Estrutura e síndromes de dispersão da vegetação arbórea em floresta nativa e agrofloresta, na Amazônia Meridional: Structure and dispersal syndromes of forest and agroforest

Agroforestry has played an important role in increasing land productivity and enhancing livelihoods in developed and developing countries. The geographical location of Ethiopia covers wide agro-climatic zones and very significant biodiversity. This wide geographical condition of Ethiopia has created diverse and convenience environments for the survival and development of a variety of flora. There are about 6000 species of higher plant taxa in Ethiopia of which about 10% are endemic. The main objective of this study was to investigate diversity of woody species in different agroforestry systems of Sokoru District, Jimma Zone. The study was conducted from February to May, 2018. Frist the population density, tree height, diameter at breast height and basal area for each tree were calculated. Next Analysis of Variance (one-way ANOVA) of SPSS version 20 was used to determine the variation of woody species density among different agroforestry systems of the study area. Whereas descriptive statistics such as: tables and graphs were used to present the analyzed data. The results showed high diversity of woody species in home garden (2.79) followed by pastureland (2.77) and cropland (2.1). Moreover, the high similarity in woody species composition was found in home garden and cropland (65.7%). There should be awareness among the people regarding to the direct and indirect significance of woody species in the agroforestry systems of the study area.

Esta investigación fue realizada en pinares en Alturas de Pizarra de la Empresa Agroforestal Minas, con el objetivo de determinar la estructura y composición de estos pinares, para el manejo de los mismos. Se seleccionaron dos áreas; en cada área fueron establecidas 30 parcelas circulares de 15 metros de radio; se consideraron tres estratos en la vegetación para cuantificar las especies presentes y hacer los análisis correspondientes. Se calculó la diversidad alfa y beta, se evaluó la estructura horizontal mediante el índice de importancia ecológica y la distribución por clases diamétricas, se describió la estructura vertical a través de la riqueza de especies en cada estrato, así como su posición sociológica. En ambos pinares se identificaron en total 36 familias, 47 géneros y 61 especies de plantas, 42 especies en el área de Pinus caribaea y 36 especies en el área de Pinus tropicalis, observándose diferencias en cuanto a la composición de la vegetación acompañante en sus estratos. Las especies que mayor valor de importancia ecológica alcanzaron en las áreas estudiadas fueron Pinus caribaea con 205.96 y Pinus tropicalis con 175.59, siendo la abundancia y la frecuencia relativas los parámetros que más influyeron. Las parcelas, según la composición de especies, se agruparon en cuatro grupos diferenciándose por la altitud, altura de los árboles, el área basal y la abundancia de árboles muertos presentes en las mismas. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio, al precisar en algunos de los parámetros de esta formación vegetal en Cuba, constituyen un referente el manejo de estos pinares.

Soil salinity in both coastal and inland, is known to affect vegetation structure and functions. Mangrove vegetation at Kala Oya estuary on the north western coast of Sri Lanka was selected to study the effect of soil salinity on structure, potential gross primary productivity and plant biomass of the ecosystems. Five belt-transects were laid perpendicular to the shoreline, covering 3.5 km upstream and approximately at 750 m intervals to collect data for the purpose. Vegetation structure was determined using data collected on plant species diversity, density, basal area, leaf area index and tree height. Biomass (total of above and below ground) of mangrove trees was estimated by allometric methods and potential gross primary productivity was calculated using leaf area index measured with terrestrial radiation sensor. Total of eight (8) true mangrove species were encountered in the area and highest density was recorded for Rhizophora mucronata (528 trees/ha), followed by Excoecaria agallocha (447 trees/ha) and Lumnitzera racemosa (405 trees/ha). Vegetation complexity index (CI), basal area, total tree biomass leaf area index and potential gross primary productivity measurements revealed an inverse correlation with soil salinity. Mangrove species were observed to possess varying salinity tolerance levels and Avicennia marina was the most salinity tolerant species, followed by Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal and Lumnitzera racemosa. Excoecaria agallocha was the least salt tolerant species in the area. Mangrove areas located around 2 km from the estuary mouth, where the soil salinity ranged from 8-12 mg/l, was observed to be with the highest species richness and diversity, indicating its’ ecological and conservation significance that may be considered in mangrove management decision-making for the area. Presence of a few species of terrestrial and freshwater plants among the mangroves indicates salinity changes that would have taken place due to trans-basin diversion of water to the area for irrigation purposes.

