Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Research Articles

In vitro and in vivo antimalarial potential of oleoresin obtained from Copaifera reticulata Ducke (Fabaceae) in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest

BackgroundIn view of the wide variety of the flora of the Amazon region, many plants have been studied in the search for new antimalarial agents. Copaifera reticulata is a tree distributed throughout the Amazon region which contains an oleoresin rich in sesquiterpenes and diterpenes with β-caryophyllene as the major compound. The oleoresin has demonstrated antiparasitic activity against Leishmania amazonensis. Because of this previously reported activity, this oleoresin would be expected to also have antimalarial activity. PurposeIn this study we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antimalarial potential of C. reticulata oleoresin. MethodsIn vitro assays were done using P. falciparum W2 and 3D7 strains and the human fibroblast cell line 26VA Wi-4. For in vivo analysis, BALB/c mice were infected with approximately 106 erythrocytes parasitized by P. berghei and their parasitemia levels were observed over 7 days of treatment with C. reticulata; hematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed at the end of experiment. ResultsThe oleoresin of C. reticulata containing the sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene (41.7%) and β-bisabolene (18.6%) was active against the P. falciparum W2 and 3D7 strains (IC50 = 1.66 and 2.54 µg/ml, respectively) and showed low cytotoxicity against the 26VA Wi-4 cell line (IC50 > 100 µg/ml). The C. reticulata oleoresin reduced the parasitemia levels of infected animals and doses of 200 and 100 mg/kg/day reached a rate of parasitemia elimination resembling that obtained with artemisinin 100 mg/kg/day. In addition, treatment with oleoresin improved the hypoglycemic, hematologic, hepatic and renal parameters of the infected animals. ConclusionThe oleoresin of C. reticulata has antimalarial properties and future investigations are necessary to elucidate its mechanism of action.

Nematodes Parasites of Teiid Lizards from the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.

This study presents the helminth composition and parameters of infection by several species of nematodes in teiid lizards, Ameiva ameiva ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758), Cnemidophorus cryptus Cole and Dessauer, 1993, and Kentropyx calcarata Spix, 1825 from the Brazilian Amazonian Rainforest. The population of lizards studied were parasitized by 6 species of Phylum Nemata including: Spinicauda spinicauda (Olfers, 1919), Parapharyngodon alvarengai Freitas, 1957, Physaloptera sp. (adults), Physaloptera sp. (larvae), Piratuba digiticauda Lent and Freitas, 1941, and Anisakidae (larvae). The overall prevalence was 66.17% and the mean intensity of infection was 19.40 ± 25.48. The association between the body-length of lizards and the abundance and richness of parasitic nematodes was statistically significant only in Ameiva a. ameiva. A new host record is reported here with 1 specimen of the family Anasakidae in Ameiva a. ameiva. Both S. spinicauda and Physaloptera sp. represent new records from C. cryptus.

The Seasonal Cycle of the Radiation Budget and Cloud Radiative Effect in the Amazon Rain Forest of Brazil

Abstract Changes in the climate system of the Amazon rain forest of Brazil can impact factors that influence the radiation budget such as clouds, atmospheric moisture, and the surface albedo. This study examines the relationships between clouds and radiation in this region using surface observations from the first year of the deployment of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program’s Mobile Facility 1 (AMF1) in Manacapuru, Brazil, and satellite measurements from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). The seasonal cycles of the radiation budget and cloud radiative effects (CREs) are evaluated at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), at the surface, and within the atmospheric column using these observations and are placed into a regional context using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2). Water vapor and clouds are abundant throughout the year, even though slight decreases are observed in the dry season. The column water vapor load is large enough that the longwave radiative flux divergence is nearly constant throughout the year. Clouds produce a significant shortwave CRE at the surface and TOA, exceeding 200 W m−2 during the wet season. Discrepancies, especially in column shortwave radiative absorption, between the observations and MERRA-2 are demonstrated that warrant additional analysis of the microphysical and macrophysical cloud properties in MERRA-2. More trustworthy fields in the MERRA-2 product suggest that the expansive nearby river system impacts the regional radiation budget and thereby renders AMF1 observations potentially biased relative to regions farther removed from rivers within the Amazon rain forest.

