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Abstract The SnRK1, hexokinase, and TORC1 (TOR, LST8, RAPTOR) are three pivotal kinases at the core of sugar level sensing, significantly impacting plant metabolism and development. We retrieved and analyzed protein sequences of these three kinase pathways from seven sugarcane transcriptome and genome datasets, identifying protein domains, phylogenetic relationships, sequence ancestry, and in silico expression levels. Additionally, we predicted HXK subcellular localization and assessed its enzymatic activity in sugarcane leaves and culms along development in the field. We retrieved 11 TOR, 23 RAPTOR, 55 LST8, 95 SnRK1α, 98 HXK, and 14 HXK-like putative full-length sequences containing all the conserved domains. Most of these transcripts seem to share a common origin with the three ancestral species of sugarcane: Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum spontaneum, and Saccharum barberi. We accessed the expression profile of sequences from one sugarcane transcriptome. We found the highest enzymatic activity of HXK in culms in the first month, which, at this stage, provides carbon (sucrose) and nitrogen (amino acids) for initial plant development. Our approach places novel sugar sensing sequences that work as a guideline for further research into the underlying signaling mechanisms and biotechnology applications in sugarcane.

Abstract We describe the geographical variation in tree species composition across Amazonian forests and show how environmental conditions are associated with species turnover. Our analyses are based on 2023 forest inventory plots (1 ha) that provide abundance data for a total of 5188 tree species. Within-plot species composition reflected both local environmental conditions (especially soil nutrients and hydrology) and geographical regions. A broader-scale view of species turnover was obtained by interpolating the relative tree species abundances over Amazonia into 47,441 0.1-degree grid cells. Two main dimensions of spatial change in tree species composition were identified. The first was a gradient between western Amazonia at the Andean forelands (with young geology and relatively nutrient-rich soils) and central–eastern Amazonia associated with the Guiana and Brazilian Shields (with more ancient geology and poor soils). The second gradient was between the wet forests of the northwest and the drier forests in southern Amazonia. Isolines linking cells of similar composition crossed major Amazonian rivers, suggesting that tree species distributions are not limited by rivers. Even though some areas of relatively sharp species turnover were identified, mostly the tree species composition changed gradually over large extents, which does not support delimiting clear discrete biogeographic regions within Amazonia.

The examination of fungal secretomes has garnered attention for its potential to unveil the repertoire of secreted proteins, notably CAZymes (Carbohydrate-Active enzymes), across various microorganisms. This study presents findings on categorizing the secretome profile of CAZymes by their function and family, derived from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum LMBC 172. The cultivation was performed through submerged fermentation with three distinct carbon sources: sugarcane bagasse, tamarind seeds, and a control simulating hemicellulose containing 0.5% beechwood xylan plus 0.5% oat spelt xylan. The secretome analysis revealed 206 distinct CAZymes. Each carbon source showed particularities and differences. Of these, 89 proteins were produced simultaneously with all the carbon sources; specifically, 41 proteins using only the hemicellulose simulation, 29 proteins when sugarcane bagasse was used as a carbon source, and only 3 when tamarind seeds were used. However, in this last condition, there was a high intensity of xyloglucanase GH74 production, thus reaffirming the richness of xyloglucan in the constitution of these seeds. When evaluating the proteins found in two conditions, 18 proteins were shown between the simulation of hemicellulose and sugarcane bagasse, 11 proteins between the simulation of hemicellulose and tamarind seeds, and 15 proteins between sugarcane bagasse and tamarind seeds. Among the proteins found, there are representatives of different families such as glycosyl hydrolases (GHs) that cleave cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, or other components; carbohydrate esterases (CEs); polysaccharide lyases (PLs); carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs); and auxiliary activity enzymes (AAs). These results demonstrate the importance of analyzing CAZymes secreted by microorganisms under different culture conditions.

Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae: Eupatorieae) is a sprawling shrub native to the Americas, and a destructive invader of much of the humid tropics and subtropics of the Old World. Opportunistic native-range exploration in 1995 identified a stem-boring weevil, Lixus aemulus, as a promising biological control candidate agent. Host-specificity testing was conducted on L. aemulus in South Africa using laboratory no-choice and paired-choice tests. Three invasive alien plants closely related to C. odorata may be utilized by L. aemulus but no indigenous, ornamental or crop species in South Africa was or is expected to be attacked by the weevil. A native-range field survey was conducted in Brazil to determine the exact identity of the host plant L. aemulus had been collected in 1995, and to identify additional host-plant species. Genetic assessments of the Lixus sp.(p.). adults collected on the three host plants (C. odorata, Chromolaena laevigata and Heterocondylus vitalbae) reveal these individuals are L. aemulus and the weevil can be classed as an oligophage in its native range. Over 5,500 adults were released in South Africa, but overall establishment has been poor. The most likely explanation appears to be a climate mismatch between the region of South Africa invaded by C. odorata and the collection locality in Rio Branco, Acre state, Brazil. Additionally, because the full extent of the native range of L. aemulus is unknown, it is uncertain whether individuals can be sourced from an area whose climate resembles that of South Africa. Furthermore, despite being oligophagous, L. aemulus may perform sub-optimally on the southern African C. odorata biotype.

ABSTRACT The areas of Amazonian floodplains have added ecological value to their multiple ecosystem services, including water supply, local climate regulation, biodiversity with a marked number of endemic species, and diversity of micro-habitat. Considering the importance of conserving these environments, this study aimed to analyze the behavior and delimit the areas of the natural distribution of forest species Alchornea castaneifolia (Willd.) A. Juss and Laetia corymbulosa (lowland low), Maquira coriacea (H.Karst.) C.C. Berg (Moraceae), and Ocotea cymbarum Kunth (high floodplain), besides evaluating the potential impacts of climate change on the future distribution inferring on its conservation. The potential species distribution was modeled using Environmental Modelling & Software, by employing algorithms such as Bioclim, Domain, Maximum Entropy, Random Forests, and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The projections indicate that climate change threatens the occurrence of floodplain species. Under the SSP 585 scenario for both periods, the four species studied will lose areas of climatic adequacy until the end of the 21st century, especially in the Brazilian Amazon. The study shows the need to increase socio-environmental responsibility through conserving current protected areas in freshwater ecosystems and implementing new priority areas for conserving wetlands (Ramsar Sites) in the Amazon. Such measures are essential to ensure in situ conservation and protect them from habitat loss.

