A social and ecological assessment of tropical land uses at multiple scales: the Sustainable Amazon Network

Science has a critical role to play in guiding more sustainable development trajectories. Here, we present the Sustainable Amazon Network (Rede Amazonia Sustentavel, RAS): a multidisciplinary research initiative involving more than 30 partner organizations working to assess both social and ecological dimensions of land-use sustainability in eastern Brazilian Amazonia. The research approach adopted by RAS offers three advantages for addressing land-use sustainability problems: (i) the collection of synchronized and co-located ecological and socioeconomic data across broad gradients of past and present human use; (ii) a nested sampling design to aid comparison of ecological and socioeconomic conditions associated with different land uses across local, landscape and regional scales; and (iii) a strong engagement with a wide variety of actors and non-research institutions. Here, we elaborate on these key features, and identify the ways in which RAS can help in highlighting those problems in most urgent need of attention, and in guiding improvements in land-use sustainability in Amazonia and elsewhere in the tropics. We also discuss some of the practical lessons, limitations and realities faced during the development of the RAS initiative so far.Keywords: Social–ecological systems, Tropical forests, Land use, Interdisciplinary research, Sustainability, Trade-off

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Development of pedotransfer functions and their application in agrohydrological models

Foram desenvolvidas funções de pedotransferência (PTF) para estimar os parâmetros (\'alfa\', n \'teta\'r e \'teta\'s) do modelo de Van Genuchten (1980) utilizado para descrever curvas de retenção de água no solo. Os dados utilizados foram provenientes de diversas fontes, principalmente de estudos realizados na região Nordeste pelas Universidades, Embrapa e Codevasf, totalizando 786 curvas de retenção, as quais foram divididas em dois conjuntos de dados: 85% para desenvolvimento das PTF; e 15% para teste e validação, considerados como dados independentes. Além do desenvolvimento das PTF de caráter generalizado para todos os solos, foram desenvolvidas PTF específicas para as classes Argissolos, Latossolos, Neossolos e Planossolos. As PTF foram desenvolvidas utilizando técnicas de regressão múltipla, utilizando o procedimento stepwise (forward e backward) para selecionar os melhores preditores. Duas PTF foram desenvolvidas: a) incluindo todos os preditores, densidade do solo, teores de areia, silte e argila e de matéria orgânica e b) apenas com os teores de areia, silte e argila. A avaliação estatística das PTF foi feita de acordo o coeficiente de determinação (R2), o índice de Willmott (d) e o índice confiança (IC). Para avaliação da estimativa do teor de água em potenciais matriciais específicos foi utilizado a raiz do erro médio quadrado (RMSE). A avaliação funcional das PTF paramétricas foi realizada examinando o seu desempenho no contexto do modelo SWAP (Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant). Os parâmetros s, r, e n desenvolvidos por meio de PTF para o modelo de Van Genuchten foram introduzidos no modelo SWAP para verificar a viabilidade da utilização de funções de pedotransferência para descrever atributos físico-hídricos do solo e previsão do rendimento agrícola. Essa viabilidade foi avaliada pelo desempenho do modelo comparando suas estimativas da produtividade agrícola com valores observados. Para os parâmetros e n da equação de Van Genuchten, as PTF demonstraram baixa capacidade preditiva, no entanto, para o parâmetro r a predição foi melhor. Em potenciais matriciais específicos (-10, -33 e -1500 kPa), a capacidade preditiva das PTF foi maior, o que possibilita a utilização em modelos de simulação que requerem apenas aproximações da capacidade de campo, ponto de murcha permanente e água disponível. O desempenho das PTF específicas por classes de solo foi similar ao da PTF Geral, evidenciando que o agrupamento de solos para desenvolver as PTF por classe foi pouco vantajoso. O desempenho na estimativa do teor de água no solo foi melhor para as PTF desenvolvidas com teores granulométricos, matéria orgânica e densidade do solo. Os resultados das simulações de rendimento agrícola utilizando PTF não diferem muito daquelas que empregam outros métodos. Além disso, aplicados em séries de dados mais prolongadas, os erros são reduzidos devido à inerente variabilidade espaço-temporal da produtividade. Palavras-chaves: Pedotransferência; Modelo; Simulação; SWAP; Feijão caupi (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.); Milho (Zea mays L.); Sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)Development of pedotransfer functions and their application in agrohydrological models Pedotransfer functions (PTF) were developed to estimate the parameters (,\'alfa\', n \'teta\'r and \'teta\'s) of the Van Genuchten (1980) soil water retention model. Data for 786 retention curves were obtained from several sources, mainly from studies from the Northeastern region of Brazil performed by universities, Embrapa and Codevasf. The data were divided in two groups: 85% of data for PTF development; and 15%, considered to be independent, for testing and validation. Besides development of general PTFs for all soils, for the classes Ultisols, Ferralsols, Entisols and Planosols specific PTFs were developed. Techniques of multiple regression, specifically the procedure stepwise (forward and backward) were used to select the best predictors. Two PTFs were developed: a) including all predictors (soil density and contents of sand, silt, clay and organic matter) and b) including only the contents of sand, silt and clay. The statistical performance of each PTF was evaluated from the coefficient of determination (R2), the Willmott index (d) and the confidence index (IC). To evaluate the prediction of soil water content at specific pressure heads, the root mean squared error (RMSE) was used. The functional evaluation of parametric PTFs was done examining performance of PTF estimated parameters in the context of the model SWAP (Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant). The parameters , n, r and s estimated through PTF were introduced in the model to evaluate, by comparison to observed yields, the performance of the PTF when its predictions were used to estimate agricultural productivity. The PTFs showed a low predictive capacity for parameters and n, however, for parameters r and s the fits were better. At specific pressure heads (-10, -33 and -1500 kPa), the predictive performance of the PTF was better, allowing the use in simulation models that require only values of field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water content. The performance of the specific PTF for soil classes was better than the general PTF, but the difference was small, showing that grouping of soils to develop PTF per class seems to be of little advantage. The results of the simulations of agricultural productivity, using PTF, are similar to those that use more traditional methods. Moreover, when applied in long data series the errors are reduced due to the inherent space-temporary variability of the productivity. Keywords: Pedotransfer; Model; Simulation; SWAP; Corn (Zea mays L.); Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.); Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Analysis of growth, development and productivity in maize (Zea mays L.): experiments and models

