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Official reports and academic studies call for profound and immediate transformations in how businesses relate to biodiversity. The urgency is such that the first draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) of the Convention of Biological Diversity has a specific target aimed at full sustainability in biodiversity practices in businesses by 2030. Brazil—a country with the greatest reservoir of biodiversity and the 12th largest economy on the planet —should be fertile ground for new developments and innovations on this front. However, the shortage of academic engagement with businesses in the country may impede this path. We propose six biodiversity-related innovation fronts and opportunities for engagement between high education institutions and companies in Brazil. We reviewed the literature regarding two sets of practices: pressing issues (including environmental licensing, biodiversity offsets, and conservation in private reserves), and new business opportunities (sustainable bioeconomy, access and benefit sharing – ABS, and environmental and social governance – ESG). Such themes have direct relevance to the Post-2020 GBF business sustainability target and potential national impact. There is plenty of room for academic engagement with businesses in all cases. Examples include supporting definition of metrics and standards, providing information systems to increase transparency, among others. In conclusion, we argue that an innovative mindset from corporations and academics will be necessary before Brazilian businesses can move on to develop innovative and sustainable processes and products related to biodiversity.

Brazil is a powerhouse in terms of water resources, which are instrumental to the country’s transition to sustainability. However, to realize this potential, substantial management and conservation hurdles must first be overcome. We propose a novel strategy for the use, management, and conservation of Brazilian water resources. Our approach recognizes the spatial heterogeneity of water abundance and is based on a multisectoral perspective, including energy, food, sanitation, and environmental conservation. The main recommendations are to adopt low-cost local and subnational solutions and to design policy mixes, both based on the logic of the nexus water-food-energy-ecosystem. We offer as examples programs that 1) increase cistern infrastructure in drylands, 2) use constructed wetlands to improve sewage treatment in small cities and vulnerable areas, 3) turn the focus of conservation to aquatic ecosystems, 4) stimulate the adoption of small hydrokinetic turbines for energy generation in sparsely populated river-abundant regions, such as the Amazon Region, 5) diversify the matrix of renewable energy sources by combining hydropower with biomass and wind energy generation, and 6) mixes policies by integrating multiple sectors to improve regulation, use and management of water resources, such as the Brazilian “Water for All” Program. By following these recommendations, Brazil would align itself with the goals established in international agreements and would turn its abundance of water resources into development opportunities.

ABSTRACT The introduction of nonnative species is one of the main threats to freshwater ecosystems. Although omnivory and intraguild predation are common in those systems, little is known about the effects of introduced omnivorous fish on pelagic and littoral communities. This study tested predictions of food-web theory regarding the effects of omnivorous fish introduction on previously fishless lakes in the Amazonian uplands of Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brazil. The trophic structure of two similar lakes, one with and the other without the introduced omnivorous fish Astyanax bimaculatus, was compared using a data series of biotic variables collected from both lakes twice a year from 2010 to 2013. Zooplankton was more abundant in the lake with fish, and the zooplankton composition differed between lakes. Phytoplankton richness and chlorophyll-a were higher in the lake with the introduced fish than in the fishless lake regardless of phosphorus limitation. For the benthic macroinvertebrate communities, species richness and biomass were higher in the fishless lake. Our results also indicate that A. bimaculatus has the potential to link pelagic and littoral habitats through nutrient cycling. The differences observed between the studied lakes are consistent with predictions from food-web theory regarding the effects of multichain omnivorous fish on trophic dynamics. Despite limitations regarding replication at the ecosystem level, it is possible to infer from our findings that the introduction of an omnivorous fish might have changed lake overall functioning.

Abstract Aquatic humic substances (HS) represent about 60-95% of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) present in coastal environments of northern Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Although they are important regulators of processes involving aquatic communities, the response of the zooplankton community to their presence remains poorly understood, especially in natural tropical environments. Therefore, our objective was to elucidate zooplankton community responses along a natural gradient of HS. Such natural humic gradient was obtained in coastal freshwater environments with distinct DOC concentrations (20-200 mg L-1). Results show a decrease in zooplankton density and biomass along the HS gradient. However, microphages organisms (e.g. non-predatory rotifers and smaller testate amoeba, such as Difflugia) were most present in environments with higher concentration of HS, probably due to a stronger importance of the microbial-loop in these environments. Some species – such as Scapholeberis armata (Cladocera) and Lecane boettgeri (Rotifera) were only accounted for environments with high HS concentration, illustrating their potential as bioindicators for HS presence. Nevertheless, we were able to observe the effects of HS on the structure and composition of primary consumers and how these substances might indirectly affect species dynamics. We point out to new findings in highly humic tropical environments, which are still poorly studied and understood.

