Restinga Areas Research Articles

Non-volant small mammals in the different vegetation types of two protected restinga areas, Southeastern Brazil

Recent environments, such as restingas, present high habitat heterogeneity, with different vegetation types throughout its geographic range. In this study, we provided the first assessment of how the composition and abundance of non-volant small mammals are influenced by the habitat heterogeneity of the different vegetation types in the restinga of the Paulo Cesar Vinha State Park and the Environmental Protection Area of Setiba, state of Espirito Santo. We used live traps in 24 sampling sites distributed over four vegetation types from April to October 2019 to capture mammals. We found a pattern in the assemblage’s composition, showing a difference in richness and abundance of species among vegetation types. We recorded 21 species of small mammals. The restinga forest showed the highest richness and abundance of species, in contrast the beach vegetation zone showed the lowest richness and abundance. Our results pointed to a high richness of small mammals for the two protected restinga areas in general. This was the first study with non-volant small mammals in the restinga environment that assessed the habitat’s heterogeneity and how species change their composition in different vegetation types. We noted the veracity of the hypothesis of habitat heterogeneity, with higher richness and abundance of species in vegetation types with higher heterogeneity. In addition to verifying the specificity of habitat of species recorded exclusively in forest environments. These results represent the first step to assist in actions for the conservation of mammals in a coastal environment with high anthropogenic pressure.

Morphoanatomy, floral biology and reproductive phenology of Cambuí (Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex willd.) O. Berg.)

Abstract Myrciaria floribunda is a species native to the restinga areas of the Atlantic Forest that presents great phenotypic variation in fruits, great socioeconomic importance in regions of natural occurrence and high productive potential. The characterization of heterogeneous populations is crucial for plant selection and breeding programs, since it allows the distinction of superior individuals. The aim of this study was to characterize the reproductive structure of M. floribunda accessions, and to observe the influence of climate and environment on its reproductive process, through floral biology, floral morphoanatomy and reproductive phenology. Apis mellifera and Trigona spinipes are the main floral visitors of cambuí. Stigma receptivity lasts up to 5 hours after flower opening and pollen viability was above 90%. Regarding the flower structure, the female sexual organ is monocarpic, the ovary is efferent, bilocular, with two ovules per locule, the inflorescence is fascicle-like and consists of small white flowers, actinomorph symmetry, heteroclamid and monoclines. Plants bloomed irregularly throughout the year, concentrating flowering in two periods of the year with the greatest peaks in March and August, while the greatest fruiting peaks were observed in April and September.

A new species of gall midge (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) associated with Ocotea pulchella (Nees & Mart.) Mez (Lauraceae) from Brazil

ABSTRACT A new species, Dactylodiplosis petibaurum Maia, sp. nov., that induces galls on axillary buds of Ocotea pulchella is described from Brazil (larva, pupa, male, female, and gall), based on material collected at restinga areas of the Atlantic Forest. A key to segregate the known species is presented. urn:lsid:ZooBank.org:pub:0399AC98-6883-4B27-B833-D3DF8F9CA95B

Morphological characterization of fruits and seeds of Ruellia furcata (Nees) Lindau (Acanthaceae) from Espírito Santo State, Brazil

Acanthaceae is a wide spread family with usually capsular fruits, with two valves and explosive dehiscence containing two or more seeds. The morphological features of fruits and seeds are important in the identification at supra especific level, since they vary morphologically. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the morphology of the fruits and seeds of Ruellia furcata. This species is endemic to Brazil and restrict to restinga areas. The collection was carried out with the aid of a gauze type fabric. The fruits were measured in length of the sterile and fertile portion, total length, width, thickness, and retinacula height. The seeds were measured in length, width and thickness. For description, internal and external details were pointed. The fruits and seeds of R. furcata present morphological features that are commonly found in the genus however, its characteristics allow it to be positioned taxonomically and provide an understanding of its dispersion.

