Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome Research Articles

Evaluation of Methods to Collect Diurnal Culicidae (Diptera) at Canopy and Ground Strata, in the Atlantic Forest Biome.

Simple SummaryAutomatic traps employing CO2 chemical attractants and BG-Lure® (Biogents AG, Regensburg, Germany) were evaluated as an alternative to insect nets, which is the standard method in Brazil for capturing mosquitoes that transmit sylvatic arboviruses. The collections were conducted during the day, in the forest canopy and ground strata, at an environmental reserve in the Atlantic Forest. From the 18 collections conducted, 3570 specimens from 52 taxa were obtained. Nets were the best way to capture insects. The yield was similar in traps with CO2 and traps using CO2 combined with BG-Lure®. CO2 traps can complement collections with nets; however, for species of epidemiological interest in the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, insect nets are still the best method, especially in the canopy.Hand-held insect nets are the standard method for capturing vector mosquitoes of sylvatic arboviruses; however, occupational risks and biases due to individual skill and attractiveness are important limitations. The use of chemical attractants and automatic traps could be an alternative to resolve these limitations. This study compares the yields achieved using nets with those employing electrical traps with CO2 and BG-Lure®, near the ground and in the canopy strata (6.0 and 8.0 m high). The study was conducted at the Cantareira State Park, which is in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. In the 18 collections performed, 3570 specimens of 52 taxa were obtained. The most frequent species captured near the ground were Wyeomyia confusa and Limatus durhamii, whereas Sabethes albiprivus, Sabethes purpureus, and Haemagogus leucocelaenus were the most frequent in the canopy. The nets resulted in greater species richness and abundance, followed by the trap employing CO2. The combination of CO2 traps with BG-Lure® did not improve performance. The use of BG-Lure® alone resulted in low abundance and a low number of species. Our results demonstrate that the use of traps with CO2 can be complementary to collections with nets; however, for species of epidemiological interest such as those of the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, especially in the canopy, the net remains the method of choice.

Pau-brasil and string instrument bows telecouple nature, art, and heritage

The wood of the pau-brasil tree (<em>Paubrasilia echinata</em> Lam., formerly <em>Caesalpinia echinata</em> Lam.) is used worldwide as raw material for the construction of high-quality bows for string instruments. Alternative tree species are rarely accepted by professional musicians, or by bow and violin makers. Historical overexploitation of this endemic species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome (Mata Atlântica), a global biodiversity hotpot including UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites, and illegal trade have caused drastic declines in its natural abundance. Pau-brasil is now classified as an endangered species and listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Traditional bow-making craftsmanship, an intangible cultural heritage, depends heavily on the high-quality pau-brasil wood. This complex situation presents unprecedented cross-continental transdisciplinary challenges. In order to target the protection of this coupled natural/cultural heritage, this work frames and examines the pau-brasil/bow-making cultural-ecological system as a complex telecoupled system linked by cultural ecosystem services provided by the pau-brasil, as well as the relationships and cultural exchanges among key actors. Using historical trajectory analysis, we identify past, present, and potential future trigger events, key drivers, and key system variables that explain the dynamics, feedback, and resilience of this complex multi-dimensional system. Furthermore, with a cross-scale social and power relations analysis, we examine the level of dependencies and influences of contemporary key actors on the ecosystem services provided by the pau-brasil and their interconnections, in order to ultimately identify their level of disadvantage regarding the pau-brasil. Finally, we discuss the potential of this novel cultural-ecological system approach to (i) interlink science, nature, and art, (ii) reconcile the currently competing protection aims of natural and cultural heritage elements, and (iii) provide future trajectories regarding the resilience and sustainable development of this pau-brasil/bow-making cultural-ecological system. We advocate for this novel path forward toward sustainable transformation of complex cultural-ecological systems urgently needed to navigate our increasingly telecoupled world.

Anadenanthera colubrina (Fabaceae) logs in the Atlantic Forest biome: first host plant for Thoracibidion lineatocolle (Col.: Cerambycidae) and a new host for Temnopis megacephala (Col.: Cerambycidae).

