Caatinga Environment Research Articles

From Genes to Stress Response: Genomic and Transcriptomic Data Suggest the Significance of the Inositol and Raffinose Family Oligosaccharide Pathways in Stylosanthes scabra, Adaptation to the Caatinga Environment.

S. scabra is an important forage and extremophilic plant native to the Brazilian Caatinga semiarid region. It has only recently been subjected to omics-based investigations, and the generated datasets offer insights into biotechnologically significant candidates yet to be thoroughly examined. INSs (inositol and its derivatives) and RFO (raffinose oligosaccharide family) pathways emerge as pivotal candidates, given their critical roles in plant physiology. The mentioned compounds have also been linked to negative impacts on the absorption of nutrients in mammals, affecting overall nutritional intake and metabolism. Therefore, studying these metabolic pathways is important not just for plants but also for animals who depend on them as part of their diet. INS and RFO pathways in S. scabra stood out for their abundance of identified loci and enzymes. The enzymes exhibited genomic redundancy, being encoded by multiple loci and various gene families. The phylogenomic analysis unveiled an expansion of the PIP5K and GolS gene families relative to the immediate S. scabra ancestor. These enzymes are crucial for synthesizing key secondary messengers and the RFO precursor, respectively. Transcriptional control of the studied pathways was associated with DOF-type, C2H2, and BCP1 transcription factors. Identification of biological processes related to INS and RFO metabolic routes in S. scabra highlighted their significance in responding to stressful conditions prevalent in the Caatinga environment. Finally, RNA-Seq and qPCR data revealed the relevant influence of genes of the INS and RFO pathways in the S. scabra response to water deprivation. Our study deciphers the genetics and transcriptomics of the INS and RFO in S. scabra, shedding light on their importance for a Caatinga-native plant and paving the way for future biotechnological applications in this species and beyond.

A phenological trick and cell wall bricks toward adaptive strategies of Mimosa tenuiflora-Lopesia mimosae interaction in Caatinga environment

Caatinga environment tends to impose constraints on the phenology and development of the host plants and their associated galls. Phenological synchronism in Mimosa tenuiflora-Lopesia mimosae system, and anatomical, cytometric, and immunocytochemical analyzes reveal strategies of the gall survivorship in Caatinga. As phenological strategies, the peak of young galls synchronizes with leaf sprouting in the rainy season, and the reproductive phase is concomitant to gall senescence in the dry season. As structural strategies, the reorganization and the compartmentalization of gall tissues assist gall development in response to environmental constraints, and the predominance of periclinal cell elongation determined the gall bivalve shape. The distribution of pectins, glycoproteins, and hemicelluloses modulate cell walls toward favoring gall resistance to drought stress. The homogalacturonans confer high porosity to the cell walls of the typical nutritive tissue. The galactans and arabinans confer flexibility to the cell walls of the common storage tissue favoring tolerance to drought. The xylogalacturonans and heteromannans in the cell walls of the typical nutritive tissue are associated with nutritive reserves directed to the galling insect. The phenological synchronism, modulation of leaf tissues and cell wall components confer water and nutritional resources to the Lopesia mimosae microenvironment, the gall.

Seasonal Ecosystem Productivity in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (Caatinga) Using Flux Tower Measurements and Remote Sensing Data

The Caatinga dry forest encompasses 11% of the total continental territory of Brazil. Nevertheless, most research on the relationship between phenology and ecosystem productivity of Brazilian tropical forests is aimed at the Amazon basin. Thus, in this study we evaluated the seasonality of ecosystem productivity (gross primary production—GPP) in a preserved Caatinga environment in northeast Brazil. Analyses were carried out using eddy covariance measurements and satellite-derived data from sensor MODIS (MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MOD17 and MOD13 products). In addition to GPP, we investigated water use efficiency (WUE) and meteorological and phenological aspects through remotely sensed vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI). We verified that ecosystem productivity is limited mainly by evapotranspiration, with maximum GPP values registered in the wetter months, indicating a strong dependency on water availability. NDVI and EVI were positively associated with GPP (r = 0.69 and 0.81, respectively), suggesting a coupling between the emergence of new leaves and the phenology of local photosynthetic capacity. WUE, on the other hand, was strongly controlled by consecutive dry days and not necessarily by total precipitation amount. The vegetation indices adequately described interannual variations of the forest response to environmental factors, and GPP MODIS presented a good relationship with tower-measured GPP in dry (R2 = 0.76) and wet (R2 = 0.62) periods.

