This chapter presents experiments aiming to examine the aspects of Brachiaria spp. poisoning in sheep in Brazil, and analyse the epidemiological records from spontaneous outbreaks. The susceptibility of sheep to signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens [Urochloa decumbens]) poisoning, the effect of signal grass maturity on poisoning in naïve sheep and the performance of sheep grazing Brachiaria spp. and other pastures are described. It is shown that the susceptibility or resistance to Brachiaria spp. poisoning in sheep is complex and is probably influenced by genetic and acquired resistance and factors determining the saponin concentration in grasses. Nevertheless, Brachiaria spp. is an important option for grazing sheep in central-western Brazil. Therefore, more research is necessary to develop management measures to prevent the intoxication.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

A study was conducted to detect the variation in protodioscin concentrations of Brachiaria brizantha [Urochloa brizantha] leaves collected in various stages of maturation, and to compare saponin variation in relation to meteorological data such as insolation (hours of exposure to solar radiation during the day) and temperature. Leaves were collected from a U. brizantha pasture located at the Universidade para o Desenvolvimento do Estado e da Regiao do Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, on the same day and were separated into three phases of maturation: (i) young leaves (developing and sprout leaves); (ii) mature leaves (totally expanded leaves); and (iii) old leaves (senesced leaves). Analyses of protodioscin and its methylated derivatives were evaluated by HPLC/ELSD. The correlation between meteorological variables and saponin concentrations during the study period was analysed. Humidity did not have any correlation among saponin concentration and maturation of the leaves. Young leaves had higher saponin content than mature and old leaves. Saponin variation in young leaves was strongly related to hours of solar radiation over the 60 day measurement period. Results indicate that saponin concentration is influenced by insolation and temperature during the end of rainy season, and it decreases when these meteorological data also decrease.

A caatinga apresenta uma diversidade de fisionomias e um enorme quadro de degradação, sendo importantes os estudos relacionados a fitossociologia para a caracterização da vegetação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo de florística e fitossociologia em um fragmento florestal de caatinga no município de Serra do Mel no Rio Grande do Norte. Para realização do estudo foi realizado um levantamento da vegetação adotando-se a Amostragem Inteiramente Aleatória, onde foram marcadas 10 unidades amostrais de 20 x 20 m (400 m²). Foram amostrados todos os indivíduos florestais arbustivos-arbóreos vivos com CAP ≥ 6 cm. Foram avaliados todos os parâmetros fitossociológicos da estrutura horizontal e vertical, a diversidade florística das espécies através do Índice de Shannon-Weaver (H’), dominância de Simpson (C) e equabilidade de Pielou (J’). No levantamento foram encontradas 7 famílias, 12 gêneros e 12 espécies. As famílias com maior número de espécies e de indivíduos foram a Fabaceae e Euphorbiaceae. Croton blanchetianus, Mimosa tenuiflora, Bauhinia forficata, Mimosa ophthalmocentra e Poincianella pyramidalis foram as espécies que assumiram maior importância na área de estudo sob os aspectos fitossociológicos. A área do presente estudo apresenta baixa diversidade de espécies se comparada com outros fragmentos florestais de caatinga já estudados. Palavras-chave: Estrutura; Diversidade; Caatinga. FLORISTIC-PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE WOODY COMPONENT IN A CAATINGA FRAGMENT IN SERRA DO MEL, RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, BRAZIL ABSTRACT:The caatinga presents a diversity of physiognomies and a huge degradation picture, being important the studies related to phytosociology for the characterization of the vegetation. The aim of this work was to carry out a floristic and phytosociological study in a forest fragment of caatinga in Serra do Mel, Rio Grande do Norte. To carry out the study, a survey of the vegetation was performed adopting the Random Sampling, where 10 sample units of 20 x 20 m (400 m²) were marked. All living shrubby-arboreal forest individuals with CAP ≥ 6 cm were sampled. All phytosociological parameters of horizontal and vertical structure, floristic diversity of species was evaluated through Shannon-Weaver Index (H'), Simpson dominance (C) and Pielou equability (J'). The analytic survey found 7 families, 12 genera and 12 species. The families with the largest number of species and individuals were Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Croton blanchetianus, Mimosa tenuiflora, Bauhinia forficata, Mimosa ophthalmocentra and Poincianella pyramidalis were the most important species in the study area under phytosociological aspects. The area of the present study presents low species diversity compared to other forest fragments of caatinga already studied.Keywords: Phytosociology; diversity; Caatinga.

No abstract

populations affected by a long process of government policies related to these people, especially those close to cities with a high population rate who have had diffi culties with their livelihood, scarcity of land for planting, the introduction of processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle 5 .According to the Survey of Family Budgets (POF/ IBGE) 6 , held between 2008 and 2009 by the Ministry of Health, 33.5% of children between 5 and 9 years is overweight, representing an increase of 250% in relation to the year 1989. The excess weight of the juvenile population is a concern for the negative psychosocial impact and its association with co-morbidities and mortality 7 . On the other hand, in the same period, there was a reduction of 50% in the frequency of short stature in the Brazilian population, AbstractChanges in lifestyle have led to an increase of overweight in the juvenile population. However, there are limited studies about this topic in relation to an indigenous population. The aim of this study is to verify the overweight and height defi cit in children aged 8 and 9 years, of both sexes, from urban, rural and indigenous communities of the city of Nova Laranjeiras in the State of Paraná. The 277 (148 boys) students were divided into three groups: rural (n = 100), urban (n = 99) and Indian communities (n = 78). The measurements taken were body mass (kg), height (m) and body mass index. The statistics method was an analysis of covariance and chi-square test (P <.05). Among the 277 schoolchildren, the prevalence of overweight was 14.6% in the rural area, 27.1% in urban area and 30.3% in the indigenous area in boys, and 15.7% in rural areas, 17.6% in urban and 20% in Indian girls. There was no difference in the frequency of overweight among groups for both sexes. The prevalence of height defi cit was different between the groups; it was higher in indigenous children than urban and rural children. Among the Indians, 42.4% of boys and 51.1% girls had low stature. Only indigenous children were overweight and of low height, while being prevalent in 15.1% of boys and 11.1% girls. Low stature is frequent in indigenous populations, and it would be ideal to have more research to identify its causes and consequences. Children showed high rates of overweight in all regions, demonstrating that poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle are not only characteristics of urban centres.