Phosphorus is one of the most abundant chemical elements but has a low bioavailability index. Therefore, microrganisms play a fundamental role in providing insoluble phosphorus to plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of bacteria to solubilize inorganic phosphates in soils with different fertilization histories. Soil and rhizosphere samples were collected from a Red Distroferric Latosol, including a control without mineral or organic fertilizer (C), treatment with mineral fertilizer (MF) according to the needs of each crop, and treatment with organic fertilizer [300 m3 ha-1 of swine wastewater (SW)]. The medium containing calcium phytate presented more colony-forming units (CFU) for all fertilization histories, and growth in treatments C and MF was 50% higher than treatment with SW. CFU values in soils treated with SW were lower than those in the other treatments, and the diversity of insoluble phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) was higher in treatment C. These results indicate a negative relationship between phosphorus concentrations and the number of PSB.

Many studies have determined the concentration of trace elements in river sediments in Brazil. Notwithstanding, mercury assessments are scarce, especially because of exclusive extraction techniques and expensive analysis techniques. Still, this element is known for its toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation, making its presence in the environment an important factor for biota and human health. For this reason, the objective of this study was to determine the mercury concentration in the sediment of the Pelotas River basin, located on the border of the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. The sediment was collected at eight locations of the Pelotas basin and, after drying, the mercury was quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry based on the Zeeman-background correction, coupled to a pyrolysis reactor. The mercury concentrations in the sediments of the Pelotas River varied from 40.5 ng g-1 to 62.0 ng g-1 and presented a positive correlation with the fraction of silt and clay. The concentrations of mercury found in sediments of the Pelotas River basin have a low probability of negatively affecting the biota. Nonetheless, given the persistence and bioaccumulation potential of this element, the aforementioned region needs further studies to quantify the risks it may cause on the local biota and human health.

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Jéssica Engel do Nascimento 3 MODEL, K. J.; REMOR, M. B.; NASCIMENTO, J. E. do. Levantamento qualitativo e reprodutivo da ornitofauna dos parques Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos e parque ecológico Paulo Gorski, Cascavel -PR. Arq. Ciênc. Vet. Zool. UNIPAR, Umuarama, v. 17, n. 2, p. 107-114, abr./jun. 2014 QUALITATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE SURVEY OF ORNITHOFAUNA AT PARQUE TARQUÍNIO JOSLIN DOS SANTOS AND PARQUE ECOLÓGICO PAULO GORSKI, CASCAVEL -PRABSTRACT: This study aims to survey and qualitatively characterize the reproductive behavior of the diurnal ornithofauna at Parque Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos (P1) and Parque Ecológico Paulo Gorski (P2) in the city of Cascavel -PR, in order to identify anthropogenic interference in the conservation and diversity of urban parks. The bird composition and reproductive behavior were assessed by direct observations with the aid of a guide for identifying birds. In P1, a total of 38 species were recorded, from 20 families. Among these, it is important to highlight Basileuterus flaveolus and Sporophila plumbea, which are endangered, and Dendroica estriata, a migratory bird. In P2, a total of 37 species were recorded, belonging to 21 families. Reproduction was analyzed using two parameters -nesting and behavior. Morphometric data, such as height from the ground, top/bottom, depth of oologic chamber, with larger and smaller diameter, supporting substrate and construction material of nests. If these nests were considered active, the number and color pattern of eggs were quantified. In P1, nesting of Zenaida auriculata, Furnarius rufus, Pitangus sulphuratus and Machetornis rixosa, were found only, but it was only possible to collect morphometric and behavioral data from the first species. However, in P2, nests of Zenaida auriculata, Furnarius rufus, Machetornis rixosa, Megarhynchus pitangua, Turdus rufiventris, Crotophaga ani and Butorides striata were found, with morphometric data being collected only from Zenaida nests. From this species and the other ones, it was possible to record the behaviors of nest defense and incubation of eggs and hatchlings. It is important to emphasize the need to preserve urban parks for the maintenance of the biodiversity of local birds. KEYWORDS: Ornithofauna. Nesting. Morphology. Reproductive behavior. ALZAMIENTO CUALITATIVO Y REPRODUCTIVO DE LA ORNITOFAUNA DE LOS PARQUES TARQUÍNIO JOSLIN DOS SANTOS Y PARQUE ECOLÓGICO PAULO GORSKI, CASCAVEL -PRRESUMEN: Esta investigación ha tenido como objetivo el alzamiento cualitativo y caracterización del comportamiento reproductivo de la ornitofauna de hábitos diurnos en el Parque Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos (P1) y en el Parque Ecológico

WATER QUALITY AT RIO DAS PEDRAS, WESTERN PARANÁ, USING BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES AS INDICATORSABSTRACT: Benthic macroinvertebrates are widely used as bioindicators of water quality due to their physiological and morphological characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the water quality at Rio das Pedras, in the city of Matelândia, Western Paraná, in the dry season, using benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators, and to identify the optimal time for the incubation of litter bags. Sixty litter bags were prepared with leaves from native trees from the riparian forest and incubated in Rio das Pedras river. Eight litter bags were collected at intervals of 3, 7, 14, 28, 35 and 42 days. The benthic macroinvertebrates were identified at the family level and the Biological Monitoring Working Party Score System index was applied. With this study, it can be concluded that the Rio das Pedras river has unpolluted waters, demonstrating that the system has hardly been changed. The litter bag incubation period in order to obtain the results for evaluating the water quality index for the Biological Monitoring Working Party Score System was of seven days, and the period to analyze the structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was of 28 days. KEY WORDS: Colonization. Litter bags. Incubation time. CALIDAD DE LAS AGUAS DEL RIO DAS PEDRAS, OESTE DEL PARANÁ, UTILIZANDO MACROINVERTEBRADOS BENTÓNICOS COMO BIOINDICADORES RESUMEN:Los macroinvertebrados bentónicos son ampliamente utilizados como bioindicadores de calidad del agua en todo el mundo, debido sus características fisiológicas y morfológicas. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido evaluar la calidad de las aguas del Rio das Pedras, en el municipio de Matelândia, oeste del Estado de Paraná, en la estación seca, utilizándose de macroinvertebrados bentónicos como bioindicador, e identificar el tiempo ideal de incubación de los litter bags. Sesenta litter bags han sido confeccionados con hojas de árboles nativas procedentes de la floresta ribera e incubados en el Rio das Pedras.Ocho litter bags fueron recogidos en intervalos de tres, siete, catorce, veintiocho, treinta y cinco y cuarenta y dos días. Los