Dentro de las colmenas de Melipona eburnea se presenta estabilidad de parametros como temperatura... more Dentro de las colmenas de Melipona eburnea se presenta estabilidad de parametros como temperatura, humedad relativa y punto de rocio. La temperatura y el punto de rocio externos a las colmenas se relacionan estrechamente con las temperaturas y puntos de rocio al interior de las colmenas (p<0.001). Se presenta una asociacion debil al interior de las tres colmenas entre humedad relativa y temperatura (r=0.042, r=0.259, r=-0.085), y humedad relativa y punto de rocio (r=0.262, r=0.476, r=0.310), pero muy fuerte entre temperatura y punto de rocio (r=0.975, r=0.972, r=0.921). La humedad relativa es estable dentro de las colmenas y no se relaciona con las fluctuaciones externas.
El objetivo del trabajo consiste en describir las representaciones sociales que un grupo de organ... more El objetivo del trabajo consiste en describir las representaciones sociales que un grupo de organizaciones civiles de desarrollo social, han construido de sí mismas, y de su papel en tanto actoras políticas en lo social. El escenario visualizado es aquel que, en los tiempos de encanto de la modernidad, fue referido al pueblo y al mundo de vida popular, pero en los de transicionalidad posmoderna, viene siendo denominado sociedad civil, esfera pública, sector privado no lucrativo y economía popular, social, pública y/o asociativa. La investigación es de tipo exploratoria, fundamentada en documentos y entrevistas estructuradas a representantes legales y a especialistas. Se discute sobre: 1) el papel de dichas organizaciones como actoras sociopolíticas; 2) la caracterización del escenario histórico en el que se desarrollan; 3) el boom de las organizaciones no gubernamentales. Se concluye sobre: 1) la debilidad del Estado frente a la fortaleza de las organizaciones civiles de desarrollo ...
Este trabalho apresenta um ambiente educacional construído para auxiliar adesenvolver o pensament... more Este trabalho apresenta um ambiente educacional construído para auxiliar adesenvolver o pensamento crítico, cujo uso estimule alunos e professores ao envolvê-losem uma nova dinâmica na qual a o diálogo, a reflexão e a troca intelectual sedesenvolva como processo de aquisição do conhecimento. O WebPensa é umaferramenta mediadora da Tecnologia Computacional Educativa, e apenas um dosresultados possíveis, baseados em um modelo computacional desenvolvimento einspirado na metodologia de aprendizado definida por Matthew Lipman e nas premissasda Teoria da Atividade.
Mortality from collision with vehicles is the most visible impact of road traffic on wildlife. Mo... more Mortality from collision with vehicles is the most visible impact of road traffic on wildlife. Mortality due to roads (hereafter road-kill) can affect the dynamic of populations of many species and can, therefore, increase the risk of local decline or extinction. This is especially true in Brazil, where plans for road network upgrading and expansion overlaps biodiversity hotspot areas, which are of high importance for global conservation. Researchers, conservationists and road planners face the challenge to define a national strategy for road mitigation and wildlife conservation. The main goal of this dataset is a compilation of geo-referenced road-kill data from published and unpublished road surveys. This is the first Data Paper in the BRAZIL series (see ATLANTIC, NEOTROPICAL, and BRAZIL collections of Data Papers published in Ecology), which aims make public road-kill data for species in the Brazilian Regions. The dataset encompasses road-kill records from 45 personal communicati...
Toxicity tests were performed in two amphipod species, Gammarus aequicauda and Microdeutopus gry... more Toxicity tests were performed in two amphipod species, Gammarus aequicauda and Microdeutopus gryllotalpa, and three sea urchin species, Arbacia lixula, Paracentrotus lividus and Sphaerechinus granularis. The sensitivity of these marine organisms was evaluated by acute toxicity tests with amphipod juveniles and short chronic embryo-larval tests in sea urchins using the reference toxicants, ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), cadmium chloride (CdCl2), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), sodium dodecylsulfate (C12H25NaO4S) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4). The acute toxicity tests in amphipods clearly demonstrated the toxicity gradient of these substances. A two-way ANOVA analysis showed that M. gryllotalpa was more sensitive than G. aequicauda to all the reference toxicants studied (P < 0.0001). The tests conducted with sea urchins also pointed to a toxicant gradient and these organisms were seen to be more sensitive than amphipods. The two-way ANOVA analysis showed no significant differences in the I...
