Soil and leaf nutrient content of tree species support deciduous forests on limestone outcrops as a eutrophic ecosystem

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Occurrence of periodontal pathogens in ethnic groups from a native Brazilian reservation

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

In vitro antibacterial and chemical properties of essential oils including native plants from Brazil against pathogenic and resistant bacteria

The antimicrobials products from plants have increased in importance due to the therapeutic potential in the treatment of infectious diseases. Therefore, we aimed to examine the chemical characterisation (GC-MS) of essential oils (EO) from seven plants and measure antibacterial activities against bacterial strains isolated from clinical human specimens (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and sensitive (MSSA), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium) and foods (Salmonella Enteritidis). Assays were performed using the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC and MIC90%) (mg/mL) by agar dilution and time kill curve methods (log CFU/mL) to aiming synergism between EO. EO chemical analysis showed a predominance of terpenes and its derivatives. The highest antibacterial activities were with Cinnamomun zeylanicum (0.25 mg/mL on almost bacteria tested) and Caryophyllus aronzaticus EO (2.40 mg/mL on Salmonella Enteritidis), and the lowest activity was with Eugenia uniflora (from 50.80 mg/mL against MSSA to 92.40 mg/mL against both Salmonella sources and P aeruginosa) EO. The time kill curve assays revealed the occurrence of bactericide synergism in combinations of C. aromaticus and C. zeylanicum with Rosmarinus. officinalis. Thus, the antibacterial activities of the EO were large and this can also be explained by complex chemical composition of the oils tested in this study and the synergistic effect of these EO, yet requires further investigation because these interactions between the various chemical compounds can increase or reduce (antagonism effect) the inhibitory effect of essential oils against bacterial strains.

Four types of evidentiality in the native languages of Brazil

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

Effects of the flooding gradient on tree community diversity in varzea forests of the purus river, central Amazon, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparing environmental impacts of native and introduced freshwater prawn farming in Brazil and the influence of better effluent management using LCA

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

Subdoses de glyphosate no desenvolvimento de espécies arbóreas nativas

Recovery of degraded areas aims to provide the degraded environment favorable conditions for restructuring in an environment that is unable to regenerate itself and planting of tree seedlings is one of the effective ways to extend this process. However, native tree species have slow growth rate which increases the seedlings production time as well as decreases their competitiveness with weeds in areas of forests deployment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of glyphosate reduced rates application on Psidium cattleyanum (yellow guava), Citharexylum myrianthum (pau-viola) and Cedrela odorata (cedro) seedlings development by analyzing its morphophysiological parameters. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse conditions and the experimental units consisted of one plant were conducted in 2.5L plastic pots and arranged in a completely randomized design with six replications. Treatments consisted of glyphosate application at 0, 7.5, 15, 30 and 60 g ha(-1) using Scout (R) commercial formulation. Treatments application on these species seedlings was realized 120 days after seeds germination. Visual evaluations of plants phytotoxicity were realized at 7, 14 and 21 days after treatments application and plants survival, stomatal conductance, height, stem diameter and dry mass of shoots were evaluated 90 days after treatments application. Different doses of glyphosate did not cause plants phytotoxicity. Already, 30 and 60 g ha(-1) of glyphosate provided greater increases in height, stem diameter and dry mass of shoots for Citharexylum myrianthum and Psidium cattleyanum, respectively.

A contribution to the identification of charcoal origin in brazil i - anatomical characterization of corymbia and eucalyptus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Nutrient cycling in two south-east Brazilian forests. I. Litterfall and litter standing crop

Examined litterfall and litter standing crops in Altitudinal forest (AF and Semideciduous forest (SF) at Serra do Japi, Jundiai, Sao Paulo State. Total litterfall was 7 t ha-1 y-1 for AF: 4.9 leaves, 1.8 woody, 0.13 flower, 0.16 fruits; and the total for SF was 8.6 t ha-1 y-1; 5.5 leaves, 2.1 woody, 0.5 flower, 0.4 fruits. Litter standing crop was 5.5 t ha-1 y-1 for the two forest sites studied with a turnover coefficient (K1) of 1.3 for AF and 1.6 for SF. Litterfall occurred throughout the year but was greater during the dry season (August-September); seasonality of litter and leaf fall was greater in SF than in AF. -from Author

