Since 1972, successive series of Landsat satellites have shown improvements in their imaging acquisition modes. The objective of this study was to compare the potential of the Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensor on board the Landsat 8 (L8) and Landsat 9 (L9) satellites to map the following land use and land cover (LULC) classes in the MATOPIBA region: Gallery Forest; Savanna shrubland; Wooded savanna; Cultivated pastures; Green crop residues; Dry straw; and Bare soil. Two consecutive scenes from the dry season in the south of the Piauí State, obtained by the L8 and L9 satellites eight days apart, were classified by the supervised image classification method called Random Forest. The input attributes were six multispectral bands converted to surface reflectance; four spectral indices; and five texture attributes derived by the Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix (GLCM) technique. The overall classification accuracies were similar: 85.6% and 85.0% for L8 and L9, respectively. Despite this similarity, there was a change in the classification results in 7.1% of the total scene area. The main discrepancies occurred in areas where there were burn scars, areas of annual crops with some land cover change during the eight-day interval, and in areas with a predominance of LULC classes with high spectral similarity. The results obtained suggest that both satellites have similar potential for mapping the main LULC classes in MATOPIBA.

Macroinvertebrates are a group of organisms with high taxonomic richness and great variety in dispersal modes, which perform crucial functions in aquatic ecosystems. The structure of macroinvertebrate communities can be related to different physical, chemical, biological, and spatial processes at local and regional scales. We applied the metacommunity theory to understand the predictive relationship of these processes on the structure of this biological group. We aimed to evaluate the effects of local, spatial, and landscape predictors on the structure of the macroinvertebrate metacommunity associated with macrophyte roots in the middle Araguaia River floodplain. We hypothesized that (i) local predictors will be the main structurers of this metacommunity, and (ii) organisms with active dispersal abilities will exhibit stronger responses to local predictors than passive dispersers, due to their ability to seek favorable environmental conditions. We performed a partial Redundancy Analysis (pRDA) to quantify the variation in the macroinvertebrate community explained exclusively by (a) local predictors, (b) spatial predictors, and (c) landscape predictors or (d) the ensemble of all predictors. Our results indicate that aquatic macrophytes shape the structure of the macroinvertebrate metacommunity in floodplain lakes.

Automotive vehicles are considerable sources of gaseous Hg emissions to the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels, contributing significantly to the increase of gaseous Hg emissions in urban centers. In this work, a scientometric evaluation was initially carried out with a view to the status of scientific production on Hg in the atmosphere in terms of research lines. Scientometrics revealed that traditionally studies on atmospheric Hg are carried out on deposition in water and sediments, pollution by particulate matter in soil, speciation, and dynamics of Hg in the atmosphere. In terms of gaseous Hg, the last decade points out as the peak of research in the area, with studies on: Hg emitted in combustion processes, Hg dynamics in atmosphere, metal pollution in particulate matter, gaseous Hg deposition, and anthropogenic and urban emissions of gaseous Hg. In a second step, we determined the concentrations of gaseous mercury in the vicinity of DF-002 located in the central area of Brasilia, Federal District, characterized as an urban center with heavy traffic. The data were processed with the application of geostatistical tools using ordinary kriging to propose a prediction of the distribution of gaseous mercury concentrations, and indicative kriging to estimate areas of influence of mercury dispersion. Ordinary kriging pointed out two areas of hot spots of gaseous Hg concentration with average values of gaseous Hg concentration of 1 ng/m3, reaching a maximum of 6 ng/m3, and indicative kriging pointed out two other areas with a tendency of accumulation of Hg above the limit of 1.3 ng/m3 one at each end of the highway. The values found are below the risk limits indicated by the World Health Organization, however they express alertness to prolonged human exposure to gaseous mercury in urban environments.

The aim of this thesis was to analyze situations about the contamination of surface freshwater by pesticides from the global, national and regional perspectives. Global contamination and ecotoxicity datas were obtained from published articles and ecotoxicological databases. Contamination data at the regional level were obtained from a field study with four sampling collections, in dry and rainy seasons, conducted in the main agricultural basin of the Federal District, Brazil. The results showed that atrazine was the most detected pesticide on a global and regional scale and indicate the wide use of this molecule, as well as its persistence in the environment. However, other pesticides even at low concentrations can cause toxic effects to aquatic biota for this deserve attention. Regarding the Brazilian regulations, the study showed that of the 27 pesticides with the limits established, 17 needs of update since the current values do not protect the aquatic organisms. Thus, this thesis contributed to filling gaps on pesticides in surface freshwater and on the management of water bodies in relation to these contaminants.

