Trypanosomatids in Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) From Anthropic and Sinantropic Landscapes in a Rural Settlement in the Brazilian Amazon

Trypanosomatids (Kinetoplastida:Trypanosomatidae) protozoa are a diverse group of obligate parasites. The genera Trypanosoma and Leishmania are the most studied because of their medical importance. This work aims to evaluate the effects of anthropization processes on the composition of the phlebotomine sand fly fauna and the natural infection by Trypanosomatids, with emphasis on Leishmania. At all 3,186 sand flies were collected, distributed in 13 genera and 52 species, being Ny. umbratilis the most abundant species. There was no difference in the diversity between canopy and soil environments. The species abundance and richness were higher in the forest environment while species diversity and evenness were highest in the forest edge. The ITS1 region was used by PCR-RFLP to identify the fragment profiles of Leishmania species, followed by genetic sequencing. Here were analyzed 100 pools of female sand flies, being six positive for DNA parasite. PCR-RFLP fragment patterns similar to Endotrypanum sp. were observed in Nyssomyia anduzei, Psychodopygus amazonensis and Lutzomyia gomezi, and those fragments similar to Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis were observed in Bichromomyia flaviscutellata. ITS1 sequencing confirmed the presence of Leishmania sp. in Bi. flaviscutellata, and Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi in Ny. anduzei, Psychodopygus amazonensis, and Lu. gomezi. This is the first record of Lu. gomezi and Ps. amazonensis infection by L. naiffi in the State of Amazonas. These results show the trypanosomatid infection in sandflies from different landscapes in a rural settlement, and the finding of species infected with L.(V.) naiffi suggest that they can develop a role in the transmission cycle of leishmaniasis.

Rapid Static Positioning Using a Four System GNSS Receivers in the Forest Environment

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are crucial elements used in forest inventories. Forest metrics modeling efficacy depends on the accuracy of determining sample plot locations by GNSS. As of 2021, the GNSS consists of 120 active satellites, ostensibly improving position acquisition in forest conditions. The main idea of this article was to evaluate GIS-class and geodetic class GNSS receivers on 33 control points located in the forest. The main assumptions were operating on four GNSS systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou), keeping a continuous online connection to the network of reference stations, maintaining occupation time-limited to 60 epochs, and repeating all the measurements three times. Rapid static positioning was tested, as it compares the true performance of the four GNSS systems receivers. Statistical differences between the receivers were confirmed. The GIS-class receiver achieved an accuracy of 1.38 m and a precision of 1.29 m, while the geodetic class receiver reached 0.74 m and 0.91 m respectively. Even though the research was conducted under the same data capture conditions, the large variability of positioning results were found to be caused by cycle slips and the multipath effect.

Practical approaches to determining the dynamics of the stability of stands of breeding objects

The article analyzes the indicators that can be used to assess the biotic and ecological stability of forest stands. For breeding facilities, this issue is of relevance when prescribing reforestation measures in forest genetic reserves, assessing the stability when selecting plus stands, assessing selected permanent forest-seed plots to determine the volumes of their formation and tending activities in them and, in the future, their transfer to plus stands, as well as, in general, for isolation of a reserve fund from the forest environment. The methods for assessing the stability of forest stands are based on determining the indicators of forest stand stability, calculated on the basis of tree mensuration in the study area (based on a trial plot) and the sanitary state of the trees. The basis for the determination is the complete tree enumeration and the scale of sanitary state used in production operations (SanitaryForestsReg.Ukraine). The assessment of stand stability is based on the method of calculating the loss of stability (BC)), which was proposed to determine the stability of secondary spruce forests in fertile beech forest types (BlystivV. I. 2006) and later adapted to assess the formation of the stability of hornbeam-beech stands (Blystiv V. I., 2012). The issue of assessing the tension of a stand, using the growing space of the forest is addressed in the methods section of the dissertation work by V.M.Malyuga, 2020. Using the values of the above indicators (KC, ВбС, ВеС), stands can be divided into 3 categories of stability: stable, conditionally stable and unstable. Appropriate forestry activities are proposed according to the categories. They require a special numeric-expressed substantiation, both in relation to the economic group of forest types, forest category, and for targeted activities or research areas - in this case, loss of stability of breeding facilities. Tension studies have shown that by using factors of environmental impact, the conditions are assessed as normal, non-tensioned and tensioned. To assess the indicator values of normal and weakened states, the basic scale of the assessment of biotic stability by stand indexes will be used. For the weakened state, three indexes are identified for the purpose of detailed planning of possible activities. In forest breeding, the selection and formation of forest stands for stability will require parameter-defined indicators, in this case, the forest stand stability coefficient is used. The protective properties of the forest environment, identified with the preservation of genetic diversity, determined by the amount and quality of natural regeneration and associated with ecological stability, can be effectively assessed by its loss according to the above method. The studies on the stand tension, using the factors of environmental impact, have shown that stands growing under tension are those that are somewhat overstocked ones. Pine stands grow optimally when they have a density range of 0.7-1.0. The rest of the stands grow without tension, but they do not make full use of growing space due to varying degrees of stand density. Such medium-stocked stands can be effectively used as selected and appropriately formed permanent forest-seed plots. Assessment of the stand state by impact factors makes it possible to record quantitative changes. The dynamics of areas in accordance with the changes of these indicators by periods characterizes the ecosystem changes (stages of development by successive process) and is important for the facilities of preservation of genetic diversity - especially forest genetic reserves.