Population ecology of Ameivula ocellifera (Spix, 1825) (Reptilia, Squamata), in an area of caatinga in Pernambuco, Brazil

The Caatinga is an exclusively Brazilian biome, which has many endemic life forms and species adapted to semi-arid conditions. Spix’s whiptail Ameivula ocellifera is amply distributed in the semi-arid polygon of South America, and is common in anthropogenic environments. The present study investigated the ecology and genetic variability of A. ocellifera in an area of Caatinga in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. A total of 12 field trips were conducted between November 2015 and October 2016, with three environments being surveyed: pasture, a prickly pear plantation, and secondary Caatinga vegetation. All the specimens collected were measured and samples were obtained for the analysis of the ISSR molecular marker. A total of 32 A. ocellifera specimens, which presented a sex ratio typical of the species, with a continuous reproductive period, which reflects the adaptive success of this species to the Caatinga environment. Based on similarity indices, it was possible to confirm that all the specimens collected were closely related. However, the larger number of individuals and the greater genetic variability found in the specimens collected from the farmland indicate that this environment constitutes a refuge for the lizards, providing shelter and feeding resources. However, this anthropogenic microenvironment also represents a risk to the species due to increasing intra- and interspecific competition, and a reduction of genetic variability through endogamy.

Litter dynamics in a seasonally dry forest fragment

Litter decomposition makes possible the nutrient cycling and is a link between vegetation and soil, vital for a healthy forest ecosystem. Although several studies on litter decomposition have been carried out in different regions of Brazil, there are few studies for transitional zones between Cerrado and Caatinga, particularly in the state of Piauí. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the litterfall production, litter composition and decomposition rate in a tropical dry forest fragment located in the southeast region of Piauí, Brazil. Monthly litterfall dynamics were evaluated for one year, by placing litter traps in the center of six forest inventory permanent sample plots, and the decomposition rate was determined by the litterbag technique. Litterfall production was estimated at 4,401.7 kg ha-1 year-1, similar to Caatinga environment values, with the leaves fraction contributing with the highest percentage (64%). On the other hand, litter decomposition rate was estimated at 0.003 g day-1, similar to rates found in Cerrado environments, highlighting the importance to better understand this ecozone litter dynamics. Wind speed had significative correlation with litterfall production. The number of species in the sample plot had highest correlation with the decomposition rate, and the diameter growth rate was the dendrometric variable most correlated to litterfall production.

Soils and seasonality influence the richness of gall-inducing insects and their host plants in a tropical dry forest

The richness of specialized herbivores and their host plants in a Brazilian dry forest was inventoried to evaluate if soil types and seasonality are important factors determining the composition of gall-inducing insects and their host plants in Caatinga environments on a local scale. This study recorded 12 different morphotypes of gall distributed among eight host species belonging to five botanical families. Both soils and seasonality influenced the number of species and individuals of host plant, and the richness of gall-inducing insect. The greatest richness of gall-inducing insects and their host plants was observed during the rainy season in the Caatinga vegetation on soils of sedimentary origin, which is considered to have low fertility as regards phosphorus content. Our results corroborate the hypothesis of soil fertility which predicts that the richness of gall-inducing insects will be higher on infertile soils and demonstrate the importance of substrate and seasonality for the richness of gall-inducing insects in Caatinga on a local scale.