ACRIDICON–CHUVA Campaign: Studying Tropical Deep Convective Clouds and Precipitation over Amazonia Using the New German Research Aircraft HALO

Abstract Between 1 September and 4 October 2014, a combined airborne and ground-based measurement campaign was conducted to study tropical deep convective clouds over the Brazilian Amazon rain forest. The new German research aircraft, High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft (HALO), a modified Gulfstream G550, and extensive ground-based instrumentation were deployed in and near Manaus (State of Amazonas). The campaign was part of the German–Brazilian Aerosol, Cloud, Precipitation, and Radiation Interactions and Dynamics of Convective Cloud Systems–Cloud Processes of the Main Precipitation Systems in Brazil: A Contribution to Cloud Resolving Modeling and to the GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) (ACRIDICON– CHUVA) venture to quantify aerosol–cloud–precipitation interactions and their thermodynamic, dynamic, and radiative effects by in situ and remote sensing measurements over Amazonia. The ACRIDICON–CHUVA field observations were carried out in cooperation with the second intensive operating period of Green Ocean Amazon 2014/15 (GoAmazon2014/5). In this paper we focus on the airborne data measured on HALO, which was equipped with about 30 in situ and remote sensing instruments for meteorological, trace gas, aerosol, cloud, precipitation, and spectral solar radiation measurements. Fourteen research flights with a total duration of 96 flight hours were performed. Five scientific topics were pursued: 1) cloud vertical evolution and life cycle (cloud profiling), 2) cloud processing of aerosol particles and trace gases (inflow and outflow), 3) satellite and radar validation (cloud products), 4) vertical transport and mixing (tracer experiment), and 5) cloud formation over forested/deforested areas. Data were collected in near-pristine atmospheric conditions and in environments polluted by biomass burning and urban emissions. The paper presents a general introduction of the ACRIDICON– CHUVA campaign (motivation and addressed research topics) and of HALO with its extensive instrument package, as well as a presentation of a few selected measurement results acquired during the flights for some selected scientific topics.

APPROACH PHYTOCHEMISTRY OF SECONDARY METABOLITES OF MAYTENUS GUIANENSIS KLOTZSCH EX REISSEK (CELASTRACEAE)

The Brazilian Amazon rainforest, even for its richness and biological diversity, can offer the oppotunity for innovative and efficient discovery of molecules with potential use in large scale. The interest in secondary metabolites have grown tremendously in recent amazonian essential oils and plant extracts, the Maytenus guianensis is a shrub native to our region, being popularly known as fruit-werewolf. The leaves are used as anti-inflammatory and infections is also indicated in the treatment of arthritis and hemorrhoids. Thus, the present study aimed to identify the classes of secondary metabolites from the ethanol extract of the fruits, leaves and shell of M. guianensis. We carried out the identification of secondary metabolites with plant extract using specific reagents alkaloids, glycosides cardiotonic, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and triterpenes, based on coloration and precipitation. It was found that all the studied structures show botanical alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids and tannins using any specific reagents. However, the absence of a secondary metabolite which can serve as raw material for synthesis of bioactive substances, particularly drugs and are used in many preparations to benefit human health, such as in the production of food and biological activity against microrganisms.

Assessment of two techniques to merge ground-based and TRMM rainfall measurements: a case study about Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

The availability of accurate rainfall data with high spatial resolution, especially in vast watersheds with low density of ground-measurements, is critical for planning and management of water resources and can increase the quality of the hydrological modeling predictions. In this study, we used two classical methods: the optimal interpolation and the successive correction method (SCM), for merging ground-measurements and satellite rainfall estimates. Cressman and Barnes schemes have been used in the SCM in order to define the error covariance matrices. The correction of bias in satellite rainfall data has been assessed by using four different algorithms: (1) the mean bias correction, (2) the regression equation, (3) the distribution transformation, and (4) the spatial transformation. The satellite rainfall data were provided by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, over the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. Performances of the two merging data techniques are compared, qualitatively, by visual inspection and quantitatively, by a statistical analysis, collected from January 1999 to December 2010. The computation of the statistical indices shows that the SCM, with the Cressman scheme, provides slightly better results.