Hydroelectric power plants normally interrupt power generation to carry out some maneuvers, test and mechanical maintenance on the generating units, which can cause the accumulation of fish biomass in the suction tube. Consequently, water quality determinants such as obtained oxygen, temperature and ammonia can be altered due to the long period of preparation for rescue activities of confined fish. Thus, the development of sustainable technologies that minimize fish trapping in hydroelectric plants is necessary. Alarm substances have the ability to change the behavior of fish exposed to it, causing alarm and repulsion reactions. These substances are naturally released after injury to the skin of fish as a sign of a defensive response to a danger situation. According to the literature, hypoxanthine-3-N-oxide and chondroitin are active compounds present in alarm substances and are synthesized and marketed. Considering the potential of these substances as a tool to protect the ichthyofauna, this study presents an investigation of the efficiency and feasibility of application in hydroelectric plants. The methodologies for applying the skin extract, hypoxanthine-3-N-oxide and chondroitin were developed in the laboratory and the evaluation of the behavior of the fish conditioned to these substances occurred remotely with the aid of instrumentalized treatments. Metabolism stress analyzes were also done through fish blood glucose determinations. The application at the Jirau Hydroelectric Plant, in Rondônia, occurred with the adaptation of the aeration system present in the generating units and the monitoring of the fish in the draft tube was done with the aid of a hydroacoustic monitoring system in real time. Matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) and Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) species exhibit anti-predatory reactions when exposed to hypoxanthine-3-N-oxide (3.0 and 6.0 µg L-1), chondroitin sulfate (5 µg L-1) and skin extracts of Matrinxã and Pirarucu species (Arapaima gigas). The most recurrent behaviors were fast swimming and organization, as well as lethargy and some episodes of aggression among the specimens. In the field, skin extracts and chondroitin sulfate caused some degree of disturbance, indicating the potential of these substances as a future method of protecting ichthyofauna in the hydroelectric sector.

Mercury (Hg) is a chemical element naturally available in the Earth's crust; however, due to its ability to bioaccumulate in organisms, and biomagnify along the trophic chains, it has become a matter of global concern. In this research, a survey on mercury research in Brazil was initially carried out (Chapter 3). Because there were few studies on this topic in Biomes other than the Amazon, the general objective of this study was to determine the concentration of Hg in environmental and biological compartments of aquatic ecosystems in the Cerrado Biome, in order to assess the risk to the human population and the possibility of using mercury as a tool to identify the trophic level of fish species. For this research, there was sampling of water, sediments, plankton and fish in 50 lakes along 750km of the Middle Araguaia River floodplain. The results indicated that the interaction between land use and geological formation at each sampling point influenced the concentration of total mercury (THg) in bottom sediments and physicochemical parameters of the water: pH, conductivity and TDS (nested ANOVA: p < 0.05), revealing that this interaction is a relevant factor for the presence of THg in the Araguaia River. Mercury concentrations were significantly lower in Quaternary terrains (p < 0.0003) and differed significantly between non-urban and urban areas in Neoproterozoic terrains (p = 0,02) (Chapter 5). Results showed that mercury enters the aquatic trophic chain in this region, undergoing biomagnification as it approaches the top of the food chain. With regard to fish, species such as the “dourada” (Pellona castelnaeana) and the “cruzador” (Agoniates halecinus) were identified, among others, with mercury concentrations above the limit considered safe for human consumption, increasing the need for monitoring the environmental health of the Araguaia River (Chapter 6). The intraspecific comparison of mercury concentration in fish showed difference between individuals captured in different places. It is known that spatiality interferes with the trophic position of a species and statistical analyzes revealed that the trophic level of a species considering the size of each individual explains 97% of the variability in the concentration of THg in all fish species studied. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that standard length and FishBase values (trophic levels) are positively associated with THg (R2 = 0.980). These results point to Hg, and its biota-sediment accumulation factor, as viable indicators of the trophic position of a fish species, since they reflect local biological and environmental factors, as demonstrated here for the Middle Araguaia River (Chapter 7).