Euterpe precatoria Mart. (açaí-do-amazonas) and Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí-do-pará) are palm trees of socioeconomic importance to Brazil, and fruit demand has increased due to its nutritional characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of global climate change on the current geographic distribution of E. precatoria and E. oleracea and in future climate scenarios using the ecological niche modeling in the scope of Brazilian territories. The modelings used 28 environmental variables, including climatic and edaphic data. The current distribution was verified for the reference period (2009-2019) and future projections were evaluated in two scenarios (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways - SSP): SSP 245 (less pessimistic) and SSP 585 (more pessimistic), in the time interval of 2061-2080. All algorithms presented satisfactory evaluation indexes. Euterpe precatoria has a predominant geographic distribution in the Amazon domain, while E. oleraceahas potential occurrence in three Brazilian phytogeographic domains: Amazon, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. Euterpe oleracea showed to be more sensitive to climate change in both scenarios, while E. precatoria was more resilient up to a certain level of temperature increase (SSP 245).

Abstract Using 2.046 botanically-inventoried tree plots across the largest tropical forest on Earth, we mapped tree species-diversity and tree species-richness at 0.1-degree resolution, and investigated drivers for diversity and richness. Using only location, stratified by forest type, as predictor, our spatial model, to the best of our knowledge, provides the most accurate map of tree diversity in Amazonia to date, explaining approximately 70% of the tree diversity and species-richness. Large soil-forest combinations determine a significant percentage of the variation in tree species-richness and tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian forest-plots. We suggest that the size and fragmentation of these systems drive their large-scale diversity patterns and hence local diversity. A model not using location but cumulative water deficit, tree density, and temperature seasonality explains 47% of the tree species-richness in the terra-firme forest in Amazonia. Over large areas across Amazonia, residuals of this relationship are small and poorly spatially structured, suggesting that much of the residual variation may be local. The Guyana Shield area has consistently negative residuals, showing that this area has lower tree species-richness than expected by our models. We provide extensive plot meta-data, including tree density, tree alpha-diversity and tree species-richness results and gridded maps at 0.1-degree resolution.

Abstract The CO2 concentration has increased in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel consumption, deforestation, and land-use changes. Brazil represents one of the primary sources of food on the planet and is also the world's largest tropical rainforest, one of the hot spots of biodiversity in the world. In this work, a meta-analysis was conducted to compare several CO2 Brazilian experiments displaying the diversity of plant responses according to life habits, such as trees (79% natives and 21% cultivated) and herbs (33% natives and 67% cultivated). We found that trees and herbs display different responses. The young trees tend to allocate carbon from increased photosynthetic rates and lower respiration in the dark—to organ development, increasing leaves, roots, and stem biomasses. In addition, more starch is accumulated in the young trees, denoting a fine control of carbon metabolism through carbohydrate storage. Herbs increased drastically in water use efficiency, controlled by stomatal conductance, with more soluble sugars, probably with a transient accumulation of carbon primarily stored in seeds as a response to elevated CO2.

Severe droughts increase the forest flammability, especially if fires are recurrent. Considering that fires tend to alter the forest structure and reduce biological diversity, we analyzed the fire effect on the tree plant community and forest structure over a 10-year post-fire period. The study was carried out in two tropical forest fragments located in the eastern Acre State in southwestern Brazilian Amazon. In each fragment, we established three plots of 250 × 10 m2 in an unburned forest and three in a burned forest. In these plots, we collected all tree individuals with DBH≥10 following the RAINFOR protocol, with censuses made in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The fire significantly reduced the abundance, basal area, and aboveground biomass of tree species, and altered the species composition along the post-fire temporal gradient. The absence of differences in the species richness and species diversity between unburned and burned forests is probably related to the life cycle of bamboo. The results suggest that, 10 years after the fire, the structure and phytosociology of the forest have not yet fully recovered.

The importance of non-conventional food plants has been evidenced due to their great potential for phenotypic plasticity, resilience and resistance to permanence in inhospitable places. This study aimed to evaluate the natural distribution of two of these species (Eryngium foetidum and Fridericia chica) in the present period (2009-2019) and the projection for two future climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 - “less pessimistic” and RCP 8.5 - “more pessimistic”) in two-time intervals (2020-2050 and 2051-2070), in the six Brazilian phytogeographic domains. Nineteen bioclimatic variables obtained from the WorldClim database and four algorithm models were tested: Climate Space Model, Envelope Score, Niche Mosaic and Environmental Distance. The Environmental Distance algorithm presented the best discrimination of the models adjusted for the two species. From the projections, it is possible to perceive that the species are severely affected in the phytogeographic domains of the Amazon, Pantanal and Pampa, becoming practically extinct in the RCP 8.5 scenario, for the period of 2051-2070.

ABSTRACT Astrocaryum aculeatum Mart. Moreover, Astrocaryum acaule Mart. are palm trees with ecological and extractive importance in the Amazon. These are hearty species that have been associated with archaeological sites and thrive in the presence of humans in certain areas. This work aimed to verify the effect of global climate change on the potential geographic distribution of A. acaule and A. aculeatum in the current period and future climate scenarios using ecological niche modeling in Brazilian phytogeographic domains. The modeling was based on 19 bioclimatic variables obtained from the Worldclim website and four algorithms (Climate space model, Envelope Score, Niche Mosaic, and Environmental Distance). Additionally, the Environmental Distance algorithm showed greater similarity regarding species distribution with potential occurrence in the five Brazilian domains (Amazon, Pantanal, Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest). The dispersion patterns were very similar between the two Astrocaryum palms though A. aculeatum was more sensitive to climatic variations. A. acaule may be more resilient to changes, as demonstrated by being able to recolonize in the southern portion of the Amazon in future scenarios in the year 2070. The modeling helped to delimit potential areas for A. aculeatum and A. acaule, indicating the need for the conservation of the species in more sensitive regions.

Abstract Long-term-ecological-research (LTER) faces many challenges, including the difficulty of obtaining long-term funding, changes in research questions and sampling designs, keeping researchers collecting standardized data for many years, impediments to interactions with local people, and the difficulty of integrating the needs of local decision makers with “big science”. These issues result in a lack of universally accepted guidelines as to how research should be done and integrated among LTER sites. Here we discuss how the RAPELD (standardized field infrastructure system), can help deal with these issues as a complementary technique in LTER studies, allowing comparisons across landscapes and ecosystems and reducing sampling costs. RAPELD uses local surveys to understand broad spatial and temporal patterns while enhancing decision-making and training of researchers, local indigenous groups and traditional communities. Sampling of ecological data can be carried out by different researchers through standardized protocols, resulting in spatial data that can be used to answer temporal questions, and allow new questions to be investigated. Results can also be integrated into existing biodiversity networks. Integrated systems are the most efficient way to save resources, maximize results, and accumulate information that can be used in the face of the unknown unknowns upon which our future depends.

