Anthropic Use Research Articles

For Every Love, A Pain: Impacts of Anthropic Use of Amazon Resources and Preservation Proposal

Objective: This work aims to identify how anthropogenic actions have been limiting the natural resources of the region and how the reduction of the availability of these same resources also limit anthropic actions. Theoretical Reference: Topics such as the Amazon biome, climate change and the anthropic use of natural resources were addressed. To understand the social universe of the Amazon, he also delved into traditional communities and peoples and their agrarian trajectories for the use and preservation of the environment. Method: It is a research of a social and applied nature, of a qualitative approach, with exploratory and explanatory objectives, with case study delineation as a technique of investigation, with bibliographic analyzes. Results and discussion: This research identified the anthropic actions that most affected the Brazilian Eastern Amazon and brought as a proposal alternatives of environmental planning in a sustainable way that can reduce the consequences of these activities to sustainable limits and thus bring a balance between the activities of nature and the activities of man. Research Implications: It contributes to the development of future research on the social and environmental impacts that each of the anthropic activities generates (or can still generate) in the Brazilian Eastern Amazon. Originality/value: This is an unprecedented piece of research for the Brazilian Eastern Amazon that, at the moment, is about severe environmental alterations as a result of the anthropic use of its natural resources and brings light, proposals for the preservation of the region's sociobiodiversity.

Changes in physical and hydraulic properties in sandy soils of the Pampa Biome under different uses

ABSTRACT The naturally fragile sandy soils of the Pampa Biome (PB) may be degraded with the introduction of poorly managed agricultural crops. Anthropic use can markedly decrease vegetation cover on sandy soils, leaving them more exposed to erosive agents. Decreases in organic matter content, biodiversity, and nutrient availability, increased soil compaction, and decreased water availability are also some of the impacts caused on PB soils by implementing poorly managed agricultural crops. In Rio Grande do Sul, in areas with sandier soils, the intense replacement of PB with commercial crops that has occurred in recent years (2000-2020) may be starting a disastrous cycle of degradation of these soils. However, it is not yet known how much these soils are degraded by recent anthropic use. There are no local scientific publications dedicated to the diagnosis of the degradation of these soils by anthropic use. Therefore, the need for this study was based on the objective of evaluating the physical and hydraulic properties of sandy PB soils with the insertion of agricultural crops. The study was conducted on three different soils, where soil samples were collected under three systems of use (extensive cattle raising on native grassland, eucalyptus afforestation, and soybean crop). Our results show that it can take more than nine years for soybean and ten years for eucalyptus land-use change to indicate some level of degradation in soil physical and hydraulic properties after replacing PB with these cultivated crops.

Rodents as Sentinels for Toxoplasma gondii in Rural Ecosystems in Slovakia-Seroprevalence Study.

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous intracellular parasite with felids as definitive hosts and a broad range of intermediate hosts. Rodents are considered suitable sentinels for prevalence studies of many infections, including toxoplasmosis. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in rodents from different localities of Slovakia and investigate the correlation between the seropositivity and the species, age, sex, and sexual activity of animals. Altogether, 1009 wild rodents belonging to 9 species were trapped in 2015 and 2019, and antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 6.7% of the animals. Seropositivity was detected in seven species, ranging from 0.0% in Micromys minutus and Apodemus sylvaticus to 7.7% in A. flavicollis. The females reached significantly higher seropositivity (9.7%) than the males (3.8%), and the adults were positive significantly more often (9.2%) than the subadults (4.9%). The seropositivity differed also among localities, with significantly higher positivity detected in suburban and touristic areas (12.2%) than in localities with a lower level of human activities (5.5%). This study showed that the occurrence of T. gondii varies significantly in rodent species and habitats with various environmental conditions and different levels of anthropic use. Several biological and ecological factors, e.g., soil contamination, soil conditions, the susceptibility of rodent species etc., may influence this variability.