Small mammals in restinga areas of north-eastern Brazil

Small mammals in restinga areas of north-eastern Brazil

Honey pollen spectra of two species of stingless bee (Apidae: Meliponini) in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

This study aimed to identify the pollen types present in the honey of Melipona fasciculata and Melipona subnitida in a Restinga area (plant communities under a marine influence) and identify pollen grains that belonged to plants with nectar resouces. In total, 56 pollen types were found in the honey samples of the two bee species studied, with a large number of representatives from the Fabaceae and Myrtaceae families. Melipona subnitida honey had higher pollen richness, diversity and evenness than M. fasciculata honey. Many of the pollen types identified in the samples were considered nectarless, but 28 types belonged to plants that produce nectar. The main nectar-producing specie found was Humiria balsamifera, particularly in M. fasciculata honey. Other important sources of nectar were Chrysobalanus icaco, Protium heptaphyllum and Coccoloba. Our results are vital for conservation and management programmes because the maintenance of social bee populations depends upon constant resource collection.

Floral visiting bees of Humiria balsamifera var. floribunda (Humiriaceae) and its pollen transport network, in a restinga environment

ABSTRACT The flowers of Humiria balsamifera var. floribunda were monitored for 1 year in an area of restinga on the Brazilian coast to describe the richness of visiting bees, temporal distribution of visits, and how they transport its pollen in the community. The plant showed continuous flowering and bees were seen foraging nectar throughout the year. A total of 1,231 individuals belonging to 17 bee species were collected. The highest frequencies belonged to social species (Melipona subnitida, Apis mellifera, Melipona fasciculata) and Xylocopa cearensis. In general, bee visits were positively correlated to increased flowering intensity of the plant. The most frequent species increased their visitation frequency throughout the day, which may be related to optimal foraging decisions. Twenty-two pollen types were identified on the bee bodies. Social bees presented the highest loads of monofloral H. balsamifera pollen, which contributed to greater cross pollination success of this plant. The network structure was nested, which demonstrates the plant’s potential to stabilize the pollination system. Thus, as a generalist plant, H. balsamifera helps maintain bees in the restinga, which is currently an environment severely threatened by anthropic actions.

Structure of microbial soil communities in areas of restinga: a case study in a conservation unit in the Atlantic Forest of the Southern Brazilian coast

The aim of this study was to evaluate the structure of soil bacterial and fungal communities in restinga areas of the Atlantic Forest (southern Brazil) after the introduction of Pinus L. Soil samples were collected in the 0–10 cm depth from two arboreal (FR-restinga subject to flooding and DR-dry restinga) and one herbaceous (MR-restinga under marine influence) areas. In addition to these areas, soil samples were collected from FR and DR under the influence of Pinus sp. (FRPinus and DRPinus, respectively), as reference areas. The structure of bacterial and fungal communities was evaluated by PCR-DGGE. Notably, a reduction in the number of amplicons was observed in areas with presence of Pinus sp. In conclusion, the present manuscript highlighted that the allochthonous tree species (Pinus sp.) has a deleterious impact on soil microbes and affects the growth of natural vegetation in a conservation unit in the Atlantic Forest of the Southern Brazilian coast.

Six years later… New population monitoring data for an endemic and endangered coastal lizard species in Brazil

Habitat degradation is considered a huge threat to biodiversity and could become even worse with climate change. If the current situation of Atlantic Forest is not good, then the Restinga ecosystems are even worse due to the high urbanization rate. Glaucomastix littoralis, a lizard species that is endemic and restricted to Restinga areas of Rio de Janeiro State- Brazil, has become even more threatened in the last 10 years mainly due to degradation of physical vegetation structure, since it is closely related to local vegetation. Fieldwork was carried out in the Restingas of Grussai, Jurubatiba, Marica and Marambaia. We performed two density sampling methods and analyzed the degradation index and loss of substrate in each area aiming to compare and monitor the results over a 13 year sampling period. According to method I, the population density of G.littoralis presented smaller variation between 2013 and 2018, as did the amount of degradation elements, while method II showed an increase in population density. The Jurubatiba Restinga was considered the best area for maintaining this species, while Marambaia is the area where the species are most at risk. The density sampling methods utilized were efficient for understanding the lizards’ responses to small-scale and large-scale degradation items. Monitoring the only four populations of this species and the preservation status of each Restinga where it occurs is essential for tracking the species’ density variations and for preserving it.

