PRODUÇÃO DE FLORES E FRUTOS DE Bertholletia excelsa BONPL. EM AMBIENTES FLORESTAIS E DESMATADOS DO NOROESTE DO PARÁ, BRASIL

The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl) is a well-studied species, and most studies conducted on it have been done in its natural habitat, dense ombrophilous forest. However, there is a lack of information about the biology of this species in deforested areas, and such information would be useful for management and conservation. The objective of this research was to compare the flowering and fruiting of Brazil nut trees in two areas with different vegetation cover (forested and deforested) and to relate this to possible explanatory environmental factors. A total of 120 Brazil nut trees with DBH > 40 cm were monitored at two sites: Boa Vista (Óbidos/PA) and Novo Betel (Oriximiná/PA), in northwestern Pará State. For each stem the following measures were recorded: geographic coordinates, dendrometric and spatial data, stem state and reproductive capacity, and signs of perturbation and regrowth. Flower count showed a flowering rate 4 times greater in the forested areas than in the deforested areas, and extremely low incidence of fruiting in the deforested areas, more than 20 times lower than the estimate for the forested areas. The soils in the deforested areas had higher levels of compaction and fertility than in the forested areas. Among the non-edaphic variables, the percentage of fire damage on the stems had significant differences between the sites and was greater in the deforested areas. It is concluded that soil compaction and fire can partially explain the low fruit production of Brazil nut trees in deforested areas without ruling out other environmental factors not evaluated in this research. Since Brazil-nut trees may provide ecological services on the deforested landscapes and are protected by law, urgent soil management and conservation measures are suggested to be undertaken in the deforested pasture areas in order to guarantee the conservation of these trees in the region, together with reforestation measures in the adjacent legal reserve areas.Keywords: Brazil nut tree; soil compaction; fire.A castanheira (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl) é uma espécie muito estudada principalmente no seu habitat natural, a floresta ombrófila densa, mas carece-se de informações mais precisas sobre a biologia destas árvores nas áreas desmatadas que auxiliem sua conservação e manejo. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar a floração e a frutificação das castanheiras em duas áreas com diferente cobertura vegetal (florestada e desmatada) e relacionar com possíveis fatores ambientais explicativos. Foram monitoradas 120 castanheiras com DAP > 40 cm em dois sítios: Boa Vista (Óbidos/PA) e Nova Betel (Oriximiná/PA), no Noroeste do Pará. De cada árvore, coletaram-se as coordenadas geográficas, dados dendrométricos e espaciais, avaliou-se o estado vital e reprodutivo, marcas de perturbação e rebrotamento. A contagem de flores mostrou uma floração quatro vezes maior nas áreas florestais. A produção média de frutos foi baixíssima nas áreas desmatadas, mais de vinte vezes inferior a estimativa feita nas áreas florestais. Os solos das áreas desmatadas registraram condições mais altas de compactação e fertilidade que os das áreas florestais. Entre as variáveis não edafológicas, percentual de sinais de fogo das árvores foi a única que apresentou diferenças significativas entre as duas áreas (maior nas áreas desmatadas). Concluiu-se que a compactação do solo e fogo poderia explicar parcialmente a baixa produção de frutos das castanheiras em áreas desmatadas sem descartar outros fatores ambientais não avaliados nesta pesquisa. Dada a importância ecológica das castanheiras e o mandato de lei para sua conservação, sugerem-se medidas urgentes de manejo e conservação do solo nas áreas de pastagem para garantir a conservação das castanheiras nessa região assim como de reflorestamento para recompor a reserva legal nessas áreas desmatadas com ocorrência de castanheiras. Palavras-chave: castanheira, compactação do solo, fogo

Characterization of Interannual and Seasonal Patterns and Extremes in 41 Years of Precipitation data from Belterra, Pará, Brazil

Este trabalho identificou padrões interanuais e sazonais, e meses com valores extremos de precipitação total num conjunto de dados de precipitação mensal de 41 anos da Belterra, no oeste do Estado do Pará, Brasil. Apesar de intensas mudanças no uso da terra nos últimos anos e a variabilidade natural da precipitação na região, nenhuma tendência foi descrita para precipitação total anual, sazonal ou eventos extremos