Anthropic modifications on megafauna bones in the paleontological collections of the Museum national d’Histoire naturelle de Paris: Historical aspects and implications for the Pampean Pleistocene peopling

The most abundant evidence of Pampean Pleistocene human presence are modified bones, as lithic procurement sites located farther than 300km away. Therefore, we focused on the study of bone modifications, in particular cut and percussion marks. We studied Pampean paleontological collections of Argentine and European museums as an alternative resource of previously unnoticed human modification evidences. We compared marks characteristics with those of archaeological collections from diverse climatic and cultural adaptations, from middle Pleistocene sites (Vallonet, Atapuerca, Lazaret, Arago and Terra Amata) to terminal Pleistocene ones (Abri Pataud, Isturiz and La Vache). Marks typologies were defined, leading to the identification of a particular cutmark that we named double parallel considered as highly diagnostic of anthropic use of lithic artifacts. We also propose that hafted artifacts were used on carcass processing. Perimortem bone modifications are classified in relation with mark morphology (e.g., percussion striae), inferred gesture or action (e.g., breakage of diaphysis), and inferred objective of that action (e.g., marrow extraction). The megafauna specimens analyzed from the historical collections (d’Angelis-Vilardebó, 1847, Muñiz-Dupotet, 1842 and Breton-Bonnement, 1881) present modifications compatible with dismemberment, defleshing, tongue and masseter extraction, and utilization as anvils. The lack of contextual data (location, stratigraphy) and the loss due to museum selection/collecting of accompanying material prevent paleoenvironmental and paleoecological inferences. Regional geology indicates that most of the historical collections were exhumed in riverbank cuts with ages between 70 and 13 ky BP. Preliminary direct dating presents evidence of a Pampean human occupation, at least, since OIS 2.

Teeth as lithic raw material: Experiments and use-wear analysis

This paper explores the archaeological and ethnographic evidence for use of rodent teeth as instruments, without direct modification (without manufacturing), in replacement of lithic raw materials. There are ethnographic records that describe the use of teeth, extracted from the jaw by direct manual grip or use of handles, and also used inside the jaw, which functions as a handle. Most of the teeth that appear in archaeological contexts have been studied within the framework of zooarchaeological analysis, however, there is the possibility that the dental pieces have been used as instruments, although this has rarely been considered.
 The objective of this work is to present the results of a comparative study of experimental work, which we carried out with beaver (Castor canadensis) and capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), and to discuss their similarities and differences with the traces of use of lithic material. Through macro- and microscopic analysis (Stereomicroscope and metallographic microscope), we were able to characterize and explain the natural use signs of the teeth and differentiate them from the anthropic use signs produced when they are used as instruments. These traces on a macro- and microscopic scale, have different characteristics depending on the material worked and the kinematics used, and at the same time show similarities with the traces that occur on certain lithic materials. Consequently, we believe that it is possible to develop functional analyses on teeth of different animal species, and that these analyses will contribute to our knowledge about the life forms of past societies.

Analysis of Susceptibility to Degradation of Water Ecosystem Services as a Tool for Land Use Planning: a Case Study in a Small Brazilian Watershed.

Mapping priority areas for environmental conservation and restoration is essential to informing policy formulation and decision-making. This study proposes a methodology based on multicriteria analysis and on-site assessment to develop environmental zoning that enhances the provision of water ecosystem services (WES) from Brazil's Água Quente River Basin. Integrated analysis of multiple criteria enabled identification of degrees of susceptibility to degradation, assessment of effects of land-use changes between 1990 and 2020, and validation of the study's methodology via field protocol. The results indicated that the spatial and temporal patterns of WES susceptibility to degradation varied little within the study area with the most critical levels occurring primarily in the Agua Quente's floodplain, where there are sandy textured soils and coverage with a low degree of soil protection. Zoning analysis designates 40% of the basin`s area as consolidated use, 28% for environmental conservation, 19% as anthropic use, and 13% for environmental restoration. Field analysis indicates that the occurrence of degraded areas and pollution by solid waste and urban effluents are relevant factors that affect the basin's water resources. Linear regression analysis indicated a good fit between the data modeled by the multicriteria analysis and those observed on-site (R² = 0.6 p < 0.05). The study's method is effective and its structure can be used in other river basins, as its approach is simple and flexible and can be readily adjusted to fit the characteristics of the study site.

