Catalogando a palinoteca da Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará como fonte de dados para estudos em palinologia

We describe the cataloging of the palynological slides at the palynotheca of the Federal University of Western Pará. Currently, the pollen slides collection has 863 slides. Works about palynology have been increasing in this university since 2010, therefore, there are over 1,000 slides to be incorporated into the collection. This biological collection has subsidized research activities and teaching palynology, enriching the knowledge about the regional pollen diversity, enabling the training of undergraduate and graduate students who work in the area. All palynological information is being systematized and will be available soon at an open access website, with the purpose of promoting the scientific dissemination of palynology. This is an important advance and contributes to developing the palynology in the Amazon region.Describimos el catálogo de las láminas palinológicas de la palinoteca de la Universidad Federal del Oeste de Pará. Actualmente, la palinoteca tiene 863 láminas en su colección. Dado que el trabajo en palinología ha sido intenso en esta universidad desde 2010, existen más de 1,000 láminas para incorporar a la colección. La palinoteca ha apoyado actividades de investigación y enseñanza de palinología, enriqueciendo el conocimiento de la diversidad regional de polen, permitiendo la capacitación de estudiantes de pregrado y posgrado que trabajan en el área. Toda la información palinológica está siendo sistematizada y estará disponible a través de un sitio web de libre acceso al público, con el propósito de promover la divulgación científica de la palinología, lo que representa un avance importante y contribuirá al desarrollo de la palinología en la región amazónica.Nous décrivons le catalogage des diapositives palynologiques de la palynothèque de l'Université Fédérale du Pará Occidental. Actuellement, la palynothèque compte 863 diapositives dans sa collection. Comme le travail en palynologie est intense dans cette université depuis 2010, il y a plus de 1000 diapositives à incorporer dans la collection. La palynothèque a subventionné des activités de recherche et d'enseignement de la palynologie, enrichissant les connaissances sur la diversité des pollens régionaux, permettant la formation d'étudiants de premier cycle et des cycles supérieurs qui travaillent dans la région. Toutes les informations palynologiques sont systématisées et seront mises à disposition via un site avec un accès gratuit au public, dans le but de promouvoir la diffusion scientifique de la palynologe. Cela représente une avancée importante et contribue au développement de la palynologie dans la région amazonienne.Descrevemos a catalogação das lâminas palinológicas da palinoteca da Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará. Atualmente, a palinoteca conta com 863 lâminas em seu acervo. Os trabalhos em palinologia aumentaram na universidade desde 2010, portanto, há mais de 1.000 lâminas para serem incorporadas à coleção. Essa coleção biológica tem subsidiado atividades de pesquisa e ensino de palinologia, enriquecendo o conhecimento da diversidade polínica regional, possibilitando o treinamento de estudantes de graduação e pós-graduação que exercem atividades na área. Todas as informações palinológicas estão sendo sistematizadas e serão disponibilizadas por meio de um site aberto, com a finalidade de promover a divulgação científica em palinologia. Esse é um importante avanço e contribui para desenvolver a palinologia na região amazônica

Assessment of deforestation in the Lower Amazon floodplain using historical Landsat MSS/TM imagery

The floodplain forests bordering the Amazon River have outstanding ecological, economic, and social importance for the region. However, the original distribution of these forests is not well known, since they have suffered severe degradation since the 16th century. The previously published vegetation map of the Amazon River floodplain (Hess et al., 2003), based on data acquired in 1996, shows enormous difference in vegetation cover classes between the regions upstream and downstream of the city of Manaus. The upper floodplain is mostly covered by forests, while the lower floodplain is predominantly occupied by grasses and shrubs. This study assesses deforestation in the Lower Amazon floodplain over a ~ 30 year period by producing and comparing a historical vegetation map based on MSS/Landsat images acquired in the late 1970s with a recent vegetation map produced from TM/Landsat images obtained in 2008. The maps were generated through the following steps: 1) normalization and mosaicking of images for each decade; 2) application of a linear mixing model transformation to produce vegetation, soil and shade fraction-images; and 3) object-oriented image analysis and classification. For both maps, the following classes were mapped: floodplain forest, non-forest floodplain vegetation, bare soil and open water. The two maps were combined using object-level Boolean operations to identify time transitions among the mapped classes, resulting in a map of the land cover change occurred over ~ 30 years. Ground information collected at 168 ground points was used to build confusion matrices and calculate Kappa indices of agreement. A survey strategy combining field observations and interviews allowed the collection of information about both recent and historical land cover for validation purposes. Kappa values (0.77, 0.75 and 0.75) indicated the good quality of the maps, and the error estimates were used to adjust the estimated deforested area to a value of 3457 km2 ± 1062 km2 (95% CI) of floodplain deforestation over the ~ 30 years

