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Descrição e Comentários sobre a Legislação em vigor e sua efetivação em relação às políticas públicas, sendo um item dedicado à Regularização Fundiária, o outro aos Desastres Ambientais e Defesa Civil. O estudo de caso será sobre a Braskem e a extração de sal gema em Maceió - AL. Nas considerações finais destaca-se a importância de que haja compatibilidade entre a legislação e as políticas públicas nos temas Regularização Fundiária Urbana, Desastres Ambientais e Mineração.

No inicio do seculo XX, a urbanizacao e ocupacao de espacos privilegiados em detrimento de espacos de “baixada” e proximos a varzea. As “baixadas” foram ocupadas por uma populacao, em sua maioria, com carencias socioeconomicas, formando-se conjuntos de habitacoes suscetiveis a alagamentos e enchentes. Para trazer reconhecimento de direitos a esses ocupantes, foi realizado um trabalho de regularizacao fundiaria pela Universidade Federal do Para - UFPA, em conjunto com entes publicos do Estado e da Uniao. O artigo objetiva apresentar e comparar o grau de vulnerabilidade socioambiental da area da gleba C da U FPA no municipio de Belem, objeto de atividade de regularizacao fundiaria, aplicando indicadores e indices relacionados as questoes sociais, economicas, juridicas e ambientais. Os resultados mostram que o grau de vulnerabilidade e alto nos anos pesquisados, concluindo que o trabalho de regularizacao juridica realizada na area foi apenas patrimonial, a fim de transferir responsabilidades de uso da terra aos moradores beneficiarios e de reconhecimento de direito desse titulo por forca de lei. Um trabalho efetivo de regularizacao fundiaria deveria envolver um conjunto de orgaos responsaveis pela area social, ambiental, urbanistico e fundiario para que, de forma concatenada e a longo prazo, realizar os trabalhos necessarios para que os resultados sejam captados pelos indicadores e que efetivamente diminuam o grau de vulnerabilidade socioambiental na area estudada. Index of Socio-Environmental Vulnerability in the Amazon: Study of Gleba "C" of the Federal University of Para, in the Municipality of Belem ABSTRACT At the beginning of the 20th century, urbanization and occupation of privileged spaces at the expense of “lowland” spaces and close to a floodplain. The “lowlands” were occupied by a population, mostly with socioeconomic needs, forming housing groups susceptible to flooding and flooding. To bring the recognition of rights to these occupants, a land regularization work was carried out by the Federal University of Para - UFPA, together with public entities from the State and the Union. The article aims to present and compare the degree of socio-environmental vulnerability in the area of land C of UFPA in the municipality of Belem, object of land regularization activity, applying indicators and indices related to social, economic, legal and environmental issues. The results show that the degree of vulnerability is high in the years surveyed, concluding that the legal regularization work carried out in the area was only patrimonial, in order to transfer responsibilities for land use to the beneficiary residents and the recognition of the right of that title by law. . Effective land regularization work should involve a set of bodies responsible for the social, environmental, urban and land areas so that, in a concatenated and long-term manner, the work carried out is carried out so that the results are captured by the indicators and that the data decrease the degree of socio-environmental vulnerability in the studied area. Keywords: Socioenvironmental Vulnerability; Indicators; Federal University of Para.

Climate change has been considered, at a global level, as one of the main anthropogenic drivers of environmental transformation, especially on biomes, ecosystems and the most vulnerable population. In this regard, the concept of resilience has been widely used in ecology to explain the ecosystem transition thresholds by which forests and other habitats are able to restructure in the face of various external disturbances. However, the concept of resilience in facing climate change impacts and risks through the lens of socio-environmental risks in Brazil is still underdeveloped, especially at the biome level. This article uses the theory of critical transitions to ecological niche distribution modeling in future global warming scenarios by the end of the century, in order to highlight the change in ecological resilience of the Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Pampa biomes, and how the changes in resilience can lead to an increased exposure, vulnerabilities and risks to socio-environmental security. This article shows how an interdisciplinary approach bringing together modeling of biome resilience may be a tool to support decision making and public policies on mitigation and adaptation to climate change and reduce risks to socio-environmental security.

Puma concolor is currently widespread in South America, but its fossil record is still poorly known in the Continent, particularly in Brazil. Here we report the find of a nearly complete skeleton of P. concolor recovered from underwater Quaternary deposits at the Impossivel-Ioio Cave System, Chapada Diamantina (Bahia, Brazil). The P. concolor remains were found disarticulated but piled together; they are in general quite well preserved. Radiocarbon dating from a tooth sample (upper carnassial) indicates a Middle-Late Holocene age of ca. 4 ka BP. A series of comparative morphometric analyses suggest that the specimen is a male and shares similar size proportions to extant specimens in the region. Isotopic analyses made with a tooth sample indicate a diet largely based on C3 feeding herbivores, potentially associated to landscapes predominantly covered by Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest, similar to the Present-day Caatinga vegetation. The δ18O outcome value of −3.4‰ and the modeled puma’s negative trend in adaptability towards the present (after 6 ka) seem to be consistent with the hypothesized Middle-Holocene (∼4 ka) shift in climatic tendencies in the Brazilian Northeast from a more relatively humid environment to a drier climate with longer drought periods, presenting severe semiarid conditions somewhat similar to the precolonial conditions. Cave surroundings fit well with the description of the present progressive trend of changes in physiognomy related to land-use and associated with processes of fragmentation and desertification in the Caatinga.

