Miconia Prasina Research Articles

Floristic composition of Melastomataceae between reforested and natural areas in the Recife Atlantic Forest, Pernambuco, Brazil

Local extinction of native Atlantic Forest flora species occurs mainly due to habitat fragmentation. Reforestation and natural regeneration can mitigate these factors. The present study attempts to understand whether floristic composition and dispersal processes are being reestablished in an area of lowland Atlantic Forest, eight years after its reforestation. The study area was an old pasture set between two urban fragments in the city of Recife that was reforested in 2011. Melastomataceae species were collected in this area and the morphology of their fruits was compared with the species of the family recorded in the adjacent fragments. Miconia prasina, M. albicans, M. affinis, Clidemia hirta, and C. capitellata have been found in the reforested area. Although there are species with larger fruits in the adjacent fragments, there was no statistically significant difference between the means of the two areas. The fruit morphology indicates that the species found in the area are dispersed by birds and small mammals. It is possible to conclude that the reforested area already presents the expected ecological processes for a corridor between two fragments. Thus, the two adjacent areas serve as vectors for the colonization of native Atlantic Forest species in the reforested area.

Structure and Successional Classification of the Shrub-Arboreal Component in a Remnant of Atlantic Forest, Northeastern Brazil

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the structure and successional classification of component shrub-arboreal in the edge and interior environments in a remnant of Tropical Forest in Pernambuco, Brazil.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in a remnant of the Lowland Ombrophilous Dense Forest categorized as Urban Forest Reserve named Mata of Manassu, with an area approximately 264.24 ha and located in Jaboatao dos Guararapes, Pernambuco. The data were registered between March 2017 and September 2017.
 Methodology: The data were collected in 40 100 m2 plots, 20 plots in each environment: edge and forest interior. The ‘‘edge’’ was considered to comprise a 100-m strip at the border of the forest and the ‘‘interior’’ at least 300 m in from this strip. In all plots, were cataloged, identified and measured the circumferences at height of the base at 30 cm from the soil of all shrub-arboreal individuals whose height were equal or greater than 1.0 meter and circumference at breast height at 1.30 m of soil, less than 15.0 cm. For the communities on the edge and forest interior were estimated: total density (TD), absolute density (AD), relative density (RD), total frequency (TF), absolute frequency (AF), relative frequency (RF), total dominance (TDo), absolute dominance (ADo), relative dominance (RDo), relative natural regeneration by height class (RNRij), total natural regeneration by height class (TNR), importance value index (IVI) and was performed the distribution analysis of individuals in three height classes using the Chi-square test with 95% significance. The sampled individuals were classified into family, genus, and species, and the species classified for the successional group (pioneers, initial secondary, late secondary or uncharacterized).
 Results: The environment of the edge showed the highest absolute density (10.240 ind.haˉ¹) to the forest interior (9.805 ind.haˉ¹). In both environments, it was found the high representativity of initial and late secondary species. The structural distributions of individuals by height class at the edge and interior environments showed curves shaped as inverted "J" indicating "dynamic balance" of the forest.
 Conclusion: The higher representativity of initial and late secondary species probably is due to the forest being in an advanced successional stage, having a structure with well-defined stratum. Among the shrub-arboreal species sampled which presented higher total natural regeneration per height class to both in the edge and forest interior and that can be used for the enrichment of areas in the recovery process of Atlantic Forest are Miconia prasina e Eschweilera ovata.

Fungi from the “Lost World”: Novel Asterinaceae from the Ricardo Franco Hills (Brazil), with a worldwide key to Lembosia species on Melastomataceae

A pioneering search for fungi was carried out at the remote and iconic region of the Ricardo Franco Hills (State of Mato Grosso, Brazil) at the Bolivian border, known in the popular literature as “the lost world”. Here, four new species of the Asterinaceae on various hosts are documented: Asterina cerradensis sp. nov. on Davilla elliptica (Dilleniaceae), Asterina malvacearum sp. nov. on Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae), A. indecora newly recorded from Brazil on Heteropterys nervosa (Malpighiaceae), Lembosia matogrossensis sp. nov. on Miconia prasina (Melastomataceae), and L. miconiphylla sp. nov. on Miconia nervosa (Melastomataceae). A worldwide key to Lembosia spp. occurring on Melastomataceae is included.