ABSTRACT Trees transport water from underground to the atmosphere through the evapotranspiration process. Climate change can significantly compromise this process due to changes in land use, such as deforestation. This study aimed to characterize the hydraulic and anatomical attributes of Jacaranda copaia (Aubl.) D. Don (Bignoniaceae), in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon. For this purpose, the xylem vulnerability curve of this species was described. The frequency and diameter of the xylem vessels and the stomata density were also measured. Finally, a hydraulic attribute of Jacaranda copaia was compared to other species at global, tropical, and Amazonian levels. The findings show that, in the region studied, the species Jacaranda copaia has diffuse-porous woods and numerous vessels (average vessel ranging from 8 to 14 nº/mm2) with small (

Abstract In a time of rapid global change, the question of what determines patterns in species abundance distribution remains a priority for understanding the complex dynamics of ecosystems. The constrained maximization of information entropy provides a framework for the understanding of such complex systems dynamics by a quantitative analysis of important constraints via predictions using least biased probability distributions. We apply it to over two thousand hectares of Amazonian tree inventories across seven forest types and thirteen functional traits, representing major global axes of plant strategies. Results show that constraints formed by regional relative abundances of genera explain eight times more of local relative abundances than constraints based on directional selection for specific functional traits, although the latter does show clear signals of environmental dependency. These results provide a quantitative insight by inference from large-scale data using cross-disciplinary methods, furthering our understanding of ecological dynamics.

The analysis of the secretome allows us to identify the proteins, especially carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), secreted by different microorganisms cultivated under different conditions. The CAZymes are divided into five classes containing different protein families. Thermothelomyces thermophilus is a thermophilic ascomycete, a source of many glycoside hydrolases and oxidative enzymes that aid in the breakdown of lignocellulosic materials. The secretome analysis of T. thermophilus LMBC 162 cultivated with submerged fermentation using tamarind seeds as a carbon source revealed 79 proteins distributed between the five diverse classes of CAZymes: 5.55% auxiliary activity (AAs); 2.58% carbohydrate esterases (CEs); 20.58% polysaccharide lyases (PLs); and 71.29% glycoside hydrolases (GHs). In the identified GH families, 54.97% are cellulolytic, 16.27% are hemicellulolytic, and 0.05 are classified as other. Furthermore, 48.74% of CAZymes have carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). Observing the relative abundance, it is possible to state that only thirteen proteins comprise 92.19% of the identified proteins secreted and are probably the main proteins responsible for the efficient degradation of the bulk of the biomass: cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin.

Abstract Trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) is an intermediate of trehalose biosynthesis that plays an essential role in plant metabolism and development. Here, we comprehensively analyzed sequences from enzymes of trehalose metabolism in sugarcane, one of the main crops used for bioenergy production. We identified protein domains, phylogeny, and in silico expression levels for all classes of enzymes. However, post-translational modifications and residues involved in catalysis and substrate binding were analyzed only in trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) sequences. We retrieved 71 putative full-length TPS, 93 trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP), and 3 trehalase (TRE) of sugarcane, showing all their conserved domains, respectively. Putative TPS (Classes I and II) and TPP sugarcane sequences were categorized into well-known groups reported in the literature. We measured the expression levels of the sequences from one sugarcane leaf transcriptomic dataset. Furthermore, TPS Class I has specific N-glycosylation sites inserted in conserved motifs and carries catalytic and binding residues in its TPS domain. Some of these residues are mutated in TPS Class II members, which implies loss of enzyme activity. Our approach retrieved many homo(eo)logous sequences for genes involved in trehalose metabolism, paving the way to discover the role of T6P signaling in sugarcane.

Drought and fire reduce productivity and increase tree mortality in tropical forests. Fires also produce pyrogenic carbon (PyC), which persists in situ for centuries to millennia, and represents a legacy of past fires, potentially improving soil fertility and water holding capacity and selecting for the survival and recruitment of certain tree life-history (or successional) strategies. We investigated whether PyC is correlated with physicochemical soil properties, wood density, aboveground carbon (AGC) dynamics and forest resistance to severe drought. To achieve our aim, we used an Amazon-wide, long-term plot network, in forests without known recent fires, integrating site-specific measures of forest dynamics, soil properties and a unique soil PyC concentration database. We found that forests with higher concentrations of soil PyC had both higher soil fertility and lower wood density. Soil PyC was not associated with AGC dynamics in non-drought years. However, during extreme drought events (10% driest years), forests with higher concentrations of soil PyC experienced lower reductions in AGC gains (woody growth and recruitment), with this drought-immunizing effect increasing with drought severity. Forests with a legacy of ancient fires are therefore more likely to continue to grow and recruit under increased drought severity. Forests with high soil PyC concentrations (third quartile) had 3.8% greater AGC gains under mean drought, but 33.7% greater under the most extreme drought than forests with low soil PyC concentrations (first quartile), offsetting losses of up to 0.68 Mg C ha–1yr–1 of AGC under extreme drought events. This suggests that ancient fires have legacy effects on current forest dynamics, by altering soil fertility and favoring tree species capable of continued growth and recruitment during droughts. Therefore, mature forest that experienced fires centuries or millennia ago may have greater resistance to current short-term droughts.

The aim of this study was to determine the forest species trees and shrubs that occur in the Amhara region, Ethiopia, for determining the possible areas for collecting seeds and propagations to meet genetic conservation and use programs as well as the recovery of degraded areas. The study was conducted at Fudi Natural Forest in Fagta Lekoma district, Amhara region, northwestern Ethiopia. Using geographic information systems (GISs), the points of presence of species were plotted on the USGS SRTM map (GTOPO30) at 1 : 250,000 scale (USGS, 2018) using Arc GIS 10.1 software (ESRI, 2011). The map has been cropped and presented only for the citizens that contained points of presence of the species. Figures were generated in the JPG format for each species individually, presenting the distribution of each according to the altitude of the region. The maps were elaborated using multiple linear regressions, relating the bioclimatic variables with the numerical models of latitude, longitude, and altitude. Descriptive statistical analysis was initially performed. This was followed by performing a normality test to observe the data distribution. In the region, 1250 individuals of 32 families and 46 species were surveyed. The families most found in the northeast, north, northwest, southwest, southeast, and west regions were Mimosoideae, Euphorbiaceae, Celastraceae, and Rubiaceae.

Stryphnodendron pulcherrimum is a species used medicinally among traditional Amazonian communities for its bactericidal activity and anti-inflammatory properties.Despite being adapted to rustic environments, there is no information regarding how climate change might affect the species occurrence. The present study aimed to evaluate the natural distribution of S. pulcherrimum in the current period and how its potential geographic distribution may be affected in response to future climate change scenarios in Brazilian phytogeographic domains. A total of 19 bioclimatic variables were used from the WorldClim database. Four algorithm models (Climate Space Model, Envelope Score, Niche Mosaic and Environmental Distance - present) and one software (Open Modeller - future) were used to verify the potential occurrence of S. pulcherrimumin five Brazilian domains (Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest and Pantanal) and three intervals (2009-2019 - present; 2020-2050 and 2051-2070 - future). There were losses of areas favorable to the occurrence of S. pulcherrimum in the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal, and global climate change may affect its natural distribution especially in the Atlantic Forest and Amazon. In the Amazon, the species may be totally extinct, in the worst scenario, by 2070.