Este trabalho analisou o desempenho de sustentabilidade de 26 municípios do arco do desmatamento no estado do Pará, Brasil nos anos 2000 e 2010, utilizando-se o Barômetro da Sustentabilidade com 31 indicadores nas dimensões social, econômica e ambiental. Os resultados mostram que Altamira e Novo Progresso tem desempenho intermediário nos dois anos e cinco municípios progrediram para o nível intermediário em 2010 enquanto os outros permaneceram em situação crítica. Houve desaceleração do desmatamento nos municípios, mas apesar dos resultados positivos alcançados, eles foram pouco satisfatórios para mudar o status de sustentabilidade dos municípios.

In the current context, projections indicate that the agricultural sector is one of the most vulnerable to the impacts caused by climate change. Thus, this work aimed to identify the relationship of the current scenario of edaphoclimatic adequacy with the production and productivity of cocoa. As well as, investigate the edaphoclimatic suitability in future scenarios. For this purpose, the determination of the correlation between the variables was performed using the formula of Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results indicated that there is a low or none correlation in the current scenario with the production and productivity of cocoa. Furthermore, there will be large losses in soil and climate suitability in future scenarios. Therefore, it was possible to conclude that it is necessary to take measures to avoid the intensification of climate change, such as combating illegal deforestation in order to prevent future climate change scenarios from occurring., En el contexto actual, las proyecciones indican que el sector agrícola es uno de los más vulnerables a los impactos provocados por el cambio climático. Así, este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar la relación del escenario actual de adecuación edafoclimática con la producción y productividad del cacao. Así como, investigar la idoneidad edafoclimática en escenarios futuros. Para ello, la determinación de la correlación entre las variables se realizó mediante la fórmula del coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. Los resultados indicaron que existe una correlación baja o nula en el escenario actual con la producción y productividad del cacao y también que habrá grandes pérdidas en la idoneidad del suelo y el clima en escenarios futuros. Por tanto, se pudo concluir que es necesario tomar medidas para evitar la intensificación del cambio climático, como combatir la deforestación ilegal para evitar que se presenten escenarios futuros de cambio climático., No contexto atual, projeções indicam que o setor agrícola é um dos mais vulneráveis aos impactos causados pelas mudanças climáticas. Dessa forma, este trabalho objetivou identificar a relação do cenário atual de adequação edafoclimática com a produção e a produtividade de cacau. Assim como, investigar a adequação edafoclimática em cenários futuros. Para tanto, foi realizada a determinação da correlação entre as variáveis com o uso da fórmula do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. Os resultados indicaram que existe uma baixa ou nenhuma correlação no cenário atual com a produção e produtividade de cacau e também que haverá grandes perdas de adequação edafoclimáticas nos cenários futuros. Portanto, foi possível concluir que é necessário se realizar medidas que evitem a intensificação das mudanças climáticas como o combate ao desmatamento ilegal no sentido de evitar que os futuros cenários de mudanças climáticas ocorram.

Following the boom of soybean production from 2000 to 2006 in the Santarém region of the Brazilian Amazon, the mechanized agricultural area remained stable, unlike other regions. Deforestation was controlled, but this initial expansion led to the restructuring of the agrarian space in the region. Given this scenario, we aimed to understand the mechanized agricultural expansion effects in the region by comparing the periods 1999–2007 and 2007–2015. Our hypothesis was that it impacted heterogeneous actors and land tenure categories. We combined multi-temporal land change maps derived from remote sensing to land tenure information to evaluate how land change transitions differed over time, both in public (traditional and sustainable use official settlements) and private areas. In private areas, we observed a 12% reduction in forest cover in 1999–2007 and a 2.5% reduction in 2007–2015. In sustainable use settlements, forest loss was only 3% and 2% in each period, respectively. Mechanized agriculture occupied areas of family farming (42%), secondary vegetation (20%), pasture (20%), and forest areas (18%). Family farming lost most of the area to other uses. Within settlements, the area of family farming increased by 50% at the expense of the forest area. We conclude that the rise and fall of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon hide multiple social and territorial processes. Understanding such dynamics is critical for establishing measures toward a sustainable future.

Neotectonic activity was increasingly recorded over the Amazonian lowlands, even during historical times of a few tens of centuries. However, detailed analyses linking structures and styles of deformation are still few considering the large dimension of the region. Such events in a relatively recent time are expected to have caused conspicuous impacts on Amazonian ecosystems and forest disturbance. Changes in topography and hydrology by fracturing, faulting and folding during either subsidence or uplifting are direct effects on landscape that leave marks on the structure of the current forest, such as tree mortality and community succession. Two rectangular elbow-like shaped wetlands from the left margin of the middle Negro River valley in northwestern Amazonia were attributed to neotectonics. Remote sensing imagery was applied to test this hypothesis and also provide a tectonic model that can explain deformation dynamics in this area. The studied wetlands and adjacent river systems display various morphostructural anomalies compatible with a tectonic control, as well as lineaments paralleling main NW and NE-trending regional structures. The geomorphic analysis led to suggest that the wetlands are depressions formed by NW and NE-trending master boundary faults of horizontal displacements intercepted by various subsidiary faults. Transtensional strike slip regime is recorded by both left and right-lateral faults, with the wetlands corresponding to subsiding areas owned to conjugate strike slip faults. Habitat fragmentation and other ecological processes promoted by tectonic deformation would have impacted the overlying forest canopy by changing its structure due to tree mortality. The complex compartmentalization imposed by active tectonics would have exposed the ground to contrasting hydrological conditions, which controlled the rate of tree mortality within the wetlands. We pose that the tectonic disturbance and associated tree mortality documented in the middle Negro River evidence contemporary seismicity within the intracratonic Brazilian Amazonia.

