Science has a critical role to play in guiding more sustainable development trajectories. Here, we present the Sustainable Amazon Network ( Rede Amazônia Sustentável , RAS): a multidisciplinary research initiative involving more than 30 partner organizations working to assess both social and ecological dimensions of land-use sustainability in eastern Brazilian Amazonia. The research approach adopted by RAS offers three advantages for addressing land-use sustainability problems: (i) the collection of synchronized and co-located ecological and socioeconomic data across broad gradients of past and present human use; (ii) a nested sampling design to aid comparison of ecological and socioeconomic conditions associated with different land uses across local, landscape and regional scales; and (iii) a strong engagement with a wide variety of actors and non-research institutions. Here, we elaborate on these key features, and identify the ways in which RAS can help in highlighting those problems in most urgent need of attention, and in guiding improvements in land-use sustainability in Amazonia and elsewhere in the tropics. We also discuss some of the practical lessons, limitations and realities faced during the development of the RAS initiative so far.

Sensitive and cost-effective indicators of aquatic ecosystem condition in Amazon streams are necessary to assess the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on those systems in a viable and ecologically meaningful manner. We conducted the present study in the municipality of Paragominas, state of Pará, northern Brazil, where we sampled adult dragonflies in 50 100-m-long wadeable stream sites in 2011. We collected 1769 specimens represented by 11 families, 41 genera and 97 species. The suborder Zygoptera contributed 961 individuals and Anisoptera 808. Among the 97 recorded species, nine were classified as useful indicators of ecological condition, with four species being associated with more degraded streams (three Anisoptera, one Zygoptera) and five with more preserved streams (all were Zygoptera). Anisoptera (dragonflies) tend to provide more useful indicators of more degraded environments because they have more efficient homeostatic mechanisms and are more mobile, enabling them to tolerate a wider range of environmental conditions. By contrast, Zygoptera (damselflies) tend to provide a more useful role as indicators of more preserved environments and high levels of environmental heterogeneity because of their smaller body sizes and home ranges and greater ecophysiological restrictions. We conclude from our assessment of this low-order Amazonian stream system that (i) the occurrence of specific odonate species is strongly associated with the configuration of riparian vegetation, (ii) agricultural activities appear to be the main factor determining changes in the composition of odonate assemblages and (iii) these insects can act as useful indicators of the ecological consequences of riparian habitat loss and disturbance. Because generalist species invade moderately degraded areas, those areas may have high species richness but host few species of Zygoptera. Therefore, preserving dense riparian vegetation is necessary to maintain aquatic ecological condition, and that condition can be rehabilitated by planting new trees. Both require enforcing existing environmental regulations, various types of incentives and educating local communities.

Conservation initiatives overwhelmingly focus on terrestrial biodiversity, and little is known about the freshwater cobenefits of terrestrial conservation actions. We sampled more than 1500 terrestrial and freshwater species in the Amazon and simulated conservation for species from both realms. Prioritizations based on terrestrial species yielded on average just 22% of the freshwater benefits achieved through freshwater-focused conservation. However, by using integrated cross-realm planning, freshwater benefits could be increased by up to 600% for a 1% reduction in terrestrial benefits. Where freshwater biodiversity data are unavailable but aquatic connectivity is accounted for, freshwater benefits could still be doubled for negligible losses of terrestrial coverage. Conservation actions are urgently needed to improve the status of freshwater species globally. Our results suggest that such gains can be achieved without compromising terrestrial conservation goals.

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A retirada ou a substituição da vegetação ripária provoca uma alteração no ambiente físico, no fluxo sazonal e na qualidade química da água. Essas modificações podem causar a diminuição da riqueza pela extinção local de espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do distúrbio da integridade ambiental sobre a riqueza e composição de espécies de Odonata adultos em córregos com diferentes níveis de conservação, na Bacia do Rio Suiá-Missu, Mato Grosso, Brasil. As modificações nos sistemas aquáticos afetaram a comunidade de Odonata, provavelmente devido às exigências ecofisiológicas e comportamentais relacionadas a adultos e larvas. Anisoptera, que necessitam de ambientes com maior incidência de sol devido ao tamanho do corpo, apresentaram maior riqueza de espécies em ambientes com menor cobertura vegetal. Por outro lado, os Zygoptera geralmente habitam riachos com cobertura vegetal mais densa, e por isso, apresentaram um decréscimo de sua riqueza em locais alterados, devido à maior entrada de luz e/ou variação do calor. Assim, para as duas subordens, as alterações ambientais não precisam ser severas para produzir modificações significativas na composição, indicando que os serviços ecossistêmicos poderiam ser perdidos, mesmo com alterações parciais do meio físico. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: ambientes aquáticos; biodiversidade; integridade ambiental; libélulas. Composition and richness of Odonata (Insecta) in streams with different levels of conservation in a Cerrado-Amazonian Forest ecotone ABSTRACTThe removal or substitution of riparian vegetation causes disturbance in physical environment, seasonal water flow and water chemical quality. These modifications can cause decrease in species richness by local extinctions. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of disturbance in the physical environmental on the richness and species composition of Odonata adults in streams with different levels of conservation in the river Suiá-Missu basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Modifications in the aquatic systems affected the Odonata community, probably because their ecophysiological and behavioral requirements of adults and larvae. Anisoptera species, which require sunny environments because of their body size, had higher species richness in environments with low plant cover. On the other hand, Zygoptera species, which generally inhabit streams with dense vegetation, presented a decrease in richness in disturbed environments, as a result high sunlight radiation and/or variations in temperature. Hence, in both suborders, environmental perturbations do not need to be severe to change species composition, indicating that ecosystem services could be lost, even with only partial alterations in physical environment.

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