The objective was to evaluate the effects of recipients and root characteristics on the quality of Australian cedar seedlings. The research was carried out in two stages, the first consisted of seedling production in the nursery and evaluation of morphological parameters, and the second consisted of evaluating the potential for root regeneration. There were five treatments involving two production systems for seedlings, tubes, and plastic bags: T1 – tube (288 cm3); T2 – tube (120 cm3); T3 - tube (55 cm3); T4 - plastic bags (424 cm3); and T5 - plastic bags (216 cm3). The seeds used are from a matrix tree located at the State University of Southwest Bahia. The design of the experiment was a completely randomized design with four replications. The morphological parameters evaluated were a) shoot height (H); b) neck diameter (D); c) fresh and dry biomass of shoots and roots; d) H/D, H/SDM, and shoot and root dry mass ratio (SDM/RDM); e) Dickson Quality Index (DQI), and f) the total number of regenerated roots present in the upper and lower parts of each container. The results showed that the tubes with 288 cm³ of volumetric capacity produced seedlings with higher averages for the morphological and root characteristics, constituting the ideal production system for Australian cedar seedlings. In the absence of tubes with 288 cm³, it is possible to use plastic bags (424 cm³) for this species. The evaluated root regeneration potential proves to be a favorable prognosis of rapid establishment and performance of seedlings in the field.

Resumo: Os insetos são responsáveis por importantes atividades para o homem e os ecossistemas. No entanto, eles geralmente são associados principalmente aos danos ou prejuízos causados ao homem. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar a percepção entomológica de alunos do ensino médio da cidade de Patos, Paraíba. Para isso foram aplicados questionários semiestruturados contendo questões sobre os insetos, durante o mês de agosto de 2012. Foram entrevistados 316 alunos, sendo 190 de escolas particulares e 126 de públicas. Do total de entrevistados 62,4% foram do sexo feminino e 37,5% masculino. 56,3% responderam acertadamente que os insetos pertencem ao filo Arthropoda, 37% que possuem 3 pares de pernas e 78,2% que podem ser reconhecidos pelo número de pernas, pela presença de antenas e de olhos. Para 82,6% dos entrevistados os insetos possuem importância positiva e negativa. Alimento para outros seres vivos e transmissão de doenças as mais assinaladas com 20,3% e 25,8% respectivamente. Dos animais percebidos como insetos os mais citados foram besouro, mosquito e barata, sendo aranha o animal mais confundido e assinalado como inseto. Observou-se que o tipo de didática adotada em sala de aula pelos professores não tem tido muito sucesso na fixação desse conteúdo pelos alunos. Palavras-chave: Insetos, etnoentomologia, artrópodes, aprendizado.Abstract: Insects are responsible for important activities for humans and ecosystems. However, they are usually associated mainly to the damages or losses caused to humans. The aim of this study was to analyze the entomological perception of High school students from the city of Patos, Paraiba. For this semi-structured questionnaires containing questions about insects were applied, during the month of August 2012. 316 students were interviewed, being 190 from private schools and 126 from public schools. From the total respondents 62.4% were female and 37.5% male. 56.3% correctly answered that insects belong to the phylum Arthropoda, 37% having three pairs of legs and 78.2% that can be recognized by the number of legs, by the presence of antennae and eyes. For 82.6% of respondents insects have positive and negative significance. Food for other living beings and transmission of diseases the most marked with 20.3% and 25.8% respectively. From the animals perceived as insects the most mentioned were beetle, mosquitoes and cockroaches, being the spider the animal which was most mistaken and reported as insect. It was noted that the type of didactic adopted in the classroom by teachers has not had much success in fixing of this subject by the students.

Population structure, diametric distribution and use of Commiphora leptopholoeos (Mart.) JB Gillett in arboreal Caatinga 1The objective of this work was to characterize the population structure, analyze the spatial distribution pattern and identify the potential use of the Commiphora leptopholoeos in the Contendas do Sincorá National Forest, BA. Thus, three disjoint transects of 40 x 160 m were installed for the phytosociological study and spatial distribution and subdivided into 64 plots of 10 x 10 m, for which the density and frequency values of regenerating individuals (dbh < 5 cm), and the density, frequency and basal area of arboreal size were calculated (dbh > 5 cm). The spatial distribution pattern was calculated by the Morisita index, Payandeh's dispersion index and the Chi-squared test for the different populations. The diametric distribution was in the form of a reverse J-shaped, usually indicate full regeneration with constant seed production, germination and recruitment. The stems of the species were mostly healthy, but with a large tillering percentage and tortuosity below the commercial height, constituting characteristics which favor uses for firewood, stakes and poles. The spatial distribution pattern values of the species for tree size and regeneration point to an aggregate spatial distribution or to a tendency to aggregation.

No abstract

A compreensão da estrutura fitossociológica, aliada ao entendimento dos processos ecológicos que envolvem a síndrome de dispersão de sementes é fundamental para a tomada de decisão em planos de conservação e manejo. Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a fitossociologia e estabelecer a relação entre a síndrome de dispersão e a estratificação vertical em uma Floresta Estacional Semidecidual Montana no Nordeste do Brasil. O levantamento foi realizado em Vitória da Conquista (BA). Para análise fitossociológica utilizou-se o método de quadrantes. As espécies foram classificadas segundo a síndrome de dispersão em três categorias: anemocoria, autocoria e zoocoria. A florística foi composta por 47 táxons, distribuídos em 12 famílias e 34 espécies, sendo 13 anemocóricas, 15 autocóricas, 11 zoocóricas e oito indeterminadas. As espécies Pseudopiptadenia contorta e Patagonula bahiensis obtiveram destaque em todos os parâmetros fitossociológicos. Quanto maior o gradiente de altura, maior o número de indivíduos anemocóricos. No estrato superior, a anemocoria e autocoria não se distinguiram entre si, tendo maior número de indivíduos que a zoocoria. As síndromes abióticas apresentaram o melhor desempenho. A anemocoria ganhou mais importância com o aumento do gradiente de altura, onde a ação do vento é maior. A autocoria se destacou apenas no estrato superior, já que a queda dos frutos e sementes de uma grande altura favorece sua dispersão.