This study presents data on snakes recorded in the urban area of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Sources of information included specimens captured by local residents (1986-1993) and turned over to the Mato Grosso Regional Ophiological Center (Normat), and data from the Anti-Venom Information Center (Ciave), regarding urban snake bites (1988-1993). Thirty-seven species of snakes from 25 genera and three families were recorded. Diurnal and terrestrial habits predominated, as well as a diet based on amphibians and/or lizards. From a total of 307 snake bites recorded, some 56% were of no clinical importance, caused by non-venomous snakes, whereas 44% were clinically relevant. Approximately 99% of the latter were attributed to vipers of the genus Bothrops, and especially the Bothrops moojeni and Bothrops neuwiedi species The colubrids Philodryas olfersii and Waglerophis merremii were probably responsible for most of the non-venomous snake bites.

The capacity of a given natural ecosystem to provide certain goods and services that satisfy human needs depends on its environmental characteristics (natural processes and components). It was described the availability of these goods and services (environmental functions) controlled and sustained by ecological processes operating in Ecological Station of Jataí (Luiz Antônio, SP). The environmental functions identified were grouped in four main categories. To make environmental values an integrated factor in planning and decision making it was assessed their socio-economic importance in qualitative terms and, if possible their monetary value. The combined potential annual return from identified functions of Ecological Station of Jataí is at least US$ 708.83/ha/year. In comparison to calculations made for other natural ecosystems this is a rather moderate estimate. The Ecological Station of Jataí is poorly protected and managed, it too is still threatened by human activity (agriculture) and many development plans. Although present day market economics do not recognize the monetary value of most environmental functions, such calculations do provide a revealing insight into the great socio-economic importance of Ecological Station of Jataí. More awareness of these values may provide an important incentive for their preservation and sustainable use.Key words: ecosystem services, environmental functions, natural capital, natural conservation area. RESUMO O valor dos serviços dos ecossistemas e do capital natural da Estação Ecológica de JataíA capacidade de um determinado ecossistema natural proporcionar bens e serviços que satisfaçam as necessidades humanas depende de suas características ambientais (processos e componentes naturais). Foi descrita a disponibilidade desses bens e serviços (funções ambientais), controlados e mantidos pelos processos ecológicos operantes na Estação Ecológica de Jataí (Luiz Antônio, SP). As funções ambientais identificadas foram agrupadas em quatro categorias. Foi determinado o valor sócio-econômico das funções ambientais, em termos quali e quantitativos, quando possível, na perspectiva de integrar os valores ambientais nos processos de planejamento e tomada de decisão. O retorno sócio-econômico anual para as funções ambientais identificadas da Estação Ecológica de Jataí é de aproximadamente US$ 708,83/ha/ano. Em comparação com estimativas realizadas para outros ecossistemas naturais, esse valor é bastante moderado. A Estação Ecológica de Jataí demonstra ser pouco protegida, com sua manutenção comprometida por atividades humanas (agricultura) e muitos planos de desenvolvimento. Embora o mercado econômico não reconheça o valor monetário da maioria das funções ambientais, essas estimativas não revelam a grandeza da importância sócio-econômica da Estação Rev. Brasil. Biol., 172 SANTOS, J. E. et al.Ecológica de Jataí. Um interesse maior com esses valores pode proporcionar um incentivo importante para sua preservação e uso sustentado.Palavras-chave: serviços dos ecossistemas, funções ...

We evaluated the nitrogen and phosphorus concentration of floating meadows of Eichhornia azurea and Scirpus cubensis in Lagoa do Inferno (State of Sao Paulo, Brazil) . The chemical composition of these plants and of the water (littoral and limnetic zones) was determined during the period March 1987 to march 1988 . During high water, the water becomes enriched by soluble nutrients and particulates washed from the flooded areas adjacent to the lake, especially from areas situated between the river and Lagoa do Inferno . The soluble allochthonous material is rapidly assimilated and stocked in the plant tissues, which results in an increase in its concentration . Besides this, it was established that the aquatic macrophytes studied utilize the nutrients dissolved in the water of the floating meadow itself, these nutrients being derived principally from their own decomposition .Since these are floating stands, the sediment does not function as a direct source of nutrients, and since concentrations in the water are low, the nutrients excreted by the aquatic macrophytes during growth and liberated during decomposition do not remain available in the water, but are rapidly absorbed by the young plants . This closed nutrient system makes possible the maintenance of the high biomass of the stands during the entire hydrological cycle .

The Pantanal comprises a number of landscape units, submitted to a flood pulse with variable intensity or regularity. One of these units, the flooded plains, is important in cattle raising. This study was carried out in the northern portion of the Pantanal and presents data related to the productive dynamics of the flooded native pastures both protected from and exposed to cattle. The greatest total biomass values were for the protected pasture due to accumulated dead biomass. Net primary production presented smaller values at the flood-season start and increasing gradually beginning in the subsequent rainy season. However, consumption by cattle was also more intense during the months of greater precipitation. The effect of cattle in pastures is of fundamental importance to management since it prevents the dead biomass excess that increases fire risks.

The Pantanal of Mato Grosso presents distinct landscape units: permanently, occasionally and periodically flooded areas. In the last ones, sampling is especially difficult due to the high heterogeneity occurring inter and intrastratas. This paper presents a comparison of different methodological approaches showing that they can influence decisively the knowledge of distribution organic matter dynamics. In such an area in order to understand the role of the flood pulse in the distribution dynamics of organic matter in a wetland at the Pantanal, we considered that there is spatial dependence between points. This consideration contradicts the classical statistic principle that focuses on the aleatority, and allowed the obtainment of a larger volume of information from a minor sampling effort, which means better performance, with time and money economy.Key words: geostatistics, sampling, organic matter, Pantanal of Mato Grosso. RESUMOA geoestatística como ferramenta para aprimorar a amostragem e a análise estatística em áreas inundáveis: um estudo de caso sobre a dinâmica da distribuição da matéria orgânica no Pantanal de Mato Grosso, Brasil O Pantanal de Mato Grosso apresenta unidades distintas em sua paisagem: áreas permanentemente alagadas, áreas eventualmente alagáveis e áreas periodicamente alagáveis. Nestas últimas, as amostragens são particularmente difíceis, dada a heterogeneidade não apenas entre os estratos a serem amostrados como também dentro dos mesmos. Este trabalho usa como exemplo a avaliação do papel do pulso de inundação na dinâmica de distribuição de matéria orgânica em um campo inundável pantaneiro para mostrar que diferentes enfoques metodológicos e delineamentos amostrais podem influenciar decisivamente. Partimos do princípio de que há dependência espacial entre os pontos, contrariando a estatística clássica que enfoca a aleatoriedade. Este procedimento permite a obtenção de maior volume de informações a partir de menor esforço amostral, o que significa melhor desempenho, com economia de tempo e recursos.Palavras-chave: geoestatística, amostragem, matéria orgânica, Pantanal de Matogrosso.