PADRÕES DE ALVOS EM SISTEMA PECUÁRIO EXTENSIVO DIAGNOSTICADOS POR TERMOGRAFIA INFRAVERMELHO NO OESTE DO PARÁ

The objective was to identify thermal patterns in the soil-plant-animal system using infrared thermography to subsidize strategies for improvement of livestock management techniques in a rural property in western Pará. We carried out the capture of thermographic images of the following targets: animal, pasture, soil and secondary forest, in August. We analyzed climatic data, considering the homogeneous historical series (1979 to 2009), as well as agrometeorological data to evaluate the weather conditions on field collections days. The Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) was used to evaluate if the animals were in conditions of thermal comfort. The generated thermograms were analyzed in the program Flir Tools, 6.3v, with thermal patterns considered in decreasing order, identified by the colors: white, yellow, red and green. The month of August, according to the climatology of the region, marks the reduction of rainfall, reinforcing that the thermographic images at around 3:00 p.m. local time presented responses coherent with the thermal-water condition in the imaged targets at that moment in time. The hottest target was the soil, confirmed by the higher thermal amplitudes. The energetic losses of the animals were also high due to the lack of arboreal vegetation, conditioning the animals to thermal stress, confirmed by the THI. We concluded that areas with secondary forest and pasture present lower temperatures than the animal and exposed soil targets. Infrared thermography was shown to be a precise diagnostic tool under the conditions in which the targets are found, indicating reduced thermal amplitudes in vegetated targets and high variations in exposed soil or degraded pastures.KEYWORDS: Degraded pasture, Homeothermia, Thermal regulation.El objetivo fue identificar patrones térmicos en el sistema suelo-planta-animal usando la termografía infrarroja para subsidiar estrategias de mejora en el sistema pecuario em propiedad rural en el oeste de Pará. Se realizaron capturas de imágenes termográficas de los siguientes objetivos: animal, pastoreo, suelo y bosque secundario, en el mes de agosto. Los datos climáticos fueron analizados, considerando la serie histórica homogénea (1979 a 2009), así como datos agrometeorológicos para evaluarlas condiciones de tiempo en el día de las colectas de campo. El Índice de Temperatura y umedad (ITH) se utilizó para evaluar si los animales se encontraban en condiciones de confort térmico. Los termogramas generados fueron analizados en el programa Flir Tools, 6.3v siendo considerados patrones térmicos em orden decreciente, identificados por los colores: blanco, amarillo, rojo y verde. El mes de agosto de acuerdo con la climatología de la región marca la reducción de las lluvias reforzando que las imágenes termográficas alrededor de las 15h00min horario local presentaban respuestas bajo la condición térmico-hídrica em los blancos. El blanco que tuvo temperatura superior fue el suelo, confirmada por las mayores amplitudes térmicas. Las pérdidas energéticas del animal también fueron evaluadas debido a la falta de vegetación arbórea, condicionado a los animales a estrés térmico, confirmado por el ITH. Se concluye que em las áreas con bosque secundario y de pastoreo presentan temperaturas inferiores que los blancos animales y suelo expuesto. La termografía infrarroja se presenta como herramienta de diagnóstico preciso bajo las condiciones en que los blancos se encuentran, indicando reducidas amplitudes térmicas em blancos vegetados y altas variación e sen suelo expuesto o pastoreo en vías de degradación.PALABRAS CLAVE: Homeotermia, Pasto degradado, Regulación térmica.Objetivou-se identificar padrões térmicos no sistema solo-planta-animal usando a termografia infravermelho para subsidiar estratégias de melhoria no sistema pecuário em propriedade rural no oeste do Pará. Foram realizadas capturas de imagens termográficas dos seguintes alvos: animal, pastagem, solo e floresta secundária, no mês de agosto de 2017. Dados climáticos foram analisados, considerando-se a série histórica homogênea (1979 a 2009), bem como dados agrometeorológicos para avaliar as condições de tempo no dia das coletas de campo. O Índice de Temperatura e Umidade (ITU) foi utilizado para avaliar se os animais se encontravam em condições de conforto térmico. Os termogramas gerados foram analisados no programa Flir Tools, 6.3v sendo considerados padrões térmicos em ordem decrescente, identificados pelas cores: branco, amarelo, vermelho e verde.  O mês de agosto, de acordo com a climatologia da região, marca a redução das chuvas reforçando que as imagens termográficas por volta das 15h00min local apresentavam respostas sob a condição térmico-hídrica nos alvos imageados. O alvo mais quente foi o solo, apresentando temperatura superior, confirmada pelas maiores amplitudes térmicas. As perdas energéticas do animal também foram elevadas em decorrência da falta de vegetação arbórea, condicionado os animais a estresse térmico, confirmado pelo ITU. Conclui-se que nas áreas com floresta secundária e de pastagem apresentam temperaturas inferiores que os alvos animal e solo exposto. A termografia infravermelho apresenta-se como ferramenta de diagnóstico preciso sob as condições em que os alvos se encontram, indicando reduzidas amplitudes térmicas em alvos vegetados e altas variações em solo exposto ou pastagem em vias de degradação.  PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Homeotermia, Pastagem degradada, Regulação térmica

