposexed females, the relative penis length index (RPLI) and the average value of the vas deferens sequence index (VDSI). BTs were analysed using gas chromatography equipped with a pulsed flame photometric detector (PFPD). The results demonstrated the occurrence of elevated concentrations of BTs in the sediment ranging from 383.7 to 7172.9 ng Sn g(-1), indicating a severe contamination of the area, which was confirmed by the biological monitoring results. Our findings also indicated that L. ocellata is a less sensitive species than L. nassa and that this differential sensitivity plays a key role in the distributions of the populations of both species in the studied area.

Effect of brushwood transposition on the leaf litter arthropod fauna in a cerrado area

The results of ecological restoration techniques can be monitored through biological indicators of soil quality such as the leaf litter arthropod fauna. This study aimed to determine the immediate effect of brushwood transposition transferred from an area of native vegetation to a disturbed area, on the leaf litter arthropod fauna in a degraded cerrado area. The arthropod fauna of four areas was compared: a degraded area with signal grass, two experimental brushwood transposition areas, with and without castor oil plants, and an area of native cerrado. In total, 7,660 individuals belonging to 23 taxa were sampled. Acari and Collembola were the most abundant taxa in all studied areas, followed by Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Symphyla. The brushwood transposition area without castor oil plants had the lowest abundance and dominance and the highest diversity of all areas, providing evidence of changes in the soil community. Conversely, the results showed that the presence of castor oil plants hampered early succession, negatively affecting ecological restoration in this area.

Correlates of blood pressure according to early, on time, and late maturation in adolescents

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

BENTHIC MACROFAUNA STRUCTURE IN THE NORTHEAST AREA OF TODOS OS SANTOS BAY, BAHIA STATE, BRAZIL: PATTERNS OF SPATIAL AND SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION

Structure of intertidal and subtidal benthic macrofauna in the northeastern region of Todos os Santos Bay (TSB), northeast Brazil, was investigated during a period of two years. Relationships with environmental parameters were studied through uni- and multivariate statistical analyses, and the main distributional patterns shown to be especially related to sediment type and content of organic fractions (Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus), on both temporal and spatial scales. Polychaete annelids accounted for more than 70% of the total fauna and showed low densities, species richness and diversity, except for the area situated on the reef banks. These banks constitute a peculiar environment in relation to the rest of the region by having coarse sediments poor in organic matter and rich in biodetritic carbonates besides an abundant and diverse fauna. The intertidal region and the shallower area nearer to the oil refinery RLAM, with sediments composed mainly of fine sand, seem to constitute an unstable system with few highly dominant species, such as Armandia polyophthalma and Laeonereis acuta. In the other regions of TSB, where muddy bottoms predominated, densities and diversity were low, especially in the stations near the refinery. Here the lowest values of the biological indicators occurred together with the highest organic compound content. In addition, the nearest sites (stations 4 and 7) were sometimes azoic. The adjacent Caboto, considered as a control area at first, presented low density but intermediate values of species diversity, which indicates a less disturbed environment in relation to the pelitic infralittoral in front of the refinery. The results of the ordination analyses evidenced five homogeneous groups of stations (intertidal; reef banks; pelitic infralittoral; mixed sediments; Caboto) with different specific patterns, a fact which seems to be mainly related to granulometry and chemical sediment characteristics.

Distribution and state of fishery resources in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea using trawl surveys data

The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries represents the most recent research line in the international context, showing interest both towards the whole community and toward the identification and protection of all the “critical habitats” in which marine resources complete their life cycles. Using data coming from trawl surveys performed in the Northern and Central Adriatic from 1996 to 2010, this study provides the first attempt to appraise the status of the whole demersal community. It took into account not only fishery target species but also by-catch and discharge species by the use of a suite of biological indicators both at population and multi-specific level, allowing to have a global picture of the status of the demersal system. This study underlined the decline of extremely important species for the Adriatic fishery in recent years; adverse impact on catches is expected for these species in the coming years, since also minimum values of recruits recently were recorded. Both the excessive exploitation and environmental factors affected availability of resources. Moreover both distribution and nursery areas of the most important resources were pinpointed by means of geostatistical methods. The geospatial analysis also confirmed the presence of relevant recruitment areas in the North and Central Adriatic for several commercial species, as reported in the literature. The morphological and oceanographic features, the relevant rivers inflow together with the mosaic pattern of biocenoses with different food availability affected the location of the observed relevant nursery areas.