Wood-boring beetles develop in live trees and dead wood, performing ecological services such as decomposition and regulation of forest resources. Species of the Cerambycidae family, widely distributed in the world, bore into the trunks of trees and dead wood in native and cultivated areas. The objective is to report the first host plant for Thoracibidion lineatocolle (Thomson, 1865) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and a new host plant for Temnopis megacephala (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Three logs, with one-meter-long by 20 cm in diameter, were cut from the trunk of a healthy Anadenanthera colubrina (Fabaceae) tree in October 2013 and tied in the understory at 1.5m high in the Rio Doce State Park, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The logs, exposed in the forest, were each removed after 40, 80 and 120 days and stored individually in a cardboard box in the "Laboratório de Campo do Projeto de Ecologia de Longa Duração (PELD-CNPq)" in the Rio Doce State Park. A total of 94 individuals of T. lineatocolle and 228 of T. megacephala emerged from the A. colubrina logs. This is the first report of a host plant for T. lineatocolle and a new host plant for T. megacephala.

Vegetation cover monitoring in tropical regions using SAR-C dual-polarization index: seasonal and spatial influences

ABSTRACT An approach to monitor vegetation without the influence of cloud cover and employing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data was developed by the DPSVI (Dual Polarization SAR Vegetation Index), based on Sentinel-1 mission data. However, DPSVI performance in areas of dense vegetation and variation in vegetation classes is unknown. Thus, this paper aimed to investigate the performance of DPSVI in the monitoring of vegetation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome, as well as to propose modifications to improve its capacity to monitor the vegetation and investigate seasonal and spatial influences on the performance of the proposed index (DPSVIm). Three approaches were adopted: 1) use Sentinel-1 and Landsat 8 scenes obtained from four hydrological years (2015–2016 to 2018–2019), to compute monthly DPSVI, DPSVIm, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), and EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) indices, to investigate seasonal influences; 2) perform topographic correction in Landsat 8 and Sentinel-1 data to verify the influence of relief on DPSVIm performance; and 3) confronting DPSVIm with an attribute of Atlantic Forest fragments: the above ground biomass (AGB). The scenes were processed on the Google Earth Engine platform. The DPSVIm was able to better distinguish the vegetation, compared to the DPSVI, mainly in forest planting areas and Atlantic Forest, which evidences the proposed improvements. The rainfall regime made the DPSVIm performance seasonal in comparison with the NDVI and EVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Enhanced Vegetation Index), presenting better agreements in the dry season and worse in the rainy season. There was a greater agreement between DPSVIm and EVI in the results to monitor dense vegetation since EVI does not saturate as NDVI does. Finally, the DPSVIm has a good fit to AGB, being able to distinguish different levels of AGB from 50 to 200 Mg ha, approximately. The study allowed improving the DPSVI making the DPSVIm adequate to quantify vegetation in the study area, even considering the effects of topography and rainfall regime. The latter environmental factor should be addressed in future studies, searching to mitigate this source of temporal uncertainty in DPSVIm.

Early Response of Soil Properties under Different Restoration Strategies in Tropical Hotspot

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest has undergone adverse land-use change due to deforestation for urbanization and agriculture. Numerous restoration initiatives have been taken to restore its ecosystem services. Deforested areas have been restored through active intervention or natural regeneration. Understanding the impact of those different reforestation approaches on soil quality should provide important scientific and practical conclusions on increasing forest cover in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. However, studies evaluating active planting versus natural regeneration in terms of soil recovery are scarce. We evaluate soil dynamics under those two contrasting strategies at an early stage (&lt;10 years). Reforestation was conducted simultaneously on degraded lands previously used for cattle grazing and compared to an abandoned pasture as a reference system. We examined soil physicochemical properties such as: pH, soil organic matter content, soil moisture, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu, Al, and soil texture. We also present the costs of both methods. We found significant differences in restored areas regarding pH, Na, Fe, Mn content, and the cost. Soil moisture was significantly higher in pasture. Our research can contribute to better decision-making about which restoration strategy to adopt to maximize restoration success regarding soil quality and ecosystem services in the tropics.

