FILE — A farmer helps plant trees at a volunteer group planting event in Casimiro de Abreu
New trees help to lock away planet-warming carbon
But the choice of trees matters: Nonnative species can also harm biodiversity
(Maria Magdalena Arrellaga/The New York Times)
human needs can make problems like climate change and biodiversity collapse seem insurmountable
The world still relies on fossil fuels that are dangerously heating the planet
but agriculture is a top driver of biodiversity loss
But what if we’re looking at those problems the wrong way
commissioned by 147 countries and made public on Tuesday
offers the most comprehensive answer to date
examining the sometimes dizzying interconnections among biodiversity
“Our current approaches to dealing with these crises have tended to be fragmented or siloed,” said Paula Harrison
a co-chair of the assessment and an environmental scientist who focuses on land and water modeling at the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology
“That’s led to inefficiencies and has often been counterproductive.”
consider a parasitic disease known as schistosomiasis
which affects more than 200 million people
Spread by freshwater snails that thrive amid invasive aquatic plants nourished by fertilizer runoff
the disease is typically seen through the lens of the health sector and treated with medication
But a project in rural Senegal looked at the problem from additional angles
Clearing the invasive plants from bodies of water reduced infection rates in children by 32%
the vegetation can be used as a cheap alternative to cattle feed
by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
an independent panel that advises governments on biodiversity issues
It includes scores of potential interventions along with their cascading effects
the authors note that efforts like incorporating prairie strips
or strategically locating trees on farmland can help with biodiversity
water quality and climate change all at once
Not all situations will have multiple wins
But people should be aware of the trade-offs and make them deliberately
from national governments all the way to local communities
we don’t take account of a lot of the trade-offs,” said Pamela McElwee
also a co-chair of the assessment and a professor of human ecology at Rutgers University
agriculture and fisheries sectors were estimated at $10 trillion to $25 trillion per year
Negative health consequences were especially costly
she pointed to the 9 million people a year who die from air pollution
and the rise in obesity and diabetes because of unhealthy diets that also harm biodiversity and contribute to climate change
Direct public subsidies that are damaging to biodiversity amount to about $1.7 trillion per year
incentivizing the private sector to invest even more in harmful activities
which joins assessments on global biodiversity loss
invasive species and the use of wild animals
hit tensions between business interests and nature and ran into overtime
The purpose of such reports is to evaluate and synthesize the sprawling universe of existing and sometimes contradictory research
Governments use the findings to inform their policymaking at home and in global negotiations
had to overcome the very problem it sought to examine: the entrenched silos separating sectors
“The biodiversity literature is quite separate from the water literature
which is quite separate from the health literature
which is quite separate from the food literature and climate change and so forth,” McElwee said
Such divisions were also apparent among the 165 experts who contributed
They had to learn new language and sometimes found themselves outside their comfort zones as they engaged with people and ideas from other fields
Adding to the urgency of the work is the reality that as these crises worsen
Collapses in pollinator numbers and droughts fueled by climate change make it harder to grow food
when it comes to avoiding unintended consequences
which helps in tackling climate change and could make money for landowners through carbon markets
But people often choose fast-growing commercial species that can have negative effects on biodiversity and water
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Brazil (AP) — This small city in the state of Rio de Janeiro is on high alert after authorities confirmed the death of one man by yellow fever and are investigating several other possible cases
Health authorities this week confirmed that 38-year-old Watila Santos died from the illness on March 11
was infected and sent for treatment to a hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro
Authorities are investigating possible cases involving four relatives of Santos
In the city center and rural areas of Casimiro de Abreu
about 93 miles (150 kilometers) from Rio de Janeiro
a large tent has been set up to vaccinate people
Authorities say around 30,000 of the city's 42,000 people have been vaccinated in recent days
"I'm really scared," said Tais de Silva Almeida
a mother of two who arrived Friday to get vaccinated
"If adults can't deal with the illness
Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquito and causes fever
Rio de Janeiro's state Health Department has announced plans to vaccinate its entire population as a preventative measure
It says it will need 12 million doses to reach a 90 percent vaccination rate by year's end
The vaccinations come as cases continue to be confirmed in several areas nationwide
Brazil's Health Ministry says that at least 424 people have been infected with yellow fever in the largest outbreak the country has seen in years
and more than 900 other cases are under investigation
The vast majority of confirmed cases and deaths have been in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais
health workers visited houses in rural areas and inspected stagnant water
The state also sent experts to nearby parks and reserves with monkey populations to monitor the situation with the primates
which are a primary reservoir of yellow fever
in a group of houses near a lush jungle area a few miles (5 kilometers) from downtown
relatives of Santos wait for news about the four members of the family who may be infected
said he took solace in knowing that the death raised alarm bells that could save others
he knows that because he died a lot of lives were saved," said Santos
Associated Press photographer Leo Correa contributed to this report from Casimiro de Abreu
Metrics details
Although there are many studies on the control of mosquito vectors of the yellow fever virus (YFV) in tropical forests
there are still few ecological studies regarding abiotic factors effect on these mosquitoes
Here we characterize these effects on oviposition behavior
The study was conducted in Córrego da Luz Municipal Park
Ovitraps were placed at ground level and 3 m high
The data were tested for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test
followed by an independent sample analysis
The Shannon Diversity Index was used to evaluate the abundance of mosquitos' eggs collected at both ground level and 3 m high
We highlight the presence of Haemagogus janthinomys and Hg
and Aedes terrens (58%) was higher at the height of 3 m
albopictus (52%) was higher at ground level
Aedes albopictus was positively correlated with temperature
Culicidae monitoring is essential for assessing the YFV transmission cycle in Atlantic forest fragments
According to Pessanha11
an increasing number of cases of zoonotic diseases have been noticed in transition areas over the last three decades as the process of deforestation has intensified
A clearer understanding of mosquito communities’ biodiversity in forest environments such as the Atlantic Forest
either during anthropic activities or periods of vegetation recovery
is crucial to understanding changes in behavior patterns among these wild mosquito populations
