Clearing of old growth forests resulted in a substantial loss of nesting habitat for cavity-nesting waterfowl during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then, many hardwood forests have matured into size classes capable of producing cavities suitable for nesting ducks. To quantify changes in cavity availability in U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3, which contains most of the midwestern U.S., I examined current cavity availability at 4 sites where cavity availability had been estimated in the past; Mingo National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Missouri, Shiawassee NWR in Michigan, Mead Wildlife Area (WA) in Wisconsin, and Muscatatuck NWR in Indiana. I found densities of 1.8 ± 0.4, 1.4 ± 0.3, 0.9 ± 0.4, and 1.8 ± 0.4 suitable cavities per hectare at each of these sites, respectively. Suitable cavities per hectare increased at Mingo NWR (433%) since 1966 and Shiawassee NWR (1400%) since 1974, but remained similar at Mead WA and Muscatatuck NWR since the mid-1980's, after accounting for differences in past, study-specific criteria for cavity suitability. Differences among sites were likely due to variation in species composition, stage of forest maturation, timber management, and time elapsed since the previous studies. Comparison of size-class distributions for all trees and for trees with cavities indicated that cavities occur in the largest trees and that forests have yet to mature into the most prolific cavity-producing size classes. This conclusion was corroborated by forest growth modeling results from Forest Vegetation Simulator, a forest growth-modeling program from the USDA Forest Service. I used Forest Inventory and Analysis data to model growth from 2008 to 2058 at 10-year intervals for Region 3. Cavity per tree estimates from the 4 study sites were applied to modeling outputs, and cavity availability was projected to almost double over the entire region by 2058. Thus, the observed and further expected increases in cavity density in the region justify re-examination of nest box programs and possibly a reduction of artificial nest boxes in some areas of the region where sufficient natural cavities exist. Because current and future estimates indicate sufficient nest sites for cavity-nesting waterfowl, efforts should be spent protecting and restoring brood-rearing wetlands, which are known to be declining in many areas of Region 3.

Submitted by Leonardo Cavalcante (leo.ocavalcante@gmail.com) on 2018-05-07T15:58:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Arquivototal.pdf: 3094040 bytes, checksum: a87167e5afd20391a015f8b70a02bcd3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-07T15:58:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Arquivototal.pdf: 3094040 bytes, checksum: a87167e5afd20391a015f8b70a02bcd3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / research refers to the study of natural cavities in the geological-geomorphological context in the State of Paraíba. This work addressed nine natural cavities (the most representative) distributed in four municipalities of the state that developed in differentiated lithologies, such as: sandstone, limestone and granite. These cavities are distributed in the respective municipalities: two in the municipality of João Pessoa (Caverna da Onça and Caverna do Marés); two in the municipality of Santa Rita (Caverna do Índio and Gruta do Lobo guará); one of municipality of Alhandra (Gruta do Wilson) and four in the municipality of Araruna More precisely in the Parque Estadual da Pedra da Boca - PEPB (Pedra da Boca, Pedra da Caveira, Pedra da Santa and Furna do Caçador). These nine natural cavities constitute the most representative morphological expressions of the genus existing in the state of Paraíba. The main objective of this research is to study the different types of natural cavities on the Coastal and Eastern Agreste paraibano. The methodology employed in this work was envolved in bibliographical surveys regarding the natural cavities in the regional and local context of the researched areas. Several field researches were carried out with the objective of making an external and internal characterization of the cavities, giving data tabulation and thematic mapping of the interior of the cavities using Survex software. It was verified through the prospecting and mapping that the cavities mentioned in this research are in full transformation stage, caused by the dissolution, mechanical action of the water (piping) and the blocking of blocks in steep slopes. It can be verified for the first time, a study of natural cavity of carbonate lithology in the State of Paraíba, called the Gruta do Wilson. During the research it is noticed that all the cavities have a cultural value for the region where it is inserted, where some of them attract a significant number of tourists with the purpose of practicing leisure and adventure sports. / Esta pesquisa refere-se ao estudo sobre cavidades naturais no âmbito geológico-geomorfológico no Estado da Paraíba. Este trabalho abordou nove cavidades naturais (as mais representativas) distribuídas em quatro municípios do estado que se desenvolveram em litologias diferenciadas, como: arenito, calcário e granito. Essas cavidades estão distribuídas nos respectivos municípios: duas no municipio de João Pessoa (Caverna da Onça e Caverna do Marés); duas no município de Santa Rita (Caverna do Índio, Gruta do Lobo guará); um no municipio de Alhandra (Gruta do Wilson) e quatro no municipio de Araruna, mais precisamente no Parque Estadual da Pedra da Boca - PEPB (Pedra da Boca, Pedra da Caveira, Pedra da Santa e Furna do Caçador). Essas nove cavidades naturais constituem as mais representativas expressões morfológicas do gênero existente no estado da Paraíba. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa é estudar os diversos tipos de cavidades naturais existentes no Litoral e porção oriental do Agreste paraibano. A metodologia empregada nesse trabalho envolveu-se em levantamentos bibliográficos o que diz respeito às cavidades naturais no contexto regional e local das áreas pesquisadas. Foram elaboradas diversas pesquisas de campo com o objetivo de fazer uma caracterização externa e interna das cavidades originando a tabulação de dados e confecção de mapas temáticos do interior das cavidades usando o software Survex. Constatou-se através das prospecções e mapeamentos, que as cavidades citadas nesta pesquisa, estão em pleno estágio de transformação, acarretadas pela dissolução, ação mecânica da água (piping) e pelo caimento de blocos em vertentes íngremes. Pode-se constatar pela primeira vez, um estudo de cavidade natural de litologia carbonática no Estado da Paraíba, denominada de Gruta do Wilson. Durante a pesquisa percebe-se que todas as cavidades possuem um valor cultural para a região onde está inserida, onde algumas delas atraem um numero significativo de turistas com o objetivo de praticar lazer e esportes de aventura. Palavras-chave: Cavidades naturais. Geomorfologia e Ambiente Subterrâneo.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:24:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rafael Tocantins Maltez.pdf: 3910859 bytes, checksum: 09532e1840fa58ca5b5f01a0e4d819f7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-15 / The Federal Constitution includes as Union property the subterraneous natural cavities and archeological and pre-historic sites . According to this express provision, by itself, highlight the value, just as well interest of the Brazilian society in the protection of this assets, which was clearly elucidate by lawgiver in 1988. As an environmental heritage to be preserved, the subterraneous natural cavities which doesn t have a current regulatory legislation, nothing more than Executive Branch norms about this issue (in special decree n. 6.649/2008) the natural cavities certainly deserve analyses and more specific problematization, specially over the conflicts with others equally constitutionals values, what raises a clash between exploitation of natural resources to supply the present capitalist mode of production against preserving speleological patrimony by multiples values offered at no charge to the humanity. For that all, it is necessary to identify, from the Constitution, the juridical nature and the legal regime applicable to subterraneous natural cavities, for purposes of it s preservation and implementation of sustainable development in relation to mining, under state management of Union. On this perspective, the present thesis objective (i) identify the environmental speleological patrimony protected constitutionally; (ii) approach of economical exploration over subterraneous natural cavities, in clash between necessity of preservation; (iii) discourse about biodiversity protection and scientific and cultural heritage involved in the environment of this cavities; and (iv) expose the interferences of the mining activity in subterraneous natural cavities and the unique natural resources in danger of extinction, by oversight of regulatory provisions in force and the Union management. Based in problematic exposed and with mainstay in the basic reference reunited law, legal doctrine, treaty, jurisprudence , concludes that decree n. 6.640/2008 is unconstitutional and the subterraneous natural cavities have multiple legal nature, than deserve special legal regulations and, therefore, there is the draft bill n. 5071/1990 specifically treats the natural cavities , which has been processed for two decades and it is only pending a review of changes proposed by Federal Senate Substitute, since September 2011 / A Constituição Federal incluiu como bens da União as cavidades naturais subterrâneas e os sítios arqueológicos e pré-históricos . Essa disposição, por si só, evidencia o valor e o interesse da sociedade brasileira na proteção desses bens, traduzidos pelo legislador originário em 1988. Como patrimônio ambiental a ser preservado o qual não dispõe de legislação regulamentadora de regência, mas apenas de normas emanadas do Poder Executivo regulando a matéria (em especial o Decreto n. 6.640/2008) , as cavidades naturais são merecedoras de análise e problematização mais específicas, especialmente quanto aos conflitos com outros valores igualmente constitucionais, os quais suscitam o embate entre a exploração de recursos do ambiente natural para abastecer o atual modo de produção capitalista e a necessidade de preservar o patrimônio espeleológico pelos múltiplos valores que gratuitamente oferecem ao homem. Por tudo isso, é preciso identificar, a partir da Constituição, a natureza jurídica e o regime jurídico aplicáveis às cavidades naturais subterrâneas, para fins de sua preservação e aplicação do desenvolvimento sustentável em relação à mineração, sob gestão da União. Nesta perspectiva, a presente tese objetiva (i) identificar o patrimônio espeleológico ambiental tutelado constitucionalmente; (ii) abordar a exploração econômica das cavidades naturais subterrâneas, em confronto com a necessária preservação; (iii) discorrer sobre a proteção da biodiversidade e do patrimônio científico-cultural envoltos nos ambientes cavernícolas; e (iv) expor as interferências das atividades de mineração nas cavidades naturais subterrâneas e os recursos naturais peculiares em perigo de extinção, dado o descuido das disposições regulamentares em vigor e da gestão a cargo da União. A partir dos problemas apresentados e com esteio no referencial de base reunido legislação, tratados, doutrinas, jurisprudências , chega-se à conclusão de que o Decreto n. 6.640/2008 é inconstitucional e que as cavidades naturais subterrâneas possuem natureza jurídica múltipla, merecendo regulamentação legal, em sentido formal, específica e, para tanto, existe o PL n. 5.071/1990 especificamente das cavidades naturais , o qual tramita há mais de duas décadas e está pendente apenas de revisão das alterações a ele propostas pelo Substitutivo do Senado Federal, desde setembro de 2011