Atlantic Forest Biome Research Articles

Object-based random forest modelling of aboveground forest biomass outperforms a pixel-based approach in a heterogeneous and mountain tropical environment

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a highly heterogeneous biome of global ecological significance with high levels of terrestrial carbon stocks and aboveground biomass (AGB). Accurate maps of AGB are required for monitoring, reporting, and modelling of forest resources and carbon stocks. Previous research has linked plot-level AGB with environmental and remotely sensed data using pixel-based approaches. However, few studies focused on investigating possible improvements via object-based image analysis (OBIA) including terrain related data to predict AGB in topographically variable and mountainous regions, such as Atlantic forest in Minas Gerais, Brazil. OBIA is expected to reduce known uncertainties related to the positional discrepancy between the image and field data and forest heterogeneity, while terrain derivatives are strong predictors in forest ecosystems driving forest biomass variability. In this research, we compare an object-based approach to a pixel-based method for modeling, mapping and quantifying AGB in the Rio Doce basin, within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. We trained a random forest (RF) machine learning algorithm using environmental, terrain, and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) remotely sensed imagery. We aimed to: (i) increase the precision of the AGB estimates; (ii) identify optimal variables that fit the best model, with the lowest root mean square error (RMSE, Mg/ha); (iii) produce an accurate map of the AGB for the study area, and subsequently (iv) describing the AGB spatial distribution as a function of the selected variables. The RF object-based model notably improved the AGB prediction by reducing the mean absolute error (MAE) from 28.64 to 20.95%, and RMSE from 33.43 to 20.08 Mg/ha, and increasing the R² (from 0.57 to 0.86) by using a combination of selected remote sensing, environmental, and terrain variables. Object-based modelling is a promising alternative to common pixel-based approaches to reduce AGB variability in topographically diverse and heterogeneous environments. Investigation of mapped outcomes revealed a decreasing AGB from west towards the east region of the Rio Doce Basin. Over the entire study area, we map a total of 195,799,533 Mg of AGB, ranging from 25.52 to 238 Mg/ha, following seasonal precipitation patterns and anthropogenic disturbance effects. This study provided reliable AGB estimates for the Rio Doce basin, one of the most important watercourses of the globally important Brazilian Atlantic Forest. In conclusion, we highlight that OBIA is a better solution to map forest AGB than the pixel-based traditional method, increasing the precision of AGB estimates in a heterogeneous and mountain tropical environment.

Landscape pattern changes over 25 years across a hotspot zone in southern Brazil

Forest fragmentation caused by human activities has many implications for natural landscapes, such as habitat reduction and the loss of biodiversity. This study investigated the temporal fragmentation process of forest remnants in a strongly agro-industrialised region in southern Brazil over 25 years. The studied watershed area hosts two important typologies of the Atlantic Forest biome as well as Quaternary remnants of the Brazilian Savanna biome, which are considered hotspots of biodiversity and reflect the intense process of forest fragmentation caused by Brazilian urban and agro-industrial development. Thus, studies encompassing multitemporal scales are paramount to understanding changes in forest patterns and are fundamental for trend predictions of landscape dynamics. To perform the calculation of the mean normalised difference vegetation index, Landsat satellite images from 1991 to 2016 were processed using SPRING® software. Subsequently, FRAGSTATS® software was used to calculate landscape metrics. A reduction in the number of forest fragments since 1991 was observed, with a maximum amount of 5 243 fragments in 1993 that declined to 4 015 fragments in 2016. Although the number of fragments in the watershed decreased, the mean area increased by 72.9% and the mean of the shape index increased from 1.3 in 1991 to 1.5 in 2016. In addition, there was a 64.7% increase in the edge density and a reduction of 35.6 m in the isolation between the nearest neighbours. The degree of isolation of the fragments underwent a process of expansion and reduction when compared to 1991, presenting results that support the hypothesis that the Atlantic Forest is in a process of stabilisation and forest restoration.