In this study, a survey with cross-sectional perspective of analysis critically examines the perc... more In this study, a survey with cross-sectional perspective of analysis critically examines the perceptions of individuals towards volunteering and volunteerism in the State of Paraná. Individuals attending the VI Mostra de Ação Voluntária ((N = 122) answered a self-evaluation data collection instrument concerning factors that affects their perception towards volunteering and volunteerism. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed to investigate if there are significant statistical differences between male and female gender in relation to this perception. Therefore, five dependent variables were used: significant relationships and significant financial collaboration; dedication of a portion of personal time; active participation in integrated social actions with Third Sector organizations; development of individual volunteering actions; and, development of volunteering actions with Third Sector organizations. The independent variable was the gender of the researched individuals...
This work offers an environmental assessment of a dredged sediment disposal area in Santos bay, s... more This work offers an environmental assessment of a dredged sediment disposal area in Santos bay, situated on the central coast of the São Paulo State, Brazil. Sediment quality was evaluated through physicochemical analysis and toxicity tests of sediments collected in the disposal site and adjacent area. The physicochemical characterization of the sediments involved grain size distribution, concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, phthalates, metals and nutrients. Acute and chronic toxicity tests were employed, using amphipods (Tiburonella viscana) and sea urchins (Lythechinus variegatus), respectively. Results revealed toxicity by all the methods applied here, suggesting that the area of disposal of dredged material is significantly altered with respect to sediment quality and probably capable of generating deleterious effects on the local biota. Aiming to elucidate the association between the distinct environmental variables and the biological effects measured in laboratory, Factor Analysis was performed. Results revealed that despite most contaminant concentrations were found below the limits established by Brazilian legislation, biological effects were related to metals (chronic toxicity) and organic compounds (acute toxicity). The application of multivariate analysis proved to be particularly useful to assess and interpret the results in an integrated way, particularly due to the large number of parameters analyzed in environmental assessments, and should be applied in future studies.
The toxicity tests are an important tool to control and environmental monitoring and its results ... more The toxicity tests are an important tool to control and environmental monitoring and its results provide direct evidence of the effects of marine pollution. The sea urchin has been widely used in toxicity tests to assess and characterize a variety of samples, whether municipal or industrial effluents, such as chemicals and environmental samples. Usually, the readings of the data relating to the results of toxicity tests require experience and technical acumen of responsible, therefore, can infer certain subjectivity, the fact that in many cases, generate conflicting results. This work aims to investigate new forms of treatment of data resulting from such toxicity tests using algorithms based on non-classical logics. Based on the data collected are used algorithms Annotated Paraconsistent Logic, aiming to find monitoring procedures that can add to the reliability analysis through computer programs. Keywords Ecology, toxicity test, paraconsistent annotated logic, algorithm .
