ABSTRACT Background: The Amazon rainforest plays an essential role in sheltering global biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services. However, the region has been threatened by increased rates of deforestation and degradation, which is often reported as the failure of the Brazilian conservation policy that could affect the image of agriculture Brazilian products abroad. In this sense, here we aimed to evaluate the foreign environmental perception of the region using data from social medias, to assess which are the main terms related to the region, how their importance varies over time and whether this perception tends to be more negative or positive. For this, we used data from posts made on Twitter® involving the term “Amazon rainforest” over 18 weeks using a data mining process. From these posts, we extracted the text, which went through steps of cleaning and organization, as well as crossing with additional databases (such as the sentiment dictionary). From the final data set, we first evaluated which are the main terms present in these posts and how their importance varied in the evaluated period. Next, we assess whether the terms cited are mainly negative or positive and how this sentiment varied over the monitoring period. Results: We found that the main terms are related to the environmental context such as “carbon”, “deforestation” and “fire” and that there is a relationship between their importance and the occurrence of fires in the region, which is positive with a temporal lag. In addition, we also found that the posts are, on average, composed of 68.47% of negative terms and that this sentiment predominates throughout the entire time series, being higher during the fire peaks in the region. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the environmental perception of the region presented in the posts in Twitter® is mainly negative, due to the degradation and fires observed over the last few years. We also discuss limitations of the approach and establish perspectives for future work.

ABSTRACT Background: Brazil Nuts (BN) tree is a species of high importance in Amazon region. Their continuous use by traditional communities is often related to disturbances that lead to larger degraded areas where this species is commonly found (“BN groves”). Here we aimed to explore the ecological patterns of BN groves vegetation and its relationship with BN trees and evaluate their potential as a source of carbon credits. We sampled 15 circular plots, with Brazilian Nut trees as the center (focal trees) and collected morphometric data from the focal trees. Additionally, we evaluated fruit production for a period of 5 years to obtain annual measurements, which were used as a proxy of the anthropic impact associated with the collection process. Through analysis of the data, we: i) examined the effects of BN trees on the adjacent vegetation; ii) quantified the potential amount of carbon credits in the adjacent vegetation and in the focal trees by converting carbon stock to equivalent CO2. Results: The adjacent vegetation structure was influenced by the size of BN trees (focal trees). No important effects of BN trees on the adjacent vegetation floristic composition and functional attributes were found. Additionally, we found that Brazilian Nut groves possess a significant potential for carbon credits that could be leveraged in the future carbon credit market, Conclusion: The study highlights the potential for carbon credit generation in Brazil nut groves in the Southeast Amazon as a means of supporting conservation and restoration efforts in these environments.

ABSTRACT Our research focused on the reproductive phenology of Mauritiella armata, a key veredas species in southeastern Brazil, and aspects of its floral and fruit morphology and sexual system. We observed the reproductive phenological patterns of M. armata for 36 months, and examined the relationships between phenophases and environmental variables to describe its phenological patterns in relation to environmental filters, as well as its floral and fruit morphologies, sexual system (to evaluate dioecy), and the biometry of its reproductive parts. Flowering was observed in the dry season and at the beginning of the rainy season, with fruiting occurring during the rainy season. The reproductive phenophases responded to environmental seasonality, principally temperature in the period immediately preceding the expression of the phenophase, as well as to environmental variations that had occurred up to six months earlier. The dioecious sexual system of M. armata was confirmed, with flowering synchronization between the sexes. The population studied did not exhibit apomixis, having xenogamy as its reproductive system. The staminate inflorescences were larger than the pistillate inflorescences and had greater numbers of flowers, although the pistillate flowers were larger. Wind pollen dispersal was not observed, thereby indicating that this species requires biotic pollination for fruit production.

ABSTRACT Fragmentation is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss in tropical forests through consequences on their different components. Beta diversity patterns across fragments have been studied across multiple spatial scales, but comparisons with intact landscapes and in a variety of vegetation types are scarce. In order to address this issue of anthropogenic landscape disturbance, we tested two hypotheses relating to fragmentation and beta diversity: 1. Floristic homogenization at patch-level scale and 2. Floristic differentiation at landscape-level scale. The study was conducted in the Espinhaço Range biosphere reserve, Brazil. Three landscapes encompassing a broad range of vegetation types were sampled in 115 plots. Two landscapes were fragmented due to mining activities (Sabará and Brumadinho) and one is protected (Parque Estadual Serra do Rola-Moça). Results showed high overall beta diversity both between landscapes (conserved and fragmented) and vegetation types (forest, Brazilian savanna “campos rupestres”, ecotone and ironstone “canga”) with high turnover and species losses, even in highly disturbed vegetation types. The conserved landscape was most diverse in terms of richness. Thus, fragmentation effects differed from the expected with a main role of differentiation processes, and we argue that high beta diversity is not always a good predictor of ecosystem health.