The outcome of an exclusion experiment depends on the method: shrimps, shredders and leaf breakdown in a tropical stream

The study of detrital food webs of streams has revealed a variety of dynamics, often implying the importance of invertebrate fauna in the breakdown of leaves and sometimes showing effects of predators and trophic cascades. Such studies generally involve the experimental manipulation of the component leaves and fauna. Leaf breakdown (or ‘processing’) is often studied by isolating leaves in litter bags, which in turn can have different mesh sizes used to exclude or permit the action of fauna. Such manipulation always carries the risk of introducing experimental artefacts, and care and appropriate controls must be applied. More recently and less commonly, electrical exclusion has been used for such studies, which potentially reduces the artefacts produced by bags, but care must be taken not to introduce other artefacts. Here we compared bag-exclusion and electrical-exclusion in a study of the effects of shredding fauna and predators on leaf processing in a coastal, tropical stream. The methods differentially excluded fauna of different sizes: high-intensity electrical shocks and fine-mesh (0.2 mm) bags excluded medium and large invertebrates; low-intensity shocks and medium-sized mesh (2 mm) bags excluded principally 2 species of shrimps (Macrobrachium olfersii and Potimirim brasiliana); no electric shocks and large mesh-size mesh (14 mm) bags permitted access to all fauna. Leaf packs of 2 species (Erythroxylum pulchrum and Miconia prasina) were either tethered free of bags in the electrical treatments or tied inside bags. The rate of leaf processing was higher (1.9–2.5×) for tethered leaves than for leaves inside bags indicating bags inhibited processing. The type of exclusion markedly affected differences in leaf processing between treatments. Leaf processing was 1.6 to 2.3× faster in the presence of medium-sized fauna in the treatment with the low-intensity electricity than when they were excluded by high-intensity electricity but was 1.9 to 2.0× faster in coarse-mesh bags, in which Potimirim shrimps aggregated at densities ~100× those observed outside bags, compared with treatments where the mesh size excluded shrimps. In the electrical exclusions, large fauna (possibly Macrobrachium shrimps) apparently inhibited medium-sized fauna (Ephemeroptera:Leptophlebiidae) in Erythroxylum but not in Miconia, producing a trophic cascade and reduced leaf processing. We conclude that the bag method produced artificially low rates of leaf processing and altered the dynamics of the fauna associated with leaf processing by attracting fauna, principally large shrimp, into the bags and masking the action of medium-sized fauna.

ESTRUCTURA Y COMPOSICIÓN VEGETAL DE UN BOSQUE SECO TROPICAL EN REGENERACIÓN EN BATACLÁN (CALI, COLOMBIA)

Characterization of long-term vegetation in a tropical dry forest (TDF) that is in the process of regeneration permits establishment of patterns of composition, structure and dynamics of plant communities and sheds light on the different stages of plant succession. In this study, the plant community of ecoparque Bataclan, Cali, Colombia was evaluated by determining its structure and composition in two regeneration strategies. One strategy consisted of natural regeneration with bamboo barriers and the other of natural regeneration without bamboo barriers. Three permanent plots of 500 m 2 were established in each regeneration strategy (six plots in total). Composition and structure was determined, taking into account all the growth habits, with different sampling methods. We found no significant differences between vegetation structure and composition of the two strategies for forest regeneration. forty-one species belonging to 27 families were recorded (trees and shrubs 58.5 %, herbs 24.4 %, climbers or scandents 14.6 %, epiphytes 2.4 %). The dominant family was Melastomataceae and the dominant species was Miconia prasina . The orchid Catasetum ochraceum and the grass Thrasya petrosa were indicator species for high luminosity. We conclude that the plant community is in an early successional stage, where there is a mixture of planted and naturally regenerated species in the zone, characterized by pioneer species from TDF and other nearby life zones.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Phenolic Compounds from Micnia prasina. in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Three flavonones A, B, and C, were isolated from the leaves and stem of Miconia prasina. The flavonones were characterized structurally as (-)-farrerol (A), angophorol (B) and desmethoxymatteucinol (C), respectively. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including HRMS, 1D, and 2D NMR. The anti-leukemia effect of the flavonones constituents of the Miconia prasina leaves was also examined in vitro, where the result showed that flavonones A, B and C exert potential anticancer activity through growth inhibition and apoptosis in K562 cells. This is the first report for these compounds being isolated from Miconia prasina, and it is the first time to measure their anti-leukemia activity against two human leukemia cell lines, HL60 and K562, after a 48h exposure.

Impact of nematode-induced galls on Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC (Melastomataceae) traits in the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil

We tested the hypothesis that parasitic Ditylenchus sp., leaf gall inductor, decrease plant performance by reducing the number of leaves, shoots, and plant height, increasing herbivory damage and nematode colonization in aggregate plants. We compared the effects on 30 paired healthy and attacked individuals of Miconia prasina. Nematode infection did not affect the number of leaves and shoots and plant height. The damage by free-feeding herbivores was greater in healthy plants, while the number of insect galls was higher in attacked plants. The number of leaf miners did not vary. Healthy plants were more grouped than the attacked plants, and the mean plant distance and the index of nematode attack were positively related.