Diversity patterns and chronobiology of hawkmoths (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest

As biodiversity loss rapidly increases through habitat degradation in the Amazon rainforest, the need to characterize and understand the species diversity becomes even more important. In this study we used empirical and published datasets to assess the diversity patterns and produce the first overview of the sphingid fauna in the Brazilian Amazon. We compared the diversity patterns in distinct areas in the biome by analyzing hawkmoth assemblages considering both species composition and abundance, and asked whether these communities are structured according to environmental factors. Additionally, we provide information of diel activity pattern of sphingids and evaluated the importance of time in sampling effort. We found that the Brazilian Amazon may harbor more than 80 % of the hawkmoth species that occur in Brazil and more than half of the species recorded in South America. Species composition and assemblage structure is determined by the quality of the habitat (disturbed or undisturbed vegetation), temperature and relative humidity. Finally, we show that the temporal activity of sphingids presents distinct patterns at different taxonomic levels, highlighting the importance of full night collections to better characterize the fauna. Our results show that habitat alteration can be an important factor affecting sphingid assemblages, illustrating the importance of Protected Areas in species maintenance.

Clarification of the katydid genus Uchuca Giglio-tos, 1898 (Orthoptera:Tettigoniidae): A new species in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.

This paper accomplishes three tasks: Firstly, description of a new species, Uchuca almeirina sp. nov., from the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, specifically from Monte Dourado, Almeirim, Pará. Secondly, it is proposed that Uchuca macroptera Montealegre-Z & Morris, 2003 be made a synonym of Uchuca ferreirai (Piza, 1976). Thirdly, a compilation of the generic distribution is presented, which includes new records of Uchuca amacayaca Montealegre-Z & Morris (2003) in Brazil and Uchuca similis Montealegre-Z & Morris (2003) in Colombia and Brazil, and the amplification of the occurrences of U. ferreirai.

MONITORING FELLING OF FORESTS BY SATELLITE IMAGES

The results of processing and analysis of multispectral satellite images of middle and high spatial resolution in order to assess the dynamics and consequences of felling of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The studies revealed significant damage to forests as a result of systematic-ray perennial cuttings on the selected monitoring site.

Deforestation and Human Pressure on the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

Deforestation and Human Pressure on the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

Sustainable Development and the Brazilian Judge

Brazil is a clear picture of this global unsustainability. Although it is the ninth largest economy in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it occupies the 79th position in the global ranking of human development and it is in the 60th position in the world ranking of education. It is 71st in gender equality. According to the world poverty ranking measured by the Gini index, Brazil is the 17th most unequal country in the G-20 and the 14th poorest country in the world. Lastly, Brazil occupies the 77th position in the world ranking of general sustainability and the 115th position in the category of forest protection, according to the Environmental Performance Index of Yale University in 2014. Recent precedents have shown that judges have taken this right seriously. The Judicial Branch, by applying the precautionary principle, has prevented a great deal of environmental damage as well as the deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Several decisions prevent construction projects and the emission of substances that pollute water and soil and threaten the animals, plants or human health.

O custo econômico do desmatamento da Floresta Amazônica brasileira (1988-2014)

This paper aims to calculate the economic cost of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. As a proxy for such cost we have used monetary estimates of the losses of intangible ecosystem services generated by deforestation. Such services – usually known as regulatory services – are important as they contribute to human well-being. The recognition of the importance of protecting forest ecosystems and their relevance to the provision of regulatory services can be stimulated by valuation studies and the subsequent presentation of monetary indicators that make explicit the economic costs resulting from deforestation. These results can be used mainly for educational purposes. Using the benefit transfer technique, the estimated total economic cost over the 1988-2014 period was about R$ 223 billion (2013 prices), which amounted to almost one entire GDP generated by the Brazilian Northern region in only one year (2012). These results corroborate our initial hypothesis that the intangible benefits provided by the Amazon Forest have a significant economic value.Keywords: ecosystem services, economic costs, Amazon.