Lagoa do Quari (São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí): Palaeoenvironment and wetland archaeology in Northeastern Brazil

AbstractNortheastern Brazil has thousands of wetland fossiliferous deposits with megafauna and, in some cases, associated lithic artifacts. The timing of the arrival of humans in South America and the extinction of megafauna is still debated and these sites contribute both to this discussion and to the reconstruction of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene paleoenvironment. Lagoa do Quari, 40 km south of São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí state, is a marsh deposit in the present semiarid caatinga environment, excavated by an interdisciplinary team in 2002–2003. This paper presents the archaeological, palaeontological, geological, chronological, stratigraphical and palynological results and their implications for the Quaternary of northeastern Brazil. The site has a rich megafaunal bonebed at the bottom, dominated by Eremotherium giant sloth remains with poor biodiversity, and a sandy‐silty deposit at the top; two 14C dates constrain this latter layer to 9,944–9,557 and 6,308–6,177 cal. years BP and the associated rich lithic industry of quartz and chert shows a technical continuity throughout the Holocene in the region. Palynology describes an open landscape with periodic wet phases, which could explain the richness of the archaeological occurrences in Holocenic Brazilian prehistory. This study offers a model of interdisciplinary enquiry into the paleoenvironment and prehistory of lowland South America.

Effects of chronic anthropogenic disturbances on flesh fly (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) assemblages in areas of seasonally dry tropical forest

Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF) are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to chronic anthropogenic disturbances (CAD) such as agriculture, livestock and exploitation of wood and non-timber forest products which can negatively affect the local biota. We evaluated the influence of CAD and rainfall on the diversity of flesh flies (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in the Brazilian Caatinga. We expected that the increase in CAD would negatively affect the specialist Sarcophagidae species and promote homogenisation of the assemblage. Specimens were collected using traps baited with fish, bovine spleen or human feces in six environments with different intensities of CAD—low, intermediate and high, based on land use and conservation status. We collected 29,810 specimens (3760 males, identified to 14 genera, 32 species). We observed a positive relationship between disturbance intensity and the abundance of synanthropic flies, mainly Tricharaea occidua. The diversity of common species and dominant species were affected only by CAD. There was also a marked substitution of species throughout the Caatinga environments (βSIM = 0.91), with few taxa (less than 50%) occurring indiscriminately in the areas under the three levels of impact. Chronic disturbances pose a constant threat to the conservation of flesh fly species. CAD act as a trigger for the homogenisation of Sarcophagidae assemblages, and magnify the dominance of synanthropic and generalist species. Empirical data on the effect of chronic disturbances can subsidize quantitative studies addressing local extinction. Our data strengthen the use of Sarcophagidae as biological indicators of anthropogenic action and can subsidize protocols for monitoring anthropogenic impacts in dry forests.

Structure, spatial distribution and phenology of two Vochysiaceae species in Cerrado fragment in the Caatinga, Southern Ceará, Brazil

The family Vochysiaceae, representative for Brazilian Cerrado, does not stand out in Caatinga environments. Due to the lack of studies that address the behavior of species of this family in disjunct Cerrado environments, this study aimed to investigate structural, ecological and phenological aspects of Qualea parviflora and Callisthene fasciculata populations. The phytosociological and phenological surveys were carried out in a Cerrado enclave at Serra do Boqueirão, Lavras da Mangabeira municipality, Southern Ceará, Brazil. Twelve sampling units of 12.0 x 30 m (0.432 ha) were plotted randomly, including all living individuals with a ground level diameter ≥ 3 cm, also measuring total heights. For the evaluation of phenophases, the Fournier percentage was used, allowing the estimation of intensity of the phenophase in each individual through a semi-quantitative interval scale of five categories (0 to 4), 0 being equivalent to 0%; (1) 1 to 25%; (2) 26 to 50%; (3) 51 to 75% and (4) 76 to 100%. Each sample was composed of 103 and 78 individuals respectively in 66.6% and 91.6% of the plots, of Q. parviflora and C. fasciculata, respectively. The spatial distribution, measured by the Dispersion (ID) and Morisita (IM) indexes reached the values of 17.14 and 18.26 (ID) and 1.08 and 1.16 (IM), respectively, indicating that the species have an aggregate distribution. The phenophases generally correlated with all the climatic variables studied in the region such as rain and preciptation. All data and results presented here collaborate for future projects in the area.

