RN State Research Articles

A herpetofauna de áreas serranas prioritárias para conservação da Caatinga no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, nordeste do Brasil

Abstract The Brazilian Caatinga has already lost extensive areas of original vegetation, thus it becomes imperative to perform fauna inventories within this region to fill geographical sampling gaps. Herein, we present a taxonomic list of the herpetofauna of a mountain chain located in the central zone of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state whose region includes two priority areas for conservation of the Caatinga: “CA087 – Serra de Santana” in the west, and “CA078 – Nascente do Potengi” in the east. The sampling was carried out using methods of visual searching, pitfall traps with drift fences, specimens rescued during vegetation suppression activities in wind energy projects, occasional encounters, and third-party records. We recorded 19 amphibian species and 53 reptile species (23 lizards, 24 snakes, five amphisbaenians and one chelonian). About half of the recorded species have distributions entirely or mostly in the Caatinga. The mountain range sampled in this study harbors virtually all species found in nearby lowlands of the “sertaneja” depression of RN state, plus some relevant species with relictual distributions in the Caatinga, highlighting the importance of these highland areas for conservation of the Caatinga herpetofauna.

Meteorological droughts and water resources: Historical and future perspectives for Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeast Brazil

AbstractThe objective of this study was to relate the meteorological droughts in the present climate (1991–2016) and their projections for near future (2025–2050) under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 with the water resources of the Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state, located in the Northeast Brazil. For this, we proposed a relationship between the categories of the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and the water variation of four reservoirs. The SPEI was calculated using the regional climate models (RCM) and its ensemble (obtained through the principal component analysis – RCM_Ens_PCA) from the CORDEX‐CORE project for the South America domain (SAM‐22). The results indicated that approximately 70% of the times when the SPEI was classified in drought categories (SPEI ≤ −0.50), there was a decrease in the stored volume of the reservoirs, being this impact more evident in years in which the SPEI values were more intense. For wet years (SPEI > 0.50), we found that in 80.0% of the times there was an increase in the stored volume. For the near‐future climate, the analyses indicated higher spread between simulations, indicating greater uncertainties. However, the RCM members and the ensemble projected a predominance of more wet (dry) years during the 2025–2033 (2042–2047) periods, especially in the RCP2.6. Thus, it is expected that the RN state would not face water scarcity from 2025 to 2033 but would probably face water deficit from 2042 to 2047. Therefore, our results show information that can be useful for decision‐makers to plan strategic actions for water security.

Marine fish and benthic biota before the 2019 oil spill: A baseline dataset for monitoring programs and impact assessments at Rio Grande Norte state, Northeastern Brazil.

In 2019 an oil spill spread over more than 4000 km of the Brazilian coastline. Monitoring programs that allow for the evaluation of potential impacts on communities and ecosystems and their recovery through time are needed and rely on baseline information previous to the oil spill. Here we compiled qualitative and quantitative data available from 8 studies on fish and benthic species from different habitats of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) from 2007 to 2018. We assessed the number of species from different locations and compiled information on conservation status and human use. We mapped the study areas and habitats and overlapped them with those affected by the oil spill. The RN state has a high diversity of fish (175 species) and benthic species (285 species), of which more than half of fish (52%) and 2% of benthic species are threatened and 72,8% of fish and 7,9% of benthic species are of commercial interest. Information of most habitats is still poorly known (i.e.majority ofthe available data are from unique and punctual sampling), which may weaken future evaluations of the real impact of the oil spill. Nonetheless, it is possible to design reliable monitoring based on our dataset, persistent contamination and future loss of diversity.