Se entiende por publicidad a los distintos sistemas de comunicacion no personales a traves de los... more Se entiende por publicidad a los distintos sistemas de comunicacion no personales a traves de los cuales se dan a conocer productos y servicios, se impone una imagen favorable de los mismos, y se estimula su compra y su consumo; estos atributos hacen de la publicidad una herramienta importante si lo que se busca es dar a conocer y elevar los niveles de demanda de un producto que por distintas consideraciones no se percibe como exitoso dentro del mercado en este caso turistico. Por tal motivo, y en consideracion a lo anteriormente planteado esta investigacion empleo la herramienta promocional de la publicidad para aplicarla a un producto de tipo turistico a objeto de elaborar una campana publicitaria cuyo fin es contribuir a promover un equilibrio en la demanda de turistas nacionales e internacionales en los diferentes balnearios presentes en la Ruta turistica de Sol y Playa, elaborada por la Corporacion de Turismo regional CORPOTUR, para el Estado Nueva Esparta. Para tal fin, el proceso de diseno de este estudio se realizo en cinco fases o capitulos, los cuales representan cada uno de los objetivos necesarios para la concrecion de la campana. La primera fase comprende el procesamiento de datos referentes a las caracteristicas de La Ruta de Sol y Playa de CORPOTUR, como producto turistico, dando como resultado la presentacion de la oferta turistica que esta presenta, seguidamente se determino el perfil del turista nacional e internacional que visita la isla de Margarita, ya que estos representan segun CORPOTUR (2004), el 94% de los turistas que visitan las playas del estado, movidos en primera instancia por motivos recreacionales, acto seguido se establecio la participacion de las instituciones publicas regionales de turismo, en las acciones y estrategias promocionales en torno al objeto de estudio, de inmediato se realizo un analisis DOFA en base a las acciones promocionales antes mencionadas y otros datos inherentes a La Ruta, alli se determinaron una serie de elementos importantes para fijar las estrategias de la campana publicitaria de La Ruta. El resultado de los analisis y el contenido de las fases u objetivos antes planteados contribuyo al proposito final de esta investigacion, es decir, el diseno de una campana de publicidad dirigida a fomentar el desplazamiento y distribucion proporcional de turistas nacionales e internacionales hacia los diferentes balnearios presentes en la Ruta turistica de Sol y Playa, elaborada por CORPOTUR para el Estado Nueva Esparta; entre las estrategias necesarias para ello se encuentran la optimizacion de los servicios publicos y turisticos, resaltar los atributos de las playas menos visitadas en La Ruta, fundamentar la campana en los medios impresos y la publicidad exterior, el establecimiento de lineamientos estrategicos para mejorar y complementar la imagen de Sol y Playa del destino, entre otros. Dadas las condiciones presentes la campana publicitaria seria solo un aporte para la promocion y desarrollo turistico integral del territorio neoespartano, a traves de la promocion de sus atractivos turisticos mas relevantes, sus playas. Paralelo a ello se pretende contribuir con mensajes conservacionistas, al mantenimiento y conservacion del mas importante recurso natural en materia turistica, con el que cuenta la region neoespartana.
The aim of the present study was to check the usefulness of the benthic biotic indices proposed f... more The aim of the present study was to check the usefulness of the benthic biotic indices proposed for application in the European water framework directive (WFD 2000/60/EC) for the ecological quality classification of coastal water bodies, together with some other benthic methodologies used in different countries of the world. The different approaches were applied in two marine ecosystems affected by the same heavy metal contamination source, coastal waters off Portman and the Mar Menor coastal lagoon, both in SE Spain. Two marine biotic indices proposed for application in the Directive (AMBI and BENTIX) were used, together with community descriptors (abundance, Shannon-Wiener diversity, Margalef&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s species richness, Pielou&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s evenness and Simpson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s Dominance), the relative benthic index (RBI) and the abundance-biomass comparison method (ABC). Water-sediment interface toxicity bioassays using sea urchin embryos and sediment metal analysis served to check the classifications obtained. The classical community descriptors pointed to a progressive variation in benthic communities along the metal contamination gradient of Portman, but, they did not correctly characterize the environmental status of the lagoon stations. Although the RBI was the index that best classified the sites according to their degree of pollution, the selection of indicator species can bias the results. Since the AMBI, the BENTIX and the ABC method are based on the pollution resulting from organic enrichment, their application in the case of purely toxic pollution may not be successful, as was found to be the case in these two mining-polluted ecosystems. Therefore, the development of new indicator lists according to the type of pollutant may serve to improve the results obtained with organic enrichment-based indices when studying other kinds of disturbance. Finally, we found the toxicity tests to be useful tools for the environmental assessment of aquatic ecosystems, and recommend their…
In response to the need for more sensitive and rapid indicators of environmental quality, subleth... more In response to the need for more sensitive and rapid indicators of environmental quality, sublethal effects on the lowest levels of biological organization have been investigated. The ecological relevance of these responses assumes a prevailing role to assure effectiveness as indicator of ecological status. This study aimed to investigate the linkages between biomarker responses of caged bivalves and descriptive parameters of macrobenthic community structure. For this purpose a multi-level environmental assessment of marine and estuarine zones was performed in São Paulo coast, Brazil. Multivariate analysis was applied to identify linkages between biological responses and ecological indices, as well as to characterizing the studied stations. Individuals of the marine mussel Perna perna caged along Santos Bay showed signs of oxidative stress, lysosomal membrane destabilization, histological alterations and reduced embryonic development. The estuarine oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae caged along Santos Port Channel showed alterations on biotransformation enzymes and antioxidant system, DNA damage and lysosomal membrane destabilization. The benthic community analysis showed reduced richness and diversity in the same areas of the Santos bay and estuary where biomarker responses were altered. Our results revealed that xenobiotics are inducing physiological stress, which may lead to changes of the benthic community structure and deterioration of the ecological status over time. Integrating biomarker responses and ecological indexes improved certainty that alterations found at community level could be related to xenobiotic as stressors, which was very useful to improve the discriminatory power of the environmental assessment.