Reclaimed Mine Sites: Forests and Plant Diversity

The relationship between vegetation and selected soil characteristics in different monoculture forest types was investigated as part of a landscape restoration project after brown coal mining. Six forest types were selected: alder (Alnus sp.), spruce (Picea sp.), pine (Pinus sp.), larch (Larix sp.), long-term deciduous forest (Quercus robur, Tilia sp.), and forest created by spontaneous succession. These stands were classified into two age categories (younger and older). The soil attributes, C/N, TC, TN, pH, and A horizon depth were assessed. The observed species were categorized into functional groups by life history, life forms according to Raunkiær, and affinity to the forest environment. C/N ratio, humus thickness, and canopy cover were the main soil parameters affecting plant communities. The highest C/N values were recorded in Pinus and Larix stands, which were significantly different from deciduous and succession stands. The highest diversity index was noted in younger stands of Alnus and the lowest in younger stands of Picea. Intermediate values of the diversity index were achieved in successional stands at both age levels and in Larix and Alnus stands. The species belonging to a functional group was not an important factor in these habitat types. The species composition and vegetation change over time in the Alnus, long-life deciduous, and Larix stands show that these species are more suitable for forestry reclamation than spruce or pine. The study also emphasizes the great value of spontaneous succession areas as full-fledged alternatives to forestry reclamation.

Spatial variability of soil erodibility in pastures and forest areas in the municipality of Porto Velho, Rondônia

“Erodibility” is a characteristic of the soil that represents the susceptibility with which its particles from the most superficial layer are taken and transported to lower places by erosive agents, causing environmental and economic damages. This work estimated soil erodibility in pastures and forest areas in the municipality of Porto Velho-Rondônia. In the field, three areas with different types of vegetation were selected, one with brachiaria, another with mombaça grass, and a third in native forest. In areas with pastures, a sampling mesh of equal sizes was outlined (90 m x 60 m), and in the forested area an approximate sampling mesh (90 m x 50 m), with a regular spacing of 10 m between the samples points for both areas. The sampling was done at the crossing points of the mesh at a depth of 0.0-0.2 m, composing 70 sample points in the areas with pastures and 60 sample points in the forest area, totaling 200 samples. Then, laboratory analyzes were carried out to determine the texture followed by the fractionation of the sand, and the organic carbon followed by the estimate of the organic matter of the soil. The erodibility factors were calculated using indirect prediction models, and then, univariate, geostatistical and multivariate techniques were applied. The pastures’ environments differed from the forest environment. However, the mombaça grass area functions as an intermediate environment between the forest and the brachiaria, being closer to the forest environment. Keywords: erodibility, factors, kriging, principal components.

Characterizing the Work Environment of Skidder Operators: Evaluation of Temperature and Relative Humidity Conditions

Skidding is one of the commonly used technical options to extract wood from felling to landing. As such, several studies have been carried out to evaluate its effectiveness in terms of economics, environmental impact, and ergonomics. Most ergonomic studies have addressed the exposure to noise and vibration, and less effort has been devoted towards the evaluation of the skidder operators’ working environment. To our knowledge, the exposure to variability in temperature and humidity has not yet been studied for skidding operations. This study aimed at evaluating the variability of such microclimate parameters and at comparing them to their counterparts recorded in the forest environment. Based on comparative datasets collected in November 2020, our results indicate that skidder operators might endure a significant variation in temperature and relative humidity during operations, which in turn may affect their health. Compared to the forest environment, the differences in temperature and relative humidity were evident, contrasting and occurred in short periods of time, as an effect of the skidding operations and mobility on increased distances and of a considerable altitudinal range. It is likely for such variability to also come from the work behavior of different operators. Given the results and the season in which the data was collected, as well as other constraints of the study, further studies should be carried out to separate the operation time from the rest and meal breaks, to evaluate the variability in microclimate throughout all seasons, to control the state of the cabin doors, and to solve the problem of control data mobility so as to accurately reflect the outdoor conditions for each location a skidder may work on during skidding operations.