Guidelines for seed collection of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze: A genetic, demographic and geographic approach

Restoration of degraded ecosystems is essential for the conservation of global biodiversity. In southern Brazil, the Araucaria forest is a highly reduced and fragmented ecosystem of the Atlantic Forest Biome, and restoration is recommended for the conservation of both Araucaria forest and Araucaria angustifolia, an endangered conifer of this ecosystem. Thus, knowledge about seed collection sites, criteria for the maintenance of genetic diversity, and adaptive potential of seeds is crucial to restoration success. Therefore, this study aimed to identify priority areas for seed collection of A. angustifolia based on its previously known genetic, demographic and geographic characteristics. To accomplish this, the density of reproductive individuals of A. angustifolia associated with a probability of reproduction (50% or 90%) was extrapolated to all the Araucaria forest fragments from Santa Catarina state (SC), Brazil. Then, we estimated which forest fragments would be suitable for seed collection based on average values of fine scale genetic structure (FSGS) and the number of sampled seed trees for which different effective population sizes (100 or 1000) could be retained. Despite high fragmentation, some forest fragments remain suitable as seed source for restoration. However, using strict criteria, only 4.1% of the fragments could be deemed suitable. Collectively, our results represent a starting point for policymakers concerned with identifying restoration areas for endangered species, in particular, the criteria for seed collection of A. angustifolia.

Spatio-temporal variation and the use of host body surface by ectoparasites of the chelonians Phrynops geoffroanus and Mesoclemmys tuberculata in areas of the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest in northeast Brazil.

Ectoparasites such as hematophagous leeches and monogeneans are common in chelonians, occupying different parts of the body. Thus, the present study aimed to identify and describe the fauna of ectoparasites that infest Phrynops geoffroanus and Mesoclemmys tuberculata to evaluate the effect of host conditions and seasonality (dry and rainy season) on the abundance and composition of ectoparasites. We verified the presence of ectoparasites in 73.2% of the examined turtles, with four species of leeches belonging to Glossiphoniidae, Haementeria brasiliensis sensu Cordero, 1937, Helobdella cf. adiastola, Haementeria sp1., and Haementeria sp2., and one monogenean Polystomatidae, Polystomoides brasiliensis. For both chelonians, we observed a significant difference in the abundance of ectoparasites in relation to sex, biome, and season, which was unrelated to length and mass. Leeches were more frequent in the cavities of the hind limbs in P. geoffroanus, and the anterior limbs of M. tuberculata. The general spatial niche overlap of ectoparasites was high, except for that of the monogenean P. brasiliensis, which did not overlap with those of other leech species. The present study is the first report of the presence of H. brasiliensis and P. brasiliensis parasitizing M. tuberculata, and Helobdella cf. adiastola in a phoretic relationship with P. geoffroanus and M. tuberculata. Finally, the differences in infestation levels may reflect ecological factors, differences in behavioral patterns of the hosts, and different anthropic alterations suffered in the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes.

Melissopalynology in an area of Atlantic Forest (northeast region, Brazil)

Apis mellifera is a bee that was introduced to Brazil and has adapted very well to the climate conditions and vast diversity of plants that exist in the country. In the northeast region of Brazil, beekeepers make use of the association between bees and plants by selling various bee products, notably honey. One way to identify species visited by bees in an area is by the pollen in its products. Based on this, 16 samples of honey were analysed, which were collected over a period of two years and obtained from an apiary in the Atlantic Forest biome in the municipality of Entre Rios (Bahia). In addition, climatic data (precipitation and temperature) of the region were obtained for the months sampled. The average temperature of the region during the collection months varied from 22 to 28 °C. The highest precipitation recorded in the region was 133.7 mm3 and the lowest was 0.3 mm3. Seventy pollen types were found. The family Fabaceae was notable, with ten pollen types, of which Mimosa pudica was the most important with a high frequency of occurrence and distribution. The Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) pollen type also had a high frequency of occurrence and distribution. In addition, pollen types corresponding to species that supply nectar to bees were identified, which contributes to the large diversity of bee plants for Apis mellifera in the study area.