Scents from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome: chemical composition of essential oils from the leaves and flowers of seven species of Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae)

ABSTRACT Ipomoea alba, I. indica, I. amnicola, I. tiliacea, I. carnea, I. pes-caprae and I. batatas occur in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Essential oils from the leaves and flowers of these plants were analyzed using GC/FID and GC/MS. Ninety-one compounds were identified, accounting for more than 95% of the oils analyzed. Differences in the chemical profile were found among the Ipomoea oils. Greater chemical diversity was found in the leaf oils. β-Caryophyllene (leaves: 7.0 ± 0.6 to 42.1 ± 1.6%; flowers: 6.4 ± 0.8 to 36.5 ± 1.3%) was identified in abundance in all oils. cis-Cadina-1(6),4-diene was another sesquiterpene found in high percentages in the oils (11.8 ± 0.9 to 44.2 ± 1.7%), but was absent from the I. alba oils, in which the major constituent was germacrene D (leaves: 27.8 ± 1.0%; flowers: 45.8 ± 2.0%).

Soil attributes as indicators of the stabilization process of erosion in gullies at different formation stages in the southeast region of Brazil

Water erosion is one of the main forms of soil degradation, causing economic, environmental, and social damage. This study evaluated the effects of different formation stages of gullies (initial - IG; juvenile- JG; mature - MG; and senile - SG) on the chemical, organic carbon and microbiological attributes of soil, using a secondary forest (SF) and two areas of pasture as references in the “Mar de Morros” environment of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Soil samples (depth 0–0.05 m) were collected at the end of the rainy and dry seasons. Gullies in different stages of formation promote a decrease in soil fertility and modification of microbiological attributes, particularly when compared with secondary forest areas. Reductions of over 60% in total organic carbon (TOC), oxidizable organic carbon (POXC), FDA activity, β-glycosidase, acid phosphatase, C and N from microbial biomass, basal soil respiration (BSR) and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) were observed in gullies in early (IG) and intermediate (JG and MG) stages when compared to SF. It was found that the effect of erosion on soil chemical and microbiological attributes is more intense in gullies in the initial and intermediate stages compared with those in the senile stage (SG). Using multivariate PCA, the microbiological and chemical attributes of the soil are discriminated between gullies with distinct formation stages. Chemical attributes, TOC, POXC, FDA activity, β-glycosidase, acid phosphatase, MBC and MBN, BSR, and GRSP are good indicators for evaluating the process of erosion stabilization in gullies.

Potential distribution of piscivores across the Atlantic Forest: From bats and marsupials to large-bodied mammals under a trophic-guild viewpoint

Biodiversity across the Neotropics is a result of selective forces along a myriad of ecosystems. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome embodies 321 mammal species; only a small parcel of the species is considered piscivore. The Atlantic Forest biota is threatened by multiple factors, from habitat loss to climate changes. We aimed to understand the current distribution of the six extant piscivore mammals and the distribution of this trophic guild, predicting their distribution under climate change across the Atlantic Forest and identifying areas for the trophic guild conservation prioritizations. We used data on species occurrence based on the GBIF database and literature, and climatic data from WorldClim. We perform Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) to derive the piscivores distribution and the presence of this trophic guild. Our results reveal that piscivores distribution is already restricted in the present (average 8.84%), even the presence of this trophic guild (6.42%). Trophic guild distribution in the short-term under climate change may represent less than 6.5% across the Atlantic Forest, will be contracting by −30.0%. We conclude that combinations of factors inductors of biodiversity loss will be empowered by climate changes, leading to more restricted species distribution. SDM is fundamental to understand the species distribution to prioritize conservation efforts from local to pan-continental scales, being paramount to slow down the consequences of climate change.

