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.

Http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509820231O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar os índices de risco de incêndios a partir de focos de calor e definiro mais eficiente para as condições do Pantanal Sul-mato-grossense, com base em dados meteorológicos enúmero de focos de calor. O trabalho consistiu na análise de correlação entre variáveis meteorológicas ea ocorrência dos focos de calor, bem como a comparação entre os índices de risco de incêndios: Angströn(B), Telicyn (I), Nesterov (G), Monte Alegre (FMA) e Monte Alegre Modificada (FMA+). Foram utilizadosdados meteorológicos coletados às 14 horas na estação Climatológica Principal de Nhumirim e de focosde calor da passagem noturna do NOAA (12 e 15), no período de 1999 a 2008. A velocidade do ventoe a umidade relativa do ar foram as variáveis meteorológicas que apresentaram maior correlação com aocorrência de focos de calor. Para detecção de qualquer grau de risco de incêndio, a FMA, o G e a FMA+foram os índices mais eficientes. Para a detecção de graus de risco de incêndio nas classes Muito alto e Alto,o G foi o mais eficiente, seguido da FMA. Considerando a alta probabilidade de acerto na detecção de riscosde incêndio em qualquer grau e também nas classes de Alto risco a mais, a FMA pode ser considerada amais adequada para estimar o risco de ocorrência de incêndios para a sub-região da Nhecolândia.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as variações nos solos e em seus atributos químicos sob diferentes unidades da paisagem no ecossistema Pantanal, na sub-região da Nhecolândia, no Mato Grosso do Sul. As unidades da paisagem avaliadas incluíram: FS, floresta semidecídua; CE, cerradão; CC, cerrado/campo cerrado; CLE, campo limpo com Elionurus muticus; CLA, campo limpo com Axonopus purpusii e Andropogon spp.; BB, bordas de baías; e VB, vazantes/baixadas. Perfis de solos representativos de cada unidade da paisagem foram descritos morfologicamente, e os atributos químicos foram determinados nas profundidades de 0,00-0,05, 0,05-0,10, 0,10-0,15 e 0,15-0,20 m. Os solos apresentaram textura arenosa, baixo teor de matéria orgânica, e baixa capacidade de troca catiônica e aniônica. A principal diferenciação entre os solos avaliados foi a fertilidade natural, a qual foi mais elevada sob FS, especialmente nas camadas mais superficiais e nos horizontes abaixo de 2 m de profundidade. A qualidade química do solo é capaz de discriminar as unidades da paisagem em três diferentes grupos: 1, FS; 2, CE; e 3, CC, CLE, CLA, BB e VB.

Among the animal species first introduced in Brazil during the country’s discovery, horses (Equus caballus) stand out because of their evolutionary history and relationship with humans. Among the Brazilian horse breeds, the Pantaneiro draws attention due to its adaptative traits. Blood samples of 116 Pantaneiro horses were divided into six populations based on their sampling location, aiming to identify the existence of genetic structure and quantify genetic diversity within and between them. Populations were compared to elucidate genetic variability and differentiation better and assess the impact of Pantanal’s natural geographic barriers on gene flow between populations. Data from the GGP Equine BeadChip (Geneseek-Neogen, 65.157 SNPs) was used to assess basic diversity parameters, genetic distance (F_ST), principal component analysis (PCA), and population structure (ADMIXTURE) for the sampled animals. Mantel test was also performed to investigate the correlation between the populations’ genetic and geographic distances. Results showed high genetic variability in all populations, with elevated levels of admixture in their structure. High levels of admixture make it challenging to establish a racial pattern and, consequently, populations within the breed, being that only one of the populations differentiated itself from the others. No significant correlations between genetic and geographic distances were observed, indicating that environmental barriers did not hinder gene flow between populations, and neither farmers’ selection practices might have change breed genetic composition significantly. Low genetic distance and similar heterozygosity values were observed among populations, suggesting strong genetic proximity and low differentiation. Thereby, the Pantaneiro breed does not exhibit genetic subpopulations and could be considered, for conservation purposes, a single big population in the Panatnal region. This study will support sampling strategies for National genebank.