Dynamics of space and time of the production chain of the ceramic industry production center of Iranduba, Amazonas, Brazil

The objective of this study was to systematize a method that describes the dynamic processes that exist in space and time related to the production chain of the ceramic industry production center in Iranduba, Amazonas, Brazil, through the use of a mandala. A map of possible conditioning factors that can be characterized as links or problems related to the production chain was constructed, and this consisted of seven variables subdivided into three levels that stratify the descriptive steps of the processes of the production chain. A mandala was constructed in order to describe historical aspects of the ceramic industry production center in Iranduba, as well as to integrate biophysical and economic variables such as soil climate, energy sources used in the ceramic kilns, economic and financial variables, and specific characteristics of the ceramic industry production center. This method allowed for delineation of productive chain influences with the goal of improving the processes spatially and temporally. The results demonstrate that the structure of this method based on a mandala allows for an integral and systematic vision of these processes. It is therefore inferred that this is a practical tool which is integrated for making adjustments and new inclusions of techniques and procedures, remodeling the conditioning variables of production chains such as the one of the ceramic industry production center in Iranduba. The mandala is a tool that adjusts itself in time and space in a flexible way due to its capacity for interactive analysis in the construction of technical and scientific knowledge and dynamic and sustainable processes. © 2019 by the authors

Distribuição Do Carbono Orgânico Nas Frações Do Solo Em Diferentes Ecossistemas Na Amazônia Central

Organic matter plays an important role in many soil properties, and for that reason it is necessary to identify management systems which maintain or increase its concentrations. The aim of the present study was to determine the quality and quantity of organic C in different compartments of the soil fraction in different Amazonian ecosystems. The soil organic matter (FSOM) was fractionated and soil C stocks were estimated in primary forest (PF), pasture (P), secondary succession (SS) and an agroforestry system (AFS). Samples were collected at the depths 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, 100-160, and 160-200 cm. Densimetric and particle size analysis methods were used for FSOM, obtaining the following fractions: FLF (free light fraction), IALF (intra-aggregate light fraction), F-sand (sand fraction), F-clay (clay fraction) and F-silt (silt fraction). The 0-5 cm layer contains 60% of soil C, which is associated with the FLF. The F-clay was responsible for 70% of C retained in the 0-200 cm depth. There was a 12.7 g kg-1 C gain in the FLF from PF to SS, and a 4.4 g kg-1 C gain from PF to AFS, showing that SS and AFS areas recover soil organic C, constituting feasible C-recovery alternatives for degraded and intensively farmed soils in Amazonia. The greatest total stocks of carbon in soil fractions were, in decreasing order: (101.3 Mg ha-1 of C - AFS) > (98.4 Mg ha-1 of C - FP) > (92.9 Mg ha-1 of C - SS) > (64.0 Mg ha-1 of C - P). The forms of land use in the Amazon influence C distribution in soil fractions, resulting in short- or long-term changes. © 2015, Revista Brasileira de Ciencia do Solo. All rights reserved

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

The effect of plantation silviculture on soil organic matter and particle-size fractions in Amazonia O efeito de manejo silvicultural de eucalipto sobre matéria orgânica e frações de solo na Amazônia