A new species of Campylothorax (Collembola: Paronellidae: Paronellinae) from Northern Brazil

Campylothorax viruaensis sp. nov., a new species of paronellid springtail from the Amazon Rainforest, state of Roraima, Brazil, is herein described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by: pale yellow body with dark blue pigment on abdomen III and IV; dorsal chaetotaxy presenting S5i macrochaeta on head, mesothorax with 6-8 macrochaetae in p1-4 complex; A5 as macro or microchaeta on abdomen IV; collophore anterior side with 4+4 anterior long chaetae; and mucro with five teeth. Other characteristics usually omitted in traditional descriptions for the genus are presented such as morphology of apical region of third and fourth antennal segments, labial papillae, chaetotaxy of subcoxae, collophore, abdomen V and ventral region of head. Trunk specialized chaetae (S-chaetae) are also presented. Campylothorax viruaensis sp. nov. is the fourth record of Campylothorax from Brazil, the second from the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest and the first from the state of Roraima.

Opposite OH reactivity and ozone cycles in the Amazon rainforest and megacity Beijing: Subversion of biospheric oxidant control by anthropogenic emissions

Abstract The Amazon rainforest in Brazil and the megacity of Beijing in China are two of the most strongly contrasting habitats on Earth. In both locations, volatile chemicals are emitted into the atmosphere affecting the local atmospheric chemistry, air quality and ecosystem health. In this study, the total reactivity in air available for reaction with the atmosphere's primary oxidant the OH radical, has been measured directly in both locations along with individual volatile organic compounds(VOC), nitrogen oxides(NOx), ozone(O3) and carbon dioxide(CO2). Peak daily OH-reactivity in the Amazon 72 s−1, (min. 27 s−1) was approximately three times higher than Beijing 26 s−1 (min. 15 s−1). However, diel ozone variation in Amazonia was small (∼5 ppb) whereas in Beijing ∼70 ppb harmful photochemical ozone was produced by early afternoon. Amazon OH-reactivity peaked by day, was strongly impacted by isoprene, and anticorrelated to CO2, whereas in Beijing OH-reactivity was higher at night rising to a rush hour peak, was dominated by NO2 and correlated with CO2. These converse diel cycles between urban and natural ecosystems demonstrate how biosphere control of the atmospheric environment is subverted by anthropogenic emissions.

Habitat associations of woodcreeper (Aves: Dendrocolaptidae) assemblage in selectively logged areas of Southern Amazonia

Abstract:The Brazilian Amazon rain forest has lost c. 17% of its originally forested portion, due to deforestation and selective logging. Forest degradation caused by logging contributes to loss of animal species that require specialized habitats to survive, such as woodcreepers that inhabit understorey areas. Habitat associations of woodcreeper species can be important for identifying species that have restricted distribution and/or habitat specialization. Our study investigates the effects of spatial variation in forest structure and some landscape features (canopy openness, altitude, distance to stream and exploited basal area) on the abundance and composition of woodcreeper assemblage in selectively logged tropical forests in Southern Amazonia. We used mist-nets and points count to quantify the composition and abundance of woodcreepers in 32 plots in three sites. Plots were spatially arranged in PPBio LTER sites (long-term ecological research plots, systematically spaced at 1-km intervals) in Southern Amazonia. A total of 240 individuals (captured, observed and/or heard) belonging to 11 woodcreeper species were detected. Mantel tests showed that there is no spatial autocorrelation among woodcreeper assemblage and distance between plots. Altitude and canopy openness were significantly associated with the composition of the woodcreeper assemblage. Altitude was negatively associated with species richness, and the abundance of the two dominant species (Glyphorynchus spirurus and Xiphorhynchus elegans). The negative relationship with canopy openness suggests that woodcreeper assemblages that inhabit understorey are likely to be indirectly affected by selective logging which reduces canopy cover. The selective logging indirectly changes bird species assemblages, and depending on the intensity, may result in the local extinction of some insectivorous species. Short- and long-term studies addressing different intensities of selective logging are needed to determine the impacts on the bird species and forest structure.