The Brazilian Cerrado is a global biodiversity hotspot with notoriously high rates of native vegetation suppression and wildfires over the past three decades. As a result, climate change can already be detected at both local and regional scales. In this study, we used three different approaches based on independent datasets to investigate possible changes in the daytime and nighttime temperature and air humidity between the peak of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season in the Brazilian Cerrado. Additionally, we evaluated the tendency of dew point depression, considering it as a proxy to assess impacts on biodiversity. Monthly increases of 2.2-4.0℃ in the maximum temperatures and 2.4-2.8℃ in the minimum temperatures between 1961 and 2019 were recorded, supported by all analyzed datasets which included direct observations, remote sensing, and modeling data. The warming raised the vapor pressure deficit, and although we recorded an upward trend in absolute humidity, relative humidity has reduced by ~15%. If these tendencies are maintained, gradual air warming will make nightly cooling insufficient to reach the dew point in the early hours of the night. Therefore, it will progressively reduce both the amount and duration of nocturnal dewfall, which is the main source of water for numerous plants and animal species of the Brazilian Cerrado during the dry season. Through several examples, we hypothesize that these climate changes can have a high impact on biodiversity and potentially cause ecosystems to collapse. We emphasize that the effects of temperature and humidity on Cerrado ecosystems cannot be neglected and should be further explored from a land use perspective.

Este projeto de Iniciação Científica tem como finalidade auxiliar no desenvolvimento da adaptação de metodologia para a construção de uma versão brasileira do modelo que calcula a Pegada Ecológica de Nitrogênio (N-Footprint), desenvolvido por Leach et al. (2012). O modelo realiza os cálculos a partir de um Fator de Nitrogênio Virtual que utiliza variáveis relacionadas ao consumo geral de alimentos e energia pela população. O trabalho desenvolvido neste plano colabora com o desenvolvimento do projeto internacional INMS (International Nitrogen Management System) gerido pela UNEP (programa ambiental das Organizações das Nações Unidas) que tem como finalidade melhorar o controle global do nitrogênio unindo a comunidade científica e a sociedade civil. Como muitos dos efeitos relativos ao uso do nitrogênio estão intrinsecamente relacionados à demanda de consumo de produtos agropecuários, é importante buscar informações além de dados restritos ao ciclo biológico e físico, incluindo também informações socioeconômicas, inclusive comportamentais.Neste sentido, esta proposta teve como objetivo criar indicadores para nitrogênio, a partir dos dados levantados sobre a alimentação da população da bacia do Rio da Prata, considerando a relação das atividades antrópicas, como as alterações do meio, com o nitrogênio reativo.

Terrestrial biomes are the main reservoirs of biodiversity and CO2 on the planet. In South America, they play a crucial role in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. Despite scientific advances and recent efforts, there is still no detailed analysis of trends in surface air temperature and precipitation changes until the end of the 21st century and magnitude of change for South America’s terrestrial biomes. In this study, we used the annual mean of temperature and annual cumulative precipitation variables provided by WorldClim (version 2.1) from an ensemble of five Global Circulation Models from the most recent simulations of the CMIP6 project. We used four-time intervals between 2020 and 2100, combined at two climatic trajectories (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), to map climate change scenarios’ trend magnitude in South America. Also, we evaluate the exposure level of the nine terrestrial biomes according to their respective vegetal cover densities. Our results indicate that in the two possible futures evaluated (SSP2-4.5 & SSP5-8.5), the terrestrial biomes of South America would be exposed to climatic conditions that are not analogous to the current ones. The results indicate a persistent and long-term annual temperature trend increase, indistinctly for all terrestrial biomes and a significant moisture reduction in forest biomes. The consolidation of such climate scenarios can make potentially modify water and carbon cycling patterns and promoting biodiversity loss, mainly at forest biomes, with probably more severe effects under the pessimistic scenario.

