Forest In Northeastern Brazil Research Articles

Advertisement call variation is related to environmental and geographic distances in two anuran species inhabiting highland forests in northeastern Brazil

AbstractHighlands are of paramount importance to the study of evolution as they are frequently implicated in historical and ecological processes that generate and maintain biological diversity. In northeastern Brazil, sparse rainforest remnants located in highlands north of the São Francisco River are surrounded by the dry and open landscape of the Caatinga biome. Earlier studies suggested that these forests were historical refuges to the rainforest fauna and flora during Pleistocene's climatic cycles. However, it is still unclear whether populations in distinct highlands experienced phenotypic differentiation as a result of adaptation to environmental conditions of each forest remnant. Herein, we used two frog species widely distributed and ecologically different, Dendropsophus oliveirai, a habitat specialist, and Physalaemus cuvieri, a habitat generalist, to investigate the relationships between environmental variation, geographic, genetic, and body size distance with advertisement call variation among populations inhabiting different highlands. Our results indicated that acoustic variation among P. cuvieri populations is strongly influenced by environmental variation, but also by the geographic distance among populations. In D. oliveirai, environment is also the most influent factor on acoustic variation, followed by a lower influence of genetic and morphological variation. Associations between environmental and geographic factors suggest indirect effects of geographic distance on acoustic variation in both species through an environmental gradient. We believe that selective processes and isolation by distance possibly act together in driving interpopulational acoustic variation with habitat‐specific species being more affected by geographic isolation in suitable habitats.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

Activity patterns of domestic dogs and native terrestrial mammals in the Tapacurá Ecological Station, Brazil

Domestic dogs are a threat to biodiversity. We evaluated the activity patterns of domestic dogs and terrestrial mammals in a patch of Atlantic forest in northeastern Brazil. We expected native mammals to change their temporal pattern of activity in the presence of domestic dogs. We installed 16 camera traps in 2019 (January-March) and 16 cameras in 2021 (February-April), with a total effort effort of 640 trap days. We classified the activity of the species as diurnal, cathemeral, nocturnal and crepuscular. We found 274 records of 11 mammal species and overlapping activity between domestic dogs and terrestrial mammals. Coatis and agoutis were strictly diurnal in both years, while domestic dogs presented a catemanal activity pattern in 2021. Aguties and domestic dogs presented a uniform pattern, but coatis did not. Although our findings suggest a limited influence of domestic dogs on terrestrial mammals, vaccination or sterilization programs should be implemented to avoid an increase in the negative impact of dogs on native fauna.

Double mutualism involving Melocactus (Cactaceae) and lizards in the Brazilian Caatinga: Another isolated case or is it an established interaction?

AbstractThis work discusses a fascinating ecological relationship, in which the lizard Tropidurus cocorobensis and the cactus Melocactus violaceus engage in a double mutualism. In this interaction, observed in a Caatinga, a dry tropical forest in Northeastern Brazil, T. cocorobensis feed on the nectar and pollen of M. violaceus, transferring the grains to the stigmas of another flower, acting as a potential pollinator. Additionally, the lizards consume fruits of M. violaceus, helping to disperse the seeds. The concentrated nectar of M. violaceus attracts lizards, and the morphological compatibility between the small pink flowers and the size of T. cocorobensis is important to this double mutualism. The findings mentioned here highlight the importance of Tropidurus lizards in the reproductive success of Melocactus species and provide insights into the coevolution of these species in a seasonal and resource‐scarce environment, like the Caatinga.