Desenvolveu-se um modelo agrometeorológico para simular o crescimento, o desenvolvimento e a produtividade da cultura do milho (Zea mays L.). O modelo foi testado com os dados obtidos na Estação Experimental de Vitória de Santo Antão - PE. Três partes principais constaram do modelo. Na primeira foram computados os ganhos energéticos, representados pela fotossíntese. Na segunda, as perdas do sistema relativas à respiração de manutenção e crescimento. Após o estabelecimento do incremento diário de matéria seca para as diversas partes da planta, na terceira parte, procurou-se estabelecer as relações com o incremento da área foliar. Levaram-se em consideração as interações das condições meteorológicas e o estado fisiológico das plantas. As pressuposições fundamentaram-se em resultados disponíveis na literatura. O modelo proposto mostrou-se consistente para simular o crescimento, o desenvolvimento e a produtividade da cultura do milho, sendo similar aos valores obtidos experimentalmente. Os parâmetros mais sensíveis no modelo foram a eficiência fotossintética e a respiração de manutenção.An agrometeorological model was developed to simulate the growth, the development and the productivity of maize (Zea mays L.). The model was tested with data obtained at the Experimental Station of Vitória de Santo Antão - PE. The model consisted of three major parts. ln the first part, the energetic gains represented by the photosynthesis were computed. In the second one, the system losses relative to the maintenance respiration and growth were evaluated. In the third one, after the establishment of the daily dry matter increment for the various plant parts, it was attempted to establish the relations with the foliar leaf increment. The interations of the meteorological conditions and the plant physiological estate. The presuppositions were based on the results available in the literature. The proposed model showed to be consistent to simulate the growth, the development and the productivity of maize cropping, being similar to those values which were experimentally obtained. The parameters most sensitive in the model were the photosynthetic efficiency and the maintenance respiration.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológic

Pedotransfer functions to estimate water retention parameters of soils in northeastern Brazil

Pedotransfer functions (PTF) were developed to estimate the parameters (α, n, θr and θs) of the van Genuchten model (1980) to describe soil water retention curves. The data came from various sources, mainly from studies conducted by universities in Northeast Brazil, by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and by a corporation for the development of the São Francisco and Parnaíba river basins (Codevasf), totaling 786 retention curves, which were divided into two data sets: 85 % for the development of PTFs, and 15 % for testing and validation, considered independent data. Aside from the development of general PTFs for all soils together, specific PTFs were developed for the soil classes Ultisols, Oxisols, Entisols, and Alfisols by multiple regression techniques, using a stepwise procedure (forward and backward) to select the best predictors. Two types of PTFs were developed: the first included all predictors (soil density, proportions of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter), and the second only the proportions of sand, silt and clay. The evaluation of adequacy of the PTFs was based on the correlation coefficient (R) and Willmott index (d). To evaluate the PTF for the moisture content at specific pressure heads, we used the root mean square error (RMSE). The PTF-predicted retention curve is relatively poor, except for the residual water content. The inclusion of organic matter as a PTF predictor improved the prediction of parameter a of van Genuchten. The performance of soil-class-specific PTFs was not better than of the general PTF. Except for the water content of saturated soil estimated by particle size distribution, the tested models for water content prediction at specific pressure heads proved satisfactory. Predictions of water content at pressure heads more negative than -0.6 m, using a PTF considering particle size distribution, are only slightly lower than those obtained by PTFs including bulk density and organic matter content

