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This paper provides a circular supply chain perspective of packaging recovery ecosystems being implemented by Tetra Pak, a prime global player in the food packaging industry, in two major emerging economies: China and Brazil. The circular supply chain archetype considered in the research allowed a consistent comparative analysis of Tetra Pak's circular supply chains in both countries. Through a case study approach, the research provides theoretical propositions and learning points that are valuable for academics and practitioners interested in the Chinese and Brazilian markets as well as in the supply chains supporting recovery ecosystems in the packaging industry. In particular, the distinct environments in the Chinese and Brazilian markets render Tetra Pak opportunities to design circular supply chains in different ways showing adaptation and learning to local market characteristics. The industrial perspectives from these emerging economies add to the contributions offered in the paper. Overall, the conceptual considerations and practical recommendations presented in the paper provide useful insights for the development of further studies and implementation of industrial practices advocated by the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing use and inadequate disposal of plastic by humans, aquatic environments have become receptacles for pollutants such as plastic. This study aimed to perform an analysis of plastic particles pollution in Brazilian aquatic ecosystems with special attention to inland aquatic environments and fish in order to identify information gaps in this field. Manuscripts published in the last 21 years and indexed in the Web of Science database were consulted. A total of 185 met the proposed inclusion criteria, such as having empirical data, being conducted in Brazil, and dealing with plastic pollution. In general, the number of studies increases over the years, and this increasing number of publications is accompanied by declared financial support; the Southeast and Northeast regions are the regions that publish the most on the topic, with São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Pernambuco being the main states; the main focus of the studies is the detection of plastic particles mainly in biota (51%) and sediment (34%), and the most frequent ecosystem is the marine (89%); regarding the taxa, the majority is about plastic detection in fish (75%). Only 18% of the papers studying fishes consider their bio-ecological data, and only 17% of the manuscripts carried out the chemical characterization of the particles. However, 99% of the papers considered the shape of the plastic particle. We emphasize the need for more research and grants for studies with Brazilian inland aquatic ecosystems on the effects of plastic particle pollution on freshwater fish. Regional and national research funding agencies are very important to encourage an increase in the number of grants and specific calls for studies on plastic pollution and its impact on freshwater biota, considering the different macro-regions in Brazil, especially in the northern region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of REGEPE Entrepreneurship & Small Business Journal is the property of Revista de Empreendedorismo e Gestao de Pequenas Empresas (REGEPE) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper examines inter-organisational behaviours in what we call 'migrant support ecologies' – shared physical and abstract spaces where multiple organisations work to help migrants access and transition within the labour market. Drawing on composite data generated through studies conducted in the UK and Brazil, we argue that actors and organisations in such environments operate in 'common goal domains', in which objectives are related but not necessarily integrated or coordinated, and they consequently adopt diverse interactional practices. We distinguish between four ideal types of migrant support organisation based on their activity scope and stakeholder focus before outlining how different organisations and their constituent actors engage in tactical and strategic coupling practices, reflecting shorter and more episodic interactions alongside complex, multithreaded ones. The findings show how different forms of cooperative arrangements may be pursued based on organisations' capacities, focus and the types of value they seek to create for organisations, migrants and wider societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perspectives on the Environmental Implications of Sustainable Hydropower gathers scientific papers from three of the worlds most important hydropower producers to discuss aspects of sustainable hydropower and the means by which it can be studied and achieved. The papers examine the application and use of new technologies and protocols for studying hydropower, adaptive management and the implications and use of long-term data sets for minimizing hydropower impacts on fish populations. The papers include a cross section of biological and hydrological experts. The implicit among country comparisons highlight a number of common hydropower themes, particularly the need to expand from single species studies to include broader consideration of the ecosystem, the importance of maintaining habitat, trait and species diversity and the need for consistently collected long-term data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Terr@ Plural is the property of Terr@ Plural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: We present a systematic review of the biology of the termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster and its relationships with guests in South America, addressing issues concerning the research knowledge that has been accumulated and the gaps that still need to be filled regarding this termite, as well as its relationships with other organisms and with the environment. Termites have global distributions and play important roles in most ecosystems, often with high nest densities and interesting associations with other organisms. Constrictotermes cyphergaster, is a termite endemic to South America, widely distributed and very conspicuous, and has therefore been considered a good model for filling in gaps in general termite ecology and their relationships with other organisms (e.g., termitophily). A systematic review (content and bibliometric analyses) was used to gather all published scientific knowledge related to C. cyphergaster as well as to observe trends, verify gaps, and direct new perspectives for future studies of this species. We identified 54 studies, of which more than 50% were published in the last five years (28 articles). The majority of the articles investigated the relationships between C. cyphergaster and macroorganisms (44.4%), followed by specific aspects of its biology (25.9%). The collaboration network revealed that links between researchers are still limited and modular, but trending topics have changed over time. Additionally, there are differences in the aims of the studies being carried out in the Caatinga and Cerrado domains, with some information focusing only on one of those environments. Our results show that some gaps in the biology and ecology of C. cyphergaster remain to be explored, although collaborative efforts between researchers open opportunities for suggesting future studies that would make relevant contributions to the general knowledge of termites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nations in the global South have developed hydropower projects at a rapid pace in recent decades, most notably Brazil and China. These projects have long‐documented impacts on social and ecological systems, yet the implications of hydropower for human well‐being and health are not fully understood. In this paper, we examine eight Brazilian Amazon communities in the Madeira river basin, near the Jirau and Santo Antônio dams (sample size: 536 households). We evaluate how impacts on community resources, social capital, and the experience of resettlement influence self‐rated health in these communities. Results suggest that the dams strained community resources and social capital, which were associated