Amazon Region Research Articles

Impact of Managerial Skills on Organizational Development: An Applied Study in the Regional Directorate of Transport and Communications of the Amazonas Region

This study analyzes the relationship between managerial skills and organizational development in the Regional Directorate of Transport and Communications of the Amazon Region during the year 2021. A quantitative approach with descriptive-correlational and non-experimental design was adopted, using a structured questionnaire applied to a sample of 72 workers. The results show that there is a low but significant positive evaluation between managerial skills (leadership, communication, decision making and motivation) and the dimensions of organizational development (planning, organization, integration and direction). The highest rating coefficient was Rho = 0.300, indicating a moderate relationship between managerial skills and overall organizational development. Although managerial skills influence process improvement and efficiency, other factors, such as organizational structure and available resources, also play a crucial role. It is concluded that it is essential to strengthen managerial competencies through continuous training programs and to improve internal processes in order to optimize organizational development in this public entity. Finally, it is suggested that other factors that may impact organizational development, such as technology and organizational culture, be explored in future studies.

Use of biomass from Amazonian agro-industrial waste for the production of energy

This research aims to analyze the physical and mechanical properties of briquettes made by açaí, cupuaçu, and murumuru waste from agro-industrial activity in a region of the Brazilian Amazon. For the production of briquettes, biomass with different granulometry (48, 60, 65, and 80 mesh) was sent to hydraulic pressure at constant pressure (15t) with various pressing times (15, 20 and 30 minutes). This process occurred without the addition of binders. The obtained outcomes were evaluated for storage time, bulk density, energy density, calorific value, impact strength, water absorption, and mechanical durability. The briquettes produced with açaí and cupuaçu presented good mechanical characteristics compared to murumuru. Concerning the calorific value, the latter showed better results. There was no alteration in the physical and mechanical properties determinant for the material to present favorable energy generation and durability. The açaí briquettes demonstrated better physical and mechanical properties, while murumuru briquettes indicated the best energy properties. Thus, the use of biomass from different agro-industrial wastes from the Amazon proved to be relevant for the elaboration of briquettes, being an alternative in the production of sustainable energy and adding to the reduction of the accumulation of improper waste disposed of in the environment.

IRREGULARIDADES NO SISTEMA DE DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE ENERGIA ELÉTRICA NO AMAZONAS

In current times, climate adversities that impact society are observed, such as heat waves and historic droughts, directly influencing electricity consumption and revealing the impacts of irregular practices in energy consumption. In Amazonas, non-technical losses in low voltage reach approximately 42%, gaining national prominence. This study aims to discuss, reflect on the imperative of highlighting the reality of the state of Amazonas in the context of non-technical losses in the electricity sector. It begins with the characterization of irregularities in energy consumption, using ANEEL reporting metrics. It then discusses the adverse impacts on society related to these practices, establishing connections between climatic conditions and non-technical losses. Finally, postures and practices to combat irregularities are outlined, highlighting measures adopted to mitigate and raise awareness among consumers in the Amazon region.

Impact of City-Wide Diesel Generator Use on Air Quality in Quito, Ecuador, during a Nationwide Electricity Crisis

As climate change intensifies and 2023 sets the record for the hottest year, the Amazonian region faces severe drought, leading to a hydroelectricity crisis. This study examines the effects of using environmentally harmful backup power solutions, which are all too common in developing countries—specifically, diesel-powered generators—on urban air quality in Quito, Ecuador, during the hydroelectric crisis of 2023/2024. The impact of the blackouts on air pollution is assessed by comparing it to a reference period before the crisis and to an earlier year with similar weather conditions. The findings indicate that extended blackouts (up to 8 h per day) considerably increased concentrations of SO2 (180%), CO (43%), NO2 (39%), and PM2.5 (20%) compared to ‘normal’ conditions. Conversely, O3 pollution levels decreased (−6%). Our findings suggest potential respiratory and cardiovascular health risks for the urban population, highlighting the urgent need for improved energy infrastructure and cleaner backup power solutions in the developing world. Addressing these challenges is critical for ensuring a healthier and more sustainable urban future amidst climate change projections.