Urena lobata L. is a commercial species used for fiber extraction in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará that presents relevant socioeconomic importance for the Amazon region. Despite its importance and wide distribution throughout Brazil, there are no data on the species response to global climate change. This study aimed to present the potential geographical distribution of U. lobata in the current period (2009-2019) and predict areas of climatic suitability for its occurrence in two future scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5), at two time intervals (2020-2050 and 2051-2070), in the face of global climate change. A total of 19 bioclimatic variables were obtained from the WorldClim database and four algorithms (Climate Space Model, Envelope Score, Niche Mosaic and Environmental Distance), from which the Envelope Score was the most representative model for the species to verify its occurrence along the Brazilian phytogeographic domains (Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest and Pampa). Vulnerability was observed for the species, since there were losses of favorable areas in the Amazon, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga, becoming practically extinct in the worst scenario (RCP 8.5), in the year 2070. However, for this same scenario and year, there was a significant area increase in the Pampa.

The role of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in mediating the impacts of drought in tropical trees is unclear. Here, the authors analyse leaf and branch NSC in 82 Amazon tree species across a Basin-wide precipitation gradient, finding that allocation of leaf NSC to soluble sugars is higher in drier sites and is coupled to tree hydraulic status.

Tree mortality rates and the modes of tree death have recently been extensively investigated in the Amazon. However, efforts to describe these processes have not been well distributed across the basin. No study has yet investigated in depth tree mortality process in the unique low, open, bamboo-dominated forests of southwestern Amazonia, a region with a distinct climate and the epicenter of recent severe drought events. Here, we investigated the leading ways that trees die in the terra-firme forests of the southwestern Brazilian Amazon, to understand whether the dynamics of mortality differ from those recorded in other parts of the basin. Using data from six permanent plots located in southwestern Amazonia, we calculated the mortality rate for three main modes of tree death: standing, broken and uprooted. We thus identified the predominant mode of death over a 14 year period (2002–2016). We found that trees in the southwestern Amazon died mainly standing (325 trees, 0.8% year−1) and broken (362 trees, 0.8% year−1); significantly fewer trees died uprooted (156 trees, 0.4% year−1, equivalent to less than one in five of all trees dying). During the study period, the tree mode of death with the greatest proportion in the region alternated between standing and broken trees. Forest characteristics of the southwestern Amazon, like presence and high density of bamboo culms, and the fact that the region was subject to severe droughts in 2005 and 2010, may be affecting how trees die in southwestern Amazon. The presence of these factors makes the forest dynamics of the southwestern Amazon different from other regions of the Amazon basin.

Tree mortality has been shown to be the dominant control on carbon storage in Amazon forests, but little is known of how and why Amazon forest trees die. Here the authors analyse a large Amazon-wide dataset, finding that fast-growing species face greater mortality risk, but that slower-growing individuals within a species are more likely to die, regardless of size.

RESUMO No primeiro semestre de 2020 a cidade de São Paulo foi assolada pela pandemia da Covid-19. Como uma Cidade Global, São Paulo acabou se tornando o epicentro da pandemia no Brasil. Sendo uma metrópole com alto nível de desigualdade, São Paulo acabou salientando as vulnerabilidades a ela relacionadas. Neste trabalho, aplicamos a ferramenta sistêmica BioNetStat aos dados censitários do município de São Paulo. Basea- mo-nos em trabalho prévio de Nery et al. (2019) que distinguiu oito padrões urbanos. Primeiro mostramos que as análises sistêmicas demonstram que diferentes conjuntos de fatores caracterizam cada um dos padrões urbanos. Mostramos que existem vantagens na análise conjunta de fatores para estudo da estrutura da cidade de São Paulo. Numa segunda análise, aplicamos a abordagem sistêmica com a inclusão de casos e óbitos de Covid-19. Os resultados mostraram que a pandemia levou a uma maior letalidade em regiões com padrão urbano coincidente com baixos níveis de educação e renda, maior número de viagens ao trabalho e com falhas no abastecimento de água. Concluímos que para lidar com a vulnerabilidade de São Paulo a situações extremas - como a pandemia da Covid-19 - políticas públicas sistêmicas deveriam ser utilizadas. Sugerimos que talvez seja o momento de adaptar a gestão urbana aos padrões urbanos ao invés da tradicional abordagem político administrativa.

Diodia kuntzei (Rubiaceae, Spermacoceae) is prostrate herb, rooting at the nodes, with reddish stems, multifimbriate stipules, axillary one-two-flowered inflorescences, corolla with filiform tube, and indehiscent fruit. The species is recorded for the first time for the state of Acre, where it was found in Alto Juruá region, municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, in waterlogged habitat (07°33′32″S, 072°42′59″W). Images of the plant and comments on its habitat and distribution are provided.

Bats represent a key group in tropical forest dynamics, given their participation in ecological interactions that lead the regulation of these forests. They are also sensitive to the heterogeneous vertical gradient in the forest, called stratification. In this study we evaluated the influence of two different forest strata on species composition and bat guild structure. The samplings were carried out over eight nights in a forest fragment located in the southwest of the Amazon; we used mist nets installed in the understory and sub-canopy. A total of 197 captures were distributed in 19 genera and 25 species; they were all representatives of the family Phyllostomidae. In the sub-canopy, 54 individuals and 15 species were captured, with four exclusive species. In the understory, 143 individuals of 21 species were recorded, of which 10 were exclusive of this stratum. The sub-canopy presented a diversity index greater than the understory, with differences between species composition of the two assemblies, due to the presence or absence of some species. We also found a variation in the presence of frugivorous, insectivorous and omnivorous species, which is the result of differences in the foraging methods of these species and also of the habitat preference. Differences were verified in the assemblies studied, demonstrating the effects of vertical stratification on the bats in the studied fragment. Studies that consider more than one vertical stratum in tropical forests are more representative than sampling with only understory mist nets, given the capture of exclusive species.

