Abstract
Abstract This is the first report on aquatic macrophytes in ponds of veredas (palm swamps) in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna). We studied a pond in a vereda in Terenos, Mato Grosso do Sul state, central-western Brazil, during drought and flood periods to assess plant community structure and the relationship between species distribution and water depth. Sampling was carried out in five permanent transects, along which we placed sampling units of 1 m2 quadrats every 5 m. We estimated visually the relative cover of each species, bare ground, dead matter, and exposed water. We also measured water depth. We recorded 77 species of 49 genera and 31 families. The number of species varied between seasons, and in the rainy season the amphibious life form was predominant. The richest families were Poaceae (15 species), Cyperaceae (11), Asteraceae (4) and Lentibulariaceae (4). The richest genera were Rhynchospora (4), Utricularia (4), Eleocharis (4), Aeschynomene (3), Bacopa (3), Ludwigia (3) and Panicum (3). We found six new occurrences for the cerrado. Eleocharis acutangula had the highest relative cover (rainy and dry seasons), followed by Bacopa reflexa (rainy season), Paspalum lenticulare (rainy and dry seasons), Leersia hexandra (rainy and dry seasons), and Sagittaria rhombifolia (rainy season). Some species were distributed mainly at shallower depths, others occurred in deeper water, whereas some species varied greatly in terms of depth. Heliotropium filiforme and Ludwigia nervosa were found only in the dry season. In the rainy season, as expected, the exclusive species were mostly true aquatics.
Highlights
Brazil has the world’s largest hydrographic network, where aquatic ecosystems are well represented within biomes (Bove et al 2003)
The Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) is a water-rich biome, which harbors the headwaters of important rivers such as those of the upper Paraguay River Basin, where the Pantanal is located (Pott et al 2011), and many discrete but not less relevant swamps and seasonal water bodies
The vegetation associated with these ecosystems comprises true aquatic plants, and different kinds of periodically submersed plants or plants that grow on the shores of these habitats, such as amphibious species (Pott et al 1992)
Summary
Brazil has the world’s largest hydrographic network, where aquatic ecosystems (riverine and lacustrine, permanent and seasonal) are well represented within biomes (Bove et al 2003). The Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) is a water-rich biome, which harbors the headwaters of important rivers such as those of the upper Paraguay River Basin, where the Pantanal is located (Pott et al 2011), and many discrete but not less relevant swamps and seasonal water bodies. Temporary aquatic environments, such as swamps, undergo seasonal dry periods and are flooded during rainy seasons (Gil & Bove 2004). The vegetation associated with these ecosystems comprises true aquatic plants, and different kinds of periodically submersed plants or plants that grow on the shores of these habitats, such as amphibious species (Pott et al 1992)
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