Morphological symmetry of Rhipidomys mastacalis (Mammalia, Rodentia, Cricetidae) in fragmented habitats of the Atlantic Forest in Northeastern Brazil: a study on the influence of the environment on an endemic species

Abstract The Brazilian Atlantic Forest has undergone significant transformation, resulting in habitat loss and the endangerment of many species of mammals and other vertebrates. In this study, the presence of fluctuating asymmetry of four anatomical structures of the arboreal rodent Rhipidomys mastacalis was evaluated using geometric morphometrics. The study focused on adult specimens collected in a mosaic of vegetation composed of forested vegetation, occupancy mosaics in forested areas, and cocoa plantations. The results showed significant values of fluctuating asymmetries in all structures and in all areas. The skulls and scapulae showed the highest values of asymmetry in forested vegetation and cocoa plantations, while the mandibles showed the greatest values in forested vegetation, and the pelvis in occupancy mosaics and cocoa plantations. These findings are consistent with previous studies that have evaluated developmental stability in mammals and suggest that high asymmetry values indicate an effect on different phases of ontogeny, which can harm the survival of a species in future generations. Overall, this study provides important insights into the impacts of habitat fragmentation on Rhipidomys mastacalis and highlights the need for conservation efforts to preserve the integrity of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and its diverse range of wildlife.

Review of Community-Based Conservation Initiatives for Protecting a Primary Atlantic Forest Remnant: A Case Study

Effective forest conservation should go hand in hand with collaboration of the surrounding local communities. Bringing advancement and relief to marginalized communities is pivotal for conservation initiatives, with the objective of cultivating a sustainable ecosystem while protecting indigenous biodiversity. The linchpin for developing successful partnerships begins with fostering a shared understanding of the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural environment. This awareness can be nurtured by interactive education and tangible outcomes that illuminate the profound long-term benefits of conscientious environmental stewardship. Therefore, an emphasis on community-driven conservation and environmental education becomes imperative, serving as a conduit for disseminating crucial information, fostering practical knowledge, and nurturing the attitudes and skills essential in the quest for environmental protection and sustainable development. Education, in this context, operates as a reciprocal process, demanding that educators glean insights from the local populace to effectively tailor strategies that elevate and empower them toward sustainable advancement. This dynamic interaction is where capacity development (CD) becomes indispensable. This paper delves into the unfolding of a series of conservation endeavors, initially driven by Anita Studer’s commitment to preserving a fragment of the primary Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil. Evolving into a four-decade educational journey, the actions taken showcase enduring ripple effects across 14 states in Brazil, presenting a comprehensive survey of applied techniques in this unique context. The resources required to achieve collective conservation goals witness a continual upswing, a trend expounded in this paper. Hence, we have chronicled the history, methodology, and projects that transpired in response to the ever-evolving community needs. We will also look at the results and discuss the advancement that ensues following the CBD targets and goals presented at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference.

Quantifying Soil Complexity Using Fisher Shannon Method on 3D X-ray Computed Tomography Scans.

The conversion of native forest into agricultural land, which is common in many parts of the world, poses important questions regarding soil degradation, demanding further efforts to better understand the effect of land use change on soil functions. With the advent of 3D computed tomography techniques and computing power, new methods are becoming available to address this question. In this direction, in the current work we implement a modification of the Fisher-Shannon method, borrowed from information theory, to quantify the complexity of twelve 3D CT soil samples from a sugarcane plantation and twelve samples from a nearby native Atlantic forest in northeastern Brazil. The distinction found between the samples from the sugar plantation and the Atlantic forest site is quite pronounced. The results at the level of 91.7% accuracy were obtained considering the complexity in the Fisher-Shannon plane. Atlantic forest samples are found to be generally more complex than those from the sugar plantation.

Janusia anisandra (A. Juss.) Griseb (Malpighiaceae): The first case of enantiostyly in oil‐flower species

AbstractEnantiostyly is a floral polymorphism characterized by style deflection to the right and left, which results in flowers with mirror images. To date, enantiostyly occurs only in species that offer pollen or nectar as floral resource. Here we describe the first case of enantiostyly in an oil‐flower species. Janusia anisandra (A. Juss.) Griseb (Malpighiaceae) shows right and left‐styled flowers in individuals occurring in an area of tropical dry forest in Northeastern Brazil. We described the floral morphology, investigate the reproductive system, and made focal observations of flower visitors behaviour. J. anisandra has morphological traits that are part of the floral conservatism found in the neotropical species of Malpighiaceae, which preserves features that are decisive for the interaction with oil‐collecting bees of the Centridini tribe, performing a highly specialized pollination system. The six stamens (two major and four smaller), located in the center of the flower, characterizes heteranthery, an intrafloral polymorphism, in which the stamens differ in shape, size, and function and is commonly associated with enantiostyly. We identified the two floral morphs in the same individual, characterizing a monomorphic enantiostyly; each of the morphs differs by lateral displacement of the style to the right or to the left, always accompanied by one larger stamen. The species is moderately self‐compatible. Four species of solitary bees of the genus Centris were registered visiting the two morphs of J. anisandra flowers. Centris aenea and C. fuscata were the main pollinators, performing 65% of the visits. This new discovery of a classical monomorphic enantiostyly in J. anisandra opens the way for investigations in the evolution of this system in oil‐secreting flowers.