We present an overview of the morphological diversity and geographical distribution of the anostracan genus Dendrocephalus Daday, 1908, and describe two new species: D. aranai sp. nov. from Jequitinhonha in the state of Minas Gerais and D. xikrini sp. nov. from the Carajás Mountains (Serra dos Carajás) in the state of Pará. These species have important similarities to D. goiasensis Rabet & Thiéry, 1996 and D. thieryi Rabet, 2006, respectively, but differ from them and each other through a combination of characters that are essentially unique to the endopods, and frontal appendage branch 2A and branch 2D. We also partly redescribe D. carajaensis Rogers, Gomes & Vieira, 2012, which shows a particular intra-populational variability in branch 2A and 2D III of the frontal appendage, a type of polymorphism that was also recently observed in D. orientalis Rabet & Thiéry, 1996 and which must now be taken into account in taxonomy. In terms of the distribution of species of Dendrocephalus in Brazil, we suggest that several other species are probably present in the Amazonian, Cerrado and Pantanal Biomes, which remain largely unexplored. A new taxonomic key for the identification of males of the Brazilian species is provided.

O presente trabalho se localiza nos estudos da educação ambiental (EA) e do discurso. Teve como objetivo caracterizar a intertextualidade presente nos discursos de EA produzidos por professores em formação continuada durante um Curso de Formação de Educadores Ambientais (CFEA). O referencial teórico e metodológico utilizado foi a análise crítica do discurso. O corpus consistiu de textos transcritos de uma atividade em grupo durante o curso e entrevistas com três participantes após o curso. Os textos foram analisados qualitativamente por meio da análise da intertextualidade. Os resultados permitiram entender que os discursos de EA das participantes são construídos a partir de diferentes abordagens de EA. Tais abordagens se interpelam e constituem um discurso plural. Assim, os discursos mostraram a uma articulação complexa entre os diferentes discursos que circularam no CFEA e ainda com outros textos de EA com os quais as participantes provavelmente tiveram contato ao longo de sua trajetória.

The beginning and end of diapause are two important transition points in cladoceran life history. The influence of environmental variables on the dynamics of these processes still deserves attention, especially as concerns the role of biotic factors. In this paper we focus on emergence from diapause, testing (1) whether ephippia of Daphnia obtusa Kurz can assess the presence in the water of typical planktivorous fish or ostracods, and (2) whether such an assessment results in changes in hatching strategy. Total number of hatchlings from D. obtusa ephippial eggs did not differ between the control and the treatments in which the presence of fish or ostracods could be detected (ANOVA, P = 0.884). However, hatching dynamics were different: most of the eggs hatched synchronously at day 4 (83.3% of the total hatchlings number) in the control, while only a low proportion of eggs hatched on day 4 in the fish (38.3%), and ostracod treatments (24.0% of the total). Mean hatching time was longer, and variability larger, in the treatments than in the control; differences resulted statistically significant (ANOVA, P = 0.005). With respect to the control, representing a simple microcosm controlled by abiotic variables only, the treatments may be regarded as relatively complex environments, in which Daphnia is also exposed to biotic cues. Under these more complex conditions, the same number of hatchlings is obtained through different hatching dynamics. In the treatments, the first hatchlings appeared later and the hatching rate was more variable than in the control. These observations confirm previously observed patterns from laboratory experiments which tested the effect of competition and fluctuating environmental conditions (light:dark, temperature regimes) on D. obtusa reproductive and demographic parameters. They are also in agreement with recently obtained evidence concerning the importance of biotic cues for hatching of ephippial eggs. Overall, the evidence suggests that Daphnia can detect infochemicals during dormancy. Specifically, we propose that the presence in the water medium of potential predators and competitors results in a short-term hatching asynchrony of ephippial eggs.

Because of the massive water volume of the Amazon River, the Amazon tributaries have their water backed up by hundreds of kilometers upstream their mouth. This backwater effect is part of the complex hydrodynamics of Amazonian surface waters, which in turn drives the variation in concentrations of organic matter and nutrients, and also regulates planktonic communities such as viruses and bacteria. Viruses and bacteria are commonly tightly coupled, and their ecological role in aquatic food webs has been increasingly recognized. Here, we surveyed viral and bacterial abundances in 26 floodplain lakes along the Trombetas River, the largest clear-water tributary of the Amazon River’s north margin. We correlated viral and bacterial abundances with temperature, pH, dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), phosphorus, nitrogen, turbidity, water transparency, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), phytoplankton abundance and distance from the lake mouth until the confluence of the Trombetas with the Amazon River. We hypothesized that both bacterial and viral abundances would change along a latitudinal gradient, as the backwater effect becomes more intense with increased proximity to the Amazon River; different flood duration and intensity among lakes and waters with contrasting sources would cause spatial variation. Our measurements were performed during the low water period, when floodplain lakes are in their most lake-like conditions. Viral and bacterial abundances, DOC, pCO2 and water transparency increased as distance to the Amazon River increased. Most viruses were bacteriophages, as viruses were strongly linked to bacteria, but not to phytoplankton. We suggest that bacterial abundances increase in response to DOC quantity and possibly quality, consequently leading to increased viral abundances. Our results highlight that hydrodynamics plays a key role in the regulation of planktonic viral and bacterial communities in Amazonian floodplain lakes.

