The endangered species Brycon orbignyanus: genetic analysis and definition of priority areas for conservation

Currently, biodiversity is threatened by several factors often associated with human population growth and the extension of areas occupied by human activity. In particular, freshwater fish fauna is affected by overfishing, deforestation, water pollution, introduction of exotic species and habitat fragmentation promoted by hydroelectric dams, among other environmental impact factors. Several action plans to preserve ichthyofauna biodiversity have been adopted; however, these plans frequently cover only a small number of species, and decisions are often made without strong scientific support. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic aspects of wild groups of Brycon orbignyanus, an endangered fish species, using microsatellites and D-loop regions to identify the genetic structure of the samples and to establish priority areas for conservation based on the genetic patterns of this species. The results indicated that the samples showed levels of genetic variability compatible with others studies with Neotropical fishes. However, the results obtained in the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) for microsatellites (F (ST) = 0.258) and D-loop (F (ST) = 0.234) and the interpopulation fixation index revealed that B. orbignyanus was structured in different subpopulations in the La Plata River basin; the areas with better environmental conditions also showed subgroups with higher rates of genetic variability. Future conservation actions addressing these sites should consider two different management units: the complex formed by the Ivinhema River, Upper Parana, Camargo Port and Ilha Grande groups; and the complex formed by the Verde River and Sucuriu River groups.

More of the same: high functional redundancy in stream fish assemblages from tropical agroecosystems

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of the competition of Cu(II) and Ni(II) on the kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities of Cr(III)-organic ligand complexes using competitive ligand exchange (EDTA)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Green Manufacturing: Relationship between Adoption of Green Operational Practices and Green Performance of Brazilian ISO 9001-Certified Firms

The present work aims at analyzing how the adoption of a proactive environmental management via green operational practices (GOPs) correlates to the Green Performance (GrP) of a given set of ISO 9001-certified firms in Brazil. To this end, we elaborated a conceptual framework about environmental management, GOPs, and GrP Such theoretical foundation supported the development of empirical research through quantitative analysis. For the analysis, 75 questionnaires were collected from ISO 9001 certified companies. Data was analyzed by with statistical tools such as descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results demonstrate that the adoption of GOPs, in fact, exerts a positive impact on the GrP of the firms. This work contributes to a better understanding of green manufacturing in Brazil's industrial sector

Green product development and performance of Brazilian firms: measuring the role of human and technical aspects

The goal of this study is to present and test a conceptual framework that describes the technical aspects (TA), human/organizational aspects (HOA) of the adoption of green product development (GPD) practices and the effect of these practices on firms'environmental (EP), operational (OP) and market performance (MP). To this end, after reviewing the literature on these themes, a conceptual framework with 5 hypotheses is proposed. These hypotheses were tested on 62 Brazilian companies through structural equation modeling using SmartPLS 2.0M3. The main results of this study are as follows: (a) in general, the proposed framework obtained adequate goodness of fit statistics (GoF); (b) technological factors are shown to have an influence on the adoption of GPD practices, and those practices are related to company EP, OP and MP, thus confirming 4 hypotheses of the study; and (c) one of the study's hypotheses is not validated, indicating that the relationship of human/organizational aspects to GPD must be further analyzed. This work extends the literature because: (a) the conceptual framework tested in this study establishes several concepts that have been only partially tested in the previous literature; (b) this work presents evidence about Brazil, where the themes addressed herein have not been yet been thoroughly investigated; and (c) the non-validation of the hypothesis regarding the relationship between human/ organizational aspects with respect to the adoption of product-related environmental practices requires attention. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.

Bioenergy from stillage anaerobic digestion to enhance the energy balance ratio of ethanol production

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

Anatomia de espécies brasileiras de Eriocaulaceae: Comanthera e Syngonanthus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estratégias de sustentabilidade na prática odontológica

Dentists have widely discussed environmental issues with a view to the implementation of sustainability strategies in dental practice. It is unacceptable the practice of dentistry today as merely the solution of dental problems. The Dentist has a social responsibility to incorporate into your daily work concrete actions to reduce the impact of its production process. The purpose of this study is to characterize the development and application of performanceoriented model of social responsibility in dental practice, built to preserve the environmental cause in dentistry in order to trace change scenario that allows the environmental management without compromising the quality of services offered.