We aimed to develop site-specific sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for two estuarine and port z... more We aimed to develop site-specific sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for two estuarine and port zones in Southeastern Brazil (Santos Estuarine System and Paranaguá Estuarine System) and three in Southern Spain (Ría of Huelva, Bay of Cádiz, and Bay of Algeciras), and compare these values against national and traditionally used international benchmark values. Site-specific SQGs were derived based on sediment physical-chemical, toxicological, and benthic community data integrated through multivariate analysis. This technique allowed the identification of chemicals of concern and the establishment of effects range correlatively to individual concentrations of contaminants for each site of study. The results revealed that sediments from Santos channel, as well as inner portions of the SES, are considered highly polluted (exceeding SQGs-high) by metals, PAHs and PCBs. High pollution by PAHs and some metals was found in São Vicente channel. In PES, sediments from inner portions (proximities of the Ponta do Félix port&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s terminal and the Port of Paranaguá) are highly polluted by metals and PAHs, including one zone inside the limits of an environmental protection area. In Gulf of Cádiz, SQGs exceedences were found in Ria of Huelva (all analysed metals and PAHs), in the surroundings of the Port of Cádiz (Bay of Cádiz) (metals), and in Bay of Algeciras (Ni and PAHs). The site-specific SQGs derived in this study are more restricted than national SQGs applied in Brazil and Spain, as well as international guidelines. This finding confirms the importance of the development of site-specific SQGs to support the characterisation of sediments and dredged material. The use of the same methodology to derive SQGs in Brazilian and Spanish port zones confirmed the applicability of this technique with an international scope and provided a harmonised methodology for site-specific SQGs derivation.
Sediment quality from Paranaguá Estuarine System (PES), a highly important port and ecological zo... more Sediment quality from Paranaguá Estuarine System (PES), a highly important port and ecological zone, was evaluated by assessing three lines of evidence: (1) sediment physical-chemical characteristics; (2) sediment toxicity (elutriates, sediment-water interface, and whole sediment); and (3) benthic community structure. Results revealed a gradient of increasing degradation of sediments (i.e. higher concentrations of trace metals, higher toxicity, and impoverishment of benthic community structure) towards inner PES. Data integration by principal component analysis (PCA) showed positive correlation between some contaminants (mainly As, Cr, Ni, and Pb) and toxicity in samples collected from stations located in upper estuary and one station placed away from contamination sources. Benthic community structure seems to be affected by both pollution and natural fine characteristics of the sediments, which reinforces the importance of a weight-of-evidence approach to evaluate sediments of PES.
Portmán Bay, southeast Spain, contains the most seriously metal-contaminated sediments of the Med... more Portmán Bay, southeast Spain, contains the most seriously metal-contaminated sediments of the Mediterranean Sea. From 1958 to 1991, approximately 50 million tons of mine tailings were dumped into the bay, completely filling up the bay and dispersing over an extensive area of the continental platform and continental slope. The objective of our study was to characterize the nature and extent of metal contamination and the responses of natural communities to it and to assess the toxicity of the sediment deposits 10 years after mining had ceased. We studied the physical and chemical characteristics of the sediments and toxicity (of the porewater and sediment-water interface) using two sea urchin species (Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus). Metal bioavailability and patterns of macroinvertebrate community composition along the contamination gradient were also studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed positive correlation between the sediment metal concentrations associated to the all biological effects (sea urchins toxicity tests and benthic indices). The effects of sediment contamination on the benthic community structure are visible among sampling stations.