Melanosuchus latrubessei sp. nov. (Figure 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) Zoobank species: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: BB6E5F62-348B-4880-BB42-423BA34E0EE4 Holotype. UFAC 2793, right part of a rostrum. Etymology. The specific epithet latrubessei is in honor to the Argentinean geomorphologist Dr. Edgardo M. Latrubesse. His geopaleontological contributions were very important to the increase of knowledge about origin and evolution of the Solimıes Formation. Dr. Edgardo also provided important scientific contributions for Universidade Federal do Acre through collaborations in partnership with Laboratório de Pesquisas Paleontológicas. Diagnosis. Melanosuchus latrubessei possess the following autapomorphies: (1) the contact between maxillamaxilla is elongated and extends from the space between the second and third alveoli until to the space between the sixth and seventh alveoli; and (2) the rostral ridge 2 is well-developed and well-marked, being anteroposteriorly inclined, and composed exclusively by the maxillary bone. Occurrence. The Talism „ outcrop is located on the bank of the Purus River, in Southern region of the Amazonas State, Brazil (08°46’37,8”S; 68°54’15,1”W; Figure 1). The outcrop has approximately eight meters of vertical length and the rocks are formed by fine grained silts and clays floodplain sediments, with secondary gypsum and carbonate veins. Presenting his maximum deposition 10.89 ± 0.13 Ma, being at least Tortonian in age (Bissaro- Júnior et al. 2019). Description. The skull fragment has a maximum length of 287 mm and maximum width of 87.7 mm (measured at the level of third maxillary alveolus). The holotype of M. latrubessei, UFAC 2793, consists on the right half of the rostrum, with only the posterior portion of the premaxilla preserved, almost complete maxilla and the nasal bone lacking the most posterior region (Figure 2, 3 and 4). A small fragment of the right ectopterygoid is also preserved and articulated with the posterior portion of the maxilla (Figure 3). The premaxilla lacks most of the lateral and anterior region; therefore, no alveoli is preserved. In dorsal view, the premaxilla, preserves the right lateral and posterior portions of the external nares (Figure 2) and, in ventral view, preserves only the right lateral margin of incisive foramen (Figure 3). The maxilla has preserved the joint surface with the jugal, which can be seen in the dorsal and lateral views (Figure 2 and 4). In ventral view, the maxilla presents, in its posterior middle corner, the articular surface of the anterior process of the palatine and on the lateral margin, twelve alveoli (Figure 4). No diagenetic torsions or modifications, beside those of the broken portions, are observed. M. latrubessei UFAC 2793 presents a well-marked bone ornamentation uniformly distributed along the entire dorsal surface of the rostrum, with exception of the region around the external nares (Figure 2 and 4). The ornamentation consists of irregular but usually round and well-marked pits, with small variations in size. The external nares have only the posterior margin and the posterior lateral margin preserved (Figure 2). The posterior margin, although not complete, appears to form an almost straight line, with a shallow convexity at the transition to the lateral margins. The lateral margin opens laterally, with the anterior portion more lateralized than the posterior, this inclination makes the anterior margin of the external nares wider than the posterior one (Figure 2). Only the right lateral middle portion of the incisive foramen is preserved, this portion represents a shallow concavity that is in the posterior portion of the premaxilla (Figure 3). However, in the absence of premaxillary alveoli and the fragmentary condition of the structure, the exact location and shape of the incisive foramen can only be tentatively inferred. This shallow concavity seems to be related to an anteroposteriorly long incisive foramen, which probably extends from the last and penultimate premaxillary alveoli to, at least, the third premaxillary alveoli (considering five premaxillary alveoli, found in Crocodylia—Brochu 1999, 2011, 2013). However, the shape of incisive foramen as a whole cannot be inferred. The right suborbital fenestra is partially preserved, and only the portions that contribute to the maxilla are present, with the anterior portion of the lateral margin and the lateral portion of the anterior margin (Figure 3). The preserved anterior margin is a shallow concavity and the lateral margin is straight and slightly inclined mediolaterally, with the anterior portion more medial than the posterior one (Figure 3). The maxillary margin of the suborbital fenestra is straight, without any projection in the fenestra; moreover, the anterior margin of suborbital fenestra reaches the space between the ninth and the eighth alveoli (Figure 3). The premaxilla, in dorsal view, has a posterior wedge-shaped process that extends until the position of the third maxillary alveolus. This posterior process has the apex aligned with the suture between the maxillary-nasal, being the lateral portion of the premaxilla posterior process sutured with the maxilla, in the most anterior part, and medially with the nasal bone (Figure 2 and 4). The premaxilla has a continuous crest delimiting the lateral and posterior limits of the external nares, which is here referred as narial crest (Figure 2 and 4). It is important to note that, in dorsal view, the right premaxilla sutures with the left premaxilla, at least dorsally, with this contact being located immediately posterior to the margin of the external nares (Figure 2). The premaxilla-premaxilla contact in dorsal view can be better evidenced in a sagittal cut, where the medial surface of the right premaxilla and right nasal can be observed (Figure 5). The posterior margin of the external nares, composed entirely by the premaxilla, is preserved and does not have sutures with the nasal bones (Figure 5 a, b). The anterior portion of the nasal bone is broken, immediately above the anterior portion of the premaxilla. However the premaxilla is complete, indicating an overlapping suture (i.e. at least at this anterior portion the premaxilla lies over the nasal) (Figure 5 a, d). This relation between premaxilla and nasal can be better understood due to the break of the nasal in ventral view, which evidences a contact between those bones and not a fusion demarcating a suture (Figure 5 c). Moreover, the medial surface of the premaxilla is rugose as expected to a premaxilla-premaxilla contact, while the nasal bones present a horizontal and parallel lines, as expected in nasal-nasal contact (Figure 5 d). The nasal bone is broad in the lateromedial direction, with its anterior wedge-shaped projection. The premaxillarymaxillary suture contacts the lateral limit of the nasal at the point where the wedge-shaped process begins (Figure 2). The maxilla, in dorsal view, contacts anteriorly with the premaxilla and nasal, while having exclusive medial contact with the nasal bone (Figure 2 and 4). There are a total of twelve maxillary alveoli. The longitudinal measurements of each alveolus, from the anterior most to the posterior most are, respectively (in mm): 6.88; 11.33; 14.75; 17.95; 9.58; 7.65; 7.29; 9.46; 11.32; 11.36; 10.9; and 8.19. The eighth alveolus has a preserved tooth, which did not have a complete dental eruption in vivo; therefore, the non-exposure of this tooth prevents a detailed description of its morphology. However, the apex of the tooth is visible and represents a convex structure. The lateral border of maxilla, in dorsal and ventral views, has the anterior (position anteriorly to the first maxillary alveolus) and posterior (position of the eleventh and twelfth maxillary alveoli) portions projecting laterally. At the level of the fourth alveolus, in both dorsal and ventral views, there is a well-developed convexity (Figure 2 and 4). In lateral view, the ventral margin of the maxilla has a well-marked concavity anteriorly to the convexity at the level of fourth maxillary alveolus, and posterior to this convexity there is another shallow concavity (Figure 4). In the posterior region of the maxilla, there is a surface corresponding to the contact between maxilla-jugal, where the jugal bone overlies the maxilla (Figure 2 and 4). However, the jugal is not preserved. The maxilla also has two well-developed rostral ridges (Figure 2 and 4). The first (rostral ridge 1) is associated with the high development of the canthi rostralii; thus, although the interorbital region is not preserved, the presence of a well-developed canthi rostralii is proposed. Therefore, this difference in saturation surface reinforces the idea of a premaxilla-premaxilla contact exposed in dorsal view. However, as the nasal is not entirely preserved, we cannot rule out the possibility of nasal bones with a continuous contribution with the anterior process within the external nares, passing bellow the premaxilla-premaxilla contact (Figure 5 d). In ventral view, the premaxilla-maxilla suture passes within the tooth occlusal pit. From the fourth dentary, and posteriorly to this excavation the suture has a small posterior wedge-shaped process that extend to the posterior end of the first maxillary alveoli (Figure 3). The other rostral ridge (rostral ridge 2) is entirely located within the maxilla next to the premaxilla-maxilla suture, in dorsal view (Figure 2 and 4), and represents a dorsoventrally