Phosphorus limits and “planetary boundaries” approach applied to a case study in a tropical area

The Atlantic Forest is a biome in the SE region of Brazil and is under pressure in terms of biological conservation, which can be considered as a global safeguarding priority. Some areas of this biome present limitations of agricultural use, such as low soil fertility and high susceptibility to erosion. There is risk of eutrophication from runoff, especially in areas with rugged relief and soils with intense phosphate fertilization. The “Planetary Boundaries” approach proposes a safe and fair operating buffer for humanity to continue to develop without an adverse impact on planetary systems. We evaluated the P-level distribution according to soil and land use classes in a watershed under agricultural use in the Atlantic Forest biome in the State of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. We also used the Planetary Boundaries approach to check the P sustainability thresholds, which showed to be sensitive to land use and cover classes.

Mineralogical and chemical attributes of soils from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest domain

ABSTRACT: The Atlantic Forest is one of the most important and yet the most devastated Brazilian biome, occupying in the past the majority of the East Atlantic Coast. Therefore, a detailed knowledge of the soils near the coastal line influenced by this biome is essential for land use and management of these environments. The aim of this study was to acquire a deeper knowledge of the chemistry, mineralogy and genesis of soils in two micro-watersheds of the Atlantic Forest Biome. Eight soil profiles were sampled and described along one transect. Both young and more developed soils exhibit low fertility and low Fe2O3 content. The Oxic Dystrudepts are less dystrophic than the other soils studied and exhibit greater availability of K+, due to the mixing of weathered material and primary minerals. Transitions from shallow to deep soils are more common in rejuvenated landscapes. All soils are kaolinitic (Kt), with low levels of goethite (Gt) and hematite (Hm), and contain secondary 2:1 minerals such as mica (Mi) and, in the youngest soils, hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite (HIV) and interstratified mica-hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite (Mi-HIV). The widespread presence of gibbsite (Gb) in soils, including the Lithic Udifolist, indicates high rates of both pedogenesis and morphogenesis. The gibbsite showed good crystallinity suggesting that climate, terrain and good drainage favored its formation and stability.

Chloroplast ultrastructure and hormone endogenous levels are differently affected under light and dark conditions during in vitro culture of Guadua chacoensis (Rojas) Londoño & P. M. Peterson

Guadua chacoensis (Poaceae) is a woody bamboo native from the Atlantic forest biome. Morphogenetic and physiological studies are scarce in bamboos, and tissue culture-based biotechnologies tools can be used to investigate ultrastructure and physiological processes as well as to mass-propagate specific genotypes. This study evaluated the effect of light and dark conditions on chloroplast biogenesis as well as in the endogenous levels of zeatin (Z), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA4), and jasmonic acid (JA) during in vitro culture of G. chacoensis. An increase was observed, followed by a decrease in starch content in response to light treatment, and in contrast, in darkness, an accumulation of starch which is associated to amyloplast formation at day 30 was observed. No etioplast formation was observed even in the dark and this was associated with the presence of fully developed chloroplast at the beginning of the experiment. Z levels quantified showed distinct behavior, as in light, no difference in the levels was observed, except at day 10, and in darkness, the levels increased along the evaluation time. ABA, GA4, and JA biosynthesis increased along the time of evaluation in light condition. In contrast, in darkness, the levels remained unaltered, excepted for an increase in JA levels at day 10, suggesting a strong relationship between light and these phytohormone levels. Possible reasons why light’s presence and absence cause changes in chloroplast ultrastructure and hormone endogenous levels in in vitro cultivated culms of G. chacoensis are discussed.

