Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Progress on Electrochemical Degradation of Organic Pollutants

As a result of anthropogenic action, an increasing amount of toxic organic compounds has been released into the environment. These pollutants have adverse effects on human health and wildlife, which has motivated the development of different types of technologies for the treatment of effluents and contaminated environments. The electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants has attracted the interest of research centers around the world for its environmental compatibility, high efficiency and affordable cost. In the present study, a bibliometric analysis was performed using the Web of Science database in order to assess the progress of publications related to electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants between the years 2001 and 2021. The data retrieved showed a significant increase in publications related to the topic in the last 20 years. Electrochimica Acta was the magazine responsible for the largest number of publications (230, 7.22%). The studies mainly included the areas of chemistry, engineering and electrochemistry. China with a total of 1004 (31.49%) publications dominated research in this area, followed by Spain (282, 8.85%) and Brazil (255, 8.00%). The institutions with the highest number of contributions were the University of Castilla-la Mancha and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the most productive authors were Rodrigo MA and Martines-Huitle CA. The results of this study provide important references and information on possible research directions for future investigations on electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants.

Mass Movements Susceptibility analysis and Assessment of Associeted Risks along the Southern Escarpment of the Bamileke Plateaus (West-Cameroon Highlands)

The Southern Escarpment of the Bamileke Plateaux (SEBP) is an area frequently affected by mass movements. An analysis of the susceptibility of these hazards is important in order to better understand these mountain processes. Field campaigns as well as the exploitation of satellite images in the laboratory have made it possible to inventory all sites subject to mass movements in the region. The region is affected by landslides, block falls and subsidence. Landslides are the most frequent hazard in the region. These hazards are regulated by about 10 natural and anthropogenic factors which include lithology, geomorphology, anthropogenic action, soil, proximity to roads, proximity to watercourses, density of watercourses, slope, direction of slopes, and curvature of slopes. The steepest slopes are between 27 and 90°, the most important slopes are oriented Nord-West. The curvature of the slopes shows zero, convex and concave slopes. The soils in the area are ferralitic, humus-bearing and hydromorphic. The land use shows bare soil and cultivated soil. The geomorphology shows altitudes ˃ 1319m, the highest stream densities range from 183-293m and constitute the significant proximities causing instabilities. In relation to the different classes of river proximity, the highest river proximities are ˃120m. The highest road proximities are ˃ 50m relative to the other road proximity classes. The geological formations that dominate the area are basalts, mylonites, granites gneisses and charnokites. These factors were mapped and the different maps were overlaid to obtain a mass movement susceptibility map of the study area. This map shows that 16.95% represent low probability areas, 43.39% represent moderate probability areas, 29.77% represent high probability areas and 9.89% represent very high probability areas. The majority of mass movements, especially landslides, are located in the high probability areas.

Forensically relevant diptera species associated with pig carcasses in a Brazilian city exposed to high rates of homicide

Cities in northeastern Brazil experience extreme rates of unsolved homicides, a situation that stimulates innovative procedures in the police work, such as forensic entomology. We surveyed necrophagous insects associated with carrion in a city exposed to high rates of homicides in Northeastern Brazil. The experiments were carried out in a rainforest fragment located in Recife, State of Pernambuco. Two pig carcasses were used as models, one in the dry and the other in the rainy season. The collection of adults was performed daily until the complete skeletonization of the carcasses. At least 32 Diptera species from the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Fanniidae, Phoridae, Anthomyiidae, Piophilidae, and Stratiomyidae were registered, some of which have been previously documented on cadavers. A high richness of Diptera species was registered in all stages of decomposition. A strong overlap in the occurrence of most species was observed, which invalidates a defined entomological succession on the carcasses. Two species stood out in terms of abundance: Ophyra chalcogaster (Muscidae) and Chrysomya albiceps (Calliphoridae). The ubiquity of Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Calliphoridae) seems to confirm its preference for forest fragments exposed to low anthropogenic action. Our data contribute to expand the knowledge on the geographical distribution of forensically relevant species in the region and confirm the rapid dissemination of invasive Chrysomya species in forested areas.

ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY OF CAATINGA BIOME WITH AND WITHOUT ANTHROPIC ACTION1

ABSTRACT The Caatinga is an exclusively Brazilian biome that has been under high anthropogenic action, which directly interferes in the quality of its soil. In order to evaluate and monitor the quality of the soil, chemical and biological indicators are used, with the determination of the enzymatic activity gaining prominence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the enzymatic activity of soils of the Caatinga biome in preserved and anthropized areas belonging to the Catimbau National Park, located in Pernambuco, Brazil, during the two periods of the year (rainy and dry), for three consecutive years, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Enzymatic activities of β-glucosidase, urease, arylsulfatase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase in the soil were evaluated. Anthropic action caused reduction in the enzymatic activities of β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase and urease. Regarding the periods of the year, the dry one showed smaller values of enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase and urease. Among the evaluation years, when correlating accumulated precipitation and enzymatic activity, the highest correlations were observed in the preserved area in both periods of the year. The fragility of Caatinga soils under anthropic action was observed in both periods of the year, over time. The increasing anthropization of areas of the Catimbau National Park has a direct effect on soil quality, affects its ecological balance, causing degradation and reduction of its quality. Appropriate enforcement measures are urgently needed to ensure their environmental preservation.

TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF SOIL OCCUPATION IN MUCURI WATERSHED BETWEEN 1989 AND 2015

Anthropogenic action has caused intense changes in land use and cover over the decades. Identifying and knowing these changes makes it possible to measure the impacts that can be generated as well as to identify patterns of the development of a particular region and the relationship between society and land use. Thus, it is intended to identify the changes made in the land use and occupation of the Mucuri river basin between 1989 and 2015. So, this study used remote sensing techniques and tools besides aerial photographs to map the region and to identify surface behavior. Within the Mucuri basin, the soil had been mostly occupied by classes of forest and agricultural area, consistent with the social and economic reality of the region over the last decades. The changes that have occurred indicate a reduction in water availability, growth in urban occupation and, in many cases, soil and vegetation cover deterioration.

Nesting behavior of stingless bees

Native bees, besides excellent producers of honey, lend a great legacy to humanity through their ability to pollinate plants and the consequent preservation of ecosystems. In this interspecific relation, bees are benefited by plant species by the provision of food (nectar and pollen), besides using their branches and trunks for lodging. However, the anthropogenic action has jeopardized the survival of stingless bees, causing irreversible environmental damage in the preservation of natural resources. This study aimed to identify the nesting habits of native bees under natural conditions. Random trails in the Curimataú micro-region of Paraíba allowed identifying nesting sites of indigenous species in their natural habitat. Sixty honeycomb nests were identified in 12 different plant species, being Commiphora leptophloeos the most preferred host (46.66%), with 55% of the entrance holes pointed to magnetic orientations between the Northeast and Northwest; a greater choice by host trees (85%); preference for nesting in host plants with a circumference of 0.98 m in diameter, entrance hole of nests of 7.77 mm in diameter, and height from the ground of 1.52 m. The obtained data showed little variety of stingless bee species in the Curimataú region of Paraíba, especially Melipona subnitida. The species Melipona asilvae, Melipona scutellaris, Partamona seridoenses, and Plebeia sp. should receive special attention not to become extinct in this region.