Determinación de reducción del crecimiento radical (CE50) por una formulación de glifosato utilizando lechuga y trigo como especies bioindicadoras

El objetivo fue determinar la concentración efectiva media de reducción del crecimiento radical (CE50), de una formulación del herbicida glifosato mediante bioensayos de germinación con semillas de lechuga y de trigo. Para lechuga se probaron 9 dosis/tratamientos decrecientes entre 1.215 y 0,01215 g i.a.ha-1 (formulado: Sal amónica de la N-Fosfonometil glicina, 40,5 [g e.a. glifosato 36,9% p/v]) y para trigo 5 dosis decrecientes (entre 12,15 y 1,215 g i.a.ha-1) y su respectivo control negativo (agua destilada). Se utilizaron cajas de Petri, con papel de filtro en la base humedecido con 3 ml de la solución correspondiente. Se sembraron 20 semillas por caja, distribuyéndose los tratamientos en bloques al azar con 4 repeticiones, en cámara de crecimiento a 20°C con alternancia de luz y oscuridad. Se midió la longitud radicular de todas las semillas de cada tratamiento con calibre digital. Se determinó el porcentaje de germinación y se calculó el índice de germinación. Las CE50, es decir, las dosis que redujeron en un 50% el crecimiento radical para lechuga y trigo, fueron 6,682 y 9,416 g i.a.ha-1, respectivamente. Los materiales probados resultaron sensibles a distintas dosis de glifosato y por lo tanto pueden utilizarse como indicadores biológicos de toxicidad específica.

Valoración de Indicadores de calidad para el diseño e implementación de tecnologías de manejo en Luvisoles de la zona norte de la provincia de Las Tunas, Cuba

