Structural and compositional shifts in Cerrado fragments in up to 11 years monitoring

The Cerrado has a wide diversity of fauna and flora, and the knowledge of its horizontal structure, in different time intervals allows the prediction of its structural and floristic characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in structure and composition of tree community in three fragments of Cerrado with low anthropization, in an interval of 11 years at Minas Gerais state. Rectangular plots of fixed size were sampled, measuring stem diameter and height of all living arboreal individuals with diameter at 1.30 meters above ground (DBH) ≥ 5 cm. The tree vegetation dynamics study of the areas was performed, as well as the floristic analysis and the diametric structure. Considering all fragments and years of measurement, the recruitment of trees surpassed its mortality. The basal area varied between 3.67 and 13.07 m².ha-1. The studied areas, considering all fragments and years of measurement, showed a Shannon diversity index (H') from 3.43 to 3.87 nat.ind-1 and Pielou equitability index (J') ranged an interval between 0.77 and 0.82. The similarity calculated by the Jaccard index (J), when performed per plot considering the three fragments, showed a value of 0.2653. Also, related to the development and growth of the study areas, it can be inferred that all fragments and their respective years of measurement had a J-inverse pattern. In conclusion, it can be inferred that the three fragments maintained a representative growth in number of individuals and basal area.

Caracterización de los conocimientos de las madres sobre la discapacidad de sus hijos y su vínculo con la dinámica familiar / Characterization of the knowledge of mothers concerning their children's disability and the relation with the family dynamics / Caracterização dos conhecimentos das mães sobre a incapacidade de seus filhos e seu vínculo com a dinâmica familiar

El propósito del estudio es establecer los conocimientos, la dinámica familiar y comunitaria de madres de hijos con discapacidad que sirvan de base para la instrumentación de programas de intervención. Participaron 42 madres con edades entre 19 y 49 años (M = 31.14) de un Centro de Rehabilitación Infantil perteneciente a la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional en México. Se utilizó una guía de entrevista semi-estructurada para explorar los conocimientos, la dinámica familiar y comunitaria de las familias. Las madres reportaron que no recibieron preparación de cómo tratar a sus hijos; sin embargo, ellas consideran la importancia de adquirir conocimientos especializados para entender y tratar al menor. Las madres que no tienen los conocimientos necesarios sobre la discapacidad de su hijo no son capaces de entender ni aceptar la condición del niño, conllevando a la negación del problema, inconformidad, culpa y depresión. Se observó en el estudio que una adecuada preparación de la madre después del nacimiento de su hijo, acerca de la discapacidad, puede proveer una mejor interacción y funcionamiento de estas familias.

The purpose of this study is to enquire about the knowledge, as well as about the family and community dynamics of mothers of children with disabilities, as a basis to implement intervention programs. Participants were 42 mothers aged between 19 and 49 years (M= 31.14) who attended a Children's Rehabilitation Center belonging to the National Defense Secretariat in Mexico [SEDENA, for its Spanish acronym]. Semi-structured interviews were used to assess the mother's knowledge on the disability of the child and the family and community dynamics. Mothers reported receiving no training on how to treat their children, though they considered the importance of acquiring expertise to understand and treat the child. Mothers who do not have the necessary knowledge about their child's disability are not able to understand or accept the child's condition, leading to a denial of the problem, dissatisfaction, guilt and depression. It was noted in the study that proper preparation of the mother after the birth of her child, in terms of the disability can provide a better interaction and functioning of these families.

O propósito do estudo é estabelecer os conhecimentos, a dinâmica familiar e comunitária de mães de filhos com incapacidade que sirvam de base para a instrumentação de programas de intervenção. Participaram 42 mães com idades entre 19 e 49 anos (M = 31.14) de um Centro de Recuperação Infantil pertencentes à Secretaria de Defesa Nacional no México. Utilizou-se um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada para explorar os conhecimentos, a dinâmica familiar e comunitária das famílias. As mães relataram que não receberam preparação de como cuidar seus filhos; porém, elas consideram a importância de adquirir conhecimentos especializados para entender e tratar ao menor. As mães que não têm os conhecimentos necessários sobre a incapacidade de seu filho não são capazes de entender nem aceitar a condição da criança, levando à negação do problema, inconformidade, culpa e depressão. Observou-se no estudo que uma preparação adequada da mãe depois do nascimento de seu filho, sobre a incapacidade, pode dar uma melhor interação e funcionamento destas famílias.

Impacto de los recientes avances en el análisis de comunidades microbianas sobre el control del proceso de tratamiento de efluentes / Impact of the recent advances in the analysis of microbial communities on the control of the wastewater treatment process

Una de las funciones principales de la biotecnología ambiental es ocuparse del estudio de comunidades microbianas que proveen servicios esenciales para la sociedad. Más allá de las similitudes que presenta con la microbiología industrial y la agrícola, la biotecnología ambiental presenta peculiaridades, tales como los objetivos de proceso, las características de la biomasa y el tipo y modo de alimentación (sustratos), que la distinguen claramente de las otras disciplinas relacionadas. En este artículo se reseñan recientes avances en la ecología microbiana, la ecofisiología, la genómica y la ingeniería de procesos, para ilustrar cómo la integración de los nuevos conocimientos permite superar las limitaciones del análisis microbiológico clásico para entender, predecir y optimizar el funcionamiento de los procesos de tratamiento de efluentes.

One of the main functions of environmental biotechnology is to address the study of microbial communities that provide essential services to society. Beyond the similarities with industrial and agricultural microbiology, the unique features exhibited by environmental biotechnology, such as process objectives, biomass characteristics and type and mode of feeding (substrates), allow a clear distinction from the other related disciplines. Recent advances in microbial ecology, ecophysiology, genomics and process engineering are herein reviewed to illustrate how the integration of the new knowledge can help overcome the shortcomings of classic microbiological analyses to understand, predict and optimize the performance of wastewater treatment.

