Photopedology, spectroscopy, and GIS to characterize soils developed over the Barreiras Group in Amapá, Brazil

O presente trabalho utilizou ferramentas de sensoriamento remoto e sistema de informação geográfica, aliadas às informações espectrais do solo e quantitativas e qualitativas do relevo, para a caracterização e discriminação das classes de solos desenvolvidos do Grupo Barreiras na região do município de Porto Grande, Amapá. Após o mapeamento semidetalhado de solos, realizou-se a caracterização pontual das amostras dos perfis por meio de espectroscopia de visível e infravermelho (400-2500 nm), e a análise espacial das redes de drenagem e relevo a partir de fotos aéreas e imagens de radar. As informações quantitativas do relevo foram mais eficientes na caracterização e discriminação dos solos estudados do que as qualitativas, enquanto as informações espectrais permitiram caracterizar os solos em nível pontual. Métodos espaciais utilizando redes de drenagem e relevo e métodos espectrais utilizando amostras pontuais complementam-se na caracterização e discriminação de solos na paisagem

Variabilidade espacial de atributos físicos do solo em sistemas integrados de produção na região amazônica

The objective of this work was to analyze the spatial variability of soil physical attributes in integrated production systems and its relationship with the growth and yield of a corn (Zea mays) crop intercropped with palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha). The experiment was carried out in an integrated crop-livestock (ICL) system and in an integrated crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) system, in a Typic Hapludox. The ICLF system was managed in alleys between eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) rows, spaced at 18, 30, and 42 m. Corn grain and forage yields were positively correlated with soil clay and moisture contents, whereas grain yield was negatively correlated with soil penetration resistance. The lowest corn plant heights and grain yields were observed near eucalyptus rows. The average values for soil penetration resistance were below 2.0 MPa. Spatial variability was verified for: corn plant height, grain yield, and agronomic efficiency; forage intercropping; and soil moisture and silt contents, as well as penetration resistance. Greater grain and biomass yields were obtained at a 42-m distance between tree rows. The obtained results are indicative that corn traits and soil physical attributes were only slightly associated. The spatial distribution of the eucalyptus rows influences the agronomic efficiency of the intercrop and soil moisture contents.O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a variabilidade espacial de atributos físicos do solo em sistemas de produção integrada e a sua relação com o crescimento e a produtividade da cultura de milho (Zea mays) consorciada com braquiária (Urochloa brizantha). O experimento foi conduzido em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP) e em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária-floresta (ILPF), em Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo. O sistema de ILPF foi manejado em aleias, com renques de eucaliptos espaçados a 18, 30 e 42 m. As produtividades de grãos de milho e de forragem se correlacionaram positivamente com os conteúdos de argila e de água no solo, enquanto a produtividade de grãos se correlacionou negativamente com a resistência do solo à penetração. As menores alturas de plantas e produtividade de grãos de milho foram observadas próximo aos renques de eucalipto. Os valores médios de resistência à penetração estiveram abaixo de 2,0 MPa. Verificou-se variabilidade espacial para: altura de plantas, produtividade de grãos e eficiência relativa do milho; consórcio com foragem; e conteúdo de água e silte no solo, bem como resistência do solo à penetração. As maiores produtividades de grãos e de biomassa foram obtidas à distância de 42 m entre os renques. Os resultados obtidos são indicativos de que os caracteres do milho estiveram apenas levemente associados aos atributos físicos do solo. A distribuição espacial dos renques de eucalipto influencia a eficiência relativa do consócio e a umidade do solo

Diabetic rats exercised prior to and during pregnancy: Maternal reproductive outcome, biochemical profile, and frequency of fetal anomalies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise prior to or during pregnancy on maternal reproductive outcome, biochemical profile, and on fetal anomaly frequency in a rat pregnancy model utilizing chemically induced diabetes. Wistar rats (minimum n = 11 animals/group) were randomly assigned the following groups: group 1 (G1), sedentary, nondiabetic; G2, nondiabetic, exercised during pregnancy; G3, nondiabetic, exercised prior to and during pregnancy; G4, sedentary, diabetic; G5, diabetic, exercised during pregnancy; and G6, diabetic, exercised prior to and during pregnancy. A swimming program was utilized for moderate exercise. On day 21 of pregnancy, all rats were anesthetized to obtain blood for biochemical measurements. The gravid uterus was weighed with its contents, and the fetuses were analyzed. The nondiabetic rats exercised prior to pregnancy presented a reduced maternal weight gain. Besides, G2 and G3 groups showed decreased fetal weights at term pregnancy, indicating slight intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In the diabetic dams, the swimming program did not have antihyperglycemic effects. The exercise applied only during pregnancy caused severe IUGR, as confirmed by reduced fetal weight mean, fetal weight classification, and ossification sites. Nevertheless, exercise was not a teratogenic factor and improved the rats' lipid profiles, demonstrating that the exercise presented possible benefits, but there are also risks prior and during pregnancy, especially in diabetic pregnant women. © The Author(s) 2012

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