La calidad del suelo es una herramienta de evaluación que puede facilitar la adaptación de prácticas de manejo que promuevan sistemas agropecuarios sostenibles. La investigación de este trabajo se inició con un diagnóstico participativo en 12 comunidades rurales de la provincia de Las Tunas en el año 2009 en el cual los productores identificaron los puntos críticos de calidad de los suelos de la región y sirvieron de punta de partida para seleccionar las variables físicas, químicas y biológicas a determinar en cinco sistemas de uso agropecuario (arboleda, pasto natural, pasto cultivado y dos sistemas silvopastoriles) en la zona La Veguita, municipio Las Tunas. El sistema arboleda se utilizó como referencia de las propiedades naturales del suelo. El pasto natural se distingue por el desarrollo de especies de baja productividad, sin embargo el pasto cultivado está representado por Pennisetum purpureum vc CUBA CT-115, y constituye una contribución a la tecnología de bancos de biomasa, para utilizarse en el pastoreo durante la seca. Los sistemas silvopastoriles están representados por Leucaena leucocephala Lam. en franjas y Panicum maximun vc. Likoni, los que se diferencian en su diseño, manejo y propiedades mineralógicas. El objetivo fundamental fue valorar indicadores de calidad de los suelos Luvisoles háplicos sobre granitoides, para diseñar e implementar tecnologías de manejo que permitan incrementar la capacidad agroproductiva de los suelos. Mediante el análisis de componentes principales se obtuvo un conjunto mínimo de indicadores físicos, químicos y biológicos que proporcionaron información útil referente a los procesos edáficos y se integraron para determinar un índice de calidad. En el sistema de uso, caracterizado por el pasto cultivado (Pennisetum purpureum) se estableció, en parcelas experimentales, un ensayo de corta duración, en el que se comparó el laboreo tradicional y el laboreo sin inversión del prisma, con y sin aplicación de compost. En ambos sistemas de labranza se evaluó el desarrollo del cultivo e indicadores de calidad del suelo. Los resultados mostraron que del conjunto de indicadores edáficos estudiados se seleccionaron 6 en los que la capacidad de intercambio catiónico, materia orgánica, potasio intercambiable, contenido de arena, densidad aparente y biomasa de lombrices explicaron la mayor variabilidad y sirvieron de base para evaluar la calidad de estos suelos. Se establecieron valores umbrales de referencia de indicadores de calidad, que permitirán evaluar y monitorear los sistemas de uso y manejo de la región. El sistema Silvopastoril 2 resultó el de mayor índice de calidad de los suelos tomando como referencia la arboleda por su condición natural. El manejo silvopastoril influyó predominantemente en mejores resultados productivos pero las características edáficas principalmente físicas, deben definir su diseño y manejo. El sistema de pastos cultivados con Pennisetum purpureum vc CUBA CT 115, alcanzó la mayor acumulación de carbono orgánico, sin embargo, el manejo limitó su calidad física y el funcionamiento productivo del sistema. De manera general los sistemas de uso no garantizan un índice de la calidad del suelo, puesto que se ve afectado por las propiedades edáficas y las prácticas de manejo. En el ámbito biológico, las lombrices constituyeron los organismos más numerosos con predominio en los sistemas silvopastoriles y arboleda. Los valores superiores de densidad y biomasa de oligoquetos y mayor diversidad de otros individuos de la macrofauna, indican que la presencia de árboles en los pastizales de gramínea potencia y diversifican las comunidades de macroinvertebrados del suelo. El sistema de labranza sin inversión del prisma propicia una mejor calidad física del suelo, manteniendo el carbono e incrementando los rendimientos del Penisetum purpureum cv CUBA CT 115. La labranza tradicional, a base de aradura y grada, afecta a los contenidos de materia orgánica en el corto plazo y mantiene capas compactas en el horizonte subyacente, además influye desfavorablemente al flujo del aire, agua y al desarrollo radical de los pastos. La aplicación de compost favoreció mejores resultados productivos en ambas tecnologías de manejo. Los resultados alcanzados recomiendan la implantación de tecnologías de manejo conservacionistas y la aplicación de materiales orgánicos que restituyan los elementos nutricionales requeridos por los pastos, por lo que no se justifica la continuidad del uso de prácticas tradicionales de laboreo con inversión del prisma que se realizan actualmente. ABSTRACT The soil quality is an assessment tool, which could facilitate the adaptation of management practices that promote sustainable agricultural systems. The present investigation was carried out with a participatory diagnostic in twelve rural communities from Las Tunas province in 2009, in which producers identified the critical soil quality points of region and served as a starting point to select the physical, chemical and biological variables, in order to determine on five agricultural used systems (grove, natural grass, cultivated grass and two silvopastoral systems) in La Veguita zone from municipality Las Tunas. The system grove was used as reference of natural soil properties. The natural grass is distinguished by the development of low-productivity species, however the cultivated grass is represented by Pennisetum purpureum vc CUBA CT-115, and is a contribution to the biomass banks technology, in order to use in grazing during the dry season. The silvopastoral systems are represented by Leucaena leucocephala Lam. in stripes and Panicum maximum cv. Likoni, which differ in their design, handling and mineralogical properties. The main aim of this study was to assess the quality indicators for haplic Luvisols on granitoids for designing and implementing management technologies in order to increase the agroproductive capacity of soils. A minimal set of physical, chemical and biological indicators by Principal Component Analysis was obtained, which provided some useful information regarding soil processes and their integration for determining an index of quality. In the use system, characterized for the cultivated grass (Pennisetum purpureum) a short term assay in experimental plots was established, where the traditional and prism without inversion tillage were compared with and without compost application. In both tillage systems were evaluated the crop development and soil quality indicators. The results showed that the studied soil indicators set, six were selected, specifically the ones with exchangeable cationic capacity, organic matter, interchangeable potassium, sand content, bulk density and earthworm biomass, which explained the higher variability and served as the basis for evaluating the soil quality. The Reference threshold values of quality indicators for evaluating and monitoring the use and management systems from the region were established. The silvopastoral system 2 had the highest quality soil index, taking of reference the grove system for its natural condition. The silvopastoral management influenced on better productive results, but the soil characteristics, particularly the physical properties to be defined its design and management. However, the cultivated grass system with Pennisetum purpureum vc CUBA CT 115, reached the greatest accumulation of organic carbon. However, the management limited its physical quality and productive performance of the system. In addition, the use systems do not guarantee an index of soil quality, since it is affected by soil properties and management practices. From the biological aspect, the earthworms are the most numerous organisms on the silvopastoral systems and grove. The higher values of oligochaetes biomass and density and the greater diversity of other organisms from macrofauna indicate that the tree presence on the pasture grasses allows enhancing and diversifying soil macro invertebrate communities. The non-inversion prism tillage system provides a better physical quality of soil, maintaining the carbon content and increasing the yields of Penisetum purpureum vc CUBA CT 115. The traditional tillage, using the plowing and harrowing affects the organic matter content in a short term and keeps on compact layers of underlying horizon, and adversely affects the air and water flow, and pasture radical development. The compost application favored the best production results in both management technologies. The results obtained recommend the implementation of conservation management technologies and the application of organic materials that restore the nutritional elements required by the pasture, so it does not justify the continued use of traditional tillage practices with prism investment that are currently being made.