ABSTRACT Background: Monodominant Eremanthus erythropappus forests are dispersed in neotropical montane regions of southeastern and northeastern Brazil, forming ecotonal areas among other high altitude phytophysiognomies, with no information from their fauna communities and how these communities vary between phytophysiognomies adjacent. We examined the bird community of three preserved and three managed E. erythropappus forests, and compared them two other coexisting phytophysiognomies (cloud forests and montane fields), being three samples of each, in an ecotonal region between two biodiversity hotspot domains (Cerrado and Atlantic Forest), in southeastern Brazil (1300 to 1570m high). Results: The bird community of the natural E. erythropappus forests was shared with other vegetation, while the managed E. erythropappus forests presented the lowest species richness. However, even though managed E. erythropappus forests has almost no exclusive elements, their community caused a balanced variation (a set of very similar species, only changing the representativeness), suggesting that the abundance of the registered species varies along these phytophysiognomies. Conclusion: The species associated with the natural E. erythropappus forests represented 50% of the total species, in contrast to the remaining 50% associated with the areas of cloud forests and montane fields, and their sharing behaves as an ecotonal community, since its community coincides with elements which are also present in the avifauna of the other two sampled phytophysiognomies. The composition of the avifauna from managed E. erythropappus forests was more similar to the community registered in the montane fields.

Abstract Currently, protected areas around the world have a demand for volunteer work. At the same time, people in several countries that house protected areas seek out these spaces to serve as volunteers. This process occurs in a scenario strongly influenced by the neoliberal economy, which is marked by cuts in environmental management budgets and increased protected areas visitation. Based on this context, the objective was to analyze the role of volunteer work in protected areas in the context of neoliberal paradigm predominance. For this purpose, it was established a current overview of volunteer activity through a case study in Brazil by collecting information from volunteers and managers, heads or managers of protected areas receptive to volunteer work in interviews using structured questionnaires. It was found that Parques Nacionais are the categories with the greatest demand for volunteer work. It was also found the most part of volunteers is between 20 and 30 years old, and their education level is higher education in undergraduate courses related to biological sciences. It was identified significant differences between the perceptions of managers and volunteers about volunteer work objectives. However, both groups indicated that “Environmental education/environmental interaction and interpretation” and “Support for visitation” are the most frequently performed activities, and the main form of support and trade-off for volunteer work is the offering of certificates. Thus, volunteer work seeks to contribute to the protected areas objectives by supporting the management of these areas during public use activities. However, in the current scenario, this work is palliative in the face of the impacts of the dismantling of environmental policy that affects most countries that have Protected areas and have surrendered to neoliberal conservation.

ABSTRACT Background: Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTF) are recognized by their great biological diversity, but little is known about their temporal patterns, which may be crucial in a changing world. Here we aimed to characterize the SDTF dynamic patterns in floristic and structural changes, and also to evaluate shifts in dynamic rates and structural attributes such as richness, number of trees and biomass. Our hypothesis is that SDTF tree communities have their dynamic characterized by temporal fluctuations related to an instability pattern, in according to the already found for others tropical forests. For this we used a data of 42 400 m² plots in three fragments in the Brazilian Arboreal Caatinga, measured in 2005, 2010 and 2015. We evaluated temporal changes in richness, species composition, trees density, biomass and rates of tree mortality and recruitment; and also rates of biomass gain and loss. Results: We found a pattern of floristic composition stability, but with changes in structure and dynamics. There was a tree density decrease driven by constant mortality and by recruitment decrease, and biomass increase due to decrease in biomass loss and to increase in biomass gain. The biomass increase was main related to a small set of dominant species that are the most representative in the community dynamics. Conclusion: SDTF dynamics are related to stability in species composition, but with structural changes towards higher biomass stocks. The results are main related to community dynamics and to SDTF attributes such as climatic seasonality that drives the local ecological processes.

SUMMARY: Discrete thresholds of structural or functional decline of a vegetation type are not readily apparent, as a vegetation type can slowly decline leading to transformations in its species composition and weakened or altered functions. However, forest monitoring can be used to assess changes in ecological functions in community structure and functional and phylogenetic composition of species. This study evaluated the existence of temporal variations in the functional and phylogenetic composition of a tree community, the occurrence of heterogeneity in the behavior of phylogenetic and functional variations, and how this possible heterogeneity influences the functional and phylogenetic variations under the aspect of environmental variations and by demographic ecological processes. Results detected quantitative and qualitative changes throughout the community, such as colonization, local extinctions, in demography and biomass, and increased evolutionary distinction, lower wood density species and phylogenetic clustering. These results have shown us that the natural changes of a community should not be underestimated, because the disappearance of a community can not only occur by the direct elimination of vegetation, but can be incremental with gradual changes in its functional characteristics and species composition, transforming itself into a new community with a new combination of species and new functions.