with reductions in self‐rated health. In particular, cognitive social capital (i.e., trust) is lower after the dams' construction. The effect of resettlement and compensation is more nuanced and qualified. This work suggests that hydropower projects have broad deleterious impacts on well‐being and health of human populations in hosting regions and that better directed efforts are required on the part of dam developers to reduce these negative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth and rising incomes have led to increasing global demand for meat products. Meeting this demand without converting remaining natural ecosystems or further degrading ecosystems is one of the largest global sustainability challenges. A critical step to overcoming this challenge is to increase the productivity of livestock grazing systems, which occupy the largest land area of any type of agriculture globally. Integrated crop−livestock systems (iCL), which re-couple crop and livestock production at the farm scale, have been considered a promising strategy to tackle this challenge by restoring degraded pasturelands and providing supplemental nutrition to livestock. However, few studies have analyzed the economic viability of such systems, especially in Brazil, an important player in global food systems. This paper presents an economic analysis of iCL in Mato Grosso, Brazil, the largest grain and beef producer in the country, which spans the ecologically diverse Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal biomes. We compare the economic performance of an integrated soybean/corn and beef cattle system to a continuous crop (soybean/corn) system and a continuous livestock (beef cattle) production system from 2005 to 2012. We use empirical case study data to characterize a 'typical' farm for each production system within the study region. We find that the integrated crop−livestock system has a higher annual net present value (NPV) per hectare (ha) than continuous cropping or livestock under a range of discount rates. However, under a scenario of substantially higher crop prices, the continuous cropping outperforms iCL. While iCL is not feasible in all regions of the Amazon and Cerrado, our results indicate that in places where the biophysical and market conditions are suitable for production, it could be a highly profitable way to intensify cattle production and potentially spare land for other uses, including conservation. Nevertheless, additional credit and technical support may be needed to overcome high upfront costs and informational barriers to increase iCL areas as a sustainable development strategy for agriculture in the Amazon and Cerrado regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioluminescence, the emission of light by living organisms, is a captivating and widespread phenomenon with diverse ecological functions. This comprehensive review explores the biodiversity, mechanisms, ecological roles, and conservation challenges of bioluminescent organisms in Brazil, a country known for its vast and diverse ecosystems. From the enchanting glow of fireflies and glow-in-the-dark mushrooms to the mesmerizing displays of marine dinoflagellates and cnidarians, Brazil showcases a remarkable array of bioluminescent species. Understanding the biochemical mechanisms and enzymes involved in bioluminescence enhances our knowledge of their evolutionary adaptations and ecological functions. However, habitat loss, climate change, and photopollution pose significant threats to these bioluminescent organisms. Conservation measures, interdisciplinary collaborations, and responsible lighting practices are crucial for their survival. Future research should focus on identifying endemic species, studying environmental factors influencing bioluminescence, and developing effective conservation strategies. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, advanced technologies, and increased funding, Brazil can unravel the mysteries of its bioluminescent biodiversity, drive scientific advancements, and ensure the long-term preservation of these captivating organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In savanna ecosystems, the seasonal effects of nitrogen forms and availability, as well as their utilization by plants, influence the abundance and distribution of herbaceous species in grassland communities. This study examines seasonal effects on nitrogen availability and utilization by native grass species in the Cerrado, a savanna ecosystem in Brazil. Ammonium and nitrate levels in soil, nitrate acquisition and transport, and Nitrate Reductase Activity (NRA) in different plant parts during dry and wet periods were assessed. Results indicated higher soil nitrate availability during the wet period, influenced by precipitation, with leaves showing a higher nitrate content compared to roots. There was seasonal modulation in nitrate reduction, with leaves being the primary site during the dry period and roots during the wet period. The studied grass species exhibited heterogeneous responses to seasonal nitrogen availability, potentially affecting community abundance patterns. Findings suggest that edaphoclimatic seasonality plays a crucial role in nitrogen distribution and utilization capacity by grass plants in the Cerrado, contributing to the understanding of these ecosystems' ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The founders of startups in Sergipe state, Brazil, began to unite in 2012, with a purpose of strengthening the innovation ecosystem in the state. The aim of this paper was to deepen the knowledge about the entrepreneurs' movement entitled "Caju Valley", in order to propose measures to strengthen the group. From the analysis realized, it was possible to observe that the Caju Valley group, although being important to the startups' ecosystem, still suffers due to the lack of balance between the various stakeholders, and also faces the lack of maturity of the entrepreneurs, timid or suspicious investors, accelerators without effective action and incubators with low effectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific research that purports to evaluate Indigenous fire regimes in the absence of ethnographically contextualized ecological data runs the risk of exacerbating the fire blame game and providing evidence to support distorted narratives advanced by anti-Indigenous advocates. Spatial analysis of fire scars in Indigenous territories can be an effective tool for characterizing cultural fire regimes in terms of distribution and frequency, especially when qualified by linkages to different local ecosystems. A recently published article drew on fire scar mapping from satellite imagery to assess anthropogenic fire distribution and frequency in the Pimentel Barbosa Indigenous Land, Central Brazil. The authors use their findings to characterize A'uwē (Xavante) use of fire as unmanaged and a model of unsustainable use of cerrado resources. In this article, we discuss Aguiar & Martins's recent paper in light of our long-term research on A'uwē hunting with fire in the Pimentel Barbosa Indigenous Land, arguing that A'uwē hunters do burn according to established cultural protocols, manage their use of fire for conservationist purposes, and do not cause environmental degradation by burning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Length-weight relationships (LWRs) for 35 freshwater fish species from the SP/RJ coastal basin in Brazil are presented in this paper. Fishes were captured between 2011 and 2015 on an irregular basis using electrofishing, sieves, trawl nets, cast nets and fish-traps. In this study new LWRs are reported for 28 species, plus the total weight and length for 34 and nine species, respectively. The study provides new information on less-studied species and can serve as a basis for management and conservation in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Producao Online is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Engenharia de Producao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study describes the combination of qualitative methods and a MCDA technique, to rank a set of alternatives for the water use of Corumba IV reservoir, a multipurpose water resource located in the