The spider genus Patrera Simon (Araneae: Dionycha, Anyphaeninae) in the Atlantic Forest biome, with the description of one new species from Brazil.

The species of Patrera Simon, 1903 from Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome are revised. With more than 2715 specimens examined, nine species were found and, of these, only one new species is described, Patrera teresopolis n. sp. from state of Rio de Janeiro. The other valid names were described by a single author: Patrera procera (Keyserling, 1891), P. longipes (Keyserling, 1891), P. virgata (Keyserling, 1891), P. cita (Keyserling, 1891), P. tensa (Keyserling, 1891), n. comb., P. opertanea (Keyserling, 1891), n. comb., P. concolor (Keyserling, 1891), n. comb. and P. recentissima (Keyserling, 1891), n. comb. (Later four here transferred from Teudis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) and P. pellucida (Keyserling, 1891), n. comb. (here transferred from Sillus F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900). The males of Patrera opertanea, P. pellucida and P. recentissima are described for the first time. The species Teudis itatiayae Mello-Leitão, 1915 and Sillus delicatus Mello-Leitão, 1922 are synonymized with P. longipes; Osoriella pallidoemanu Mello-Leitão, 1926 is synonymized with P. concolor. All species are described, illustrated and mapped. The known distribution of Patrera procera and P. longipes is expanded to Argentina and that of Patrera procera to Paraguay.

Combining regional to local restoration goals in the Brazilian Atlantic forest

To achieve regional and international large-scale restoration goals with minimum costs, several restoration commitments rely on natural regeneration, a passive and inexpensive strategy. However, natural regeneration potential may vary within the landscape, mainly due to its historical context. In this work, we use spatially explicit restoration scenarios to explore how and where, within a given region, multiple restoration commitments could be combined to achieve cost-effectiveness outcomes. Our goal is to facilitate the elaboration of forest restoration plans at the regional level, taking into consideration the costs for active and passive restoration methods. The approach includes (1) a statistical analysis to estimate the natural regeneration potential for a given area based on alternative sets of biophysical, land cover, and/or socioeconomic factors and (2) the use of a land change allocation model to explore the cost-effectiveness of combining multiple restoration commitments in a given area through alternative scenarios. We test our approach in a strategic region in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome, the Paraiba Valley in São Paulo State. Using the available data for 2011, calibrated for 2015, we build alternative scenarios for allocating natural regeneration until 2025. Our models indicate that the natural regeneration potential of the region is actually very low, and the cost-effectiveness outcomes are similar for all scenarios. We believe our approach can be used to support the regional-level decision-making about the implementation of multiple commitments aiming at the same target area. It can also be combined with other approaches for more refined analysis (e.g., optimization models).

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Two new species of Cunaxidae from Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome are described. Lupaeus stolli Wurlitzer &amp; Ferla sp. nov. was from Varronia curassavica Jacq. (Boraginaceae), on Santa Catarina state, and Rubroscirus grilloi Wurlitzer &amp; Ferla sp. nov. was from Vernonanthura tweediana (Baker) H. Rob., soil and leaf litter, on Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Improving Water Sustainability through Modeling Optimum Sites for Riparian Forest Reforestation

The margins of Brazilian rivers are considered Permanent Preservation Areas—APPs, due to the riparian forest’s water resource preservation capacity. However, a significant portion of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome, in which the Jacaré River basin is located, has suffered increasing deforestation over the past decades. This research aimed to use a methodology integrating Geographic Information System (GIS), fuzzy logic, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and sensitivity analysis to model the selection of riparian protected area stretches that presents the best successful riparian forest reforestation using a real case, the Jacaré river basin, whose characteristics are often in Brazilian watersheds. To identify the main drivers that influence reforestation success, we carried out a broad and detailed bibliographic research. To establish the relative importance among the drivers, we conducted a survey with experts. The results showed that areas with moderate chances of reforestation prevail in the studied region. Due to the areas’ distribution pattern, a significant portion of the best sites were grouped, forming regions that create environments that favor aquatic and riverside life development and ecological balance maintenance, thus bringing together fundamental characteristics to improve water resources sustainability. The best sites have dystrophic or eutrophic soil, with a slope of up to 15%. Besides, they are mainly covered by grass and are close to forest fragments with low vulnerability.