Temporal variation of phytoplankton in a small tropical crater lake, Costa Rica

The temporal variation in lake’s phytoplankton is important to understand its general biodiversity. For tropical lakes, it has been hypothesized that they follow a similar pattern as temperate ones, on a much accelerated pace; nevertheless, few case studies have tried to elucidate this. Most studies in Costa Rica have used a monthly sampling scheme and failed in showing the expected changes. In this study, the phytoplankton of the small Barvas’s crater lake was followed for more than three years, first with monthly and later with weekly samplings, that covered almost two years. Additional information on temperature and oxygen vertical profiles was obtained on a monthly basis, and surface temperature was measured during weekly samplings around noon. Results showed that in spite of its shallow condition (max. depth: 7m) and low surface temperature (11 to 19°C), the lake stratifies at least for brief periods. The phytoplankton showed both, rapid change periods, and prolonged ones of relative stasis. The plankton composition fluctuated between three main phases, one characterized by the abundance of small sized desmids (Staurastrum paradoxum, Cosmarium asphaerosporum), a second phase dominated by equally small cryptomonads (Chryptochrysis minor, Chroomonas sp.) and a third phase dominated by the green alga Eutetramorus tetrasporus. Although data evidenced that monthly sampling could miss short term events, the temporal variation did not follow the typical dry and rainy seasons of the region, or any particular annual pattern. Year to year variation was high. As this small lake is located at the summit of Barva Volcano and receives the influence from both the Caribbean and the Pacific weather, seasonality at the lake is not clearly defined as in the rest of the country and short term variations in the local weather might have a stronger effect than broad seasonal trends. The occurrence of this short term changes in the phytoplankton of small tropical lakes in response to weather variations needs to be further explored in other lakes. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (4): 1405-1419. Epub 2010 December 01.

Se ha especulado que la variación temporal del fitoplancton en lagos tropicales sigue un patrón similar al de lagos templados de forma más acelerada, pero pocos estudios de caso han abordado el tema. La mayoría de los estudios en lagos de Costa Rica se han basado en muestreos mensuales y no han logrado mostrar los cambios señalados. En este trabajo se estudió el fitoplancton del lago del volcán Barva por un periodo de más de tres años, al principio con un muestreo mensual y al final con un muestreo semanal por casi dos años. Mensualmente se hicieron perfiles verticales de temperatura y durante el periodo de muestreo semanal se registró la temperatura superficial cerca del medio día. A pesar de su condición somera (7m) y baja temperatura superficial, el lago se estratifica por periodos breves. El fitoplancton mostró tanto periodos de cambio rápido como periodos de estabilidad relativa. La composición fluctuó entre tres condiciones principales, la primera fase se caracteriza por la abundancia de desmidios (Staurastrum paradoxum, Cosmarium asphaerosporum), una segunda dominada por cryptomonadaceas (Chryptochrysis minor, Chroomonas sp.) y la tercera por Eutetramorus tetrasporus. Aunque fue evidente que los muestreos mensuales pueden obviar eventos de corta duración, la variación temporal no se ajustó a las estaciones de la zona. Dado que el lago se localiza en la cima del volcán Barva y recibe la influencia del clima tanto del Caribe como del Pacífico, la estacionalidad no está bien marcada en el sitio. Como resultado, las variaciones en el tiempo atmosférico local de corto plazo pueden tener un mayor efecto que los patrones estacionales del clima regional.

The fish community of the Sorocaba River Basin in different habitats (State of São Paulo, Brazil) / As comunidades de peixes da bacia do Rio Sorocaba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil em diferentes hábitats (São Paulo, Brasil)

A fish assemblage study was accomplished in different habitats of the Sorocaba River Basin. Fish were caught with gillnets, were weighed (weight total - g) and measured (standard length - mm). Several abiotic variables of selected sampling sites were measured in order to characterise their habitats in order to attempt establishing correlations with fish community traits. Fish numbers per species were adjusted to the lognormal and logseries species/abundance models The fish community totaled 38 species, distributed in 28 genera, 14 families and 4 orders. Diversity was calculated both in number and in weight and both presented higher values in better preserved sites. We did not detect any statistical differences between dry and rainy seasons. We also concluded that the abundance distribution was not influenced by abiotic variables.

Foi realizado um estudo das assembleias de peixes em diferentes ambientes aquáticos da bacia do Rio Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brasil. As espécies foram coletadas com redes de espera, sendo posteriormente identificadas. Foram obtidos dados relativos à abundância das espécies, pesos e comprimentos padrões, além de inúmeras variáveis abióticas das estações de amostragem para caracterização dos ambientes e correlação com a comunidade de peixes. A comunidade foi composta por 38 espécies de peixes, distribuídas em 28 gêneros, 14 famílias e 4 ordens. A comunidade de peixes se ajustou aos modelos lognormal e logsérie, característicos de comunidades com grandes riquezas e complexas, com múltiplas dimensões de nicho e superposição. A diversidade numérica apresentou maiores valores em estações mais preservadas, enquanto que para a diversidade em peso os maiores valores foram encontrados em locais mais preservados e também nos represamentos. Não foi detectada diferença nas diversidades entre as épocas seca e chuvosa. Para a comunidade de peixes da bacia do rio Sorocaba, a distribuição das abundâncias não foi influenciada pelas variáveis abióticas obtidas, devendo ser influenciadas pela estrutura do hábitat, não avaliada pelo presente trabalho.