Universidade Estadual de Londrina

About: Universidade Estadual de Londrina is a education organization based out in Londrina, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Toxoplasma gondii. The organization has 13052 authors who have published 19291 publications receiving 212123 citations.

Influência da granulometria e da mineralogia sobre a retenção do fósforo em latossolos sob pastagens no cerrado

Abstract: Pastures cover nearly 50 million hectares in the Cerrado region. The Oxisols, which cover approximately half this area, are highly weathered soils composed mainly of kaolinite, iron and aluminum oxides. Iron and aluminum oxides have a great influence on the retention of phosphorus (P) in these soils. The aim of this study was to quantify the total phosphorus levels, as well as P availability and retention in Oxisols under pasture in the Cerrado region and to relate the data with soil mineralogical, textural and chemical characteristics. The relations between the studied parameters were analyzed by principal component analysis and linear correlation analysis. The ion-exchange resin extractable P was negatively correlated with mineralogical and texture soil characteristics, and positively with soil organic matter contents. Both the total free and the poorly crystalline oxides were negatively correlated with equilibrium P (Prem). Gibbsite, goethite as well as the total free and poorly crystalline oxides were negatively correlated with Prem, indicating their effects on P adsorption to Cerrado Oxisols. Conversely, kaolinite was not significantly correlated with Prem. The negative correlation between Prem and total carbon (C total) was due to the linear increase of soil carbon with the clay and silt contents. The iron and aluminum oxides were the characteristics that most influenced Prem of Cerrado Oxisols.

How to avoid fish introductions in Brazil: education and information as alternatives

Abstract: In Brazil, the introduction of non-native fish is commonplace, and the only existing measure to address this problem is the normative approach (i.e., laws and inspections). However, this approach has failed to control or prevent introductions because enforcing laws in a country the size of a continent, where inspections and monitoring are minimal or non-existent, is difficult. In addition, society is generally unaware of this issue. More effective actions or complementary preventive measures are urgently needed, and the most promising approach is to change human behavior via educational opportunities. In this short essay, we propose that exposing society to high quality information is a powerful alternative because well-informed people naturally make more rational and balanced decisions. For example, informed stakeholders may be more cautious when handling non-native species, may adopt appropriate management practices and may cease deliberate releases. Moreover, a well-informed society will naturally avoid or prevent harmful activities that may lead to the introduction of alien species. From this perspective, this short essay explores opportunities to implement educational practices for containing new introductions. First, we present the primary activities that are responsible for the introduction of non-native fish in Brazil (i.e., aquaculture, fishkeeping and sport fishing) and then suggest simple educational pathways that are specific to each activity. In addition, we advocate for the inclusion of invasion biology in formal education to educate society as a whole. If the topic receives the necessary attention in the educational curriculum, then education will play a central role in creating new behavioral standards, awareness and responsibility at different societal levels, with the primary goal of reducing the rate of new fish introductions.