ABSTRACT. The present study aimed to correlate the influence of water quality, cultivation time, area, and density of ponds on the zootechnical performance of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in oligohaline waters. It was demonstrated that, under the conditions of this research, better control of temperature, pH and water alkalinity can be employed. Ammonia levels were within the normal range and correlated positively with the growth rate (ρ = 0.69859) and production (ρ = 0.66362) of the ponds. There was also a positive correlation between cultivation time and pond density with shrimp weight (ρ = 0.75305 and 0.68933) and pond productivity (ρ = 0.74763 and 0.79367, respectively). Negative correlations were observed between: I) pH with shrimp survival (ρ = -0.73238) and pond production (ρ = -0.68696); II) alkalinity and pond production (ρ = -0.66162). The results show that the cultivation of shrimp L. vannamei in oligohaline waters is viable and there is potential for increased productivity associated with better hydrological monitoring and use of higher density and cultivation time by some producers.

Resumo A Modelagem de Nicho Ecológico é importante ferramenta para estabelecer predições de distribuição de espécies no espaço geográfico. O Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades, no Piauí, Brasil, é uma Unidade de Conservação Federal de Proteção Integral, com 6.221 hectares. O objetivo desse trabalho foi determinar a distribuição geográfica e avaliar o impacto das variáveis na predição do habitat de adequação atual de algumas espécies arbóreas. Foram selecionadas seis espécies, em função do seu valor ecológico e sociocultural: Hymenaea courbaril L; Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel; Parkia platycephala Benth.; Magonia pubescens A.St.-Hil.; Caryocar coriaceum Wittm e Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart. Ex DC.). Como resultado, Foram apontadas 130 espécies arbóreas, onde foi identificado que: a distribuição potencial de Parkia platycephala se concentrou em 26,19 km²; Himatanthus drasticus teve o nicho potencial ocupando 18,44 km²; Hymenaea courbaril teve área estimada em 16,19 km²; Handroanthus impetiginosus teve área potencial prevista no modelo em 12,01 km²; Caryocar coriaceum abrangeu 15,06 km²; Magonia pubescens foi prevista em 16,66 km². Observou-se que na escala de paisagem, as variáveis topoclimáticas e de textura da cobertura vegetal apresentaram um modelo com bom desempenho e validade para predizer a distribuição potencial.

Abstract Ecological Niche Modeling is an important tool for establishing predictions of species distribution in geographic space. The Sete Cidades National Park, in Piauí, Brazil, is a Federal Conservation Unit for Integral Protection, with 6,221 hectares. The objective of this work was to determine the geographic distribution and to evaluate the impact of the variables in the prediction of the habitat of current suitability of some tree species. Six species were selected, according to their ecological and sociocultural value: Hymenaea courbaril L; Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel; Parkia platycephala Benth .; Magonia pubescens A.St.-Hil .; Caryocar coriaceum Wittm and Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart. Ex DC.). As a result, 130 tree species were identified, where it was identified that: the potential distribution of Parkia platycephala was concentrated in 26.19 km²; Himatanthus drasticus had the potential niche occupying 18.44 km²; Hymenaea courbaril had an estimated area of 16.19 km²; Handroanthus impetiginosus had a potential area estimated in the model at 12.01 km²; Caryocar coriaceum covered 15.06 km²; Magonia pubescens was estimated at 16.66 km². It was observed that in the landscape scale, the topoclimatic and texture variables of the vegetation cover presented a model with good performance and validity to predict the potential distribution.

ABSTRACT Documenting the uses of native species of Cactaceae in Northeast Brazil contributes to understanding how the inhabitants of this seasonally dry and low-rainfall region have used these resources, considering that some species of this family of Cactaceae are among the most endangered in the world. The aim of this research was to determine which species of Cactaceae occur in the study area and investigate the knowledge and recurrent uses associated with them, as well as the local availability of the species most used by residents. Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 59 heads of households. Guided tours were conducted for data collection and subsequent taxonomic identification of species. Use value and availability were determined for the most-used species in two predefined areas. Six native species were recorded and classified into eight categories. Columnar species had higher use values, while fodder and construction were the most cited use categories. Cereus jamacaru DC was the most-used species, with consequent interference in its availability due to significant reduction in the number of cladodes as a result of their constant removal from plants in areas of direct use for the purpose of fodder.