Avaliação de incêndio em ambiente de Caatinga a partir de imagens Landsat-8, índice de vegetação realçado e análise por componentes principais

O fogo é um fator importante na perturbação e perda de florestas secas tropicais globais. Os incêndios florestais exercem um papel ecológico relevante, pois afetam a biodiversidade local, as propriedades do solo e o suprimento de água. O bioma Caatinga apresenta um alto nível de degradação de atividades antrópicas e naturais, sendo extremamente afetado por incêndios originados predominantemente por atividades humanas. O sensoriamento remoto orbital, por apresentar características espaciais, espectrais e temporais específicas, é uma alternativa tecnológica imprescindível no monitoramento de áreas afetadas pelo fogo na superfície terrestre. Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar, no âmbito espacial, espectral e temporal, o comportamento de um incêndio em ambiente de Caatinga a partir de Imagens Landsat-8, Índice de Vegetação Realçado e Análise por Componentes Principais. A quantificação de características da vegetação derivada do índice espectral fornece uma melhor avaliação da condição física da superfície terrestre sob efeitos do fogo. Técnicas de sensoriamento remoto e estatística multivariada foram utilizadas para avaliar comportamento espectral da vegetação nativa exposta a eventos de incêndio do bioma Caatinga. Os resultados do Teste de Normalidade Kolmogorov-Smirnov apresentaram um nível de significância de 5 %. A integração dos métodos estatísticos de Regressão Linear Simples e Análise por Componentes Principais possibilitaram diagnósticos importantes nas estimativas e/ou relacionamentos entre as variáveis aleatórias. A técnica multivariada permitiu avaliar 94% da variação de dados. Os mapas resultantes da metodologia testada representam um aprimoramento importante no mapeamento da distribuição da vegetação. Este estudo gera indicativos para futuras pesquisas científicas vinculadas ao gerenciamento do espaço relacionado à vulnerabilidade e recuperação de paisagens de vegetação do clima semiárido sob situações de fogo geradas por incêndios.

Habitat heterogeneity shapes and shifts scorpion assemblages in a Brazilian seasonal dry tropical forest

Previous observations support predictions that habitat structure plays a major role in the distribution of species in several tropical regions. In such environments, arthropods are a key component of ecosystems because they are predators that may directly influence the energy flow dynamics in the ecosystem. As such, we investigated the effects of environmental structure on scorpion diversity in the Caatinga ecoregion - a seasonally dry tropical forest mainly distributed in northeastern Brazil. Scorpions were sampled in 12 locations in different Caatinga sites. At each location, we recorded a set of environmental predictors, including litter depth, and the densities of trees, shrubs, stones, and fallen logs. A total of 782 scorpions were collected, including eight species in the family Buthidae and two species in the family Bothriuridae. Scorpion composition and abundance were positively correlated with shrub and tree densities, illustrating the importance of landscape features for the maintenance of scorpion assemblages in Caatinga environments. Furthermore, based on new substantial insights, habitat degradation caused by human activities negatively affects the assemblage of Caatinga scorpions.

