Biodiversity and biomass relationships in a cerrado stricto sensu in Southeastern Brazil.

Deforestation accounts for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. In Brazil, deforestation represents ~ 70% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions. Among the main deforested vegetation, Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) occupies a prominent position as it is the second biggest biome in Brazil. Despite its importance, there are still few estimates of above and belowground biomass of Cerrado vegetation encompassing its structural and spatial complexity. Also, Cerrado holds a specific biodiversity that is normally undervalued and which is being lost in the fires of agricultural fronts. In this context, this study aimed to verify the relationship of the existing flora biodiversity in a cerrado stricto sensu with its aboveground biomass and carbon stocks. The possibility of a relationship between fine root mass and soil organic carbon content was also verified. The study area presented a total of 67 species and 798 trees (average: 1596 trees ha-1). The mean total aboveground biomass and carbon stocks were 77.08 Mg ha-1 and 38.54 Mg ha-1 respectively. Soil organic carbon stock (0-30 cm) was 8.51 Mg ha-1 whereas fine roots were 1.637 Mg ha-1. Total aboveground biomass presented a highly significant asymptotic relationship with biodiversity demonstrating its importance in reaching high biomass accumulation. A significant relationship between soil organic carbon content and fine root biomass was found making easier belowground biomass estimates.

Vineyard microclimate and yield under different plastic covers.

The use of plastic cover in vineyards minimizes effects of adverse weather conditions. The northwest of São Paulo State is one of the largest grape producing regions in Brazil; however, few studies investigate the effects of different plastic covers on vineyards in this region. This study compared the effect of black shading screen (BSS) and braided polypropylene film (BPF) on BRS Morena vineyard microclimate, grown on an overhead trellis system in the northwestern São Paulo. The experiments were carried out during three growing seasons (2012-2014). BSS allowed superior incoming solar radiation (SR) transmissivity, resulting in higher net radiation (Rn), and higher ratio between photosynthetically active (PAR) and SR. No differences were observed between the average air temperatures (T) and relative humidity (RH) of covered environments (BPF and BSS) and outside condition (automatic weather station-AWS), due to high air circulation, despite wind speed (WS) reduction caused by plastic covers. BPF provided better conditions for vineyard growth with higher fruit yield than vineyard under BSS regarding the number of shoots with bunches per plant, bunch and stem weights, longitudinal diameter of berries, quantity of fertile buds per shoot, and yield per shoot and per plant. BPF covers also influenced leaf size and growth speed of plants in vineyards.

Synergistic effects of seed disperser and predator loss on recruitment success and long-term consequences for carbon stocks in tropical rainforests.

The extinction of large frugivores has consequences for the recruitment of large-seeded plants with potential lasting effects on carbon storage in tropical rainforests. However, previous studies relating frugivore defaunation to changes in carbon storage ignore potential compensation by redundant frugivores and the effects of seed predators on plant recruitment. Based on empirical data of the recruitment success of a large-seeded hardwood tree species (Cryptocarya mandioccana, Lauraceae) across a defaunation gradient of seed dispersers and predators, we show that defaunation increases both seed dispersal limitation and seed predation. Depending on the level of seed predator loss, plant recruitment is reduced by 70.7-94.9% as a result of the loss of seed dispersers. The loss of large seed predators increases the net seed mortality by 7-30% due to the increased abundance of small granivorous rodents. The loss of large seed dispersers can be buffered by the compensatory effects of smaller frugivores in seed removal, but it is not sufficient to prevent a decrease in plant recruitment. We show that the conservation of both seed predators and dispersers is necessary for the recruitment of large-seeded plants. Since these plants contribute substantially to carbon stocks, defaunation can jeopardize the maintenance of tropical forest carbon storage.

Beneficiamento pós-colheita de lima ácida 'Tahiti' afeta sua qualidade e conservação / Postharvest packing process of 'Tahiti' acid lime affects their quality and conservation

RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os efeitos das etapas de beneficiamento pós-colheita de lima ácida 'Tahiti' na sua qualidade e conservação. Foram utilizados frutos colhidos por torção, em estádio de maturação fisiológica e beneficiados de acordo com o procedimento para frutos de exportação. Foram estabelecidos cinco pontos de coleta de frutos ao longo do processo de beneficiamento, os quais correspondem aos tratamentos estudados: "Campo"- coleta diretamente na planta; "Recepção"- na área de recepção da unidade de beneficiamento; "Repouso"- após a primeira etapa do beneficiamento; "Beneficiamento completo"- após o beneficiamento completo; e "Centro de comercialização"- na recepção do centro de comercialização. Foram conduzidas análises físicas e químicas durante 20 dias de armazenamento a 22±2ºC e 70±5% de UR. Os frutos que passaram pelo processo de beneficiamento completo e os que foram coletados no centro de comercialização apresentaram maior perda de massa fresca, maior incidência de oleocelose, menor porcentagem de frutos em condição de comercialização ao final do período de armazenamento, escurecimento da polpa e maior degradação de ácido ascórbico. A qualidade e conservação dos frutos de lima ácida 'Tahiti' foram prejudicadas pela movimentação, manipulação e injúrias mecânicas que ocorrem durante as etapas de beneficiamento pós-colheita.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine the effects of postharvest packing line stages of 'Tahiti' acid lime on their quality and conservation. Fruits were harvested by twisting in physiological maturation stage and packed according to the procedure for export fruits. Five sampling points were set throughout the packing line, which correspond to the treatments studied: "Field"- sampling directly in the plant; "Reception"- collection in the reception area of the packinghouse; "Rest"- collection after the first stage of the packing process; "Complete packing"- collection at the end of the packing process; "Marketing center" and collects at the reception area of the marketing center. Physical and chemical analyzes were conducted for 20 days of storage at 22±2ºC and 70±5% RH. Fruits that have gone through the complete packing process and those collected in the marketing center had higher fresh mass loss, higher incidence of oleocellosis, lower percentage of fruit on condition of marketing at the end of the storage period, pulp browning and higher degradation of ascorbic acid. Quality and conservation of 'Tahiti' lime fruits were affected by movement, handling and mechanical injuries that occur during postharvest processing.

Detectability of capybaras in forested habitats / Detectabilidade de capivaras em habitats florestais

Direct count has been commonly used as an abundance index to estimate wildlife population size. However, systematic errors in sample-based estimators are common in sampling animal populations. At this study we aimed to estimate capybara's observability, through a detectability index in forested habitats. Sampling surveys of capybaras population was obtained by direct count (abundance index) and also by complete count (census). The average detectability index of capybaras in forested habitats was 0.63 ± 0.32 for a single observer. The variability in the detectability index among habitats was due to the presence of more or less dense vegetation. This information might be useful for management purposes of the species in the agroecosystems of southeastern Brazil where species is widespread and overabundant.

O método de contagem direta de animais tem sido freqüentemente utilizado como índice de abundância para estimar o tamanho de populações silvestres. Entretanto, erros sistemáticos de parâmetros baseados em amostras são comuns em amostragens de populações de animais silvestres. Neste estudo, nós estimamos a observabilidade de capivaras, através de um índice de detectabilidade em habitats florestais. As amostragens da população foram realizadas através da contagem direta (índice de abundância) e da contagem total (censo). O índice médio de detectabilidade de capivaras do observador em habitats florestais foi de 0,63 ± 0,32. A variabilidade no índice de detectabilidade entre os habitats ocorreu devido à vegetação ser mais ou menos densa. Esses resultados deverão ser úteis para o manejo da espécie em agroecossistemas do sudeste brasileiro onde a espécie é amplamente distribuída e abundante.