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Two new species of Cunaxidae from Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome are described. Lupaeus stolli Wurlitzer &amp; Ferla sp. nov. was collected from Varronia curassavica Jacq. (Boraginaceae), in Santa Catarina state, and Rubroscirus grilloi Wurlitzer &amp; Ferla sp. nov. from Vernonanthura tweediana (Baker) H. Rob., soil and leaf litter, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Diversity of tomato-infecting begomoviruses and spatiotemporal dynamics of an endemic viral species of the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest biome.

Yield losses induced by a complex of begomoviruses are observed across all major tomato-producing areas in Brazil. Tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV) is the most widespread begomovirus in the country. Conversely, tomato common mosaic virus (ToCmMV) displays a more restricted geographical distribution to areas associated with the Atlantic Rain Forest (ARF) biome, encompassing the States of Espírito Santo-ES, Minas Gerais-MG, and Rio de Janeiro-RJ. Here, we characterized 277 tomato-infecting isolates collected in fields located within the ARF biome from 2006 to 2018. ToSRV displayed the highest prevalence (n = 157), followed by ToCmMV (n = 95) and tomato interveinal chlorosis virus (n = 14). Fourother begomoviruses were also detected, but with very low incidences. ToCmMV was the predominant begomovirus in the ARF biome up to 2014-2015 with very low ToSRV incidence. Subsequently, ToSRV became the most prevalent species in ES and RJ, but ToCmMV was still predominating in the "Zona da Mata" meso-region in MG. Due to the remarkable endemic distribution of ToCmMV, we carried out phylogeographical studies of this virus using information from all 28 available isolates with complete DNA-A sequences. The closest common ancestor of ToCmMV was more likely originated around Coimbra-MG area ≈ 25years before the formal report of this viral species. So far, all surveys indicated tomatoes as the only natural hosts of ToCmMV with outbreaks occurring mainly (but not exclusively) in highland areas. ToSRV shows a more widespread incidence across both highland and lowland areas of the ARF biome.

Diversity of the Ant Genus Neoponera Emery, 1901 (Formicidae: Ponerinae) in the north of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with new Records of Occurrence

Composed of two main forest formations, Ombrophilous Forest and Seasonal Forest, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome is constituted currently by a mosaic of forest remnants and secondary vegetation. Representatives of the Ponerinae ant genus Neoponera are observed mainly in both wet and seasonally dry forests. The aim of this study was to approach the diversity of the genus Neoponera in the north of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil (from the extreme north of its distribution to the Doce River hydrographic basin in the south), associating the occurrence of ant species with the types of vegetation. We have compiled occurrence data from the collection of the Myrmecology Laboratory of the Cocoa Research Center, on internet, or available in literature. We found information on 23 species of Neoponera, including a new record for the Atlantic Forest, Neoponera globularia (Mackay &amp; Mackay, 2010), and a new record for Brazil, Neoponera fiebrigi Forel, 1912. The relative composition of the Neoponera assemblages was evaluated according to the types of vegetation. We found that the occurrence of the genus Neoponera is mainly related to the types of vegetation of the focus region, principally dense forests where a higher diversity was observed.

Kerteszia cruzii and extra-Amazonian malaria in Brazil: Challenges due to climate change in the Atlantic Forest