Gene expression and cell fusion analyzed by lacZ complementation in mammalian cells.

Complementing reporter genes provide biological indicators of coincident expression of proteins in cells. We have adapted intracistronic complementation of the Escherichia coli lacZ gene for use in mammalian cells. Enzymatic activity detectable by quantitative biochemical assay, flow cytometry, or microscopy is produced upon convergent expression of two distinct mutant lacZ peptides within single cells, or upon fusion of cells expressing such mutants. A novel fluorescent substrate for beta-galactosidase (Fluor-X-Gal) increases detection and permits simultaneous microscopic visualization of other fluorescent markers. The enzymatic complementation described here should facilitate studies of cell fusion, cell lineage, and signal transduction, by producing activity only when two proteins are expressed at the same time and place in intact cells.

Caracterização de valores de referência de qualidade de sedimentos para compostos orgânicos no sistema estuarino da baixada santista, São Paulo

Em regiões altamente contaminadas como a região da Baixada Santista, é importante estabelecer metas para a recuperação do ambiente. Apesar da ausência da contaminação ser a meta ideal, as implicações e os custos associados a esse objetivo, demanda o estabelecimento de metas de recuperação realistas em relação aos contaminantes presentes na região. Com o objetivo de caracterizar valores de referência de qualidade de sedimentos para compostos orgânicos na região da Baixada Santista, o Canal de Bertioga foi escolhido como local de referência por ser uma região sem fontes industrais ou outras fontes pontuais relativas aos compostos analisados. Amostras de água, sedimento e ostras foram coletadas e os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (PAHs), bifenilos policlorados (PCBs) e pesticidas organoclorados (OCPs) foram determinados por técnicas cromatográficas. A avaliação dos resultados de análises de PAHs, permite afirmar com alguma segurança, que os valores da somatória de PAHs das amostras sedimentos são, na sua grande maioria, inferiores a 1.000 µg/kg, não superando 1.600 µg/kg, concentrações abaixo dos limites estabelecidos na Resolução CONAMA 344/04 e abaixo dos valores que possam causar algum efeito adverso à biota, conforme valores descritos na literatura. Resultados de análise de PCBs, OCPs, compostos fenólicos e compostos orgânicos voláteis (VOCs) em amostras de sedimento, indicaram concentrações destes compostos abaixo dos limites de quantificação, exceto DDE (5,30 g/kg) e HCB (2,34 g/kg), que foram detectados em apenas um ii sítio de amostragem. Não houve evidências de possíveis fontes de emissão próximas à região de referência para PCBs, OCPs, compostos fenólicos e VOCs. Finalizando, espera-se que os resultados obtidos neste estudo possam fornecer subsídios para futuramente estabelecer uma área de referência para qualidade de sedimento na região da Baixada Santista, ou ainda serem utilizados em conjunto com as avaliações de contaminantes inorgânicos, testes ecotoxicológicos e indicadores biológicos, como ferramenta para avaliação da qualidade de sedimento e/ou para a classificação de material a ser dragado na região da Baixada Santista.

