Composition and structure of a stretch of tropical forest in the Eastern Amazon / Composição e estrutura de um trecho de floresta tropical na Amazônia Oriental

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the diversity. composition. forest structure of a stretch of dense ombrophilous forest in the state of Amapá. The area is located in the east of the state of Amapá. in the Eastern Amazon. at the following coordinates: 2º 0'0.00 '' N. 14º 0'0.00''O. The sampling process used was systematic. where nine plots of 1 ha (100 m x 100 m) were allocated. 0.5 km apart. within a 13 km long and 0.03 km wide transect. The horizontal structure of the forest was evaluated using phytosociological parameters. One thousand seven hundred and ninety trees were sampled in this study. they were distributed in 131 species. 69 genera and 48 families. The species that presented more individuals were Pouteria guianensis Aubl. (136). Eschweilera coriacea (DC.) S.A.Mori (78). Inga paraensis Ducke (45). Licania paraensis Prance (38). The area is highly diverse and dissimilar with great variability and complexity in vegetable formation.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a diversidade, composição e estrutura florestal de um trecho de floresta ombrófila densa do estado do Amapá. A área está localizada a leste do Estado do Amapá, Amazônia Oriental. Nas seguintes coordenadas: 2º 0'0,00'' N. 14º 0'0.00''O. O processo de amostragem utilizado foi o sistemático em que foram alocadas nove parcelas de 1 ha (100 m x 100 m), distanciadas em 0.5 km entre si, dentro de um transecto de 13 km de comprimento por 0.03 km de largura. A estrutura horizontal da floresta foi avaliada por meio de parâmetros fitossociológicos. 1790 árvores foram amostradas neste estudo. Elas estão distribuídas em 131 espécies, 69 gêneros e 48 famílias. As espécies que apresentaram mais indivíduos foram Pouteria guianensis Aubl. (136), Eschweilera coriacea (DC.) S.A.Mori (78), Inga paraensis Ducke (45), Licania paraensis Prance (38). A área é altamente diversa e dissimilar com grande variabilidade e complexidade na formação vegetal.

Caracterização morfológica de frutos, de sementes e do desenvolvimento pós-seminal de Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch / Morphological characteristics of fruit, seed e post-seminal development of Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo descrever a morfologia do fruto, da semente e do desenvolvimento pós-seminal de oiti (Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch.). As sementes e os frutos foram avaliados quanto às dimensões e forma por meio de mensurações com paquímetro digital e observações realizadas em microscópio estereoscópico e microscópio eletrônico de varredura. Os frutos de oiti são drupáceos, elípticos, monospérmicos, carnosos, indeiscentes, com pedúnculos não articulados, epicarpo liso, glabro, de coloração amarela a alaranjada, mesocarpo carnoso, fibroso, coloração amarela a laranja e endocarpo membranáceo, de coloração branca a creme, medindo aproximadamente 6,19cm de comprimento, 3,3cm de largura, 39,5g de massa fresca e 17,3g de massa seca. As sementes são exalbuminosas, de forma elíptica, com tegumento liso, de coloração marrom, de cartáceo a coriáceo, com rafe visível longitudinalmente, micrópila inconspícua e hilo pouco aparente, com cotilédones crassos, elípticos e plano-convexos, de coloração creme a levemente rósea. O embrião é diminuto, reto, central, com eixo embrionário diferenciado em plúmula e eixo hipocótilo-radicular. O comprimento, largura e massa fresca e seca das sementes são cerca de 4,07, 2,18cm, 12,7 e 7,2g, respectivamente. A germinação é criptocotiledonar hipógea, com eófilos alterno-dísticos e lanosos, com estômatos paracíticos e duas glândulas na base do limbo ou, raramente no ápice, na face abaxial da folha.

The objective of the present work was to describe the morphology of fruit, seed and the post-seminal development of "oiti" (Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch.). The size and shape of seeds and fruits were evaluated with a digital calipter ruler and in stereo-microscope and scanning electron microscope. The fruits are drupaceous, ellipticals, monospermics, succulents, indehiscents, with non articulated peduncle, with smooth and glabrous exocarp of yellow to orange coloration; yellow, succulent and fibrous mesocarp and cream, membranaceous endocarp. The fruits dimensions are approximately 6,19cm in length, 3,30cm in width, 39,5g of fresh mass and 17,3g of dry mass. The seeds are exalbuminous, ellipticals, with smooth tegument, with brown coloration, cartaceous to coriaceous, with longitudinally visible raphe, inconspicuous micropyle and inconspicuous hilum, with thick cotyledons, elliptical and plan-convex, with cream to rose color. The embryo is minute, straight, central, with embryonic axis differentiated in plumule and hypocotyl-radicle axis. The length, width and fresh and dry mass of seeds is approximately 4,07cm, 2,18cm, 12,7g and 7,2g, respectively. The germination is criptocotyledonary hypogeal, with alternate-distichous and woolly eophylum, with paracitic stomata and two glands in the base of limb or, rare in the apex, in the abaxial face of leaf.

Armazenamento de sementes de carolina em diferentes temperaturas e embalagens / Storage of carolina seeds in different temperature and packing

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar a embalagem e a temperatura adequadas para o armazenamento de sementes de carolina. As sementes foram armazenadas em sacos de papel e de plástico, mantidas em 0±2; 10±2; 20±2°C e 60 5 por cento de umidade relativa do ar (UR) e em temperatura ambiente (23,4±3,3°C) e 68,7±9 por centoUR. O teor de água, a germinação e o vigor foram determinados trimestralmente. Durante o armazenamento, o teor de água das sementes foi de aproximadamente 8,9 por cento. A embalagem saco de plástico e a temperatura de 0°C são adequadas para o armazenamento das sementes de carolina.