Pollen Niche from Tetrapedia diversipes Klug (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Tetrapediini) in a Brazilian Semi-deciduous Lowland Forest

Tetrapedia diversipes Klug (Apidae) is a solitary bee with wide geographical distribution. Females of this species usually nest in pre-existing cavities and although their biology is relatively well known, studies on their trophic niche are still scarce. Thus, the present study aimed to identify the plant species used in the diet of immature T. diversipes through the analysis of residual pollen material. The nests used in the study were obtained through the use of trap nests during the period between December 2014 and October 2015, distributed in an area of coastal forest in northeastern Brazil. For the study of the trophic niche, samples of post-emergency residue (feces) from cells of offspring of males (n = 31) and females (n = 66) of T. diversipes were analyzed. In total, 29 pollen types were identified in the feeding of T. diversipes, being of the pollen types identified, only seven were not used by both sexes. Although a significant difference was found in the amplitude in the trophic niche between the sexes, there was a high overlap for Horn-Morisita index (CH = 0.989), with no significant difference being found in the frequency distribution of male and female food items (D = 0.214; p = 0.341). In this study we concluded that the diet of T. diversipes in coastal forest is polyletic, similarly to the pattern found in other studies of pollen resources in different vegetation in Brazil, with a predominance of pollen from the families Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae and Onagraceae.

New records on Fomitiporia and Fuscoporia (Hymenochaetaceae) in areas of the Atlantic Forest in Northeastern Brazil

During collections carried out in the Atlantic Forest in Northeastern Brazil, specimens belonging to Fomitiporia and Fuscoporia were collected. The morphological and molecular analyses of ITS and nLSU regions confirmed that they represent Fomitiporia conyana, Fo. maxonii, Fo. neotropica, Fuscoporia atlantica, Fu. formosana, Fu. licnoides and Fu. scruposa, some of them new records for areas of Atlantic Forest in Brazil as well as for the states of Alagoas, Bahia and Pernambuco.

Aboveground biomass estimation in dry forest in northeastern Brazil using metrics extracted from sentinel-2 data: Comparing parametric and non-parametric estimation methods

Caatinga is a dry forest, which occupies almost one million square kilometers in the Brazilian territory, representing more than 11% of the territory. However because of the extensive areas to be inventoried and the difficulties in collecting data from this natural vegetation using traditional techniques, the operation becomes very costly, often resulting in low sampling intensity owing to cost and time constraints. Therefore, remote sensing tools have become very useful for minimizing the difficulties caused by traditional methods. Given this context, our study aims to evaluate the performance of spectral and texture variables extracted from an MSI/Sentinel-2 image in the estimation and mapping of AGB in a fragment (natural vegetation area) of Caatinga vegetation in northeastern Brazil. The original reflectance values, the ratio between spectral bands, vegetation indices, texture metrics (extracted from the 3 × 3, 5 × 5, 7 × 7, and 9 × 9-pixel windows), and fraction images (proportion of the vegetation, soil, and shadow/water components) were associated with AGB. These variables were derived from a forest inventory with systematic sampling composed of 40 plots of 900 m2 each. We evaluated the estimates using a parametric model of multiple linear regression (MLR) and a non-parametric model of an artificial neural network (ANN). The texture metrics (angular second moment, correlation, entropy, and contrast), extracted in a 7 × 7-pixel window, were the best predictors. The parametric model was the most accurate for AGB estimation. The MLR and ANN techniques showed bias validation of 2.58% and 2.79%, and relative root mean square errors of 12.02% and 16.60%, respectively. AGB estimates ranged from 1.49 Mg ha−1 to approximately 73 Mg ha−1 on the MLR and ANN maps. The textural metrics showed the potential to accurately predict AGB, providing valuable information for the use of open access data. Such information is very useful in the management of natural resources in large areas, such as the Caatinga vegetation. The use of optical data for AGB estimation in the region is relatively unexplored and this study contributes to filling that gap or better understand their application for deriving AGB in a dry forest in the semiarid region of Sergipe.

