Assess the state of public green areas, their importance and influence on environmental quality and living in urban centers is an arduous task considering the conceptual and scientific regarding quantification and data analysis methods divergence. In this study, we aimed to determine two indicators of public green areas relative to the percentage of public green areas (PPGA) and the public green areas index (PGAI) in the urban area of São Carlos, SP. The study area was organized into administrative regions (ARs), using satellite images, topographical maps of 1:10,000 Geographic and Cartographic Institute (1990) and data provided by the Municipality of São Carlos. The results show that public green areas comprise 6.55% of the municipality, with a public green areas index (PGAI) of 18.85 m 2 /inhabitant, indicating good urban environmental quality when compared to rates of 15 m 2 /capita for public green areas for recreation, suggested by the Brazilian Society of Urban Forestry. The differences between the administrative regions are concern with situations from 4.16 to 36.30 m 2 /inhabitant. In this context, it is recommend specific public policies and popular participation in the process of continuous improvement for increasing public green areas in the less favored regions. The Genebrino method applied to indicators of public green areas (GPGA -amount of public green areas divided by population density), showed a commendable goal above 40% for urban environmental quality.Keywords: urban forest, administrative regions, Genebrino Index, planning urban spaces. Áreas verdes públicas e a qualidade ambiental urbana do Município de São Carlos, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil ResumoDiagnosticar a situação das áreas verdes públicas, sua importância e influência na qualidade ambiental e de vida nos centros urbanos é uma tarefa árdua, considerando a divergência conceitual e de métodos científicos no que tange a quantificação e a análise dos dados. Neste estudo, objetivou-se determinar dois indicadores de áreas verdes públicas, referentes ao percentual de áreas verdes públicas (PAVP) e ao índice de áreas verdes públicas (IAVP) no perímetro urbano do Município de São Carlos, SP. A área de estudo foi organizada em regiões administrativas (RAs), utilizando imagens de satélite, cartas topográficas 1:10.000 do Instituto Geográfico e Cartográfico (1990) e dados fornecidos pela Prefeitura Municipal de São Carlos. Os resultados demonstram que as áreas verdes públicas compreendem 6,55% do território do município, com um índice de áreas verdes públicas (IAVP) de 18,85 m 2 /habitante, indicando uma boa qualidade ambiental urbana quando comparado aos índices de 15 m 2 /habitante para áreas verdes públicas destinadas à recreação, sugerido pela Sociedade Brasileira de Arborização Urbana. As diferenças entre as regiões administrativas são preocupantes, com situações de 4,16 a 36,30 m 2 /habitantes. Neste contexto, recomendam-se políticas públicas específicas e a participação popular no processo de melhoria contínua para o incremento ...