inclined bone intumescence, with the anterior portion ventral to the posterior (Figure 4). In ventral view, the maxilla-maxilla suture extends straight from the third to the sixth alveolus (Figure 3). Prior to the maxilla-maxilla suture, there is a smooth maxillary portion that opens slightly laterally and is here interpreted as the contact surface with the vomer. At the posterior limit of the maxilla, immediately behind the intermaxillary suture, there is the sutural region of the palatine, which is evidenced by a surface with thin crests. Thus, the palatine extends anteriorly to the level of the sixth alveoli (Figure 3). At the posterior limit of the maxilla in ventral view, immediately posterior to the tooth row, there is the maxillaectopterygoid contact, with a small portion of the anterior region of the ectopterygoid being preserved (Figure 3). The ectopterygoid does not form the medial margin of any maxillary alveolus and the anterior process of this structure does not exceed the twelfth maxillary alveolus (Figure 3). The lateral portion of the maxilla to the suborbital fenestra is wide, being at least twice the width of the tenth alveolus (Figure 3). Despite the fact that the vomer is not preserved and the region between the maxilla and premaxilla is severely damaged, there are some clear evidences in both the premaxilla and the maxilla of the presence of the vomer, which will be presented below. The first evidence is the presence of the aforementioned smooth anterior surface to the end of the maxilla-maxilla suture, which opens laterally and corresponds to the articular surface between the maxilla and the vomer (Figure 2 and Figure 6 b, c). The second evidence can be seen in medial view, due to the sagittal cut where the ventral portion of premaxilla has an intumescent region, which is broken but clearly detectable, with this structure being correspondent to the posterior portion of the premaxilla that contacts the anterior limit of the vomer (Figure 6 a). Additionally, it is important to note that the broken pattern observed in the transition zone between premaxilla and maxilla can be expected for a specimen with an exposed vomer, as the presence of the vomer creates a fragilized zone in this portion of the rostrum. Comparisons. Melanosuchus latrubessei shares with Melanosuchus niger the presence of a vomer that is exposed and located between the premaxilla-maxilla suture, as well as the well-developed rostral ridges, mainly the second and most anterior one. Other similarities worth mentioning here are: (1) the external nares with a keyholeshaped or circular format; (2) the premaxilla which has a right and left posterior processes, in ventral view, that does not surpass posteriorly the first maxillary alveoli; (3) the premaxilla-premaxilla contact at the dorsal surface immediately behind the posterior margin of the external nares, which represents an intraspecific variation within M. niger; that can have the nasal bones reaching the external nares and being exposed dorsally inhibiting the premaxilla-premaxilla contact at this region; (4) the palatine, which projects well anterior to the end of the suborbital fenestrae and has an expanded anterior end; and, (5) the anterior margin of the suborbital fenestrae reaches the space between the eighth and ninth maxillary alveoli (differing from MCNC 243 specimen - former M. fisheri, which reaches the space between ninth and tenth alveoli). The vomer exposure on the palate between premaxilla and maxilla is a characteristic of M. niger (e.g. Mook 1921; Medem 1963; Iordansky 1973; Brochu 1999; Bona et al. 2017b), and this feature was used as diagnosis to assign the fossil specimens to this genus (e.g. Medina 1976). However, the bone has never been properly described, even in detailed works on M. niger (e.g. Mook 1921; Medem 1963; Iordansky 1973; Medina 1976; Brochu 1999; Vieira et al. 2016; Bona et al. 2017b). In this work, we recognize the vomer as a hollow paired bone, located between the premaxilla and maxilla, in the medial and anterior region of the rostrum, with the paired bones being attached only by a contact, and not by a real suture. This can be evidenced by the thin projections from the maxillae, which overlap ventrally and dorsally the posterior and lateral limits of the vomer (Figure 7). The anterior portion of the vomer attaches, without suturing, to the posterior premaxillary intumescence (Figure 7). The hollowness of the vomer, together with its weak contact towards the premaxilla and maxilla, make this bone and the surrounding area more fragile when the animal is dead; therefore, it is common the loss of the vomer with the break and/or disarticulation of associated bones, as observed in M. latrubessei (Figure 3; this is also evidenced in the studied M. niger, see Table 1). However, we reinforce that the existence of the vomer in M. latrubessei is supported by two features: (1) the anterior end of maxilla-maxilla suture at the palate culminates in a smooth maxillary surface that opens laterally (Figure 6 b, c); and, (2) the premaxilla, in medial view from a sagittal cut, has at the posterior portion of the ventral surface an intumescence that was broken in the M. latrubessei specimen, but the characteristic brands remained (Figure 6 a). The condition observed in M. latrubessei diverges from that seen in Caiman genus, which has the vomer restricted to the narial passage and located posteriorly, aligned with the prefrontals (e.g. Bona & Desojo 2011). It also diverges from Paleosuchus palpebrosus (Cuvier 1807) and the Caiman species by exhibiting premaxillae that are thicker and more robust than the maxillae (Figure 7 c, d). For vomer condition in Alligator see Rieppel (1993). Despite the aforementioned similarities shared between M. latrubessei and M. niger, they also present several differences that should be highlighted, such as: (1) M. latrubessei presents twelve maxillary alveoli, while M. niger has thirteen (including MCNC 243); (2) the narial crest in M. latrubessei is restricted to the border of the external nares and is isolated from the rostral ridges (Figure 4), while in M. niger the narial crest at the posterior corner of external nares has a posterior projection bordering the premaxilla-nasal suture, being associated with the rostral ridges (Figure 8); (3) the maxilla-maxilla contact, in the palatal surface, of M. latrubessei extends from the third to the sixth maxillary alveoli, while in M. niger (including MCNC 243), despite the intraspecific variability and asymmetrical development in some pathological specimens, this contact keeps restricted between the second and the fourth maxillary alveoli, or even less (e.g., in some specimens, this contact extends from the third to the fifth maxillary alveoli); (4) the anterior process of the ectopterygoid in M. latrubessei is inclined medially, stretching for one maxillary alveolus (the twelfth), while for M. niger (including MCNC 243), the anterior process is straighter and extends by two or three alveoli (reaching the twelfth/thirteenth maxillary alveoli); and, (5) despite the fact that M. latrubessei and M. niger exhibit two rostral ridges in the rostrum, it is important to mention that in M. latrubessei the rostral ridge 2 is developed and well-marked, being anteroposteriorly inclined, and completely composed by the maxilla without contacting the rostral ridge 1, while in M. niger (including MCNC 243), the rostral ridge 2 is located over or very close to the premaxilla-maxilla suture, extending from the dorsal surface until reaching the ventral margin of the aforementioned suture, being this ridge connected with the rostral ridge 2 (Figure 8). All studied specimens (see Table 1) present a similar pattern of ornamentation, with irregular, but generally round and well-marked pits along the entirely dorsal surface of the rostrum. However, only in M. latrubessei this bone ornamentation does not reach the margins of the external nares (Figure 2). Though fragmented, the preserved portion of the external nares in M. latrubessei enables to infer a circular or keyhole-shaped format, as stated earlier (Figure 2); this condition (character83[0]) is shared with all other studied specimens (see Table 1). The incisive foramen is only partially preserved in M. latrubessei (Figure 3), but since the lateral margin is well-preserved, based on the maximum curvature, it is possible to stipulate the anterior and posterior limits of the incisive foramen. In this scenario, the incisive foramen occupies less than half of the premaxillae maximum length (88[0]). The same condition is seen in other studied specimens, with exception of Caiman brevirostris and Caiman wannlangstoni Salas-Gismondi et al. 2015, which do not have this portion preserved. Regarding the location of the incisive foramen, in relation to the premaxillary toothrow, it is inconclusive to assert that in M. latrubessei this foramen protrudes between the first premaxillary alveoli, as can be seen in the fossil specimen UCMP 39978 and in M. niger, as well as in Caiman species. The anterior limit of the suborbital fenestra in M. latrubessei is located between the eighth and ninth maxillary alveoli, similar to observed in Caiman crocodilus (Linnaeus 1758), Caiman latirostris (Daudin 1802), Caiman yacare (Daudin 1802), M. niger and UCMP 39978. As it was already mentioned, the suborbital fenestra in MCNC 243 (former M. fisheri) reaches the space between the ninth and the tenth alveoli. The lateral margin of the suborbital fenestra com