Teenagers’ ecological knowledge about dry forests in Northeastern Brazil: theoretical and practical implications in ethnobiology

Teenagers’ ecological knowledge about dry forests in Northeastern Brazil: theoretical and practical implications in ethnobiology

Differences in climate-growth relationships between two tree species that co-occur in a seasonally dry tropical forest in Northeastern Brazil

Seasonally dry tropical forests are an important global climate regulator and represent one of main drivers of carbon sink dynamics. However, projections of climate change suggest future productivity losses and negative impacts on forest functioning. Understanding the interaction between climate variability and tree growth responses between species with different growth strategies represents a crucial challenge to forecast ecosystem functioning in the future. Here we used tree ring chronology to evaluate changes in growth and climate sensitivity of two tropical tree species that co-occur in a seasonally dry tropical forest in Brazil: Cedrela odorata and Ceiba glaziovii. Using Pearson correlations and linear regressions we explored how growth variability is correlated with local (precipitation, temperature) and global (ocean temperature and El Niño Southern Oscillation - ENSO) climatic factors. Tree growth was closely related with precipitation in C. odorata (r = 0.59) and C. glaziovii (0.24). Differences were found at monthly level, which C. odorata showing greater sensitivity in the beginning of rainy season. The South Atlantic Temperature was positively correlated with C. odorata, while ENSO was negatively correlated. Our results showed a dominant effect of precipitation on tree growth and suggest that are different growth strategies among species, which C. odorata being the most sensitive to drought and C. glaziovii more adapted with parenchyma in trunk. Therefore, C. odorata is probably more vulnerable to the deleterious effects of future climate change than C. glaziovii. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the climate sensitivity of different seasonally dry tropical forest species, which is critical to predicting carbon dynamics in tropical regions. These also reveal that differences in sensitivity must be considered when prioritizing conservation measures for seasonally dry tropical forests.

The role of seed rain and soil seed bank in the regeneration of a Caatinga dry forest following slash-and-burn agriculture

Land-use changes have contributed to an increased interest in understanding the drivers of forest regeneration in human-modified landscapes. This is particularly true for arid ecosystems, in which regeneration is relatively less known, but more sensitive to land-use intensification and climate change. This paper aims to identify the relative contribution of seed rain and soil seed banks for the regeneration of the Caatinga dry forest in northeastern Brazil as well as their drivers. We monitored seed rain and soil seed bank of woody plant species during a 14-month period across 15 regenerating (4–70 yr old) and 5 old-growth forest stands. Stand age, precipitation, chronic anthropogenic disturbance, and forest aboveground biomass were our explanatory variables. A total of 5081 seeds from 61 species were recorded in the seed rain across all forest stands (1.81 intact seeds per m2 per month). Regenerating and old-growth stands did not differ relative to average seed rain scores, with the proportion of zoochoric seeds positively associated with forest biomass. In the seed bank, we recorded a total of 5660 seeds from 64 species (5.05 intact seeds per m2 per month), with no differences among stands, except for species richness; with mean seed size positively associated with stand age. Collectively, seed rain and seed bank captured only 40% of the woody regional flora, mostly dry-fruited species (70% of all species). Moreover, assemblages were dominated by a few hyper-abundant species. Our results suggest that the Caatinga dry forest supports relatively low-density and impoverished seed rain and soil seed bank. Additionally, seed rain and soil seed bank do not exhibit directional changes through forest regeneration for most of the attributes, and deviate little from the scores of old-growth forest stands. Compared to resprouting, they may pose limited influence on woody plant recruitment and dry forest regeneration across human-modified landscapes. In this context, Caatinga restoration approaches based on natural seed rain and soil seed banks may be of limited effectiveness.