Presence of enterobacteria in free-living and captive Amazon turtle Podocnemis expansa (Podocnemididae: Testudines).

<p class="Textodecomentrio1">La tortuga amazónica <em>Podocnemis expansa</em> Schweigger, 1812 es un recurso muy importante para las poblaciones ribereñas de fauna de la región amazónica, además de ser una de las principales especies enumeradas para la producción en cautiverio. El consumo de esta especie como alimento en la región ha generado una demanda de estudios sobre salud animal y sus posibles impactos en la salud pública. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue evaluar la microbiota gastrointestinal de las tortugas amazónicas en cautiverio y vida libre, y la influencia del hábitat en la composición de la flora. Un total de 116 tortugas adultas, de ambos sexos fueron elegidas, y 51 fueron capturados en la isla de São Miguel, Santarém (PA), 50 animales en cautiverio para comercio y 15 provenían de un criadero de reproducción para la conservación, que se encuentra en la región metropolitana de Belém. De cada animal se recogió material biológico de la cloaca y se envió al laboratorio de la Universidad Federal de Pará, Brazil. De 116 muestras se obtuvieron 245 aislamientos bacterianos en el que 83 (33.87 %) eran de animales de vida libre, y 162 (65.72 %) de cautiverio. Especies de <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> fueron los aislamientos más frecuentes de las 52 muestras, 21.22 % del crecimiento total de bacterias, seguido de <em>Enterobacter cloacae</em> 29 %, (35/14), <em>Serratia marcescens </em>84 % (11/29) y <em>Salmonella </em>spp. 80 % (24/9). En las tortugas de vida libre, los microorganismos aislados corresponden a los géneros: <em>Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter </em>y<em> Aeromonas. Klebsiella pneumoniae, S. marcescens, E. cloacae </em>y <em>Salmonella </em>spp. presentaron frecuencias altas en animales de cautiverio. Este resultado muestra una mayor diversidad de microorganismos en animales de vida libre y muestras con alta contaminación en animales de cautiverio<strong>.</strong> Las especies de <em>Salmonella </em>spp., <em>E. coli </em>y<em> Acinetobacter </em>spp., pueden ser sugeridas como indicadores de la calidad sanitaria de las poblaciones de la tortuga amazónica. Sin embargo el estudio reveló que el hábitat influyó en la composición de la flora gastrointestinal de las tortugas. El conocimiento de la flora gastrointestinal de los animales es de suma importancia en la identificación de los agentes patógenos presentes en la fauna nativa de la región amazónica.</p>

Immunomodulatory and toxicological evaluation of the fruit seeds from Platonia insignis, a native species from Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

The “bacuri” (Platonia insignis Mart., Clusiaceae) is a native tropical fruit from the Brazilian Amazon and Northeast Regions. Its seeds are used to treat inflammatory diseases, diarrhea and skin problems in traditional medical practices. Regarding its widespread medicinal uses, it is important to evaluate the biological and toxicological potential of this species. This way, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of the hexanic extract of P. insignis seeds, as well as its in vivo acute oral toxicity. The biological evaluation was performed by the determination of cytotoxic (MTT and hemolysis assay) and immunomodulatory (phagocytic capacity, lysosomal volume and nitrite production) activities of EHSB in murine peritoneal macrophages. In addition, the oral acute toxicity was evaluated using female Wistar rats treated with EHSB (2.0g/kg), in accordance with the OECD 423 Guideline. The EHSB showed low toxicity for macrophages in the MTT test (CC50 value: 90.03μg/ml), as well as for erythrocytes, which caused only 2.5% hemolysis at the highest concentration. A strong immunomodulatory activity was observed by a markedly increase of the NO production, phagocytic ability and lysosomal volume. On the other hand, it was not observed deaths or changes in the clinical and behavioral parameters in the toxicological evaluation. This manner, the present study contributes to the knowledge about the immunomodulatory and toxicological properties of the P. insignis. This may provide perspectives for the evaluation and development of effective and safe phytomedicines created from the Brazilian local biodiversity.

