Local and regional ecological drivers of fish assemblages in Brazilian estuaries

Spatial patterns in assemblage structures are generated by ecological processes that occur on multiple scales. Identifying these processes is important for the prediction of impact, for restoration and for conservation of biodiversity. This study used a hierarchical sampling design to quantify variations in assemblage structures of Brazilian estuarine fish across 2 spatial scales and to reveal the ecological processes underlying the patterns observed. Eight areas separated by 0.7 to 25 km (local scale) were sampled in 5 estuaries separated by 970 to 6000 km (regional scale) along the coast, encompassing both tropical and subtropical regions. The assemblage structure varied significantly in terms of relative biomass and presence/absence of species on both scales, but the regional variation was greater than the local variation for either dataset. However, the 5 estuaries sampled segregated into 2 major groups largely congruent with the Brazilian and Argentinian biogeographic provinces. Three environmental variables (mean temperature of the coldest month, mangrove area and mean annual precipitation) and distance between estuaries explained 44.8 and 16.3%, respectively, of the regional-scale variability in the species relative biomass. At the local scale, the importance of environmental predictors for the spatial structure of the assemblages differed between estuarine systems. Overall, these results support the idea that on a regional scale, the composition of fish assemblages is simultaneously determined by environmental filters and species dispersal capacity, while on a local scale, the effect of environmental factors should vary depending on estuary-specific physical and hydrological characteristics © 2013 Inter-Research.

Ecological and evolutionary consequences of living in a defaunated world

Defaunation, the loss or population decline of medium and large native vertebrates represents a significant threat to the biodiversity of tropical ecosystems. Here we review the anthropogenic drivers of defaunation, provide a brief historical account of the development of this field, and analyze the types of biological consequences of this impact on the structure and functioning of tropical ecosystems. We identify how defaunation, operating at a variety of scales, from the plot to the global level, affects biological systems along a gradient of processes ranging from plant physiology (vegetative and reproductive performance) and animal behavior (movement, foraging and dietary patterns) in the immediate term; to plant population and community dynamics and structure leading to disruptions of ecosystem functioning (and thus degrading environmental services) in the short to medium term; to evolutionary changes (phenotypic changes and population genetic structure) in the long-term. We present such a synthesis as a preamble to a series of papers that provide a compilation of our current understanding of the impact and consequences of tropical defaunation. We close by identifying some of the most urgent needs and perspectives that warrant further study to improve our understanding of this field, as we confront the challenges of living in a defaunated world. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Hydrogen production by biogas steam reforming: A technical, economic and ecological analysis

Fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices that convert fuel and oxidant electrochemically into electrical energy, water and heat. Compared to traditional electricity generation technologies that use combustion processes to convert fuel into heat, and then into mechanical energy, fuel cells convert the hydrogen and oxygen chemical energy into electrical energy, without intermediate conversion processes, and with higher efficiency. In order to make the fuel cells an achievable and useful technology, it is firstly necessary to develop an economic and efficient way for hydrogen production. Molecular hydrogen is always found combined with other chemical compounds in nature, so it must be isolated. In this paper, the technical, economical and ecological aspects of hydrogen production by biogas steam reforming are presented. The economic feasibility calculation was performed to evaluate how interesting the process is by analyzing the investment, operation and maintenance costs of the biogas steam reformer and the hydrogen production cost achieved the value of 0.27 US$/kWh with a payback period of 8 years. An ecological efficiency of 94.95%, which is a good ecological value, was obtained. The results obtained by these analyses showed that this type of hydrogen production is an environmentally attractive route. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

The institutional dimension of the Amazonian ecological disorder: bureaucracy, diplomacy and ecopolitics in Brazil

Includes bibliography

Migration, urban marginality and ecological stratification; draft for comments

Includes bibliography

Análise da paisagem para o planejamento e a gestão da conservação da Mata Atlântica

Landscape is dynamic, having complex nature, with tangible and intangible dimensions, presenting a continuous evolution process. The aim of this research were based on the identification and classification of landscapes in units and subunits, from the ownership by individuals; the development of a methodology to assist in the planning and management, conciliating conservation of natural areas with anthropic activities; and, from the information gathered, evaluate the different social groups aiming to design a landscape from the sustainable development perspective; thus better understanding both cultural and forest fragmentation processes, in the city of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. The research analyzed the current landscape and its historical evolution, distinguishing between material and immaterial dimensions. Information was raised from field trips, soil types, relief, slope, drainage, conservation units, administrative zoning, urban areas, natural resources, economy, tax raising, transport and building infrastructure, satellite images, types of management applied to the preservation or conservation of forests and fields, and semi-structured interviews with the various actors that modify and transform the territory, thus making a balance between the built landscape and the demands of the society and ecosystems. Results were composed by a map of land use in 2011; a map of landscape units and their subunits, with their appropriate definitions; a map with five levels of activities intensity, with their respective descriptions; and raising barriers to improving the welfare of the actors and the integrity of ecosystems. The number of generated ecosystem services are difficult to measure, but its benefits are useful for everyone. The physical changes are a reflection of the economy, which caused environmental impacts, mainly related to mining activities, tourism, agriculture and conservation of natural areas, all requiring ideally a shared management. In this sense, the landscape needs a management to create sustainable alternatives to anthropic activities. The dynamics of the landscape has been shaped by a slow evolution, set by mining activities due to the high financial revenues, there were areas of revegetation after clearcuts in the past, and now tourism lacks structure. The city has great potential for development projects with payments for environmental services, however, gaps for shared management exists.