center-east of Brazil. The model specification presented in this paper was set up with six relevant benefits to the ecosystem and five water uses, identified through an in-depth interview with stakeholders. The relative importance of the benefits and the performance of water uses were measured by the Saaty nine-point scale. The imprecision of subjective judgment was partially compensated by using a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). These groups include the Corumba IV power plant staff, in charge of an environmental mitigation program, federal government officials in charge of formulating and enforcing policies, community leaders and municipal authorities. The hierarchies of the set of benefits for these groups show evidence of convergence; however, statistical tests suggest the existence of conflicts among them regarding their preference for water use. This study clarifies the extent of such perceptions, making it possible to adopt better public policies practices for water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since zooplankton is the main route of biomass transfer between producers and consumers, zooplankton secondary production is an important measure to evaluate the flow of matter through the trophic levels in aquatic food chains. Secondary production measures may be employed to characterize the zooplankton functional role and to assess the impacts on ecosystem processes and services. The objectives of this study were: 1- to review the main methods to quantify zooplankton secondary production and 2- to carry out a survey of the studies made in Brazil, identifying their gaps, potentialities and perspectives. We conducted a search of publications using secondary production measures in Brazilian aquatic environments in different databases ("Web of Science", "Scopus" and "Scielo"). We found that secondary production measures are based on three main approaches: physiological, enzymatic and population dynamics. The main measures of zooplankton secondary production used in freshwater environments are based on recruitment and biomass increase methods while in transitional and marine environments predominate measures based on growth rate. We found 60 publications among scientific articles, thesis and book chapters developed in Brazil. The studies on zooplankton secondary production have grown in recent years, however most publications were carried out in the southeast region, especially in reservoirs with descriptive approaches. Since there is still a lack of basic information on tropical species and environments, it is important to develop new studies focusing on more complex issues, such as aquatic ecosystems functioning, the effects of environmental changes and anthropic impacts on ecosystem processes and the aquatic environments contribution to biogeochemical global cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycorrhizal fungus diversity is an ecosystem health indicator, and thus, the appreciation of the aboveground as well as the belowground biota, such as fungi associated with natural and managed ecosystems, is essential to provide sustainable products and suggestions to farmers. Less is known about the totally arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and fungal endophytes useful to agroecology, which are environment friendly microbial biofertilizers to mitigate the complications of conventional farming. Specific AMF are found in most covers; grassy ecosystems are increasingly investigated through their exclusive fungal species that improve sustainable cultivation. Different grazed pastures, forages, and their diversity are important objects of study either in economic or ecological scope. Based on recent reports, the occurrence of AMF in grasslands and pastures is significant, supporting more diverse AMF than native forests. Therefore, we show current information on these topics. We conducted a Web of Science search of published articles on AMF, pastures, and grasslands and analyzed them. The results confirmed the important role of pH as the driver of AMF diversity distribution between the grassy ecosystems from Argentina and Brazil. In grasslands, the main family represented was Glomeraceae, while pastures maintain predominantly Acaulosporaceae. Brazilian grasslands and pastures presented four times the AMF richness of those from Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amazon represents the world's greatest biodiversity and covers different countries in South America, including Brazil with the largest area. The interaction between the resident population of this area and its ecosystem is responsible for an intense exposure to venomous animals, which are considered an important health issue in the region. Therefore, the 1st International Symposium on Research in Venomous Animals, held from 2 May to 5 May 2023 in the city of Manaus in the state of Amazonas in Brazil, aimed to address animal envenomation aspects in the Brazilian Amazon and the exchange of ideas and knowledge between research groups from around the world. The event was attended by graduate students as well as renowned researchers from the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The event presented a multidisciplinary and translational approach in the area of toxinology, including themes such as clinical envenomation (clinical management, pathophysiology, and public policy strategies), preclinical studies, biological aspects of venomous animals' venoms (venom composition/variation and geographical distribution), interdisciplinary studies on health anthropology and economics, and bioprospecting aspects (toxins with therapeutic and/or technological potential). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caatinga is an ecologically unique semi-arid region of northeast Brazil characterized by high levels of endemism and severe anthropogenic threats from agricultural development and climate change. It is also one of the least known biomes in Brazil due to a combination of inadequate investment, low regional research capacity and difficult working conditions. However, while the lack of scientific knowledge of the Caatinga is well known, the spatial and temporal distribution of knowledge production has not been investigated. This is important because such biases undermine the development of effective conservation policy and practice and increase the uncertainty associated with conservation actions. Here, we map the geography of conservation knowledge production in the Caatinga and use an innovative hurdle model to identify the presumptive factors driving these patterns. Our analysis revealed strong geographic patterns, with research sites concentrated in the east of the region and in areas close to roads and research centres. There was also a positive association between conservation knowledge production and risk of desertification, indicating that conservation scientists are responding to conservation challenges faced by Caatinga’s fauna and flora arising from climate change. Our results also highlight the pivotal role of pioneer scientists (those who develop research sites in previously unstudied/understudied areas) in determining the future geographic patterns of knowledge production. We conclude our article with a brief discussion of potential policies for increasing the spatial representativeness of conservation research in this remarkable ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Longer flowering and fruiting in urban trees of brazilwood in comparison to forest remnant. • Larger flowers with less pollen in urban trees of Paubrasilia echinata. • Impairment in the pollination process of Paubrasilia echinata in urban ecosystem. • Reduced reproductive success of brazilwood in urban compared to natural ecosystem. Human activities have drastically altered natural ecosystems, mostly by converting forests into agricultural and urban areas. Brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata) is an endangered tree endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic forest originally occurring along the whole coast. The species is largely planted in urban areas due to its ornamental potential. In this paper, we compared the phenology, floral traits and the reproductive success of