Chemical variability in the essential oil of leaves of Araçá (Psidium guineense Sw.), with occurrence in the Amazon

Abstract Background Psidium guineense, known as Araçá, is a Brazilian botanical resource with commercial application perspectives, based on the functional elements of its fruits and due to the use of its leaves as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. The essential oils of leaves of twelve specimens of Araçá were analyzed by GC and GC-MS to identify their volatile constituents and associate them with the biological activities reputed to the plant. Results In a total of 157 identified compounds, limonene, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, epi-β-bisabolol, caryophyllene oxide, β-bisabolene, α-copaene, myrcene, muurola-4,10(14)-dien-1-β-ol, β-bisabolol, and ar-curcumene were the primary components in descending order up to 5%. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) displayed three different groups with the following chemical types: limonene/α-pinene, β-bisabolene/epi-β-bisabolol, and β-caryophyllene/caryophyllene oxide. With the previous description of another chemical type rich in spathulenol, it is now understood that at least four different chemotypes for P. guineense should occur. Conclusions In addition to the use of the Araçá fruits, which are rich in minerals and functional elements, it should be borne in mind that the knowledge of the chemical composition of the essential oils of leaves of their different chemical types may contribute to the selection of varieties with more significant biological activity

The forests of Belo Monte on the great curve of the Xingu River, Eastern Amazon

In order to characterize the forests of the Belo Monte region at the ‘Volta Grande’ of the Xingu River, Brazil, a floristic, phytosociological, structural and ethno-botanical analysis was undertaken in forested areas of Altamira, Anapu, Senador José Porfírio, and Vitória do Xingu, in the Lower and Middle Xingu River regions of Pará. In the four most common forest formations (dense broadleaf forest, broadleaf flood forest, open broadleaf forest with palms, and broadleaf forest with lianas and palms) study plots were laid out that covered a total area of 24.3 ha. Surveys included individuals in three diameter size classes: DBH ≥ 5, 10, and 30 cm. A total of 13.790 individual plants was recorded, comprising 662 species distributed in 65 botanical families. In comparing the forest types, it is concluded that the dense broadleaf forest is the most species rich (433 spp.), followed by the open broadleaf forest with lianas and palms (264 spp.), the broadleaf flood forest (203 spp.), and the open broadleaf forest with palms (140 spp.). In relation to rare species, the dense broadleaf forest showed the greatest number (141 spp.), in contrast to the open broadleaf forest with palms that showed the least (63 spp.). Caesalpiniaceae was the family that had the greatest indices of economic importance (IVIF) and of total coverage (IVCF) in all of the studied forest types except for the open broadleaf forest with lianas and palms (Lecythidaceae). Alexa grandiflora and Voucapoua americana were the species with the greatest indices (economic importance and total coverage) in all the studied Forest formations, except in the broadleaf flood forest (Pterocarpus amazonicus and Molia luscens). It is estimated that these analyzed ecosystems have a combined area of 92,68 km² in the study area. A total abundance of 403,069,870 trees with DBH ≥ 10 cm is estimated, with a total wood volume of 196,276,924 m³ and a live aerial biomass of 198,503,191 metric tons. Forest species of great interest for floral conservation programs were identified, such as the practically extinct Amazon cinnamon tree ‘pau cravo’ (Dicypellium caryophyllatum), a member of the Lauraceae that is much sought-after by the perfume industry, and another rarely found species (Sagotia brachysepala), a member of the Euphorbiaceae with a very restricted geographical distribution

The forests of Belo Monte on the great curve of the Xingu River, Eastern Amazon.

