GIS-fuzzy logic approach for building indices: regional feasibility and natural potential of ranching in tropical wetland

The regional feasibility of ranching (RFR) index was obtained in order to evaluate the productive potential of farms in the Pantanal. Five indicators were selected by expert and employed for the developing of the index. One of the five indicators corresponded to the natural potential for livestock ranching (NPLR) index which was generated by GIS-fuzzy logic. Fuzzy inference process, involving definitions of membership functions, fuzzy set operations and inference rules was implemented and validated with the participation of primary stakeholders. Different scenarios were simulated in a batch, next validated and adjusted with the participation of stakeholders. Both procedures were performed by the use of the Webfuzzy software. The NPLR and RFR index values, calculated for the pilot ranch, corresponded to the expectations of both expert and stakeholders. Fuzzy logic combined with landscape metric seems to be suitable for the definition of the productive natural potential of ranches to produce livestock in the Pantanal. The indices can assess the regional feasibility of ranching, contributing to decision-making of stakeholders.\u

Reação da polimerase em cadeia tempo real para diagnóstico de Anaplasma marginale em bovino e veado campeiro do Pantanal brasileiro Ozotoceros bezoarticus leucogaster

Epizootiological study of Anaplasma marginale in regions that contain various reservoir hosts, co-existence of rickettsia pathogens, and common vectors is a complicated task. To achieve diagnosis of this rickettsia in cattle and campeiro deer of Brazilian Pantanal, a comparison was made between a real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with intercalating Sybr Green fluorochrome and primers based on msp5 gene of A. marginale; a conventional PCR (C-PCR); and parasitological examination using thin blood smear stained with Giemsa-MayGrunwald. Both PCRs showed good performance in the diagnosis of A. marginale in cattle, and were superior to the parasitological exam. The RT-PCR detected seven positive campeiro deer (16.3%). This rate was significantly higher compared to C-PCR, which identified one animal as positive (2.3%), and also compared to parasitological diagnosis, which did not find any positive animals. The dissociation temperature average of positive reactions in cattle (81.72 ºC ± 0.20) was identical to dissociation temperature found in the cervids (81.72 ºC ± 0.12), suggesting that both animal species were infected with A. marginale. We concluded that RT-PCR can be used for A. marginale diagnosis and in epizootiological studies of cattle and cervids; in spite of the small number of campeiro deer samples, the results indicated that this wildlife species has importance in the Anaplasma epizootiology in the Brazilian Pantanal.O estudo epizootiológico de Anaplasma marginale em regiões que existem vários reservatórios, co-existência de espécies de riquétsias patógenas e vetores comuns é uma tarefa complicada. Com o objetivo de obter o diagnóstico dessa riquétsia em bovinos e veado campeiro do Pantanal brasileiro foi avaliada uma reação da polimerase em cadeia em tempo real (PCR-TR) com o fluoróforo intercalante de fita dupla de DNA Sybr Green e iniciadores baseados na seqüência do gene msp5 de A. marginale comparando-a a uma PCR convencional (PCR-C) e ao exame parasitológico de esfregaço fino de sangue corado com Giemsa-MayGrunwald. Ambas PCRs apresentaram bom desempenho no diagnóstico de A. marginale nos bovinos, o qual foi superior ao exame parasitológico. O PCR-TR detectou sete veados campeiros positivos (16,3%), o que foi significativamente maior comparado ao PCR-C identificando um animal como positivo (2,3%), e ao exame parasitológico não encontrou nenhum animal positivo. A média da temperatura de dissociação das reações positivas para amostras de bovinos (81,72 ºC ± 0,20) foi idêntica àquelas dos cervídeos ( 81,72 ºC ± 0,12), o que sugere que ambas espécies animais foram infectadas por A. marginale. Concluímos que PCR-TR pode ser utilizada para diagnóstico e estudos epizootiológicos de A. marginale em bovinos e cervídeos. Apesar da pequena amostragem de veado campeiro os resultados indicam que essa espécie de animal selvagem tem importância na epizootiologia do Anaplasma no Pantanal brasileiro