Study of plant ecology in around of Wani Mountain, Buton Utara Game Preserve, South-East Sulawesi, was conducted in April 2004. Two plots each 0,5 ha (50x100m) on 300 and 400 m a.s.l were established. As the result, the forest type is low land primary forest, which inclination land is steep. There were 106 species from 78 genus and 36 families, which dominated by Pometia pinnata, Litsea albayana, Homalium foetidum, Syzygium bordenii, Kjellbergiodendron celebicum, Cleistanthus myrianthus, Orophea celebica and Polyalthia lateriflora. Number of trees noted 452 individual/ha and sapling were 3016 ha/ha. Total Basal Area of trees in two-study site is 29,71 m/ha and distribution stem diameter class were largest between on 10-20 cm.

Biodiversity assessment and forest ecosystem are critical for species conservation. However, limited research had been done in Sierra Leone’s tropical forests. This research explores the feasibility between two different protected areas of forest. This was accomplished by comparing the forest status in terms of tree species composition, diameter at breast height of each tree (to assess basal area), tree species density, and species abundance. Systematic sampling design, with a total of 15 sampling plots each, were districted in both forest ecosystems. All tree species (dbh ≥ 10 cm) in every plot were classified and their height, diameter at breast height (dbh) and diameters at the top, middle and base were evaluated for Otamba Kilimi National Park (strictly protected) and Kangari Hills Forest Reserve. There were 180 individual trees belonging to 24 species in the National Park, and 155 individual trees belonging to 58 species in the Forest Reserve. The most abundant species in the Forest Reserve was Xylopia aethiopica with 25 species compared to the National Park, which was dominated by Spondias mombin with 35 individual species. The Forest Reserve had a higher Shannon-Wiener index (3.63) and evenness (0.89) than the National Park with Shannon-Wiener index (2.76) and evenness (0.87). The Forest Reserve had a higher basal area (33 m2 ha-1) and volume (741.32 m3 h-1) compared to the National Park with a basal area (12.42 m3 ha-1) and volume (184.42 m3 h-1). Results indicate that the Forest Reserve is a potential biodiversity hotspot compared to the National Park. We conclude that the National Park is of lower tree diversity than the Forest Reserve by a degree that probably varies depending on improved management strategies, reforestation measures such as seed regeneration and/or enrichment planting, which will facilitate the gradual return of complex forests. The information on tree species structure and composition can provide baseline information for biodiversity conservation of protected forests in the country.

This study aimed to estimate the woody biomass above ground along the flooding gradient of two hydrographic basin at the Amapa State. They were allocated 26 plots of one hectare (100 m x 100 m), 13 plots in each environment (varzea and igapo forests). It was considered all living individuals with DBH ≥ 10 cm. To assess the biomass it was used the allometric model already tested in rainforests, where it considers the variables: wood density (p), height (H) and basal area (BA). The biomass estimated for both ecosystems presented the same average (198 Mg/ha). In the igapo forest the amplitude was 326.83 Mg/ha and in the varzea was 272.12 Mg/ha. The flood regime averaged 61 ± 25.69 days/year and 21 ± 1.33 days/year in the igapo and varzea forest, respectively. The biomass was positively related to soil gradient (percentage of sand) in the igapo and with silt in the floodplain and with flooding in both environments. The biomass concentration in the two environments was driven mainly by a few large species, in general the same species transited between the two areas, thus increasing the accumulation of biomass. Keywords : rainforest; basal area; structure; soil texture.

