Building bridges between environmental and political agendas is essential nowadays in face of the increasing human pressure on natural environments, including wetlands. Wetlands provide critical ecosystem services for humanity and can generate a considerable direct or indirect income to the local communities. To meet many of the sustainable development goals, we need to move our trajectory from the current environmental destructive development to a wiser wetland use. The current article contain a proposed agenda for the Pantanal aiming the improvement of public policy for conservation in the Pantanal, one of the largest, most diverse, and continuous inland wetland in the world. We suggest and discuss a list of 11 essential interfaces between science, policy, and development in region linked to the proposed agenda. We believe that a functional science network can booster the collaborative capability to generate creative ideas and solutions to address the big challenges faced by the Pantanal wetland.

No abstract

ABSTRACT. Ecological aspects of a community of Araneae (Arthropoda, Arachnida) at the canopy of the palm Attalea phalerata Mart. (Arecaceae) in the Pantanal of Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Six palm trees of Attalea phalerata were sampled during the aquatic phase (high water) in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso (February 2001) using canopy fogging. The objective was to evaluate the composition, spatial distribution, behavioural guilds, biomass and seasonality of the community of Araneae at the crowns of these palm trees, which form monospecific stands that are typical of this region. A total of 1,326 spiders was collected in the 99 m 2 sampling area (13.4 + 8.2 individuals/m 2 ), representing 20 families, of which Salticidae and Araneidae were the most abundant. The total biomass of 704 spiders from three palm trees was 0.6172 mg dry weight (0.0123+ 0.04 mg/m 2 ). In terms of behaviour guilds, ten groups were found, demonstrating the coexistence of many different groups in the same habitat. Members of the Salticidae, Oonopidae and Ctenidae were the dominant hunters and members of Araneidae and Dictynidae, the dominant orb-weavers. Analysis of the spatial distribution showed that the greatest abundance of spiders occurred in the central region of the crown, which probably provided access to the large number of resources available there. A comparison of these results with the ones obtained in the terrestrial phase (low water) revealed a seasonal difference that is influenced by the flood pulse in which there was a difference in the composition of the families in the high and low water. KEYWORDS.Araneae; guilds; palms; Pantanal; tree crowns. RESUMO. Seis palmeiras de Attalea phalerata foram amostradas durante a fase aquática (cheia) no Pantanal de MatoGrosso (fevereiro/2001), utilizando-se a metodologia de nebulização de copas "canopy fogging". Este estudo objetivou avaliar a composição, distribuição espacial, guildas comportamentais, biomassa e sazonalidade da comunidade de Araneae em copas dessa palmeira que forma adensamentos monodominantes, típicos nessa região. Um total de 1326 aranhas foram coletadas em 99 m² de área amostral (13,4 + 8,2 indivíduos/m 2 ), representando 20 famílias, sendo Salticidae e Araneidae as mais abundantes. A biomassa total de 704 aranhas em três palmeiras correspondeu a 0.6172 mg de peso seco (0,0123+ 0,04 mg/m 2 ). Dez guildas comportamentais demonstraram a coexistência de diferentes espécies em um mesmo habitat. Representantes de Salticidae, Oonopidae e Ctenidae dominaram entre as caçadoras, e Araneidae e Dictynidae, dentre as tecelãs. A análise de distribuição espacial demonstrou que a maior abundância de aranhas ocorreu na região central da copa, provavelmente devido à quantidade de recursos disponíveis nesse local. A comparação desses resultados com aqueles obtidos durante o período de seca, demonstra diferenças sazonais influenciadas pelo pulso de inundação, principalmente com relação à composição das famílias amostradas entre os períodos de seca e cheia.

No abstract

ABSTRACT. Composition of Formicidae community (Insecta, Hymenoptera) in the canopy of Attalea phalerata Mart. (Arecaceae), in the Pantanal of Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Three individuals of the palm Attalea phalerata Mart. (Arecaceae) were sampled using the method of canopy fogging, during the aquatic phase (high water) in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso (February 2001). The objective was to evaluate the diversity, feeding habits and spatial distribution of the Formicidae community in the canopy of this monodominant palm species, typical of this region. Each of three palms was fogged once, then resampled first by shaking fronds while attached, then by washing all fronds (cut then washed). A total of 966 ants belonging to 6 subfamilies, 13 tribes and 29 species was obtained in the 49 m 2 sampling area (19.7±52.7 individuals/m 2 ) representing 3.9% of all arthropods sampled. Myrmicinae was the most representative subfamily, with 6 tribes and 14 species, with Solenopsidini (5 species) distinguishing. Formicinae was the second most abundant subfamily, with 3 tribes and 8 species. Pheidole sp. 2 was dominant in the total catch (284 individuals; 29.4% of the total captured) followed by Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) crassus (182 individuals; 18.8%) and Crematogaster (Orthocrema) sp. 1 nr. quadriformis (119 individuals; 12.3%). The values of the diversity indices were significant (H'=2.185; D= 0.835), although they showed low values of equitability (0.649 and 0.248, respectively). This demonstrated the heterogeneity of the Formicidae community associated with the canopy of this palm. An analysis of spatial distribution showed that the greatest abundance and richness of Formicidae occurred in the central region of the crown, next to the trunk. KEYWORDS. Attalea phalerata; canopy; diversity; Formicidae; Pantanal. RESUMO.Composição da comunidade de Formicidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera) em copas de Attalea phalerata Mart. (Arecaceae), no Pantanal de Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brasil. Três indivíduos da palmeira Attalea phalerata Mart (Arecaceae) foram amostrados durante a fase aquática (cheia) no Pantanal de Mato Grosso (fevereiro/2001) utilizando-se a metodologia de nebulização de copas "canopy fogging". Este estudo objetivou avaliar a diversidade, hábitos alimentares e a distribuição espacial da comunidade de Formicidae em copas dessa palmeira que forma adensamentos monodominantes, típicos nessa região. Cada palmeira foi nebulizada uma única vez e realizadas três coletas subseqüentes. Um total de 966 formigas, pertencentes a 6 subfamílias, 13 tribos e 29 espécies foram amostradas em 49 m 2 de área amostral (19,7±52,7 indivíduos/ m 2 ) representando 3,9% do total de artrópodes obtidos. Myrmicinae foi a subfamília mais representativa, com 6 tribos e 14 espécies, destacando-se Solenopsidini com 5 espécies. Formicinae foi a segunda subfamília mais abundante com 3 tribos e 8 espécies. Pheidole sp. 2 foi dominante na amostragem geral (284 indivíduos; 29,4% da captura total) seguida por Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) crassus (182 individuos; 18,8%) ...