Traceable futures: the political temporality of forest facts in Peru’s tropical logging governance

ABSTRACT In Loreto, Peru’s largest Amazonian region, forest transport permits (or FTP) are the privileged accounting infrastructures by which the Peruvian state seeks to bring transparency to logging by making tropical timber traceable, thus securing its legality and sustainability in a context of rising national and international concern with tropical rainforests. But while FTP are often imagined as a means to secure a future where traceable forest facts can be established with certainty, they have also been enduringly suspected as artifacts prone to manipulation and deceit. In this article, I follow FTP as a way to explore the political temporality of forest facts in Peru’s tropical rainforests. I argue that foregrounding the ambivalent ontologies of FTP as both reliable accounting infrastructures and treacherous manipulable things allows us to appreciate the ways in which the past and the future are articulated in conflicting ways in the context of massive technocratic innovations in the governance of Peru’s tropical logging. By focusing on the political lives of a humble paper document, I thus examine how traceability becomes a fundamental condition of facticity as emerging regimes of global environmental governance drive the expansion of state data infrastructures onto previously untraceable terrains.

Amazon severe drought in 2023 triggered surface water loss

Abstract The Amazon underwent a severe austral springtime drought attributed to the onset of El Niño in 2023 and the warmer North Atlantic, Indian, and North Pacific Oceans. The Amazon rivers, lakes, small streams, wetlands, and reservoirs quickly lowered their water level below historical records due to decreased rainfall and warmth in the region. Based on satellite imagery, this study presents the first estimate of the water loss extent in the 4.2 million km2 of the Brazilian Amazon biome (∼62% of the Amazon total biome) in 2023. We estimated the loss of 3.3 million hectares of surface water relative to 2022, with an overall accuracy of 92%. The surface water losses were concentrated in the states of Amazonas (59.4%) and Pará (25.5), adding up to 2.8 million hectares. The warmer and drier climate in the region affected the main rivers in the Amazon. Among them, the Solimões, Negro, Purus, Acre, and Branco suffered extreme drops in their levels in some regions, resulting in a high negative impact on the aquatic biodiversity, yet estimated only in local areas. A total of 1.14 million hectares of surface water loss (i.e. 35%) was detected within protected areas territories, affecting extractivist, indegenous, African-Brazilian, and fishing and traditional communities. Proximity analysis revealed that 75% of the 2023 surface water loss was within 25 km of small towns, 48% and 65.8% at 50 km from indigenous villages and urban areas, respectively. Our results reinforce people’s vulnerability to climate change, anticipating a plausible adverse impact scenario in the Amazon region and urging solutions to adaptation and mitigation. Therefore, an integrated monitoring system based on climate and water dynamics from satellite and ground stations is necessary to improve understanding of the problem for timing response of climatic change negative impacts.

Characterizing Wet Season Precipitation in the Central Amazon Using a Mesoscale Convective System Tracking Algorithm

AbstractTo comprehensively characterize convective precipitation in the central Amazon region, we utilize the Python FLEXible object TRacKeR (PyFLEXTRKR) to track mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) observed through satellite measurements and simulated by the Weather Research and Forecasting model at a convection‐permitting resolution. This study spans a 2‐month period during the wet seasons of 2014 and 2015. We observe a strong correlation between the MCS track density and accumulated precipitation in the Amazon basin. Key factors contributing to precipitation, such as MCS properties (number, size, rainfall intensity, and movement), are thoroughly examined. Our analysis reveals that while the overall model produces fewer MCSs with smaller mean sizes compared to observations, it tends to overpredict total precipitation due to excessive rainfall intensity for heavy rainfall events (≥10 mm hr−1). These biases in simulated MCS properties could vary with the constraints on the convective background environment. Moreover, while the wet bias from heavy (convective) rainfall outweighs the dry bias in light (stratiform) rainfall, the latter can be crucial, particularly when MCS cloud cover is significantly underestimated. A case study for 1 April 2014 highlights the influence of environmental conditions on the MCS lifecycle and identifies an unrealistic model representation in both stratiform and convective precipitation features.

Spatiotemporal Epidemiology of Oropouche Fever, Brazil, 2015-2024.

We assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of Oropouche fever in Brazil during 2015-2024. We found the number of cases substantially increased during that period, particularly in the Amazon region. Our findings underscore the need for improved surveillance and public health measures in response to the disease's potential spread beyond endemic areas.

Dynamics of meteorological and hydrological drought: The impact of groundwater and El Niño events on forest fires in the Amazon

Over recent decades, anthropogenic forest fires have significantly altered vegetation dynamics in the Amazon region. While human activities primarily initiate these fires, their escalation is intricately linked to climatic conditions, particularly droughts induced by the warm El Niño phase. This study investigates the impact of meteorological and hydrological drought on forest fires in the Amazon, focusing on the role of groundwater and El Niño events. Utilizing comprehensive drought indicators at various soil depths and standardized precipitation indexes, the research spans from 2004 to 2016, revealing a consistent decrease in humidity conditions across surface soil moisture, root zone soil moisture, and groundwater storage levels. With its slower response to precipitation changes, groundwater emerges as a crucial factor influencing hydrological drought patterns in the Amazon. The spatial distribution of drought conditions is explored, highlighting areas with lower humidity concentrations in the northeast and a correlation between forest fires and positive rates of change in burned area fraction during El Niño events. Notably, the study underscores the substantial increase in burned area during the 2015–2016, characterized by a very strong El Niño. This nuanced understanding of groundwater dynamics and its interplay with El Niño events provides critical insights for developing a tailored fire risk index in the ecologically significant and vulnerable Amazon basin, subsidizing strategies for mitigating fire risk and enhancing preparedness.

Nonlactational Mastitis in Western Brazilian Amazon Mastitis Cases.

Chronic mastitis varies in etiology between its lactational and nonlactational forms and can be challenging to diagnose. This study aimed to assess the epidemiological profile and diverse etiologies of nonlactational mastitis in Amazonas, Brazil, focusing on distinguishing between tuberculous mastitis (TM) and idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM). This is a retrospective and prospective study that was carried out at the mastitis outpatient clinic of Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado from 2013 to 2021 and evaluated epidemiological data, imaging, and laboratory tests. Descriptive statistics were performed. In this retrospective and prospective analysis, 124 medical records were initially considered, with 12 excluded for various reasons. The remaining 112 cases underwent thorough evaluation through epidemiological data, imaging, and laboratory tests, by employing descriptive statistics for analysis. The pathology revealed a predominant prevalence of IGM (64.3%), followed by various forms of mastitis, including confirmed TM (4.5%), presumable TM (8.9%), and others. Our findings indicate that IGM, though a rare cause of breast masses and abscesses, accounts for a significant portion of mastitis cases. Histopathological studies were essential for diagnosis, with ultrasound being the primary imaging tool. This study is one of the largest Brazilian series on nonlactational mastitis, highlighting the condition's complexity and diverse manifestations in the Amazon region.

Amazonian amphibians: diversity, spatial distribution patterns, conservation and sampling deficits.

The Amazon biome is home to the largest tropical forest on the planet and has the greatest global biodiversity on Earth. Despite this, several less charismatic taxonomic groups, such as amphibians, lack comprehensive studies on their species richness and spatial distribution in the Amazon Region. In this study, we investigated: i) patterns of richness and endemism of Amazonian amphibians across geopolitical and biogeographic divisions, ii) similarities between different Amazonian bioregions, iii) temporal trends in amphibian sampling, iv) conservation status of amphibians according to assessments of the IUCN and v) the importance of diverse data sources in building a robust database of amphibian occurrences. We aggregated data from four different sources: publicly accessible platforms, peer-reviewed articles, grey literature and fieldwork inventories spanning 15 years (2007-2021), ultimately compiling 160,643 records of 947 species across 7,418 sampled sites. The greatest diversity of species was found in Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, with notable amphibian diversity and endemism in regions such as the western basins and the Tapajós River Basin in the central-southern Amazon. Geographical analysis of species diversity revealed four distinct groups defined by latitudinal (the Amazon River) and longitudinal (the Juruá, Madeira and Tapajós Rivers) gradients, with low species similarity (< 40%), particularly in the basins of north-western Amazonia. Amphibian sampling in the Amazon has intensified since the 1950s with the establishment of important research centres such as INPA and the GOELD Museum in the Brazilian Amazon. Approximately 18% of Amazonian amphibian species face extinction risk, according to IUCN assessments, highlighting the need for comprehensive data sources to understand and conserve species in this megadiverse region. Our findings suggest that river systems likely influence Amazonian amphibian species composition due to biogeographic history, emphasising the need for robust taxonomic and spatial databases. This study, therefore, contributes a valuable large-scale dataset for Amazonian amphibians, guiding future research and strategies for amphibian conservation.