P. echinata between urban and natural ecosystems. We have hypothesized that individuals in urban ecosystem will have: i) reproductive phenophases lasting longer than in natural, ii) lower number of pollen grains and ovules per flower, iii) lower richness and frequency of flower visitors, and iv) lower natural fruit and seed set. The study was carried out in urban green spaces of the city of Recife and in an Atlantic forest remnant, both in Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. The species flowered and fruited practically all year round in the urban ecosystem, contrasting with the annual pattern of flowering and fruiting observed in the natural area. We documented that brazilwood trees in urban areas had smaller inflorescences, fewer flowers/inflorescences, larger flowers, less pollen/flower, lower richness of floral visitors and lower fruit and seed set when compared to natural ecosystem. Also, when considering the most frequent effective pollinator, the invasive bee Apis mellifera predominated in urban, whereas the autochthonous pollinator Centris aenea prevailed in natural. Moreover, C. aenea acted as occasional pollinator in urban area because the flowers of P. echinata are larger in this ecosystem. Independent of the underlying mechanism, the brazilwood had an impoverished richness of native pollinators and a significant reduction in the reproductive success in urban ecosystem, indicating an impairment in the pollination process. The viability of planting trees in tropical urban areas as an ex-situ conservation alternative for species obligatory dependent on cross-pollination, such as P. echinata , may be compromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Nordestina de Ecoturismo is the property of CBPC - Companhia Brasileira de Producao Cientifica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Oligochaeta assemblages are important components in freshwater environments, where their abundance and composition may indicate aspects related to water quality and sediment. The lack of information about these communities in Brazilian aquatic environments, as well as the application of native species as bioindicators of lotic environmental, stimulated the conception of this paper. Thus, the aim was to study the community of aquatic Oligochaeta in selected stretches of the Juruena River (MT), thereby generating grounds for future environmental monitoring action in lotic ecosystems. For this purpose, samples were analyzed at bimonthly intervals during the period from January to November 2009, in stretches of the Juruena River (Amazon River Basin) located in the State of Mato Grosso (MT). Two methods were used to collect the organisms: a) "D" network in small clusters of fixed macrophytes in the sediment on the river banks; and b) Ekman-Birge dredge in fine sediment. Preliminary results were 584 organisms distributed in 22 taxa. Of these, 22 valid species were identified. This number corresponds to approximately 25% of the aquatic oligochaete species registered in Brazil. Of these species, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Dero nivea and Pristina rosea can be associated with organic enrichment conditions and/or some level of environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrestrial biosphere is an important global carbon (C) sink, with the potential to drive large positive climate feedbacks. Thus a better understanding of interactions between land use change, climate change and the terrestrial biosphere is crucial in planning future land management options. Climate change has the potential to alter terrestrial C storage since changes in temperature, precipitation and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations could affect net primary production (NPP), C inputs to soil, and soil C decomposition rates. Climate change could also act as a driver for land use change, thus further altering terrestrial C fluxes. The net balance of these different effects varies considerably between regions and hence the case studies presented in this paper (the GEFSOC project countries Kenya, Jordan, Brazil, and India) provide a unique opportunity to study climate impacts on terrestrial C storage. This paper first presents predicted changes in climate for the four case study countries from a coupled climate-C cycle Global Circulation Model (HadCM3LC), followed by predicted changes in vegetation type, NPP and soil C storage. These very coarse assessments provide an initial estimate of large-scale effects. A more detailed study of climate impacts on soil C storage in the Brazilian Amazon is provided as an example application of the GEFSOC system. Interestingly in the four cases studied here precipitation seems to control the sign of the soil C changes under climate change with wetter conditions resulting in higher soil C stocks and drier conditions in lower soil C stocks, presumably because increased NPP in wetter conditions here will override any increase in respiration. In contrast, globally, it seems to be temperature that controls changes in C stocks under climate change. Even if there is a slight increase in precipitation globally, a decrease in C stocks is predicted—in other words, the regional response to precipitation differs from the global response. The reason for this may be that whilst temperature increases under climate change were predicted everywhere, the nature of precipitation changes varies greatly between regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Seventeen years (1982-98) of net carbon flux predictions for Southern Hemisphere continents have been analyzed, based on a simulation model using satellite observations of monthly vegetation cover. The NASA Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model was driven by vegetation cover properties derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer and radiative transfer algorithms that were developed for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The terrestrial ecosystem flux for atmospheric CO2 for the Amazon region of South America has been predicted between a biosphere source of -0.17 Pg C per year (in 1983) and a biosphere sink of +0.64 Pg C per year (in 1989). The areas of highest variability in net ecosystem production (NEP) fluxes across all of South America were detected in the south-central rain forest areas of the Amazon basin and in southeastern Brazil. Similar levels of variability were recorded across central forested portions of Africa and in the southern horn of East Africa, throughout Indonesia, and in eastern Australia. It is hypothesized that periodic droughts and wildfires associated with four major El Niño events during the 1980s and 1990s have held the net ecosystem carbon sink for atmospheric CO2 in an oscillating pattern of a 4-6-yr cycle, despite observations of increasing net plant carbon fixation over the entire 17-yr time period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien plants may provide considerable benefits to biodiversity in urban areas while showing low to moderate risk of negative impacts. Here, we evaluated the ecological role of the alien tree Bombax ceiba when interacting with nectar-feeding birds, including its potential for negative impacts as an invasive plant in an urban area in Brazil. At the community level, network analysis of 70 bird species interacting with flowers from 73 plant species showed B. ceiba to be one of the few "hub" plant species, indicating its importance as a nectar resource for urban birds. Specifically, B. ceiba flowers attracted 38 bird species with different habits (feeding guilds and habitat requirements), most of which fed on nectar, while some also consumed floral parts. On the other hand, the semiquantitative risk assessment for B. ceiba regarding potential negative impacts on native species and ecosystems indicated only a moderate risk, suggesting an overall benefit of keeping this tree species in the urban landscape. In this context, we highlight that the function, not only the origin of a species, may be used to plan "biophilic" cities through urban greening. Moreover, possible suppression of alien plants should consider the ecological role these species play in urban areas. Given that proper assessment of risk factors is carried