Software for Calculation of Nutrient Solution for Fruits and Leafy Vegetables in NFT Hydroponic System

Information technology is present in virtually all areas of science as a productivity tool, assisting professionals in these areas in their daily work. In this sense, the objective of the research was the development of a free software for use over the Internet, with a friendly interface and intuitive navigation, for calculation of nutrient solution for fruit vegetables and leaves in hydroponic NFT system. To develop the software, we used the technologies PHP5 (Programming Language), MYSQL (Database), CSS5 (Style Language), HTML5 (Markup Language) and CodeIgniter (Framework). The software has among its functions the user registration, calculation of the nutrient solution and the issuance of reports in PDF format. Calculation of the nutrient solution is available for various crops. The calculation proposes the quantity of different fertilizers needed to prepare the nutrient solution for the chosen hydroponic crops. Two software known as Hidrosolun and Hidrosical (registration number BR 51201400613–1 and BR 51201400614–0) were created and registered at the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), a federal agency responsible for the registration of intellectual property rights for the industry. The software developed is easy to use, without the need to install hardware with high configurations

Global systematic map of research on bats in agricultural systems

Introduction: The conversion of natural habitats to agricultural systems is one of the main global threats to bats. Here, we aimed to develop a systematic mapping to identify publication trends and research gaps in studying bats and agricultural systems. Methods: We reviewed 309 studies published between 1990 and 2021 that sampled bats in agricultural systems or evaluated the effect of these systems on these animals. Results: We found that most studies were conducted in the Palearctic and Neotropical regions (55.3%) and forest biomes (66.0%). Grassland-cropland systems (50.2%) and forest plantations that do not require cutting during the extraction of their products (47.9%) were more studied than forest plantations that require cutting (19.7%). Additionally, acoustic recordings (41.1%) and mist nets (34.3%) were the primary sampling methods used, with few studies combining these methods (7.1%). Also, most studies were conducted on a local scale (77.7%). The number of landscape-scale studies was smaller (34.3%) and concentrated in the Palearctic region (39.6%). Most studies assessed how agricultural systems affect biodiversity (62.1%). However, the phylogenetic and functional dimensions and b-diversity were little explored, with 2.5% and 23.3% of the biodiversity studies, respectively. Of the proposed mitigation measures, the most cited was including natural/semi-natural/potential bat habitats in cultivated landscapes (59.5%). Discussion: In summary, our findings highlight the need for attention to the Afrotropic and Indo-Malaysia regions; predominantly non-forested biomes; plantations that require cutting during the extraction of their products; combined use of different sampling methods, as well as other methods as telemetry; use of multiple biodiversity descriptors and others biological descriptors, such as ecological services; landscape-scale studies and the role of conservation policies in promoting their conservation and raising awareness of their importance among producers and local communities. Filling these knowledge gaps is necessary to understand the factors influencing bat survival in cultivated landscapes. This is the only way to develop management and conservation strategies in these landscapes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Editorial: Human impacts on bats in tropical ecosystems: sustainable actions and alternatives

Globally, the most extraordinary biodiversity is in the tropics, spread in a great diversity of vegetation types and habitats. Among the myriad mammalian groups, bats stand out for their remarkable taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity (Wilson and Mittermeier, 2019). Within the tropics, bats can be found in different vegetation types varying in a gradient of structural complexity from dense ancient forests to more open landscapes and woodlands in the savannas and fields (Meyer et al., 2004; Carvalho et al., 2021). Bats provide essential ecosystem services such as seed dispersal and pollination of the many plants that have a role in the income of the most impoverished human populations and the formal economy (Lacher et al., 2019). Moreover, as voracious insect predators, bats play a vital role in suppressing agricultural pests, an invaluable service in this part of the world, and disease vectors for humans (Aguiar et al., 2021; Tuneu-Corral et al., 2023). It is widely recognized that the main threat to bats globally is the extensive conversion of natural ecosystems, especially in tropical developing countries (Meyer et al., 2016). This shift in land use results in habitat loss and environmental degradation, with consequent loss of species, ecosystem services, and lineages (Frick et al., 2020; Atagana et al., 2021; Colombo et al., 2023). There is thus an urgent need to disseminate correct information about bats and explore best practices for mitigating the adverse effects stemming from human activities such as vegetation clearing for cattle ranching, agriculture, human settlements, and urbanization. Therefore, in this Research Topic, we aimed to bring together current research that assesses the influence of multiple environmental transformation drivers on the diversity of tropical bats. Nine papers were published in this Research Topic, and they present novel insights into how bats react to human-driven environmental changes and address significant gaps in bat conservation. These studies were conducted by 36 authors in six countries across the American, African and Asian continents (Figure 1). While the sampling was local in seven studies, Brasileiro et al. used data spanning Brazilian biomes, and Xavier et al. carried out a global systematic review. Three key themes emerge from the papers presented in this Research Topic, and we discuss the findings and knowledge gaps related to each theme in the following sections. Figure 1info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Temporal activity of rural free-ranging dogs: implications for the predator and prey species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Domestic or free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) can have deleterious effects on wildlife, acting as predators or competitors to native species. These impacts can be highly important in fragmented pristine habitats or well-preserved areas located in human dominated landscapes and where biodiversity values are usually high, such as those in southeastern Brazil. Here we explored the level of overlap or mismatch in the distributions of activity patterns of rural free-ranging dogs and potential wild prey (Didelphis aurita, Cuniculus paca; Sylvilagus brasiliensis) and a wild predator (Leopardus pardalis) in areas of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. We further explored the possible influence of the wild predator on the dog presence pattern detected in the territory analyzed. Our camera-trap data (714 camera-trap days) showed that while rural free-ranging dogs display a cathemeral activity pattern, with activity peaks at dusk and dawn, ocelot and prey species are mainly nocturnal. Moreover, we found no evidence of an effect of ocelot presence, the distance to human houses and the presence of native forests on site occupancy by dogs. The ocelot activity patterns in this study were similar to those already reported in previous studies. On the other hand, previous studies have indicated that that free-ranging dogs are often reported to be more diurnal, and it seems that the rural free-ranging dogs in our study area may have adjusted their behaviour to be more active at dawn and dusk periods. This might be to both maintain some overlap with potential prey, e.g. Sylvilagus brasiliensis, and also to avoid ocelots by being less active in periods when this predator is more active (which also coincides with peaks in activity for potential prey species). We hypothesize that the presence of ocelots might be influencing the temporal niche dimension of rural free-ranging dogs. As a sustainable management strategy, we propose conserving territories to promote the presence of medium to large predators in natural areas, in order to control free-ranging dogs and protect their vertebrate prey species