A social and ecological assessment of tropical land uses at multiple scales:the Sustainable Amazon Network

Science has a critical role to play in guiding more sustainable development trajectories. Here, we present the Sustainable Amazon Network (Rede Amazonia Sustentavel, RAS): a multidisciplinary research initiative involving more than 30 partner organizations working to assess both social and ecological dimensions of land-use sustainability in eastern Brazilian Amazonia. The research approach adopted by RAS offers three advantages for addressing land-use sustainability problems: (i) the collection of synchronized and co-located ecological and socioeconomic data across broad gradients of past and present human use; (ii) a nested sampling design to aid comparison of ecological and socioeconomic conditions associated with different land uses across local, landscape and regional scales; and (iii) a strong engagement with a wide variety of actors and non-research institutions. Here, we elaborate on these key features, and identify the ways in which RAS can help in highlighting those problems in most urgent need of attention, and in guiding improvements in land-use sustainability in Amazonia and elsewhere in the tropics. We also discuss some of the practical lessons, limitations and realities faced during the development of the RAS initiative so far

AMAZONIA CAMTRAP: A data set of mammal, bird, and reptile species recorded with camera traps in the Amazon forest

The Amazon forest has the highest biodiversity on Earth. However, information on Amazonian vertebrate diversity is still deficient and scattered across the published, peer-reviewed, and gray literature and in unpublished raw data. Camera traps are an effective non-invasive method of surveying vertebrates, applicable to different scales of time and space. In this study, we organized and standardized camera trap records from different Amazon regions to compile the most extensive data set of inventories of mammal, bird, and reptile species ever assembled for the area. The complete data set comprises 154,123 records of 317 species (185 birds, 119 mammals, and 13 reptiles) gathered from surveys from the Amazonian portion of eight countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). The most frequently recorded species per taxa were: mammals: Cuniculus paca (11,907 records); birds: Pauxi tuberosa (3713 records); and reptiles: Tupinambis teguixin (716 records). The information detailed in this data paper opens up opportunities for new ecological studies at different spatial and temporal scales, allowing for a more accurate evaluation of the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, and other human-mediated defaunation processes in one of the most important and threatened tropical environments in the world. The data set is not copyright restricted; please cite this data paper when using its data in publications and we also request that researchers and educators inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES: A dataset of occurrence and abundance of freshwater fishes in the Neotropics

The Neotropical region hosts 4225 freshwater fish species, ranking first among the world's most diverse regions for freshwater fishes. Our NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set is the first to produce a large-scale Neotropical freshwater fish inventory, covering the entire Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean in the north to the southern limits in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. We compiled 185,787 distribution records, with unique georeferenced coordinates, for the 4225 species, represented by occurrence and abundance data. The number of species for the most numerous orders are as follows: Characiformes (1289), Siluriformes (1384), Cichliformes (354), Cyprinodontiformes (245), and Gymnotiformes (135). The most recorded species was the characid Astyanax fasciatus (4696 records). We registered 116,802 distribution records for native species, compared to 1802 distribution records for nonnative species. The main aim of the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set was to make these occurrence and abundance data accessible for international researchers to develop ecological and macroecological studies, from local to regional scales, with focal fish species, families, or orders. We anticipate that the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set will be valuable for studies on a wide range of ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, fishery pressure, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, and the impacts of species invasion and climate change. There are no copyright restrictions on the data, and please cite this data paper when using the data in publications

Neotropical freshwater fisheries : A dataset of occurrence and abundance of freshwater fishes in the Neotropics

The Neotropical region hosts 4225 freshwater fish species, ranking first among the world's most diverse regions for freshwater fishes. Our NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set is the first to produce a large-scale Neotropical freshwater fish inventory, covering the entire Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean in the north to the southern limits in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. We compiled 185,787 distribution records, with unique georeferenced coordinates, for the 4225 species, represented by occurrence and abundance data. The number of species for the most numerous orders are as follows: Characiformes (1289), Siluriformes (1384), Cichliformes (354), Cyprinodontiformes (245), and Gymnotiformes (135). The most recorded species was the characid Astyanax fasciatus (4696 records). We registered 116,802 distribution records for native species, compared to 1802 distribution records for nonnative species. The main aim of the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set was to make these occurrence and abundance data accessible for international researchers to develop ecological and macroecological studies, from local to regional scales, with focal fish species, families, or orders. We anticipate that the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set will be valuable for studies on a wide range of ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, fishery pressure, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, and the impacts of species invasion and climate change. There are no copyright restrictions on the data, and please cite this data paper when using the data in publications