Long-Term Correlations and Cross-Correlations in Meteorological Variables and Air Pollution in a Coastal Urban Region

In this work, we evaluated the evolution of some atmospheric pollutants (O3, NOx and PM10) over time and their relationship with four different climate variables (solar irradiation, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed). To this end, we assessed the long-range dependence of those concentrations with a Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) and analyzed the cross-correlation of such dependence with the climate variables through a Detrended Cross-Correlation Coefficient Analysis (ρDCCA). The results show that air pollution tends to increase over time, impairing air quality and likely affecting human health. The results indicate a cross-correlation between air pollution and the climatic variables, which persisted for a certain period, with a greater correlation between O3 concentration and wind, mainly temperature, and a negative correlation with humidity for all monitoring stations. Moreover, unlike O3 and PM10, NOx concentrations always had a persistent behavior in the region of study for the entire analyzed period.N/

New occurrence records of Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) for the amazon and atlantic forest in Brazil

The gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris is native to southwest Pacific but is widely introduced into the neotropics. In Brazil, its known distribution was limited to the city of Belém in the Amazon. This work presents three new records of the species for the states of Pará and Bahia. Records from Pará were made in Capitão Poço and in Marajó island, while the third one was in Salvador, Bahia. We believe these records represent independent colonizations, with specimens arriving in Capitão Poço in auto-vehicles coming from Belém, while colonizations of Salvador and Breves may have occurred by ships. Introductions of L. lugubris were described as accidental or due to pet trade, so the latter alternative cannot be discarded. It seems likely that L. lugubris has already spread to other states and biomes across the north and northeast of Brazil, but its occurrence is yet to be documented in these regions.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Desigualdades de gênero e raça na pandemia de COVID-19: implicações para o controle no Brasil

The present narrative review synthesized scientific evidence regarding gender and race inequality in the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on women's productive/reproductive work, gender-based violence, and the access to sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS). The results demonstrated that the effective control of the pandemic and the preservation of rights should consider social inequality. Besides the direct effects of SARS-CoV-2, the literature discusses that access barriers to SRHS can lead to an increase of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal mortality. Also, the social distancing has led several women to stay confined with their aggressors, which hinders the access to reporting services, incurring in the increase of gender-based violence and severe outcomes to health. As the main responsible for the care, women are more prone to get the virus in both professional and domestic spheres. The conciliation between work and family has become more difficult for them during the pandemic. Literature naturalizes gender, race, and social class differences, emphasizing risk factors. An intersectional research plan is needed to support the information of public policies that incorporate human rights and embrace the needs of the most vulnerable groups to the COVID-19.Esta revisão narrativa sintetizou evidências científicas sobre desigualdades de gênero e raça na pandemia da COVID-19, enfocando o trabalho produtivo/reprodutivo das mulheres, a violência de gênero e o acesso aos serviços de saúde sexual e reprodutiva (SSR). Os resultados confirmam que as desigualdades sociais devem ser consideradas para o efetivo controle da pandemia e a preservação de direitos. Para além dos efeitos diretos do SARS-CoV-2, discute-se que barreiras de acesso a serviços de SSR podem ocasionar o aumento de gravidezes não-pretendidas, abortos inseguros e mortalidade materna. O distanciamento social tem obrigado muitas mulheres a permanecer confinadas com seus agressores e dificultado o acesso a serviços de denúncia, incorrendo no aumento da violência de gênero e em desfechos graves à saúde. Como principais responsáveis pelo cuidado, as mulheres estão mais expostas a adoecer nas esferas profissional e doméstica. A conciliação trabalho-família tornou-se mais difícil para elas durante a pandemia. A literatura naturaliza as diferenças de gênero, raça e classe, com ênfase em fatores de risco. Uma agenda de pesquisa com abordagem interseccional é necessária para embasar a formulação de políticas que incorporem os direitos humanos e atendam às necessidades dos grupos mais vulneráveis à COVID-19

Tracking the little ones: use of fluorescent powder to follow a leaf litter lizard (Coleodactylus meridionalis, Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) in the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia, Brazil

Abstract The ecology of movement is an expanding area, marked by the diversity of analytical methods and protocols, which enables this integrative reading. We investigated movement ecology aspects of Coleodactylus meridionalis in southern Bahia, northeastern Brazil, using fluorescent powder with mineral oil to track individuals. We monitored 69 individuals of C. meridionalis that walked an average distance of 148 cm in 2h. We identified this movement as foraging due to the orientation of the step sequence and microenvironments used. We find no significant differences between walking distance and weight. However, we found a decrease in activity over the follow-up period. Most of the lizard’s movements were directed north, while south, east, and west were followed equally. The individuals stayed predominantly on the ground (leaf litter), but it was possible to observe the use of other surfaces, such as trunks and burrows on the ground. Therefore, we studied the movement in three dimensions (ground height, distance traveled, and orientation of steps). We observed the lizard’s foraging, one of the most common and least investigated movements in small lizards like C. meridionalis. This involves not only the species’ activity schedule but other intrinsic and extrinsic factors that shape the movement decisions of individuals