Dinâmica da Paisagem e seus Impactos Ambientais na Amazônia

Este estudo analisa os impactos ocasionados pela ação antrópica na bacia do rio Xingu e nas sub-bacias dos rios Fresco, Curuá e Ronuro, em diferentes escalas para o período de 2004 a 2014. O objetivo é avaliar temporalmente o processo de uso e ocupação do solo e seus impactos nos padrões da paisagem, com intuito de subsidiar estudos sobre possíveis alterações na resposta hidrológica de bacias hidrográficas. Os padrões da paisagem foram analisados a partir da estrutura fundiária da bacia com base nas áreas especialmente protegidas e nos imóveis rurais certificados. Os padrões da paisagem foram analisados tendo como referência as métricas geradas pelo software FRAGSTATS™ 3.3 e os dados do mapeamento das modificações do uso e ocupação do solo elaborado pelo projeto TerraClass do INPE. O resultado da análise da estrutura fundiária mostra que as áreas especialmente protegidas contribuem para conter, parcialmente, o avanço do desmatamento sobre paisagem original preservada, e que existe uma elevada concentração de área em terras privadas classificadas como latifúndios. Os padrões da paisagem indicam um comprometimento das manchas de floresta consequência do avanço da atividade produtiva, mas que também, observa-se um comprometimento das métricas analisadas das outras classes. Com isso conclui-se que a bacia do rio Xingu e as 3 sub-bacias estudadas podem vir ter a resposta hidrológica afetada, principalmente, a sub-bacia do rio Curuá, casos os avanços da atividade produtiva progridam sobre as manchas de florestas. Dynamics of Landscape and its Environmental Impacts in the Amazon A B S T R A C TThis study analyzes the impacts caused by anthropogenic action in the Xingu basin and in the sub-basins of the rivers Fresco, Curuá and Ronuro, in different scales for the period from 2004 to 2014. The objective is to evaluate temporarily the process of use and occupation of the soil and its impacts on landscape patterns, with the aim of supporting studies on possible alterations in the hydrological response of river basins. Landscape patterns were analyzed from the basin's land structure based on specially protected areas and certified rural properties. The landscape patterns were analyzed with reference to the metrics generated by the FRAGSTATS ™ 4.2 software and the data of the mapping of land use and land use modifications prepared by the INPE TerraClass project. The result of the analysis of the land structure shows that the specially protected areas contribute to partially contain the advance of deforestation on preserved original landscape, and that there is a high concentration of area in private lands classified as latifundia. The landscape patterns indicate a deterioration of forest patches as a consequence of the advance of the productive activity, but also, a reduction in the majority of the analyzed metrics is observed. With this, it can be concluded that the Xingu basin and the 3 sub-basins studied may have a hydrological response, mainly in the Curuá River sub-basin, in which cases the progress of the productive activity progresses on forest patches.Keywords: Land use and occupation, land structure, landscape metric, hydrographic basin.

Review of chelid and emydid turtle distributions in southern South America with emphasis on extralimital populations and new records for Argentina

There are many cases of animals reported in localities away from natural areas of distribution for the species. With respect to native freshwater turtles of Argentina and bordering countries, several populations (and single specimens) were reported for areas that cast doubts about their origin, due to not only the long distance from other known localities but also the geographical barriers that are in between. The present work provides a review of localities of the native turtle species Hydromedusa tectifera, Phrynops hilarii, Acanthochelys pallidipectoris, A. spixii and Trachemys dorbigni in Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and adds new records for some of these species for Argentina. We also employ an analysis to recognise core and extralimital populations, and a methodology based on five criteria that must be taken into account to elucidate if one extralimital turtle record is the result of anthropogenic action or a case of natural occurrence. Finally, we discuss about the origin of extralimital reports of turtles of the mentioned species.

IMPACTOS AMBIENTAIS NO ALTO CURSO DA SUB-BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO RIO BATATEIRAS NA REGIÃO SUL DO ESTADO DO CEARÁ

Este artigo aborda um levantamento dos impactos ambientais na sub-bacia hidrográfica do rio Batateiras, considerando as historicidades que influenciaram estes desusos e tendo como finalidade, almejar medidas mitigadoras. O referente artigo é fruto de uma pesquisa de dissertação realizada pelos autores.Palavras-chave: Medidas Mitigadoras. Ação Antrópica. Recursos Naturais. Processos Históricos ABSTRACTThis article addresses a survey of the environmental impacts in the Batateras river basin, considering the historicities that influenced these disuse and aiming at mitigating measures. This article is the result of a dissertation research carried out by the authors.Keywords: Mitigating Measures. Anthropogenic Action. Natural resources. Historical Processes. RESUMENEste artículo aborda un estudio de los impactos ambientales en la cuenca del río Batateras, considerando las historicidades que influyeron en estos desuso y apuntando a medidas de mitigación. Este artículo es el resultado de una investigación de tesis realizada por los autores. Palabras clave: medidas atenuantes. Acción antropogénica. Recursos naturales. Procesos Históricos