ANÁLISE DA SUSCEPTIBILIDADE À DESERTIFICAÇÃO EM AMBIENTE DE CAATINGA

A susceptibilidade ambiental indica a probabilidade de fragilidade natural em relação à determinadas problemáticas ambientais, como as relacionadas à desertificação. Por este estudo, objetivou-se identificar as áreas susceptíveis à desertificação em ambientes da caatinga, tendo como escala de análise os municípios de Canudos e Jeremoabo, localizados no norte do estado da Bahia. Aplicou-se a lógica fuzzy para a integração de dados físico-ambientais (litologia, solos e variáveis do relevo) e elaboração da modelagem de susceptibilidade. O índice topográfico de umidade, declividade, plano e perfil de curvatura do relevo foram extraídos do modelo digital de terreno (MDT) e compuseram as variáveis do relevo. Após a elaboração e análise do cenário ambiental, constatou-se que 13% do território em estudo correspondem à susceptibilidade severa e a susceptibilidade alta a 15%, e ambas se encontram em relevos ondulados, forte-ondulados e montanhosos, em ambientes de médio-baixo e baixo índice topográfico de umidade. Nos municípios, destacam-se a susceptibilidade média, a qual é superior a 40%. Os dados oriundos da modelagem demonstram a necessidade de realizar um planejamento eficaz de uso do solo, a fim de evitar ou reduzir os processos de degradação ambiental do bioma caatinga, por meio da adoção de práticas conservacionistas no tocante de combater ações que desencadeiem a erosão acelerada, fator do processo de desertificação.

Sazonalidade da mesofauna edáfica em fragmentos de vegetação de caatinga no semiárido nordestino do Brasil

<p>A mesofauna edáfica compreende os organismos decompositores da serapilheira depositada na superfície que participam diretamente do processo de ciclagem de nutrientes e da formação da matéria orgânica, essenciais para manter a qualidade do solo. Dessa forma, objetivou-se quantificar a abundância, riqueza e diversidade da mesofauna edáfica em ambientes de caatinga no Semiárido de Alagoas. Para esta pesquisa foram selecionadas duas áreas de caatinga nativa, localizadas em Olho D’Água do Casado (área I) e Delmiro Gouveia (área II), no estado de Alagoas, em áreas de vegetação caracterizada como caatinga hipoxerófila. As coletas foram realizadas bimestralmente no período de fevereiro de 2012 a outubro de 2013. Para a coleta da mesofauna, foram utilizados vinte pontos pré-selecionados, de onde foram retiradas amostras de solo + serapilheira, com auxílio de anéis metálicos, a 5 cm de profundidade do solo. As amostras foram levadas à bateria de extratores Berlese-Tullgren modificada para a extração dos organismos, e posteriormente os organismos capturados foram quantificados e identificados na ordem dos grandes grupos taxonômicos. Para mensurar a riqueza dos grupos, utilizaram-se o Índice de Diversidade de Shannon e o Índice de Equabilidade de Pielou. Os grupos dominantes da mesofauna do solo na área I foram Acarina, Collembola, Isoptera e Psocoptera, enquanto na área II foram Acarina, Collembola, Psocoptera e Hymenoptera.</p>

Wild common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) employ spatial cognitive abilities to improve their food search and consumption: an experimental approach in small-scale space.

The ability of an animal to integrate and retain spatial information of resources often depends on the spatial memory and the speed at which this memory crystallizes. These become especially important once foragers reach their target area. However, very little is known about how wild common marmosets encode spatial information when feeding rewards are near to each other in a small-scale space. With this in mind, we performed field experiments to test foraging decisions related to a small-scale space setting. Specifically, we tested the (i) short- and (ii) long-term spatial memory, as well as (iii) the ability to remember the spatial location of resources after a single visit (one-trial spatial learning). The study was conducted with four groups of wild common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) living in a semiarid Caatinga environment. We observed that individuals were able to retain spatial information of food sources on both a short- and long-term basis and to learn the spatial location of these resources after a single visit. We suggest that such abilities during foraging can improve the search for scattered resources with fluctuations of food availability. Presumably, this would be particularly advantageous in Caatinga, with its vegetation exhibiting asynchronous phenological patterns. Altogether, our results demonstrate that common marmosets employ all three studied spatial cognitive abilities to improve their food search and consumption.

Using lizards to evaluate the influence of average abundance on the variance of endoparasites in semiarid areas: dispersion and assemblage structure.

