Farmers’ perceptions of birds’ interactions with agricultural production systems are fundamental to species conservation efforts. In the present study, we evaluated the perceptions of birds held by farmers who engage in conventional and non-conventional agricultural production processes and the implications of potential differences in these perceptions on species conservation. To accomplish this, data were collected using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and other complementary sources of information gathered from 191 farmers in northeastern Brazil. Although some similarities were identified among the farmers in their perceptions and local ecological knowledge (LEK) of birds, differences existed between the conventional and non-conventional farmers in their attitudes toward, conflicts with, and usage of bird species. Compared to the conventional farmers, the non-conventional farmers could identify more bird species, possessed more favorable attitudes toward birds, and engaged in practices more beneficial to the conservation of avifauna. The perceptions that were identified were related to the type of agriculture practiced, and such perceptions may affect the conservation of bird species. Therefore, the adoption of certain agricultural practices has important implications for conservation. Our results indicate the need for investment in public policies, programs and actions that account for farmers’ knowledge and perceptions. Such investments will contribute to the development and adoption of practices supporting wild bird conservation in agricultural areas.

Objetivo: analisar a importância econômica e ambiental do processo de rerrefino do óleo lubrificante usado ou contaminado, bem como, debater o seu atual cenário. Referencial teórico: A Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas NBR 10004 (ABNT), classifica o Óleo Lubrificante Usado ou Contaminado (OLUC) como resíduo perigoso. O gerenciamento correto do OLUC torna-se um desafio da sociedade atual, sendo imprescindível que se realize a sua reciclagem por meio do processo de rerrefino, a fim de evitar a contaminação da água, do solo e do ar. Método: foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura a partir do resgate de artigos científicos indexados nas bases de dados da Scielo, Scopus e Google Scholar. Após uma breve triagem, foram selecionadas 16 experiências. Resultados e conclusão: o gerenciamento adequado dos óleos lubrificantes usados se alinha com ideias discutidas mundialmente, em termos de desenvolvimento sustentável, trazendo benefícios significativos na esfera social, econômica e ambiental. No entanto, faz-se necessário reestruturar práticas de gerenciamento do resíduo e ações para aumentar o desempenho da logística reversa. Implicações da pesquisa: estímulo ao debate em torno da problemática do descarte do óleo contaminado ou usado no meio ambiente, como também, repensar maneiras de reuso de produtos perigosos. Originalidade/valor: identificou os impactos que o gerenciamento incorreto do óleo lubrificante usado ou contaminado pode causar e pontuou os benefícios para a conservação ambiental, justiça social e o crescimento econômico.

Este artigo teve o objetivo de identificar a estrutura e padrões de relações existentes entre os indicadores de desempenho não-financeiro em empresas localizadas em Serra Talhada/PE. Para a realização dessa pesquisa foram analisadas 46 empresas de médio e grande porte que atuam no setor de varejo e investigados 18 indicadores de desempenho. O instrumento utilizado para a coleta de dados foi o questionário. Para atingir o objetivo proposto, foram utilizadas três abordagens metodológicas multivariadas complementares: a análise de agrupamentos, o escalonamento multidimensional e a análise fatorial. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que apenas dez indicadores de desempenho puderam ser considerados como pertencentes a algum agrupamento de maneira significativa. Através da análise de agrupamentos foi observada a presença de três agrupamentos, o que foi corroborado pelo escalonamento multi-dimensional. Na análise fatorial foram encontrados apenas dois fatores. Foram encontradas evidências inerentes aos padrões de relações entre alguns dos indicadores de desempenho não-financeiro investigados.

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Urban areas are commonly developed with inadequate planning, which can lead to communities settling in unstable locations, creating a need to either relocate these settlements to more appropriate places, or to stabilize the terrain. These actions must be combined with practices focused on reduction of environmental impacts, such as CO2 emissions. Therefore, this research aimed to compare the carbon footprint of reinforced soil structures to a conventional method. Two types of retaining wall using geogrid reinforcements were designed as an alternative to a cantilever wall made of reinforced concrete. After the design process, the volume of necessary material was estimated for each structure as well as the amount of CO2 emissions related to their production. The designed reinforced soil structures obtained a much smaller carbon footprint when compared to the reinforced concrete structure. Due to the increasing demand for terrain stabilization in urban areas, structures that are less impactful to the environment should be prioritized especially when they can also be used to promote vegetation growth. Thus, reinforced soil structures are a great alternative to common methods because of their smaller carbon footprint and they can also bring several benefits to the landscape, such as an increase in vegetated area.

Abstract Wilson’s Plover, Charadrius wilsonia, is widely distributed in coastal areas of the Americas. This report presents the first record of breeding in this species on Coroa do Avião Island, on the coast of Pernambuco, and in the estuary of the Cardoso and Camurupim rivers, on the coast of Piauí, in northeastern Brazil, extending the known area of reproduction of this species in this region. One breeding pair was observed on October 29th 2014 on Coroa do Avião Island, and a second pair was recorded on April 6th 2016 in the Cardoso/Camurupim estuary on the Piauí coast. Both the male and the female contributed to the incubation of the eggs. The nest on Coroa do Avião island was camouflaged by the local vegetation, but despite this, the eggs were attacked by a predator. Possible predators observed on the island included Caracara plancus and domestic cats and dogs.

BackgroundThis paper discusses the results of ethno-ornithological research conducted on the local ecological knowledge (LEK) of artisanal fishers in northeast Brazil between August 2013 and October 2014.MethodsThe present study analyzed the LEK of 240 artisanal fishermen in relation to Nearctic shorebirds and the factors that may be affecting their populations. We examined whether differences occurred according to the gender and age of the local population. The research instruments included semi-structured and check-list interviews.ResultsWe found that greater knowledge of migratory birds and the areas where they occur was retained by the local men compared with the local women. Half of the male respondents stated that the birds are always in the same locations, and most of the respondents believed that changes in certain populations were caused by factors related to habitat disturbance, particularly to increases in housing construction and visitors to the island. The main practices affecting the presence of migratory birds mentioned by the locals were boat traffic and noise from bars and vessels. According to the artisanal fishermen, the population of migratory birds that use the area for foraging and resting has been reduced over time.ConclusionsChanges in the local landscape related to urbanization and tourism are most likely the primary causes underlying the reduced migratory shorebird populations as reported by local inhabitants. Thus, managing and monitoring urbanization and tourism are fundamental to increasing the success of the migration process and improving the conservation of migratory shorebird species.

The authors studied the morphological and structural aspects of the junctions between the hepatic veins and the inferior vena cava. The study was carried out on 20 specimens obtained from adult cadavers of both sexes, fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution. The hepatic veins with their junctions on the inferior vena cava were isolated. Then a macroscopic analysis of the openings of the hepatic veins into the inferior vena cava was performed. Part of this material was embedded in paraffin, submitted to serial sectioning and stained with Azan's trichrome and resorcin-fuchsin. Three hepatic veins were observed in all cases: right, left and the middle. In 20% of the cases the middle hepatic vein opens directly into the inferior vena cava. The hepatic vein openings are supported by two pillars inferiorly united through a semilunar fold. The hepatic vein wall is greatly thickened at the level of its junction with the inferior vena cava, showing a large amount of muscular and collagenous fibers. These bundles constitute a sphincter-like formation which may play a physiological role in the control of the hepatic circulation.