RESUMO A análise das oscilações dos estoques de biomassa em florestas tropicais permite descrever o comportamento desses ecossistemas diante de alterações naturais ou antropogênicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o estoque e a dinâmica de biomassa no período (2007-2010) em Floresta Ombrófila Densa de duas áreas de pesquisa na FLONA - Tapajós: Amazônia oriental, denominadas Área 1 e Área 2, distantes aproximadamente 45 km uma da outra. A biomassa foi estimada através de equação alométrica e medidas de DAP, proveniente de 12 parcelas permanentes, sendo 6 em cada área. Os resultados mostraram que houve diferença significativa no estoque médio anual de biomassa entre a Área 1 (293,19 ± 27,74; 298,21 ± 31,73; 299,60 ± 29,46; 298,11 ± 29,40 Mg.ha-1) e a Área 2 (254,35 ± 69,61; 259,10 ± 70,05; 261,00 ± 69,43; 248,92 ± 61,78 Mg.ha-1). Notou-se variação anual no estoque de biomassa em intervalos de medições superiores a um ano, devido às oscilações na taxa de mortalidade, recrutamento e incremento, além da área basal e abundância dos indivíduos em cada área. A maior concentração de indivíduos ocorreu nas classes diamétricas 10 ≤ DAP ≤ 30 cm, porém, verificou-se que os indivíduos com DAP ≥ 60 cm em concentração menor estocam biomassa equivalente à da classe diamétrica 10 ≤ DAP ≤ 30 cm. Concluiu-se que as oscilações na taxa de mortalidade, recrutamento e incremento, além da abundância e área basal nestes locais afetaram os estoques de biomassa.

ABSTRACT The analysis of the oscillations of biomass stocks in tropical forests allows us to describe the behavior of these ecosystems in the face of natural or anthropogenic changes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inventory and dynamics of biomass in the period (2007-2010) in dense rain forest in two areas of research in the National Forest - Tapajos, eastern Amazonia, called Area 1 and Area 2, 45 km distant from each other. The biomass was estimated using allometric equation and DAP, from 12 permanent plots, with six in each area. The results showed a significant difference in annual average stock biomass between Area 1 (293.19 ± 27.74, 298.21 ± 31.73, 299.60 ± 29.46, 298.11 ± 29.40 Mg. ha-1) and Area 2 (254.35 ± 69.61, 259.10 ± 70.05, 261.00 ± 69.43, 248.92 ± 61.78 Mg.ha-1). Besides that, it was noted annual change in stock biomass measurements at intervals of greater than one year due to fluctuations in mortality, recruitment and growth, besides the basal area and abundance of individuals in each area. The highest concentration of individuals occurred in diametric classes DAP 10 ≤ DAP ≤ 30 cm, however, it was verified that individuals with DAP ≥ 60 cm in lower concentration stored biomass equivalent to diametric classes 10 ≤ DAP ≤ 30 cm. We conclude that fluctuations in mortality, recruitment and growth, and abundance and basal area of these sites affected the stock biomass.

Site-specific height-diameter models may be used to improve biomass estimates for forest inventories where only diameter at breast height (DBH) measurements are available. In this study, we fit height-diameter models for vegetation types of a tropical Atlantic forest using field measurements of height across plots along an altitudinal gradient. To fit height-diameter models, we sampled trees by DBH class and measured tree height within 13 one-hectare permanent plots established at four altitude classes. To select the best model we tested the performance of 11 height-diameter models using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The Weibull and Chapman-Richards height-diameter models performed better than other models, and regional site-specific models performed better than the general model. In addition, there is a slight variation of height-diameter relationships across the altitudinal gradient and an extensive difference in the stature between the Atlantic and Amazon forests. The results showed the effect of altitude on tree height estimates and emphasize the need for altitude-specific models that produce more accurate results than a general model that encompasses all altitudes. To improve biomass estimation, the development of regional height-diameter models that estimate tree height using a subset of randomly sampled trees presents an approach to supplement surveys where only diameter has been measured.

Residues of herbicides from sugarcane were monitored in waters and sediments of Corumbataí River and tributaries. Ametryne, atrazine, simazine, hexazinone, glyphosate, and clomazone were detected in water samples, with negligible levels of ametryne and glyphosate in sediment samples. The area of recharge of the Guarani aquifer presented the highest triazine and clomazone levels. The triazines were detected at higher levels, with atrazine above Brazil's potability and quality standards. Total herbicide levels at some sampling points were 13 times higher than the European Community potability limit. There is no Brazilian standard for ametryne, although the risk is larger due to ametryne's higher toxicity for the aquatic biota.

Informações sobre mudanças no uso e cobertura do solo são fundamentais para vários propósitos sociais, econômicos e ambientais. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi elaborar mapas de cobertura do solo usando imagens digitais obtidas por satélite no ano de 1997 nas seguintes bacias hidrográficas do Estado de São Paulo: Piracicaba, Moji-Guaçu, Alto Paranapanema, Turvo Aguapeí, Peixe, and São José dos Dourados. Adicionalmente, a relação entre a cobertura do solo e a declividade do terreno também foram investigadas. Um segundo objetivo foi estimar a proporção relativa de vegetação ripária considerando-se uma faixa de 30 metros em relação às margens dos corpos d'água. As três principais questões científicas deste artigo foram: i) Qual é a cobertura dominante do solo nas bacias hidrográficas abordadas? ii) As vegetações ripárias encontram-se bem preservadas ripária nas faixas dos 30 metros? Em caso negativo, iii) Qual é a cobertura do solo dominante nessas áreas? A cobertura do solo predominante nas bacias hidrográficas são as pastagens, ocorrendo em quase 50% de toda a área investigada. Seguem-se as plantações de cana-de-açúcar (14%) como sendo as coberturas do solo mais importantes. Aproximadamente metade da área das sete bacias foi considerada plana (40%) ou suavemente ondulada (10%). A área ripária considerando-se uma largura de 30 metros em relação às margens dos corpos d'água ocupa uma área aproximada de 6.200 km². Deste total, somente 25% encontram-se bem preservadas. Dentre as culturas, as pastagens ocupam a maior área na zona ripária. Nas bacias dos rios Moji-Guaçu e Piracicaba a cana-de-açúcar é a principal cultura invasora da zona ripária.

Information about the land cover of a region it is a key information for several purposes. This paper aimed to elaborate land-cover maps using digital satellite images obtained in 1997 from seven watersheds (Piracicaba, Moji-Guaçu, Alto Paranapanema, Turvo Aguapeí, Peixe, and São José dos Dourados) located in the State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Additionaly, this study evaluated the relationship between land-cover and slopes of the terrain of the seven watersheds. A third objective was to estimate the percentage of riparian vegetation currently remaining along the streams in a 30-meter width buffer zone. Three research questions were posed: i) What is the dominant land-cover of these watersheds? ii) Is the riparian vegetation well preserved in the 30m width buffer zone? If not, iii) what is the dominant land-cover in these areas and what would be the cost of recovering such areas? Pasture was the predominant land-cover, occurring in approximately 50% of the entire study area, while sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) (14%) constituted the second most frequent land-cover. Approximately 50% of the area of the seven basins is considered flat (40%) or smoothly rolling (10%). The terrain only becomes hillier in the Piracicaba and Alto Paranapanema basins, where a little less than 50% have slopes higher than 8%. The total riparian buffer strip zone occupied an area equivalent to approximately 6,200 km². From this total, only 25% is preserved. Pasture is the main land-cover of the riparian buffer strip zone.