The Bioaccumulative Potential of Heavy Metals in Five Forest Species Living in Mining Environments in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region.

Heavy metal contamination of soils and ecosystems is an environmental problem that requires urgent attention due to the ecological problems that it generates. Forest species can be used to mitigate contamination because of their potential to bioaccumulate contaminating metals. The objective of this work was to evaluate the bioaccumulator potential of heavy metals in five forest species that live in mining environments in the Ecuadorian Amazon region. The bioconcentration factor for five forest species, such as: Cedrela odorata, Parkia multijuga, Inga edulis, Cecropia ficifolia and Pourouma cecropiifolia, commonly found in the Ecuadorian Amazon was analysed, based on the relationship between the concentration of the heavy metal in leaves and the soil. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to analyse heavy metals in leaves and soil samples of each plant specie. The results showed that P. cecropiifolia had the highest bioconcentration factor for lead, C. odorata for cadmium and nickel, and I. edulis had the highest potential for iron and aluminium absorption. No correlation was found between the concentration of each element in the soil and the leaves, which shows that the bioaccumulation capacity of the species studied does not depend on the concentration of the element in the soil. This provides relevant information for the inclusion of these species for phytoremediation purposes.

Santiago Santi, Naporuna indigenous community health worker from the Amazonian region of Ecuador

Santiago Santi, Naporuna indigenous community health worker from the Amazonian region of Ecuador

A CONTEXTUALIZED ARCHAEOLOGICAL PENDANT TO NEPHRITIC JADE IN THE AMAZON: A POSSIBLE LINK TO CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

“Green stone” ornaments from archaeological sites, also known as Muiraquitã, typically a frog-shaped pendant, found throughout Amazonia and the Caribbean, have been known since the 19th century; and were believed to have been carved in jade, an Amazonia exotic raw material supposed to have come from East Asia. The knowledge of the provenience and production of these artifacts is crucial for testing and improving explanatory models on the movement of people and artifacts, as well as on the complexity and entanglement of social networks’ interactions. It was only in the 2000s that Lima da Costa and colleagues were able to show that muiraquitã artifacts were composed by different minerals and the ones closest to jade were tremolite and/or tremolite-actinolite, that are found in the Amazon region. Despite advances in physical/chemistry characterizations of the “Green stone” ornaments, the vast majority have been on artifacts without any archaeological context. We present here the analysis of a pendant excavated from Monte Dourado 1 archaeological site, located in northwest of Pará state, northern Amazonia, near the border with French Guiana and Suriname. The pendant, found within a funerary context, associated with Koriabo ceramics and anthropogenic dark earth, is constituted by nephritic jade or tremolite-type jade; raw material that do occur in the Amazon region. The lack of other lithic artifacts usually associated with the chaîne opératoire for the manufacture of pedants might be an indication that these ornaments were being produced potentially in the Caribbean region. The detailed physical/chemistry characterization of archaeologically contextualized “Green stone” ornaments is crucial for creating a benchmark for these types of artifacts in order to better understand and improve our knowledge about the historical paths taken by pre-colonial societies in the Amazon e Caribbean regions.