A predictive index based on environmental filters for the bioassessment of river basins without reference areas in Atlantic Forest biome, Brazil

Abstract: Biological assessments that use the reference condition approach are based on the concept of comparing a site's observed biology to sites where disturbance is minimal or absent. However, in many regions of the world, such areas are scarce or nonexistent. In this study, an alternative approach proposed by Chessman and Royal for bioassessment without reference areas based on environmental filters was tested in Brazil. This approach assumes that key environmental features act in the selection of potential colonists, from a regional pool of taxa, based on the ecological traits (tolerances) possessed by each taxon. We developed the approach by: 1) determining the regional pool, based on a large Atlantic Forest biome database; 2) selecting environmental filters (elevation, original vegetation and soil type); and 3) including information on the tolerance and preferences of aquatic insects to these filters. With this information we were able to determine the expected taxon under natural conditions and compare with observed taxon, developing a predictive index (Observed/Expected). Although the model was intended to predict the fauna in regions without reference sites, we included reference areas to test the model responsiveness, precision and sensitivity. Our results indicated that the index was able to discriminate impairment classes (F=56.9; p<0,001), it has high precision due to low standard deviation across reference sites values (SD=0.098) and high sensitivity due the correlation with environmental variables that are sensitive to human alteration (r=0.74, p<0.01). Also, it was strongly correlated with multimetric indices developed for multiple watersheds in the state, showing agreement between the methods in relation to ecological quality classification. Even though the predictive index had performed well in our study, we make some considerations that may help to improve its sensitivity of similar methods that are being tested using the environmental filters approach.

A predictive multimetric index based on macroinvetebrates for Atlantic Forest wadeable streams assessment

Abstract: Multimetric Indices (MMIs) have been widely applied for ecological assessment in freshwater ecosystems. Most MMIs face difficulties when scaling up from small spatial scales because larger scales usually encompass great environmental variability. Covariance of anthropogenic pressures with natural environmental gradients can be a confounding factor in assessing biologic responses to anthropogenic pressures. This study presents the development and validation of a predictive multimetric index to assess the ecological condition of Atlantic Forest wadeable streams using benthic macroinvertebrates. To do so, we sampled 158 sites for the index development. We adjusted each biological metric to natural variation through multiple regression analyses (stepwise-forward) and considered that the residual distribution describes the metric variation in the absence of natural environmental influence. For metric selection we considered normal distribution, variation explained by the models, redundancy between metrics and sensitivity to differentiate reference from impaired sites. We selected five metrics to the final index: total richness, %MOLD, %Coleoptera, EPT richness and Chironomidae abundance. The residuals were transformed into probabilities and the final index was obtained through the mean of these probabilities. This index performed well in discriminating the impairment gradient and it showed a high correlation (r = 0.85, p <0.001) with a specific index developed for a particular basin indicating a similar sensitivity. This index can be used to assess wadeable streams ecological condition in Atlantic Forest biome, so we believe that this type of approach represents an important step towards the application of biomonitoring tools in Brazil.

Scenarios from the Eta Model on quality and hydrological quantity in the Atlantic Forest, Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT This work evaluated the response of two scenarios (4.5 and 8.5) of the Eta Model on the quality (sediment - TSS, nitrate - NO3- and phosphate - PO43-) and quantity (flow - Q) of the Concordia Catchment in the Atlantic forest biome. The importance of the work lies in the comparison of both scenarios until 2099, using current agricultural practices (2016). The SWAT model normally used for hydrological purposes has been applied to evaluate water quality from the monitoring programme database (2010-2014). Q showed a non-accentuated, upward trend. Modifications in Q were transmitted to TSS and PO43-. There was no significant difference between the tested scenarios.

Diversity of Odonata (Insecta) in Seasonal Deciduous Forest fragments in southern Brazil (state of Rio Grande do Sul), with a new record for the state and comments on the seasonal distribution of the species