ABSTRACT In this work, the prediction of the distribution of M. urundeuva Fr. All. was performed based on the region of natural occurrence of the species. Its geographic coordinates were obtained from online databases CRIA and SpecialLinks, from scientific articles and fieldwork carried out by Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) in Ilha Solteira, São Paulo, Brazil. M. urundeuva is a native tree species with great potential for commercial use in Brazil. For this purpose, ecological niche modeling was used, with current layers of climate variables and layers prepared for future climate scenarios, according to the 4th Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (AR4/IPCC), using Worldclim data on Brazil. With the Open Modeller and ArcGIS programs, maps were generated to predict its occurrence for the current period and future climate scenarios, made according to the projections of global climate changes. With the projection of increases in temperature and precipitation in the area where the species occurs, it tends to migrate to areas of Brazil where the climate is currently milder, in the south and southeast regions. Due to climatic changes, the species tends to undergo changes in distribution and area size until 2080. It was projected for Caatinga and Pantanal, in both periods, an increase in area, while for the Cerrado, in the first period, the area increased, and, for the second, it decreased. Therefore, according to the results of the maps of future projections for the next decades, it is concluded that there will be changes in the distribution of M. urundeuva, with a significant reduction of the potential area of occurrence in the region.

resumo Historicamente, a expansão das cidades resultou na substituição da paisagem natural pela urbana, tendo como consequência a degradação ambiental por meio das mudanças na cobertura do solo, nos sistemas hidrológicos, nos ciclos biogeoquímicos, no clima e na biodiversidade, tornando as cidades especialmente vulneráveis às mudanças climáticas. A reversão desses processos é uma medida que visa a promoção da qualidade de vida nas cidades, na qual a arborização possui um papel fundamental por fornecer uma série de serviços ecossistêmicos valiosos para a promoção da biodiversidade, saúde e bem-estar social. Sendo direito de todos um meio ambiente equilibrado, saudável, de uso comum e essencial à qualidade de vida, o verde urbano é assunto interdisciplinar e de responsabilidade comum e generalizada. Cabe ao poder público a regularização, criação e manutenção dos plantios, promovendo o plantio de árvores a distâncias predeterminadas de acordo com o porte de cada espécie. Porém, os movimentos ativistas se desenvolveram no vácuo da morosidade do poder público seguindo, em geral, o método de adensamento de árvores pautado pelo conceito de sucessão ecológica. Ao promover a restauração dos serviços ecossistêmicos, as duas iniciativas de plantio arbóreo tendem a trazer grandes benefícios às grandes cidades, como São Paulo. Porém, a complexidade da paisagem urbana exige uma avaliação sistêmica dos plantios para definir a sua adequação espacial e otimizar os seus benefícios. O plantio das florestas urbanas não deve ter como objetivo recriar as condições naturais pré-urbanização, mas sim, desenvolver áreas verdes integradas à malha urbana que garantam um ambiente saudável e equilibrado, preservando as interações sociais. Ao visualizar o meio urbano como um ecossistema completo, é possível estabelecer critérios que otimizem os benefícios da arborização urbana. Estes critérios devem ser baseados em conhecimento técnico e científico, levando em conta necessidades sociais, para que o melhor método seja escolhido, caso a caso.

resumo A partir da discussão sobre a finitude dos recursos, que é a base para o funcionamento das cidades, e sobre as alterações climáticas, surge o conceito da sustentabilidade, como forma de trazer ao debate a importância da manutenção de recursos naturais para estas e para as futuras gerações, conforme consta do Relatório Brundtland. Além da perspectiva da sustentabilidade, a disponibilidade e a popularização de tecnologias no novo século possibilitaram a intensificação de seu uso, não só para comunicação humana, mas também como solução para problemas complexos do cotidiano das cidades e para sua governança. A governança de cada cidade precisa estar preparada para esses desafios dinâmicos, o que envolve novos estudos, planejamento, e possíveis adequações nas políticas, sistemas e serviços existentes para atender à preservação dos ecossistemas e às necessidades humanas.

resumo Elaborado com base na análise de dados oficiais, documentos internacionais, textos legislativos e extensa revisão bibliográfica, este artigo apresenta algumas reflexões sobre temas relevantes à implementação, pelas cidades brasileiras, dos Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável, fixados pela Agenda 2030 para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Organização das Nações Unidas, apontando os instrumentos legais existentes no âmbito da Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente, Política de Gestão de Recursos Hídricos, Estatuto da Cidade e Política Nacional de Proteção e Defesa Civil, com ênfase às ações e estratégias urbanas de mitigação, adaptação e resiliência às mudanças climáticas, no intuito de contribuir, na universidade, para a orientação de pesquisas científicas inter e transdisciplinares, articuladas com a formulação, implementação e avaliação de políticas públicas e voltadas a prover soluções para o enfrentamento dos complexos desafios de gestão e planejamento enfrentados pelas cidades contemporâneas.

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o estabelecimento de Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan var. cebil [Griseb.] Altschul sob inoculação micorrízica e fertilização no Pantanal da Nhecolândia, MS. O experimento foi implantado em março de 2015 em ambiente de cordilheira parcialmente desmatada, em blocos ao acaso distribuídos no micro relevo, e parcelas subdivididas. Os principais tratamentos foram constituídos por mudas submetidas ou não (controle) à inoculação mista com Rhizophagus clarus e Gigaspora margarita, e aos tratamentos secundários de adubação com doses de sulfato de amônio e cloreto de potássio. Entre 2015 e 2017 foram avaliados a abertura do dossel das árvores remanescentes, o percentual de sobrevivência e o crescimento de A. colubrina. Melhores condições de sobrevivência foram verificadas na porção da cordilheira mais próxima à baía, sob sombreamento moderado e com a aplicação, no plantio, de 15 g de sulfato de amônio e de 5 g de cloreto de potássio por muda. A inoculação micorrízica promoveu incremento de 16% em diâmetro do colo aos 23 meses de idade, não aumentando a sobrevivência da espécie. Estudos complementares são necessários para subsidiar estratégias de manejo de A. colubrina, em condições de plantio no Pantanal da Nhecolândia.

Tropical forests uptake more atmospheric CO2 and transpire more water than any other forest in the world and are critical components of the global carbon and hydrological cycles. Both cycles depend to a great extent on the carbon and water balance of individual trees. Such adjustments are usually evaluated through well-established and newly-emerging traits but integrating them for a systemic understanding of trees' responses to climate change can be challenging. We propose using complex correlation networks to integrate and understand how trees coordinate water- and carbon-related traits under changing climate conditions. We built a correlation network based on 20 traits measured in the wood of Hymenaea courbaril (Leguminosae) trees, a species known for its extreme anisohydric water-use strategy, sampled along a climate gradient in Southeastern Brazil. Intercellular to ambient CO2 concentrations ratio (ci/ca, estimated from tree-ring δ13C) is a central network trait for being coordinated with several hydraulic and carbon allocation traits. Trees of H. courbaril coordinate these traits along the climate gradient, favoring high ci/ca under warm and dry conditions. A high ci/ca is only possible through a consistent water supply provided by wider vessels together with the investment on soluble sugars, at the detriment of starch, likely for hydraulic maintenance. Trees also favor heat resistance by investing in cell-wall xylose, another central network trait, from xyloglucans and xylans, at the expense of mannose from glucomannans. Such trade-offs within, and between, structural and non-structural carbon allocation reflect well-known metabolic pathways in plants. In summary, this systemic approach confirms previously reported patterns on leaf physiology, stem hydraulics and carbon adjustments while bringing to light the previously unreported role of cell-wall composition and its fine adjustments to cope with climate change.