The Solimões Formation (Eocene-Pliocene) is a well-known geological unit due to the great diversity of crocodylian species. Here we describe a new species of Melanosuchus, M. latrubessei sp. nov., from the Talismã locality, state of Amazonas, from the Upper Miocene of the Solimões Formation (Solimões Basin, Brazil). A new phylogenetic inference focused on Caimaninae is provided and the different evolutionary scenarios involving this new species are discussed. In addition, quantitative morphology studies are carried out and comments regarding the paleoecology aspects of this new species are made. M. latrubessei represents a medium-sized generalist predator, being proportional to the medium-sized M. niger. This new species inhabited the drainages of the Solimões Formation and was ecologically related to other taxa of crocodylians during the proto-Amazon Miocene. The evolutionary advantages of Melanosuchus genus are discussed to better understand the biogeographical occurrence of M. niger in South America, a species which survives to this day in contrast to several other species that became extinct during the Miocene-Pliocene periods. The extinction of the Miocene-Pliocene crocodylian taxa of the Solimões Formation, including Melanosuchus latrubessei, seems to be directly related with the uplift of the northern portions of the Andes, which generated significantly changes in drainages and Amazon paleoenvironments.

Melanosuchus and its prolific debates Melanosuchus was originally proposed by Gray (1862) as a monospecific genus to relocate the species Caiman niger described by Spix (1825). For a synonym list of Melanosuchus niger see Medem (1963). Regarding the phylogenetic relationships of the genus there are two main propositions: 1) nested within Caiman genus, frequently as sister of C. latirostris (e.g., Poe 1996; Brochu 1997, 1999; Souza-Filho et al. 2019); or, 2) as sister species of Caiman genus (e.g., Oaks 2011; Roberto et al. 2020). The validity of the Melanosuchus is still an open debate with some authors suggesting its synonymization with Caiman (Poe 1996), this discussion, for now, goes beyond the scope of the present contribution. However, we suggest that the propositions made by Fitzhugh (2016) for molecular inferences should be considered in future works addressing this question., Published as part of Souza-Filho, Jonas Pereira De, Guilherme, Edson, Toledo, Peter Mann De, Carvalho, Ismar De Souza, Negri, Francisco Ricardo, Maciente, Andr��a Aparecida Da Rocha, Cidade, Giovanne M., Lacerda, Mauro Bruno Da Silva & Souza, Lucy Gomes De, 2020, On a new Melanosuchus species (Alligatoroidea: Caimaninae) from Solim��es Formation (Eocene-Pliocene), Northern Brazil, and evolution of Caimaninae, pp. 561-593 in Zootaxa 4894 (4) on page 563, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4894.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/4316776, {"references":["Gray, J. E. (1862) A synopsis of the species of Alligators. Annals and magazine of natural history, 10 (3), 125 - 169.","Spix, J. B. (1825) Animalia nova sive species novae Lacertarum, quas in itinere per Brasiliam annis MDCCCXVII-MDCCCXX jussu et auspiciis Maximiliani Josephi I. In: De Pix, D. J. B. (Eds.), Bavaria Regis suscepto collegit et descripsit. Typis, Franc. Seraph. H ʾ bschamanni, Munich, pp. 1 - 110.","Medem, F. (1963) Osteologia Craneal, Distribucion geografica y ecologia de Melanosuchus niger (Spix) (Crocodylia, Alligatoridae). Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales, 12 (45), 5 - 23. https: // doi. org / 10.1590 / S 0100 - 736 X 2016001000018","Poe, S. (1996) Data set incongruence and the phylogeny of Crocodilians. Systematic Biology, 45 (4), 393 - 414. https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / sysbio / 45.4.393","Brochu, C. A. (1997) Fossils, morphology, divergence timing. and the phylogenetic relationships of Gavia 1 is. Systematic Biology, 46, 479 - 522. https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / sysbio / 46.3.479","Brochu, C. A. (1999) Phylogenetics, taxonomy, and historical biogeography of Alligatoroidea. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 19, 9 - 100. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 02724634.1999.10011201","Souza-Filho, J. P., Souza, R. G., Hsiou, A. S., Riff, D., Guilherme, E., Negri, F. R. & Cidade, G. M. (2019) A new caimanine (Crocodylia, Alligatoroidea) species from the Solimies Formation of Brazil and the phylogeny of Caimaninae. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 38 (5), e 1528450. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 02724634.2018.1528450","Oaks, J. R. (2011) A time-calibrated species tree of Crocodylia reveals a recent radiation of the true crocodiles. Evolution, 65 (11), 3285 - 3297. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1558 - 5646.2011.01373. x","Roberto, J. I., Bittencourt, P. S., Muniz, F. L., Hernandez-Rangel, S. M., Nobrega, Y. C., Avila, R. W., Souza, B. C., Alvarez, G., Miranda-Chumacero, G., Campos, Z., Farias, I. P. & Hrbek, T. (2020) Unexpected but unsurprising lineage diversity within the most widespread Neotropical crocodilian genus Caiman (Crocodylia, Alligatoridae). Systematics and Biodiversity, 18 (4), 377 - 395. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 14772000.2020.1769222","Fitzhugh, K. (2016) Sequence Data, Phylogenetic Inference, and Implications of Downward Causation. Acta Biotheoretica, 64 (2), 133 - 160. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10441 - 016 - 9277 - 0"]}