Behavioral Records on Neotropical Species of Anoplius Dufour (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)

Nesting, prey transportation mechanisms, and host preference are described for two Neotropical pompilid wasp species: Anoplius sp. and Anoplius triquetrus (Fox). Observations were made in a restinga area, in Regencia district, Espirito Santo state, Brazil. Several Anoplius sp. individuals were observed foraging in small patches of vegetation along a beach, whereas A. triquetrus was observed and subsequently caught carrying a Psauridae spider into a nest on a sandy trail in a restinga forest. This is the first behavioral record for the genus Anoplius in South America. Finally, we formally move Psammochares triquetra (Fox) to the Anoplius subgenus Notiochares Banks.

Bird assembly in restinga reforested areas

Fragmentation is one of environmental degradation and reduction of biodiversity causes, including in bird communities, mainly in Atlantic Forest areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in richness and functional groups structure in the ornitofauna from a Restinga forest fragment and four areas with different ages of reforestation. We selected five forest fragments in a Restinga area in the state of Paraiba. A native fragment (Control Area-AC) and four fragments that have undergone a mining process and present different ages of reforestation (1989, 1997, 2001 and 2003). The avifauna samples occurred in four expeditions between November 2006 and April 2008 and counted with a total effort of 2700 net.m2 per expedition. Statistical tests verified richness differences between studied areas, as well as the composition of their functional groups. In general, 90 bird species were recorded, and the highest reforestation age area presented the highest richness (n = 51 spp.). The species richness comparisons indicated that the difference in the richness between AC and reforested areas is not statistically significant. The similarity analysis indicates that reforested areas share a large amount of species and AC has a great differentiation in composition. This differentiation is explained by the significant presence of frugivorous, nectarivorous, leaf and understory-insectivorous species. Changes in species richness and composition in degraded areas are expected and reforested areas usually have a smaller number of forest-dependent species due to the deficiency of available resources. The recovery of areas by reforestation are important conservation strategies, however there is need for management measures that promote the enrichment of these areas and the availability of resources for species dependent on environments Forest.

Crustose Caliciaceae in Restinga vegetation in Brazil with a new species of Gassicurtia and two identification keys

During ecological studies on corticolous lichens in Restinga vegetation in northeastern Brazil, many species of crustose Caliciaceae formerly placed in the collective genus Buellia s.l. were collected. A new species was discovered and is described here—Gassicurtia restingiana D.S.Andrade, M.Caceres & Aptroot differs from G. catasema in the absence of lichexanthone. Two identification keys are provided, one for all species of Gassicurtia known from Brazil, and one for crustose, epiphytic, non-mazaediate species of Caliciaceae found in Restinga areas in northeastern Brazil.

Genetic and demographic aspects of Varronia curassavica Jacq. in a heterogeneous coastal ecosystem.

The restinga is a threatened Brazilian ecosystem and a highly heterogeneous environment. This work aimed to evaluate demographic and genetic aspects of Varronia curassavica and whether environmental heterogeneity can influence the studied population parameters. Three annual evaluations were carried out in an area of restinga in Florianópolis-SC, Brazil. Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the spatial distribution pattern was calculated by Ripley's K-function and correlated with environmental characteristics. To characterize diversity and genetic structure, eight microsatellite markers were used. This work demonstrated that variations in the distribution of individuals and genotypes can be related to specific environments. Dry lowlands were environments favorable to population development, and flooded lowland and mobile dunes were unfavorable. The fixation indices were distinct between environments, evidencing a tendency toward preferential crosses in favor of heterozygotes. We found absence of spatial genetic structure, indicating that genotypes are randomly distributed and that gene flow may be related to such genetic factors as the presence of autoincompatibility mechanisms. This diversity of environments contributed to the aggregate distribution and is relevant for the maintenance of demographic and genetic processes of the species in restingas, and this aspect should be considered for in situ conservation.