Eucalyptus grandis and other clonal plantations cover about 3.5 million ha in Brazil. The impacts of intensively-managed short-rotation forestry on soil aggregate structure and Carbon (C) dynamics are largely undocumented in tropical ecosystems. Long-term sustainability of these systems is probably in part linked to maintenance of soil organic matter and good soil structure and aggregation, especially in areas with low-fertility soils. This study investigated soil aggregate dynamics on a clay soil and a sandy soil, each with a Eucalyptus plantation and an adjacent primary forest. Silvicultural management did not reduce total C stocks, and did not change soil bulk density. Aggregates of the managed soils did not decrease in mass as hypothesized, which indicates that soil cultivation in 6 year cycles did not cause large decreases in soil aggregation in either soil texture. Silt, clay, and C of the sandy plantation soil shifted to greater aggregate protection, which may represent a decrease in C availability. The organic matter in the clay plantation soil increased in the fractions considered less protected while this shift from C to structural forms considered more protected was not observed.<br>Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a dinâmica dos agregados do solo e das suas frações derivadas dos mesmos em duas texturas de solo, cada uma com uma plantação de Eucalipto e uma floresta primaria imediatamente adjacente. Eucalyptus grandis e outros clones cultivados em plantações cobrem aproximadamente 3,5 milhões de hectares no Brasil. Os impactos de manejo intensivo de plantações de rotação curta sobre a estrutura de solo e a dinâmica de carbono (C) são em grande parte desconhecidos em ecossistemas tropicais. No longo prazo, a sustentabilidade desses sistemas é provavelmente ligada à manutenção da matéria orgânica e à estrutura de agregação do solo, principalmente em áreas de solos de baixa fertilidade. Manejo silvicultural não diminuiu os estoques de C total, e não mudou a densidade do solo. Agregados dos solos manejados não diminuíram em massa, o que indica que a subsolagem e o manejo em ciclos de 6 anos não causaram um efeito negativo na agregação do solo em ambas as texturas. Os agregados do solo arenoso sob plantio aumentaram seus conteúdos de silte, argila e C, indicando que, na estrutura de agregação do solo, C está mudando para um ambiente de maior proteção contra decomposição. O solo argiloso sob plantio teve um aumento de matéria orgânica contida nas frações consideradas menos protegidas, e não demonstrou essas mudanças de C para formas estruturais consideradas mais protegidas

Chemical analysis of rainfall and throughfall in the Tapajós National Forest, Belterra, Pará, Brazil

The Tapajós National Forest (FLONA Tapajós) has 600,000 hectares of protected forest, and is situated 50 km south of the city of Santarém, Pará, Brazil, a port city of 250,000 inhabitants that is located at the confluence of the Tapajós and Amazon Rivers. There is a lot of farmland in the region, which offers many opportunities to study changes in land use. Selective wood harvesting is one type of land use that is particularly important to the economy of Santarém. Wet and dry deposition of organic material can be an important source of nutrients for plants, and this is especially true when the soil is poor, which is the case in Santarém-Belterra plateau region, the study area of this research. In this region, the natural atmospheric deposition of nutrients is often enhanced by the burning of biomass, which releases a large part of the above-ground biomass nutrients into the atmosphere. The objectives of this study were: 1 - estimate the total wet deposition via direct precipitation and through the canopy, including dry deposition; 2 - verify potential sources of nutrients found in the total wet deposition and dry deposition; and 3 - investigate the effects of coverage vegetation on nutrient content in precipitation and throughfall. The study was conducted in FLONA Tapajós at km 67 of Santarém- Cuiabá Highway, south of the city of Santarém. The study area consisted of a portion of 100 x 100 m transects divided into 10 x 10 m plots. The area was located next to a meteorological tower 65 m tall that measures various climate parameters such as rainfall, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, temperature and humidity, among others. Direct precipitation (PD) and internal precipitation (IP) collectors consisted of 2 L polyethylene bottles with a 115 mm diameter funnel. Samples were collected weekly from April 2003 to March 2006. The volume of the sample was measured individually for each collector (25 traps for internal precipitation and 4 for direct precipitation). The conclusions that can be drawn from this study are: 1 - the dry season has the highest variation in ion flux; 2 - seasonality has a strong influence on the concentration of basic cations; 3 - dry deposition is one of the most important ways that nutrients are acquired in FLONA Tapajos; 4 - there is a significant inflow of nutrients Cl and Na due to intensive grain farming nearby; 5 dry deposition is the most important process for the enrichment of water that reaches the forest floor; 6 - principal component analysis facilitates the interpretation and characterization of rainwater and in this study shows the influence of anthropogenic sources such as agriculture, biomass burning, and dust

Comparing the Air Turbulence above Smooth and Rough Surfaces in the Amazon Region

The goal of this work is to compare the main air turbulence characteristics of two common areas in the Amazonian landscape: a dense forest (rough surface) and a water surface (smooth surface). Using wind components data collected at high frequency by sonic anemometers located just above these surfaces, turbulence intensity and power spectra, temporal and length scales of the eddies, as well as the main terms of the TKE budget (TKE = turbulent kinetic energy) were evaluated for each surface type. The results showed that in general, the air turbulence intensity above the forest was higher than above the lake during the daytime, due to the high efficiency of the forest in absorbing the momentum of the turbulent flow. During the nighttime, the situation was reversed, with greater air turbulence intensity above the lake, except in some periods in which intermittent turbulence bursts occured above the forest