Anthropogenic transformations, which have become intensified by land use and land cover changes and industrialization, have contributed to increased anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity. These disturbances contribute toward fragmentating habitats at different scales and putting species at risk, in addition compro mising the main biogeochemical cycles. To better understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of anthropogenic pressure on Brazilian biomes, this study sought to develop a composite index to identify and analyze the degree and distribution of anthropogenic-based pressure on biodiversity, and identify internally homogeneous and heterogeneous regions regarding the dynamics of this pressure in different scenarios. To that end, we carried out an analysis of the impact of select anthropogenic factors. Specifically, we analyzed future scenarios involving land use and land cover changes in line with the global structure Shared Socio-Economic Pathways (SSPs) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), according to the narratives SSP1/RCP 1.9, SSP2/ RCP 4.5 and SSP3/RCP 7.0. We used cluster and spatial analyses to determine the spatial dynamics of the index and, consequently, the regions most susceptible to anthropogenic pressure. The results demonstrate intensified pressure on biodiversity in areas that have already been subject to a considerable degree of disturbances, especially the Cerrado, Caatinga, and Atlantic Forest biomes. In all scenarios, the region with the highest average pressure index, i.e., Region 4, which has an average pressure index of 0.57, corresponds to 30% of Brazilian territory. This method made it possible to determine the level of pressure in each region and, subsequently, identify the regions that have been most affected by human actions in an effort to guide priority actions and local policies. However, it should be noted that this approach should be complemented with additional information, such as soil erosion, field recognition, and socioeconomic information.

