Semideciduous Forest Fragment Research Articles

Regeneração natural em fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Semidecidual em Sergipe, Brasil

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a florística, fitossociologia e similaridade florística entre o estrato regenerativo de duas áreas de um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Semidecidual, em diferentes estágios sucessionais (inicial e avançado), no município de São Cristóvão, SE. Para a avaliação da regeneração natural das espécies arbóreas foram alocadas de forma sistemática 10 parcelas de 10 m2 (2 m x 5 m) em cada área. Organizou-se a inventariação de todos os indivíduos regenerantes, em um nível de inclusão menor ou igual a 15 cm. Calcularam-se os parâmetros da estrutura horizontal, diversidade de Shannon, equabilidade de Pielou e similaridade florística entre as áreas estudadas. A floresta em estágio avançado de sucessão tem maior número de espécies, pertencentes ao grupo clímax na sucessão, porém as espécies com maior número de indivíduos são pioneiras nas duas áreas. A menor incidência de luz na regeneração natural da floresta em estágio avançado de sucessão resultou em uma maior densidade de espécies da regeneração. As duas áreas tiveram similaridade florística e de diversidade.

Soil Microbial Biomass as an Edge Effect Indicator in Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest Fragments

ABSTRACT This work had the objective to evaluate the activity and microbial biomass of the soil as an indicator of edge effect in Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest fragments. Three fragments of different sizes (small, medium and large) located in the Southwest region of Bahia state were evaluated, in which three sampling ranges were defined in each, and soil samples were collected. The carbon and nitrogen contents of the microbial biomass were determined by the fumigation-extraction method and soil respiration. The microbial biomass carbon (MBC), metabolic carbon quotient (qCO2) and the microbial C:N and MBC:C ratios were discriminating indicators of the edge effect on the soil quality of the studied forest fragments. The integrated analysis of soil microbiological attributes is adequate to evaluate the edge effect in forest fragments. The size of the fragments and their isolation influence the MBC contents, showing greater vulnerability of the smaller fragments in relation to the actions of the external environment.

Edaphic Macrofauna as Indicator of Edge Effect in Semi-deciduous Forest Fragments

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the edge effect using the macrofauna community of the soil as indicator in three fragments of Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest in the city of Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil. Three sampling ranges denominated edge, transition and interior were delimited in each fragment. The macrofauna community was sampled at two seasons of the year (dry and wet). Monoliths were collected from soil at 10 cm depth in each range. The density and richness of the fauna, as well as the Shannon diversity index and the Pielou equitability index, were calculated. It was observed that the edge effect is expressed from the presence/absence of orders of individuals in the different fragment ranges, with no interference in the density, average wealth or number of individuals in each group. The edaphic community presents higher density and average richness in the dry period within the transition and interior range of the fragments.

News from the west: the orchid bees from Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Euglossina)

Abstract: Orchid bees were surveyed at Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, the largest remnant of Seasonal Semideciduous Forest in Brazil. Seven species were collected, and Eufriesea violacea (Blanchard) was the most common species, followed by Euglossa annectans Dressler. The observed species richness and species composition agree with what is known for the local euglossine faunas in fragments of Seasonal Semideciduous Forest of southern and southeastern Brazil. On the other hand, the abundance of individuals was remarkably low. The occurrence of a severe winter in 2013 and the collection of several males in other fragments suggest that this noteworthy low abundance can be fortuitous.

Competition Indexes to Evaluate Tree Growth in a Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest

ABSTRACT Most of the studies that analyze the behavior of tree competition approach even-aged plantations. Therefore, it is possible to notice a lack of this kind of information regarding natural forests with high biodiversity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the competition in a fragment of Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest, according to the ecologic group, light depending and non-depending groups for all species sampled in the fragment. The Distance Independent Competition Index and Semi-Distance Independent Competition Index were applied in this study. The basal area in larger trees index, without the radius of influence, was the most efficient to analyze how the competition affects the growth of the specimens in the studied fragment. It was stated that evaluating the competition per ecologic group is more efficient. The results confirm that the forest competition cannot be determined by considering only a fixed radius of influence that embraces the neighbors and the subject tree.

