Trail log - 1990-1994

Rolston accounts: South Africa, October 1990. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Brazil and United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio de Janeiro. Pantanal. Amazon, 1992. Europe, Wales,, Scotland, World Congress of Philosophy, Moscow, 1993, Oxford, England, and Norway, with Arne Naess.Israel and Society for Preservation of Nature in Israel, Eilat, 1994. Finland and North Cape. Bob Marshall Wilderness trip, 1994

Establishment of a long term collection of photosyn thetic microrganisms for agroenergy research in Embrapa.

Cod. Trabalho: 98

Earthworms from Mato Grosso, Brazil, and new records of species from the state

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar qualitativamente a diversidade de minhocas em áreas sob influência humana, em uma região de transição de Pantanal–Cerrado–Floresta Amazônica, no Estado de Mato Grosso. As minhocas foram coletadas nos municípios de Barra do Bugres e Arenápolis e estudadas em conjunto com espécies previamente identificadas de outros municípios do Estado, em um total de 29 pontos de coletas em 17 municípios. Em Barra do Bugres, foram coletadas e identificadas sete espécies de minhocas: Goiascolex vanzolinii, Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) corethrurus, Opisthodrillus borellii borellii, Opisthodrillus sp., Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) gracilis, Dichogaster sp. e uma espécie da família Criodrilidae. Em Arenápolis foram identificadas quatro espécies: Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) corethrurus, Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) gracilis, Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) affinis e Dichogaster sp. Ao todo, 32 espécies/subespécies de minhocas são conhecidas em Mato Grosso, 22 nativas e 10 exóticas.The objective of this work was to undertake a qualitative assessment of earthworm diversity in areas under human influence, in a region of Cerrado–Pantanal–Amazon rainforest transition, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The earthworms were collected in the municipalities of Barra do Bugres and Arenápolis, and were studied together with species previously identified from other municipalities. Seventeen municipalities, at 29 sampling points of Mato Grosso State, have been sampled. Seven species of earthworms were collected and identified in Barra do Bugres: Goiascolex vanzolinii, Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) corethrurus, Opisthodrillus borellii borellii, Opisthodrillus sp., Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) gracilis, Dichogaster sp. and a species of the Criodrilidae family. Four species of earthworms were identified in Arenápolis: Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) corethrurus, Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) gracilis, Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) affinis and Dichogaster sp. In total, 32 earthworm species/subspecies are known from Mato Grosso, 22 native and 10 exotic

Evolutionary history and identification of conservation units in the giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis.

The giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis, occupies a range including the major drainage basins of South America, yet the degree of structure that exists within and among populations inhabiting these drainages is unknown. We sequenced portions of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b (612 bp) and control region (383 bp) genes in order to determine patterns of genetic variation within the species. We found high levels of mtDNA haplotype diversity (h = 0.93 overall) and support for subdivision into four distinct groups of populations, representing important centers of genetic diversity and useful units for prioritizing conservation within the giant otter. We tested these results against the predictions of three hypotheses of Amazonian diversification (Pleistocene Refugia, Paleogeography, and Hydrogeology). While the phylogeographic pattern conformed to the predictions of the Refugia Hypothesis, molecular dating using a relaxed clock revealed the phylogroups diverged from one another between 1.69 and 0.84 Ma, ruling out the influence of Late Pleistocene glacial refugia. However, the role of Plio-Pleistocene climate change could not be rejected. While the molecular dating also makes the influence of geological arches according to the Paleogeography Hypothesis extremely unlikely, the recent Pliocene formation of the Fitzcarrald Arch and its effect of subsequently altering drainage pattern could not be rejected. The data presented here support the interactions of both climatic and hydrological changes resulting from geological activity in the Plio-Pleistocene, in shaping the phylogeographic structure of the giant otter

