Developing cost-effective field assessments of carbon stocks in human-modified tropical forests

Across the tropics, there is a growing financial investment in activities that aim to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, such as REDD+. However, most tropical countries lack on-the-ground capacity to conduct reliable and replicable assessments of forest carbon stocks, undermining their ability to secure long-term carbon finance for forest conservation programs. Clear guidance on how to reduce the monetary and time costs of field assessments of forest carbon can help tropical countries to overcome this capacity gap. Here we provide such guidance for cost-effective one-off field assessments of forest carbon stocks. We sampled a total of eight components from four different carbon pools (i.e. aboveground, dead wood, litter and soil) in 224 study plots distributed across two regions of eastern Amazon. For each component we estimated survey costs, contribution to total forest carbon stocks and sensitivity to disturbance. Sampling costs varied thirty-one-fold between the most expensive component, soil, and the least, leaf litter. Large live stems (≥10 cm DBH), which represented only 15% of the overall sampling costs, was by far the most important component to be assessed, as it stores the largest amount of carbon and is highly sensitive to disturbance. If large stems are not taxonomically identified, costs can be reduced by a further 51%, while incurring an error in aboveground carbon estimates of only 5% in primary forests, but 31% in secondary forests. For rapid assessments, necessary to help prioritize locations for carbon- conservation activities, sampling of stems ≥20cm DBH without taxonomic identification can predict with confidence (R2 = 0.85) whether an area is relatively carbon-rich or carbon-poor—an approach that is 74% cheaper than sampling and identifying all the stems ≥10cm DBH. We use these results to evaluate the reliability of forest carbon stock estimates provided by the IPCC and FAO when applied to human-modified forests, and to highlight areas where cost savings in carbon stock assessments could be most easily made

The Effects of Resistance Training Volume on Skeletal Muscle Proteome

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(7): 1051-1066, 2017. Studies are conflicting to whether low volume resistance training (RT) is as effective as high-volume RT protocols with respect to promoting morphological and molecular adaptations. Thus, the aim of the present study was to compare, using a climbing a vertical ladder, the effects of 8 weeks, 3 times per week, resistance training with 4 sets (RT4), resistance training with 8 sets (RT8) and without resistance training control (CON) on gastrocnemius muscle proteome using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and cross sectional area (CSA) of rats. Fifty-two proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS, with 39 in common between the three groups, two in common between RT8 and CON, one in common between RT8 and RT4, four exclusive in the CON, one in the RT8, and four in the RT4. The RT8 group had a reduced abundance of 12 proteins, mostly involved in muscle protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, anti-oxidant defense, and oxygen transport. Otherwise one protein involved with energy transduction as compared with CON group showed high abundance. There was no qualitative protein abundance difference between RT4 and CON groups. These results revealed that high volume RT induced undesirable disturbances on skeletal muscle proteins, while lower volume RT resulted in similar gains in skeletal muscle hypertrophy without impairment of proteome. The CSA was significantly higher in RT8 group when compared to RT4 group, which was significantly higher than CON group. However, no differences were found between trained groups when the gastrocnemius CSA were normalized by the total body weight

An explicit GIS-based river basin framework for aquatic ecosystem conservation in the Amazon

Despite large-scale infrastructure development, deforestation, mining and petroleum exploration in the Amazon Basin, relatively little attention has been paid to the management scale required for the protection of wetlands, fisheries and other aspects of aquatic ecosystems. This is due, in part, to the enormous size, multinational composition and interconnected nature of the Amazon River system, as well as to the absence of an adequate spatial model for integrating data across the entire Amazon Basin. In this data article we present a spatially uniform multi-scale GIS framework that was developed especially for the analysis, management and monitoring of various aspects of aquatic systems in the Amazon Basin. The Amazon GIS-Based River Basin Framework is accessible as an ESRI geodatabase at doi:10.5063/F1BG2KX8. © Author(s) 2016

Paternal resistance training modulates calcaneal tendon proteome in the offspring exposed to high-fat diet

