Seasonal population dynamics in Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

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

Spatial-temporal distribution of fire-protected savanna physiognomies in Southeastern Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Temporal patterns of parasitism in Diatraea saccharalis Fabr. (Lep., Crambidae) populations at different spatial scales in sugarcane fields in Brazil

Biological control of Diatraea saccharalis is regarded as one of the best examples of successful classical biological control in Brazil. Since the introduction of the exotic parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes, from Pakistan at the beginning of the 1970s, decrease in D. saccharalis infestation in sugarcane fields has been attributed to the effectiveness of this agent. Recently, the native Tachinidae fly parasitoids (Lydella minense and Paratheresia claripalpis) have also been implicated in this success. However, quantitative data confirming the actual contribution of these agents to the control of D. saccharalis are rather limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of the interactions between D. saccharalis and its parasitoids, emphasizing the temporal patterns of parasitism. To investigate this question, a large data set comprising information collected from two sugarcane mills located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil (Barra and Sao Joao sugarcane mills), was analysed. Basically, the data set contained monthly information about the number of D. saccharalis larvae and their parasitoids in each sample (man-hour per sample), the sugarcane varieties cultivated, the age of the sugarcane plants (only at the Sao Joao sugarcane mill) as well as the sugarcane cut at sampling time. The data were collected from March 1984 to March 1997 and from May 1982 to December 1996 for the Barra and Sao Joao sugarcane mills, respectively. Temporal inverse density-dependent parasitism was predominant for both parasitoid species with respect to all spatial scales. Although the temporal pattern of parasitism was not directly density dependent, it was evident that the tachinids and C. flavipes presented positive numerical responses according to variations in D. saccharalis densities through time.

Fermentation and epiphytic microflora dynamics in sugar cane silage

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

Dynamics of aggregate stability influenced by soil management and crop residues

The type of tillage and crop systems used can either degrade or cause a recovery of the structure of agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to determine the structural stability of the soil using mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregates in three different periods of a succession of crops consisting of beans/cover plants/maize under no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) management systems. Soils were sampled at 0- to 5-cm and 5- to 15-cm depths in three periods (P1, P2, P3): 1) November 2002 (spring/summer), 2) April 2003 (beginning of autumn), and 3) December 2003 (end of spring/beginning of summer). Aggregate stability was determined by wet sieving. The effects of the tillage systems, vegetal residues, and sampling depths on the structural stability of the aggregates were assessed and then related to organic matter (OM) contents. Aggregate stability showed temporal variation as a function of OM contents and sampling period. No tillage led to high MWD values in all study periods. The lowest MWD values and OM contents were observed 4 months after the management of the residues of cover plants. This finding is consistent with the fact that at the time of the samplings, most of the OM had already mineralized. The residues of sunn-hemp, millet, and spontaneous vegetation showed similar effects on soil aggregate stability.

Spatial and temporal variability of soil CO2 emission in a sugarcane area under green and slash-and-burn managements

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Controlling collapse in Bose-Einstein condensates by temporal modulation of the scattering length

A study was conducted on the dynamics of 2D and 3D Bose-Einstein condensates in the case when the scattering length in the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation which contains constant (dc) and time-variable (ac) parts. Using the variational approximation (VA), simulating the GP equation directly, and applying the averaging procedure to the GP equation without the use of the VA, it was demonstrated that the ac component of the nonlinearity makes it possible to maintain the condensate in a stable self-confined state without external traps.

Temporal-spatial distribution of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Decapoda: Diogenidae) from Ubatuba Bay, São Paulo State, Brazil

The present work was conducted to determine the distribution of Loxopagurus loxochelis collected monthly, over a period of one year, in Ubatuba Bay (from September/95 to August/96). A total of 179 specimens were collected (138 males, 30 females and 11 ovigerous females). The greatest depth, predominance of very fine sand and highest mean value of organic matter contents of sediment, in combination with the low temperatures registered in winter (July and August), determined the presence of L. loxochelis in the subarea located at the Ubatuba Bay mouth, exposed to the open sea with high water current energy, important because this position insures that spawned larvae will enter into the oceanic circulation.