First Report of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri causing Citrus Canker on lime in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri is one of the most important citrus diseases in the world (Gottwald et al. 2002), mainly for citrus-producing countries with humid sub-tropical regions such as United States, Argentina, and Brazil, where losses may be significant (Behlau et al. 2020). In the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, citrus production is expanding and shows social and economic importance for small farmers, which produced approximately 297 tons of lime in this state in 2019 (IBGE 2021). In December 2019, we observed symptoms of erumpent lesions with margins surrounded by yellow haloes on leaves and fruit of the lime (Citrus aurantifolia cv. 'Galego') (about 5% incidence) in a plantation located in the municipality of Mossoró, RN (05°12'21.1"S, 37°19'16"W). Samples were collected from the lime orchard, and five bacterial strains (CCRMXC01 to CCRMXC05) showing yellow, convex, mucoid colonies were isolated in a nutrient-yeast-dextrose-agar medium (NYDA). Pathogenicity tests were performed on sweet orange (C. sinensis cv. 'Pêra') and lime (C. latifolia cv. 'Tahiti') seedlings. Four wounds per leaf (upper side) were carried out with an entomological pin and 10 µl of a bacterial suspension (108 CFU mL-1) were deposited on each wound. The negative control consisted of leaves treated with sterile distilled water (SDW). For each citrus species, we used four replicates per strain and one leaf with four wounds per replicate. Inoculated leaves developed erumpent lesions with margins surrounded by yellow haloes six days after inoculation (DAI) in both citrus species, while leaves treated with SDW remained symptomless. Nine DAI, we reisolated the pathogen and performed rep-PCR (REP, ERIC, and BOX-PCR) analyses (Gama et al. 2018) with the strains inoculated and reisolated to confirm the identity of the strains and to fulfill Koch's postulates. The strains were stored at the Culture Collection Rosa Mariano (CCRM) of the Phytobacteriology Laboratory at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. The five strains reisolated showed the same REP, ERIC, and BOX-PCR profiles as the strains used for inoculations. The molecular identification was performed sequencing the dnaK, fyuA, gyrB, and rpoD genes (Young et al. 2008). Each fragment was sequenced in both the forward and reverse directions. Using the BLASTn tool, we observed that sequences of the dnaK (GenBank MW218913 to MW218917), fyuA (GenBank MW218918 to MW218922), and rpoD (GenBank MW218928 to MW218932) genes of the strains CCRMXC01 to CCRMXC05 showed 100% of identity with the sequences of these genes from the type strain (ICMP 24T) and of other strains of X. citri subsp. citri (ICMP 21 and ICMP 7493), while sequences of gryB (GenBank MW218923 to MW218927) of the former strains showed 100% identity with the gyrB sequence of the strains ICMP 24T and ICMP 7493 and 99,85% identity with strain ICMP 21. This short variation in the sequence of the gyrB gene also may be observed among strains of X. citri subsp. citri available in NCBI database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). The phylogenetic analysis performed using Bayesian inference and the concatenated sequence of all the type or representative strains of species and pathovars of Xanthomonas available in GenBank showed that the strains CCRMXC01 to CCRMXC05 clustered together with strain ICMP 24T with 1.0 posterior probability. To our information, this is the first report of X. citri subsp. citri causing citrus canker on lime in RN state, Brazil.

First Report of Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii Infecting Sweetpotato in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

The sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L., Convolvulaceae family) originated in Latin America and is currently cultivated worldwide. The storage roots, rich in calories, have made this crop one of the main caloric sources for low-income populations, especially in developing countries. Brazil annually produces about 805,000 tons, with the Northeast region responsible for 34% of this production (Albuquerque et al. 2020). In October 2019, sweetpotato plants cv. Campina, from a field in the region of Touros, state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil (5°12'31"S 35°34'42"W), presented deformed storage roots, with galls, typical of root-knot nematodes. The roots were sent to the Nematology Laboratory (LabNema) where 14,032 eggs and 3,312 second-stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne sp., in 10 g of roots, were recovered. The species of adults was identified through morphological, biochemical, and phylogenetic analysis. The perineal region of females (n = 10) presented an oval shape, with a high and semi-trapezoidal dorsal arch and streak-free perivulval region. The labial region of males (n=10) presented high and rounded head cap, labial region slightly set off from the body, without annulations. The morphological characters were compatible with the original description of Meloidogyne enterolobii (Yang and Eisenback 1983). The phenotype of esterase isoenzymes showed two major bands (VS1-S1) also characteristic of M. enterolobii (Esbenshade and Triantaphyllou 1985). Sequences of 18S rDNA (~1200bp) of individual females (Holterman et al. 2006) obtained from sweetpotatoes before (SPme1 and 2) and after inoculation (SPme3 and 6), and from guava, used as M. enterolobii species control, were submitted to Bayesian analysis. The sequences presented genetic diversity among them resulting from seven SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) and 99.4 to 99.9% identity with M. enterolobii sequences deposited in the NCBI GenBank (accession numbers MW209034-MW209039). The pathogenicity test was carried out under greenhouse conditions, in which 3,000 eggs and J2s from the original population isolated of M. enterolobii were inoculated in sweetpotato seedlings cv. Campina (n = 6). After three months, the roots presented galls and deformations typical of root-knot nematodes, while non-inoculated plants did not present any symptoms. An average of 15,900 eggs and J2s of M. enterolobii (RF = 5.3) were recovered from the roots, proving that sweetpotatoes were a host of this species. Meloidogyne enterolobii is known to cause great damage to sweetpotato (Ye et al. 2020). In Brazil, Meloidogyne nematode had been reported once, isolated from a sweetpotato field in the Ceara state and the species suggested by the authors according to esterase electrophoresis was M. enterolobii. Nonetheless, the authors did not present taxonomic, isoenzyme phenotypes and molecular species identification integratively, nor included pathogenicity tests (Silva et al. 2016). Therefore, it is the first time that M. enterolobii, with reliable identification by different methods, including sequencing, was detected in commercial sweetpotato fields in the RN state and in Brazil. The local farmers reported that this nematode deforms the storage roots which make them useless for commercialization, resulting in minimal losses of 50% of production in the infested areas. Furthermore, as sweetpotatoes are vegetatively propagated, the spread of this nematode through planting material is favored. Considering the importance of this crop in Brazil, this report is essential for control measures of this pathogen to be taken in order to avoid its spread to other regions.