Salinity is a well-recognised factor that shapes population dynamics and community structure through direct and indirect effects. The responses of Moina micrura(Cladocera) to slight salinity increases (up to 6.0) were evaluated through laboratory manipulative experiments and field observations at Cabiúnas lagoon (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). From the field data, a positive relationship between M. micruradensity and salinity was observed, whereas the opposite was found for other co-occurring microcrustaceans. Life-table observations from laboratory experiments showed better performance of individuals exposed to control conditions (no salt addition) and 1.0 and 2.0 of salinity. The difference between field and laboratory results may be explained considering possible direct and indirect effects of salinity on M. micrurapopulations. Salinity may have direct negative physiological effects in individuals. However, under natural conditions, M. micruramight benefit from reduced invertebrate predation and interspecific competition. This balance between negative and positive effects of salinity is probably more positive under natural conditions, explaining the success of M. micrurain Cabiúnas lagoon under mild salinity conditions. Although salinity negatively affects many species living in freshwater systems, slight increases may be beneficial for some species under natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in species composition between habitat patches (beta diversity) are likely related to a number of factors, including environmental heterogeneity, connectivity, disturbance and productivity. Here, we used data from aquatic environments in five Brazilian regions over two years and two seasons (rainy and dry seasons or high and low water level periods in floodplain lakes) in each year to test hypotheses underlying zooplankton beta diversity variation. The regions present different levels of hydrological connectivity, where three regions present lakes that are permanent and connected with the main river, while the water bodies of the other two regions consist of permanent lakes and temporary ponds, with no hydrological connections between them. We tested for relationships between zooplankton beta diversity and environmental heterogeneity, spatial extent, hydrological connectivity, seasonality, disturbance and productivity. Negative relationships were detected between zooplankton beta diversity and both hydrological connectivity and disturbance (periodic dry-outs). Hydrological connectivity is likely to affect beta diversity by facilitating dispersal between habitats. In addition, the harsh environmental filter imposed by disturbance selected for only a small portion of the species from the regional pool that were able to cope with periodic dry-outs (e.g., those with a high production of resting eggs). In summary, this study suggests that faunal exchange and disturbance play important roles in structuring local zooplankton communities.

Tests of the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationship have focused little attention on the importance of interactions between species diversity and other attributes of ecological communities such as community biomass. Moreover, BEF research has been mainly derived from studies measuring a single ecosystem process that often represents resource consumption within a given habitat. Focus on single processes has prevented us from exploring the characteristics of ecosystem processes that can be critical in helping us to identify how novel pathways throughout BEF mechanisms may operate. Here, we investigated whether and how the effects of biodiversity mediated by non-trophic interactions among benthic bioturbator species vary according to community biomass and ecosystem processes. We hypothesized that (1) bioturbator biomass and species richness interact to affect the rates of benthic nutrient regeneration [dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP)] and consequently bacterioplankton production (BP) and that (2) the complementarity effects of diversity will be stronger on BP than on nutrient regeneration because the former represents a more integrative process that can be mediated by multivariate nutrient complementarity. We show that the effects of bioturbator diversity on nutrient regeneration increased BP via multivariate nutrient complementarity. Consistent with our prediction, the complementarity effects were significantly stronger on BP than on DIN and TDP. The effects of the biomass-species richness interaction on complementarity varied among the individual processes, but the aggregated measures of complementarity over all ecosystem processes were significantly higher at the highest community biomass level. Our results suggest that the complementarity effects of biodiversity can be stronger on more integrative ecosystem processes, which integrate subsidiary "simpler" processes, via multivariate complementarity. In addition, reductions in community biomass may decrease the strength of interspecific interactions so that the enhanced effects of biodiversity on ecosystem processes can disappear well before species become extinct.

Understanding the effects of predators and resources on primary producers has been a major focus of interest in ecology. Within this context, the trophic cascade concept especially concerning the pelagic zone of lakes has been the focus of the majority of these studies. However, littoral food webs could be especially interesting because base trophic levels may be strongly regulated by consumers and prone to be light limited. In this study, the availability of nutrients and light and the presence of an omnivorous fish (Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus) were manipulated in enclosures placed in a humic coastal lagoon (Cabiúnas Lagoon, Macaé - RJ) to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of resource availability (nutrients and light) and food web configuration on the biomass and stoichiometry of periphyton and benthic grazers. Our findings suggest that light and nutrients interact to determine periphyton biomass and stoichiometry, which propagates to the consumer level. We observed a positive effect of the availability of nutrients on periphytic biomass and grazers' biomass, as well as a reduction of periphytic C∶N∶P ratios and an increase of grazers' N and P content. Low light availability constrained the propagation of nutrient effects on periphyton biomass and induced higher periphytic C∶N∶P ratios. The effects of fish presence strongly interacted with resource availability. In general, a positive effect of fish presence was observed for the total biomass of periphyton and grazer's biomass, especially with high resource availability, but the opposite was found for periphytic autotrophic biomass. Fish also had a significant effect on periphyton stoichiometry, but no effect was observed on grazers' stoichiometric ratios. In summary, we observed that the indirect effect of fish predation on periphyton biomass might be dependent on multiple resources and periphyton nutrient stoichiometric variation can affect consumers' stoichiometry.