Dentro de las colmenas de Melipona eburnea se presenta estabilidad de parametros como temperatura... more Dentro de las colmenas de Melipona eburnea se presenta estabilidad de parametros como temperatura, humedad relativa y punto de rocio. La temperatura y el punto de rocio externos a las colmenas se relacionan estrechamente con las temperaturas y puntos de rocio al interior de las colmenas (p<0.001). Se presenta una asociacion debil al interior de las tres colmenas entre humedad relativa y temperatura (r=0.042, r=0.259, r=-0.085), y humedad relativa y punto de rocio (r=0.262, r=0.476, r=0.310), pero muy fuerte entre temperatura y punto de rocio (r=0.975, r=0.972, r=0.921). La humedad relativa es estable dentro de las colmenas y no se relaciona con las fluctuaciones externas.
El objetivo del trabajo consiste en describir las representaciones sociales que un grupo de organ... more El objetivo del trabajo consiste en describir las representaciones sociales que un grupo de organizaciones civiles de desarrollo social, han construido de sí mismas, y de su papel en tanto actoras políticas en lo social. El escenario visualizado es aquel que, en los tiempos de encanto de la modernidad, fue referido al pueblo y al mundo de vida popular, pero en los de transicionalidad posmoderna, viene siendo denominado sociedad civil, esfera pública, sector privado no lucrativo y economía popular, social, pública y/o asociativa. La investigación es de tipo exploratoria, fundamentada en documentos y entrevistas estructuradas a representantes legales y a especialistas. Se discute sobre: 1) el papel de dichas organizaciones como actoras sociopolíticas; 2) la caracterización del escenario histórico en el que se desarrollan; 3) el boom de las organizaciones no gubernamentales. Se concluye sobre: 1) la debilidad del Estado frente a la fortaleza de las organizaciones civiles de desarrollo ...
Este trabalho apresenta um ambiente educacional construído para auxiliar adesenvolver o pensament... more Este trabalho apresenta um ambiente educacional construído para auxiliar adesenvolver o pensamento crítico, cujo uso estimule alunos e professores ao envolvê-losem uma nova dinâmica na qual a o diálogo, a reflexão e a troca intelectual sedesenvolva como processo de aquisição do conhecimento. O WebPensa é umaferramenta mediadora da Tecnologia Computacional Educativa, e apenas um dosresultados possíveis, baseados em um modelo computacional desenvolvimento einspirado na metodologia de aprendizado definida por Matthew Lipman e nas premissasda Teoria da Atividade.
Mortality from collision with vehicles is the most visible impact of road traffic on wildlife. Mo... more Mortality from collision with vehicles is the most visible impact of road traffic on wildlife. Mortality due to roads (hereafter road-kill) can affect the dynamic of populations of many species and can, therefore, increase the risk of local decline or extinction. This is especially true in Brazil, where plans for road network upgrading and expansion overlaps biodiversity hotspot areas, which are of high importance for global conservation. Researchers, conservationists and road planners face the challenge to define a national strategy for road mitigation and wildlife conservation. The main goal of this dataset is a compilation of geo-referenced road-kill data from published and unpublished road surveys. This is the first Data Paper in the BRAZIL series (see ATLANTIC, NEOTROPICAL, and BRAZIL collections of Data Papers published in Ecology), which aims make public road-kill data for species in the Brazilian Regions. The dataset encompasses road-kill records from 45 personal communicati...
Toxicity tests were performed in two amphipod species, Gammarus aequicauda and Microdeutopus gry... more Toxicity tests were performed in two amphipod species, Gammarus aequicauda and Microdeutopus gryllotalpa, and three sea urchin species, Arbacia lixula, Paracentrotus lividus and Sphaerechinus granularis. The sensitivity of these marine organisms was evaluated by acute toxicity tests with amphipod juveniles and short chronic embryo-larval tests in sea urchins using the reference toxicants, ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), cadmium chloride (CdCl2), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), sodium dodecylsulfate (C12H25NaO4S) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4). The acute toxicity tests in amphipods clearly demonstrated the toxicity gradient of these substances. A two-way ANOVA analysis showed that M. gryllotalpa was more sensitive than G. aequicauda to all the reference toxicants studied (P < 0.0001). The tests conducted with sea urchins also pointed to a toxicant gradient and these organisms were seen to be more sensitive than amphipods. The two-way ANOVA analysis showed no significant differences in the I...