The increase in high-energy dietary intakes is a well-known risk factor for many diseases, and can also negatively impact the tendon. Ancestral lifestyle can mitigate the metabolic harmful effects of offspring exposed to high-fat diet (HF). However, the influence of paternal exercise on molecular pathways associated to offspring tendon remodeling remains to be determined. We investigated the effects of 8 weeks of paternal resistance training (RT) on offspring tendon proteome exposed to standard diet or HF diet. Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: sedentary fathers and trained fathers (8 weeks, three times per week, with 8–12 dynamic movements per climb in a stair climbing apparatus). The offspring were obtained by mating with sedentary females. Upon weaning, male offspring were divided into four groups (five animals per group): offspring from sedentary fathers were exposed either to control diet (SFO-C), or to high-fat diet (SFO-HF); offspring from trained fathers were exposed to control diet (TFO-C) or to a high-fat diet (TFO-HF). The Nano-LC-MS/MS analysis revealed 383 regulated proteins among offspring groups. HF diet induced a decrease of abundance in tendon proteins related to extracellular matrix organization, transport, immune response and translation. On the other hand, the changes in the offspring tendon proteome in response to paternal RT were more pronounced when the offspring were exposed to HF diet, resulting in positive regulation of proteins essential for the maintenance of tendon integrity. Most of the modulated proteins are associated to biological pathways related to tendon protection and damage recovery, such as extracellular matrix organization and transport. The present study demonstrated that the father’s lifestyle could be crucial for tendon homeostasis in the first generation. Our results provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in paternal intergenerational effects and potential protective outcomes of paternal RT

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

Resistência de Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a inseticidas dos grupos piretroides e oxadiazinas no Brasil