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http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2008v21n4p183Este é o primeiro estudo sobre a distribuição e abundância relativa do jacaré-de-papo-amarelo na Ilha de Santa Catarina. Foi estimada a abundância relativa do jacaré ao longo dos rios na Estação Ecológica de Carijós, além de verificar a sua ocorrência em toda a planície do Rio Ratones, noroeste da ilha. A média da abundância relativa foi de 0,25 (±0,07) jacarés/km percorrido, sendo obtida através de contagem noturna. Houve uma fraca correlação do número de jacarés com a temperatura do ar. Através de entrevistas com moradores locais e levantamento noturno da espécie em açudes e rios no entorno da unidade de conservação, foi verificado que os jacarés cobrem toda a planície do Rio Ratones, podendo ser encontrados em habitats naturais (rios, banhados, manguezais) e artificiais (canais de drenagem e açudes). Embora este estudo revele informações básicas sobre a distribuição do Caiman latirostris no noroeste da ilha, ele serve como base para futuras pesquisas.Abundance and local range of broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris,Alligatoridae) in the northwest of Santa Catarina Island. This is the fi rst report on the distribution and relative abundance of the broad-snouted caiman on Santa Catarina Island. The study estimated the relative abundance of caiman along the rivers at Estação Ecológica de Carijós, in addition to evaluating the occurrence of this species in the entire area of the Ratones River plain on the northwestern portion of the island. The mean relative abundance obtained by nocturnal counts was 0.25 (±0.07) caiman/km surveyed. There was a weak correlation between the number of caimans and the air temperature. Based on interviews with the local community and nocturnal surveys of caimans in rivers and reservoirs surrounding the protected area, we concluded that the range occupied by caimans covered the entire area of the Ratones river plain, inhabiting natural habitats (rivers, mangroves, swamps) as well as artifi cial habitats (reservoirs and water channels). Although this study provides basic information about the broad-snouted caiman population on this part of the island, it is aimed mainly at providing guidance for future research

Abundance and local range of broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris, Alligatoridae) in the northwest of Santa Catarina Island

This is the first report on the distribution and relative abundance of the broad-snouted caiman on Santa Catarina Island. The study estimated the relative abundance of caiman along the rivers at Estação Ecológica de Carijós, in addition to evaluating the occurrence of this species in the entire area of the Ratones River plain on the northwestern portion of the island. The mean relative abundance obtained by nocturnal counts was 0.25 (±0.07) caiman/km surveyed. There was a weak correlation between the number of caimans and the air temperature. Based on interviews with the local community and nocturnal surveys of caimans in rivers and reservoirs surrounding the protected area, we concluded that the range occupied by caimans covered the entire area of the Ratones river plain, inhabiting natural habitats (rivers, mangroves, swamps) as well as artificial habitats (reservoirs and water channels). Although this study provides basic information about the broad-snouted caiman population on this part of the island, it is aimed mainly at providing guidance for future research

Aerial surveys of caiman, marsh deer and pampas deer in the Pantanal Wetland of Brazil

The yacare caiman (Caiman c. yacare) was illegally hunted in the Pantanal during the 1970s and 1980s at levels that may have reached one million skins per year. The possibility that yacare caiman had been over-exploited generated pressure for a monitoring programme for caiman populations. The marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) and pampas deer (Ozotocerus bezoarticus) are listed as endangered in Brazil and need the protection of effective management programmes. Ground surveys are difficult for the extensive and inaccessible Pantanal Wetland, south-western Brazil, but aerial surveys provided information that allowed re-evaluation of conservation priorities. Caiman and marsh deer have larger populations than was believed. Preliminary data indicates that the pampas deer density decreased at a rate of about 30% per year from 1991 to 1993. This indicates the need for detailed ground-level studies for the pampas deer population in the Pantanal. We recommend a long term monitoring program using standardized counting procedures for wildlife populations in the Pantanal

Survey of Leptospira spp in pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) in the Pantanal wetlands of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil by serology and polymerase chain reaction

This work reports a survey of Leptospira spp in pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) in the Pantanal wetlands of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil by serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Seventy pampas deer were captured in the dry season and surveyed using PCR, microscopic agglutination test (MAT) (n = 51) and by both techniques (n = 47). PCR detected infections in two pampas deer and MAT detected infections in three. Through sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, the PCR-amplified fragment detected in deer was identified as Leptospira interrogans. Serovars Pomona and Butembo were detected using MAT and the highest titre was 200 for serovar Pomona. Epidemiological aspects of the findings are discussed