Xyloglucan (XG) is the predominant hemicellulose in the primary cell wall of superior plants. It has a fundamental role in controlling the stretching and expansion of the plant cell wall. There are five types of enzymes known to cleave the linear chain of xyloglucan, and the most well-known is xyloglucanase (XEG). The immobilization process can be used to solve problems related to stability, besides the economic benefits brought by the possibility of its repeated use and recovery. Therefore, this study aims at the optimization of the xyloglucanase production of Trichoderma longibrachiatum using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) with tamarind and jatoba seeds as carbon sources, as well as XEG immobilization on ionic supports, such as MANAE (monoamine-N-aminoethyl), DEAE (diethylaminoethyl)-cellulose, CM (carboxymethyl)-cellulose, and PEI (polyethyleneimine). High concentrations of carbon sources (1.705%), at a temperature of 30 °C and under agitation for 72 h, were the most favorable conditions for the XEG activity from T. longibrachiatum with respect to both carbon sources. However, the tamarind seeds showed 23.5% higher activity compared to the jatoba seeds. Therefore, this carbon source was chosen to continue the experiments. The scaling up from Erlenmeyer flasks to the bioreactor increased the XEG activity 1.27-fold (1.040 ± 0.088 U/mL). Regarding the biochemical characterization of the crude extract, the optimal temperature range was 50–55 °C, and the optimal pH was 5.0. Regarding the stabilities with respect to pH and temperature, XEG was not stable for prolonged periods, which was crucial to immobilizing it on ionic resins. XEG showed the best immobilization efficiency on CM-cellulose and DEAE-cellulose, with activities of 1.16 and 0.89 U/g of the derivative (enzyme plus support), respectively. This study describes, for the first time in the literature, the immobilization of a fungal xyloglucanase using these supports.

Abstract Background Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) opened a new horizon for biomass deconstruction. They use a redox mechanism not yet fully understood and the range of substrates initially envisaged to be the crystalline polysaccharides is steadily expanding to non-crystalline ones. Results The enzyme KpLPMO10A from the actinomycete Kitasatospora papulosa was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells in the functional form with native N-terminal. The enzyme can release oxidized species from chitin (C1-type oxidation) and cellulose (C1/C4-type oxidation) similarly to other AA10 members from clade II (subclade A). Interestingly, KpLPMO10A also cleaves isolated xylan (not complexed with cellulose, C4-type oxidation), a rare activity among LPMOs not described yet for the AA10 family. The synergistic effect of KpLPMO10A with Celluclast® and an endo-β-1,4-xylanase also supports this finding. The crystallographic elucidation of KpLPMO10A at 1.6 Å resolution along with extensive structural analyses did not indicate any evident difference with other characterized AA10 LPMOs at the catalytic interface, tempting us to suggest that these enzymes might also be active on xylan or that the ability to attack both crystalline and non-crystalline substrates involves yet obscure mechanisms of substrate recognition and binding. Conclusions This work expands the spectrum of substrates recognized by AA10 family, opening a new perspective for the understanding of the synergistic effect of these enzymes with canonical glycoside hydrolases to deconstruct ligno(hemi)cellulosic biomass.

Abstract The Program for Biodiversity Research (PPBio) is an innovative program designed to integrate all biodiversity research stakeholders. Operating since 2004, it has installed long-term ecological research sites throughout Brazil and its logic has been applied in some other southern-hemisphere countries. The program supports all aspects of research necessary to understand biodiversity and the processes that affect it. There are presently 161 sampling sites (see some of them at Supplementary Appendix), most of which use a standardized methodology that allows comparisons across biomes and through time. To date, there are about 1200 publications associated with PPBio that cover topics ranging from natural history to genetics and species distributions. Most of the field data and metadata are available through PPBio web sites or DataONE. Metadata is available for researchers that intend to explore the different faces of Brazilian biodiversity spatio-temporal variation, as well as for managers intending to improve conservation strategies. The Program also fostered, directly and indirectly, local technical capacity building, and supported the training of hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students. The main challenge is maintaining the long-term funding necessary to understand biodiversity patterns and processes under pressure from global environmental changes.

Euterpe precatoria is a palm tree belonging to the Arecaceae family, occurring in Western and Central Brazilian Amazonia. Its fruit, which is very appreciated in the Amazon region, produces pulp that is consumed in fresh form. Its production is carried out almost exclusively by extractive farmers. In order to establish adequate strategies to sustain this genetic resource, we need knowledge about the diversity and genetic structure in natural populations. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of geographic distance on genetic structure in the main extractive populations of E. precatoria in the Brazilian Amazon. Leaves from 377 plants were collected in 19 populations located in 16 municipalities in the State of Amazonas and three in the State of Rondônia. Twelve microsatellite loci were used to genotype the plants. The diversity and genetic structure among populations were estimated. The average number of alleles per locus was 5.97. The observed heterozygosity means (HO) were higher than expected (HE) at the population level (HO = 0.72, HE = 0.66) and fixation index (f = -0.100) was negative. The FST value (0.1820) and the AMOVA results (Φ = 0.1796) showed population structure. The populations were clustered into three groups (K = 3) in the Bayesian analysis. The Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) confirmed eight clusters, with the populations close to those identified by the Bayesian analysis. The geographic differentiation was confirmed by the groupings obtained in the Structure analysis and the DACP function. Information related to phenotypic, genetic and environmental characterization of populations is important to guide conservation and management strategies and the formulation of public species management policies in Amazonia.

O presente trabalho está inserido em uma discussão bastante difundida e diversamente formulada em âmbito filosófico e teológico, usualmente apresentada como “questão de Deus”. Buscamos apresentar a análise de uma das posições deste questionamento, especificamente a de L. Wittgenstein, a partir da perspectiva filosófico-sistemática empreendida por Lorenz B. Puntel em sua obra Ser e Deus. Para este propósito será necessária a apresentação da problemática questão a partir de um enfoque considerado inadequado por Puntel: a abordagem totalmente antissistemática, antiteórica e direta de Wittgenstein a partir da crítica de John Hyman. Após a exposição dos conceitos básicos da filosofia sistemática enquanto teoria geral do Ser de Puntel, a discussão dos enfoques inadequados da questão de Deus, da teoria da figuração, do conceito de “místico” e da perspectiva pautada pelos “jogos de linguagem”, buscamos apontar as supostas insuficiências da posição de Wittgenstein em contraste com o a filosofia sistemático-estrutural.