out, urban afforestation with some alien plant species can promote biodiversity and ecosystem services by providing key resources during food scarcity for the fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monitoring of water resources through conventional methods, related to a manual process when performing the sample collection, followed by laboratory analysis, presents some difficulties concerning the logistics of the process, such as access to the interior of a lake, in addition to often being based on a small number of samples. The concept of the internet of things (IoT) is used here to collect data through five parametric probes contained in the floating station located inside a lake and inform them in real time continuously. The main objective of this research is to demonstrate the applicability of the IoT concept in the continuous monitoring of water in a lentic environment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a tool for this. Upon reaching this objective, the advantages observed in this research confirmed that the IoT paradigm is an essential resource, justifying a natural tendency to establish itself when there is a need to collect data efficiently and continuously. Furthermore, the experimental result proves the IoT concept's efficiency, agility, and reliability to environmental issues, especially regarding the most significant natural and indispensable resource for the planet, water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is an international environmental leader that has led important negotiations to set sustainable development targets over the last decade. However, in terms of national policies, Brazil is consistently making decisions that go against the global policies it ratifies. For instance, Brazilian governors have recently revised the Brazilian Forest Act - its main environmental legislation on private land, reduced the area covered by some protected areas and allowed the creation of new hydropower plants on undisturbed Amazonian rivers, and have plans to open indigenous reserves to mining. Among other consequences, these controversial actions made by national leaders may increase CO2 emissions and propel a massive loss of species, with irreversible consequences to the provision of ecosystem services and goods. In this paper, I present inconsistent actions made by policy and decision makers in Brazil and argue for a more focused environmental decision in Brazil, which matches the country's international position as a leader and that could help Brazil to achieve the status of a biodiversity superpower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As human-induced environmental changes reduce niche opportunities from global to local scales, permanent shifts in species traits alter ecosystem processes. Disentangling multiscale mechanisms driving temporal changes in coastal fish biodiversity is thus critical to conservation aims. From seasonal to multiyear periods, we investigated how local environmental variation and landscape features shape temporal beta diversity (abundance-based and trait-based dissimilarities, and their components of replacement and nestedness) per zones in bays and coastal lagoons, Southeastern Brazil. At larger temporal dimensions, unaccounted processes in individual systems influenced primarily taxonomic dissimilarity, whereas functional responses to variation in marine influence varied between types of system and zones. From 2 years to seasons, taxonomic and functional dissimilarities decreased with abundance-based species replacement, and both trait-based components, respectively. Replacement processes were primarily related to marine influence (transparency, salinity, pH, and tidal phase) at larger temporal dimensions, and habitat availability (mangroves and nearby estuaries) and complexity (forest cover and landscape urbanization) in seasons. Seasonal variations in tidal phase (lower) and pH (higher), respectively, promoted taxonomic (abundance gradients) and functional (fish trait loss) nestedness under shorter environmental gradients. Spatial and temporal balances between marine influence, habitat quality, and seascape connectivity drive temporal dissimilarities in coastal fish assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to describe the dynamic of a university innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as the actions developed by a private university in southern Brazil to create it. Through a descriptive qualitative approach, the research strategy consisted of a case study in which data were obtained through six interviews, non-participant observation, and documentary analysis. The results demonstrated that the university managed to reach an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem once they reinforced favorable institutional conditions for entrepreneurship and developed a structured department of entrepreneurship education that gives support to future entrepreneurs. Once the theme has not yet been widely explored in the literature, this article aims to contribute both to broaden the debate and to present a case of a South American private university that may serve as a model for other educational institutions that wish to create or reinforce their university innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two small and isolated wetlands located at the interface of the Atlantic Forest and Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) in São Paulo State, Brazil, we employed a pixel-based supervised classification approach using a combination of panchromatic and multispectral bands obtained from Landsat 2, 5, 7, and CBERS-04A satellites (ranging from 80 to 2 m/pixel). In addition, we acquired DJI Phantom 4 Pro UAV-RGB images in twelve different periods with a resolution of +5 cm/pixel. Furthermore, we utilized 2D and 3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) to obtain data on the surroundings and center of the wetlands. Finally, we conducted a climatological data analysis. The results from the multisource data allowed us to classify the ecosystems as geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs), for which we documented a seasonal month-to-month (12 months) spatial variation of inundated area, vegetation pattern, soil water interaction, and a point of surface and deep-subsurface water interaction. These results are essential for high-accuracy characterization of small wetlands' hydrodynamics and hydroperiods at the local scale. Our study contributes to optimizing GIWs understanding, monitoring, and reapplication of the methodology in other wetlands or small ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canga, or ironstone, ecosystems are hotspots of old-growth plant diversity and highly specialized cave invertebrates. These ancient metalliferous habitats are amongst the most threatened ecosystems because of the destruction caused by large-scale iron ore mining. International debate on biodiversity offsets is increasing because these mechanisms are seen as tools for potentially balancing economic development with conservation biodiversity. Leading mining companies worldwide, including some of the largest iron ore producers in Brazil, are signatories to offset principles and best practices that aim to achieve no net loss of habitats, species or ecosystem functions. We aimed to analyse whether Brazilian legal requirements for biodiversity offsets result in the achievement of conservation outcomes or in elevated threat of extinction in canga ecosystems. We evaluated technical reports that support decision-making related to environmental licensing for iron ore mining and specific offset proposals linked to the Atlantic Forest Act. We found a relevant net loss in canga ecosystems and observed shortcomings related to the equivalency and transparency of offset principles. These deficiencies are mainly related to lax norms and regulations and the absence of an integrated database for accessing information on environmental licensing processes. We argue that both policy flaws and low engagement by the Brazilian mining industry in implementing offset principles have increased the threat of extinction in canga ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecopreneurs emerged as a