Terr@ Plural

Survey of Cretaceous marine invertebrate occurrences on the Antarctic Peninsula (Fossil Bluff, Byers, Gustav and Marambio Groups)

2025-09-16T19:09:23+00:00

Recently, papers were published on bibliographic surveys on the occurrence of vertebrates and microfossils in the surroundings of the Antarctic Peninsula, but none addressed fossil invertebrates. This paper aims to survey the occurrences of marine Cretaceous invertebrates in Antarctica Peninsula. The better studied invertebrates in the Marambio (Santonian-Maastrichtian), Gustav (Hauterivian-Coniacian), Fossil Bluff (Berriasian-Albian) and Byers (Berriasian-?Santonian) groups are cephalopods (ammonoids and belemnites) and bivalves. The faunas of the mentioned groups are significantly different from each other, but this is possibly due to different paleoenvironmental conditions, incompleteness of the geological record and a lack of studies in some Antarctic regions. Furthermore, in most cases the formations of the aforementioned groups have different ages, which also implies different faunas. We recognized ecological guilds for each stratigraphic group in the Antarctic Cretaceous. Marambio Group has the highest number of guilds, whereas Byers Group has the lowest. Most recognized guilds are composed of epifaunal or nektonic animals and subordinately there are deep infaunal to semi-infaunal invertebrate guilds. We conclude that there are few studies correlating variation in faunal diversity with environmental changes in the Cretaceous of the Antarctic Peninsula. Collections with more refined stratigraphic control of taxa also need to be conducted in all geological units.

Landscape and material culture on the Serra da Pedra Path in the southernmost region of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil

2024-01-21T21:41:48+00:00

Caminho dos Conventos is characterized as an important terrestrial route connecting the coast and the plateau in the southern extreme of the State of Santa Catarina. After the opening of the historic road, the settlements established along the route adapted to the novel needs of the troops passing through the region. This study aims to map and analyze the historical and cultural elements present along the Serra da Pedra Path and their relationship with the ‘Tropeirismo’. We employed fieldwork and the recording of material and immaterial goods found along the trail. The recorded material culture is divided into three sectors, which together make up 30 points that relate the material history of the region to Tropeirismo. Along this route commercial houses were built, as well as resting and housing places that served as a reference and support for travelers and troops. Currently, most of these material assets are preserved, some are used as residences, and others are abandoned. The immaterial points recorded are used to support the tourism along the trail.

Geodiversity and geoheritage in the natural landscapes of Taboleiro Grande (RN, Brazil)

2025-06-10T01:41:59+00:00

The state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), located in the Northeast region of Brazil, presents remarkable scenic and geoscientific potential, from the coast to the semi-arid region, related to Geodiversity and Geoheritage. However, much of this wealth remains unknown or scarcely explored in specialized literature, especially in municipalities located in the western portion of the state. The objective of this study is to conduct the geoheritage inventory of the municipality of Taboleiro Grande, situated in the Upper West Potiguar, aiming at its sustainable use through Geotourism. To achieve this goal, bibliographic and methodological research was carried out, thematic maps were compiled, fieldwork was conducted, and inventory forms were applied to identify the Geological-Geomorphological Sites of Interest (LIGGs). As a result, five LIGGs were identified: Lajedo do Sossego, Pedra Ferrada, Lajedo Canaã, Barragem do Fervor, and Cachoeira do Talhado. These landforms hold potential not only for tourism but also for the promotion of Geoscience education and Geoconservation in the regional context.

Teaching Paleontology in non-formal education spaces

2025-09-16T20:26:39+00:00

Paleontology, as an interdisciplinary field, plays a crucial role in education by contributing to the development of critical citizens and the understanding of complex natural processes. Despite its relevance, the teaching of Paleontology is often limited to simplified approaches in school curricula. Its application in non-formal education spaces represents an alternative to overcome the limitations of its conventional focus in formal education settings. This article seeks to understand the perspectives and possibilities for teaching Paleontology in non-formal spaces, specifically at the Natural Science Museum of the State University of Ponta Grossa (MCN). The research was conducted in two stages: a qualitative analysis of the museum collection, categorizing the physical space, fossils, and other objects in terms of their pedagogical relevance; and, an evaluation of the educational practices offered, in which, through a literature review on the use of non-formal spaces in the teaching of Science and Paleontology, an effort was made to integrate the identified practices into the Brazilian educational context. The results indicate that the MCN, with its diverse collection and pedagogical approaches, can enrich learning in Paleontology by offering experiences that complement formal education. By expanding its educational programs and developing partnerships with educational institutions, the MCN can solidify its role as a reference center for scientific and paleontological education, positively impacting the training of students and teachers. The creation of educational materials and teacher training are promising pathways to strengthen the interaction between the museum and schools, promoting more effective and engaging teaching.

Spatialization of the wild synanthropic fauna captured and removed in the urban area of Ponta Grossa, PR, from 2017 to 2022

2024-05-24T12:05:01+00:00

Removing vegetation from biomes puts pressure on local ecosystems and brings wildlife and the urban environment closer each other. Many cities seek environmental compatibility by expanding their green areas, however, this can facilitate the displacement of wild fauna, generating conflicts with synanthropic animals that look for refuge and food in urban areas. This study identifies, quantifies, and spatializes synanthropic animals in Ponta Grossa, a medium-sized city in southern Brazil, using data from the Occurrence Records and Statistics System of the 2nd Fire Brigade of Paraná. The data was spatialized using QGis 3.16 software and a density estimation map was made using the Kernel method. A total of 1,371 incidents were recorded, 50.36% related to synanthropic fauna. Snakes are more than a third of the occurrences, followed by wasps and bees. Brazilian porcupines, opossums, and lizards were other numerous representatives. The large number of calls in the central area and nearby neighborhoods (Estrela and Olarias) may be linked to the presence of two large urban parks - Boca da Ronda Park with 2.7 km² and Margherita Masini Park with 1.3 km². The results indicate places where fauna move and deserve more attention, supporting environmental sensitization and awareness-raising among the population on the responsible management of synanthropic fauna, while dispelling myths and zoophobias.

Natural vulnerability to erosion of the coastal zone of Esplanada, Bahia

2024-05-01T11:27:09+00:00

The coastal zone is a complex environment that undergoes variations on various temporal scales. This zone is classified as one of the most vulnerable environments, both from a physical and economic point of view, due to the complexity of coastal processes, the fragility of its ecosystems, the high population concentration, and tourism. Given this, the objective of this research was to carry out the analysis of the natural vulnerability to erosion of the coastal zone of the municipality of Esplanada, Bahia. The methodology used involved the integration of cartographic data using QGIS Software, based on information from the physical environment and land use of the following attributes: geological, geomorphological, pedological, slope, and vegetation, land use and occupation; classifying the different classes of each map according to their degrees of vulnerability. According to the results generated, it was possible to generate the map of natural vulnerability to erosion. The distribution of environmental vulnerability classes in the coastal zone of Esplanada revealed that urban areas have the highest indices.