RESPONSE OF TAXONOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL BENTHIC MACROFAUNA RICHNESS TO LAND USE AND LAND COVER AT BRAZILIAN RESERVOIRS DURING EXTREME DROUGHT

Introduction: Reservoirs are artificial aquatic ecosystems created by damming rivers, and are influenced by different sorts of impacts. Anthropic land use and occupation are one of the main causes of the loss of environmental quality and biological diversity in aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of land use and occupation on the taxonomic and functional richness of benthic macroinvertebrates in reservoirs in the Brazilian semiarid region during a period of extreme drought. Material and methods: The study was conducted in six reservoirs located in the semiarid region from Brazilian Northeast (Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte states): Sabugí, Passagem das Traíras, Cruzeta, Cordeiro, Sumé and Poções. The collections of benthic macrofauna, physical and chemical variables of water and the mapping of land use and occupation were performed for the years 2014 and 2019, in June and September. The sampling period was characterized as the most severe drought in the last 50 years in this study area. The land use and occupation were verified through the semi-supervised classification method of images captured by the Landsat 8 satellite, within 100 meters of the reservoir margin. The diversity of benthic macrofauna was analyzed through the taxonomic richness and functional richness, according to five functional characteristics: feeding trophic groups, breathing mode, voltinism, body size and body protection. To check for significant differences in physical and chemical water variables and taxonomic and functional richness among land use and land cover categories we performed PERMANOVA test. Results and Discussion: Seven land use and land cover categories were found in the reservoirs studied in the years 2014 and 2019, these are: water, agriculture, pasture, exposed soil, human occupation, open vegetation (native and exotic species of small/medium size with continuous spacing) and tree/shrub vegetation (native and exotic species of medium/large size with associated herbaceous stratum and predominance of semi-continuous dorsel). In all reservoirs the prevalent-use was pasture. Physical and chemical variables of water varied significantly among land use and land cover types, they were soluble reactive phosphate (p=0.02), total phosphorus (p=0.002) and water volume (p=0.01). The highest concentrations of total phosphorus were associated with predominant human occupation and soluble reactive phosphate with agriculture. The highest percentage of water volume was associated with a predominant use of tree/shrub vegetation. In reservoirs of semiarid regions with low connectivity due to intermittent rivers and extreme drought periods, adjacent anthropic activities such as agriculture, pasture and human occupation are the main external sources of nutrients. The taxonomic and functional richness of benthic macrofauna was higher in areas of open vegetation, however, it did not vary significantly between land use and land cover categories. Conclusions: Our results show that the effects of anthropic use and occupation in reservoirs associated with water scarcity lead to the homogenization of the macrobenthic community, which can generate negative consequences in processes sustained by the community.

Spatial Analysis of the Geoecological Adequability Index in Semi-Arid Watersheds, Northeast of Brazil

stract This research aimed to perform a comparative analysis of Geoecological Adequability (GA) in two semi-arid watersheds in Northeastern Brazil based on a classification carried out in a GIS (Geographic Information System) environment using the algebra map tool. The GA calculation reveals the interactions between landscape components through GIS, namely soil, slope, vegetation and land cover. Weights were assigned (1, 2 or 3) to the different cartographic layers of the geoecological components measured using the algebra map tool, through the arithmetic means, to classify the semiarid basins into different adequability levels, as follows: adequate, partially adequate and inadequate to anthropic uses. These procedures verified the predominance of the “adequate” class with a territorial area above 42% in both investigated basins; the “partially adequate” level and the second most comprehensive class comprised values between 30% and 40%; and, while smaller territorial extensions, below 20%, were “inadequate”. Based on these findings, it was possible to measure the most suitable areas for anthropic use in the studied basins and indicate the areas that should be conserved, with emphasis on protection and/or regeneration of the natural vegetation cover. This is important information concerning the planning and environmental management of these semi-arid landscapes in an objective and efficient way

Monthly precipitation field generation at Sulina (Romania)

Abstract Nowadays, climate change is one of the most important threads for civilization. Having the origin mainly in the anthropic activity and intensive use of the environmental resources, climate change affects the ecosystems and the population lives. Changes in precipitation volume and cycles severely affect agriculture and food security. Therefore, building meteorological forecasting is important for planning agricultural works and water management. In this respect, this article attempts to create an image of the future precipitation evolution in the northern part of Dobrogea, a region more and more affected by extreme meteorological events - long drought periods, followed by high precipitation amounts.