ABSTRACT We investigated, through a temporal comparison, the extraction of non-timber forest resources by quantitatively analyzing the Conservation Priority Index (CPI). The study focused on the Fulni-ô Indigenous Territory, in the municipality of Águas Belas, PE (Northeast Brazil), which is characterized by caatinga vegetation (seasonal dry forest). Information on the availability of the exploited resources and the reported use of the species were obtained from vegetation sampling and semi-structured interviews, respectively. Our results demonstrated a reduction in species richness overtime, which may be due to continued resource extraction in the area, and that some species with low densities were even more affected. The species reported as being at high risk in the current study apparently did not differ from their status in the previous study, which supports the idea that these species are most evident in this situation more for their high potential of use than for their high densities. When we associate these events together with the disappearance of some rare species, we can conclude that the CPI was not efficient in predicting changes, and that the combination of variables used with the biological variables of the species needs to be adjusted.

This study tested the ecological apparency hypothesis in the community of Barroquinha, in the municipality of Lagoa, Paraíba State, Brazil. We used the Use Value (UV) by testing the information obtained through three types of calculations: UVgeneral, UVcurrent, and UVpotential. The botanical sampling was conducted in two areas of the community (Preserved - A1; Degraded - A2), and interviews were carried out with 66 people, who signed a Free and Transparent Consent form, required by the Research Ethics Committee. The Spearman's correlation test was performed to relate phytosociological data to ethnobotanical data. We used the Pearson Correlation to test the correlation between genders and the Use Values (UVs). Fifteen useful species were recorded in A1 and 16 species in A2. Positive correlations were found in both areas between species and the phytosociological data: in A1 between UVcurrent with basal area and dominance (p < 0.05) and in A2 between UVgeneral and UVcurrent with all parameters (p < 0.05). Only the forage category showed a positive correlation in A1 between UVpotential and density and frequency (p < 0.05). In A2, the fuel category was correlated with UVcurrent and basal area and dominance (p < 0.05). There was positive correlation between UVgeneral/UVcurrent, UVgeneral/UVpotential, UVcurrent/UVpotential (p < 0.0001). Men and women considered the same species as the most important (p < 0.0001). According to the results of this study, we can conclude that ecological apparency best explains the relationship between use and availability of species used for timber.

O presente estudo buscou realizar um inventário de plantas úteis em uma área da Caatinga localizada no município de Soledade (Nordeste, Brasil). A pesquisa foi realizada em duas etapas, na primeira foi feito um inventário fitossociológico em fragmentos dessa vegetação próximos à comunidade, para identificar as espécies, e na segunda um levantamento etnobotânico por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com 33 informantes de ambos os sexos, com o intuito de investigar o conhecimento destes acerca dos usos atribuídos às plantas. Um total de 101, das quais 84 são consideradas úteis pela comunidade. Foram distribuídas em nove categorias de uso (forragem, medicinal, tecnologia, construção, alimento, combustível, veterinário, veneno-abortiva outros). Dentre estas as mais relevantes com relação ao número de espécies inclusas foram as categorias forragem, medicinal e tecnologia, com mais de 20 espécies. O caule é a parte da planta mais utilizada, reforçando a importância dos recursos madeireiros para a comunidade. O conhecimento sobre o potencial utilitário da vegetação nativa parece estar uniformemente distribuído entre os informantes. Poucas espécies detêm alto valor de uso, enquanto a maioria apresenta valores pouco relevantes. Embora não haja uma verdadeira distinção entre o uso real e o uso cognitivo dos recursos vegetais, o registro dos saberes locais torna-se imprescindível porque os conhecimentos das populações são fundamentais para o estabelecimento de técnicas de uso e manejo desses recursos, que minimizem a ação antrópica sobre a biodiversidade da Caatinga, de modo que, as potencialidades desse bioma possam ser usufruídas pelas gerações futuras.