there are still few ecological studies that focus on changes in the populations and communities of these vectors in fragmented forested environments
especially on how climatic factors affect the oviposition behavior of these mosquitoes
we evaluate the influence of oviposition behavior and abiotic factors (temperature and rainfall) on the abundance and diversity of mosquito vectors of YFV from July 2018 to December 2019 in a remnant of Atlantic Forest of Córrego da Luz Municipal Park
During the study period from July 2018 to December 2019
6535 mosquito eggs were collected in the Córrego da Luz Municipal Park area
Both genera are epidemiologically important as they are known vectors of arboviruses such as dengue and yellow fever
The abundance of Hg. leucocelaenus (63%), Hg. janthinomys (75%), and Ae. terrens (58%) was greater at the height of 3 m, while Ae. albopictus (52%) was more abundant at ground level (Table 1)
There was no statistically significant difference in the number of individuals of Hg
terrens (p = 0.7) collected at the ground level and 3 m high
a significant difference was observed (p ≤ 0.05) between the numbers of Hg
terrens (p = 0.03) and a very significant difference (p ≤ 0.01) between Hg
a very significant difference was also observed between Hg
Species of Culicidae collected at ground level and 3 m
The abundance of the two most common species, Ae. albopictus and Hg. leucocelaenus, were tested for correlation with rainfall and temperature (Brazilian Institute of Space Research – INPE, 2020) using linear regressions. Neither species was correlated with rainfall, though Ae. albopictus showed a significant positive correlation with temperature (p-value = 0.004; Fig. 2).
The highest number of cases was reported in 2017
leucocelaenus was abundant in the foci of the disease and detected high rates of natural infections
According to Consoli and Lourenço-de-Oliveira33
janthinomys also shows a clear preference for biting at the highest strata of the forest
and adapted behavior regarding the search for hosts in the flight trend concerning the oviposition traps installed at different stratification levels
Monitoring the population dynamics of yellow fever vectors in areas of increased transmission risk is a critical component of the yellow fever health surveillance system
Elucidating the acrodendrophilic elements of these vectors’ oviposition and the effect of climatic variables that may influence these dynamics can be useful for yellow fever control programs by assisting in the development and improvement of health surveillance procedures by providing relevant biological data
The results of our study provide information of interest for prophylaxis and control strategies
such as the definition of expanded risk areas and the prediction of silent virus circulation
which may help target the intensification of local vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas
Sampling sites in the Córrego da Luz Municipal Park, located in the city of Casimiro de Abreu, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Maps were prepared in ArcGIS Desktop: Release 10.5. Redlands, CA (ESRI) (https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-pro/overview/
A total of twenty traps were installed at random intervals
with two traps per tree (one at ground level and another one at 3 m above the ground)
The traps were installed at ten different sampling sites under the same height conditions
The paddles in the traps were examined monthly
and taken to the Diptera Laboratory of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute
Positive paddles (containing eggs) were separated in the laboratory
had their eggs counted and were immersed in transparent trays containing dechlorinated water
The eggs were then placed in a controlled experimental environment with a thermoperiod regulated at a temperature of 28 °C ± 1 °C
These conditions allowed us to keep the specimens alive to adulthood for species determination
all specimens were incorporated into the Entomological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute
under the collection name “Atlantic Forest”
The number of individuals of each species found at ground level and 3 m was tested for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test
followed by an analysis of independent samples
The Shannon Diversity Index was used to evaluate the abundance of mosquitoes’ eggs collected at both ground level and 3 m high
The Simpson Dominance Index was used to measure the probability of two individuals randomly selected in the sample belonging to the same species; higher values of the latter index imply lower diversity levels
The relationship between the number of specimens per Culicidae species and the climatic variables of rainfall and temperature was shown to have a normal distribution through the Shapiro–Wilk test
The linear regression test was used to evaluate the relationship and influence of abiotic factors on the number of specimens per Culicidae species
The permanent license for collecting and transporting zoological material from the Córrego da Luz Municipal Park within Brazil was granted by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) through the Brazilian Biodiversity Information and Authorization System (SISBIO)
under permit number 34911-1 dated 06/14/2020
Importância da biodiversidade para a saúde humana: uma perspectiva ecológica
Docile, T. N., Figueiró, R., Portela, C. & Nessimian, J. L. Macroinvertebrate diversity loss in urban streams from tropical forests. Environ. Monit. Assess. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5237-z (2016)
and local knowledge of larval habitats of Anopheles gambiae s.l
Ecological niche partitioning between Anopheles gambiae molecular forms in Cameroon: the ecological side of speciation
Yellow fever and dengue: a threat to Europe?
Effect of climate change on vector-borne disease risk in the UK
Alencar, J. et al. Ecosystem diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a remnant of Atlantic Forest, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil . Austral Entomol. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12508 (2020)
Flight height preference for oviposition of mosquito (diptera: Culicidae) vectors of sylvatic yellow fever virus near the hydroelectric reservoir of simplicío
Diversity of yellow fever mosquito vectors in the Atlantic forest of Rio de Janeiro
Febre Amarela : uma visão do cenário atual
De Abreu, F. V. S. et al. Combination of surveillance tools reveals that yellow fever virus can remain in the same atlantic forest area at least for three transmission seasons. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz https://doi.org/10.1590/0074-02760190076 (2019)
Reemergência de febre amarela: Detecção de transmissão no estado de São Paulo
Estratégias e ações para a conservação da biodiversidade no estado do Rio de Janeiro
Evaluation of multiple immersion effects on eggs from Haemagogus leucocelaenus
and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) under experimental conditions
(Edusp - Editora da Universidade de São Paulo
Revisão de mosquitos Haemagogus Williston (Diptera: Culicidae) do Brasil
Revised list of abbreviations for genera and subgenera of Culicidae (diptera) and notes on generic and subgeneric changes
Ecology of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in areas of Serra do Mar State Park
Critical review of the vector status of Aedes albopictus
Yellow fever outbreak in Brazil: the puzzle of rapid viral spread and challenges for immunisation
Epizootics due to Yellow Fever Virus in São Paulo State
Brazil: viral dissemination to new areas (2016–2017)
High risk for chikungunya virus to initiate an enzootic sylvatic cycle in the tropical Americas
Mosquitoes infected with dengue viruses in Brazil
Zika virus in Brazil and the danger of infestation by aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes
Zika virus in Gabon (Central Africa) - 2007: a new threat from Aedes albopictus?
Aedes albopictus em área rural do Brasil e implicações na transmissão de febre amarela silvestre
Mosquitos no Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos
Evidências Preliminares De Estratificação Vertical De Postura De Ovos Por Alguns Culicidae (Diptera)
Em Floresta No Município De Manaus - Amazonas
A comparative study of the effect of multiple immersions on Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquito eggs with emphasis on sylvan vectors of yellow fever virus
Aedes e Psorophora | Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory
Principais Mosquitos de Importância Sanitária no Brasil - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz): Ciência e tecnologia em saúde para a população brasileira
with special reference to Aedes albopictus
Aedes novalbopictus and Armigeres subalbatus
Infusion-baited ovitraps to survey ovipositional height preferences of container-inhabiting mosquitoes in two Florida habitats
Potential for Zika virus to establish a sylvatic transmission cycle in the Americas
Geographic patterns and environmental factors associated with human yellow fever presence in the Americas
Seasonal population dynamics of the primary yellow fever vector haemagogus leucocelaenus (Dyar & shannon) (diptera: Culicidae) is mainly influenced by temperature in the atlantic forest
The effect of various temperatures in modifying the extrinsic incubation period of the yellow fever virus in Aedes Aegypti
Determination of the spatial susceptibility to yellow fever using a multicriteria analysis
Evaluation of the temperature influence on the development of Aedes albopictus
Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Associated Entomofauna in Bromeliads from a Forest Patch within a densely Urbanized Area
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This work was supported by the Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ; Grant Number E-26/202.658/2018)
the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; 301707/2017-0) and Mico-Leão-Dourado Association
Fabiana Fagundes Fumian & Jeronimo Alencar
Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro
Foundation State University Center of the West Zone (UEZO)
Ronaldo Figueiró & Fabiana Fagundes Fumian
Laboratory of Professional Education in Health Surveillance (LAVSA)
Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic School of Health
Application Institute Fernando Rodrigues da Silveira (Cap-UERJ)
responsible for the statistical analyses of the paper
and edited the tables and graphs of the paper and participated in the revision of the manuscript
participated in the writing and revision process of the paper
C.F.M and J.A collected the mosquito samples in the field
C.F.M constructed the map representing the collection sites of the study
participated in and reviewed the statistical analyses of the study
carried out the bibliographic research and wrote the manuscript
The authors declare no competing interests
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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works on her tree cultivation in Casimiro de Abreu
reforestation assistants make holes before planting new trees in Madre de Dios
Scientists working for CINCIA _ a Peru-based nongovernmental group _ planted more than six-thousand saplings of various species native to this part of the Amazon
They are testing which biofertilizers work best to replenish the soil
gold collected after a day of work is ready to be weigh at a mining camp that uses a machine that uses a special system to collect gold without the need to use mercury in the process
Golden lion tamarins are seen in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in Silva Jardim
A small hill is seen planted with Atlantic Forest trees as part of the restoration program of the ONG Golden Lion Tamarin Association in Silva Jardim
Peru (AP) — Destruction of the forests can be swift
people are putting shovels to ground to help it happen
where illegal gold mining has scarred forests and poisoned ground
scientists work to change wasteland back to wilderness
on former coal mining land across Appalachia
workers rip out old trees that never put down deep roots and make the soil more suitable to regrow native tree species
a nursery owner grows different kinds of seedlings to help reconnect forests along the country’s Atlantic coast
benefiting endangered species like the golden lion tamarin
They labor amid spectacular recent losses — the Amazon jungle and the Congo basin ablaze
smoke from Indonesian rainforests wafting over Malaysia and Singapore
fires set mostly to make way for cattle pastures and farm fields
an area the size of the United Kingdom was stripped of forest each year
Rebuilding woodland is slow and often difficult work
And it requires patience: It can take several decades or longer for forests to regrow as viable habitats
and to absorb the same amount of carbon lost when trees are cut and burned
“Planting a tree is only one step in the process,” says Christopher Barton
a professor of forest hydrology at the Appalachian Center of the University of Kentucky
there is urgency to that work — forests are one of the planet’s first lines of defense against climate change
absorbing as much as a quarter of man-made carbon emissions each year
water and sunlight to produce chemical energy to fuel their growth; oxygen is released as a byproduct
so has an already overloaded Earth’s capacity to cope with carbon emissions
Successful reforestation programs take into account native plant species
They are managed by groups with a sustained commitment to monitoring forests
they economically benefit the people who live nearby — for instance
or reducing erosion that damages homes or crops
The impact could be great: A recent study in the journal Science projected that if 0.9 billion hectares (2.2 billion acres) of new trees were planted — around 500 billion saplings — they could absorb 205 gigatonnes (220 gigatons) of carbon once they reached maturity
The Swiss researchers estimated this would be equivalent to about two-thirds of man-made carbon emissions since the start of the Industrial Revolution
Other scientists dispute those calculations
while some fear the theoretical promise of tree-planting as an easy solution to climate changes could distract people from the range and scope of the responses needed
forestry researcher Jhon Farfan steered a motorcycle through the dense Peruvian jungle
He was following a narrow path cut by illegal gold miners in the heart of the Amazon
he was on a quest to reforest abandoned gold mines within the world’s largest tropical forest
he reached a broad clearing where knee-high saplings stood in rows
their yellow-green leaves straining for the sun
Farfan whipped out a clipboard with a diagram of the saplings planted months earlier
“The goal is to look for the survivors,” he said
only a sliver of light escapes to the forest floor
Often more can be heard than seen: a chorus of howler monkeys
the chatter of red-crowned parakeets — reminders that the Amazon is home to more species diversity than anywhere on the planet
A former illegal mining camp destroyed by the police and soldiers is seen amid thousands of destroyed hectares of Amazon jungle in what is called "La Pampa" in Madre de Dios
But the rainforest is under increasing threat from illicit logging
In a region of southeastern Peru called Madre de Dios
Farfan’s job involves inspecting lands where the forest has already been lost to illegal mining spurred by the spike in gold prices following the 2008 global financial crash
the floor of the jungle was turned upside down
There are no gold seams in the lowland areas of the Amazon
but only flakes of gold washed down from the Andes mountains by ancient rivers
After cutting and burning centuries-old trees
miners used diesel pumps to suck up deep layers of the earth
then pushed the soil through filters to separate out gold particles
which binds the gold together but also poisons the land
Left behind are patches of desert-like land — dry
stripped of topsoil and ringed by trunks of dead trees
Farfan and other scientists with the Peru-based nonprofit CINCIA planted more than 6,000 saplings of various species native to this part of the Amazon
“Most tree deaths happen in the first year,” Farfan added
typically they’re going to be there a long time.”
A study of former gold mines in Peru by scientists at CINCIA and Wake Forest University several years ago found that seedlings transplanted with soil were more likely to survive than “bare-root seedlings,” and the use of special fertilizers also helped growth
Some of the trees tested had absorbed trace amounts of mercury through contaminated soil
but it’s not clear yet how this will affect them
the team has planted more than 42 hectares (115 acres) with native seedlings
the largest reforestation effort in the Peruvian Amazon to date
The group is in discussion with Peru’s government to expand their efforts
“It’s very hard to stop mining in Madre de Dios
The challenge now: to plant a tree that can grow in this soil
While scientists struggle with tainted landscapes in the Amazon
activists a continent away are reckoning with flawed past attempts to heal the land
After miners left West Virginia’s Cheat Mountain in the 1980s
there was an effort to green the coal mining sites to comply with federal law
The companies used heavy machinery to push upturned soil back into place
compacting the mountainside with bulldozers
The result was soil so packed in that rainwater couldn’t seep down
Companies planted “desperation species” — grasses with shallow roots or non-native trees that could endure
but wouldn’t reach their full height or restore the forest as it had been
On Cheat Mountain and at other former mining sites across Appalachia
more than a million acres of former forests are in similar arrested development
“It was like trees trying to grow in a parking lot — not many could make it,” said Michael French
director of operations for the Kentucky-based nonprofit Green Forests Work
The Appalachian highlands once supported a large and unique ecosystem
dominated by 500,000 acres of red spruce forest a century and a half ago
But commercial logging in the late 1800s and later coal mining in the 20th century stripped the landscape
leaving less than a tenth of the red spruce forests intact
Now French and colleagues at Green Forests Work are collaborating with the U.S
Forest Service to restore native Appalachian forests and the rare species they support — by first tearing down other trees
“We literally go in with a giant plow-like machine and rip the guts out of the soil,” by dragging a 4-foot ripping shank behind a bulldozer
the University of Kentucky professor and founder of Green Forests Work
gives rainwater and tree roots a better chance to push down into the soil
A 2008 study found that disrupting the soil on U.S
brownfield sites through this method helped tree growth
trees planted on “ripped” sites had more roots compared to those where deep ripping didn’t occur
The idea of ripping up the ground seemed startling at first
a lot of our colleagues thought we were crazy
Earlier efforts at reforesting old mining sites within West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest hadn’t fared so well; sometimes
But in areas where the team has deep-ripped over the last decade
the survival rate of saplings has been around 90%
Green Forests Work has now reforested around 800 acres within the Monongahela
and it is taking a similar approach to other former mining sites across Appalachia
having reforested around 4,500 total acres since 2009
Their ultimate goal is to restart the natural cycle of the forest — so that scientists’ work becomes invisible again
Other reforestation crusades are more personal
runs a tree nursery that grows seedlings of species native to Brazil’s lesser-known jungle — the Atlantic coastal rainforest
She collaborates with a nonprofit group called Save the Golden Lion Tamarin
which works to protect and restore the forest habitat of the endangered namesake monkey
“The Atlantic rainforest is one of the planet’s most threatened biomes
more than 90 % of it was deforested,” said Luis Paulo Ferraz
Dona Graça says she is furious at what has happened to the forest
which was whittled down to allow for the urban expansion of Rio de Janeiro and other cities
She deplores “the stupidity and ignorance” of people who have “destroyed most of the trees and continue destroying them
I try to do it properly to rescue those trees.”
between feeding her chickens and raking the leaves
she grows seedlings of rare species — pau pereira
they don’t exist anymore.” She mixes limestone and clay
places it in plastic nursery bags and plants seeds in them; she irrigates them with water and cow urine
Local replanting efforts — which aim to reconnect fragmented parcels of forest — often use the seedlings from Dona Graça’s nursery
which gives her both income and great satisfaction
that memory I tried to leave for the people is: It’s worth it to plant
Federica Narancio contributed to this report from Peru and West Virginia
Metrics details
The Original Article was published on 25 February 2021
After publication it was observed that there were data transcription failures
these only occurred in the supplementary file
The errors do not impact the rest of the rest of the paper
Both files (old and new) are available in this correction article
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Maria Verônica Monteiro de Abreu & Claudia Fernanda de Lacerda Vidal
Maria das Graças Washington Casimiro Carreteiro
Maria Carolina Andrade Lins de Albuquerque
: Incorrect supplementary file as originally published
unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07770-z
Rio-based firm successfully develops large-sized unmanned aircraft for defense and security missions
Brazil has come a step closer to entering the group of nations producing large drones
technically known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
a remotely piloted air system measuring 500 kilograms (kg) in weight
Named after a large marine bird commonly seen along Brazil’s coast
the UAV is designed for both civilian and military applications and is the largest Brazilian-built aircraft of its kind to successfully take flight
The Atobá is designed for use by the military in border and coastal surveillance and recognizance missions, and by law enforcement in monitoring major events and in search and rescue missions. It has a 70 kg payload capacity for equipment such as radar systems, surveillance cameras, and multispectral sensors, which capture images using different wave frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared.
Stella tecnologia The Atobá was developed at a cost of R$11.5 million and in collaboration with students and professors from UFRJStella tecnologia
the UAV is propelled by a 4-stroke 60 horsepower (hp) gasoline engine and has an endurance (flight time without refueling) of 28 flight hours
Its range of 250 kilometers (km) is limited by the ground station communication radius
The Atobá can fly at speeds of up to 150 km/h and at altitudes as high as 5,000 m
where it is imperceptible to the naked eye—for comparison
the Atobá can be adapted to deploy missiles and bombs within its payload capacity
a UAV expert and a professor at the School of Computing and Informatics at Mackenzie Presbyterian University
explains that the maiden flight of an aircraft
is a significant milestone in that it demonstrates the project has been successful so far
But the manufacturer will still need to run a large number of flight tests before the Atobá becomes an operational UAV
And while the drone developed at Stella Tecnologia is a breakthrough for the Brazilian aerospace industry
it is less sophisticated than other projects being developed elsewhere
to develop artificial intelligence-enabled unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) as wingmen for manned fighter aircraft
which is expected to fly at speeds as high as 2,400 km/h,” he says
Breternitz believes it is important for Brazil to develop the capabilities to manufacture military UAVs in the class of the Atobá
“I very much believe in developing solutions locally
Initiatives such as Stella Tecnologia’s drive local research
and build manufacturing capacity,” he says
the ideal approach to the UAV market would be that used by successful players in the aerospace industry: find and build world-class capabilities in a niche market to win global market share
A case in point is Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer
the São José dos Campos-based company specialized in regional
short-haul aircraft and has now become the global market leader in this segment
Development of the Atobá started five years ago and has cost R$11.5 million so far
“I had no third-party funding; the entire investment came from the sale of my first drone company
I’m now looking for investors to complete the project,” says Buffara
who still has work to do to refine the UAV’s design
Before the airworthiness certification process begins
the Atobá will be fitted with a locally produced autopilot system in replacement of its current
Engineering students from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) participated in the project through an academic internship arrangement with Stella Tecnologia
UFRJ also provided access to laboratories for testing
including testing on materials for the UAV frame—the wings and fuselage are made of composite materials that are lighter and stronger than conventional aluminum
One of the biggest challenges was designing and then building the fuselage
“It was difficult as very little technical information is publicly available on this type of equipment
We were only successful after a lot of trial and error,” says Buffara
Another challenge was integrating the aircraft’s electrical and control systems so they operate properly together
“We had resolve electromagnetic interference issues affecting the different systems.”
who has a degree in business administration
leveraged his extensive experience in drone development
SantosLab—which Buffara cofounded with a partner—designed and built a small UAV
with a wingspan of less than 2 m and a weight of just 4 kg
“This was the Armed Forces’ first order for this type of equipment,” he says
assembled a team of professionals with prior experience of developing aircraft—mostly mechanical and systems engineers
but also aeronautical engineers—and founded Stella Tecnologia to develop the Atobá
he has received support from several consultants in developing the UAV’s design
head of the unmanned aircraft department at the Brazilian Aerospace Industry Association (AIAB)
believes there is strong global demand for UAV classes like the Atobá
but that the success of the project will largely depend on whether it secures interest from the Brazilian government
“What really matters is whether a firm’s host country will support the development of the project through to production by placing orders,” he says
“A previous initiative by Avibras to build a UAV of this size
was discontinued after it failed to attract commercial interest in Brazil.”
Buffara is currently in talks with the Brazilian military
but no firm negotiations have yet taken place
Stella Tecnologia is accredited by the Ministry of Defense as a Strategic Defense Company (EED)—an approved supplier to the Armed Forces
The Brazilian Air Force currently operates at least three different UAV models: the Hermes 450 and Hermes 900
The Hermes 450 is similar in size and operational capabilities to the Atobá; the other two are in a larger class of UAVs weighing more than 1 ton
“The Brazilian Air Force’s remotely piloted aircraft are used in surveillance missions to provide ground and air forces with accurate intelligence and reconnaissance data,” the Air Force Public Affairs Agency said in a statement about the UAVs
Neither the Air Force nor the Ministry of Defense have responded to requests from Pesquisa FAPESP to comment on whether the government has any interest in the Atobá
“The Air Force paid about US$25 million for two Hermes 450 UAVs
including the ground control station and training
would cost a third of that amount,” says Stella Tecnologia’s CEO
but also boasts a longer endurance than its Israeli competitor’s 17 hours (as specified on the manufacturer’s website)
as well as accommodating more advanced sensors and cameras
We hope to complete the project and make it operational later this year.”
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The golden lion tamarin is an endangered primate endemic to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest
Centuries of deforestation reduced numbers to a few hundred individuals in isolated forest fragments 80 km from Rio de Janeiro city
Intensive conservation action including reintroduction of zoo-born tamarins into forest fragments 1984–2000
southeastern Brazil experienced the most severe yellow fever epidemic/epizootic in the country in 80 years
we documented the first death of a golden lion tamarin due to yellow fever
We re-evaluated population sizes and compared them to results of a census completed in 2014
Tamarin losses were significantly greater in forest fragments that were larger
had less forest edge and had better forest connectivity
factors that may favor the mosquito vectors of yellow fever
The future of golden lion tamarins depends on the extent of additional mortality
whether some tamarins survive the disease and acquire immunity
and the potential development of a vaccine to protect the species against yellow fever
A family group of golden lion tamarins in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest
Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado monitors about 15 groups of tamarins to detect changes in population sizes
The goal was increased to 2,000 GLTs in at least 25,000 ha of connected and protected forest as a buffer against future loss of forest
These science-based targets were adopted as conservation goals for the species in 2005
geographic range of most golden lion tamarins
80 km northeast of the city of Rio de Janeiro
Management units (MUs) are fragments of forest used by tamarins (i.e
below 500 m elevation) that are partially or completely isolated from other fragments of tamarin habitat
AMLD did not detect mortality of GLTs during this period and it was unclear if GLTs were susceptible to the disease
with the exception of one individual GLT (see discussion)
eight complete groups disappeared from their territories in Poço das Antas Reserve (MU 6a)
Four of these groups were actively monitored by AMLD and four were not monitored at the time but had known territories
39 individuals is unknown but yellow fever is a strong possibility (see discussion)
The eight groups were part of AMLD’s GLT monitoring program
occupied stable territories and comprised individuals habituated to the presence of human observers
AMLD has monitored the compositions of 7–13 groups in this reserve at weekly intervals for over 30 years
Batteries in radiocollars on individuals in the four monitored groups failed in October–November 2017
AMLD biologists failed to find sign of these GLTs at bait platforms
Non-systematic surveys using recorded playbacks of GLT vocalizations also failed to detect the four monitored groups and the four groups not being monitored
a landowner reported two dead GLTs and three dead howler monkeys in Cambucaes (MU 6b)
AMLD recovered part of the skeleton of one howler monkey but found no sign of the dead GLTs
Forest fragments (green) were identified using Landsat satellite images
Yellow and red polygons indicate randomly selected
48 ha or 120 ha quadrats sampled in the 2014 playback survey
Quadrats resampled in 2018 are indicated by an X or a diamond
observers played recorded GLT vocalizations at points 200 m apart along transects in each quadrat
These estimates represent an overall decline of 30% (method one) or 32% (method two) from the 3706 GLTs estimated in situ in the 2014 survey
A comparison across the two surveys provides additional information supporting reductions in GLT populations since 2014
There was a significant change from 2014 to 2018 in the proportion of quadrats with detected GLTs (P < 0.001
For 15 quadrats in which GLTs were detected in both surveys we calculated the number of meters along the transect to first detection of GLTs in 2014 and 2018
The number of meters to first detection was significantly greater in 2018 than in 2014 (t14 = 2.22
plus the number of native non-human primate species in the MU
and the presence/absence of non-native marmosets (Callithrix spp.)
Three variables entered the final model: categorical ranking for forest area size in the MU
N = 26) and with these three variables correctly classified 72.7% of quadrats without GLTs and 80% of quadrats with GLTs
Quadrats with reduced detections of GLTs were more likely to be found within a larger MU with higher percent core area and higher dIIC
This report documents the first death of a golden lion tamarin to yellow fever and the results of a survey quantifying GLT losses throughout the species’ geographic range
Despite documented concurrent yellow-fever-caused mortality in humans and two species of non-human primates (GLT and howler monkeys) in the municipalities where we conducted the 2018 survey
we cannot confirm that reductions in GLT numbers were caused by yellow fever alone
We considered three alternative explanations for the declines
Results showed that GLTs respond to playbacks by vocalizing and approaching closely in over 80% of playbacks and that responses dropped off significantly at 120 m from the playback speaker
The distance between the playback points for the 2014 survey was 200 m
To reduce the possibility of not detecting a GLT group
in 2018 we did playbacks at intervals of 100 m
It is unlikely that trained observers would fail to detect GLTs at this distance
population estimates for 2018 were increased by 17% to account for potential false negative detections (lack of response by GLT present in the sampled quadrat)
A second alternative explanation for GLT reductions is that GLT populations were declining between 2014 and 2018 because of reduced birth rates or other demographic changes
we ran an analysis of variance comparing the compositions of 36 monitored groups for 2013–2014 (average of two years) with 19 groups monitored in 2018
number of juveniles and number of infants present in the groups were included as dependent variables
MU size was not a significant predictor of the dependent variables
Groups were not significantly larger in 2018 (P = 0.070) but contained significantly more adults (P = 0.015) and significantly fewer infants (P = 0.017) than in 2013–2014
It is important to note that GLTs that were monitored in late 2018 either survived yellow fever or were not exposed to the disease
Differentiating between these two circumstances will be important for evaluating future risk imposed by yellow fever and formulating strategies in response
and mean density from 0.121 GLTs/ha to 0.109
Despite persistent high predation during these years
GLTs continued to occupy all suitable habitat in the study area and maintained a neighborhood of adjacent territories
a pattern very different from the vacant territories observed in 2018
It’s unlikely that the rapid losses of GLTs in 2018 is explained by predation
it’s unlikely that hunting or poaching explain the declines in GLT populations
Hunters in this region hunt large mammals as a source of food
GLTs are not large enough to warrant shooting
The two biological reserves are patrolled by guards and AMLD field staff systematically monitor GLTs there and in several other MUs
Trapping GLTs requires setting bait platforms well in advance of trapping to habituate the tamarins to the presence of bait and traps
AMLD field staff would likely discover any attempt to trap GLTs in areas where GLTs are monitored using radiotelemetry
AMLD staff and members live in the local communities and actively support GLT conservation
when AMLD began intensive environmental education in the region we have not observed poachers attempting to trap GLTs
The lone adult male spent eight months moving around the Reserve
We conclude that yellow fever is the most likely explanation for the near-complete decimation of the GLT population in Poço das Antas Reserve
When we began field research on GLTs in 1984
several forest fragments of suitable habitat did not contain GLTs
It’s impossible to know if GLTs in these fragments were decimated by a disease such as yellow fever or trapped for sale to legal or illegal animal trade markets
concluded that Haemagogus mosquitoes are capable of rapidly infecting local populations of non-human primates which would result in explosive epizootics followed by near extinctions
The few survivors are assumed to acquire immunity to yellow fever for life
The geographic scope of our study is modest in comparison
To attempt to explain variation in losses of GLTs in this relatively small area we looked for relationships with landscape variables related to proximity of humans
the distribution of non-human primate species which may facilitate persistence of the virus in the forest
and environmental factors perhaps favoring survival and reproduction of mosquito vectors e.g
We found no statistical relationship between human activities and losses of GLTs to yellow fever
Proximity to roads or cities were not significant predictors of GLT losses in forest fragments
the forests in this region are heavily occupied by permanent and weekend residents living in villages
Illegal hunting is common on some privately-owned land
Perhaps the highest human density is in Imbaú I (MU 8)
an area that had relatively low losses of GLTs
The areas with the lowest human densities are União and Poço das Antas Reserves
União Reserve had relatively low losses of GLTs while Poço das Antas suffered very high losses
We did not attempt to quantify the density of non-human primates in the sampled areas
anecdotal observations suggest that areas of apparent high density of non-human primates
an area with apparent low density of non-human primates
before the yellow fever outbreak and in 2017–2018
Samples from mosquitoes in the other two municipalities tested negative
that study sampled only a single point each in Silva Jardim and Casimiro de Abreu
The small sample size may have contributed to non-detection of YFV in mosquitoes sampled in these areas
These results emphasize the need for more extensive monitoring of vector and virus presence and prevalence in order to better understand current and future risks to both human and non-human primate populations
The cost of planting these additional forest corridors will be significant
AMLD estimates the cost of completing planted forest connections between MUs 7 and 12 at US$138,216
Additional funds also will be necessary to monitor and manage small populations of GLTs by translocations until forest connections are in place
method 2) plus 155 native GLTs in two MUs not sampled)
If yellow fever persists in forests occupied by GLTs
a vaccine to protect GLTs may make the difference between losing this endangered species and keeping it from extinction
All data were collected under research and ethics permit number 17409
The permit was granted by Brazil’s Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio)
Sistema de Autorização e Informação em Biodiversidade (Sisbio)
the federal agency responsible for authorizing research and conservation projects on Brazil’s biodiversity
Methods approved in this permit include playbacks of GLT vocalizations along designated transects and monitoring of GLT social groups using radio-telemetry
Delivery to a scientific institution of animals found dead does not require a permit under Brazilian law (Article 25
Playbacks of GLT vocalizations along the transect line were conducted at 100 m intervals in 2018
Playbacks continued until GLTs were detected or the researchers reached the end of the quadrat without detecting GLTs
AMLD researchers played vocalizations at a maximum of 20 points along the transect in large quadrats and up to 12 points in small quadrats
While the average group size was taken from well-studied populations
observers noted the number of responding GLTs seen and heard
A total of 26 quadrats were selected for study in 2018
The same AMLD observers conducted both surveys and each person had over 15 yrs experience collecting data on GLTs
We used two methods to estimate the number of GLTs in each sampled MU. In method 1 (Table 2)
we multiplied the percent of quadrats in which GLTs were detected in 2018
representing reductions from the 100% detection rate in 2014
by the number of GLTs estimated for that MU in 2014
To adjust for the possibility of failing to detect GLTs in quadrats that were occupied by GLTs
we calculated the percent of quadrats sampled in 2014 in which we knew GLTs were present
but in which we failed to detect them using standardized methodology: 3 of 18 quadrats
we multiplied population estimates for each MU by 1.17
AMLD staff conducted playback surveys in the northern half of the Reserve and detected no GLTs in areas that were occupied previously by eight groups of GLTs
The low detection rate of 25% in the 2018 survey supported this conclusion
During extensive surveys along trails in the northern half of the Reserve from October–December 2018
AMLD observers saw only 16 GLTs in five groups in the northern half of the Reserve
with an average of 2.6 (SE = 0.678) adults per group
to estimate GLT density in Poço das Antas we divided 16 GLTs by half the forested area of the Reserve
AMLD does not monitor GLTs in MU Pirineus thus the only information we have on GLT density is from the 2014 and 2018 surveys
Because the 29% detection rate in 2018 was similar to that for Poço das Antas Reserve
All data were resampled to 5 m resolution for analysis
We measured the importance of patch habitat for maintaining landscape connectivity using delta values in the integral index of connectivity (dIIC):
We used a McNemar’s test to determine if there was a significant change in the number of quadrats with GLT detections between the 2014 and 2018 surveys
A mixed-model ANOVA was used to test the number of meters until first detection of GLTs between the two surveys
Year was used as a repeated-measures variable
We ran a logistic regression to determine which variables might impact the presence/absence of GLTs in the 26 surveyed quadrats
MU identity was included in the model to control for variance associated with MU-level data (e.g
management strategy and GLT habituation to presence of human observers)
Potential explanatory variables included categorical rank (1–3) of the MU based on amount of forest area (ranked largest (3) to smallest (1): Pirineus and Aldeia I each ranked 3; Poço das Antas and Imbaú I each ranked 2; União I and Cambucaes each ranked 1)
number of non-human primate species in the MU
and presence/absence of non-native marmosets (Callithrix spp.)