Chemical Quality of Waters of the Atoyac-Verde River As It Passes Through Forest Ecosystems of Oaxaca, Mexico

In granitic regions, water salinity typically ranges from 30 to 40 mg L−1 at the surface and from 300 to 500 mg L−1 for groundwater. Technogenic activity in Oaxaca has altered the concentration and chemical composition, which explains the occurrence of salinization processes and contamination of natural waters. To determine the physical–chemical composition of the Atoyac-Verde river, fifty-two water samples were collected from tributaries and semi-deep wells in the basin. The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), major cations and anions, total dissolved solids (TDS), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) were identified. Likewise, osmotic potential (Ψπ) was evaluated, and the effective salinity (ES) and potential salinity (PS) indexes. Results indicate that the water of the basin is bicarbonate-magnesium-calcium. Of the 52 samples analyzed, only 2 identified in the high relief points presented high levels of alkalinity and salinity with a pH of 8.1, EC of 2320 µS cm−1, Ψπ of − 0.08 MPa, SAR of 3.74 (mmolc L−1) 1/2, RSC of 0.53, ES of 9.88, and PS of 7.79 mmolc L−1, indicating restriction for its use in agricultural and domestic activities. In the meso relief, the water did not present restrictive levels for anthropic use, while in the low relief, only two points presented high salinity levels and restriction of anthropic use. In conclusion, the greatest chemical alteration of the water was detected in areas close to the city of Oaxaca and to a lesser extent in areas adjacent to riverside populations of more than 2500 inhabitants.

Environmental Fragility in a Permanent Preservation Area

Permanent preservation areas reduce the exposure of sediments and nutrients in aquatic medium and improve the quality of water. The analysis of natural features and anthropic use in rivers’ surroundings makes it possible detecting potential ecological unbalance. This study analyzed the potential and emerging environmental fragility in Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA). Environmental fragilities around drainage areas composing the sub-basin were assessed based on soil, relief, rainfall, land use/land cover (LULC) features. The degrees of emerging environmental fragility observed in the second-order stream were lower than those in first-order ones: 3.07 and 2.68, on average, respectively; and standard deviation of approximately 0.7 was recorded in each group. First-order streams are more closely associated with high slopes, and it increases their fragility. Then reduction of fragility levels around water springs due to conservationist practices will decrease material and energy transfer throughout network connections and rebalance the assessed aquatic ecosystem.

Sensoriamento Remoto aplicado à análise da regeneração da vegetação natural do Parque Estadual da Lapa Grande, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais

O Parque Estadual da Lapa Grande localizado no município de Montes Claros, norte do Estado de Minas Gerais, foi criado por meio do Decreto Estadual N. º44.204 de 10 de janeiro de 2006. O Parque Estadual da Lapa Grande possui área aproximada de 9.600,00 ha, seu objetivo é a manutenção dos ecossistemas sem as alterações causadas por interferência humana, admitindo apenas o uso indireto dos seus atributos naturais. Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a regeneração da vegetação natural sobre áreas de uso antrópico após a criação da Unidade de Conservação (UC), entre os anos de 2006 e 2017, por meio do uso de produtos orbitais e técnicas de sensoriamento remoto como ferramenta imprescindível para a mensuração de dados, foram realizadas classificações supervisionadas da área de estudo. Com isso foi possível analisar o avanço da regeneração e identificar as principais áreas antropizadas. Para a execução deste trabalho foram utilizadas imagens do satélite sino-brasileiro CBERS2 câmera CCD e CBERS4 câmera MUX, ambas imagens geradas possuem a mesma resolução espacial de 20 m e o mesmo comprimento de onda para as bandas 2, 3 e 4. Por fim foram gerados mapas temáticos, relacionados ao uso do solo no Parque Estadual da Lapa Grande, e gráficos que auxiliaram a análise do cenário vigente. Identificou-se uma redução nas áreas totais de cerrado stricto sensu, em contrapartida, houve um aumento nas áreas antropizadas de solo exposto proveniente da reincidência de incêndios na UC. Verificou-se ainda, um aumento significativo nas áreas de Florestas Estacionais e uma redução nas áreas que se apresentaram enquanto áreas em regeneração.