RESUMEN: Los umbrales discretos de deterioro estructural o funcional de un tipo de vegetación no son fácilmente aparentes, ya que un tipo de vegetación puede disminuir lentamente, lo que lleva a transformaciones en la composición de sus especies y funciones debilitadas o alteradas. Sin embargo, las observaciones pueden usarse para evaluar los cambios en las funciones ecológicas antes de que esto ocurra a través de la estructura comunitaria y la composición funcional y filogenética de las especies. Este estudio evaluó la existencia de variaciones temporales en la composición funcional y filogenética de una comunidad arbórea; la ocurrencia de heterogeneidad en el comportamiento de variaciones filogenéticas y funcionales; y cómo esta posible heterogeneidad influye en las variaciones funcionales y filogenéticas bajo el aspecto de variaciones ambientales y por procesos demográficos ecológicos. Los resultados en la detección de cambios cuantitativos y cualitativos en toda la comunidad con la colonización y las extinciones locales en la comunidad, las diferencias demográficas y de biomasa, la distinción evolutiva aumentada, las especies de menor densidad de madera y el agrupamiento filogenético. Los resultados han demostrado que los cambios naturales de una comunidad no deben subestimarse, porque la desaparición de una comunidad no solo puede ocurrir por la eliminación directa de la vegetación, sino que puede ser incremental con cambios graduales en sus características funcionales y composición de especies, transformando en una nueva comunidad con una nueva combinación de especies y nuevas funciones.

RESUMO Ainda há poucos marcadores de desempenho funcional com capacidade de predizer óbito em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI). O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar a associação entre a não adoção de postura antigravitacional e óbito em pacientes internados em uma UTI adulto. Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo e analítico, realizado através da análise de prontuários. A associação entre a não adoção de postura antigravitacional e óbito foi testada por regressão logística múltipla ajustada por sexo, idade, gravidade da doença (mensurada pelo Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Classification System II [Apache II]), tempo de ventilação mecânica invasiva (VMI) e tempo de sedação. A odds ratio (OR) foi estimada com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Foram incluídos no estudo 92 pacientes sequenciais. Houve forte associação entre a não adoção de postura antigravitacional em UTI e óbito (ORajustada=37,7; IC=4,76-293; p=0,001). Conclui-se que pacientes que não adotaram postura antigravitacional durante o internamento em UTI apresentaram chances muito mais elevadas de mortalidade. Essa simples estratégia de classificação da capacidade funcional de pacientes críticos pode ser utilizada rotineiramente por equipes de saúde como uma variável simples e dicotômica de prognóstico de mortalidade em UTI.

ABSTRACT Until now, few functional performance markers are able to predict death in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). This study aimed to identify the association between non-adoption of antigravity posture and death in patients admitted to an adult ICU. It is a retrospective and analytical study, performed through the analysis of medical records. Association between non-adoption of antigravity posture and death was tested by multiple logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, disease severity (measured by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Classification System II [Apache II]), time of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and period of sedation. The odds ratio (OR) with confidence interval (CI=95%) was estimated. A total of 92 sequential patients were included in the study. A strong association between the non-adoption of antigravity posture in the ICU and death (ORadjusted=37.7, CI=4.76-293, p=0.001) was observed. Thus, one can conclude that patients who did not adopt an antigravity posture during ICU admission had a much higher odds of mortality. This simple strategy to classify functional capacity of critical patients can be routinely used by the team as a simple and dichotomous variable for ICU mortality prognosis.

RESUMEN Aún existen pocos marcadores de desempeño funcional con capacidad de predecir la muerte en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar la asociación entre la no adopción de postura antigravitacional y el óbito en pacientes hospitalizados en una UCI adulto. Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo y analítico, realizado mediante análisis de historia clínica. La asociación entre la no adopción de postura antigravitacional y el fallecimiento fue probada por regresión logística múltiple ajustada por sexo, edad, gravedad de la enfermedad (medida por la Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Classification System II [Apache II]), tiempo de ventilación mecánica invasiva (VMI) y tiempo de sedación. Se estimó la odds ratio (OR) con intervalo de confianza (IC=95%). Se incluyeron en el estudio 92 pacientes secuenciales. Se observó una fuerte asociación entre la no adopción de postura antigravitacional en UCI y el óbito (ORajustada=37,7; IC=4,76-293; p=0,001). De esta forma, se puede concluir que pacientes que no adoptaron postura antigravitacional durante la hospitalización en UCI tuvieron posibilidades mucho más elevadas de mortalidad. Esta simple estrategia de clasificación de la capacidad funcional de pacientes críticos puede ser utilizada de manera rutinaria por el equipo de salud como una variable simple y dicotómica de pronóstico de mortalidad en UCI.