BackgroundWetlands are ecosystems in which vectors of avian haemosporidians live and reproduce and where waterbirds join to breed in colonies. Brazil has wetlands at different latitudes, which enables testing the influence of the ecological factors on the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidians. We identified avian haemosporidians in waterbird species in three wetlands and investigated the effects of vector habitat suitability, landscape and host characteristics on the diversity and prevalence of these parasites.MethodsWe created a map with the probability of occurrence of avian haemosporidian vectors using maximum-entropy modelling based on references addressing species known to be vectors of haemosporidians in birds in Brazil. We determined the prevalence and diversity index of haemosporidians in the great egret (Ardea alba) (n = 129) and roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) (n = 180) and compared the findings to data for the wood stork (Mycteria americana) (n = 199).ResultsWe report the first record of Plasmodium in the family Threskiornithidae: four lineages in the roseate spoonbill, which also presented one lineage of Haemoproteus. In the family Ardeidae, we found three Plasmodium lineages in the great egret. The similar habitat suitability for vectors found in three wetlands explains the pattern of haemosporidian diversity determined for great egret and wood stork populations. Comparisons of haemosporidian diversity within each waterbird species and between regions showed a higher level in the central-western roseate spoonbill population than in the northern population (P = 0.021). Removing the host effect, we discussed the results obtained in terms of characteristics of the Pantanal region. Comparisons of Plasmodium spp. prevalence among waterbird species within the same wetland showed higher level in roseate spoonbill (74%) than those found in the great egret (21%) and wood stork (11%). Excluding the environmental effect, we interpreted result focusing host characteristics that favour infection: time required for nestlings to be covered by feathers and migratory behaviour.ConclusionsThe map of habitat suitability showed that wetlands located in a 30° latitudinal range offer similar conditions for avian vectors species and diversity of haemosporidians. The lineages described in waterbirds were previously identified in birds of prey as Plasmodium paranucleophilum.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2847-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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-(Richness and vertical stratification of vascular epiphytes in Jataí Ecological Station -a Southeast Brazilian Cerrado area). The richness and vertical stratification of vascular epiphytes was studied in Jataí Ecological Station (EEJ), São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 1,574 epiphytes were recorded, corresponding to 29 species, 20 genera, and seven families. Angiosperms were represented by 23 species and Pteridophytes by six species. The characteristic form, holoepiphytes, was dominant in the area (93.1%). Epiphytes specialists were most common in the area, contributing with about 55% of species (17% trunk epiphytes and 38% canopy epiphytes); generalist species contributed 42%, and hemiepiphytes, with 3%. The intermediate zones had the highest number of species and more number of records. There was a significant difference among species that comprise the lower zones and the upper zones in the host trees. The richness and distribution of epiphytes are determined by some climatic factors, but the moisture and light intensity are the most important regulatory factors in the cerrado area researched. Key words: Ecological types, growth form, hotspots, phytosociology of epiphytes RESUMO -(Riqueza e estratificação vertical de epífitas vasculares na Estação Ecológica de Jataí -área de Cerrado no Sudeste do Brasil). A riqueza e a estratificação vertical das epífitas vasculares foram estudadas na Estação Ecológica deJataí (EEJ), SP, Brasil. No total, 1.574 epífitas pertencentes a 29 espécies, 20 gêneros e sete famílias foram encontradas. As Angiospermas foram representadas por 23 espécies e as Samambaias, por seis espécies. Os holoepífitos característicos formam dominantes na área (93,1%). Epífitas especialistas foram predominantes na área, cerca de 55% das espécies (17% de epífitas de fuste e 38% de epífitas de copa); as espécies generalistas contribuíram com cerca de 42% e as hemiepífitas com 3%. As zonas intermediárias apresentaram maior número de espécies e maior número de registros. Houve diferença significativa entre as espécies que compõem as zonas inferiores e as zonas superiores nos forófitos. A riqueza e a distribuição de epífitas são determinadas pelos fatores microclimáticos, sendo a umidade e a intensidade luminosa os fatores reguladores mais importantes na área de Cerrado estudada. Palavras-chave: Fitossociologia de epífitas, forma de crescimento, hotspots, tipos ecológicos

RESUMO -Objetivou-se caracterizar morfologicamente e descrever o ciclo vegetativo de 11 linhagens de guandu previamente selecionadas por diversos critérios agronômicos e submetidas a processos de autofecundação, seleção e multiplicação, com vistas à obtenção de linhagens puras. A descrição foi efetuada com base em descritores internacionalmente aceitos para a espécie e concluiu-se que as 11 linhagens apresentaram características morfológicas distintas, pelas quais podem ser facilmente identificadas.Palavras-chave: avaliação de forrageira, descrição botânica, Fabaceae, leguminosa forrageira tropical Description of Eleven Pigeon-pea Pure Lines Selected in São Carlos, SPABSTRACT -The purpose of this work was to morphologically characterize and describe the vegetative cycle of eleven previously selected pigeon-pea lines submitted to self pollination, selection and multiplication, to obtain pure lines. All descriptions were accomplished through the use of internationally accepted descriptors for the species and it was concluded that all eleven lines can be easily distinguished by means of their morphological traits.