Variabilidade temporal e meridional de estimativas de Satélite da concentração de clorofila superficial na plataforma continental brasileira

Forecast of biological consequences of climate changes depend on both long-term observations and the establishment of carbon budgets within pelagic ecosystems, including the assessment of biomasses and activities of all players in the global carbon cycle. Approximately 25% of oceanic primary happen over continental shelves, so these are important sites for studies of global carbon dynamics. The Brazilian Continental Shelf (BCS) has sparse and non-systematic in situ information on phytoplankton biomass, making products derived from ocean color remote sensing extremely valuable. This work analyzes chlorophyll concentration (Chl) estimated from four ocean color sensors (CZCS, OCTS, SeaWiFS and MODIS) over the BCS, to compare Chl and annual cycles meridionally. Also, useful complementary ocean color variables are presented. Chl gradients increased from the central region towards north and south, limited by estuarine plumes of Amazon and La Plata rivers, and clear annual Chl cycles appear in most areas. In southern and central areas, annual cycles show strong seasonal variability while interannual and long-term variability are equally important in the remaining areas. This is the first comparative evaluation of the Chl over the BCS and will aid the understanding of its long-term variability; essential initial step for discussions of climate changes.

Bait and habitat preferences, and temporal variability of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) attracted to vertebrate carrion

In addition to feeding on carrion tissues and fluids, social wasps can also prey on immature and adult carrion flies, thereby reducing their populations and retarding the decomposition process of carcasses. In this study, we report on the occurrence and behavior of social wasps attracted to vertebrate carrion. The collections were made monthly from September 2006 to October 2007 in three environments (rural, urban, and forest) in six municipalities of southeast Brazil, using baited bottle traps. We collected Agelaia pallipes (Olivier, 1791) (n = 143), Agelaia vicina (Saussure, 1854) (n = 106), Agelaia multipicta (Haliday, 1836) (n = 18), and Polybia paulista Ihering, 1896 (n = 3). The wasps were observed feeding directly on the baits and preying on adult insects collected in the traps. Bait and habitat associations, temporal variability of social wasps, and possible forensic implications of their actions are discussed. © 2011 Entomological Society of America.

Structure and dynamics of the community of periphytic algae in a subtropical reservoir (state of São Paulo, Brazil)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dinâmica temporal da poluição fecal nas águas do Córrego Rico, manancial de abastecimento da cidade de Jaboticabal-SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A expansão urbano-industrial do município de Americana - SP: geotecnologias aplicadas à análise temporal e simulação de cenários

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Método da árvore temporal modificada aplicado à análise de impactos ambientais: um estudo de caso

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Variação temporal do fitoplâncton e dos parâmetros hidrológicos da zona de arrebentação da Ilha Canela (Bragança, Pará, Brasil)

As variações sazonal e nictemeral do fitoplâncton e dos parâmetros hidrológicos foram estudadas em uma estação fixa (00º46'37.2"S-046º43'24.5"W) localizada na Ilha Canela (Bragança-Pará) em setembro e dezembro de 2004 e março e junho de 2005. Amostras subsuperficiais de água foram coletadas para os estudos qualitativos, quantitativos e para a determinação das concentrações de clorofila a. Simultaneamente, foram medidos os parâmetros físico-químicos da água: salinidade, temperatura, pH, oxigênio dissolvido e percentual de saturação. Foram identificados 64 táxons entre Cyanophyta (um táxon), Bacillariophyta (54 táxons) e Dinophyta (nove táxons). A concentração de clorofila a variou de 4,67 mg m^-3 (período seco) a 5,44 mg m^-3 (período chuvoso) e acompanhou a densidade fitoplanctônica, que foi mais elevada durante o período chuvoso (média=1.870 x 10³ cél L^-1). Os fitoflagelados dominaram quantitativamente o fitoplâncton local, seguidos pelas diatomáceas. Dimeregramma minor e Skeletonema sp. constituíram espécies muito freqüentes e muito abundantes. A ressuspensão de sedimentos provocadas pelos intensos ventos e a arrebentação das ondas favoreceram a dominância de D. minor durante o período seco. No período chuvoso, a elevada pluviometria, os moderados ventos, bem como a influência das águas estuarinas do Taperaçu e Caeté, propiciaram a redução da salinidade e o desenvolvimento de outras espécies fitoplanctônicas.