The effects of changes in Brazilian Housing Policies in a Housing Provision and Urban Regeneration Project in Porto Alegre, South of Brazil

In Brazil, the trajectory of housing provision has been fragmented, marked by a diversity of housing programmes that has prompted a scattering of resources and frequent discontinuity in such programmes. Since 2002 Porto Alegre has been developing the City Entrance Integrated Programme (PIEC in Portuguese), a large housing provision and urban regeneration project, influenced by the housing programme Habitar Brasil BID. There is evidence, through post occupancy evaluations (POEs) carried out since 2006, that the PIEC programme has produced positive outcomes, but with some shortcomings. As the programme is still in development, it may feel the influence of the guidelines of another housing programme carried out by the central government since 2009, the My Home My Life programme (MCMV in Portuguese). This programme produced more than one million homes in its initial phase and two million more in its second phase. Despite the fact MCMV represents a real landmark in terms of sheer numbers, studies have pointed to problems in what has been produced through MCMV, including the lack of fulfilment of residents’ needs, especially in terms of common spaces. This paper presents the results of a focus group conducted with Porto Alegre Council staff responsible for the development of PIEC housing projects. The results of POEs in PIEC housing projects were compared with POEs in MCMV housing projects and used as a starting point for the focus group. The findings indicated that the discontinuation of housing policies could affect the benefits generated by previous programmes, especially in terms of community engagement

Fruit consumption, distance of seed dispersal and germination of solanaceous plants ingested by common opossum (Didelphis aurita) in southern Brazil

Les distances minimales de dispersion de quelques Solanacées ont été étudiées et des tests de germination de leurs graines provenant de fèces de Didelphis aurita effectués dans le sud du Brésil. Les animaux ont été capturés chaque semaine afin d'obtenir les fèces dans une zone urbaine entre février 1995 et janvier 1996. Les distances minimales de dispersion ont été mesurées par la distance minimale entre le point de collecte de chaque groupe de graines (provenant d'une fiente) et la plante en fruit de la même espèce la plus proche. Les graines de chaque fiente ont été comptées et une partie d'entre elles a été soumise à des tests de germination. La quantité moyenne de graines par lente variait de 9 à 33. Ces animaux sont des consommateurs opportunistes de Solanacées dont ils ne détruisent pas les graines. Les distances minimales moyennes de dispersion variaient de 40 à 82 m. Les graines de plantes distribuées dans des clairières et en faibles densités avaient tendance à avoir de plus grandes distances de dispersion. Ces résultats ont montré que ce marsupial est un important agent de dispersion de Solanacées dans le sud du Brésil

Partial albinism in the pampas deer and a critical analysis about albino Mammals

A case of partial albinism in the pampas deer, recorded at the Emas National Park, Goiás, Brazil is described. The coat color and behaviour of the albino are compared with normal pampas deer.1229123

Sinalização visual e Biologia Reprodutiva de Dendropsophus werneri (Anura: Hylidae) em área de Mata Atlântica no Estado do Paraná, Brasil

We studied the reproductive biology and visual signaling of Dendropsophus werneri, whose distribution is limited to the Atlantic Rain Forest. The fieldwork was carried out in the Estação 2 do IAPAR, municipality of Morretes, state of Paraná, Brazil, from August 2006 to March 2007. Additional information on reproduction was gathered in the Reserva Natural Salto Morato, municipality of Guaraqueçaba, state of Paraná, Brazil, from September 2006 to March 2007. Males were smaller than females. Males called throughout all the study period in Morretes, but were active only during three months in Guaraqueçaba; males called from low vegetation along the edge of temporary ponds in open areas. The visual signaling was observed in two contexts: (1) aggressive behaviors between two males and (2) during the reproduction, by amplectant males. In the territorial behavior, males exhibited both aggressive and mixed calls, visual signaling as well as physical combats. We also recorded satellite behavior in four males. The mean egg number per clutch was 244 ± 32 eggs, varying between 188 and 310 eggs. We observed two reproductive modes: Mode 1 and Mode 24. In the present study, Dendropsophus werneri showed elaborated social interactions involving visual signaling, territorial behavior, mating bahavior with tactile stimuli, and two different reproductive modes, demonstrating its complex reproductive biology.Estudamos a sinalização visual e a biologia reprodutiva de Dendropsophus werneri, espécie cuja distribuição está limitada à Floresta Tropical Atlântica. O estudo foi desenvolvido no município de Morretes, entre agosto de 2006 e março de 2007; observações adicionais foram realizadas na Reserva Natural Salto Morato, Município de Guaraqueçaba, de setembro de 2006 a março de 2007, ambas no Estado do Paraná, Brasil. As fêmeas foram maiores que os machos. Os machos vocalizaram durante todo o período de estudo em Morretes e em apenas três meses no município de Guaraqueçaba, utilizando a vegetação marginal das poças temporárias como sítio de vocalização. A sinalização visual foi observada em dois contextos: (1) comportamentos agressivos entre dois machos e (2) durante a reprodução, com o macho em amplexo com a fêmea. No comportamento territorial os machos utilizaram sinalização visual, vocalização agressiva e mista além de combate físico. Foi registrado o comportamento satélite em quatro machos. O número de ovos por desova variou de 188 a 310, sendo postos em média 244 ± 32 ovos. Foram observados dois modos reprodutivos: o modo 1 e o modo 24. No presente estudo, Dendropsophus werneri apresentou interações sociais elaboradas envolvendo uso de sinalização visual, comportamento territorial, dois modos reprodutivos distintos e comportamento de côrte com estímulos táteis, demonstrando a complexidade de sua biologia reprodutiva