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) was officially reported in Brazil in 2013 causing serious damage to several crops, especially soybean and cotton crops. Because of this severe damage and also because H. armigera is more tolerant to insecticides in compare to other lepidopteran pests in Brazil, there was a significant increase of selection pressure with insecticides in the field. Many cases of insecticide resistance, especially to pyrethroids, have been reported in some countries of the Old World. The main objective of the present study was to characterize the susceptibility of H. armigera and to investigate the mechanisms of its resistance to pyrethroids and indoxacarb in Brazilian populations. Mortality of H. armigera populations was less than 50% when treated with the highest dose of 10 μg a.i./3rd-instar larva of fenvalerate and deltamethrin. Field populations of H. armigera monitored from 2013 to 2016 growing seasons showed mean mortalities of 10 to 40% at the diagnostic dose of 10 μg a.i./3rd-instar larva. The resistance ratio to pyrethroid was 780-fold. The frequency of the chimeric P450 CYP337B3 gene was above 0.95 in all 33 populations screened. The genetic basis of H. armigera resistance to pyrethroids was also investigated. The dominance degree varied from 0.66 to 0.92, i.e., incompletely to completely dominant, and resistance was characterized as autosomal and polygenic. Possible mutations in the sodium channel were investigated, as well as the expression of other P450 genes via RT-qPCR. Two non-synonymous mutations, V937G and Q960H were found, and the genes CYP6AB10, CYP301A, CYP4S13 and CYP321A5 were up-regulated in the Brazilian pyrethroid-resistant strain compared to the susceptible strain. The susceptibility of H. armigera populations to indoxacarb was characterized with a diet overlay bioassay in 3rd-instar larvae. LC50 values ranged from 0.22 (0.16-0.28) μg a.i./cm2 to 0.57 (0.41-0.82) μg a.i./cm2, varying 2.6-fold. The populations were monitored through the 2013-2017 growing seasons, with the diagnostic dose of 6.1 μg a.i./cm2; during the period, the susceptibility to indoxacarb decreased. An indoxacarb-resistant strain was selected under laboratory conditions and showed a resistance ratio of 297.5-fold. These results will contribute to decision-making and implementation of insect resistance-management (IRM) programs in Brazil and other recently invaded countries in Brazil.Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) foi reportada oficialmente no Brasil em 2013, ano em que causou grandes perdas em lavouras de soja e algodão no país. Devido ao ataque severo de H. armigera e por ser mais tolerante do que as demais pragas que ocorriam no Brasil, houve um aumento significativo da pressão de seleção com inseticidas no campo. Inúmeros casos de resistência desta praga a inseticidas do grupo dos piretroides já havia sido reportado em alguns países do Velho Mundo. Dentro desse contexto o objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar a suscetibilidade e investigar possíveis mecanismos de resistência a piretroides bem como indoxacarb no Brasil. A mortalidade das populações de H. armigera foi menor do que 50 % quando tratadas com a dose máxima de 10 μg i.a./lagarta de 3º instar para fenvalerato e deltametrina. As populações de campo de H. armigera monitoradas entre os anos de 2013 a 2016 na dose diagnóstica de 10 μg i.a./lagarta de 3º instar apresentaram mortalidade de 10 a 40%. A frequência do gene P450 CYP337B3 foi maior do que 0,95 em 33 populações testada. Além disso, as bases genéticas da resistência de H. armigera a piretroides foram investigadas e a razão de resistência com a linhagem suscetível foi de 780 vezes. O grau de dominância variou de 0,66 a 0,92, incompletamente e completamente dominante e a resistência foi caracterizada como autossômica e poligênica. Adicionalmente investigou-se a presença de possíveis mutações no canal de sódio bem como a expressão de outros genes P450 em uma linhagem resistente a piretroides. Foi possível detectar duas mutações não-sinonímias V937G, e Q960H no canal de sódio e os genes CYP6AB10, CYP301A, CYP4S13 e CYP321A5 foram super expressos na linhagem resistente. A suscetibilidade de populações de H. armigera para o inseticida indoxacarb foi caracterizada a partir de bioensaios de ingestão com lagartas de 3° instar. Os valores de CL50 variaram de 0,22 (0,16 - 0,28) μg i.a./cm2 até 0,57 (0,41 - 0,82) μg i.a./cm2 variando em 2,6 vezes. As populações foram monitoradas ao longo das safras agrícolas entre 2013 e 2017 com a concentração diagnóstica de 6,1 μg i.a./cm2 e observou-se uma diminuição na suscetibilidade da praga a indoxacarb. Uma linhagem resistente a indoxacarb foi selecionada em laboratório e comparada com uma linhagem suscetível de referência, apresentando uma razão de resistência de 297,5 vezes. Os resultados obtidos são extremamente importantes e poderão contribuir na tomada de decisões bem como na implementação de programas de manejo da resistência de insetos (MRI) no Brasil

Changes on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks due to the land use change in Pará State, Brazil