Proposta de gestão ambiental para o Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Piauí, campus Teresina Central

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE

A gestão dos resíduos sólidos no município de Bauru - SP

The destination of urban solid waste has became a very relevant theme because of the fast growth of cities. Bauru, a strategically located municipality, needs solutions for that problem. This research aims to show solid waste management in Bauru through a survey of the selective or regular garbage collection programs, treatment and final disposal of the waste. To do so, a questionnaire with 85 questions was used about solid waste management in the municipality and visits were made to the solid waste collection and disposal sites. Bauru has a bad selective collection program and very significant clandestine disposal of Hazardous waste. Furthermore, it doesnot treat hospital waste and has a deficient final disposal landfill.

Avaliação ambiental simplificada dos recursos hídricos na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo

The objective of this study was to evaluate environmental impacts on the Ribeirão Preto basin in order to define the most degraded areas and their causes and to propose solutions and management strategies for them. An impacts indicator questionnaire was designed, that allowed us to establish a direct relationship between reactions achieved and environmental factors by attributing value to some impacting parameters obtained by simple visualization in the field. The questionnaire was applied at 22 points, based on the influence area of the sub-basin and variability in land use. It was determined that the main environmental impacts that affect the basin are in nature effluent wastewater released into water bodies, the disposal of waste and deforestation. These factors were mainly noticed near to Ribeirão Preto city (State of São Paulo), the most populated region. Such information provides subsidies necessary to environmental management in this basin to decreasing environmental degradation. Among the management strategies suggested, it is possible to highlight that related to the accomplishment of environmental legislation, recuperation of degraded areas and adequate treatment and disposal of effluents.

Inovação ambiental: das imprecisões conceituais a uma definição comum no âmbito da gestão ambiental pró-ativa

The objective of this paper is to propose a common definition for the term “Environmental Innovation”, starting with a systematic literature review, encompassing some of the most significant articles in this Field. The definition of Environmental Innovation proposed in this paper involves the main dimensions, motivations and barriers to the effectiveness of Environmental Innovation as a practice in organizations. We consider Environmental Innovation an essential issue for proactive environmental management. As a result, the authors expect to present a systematic definition of Environmental Innovation, which is of increasing relevance to the transition towards a more sustainable society.

Gestão ambiental: um novo desafio para os profissionais de recursos humanos?

Current research analyzes the importance of human resources managers in organizational sustainability through the ack-nowledgement of the external variables and innovatory practices, such as environment management. In fact, the latter is a challenge for organizations and consequently for the human resources’ area. Investigation comprised a revision of the literature: theoretical and empirical articles that deal with the role of human resources’ mana-gement and on the environmental issue which is daily in the news. The essay is divided into three parts: the first section emphasizes the role of human resources’ managers; empirical evidences of the activities of HR managers in international contexts are dealt with in the second part; the third section deals with the environmental ma-nagement issue as a new challenge for HR managers. HR managers should acknowledge and incorporate in human resources practice the environmental dimension from the stages of recruitment, selec-tion and training. If people with attitudes and competences in the environment are rewarded, they will contribute towards an effective environmental management and, consequently, improvements in organizational results will materialize.

Cultura organizacional, inovação e gestão ambiental: integrando conceitos para a edificação de organizações sustentáveis

The main purpose of this article is to relate two among the most important themes of the current organizational dynamic: organizational culture, innovation and environmental management. Great part of the literature about environmental management and environmental innovation refers to organizational culture as the most arduous wall or the most significant element to develop effective practices of business environmental management. However, relationship among such concepts is, many times, superficial or camouflaging the necessary analytic depth. To solve this challenge, this article integrates the levels of the organizational culture (workmanships, values and presupposed unconscious), the typologies of environmental innovation (total productivity of resources, innovations for the segregation of materials and articulation of bio-systems), and the environmental technologies (end-of-pipe, environmental measurement, pollution prevention and zero-impact technology). Recommendations and challenges for the continuity of this research are registered.