Discovery of Backusella paraconstricta sp. nov. (Mucorales, Mucoromycota) in an upland forest in northeastern Brazil with an identification key for Backusella from the Americas

Discovery of Backusella paraconstricta sp. nov. (Mucorales, Mucoromycota) in an upland forest in northeastern Brazil with an identification key for Backusella from the Americas

Two New Species of Backusella (Mucorales, Mucoromycota) from Soil in an Upland Forest in Northeastern Brazil with an Identification Key of Backusella from the Americas.

During a survey of Mucorales from a forest located in Pernambuco state, Brazil, two new Backusella species were discovered and described based on morphological and molecular data (internal transcribed spacer and large subunit ribosomal DNA sequences). Both species were characterized as unbranched sporangiophores and sporangia with columellae of varied shapes forming. Multispored sporangiola were frequent, whereas unispored sporangiola were rare. URM 8395 forms sporangiophores that may support hyaline, slightly curved or circinate pedicels with multispored sporangiola at their apical portion, and abundant giant cells and chlamydospores. Columellae of sporangia are hyaline, conical (majority), or ellipsoidal with a truncate base, globose to subglobose or subglobose to conical, and, rarely, with slight medial constriction. URM 8427 does not form sporangiola from pedicels, giant cells are not observed, and columellae of sporangia are globose to subglobose, cylindrical with a truncate base, some with a slight constriction, applanate, obovoid, ellipsoidal, or, rarely, conical. Some columellae may have one side more swollen than the other and some are arranged obliquely on the sporangiophores. Sterile sporangia may or may not be formed on short sporophores. The detailed description and illustration of both novel species as well as an identification key for Backusella from the Americas are provided.

Coalescent simulations indicate that the São Francisco River is a biogeographic barrier for six vertebrates in a seasonally dry South American forest

The riverine barrier hypothesis has been extensively explored in Neotropical rainforests, while its importance in drier regions such as the Caatinga, a seasonally dry tropical forest in northeastern Brazil, has only recently received more attention. The Caatinga is bisected by the São Francisco River (SFR), which has long been suggested to be an important biogeographic feature in the region. However, recent studies have found mixed support for the role of the SFR as a hard barrier, most of them relying on the presence or absence of genetic breaks congruent with its course. Here, we used published multilocus and next-generation data from six vertebrate species to test the SFR’s strength as a barrier. Using model-based approaches (approximate Bayesian computation and supervised machine learning), we tested demographic models incorporating full, intermediate, and zero migration across the SFR, estimating divergence times and migration rates for each species. We found support for the SFR’s role as a barrier, allowing gene flow for some species. Estimated divergence times varied among species but are limited to the late Pleistocene, coherent with one of several proposed paleocourse changes in the river’s geological history. Contrary to the mixed results of previous studies, our study supports the SFR as an important phylogeographic barrier across different taxonomic groups, driving diversification in the Caatinga.

Bahiana, a new Euphorbiaceae (Acalyphoideae) genus from seasonally dry forest in northeastern Brazil, corroborated by molecular and morphological evidence

AbstractAfter discovering an unknown Euphorbiaceae with an unusual combination of morphological characters, molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted to evaluate the phylogenetic position of the plant. Results of the analyses support the recognition of a resolved lineage sister to a clade comprising Caryodendron, which is sister to the Adenophaedra + Bernardia clade in subfamily Acalyphoideae. The phylogenetic position of this taxon is also supported by morphology, justifying the description of a new genus and species, Bahiana pyriformis, from the Caatinga seasonally dry forest, in Bahia State, Brazil. We compare morphological characters and discuss the phylogenetic relationships of these four genera, here treated as the Bernardia clade, as well as the possible relationship this clade has with genus Avellanita and tribe Plukenetieae.

