Can intensive management accelerate the restoration of Brazil`s Atlantic forests?

Only 7% of the once extensive forest along the eastern coast of Brazil remains, and much of that is degraded and threatened by agricultural expansion and urbanization. We wondered if methods similar to those developed to establish fast-growing Eucalyptus plantations might also work to enhance survival and growth of rainforest species on degraded pastures composed of highly competitive C(4) grasses. An 8-factor experiment was laid out to contrast the value of different intensities of cultivation, application of fertilizer and weed control on the growth and survival of a mixture of 20 rainforest species planted at two densities: 3 m x 1 m, and 3 m x 2 m. Intensive management increased seedling survival from 90% to 98%, stemwood production and leaf area index (LAI) by similar to 4-fold, and stemwood production per unit of light absorbed by 30%. Annual growth in stem biomass was closely related to LAI alone (r(2) = 0.93, p < 0.0001), and the regression improved further in combination with canopy nitrogen content (r(2) =0.99, p < 0.0001). Intensive management resulted in a nearly closed forest canopy in less than 4 years, and offers a practical means to establish functional forests on abandoned agricultural land. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CORRELATION BETWEEN FLOWERING, FRUCTIFICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES IN Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil, SOLANACEAE

Solanum lycocarpum (lobeira) is a typical and abundant species of brazilian Cerrado, which occupies mainly surrounding disturbed areas. It has interesting characteristics from the point of view of reproductive biology, that probably are favoring the large occupation of habitats by the species. Based on the fact that the species produces flowers and fruit during all the year, the present study had the purpose to verify the association between flower and fruit production with environmental variables (temperature, relative humidity and precipitation), aiming to support future studies referring to reproductive biology and ecology of plant species from Cerrado biome. A population of S. lycocarpum composed of 34 plants in reproductive phase, situated in Morrinhos, south of the State of Goias, Brazil,, was evaluated. All the plants were geographically referenced with a GPS receptor. Observations were made monthly during 13 months (June, 2005 to July, 2006) quantifying open flowers and fruits produced in the intervals between the observations. It was possible suggest high conversion of flowers in fruits. The Spearman rank correlation showed positive correlation of flower number with precipitation and relative humidity. Fruit number was not correlated with the environmental variables.

Resistance of Santa Ines and crossbred ewes to naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode infections

This trial was carried out in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo State. Brazil. to comparatively evaluate the degree of resistance to naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep of the following genetic groups purebred Santa Ines (SI), SI crossbred with Dorper (DO x SI), lie de France (IF x SI), Suffolk (SU x SI), and Texel (TE < SI) Fifteen ewes from each group were raised indoors until 12 months of age. At this age, they were moved to pasture that was naturally contaminated by nematode infective larvae and were evaluated from December to May. 2007. Rainfall ranged from 267 mm in January to 37 mm in April Maximum and minimum mean temperatures ranged from 32 5 degrees C to 19 0 degrees C in March and from 25.9 degrees C to 12.8 degrees C in May. There was an increase in the mean number of eggs per gram of feces (EPG) after animals were placed on pasture with significant difference between the SI (80 EPG) and IF x SI (347 EPG) groups in January: and the DO x SI (386 EPG) and TE x SI (258 EPG) groups in May. The highest mean fecal egg count (FEC), 2073 EPG, was recorded for the TE x SI group in February. All groups showed a progressive reduction in body weight throughout the experiment of 12.0% (TE x SI) to 15.9% (SU x SI). In general. the animals with the highest FEC presented the lowest packed cell volumes (PCV): the highest correlation coefficient between FEC x PCV occurred in the SU x SI sheep in January (r = -0.70; P < 0.01). Similarly, there was an inverse relationship between FEC and blood eosinophil Values, with the highest correlation coefficient in the TE x SI sheep in February (r = -0.64; P < 0.05). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels against Haemonchus contortus antigens increased in all groups as a result of the exposure to parasites and remained relatively constant until the end of the study, with the exceptions of SU x SI and TE x SI, which showed a rise in IgG levels during the last sampling that coincided with a reduction in mean FEC. In conclusion. crossbreeding Santa Ines sheep with any of the breeds evaluated can result in a production increase and the maintenance of a satisfactory degree of infection resistance, especially against H. contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. the major nematodes detected in this flock. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Can native vegetation recover after slash pine cultivation in the Brazilian Savanna?

There is a widespread view that forest plantations with exotic species are green deserts, unable to sustain biodiversity. Few studies have demonstrated, however, that planted stands of exotic trees have a greater negative effect on the plant diversity of savanna vegetation. We compared the native woody flora under four stands of slash pine of about 45 years old with four stands where the previously existing native Cerrado vegetation was preserved and protected from disturbances for the same period, has changed into dense vegetation - the ""cerradao"", at Assis municipality, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Aiming at understanding the potential ecological filters driving these communities, we assessed air and soil humidity, light availability and classified the native species on the basis of shade tolerance, dispersal syndrome and biomes in which they occur (Atlantic Forest or Cerrado). We recorded an average of 70 (+/- 13) species under pine stands and 54 (+/- 16) species in cerradao. Of the total of 136 species recorded, 78 occurred in both habitats, eight were exclusive to the ""cerradao"" (shade tolerant and also occurring in forest ecosystems) and 18 were recorded only under pine stands (82% heliophytic, exclusive to the Cerrado biome). Among the functional attributes and abiotic variables analyzed, only light availability explained the floristic differences found. Since richness was higher under pine, we refuted the hypothesis that exotic species constrain the establishment of the native species richness in the understory. On the other hand, the dark environment under the closed-canopy of the ""cerradao"" acts as a filter inhibiting the establishment of typical Cerrado species. Since pine stands, if managed in long cycle, maintain a reasonable pool of Cerrado endemic species in the understory pine plantations may be a good starting point for savanna restoration. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tests to determine the physiological potential of squash seeds.

Tests to determine the physiological potential of squash seeds. This work aimed to determine the efficiency of different tests to access the physiological potential of squash sced lots. Six seed lots were submitted to germination and vigor tests (germination first count; speed of germination; cool germination; accelerated aging; seedling emergence; seedlings growth and dry biomass (root, hypocotyl and total) and plants (root, stem and total length, root, stem, root plus stem, leaves and total). A completely randomized design was used with four replicates The averages were compared by the Tukey test (p <= 0.05). Pearson`s correlation test was also performed. The germination first count, speed of germination, accelerated aging, root plus stem and leaves dry biomass from plants evaluated in the 21(st) day after sowing can be used to determine the physiological potential of squash seeds.

Northern wing, General Purpose North 3, University of Queensland, St Lucia

As seen from Blair Road.

Northern wing, General Purpose North 3, University of Queensland, St Lucia

As seen from Balir Road.

West elevation, General Purpose North 3, University of Queensland, St Lucia

Formal elevation facing University of Queensland entrance roads.

Eastern edge, General Purpose North 3, University of Queensland, St Lucia

As seen from informal courtyard; Duhig Tower beyond.

West elevation, General Purpose North 3, University of Queensland, St Lucia

Formal elevation facing University of Queensland entrance roads.

West elevation, General Purpose North 3, University of Queensland, St Lucia

Formal elevation facing University of Queensland entrance roads.

West elevation, General Purpose North 3, University of Queensland, St Lucia

Formal elevation facing University of Queensland entrance roads.

Amphitheatre entry court, Collaborative Workshop, University of Queensland, St Lucia

Entry from landscaped amphitheatre area.

Gutter detail, Collaborative Workshop, University of Queensland, St Lucia

Open-ended folded sheet metal gutter.