This study was carried out on all the Etna beech distribution area and consists of a phytosociological analysis. Moreover data relating to various pysiognomical and structural aspects was collected from 12 sample areas selected on the different expositions of the volcano. From the phytosociological analysis it emerged that it is very difficult to define the Etna beech forests syntaxonomically: in most cases it can be seen that they belong to the class Querco-Fagetea, but it is not always possible to identify the association, the alliance and the order. Some communities seem to belong to the Quercetalia pubescentis rather than to the Fagetalia sylvaticae. Other communities do not even belong to the class Querco-Fagetea. These are in fact relict forests surviving in extreme life conditions. They are at the southern limit of its distribution area and are subject to unfavorable environmental conditions: a volcanic substrata, the Mediterranean climate, the high level of man’s intervention. The study of the tree and stump density, stem diameter, basal area, litter cover and litter thickness and seedling density, carried out on 12 sample areas, shows that these forests have a very variable physiognomy and structure. The forests with a more balanced physiognomy and structure are made up of forests with high trunks of different ages. The seedling density, correlated with the litter thickness and cover, was found to be significant in areas located on the east side of Etna, where there are better light conditions and greater rainfall. This study brought to light the presence of a species: Monotropa hypopytis L. not previously reported as having been found on Mt. Etna.

Simulations were carried out in the Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) and the BEHAVE systems for spring and summer seasons to study the importance of vegetation and climate on fire behavior in the mixedwood boreal forest. Stand were characterized as deciduous, mixed- deciduous, mixed-coniferous, or coniferous stands, if their conifer basal area was respectively less than 25%, between 25 and 50%, between 50 and 75%, or greater than 75% of stand basal area. Sampled fuel loads (litter, duff, woody debris, herbs, and shrubs), and local weather conditions around Lake Duparquet (Quebec, Canada) were input in the simulation systems. The predicted fire behavior variables were Rate of Spread (ROS), Head Fire Intensity (HFI), and burned area. Results from Anovas on ranks showed that the two simulators attribute differently the maximum explained variance to the different factors. Climate is the most important factor for all fire behavior variables with the FBP whereas BEHAVE gives the greatest part of variance to the vegetation factor. Spring values are always higher than those from summer simulations. Deciduous stands record the lowest values. Mixed stands present intermediate values while conifer stands record the highest values for all variables. These differences related to stand composition exist within each fire risk (FWI), even for extreme weather risk. This implies that the widely accepted idea that during extreme FWI days all vegetation types would burn without difference is not applicable to southeastern boreal forest. Moreover, three prescribed burnings from Ontario, used to compare both systems, revealed that BEHAVE was not adapted to the mixedwood boreal region whereas FBP predictions were close to observed prescribed values. Climate and vegetation impacts on fire behavior and forest mosaic are discussed.

H. SIMBOLON & SUKENDAR. 1987. Vegetation and soil conditions of forest in Lelofui, Mount Mutis, Soe, East Nusa Tenggara. Suppl. Berita Biologi 3 : 6 - 10.Research on vegetation and soil conditions of forest in Lelofui, Mount Mutis, Soe East Nusa Tenggara has been done. The density of trees were 358 per nectar; height of canopies ranged between 25 m and 35 m with Eucalyptus urophylla as a dominance species.The relative basal area of E. urophylla was 72,82% which was greater than total basal area of remaining species.The others important species were Podocarpus imbricates, Ilex odorata and Acer niveum.The density of saplings were 708 per hectar.The dominant species of this sapling was Daphniphyllum laurinum with the relative basal area of 69,93% The height of sapling species were less then 10 m. The other important species of saplings were Scutellaria discolor and Acer niveum.The plot consisted of 17 species of trees and 9 species of saplings.This species composition was very small comparing to other tropical rain forests elsewhere.This small number of species composition is suggested not directly correlated with a soil fertility.Soil analisis form the plot showed that its properties was not so distinct from other tropical rain forest soil conditions.