Influence of livelihood functional diversity on agro-food systems in rural communities from different macro regions of Brazil

Urbanization has changed the livelihood diversity of rural communities worldwide. This study aimed to fit an indicator of the functional diversity of livelihood activities to assess the heterogeneity of socioeconomic conditions and their influence on agro-food changes in rural communities in Brazil. This study was conducted in three macro regions of Brazil, through semi-structured questionnaire interviews conducted in 1012 households to verify details about food patterns, self-consumption farms, and socioeconomic conditions. Data from questionnaires were analyzed using multivariate statistical models to appraise similarities among communities and determine the relative influence of socioeconomic factors on agro-food patterns. Specific socioeconomic status and use of natural resource data were analyzed while adjusting for Petchey and Gaston's indicator of functional diversity to evaluate the heterogeneity of local livelihood activities and socioeconomic conditions. This indicator summarizes the proportional livelihood richness in all sampled places, as better conditions for survival were found in specific localities of the central-west and eastern Amazon regions of Brazil. We also verified that the remote areas of the Goiás and Pará states were regions with the most significant maintenance of traditional food habits and use of natural resources. Although these results do not allow us to establish that all of these areas are undergoing an agro-food transition process, some localities are more likely than others to adjust their livelihood strategies to face global food changes. This interdisciplinary approach facilitated the identification of the most similar groups regarding their livelihoods and socioeconomic conditions that influenced the agro-food transition process in rural regions.

Future invasion risk assessment of the peacock bass in Neotropical ecoregions: A conceptual and testable model

Protecting freshwater biodiversity from non-native invasive species and their impacts is crucial for minimising both regional and global deterioration of ecosystem services. The yellow peacock bass Cichla ocellaris, a predatory freshwater fish endemic to the Amazon region, has been translocated within several Neotropical ecoregions, exhibiting harmful effects on biodiversity. In order to facilitate the prioritization of management efforts, which are essential for defining conservation actions in extensive and diverse areas, we propose a risk assessment index that integrates multiple ecological and environmental variables within a comprehensive framework, here applied for C. ocellaris. By considering fish species richness, occurrence frequency, and climate suitability, our index provides a more nuanced understanding of invasion risks. Within regions categorized as high and very high risk, where ecological impacts of C. ocellaris have been extensively documented (e.g., the Southern and North-East Brazilian regions, as well as Central American and Caribbean ecoregions), numerous environments are increasingly conducive to the establishment of this invasive species, exacerbated by a surge in dam constructions. Our analysis projects a significant increase in suitable habitats by 5% to 6.5%, with Southern and Northeastern Brazil and Central America identified as critical zones. Thus, our reproducible risk assessment framework, which considers freshwater ecoregions as conservation units, not only directs effective resource allocation for control measures but also enhances our ability to predict and mitigate the ecological impacts of non-native species introductions, providing a valuable tool for both policymakers and conservationists.

Impact of post-harvest processing and roasting conditions on the physicochemical properties, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity of cocoa beans from the Brazilian Amazon

Interest in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) and its derivatives has grown mainly due to the high concentration of phenolic compounds (PC), which exhibit potentially beneficial effects on human health. Brazil is the sixth-largest producer of cocoa beans worldwide, with the Amazon region, particularly the state of Pará, playing an increasingly significant role in this production. This study evaluated the effects of pod storage, fermentation time, type of drying platform, municipality and roasting time and temperature on cocoa beans from the Brazilian Amazon. Parameters such as moisture, pH, and cut test were assessed, and individual phenolic compounds were quantified by HPLC-DAD. The Folin-Ciocalteu assay was used to evaluate total phenolic compounds (TPC), and antioxidant capacity was measured using DPPH and ORAC methods. Results showed that the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the beans are influenced by the municipality of origin. Fermentation time was the pre-processing condition that most significantly influenced the physicochemical and bioactive properties of the beans, causing reductions of 55–76% in individual phenolic compounds and 43.5–60.57% in antioxidant capacity after seven days. While roasting tends to degrade most phenolic compounds, catechin can form or stabilize at higher temperatures and longer roasting times.

FloatingBlue: A Delay Tolerant Networks-Enabled Internet of Things Architecture for Remote Areas Combining Data Mules and Low Power Communications.