Dunes in the North coast of Sergipe, Brazil: plant species and their ecological traits

Abstract Restinga vegetation, which is a vegetation type of coastal zones, are present in two geomorphological features in the North coast of Sergipe state - Brazil: litoraneous dunes (LD) and continental dunes (CD). The objective of the present paper is to record the species composition, Raunkiaer’s life forms, dispersal syndromes and soil fertility differences between both habitats. Furthermore, we compared the life forms spectra of the studied features to the spectra of the main Brazilian phytogeographic domains. We conducted a floristic survey from November 2013 to May 2014 in different Restinga areas in two dune habitats in coastal Sergipe state, Brazil, and compared differences in the two localities. Although the two areas were geographically close, there was low floristic similarity between the two habitats; CD showed higher richness than LD. The spectrum of life forms was more similar to that of Caatinga, probably due to environmental similarities. Life forms and dispersal syndromes proportions significantly differed between features, as well as the pH, organic matter, phosphorus, sodium and base saturation index. Zoochory prevailed in both features, whereas phanerophytes prevailed in CD and chamaephytes and phanerophytes in LD. Despite the influence of historical processes, micro-environmental differences between features, which were amplified by their different distances from the sea, were assumingly responsible for the recorded differences.

Microhabitat use by Rhipidomys mastacalis and Marmosops incanus (Mammalia) in a restinga areas in north‐eastern Brazil

AbstractDifferences in the patterns of microhabitat use by small mammals have been largely related to the coexistence process of the species. The present study analyses how the marsupial Marmosops incanus and the rodent Rhipidomys mastacalis use the microhabitat in a areas of arboreal restinga in the Brazilian north‐east. Through capture‐marking‐recapture, sampling was performed monthly from September 2017 to August 2018 using Sherman traps and pitfall. Six microhabitat variables were measured at all capture stations. The use of vertical strata (ground and understory) was compared using a chi‐square test, and associations of species abundances with microhabitat characteristics were explored using redundancy analysis. The results indicate that the species use the vertical strata at different frequencies, with R. mastacalis found exclusively in the understory and M. incanus found more in the understory than in the ground. The variation in the abundance of the species was associated with the density of the understory, with an increase in M. incanus abundance and a decrease in R. mastacalis. Differences in the patterns found for these species in other environments indicate plasticity in relation to the use of vertical strata and the approaches used suggest that the differential use of the arboreal stratum can be a facilitator in the process of coexistence in areas of restinga.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

Vascular flora of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhão State, Brazil: checklist, floristic affinities and phytophysiognomies of restingas in the municipality of Barreirinhas

ABSTRACT This study presents a floristic survey of the vascular plants of restingas of Lencois Maranheses National Park, in the municipality of Barreirinhas, Maranhao, Brazil, including descriptions of the principal phytophysiognomies and similarity analyses including other restinga areas in North and Northeastern Brazil. Samples from the study area deposited in the herbaria MG, IAN and MAR were inventoried and fieldwork for the collection of additional botanical samples was undertaken between September 2015 and August 2017. Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) using Jaccard index was used to calculate the similarity among floras of the restingas of the states of Para, Piaui, Ceara and Maranhao. A total of 289 species in 189 genera and 73 families was recorded, including 56 new occurence records for the state of Maranhao. The richest families were Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Eriocaulaceae and Myrtaceae. Similarity indexes revealed low similarity among the selected areas, suggesting high floristic identity for each area, as well as possible collection bias among the areas.

Landscape structural analysis of the Lençóis Maranhenses national park: implications for conservation

Our work evaluated the anthropic effects on the landscape structure of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (LMNP) and its Buffer Zone, and proposed strategies for the region’s conservation. LMNP is an important protected area in Brazilian north coast which protects a unique wetland ecosystem composed of sand dunes fields and a coastal vegetation called restinga. Supervised mapping of LMNP and a surrounding buffer of 3 km was carried out through high resolution and fine scale (1:5000) satellite images. The mapped area was subdivided in 1000 ha hexagonal Analysis Units (AU) and the following landscape metrics were calculated for each one of them: cover area (CA) of each soil cover class - dune fields (CA-DUNES), water bodies (CA-WATER), dense restinga (CADENSE), scattered restinga (CA-SCATTER), grassland (CA-SANDY), mangroves (CA-MANG), anthropogenic activity (CA-ANTRO) and, secondary vegetation (CA-SECOND); Landscape Shannon Diversity Index (SHDI), and; percentage of native vegetation cover (NV−COV). Pearson correlations were performed between the CA of each class and SHDI to identify the classes most correlated to CA-ANTRO. Our results showed that anthropic classes (crops, trails, and villages) had a stronger correlation (Pearson Correlation, r ≈ 0.65) with phytophysiognomies of dense restinga, secondary vegetation and SHDI, thus indicating that the land use conversion occurs in dense restinga areas and promotes vegetation secondarization, as well as increasing fragmentation. At least, 42% of the dense restinga habitats was destroyed due to human activities. Five conservation and restoration strategies were proposed in a local scale depending on the percentage of native vegetation cover on each AU, from the most to less conserved: (a) only conservation; (b) conservation with management; (c) management; (d) management and restoration; and, (e) restoration. The implementation of Agroforestry Systems with agro-successional restoration goals was recommended as an alternative for land use.