Plant lignocellulosic biomass, mostly composed of polysaccharide-rich secondary cell walls (SCWs), provides fermentable sugars that may be used to produce biofuels and biomaterials. However, the complex chemical composition and physical structure of SCWs hinder efficient processing of plant biomass. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying SCW deposition is, thus, essential to optimize bioenergy feedstocks. Here, we establish a xylogenic culture as a model system to study SCW deposition in sugarcane; the first of its kind in a C4 grass species. We used auxin and brassinolide to differentiate sugarcane suspension cells into tracheary elements, which showed metaxylem-like reticulate or pitted SCW patterning. The differentiation led to increased lignin levels, mainly caused by S-lignin units, and a rise in p-coumarate, leading to increased p-coumarate:ferulate ratios. RNAseq analysis revealed massive transcriptional reprogramming during differentiation, with upregulation of genes associated with cell wall biogenesis and phenylpropanoid metabolism and downregulation of genes related to cell division and primary metabolism. To better understand the differentiation process, we constructed regulatory networks of transcription factors and SCW-related genes based on co-expression analyses. Accordingly, we found multiple regulatory modules that may underpin SCW deposition in sugarcane. Our results provide important insights and resources to identify biotechnological strategies for sugarcane biomass optimization.

Duckweeds are the smallest flowering plants on Earth. They grow fast on water’s surface and produce large amounts of biomass. Further, duckweeds display high adaptability, and species are found around the globe growing under different environmental conditions. In this work, we report the composition of 21 ecotypes of fourteen species of duckweeds belonging to the two subfamilies of the group (Lemnoideae and Wolffioideae). It is reported the presence of starch and the composition of soluble sugars, cell walls, amino acids, phenolics, and tannins. These data were combined with literature data recovered from 85 publications to produce a compiled analysis that affords the examination of duckweeds as possible food sources for human consumption. We compare duckweeds compositions with some of the most common food sources and conclude that duckweed, which is already in use as food in Asia, can be an interesting food source anywhere in the world.

Abstract The evolution of the pandemic of COVID-19 globally has generated one of the most significant historical events of the 21st Century, with unpredictable consequences to the economy, environment, and world health. Here I compiled data available in databases to examine the levels of infections of 56 countries displaying over 5,000 confirmed cases and calculated the percentage of infection by 100,000 inhabitants. The pattern found revealed a striking difference between Asian and European countries, with much higher infection levels in the later. Countries from Latin America and the Middle East were intermediate. Three factors might have generated the observed pattern: social distancing strategy, genetic factors, and testing level. I conclude that pandemic evolution would be better explained as a multifactorial phenomenon that would be better viewed systemically.

Abstract Small RNAs comprise three families of noncoding regulatory RNAs that control gene expression by blocking mRNA translation or leading to mRNA cleavage. Such post‐transcriptional negative regulation is relevant for both plant development and environmental adaptations. An important biotechnological application of miRNA identification is the discovery of regulators and effectors of cell wall degradation, which can improve/facilitate hydrolysis of cell wall polymers for second‐generation bioethanol production. The recent characterization of plant innate cell wall modifications occurring during root aerenchyma development triggered by ethylene led to the possibility of prospection for mechanisms of cell wall disassembly in sugarcane. By using next‐generation sequencing, 39 miRNAs were identified in root segments along the process of aerenchyma development. Among them, 31 miRNAs were unknown to the sugarcane miRBase repository but previously identified as produced by its relative Sorghum bicolor. Key putative targets related to signal transduction, carbohydrate metabolic process, and cell wall organization or biogenesis were among the most representative gene categories targeted by miRNA. They belong to the subclasses of genes associated with the four modules of cell wall modification in sugarcane roots: cell expansion, cell separation, hemicellulose, and cellulose hydrolysis. Thirteen miRNAs possibly related to ethylene perception and signaling were also identified. Our findings suggest that miRNAs may be involved in the regulation of cell wall degradation during aerenchyma formation. This work also points out to potential molecular tools for sugarcane improvement in the context of second‐generation biofuels.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20537-x

Brazil is a country with one the largest areas of forest plantations in the world. The state of Paraná (PR) is in the first of three places of designated plantations areas in the country. The main cultivated species are the genus Eucalyptus. In this work, the areas of better favorability for planting the main species of commercial value eucalyptus were defined. Additionally, changes may also occur in these zones in the coming decades, due to global climate change. For this purpose, future scenarios were elaborated, using stochastic tie series simulation software, verifying the possible changes of the climate and indicating potential consequences regarding the changes of eucalyptus plantation zones. The results show that there will be an increase in areas favorable to the commercial plantations of E. grandis and E. urograndis, species cultivated in Cfa climate (subtropical zones). For E. benthamii, a species cultivated mostly in the Cfb (temperate zones), there will be a reduction of area for use in commercial plantations in Paraná, with displacement to areas located to the south and at higher altitudes, where edaphic limitations may occur.

In the middle of a political and fiscal crisis, the Brazilian government is applying successive budget cuts, including in science funding. Recent cuts radically affect research programs on biodiversity that are crucial components for the design and monitoring of public policies for nature conservation and sustainable development. We analyze the consequences of such cuts on the Research Program on Biodiversity (PPBio), the largest biodiversity research network in Brazil (626 researchers, nine networks in all Brazilian biomes). Brazil holds a substantial part of the world's biodiversity and of tropical forests that play a significant role for regional and global climate stability. If underfunding is maintained, the dismantling of the Brazilian PPBio will have consequences that go beyond biodiversity knowledge itself but affect society as a whole. Brazil will likely fail to reach the National Targets for Biodiversity 2011–2020, and it will be difficult to fulfill the restoration target of the Brazilian NDC and to advance with the sustainable development goals.

O guanandi, nativo do Brasil, é uma espécie com usos múltiplos, produz madeira de excelente qualidade, muito apreciada no mercado e constitui excelente alternativa ao cultivo do mogno e cedro rosa. É uma espécie muito boa para uso em plantios visando ao reflorestamento ambiental, inclusive na recomposição de florestas ciliares, pelo fato de ser muito procurada pela fauna e por suportar terrenos com nível freático elevado. Apesar das inúmeras vantagens, há poucas informações sobre a espécie, havendo necessidade de aprofundar os estudos, inclusive os relativos ao zoneamento climático. O presente trabalho é importante para auxiliar no planejamento de uso da terra, servindo de base para estudos de zoneamento agrícola de riscos climáticos, importante instrumento de política agrícola para concessão de seguro rural e crédito agrícola. A identificação das regiões com os menores riscos climáticos é ferramenta essencial para auxiliar produtores rurais a conduzirem suas atividades com maior êxito, ao escolher, para cada região, a cultura mais bem adaptada. A geada e a deficiência hídrica são responsáveis pela maioria dos sinistros agrícolas no país, ocasionando perdas econômicas por longos períodos. Assim, este estudo apresenta as diferentes zonas climáticas existentes no Brasil para o cultivo comercial do guanandi, por meio das informações geoespaciais de risco de ocorrência de geadas e de déficit hídrico, mapeadas utilizando SIG. As melhores zonas para o plantio comercial do guanandi foram aquelas com baixos riscos de geada, associadas a um balanço hídrico favorável, o que ocorre em grande parte do Brasil, principalmente na região amazônica e na costa brasileira. Guanandi is a woody species native to Brazil with multiple uses, it has a wood of excellent quality, much appreciated in the market and it is a good alternative for the cultivation of mahogany and pink cedar. It is a very good species for use in plantations aiming to the environmental reforestation, including the recomposition of riparian forests, due to the fact that it is very much sought after by the fauna and to support terrains with high water table. Despite the many advantages, there is little information about the species, and there is a need to deepen the studies, including those related to climatic zoning. The present work is important to assist in land use planning, serving as a basis for agricultural zoning studies of climatic risks, an important agricultural policy instrument for granting rural insurance and agricultural credit. The identification of regions with the lowest climate risks is an essential tool to help rural producers to conduct their activities with greater success, by choosing for each region the best adapted crop. Frost and water deficiency are responsible for most agricultural claims in the country, leading to economic losses. Thus, this study presents the different climatic zones in Brazil suitable for the commercial cultivation of guanandi, identified through the geospatial information of risk of frost occurrence and water deficit, mapped using GIS. The best areas for the guanandi commercial plantation were those with low frost risks associated with a favorable water balance. These conditions occur in much of Brazil, mainly in the Amazon region and on the Brazilian coast.