Climbing plants from Seridó Ecological Station: diversity, interactive key and five new records from Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil

Abstract In Brazil, Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) are represented by Caatinga, which exhibits one of the greatest species richness and endemisms among the Neotropical SDTFs. However, studies of the flora of this biome remain deficient, especially in scientifically neglected areas, such as the Seridó region. Located between the states of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) and Paraíba, the Seridó region has an underestimated floristic diversity, especially for non-arboreal components such as climbers. Given this scenario, the study aimed to survey the climbers of the Seridó Ecological Station, a federal conservation unit located in the RN state, as well as to provide a multiple access online identification key. Collections were carried out from 2018 to 2019, as well as consultation of material deposited at the UFRN herbarium. In total, 56 species were listed, being 33 herbaceous and 23 woody climbers, respectively, adding 14 species of climbers to the previous checklist of the unit. Five new occurrences were found for the state of Rio Grande do Norte: Cuscuta globosa, Cuscuta partita (Convolvulaceae), Macroptilium bracteatum (Fabaceae), Heteropterys trichanthera and Tetrapterys longibracteata (Malpighiaceae), being the latest a new occurrence of the genus Tetrapterys for the state. Convolvulaceae is the most representative family (18 spp.), followed by Fabaceae (10 spp.), Apocynaceae (eight spp.) and Cucurbitaceae (five spp.). This is the first study that provides an interactive identification key for the Seridó region and for the RN state. The interactive identification key is published throughout the Xper³ platform, and can be accessed at <xper3.fr/xper3GeneratedFiles/publish/identification/-4505993480748774750/mkey.html>.

An epidemiological index for drought vulnerability in the Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil.

In the Northeast Brazil (NEB), the impacts of climate extreme events such as severe droughts are aggravated by poverty and poor socioeconomic conditions. In this region, such events usually result in the spread of endemic diseases, problems in water distribution, and agricultural losses, often leading to an increase in the population's vulnerability. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the microregions of the Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state, in the NEB, according to the Epidemiological Index for Drought Vulnerability (EIDV). We mapped and classified the microregions according to three dimensions of vulnerability: risk, susceptibility, and adaptive capacity. We also verified potential associations between drought risk and epidemiological vulnerability. The EIDV was calculated by considering the three dimensions of vulnerability as mutually exclusive events and applying the third axiom of probability. Then we carried out a cluster analysis in order to classify the microregions according to similarities in the EIDV. Odds ratio were also calculated in order to evaluate the odds of microregions having a high susceptibility to diseases and high vulnerability given the drought risk. Results showed that the Pau dos Ferros, Seridó Ocidental, Seridó Oriental, and Umarizal microregions were the most vulnerable, while Natal and Litoral Sul were the least vulnerable. Regarding the dimensions of vulnerability, we observed that almost the entire RN state exhibited high drought risk. Pau dos Ferros and Umarizal had the highest susceptibility and Litoral Nordeste presented the worst adaptive capacity to the effects of drought on health. The EIDV revealed that the population of the RN state needs improvements in living conditions and health, since socioeconomic status is one of the factors that most influence the vulnerability of microregions, which in turn is aggravated by drought risk.