specific class of entrepreneurs that demonstrate skills to connect business activities with the natural environment. However, while literature has come a long way in addressing drivers and motivations behind value creation in 'traditional' entrepreneurs, a conspicuous gap remains when it comes to the generation of environmental value in the ecopreneurial cohort. In this article we assess these relationships by focusing on the impact of ecopreneurial perspectives on environmental value creation, considering the effects of empathy, moral obligation, ecopreneurial self-efficacy, perceived social support, and environmental engagement of ecopreneurs. The sample consisted of 130 ecopreneurs participating in the Atlantic Forest Connection Project in southeastern Brazil, home to one of the most important ecoregions in the world. Analytical procedures involved Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). According to the PLS-SEM results, antecedents with a positive effect comprehend ecopreneurial self-efficacy, perceived social support, and environmental engagement. Complementarily, the fsQCA analysis indicates that three different configurations are sufficient for a high level of value creation, where empathy and perceived social support function as pivotal elements across paths. These findings contribute to formulating initiatives that aim at fostering sustainable transitions in entrepreneurial ecosystems. The research also contributes with analytical insights to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in functional diversity has grown in recent years, indicating that knowledge on ecosystem functions gain importance. However, the incongruent use of terms may lead to misunderstandings and incomparable results. We aimed to review terms used in functional diversity among the Brazilian scientific community to identify if there is a lack of consensus in the terminology used. We applied online surveys to assess how these terms have been used by the Brazilian academics and searched for their definitions in the scientific literature. The definition of "ecological function" by Brazilian academics is like that of the niche, but we only found two articles defining such a term in the literature. Thus, it seems that "ecosystem function" is a more commonly used term outside of Brazil. The definition of "guilds" coincided with that used in the literature, although we still observed a lack of consensus in the latter. For "traits," "functional group," and "functional diversity" concepts, we found some discrepancy between the literature and questionnaires. These inconsistencies can be related to the use of different organizational levels for the definition of traits and to the practice of replacing species with functional groups in standard taxonomic diversity metrics, considering them as measurements of functional diversity. The adoption of cohesive terminology is crucial to ensure the comparability of scientific results in the scientific literature. However, finding a consensus in ecology represents a hard task; therefore, we encourage that, at least, researchers make clear which key concepts they adopted in their research to avoid misunderstandings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon losses have enormous impacts on ecosystem and indicative meaning for ecological stability, which are, therefore, necessary to be evaluated. In recent years, with the increasingly number of people settling in Amazon basin, large areas of tropical forests have been exploited, which took the mainly responsible for local deforestation.Carbon losses are hardly to be evaluated directly but can be inferred from the relationship between potential carbon and forest structures referring to previous studies. Remote sensing-based methods are widely used because of the obvious advantages of, such as the repeatability of data collection, high correlations between spectral bands and vegetation parameters etc. However, the selection of the spatial resolution of data is a critical issue that should be taken into consideration for it influences the performance of image texture thereby the discrimination of land covers, especial in complex forest stand structure. The approach for image feature extraction used in the study is explained.Based on the available datasets, this study aims to estimate the potential carbon losses across selected plot in Nova Vida Ranch, Rondônia, Brazil between 1989 and 2001. The results showed that carbon potentials decreased at least 1.1*108 (Kg C) during the 12 years, which would affect all the climate, wildlife habitats and biodiversity. The study suggested that it is significantly important to reduce the uncertainties that are caused by saturation in some of the tropic areas. To pursue this, the research on the integration of optical and radar data is worth to experiment in further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Innovation (2318-9975) is the property of International Journal of Innovation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Faxinalipterus minimus was originally described as a purported pterosaur from the Late Triassic (early Norian) Caturrita Formation of southern Brazil. Its holotype comprises fragmentary postcranial elements, whereas a partial maxilla was referred to the species. The assignment of Faxinalipterus minimus to Pterosauria has been questioned by some studies, but the specimen has never been accessed in detail after its original description. Here we provide a reassessment of Faxinalipterus minimus after additional mechanical preparation of the holotype. Our interpretations on the identity of several bones differ from those of the original description, and we found no support favoring pterosaur affinities for the taxon. The maxilla previously referred to Faxinalipterus minimus is disassociated from this taxon and referred to a new putative pterosauromorph described here from a partial skull and fragmentary postcranial elements. Maehary bonapartei gen. et sp. nov. comes from the same fossiliferous site that yielded Faxinalipterus minimus, but the lack of overlapping bones hampers comparisons between the two taxa. Our phylogenetic analysis places Faxinalipterus minimus within Lagerpetidae and Maehary bonapartei gen. et sp. nov. as the earliest-diverging member of Pterosauromorpha. Furthermore, the peculiar morphology of the new taxon reveals a new dental morphotype for archosaurs, characterized by conical, unserrated crowns, with a pair of apicobasally oriented grooves. These two enigmatic archosaurs expand our knowledge on the Caturrita Formation fauna and reinforce the importance of its beds on the understanding of Late Triassic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution incidents cause transient water quality alterations during the passage of contaminants' plume along watercourses, with plume passage period and contaminants' concentrations modelled by advection-dispersion equations. Despite being transient, water quality alterations can impose many impacts on the streamwater ecosystem services. This study proposes two frameworks based on Habitat Equivalency Analysis to be applied during assessments of streamwaters' pollution incidents and respective compensation panoramas: (1) Streamwater interim loss framework, to calculate interim loss debits caused by transient alterations in the streamwater quality; (2) Total credit framework, to calculate streamwater credits generated by improvements in selected watercourse's streamwater quality, produced by wastewater treatment plants in this study. The amount of credits calculated in the selected watercourses assists in the proposal of suitable compensatory remediation projects to offset interim losses. Frameworks' calculations are founded on IVA, a water quality index for protection of aquatic life and aquatic communities. Frameworks' calculations depend on three parameters: IVA, watercourses fluxes and the present value multiplier. The frameworks were calculated in ΔIVAxL, unit defined by multiplying sensed alterations in streamwater quality (as ΔIVA) and streamwater flux, in liters (L). The frameworks were applied to two major streamwater pollution incidents in Brazil, caused by the dam collapses of Mariana and Brumadinho, suggesting suitable compensatory remediations' projects for the respective streamwater interim losses. Depending on the selected project, Brumadinho compensation period varied from 2 to 5 years, with estimated costs in the 2020 Int.