The distribution of parasites within host populations and communities, and the mechanisms responsible for these patterns, are poorly understood aspects of wildlife parasitology. Here, we evaluate the influence of the average abundance of endoparasite variance, using endoparasites of lizards from the Caatinga domain (semiarid region), north-eastern Brazil. We hypothesized that, due to the high number of generalist endoparasite species, they may occur randomly throughout host populations in an aggregate pattern. In addition, we evaluated the degree to which sample variance is influenced by the average abundance of endoparasite species, patterns of co-occurrence and dominance among endoparasite species and similarities between abundance and the richness of endoparasite infracommunities in several host species. Between September 2015 and February 2016, 2141 lizards (1233 infected) from 16 species were collected from six Caatinga areas. In total, 25,687 endoparasites were collected, which belonged to 13 species including nematodes, pentastomids, cestodes, trematodes and acanthocephalans. Parasite-host associations documented here included 39 newly identified interactions. Endoparasites occurred in a typical aggregate pattern of distribution within their hosts; there was no measurable preference related to the acquisition of hosts by endoparasites. Despite the new records, endoparasites found were commonly associated with lizards in Caatinga environments, which may reflect fauna composed of generalist endoparasite species.

Orchid Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) in Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (Caatinga) in Brazil

Euglossini bees are important Neotropical pollinators, but there is a lack in the knowledge about this fauna in dry tropical environments. The aims of this study were to evaluate the richness and abundance of euglossine bees in two fragments of seasonally dry tropical forest (Caatinga), as well as to assess the distribution of euglossine species richness in the Caatinga environment. Males were collected along 12 consecutive months, using traps with aromatic baits. The species richness (S=5) was lower than in rainforests and savannas. Euglossa cordata (L.) was the dominant species in the assemblage, representing 70% of the individuals. The highest abundance occurred in the rainy season. Euglossini fauna presents low local species richness in Caatinga areas, however the beta diversity is higher, since assemblages in different habitats have differences in species composition.

Structural and histochemical profile of Lopesia sp. Rübsaamen 1908 pinnula galls on Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. in a Caatinga environment

ABSTRACT Gall-inducing insects can change the anatomical pattern of host plant tissues by inducing peculiar gall morphotypes. In this study, the structural changes observed in Lopesia galls on Mimosa tenuiflora resemble those found in other Cecidomyiidae, with two tissue compartments. Nevertheless, the parenchyma layers of the inner compartment, between the mechanical zone and the nutritive tissue, are peculiar. Gall development does not impair the synthesis of any compounds detected by histochemical tests on non-galled tissues of M. tenuiflora. Lignin, polyphenols, alkaloids and terpenoids were detected in the outer compartment, suggesting their involvement in chemical defence of galls. Proteins, reducing sugars and lipids were detected both in outer and inner compartments, whereas nutritive tissue is rich in reducing sugar. This profile is linked with the nutrition of the gall-inducing insect. The Caatinga environment does not seem to constrain the development of galls, but the thick periclinal cell wall and homogeneous parenchyma may contribute to the control of humidity and light radiation, thus favouring the survival of the gall-inducing insect.

REPORTS OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE USES OF CACTACEAE SPECIES IN THE HISTORIA NATURALIS BRASILIAE (1648): COMPARATIVE PAST-PRESENT ANALYSES