Kerteszia cruzii is a sylvatic mosquito and the primary vector of Plasmodium spp., which can cause malaria in humans in areas outside the Amazon River basin in Brazil. Anthropic changes in the natural environments are the major drivers of massive deforestation and local climate change, with serious impacts on the dynamics of mosquito communities and on the risk of acquiring malaria. Considering the lack of information on the dynamics of malaria transmission in areas across the Atlantic Forest biome, where Ke. cruzii is the dominant vector, and the impact of climate drivers of malaria, the present study aimed to: (i) investigate the occurrence and survival rate of Ke. cruzii based on the distinct vegetation profiles found in areas across the coastal region of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome; (ii) estimate the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) and survival rates of P. vivax and P. falciparum parasites in Ke. cruzii under current and future scenarios. The potential distribution of Plasmodium spp. was estimated using simulation analyses under distinct scenarios of average temperature increases from 1 °C to 3.7 °C. Our results showed that two conditions are necessary to explain the occurrence and survival of Ke. cruzii: warm temperature and presence of the Atlantic Forest biome. Moreover, both Plasmodium species showed a tendency to decrease their EIP and increase their estimated survival rates in a scenario of higher temperature. Our findings support that the high-risk malaria areas may include the southern region of the distribution range of the Atlantic Forest biome in the coming years. Despite its limitations and assumptions, the present study provides robust evidence of areas with potential to be impacted by malaria incidence in a future scenario. These areas should be monitored in the next decades regarding the occurrence of the mosquito vector and the potential for malaria persistence and increased occurrence.

Can soil phosphorus availability in tropical forest systems be increased by nitrogen-fixing leguminous trees?

Understanding the role of N-fixing leguminous trees for phosphorus (P) cycling in highly weathered tropical soils is relevant for the conservation of natural forests as well as the sustainable management of agroforests and forest plantations with low P input in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest region. We hypothesized that N-fixing leguminous trees can increase the availability of soil P by exploiting different P sources without causing a depletion of soil organic P due to efficient biogeochemical cycling, but empirical evidence remains scarce. For this purpose, 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P NMR) was used for quantifying soil P forms and the Hedley sequential extraction to determine soil P fractions. The studied sites were forestry systems with leguminous trees: mixed forest plantations with different proportions of fast-growing N-fixing leguminous trees; pure plantations, and agroforestry systems with leguminous trees. The results show that all N-fixing leguminous trees and N mineral fertilization positively affected the concentrations of available soil P in relation to the control treatments. There were increases of all P fractions through cycling in all forest sites. 31P NMR spectra clearly identified and quantified that a large amount of phosphomonoesters followed by phosphodiesters in the form of DNA, as well as high reserves of Pi species (ortho-P and pyrophosphate) in the first eleven years of growth at pure plantations, mixed plantations or agroforests. The relations between both ortho-P and DNA with the resin-Pi, NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi fractions suggest that both analysis methods provide complementary information about the soil P transformations. Thus, the paper highlights the importance of the use of different N-fixing leguminous tree species under different environmental conditions, production systems and management practices for recovering heavily degraded areas, which may be a suitable strategy through efficient management of P in highly weathered tropical soils in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome.

Impact Assessment of Timber Harvesting Operations for Enhancing Sustainable Management in a Secondary Atlantic Forest

Conservation and management of forest ecosystems are currently largely conflicting goals in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. At present, all parts of the Atlantic Forest are protected and commercial logging is highly restricted. However, sustainable forest management systems can offer significant income opportunities for landholders, and thereby actively support the process of ecosystem rehabilitation and protection of the Atlantic Forest. This research is intended to contribute to enhancing the development of environmentally sound forest management alternatives in the Atlantic Forest biome. Through a case study, the harvesting impact of a conventional harvesting method (CM) was evaluated and compared with an alternative and improved harvesting method (AM), performed by a well-trained professional chainsaw operator experienced in reduced impact logging techniques, and included the use of a snatch block and a skidding cone. Following a full pre-harvest inventory, 110 different tree species were identified. The harvesting impact on the residual stand was classified and evaluated through a successive post-harvest inventory. Damage maps were developed based on interpolation of tree damage intensities with the triangular irregular networks (TIN) methodology. Our results showed noticeable high rates of tree hang-ups, observed for both harvesting methods. Furthermore, the harvesting damaged trees mainly in the lower diameter at breast height (DBH) classes. In comparison to winching, the felling process caused most of the damage to remnant trees for both methods, at 87% (CM) and 88% (AM). The number of damaged trees (above 11.9 cm DBH) per harvested tree, for CM, ranged from 0.8 trees to 2.5 trees and, for AM, ranged from 0.6 trees to 2.2 trees. Improvements of the AM method (operator skills, skidding cone and snatch block) over CM allowed for a reduction of the damaged basal area, a reduction of the “high damaged area” per plot, and a reduction of the winching disturbed ground area. Nonetheless, a suitable harvesting system should consider further improvements in the felling technique, and additionally integrate the local knowledge of CM regarding forest and tree species with the technical improvements of AM.