No intuito de se caracterizar a flora da região de Belo Monte ou Volta Grande do Xingu, efetuou-se uma análise da florística, fitossociologia, estrutura e etnobotânica nas fitofisionomias florestais na área de estudo que inclui os territórios de Altamira, Anapu, Senador José Porfírio e Vitória do Xingu, nas mesorregiões do baixo e médio Xingu, no estado do Pará. Nas quatro fitofisionomias florestais majoritárias (floresta ombrófila densa, floresta ombrófila aluvial, floresta ombrófila aberta com palmeira, floresta ombrófila aberta com cipó e palmeira), foram lançadas parcelas de estudos que abrangeram uma área total de 24,3 ha. Foram amostrados indivíduos em três categorias de diâmetros minímos de inclusão: DAP ≥ a 5, 10 e 30 cm. Registrou-se um total de 13.790 indivíduos compreendendo 662 espécies, distribuídas em 65 famílias botânicas. Comparando-se as fitofisionomias estudadas, concluiu-se que a floresta ombrófila densa tem a maior riqueza de espécies (433), seguindo-se a floresta ombrófila aberta com cipó e palmeira (264), a floresta ombrófila aluvial (203) e a floresta ombrófila aberta com palmeira (140). Com relação às espécies raras, a floresta ombrófila densa apresentou o maior número (141), em contraposição à floresta ombrófila aberta com palmeira, que apresentou o menor (63). Caesalpiniaceae foi a família que apresentou o maior índice de valor de importância (IVIF) e de cobertura (IVCF) em todas as fitofisionomias estudadas, à exceção da floresta ombrófila aberta com cipó e palmeira (Lecythidaceae). Alexa grandiflora e Voucapoua americana foram as espécies de maiores índices (IVI e IVC) em todas as fitofisionomias estudadas, exceto na floresta ombrófila aluvial (Pterocarpus amazonicus e Molia luscens). Estimou-se para todos os ecossistemas analisados um total de 92,68 km2 de cobertura florestal em toda a área de estudo. Estimou-se para esta área uma abundância total de 403.069.870 árvores com DAP ≥ 10 cm, volume total de madeira de 196.276.924 m3 e uma biomassa aérea viva de 198.503.191 t. Foram identificadas algumas espécies florestais de grande interesse para os programas de conservação da flora, como uma espécie arbórea praticamente extinta nas áreas onde é possível a penetração humana, o 'pau cravo' (Dicypellium caryophyllatum), uma Lauraceae muito cobiçada pela indústria perfumista; e uma outra espécie de difícil ocorrência (Sagotia brachysepala), uma Euphorbiaceae de dispersão muito restrita

Mapeamento da antiga cobertura vegetal de várzea do Baixo Amazonas a partir de imagens históricas (1975-1981) do Sensor MSS-Landsat Mapping ancient vegetation cover of the Amazon floodplain using historical MSS/Landsat images (1975-1981)

Este estudo apresenta um mapa da cobertura vegetal da planície de inundação do Rio Amazonas entre as cidades de Parintins (AM) e Almeirim (PA), com base em imagens Landsat-MSS adquiridas entre 1975 e 1981. O processamento digital dessas imagens envolveu a transformação para imagens-fração de vegetação, solo e água escura (sombra), seguido da aplicação de técnicas de segmentação e classificação por região. O mapa resultante da classificação foi organizado em quatro classes de cobertura do solo: floresta de várzea, vegetação não-florestal de várzea, solo exposto e água aberta. A precisão do mapa foi estimada a partir de dois tipos de informações coletadas em campo: 1) pontos de descrição: para validação das classes de cobertura não sujeitas a grandes alterações, como é o caso dos corpos d'água permanentes, e identificação de indicadores dos tipos de cobertura original presentes na paisagem na ocasião da obtenção das imagens (72 pontos); 2) entrevistas com moradores antigos para a recuperação da memória sobre a cobertura vegetal existente há 30 anos (44 questionários). Ao todo foram coletadas informações em 116 pontos distribuídos ao longo da área de estudo. Esses pontos foram utilizados para calcular o Índice Kappa de concordância entre os dados de campo e o mapa resultante da classificação automática, cujo valor (0,78) indica a boa qualidade do mapa de cobertura vegetal da várzea. Os resultados mostram que a região possuía uma cobertura florestal de várzea de aproximadamente 8.650 km2 no período de aquisição das imagens.<br>This study presents a vegetation map of the Amazon River floodplain between the towns of Parintins (AM) and Almeirim (PA), based on Landsat-MSS scenes from 1975 to 1981. Digital processing involved the transformation of multispectral images into fraction-images of vegetation, soil and dark water (shadow), followed by the application of segmentation and region-classification techniques. The resulting map was organized four classes of land cover types: floodplain forest, non-forest floodplain vegetation, bare soil, and open water. Map accuracy was estimated from two types of ground data 1) sample points describing ground cover classes not subjected to major changes, such as permanent water bodies, and identifying indicators of the 30 year old vegetation type landscape (72 points); 2) interviews with community early residents for memory recovery of information on the vegetation cover existing in the 1970 (44 interviews). Altogether, 116 information points was collected along the study area. These points were used to calculate the Kappa Index for agreement between the four field-verified classes and the automatic classification, with value (0.78) indicates the good quality of the floodplain vegetation cover map. The region had 8650 km2 coverage of floodplain forest at the time of image acquisition