Rio Doce State Park buffer zone: forest fragmentation and land use dynamics

The investigation of land use changes by anthropic processes, spatially and temporally, is a fundamental tool to establish correlations between landscape patterns and processes and management of the buffer zone of Conservation Units. This study aimed to analyze the forest fragmentation and land use dynamics in the buffer zone of the Rio Doce State Park (PERD), located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, for the year 2015. Its buffer zone was delimited to a radius of 10 km, covering a total area of 128.893,36 ha. Land use classification was based on Landsat 8 image, orbit 217, point 73 and 74, and two types of ecosystems were identified: natural and anthropic. In the thematic mapping, the pressure of the anthropic use over the natural was notified, as well as the high number of forest fragments, which is a negative impact on the resilience required for the conservation of biodiversity and the local Atlantic forest. The fragments have different shapes and sizes and are distributed throughout the buffer zone of the PERD. There is a need to adopt conservation strategies, such as environmental education, reforestation techniques, recovery of degraded areas and ecological corridors. Even with a worrying current scenario, this finding makes it possible to establish an optimistic point for biodiversity conservation, associated with a tendency to reduce the forces of direct changes on natural systems.

Environmental fragility analysis in reservoir drainage basin land use planning: A Brazilian basin case study

Reservoirs constructed for multiple water and land use changes alter the hydro-sedimentological dynamics of drainage basins, intensifying erosion and silting of water bodies. To ensure water and soil conservation, environmental fragility analysis is a notable tool in land use planning. Potential environmental fragility (PEF) is the dynamic equilibrium of the environment, understood as the natural susceptibility of physical parameters to erosion. In conjunction with the socioeconomic parameter of land use, it generates emergent environmental fragility (EEF). This study analyzes PEF and EEF of the Lobo Reservoir Drainage Basin, a small basin in southeastern Brazil, and recommends environmental zoning derived from its assessment. Physical parameters, on a 1:50,000 scale, and land use spatial data were used to create PEF and EEF maps, followed by recommendations for suitable use for the basin’s sectors, taking into account their environmental fragility and current land use. The results indicate that the basin is primarily classified as medium EEF, which is related to its medium PEF and to the region’s agricultural activities. The proposed environmental zoning designates nearly half the basin as suitable for anthropic use, while 28.5 % is considered a priority for environmental conservation. Areas identified as a priority for conservation/restoration represent some 16 % of the basin. Limitations and potential enhancements to the study’s methodology were encountered, but none impaired the EEF analysis, which identified areas that could favor erosion. The land use planning proposed by the study based on its environmental fragility analysis provides a low cost, flexible, and easy to use method, facilitating its adoption by public managers and use by government technicians. Moreover, the study’s methodology can be widely replicated in other regions and fine tuned in accord with their specific characteristics and morphodynamic patterns.

Caracterização da Vulnerabilidade Ambiental na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Preto, Maranhão – Brasil