Habitat fragmentation effects on the orchid bee communities in remnant forests of southeastern Brazil

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

Diet overlap and foraging activity between feral pigs and native peccaries in the pantanal

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

Influence of removal of a non-native tree species Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. on the regenerating plant communities in a tropical semideciduous forest under restoration in Brazil

Exotic species are used to trigger facilitation in restoration plantings, but this positive effect may not be permanent and these species may have negative effects later on. Since such species can provide a marketable product (firewood), their harvest may represent an advantageous strategy to achieve both ecological and economic benefits. In this study, we looked at the effect of removal of a non-native tree species (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia) on the understory of a semideciduous forest undergoing restoration. We assessed two 14-year-old plantation systems (modified taungya agroforestry system; and mixed plantation using commercial timber and firewood tree species) established at two sites with contrasting soil properties in São Paulo state, Brazil. The experimental design included randomized blocks with split plots. The natural regeneration of woody species (height ≥0.2 m) was compared between managed (all M. caesalpiniifolia trees removed) and unmanaged plots during the first year after the intervention. The removal of M. caesalpiniifolia increased species diversity but decreased stand basal area. Nevertheless, the basal area loss was recovered after 1 year. The management treatment affected tree species regeneration differently between species groups. The results of this study suggest that removal of M. caesalpiniifolia benefited the understory and possibly accelerated the succession process. Further monitoring studies are needed to evaluate the longer term effects on stand structure and composition. The lack of negative effects of tree removal on the natural regeneration indicates that such interventions can be recommended, especially considering the expectations of economic revenues from tree harvesting in restoration plantings.

An ethnobotanical study of anti-malarial plants among indigenous people on the upper Negro River in the Brazilian Amazon

In this article we present the plants used for the treatment of malaria and associated symptoms in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon. The region has important biological and cultural diversities including more than twenty indigenous ethnic groups and a strong history in traditional medicine. The aims of this study are to survey information in the Baniwa, Baré, Desana, Piratapuia, Tariana, Tukano, Tuyuca, Yanomami ethnic communities and among caboclos (mixed-ethnicity) on: a) plant species used for the treatment of malaria and associated symptoms; b) dosage forms and c) distribution of these anti-malarial plants in the Amazon. Information was obtained through classical ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological methods from interviews with 146 informants in Santa Isabel municipality on the upper Negro River, Brazil. Fifty-five mainly native neotropical plant species from 34 families were in use. The detailed uses of these plants were documented. The result was 187 records (64.4%) of plants for the specific treatment of malaria, 51 records (17.5%) of plants used in the treatment of liver problems and 28 records (9.6%) of plants used in the control of fevers associated with malaria. Other uses described were blood fortification ('dar sangue'), headache and prophylaxis. Most of the therapeutic preparations were decoctions and infusions based on stem bark, root bark and leaves. These were administered by mouth. In some cases, remedies were prepared with up to three different plant species. Also, plants were used together with other ingredients such as insects, mammals, gunpowder and milk. This is the first study on the anti-malarial plants from this region of the Amazon. Aspidosperma spp. and Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke were the most cited species in the communities surveyed. These species have experimental proof supporting their anti-malarial efficacy. The dosage of the therapeutic preparations depends on the kind of plant, quantity of plant material available, the patient's age (children and adults) and the local expert. The treatment time varies from a single dose to up to several weeks. Most anti-malarial plants are domesticated or grow spontaneously. They are grown in home gardens, open areas near the communities, clearings and secondary forests, and wild species grow in areas of seasonally flooded wetlands and terra firme (solid ground) forest, in some cases in locations that are hard to access. Traditional knowledge of plants was found to be falling into disuse presumably as a consequence of the local official health services that treat malaria in the communities using commercial drugs. Despite this, some species are used in the prevention of this disease and also in the recovery after using conventional anti-malarial drugs.

Evaluation of oral health in a community of native brazilians of the umutina reservation, Mato Grosso State

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