Anthropic disturbances as the main driver of a semideciduous seasonal forest fragment in Minas Gerais

Abstract The new environmental conditions imposed by disturbance events often create a mosaic of spots in different successional stages. Our objective was to describe the temporal variation of a semideciduous seasonal forest based on its anthropic disturbance history, verifying possible changes in forest dynamics and structure. We sampled the arboreal vegetation with a diameter at breast height (1.3 m above the ground; DBH) ≥ 5 cm in 15 permanent plots of 20 × 20 m where we performed four inventories (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2015). We observed a density decrease and a basal area increase, which indicates the late successional stage of the analyzed tree community. The phytosociological structure, richness and species diversity of the tree community did not show changes throughout the monitoring. However, the Protium spruceanum predominance may be a response to the environmental changes caused by the mining occurred in the area 250 years ago. The anthropic disturbances enduring influences make this type of work indispensable because it allows the ecological processes understanding, allowing a factual management of the forests by the its effective management and conservation.

Edge Effect on the Litter Production of a Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest Fragment

ABSTRACT The edge effect makes forest communities more susceptible to changes and may cause changes in different ecosystem characteristics such as litter production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the edge effect on the contribution of litter and its temporal variation in a Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest fragment located in Vitoria da Conquista, BA, Brazil. Four sampling ranges were delimited in the forest fragment: edge (0-10 m from the edge), transition 1 (40-50 m from the edge), transition 2 (80-90 m from the edge) and interior (400-410 m from the edge). The produced litter was collected monthly. The main litter components were leaves and branches in all sampling ranges. The contribution of the other fractions obeyed different orders at the edges (bark > reproductive structures) and interior (reproductive structures > bark). The edge effect did not influence the contribution of total litter and its temporal variation, only manifesting in the production of reproductive structures.

EDGE EFFECT ON CHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES OF SOIL IN A SEASONAL FOREST

ABSTRACT The magnitude of changes in soil attributes can be used to identify the effects of natural or anthropogenic interference on forest fragments. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical attributes of the soil as indicators of the edge effect at a Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest fragment in the Southwest of Bahia, Brazil. Four sampling ranges were defined in the forest fragment (Range 1: 0-10m; Range 2: 40-50 m; Range 3: 80-90 m; and Range 4: 400-410 m from the edge). A degraded native pasture area was used as the reference. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm. The samples were analyzed for pH and organic matter, P, K, Ca, Mg and Al. The superficial layer of the soil was sensitive to the changes imposed by the fragmentation, reflecting modifications in some of its chemical attributes up to a distance of 90 m from the edge towards the interior of the fragment, with more severe effects in the first 10 meters. Soil organic matter, potential acidity, CEC and pH were the most affected attributes, evidencing a gradient of variation in the edge-interior direction.

CARBON STOCK GROWTH IN A SECONDARY ATLANTIC FOREST

ABSTRACT The secondary Atlantic forests play an important role in the context of climate change, acting as a carbon sink for the atmosphere. However, these forests can become a carbon source in case of increased tree mortality. Knowing this change is possible through continuous forest inventories that provide information on the dynamics of tree growth. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the carbon growth dynamics of a Seasonal Semideciduous Forest fragment, with 44.11 ha, located in the Parque Tecnológico de Viçosa - MG. The forest inventories were carried out in twenty plots of 10 m x 50 m, in the years of 2010 and 2015, where all stems with dbh ≥ 5 cm were measured, botanically identified and classified in ecological groups. The stem volume was obtained through volumetric equation. Biomass and carbon stock were quantified for compartments located above the ground (stem, branches and leaves) and below ground (roots). The dynamics of carbon growth were evaluated by Gross Increment (GI) and Periodic Annual Increment in carbon of the species (PAI). The GI was 12.72 MgC ha-1, including the carbon from the stems that were recruited and died during the monitoring period. The carbon stock increased 10.01 MgC ha-1, resulting in an PAI of 2.00 MgC ha-1 year-1. Thus, it is concluded that the forest fragment present positive carbon stock growth due to successional progression, ratifying the importance of secondary forest of the Atlantic forest in the mitigation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Assessing the effect of urbanization on tropical forest dwelling teiid lizards