Vegetation coverage can be inappropriately used, especially in the absence of proper planning, and can result in a reduction of the occupied area. Demographic and economic alterations are factors that contribute to the degradation of vegetation coverage in landscape units. In addition, because vegetation is essential for protection of recharge areas in aquifers, the fragmentation of habitats in hydrographic basins causes changes in climate temperature, soil erosion, eutrophication, and siltation of watercourses. This study analyzed the vegetation coverage from the municipality of São Carlos, State of São Paulo (SP) to assess the environmental quality of water resources in the hydrographic basins and sub-basins, in the Guarani Aquifer System. The vegetation coverage was analyzed in three scales: municipality, Hydric Resource Management Units (UGRHIs), and hydrographic sub-basins based on map overlapping from the LAPA/UFSCar Digital Cartographic Collection and visual interpretation of LANDSAT 5, TM sensor, Path 220, row 075 on satellite images. The municipality of São Carlos has vegetation coverage of 31,776.4 hectares, in which 57% is classified as preserved vegetation typology, and 58% is over the Guarani aquifer recharge area. The vegetation coverage with savannas, riparian forests, and mesophyll forests represented 28% of the total studied area and is located over 28.3% of the Guarani aquifer recharge area extension. The Permanent preservation areas (PPAs) represent 21.6% of the total vegetation coverage with 51% of it being vegetated. The municipality has a total of 686 springs (Topographic maps of IBGE, escale 1:50,000) distributed on an average of 60 springs per km 2 ; 40% of these are protected by vegetation.Keywords: sub-basins, vegetation coverage, springs, Environmental Protection Areas. Cobertura vegetal nas bacias hidrográficas na região central do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil ResumoAlterações demográficas e econômicas são fatores que contribuem para a degradação da cobertura vegetal em unidades de paisagem. Além disso, a vegetação é essencial para a proteção de áreas de recarga de aquíferos. A fragmentação do habitat provoca mudanças climáticas locais, a erosão dos solos, a eutrofização e assoreamento dos cursos de água. Assim, o conhecimento sobre a hidrologia , flora e fauna de corpos d'água são essenciais para as estratégias conservacionistas. Este estudo analisou a cobertura vegetal do município de São Carlos, Estado de São Paulo (SP) para avaliar a qualidade ambiental dos recursos hídricos nas bacias hidrográficas e sub-bacias hidrográficas do Sistema Aquífero Guarani. A cobertura vegetal foi analisada em três escalas -municipal, Unidades de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos (UGRHIs) e sub-bacias hidrográficas -com base no mapa de sobreposição da Coleção Cartográfica Digital LAPA/UFSCar e na interpretação visual de imagens LANDSAT 5 TM sensor, caminho 220, linha 075 no satélite imagens. O município de São Carlos tem cobertura de vegetação em 31.776,4 hectares, dos quais 57% são classific...

Introduction: Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are a growing global health problem. This study analyzed the spatial distribution of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika cases in São Luís, Maranhão, from 2015 to 2016 and investigated the association between socioenvironmental and economic factors and hotspots for mosquito proliferation. Methods: This was a socio-ecological study using data from the National Information System of Notifiable Diseases. The spatial units of analysis were census tracts. The incidence rates of the combined cases of the three diseases were calculated and smoothed using empirical local Bayes estimates. The spatial autocorrelation of the smoothed incidence rate was measured using Local Moran's I and Global Moran's I. Multiple linear regression and spatial autoregressive models were fitted using the log of the smoothed disease incidence rate as the dependent variable and socioenvironmental factors, demographics, and mosquito hotspots as independent variables. Results: The findings showed a significant spatial autocorrelation of the smoothed incidence rate. The model that best fit the data was the spatial lag model, revealing a positive association between disease incidence and the proportion of households with surrounding garbage accumulation. Conclusions: The distribution of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika cases showed a significant spatial pattern, in which the high-risk areas for the three diseases were explained by the variable "garbage accumulated in the surrounding environment," demonstrating the need for an intersectoral approach for vector control and prevention that goes beyond health actions.

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