Protected areas and the neglected contribution of Indigenous Peoples and local communities: Struggles for environmental justice in the Caatinga dry forest

Despite evidence about the contribution of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) to conservation, prevailing strategies still seek their separation from nature, often triggering conflicts. Current pledges to expand global protected area coverage suggest a need for the critical analysis of governance quality and the way conservation interacts with the well-being of IPLCs. We present the case of Catimbau National Park in the Caatinga dry forest of northeast Brazil, where we explored connections between the well-being of IPLCs and landscape through different values, practices and institutions, and perceptions of how environmentally just the park's governance has been. The well-being of IPLCs is inextricably connected with the Caatinga landscape, through multiple place-based relational values that, although differing between Indigenous and non-indigenous inhabitants, have in both cases developed over generations. Although often framed as degraders, IPLCs exhibit a strong motivation to conserve, reflected through local institutions including forest gardens, sustainable use regulations, restoration activities and prevention of external encroachment. The strict form of protected area implemented at Catimbau, instead of a locally led or sustainable use reserve, explicitly targeted the resettlement of IPLCs and livelihood reorientation. These imposed objectives have clashed with a way of life in this peopled landscape and precluded local stewardship on a larger scale. Long-term conflict arose through governance deficiencies which sparked multidimensional injustices. These include not only the misrecognition of local values and customary institutions but also the lack of procedures for consent or decision-making influence, plus distributional harms including tenure insecurity and denied development assistance. Development and conservation strategies must reject narratives about poor, resource-dependent rural communities and embrace the opportunities that local knowledge and institutions bring for effective conservation. As conservation efforts are expanded post-2020, the people of the Caatinga and beyond must be recognised as embedded and a key part of any solution. In strict protected areas like Catimbau, where social conflict constrains their ability to function, seeking legal changes in governance type can be onerous. However, we describe other local-level actions to build relationships and agency that may foster transitions towards better governance, and just treatment of IPLCs. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article

Seasonal variation and host sex affect bat–bat fly interaction networks in the Amazonian savannahs

Bats are the second-most diverse group of mammals in the world, and bat flies are their main parasites. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding these antagonistic interactions, especially since diverse factors such as seasonality and host sex can affect their network structures. Here, we explore the influence of such factors by comparing species richness and composition of bat flies on host bats, as well as specialization and modularity of bat–bat fly interaction networks between seasons and adult host sexes. We captured bats and collected their ectoparasitic flies at 10 sampling sites in the savannahs of Amapá State, northeastern region of the Brazilian Amazon. Despite female bats being more parasitized and recording greater bat fly species richness in the wet season, neither relationship was statistically significant. The pooled network could be divided into 15 compartments with 54 links, and all subnetworks comprised >12 compartments. The total number of links ranged from 27 to 48 (for the dry and wet seasons, respectively), and female and male subnetworks had 44 and 41 links, respectively. Connectance values were very low for the pooled network and for all subnetworks. Our results revealed higher bat fly species richness and abundance in the wet season, whereas specialization and modularity were higher in the dry season. Moreover, the subnetwork for female bats displayed higher specialization and modularity than the male subnetwork. Therefore, both seasonality and host sex contribute in different ways to bat–bat fly network structure. Future studies should consider these factors when evaluating bat–bat fly interaction networksP.M. was supported by a master’s scholarship and currently, is supported by doctoral scholarships from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil (process number 88887.662021/2022- 00). B.S.X. was supported by doctoral scholarships from CAPES, Brazil. W.D.C. was supported by post-doctoral funding (PNPD/CAPES) until early 2020. Currently, W.D.C. is supported by “Ayudas Maria Zambrano” (CA3/ RSUE/2021-00197), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Universities. G.L.U. was supported by Paraiba State Research Foundation (FAPESQ) under a doctoral scholarship from Grant No. 518/18 and by PDPG-Amazônia Legal (process number 88887.834037/2023-00). G.G. was supported by CNPq (process number 306216/2018) and Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. J.J.T. received a research productivity scholarship from CNPq (process number 316281/2021-22

