Relatório de estágio de educação física realizado na Escola Secundária Jaime Moniz

A elaboração deste relatório tem como principal objetivo a exposição das vivências, por nós experienciadas no âmbito do estágio pedagógico na vertente de ensino da Educação Física, realizado na escola secundária Jaime Moniz, no ano letivo 20142015. Relataremos todas as atividades realizadas no âmbito do estágio pedagógico, bem como os problemas encontrados e as estratégias por nós adotadas para a sua resolução. À medida que procedemos à descrição dos diferentes capítulos realizaremos as posteriores reflexões, repensando metodologias, propondo novas soluções e expondo as ilações retiradas a partir da observação do contexto. Em suma, apesar do caráter formal deste documento, pretendemos através do mesmo, retratar a singularidade do nosso percurso enquanto estagiária. Deste modo, este trabalho compila os conhecimentos adquiridos ao longo da formação académica, os conceitos e noções bibliográficos numa perspetiva pessoal devidamente fundamentada

Growth, maturation and sport-specific motor skills in youth female basketball: impact of ball size and distance to the basket

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências do Desporto apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física da Universidade de Coimbra.The present Thesis aimed to evaluate the basketball shot performance according to variation of the shooting distance and ball size manipulation through a kinematic analysis. The work was conducted in a sample of 27 adolescent female basketball players aged 12.1 ± 0.7 years (stature: 153.3 ± 8.0 cm; body mass: 48.8 ± 12.8 kg). The variation of the shooting distance was evaluated by comparing two shooting distances (4.75 m and 5.75 m). Participants performed ten attempts from each distance. Regarding ball size manipulation, the performance was compared between a smaller ball size (Wilson MVP Size 5, 480 g) and the standardized ball size for their age category (Wilson Evolution Size 6, 566 g). Participants performed ten attempts with each ball size. The kinematic analysis considered the ball release variables (angle, velocity, and height at ball release) and several parameters related to the shooters’ body segments organization (centre of mass displacement – horizontal and vertical, hip height, joints angular positions, and respective velocities). The ball size manipulation did not significantly influence the movement performance. Differences were observed in the joints’ angular positions and velocities, mainly due to the elbow and knee joints' higher peaks of angular velocities while shooting with the ball size 6. Also, participants presented a significantly greater shoulder flexion and a greater angle at ball release while performing with the size 6. On the other hand, the results suggest that several adjustment mechanisms emerge at longer shots on the basketball shot motor action. A significant movement variability was detected at longer shots, mainly due to the increase of the joints’ angular velocities. Greater shoulder flexion and elbow extension were observed at ball release at longer shots. The ball release velocity also increased to compensate for the longer trajectory to the basket. Since velocity increased at ball release, the angle consequently decreased. Participants were less effective while performing at a longer shooting distance. During the early stages of the basketball's long-term development, players should be incentivized to shoot from several ranges closer to the basket before increasing the distance from the basket. On the other hand, a more stable movement pattern was observed while performing with different ball sizes. Indeed, the variation of the ball weight and circumference may be used by coaches as a strategy for the acquisition and development of the shooting action, according to the youngsters’ physical characteristics or experience level. Knowing the mechanisms that support the basketball shot performance is crucial for coaches' ability to give feedback and enhance the shooters’ development. Additionally, a significant relationship was found between the upper-body strength (handgrip and 2 kg medicine ball throw) and the kinematic parameters, independently of the shooting conditions. Therefore, it is suggested that coaches should consider the strength development during the training sessions designed as part of the shooters’ improvement.A presente Tese teve como principal objetivo a avaliação da performance do lançamento do basquetebol de acordo com a manipulação do tamanho da bola e com a variação da distância ao cesto. A amostra foi composta por 27 adolescentes do sexo feminino (idade: 12.1 ± 0.7 anos; altura: 153.3 ± 8.0 cm; peso: 48.8 ± 12.8 kg). A manipulação do tamanho da bola realizou-se através da comparação da performance com uma bola mais leve e pequena (Wilson MVP Size 5, 480 g) com o tamanho de bola estandardizado para este escalão etário (Wilson Evolution Size 6, 566 g). As participantes realizaram dez lançamentos com cada uma das bolas. A análise da influência da distância ao cesto foi realizada através da comparação da performance com o tamanho de bola estandardizado em duas distâncias de lançamento 4.75 m e 5.75 m. As participantes realizaram dez lançamentos em cada distância. A análise cinemática considerou as variáveis de saída da bola (ângulo, velocidade e altura), e vários parâmetros relacionados com a organização dos segmentos corporais da lançadora (deslocamento do centro de massa – horizontal e vertical, altura da anca, posições e velocidades angulares do ombro, cotovelo e joelho). Os resultados sugerem a performance de uma ação motora mais estável perante a manipulação do tamanho da bola. Os lançamentos realizados com a bola de tamanho 6 apresentaram maiores ângulos de saída da bola e maior flexão do ombro no momento de saída. Contudo, as diferenças nos parâmetros cinemáticos não foram acentuadas e a eficácia manteve-se inalterada. Em contraste, o aumento da distância ao cesto resultou no aumento das velocidades angulares das articulações em análise, e consequentemente, o aumento da velocidade de saída da bola. O aumento da velocidade de saída da bola justifica-se pelo aumento da trajetória até ao cesto. Sumariamente, existiu maior variabilidade da performance da ação motora perante o aumento da distância de lançamento. Por fim, a análise das correlações entre a idade cronológica, os anos de experiência, a antropometria, e as capacidades funcionais, indicam a força dos membros superiores como um fator relevante para a performance do lançamento independentemente das condições de execução. Os resultados provenientes dos estudos conduzidos no âmbito desta Tese são de grande importância para os treinadores de basquetebol, nomeadamente para os que atuam nos escalões de iniciação/formação. O tamanho da bola poderá ser manipulado pelo treinador no sentido de corresponder às características físicas do jogador e ao seu nível de experiência. Por outro lado, os jogadores devem ser incentivados a lançar de diferentes zonas do campo próximo do cesto até à aquisição de um padrão de movimento estável, antes de se proceder ao aumento da distância. Os resultados destes estudos sugerem uma relação significativa entre a força do trem superior e os parâmetros cinemáticos. Assim, os treinadores devem considerar o desenvolvimento força no processo de treino, particularmente para o desenvolvimento e melhoramento dos lançadores

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora