Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-12-13T17:21:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo da Silva Lima.pdf: 473883 bytes, checksum: f956809a3a53e9143b4b9822720faf53 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-13T17:21:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo da Silva Lima.pdf: 473883 bytes, checksum: f956809a3a53e9143b4b9822720faf53 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work aimed to check the consumption, digestibility apparent of dry matter and nutrients, feed conversion and weight gain of steers girolando used for meat production. This demand becomes necessary due to the development of national dairy cattle that has been marked in recent years. As a result, grows increasingly offering calves with high genetic composition of dairy breeds, and until then, a challenge to an appropriate destination for these animals in order to generate profits for the strengthening of activity. Thus, this review will discuss factors that influence animal performance, but also the results of several studies already carried out that focused on the use of animals in the beef cattle in different production systems. / Este trabalho teve o objetivo de verificar o consumo, a digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca e dos nutrientes, a conversão alimentar e o ganho em peso de novilhos girolando utilizados para produção de carne. Essa demanda torna-se necessária devido ao desenvolvimento da bovinocultura leiteira nacional que tem sido acentuado nos últimos anos. Com isso, cresce cada vez mais a oferta de bezerros com elevada composição genética de raças leiteiras, sendo até então, um desafio dar um destino adequado a esses animais de forma que gere lucros para o fortalecimento da atividade. Assim, nesta revisão serão discutidos fatores que influenciam o desempenho animal, como também os resultados de vários trabalhos já realizados que objetivaram a utilização desses animais na pecuária de corte em vários sistemas de produção.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-12-19T12:41:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Aparecida Santos Andrade.pdf: 805896 bytes, checksum: 242a0326d253f9df2e617dcf1ca55863 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-19T12:41:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Aparecida Santos Andrade.pdf: 805896 bytes, checksum: 242a0326d253f9df2e617dcf1ca55863 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The intercropping is an alternative to ensure the income of farmers and reduce agricultural losses, besides bringing benefits to crops with lower occurrence of diseases and pests, providing better utilization and enrichment agroecosystem. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of plant population on peanut inoculation and intercropping system with cactus on growth, biomass and productivity of groundnut and palm development after planting forage and crop residues incorporation of peanuts. The treatments consisted of different populations of peanuts (one, two and three rows of peanuts from a space of two meters of cactus), with and without inoculation, analyzed in split plot scheme (3 x 2), totaling six treatments in randomized block design with four replications. The variables evaluated were survival percentage initial and final plant height, number of branches, weight of shoot and root, number of nodules, nodule dry weight, number of pods per plant, total biomass and pods yield characteristics of peanut pods and height, length, width and thickness of the cactus pear after harvest peanuts. The largest population of plants in many lines of peanut intercropped with cactus promotes greater total biomass and productivity and does not change the height, number of branch, shoot dry weight, and root nodules, number of pods with two, three four seed and leaf number. The inoculant application did not cause an increase in productivity, biomass and growth of peanuts. Inoculation peanut population associated with lower peanut provides greater uniformity in length with a grain leguminous, while the greatest width occurs when it is cultivated with two rows of peanut inoculant. Treatment with two lines inoculation provided greater uniformity in the length of pods with three seeds and widths of these pods were more influenced by three lines without inoculant. Pods with four grains present uniformity in length with the analysis classes of treatments with the highest population of peanuts. The intercropping with peanut cactus did not influence the height and length of cladodes of plants, but the greater thickness was observed in cladodes harvested forage cactus planted with two rows of peanuts. / O consórcio é uma alternativa para assegurar a renda do produtor rural e reduzir as perdas agrícolas, além de trazer benefícios para as culturas com menor ocorrência de doenças e pragas, proporcionando melhor aproveitamento e enriquecimento do agroecosistema. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da população de plantas de amendoim em sistema de inoculação e consorciado com a palma forrageira sobre o crescimento, produtividade e biomassa do amendoim e o desenvolvimento da palma forrageira após o plantio e a incorporação dos restos culturais do amendoim. Os tratamentos corresponderam a diferentes populações de amendoim (uma, duas e três linhas de amendoim entre um espaço de dois metros da palma forrageira), com e sem inoculante, analisados em esquema de parcelas subdividida (3 x 2), perfazendo seis tratamentos, em delineamento em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. As variáveis avaliadas foram porcentagem de sobrevivência inicial e final, altura de plantas, número de ramificações, peso da parte aérea e raiz, número de nódulos, peso seco dos nódulos, número de vagens por planta, produção de biomassa total e produtividade de vagens, caracteristicas das vagens de amendoim e altura, comprimento, largura e espessura da palma forrageira após a colheita do amendoim. A maior população de plantas em número de linhas de amendoim consorciado com a palma forrageira promove maior produção de biomassa total e produtividade e não altera a altura, número de ramificação, massa seca da parte aérea, raiz e nódulos, número de vagens com duas, três e quatro sementes e número de folhas. A aplicação de inoculante não ocasionou incremento para a produtividade, biomassa e o crescimento de plantas de amendoim. A inoculação do amendoim associada a menores populações de amendoim proporciona maior uniformidade de comprimento de vagem com um grão, enquanto que a maior largura ocorre quando é cultivado com duas linhas de amendoim com inoculante. Tratamento de duas linhas com inoculação proporcionou maior uniformidade no comprimento de vagens com três grãos e as larguras dessas vagens foram mais influenciada por três linhas sem inoculante. Vagens com quatro grãos apresentam maior uniformidade de comprimento com as classes verificadas de tratamentos com maior população de amendoim. O consórcio do amendoim com palma forrageira não influenciou a altura e o comprimento dos cladódios de plantas, mas a maior espessura foi observada em cladódios colhidos de palma forrageira cultivada com duas linhas de amendoim.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-04-24T14:48:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Ricardo Coelho da Silva.pdf: 365366 bytes, checksum: 9b5766c3b86e5a0cb19a9c18eb75018d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-24T14:48:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Ricardo Coelho da Silva.pdf: 365366 bytes, checksum: 9b5766c3b86e5a0cb19a9c18eb75018d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The objective of this issue was to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the carcass of dairy steers receiving diets based on spineless cactus and sorghum silage; the silage is associated by cottonseed meal, and the use of ultrasound to evaluate carcass of Holstein-Zebu young cattle destined for slaughter. The study was conducted at the Experimental Station of Caruaru, belonging to the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco - IPA, located in the city of Caruaru, Pernambuco. It was used 18 non castrated steers, 5/8 Holstein-Zebu breed, with an average initial weight of 320 kg and 24 months old, approximately. The animals were confined for 84 days, divided into three periods of 28 days, housed in individual pens equipped with feeders and drinkers. To obtain ultrasound images it was used an Esaote Europe Aquila Vet equipment, with the transducer of 18 cm in length, coupled with acoustic guide to better fit the anatomy of the animal and frequency of 3.5 MHz. Ultrasound measurements were taken from loin eye area (LEA-US), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT-US) and rump fat thickness (RFT-US), which were correlated with the weights of the front and back, and the yield of the back. Were also performed correlations between measures of LEA and SFT measured by ultrasound in the carcass. After slaughter, it was recorded the hot carcass weight, the weight of the haunches, the length of carcass, leg and thigh. The meat quality was assessed by the ultimate pH, color, cooking loss, the water holding capacity and shear force. It was performed the estimation of carcass composition by separating the tissues that make up the section between the 9th and 11th ribs (HH section). The effects of experimental diets did not differ, showing that spineless cactus associated with silage and urea produced meat qualitative characteristic and quantitative carcass of Holstein-Zebu young cattle similar to the diets supplemented with cottonseed meal, except the back weight, showing carcass parameters that qualify them for slaughter. Meat from dairy steers has soft texture. The use of ultrasound for predicting the Longissimus dorsi muscle area and subcutaneous fat thickness measured between the 12th and 13th ribs provides a satisfactory accuracy. / Objetivou-se, nessa pesquisa, avaliar as características quantitativas e qualitativas da carcaça de novilhos de origem leiteira, recebendo dietas à base de palma forrageira e silagem de sorgo, associadas ou não à uréia e/ou farelo de algodão, bem como a utilização da ultrassonografia para estimativa de parâmetros da carcaça de bovinos jovens Girolando destinados ao corte. O estudo foi conduzido na Estação Experimental de Caruaru, pertencente ao Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco – IPA, localizado na cidade de Caruaru, Pernambuco. Foram utilizados 18 novilhos, não castrados, da raça girolando 5/8, com peso médio inicial de 320 ± 32 kg e 24 meses de idade, aproximadamente. Os animais foram confinados por 84 dias, divididos em três períodos de 28 dias, alojados em baias individuais providas de comedouro e bebedouro. Para obtenção das imagens de ultrassom foi utilizado o equipamento Aquila Vet da Esaote Europe, com transdutor de 18 cm de comprimento, com guia acústica acoplada para melhor adaptação à anatomia do animal e frequência de 3,5 MHz. Foram realizadas medidas ultrassonográficas da área de olho de lombo (AOL-US), espessura de gordura subcutânea (EGS-US) e espessura de gordura da garupa (EGG-US), que foram correlacionadas com os pesos do dianteiro e do traseiro, e com o rendimento do traseiro. Também foram realizadas correlações entre as medidas de AOL e EGS medidas por ultrassom e na carcaça. Após o abate, registrou-se o peso da carcaça quente, o peso dos quartos, o comprimento da carcaça, perna e do coxão. A qualidade da carne foi avaliada através do pH final, da cor, da perda por cozimento, da capacidade de retenção de água e da força de cisalhamento. Foi realizada a estimativa da composição da carcaça através da separação dos tecidos que compõem a seção entre a 9a e 11a costelas (seção HH). Os efeitos das dietas experimentais não diferiram entre si, mostrando que, palma associada à silagem e à ureia, produziu característica qualitativa da carne e quantitativa da carcaça de bovinos jovens Girolando semelhante às das dietas suplementadas com farelo de algodão, exceto, o peso do traseiro, apresentando parâmetros de carcaça que o qualificam para o corte. A carne dos novilhos de origem leiteira apresenta textura macia. A utilização da ultrassonografia para a predição da área do músculo Longissimus dorsi e da espessura de gordura subcutânea medida entre a 12ª e 13ª costelas proporciona acurácia satisfatória.

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2017-05-09T15:20:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Natalia Costa de Lima.pdf: 852538 bytes, checksum: 8990b4c2efa411f043a3e1e1e891f411 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-09T15:20:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Natalia Costa de Lima.pdf: 852538 bytes, checksum: 8990b4c2efa411f043a3e1e1e891f411 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The cactus pear is the staple diet of livestock in semi-arid Northeast to be a culture adapted to the environmental conditions of the region and provide nutrients and alleviate the water supply in the feed. But the cactus pear is being attacked by the cochineal carmine, a plague that causes a reduction in the production of this crop, which could lead to death of these plants. The researchers suggest an alternative control planting clones resistant to the pest. With the objective of disseminating genetic material, IPA (Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco) implemented in 2010 Demonstration Units of cactus pear resistant cochineal carmine in 39 municipalities of the state of Pernambuco. With this work, we analyzed the response and socioeconomic profile of farmers, through questionnaires, in 25 of the counties containing the Demonstration Units of Palma. Furthermore, the aim was also to assess morphological, bromatológicos, productive and toilets in 28 municipalities. For the data was evaluated by questionnaires averaged frequency, the fashion, the standard deviation, coefficient of variation and amplitude. For the data of morphological evaluations, productive and sanitary analysis of variance was performed on the program Genes and comparison between means was performed using Fisher's test at 5%. The farmers interviewed were family-based, and, mostly, men in the management of livestock activities. Most respondents were married and with children, with a mean age of 49 years and 20% had schooling to complete high school. Producers, 60% had a deed of land and properties acquired by purchase and inheritance and 76% participated in associations and / or unions. Most properties can be characterized by small farms (0-19 ha), the main activity of the cattle. The units had on average 1.9 years after implantation, and planting palm 52% of the Units was held at the beginning of the rainy season, using organic and mineral fertilization. Of the farmers interviewed, 72% used hand weeding to control weeds. Despite the failure in the technical and standardization of management, 96% of producers plan to improve and allocate more areas to plant palm cultivars resistant to the cochineal carmine. The IPA Sertânia was superior to Orelha de Elefante Mexicana in the content of crude protein and potassium. The IPA Sertânia also showed a higher number of primary cladodes that Orelha de Elefante Mexicana. As for diseases, there was no significant difference between the average scores assigned with only median infestation by soft rot. The presence of cochineal scale in palmais also showed no differences among clones. With this, it is observed that the clone IPA Sertânia presents over Orelha de Elefante Mexicana in most traits. This fact does not rule out the clone Orelha de Elefante Mexicana as an alternative for producers, since features depend on the production and management adopted by the producer and the place where the property is located. / A palma forrageira é a base da alimentação dos rebanhos no Semiárido Nordestino por ser uma cultura adaptada as condições edafoclimáticas dessa região e fornecer nutrientes e aliviar o suprimento hídrico na alimentação animal. Mas a palma vem sendo atacada pela Cochonilha do Carmim, uma praga que promove redução na produção dessa cultura, podendo levar a morte dessas plantas. Os pesquisadores da área indicam como alternativa de controle o plantio de clones resistentes à praga. Com o objetivo de disseminar material genético, o IPA (Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco) implantou em 2010 Unidades Demonstrativas de palma forrageira resistentes a cochonilha do carmim em 39 municípios do Estado de Pernambuco. Com este trabalho, analisou-se a resposta e o perfil socioeconômico de produtores rurais, através de questionários, em 25 dos municípios que continham as Unidades Demonstrativas de Palma. Além disso, objetivou-se também avaliar aspectos morfológicos, bromatológicos, produtivos e sanitários em 28 municípios. Para os dados avaliados pelos questionários foi calculado a média, frequência, a moda, o desvio padrão, o coeficiente de variação e amplitude. Para os dados das avaliações morfológicas, produtivas e sanitárias foi realizada análise de variância no programa Genes e a comparação entre as médias foi realizada através do teste de Fisher a 5%. Os entrevistados foram produtores rurais de base familiar, tendo, em sua grande maioria, homens na gestão das atividades pecuárias. A maioria dos entrevistados eram casados e com filhos, com média de idade de 49 anos e quanto à escolaridade 20% possuía nível médio completo. Dos produtores, 60% possuíam escritura da terra e adquiriram as propriedades através de compra e herança e 76% participavam de associações e/ou sindicatos. A maioria das propriedades pode ser caracterizada por minifúndios (0-19 ha), sendo a principal atividade desenvolvida a bovinocultura. As Unidades apresentavam, em média, 1,9 ano de implantação e o plantio da palma de 52% das Unidades foi realizado no início da época chuvosa, utilizando-se adubação orgânica e mineral. Dos produtores entrevistados, 72% utilizava capina manual para controle de plantas invasoras. Apesar da falha na assistência técnica e na uniformização do manejo, 96% dos produtores pretendem melhorar e destinar maiores áreas ao plantio das cultivares de palma resistentes à Cochonilha do Carmim. A IPA Sertânia apresentou-se superior a Orelha de Elefante Mexicana quanto ao teor de proteína bruta e potássio. A IPA Sertânia também apresentou maior número de cladódios primários que a Orelha de Elefante Mexicana. Quanto a doenças, não houve diferença significativa entre as médias das notas atribuída havendo apenas infestação mediana por podridão mole. A presença da cochonilha de escama nos palmais também não apresentou diferenças entre os clones. Com isso, observa-se que o clone IPA Sertânia apresenta-se superior a Orelha de Elefante Mexicana na maior parte das características avaliadas. Esse fato não descarta o clone Orelha de Elefante Mexicana como alternativa para os produtores, uma vez que as características e produção dependem do manejo adotado pelo produtor e o local em que se encontra a propriedade.

Water is the essential part of every organism and it is also a vital constituent of healthy living and diet. Unfortunately water contamination over the past decade has increased dramatically leading to various diseases. As technology advances, we are detecting many pollutants at smaller levels of concentrations. Arsenic (As) is one of those major pollutants, and Arsenic poisoning is a condition caused due to excess levels of arsenic in the body. The main basis for Arsenic poisoning is from ground water which naturally contains high concentrations of arsenic. A case study from 2007 states that over 137 million people in 70 countries were affected by arsenic poisoning from drinking water [1]. This thesis work is motivated by this study and investigates the fabrication, characterization, and testing of Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage nanofiber membranes formed using a mucilage, polystyrene (PS) and iron oxide (Fe2O3) solution by an electrospinning process. Cactus mucilage is a jelly-like substance, which is extracted from the cactus pad, and is an inexpensive, biodegradable and biocompatible material. It is also an abundant material available in nature. Polystyrene is a synthetic aromatic polymer prepared from monomer styrene. Polystyrene is further dissolved using D-Limonene as a solvent. D-Limonene is a non-toxic solvent and is a citrus extract of orange peelings. In an effort to enhance adsorption capacity for the mucilage nanofiber membranes, iron oxide nanopowder is incorporated into the polymeric solution. A mucilage and polystyrene-iron oxide solution is mixed in different ratios and electrospun to obtain nanofibers. The fibers will be characterized by certain techniques such as Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurements, viscosity and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The fibers obtained from mucilage and PS-Fe2O3 will be further tested under Atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) for testing the removal of arsenic from water. Also, a life cycle analysis (LCA) is conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts of the fabrication of the membranes by using SimaPro® software.

The successful biological control of the shrub-like prickly pear Opuntia stricta Haworth in Australia by cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) was not repeated when C. cactorum, derived from the Australian population, was released in South Africa in the 1930's against the tree prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. Resistance of the woody portions of o. ficus-indica to attack by C. cactorum was regarded as the main reason for the poor performance of C. cactorum in South Africa. C. cactorum also oviposits and feeds on Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley, which is currently South Africa's most important weed and which is also considered to be partly resistant to attack by C. cactorum. This study had three main objectives: (i) to compare the ecology and effectiveness of C. cactorum as a biological control agent on O. ficusindica and O. aurantiaca; (ii) to reassess why C. cactorum has not been as effective a biological control agent in South Africa as it has been in Australia; and (iii) to evaluate whether inundative release or the importation of new biotypes of C. cactorum from South America (where it is indigenous) might be feasible methods of improving its effectiveness as a biological control agent of O. aurantiaca in South Africa. All field work was undertaken at a site near Grahamstown in South Africa. The ecology and effectiveness of C. cactorum on O. ficus-indica and O. aurantiaca was assessed in terms of its oviposition behaviour, survival and feeding on these host plants. The proportion of C. cactorum eggs laid on O. ficus-indica and O. aurantiaca was similar and was influenced by the size, conspicuousness and condition of the host plant as well as by the proximity of the host plant to moth emergence sites. Factors affecting oviposition site selection on the plant are also considered. Life tables, compiled for a summer and a winter generation, showed that the survival of C. cactorum was greater on O. ficus-indica than on O. aurantiaca, mainly because higher egg predation by ants occurred on the latter host plant species. During the period of study, the population size of C. cactorum was reduced by a number of mortality factors, of which egg predation and the effects of low temperatures on fecundity were the most important. Although there was evidence of a partial, positive response by predatory ants to C. cactorum egg densities on plants, the extent of egg predation was also affected by other factors, particularly seasonal effects. C. cactorum destroyed a greater percentage of cladodes on O. ficu-indica than on O. aurantiaca, but even on O. ficus-indica it was unable to contain the growth of plants within the study area. C. cactorum larvae rarely killed the woody rooted cladodes of O. ficus-indica and O. aurantiaca and consequently whole plants were not often destroyed. The detrimental effects of host plant resistance, natural enemies and climate on the effectiveness of C. cactorum as a biological control agent all appear to be greater in South Africa than in most of the regions occupied by C. cactorum in Australia. A field experiment conducted at the study site showed that inundative release methods for improving the effectiveness of C. cactorum on O. aurantiaca are not feasible. The importation of biotypes of C. cactorum from South America that might be better suited for destroying O. aurantiaca infestations in South Africa, is also not a viable option. Results of a survey of a 218 ha area that is regarded as being heavily infested with O. aurantiaca, illustrate how this cactus species has been overrated as a weed problem. It is argued that the present strategy for O. aurantiaca control in South Africa is not based on sound economic or ecological criteria.

Dispersal of the cochineal insect Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto, introduced into South Africa in 1932 as a biological control agent against jointed cactus Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley, was investigated. Zimmermann et al. (l974) suggested that the apparent failure of this insect to control jointed cactus infestations is due to limited dispersal of the first instar nymphs (hereafter referred to as crawlers). Studies on crawler morphology have shown a clear sexual dimorphism in the pattern and development of filaments on the head, thorax and abdomen of male and female crawlers. This enabled differentiation between the sexes with respect to terminal velocities, behaviour and survival of crawlers which have shown that the crawlers, especially the females, are well adapted to dispersal. Long filaments on the head, thorax and abdomen of the female crawlers, that are restricted to dispersal in the crawler stage (as later instars are sessile) and a behaviour directed towards "take-off" enhance the potential for dispersal. The more sedentary males, with long filaments restricted to the abdomen, are able to disperse as winged adults. The principal factors influencing the timing of dispersal and number of crawlers blown from the host plant are wind and temperature; the latter determining the number of crawlers moving on the host plant. Dispersal is confined to the period between 06h00 and 20h00 and it was possible to correlate the pattern of crawler dispersal with wind patterns. The general equation of Taylor (1978) provided an adequate description of horizontal distribution of D.austrinus crawlers in all directions. Wind dispersal of the apterous crawlers is restricted by the low height of jointed cactus plants. Horizontal distribution is limited (generally less than 10 m) although a small proportion of crawlers carried vertically upwards by turbulence or convection currents are sufficiently hardy to survive long range displacement. It is suggested that the small size of the host plant will also reduce effective colonization as the canopy area provides a small target for the wind-blown crawlers. The limitation on dispersal due to the low height of the host plant suggested a system for artificially enhancing crawler dispersal from elevated towers in the field. Evaluation of this system confirmed that it would be practical to augment or introduce cochineal into jointed cactus infestations to enhance the biocontrol potential of this insect. This offers an alternative to chemical control, that has so far failed to control the spread of jointed cactus despite an intensive and expensive herbicide program

No description available.

Cattle grazing has been a historic use of rangelands in Utah since Pioneer settlement in the mid 1800's. Wright fishhook cactus is a small globose cactus endemic to an area of 280,000 ha in south-central Utah and was listed as endangered in October of 1979, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). By 2010, concerns were expressed that soil compaction in proximity to the cactus posed a threat to this species, though there was no empirical data to support such concern. In order to assess the impact of cattle traffic on Wright fishhook cactus, we used an imprint device to simulate a cow track's impact. We applied a treatment of either zero, one, or four hoof imprints within 15 cm evenly of 146 cacti within the same population cluster on the same day. We monitored subsequent plant survival as well as reproductive success. Each cactus in the study was visited multiple times and all developed seed was collected. We found that cattle traffic of any amount had no effect on plant survival or seed production and therefore concluded that cattle traffic poses no threat to Wright fishhook cactus. The status of this cactus yields no justification for changing the historic land management use of cattle grazing on these rangelands. Seedbank abundance and location has not been examined for any species within the genus Sclerocactus. Over a one-day period, we took 500 soil samples from various locations near the cactus and potential nurse-plants. We found that approximately 1% of annual seed production makes it into the seedbank, a number in line with other species in the Cactaceae family. Seedbank densities were highest immediately adjacent to, and downslope from, parent plants. Understanding the dynamics of the seedbank of this species could lead to more informed management practices.

Many plant species, including Barrel Cacti, have developed long-term evolutionary adaptable traits to survive in extreme climates. The most important trait of cacti in extreme hot dry climates is to reduce water evaporation and increase water storage. The exterior skin of a cactus plays an important role in preventing water evaporation through heat transmission. On the other hand, there have been many passive design strategies applied to the space planning and building design of architecture in hot dry climates. The goal of these passive design strategies is to regulate the penetration of heat into building spaces while creating a strong ventilation system to help bring cool air inside the building. In this paper, adaptations of the Barrel Cactus' exterior skin, along with architectural passive design strategies for hot dry climates (in this caseYazd, Iran) will be discussed and integrated with one another through the concept of Biomimicry. The goal is to design an exterior building skin that is attuned to the environmental conditions of a hot dry climate, based on the successful applicable behaviors demonstrated in the Barrel Cactus. Key architectural features such as natural ventilation and daylight will be informed by the evolutionary cacti adaptations and passive architectural strategies in the design of the building skin in order to increase the possibility of consistent comfort for users of an office building.