Positive relationship between soil fertility, plant diversity, and gall richness

The complexity of nutrient distribution patterns in soils is a determinant environmental component of the structure of plant communities. Numerous insect species that interact with plants are associated with these communities, and some of these interactions result in the formation of unusual structures called galls. In this study, we investigated the relationship of galls, soil fertility and plant communities in three vegetation types, herbaceous restinga (HR), shrub restinga (SR) and shrub-tree restinga (STR), in an area of restinga in southern Brazil. We identified 217 species belonging to 159 genera and 82 families. The plant diversity recorded in the STR was 42.8% higher than the diversity in the other vegetation types. Gall richness increased significantly with increased plant richness. The edaphic gradient was correlated with the floristic diversity in the vegetation types. Our data suggest that an increment in soil fertility (organic matter and litter thickness), associated with climatic conditions, should increase the number of plants that can potentially host galls and, consequently, the richness of galling insects. Gall richness may also be influenced by a higher occurrence of woody plants, due to an increase in leaf surface area available in the tree canopy, especially in STR.

Multiple nesting attempts and long breeding seasons of Mimus gilvus (Aves: Mimidae) in southeastern Brazil

This study describes aspects of the life history of the Tropical MockingbirdMimusgilvus(Vieillot, 1808), including the breeding period, clutch size, nestlings and a list of plants used for nesting. Nests were monitored in an area of Restinga (sand-coastal plain) habitat in a protected area in southeastern Brazil. The data from 181 nests during five breeding seasons (2010-2014) showed that the Tropical Mockingbird has a long breeding season (26.1 ± 2.6 weeks) with up to two peaks of active nests from August to March. The breeding pairs made up to four nesting attempts in the same breeding season. The mean (± SD) clutch size was 2.4 ± 0.6 eggs (n = 169). The mean (± SD) incubation period was 14 ± 0.6 days, and the nestling remained in the nest for 14.5 ± 2.2 days. The nests were built on thirty plant species, andProtiumicicariba(DC.) Marchand. was the plant species most commonly used for nesting. The breeding parameters of the Tropical Mockingbird are similar to those of other Mimidae species. The knowledge gained from this study makes the Tropical Mockingbird a good choice for future studies, particularly for testing ecological and evolutionary hypotheses regarding life history attributes, habitat selection and parental investment.

Predator search image and the dilution effect: When is the best time to nest?

AbstractThe predator search image hypothesis predicts that predators will focus on prey that are abundant and with which they have had success. However, the predator dilution effect hypothesis predicts a decrease in the per capita chance of being depredated with an increasing amount of prey. We evaluated these hypotheses through an artificial nest survival study. We estimated nest survival during both the non-breeding and breeding seasons of 2014 at a restinga (sand-coastalplain) area in southeastern Brazil. We installed 450 artificial nests (cup shaped) in each season and placed a Common quail (Coturnix coturnix) egg in each nest, totaling 900 nests. During the non-breeding season, our nests were the only ones present and thus the predator dilution effect should be absent. We estimated daily survival rate (DSR) using the “Nest Survival” function in the program MARK. We found a decrease in DSR at the middle and end in comparison with the onset of the non-breeding season, which supports the predator search image hypothesis. In comparison with the nonbreeding season, we also found that DSR of artificial nests was lower at the onset and end of the breeding season, but higher in the middle of the breeding season. This pattern matched the higher availability of prey (i.e. natural nests) in the middle of the breeding season in the study site, supporting the dilution effect hypothesis. The survival rate of artificial nests suggests that both the search image and the dilution effect may occur during the breeding season, and that the predator dilution effect masks the predator search image in the middle of the breeding season. Our results expand our understanding regarding the effects of the search image and predator dilution effect hypotheses on nest predation, showing that both are density-dependent and may occur during the breeding season