A vulnerabilidade ambiental é definida como qualquer susceptibilidade do ambiente a um impacto potencial provocado por um uso antrópico. A bacia, localizado na região nordeste do estado do Maranhão, ocupa uma área de 5.235,63 quilômetros quadrados. O desenvolvimento do estudo da vulnerabilidade ambiental desta bacia é importante, pois serve de subsidio ao planejamento ambiental visando a sustentabilidade dos recursos hídricos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a vulnerabilidade ambiental da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Preto, considerando a integração dos solos, a declividade, a estrutura geológica e o uso e cobertura da terra com base na sua estabilidade em relação à morfogênese e à pedogênese almejando contribuir na mitigação de risco da erosão. Para tal, foram utilizadas técnicas de geoprocessamento, que permitiram estabelecer três tipos de unidades ambientais: meios estáveis, onde predomina a pedogênese; meios intergrades, no qual há equilíbrio entre a pedogênese e a morfogênese; e os fortemente instáveis, onde predomina a morfogênese, para assim determinar a intensidade e distribuição da vulnerabilidade na bacia. Verificou-se que 33,59% da área é vulnerável, 35,61% é medianamente vulnerável e 30,80% é representada por áreas estáveis. Identificou-se que o uso da terra para cultivo de soja e eucalipto ao sul da bacia elevou o grau de vulnerabilidade ambiental, pois intensifica a ação erosiva nos solos.

Análise multitemporal de uso e cobertura da terra na Reserva da Biosfera do Cerrado

O Programa O Homem e a Biosfera, promovido pela Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, a Ciência e a Cultura - UNESCO, tem como principal objetivo a criação de Reservas da Biosfera– RB em diferentes biomas. Apesar da importância (posição estratégica e biodiversidade), a Reserva da Biosfera do Cerrado ainda tem modesta divulgação na mídia/comunidade acadêmica e poucas Unidades de Conservação que promovam a preservação do bioma. Com a finalidade de contribuir com esta discussão, o presente trabalho visa apresentar uma análise multitemporal da Reserva da Biosfera do Cerrado, no que se refere à questão do uso e ocupação da terra, realizada por meio dos dados do programa MapBiomas, no período de 2001 a 2016. A análise mostrou que ao longo dos anos houve uma forte conversão das áreas naturais prejudicando o objetivo central das reservas – preservação da biodiversidade. No total, foram aproximadamente 15 mil km² de áreas convertidas para uso antrópico, 8 mil km² somente entre 2004 e 2008, apresentando taxa de variação de 14% neste período.
 Palavras – chave: Reservas da Biosfera, Cerrado, uso do solo.

¿Refleja Formicidae el impacto de la degradación de los bosques ribereños en la Amazonía Oriental?

The increasing anthropogenic pressure on the Eastern Amazon makes the diagnostic of forest degradation imperative, particularly, the effect on key communities within the riparian ecosystems. Formicidae is commonly used in diagnostic and monitoring studies in areas under restoration. This study aimed to determine the impact of riparian forest successional stages (open areas, and, early, intermediate, and advanced succession) on the richness, frequency, and composition of Formicidae. Sampling was performed during both dry and wet seasons, with the TSBF (Tropical Soil Biological and Fertility) method. Collected organisms were identified to species and morphospecies level and the analysis of collector curves determined the method efficiency to represent the ant sub-community. Ant richness and frequency were submitted to generalized linear mixed models to evaluate the effects of season, local, and successional stage. We used linear regressions model to investigate the relationship between richness and frequency of ants with canopy cover and vegetation height. Species composition was represented by the Jaccard similarity index. In total, we observed 1940 individuals grouped into 86 (morpho)species. Analysis of sampling effort suggested that we obtained more than 80% of the probable species richness. Frequency and richness significantly increased following the advanced succession in comparison with the open areas during the dry season. Canopy cover and vegetation height seemed to moderately affect both richness and frequency of Formicidae during the dry season. Intermediate and advanced succession areas presented similar composition with 50 shared species, followed by the areas of early succession with 43, and, anthropic use with 34 shared species. We conclude that the elimination of riparian forests results in a substantial effect on the richness and frequency of Formicidae, with minimum values in open areas during the dry season. Forest areas transformed to agricultural systems suffered losses of 41% and 56% of richness and frequency respectively. Succession restores forest structure and functions thus, favoring re-colonization of ant species. Formicidae reflects forests degradation, and is a key group in monitoring programs for the conservation/restoration of local riparian forests. Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems should be promoted as low impact practices for adjacent lands to riparian forests.