Monitoring vast and remote areas like forests using Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) presents significant challenges, such as limited energy resources and signal attenuation over long distances due to natural obstacles. Traditional solutions often require extensive infrastructure, which is impractical in such environments. To address these limitations, we introduce the "FloatingBlue" architecture. This architecture, known for its superior energy efficiency, combines Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology with Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN) and data mules. It leverages BLE's low power consumption for energy-efficient sensor broadcasts while utilizing DTN-enabled data mules to collect data from dispersed sensors without constant network connectivity. Deployed in a remote agricultural area in the Amazon region, "FloatingBlue" demonstrated significant improvements in energy efficiency and communication range, with a high Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR). The developed BLE beacon sensor achieved state-of-the-art energy consumption levels, using only 2.25 µJ in sleep mode and 11.8 µJ in transmission mode. Our results highlight "FloatingBlue" as a robust, low-power solution for remote monitoring in challenging environments, offering an energy-efficient and scalable alternative to traditional WSN approaches.

A multiscale analysis of factors influencing Setophaga striata (Blackpoll Warbler) occupancy and abundance during the nonbreeding season in eastern Colombia

Abstract Setophaga striata (Blackpoll Warbler), one of the few boreal-breeding migratory birds that migrates to the Orinoco and Amazon regions, is experiencing steep population declines. However, knowledge of the species’ distribution and habitat use during the nonbreeding season is limited. Here, we explore how stationary nonbreeding season (December to April) occupancy probabilities vary across regional and landscape scales, and with vegetation structure for S. striata in eastern Colombia. By running single-species, single-season hierarchical occupancy models and N-mixture models, we evaluated how regional (annual precipitation, nonbreeding season precipitation, driest month, elevation, and net primary productivity), landscape (habitat type and % forest in the landscape), and vegetation structure variables influenced occupancy by S. striata. In the regional analysis, occupancy was positively influenced by stationary nonbreeding precipitation and net primary productivity, and was predicted to peak at elevations between 500 and 1,000 m. At the landscape scale, occupancy and abundance were higher in agroforestry systems (in order of magnitude: shade-grown cacao, citrus plantations and silvopastures) than in forested habitats. In relation to vegetation structure, occupancy was negatively correlated with a principal component containing shrub density, canopy height, and canopy cover. Within the Orinoco region, a spatial prediction based on our results supported high occupancy rates in moister areas along and close to the Andean foothills and where the Orinoco grasslands transition into Amazonian forests. Our results highlight the importance of landscapes containing agroforestry systems as stationary nonbreeding habitats for S. striata in Colombia’s Orinoco region and the importance of promoting agroforestry systems, like shade-grown cacao, in areas with higher nonbreeding season precipitation and net primary productivity values in order to increase habitat availability for the species.

Phytosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Mansoa alliacea (Lam.) A.H. Gentry (Bignoniaceae) Leaf Extract: Characterization and Their Biological Activities

Background. Mansoa alliacea is a native plant renowned for its medicinal properties in traditional healing in the Amazon Region. This plant is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, tannins, ketones, triterpenes, as well as other bioactive compounds. Objectives. This study aims to develop an innovative, eco-friendly method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles using an aqueous extract of M. alliacea (Ma-AgNPs), enhancing the biological activities of AgNPs by leveraging the therapeutic potential of the plant’s bioactive compounds. Methods. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the aqueous extract of M. alliacea. The biological activities of Ma-AgNPs were assessed, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-biofilm effects, along with evaluating their hemolytic activity. Results. Quantitative analysis revealed that Ma-AgNPs exhibit potent antibacterial activity against multidrug and non-multidrug-resistant bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 1.3 to 10.0 µg/mL. The Ma-AgNPs significantly reduced NO production by 86.9% at 4 µg/mL, indicating strong anti-inflammatory effects. They demonstrated robust antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 5.54 ± 1.48 µg/mL and minimal hemolytic activity, with no hemolysis observed up to 20 µg/mL and only 4.5% at 40 µg/mL. Their antitumor properties were notable, with IC50 values between 2.9 and 5.4 µg/mL across various cell lines, and they achieved over 50% biofilm inhibition at concentrations of 30–40 µg/mL. Conclusions. These findings underscore the potential of Ma-AgNPs for biomedical applications, particularly in developing new antimicrobial agents and bioactive coatings with reduced toxicity. This research highlights a sustainable approach that not only preserves but also amplifies the inherent biological activities of plant extracts, paving the way for innovative therapeutic solutions.