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Mangroves play an essential ecological role in the maintenance of the coastal zone and are extremely important for the socioeconomics of coastal communities. However, mangrove ecosystems are impacted by a range of anthropogenic pressures, and the loss of this habitat can be attributed primarily to the human occupation of the coastal zone. In the present study, we analyzed the spatial patterns of land use in the mangrove of the Brazilian Amazon coast, and evaluated the anthropogenic drivers of this impact, using a remote sensing approach. We mapped the road network using RapidEye images, and human settlements using global data. The results of these analyses indicate that the Brazilian Amazon coast has a low population density and low rates of anthropogenic impact in most of the coastal microregions investigated, factors that contribute to the maintenance and conservation of the region’s mangrove. The study also revealed that the paved road network is one of the principal drivers of land use in the mangrove, whereas other factors, such as population density, urban centers, and the number of settlements are much less important. While the region has 2024 km of paved highways, unpaved roads (17,496 km) facilitate access to the mangrove, with approximately 90% of anthropogenic impact being recorded within a 3 km radius of these roads. While the network of paved highways is relatively reduced in extension, preventive measures are urgently required to impede any major shift in the current scenario, caused by the expansion of major development programs. The results of the study indicate that biophysical, economic, and political factors may also contribute to the reduction, stability, and development of one of the world’s largest areas of mangrove forest.

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Isoetes are ancient quillworts members of the only genus of the order Isoetales. The genus is slow evolving but is resilient, and widespread worldwide. Two recently described species occur in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, Isoetes serracarajensis and Isoetes cangae. They are found in the ironstone grasslands known as Canga. While I. serracarajensis is present mostly in seasonal water bodies, I. cangae is known to occur in a single permanent lake at the South mountain range. In this work, we undertake an extensive morphological, physiological and genetic characterization of both species to establish species boundaries and better understand the morphological and genetic features of these two species. Our results indicate that the morphological differentiation of the species is subtle and requires a quantitative assessment of morphological elements of the megaspore for diagnosis. We did not detect differences in microspore output, but morphological peculiarities may establish a reproductive barrier. Additionally, genetic analysis using DNA barcodes and whole chloroplast genomes indicate that although the plants are genetically very similar both approaches provide diagnostic characters. There was no indication of population structuring I. serracarajensis. These results set the basis for a deeper understanding of the evolution of the Isoetes genus.

Resumo:Reduzir a subjetividade, corriqueira em estudos de vulnerabilidade física, foi o objetivo desta pesquisa que avaliou os métodos Vulnerabilidade Natural (VN), Vulnerabilidade Ambiental (VA) e o método proposto Vulnerabilidade Ambiental ao aumento relativo do nível médio do mar (VNMM) por meio de Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP) das variáveis físicas e ponderações associadas. Os municípios costeiros de Macau e Guamaré, no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Nordeste do Brasil, apresentam múltiplos confl itos de uso e ocupação do solo devido as principais atividades econômicas consistirem nas indústrias do petróleo e gás, carcinicultura, salinicultura e eólica instaladas em setores de grande susceptibilidade ambiental a impactos decorrentes de mudanças climáticas. O método com resultado mais pessimista foi o VN e o método com resultado mais otimista foi o VNMM, que apresentou áreas de hot spot ao aumento relativo do nível médio do mar. O município de Guamaré apresentou maior vulnerabilidade física em todos os métodos por exibir maior extensão de sua zona costeira em áreas planas e de baixas altitudes. De acordo com a ACP, todas as variáveis infl uenciaram na vulnerabilidade física nos métodos VN e VA, porém com intensidades diferentes em cada área. No método VN as variáveis geologia, declividade e solos foram as mais importantes. Estes resultados podem subsidiar o processo decisório para gestores ambientais e os métodos testados são replicáveis tanto em municípios costeiros quanto interiores.

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Down-core changes in sedimentary facies, elemental geochemistry, pollen, spore, δ 13 C, δ 15 N and radiocarbon records from a filled lake, named R4, of the Serra Sul dos Carajás were used to study the relationship between the paleomorphological and paleoecological processes and their significance for Holocene paleoclimatology of the southeast Amazonia. The sediment deposition of the R4 lake started around 9500 cal yr BP. Increase of detrital components from 9500 to 7000 cal yr BP suggests high weathering of surrounding catchment rocks and soils, and deposition into the lake basin under mudflows. At that time, montane savanna and forest formation were already established suggesting predominance of wet climate. However, from 7000 to 3000 cal yr BP, a decline of detrital input occurred. Also, forest formation and pteridophytes were declined, while palms and macrophytes were remained relatively stable, indicating that water levels of the lake is likely dropped allowing the development of plants adapted to subaerial condition under drier climate conditions. After 3000 cal yr BP, eutrophication and low accommodation space lead to high lake productivity and the final stage of the lake filling respectively, and forest formation may has acquired its current structure, which suggests return of wetter climate conditions.