Abstract: We present an Odonata (Insecta) check list of species occurring in a fragment of the Seasonal Deciduous Forest (Atlantic Forest biome) from the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southern Brazil, along with a list of the odonate species recorded in this phytoecological region for the state. In addition, we provide comments on the seasonal distribution of the species occurring in the study area. Two streams and seven farm ponds located in the middle course of the Jacuí River basin were surveyed between December 2007 and February 2009. Overall, we recorded 49 species from 21 genera and six families. Argia serva Hagen in Selys, 1865 (Coenagrionidade) had its first occurrence record mentioned for the state, elevating to 183 the total number of Odonata species occurring in Rio Grande do Sul. The number of species recorded in the study area corresponds to ~26% of the known Odonata diversity in RS. Libellulidae was the most species-rich family (22 species, ~45% of the total), followed by Coenagrionidae (18 species, 37% of the total). The checklist for the Seasonal Deciduous Forest in RS indicated the occurrence of 83 species of Odonata in this phytoecological region (~45% of the known odonate species in the state). This elevated diversity could be related to the density of the vegetation structure. In the study area, 20 species were found in streams, and 45 in farm ponds. Species occurrence showed marked seasonal patterns in the study area, with 88% of the species recorded from summer to autumn, and no species detected in streams in the winter. Moreover, 70% of the species were recorded in either one or two seasons in farm ponds, while 65% occurred solely in one season in streams. This result indicates that the life cycle of Odonata in southern Brazil is strongly influenced by seasonal patterns in temperature.

Growth of Tree Species in Coexistence with Palisade Grass Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf CV. Marandu

ABSTRACT: The effect of palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha) was evaluated on the growth of five tree species from the Atlantic Forest biome in Seropédica, RJ, Brasil. This study consisted of five experiments in a completely randomized design. The effect of grass on the growth of Cedrela fissilis, Guazuma ulmifolia, Schinus terebinthifolius, Sapindus saponaria, and Hymenaea courbaril was tested in pots at each experiment. Height, collar diameter, and plant mortality were measured monthly. Shoot and root dry matter of tree species and grass were evaluated at 180 days. A strong interference of palisade grass was observed on the growth of the five studied species. The reduction of growth in height and collar diameter reached 32 and 29% in S. saponaria and 26 and 44% in G. ulmifolia, respectively. Grass interference was even higher on dry matter accumulation, promoting reductions in the shoot that ranged from 48% in H. courbaril to 90% in G. ulmifolia and S. terebinthifolius. Root dry matter of tree species was reduced between 28 and 84% in relation to the control without the presence of grass. The species C. fissilis had a mortality rate of 83% in coexistence with U. brizantha. The other species, except S. saponaria, presented mortality from 15 to 30% under competition. This study evidences the importance of controlling grasses in reforestation projects aiming higher gains in growth and survival of tree species.

Interference of aqueous and ethanolic solutions of Adiantum latifolium Lam. (Pteridaceae) leaves on in vitro Ceratocystis cacaofunesta mycelial growth

ABSTRACT Ceratocystis cacaofunesta is the etiologic agent of “Ceratocystis wilt of cacao”, an irreversible disease that affects the vascular system of the plant. The management of the disease is difficult and economic and alternative solutions are needed. The medicinal plants compounds are known to have antimicrobial activity, and they could be an alternative choice in the C. cacaofunesta control. Considering this, this work aimed to verify the in vitro antifungal activity of aqueous and alcoholic solutions of Adiantum latifolium leaves on C. cacaofunesta. Plant material was collected at Atlantic Forest biome in cacao cultivation area in South of Bahia state. Aqueous and ethanolic solutions were made by boiling and maceration in 70% ethanol, respectively. After filtration, they were added to culture medium at 1, 5 and 10% dilution. A 7 mm disc colony of C. cacaofunesta was inoculated in the middle of the well containing Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and the mycelial growth was observed. Controls consisted on SDA with sterile water or 70% ethanol at the same dilution of treatments, and Tebuconazole at 4 μg.mL-1. Neither aqueous nor ethanolic solutions inhibited the mycelial growth. However, aqueous solution presence induced a higher mycelial growth rate. Conversely, aqueous solution treatment induced mycelial growth. Tebuconazole showed important mycelial growth inhibition and it could be considered in C. cacaofunesta propagation control in areas where genetic selection or handling management still fail.

