Much remains to be learned about biological diversity, which constitutes a valuable natural resource. Due to the pressure that human activity has put on natural resources, biodiversity has been reduced, often unbeknownst to those responsible for that activity. Therefore, we aimed to perform a quantitative and qualitative analysis of periphytic algae in the Itupararanga reservoir, correlating the results with the physical and chemical characteristics of the water, as well as with climatic conditions. To that end, five samples were collected at four sampling stations in the Itupararanga reservoir during the year 2010. Aquatic macrophytes were collected with a 156-cm 2 frame, and the periphytic algae were scraped free of the macrophytes with a brush. Samples were fixed in formaldehyde and Lugol's solution for the qualitative and quantitative analyses, respectively. We identified 156 taxa belonging to eight classes, and the overall density was 10,200-171,800 individuals/mm 2 . The taxonomic composition and abundance of periphyton were found to be dependent on spatial and temporal factors, such as the type of substrate and the characteristics of the sampling site, as well as seasonal variations in the chemical and physical properties of the water.

A busca por produtos e serviços mais adequados do ponto de vista ambiental vem estimulando as empresas a buscarem meios de atender essas exigências e uma ferramenta que ganha destaque nessa busca é a Produção mais Limpa (P+L), concebida pelo Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (PNUD) e implantada no Brasil a partir de 1995, através de uma unidade do Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (SENAI) do Estado de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a aplicação da ferramenta P+L na melhoria da eficiência na gestão de uma empresa prestadora de serviços de consultoria ambiental. O estudo tem caráter qualitativo, pautando-se na pesquisa bibliográfica com objetivo exploratório. Os resultados indicam que não apenas as empresas de manufatura, mas também as empresas do ramo de prestação de serviço podem utilizar a P+L em seus processos e gerar ganhos ambientais além de alcançar economias financeiras.

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