Soil quality response to land-use change for sugarcane expansion in Brazil

Globally, increasing demands for biofuels have intensified the rate of land-use change (LUC) for expansion of bioenergy crops. In Brazil, the world\'s largest sugarcane-ethanol producer, sugarcane area has expanded by 35% (3.2 Mha) in the last decade. Sugarcane expansion has resulted in extensive pastures being subjected to intensive mechanization and large inputs of agrochemicals, which have direct implications on soil quality (SQ). We hypothesized that LUC to support sugarcane expansion leads to overall SQ degradation. To test this hypothesis we conducted a field-study at three sites in the central-southern region, to assess the SQ response to the primary LUC sequence (i.e., native vegetation to pasture to sugarcane) associated to sugarcane expansion in Brazil. At each land use site undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were collected from the 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths. Soil chemical and physical attributes were measured through on-farm and laboratory analyses. A dataset of soil biological attributes was also included in this study. Initially, the LUC effects on each individual soil indicator were quantified. Afterward, the LUC effects on overall SQ were assessed using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). Furthermore, six SQ indexes (SQI) were developed using approaches with increasing complexity. Our results showed that long-term conversion from native vegetation to extensive pasture led to soil acidification, significant depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) and macronutrients [especially phosphorus (P)] and severe soil compaction, which creates an unbalanced ratio between water- and air-filled pore space within the soil and increases mechanical resistance to root growth. Conversion from pasture to sugarcane improved soil chemical quality by correcting for acidity and increasing macronutrient levels. Despite those improvements, most of the P added by fertilizer accumulated in less plant-available P forms, confirming the key role of organic P has in providing available P to plants in Brazilian soils. Long-term sugarcane production subsequently led to further SOC depletions. Sugarcane production had slight negative impacts on soil physical attributes compared to pasture land. Although tillage performed for sugarcane planting and replanting alleviates soil compaction, our data suggested that the effects are short-term with persistent, reoccurring soil consolidation that increases erosion risk over time. These soil physical changes, induced by LUC, were detected by quantitative soil physical properties as well as by visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS), an on-farm and user-friendly method for evaluating SQ. The SMAF efficiently detected overall SQ response to LUC and it could be reliably used under Brazilian soil conditions. Furthermore, since all of the SQI values developed in this study were able to rank SQ among land uses. We recommend that simpler and more cost-effective SQI strategies using a small number of carefully chosen soil indicators, such as: pH, P, K, VESS and SOC, and proportional weighting within of each soil sectors (chemical, physical and biological) be used as a protocol for SQ assessments in Brazilian sugarcane areas. The SMAF and SQI scores suggested that long-term conversion from native vegetation to extensive pasture depleted overall SQ, driven by decreases in chemical, physical and biological indicators. In contrast, conversion from pasture to sugarcane had no negative impacts on overall SQ, mainly because chemical improvements offset negative impacts on biological and physical indicators. Therefore, our findings can be used as scientific base by farmers, extension agents and public policy makers to adopt and develop management strategies that sustain and/or improving SQ and the sustainability of sugarcane production in Brazil.

Limnologia e grau de trofia dos reservatórios em cascata do rio Tietê (médio e baixo Tietê, São Paulo)

As represas construídas em cascata no rio Tietê (Barra Bonita, Bariri, Ibitinga, Promissão, Nova Avanhandava e Três Irmãos) constituem em sistemas artificiais com grande importância ecológica, econômica e social. Com base nos dados físico-químicos e biológicos das seis represas, foram avaliadas as condições limnológicas, abundância da comunidade fitoplanctônica e zooplanctônica e o estado de trofia dos reservatórios através da aplicação do índice do estado trófico, desenvolvido por Carlson (1977). A utilização da concentração de fósforo para determinação do índice é o que deu melhor resultado, mostrando uma redução gradual de sua concentração nas represas seqüenciais, principalmente no período do verão. Os reservatórios que se mostraram eutróficos como o de Barra Bonita, Bariri e Ibitinga apresentaram uma maior abundância e freqüência de florescimento das algas pertencentes a classe Cyanophyceae principalmente das espécies Microcystis aeruginosa. Algumas espécies de Rotifera, como Asplanchna sieboldi, Brachionus caliciflorus e Kellicottia bostoniensis, e de Copepoda Calanoida Notodiaptomus iheringi, também serviram de indicativos do estado trófico dos sistemas, já que esses estão associados a ambientes eutróficos.