The defense repertoire of males of Leptodactylus vastus Lutz 1930 in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil

Anurans present different defence mechanisms against predator attacks. There are more than 30 defence strategies that these animals can display in the different environments where they can be preyed upon. We analysed the defence repertoire of the species Leptodactylus vastus Lutz 1930, including the male distress call and its intra and interindividual coefficients of variation. We carried out this study in a fragment of Semideciduous Atlantic Forest at the Camocim Conservation Unit in the metropolitan region of Recife, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. The defensive displays of 30 males to different stimuli simulating a predator were analysed. We observed five types of strategies which were used by these animals separately or concomitantly: puffing up the body (100%), push movement (83.3%), distress call (33.3%), hiding (23.3%), cloacal discharge (16.6%) and spine aggression (6.6%). The analysis of intra and interindividual coefficient of variation showed that there was no acoustic variation in the distress call of this species. Understanding the defensive mechanisms of a species is important to identify the antipredatory strategies used by animals, especially in face of emerging threats, and to help to produce proposals for the conservation of neotropical species.

Chronic anthropogenic disturbances and aridity negatively affect specialized reproductive traits and strategies of edible fruit plant assemblages in a Caatinga dry forest

Chronic anthropogenic disturbances and climate change are the main threats to biodiversity, acting as potential drivers of assembly reorganization in human-modified tropical landscapes. We aimed to understand how the reproductive traits of edible fruit plant assemblages respond to chronic disturbances and aridity in the Caatinga, a dry forest in northeastern Brazil housing a human population that greatly depends on natural resources for subsistence and is threatened by increasing aridity. The study was carried out across 20 permanent plots of Caatinga, covering gradients of chronic disturbances (livestock grazing, wood extraction and non-timber product exploitation) and aridity (1051 mm to 664 mm). We registered 24 native plant species with fruits that are edible for humans, which were classified according to their flowering/fruiting pattern, floral size and reward, sexual and reproductive systems, pollination systems, and fruit types. They were also grouped into two categories of reproductive strategies (generalists and specialists). We documented that chronic disturbances and aridity pose more negative than positive effects on the reproductive traits of edible fruit plants in terms of trait richness (negative: 29% of the traits; positive: 3.2%) and abundance (negative: 19.3%; positive: 3.2%). In general, we observed that 79.2% of the studied species had at least one reproductive trait that was negatively reduced by increased chronic disturbance and/or aridity in terms of trait richness and abundance. Overall, 75% of the edible fruit species have specialized reproductive strategies that were negatively affected by chronic disturbances and/or aridity. Specifically, individual or combined effects of chronic anthropogenic disturbances or aridity negatively impacted the richness and abundance of specialized reproductive traits such as supra-annual flowering and fruiting patterns and obligatory cross-pollinated edible fruit species. Also, in terms of richness, the reproductive functional diversity of specialized reproductive strategies was negatively affected by increasing aridity. Our findings indicate that in the expected future scenarios of increased land-use and climate change, the Caatinga could face a collapse in the offer of edible fruits to local human communities by impacting the provision of this ecosystem service.

Landscape Transformations and loss of Atlantic Forests: challenges for conservation

Regions of intense fragmentation and landscape transformation can indicate patterns of conversion of forest areas in space and time, challenging the resilience of ecosystems and driving the degradation of natural resources. In this study, we analyzed the dynamics of use, loss, and gain of Atlantic forests in the southern region of Bahia State in the last thirty-four years (1985–2019) based on pre and post-implementation of forest production policies. The area has ecological, historical, and cultural importance, and is the most conserved portion of the Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil. From the remote sensing products of the MapBiomas Project and spatial analyses of land use and forests, we evaluated a conflicted region that has 751 km of coastline and seventy municipalities. Our results indicate a degraded landscape, with 59% of the territory occupied by anthropogenic activities and intense fragmentation. The planting of eucalyptus forests and pasture stood out as landscape modifiers. The results show a loss of 328,595 ha of Atlantic Forest in the period under study, with a large part of this area being replaced by planted forests of Eucalyptus sp derivated the policies economics of the sector. It is urgent to consider the recovery of the Atlantic domain, prioritizing the capacity of ecosystems, especially in the Decade of Restoration.