Elucidating the Effects of a Cryptomeria fortunei Forest Environment on Overall Health Based on Open Field Testing of Mice

In order to elucidate the impact of fortunei forest environment on overall health, the effect of the Cryptomeria fortunei forest environment on mice was examined. Using an OFT (Open Field Test), the behavior of mice in fortunei forest and in an indoor environment (used as a control) was analyzed, while minor changes in climate, oxygen, and suspended particulate matter were observed and recorded simultaneously. The results indicated that the two environments were significantly different in regard to relative humidity, wind speed, and the oxygen content of air, while there were no significant differences in temperature. Importantly, spontaneous activity behavioral indicators in mice were significantly different. Mice in the Cryptomeria fortunei environment (LS group) spent less time in the corners and near walls in comparison to mice in the indoor environment (CK group). Compared with indoor control mice, for the mice exposed to forest environments total distance traveled, central grid distance, frequency of movement through the central grid, frequency of standing, and body mass significantly increased; The number of fecal grains significantly decreased. The spontaneous activity behavioral indicators changed over time stages. In the early stages there were no differences, but after accumulation of environmental effects in the late stages, significant differences were evident. The above results showed that the Cryptomeria fortunei forest environment increased excitability and cognitive ability of mice, was able to effectively alleviate anxiety, and was able to emotionally relax and improve the appetite of the mice.

GIS and Remote Sensing Analysis of the Impact of Land use Land Cover Change on Forest Degradation: Evidence from the Central Part of Taraba State, Nigeria

Forest is a fundamental, significant, and valuable component of a sustainable environment. Ecosystem services, biodiversity development, and economic growth in any nation depend on the proficient use of forests and their resources. However, deforestation has remained the single most important environmental phenomenon threatening the existence of the forest environment in Nigeria. This study was carried out to assess the exploitation of forestland in the central zone of Taraba state using GIS and remote sensing techniques. The satellite imageries used are Lands at imageries of 2006, 2012, and 2018. Ground Control points (GCPs) were obtained from Google earth to validate the coordinates of the classified imageries. The result obtained from 2006 classification showed that thick forest occupied the total of 1685448.99 ha equivalent to 80.38% and was the highest land cover suffering a decline in the area amounting to 694696 ha which equals to 33.13% in 2018. The pattern of land cover changes at the early stage was restricted to dissection and perforation in 2006. A remarkable expansion of bare land patches accompanied by total attrition of thick forest was identified due North in Bali local government area as compared to Gashaka and Kurmi local governments that have fragmented and little shrinking pattern of changes from 6.87% in 2006 to 37.65% in 2018. This shows that; as bare land increases, thick forests keep on decreasing within thirteen (13) years. It was recommended that increased reforestation efforts, sensitization and periodical campaigns against deforestation, and redesign of the existing forestry laws by the state government to curtail incessant incidents of deforestation in the study area be undertaken.

Mycobiota of Fine Roots of Pseudotsuga menziesii Introduced to the Native Forest Environment

The mycobiota of the fine roots of Pseudotsuga menziesii were studied as a measure of the adaptation of this alien species to new soil and climatic conditions. We hypothesized that after approximately 130 years of growth in a given habitat, the fungal community colonizing the fine roots of introduced trees would resemble the biota of Pinus sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica in surrounding stands of similar age and site conditions. The genetic material isolated from the fine roots was subjected to metagenomic analysis. We recorded 33, 97 and 95 OTUs exclusively from root samples of Douglas fir, beech and pine, respectively; 124 were common to all sample types. The biota from the roots of P. menziesii featured a less diverse taxonomic composition and were characterized by the highest proportion of symbiotrophs (71.8%) versus saprothrophs (5.6%) and pathogens (0.24%). Some fungal taxa (19) in the roots of P. menziesii were common with the biota in the roots of other adjacent trees, while some (7) were unique to Douglas fir. Our results indicate a locally differentiated strategy of naturalness of fungi inhabiting soil and roots of P. menziesii, although 130 years have passed since the introduction of the species.