Urbanization causes marked changes in the landscape usually detrimental for wildlife. There is, thus, a pressing need to understand how wildlife respond to these changes. Here we evaluate the occurrence of large sized teiid lizards (Ameiva ameiva, Tupinambis marianae and Kentropyx calcarata) and the density of K. calcarata inhabiting urban and non-urban forest fragments. We address the question whether urbanization and fragment size influence population persistence and density. We expected that K. calcarata would be found at higher density in smaller fragments due to an abundance of resources and lower predation pressure. We conducted a survey of five urban fragments (range: 5–515 ha) and of one control non-urban fragment (over 1000 ha) of semi-deciduous Atlantic forest in Paraiba, NE Brazil. We surveyed a total of 44 transects and used distance sampling to estimate the density. We recorded a total of 61 K. calcarata with an estimated density of 3.76 ind/ha (95% CI: 3.0–4.65) in the urban fragment and 5.57 Ind/ha (95% CI: 3.7–8.3) in the non-urban fragment. Contrary to our expectations, K. calcarata was not observed in the small urban fragments nor were A. ameiva. In non-urban areas K. calcarata respond to fragmentation with a marked increase in abundance. Urban forest fragments are subject to several anthropogenic disturbances that could contributed to the decline and local extinction of teiid lizards. We suggest teiid lizards might be good indicators of environmental health in small urban forest fragments and monitoring of their population might provide information for management and conservation.

Low trophic niche overlap among trap-nesting bee species (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in a semideciduous forest fragment

Bees are important components of mutualistic interactions with plants, playing a key role as pollinators of both wild and crop plants. In this context, studies on the plants visited by bees are important to determining conservation strategies. We investigated the use of floral resources by the trap-nesting bee species sampled in a semideciduous forest fragment. Trap nests were set in the forest fragment in three different zones: forest edge, 250 m away from the edge and 500 m away from the forest edge. Pollen analysis of the residual pollen content removed from the nests of 12 bee species revealed a total of 63 pollen types from 16 botanical families. The bee community showed specialized populations with no overlap in diet. Within the community, the diet overlap was higher in closely related species, the two Tetrapedia species and the two Centris (Heterocentris) species, than in the other sampled species. Although the studied bee community is composed of widespread bee species, our data showed a low niche overlap among them, suggesting the occurrence of food niche partitioning at our study site. The asymmetry in the period of nesting activities and floral preferences among the bee species are factors that might have contributed to the low niche overlap observed.

Mammals recorded in isolated remnants of Atlantic Forest in southern Goiás, Brazil

Abstract: Habitat fragmentation is one of the principal causes of the decline of species worldwide, and the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Cerrado savanna biomes are among the most severely affected by this process. While highly fragmented, remnants of Atlantic Forest can still be found within the Cerrado domain of southern Goiás, where previous studies have revealed high levels of biodiversity. To inventory the mammalian species that occur in the region, two fragments of semideciduous Atlantic Forest were sampled between 2011 and 2016, using line transect surveys and camera trapping. A total of 1016 records were obtained of 30 mammal species, of which eleven are under some threat of extinction. The species richness recorded on this study was similar to or higher than the values reported from other areas of Goiás, which reinforces the importance of the maintenance of these remnants, located in private properties, for the conservation of the region's mammals.

Anthurium narae—A new species of Araceae from a small forest fragment in southeastern Brazil

Anthurium narae is described from the state of Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil. It occurs in a small forest fragment of semideciduous seasonal montane forest, a component of Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Descriptions, illustrations, photographs and comparison with other similar species of Anthurium sect. Urospadix are provided together with comments about geographical distribution, ecology, phenology, and conservation status.

Anthurium narae—A new species of Araceae from a small forest fragment in southeastern Brazil

Anthurium narae is described from the state of Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil. It occurs in a small forest fragment of semideciduous seasonal montane forest, a component of Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Descriptions, illustrations, photographs and comparison with other similar species of Anthurium sect. Urospadix are provided together with comments about geographical distribution, ecology, phenology, and conservation status.

Opportunistic predation on birds trapped in mist nets in two areas in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACTMist netting is the most popular method for capturing birds, but it can increase the predation rates of individuals trapped in the nets. From 2008 to 2017, we recorded eight instances of opportunistic bird predation from mist nets (MNs) in a matrix mixing restored forest and fragments of semideciduous seasonal forest in southeastern Brazil, three times (37.5%) by exotic primates and five times (62.5%) by birds of prey. Overall predation rates (1.17–1.20%) at these two sites were considered high but were lower than in other Brazilian studies. Placing MNs near the edges of forest fragments may have allowed attacks by either forest predators or marmosets, which are exotic edge species. Some previously described precautions may decrease the predation rates of birds in MNs, such as shorter observation intervals, greater attention to given site selection and maintaining a safe distance between the MNs and the ground.