$ 5.7–18.7M range; Mariana compensation period varied from 8 to 20 years, with estimated costs in the 2020 Int.$ 16.7–58.1M range. Based on Brumadinho compensatory remediation projects, an average water pollution environmental damage value per interim loss was calculated, 1.17E-4 2020 Int.$/ΔIVAxL, which might be useful in comparing streamwater pollution evaluations around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers and streams provide many ecosystem services, including provision of food, water purification, and nutrient abatement. Ecosystem functioning, the set of processes that regulate the fluxes of energy and matter, is the backbone of ecosystem services. A myriad of human impacts affects the functioning of running waters. To reduce these impacts, strategies for conservation and recovery of riparian vegetation, as well as direct interventions for stream restoration, have been carried out. However, these actions have been more limited in sub/tropical than in temperate regions. Based on case studies from southeastern Brazil and comparisons with their temperate counterparts, we illustrate and discuss how restoration of riparian canopy cover and stream reconfiguration through the addition of wood can influence two key ecosystem processes: nutrient retention and metabolism. Our findings indicate that the distinctive environmental features of the sub/tropical climate strongly shape the effect of stream restoration on ecosystem functioning. However, as in the temperate climate, effects are rarely monitored for a long time after the restoration, indicating the need for their longer‐term assessment. Understanding how restoration evolves over time to impact the functioning of sub/tropical streams is fundamental for the management and conservation of these strategic water bodies and the relevant ecosystem services they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulating effective management plans for addressing the impacts of invasive non-native species (INNS) requires the definition of clear priorities and tangible targets, and the recognition of the plurality of societal values assigned to these species. These tasks require a multi-disciplinary approach and the involvement of stakeholders. Here, we describe procedures to integrate multiple sources of information to formulate management priorities, targets, and high-level actions for the management of INNS. We follow five good-practice criteria: justified, evidence-informed, actionable, quantifiable, and flexible. We used expert knowledge methods to compile 17 lists of ecological, social, and economic impacts of lodgepole pines (Pinus contorta) and American mink (Neovison vison) in Chile and Argentina, the privet (Ligustrum lucidum) in Argentina, the yellow-jacket wasp (Vespula germanica) in Chile, and grasses (Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa decumbens) in Brazil. INNS plants caused a greater number of impacts than INNS animals, although more socio-economic impacts were listed for INNS animals than for plants. These impacts were ranked according to their magnitude and level of confidence on the information used for the ranking to prioritise impacts and assign them one of four high-level actions—do nothing, monitor, research, and immediate active management. We showed that it is possible to formulate management priorities, targets, and high-level actions for a variety of INNS and with variable levels of available information. This is vital in a world where the problems caused by INNS continue to increase, and there is a parallel growth in the implementation of management plans to deal with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecosystem service framework has been instrumental in navigating local to global sustainability issues. Yet as ecosystem services (ES) focus on nature's positive contributions to people, some have argued that 'ecosystem disservices' (EDS), or nature's negative contributions, should also be taken into account to better orient sustainability policies. However, joint ES and EDS assessments remain rare in sustainability research, partly because of the persisting conceptual ambiguity around the EDS concept. This study aimed to develop these joint assessments and test their relevance in addressing sustainability issues. To this end, we devised a novel cascade model that helps to define ES and EDS in a multi-level context that considers both as coproduced by ecosystems and people. In order to explore the potential and limitations of this model, we then applied it in a Brazilian landscape where reconciling agriculture and forest conservation is a critical sustainability challenge. Using the model in comprehensive interviews with farmers about their perceptions and management practices of forests, we found that they had an overall positive valuation of forests, but identified both positive and negative interactions between forests and farms at different organizational levels. The model also revealed a vicious circle between crop expansion, a resulting decrease in certain ES and an increase in certain EDS, which might exacerbate tensions between agriculture and forest conservation in the future. Additionally, the model allowed a window on the diverse preventive and regulating practices that the interviewed farmers have adopted to cope with increasing EDS without necessarily harming biodiversity. Based on this case study, this novel cascade model seems a promising conceptual tool to uncover the interactions between ES and EDS, opening new research and policy avenues to support sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Management / Revista de Administração da UFSM is the property of Brazilian Journal of Management / Revista de Administracao da UFSM and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is produced in Ethiopia. However, the national average yield is far below the potential of the crop due to, among others, limited availability of stable, high yielding and disease tolerant upland rice varieties. This problem has seriously limited production of the crop in the country. Objective: The research was conducted to evaluate and release a stable high yielding and disease resistant/tolerant upland rice varieties for the typical upland rice ecosystems in Ethiopia. Material and Methods: The rice variety (currently named Pawe-2) introduced from Brazil in 2012 was evaluated along with NERICA-4 and Fogera-1 as local and standard check varieties, respectively, at Pawe and Metema (typical upland rice ecosystems) beginning from a 2013. After the evaluation of the variety for six years, verification trials were conducted in 2019 and in 2020. Results: Pawe-2 had better performances for most agronomic traits than the check varieties. The newly released variety, 'Pawe-2' had an average grain yield of 5058.93 kg ha-1, and it had yield advantages of 15.68% and 13.52% over Fogera-1 and NERICA-4 rice varieties, respectively, as shown by the results of the verification trails conducted in 2019. Moreover, Pawe-2 had a higher biomass yield, larger grain size, white caryopsis color, early maturity and resistance to diseases and pests than the check varieties. Conclusions: It is concluded that the variety 'Pawe-2' is superior to the other varieties in terms of yield, yield stability, and resistance to pests and diseases. Therefore, the National Variety Release Committee approved Pawe-2 for cultivation in the mid altitude (750-1800 meters above sea level) and similar typical upland rice ecosystems in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Neotropical Biology & Conservation is the property of Pensoft Publishers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urbanization transforms natural ecosystems, creating an environmental mosaic, characterized by native vegetation sites mixed with constructed sites. In this study, we compared dung beetle taxonomic and functional diversity between residential and greenspace sites (remnants of native vegetation) in an urban landscape in the Brazilian Cerrado. We sampled dung