Forest structure is of functional importance for ecosystem stability and resilience, as well as for numerous other ecosystem functions and services. In this context, a high structural complexity can have a positive effect on diverse functions and services. Silvicultural management has the potential to negatively or positively affect forest structure and its complexity. In order to investigate the relationship between silvicultural management and forest structure, one first has to quantify forest structure and its complexity. To do so, various 3D measures based on terrestrial laser scanning data were used to quantify forest structure and structural complexity along a management gradient. The main objective of the thesis was to investigate the impact of different management systems on the structure of European forests and to compare them with formerly managed and primary forests. As beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the natural dominating tree species in Europe, beech-dominated forests were selected for this study. First, the understory complexity index (UCI) was introduced as a measure to describe the structural complexity of the forest understory (chapter 2). The UCI is based on the fractal dimension of a cross-sectional horizontal polygon, which represents the forest understory between 0.8 and 1.5 m. It is a density-dependent measure. Forest stands with advanced tree regeneration, as e.g. thickets, showed high UCI values compared to forest stands with a lower regeneration density. Comparing different management systems and forest types, the results revealed that the understory complexity was either large during the early phases of stand development or when the senescence of trees has largely proceeded, as found in beech primary forests. The second research aim of the study was to investigate, how structural complexity express itself in terms of the spatial distribution and density of plant material and how forest management influences these structural attributes (chapter 3). For that purpose, the structural complexity, as well as the density and spatial distribution of plant material within different forest strata of differently managed and unmanaged beech forests were quantified. The results showed that forest strata with a rather high structural complexity were characterized by a rather high density and a random to regular distribution of plant material. This could be observed for the primary beech forests and uneven-aged beech stands. Forest strata with a low structural complexity, as found in formerly managed forests, showed in contrast a rather low density and a clustered distribution of plant material. It can be assumed that structural complexity increases with increasing density and increasing homogeneity of the spatial distribution of plant material within a forest stand. Finally, the focus was on analyzing the influence of the understory complexity and vertical heterogeneity on the overall stand structural complexity of beech-dominated forests. The sub-study (chapter 4) on short-term dynamics of structural complexity revealed for uneven-aged stands that an increase of the understory complexity lead to an increase in the overall stand structural complexity. In this context, the initial canopy openness positively influenced the development of a complex understory and thus the overall structural complexity. Whereas in the younger, even-aged beech stands, an increase of vertical stratification positively influenced the stand structural complexity. In summary, short-term dynamics of stand structural complexity strongly depend on the developmental stage or canopy openness of the forest. This thesis not only contributes to the understanding of structural complexity and its relationship with other structural attributes, but also provides information on structural characteristics of different forest types. Managed and primary beech forests can be quite similar in terms of structural complexity. Especially, single-tree selection cutting seems to be a useful management approach for creating a complex stand structure. Furthermore, the thesis particularly highlighted the structural importance of the forest understory for the development of a complex stand structure. Therefore, management interventions could especially focus on the creation of complex understory structures, especially in early developmental stages, if an enhancement of structural complexity is desired. Lastly, the study demonstrated the wide range of potential applications of terrestrial laser scanning data for forest structure analysis.

Este estudo teve por objetivo estruturar a produção em volume de povoamentos de Pinus taeda L., através de diagrama de manejo, tomando como base os parâmetros: densidade populacional, altura dominante, diâmetro médio de área basal e índice de espaçamento relativo. Os dados utilizados são oriundos de 128 parcelas permanentes, as quais foram medidas anualmente até aos 18 anos de idade e conduzidas em densidade completa, com espaçamentos de 1,5 x 1,0 m e 1,5 x 2,0 m. Concomitantemente, foram utilizados dados de parcelas permanentes submetidas a diferentes intensidades de desbaste, sendo a densidade regulada pelo índice de espaçamento relativo. O diagrama de manejo elaborado permitiu a prognose do volume por hectare, do diâmetro médio de área basal e da disponibilidade de espaço de crescimento, através do índice de espaçamento relativo, a partir das variáveis altura dominante e número de árvores com precisão e baixo erro de estimativa.

We reviewed the community structure of oribatid mites associated with bird’s nest ferns in a subtropical Japanese forest, and seven trends became clear: (1) most of the bird’s nest ferns on live trees occurred on host-tree species that typically grew in high density and/or large basal area in the forest, and they preferred concave slopes;(2) the amount of accumulated litter in the bird’s nest ferns was positively correlated only with fern size; (3) there was a significantdifference between the communities of oribatid mites between the litter and root components of bird’s nest ferns; (4) oribatid communities in the bird’s nest ferns were relatively insensitive to the spatial distribution of the fern in the subtropical forest, however, the density of oribatid mites in the litter decreased significantly with increasing height of the ferns above the ground; (5) species diversity of oribatid communities in the ferns was significantly lower than in the bark of trunks or the forest-floor litter and soil; (6) the oribatid faunas in the litter and roots of the ferns were more similar to those in both the forest-floor litter and soil than to the faunas in the other arboreal habitats; (7) presence of bird’s nest ferns can enhance species richness of oribatid mites in the arboreal environment, but presence of the ferns might not always raise species richness of oribatid mites at the whole-forest scale, including the forest-floor habitats, because the species composition of oribatid communities in the ferns was very similar to that in the forestfloor habitat.