Fenologia do dendezeiro e correlações com variáveis climáticas

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo descrever a fenologia de uma população natural de Elaeis guineensis (dendezeiro), localizada na Unidade Acadêmica Especializada em Ciências Agrárias da UFRN, em Macaíba - RN, avaliando-se as fenofases reprodutivas e vegetativas das plantas e o comportamento das variáveis climáticas nestas fenofases. Foram registradas quinzenalmente, de outubro de 2012 a março de 2014, as características fenológicas referentes a enfolhamento, desfolhamento, antese e frutificação, avaliadas por meio do índice de atividade e intensidade de Fournier. A relação entre as variáveis climáticas e as fenofases foi realizada por meio da correlação de Spearman. Elaeis guineensis não apresentou emissões de botões e flores no período avaliado. A perda e a emissão de folhas ocorreram durante todo o tempo. A atividade de frutos imaturos apresentou correlação significativa e positiva com a temperatura (rs= 0,336; P= 0,03). A intensidade e a atividade dos frutos maduros apresentaram, respectivamente, correlação positiva e significativa tanto com a umidade (rs= 0,455; P= 0,004 e rs= 0,416; P= 0,009) quanto com a precipitação (rs= 0,614; P= 0,00004 e rs= 0,578; P= 0,0001), indicando que quanto maior umidade e precipitação, maior é a produção de frutos maduros.

ASSISTÊNCIA FARMACÊUTICA NA ATENÇÃO PRIMÁRIA À SAÚDE DE UM MUNICÍPIO POTIGUAR, BRASIL

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a Assistência Farmacêutica no município de Caicó, RN, Brasil, com base em indicadores, via estudo transversal e descritivo realizado de setembro de 2016 a março de 2017, a partir de 10 indicadores aplicados à Central de Abastecimento Farmacêutico e 30 aplicados nas 23 farmácias das Unidades Básicas de Saúde. O município possui Relação Municipal de Medicamentos Essenciais, mas não conta com Comissão de Farmácia e Terapêutica. Nenhuma das farmácias apresentava farmacêutico lotado, procedimento operacional padrão e registros de movimentação de estoque. A entrega de medicamentos nestas farmácias era realizada por agentes comunitários de saúde (35%), enfermeiros (74%) e técnicos de enfermagem (100%). Apenas 65% das farmácias possuía ar condicionado e nenhuma delas apresentava mapa de controle de umidade e temperatura. Os dados revelam que a assistência farmacêutica do município de Caicó é ainda incipiente e pressupõe maior responsabilidade e compromisso dos gestores municipais para cumprir com sua efetividade.

Agronomic performance of beet cultivars as a function of phosphorus fertilization

ABSTRACT The lack of phosphorus in soil affects the development and productivity of plants; however, in order for them to express the full potential, it is necessary to supply this nutrient. The objective of this study was to define adequate doses of phosphorus, which maximize the productivity and quality of four beet cultivars, and to identify among them the most efficient use of phosphorus. The experiment was carried out at the Rafael Fernandes Experimental Farm, of the Federal Rural Semi-Arid University, Mossoró, RN state, Brazil, from July to October 2016. The experimental design was a randomized block in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme with four repetitions, corresponding to four beet cultivars (Early Wonder, Fortuna, Kestrel and Cabernet) and four doses of phosphorus (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg ha-1 of P2O5). The dose that maximized commercial productivity was 186 kg ha-1 of P2O5 for the cultivars Early Wonder (21.71 t ha-1) and Kestrel (22.59 t ha-1), 180 kg ha-1 of P2O5 for Carbenet (25.82 t ha-1) and 183 kg ha-1 of P2O5 for Fortuna (25.40 t ha-1). The Cabernet and Fortuna cultivars were classified as not efficient but responsive, whereas Early Wonder and Kestrel were efficient but not responsive. Phosphorus did not influence content of soluble solids and percentage of white rings at the root.

