Um dos objetivos centrais da ecologia é compreender as influências recíprocas entre a biodiversidade e o funcionamento do ecossistema. Por representarem a relação entre as funções dos organismos e os processos ambientais, as perspectivas funcionais podem refletir aspectos da organização e da dinâmica das comunidades biológicas não abrangidos pelas abordagens tradicionais. Tendo isso em vista, este estudo apresenta um levantamento bibliográfico sobre o surgimento e desenvolvimento de conceitos ecológicos relacionados à biologia das comunidades e a ecologia funcional, compreendendo uma discussão sobre os consensos adotados, intuitos da pesquisa e sua relação aos parâmetros baseados em agrupamentos taxonômicos. Observou-se que a síntese e a associação entre os fundamentos funcionais e taxonômicos podem compreender vias mais promissoras na realização de pesquisas voltadas ao estudo da dinâmica da biodiversidade, permanecendo necessários: um referencial teórico conciso e bem estabelecido, determinações precisas sobre os parâmetros adotados e a busca por práticas com fins de generalização que evidenciem padrões ecológicos. Palavras-chave: Biodiversidade; grupo funcional; funcionamento do ecossistema; riqueza; abundância. ABSTRACT HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND STUDY OF CONCEPTS ON FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY The reciprocal influences between biodiversity and ecosystem function comprise a central objective of ecology. By represent the relationship between the functions of the organisms and environmental processes, the functional perspectives might reveal aspects of the organization and dynamics of biological communities unsolved by traditional approaches. About these points, this study presents a literature research over the emergence and development of general ecological concepts related to biology of communities and functional ecology, including a discussion of the adopted consensus, aims of study and their association with the traditional parameters of research. It was noted that the synthesis and association of taxonomic and functional perspectives may comprise the most promising areas on realization of studies of biodiversity dynamics. However, is still necessary: a well established and concise theoretical support, accurate determinations of adopted parameters and the search for practices for uncover ecological patterns with purposes of generalization.
Biological collections may often be an important source of information about natural history, behavioral habits, and ecology as they contain samples of organisms collected in different places and moments in times. In here, we used museum specimens to examine how populations of three species of Bombus-Bombus bellicosus Smith, Bombus morio (Swederus), and Bombus pauloensis Friese-vary over time with respect to abundance and biomass of each sex and caste. The study included all specimens of these three bumblebee species deposited in the insect collection of the Federal University of Parana that were collected in eastern Paraná, in southern Brazil. Seasonality is most noticeable in the peak of queen activity (number of individuals in collections) in early spring, after dormancy during the winter. Queens then founded nests, and workers and males began to become more abundant during spring and summer. Worker abundance peaked at the end of summer and beginning of fall and may correspond to increasing activity for production of new males and gynes. Male abundance peaks are during the reproductive period. Thus, we show with these data and analyses that museum collections can be very useful tools to examine temporal and ecological processes. We recommend greater use of museum accessions to explore these kinds of patterns that may otherwise go unnoticed.
The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a South American native rodent with an outstanding capacity to colonize urban environments. In Curitiba, a city worldwide known for its urban planning, the capybara adaptation comprises an interesting case to better understand the challenges in addressing Aichi targets at the local level. Specialized literature, official data and interviews indicate that this species is spreading throughout parks interconnected by rivers. This study illustrates an intricate relationship between capybaras and the urban socio-ecological environment, suggesting that the city only partially addresses Aichi targets. Local authorities are likely to face several challenges for adopting a global agenda on biodiversity. Producing robust knowledge on the urban biota is one fundamental step towards this goal.
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