The study of stand structure of rubber agroforest system and its effect on tree sapling diversity was carried out in Bungo District, Jambi Province from August 2004 to August 2005. Basal area (BA) and tree density were surveyed using variable-area transect method. Tree sapling species was surveyed using standard plots combined with circular elementary subplots laid along 60 m transect line. The result shown that BA and tree density of rubber agroforest system were lower significantly with forest at the diameter class > 30 cm, but at the diameter class < 30 cm there were not differ significantly. PCA analysis shown there was a positive correlation between BA non rubber tree with the species diversity and richness indices of tree sapling in rubber agroforest system and there was no correlation between density of non rubber tree and the indices. However, in the forest, BA and tree density were have a negative correlation with the species diversity and richness indices of tree sapling.

Upper side dark fulvous, the base of primalies largely black, of secondaries still more, the black area extending to middle of disk, effacing all markings; the spots of both wings outside the basal area as in Chariclea, but the narrow spots on primaries are unusually large, with ragged edges, and the mesial band is heavy and diffused; on secondaries this band is lost in the black ground.Under side of primaries nearly as in Chariclea, but there is scarcely any yellow at apex or along hind margin, all this area being deep red; a few yellow scales only at apex and in middle of the marginal interspaces, to represent the spots and patches of Chariclea; the submarginal lunules almost lost in the red ground.

The Canadian bees now described were received from Mr. Albert F. Winn; the types are in my possession.Andrena lucifera n. sp.♀. Length about 9 mm., expanse 18; black, including mandibles and legs, the antennae black with the flagellum thickened and faintly brownish beneath beyond the base; pubescence of head and thorai very scanty, dull white, the thorax almost nude above, the sparse hair easily deciduous; head broad, facial quadrangle conspicuously broader than long; mandibles ordinary, malar space linear; process of labrum very large, obtusely triangular, shining; clypeus wholly dull, with a minutely granular surface, and sparse punctures; no smooth line, though the middle is slightly elevated: on each side above the clypeus, from the antennae to the orbits, is a broad highly polished area, but the supraclypeal area and middle of front are dull; facial foveae moderately broad, with shining white tomentum; distance from upper end of fovea to lateral ocellus about or nearly as great as width of fovea; below the foveae extend (with approximately even width) below level of antennae, and are separated from orbits by a shining line; cheeks shining, convex, very broad, the upper part strongly keeled behind; third antennal joint fully as long as 4+5; meso-thorax dullish, more shining posteriorly, without evident punctures under a lens, but the microscope shows a minutely tessellated surface and scattered small punctures; scutellum polished, with a median impressed line; mesopleura glistening, rugulose, the lower part produced into a sort of tubercle, and the shining anterior face of lower part having a triangular outline; metathorax dull and granular, but the large basal area triangular, with numerous conspicuous plicae, radiating at sides and a few stronger ones in middle; tegulae reddish brown, anteriorly blackened; wings conspicuously reddish, stigma dark reddish brown, the middle darker than the margins, veins brown; basal nervure falling well short of nervulus; second cubital cell narrow, much higher than broad, receiving recurrent nervure not far from end; legs with pale brown hair, the hind tibial scopa wholly pale, faintly reddish, the hairs on outer side simple; spurs normal, pale reddish; abdomen broad, highly polished, nude above, without bands, the hind margins of the tergites obscurely brownish; under a lens no distinct punctures are visible, but the microscope shows sparse minute punctures; apical depression of first tergite short, of second less than half distance from base to apex, but rather more than two-fifths; apical fimbria pale brown; venter with dull whitish hair.