In this study, a survey with cross-sectional perspective of analysis critically examines the perc... more In this study, a survey with cross-sectional perspective of analysis critically examines the perceptions of individuals towards volunteering and volunteerism in the State of Paraná. Individuals attending the VI Mostra de Ação Voluntária ((N = 122) answered a self-evaluation data collection instrument concerning factors that affects their perception towards volunteering and volunteerism. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed to investigate if there are significant statistical differences between male and female gender in relation to this perception. Therefore, five dependent variables were used: significant relationships and significant financial collaboration; dedication of a portion of personal time; active participation in integrated social actions with Third Sector organizations; development of individual volunteering actions; and, development of volunteering actions with Third Sector organizations. The independent variable was the gender of the researched individuals...
This work offers an environmental assessment of a dredged sediment disposal area in Santos bay, s... more This work offers an environmental assessment of a dredged sediment disposal area in Santos bay, situated on the central coast of the São Paulo State, Brazil. Sediment quality was evaluated through physicochemical analysis and toxicity tests of sediments collected in the disposal site and adjacent area. The physicochemical characterization of the sediments involved grain size distribution, concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, phthalates, metals and nutrients. Acute and chronic toxicity tests were employed, using amphipods (Tiburonella viscana) and sea urchins (Lythechinus variegatus), respectively. Results revealed toxicity by all the methods applied here, suggesting that the area of disposal of dredged material is significantly altered with respect to sediment quality and probably capable of generating deleterious effects on the local biota. Aiming to elucidate the association between the distinct environmental variables and the biological effects measured in laboratory, Factor Analysis was performed. Results revealed that despite most contaminant concentrations were found below the limits established by Brazilian legislation, biological effects were related to metals (chronic toxicity) and organic compounds (acute toxicity). The application of multivariate analysis proved to be particularly useful to assess and interpret the results in an integrated way, particularly due to the large number of parameters analyzed in environmental assessments, and should be applied in future studies.
The toxicity tests are an important tool to control and environmental monitoring and its results ... more The toxicity tests are an important tool to control and environmental monitoring and its results provide direct evidence of the effects of marine pollution. The sea urchin has been widely used in toxicity tests to assess and characterize a variety of samples, whether municipal or industrial effluents, such as chemicals and environmental samples. Usually, the readings of the data relating to the results of toxicity tests require experience and technical acumen of responsible, therefore, can infer certain subjectivity, the fact that in many cases, generate conflicting results. This work aims to investigate new forms of treatment of data resulting from such toxicity tests using algorithms based on non-classical logics. Based on the data collected are used algorithms Annotated Paraconsistent Logic, aiming to find monitoring procedures that can add to the reliability analysis through computer programs. Keywords Ecology, toxicity test, paraconsistent annotated logic, algorithm .