New classification of natural breeding habitats for Neotropical anophelines in the Yanomami Indian Reserve, Amazon Region, Brazil and a new larval sampling methodology.

Here we present the first in a series of articles about the ecology of immature stages of anophelines in the Brazilian Yanomami area. We propose a new larval habitat classification and a new larval sampling methodology. We also report some preliminary results illustrating the applicability of the methodology based on data collected in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in a longitudinal study of two remote Yanomami communities, Parafuri and Toototobi. In these areas, we mapped and classified 112 natural breeding habitats located in low-order river systems based on their association with river flood pulses, seasonality and exposure to sun. Our classification rendered seven types of larval habitats: lakes associated with the river, which are subdivided into oxbow lakes and nonoxbow lakes, flooded areas associated with the river, flooded areas not associated with the river, rainfall pools, small forest streams, medium forest streams and rivers. The methodology for larval sampling was based on the accurate quantification of the effective breeding area, taking into account the area of the perimeter and subtypes of microenvironments present per larval habitat type using a laser range finder and a small portable inflatable boat. The new classification and new sampling methodology proposed herein may be useful in vector control programs.

Redox-active biflavonoids from Garcinia brasiliensis as inhibitors of neutrophil oxidative burst and human erythrocyte membrane damage

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGarcinia brasiliensis, a plant native to the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, is used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation of the urinary tract, peptic ulcers, arthritis and other conditions. Aim of the studyThe purposes of this study were to analyze the chemical constituents of G. brasiliensis branches and leaves and to evaluate the potential of isolated compounds to act as inhibitors of both the oxidative burst of stimulated neutrophils and oxidative damage in human erythrocyte membranes to verify the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of this plant. Materials and methodsNeutrophils were isolated from the blood of healthy donors by Ficoll–Paque density gradient centrifugation. Superoxide anion and total reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by stimulated neutrophils were measured by WST-1 reduction and luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assays, respectively. Radical-induced lipoperoxidation and hemolysis were performed using erythrocytes from the blood of healthy donors. Compounds were isolated from G. brasiliensis branches and leaves by HPLC microfractionation, and structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was performed based on NMR and HR-MS analyses. ResultsThe biflavonoids procyanidin, fukugetin, amentoflavone and podocarpusflavone isolated from G. brasiliensis showed potent inhibitory effects on the oxidative burst of human neutrophils, inhibiting ROS production by 50% at 1μmolL−1. These biflavonoids also proved to be potent inhibitors of hemolysis (with 88±7% inhibition at 50µmolL−1 for procyanidin) and lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes, with a malondialdehyde level (a biomarker of oxidative stress) of 8.5±0.3nmol/mg Hb at 50µmolL−1 for procyanidin. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the biflavonoids extracted from G. brasiliensis branches and leaves modulate oxidative stress via inhibition of NADPH oxidase and ROS production by stimulated human neutrophils. Furthermore, the biflavonoids exhibited potent inhibition of oxidant hemolysis and lipid peroxidation induced by AAPH in human erythrocytes. Therefore, these studies suggest the use of G. brasiliensis extract as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Migration And Malaria: Spatial Diffusion Of Infectious Diseases In The Amazon Pioneer Front, 2003-2012

Malaria constitutes one of the main causes of death in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. There, it presents different behaviors among cities with predominately imported cases. This study describes t...