The present work aimed to propose a methodology for calculating theSocioenvironmental Vulnerability Index for areas that have undergone anurban land regularization process. Based on the Social Vulnerability Index ofthe Institute of Applied Economic Research and addressing social, economic,legal and environmental issues, the IVSA is constituted by the integration offive components: Urban Infrastructure Index, Human Capital Index, Incomeand labor Index, Legal Index and Environment and Health Index. The valuesof indicators and indices vary between 0.1 (low degree of vulnerability) and1 (high degree of vulnerability), and the application of this methodologymakes it possible to evaluate whether the land regularization work carriedout in a space has improved not only land aspects, but also the aspectsstudied by the IVSA, emphasizing the importance of these tools to guideresource allocation, formulation and implementation of public policies moreappropriate to the space studied. O presente trabalho objetivou propor uma metodologia de cálculo de índicede vulnerabilidade socioambiental (IVSA) para áreas que tenham passado porum processo de regularização fundiária em área urbana. Com base no índicede vulnerabilidade social do Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA)e abordando questões sociais, econômicas, jurídicas e ambientais, o IVSAconstitui-se na integração de cinco componentes: índice de infraestruturaurbana, índice de capital humano, índice de renda e trabalho, índicejurídico e índice de meio ambiente e saúde. Os valores dos indicadores eíndices variam entre 0,1 (baixo grau de vulnerabilidade) e 1 (alto grau devulnerabilidade), e a aplicação dessa metodologia possibilita avaliar seo trabalho de regularização fundiária realizado em um espaço atingiu amelhoria de aspectos não somente fundiários, mas também nos aspectosestudados pelo IVSA, enfatizando a importância dessas ferramentas paraguiar a alocação de recursos e a formulação e implementação de políticaspúblicas mais adequadas ao espaço estudado.

A Mesorregião Nordeste do Pará (MNP) possui 56,4% do território desmatado. Porém, possui grande importância ecológica, que pode ser demonstrada pela identificação de 28 Áreas Prioritárias para a Conservação (APC) no âmbito do Projeto de Conservação e Utilização da Diversidade Biológica Brasileira (PROBIO). Este trabalho teve por objetivo identificar e quantificar a cobertura vegetal e o uso da terra na MNP, e compará-la com as áreas prioritárias para conservação da biodiversidade. Para tanto, foi realizado o cruzamento de dados vetoriais de uso e de cobertura da terra com as APC e as áreas protegidas da região. Os resultados mostram que apenas 3% das APC estão sob algum tipo de proteção. As áreas identificadas como de prioridade 'extremamente alta' já sofreram perda de 55,6% da sua cobertura florestal original, enquanto que as de prioridade 'muito alta' perderam 49%. Torna-se imprescindível a ampliação do sistema de proteção ambiental na região.

Beginning in November 2018, Brazilian legislation regulating access to genetic heritage and associated traditional knowledge will cause a bureaucratic collapse of Biodiversity research in Brazil. Law number 13.123/2015 and Decree 8772/2016 impose severe barriers to basic and applied research, and to international cooperation by introducing mandatory registry of research access to native organisms in Brazil. This legal framework was meant to improve governmental control over systems of biotechnology research using genetic material and associated chemical compounds, which are central points of the Nagoya Protocol (CBD 2011) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD 1992, 2012). However, the requirements imposed by the mandatory registry of research in the new National System for Governance of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge (SisGen), the system of Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), and the need to record access to organismal data prior to publication of scientific results or exportation of specimens for scientific research are technically impracticable and not part of the Nagoya Protocol or CBD ..

No contexto atual, projeções indicam que o setor agrícola é um dos mais vulneráveis aos impactos causados pelas mudanças climáticas. Dessa forma, este trabalho objetivou identificar a relação do cenário atual de adequação edafoclimática com a produção e a produtividade de cacau. Assim como, investigar a adequação edafoclimática em cenários futuros. Para tanto, foi realizada a determinação da correlação entre as variáveis com o uso da fórmula do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. Os resultados indicaram que existe uma baixa ou nenhuma correlação no cenário atual com a produção e produtividade de cacau e também que haverá grandes perdas de adequação edafoclimáticas nos cenários futuros. Portanto, foi possível concluir que é necessário se realizar medidas que evitem a intensificação das mudanças climáticas como o combate ao desmatamento ilegal no sentido de evitar que os futuros cenários de mudanças climáticas ocorram.