Abstract
One important subject is to determine the effectiveness of conservation areas, where different management categories are being applied, to maintain effective sexual reproduction in plants and their interactions with animal groups. To evaluate this issue, we compared the phenology, reproductive success, pollination and pre-dispersal seed predation of the legume tree Senna multijuga in two differently managed protected areas in Southeastern Brazil: the Itatiaia National Park and the Environmental Protection Area of Serrinha do Alambari, from December 2007 to December 2008. Vegetative and reproductive phenodinamycs were registered monthly in 80 individuals; other evaluations included 104 observation hours for pollination (March-May 2008) in 51 inflorescences; besides, fruit counts, fecundity and seed predation. Sexual reproduction of S. multijuga depends on the transfer of pollen by large bees (Bombus, Centris, Epicharis and Xylocopa), as the species is self-incompatible. Bruchidae species of the genus Acanthoscelides and Sennius predate seeds. Vegetative and reproductive phenodynamics differed among sites. Our results indicated that ecological interactions were lower at the protected area, but the reproductive processes in S. multijuga were not ruptured or critically degraded. This reinforces the idea that landscape areas with intermediate levels of protection, such as environmental protection areas, are suitable as buffer zones, and thus, relevant to the conservation of ecological processes when associated with more strictly protected areas.
Highlights
One of the major strategies for the conservation of biodiversity is the establishment of protected areas, but it is recognised that there is a variety of approaches to establishing and managing such areas important to conservation, and what may be applicable in one place may not be in another (Dudley 2008)
Different kinds of protected areas can meet the general purposes defined in the categorisation by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Dudley 2008), the management activities within protected areas and the threats to the natural and cultural resources are distinct; they may differ in their conservation effectiveness (Hockings 2003, Gaston et al 2008)
Senna multijuga is recognized as an important species for ecological interactions, for instance, it is a notable host for cicadas, and armadillos commonly make holes in the base of its trunk looking for the nymphs (Carvalho 2004); its leaves, flowers and fruits are sources of food for the spider-monkey (Brachyteles arachnoids, Mendonça-Filho 1996) and its seeds are often damaged before dispersal by Bruchidae beetles (Sari & Ribeiro-Costa 2005, Sari et al 2005)
Summary
One of the major strategies for the conservation of biodiversity is the establishment of protected areas, but it is recognised that there is a variety of approaches to establishing and managing such areas important to conservation, and what may be applicable in one place may not be in another (Dudley 2008). Senna multijuga is recognized as an important species for ecological interactions, for instance, it is a notable host for cicadas, and armadillos commonly make holes in the base of its trunk looking for the nymphs (Carvalho 2004); its leaves, flowers and fruits are sources of food for the spider-monkey (Brachyteles arachnoids, Mendonça-Filho 1996) and its seeds are often damaged before dispersal by Bruchidae beetles (Sari & Ribeiro-Costa 2005, Sari et al 2005) It is important as a source of pollen for bees, especially Centridini species, due to its extended flowering (Wolowski & Freitas 2010), as well as its flowers, leaves and fruits are destroyed by Trigona spinipes (Meliponini, Almeida & Laroca 1988). We evaluated the phenology, pollination, reproductive success and pre-dispersal seed predation of Senna multijuga in those two areas
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