Data not included in this manuscript are available by contacting the corresponding author
To help ensure the safety of endangered golden lion tamarins we will not share geographic coordinates of tamarin group locations
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Download references
We thank the Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD) for logistic support
assistance in production of figures and these AMLD staff for conducting the 2018 playback survey: Elisamã Moraes dos Santos
Jadir Hilário Ramos and Ademilson de Oliveira
The Universidade Estadual Norte Fluminense provided support for part of the field work
We thank Marcos da Silva Freire for providing technical information on yellow fever virus
We are grateful to the following for providing major funding for aspects of this study: Copenhagen Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Zoo Atlanta
We thank Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) for permission to conduct this research and work in the Poço das Antas and União Biological Reserves
We are grateful to the late Adelmar Coimbra Filho and the late Devra G
Kleiman for their pioneering work in golden lion tamarin conservation and research
Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM/UFRJ)
led the field survey teams and collected and compiled the data; L.P.F
provided additional data on regional epizootic events in howler monkeys; S.J.H
performed the GIS analyses and produced the figures; J.M.D
took the lead in drafting the manuscript; B.R.A.
contributed to the manuscript; all authors reviewed the manuscript
Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49199-6
International Journal of Primatology (2024)
International Journal of Primatology (2022)
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Metrics details
Significant pathogens that have resurfaced in humans originate from transmission from animal to human populations
yellow fever cases in humans are usually associated with spillover from non-human primates via mosquitoes
The present study characterized the prevalence of the yellow fever vector Haemagogus leucocelaenus in Rio de Janeiro
The Atlantic Forest fragment chosen is an area of translocation of the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)
where 10 ovitraps were installed to collect mosquito eggs in Fazenda Três Irmãos
of which 1153 were viable; 50% belonged to medically important mosquito species and 24% to the yellow fever vector species
and January 2022 (n = 252) had the highest densities of this vector
Haemagogus leucocelaenus was positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.303) and humidity (r = 0.48)
with eggs hatching up to the 15th immersion with higher abundance of females
Implementing mosquito monitoring for arbovirus activity can help protect both the golden lion tamarin and human populations from the threat of arbovirus transmission
the current study aims to characterize the prevalence and biodiversity of Haemagogus spp.
Fluctuation in the number of mosquito eggs collected per month
Number of mosquito eggs collected in the dry and rainy seasons (A)
Number of hatched and unhatched eggs in the rainy (B) and dry season (C)
There was a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.607) between the number of Culicidae eggs and temperature and a positive but weak correlation between the number of eggs and rainfall (r = 0.222) (Fig. 3). There was a positive correlation between Hg. leucocelaenus and the environmental variables temperature (r = 0.303) and humidity (r = 0.48).
Linear regression between the number of eggs collected and the environmental variables temperature (A) and rainfall (B)
the number of females and males was very similar
with 157 females (56%) and 125 males (44%)
resulting in a difference of 11% more females
The months with the highest number of females were March
The only month with a higher number of males was August 2022
May and October 2020 had an equal number of males and females
janthinomys/capricornii were found together in three of the 10 ovitraps (5
terrens were also observed in the same ovitrap (3)
and possible contact with reservoirs and humans in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro is of great interest to public health since it can help predict possible areas of YF spillover
Knowledge regarding mosquito vector populations plays a critical role in providing a framework to protect wild primates and humans’ health along with the preservation of the ecosystems we share
Monitoring arbovirus activity in mosquitoes and primates is essential for detecting and responding to potential outbreaks
it is also important to consider the broader ecological context of disease transmission
including the role of wildlife and human activities in shaping the risk of disease emergence
Deforestation and changes in land use can increase the frequency of contact between wildlife
increasing the risk of disease transmission
leucocelaenus and its role as an arbovirus vector in the GLT translocation area is essential for effective conservation and disease management efforts
Implementing mosquito monitoring for arbovirus activity can help protect both the GLT and human populations from the threat of arbovirus transmission
The study was carried out in accordance with scientific license number 44333 provided by the Ministério do Meio Ambiente (MMA)
Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio)
Biodiversity Information and Authorization System (SISBIO) in Atlantic Forest areas of Rio de Janeiro with the agreement of the properties or the state government where the mosquitoes were captured
All members of the collection team were vaccinated against YFV and aware of the potential risks in the study areas
no animals or humans were used in the development of this study
and the t-test was used to compare the number of Culicidae eggs collected in the rainy and dry seasons
Correlations between the number of eggs and vector species with climatic and environmental variables were assessed from 2020 to 2022
were retrieved from the Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos [Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies]—CPTEC/INPE (INPE 2023)
The data for this study is stored at Fundação Oswaldo Cruz and can be made available by the corresponding author (JA) upon request
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Oviposition behavior of Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae)
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leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae) in different regions of Brazil
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Natural infection and vertical transmission of zika virus in sylvatic mosquitoes aedes albopictus and Haemagogus leucocelaenus from Rio de Janeiro
Interaction of Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae) and other mosquito vectors in a forested area
and environmental risk factors for Zika and Chikungunya virus infections in Rio de Janeiro
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We thank the Associação Mico-Leão Dourado for the support in field logistics
This work was carried out with the support of CNPq and FAPERJ
(JA—Jeronimo Alencar) was supported by the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ; grant number E-26/200.956/2002/2022)
the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; grant number 303286/2021-0 and 150966/2023-7)
Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis and Hematology
Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro
Shayenne Olsson Freitas Silva & Jeronimo Alencar
and J.A.; wrote the main manuscript text and S.O.F.S.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39629-x