SELEÇÃO AGRONÔMICA DE ACESSOS E CULTIVARES DE MAMONEIRA (Ricinus communis L.)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar agronomicamente, caracterizar morfologicamente, 23 materiais genéticos coletados com produtores rurais de diversas regiões e duas cultivares, para efeito comparativo, a ‘Guarani’ e ‘IAC 80’. O experimento foi estabelecido no Departamento de Agricultura da Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras – MG onde 23 acessos foram caracterizados morfológica e agronomicamente de acordo com os descritores propostos pelo Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (Savy Filho et al, 1999). A identificação dos acessos mais adaptados foi feita por meio de avaliações, durante um ano, das características agronômicas: ciclo evolutivo, altura de planta; diâmetro de caule; altura até a inserção do primeiro racimo (APR); número de colmos até o primeiro racimo (NCPR); relação peso do primeiro racimo e peso total (PPR/PT); em um ensaio de competição. De acordo com a análise de variância SAS, não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos, mostrando-nos que essas variáveis não diferem entre si estatisticamente. A avaliação destes acessos permitiu um acompanhamento, sendo que para o melhoramento destes é necessário a continuação do experimento, sendo necessário um novo plantio e novas avaliações

Elevation drives taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic β-diversity of phyllostomid bats in the Amazon biome

Aim: We evaluated the relative importance of geographical and environment variables for taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional β-diversity of phyllostomid bats along the entire Amazon biome and specifically in the lowlands. Location: Amazon biome. Taxon: Chiroptera. Methods: We carried out a bibliographic review and compiled a wide and unprecedented database of 106 phyllostomid bat species at 102 sites throughout the Amazon biome. For all possible pairs of sites in both datasets, we estimated the Jaccard pairwise dissimilarity, that is, β-diversity, considering its three dimensions—taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional—for its two components—turnover (substitution of species) and differences in species richness. The association between dissimilarity measurements and geographical and environment variables was assessed using multiple regressions on distance matrices (MRM). Results: We found that turnover and differences in species richness had similar contributions to the taxonomic β-diversity. However, for phylogenetic and functional β-diversity, lineages and functions richness differences contribute slightly more than turnover for total β-diversity. In the lowlands, species, lineages and functions richness differences were slightly higher than turnover for all diversity dimensions. When accounting for all the sites, elevation was the main predictor of phyllostomid bats' taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional turnover. For lowland sites, ecoregions was the main (but relatively weak) predictor associated with all β-diversity dimensions. Main conclusions: Analysis of filtering sites according to elevation revealed that species in the Amazonian lowlands are taxonomically and phylogenetically different from species in the Andes, and present taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional redundancy between assemblages. When accounting for the whole range of distribution of bats, results showed the predominant effect of elevation over other geographical and environmental predictors. This indicates that the diversity of good dispersers such as bats is more affected by specialisation along environment and climatic gradients than by geographical barriers throughout the Amazon biomeBat Conservation International; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior; National Geographic Society; Neotropical Grassland Conservancy; Rufford Foundatio

The relative importance of forest cover and patch-level drivers for phyllostomid bat communities in the Amazonian Savannas

Context: Analyze the multiple dimensions of biodiversity under a local and landscape lens in natural habitats, such as Amazonian savannas, is fundamental for the conservation of species and ecosystems. Objectives: We aim to explore how landscape forest cover and patch-level variables affect the patterns of species abundance, functional traits, and taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic α-diversity of Phyllostomid bats in forest patches of the Savannas of Amapá, in both the wet and dry seasons. Methods: We used mist nets to survey bats in 26 forest patches. We also quantified forest cover in buffers of 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 m around each patch, and tree height, basal area, canopy cover, and vegetation clutter in the understorey at the patch level. We used hierarchical partitioning to relate the different indices with our predictor variables. Results: Taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in the wet season increased with the proportion of forest cover in the 2500 m buffer. Vegetation clutter was negatively related to taxonomic and functional diversity in the wet season. In the dry season, average tree height positively affected taxonomic and functional diversity. Patch-level variables were more important than forest cover in explaining the average functional traits in both seasons. Conclusion: We found seasonal variation in the relationships between components of bat diversity and different drivers. Since both forest cover in the landscape and patch-level variables are important for Phyllostomid bat diversity, conservation plans should consider forest conservation at the landscape level and maintenance of forest patch qualityOpen Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Part of the data used in this study was supported by Neotropical Grassland Conservancy (01098803-5), National Geographic Society (EC59186R-19 and NGS-83254R-20), Bat Conservation International (2434131) and Ruford Foundation (25585-1