Homo magister: conhecimento e reconhecimento de uma professora de ciências pelo campo escolar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O zoneamento ecológico-econômico como instrumento de planejamento e gestão ambiental: uma proposta para a bacia hidrográfica do Rio Corumbataí (SP)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modelagem da paisagem orientada ao processo decisório da gestão socioambiental na bacia hidrográfica do rio Manso (MT)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Zoneamento ecológico-econômico no Tocantins: contribuição metodológica e processual para sua execução

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Leituras: literatura e [homo] erotismo

O presente trabalho é resultado de uma investigação acerca do [homo]erotismo em autores paraenses: Inglês de Sousa, Eustachio de Azevedo, Abguar Bastos, Dalcídio Jurandir, Haroldo Maranhão e Maria Lúcia Medeiros. As principais ferramentas utilizadas advêm da Psicanálise, especialmente os estudos fundadores de Sigmund Freud, e da Semiologia, sobretudo considerações de Roland Barthes, além de determinados posicionamentos de Michel Foucault a propósito da Sexualidade. No tocante ao conceito de Erotismo, é Georges Bataille a referência mais importante, principalmente no que diz respeito à estreita relação entre erotismo e agressividade, mesmo em seu ponto culminante, a morte. Ao final, o plano geral do estudo mostra uma visão panorâmica das principais manifestações do [homo]erotismo entre autores paraenses, mas ressalte-se que a pesquisa não se resume a um mero levantamento, pois desenvolvo leituras de todos as obras enumeradas.

Proposta metodológica de inclusão da gestão de análises de riscos naturais no zoneamento ecológico e econômico

A região da Calha Norte, localizada no Baixo Amazonas do Estado do Pará, sofre historicamente com vários tipos de ameaças naturais, como cheias, enchentes, alagamentos, erosão, estiagem, enxurrada, fortes chuvas e secas, todas registradas pela Defesa Civil. Todos os anos, seja no período da chuva ou no período da seca, a população fica vulnerável a tais eventos. A presente dissertação consiste em adaptar uma iniciativa metodológica que permita a incorporação da temática de gestão de riscos naturais no Zoneamento Ecológico Econômico (ZEE) do Brasil, tendo como estudo de caso o ZEE da Calha Norte do Pará, proporcionando instrumentos para a gestão e melhorias das ações do poder público. A análise das ameaças naturais baseou-se em estudo metodológico que agregou dados históricos, mapa geomorfológico, mapa geológico, mapa hipsométrico, mapa de declividade, identificando as três classes de análises: (i) área de alta suscetibilidade; (ii) área de moderada suscetibilidade e (iii) área de baixa suscetibilidade, gerando assim os mapas das ameaças de inundação, de erosões e das secas. A construção da vulnerabilidade social ocorreu a partir da aplicação do Índice de Vulnerabilidade Social (IVS) e do Índice de Unidades de Resposta (IUR), oriundos dos dados do Censo 2010 e do Cadastro Nacional de Endereço para Fins Estatísticos (CNEFE), ambos do IBGE. Após a aplicação de tais índices verificou-se que, do total de 397 setores censitários da área de estudo, 365 setores apresentam alta vulnerabilidade e os demais, moderada e baixa vulnerabilidade, o que retrata grande preocupação com tal área. Na análise de risco, os dados de vulnerabilidade e ameaças foram integrados e novamente classificados em três níveis: (i) alto risco, onde há pouca concentração de unidades de respostas e são áreas de alta ameaça, podendo provocar danos sociais e econômicos quando e se ocorrerem as ameaças naturais; (ii) médio nível de risco, resultado gerado do cruzamento de áreas de altas ameaças x baixas ameaças e (iii) baixo nível de risco, resultando em dois produtos cartográficos: o mapa de risco de inundação e o mapa de risco de erosão. O ZEE da Calha Norte do Pará foi analisado com alguns questionamentos a fim de verificar a inclusão da temática de ameaça, vulnerabilidade e risco no documento, concluindo-se pela falta desta no documento técnico. Além disto, os resultados obtidos com a pesquisa são de elevada importância no sentido de subsidiar o ordenamento territorial e também para a criação de políticas públicas para a região.