Frugivorous butterflies from the Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Abstract: This study aimed to present a list of the species of frugivorous butterflies occurring in Atlantic Forests, in the Conservation Units: National Forest of Chapecó (FLONA), Ecological Station of Mata Preta (ESEC) and State Park of Araucárias (PAEAR) and adjacent forest fragments, located in the western region of the state of Santa Catarina. Three samplings were conducted between December 2017 and March 2018, totaling 24 days of collection in each sampling area. Van Someren-Rydon traps were used to capture frugivorous butterflies. There were 4,231 frugivorous butterflies belonging to four subfamilies, 12 tribes and 49 species. In all, 37 species of frugivorous butterflies were sampled in FLONA and 29 in adjacent forest fragments. In ESEC, 29 species and 33 in adjacent forest fragments. In PAEAR, 33 species and 28 in adjacent forest fragments. Of the total species registered, 15 species are new records for the state of Santa Catarina and 11 are new records for the western region of the state. The most abundant species for FLONA were: Manataria hercyna (Hübner, 1821) and Hermeuptychia sp. In ESEC, were Hermeuptychia sp. and Yphthimoides ordinaria (Freitas, Kaminski & Mielke, 2012). In PAEAR, greater abundance of Forsterinaria quantius (Godart, 1824) and Eryphanes reevesii (Doubleday, 1849) were verified. For the adjacent forest fragments to Conservation Units, there was a greater abundance of Hermeuptychia sp., Moneuptychia soter (Butler, 1877), Morpho epistrophus (Fabricius, 1796) e Forsterinaria quantius (Godart, 1824). Satyrinae presented higher richness (S = 34) and abundance (90.58%) in all areas sampled. The rarefaction and extrapolation curves for the Conservation Units and adjacent forest fragments showed a greater rise in the FLONA and PAEAR sampling units and their adjacent forest fragments. The estimated sampling coverage for Conservation Unit and forest fragments was above 97%. The richness calculated through the Jackknife 1 estimator, for the FLONA and PAEAR samplings, presented a value of 50.75 and 37.09, respectively. The fauna of frugivorous butterflies from this region, first investigated in areas of Conservation Units, showed to be expressive and well represented in the Atlantic Forest Biome, indicating its potential as a refuge for biodiversity.

Classification of South Brazilian grasslands: Implications for conservation

AbstractAimsWe offer a first classification of South Brazilian grasslands (Campos Sulinos) based on quantitative vegetation data and describing grassland types in terms of dominant and indicator species.LocationSouth Brazilian grasslands (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul states).MethodsWe described vegetation plots in 167 sampling units throughout the region using a stratified nested design, totalizing 1,502 1 m² quadrats. We classified vegetation using cluster analysis based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarities, establishing three vegetation types and ten subtypes. We conducted indicator species analysis within the resulting subtypes, and for all possible combinations of subtypes.ResultsIn the cluster analyses, a clear separation of poorly drained grasslands from the drier sites appeared. Further, a clear distinction between grasslands in the South Brazilian highland region, situated in the Atlantic Forest biome, and the grasslands of the Pampa biome, to the south, emerged, reflecting climatic and management differences. Highland grasslands showed lower species cover dominance, while in the Pampa, Paspalum notatum clearly was the most important species and the abundance of exotic species was higher.ConclusionsOur study provides the first classification of South Brazilian grasslands based on quantitative vegetation data recorded in a standardized sampling design. The data support the division of grasslands into the main phytogeographic units of the region (Brazilian biome classification). Grasslands in these two regions also differ in terms of species dominance pattern (higher dominance in Pampa grasslands, likely also due to higher grazing levels) and in terms of conservation state (low presence of exotic species in highland grasslands). Our results are important for conservation policies, which can now consider the presence of different grassland types in different region, but more data will be necessary for a more detailed classification that considers different abiotic features in more detail.

An overview of inventories of gall-inducing insects in Brazil: looking for patterns and identifying knowledge gaps.