The objective of the present research was to determine the more adequated packing and temperature for storage of "carolina" seeds. The seeds were stored in paper and plastic packings and kept in 0±2; 10±2; 20±2°C and 60 5 percent air relative humidity (ARH) and in ambient temperature (23,4±3,3°C) and 68,7±9 percent ARH. Quarterly, the water seed content, germinative test and seed vigour were avaluated. During storage, the seed water content was approximately 8.9 percent. The plastic packing (plastic bag) and tempertature of 0oC are adequated for storage of "carolina" seeds.

Efeitos da luminosidade no crescimento de mudas de Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. ex Tul. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinoideae) / Effects of luminosity on the growth seedlings of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. ex Tul. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinoideae)

Caesalpinia ferrea é uma espécie muito utilizada como planta medicinal e na arborização e paisagismo urbano no estado do Amapá. Entretanto, informações ecofisiológicas a seu respeito são escassas. A luz é um importante fator ambiental que controla processos associados ao acúmulo de matéria seca, contribuindo assim para o crescimento vegetal. Diante disso, estudou-se o efeito de diferentes níveis de luminosidade sobre o crescimento de mudas desta espécie. Para tal, plântulas foram repicadas para sacos plásticos contendo mistura de solo e areia (2:1), sendo mantidas a pleno sol, sob sombreamento artificial com redução de 50 por cento e 70 por cento da luminosidade e sob sombreamento natural de um dossel fechado de floresta. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco repetições. Mudas submetidas ao sombreamento natural tiveram seu crescimento fortemente inibido. A pleno sol, as mudas apresentaram maiores taxas assimilatórias líquida (TAL), menor razão parte aérea/raiz (RPAR) e menor razão de área foliar (RAF). Verificou-se pouca diferença no crescimento e alocação de biomassa entre mudas mantidas sob 50 e 70 por cento de sombreamento, sendo que as mudas desses tratamentos atingiram valores mais altos de RPAR e RAF. Isto indica existência de plasticidade, o que reflete no aumento potencial da captura de luz, importante para manter o crescimento e a sobrevivência das mudas em baixa luminosidade. Em conjunto, os resultados mostraram ajustamento morfológico e fisiológico aos diferentes níveis de luminosidade em Caesalpinia ferrea.

Caesalpinia ferrea is a species used a lot as a medicinal plant, for urban arborization and landscape design in the state of Amapa. Yet there is not much ecophysiological information available on it. Light is an important environment factor that controls processes associates with the accumulation of dry matter, contributing thus for plant growth. The object of this research was to study the effect of different luminosity levels on the growth of seedlings of this species. The seedlings were transplanted to plastics bags containing a mixture of soil and sand (2:1), which were maintained in the full sun, under artificial shade with reduction of 50 percent and 70 percent of the luminosity and under natural shade of a closed canopy of forest. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates. Seedlings submitted to natural shade showed strong growth inhibition. In the full sun, the seedlings presented higher net assimilatory rate (NAR), lower shoot/root ratio (SRR) and lower leaf area ratio (LAR). The results showed little difference in the growth and biomass allocation between seedlings kept in 50 and 70 percent shade; the seedlings submitted to this treatment presented higher values of SRR and LAR. This indicates plasticity which influences a possible increase in light capture and is important, therefore, to keep the seedling growth and survival under low light levels. The results as a whole showed morphological and physiological adjustment to different light levels in Caesalpinia ferrea.

Evaluation of the efficacy of vacuum cleaners for the integrated control of brown spider Loxosceles intermedia

Some venomous spiders of the genus Loxosceles can reach high population densities inside and around houses. In Brazil, most spider accidents are related to Loxosceles intermedia. Control of loxoscelism should utilize integrated pest management tools, such as vacuum cleaners, to eliminate egg sacs, webs and spiders. The present study tested the efficacy of one type of vacuum cleaner (for professional and domestic use) in the control of L. intermedia populations. Cockroaches (Pycnoscelus surinamensis) were used in some tests for comparison. Vacuuming using standard accessories or a paper tube resulted in the death of all female (n=60), male (n=60), young (n=60) and just-hatched (n=60) L. intermedia, and all egg sacs (n=5) were destroyed. The removal of the plastic plate present at the bottom of the vacuuming tube inside the machine allowed some spiders to survive the vacuuming process. When kept inside a vacuum bag full of dust and debris, adult females (n=10) survived for 10 days; however, significant mortality was observed among male (n=10) and young individuals (n=10). Addition of cornstarch to the vacuum bag did not affect the spiders (n=20). Vacuum cleaners, such as the one used in the present investigation, are promising tools for integrated management of L. intermedia and other spiders in domestic environments.(AU)

Loxosceles spider bites in the state of Paraná, Brazil: 1993-2000

This study presents the epidemiological analysis of 20,699 reported spider bites involving the Loxosceles genus in the state of Paraná, Brazil, from 1993 to 2000. The incidence rate in the period was 290.24/100,000 inhabitants. The results show that 95.04 percent of the accidents occurred in two Health Regions of the state: greater metropolitan Curitiba (92.9 percent) and Irati (2.14 percent). The major incidence was recorded in greater metropolitan Curitiba (559.1/100,000). Loxosceles bites were more frequent in females (61 percent) than in males. Antivenin therapy was not necessary in 95.4 percent (19,662) of the cases. From the cases in which information about the time elapsed between the bite and medical treatment was recorded (9,679), 31.8 percent received treatment from 6 to 48 hours after the bite. Among the cases with severity rate recorded (12,096), 2.1 percent were severe, 50.4 percent moderate, and 47.4 percent mild. Seven deaths from Loxosceles bites were recorded, corresponding to a fatality rate of 0.03 percent.