Se entiende por publicidad a los distintos sistemas de comunicacion no personales a traves de los... more Se entiende por publicidad a los distintos sistemas de comunicacion no personales a traves de los cuales se dan a conocer productos y servicios, se impone una imagen favorable de los mismos, y se estimula su compra y su consumo; estos atributos hacen de la publicidad una herramienta importante si lo que se busca es dar a conocer y elevar los niveles de demanda de un producto que por distintas consideraciones no se percibe como exitoso dentro del mercado en este caso turistico. Por tal motivo, y en consideracion a lo anteriormente planteado esta investigacion empleo la herramienta promocional de la publicidad para aplicarla a un producto de tipo turistico a objeto de elaborar una campana publicitaria cuyo fin es contribuir a promover un equilibrio en la demanda de turistas nacionales e internacionales en los diferentes balnearios presentes en la Ruta turistica de Sol y Playa, elaborada por la Corporacion de Turismo regional CORPOTUR, para el Estado Nueva Esparta. Para tal fin, el proceso de diseno de este estudio se realizo en cinco fases o capitulos, los cuales representan cada uno de los objetivos necesarios para la concrecion de la campana. La primera fase comprende el procesamiento de datos referentes a las caracteristicas de La Ruta de Sol y Playa de CORPOTUR, como producto turistico, dando como resultado la presentacion de la oferta turistica que esta presenta, seguidamente se determino el perfil del turista nacional e internacional que visita la isla de Margarita, ya que estos representan segun CORPOTUR (2004), el 94% de los turistas que visitan las playas del estado, movidos en primera instancia por motivos recreacionales, acto seguido se establecio la participacion de las instituciones publicas regionales de turismo, en las acciones y estrategias promocionales en torno al objeto de estudio, de inmediato se realizo un analisis DOFA en base a las acciones promocionales antes mencionadas y otros datos inherentes a La Ruta, alli se determinaron una serie de elementos importantes para fijar las estrategias de la campana publicitaria de La Ruta. El resultado de los analisis y el contenido de las fases u objetivos antes planteados contribuyo al proposito final de esta investigacion, es decir, el diseno de una campana de publicidad dirigida a fomentar el desplazamiento y distribucion proporcional de turistas nacionales e internacionales hacia los diferentes balnearios presentes en la Ruta turistica de Sol y Playa, elaborada por CORPOTUR para el Estado Nueva Esparta; entre las estrategias necesarias para ello se encuentran la optimizacion de los servicios publicos y turisticos, resaltar los atributos de las playas menos visitadas en La Ruta, fundamentar la campana en los medios impresos y la publicidad exterior, el establecimiento de lineamientos estrategicos para mejorar y complementar la imagen de Sol y Playa del destino, entre otros. Dadas las condiciones presentes la campana publicitaria seria solo un aporte para la promocion y desarrollo turistico integral del territorio neoespartano, a traves de la promocion de sus atractivos turisticos mas relevantes, sus playas. Paralelo a ello se pretende contribuir con mensajes conservacionistas, al mantenimiento y conservacion del mas importante recurso natural en materia turistica, con el que cuenta la region neoespartana.
The aim of the present study was to check the usefulness of the benthic biotic indices proposed f... more The aim of the present study was to check the usefulness of the benthic biotic indices proposed for application in the European water framework directive (WFD 2000/60/EC) for the ecological quality classification of coastal water bodies, together with some other benthic methodologies used in different countries of the world. The different approaches were applied in two marine ecosystems affected by the same heavy metal contamination source, coastal waters off Portman and the Mar Menor coastal lagoon, both in SE Spain. Two marine biotic indices proposed for application in the Directive (AMBI and BENTIX) were used, together with community descriptors (abundance, Shannon-Wiener diversity, Margalef&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s species richness, Pielou&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s evenness and Simpson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s Dominance), the relative benthic index (RBI) and the abundance-biomass comparison method (ABC). Water-sediment interface toxicity bioassays using sea urchin embryos and sediment metal analysis served to check the classifications obtained. The classical community descriptors pointed to a progressive variation in benthic communities along the metal contamination gradient of Portman, but, they did not correctly characterize the environmental status of the lagoon stations. Although the RBI was the index that best classified the sites according to their degree of pollution, the selection of indicator species can bias the results. Since the AMBI, the BENTIX and the ABC method are based on the pollution resulting from organic enrichment, their application in the case of purely toxic pollution may not be successful, as was found to be the case in these two mining-polluted ecosystems. Therefore, the development of new indicator lists according to the type of pollutant may serve to improve the results obtained with organic enrichment-based indices when studying other kinds of disturbance. Finally, we found the toxicity tests to be useful tools for the environmental assessment of aquatic ecosystems, and recommend their…
In response to the need for more sensitive and rapid indicators of environmental quality, subleth... more In response to the need for more sensitive and rapid indicators of environmental quality, sublethal effects on the lowest levels of biological organization have been investigated. The ecological relevance of these responses assumes a prevailing role to assure effectiveness as indicator of ecological status. This study aimed to investigate the linkages between biomarker responses of caged bivalves and descriptive parameters of macrobenthic community structure. For this purpose a multi-level environmental assessment of marine and estuarine zones was performed in São Paulo coast, Brazil. Multivariate analysis was applied to identify linkages between biological responses and ecological indices, as well as to characterizing the studied stations. Individuals of the marine mussel Perna perna caged along Santos Bay showed signs of oxidative stress, lysosomal membrane destabilization, histological alterations and reduced embryonic development. The estuarine oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae caged along Santos Port Channel showed alterations on biotransformation enzymes and antioxidant system, DNA damage and lysosomal membrane destabilization. The benthic community analysis showed reduced richness and diversity in the same areas of the Santos bay and estuary where biomarker responses were altered. Our results revealed that xenobiotics are inducing physiological stress, which may lead to changes of the benthic community structure and deterioration of the ecological status over time. Integrating biomarker responses and ecological indexes improved certainty that alterations found at community level could be related to xenobiotic as stressors, which was very useful to improve the discriminatory power of the environmental assessment.