Resumo As novas condições ambientais impostas por eventos de distúrbios criam um mosaico de manchas em diferentes estágios sucessionais. Nosso objetivo foi descrever a variação temporal de uma floresta estacional semidecidual em função do histórico de perturbação antrópica, verificando possíveis mudanças na dinâmica e estrutura da floresta. Nós amostramos a vegetação arbórea com diâmetro a 1,3 m do solo (DAP) ≥ 5 cm em 15 parcelas permanentes de 20 × 20 m onde realizamos quatro inventários (2003, 2005, 2007 e 2015). Nós verificamos uma diminuição da densidade e aumento da área basal, o que indica que a comunidade arbórea analisada se encontra em estágio tardio de sucessão. A estrutura fitossociológica, a riqueza e a diversidade de espécies da comunidade arbórea não apresentaram mudanças ao longo dos monitoramentos. Entretanto, o predomínio da espécie Protium spruceanum pode ser uma resposta às mudanças ambientais provocadas pela mineração que ocorreu na área há 250 anos. As influências duradouras dos distúrbios antrópicos tornam este tipo de trabalho imprescindível por permitir a compreensão dos processos ecológicos, possibilitando um gerenciamento factual das florestas pelo manejo e conservação efetivos.

Abstract The new environmental conditions imposed by disturbance events often create a mosaic of spots in different successional stages. Our objective was to describe the temporal variation of a semideciduous seasonal forest based on its anthropic disturbance history, verifying possible changes in forest dynamics and structure. We sampled the arboreal vegetation with a diameter at breast height (1.3 m above the ground; DBH) ≥ 5 cm in 15 permanent plots of 20 × 20 m where we performed four inventories (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2015). We observed a density decrease and a basal area increase, which indicates the late successional stage of the analyzed tree community. The phytosociological structure, richness and species diversity of the tree community did not show changes throughout the monitoring. However, the Protium spruceanum predominance may be a response to the environmental changes caused by the mining occurred in the area 250 years ago. The anthropic disturbances enduring influences make this type of work indispensable because it allows the ecological processes understanding, allowing a factual management of the forests by the its effective management and conservation.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate if the soil heterogeneity expressed by the different soil classes would condition tree communities with different dynamic behaviors. The data were collected from 25 plots sized 20 × 20 (400 m²), 10 of them with Inceptisols, 9 with Ultisols, 5 with Entisols B and 1 with Entisols A. All individuals with DBH ≥ 5.0 cm in the plots were sampled in 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2015. Rates of mortality, recruitment, gain, loss and turnover dynamics in number of individuals and basal area were estimated for each soil class. The tree communities present in the soil classes showed no differences in the dynamic behavior to the point of expressing edaphic fragment heterogeneity. The differences are associated with stochastic fluctuations in rates caused by small disturbances, suggesting little influence of the soils on the dynamics of small-scale communities.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters, genetic correlations, genetic dissimilarity, and predicted gains with the selection of interspecific apomictic Paspalum plicatulum × Paspalum guenoarum hybrids in relation to seed yield traits. Nineteen genotypes that showed increased forage yield in previous studies were planted in a randomized complete block design with ten blocks. Traits evaluated in this study were: number of tillers/plant, number of reproductive tillers/plant, number of racemes/inflorescence, number of seeds/inflorescence, weight of a thousand seeds, and seed yield. Data were analyzed using a mixed model approach. The genotypes evaluated in our study showed improvement potential in relation to high heritability (H a 2 > 0.50 ), high precision (Acgen> 90%), and genetic dissimilarity (forming three groups) for seed yield traits. Seed yield showed high correlation to reproductive tillers that can be used as indirect selection tools for genetic improvement of seed yield.