Nurses' knowledge about Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Lipodystrophy.

Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Lipodystrophy (BSCL) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by the almost complete absence of adipose tissue. Due to a strong founder effect that resulted in a higher prevalence of BSCL in Rio Grande do Norte (RN), a state in northeastern Brazil, it has been essential that health professionals develop knowledge about this disease. Nurses are often the first point of contact with patients during health care assistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge of these professionals about BSCL in two main hospitals in RN state. A questionnaire was applied to 199 nurses working in the Hospital Regional Mariano Coelho—HRMC (Regional Hospital Mariano Coelho), in Currais Novos–RN, and in the Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes—HUOL (University Hospital Onofre Lopes), in Natal–RN. This study showed that most nursing professionals do not know about the disease, although they have already received patients with BSCL in those hospitals. The nurses from HRMC and HUOL lacked knowledge of BSCL and the healthcare of these patients requires immediate improvement. Significant efforts are required to close the gap between current and needed practice patterns.

AVALIAÇÃO DA QUALIDADE FISIOLÓGICA DE SEMENTES DE <i>Moringa oleifera </i>Lam.

Os principais testes que avaliam a qualidade de sementes são destrutivos e exigem um tempo relativamente longo para serem concluídos. A análise de imagens de sementes por meio de raios X representa uma alternativa para este setor, sendo uma técnica reproduzível e rápida, permite maior agilidade e autonomia nas atividades dos sistemas de produção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a morfologia interna de sementes de moringa por meio de imagens radiografadas e compará-la aos testes de germinação e vigor. Foram utilizados quatro lotes de sementes, coletadas em árvores-matrizes na região de Macaíba – RN, posteriormente radiografadas e as imagens analisadas através do software ImageJ e, após a radiografia, submetidas aos testes de germinação, primeira contagem e índice de velocidade de germinação e comprimento e massa seca de plântulas. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições por lote e os resultados obtidos neste experimento para os testes de germinação e vigor foram comparados com o percentual de área livre no interior da semente. Os lotes 1, 2 e 4 tiveram melhor resultado para os testes de germinação e vigor e o lote 3 mostrou-se de qualidade inferior. Observou-se que quanto maior a área livre no interior das sementes, menor a qualidade dos lotes de moringa testados. A análise de imagens radiografadas de sementes de moringa, com o software ImageJ, permite a mensuração das áreas preenchidas e áreas livres no interior da semente assim como a associação entre estas e a germinação. Danos internos severos, malformação e grau de preenchimento detectados nos raios X podem ser associados à baixa germinação e à redução do comprimento de plântulas.

COTTON RESPONSE TO WATER DEFICITS AT DIFFERENT GROWTH STAGES

ABSTRACT Water deficit at certain cotton growth stages can cause severe damage to crop development, affecting physiological processes and reducing reproductive structures, with consequent yield losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of cotton cultivars under water deficit applied at different stages of the crop cycle. We compared the number of bolls per meter, cotton yield, and water use efficiency for eight different cotton cultivars under a water deficit of 15 days. We selected the following growth stages: Emergence (EM), First Square (FS), First Flower (FL), Peak Bloom (PB), and First Open Boll (FOB). The control treatment was irrigated with 100% ETc. The experiment was conducted in Apodi, RN State of Brazil, semiarid region, using a sprinkler irrigation system. The number of bolls per meter, cotton yield, and water use efficiency were influenced by the interaction of cultivars x deficit periods. Lowest values were observed for water suppression in the FL and PB stages. When the water deficit was imposed in the initial stages of growth (EM to FS) or after the FOB stage, the cotton yield reduction was not significant. At the same stage and water deficit, the behavior of the different cultivars was similar. Producers are urged to take this information into account when developing irrigation schemes for cotton crops, thereby avoiding water deficits during the most critical periods of the crop cycle.