Control of Passion Fruit Fungal Diseases Using Essential Oils Extracted from Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Growth of fruits which form an important part of human diet has been jeopardized by the many fungal diseases that are present today. This study was conceived to isolate the most common fungal pathogens in passion fruits. Fungi were isolated using potato dextrose agar in addition to characterization using morphological, cultural, and biochemical means. Extraction of essential oils from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus agglomerata) was done. Before carrying the sensitivity test of essential oils to the fungal isolates, constituents of the essential oils were determined. The most common fungal pathogens isolated from passion fruits were Alternaria spp. (45%), Fusarium spp. (22%), Colletotrichum spp. (17%), and Penicillium spp. (16%). There was a relationship between heating time and yield of essential oils in rosemary (r=0.99) and eucalyptus (r=0.99). Conversely, there was no significant difference in the amount of essential oils produced by rosemary and eucalyptus (P=0.08). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in growth inhibition of the fungal pathogens between essential oils from rosemary and eucalyptus (P=0.000438). Fungal pathogens isolated from passion fruits can be controlled using essential oils from rosemary and eucalyptus. The oils need to be produced in large scale

Science, Technology and Innovation Management: Contributions to a Methodological Framework

The article discusses the specificities of science and technology development and innovation processes in organizational arena and their implications for planning and management. It proposes that ST&I processes must be planned and managed as evolutionary processes defined by targeted attitudes to search routines and an understanding of the selective instances in which organizations are embedded, taking into consideration the distinct institutional elements that mediate such relations. To deal with this framework, the article proposes a methodological framework comprising a set of building blocks to help managers deal with the challenge of innovation. The building blocks are: (1) indeterminacy; (2) the profile of the professionals involved and the organizational culture; (3) the collective logic associated with the complexity of non-linear, dynamic and adaptive systems; and (4) the logic of the scope economies associated with knowledge production. The methodology is applied in a case study of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa

Naturalização de Hibiscus sabdariffa L. em região de transição dos Biomas Pantanal, Floresta Amazônica e Cerrado

The species Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is originally from the African continent. It is a bushy species that can reach up to 2 m in height, where due to its various uses, it has spread to different regions of the world, where it acts in an exotic way, and can become a naturalized species. In the city of Cáceres-MT there is a small population of the species in an anthropized area, in which, according to local residents, the plants have been present in the place for several years, even with the occurrence of disturbances in the area several times. Therefore, the objective of this work was to analyze the possible naturalization of Hibiscus sabdariffa in an anthropized locality present in the transition region of the Pantanal, Amazonian Forest and Cerrado Biomes in the city of Cáceres- MT. For the execution of the work, a qualitative research was carried out, of an exploratory and descriptive nature, and bibliographical research on Hibiscus sabdariffa and on the naturalization of plants. Data on disturbances were collected through observations over the years and through interviews with small producers residing in the community. The small population of the Hibiscus sabdariffa species found in the rural community in Cáceres- MT has the characteristics of naturalization, and can therefore be considered a naturalized species in the place and participant of the local biodiversity. In addition, the fact that the species has been present in the area for several years, despite recurrent disturbances, reinforces the occurrence of naturalization.  A espécie Hibiscus sabdariffa L. é originária do continente Africano. Trata-se de uma espécie arbustiva que pode chegar até 2 m de altura, onde devido aos seus vários usos, se espalhou para diversas regiões no mundo, onde atua de forma exótica, podendo se tornar uma espécie naturalizada. Na cidade de Cáceres- MT existe uma pequena população da espécie em uma área antropizada, no qual, de acordo com os moradores locais, as plantas já estão presentes no local há vários anos, mesmo havendo diversas vezes a ocorrência de perturbações na área. Sendo assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi analisar a possível naturalização de Hibiscus sabdariffa em uma localidade antropizada presente na região de transição dos Biomas Pantanal, Floresta Amazônica e Cerrado na cidade de Cáceres- MT. Para a execução do trabalho realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa, de natureza exploratória e descritiva, pesquisa bibliográfica sobre Hibiscus sabdariffa e sobre naturalização de plantas. Os dados sobre as perturbações foram coletados através de observações ao decorrer dos anos e por entrevistas com pequenos produtores que residem na comunidade. A pequena população da espécie Hibiscus sabdariffa encontrada na comunidade rural em Cáceres- MT possui as características de naturalização, podendo assim, ser considerada uma espécie naturalizada no local e participante da biodiversidade local. Além disso, o fato de a espécie estar presente na área há vários anos mesmo com as perturbações recorrentes, reforça a ocorrência de naturalização