We aimed to develop site-specific sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for two estuarine and port z... more We aimed to develop site-specific sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for two estuarine and port zones in Southeastern Brazil (Santos Estuarine System and Paranaguá Estuarine System) and three in Southern Spain (Ría of Huelva, Bay of Cádiz, and Bay of Algeciras), and compare these values against national and traditionally used international benchmark values. Site-specific SQGs were derived based on sediment physical-chemical, toxicological, and benthic community data integrated through multivariate analysis. This technique allowed the identification of chemicals of concern and the establishment of effects range correlatively to individual concentrations of contaminants for each site of study. The results revealed that sediments from Santos channel, as well as inner portions of the SES, are considered highly polluted (exceeding SQGs-high) by metals, PAHs and PCBs. High pollution by PAHs and some metals was found in São Vicente channel. In PES, sediments from inner portions (proximities of the Ponta do Félix port&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s terminal and the Port of Paranaguá) are highly polluted by metals and PAHs, including one zone inside the limits of an environmental protection area. In Gulf of Cádiz, SQGs exceedences were found in Ria of Huelva (all analysed metals and PAHs), in the surroundings of the Port of Cádiz (Bay of Cádiz) (metals), and in Bay of Algeciras (Ni and PAHs). The site-specific SQGs derived in this study are more restricted than national SQGs applied in Brazil and Spain, as well as international guidelines. This finding confirms the importance of the development of site-specific SQGs to support the characterisation of sediments and dredged material. The use of the same methodology to derive SQGs in Brazilian and Spanish port zones confirmed the applicability of this technique with an international scope and provided a harmonised methodology for site-specific SQGs derivation.
Sediment quality from Paranaguá Estuarine System (PES), a highly important port and ecological zo... more Sediment quality from Paranaguá Estuarine System (PES), a highly important port and ecological zone, was evaluated by assessing three lines of evidence: (1) sediment physical-chemical characteristics; (2) sediment toxicity (elutriates, sediment-water interface, and whole sediment); and (3) benthic community structure. Results revealed a gradient of increasing degradation of sediments (i.e. higher concentrations of trace metals, higher toxicity, and impoverishment of benthic community structure) towards inner PES. Data integration by principal component analysis (PCA) showed positive correlation between some contaminants (mainly As, Cr, Ni, and Pb) and toxicity in samples collected from stations located in upper estuary and one station placed away from contamination sources. Benthic community structure seems to be affected by both pollution and natural fine characteristics of the sediments, which reinforces the importance of a weight-of-evidence approach to evaluate sediments of PES.
Portmán Bay, southeast Spain, contains the most seriously metal-contaminated sediments of the Med... more Portmán Bay, southeast Spain, contains the most seriously metal-contaminated sediments of the Mediterranean Sea. From 1958 to 1991, approximately 50 million tons of mine tailings were dumped into the bay, completely filling up the bay and dispersing over an extensive area of the continental platform and continental slope. The objective of our study was to characterize the nature and extent of metal contamination and the responses of natural communities to it and to assess the toxicity of the sediment deposits 10 years after mining had ceased. We studied the physical and chemical characteristics of the sediments and toxicity (of the porewater and sediment-water interface) using two sea urchin species (Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus). Metal bioavailability and patterns of macroinvertebrate community composition along the contamination gradient were also studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed positive correlation between the sediment metal concentrations associated to the all biological effects (sea urchins toxicity tests and benthic indices). The effects of sediment contamination on the benthic community structure are visible among sampling stations.
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