beetles in February (2013–2014 – 2015) in four sites of remnants of native Cerado (here called "greenspace") and four residential sites in the city of Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Greenspace sites are characterized by a mixture of plants of two distinct strata (phytophysiognomy Cerrado sensu stricto), a woody layer of trees and large shrubs, while residential sites are characterized by residential buildings (housing and commercial sites), unpaved roads with tree-lined streets. Dung beetle abundance and species richness were higher in greenspace sites. Species composition differed significantly among habitats but functional composition did not differ. Functional dispersion and functional richness was higher in greenspace sites. On the other hand, functional evenness was similar between greenspace and residential sites. In this study, we found higher taxonomic and functional components of dung beetle diversity in greenspace when compared to residential sites in the Brazilian Cerrado. Thus, we highlight the importance greenspace sites for the conservation of dung beetle biodiversity and consequently their ecological services (i.e. such as soil aeration, secondary seed dispersal, parasite regulation), which indirectly can affect human life quality in the urban matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate anthropogenic impacts on plant diversity in tropical montane grasslands, one of the most threatened ecosystems in Brazil, it will be essential to develop ex situ conservation strategies to preserve wild species. The lack of basic research on the seed storage behaviour of grassland species may, however, limit their use for reintroduction and restoration projects.We investigated seed storage behaviour at the community level by comparing the effects of cold–low RH (10 °C; 10% RH) and freezing–low RH (20 °C; 10% RH) conditions on seed viability, germination and dormancy of 47 species.Fresh seeds of 43% of the species showed primary dormancy. More than half of the species showed high seed survival responses (viability >60%) under both storage temperatures. Despite a variety of dormancy responses among the different species, the low RH storage conditions tested released dormancy for most species during 12‐ and 30‐month storage times. Multivariate analysis of the best (freezing–low RH, 30 months) storage condition evidenced the formation of five distinct groups, three with species having high conservation potential in seed banks.Although further studies are needed to test dormancy‐breaking treatments and improve seed conservation practices, this first approach to assessing seed banking techniques could contribute to demand for locally adapted seeds for ecological restoration projects in tropical montane grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large sharks generally occupy the highest trophic levels and are important links in the structuring of trophic networks. However, the decline of these predators has been observed worldwide, with population reduction rates reaching over 90% for some species. Through these declines, it is believed that the effect of the loss of predators could result in the disturbances in ecosystems. Based on this, the present study aimed to test the role of elasmobranchs in a coastal ecosystem in southern Brazil. Also, we tested if the changes in fishing effort cause changes in trophic structure. For this, a trophodynamic model was performed, based on reliable data on biomass and species feeding in the region. The mass balance modeling software Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) was used to assess the trophic position of sharks and rays, and to understand what their interactions are with other groups in the ecosystem. Among the parameters of the model, the Paraná coast showed to be an immature system, with high connectivity and medium complexity. The trophic levels of the coast varied from 1 to 4.4, with level > 4 composed of sharks, and rays belonging to the third trophic level. Sharks were strong impacted by fishing. According to changes in fishing effort simulations, we observed changes of intermediate levels due to the decline of large sharks. However, no cascade effects were observed from the simulations. The high diversity of the system, feeding overlap, and the redundancy between mesopredator and other teleosts can decrease the chances of a cascade effect occurring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental filtering and niche differentiation are often invoked to explain species coexistence at local scales. The ironstone campo rupestre of Brazil provides a biodiverse natural experiment in which edaphic gradients represent filters to test the hypothesis that plant community functional composition, despite converging on extreme stress tolerance, exhibits a co-structure with environmental parameters. At the Serra do Rola-Moça State Park, soil physico-chemical parameters were characterized alongside community-weighted mean plant functional traits and Grime's competitor, stress-tolerator and ruderal strategies for species at each sampling site. In general, species exhibited a high degree of stress tolerance (between 72.6% and 100%), while ruderalism was 0% for all species. Soil nutrients related to plant metabolism (e.g. P, Ca, Mg) were associated with the stress-tolerant strategy and with traits involved in the leaf economics and size spectra. Despite a major edaphic filter selecting stress tolerance, fine-scale microhabitat variability represented by soil parameters related to fertility (i.e. P, Ca, Mg) and water retention capacity (i.e. clay content) was associated with subtle variation in ecological strategies and functional traits of species in the ironstone campo rupestre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypersaline tidal flats (HTFs) are coastal ecosystems with freshwater deficits often occurring in arid or semi-arid regions near mangrove supratidal zones with no major fluvial contributions. Here, we estimate that organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were buried at rates averaging 21 (±6), 1.7 (±0.3) and 1.4 (±0.3) gm-2yr-1 , respectively, during the previous century in three contrasting HTF systems, one in Brazil (eutrophic) and two in Australia (oligotrophic). Although these rates are lower than those from nearby mangrove, saltmarsh and seagrass systems, the importance of HTFs as sinks for OC, TN and TP may be significant given their extensive coverage. Despite the measured short-term variability between net air–saltpan CO2 influx and emission estimates found during the dry and wet season in the Brazilian HTF, the only site with seasonal CO2 flux measurements, the OC sedimentary profiles over several decades suggest efficient OC burial at all sites. Indeed, the stable isotopes of OC and TN (δ13C and δ15N) along with C:N ratios show that microphytobenthos are the major source of the buried OC in these HTFs. Our findings highlight a previously unquantified carbon as well as a nutrient sink and suggest that coastal HTF ecosystems could be included in the emerging blue carbon framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article identifies how collaborations with startups can influence digital innovation in Brazilian manufactures. The theoretical basis relates the concepts R&D collaboration, open innovation and Industry 4.0. A qualitative multiple case study was carried out with four startups incubated at C2i, International Innovation Center, located in the south of Brazil. The results indicate that the sources of knowledge and innovation from partnerships with companies, universities, government development agency, and C2i incubator, characterise the intense use of open innovation practices by startups. It has also been found that: the complexity of the startups innovation ecosystem is seen as a strategic asset; and the nature of these collaborations is characterised by informal management, coupled with a still low maturity stage of startups. This study contributes to evidence of the nature, dynamics and consequences of startups collaborations in the development of digitalisation in Brazil, and to demonstrate the Industry 4.0 difficulties and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]