A atividade de mudança do uso da terra na Amazônia vem sendo apontada como principal fonte de CO2 para a atmosfera em função das emissões de C e N provenientes do solo. A prática de manejo adotada pode influenciar significativamente nos estoques de C e N do solo funcionando como dreno ou fonte de C e N para a atmosfera. Além disso, podem ser alterados: a fertilidade e a densidade do solo bem como as frações e a origem da MOS. Com o objetivo de avaliar o impacto das mudanças de uso da terra na região leste da Amazônia foram coletadas amostras de terra nos principais usos da terra na região de Santarém-PA, em três profundidades: 0-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm. Através das amostras foi realizada a caracterização físico-química das áreas e foram determinados os teores de C e N do solo e os isótopos ? 13C e ? 15N com a finalidade de quantificar os estoques de C e N do solo e avaliar a dinâmica e origem da MOS. Para um subconjunto de amostras foi realizado o fracionamento físico da MOS e a determinação do C da biomassa microbiana para compreender como a mudança de uso da terra interferiu nessas frações. Somado a essas determinações foi realizada a estimativa dos fatores de emissão com base na metodologia descrita pelo IPCC. Através da caracterização físicoquímica as áreas de estudo são caracterizadas por solos argilosos a muito argilosos. Os maiores valores de pH, macronutrientes, CTC, SB e V% foram observados nas áreas de agricultura (AGR) sugerindo que a utilização de práticas como adubação e calagem, são capazes de alterar os padrões de fertilidade do solo na Amazônia, aumentando seus índices de fertilidade. Para os estoques de C e N pode-se dizer que a mudança de uso da terra na região estudada está contribuindo para as perdas de C e N do solo, principalmente quando a conversão é realizada para áreas de agricultura (AGR) e pastagem (PA) sendo que os estoques de C observados na camada de 0-30 cm nessas áreas foram 49,21 Mg C ha-1 (PA) e 48,60 Mg C ha-1 (AGR). O maior valor de ? 13C foi encontrado nas áreas de pastagens, -25,08?, sugerindo que para as áreas de PA existe diluição isotópica e que parte do C do solo ainda é remanescente da floresta. As frações da MOS apresentaram alterações na quantidade de C e na proporção das frações leve e oclusa, principalmente nos usos AGR e PA. A fração lábil da MOS (C da biomassa microbiana) também apresentou grande diferença entre os usos FLO e AGR (526,21 e 296,78 ?g g-1de solo seco), indicando que a AGR foi o uso que mais alterou os estoques de C e N do solo e também as frações da MOS. Os fatores de emissão calculados confirmam todos os resultados observados em relação a conversão de FLO para AGR, sendo que para esse uso o fator de emissão foi de 0,93 ± 0,033, sendo então o uso que mais emitiu C. Com base nos resultados conclui-se que a introdução de áreas agrícolas na região de Santarém, é a principal causa de perda de C e N do solo e consequentemente é o uso que mais contribui com as emissões de gases do efeito estufa.The land use change in the Brazilian Amazon has been identified as the main source of CO2 to the atmosphere due to emissions of soil carbon and nitrogenl. The management practice adopted can strongly influence the soil C and N stocks and may works like a sink or source of C and N to the atmosphere. Furthermore, can be changed: the soil fertility and bulk density as well as the SOM fractions and C source of the SOM. With the objective of evaluate the impact of the land use change in eastern Amazonia soil samples were collected in the main land uses in Santarém region, Para State of Brazil, at three depths: 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. Through the samples was performed the physicochemical characterization of the areas and were determined the soil C and N contents as well the isotopes ? 13C and ? 15N in order to quantify the soil C and N stocks and understand the SOM dynamics and evaluate the SOM origin. For a subset of samples were performed the physical fractionation of SOM and the determination of microbial biomass C to understand how the land use change may interfere in these fractions. Added to these determinations were estimated the emission factors based on the methodology described by the IPCC. Through the physicochemical characterization study areas can be characterized as a clayey loamy soils. The highest values of pH, macronutrients, CEC , sum of bases and base saturation were observed in croplands (CP), suggesting that the use of practices such as fertilization and liming are able to change the soil fertility patterns in the Amazon, increasing their fertility. For C and N stocks can be said that the land use change in the study area is contributing to the loss of soil C and N, especially when the conversion is done for croplands (CP) and grasslands (GS) areas and the value observed for soil C stocks in the 0-30 cm layer in these areas were 49.21 Mg C ha-1 (GS) and 48.60 Mg C ha-1 (CP). The highest ? 13C value was found in GS, -25.08 ?, suggesting that for these areas is occurring an isotope dilution and that part of the soil C is still remaining from forest. The SOM fractions showed changes in the amount of C and in the proportion of light and occluded fractions, especially in the uses CP and GS. The labile SOM fractions (microbial biomass) also showed a large difference between the UF and CP uses (526.21 and 296.78 mg g-1 of dry soil), indicating that CP affects the soil C and N stocks and also the SOM fractions. The emission factors calculated confirm all results observed for the conversion of UF for CP, and for this use the emission factor was 0.93 ± 0.033, and then this was the use that emitted more C. Based on the results we conclude that the introduction of croplands in Santarem region is the main cause of soil C and N loss and consequently contributes more to the greenhouse gases emission