Seasonal variation in gas exchange by plants of Erythroxylum simonis Plowman

ABSTRACT Erythroxylum simonisis an understory species found in Northeast Brazil. Due to its shaded habitat,E. simonisis subjected to seasonal oscillations of the environment, to which it must respond ecophysiologically. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of seasonality on the ecophysiology ofE. simonis in a fragment of Seasonal Semideciduous Forest. Leaf area index, visible sky fraction and photosynthetically active radiation were measured for 10 individuals during the dry and rainy seasons. Soil moisture, temperature and monthly precipitation were measured, as well as photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, internal CO2concentration, transpiration, instantaneous water use efficiency, instantaneous carboxylation efficiency and chlorophyll content. Ecophysiological variables were correlated with environmental variables, with a greater association of rainfall and soil moisture with stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthetic rate, indicating that water availability has an effect on the ecophysiology ofE. simonis. With the exception of instantaneous carboxylation efficiency, gas exchange exhibited significant differences among the months studied, with the highest values being for months with greater water availability, thus showing that the ecophysiology of the species responds to seasonal changes throughout the year.

Identification of Wood Deteriorating Fungi in a Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest Fragment

Identification of Wood Deteriorating Fungi in a Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest Fragment

Ferns and Lycophytes from fragments of semideciduous forest in central Espírito Santo, Brazil

Abstract This study presents a checklist of lycophytes and ferns from secondary semideciduous forests in São João de Petrópolis, Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo, Brazil. We recorded 37 species (four lycophytes and 33 ferns) belonging to nine families and 17 genera. Selaginella is the only genus representing lycophytes whereas Adiantum, Anemia and Asplenium are the main representative genera for ferns. Most species are lithophytes (48.6%) or terrestrial (21.6%). Epiphytes are scarce (8.2%), and we did not record any arborescent, hemiepiphyte or scandent species. Climate seasonality, reduced size of forest fragments, and disturbance history may explain the low richness in the site. We recorded the occurrence of a regionally threatened fern species, namely, Asplenium austrobrasiliense, and revealed the first record of Asplenium otites in Espírito Santo. This demonstrates the biological relevance of semideciduous forest remnants in Espírito Santo and reinforces arguments for their effective protection.

First record of Poekilloptera phalaenoides found on Tachigali vulgaris (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) in southwestern of Goiás, Brazil

The leafhopper Poekilloptera phalaenoides L. (Auchenorrhyncha: Flatidae) is a very important species in agriculture because it causes damages and economic losses in agricultural activities. In observing fragments of semi-deciduous forest, riparian forest and cerrado forest (Cerradão) in Jataí, Montividiu and Paraúna in the southwest of the state of Goiás during the month of January 2012, were observed natural populations of Tachigali vulgaris (carvoeiro-branco). In the southwest of Goiás, an important agricultural region of the country, little is known about the damage caused to commercial crops by the leafhopper treated in this work, but here we call attention to the action of an agricultural pest interacting negatively with the native vegetation. The presence of P. phalaenoides in the Cerrado is already known, but the presence of the spittlebug in the southwest of the state of Goiás in T. vulgaris, especially in a situation of damage to the native population of the tree in forest fragments surrounded by agricultural crops. Thus, the objective of this work is to bring this first record of P. phalaenoides in T. vulgaris in the Cerrado of southwestern goiano.

Dynamics of the bird communities in two fragments of Atlantic Forest in São Paulo, Brazil

AbstractBirds can be used as bioindicators to evaluate the quality of a habitat. The objective of this study was to record richness and abundance of bird communities in two semi-deciduous forest fragments in Brazil (Olavo Egydio Setubal – OES; and Igurê – IGR). A subsequent analysis and comparison of the avifauna structure in each of the fragments were made including previous studies in the same areas. Point counts methodology was chosen for each fragment along 12 months. The results showed the occurrence of a total of 129 bird species for both areas. Although we registered 102 species for each site, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou’s evenness index, respectively, were slightly higher in OES (