RESUMO Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a ocorrência de processo sucessional em uma floresta madura, utilizando para isto a distribuição das árvores em fases de desenvolvimento. O fragmento estudado consiste em uma floresta estacional semidecidual em estágio avançado de recuperação com cerca de 11 ha, localizado as margens do Rio Capivari no município de Lavras, estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. A coleta de dados ocorreu nos anos de 1998, 2003, 2009 e 2014, nos quais foram mensurados e identificados em nível de espécie todos os indivíduos arbóreos que atingiram o critério de inclusão preestabelecido (circunferência a 1,3 m do solo - CAP≥15,7 cm). A partir destes dados foram obtidos os valores de riqueza para cada uma das quatro fases estabelecidas com base em critérios de circunferência (Juvenis, Preestabelecidos, Estabelecidos e Emergentes), bem como informações sobre rotatividade de espécies, estrutura, composição florística e compartilhamento entre essas fases. Os resultados indicaram a inexistência de diferenças temporais quanto à estrutura e distribuição da riqueza em fases de desenvolvimento. Foram observadas movimentações temporais de espécies principalmente entre as fases menores. Com relação à similaridade entre fases, ocorreu a divisão em um grupo contendo as duas menores e outro composto pelas duas maiores, nos quais a composição florística e espécies mais representativas foram mais semelhantes. Ademais, observou-se uma substituição não direcional das espécies mais representativas de cada fase, provavelmente relacionado a não correspondência entre ciclos de vida das populações. Assim, a ocorrência de modificações temporais nos padrões de riqueza na floresta indica a existência de processos sucessionais dinâmicos em uma comunidade em estágio clímax.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to test the occurrence of the successional process in a mature forest using the distribution of the trees in phases of development. The study forest remnant, a 11-ha old-growth seasonal forest, is located in the margins of Rio Capivari in Lavras, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The data collection was carried out in 1998, 2003, 2009 and 2014, when we measured and identified to species level all trees that have reached the pre-established inclusion criteria (circumference at 1.3 above the ground level - CBH ≥15,7 cm). From these data, we obtained the species richness for each of the four development phases established on the basis of circumference criteria (Juvenile, Pre-established, Established and Emerging), as well as information on the species turnover, structure, floristic composition and the sharing between these phases The results indicated that there are no significant temporal differences in the structure and the distribution of species richness in development phases. Besides, we found a subtle movement of species mainly among the small phases. Concerning to the similarity among phases, we observed a clustering of the two smallest development phases and the clustering of the two largest ones, in which the floristic composition and most representative species were more similar. In addition, there was a non-directional turnover of the most representative species of each phase, probably related to a mismatch among the population life cycles. Thus, the occurrence of temporal changes in richness’ patterns can indicate the existence of dynamic succession processes in a climax stage community.

Abstract The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters and predicted gains with selection of interspecific hybrids of Paspalum in relation to seed production traits Data were analyzed in randomized block design, with 23 genotypes arranged into ten blocks, according to the methodology of mixed models by the REML/BLUP procedure. The traits considered in the study were: number of total tillers/plant, number of reproductive tillers/plant, number of racemes/inflorescence, number of seeds/inflorescence, weight of a thousand seeds and seed production. Variability among genotypes, high heritability (>0.50), except total tillers (0.44) and number of racemes (0.36), and high accuracy (>0.90) were identified for all traits. The hybrids 10E5052, 10E4026, 10E507, 10E4025 and 10E40104 are among the top ten because they have high genetic values in three or more traits, indicating that these genotypes should be recommended for direct use in planting or potential parents to be used in new crosses.

RESUMO A caatinga corresponde a um dos dois maiores núcleos das Florestas Tropicais Sazonalmente Secas (FTSS) e se encontra totalmente inserida no território brasileiro. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a estrutura de dois micro-habitats relacionando-a com as variáveis ambientais. Foram alocadas 24 parcelas, nas quais mensuramos o CAP e fizemos a identificação botânica de todos os indivíduos arbóreos com CAP ≥ 10 cm. Com a presença de lajedos de calcário na área, foi possível distinguir dois micro-habitats. A CCA e a análise de espécies indicadoras mostraram uma nítida distribuição das espécies de acordo com os micro-habitats. Concluímos que a presença dos lajedos de calcário proporcionou a formação dos micro-habitats, influenciando na distribuição e composição das espécies arbustiva-arbóreas, caracterizando a unidade fitoecológica aqui denominada como “furados”.

ABSTRACT Caatinga represents one of the two major centers of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTF) and is completely inserted in the Brazilian territory. The present work aimed to evaluate the structure of two micro-environments and relate them to environmental variables. Twenty 20 × 20 m plots were placed in which we measured the height and CBH and made the botanical identification of all trees with CBH ≥10 cm. The CCA and indicator species analysis presented a clear distribution of species according to the micro-environments. We concluded that the presence of limestone slabs provided the formation of microhabitats, thus influencing the distribution and composition of tree species, what characterized the phytoecological unit here referred as “furados”.