Rainfall partitioning measurement and rainfall interception modelling in a tropical semi-deciduous Atlantic forest remnant

Understanding the interaction between the hydrological cycle and native forests is essential to improve watershed management and support ecological services. The objectives of this study were to analyse and evaluate rainfall interception models applied to an ecosystem from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome (BAFB), classified as “Montane Semi-Deciduous Forest.” The variables Gross Rainfall (P) (rainfall that reaches the canopy), Throughfall (Tf), Stemflow (Sf), and Interception Loss (I) were measured from September 2012 to March 2015. Weather variables were quantified above the canopy by a weather station and then used for canopy evaporation estimation. This estimation was based on two approaches: the slope of the linear regression of gross rainfall against interception, or the Gash procedure (Ev1), and the Penman–Monteith equation (Ev2). Two rainfall interception models (Liu and Gash) were employed, using both Ev1 and Ev2. Thirty-two fixed rain gauges were used for Tf measurements and 32 trees were selected across species and diameter at breast height ranges for Sf observations. The revised version of the analytical Gash model underestimated I by -17.5% and -11.1% for Ev1 and Ev2, respectively, resulting in less accurate estimates. Based on these relative errors, the performance of the Gash model was classified as “fair.” The Liu model overestimated I by 5.3% and 11.3% for Ev1 and Ev2, resulting in assessments of “good” and “fair” respectively, and thus indicating improved performance compared to the Gash model. Therefore, the Liu model coupled with Ev1 is preferable for simulation of rainfall interception in semi-deciduous forests of the BAFB. However, slight overestimation bias was observed, and the model requires tweaking with respect to the estimation of forest storage capacity for this ecosystem. Interception loss modelling is a strategic tool for assessing the influence of different weather patterns and forest vegetative features on water balance in semi-deciduous forest ecosystems.

Mesorhizobium atlanticum sp. nov., a new nitrogen-fixing species from soils of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome.

Biological nitrogen fixation performed by diazotrophic bacteria is a vital process for agricultural and environmental sustainability. In recent years, bacterial classification has been based on genomic data, accelerating our understanding about the diversity, and resulting in the description of several new species. In this study, four strains (CNPSo 3140T, CNPSo 3235, CNPSo 3236 and CNPSo 3237) trapped by Phaseolus vulgaris and Mimosa pudica from soil samples of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome (Mata Atlântica) were submitted to polyphasic analysis to investigate their proper classification within the genus Mesorhizobium. The 16S rRNA gene phylogram showed that the strains present sequences identical to those of Mesorhizobium acaciaeand Mesorhizobium plurifarium, not allowing a clear taxonomic classification; however, when using multilocus sequence analysis methodology, the strains were grouped into a well-supported distinct clade, with <94.5 % nucleotide identity with the other species of the genus. The average nucleotide identity of CNPSo 3140T genome showed values below the threshold in relation to the closest species, of 89.75 % with Mesorhizobium plurifariumand of 88.83 % with Mesorhizobium hawassense; the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were 39 and 37.70 % with the same species, respectively. Nodulation gene (nodC) phylogeny positioned the strains in an isolated cluster, showing greater similarity to Mesorhizobiumshonense. All data obtained in this study support the description of the novel species Mesorhizobiumatlanticum sp. nov. The type strain is CNPSo 3140T (=ABIP 206T=LMG 30305T=U1602T), isolated from a nodule of Phaseolus vulgaris.