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar, na Região Sul do Brasil, zonas climáticas homogêneas, usando para esse fim a disponibilidade hídrica e contribuir, assim, para estudos de riscos climáticos na agricultura, pecuária e florestas. As regiões foram delimitadas por análise de agrupamento, com variáveis classificatórias definidas pela disponibilidade mensal de água resultante da diferença (P-ETP) entre a pluviosidade (P) e a evapotranspiração potencial (ETP). A análise permitiu o reconhecimento de seis zonas com disponibilidade hídrica homogêneas na Região Sul do Brasil. O Noroeste do Paraná apresenta menor saldo entre precipitação e evapotranspiração no inverno, enquanto a Metade Sul do Rio Grande do Sul apresenta menor saldo no verão. Nas demais regiões, os saldos têm valores intermediários, havendo regiões com excedente hídrico, entre as quais destaca-se o Litoral e o Sudoeste do Paraná, Oeste de Santa Catarina e Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul.

O Brasil ocupa posição de destaque mundial no setor florestal, com produtividade elevada e baixo custo de produção, concentrando os plantios florestais com as espécies dos gêneros Pinus e Eucalyptus. Neste trabalho, realizaram-se estudos sobre a influência das mudanças climáticas na delimitação das zonas para plantios florestais das duas principais espécies comerciais cultivadas no Brasil pertencentes ao gênero Pinus. Foram elaborados cenários futuros, usando um programa de simulação de séries temporais, verificando as possíveis mudanças do clima e o que pode ocorrer com as mudanças de zonas de plantio das espécies florestais. Os resultados mostram que há uma tendência de diminuição da área favorável aos plantios comerciais de P. taeda e de P. elliottii no Estado do Paraná, reduzindo dos atuais 7,4 milhões de hectares favoráveis para menos de 10 mil hectares até 2080 (P. taeda), e de 10,6 milhões de hectares para menos de 4,5 mil hectares até 2080 (P. elliottii), por serem espécies com alta produtividade em ambiente de clima frio e com o aumento de temperatura projetado para o futuro devem perder área para o eucalipto, entre outras, que tem espécies com maior produtividade em ambientes de maior temperatura. Brazil is a world leader in the forestry sector, with high productivity and low costs, concentrating the forest plantations with species of the genera Pinus and Eucalyptus. In this paper, we studied the influence of global climatic changes on the delimitation of the zones for forest plantations of the two main commercial species cultivated in Brazil belonging to the genus Pinus. Future scenarios of climatic changes have been elaborated, using a time series simulation program, verifying the possible changes in the climate and what can happen with the changes in the areas of the forest species. The results show that there is a tendency to decrease the favorable area for commercial plantations of P. taeda and P. elliottii in the state of Paraná, reducing from the current 7.4 million hectares favorable to less than 10 thousand hectares, until 2080 (P. taeda), and from 10.6 million hectares to less than 4,500 hectares, until 2080 (P. elliottii), because they are species with high productivity in a cold climate environment and and with the projected rise of temperature for the future they must lose area for eucalyptus, which has species with higher productivity in higher temperature environments

The study of interactions among biological components can be carried out by using methods grounded on network theory. Most of these methods focus on the comparison of two biological networks (e.g., control vs. disease). However, biological systems often present more than two biological states (e.g., tumor grades). To compare two or more networks simultaneously, we developed BioNetStat, a Bioconductor package with a user-friendly graphical interface. BioNetStat compares correlation networks based on the probability distribution of a feature of the graph (e.g., centrality measures). The analysis of the structural alterations on the network reveals significant modifications in the system. For example, the analysis of centrality measures provides information about how the relevance of the nodes changes among the biological states. We evaluated the performance of BioNetStat in both, toy models and two case studies. The latter related to gene expression of tumor cells and plant metabolism. Results based on simulated scenarios suggest that the statistical power of BioNetStat is less sensitive to the increase of the number of networks than Gene Set Coexpression Analysis (GSCA). Also, besides being able to identify nodes with modified centralities, BioNetStat identified altered networks associated with signaling pathways that were not identified by other methods.

Climate, species composition, and soils are thought to control carbon cycling and forest structure in Amazonian forests. Here, we add a demographics scheme (tree recruitment, growth, and mortality) to a recently developed non-demographic model—the Trait-based Forest Simulator (TFS)—to explore the roles of climate and plant traits in controlling forest productivity and structure. We compared two sites with differing climates (seasonal vs. aseasonal precipitation) and plant traits. Through an initial validation simulation, we assessed whether the model converges on observed forest properties (productivity, demographic and structural variables) using datasets of functional traits, structure, and climate to model the carbon cycle at the two sites. In a second set of simulations, we tested the relative importance of climate and plant traits for forest properties within the TFS framework using the climate from the two sites with hypothetical trait distributions representing two axes of functional variation (“fast” vs. “slow” leaf traits, and high vs. low wood density). The adapted model with demographics reproduced observed variation in gross (GPP) and net (NPP) primary production, and respiration. However, NPP and respiration at the level of plant organs (leaf, stem, and root) were poorly simulated. Mortality and recruitment rates were underestimated. The equilibrium forest structure differed from observations of stem numbers suggesting either that the forests are not currently at equilibrium or that mechanisms are missing from the model. Findings from the second set of simulations demonstrated that differences in productivity were driven by climate, rather than plant traits. Contrary to expectation, varying leaf traits had no influence on GPP. Drivers of simulated forest structure were complex, with a key role for wood density mediated by its link to tree mortality. Modeled mortality and recruitment rates were linked to plant traits alone, drought-related mortality was not accounted for. In future, model development should focus on improving allocation, mortality, organ respiration, simulation of understory trees and adding hydraulic traits. This type of model that incorporates diverse tree strategies, detailed forest structure and realistic physiology is necessary if we are to be able to simulate tropical forest responses to global change scenarios.