This study sought to identify the potential utility of native speciesin the Caatinga area in the municipality of Soledade (Northeastern Brazil). The survey was conducted in two stages, first a phytosociological inventory was carried out in fragments of vegetation next to the community to identify the species, then an ethnobotanical survey was conducted using structured interviews with 33 informants of both sexes in order to investigate their knowledge about the attributed uses to plants. A total of 101 species were identified, and 84 of those were considered useful by the community. Reported species were divided into nine categories of use (forage, medicine, technology, construction, food, fuel, veterinary, poison-arbotive, others), among which the most relevant in terms of number of species were the categories of fodder, medicine and technology, with over 20 species each. The leaf is the plant part most used, followed by wood and bark, reinforcing the importance of timber resources to the community. Knowledge about the potential utility of native vegetation appears to be evenly distributed among the informers. Few species are highly valued, while most have marginal use values. Although there is no real distinction between use and cognitive use of plant resources, it is indispensable to report knowledge on plant-use. These traditional knowledge and practices are essential to establish techniques and for sustainable use and management of these resources, in order to minimize the human action on the biodiversity of the Caatinga, for the potential of this biome can be enjoyed by future generations.

Este estudio trata de determinar la utilidad potencial de especies nativas en un área de Caatinga en el municipio de Soledade (Nordeste de Brasil). El trabajo se realizó en dos etapas. Primero se llevó a cabo un inventario fitosociológico en los fragmentos de vegetación acerca de la comunidad para identificar las especies, y después se condujo un estudio etnobotánico usando entrevistas semiestructuradas con 33 informantes de ambos sexos para investigar sus conocimientos acerca de los usos atribuidos a las plantas. Un total de 101 especies fueron identificadas, 84 del total fueron considerados útiles para la comunidad. Además los taxa inventariados fueron divididos en nueve categorías de uso (forraje, medicina, tecnología, construcción, alimentos, combustible, veterinario, veneno-arbotivo, otros), entre los cuales las más relevantes en cuanto al número de especies incluidas fueron las categorías de forraje, medicina y tecnología, con más de 20 especies. La hoja es la parte de la planta más utilizada, seguida de la madera y la corteza, lo que refuerza la importancia de los recursos madereros de la comunidad. El conocimiento sobre la utilidad potencial de la vegetación nativa parece estar distribuido uniformemente entre los informantes. Pocas especies tienen un alto valor de uso, mientras que la mayoría presentan valores de uso marginales. Aunque no exista una verdadera distinción entre uso y uso cognitivo de los recursos vegetales, conocer y tener en cuenta el conocimiento local es indispensable para establecer las técnicas de uso y manejo de estos recursos, a fin de minimizar la acción humana sobre la biodiversidad de la Caatinga, para que el potencial de este bioma pueda ser disfrutado por las generaciones futuras.

En un contexto informacional (semiótico) este trabajo etnográfico registró informaciones sobre las indicaciones de las aves para la previsión de lluvia en tres comunidades rurales en el distrito municipal de Soledade, Paraíba. Nordeste de Brasil. Los datos biológicos, ecológicos y etnoornitológicos fueron reunidos en el campo a través de entrevistas libres y abiertas, formularios semi-estructurados, observación directa y giras guiadas. Para verificar la corrección de la información se usó un control a través de la información repetida en la situación síncrona. Los informantes mencionaron 30 especies de aves indicadores de lluvia, siendo las más frecuentes Crotophaga ani, Herpetotheres cachinnans, Cariama cristata y Nystalus maculatus. Las vocalizaciones son las señales-clave más evidentes con valor informativo que los residentes reportan como señal de lluvia. Otras señales indicativas fueron la postura de huevos, instalación del nido, aparición en la región y reproducción. Hay una correlación significante y positiva (r²= 0,259; p<0,01) entre la pluviosidad media y la frecuencia de observaciones mensuales de las aves indicadoras de lluvia. Se verificó que el conocimiento etnoornitologico está bien distribuido en el área, además de ser transmitido a través de las generaciones, inter-socialmente (conocimiento circular) y adquirido con la experiencia diaria (conocimiento horizontal)

