Abstract
Species of Bromeliaceae have leaves in a spiral configuration. Because of the shape of the rosette thus formed and the imbricate configuration of the leaf sheaths, there is usually a tank in which rainwater and other components of the environment, including pollen grains, accumulate, making such tanks effective pollen rain collectors. The objective of this study was to use bromeliads as a tool to increase knowledge about the vegetation of the caatinga (shrublands) in the Canudos region of the state of Bahia, located in the semi-arid zone of Brazil, as well as to analyze the dynamics of pollen dispersal and deposition. To that end, we collected samples of the water from the tanks of bromeliads at the Canudos Biological Station. A total of 149 pollen types were detected, 88 of which could be identified botanically. The families that were the most well-represented among the pollen types were Fabaceae (with 25), Asteraceae (with 9), and Euphorbiaceae (with 7). Ten pollen types were presented as potential indicators of caatinga vegetation. We conclude that tank bromeliads are useful for gathering information about pollen rain and pollen dynamics, as well as about the transport and deposition of pollen in the caatinga.
Highlights
Pollen grains and spores have low specific gravity, can reach great altitudes in turbulent air, and are transported over great distances before their fall, which is known as pollen rain (Melhem et al 2003)
Palynological studies of soil surface samples or samples from artificial or natural pollen traps can furnish important information about the relationships between the present vegetation and the pollen rain, thereby facilitating the determination of to what extent the pollen rain reflects the composition of the vegetation community
The families that were the most well-represented among the pollen types were Fabaceae (n = 25), Asteraceae (n = 9), and Euphorbiaceae (n = 7)
Summary
Pollen grains and spores have low specific gravity, can reach great altitudes in turbulent air, and are transported over great distances before their fall, which is known as pollen rain (Melhem et al 2003). Palynological studies of soil surface samples or samples from artificial or natural pollen traps can furnish important information about the relationships between the present vegetation and the pollen rain, thereby facilitating the determination of to what extent the pollen rain reflects the composition of the vegetation community. Such studies can provide indirect information concerning pollen productivity from different sources (taxa), dispersal efficiency, and preservation (Lazarova et al 2006). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential use of bromeliads in analyzing the dynamics of pollen grain dispersal and deposition in caatinga environments by examining the pollen contents and organic residues in their tanks
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