A Influência dos Aspectos Cognitivos e Afetivos de Mulheres Empreendedoras nas Diferentes Fases de Desenvolvimento de um Negócio

This research proposes to explain how the cognitive and affective aspects influence the actions of entrepreneurship women in the different phases of business development. The theoretical basis is a model that suggests that the affective aspects are more influent in the actions of entrepreneurs in the early stages of a business and as it develops, cognitive factors become more present. To marking better these evolution periods, it was integrated an approach which points five phases of development. In methodological terms, this research has an exploratory and qualitative approach. Ten participants were selected intentionally among the women entrepreneurs of a city located in Serido region in RN state, to participate at interviews. The technique used for data analysis was the thematic content analysis. The research identified that in birth phase of a business, the women are influenced by affective aspects and in the following phases, when the need for more organization is perceived, the cognitive aspects are more influential. The fear emerged as an affective aspect that permeates the action of entrepreneurs at renovation phase, the negotiation capacity emerged too as a cognitive aspect evidenced in decline phase, suggesting the join of these two aspects in future studies that deal with this relationship in entrepreneurs.

High Triatoma brasiliensis Densities and Trypanosoma cruzi Prevalence in Domestic and Peridomestic Habitats in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil: The Source for Chagas Disease Outbreaks?

AbstractA total of 2,431 Triatoma brasiliensis were collected from 39 populations of Paraíba (PB) and Rio Grande do Norte (RN) states, Brazil. In PB, Trypanosoma cruzi infection was not detected in either peridomestic or domestic vector populations. In contrast, in RN, T. brasiliensis was detected with high parasite prevalence in these ecotopes (30.7-40.0%). Moreover, peridomicile insect population densities were more than double the average densities of all other settings evaluated (19.17 versus < 8.94 triatomine/man-hour). Genotyped parasites evidenced a mix of T. cruzi lineages circulating in both peridomestic and sylvatic populations. Although vector control efforts have dramatically decreased Chagas disease transmission to humans, recent outbreaks have been detected in four municipalities of RN state. Our results clearly evidence a worrisome proximity between infected vectors and humans in RN. Indeed, finding of infected T. brasiliensis inside homes is routinely recorded by local vector control surveillance staff around the outbreak area, challenging the current and conventional view that vector transmissions are controlled in northeastern Brazil. This scenario calls for strengthening vector control surveillance and interventions to prevent further Chagas transmission, especially in RN State.

Distribution and abundance of Pectoral Antwren (Herpsilochmus pectoralis) and Caatinga Antwren (Herpsilochmus sellowi) in the Atlantic Rainforest of northeast Brazil

The Pectoral Antwren (Herpsilochmus pectoralis) and Caatinga Antwren (H. sellowi) are thamnophilids endemic to northeastern Brazil. The Pectoral Antwren is considered an “Endangered” species by the IUCN. The present study aimed at providing data on the distribution, abundance, habitat, and conservation status of these species in Rio Grande do Norte state (RN), Brazil, in order to help define conservation strategies for the species. Thirty-three sites in the Atlantic Forest domain were sampled between November 2005 and March 2008, for a total sampling effort of 414 h. Observations took place mainly between 5:30 h and 12:00 h, and records were based on visual and/or auditory detections. Standardized censuses were conducted in four different phytophysiognomies to determine abundance and density. Herpsilochmus pectoralis was found in 73% (n = 24) of the sampled areas, mean density was estimated at 89.1 individuals.km2 and population size was approximately 13,921 individuals for the state. Available area of occupancy was 156.25 km2. Herpsilochmus sellowi was present in 39% (n = 13) of the areas, with mean density of 60.4 individuals.km2, estimated population of 7202 and area of occupancy of 119.25 km2. The population estimate found in this study for H pectoralis is high for a small geographical area, thus demonstrate that BirdLife International information is underestimated. These data widen knowledge of the species at local and national levels, in addition to confirming the importance of H. pectoralis in RN state. The low number of protected areas in the region is alarming, given that privately-owned areas face fragmentation, selective deforesting, burnings and significant real estate development.