In an informational (semiotic) context, the present ethnographic work recorded information on avian indications for predicting rain at three rural communities in the municipality of Soledade, State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. The biological, ecological, and ethnoornithological data were collected in the field by applying free- and open-interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, direct observation, and guided tours in the caatinga. The reliability of the information obtained was explored by means of a control using synchronous repeated information. The informants reported 30 bird species as biodindicators of rain, being most commonly mentioned the smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani), laughing cachinnans (Herpetotheres cachinnans), red-legged (Cariana cristata), and spot-backed puffbird (Nystalus maculatus). Vocalizations were recognized by local people as key signs with the highest informational value for predicting rain. Other signs used as indicators were laying of eggs, nesting, their emergence in the region, and reproduction. The mean rainfall correlated significantly and positively on the frequency of monthly observations of birds that indicate rain (r2= 0.259, p<0.01). It is concluded that this ethnoornithological knowledge is widely distributed in the area. It is passed from generation to generation, being transmitted intersocially (circular knowledge), and through daily acquaintance (horizontal knowledge)

Num contexto informacional (semiótico), este trabalho etnográfico registrou informações sobre as indicações aviárias para a previsão de chuva em três comunidades rurais no município de Soledade, Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados biológicos, ecológicos e etnoornitológicos foram coletados em campo através de entrevistas livres e abertas, formulários semi-estruturados, observação direta e turnê guiada na caatinga. Para verificar a fidedignidade das informações utilizamos um controle através de informações repetidas em situação sincrônica. Foram mencionadas pelos informantes 30 espécies de aves bioindicadoras de chuva, as mais citadas foram anum-preto (Crotophaga ani), acauã (Herpetotheres cachinnans), sariema (Cariama cristata) e fura-barreiro (Nystalus maculatus). Os sinais-chave com valor informacional mais evidentes, que os moradores observam nas aves para o prenúncio de chuva, são as vocalizações. Registraram-se outros sinais indicativos como postura dos ovos, nidificação, surgimento na região e reprodução. Há uma correlação significativa e positiva (r²= 0,259; p<0,01) entre a pluviosidade média e a freqüência de observações mensais das aves indicadoras de chuva. Foi constatado que esse conhecimento etnoornitológico é bem distribuído na área, além de ser transmitido através das gerações, inter-socialmente (conhecimento circular) e adquirido com a experiência cotidiana (conhecimento horizontal)

Los Etnobotánicos generalmente asumen que un aumento en la abundancia de una planta implica en aumento de su importancia relativa local. Esta idea, basada en una predicción simple de la hipótesis de la apariencia, sugiere que las personas tenderán a usar plantas que son fáciles de encontrar. Desde que esta predicción se formuló en los años 90, investigadores del campo han demostrado a menudo las relaciones (frecuentemente positivas) entre los parámetros estructurales de una comunidad de plantas y la manera en que las comunidades locales usan estos recursos; pero no hay ninguna evidencia consistente para afirmar que estas relaciones son constantes. Se discute la importancia de examinar la hipótesis de la apariencia en las regiones tropicales por lo que se refiere a la conservación, y estrategias del investigación del potencial farmacológico de plantas medicinales.

Ethnobotanists generally assume that an increase in a taxon’s abundance implies increased local relative importance. This idea, based on a simple prediction of the apparency hypothesis, suggests that people will tend to use plants that are easy to find. Since this prediction was put forward in the 1990’s, field researchers have often demonstrated relationships (frequently positive) between the structural parameters of a plant community and the manner in which local communities use these resources; but there is no consistent evidence yet to affirm that these relationships are in any way constant, or even exist at all. The importance of examining the apparency hypothesis in tropical regions is discussed in terms of management, conservation, and bioprospection strategies.

Etnobotânicos geralmente têm assumido que o aumento na abundância de um táxon levará ao aumento na sua importância relativa local. Essa idéia, baseada numa predição simples da hipótese da aparência, preconiza que as pessoas tendem a usar as plantas que encontram com mais facilidade. Desde as publicações da década de 90, evidências de campo mostram uma relação freqüentemente positiva entre os parâmetros estruturais de uma comunidade vegetal e as formas de aproveitamento de seus recursos por comunidades locais. Todavia, há evidências consistentes de que essas relações podem variar ou não existirem. Discute-se a importância de testar a hipótese da aparência nas regiões tropicais para orientar estratégias de manejo, conservação e bioprospecção.