Dung beetle responses to successional stages in the Amazon rainforest

Amazon rainforest is facing several threats due to anthropogenic activities causing loss of habitat, species, and ecosystem functions. However, several areas are being abandoned after anthropic use allowing secondary succession to occur, which can lead to the passive restoration of community parameters that have been lost. We aimed to investigate the effects of vegetation structure on dung beetle assemblages along a successional gradient in the western Amazon rainforest. Dung beetles were sampled and forest structure variables were measured using standardized protocols along primary, late secondary, and early secondary forests. We used a combination of generalized linear models and multivariate analyses to test for differences in assemblage composition and structure among successional stages and their relationships with vegetation variables. We found that primary forests have different species compositions from both late and early successional forests, with several species strongly associated with primary forests. Dung beetle abundance was higher in primary forests and influenced by variables describing the successional stages (i.e., tree density). Species turnover was the most important β-diversity component among and within each successional stage, with lower values in early secondary forests. Different pathways followed by secondary forests during forest succession may lead to increased species turnover similar to that found in primary forests. Biodiversity conservation will only work if secondary forests are allowed to recover to a late successional stage close to a primary forest stage. The loss of primary forests can cause an irreversible loss of species in need of conservation and with great functional importance in the Amazon rainforest.

FLEXIBILIZAÇÕES DO NOVO CÓDIGO FLORESTAL BRASILEIRO EM IMÓVEIS RURAIS ÀS MARGENS DO RIO GRANDE

Apesar da Constituição Federal evidenciar a necessidade de preservação dos recursos naturais, o atual Código Florestal (Lei Federal nº 12.651/2012) trouxe mecanismos que flexibilizam as dimensões e o uso de áreas protegidas, podendo ocasionar impactos negativos ao meio ambiente. Por meio de estudo de caso no município de Lavras, Minas Gerais, buscou-se analisar as mudanças relacionadas às Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APPs) às margens de cursos d’água e no entorno de reservatórios artificiais destinados à geração de energia ou abastecimento público, bem como na Reserva Legal (RL) de imóveis rurais localizados às margens do Rio Grande. Com base nos dados do Sistema Nacional de Cadastro Ambiental Rural e auxílio de um Sistema de Informações Geográficas, foram elaborados cenários comparando os efeitos de medidas mais restritivas com medidas flexibilizadas mediante uso antrópico consolidado. Essas flexibilizações poderão causar na área de estudo redução de 79,4% em APP às margens de cursos d’água, 67,7% em APP no entorno de reservatórios artificiais destinados à geração de energia ou abastecimento público e 7% em Reserva Legal. Essas reduções afetam negativamente as funções ecológicas tanto das APP e quanto da RL.

Sign, strength and shape of stream fish-based metric responses to geo-climatic and human pressure gradients

Abstract Efficient community indices and indicators are crucial for the adequate management and design of measures ensuring the ecosystem integrity. In this study we analyse the shape, sign and strength of the response of some biotic integrity indices and indicators of structure and function of fish communities along geo-climatic and human pressures gradients at catchment scale. To that purpose, >300 sites all over the Iberian Peninsula were characterized at the catchment scale by means of two anthropogenic drivers (agricultural and urban land proportion) and seven natural environmental descriptors covering geographical and climatic aspects. Regarding to fish-based metrics, a set of the most frequently used in stream health assessment studies have been selected, including taxonomic classic indicators, size related indicators and also recent multimetric indices created in the European context (WFD). We applied boosted regression trees that allow estimating the sign and strength of the response as well as considering non-linearity and impact thresholds. Our results show that the jointly contribution of anthropic drivers was lower than geo-climatic drivers. For most of indices and indicators, one single land cover contributed more markedly to the total deviance explained than the other, and they responded rather consistently to land-use variables, i.e., most of them responded negatively to the increase of anthropic use in the catchment. Size diversity, Fish Region Index (FRI) and maximum weight were those more sensible to agriculture land, while EFI+, mean weight, distinctness and FRI were those more sensitive to urban land. Regarding the shape of the response, urban land proportion affects normally at extremely low values, while agriculture land proportion induces smoother changes on a wider range. Our results may have practical implications, such as the selection of an efficient array of fish-based metrics to be included in ecological assessment and monitoring programs.