An inventory of the Bignoniaceae from the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte highlights the importance of small herbaria to biodiversity studies

This work presents an updated checklist of the Bignoniaceae from the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), and information on the patterns of geographic distribution of individual species within two RN biomes. Forty-three native species distributed in 18 Bignoniaceae genera were recorded for RN. The species richness found for RN in this study was 43% higher than previously documented, indicating the great need of additional biodiversity studies in Rio Grande do Norte. Of the 43 species listed, 27 were recorded in the checklist of Brazilian plants, while 16 species represent new occurrences. Three additional species were included in the checklist of Brazilian plants (which listed 30 species of Bignoniaceae for the RN); however, specimens of these taxa were not located for RN during this study and are not included in the final checklist presented here. The collection effort carried out for this work led to an improved knowledge of species distributions in the two biomes found in RN: the Caatinga dry woodland and the Atlantic Forest. The number of species found to be restricted to each biome and the absolute number of species occurring in the Caatinga dry woodland expanded considerably. All new species records were found in small herbaria from the RN state, emphasizing the importance of regional herbaria for an improved understanding of biodiversity patterns. This study highlights the importance of intensive identification efforts in small regional collections, combined with well-planned fieldwork for an accurate estimation of species richness in poorly studied areas of Brazil.

Planejamento e Gestão Estratégica: Um Estudo sobre Adoção e Práticas em Indústrias do Rio Grande do Norte

This study aims to determine which concepts and methodologies for strategic planning and management are adopted by large industries in the RN state. The problem presents itself in check and understanding of strategic planning and management practiced by companies in the RN, that is, what concepts and methodologies for strategic planning and management are adopted by large companies of RN? To this end, we adopted several methodologies: bibliographical study, exploratory and descriptive. This approach is characterized as mixed (qualitative and quantitative) and, finally, the collection of data through a field research to understand the application of key concepts related to the topic strategic planning and management. The main results were the construction of a reference model able to associate conceptual approaches, structured under a set of variables, to identify actions that deal with practical aspects related to organizational identity, leadership process, market analysis, structuring action plan, communication plan, monitoring and evaluation and innovation-oriented environments. Briefly, we find that companies adopt the concepts of strategic planning and management; this study can be expanded through other scientific basis in order to propose new practices appropriate to the reality of companies.

Biomarker evidence for recent turf cultivation in Northeast Brazil (Lagoa do Boqueirão, RN State)

The first meter of sediment in Lagoa do Boqueirão [Rio Grande do Norte State (RN), Brazil] is characterized by low sedimentation rates over the period 1000 BC–1500 AD and a high sedimentation rate in the top 20 cm, corresponding to the last 10 years. Several pentacyclic triterpene methyl ethers (PTMEs) such as taraxer-14-en-3α-ol ME (crusgallin) and arbor-9(11)-en-3β-ol ME (cylindrin) occur in all the samples selected. The major change in sedimentation rate recorded at 20 cm is accompanied by a change in PTME concentration and distribution. Sediments deposited during the period 1000 BC–1500 AD contain PTMEs in low concentration (1.3 μg/g sed.), which could constitute a geochemical background of the grass that naturally developed in the catchment. High PTME concentrations occur during the period 1996–2000. These result mainly from high concentrations of a compound tentatively assigned as arbor-8-en-3βol ME, a potential diagenetic derivative of cylindrin. The increase corresponds to the beginning of intensive cultivation of Cynodon dactylon and Zoysia japonica (arundoin and cylindrin producers), for the production of turf to cover Brazilian football stadiums and golf practices. The results constitute a novel application of PTMEs to reconstruct land-use changes from lake sediment archives.

LEI DE RESPONSABILIDADE FISCAL EM UMA DIMENSÃO NORMATIVA: UM ESTUDO PRELIMINAR SOBRE ECONOMIAS PERIFÉRICAS A EXEMPLO DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, NO PERÍODO DE 1997/2006

The present paper aims to examine the institutional implications of the Fiscal Responsibility Law (FRL) over the economy of the state of Rio Grande do Norte – RN (state in the north of Brazil), focusing the influence of this law over the regulation of the potiguar (name given to those born in that state) public accounts, enabling the balance in the fiscal management and the achievement of a stable and sustainable economical growth. The hypothesis of this research reflects the effects of the already mentioned institution in relation to the state public finances, which promotes the existence of balancing tendencies, as well as a long term economical sustainability. It's used for the study a review of institutionalist literature associated to the use of descriptive statistical tools, which allow us to measure the potiguar economical behavior from 1997 through 2006. At last, it's been observed that the advent of the LRF starts to regulate in a more appropriate way the public accounts of the RN, resulting in the occurrence of balancing evidences and in a sustainable economical growth in the time under discussion. Key-Words: Institutions; LRF; RN.