Brazils Highway BR-319: The road to the collapse of the Amazon and the violation of indigenous rights

One of the greatest threats to the Brazilian Amazon is the reconstruction and paving of the formerly abandoned Highway BR-319, which would link one of the most conserved blocks in the Amazon forest to the “arc of deforestation” on the southern edge of the region where most forest has already been destroyed. BR-319 and its planned side roads would allow the actors and processes from the arc of deforestation to move into vast areas of unprotected rainforest. In the specific case of this highway, a judicial decision that is not subject to further appeal established that environmental studies for the first section of the highway to be reconstructed (“Lot C”) must be carried out before paving. The federal highway department and the “Civil House” of President Bolsonaro’s presidential office ignored this decision and issued a call for bids for the construction work. Due to the current lack of governance in the BR-319 area and the history of deforestation whenever Amazonian highways are built, the decision on whether to suspend the contract for the “Lot C” is critical for the maintenance of both the ecosystem services of the Amazon forest and the way of life of indigenous and riverside people. This decision is expected to be made shortly by a single person

Climate change effects on population dynamics of three species of Amazonian lizards

The scarcity of data on natural history and ecology of lizards still limits the understanding of population dynamics for many species. We attempt to evaluate possible effects of climate change on the population dynamics of three lizard species (Ameiva ameiva, Gonatodes humeralis and Norops fuscoauratus) in two Amazonian localities (Caxiuanã National Forest and Ducke Reserve). We calculated a tolerance index combining environmental thermal adequacy with the b-d model, which consider survival and reproductive rates to calculate population dynamics. Thus, we simulated population growth rates based on current and future environmental operative temperatures, considering an optimistic and a business-as-usual scenario of greenhouse gases emissions (GGE), and evaluate if the sensitivity of life history traits to population growth rate are likely to be trigged by climate change. Our results demonstrated that both populations of G. humeralis and the Ducke population of N. fuscoauratus may become locally extinct under both scenarios of GGE, while both populations of A. ameiva are likely to decrease, but without reaching a scenario of local extirpation. This study represents the first effort to evaluate the sensitivity of lizard populations and elasticity to climate change and demonstrate the geographic variability of these traits in three widespread and habitat-generalist species. We highlight the need of new studies focusing on species with different biological trait patterns, such as endemic distributions and habitat-specialists, to provide the theoretical and empirical basis for biologically informed conservation strategies and actions, in order to minimize the potential extinction of populations due to climate change. © 2019 Elsevier Inc

Long-Term Correlations and Cross-Correlations in Meteorological Variables and Air Pollution in a Coastal Urban Region

In this work, we evaluated the evolution of some atmospheric pollutants (O3, NOx and PM10) over time and their relationship with four different climate variables (solar irradiation, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed). To this end, we assessed the long-range dependence of those concentrations with a Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) and analyzed the cross-correlation of such dependence with the climate variables through a Detrended Cross-Correlation Coefficient Analysis (ρDCCA). The results show that air pollution tends to increase over time, impairing air quality and likely affecting human health. The results indicate a cross-correlation between air pollution and the climatic variables, which persisted for a certain period, with a greater correlation between O3 concentration and wind, mainly temperature, and a negative correlation with humidity for all monitoring stations. Moreover, unlike O3 and PM10, NOx concentrations always had a persistent behavior in the region of study for the entire analyzed period

Long-Term Correlations and Cross-Correlations in Meteorological Variables and Air Pollution in a Coastal Urban Region

In this work, we evaluated the evolution of some atmospheric pollutants (O3, NOx and PM10) over time and their relationship with four different climate variables (solar irradiation, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed). To this end, we assessed the long-range dependence of those concentrations with a Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) and analyzed the cross-correlation of such dependence with the climate variables through a Detrended Cross-Correlation Coefficient Analysis (ρDCCA). The results show that air pollution tends to increase over time, impairing air quality and likely affecting human health. The results indicate a cross-correlation between air pollution and the climatic variables, which persisted for a certain period, with a greater correlation between O3 concentration and wind, mainly temperature, and a negative correlation with humidity for all monitoring stations. Moreover, unlike O3 and PM10, NOx concentrations always had a persistent behavior in the region of study for the entire analyzed period