Cactaceae species have diverse uses in Brazil, principally in the northeastern region of that country, and show morphological and physiological characteristics adapted to different environments and being useful to the man as well to the animals. In general, cacti are perennial and present in all stations, and demonstrate specialized survival characteristics, and may present leaves modified to form spines, and these species are generally suculent. These plants have significant biological and ecological value in the northeastern of Brazil being present in the Caatinga environment which is characterized as an ecosystem presenting adverse environmental conditions in terms of both its climate and soils. Cactaceae are cited in the historical tome of the 17 th century, Historia Naturalis Brasiliae (1648), by Piso and Marcgrave which contains one of the first considered scientific records of the Brazilian flora. In light of the singular value of this work, seven species of Cactaceae cited by those naturalists were examined in detail. It was also aimed to establish past-present timelines of Cactaceae species comparing their historic and present qualitative and quantitative uses. It was utilized as methodological path: documental, qualitative and quantitative researches. It was observed that six of the seven species described in that work are still utilized for different uses or/and conservative uses by human populations. The use-categories of Cactaceae cited in the original work and in more recently documents are: medicinal, ornamental, food resources, accessories, shade, bio-indicators, construction, magic-religious, fuel, forage, living fences, technology, and veterinary. It is remarkable that the categories medicinal, forage and living fences are cited in both past and present records. The records of Piso and Marcgrave are of significant importance in terms of understanding the temporal dynamics of the use of Cactaceae species, and the wellspring of this work ensures its continued contribution to future research in different areas.

REPORTS OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE USES OF CACTACEAE SPECIES IN THE HISTORIA NATURALIS BRASILIAE (1648): COMPARATIVE PAST-PRESENT ANALYSES

Cactaceae species have diverse uses in Brazil, principally in the northeastern region of that country, and show morphological and physiological characteristics adapted to different environments and being useful to the man as well to the animals. In general, cacti are perennial and present in all stations, and demonstrate specialized survival characteristics, and may present leaves modified to form spines, and these species are generally suculent. These plants have significant biological and ecological value in the northeastern of Brazil being present in the Caatinga environment which is characterized as an ecosystem presenting adverse environmental conditions in terms of both its climate and soils. Cactaceae are cited in the historical tome of the 17 th century, Historia Naturalis Brasiliae (1648), by Piso and Marcgrave which contains one of the first considered scientific records of the Brazilian flora. In light of the singular value of this work, seven species of Cactaceae cited by those naturalists were examined in detail. It was also aimed to establish past-present timelines of Cactaceae species comparing their historic and present qualitative and quantitative uses. It was utilized as methodological path: documental, qualitative and quantitative researches. It was observed that six of the seven species described in that work are still utilized for different uses or/and conservative uses by human populations. The use-categories of Cactaceae cited in the original work and in more recently documents are: medicinal, ornamental, food resources, accessories, shade, bio-indicators, construction, magic-religious, fuel, forage, living fences, technology, and veterinary. It is remarkable that the categories medicinal, forage and living fences are cited in both past and present records. The records of Piso and Marcgrave are of significant importance in terms of understanding the temporal dynamics of the use of Cactaceae species, and the wellspring of this work ensures its continued contribution to future research in different areas.

GASTRÓPODES TERRESTRES DA COLEÇÃO MALACOLÓGICA “PROF. HENRY RAMOS MATTHEWS” DA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ

O conhecimento da malacofauna terrestre no estado do Ceará é bastante escasso, uma vez que há poucos levantamentos e a maioria dos relatos e descrições é antiga, limitada em escopo, ou não apresenta dados sobre local de ocorrência. Este trabalho teve como principal objetivo ampliar o acervo da Coleção Malacológica “Prof. Henry Ramos Matthews”, do Instituto de Ciências do Mar, da Universidade Federal do Ceará com a inserção de exemplares da malacofauna terrestre de ambientes da caatinga e da mata atlântica do estado do Ceará e, assim, contribuir com estudos taxonômicos e ecológicos dos moluscos terrestres encontrados nessa região. Foram triados, identificados e catalogados 96 lotes, constituídos por exemplares armazenados sem processamento no Laboratório de Invertebrados Marinhos da UFC, e por exemplares coletados durante a realização deste projeto. O material foi identificado em nível de gênero e, quando possível, em nível de espécie. No total, foram identificados quinze gêneros, sendo Anostoma Waldheim, 1807 e Tomigerus Spix, 1827 os mais representativos. Sempre que disponíveis, dados ecológicos sobre o material foram incluídos, com o objetivo de proporcionar informações sobre o ambiente, vegetação e clima dos locais de coleta dos espécimes.