The epidemiological, zoonotic and ecological situation of human brucellosis in Brazil is still poorly known, understood and disseminated. Possibly, several environmental, epidemiological, cultural, political, technical and socioeconomic factors contribute for maintaining the endemic condition of the disease in animals and humans. The objective of this research is to assess the epidemiological situation of human brucellosis in Brazil between the years 2014 to 2018, from the One Health approach. The research involved the realization of an ecological and descriptive study based on secondary data obtained from the Reporting Diseases Information System (SINAN), Mortality Information System (SIM), Hospital Internment Information System (SIH/SUS) and the Manager System Laboratory Environment (GAL). The results of the study allow us to state that human brucellosis is an endemic disease in all five geographic regions of Brazil, with increasing reported and confirmed cases, with hospitalizations and demands for laboratory tests from all the regions of Brazil, causing deaths and an occupational profile. Its inclusion in the National List of Compulsory Notification of Diseases, Injuries and Public Health Events should be considered, as far as, have a Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines (PCDT). The One Health approach needs to be considered to be included in the epidemiological surveillance framework for this disease

Coffee production has historical geopolitical and economic relevance in Brazil. The technical and chemical path of industrial agriculture has undergone extraordinary development, with the help of enormous apparatus from both science and the chemical and technological industry. However, as a consequence of industrial agriculture, over time, a reduction in income per unit produced was noted, as rural producers usually face concentrated or oligopolistic sectors to purchase their inputs and need to sell their products at lower prices formed by free competition. Furthermore, it is clear that, based on finite resources, essential nutrients will at some point no longer be available for conventional agriculture. In this sense, in the present research four studies were carried out using compost made with organic waste produced on the property itself and rock powders available regionally. In the first study, the quality of a fertilizer produced by composting organic waste and ground rocks was evaluated. In the second, the effect of different rock dust contents on composting and the final product was analyzed. In the third, the results of three different rock flours in the composting process and organic fertilizer were compared. Finally, the soil behavior, production and beverage quality of two fertilization systems in a coffee plantation in Unaí, northwest of Minas Gerais, in the Cerrado were researched: one with conventional fertilization and the other with the use of fertilizers based on Regional Sources of Nutrients. In the first study, chemical, organic, biological and sanitary analyzes indicated that the composting process was carried out correctly. As a result, the compound exhibited most of the minimum guarantees to be classified as a class A compound organic fertilizer, which can improve the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil, increasing the farmer's autonomy and reducing his dependence on fossil fuels. In the second work, it was found that values above 30% of rock dust hinder the operational and biological development of composting. In the third research, it was noted that composting was efficient in all treatments, demonstrated by the characterization of the thermophilic phase and the absence of total coliforms and spontaneous plant germination in the final product. The mica schist treatment showed the lowest relative decrease in potassium between the original raw materials and the final product, indicating a better relationship between cost and benefit. Finally, the FRN fertilizer system, when compared to the conventional fertilizer system, achieved superior results in the functions of cycling, storage and supply of nutrients. Furthermore, the FRN system achieved greater productivity and better coffee drink quality.

Brazil has a potential for harnessing potential energy, which is essential for the development of various activities. The assessment of possible environmental impacts and mitigation is essential in plants generating hydraulic systems. Despite this understanding, there is a limited amount of information on the methods of ichthyofauna in relation to hydraulic and efficient solutions for containment and/or suction repulsion during shutdowns or untimely generating units. The objective of this research is to identify practical applications for the minimization of negative impacts to the ichthyofauna during the operation of a hydroelectric project. Therefore, it is necessary to ask about the taxonomic aspects and functional attributes of the hydroelectric fish species that are made to help in a better understanding of the card approximation of the power plant structures. Because they are part of the general dynamics of different environments and perform essential functions. This work addresses the operational strategy of evaluating the type of hydraulic flow associated with real-time presence and permanence of fish in the suction tube using a hydroacoustic system, during generator stops in the tube. To avoid manual rescues, physical trauma and death to the ichthyofauna. In addition, the taxonomic and confined diversity in the developmental and behavioral tube was functional for the adaptation of the structural force in the downstream areas of the behavioral hydraulic force in the downstream areas. The application machining machining of great importance and robust for the impacts and protection of the machining of robust machining in the approach of large electrical units.