We compiled published Brazilian gall-inducing insect inventories aiming to understand trends and biases in this field research and to investigate the factors that potentially explain the diversity of gall-inducing insects among different sampling sites. A total of 51 studies with gall-inducing insect inventories were compiled for Brazil, which sampled 151 sites in 88 municipalities, 13 states and five regions. The number of papers published on gall-inducing insects per year has increased over the last 30 years, being Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) the main galling taxon, Fabaceae the main host-plant family and Protium heptaphyllum (Burseraceae) the most important super-host species in these inventories. We found a great bias in the geographical distribution of Brazilian inventories, with the majority of studies in the Southeast region, and Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. The total richness of gall-inducing insects differed significantly among regions and biomes, with higher gall richnesses being recorded in the North region and Amazon biome. However, Brazilian regions and biomes did not vary in richness of gall-inducing insect morphotypes per plant species. According our results, sampling by cecidologists in less studied regions of Brazil is needed, particularly in the North and South regions and subsampled biomes such as the Amazon, Pampas and Pantanal.

Rhytismataceae in leaf litter of the Atlantic Forest in Southern Bahia, Brazil

Abstract The order Rhytismatales consists of four families (Ascodichaenaceae, Cryptomycetaceae, Cudoniaceae, and Rhytismataceae) and includes saprobes, necrotrophic parasites, and endophytic ascomycetes. Rhytismatales has a wide geographical distribution but has not been well studied in some regions of the world. The present study aimed to identify ascomycetes of the family Rhytismataceae in leaf litter of representative plants of the Atlantic Forest biome at the Biological Reserve in the municipality of Una (Reserva Biológica do Município de Una; REBIO-Una) in Bahia, Brazil. Samples of Inga thibaudiana, Myrcia splendens, and Pera glabrata leaf litter were collected at REBIO-Una in September 2011, April and August 2012, and January 2013 and incubated in a moist chamber. The fungal species were identified using morphological criteria. Three species belonging to the family Rhytismataceae were identified: Coccomyces leptosporus (associated with I. thibaudiana leaf litter), Marthamyces quadrifidus (on M. splendens and P. glabrata leaf litter), and Terriera javanica (associated with M. splendens leaf litter). This is the first record of T. javanica in the Americas, M. quadrifidus in the Brazilian Northeast, and C. leptosporus in southern Bahia.

Validation of microsatellite loci for Balfourodendron riedelianum through analysis of Mendelian inheritance, genetic linkage, and genotypic linkage disequilibrium

Abstract Balfourodendron riedelianum is a tropical tree endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome that is currently endangered due to forest fragmentation and extensive exploitation. Three populations of the species are conserved ex situ in a provenance and progeny test at the Luiz Antônio Experimental Station, São Paulo State, Brazil. To verify if seven microsatellite loci developed for the species can be used as genetic markers in analyses focused on conservation and sustainable use strategies, leaf tissue samples were collected from the three provenances and from 17 seed trees in one provenance. We analyzed Mendelian inheritance and genetic linkage for the 17 seed trees and genotypic linkage disequilibrium for individuals from the three provenances. For six of the seven loci analyzed, all 17 seed trees showed heterozygosity. The inheritance and genetic linkage analyses were performed using respective locus, while the genotypic linkage disequilibrium analysis was performed for the seven loci. After Bonferroni correction, none of the 75 tests showed deviation from Mendelian segregation and genetic linkage, nor did we detect genotypic linkage disequilibrium. The results suggest that six of the seven loci can be used for population genetics studies on B. riedelianum.

Geographic reconstruction of a Central-West Brazilian landscape devastated during the first half of the 20th century: Mato Grosso de Goiás

In the history of humanity, there are various accounts of ecosystems that were devastated to the detriment of scientific knowledge. In Brazil, the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes are emblematic of this phenomenon. Specifically, within the latter, an environment consisting predominantly of savanna, a large tropical forest enclave existed, known as Mato Grosso de Goiás. This ecosystem was almost devastated by the Brazilian land expansion policies during the first half of the 20th century. The objective of this study is to estimate the extent of the original area of the Mato Grosso de Goiás ecosystem through integration of historical and cartographic data using geoprocessing techniques. The original area was estimated around 26,391 km². These data can aid in the planning of conservation policies for the Cerrado biome. In addition, the used methodology can be adapted to similar studies, especially in the field of environmental science.