Drought stress drives intraspecific choice of food plants by Atta leaf‐cutting ants

AbstractLeaf‐cutting ants (LCA) are polyphagous and dominant herbivores throughout the Neotropics that carefully select plant individuals or plant parts to feed their symbiotic fungus. Although many species‐specific leaf traits have been identified as criteria for the choice of food plants, the factors driving intraspecific herbivory patterns in LCA are less well studied. Herein, we evaluate whether or not drought‐stressed native plants are a preferred food source using free‐living colonies of two leaf‐cutting ants, Atta sexdens L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini), in combination with five plant species, Ocotea glomerata Nees (Lauraceae), Lecythis lurida S. A. Mori (Lecythidaceae), Miconia prasina DC (Melastomataceae), Tovomita brevistaminea Engl. (Clusiaceae), and Tapirira guianensis Aubl. (Anacardiaceae), and Atta cephalotes L., in combination with two plant species, O. glomerata and Licania tomentosa Benth. (Chrysobalanaceae). In dual‐choice bioassays, ants removed about three times more leaf area from drought‐stressed plants compared to control plants. Both leaf‐cutting ant species consistently preferred drought‐stressed plants for all species tested, except T. guianensis. The mean acceptability index – expressing the preference for one of two options on a scale of 0 to 1 – of drought‐stressed plants ranged from 0.65 to 0.86 across plant species, and the preference did not differ significantly among the tested plant species. Our results suggest that selection of drought‐stressed individuals is a general feature of food plant choice by leaf‐cutting ants irrespective of ant or plant species. As human‐modified forest assemblages across the Neotropics are increasingly prone to drought stress, the documented preference of Atta for drought‐stressed plants may have tangible ecological implications.

Plant Vigor Hypothesis refuted: preference-performance linkage of a gall-inducing weevil on small-sized host plant resources

The Plant Vigor Hypothesis (PVH) predicts an oviposition preference of females and higher offspring performance for insect herbivores on longer and fast-growing plant modules. We tested the PVH predictions by investigating the effects of leaf size of Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC. (Melastomataceae) on the oviposition preference and on the offspring survival of the gall-inducing weevil Prospoliata bicolorata (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Additionally, we analysed the effects of top-down mortality force on this system. Approximately 83% of the developed galls resulted in adults of P. bicolorata, whereas 17% of the galls successfully induced were killed by natural enemies (top-down effect). Leaves of intermediate size were more abundant while smaller and longer leaves were rare. Nevertheless, the percentage of P. bicolorata galls was higher on the smallest leaves of M. prasina, refuting the preference prediction of the PVH. Our results also refuted the performance prediction: the ratio of survival per leaf was negatively related to the leaf length. Thus, we found a link between female preference and larval performance of P. bicolorata on small-sized leaves of M. prasina. The next goal is to understand the mechanisms involved in the selection of gall-inducing weevil on short leaves of its host plant.

Estrutura fitossociológica e classificação sucessional do componente arbóreo em um fragmento de floresta atlântica em Igarassu – Pernambuco

This work aimed to analyze the phytossociological structure and successional classification and to identify the level of occupation of lianas in a fragment of a Dense Arborous Forest, Igarassu – PE, with an area of 48.84 hectares. It was divided into 40 plots of 10 x 25 meters (10.000 m2), individuals withCAP ? 10 cm were sampled and heights estimated with a height pruning scissors with 2 meter modules. In the area 99 species were identified, distributed in 42 families, totaling 1,793 individuals. As for successional classification, the majority of the species is at pioneering and initial secondary, suggestingthat the area is in initial succession. The families Myrtaceae and Mimosaceae contributed in large number of species (24). The most numerous families were Lecythidaceae, Anacardiaceae and Araliaceae (635 individuals). Tapirira guianensis Aubl., Eschweilera ovata (Cambess.) Miers, Schefflera morototoni(Aubl.) Maguire, Steyerm. & Frodin, Dialium guianense (Aubl.) Sandwith, Byrsonima sericea DC., Inga thibaudiana Benth., Thyrsodium spruceanum Benth., Cupania racemosa Mart., Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth. e Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC are the species that can be highlighted. The Shannon – Wiener (H’)diversity rate of 3,685 nats/ind. is inside the patterns found among studies carried out in Pernambuco. The majority of individuals do not present infestation for Lianas.

Two thrush species as dispersers of Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC. (Melastomataceae): an experimental approach

We carried out a seed germination experiment using two thrush species in captivity. We compared the number of germinated seeds and germination time of control seeds (manually removed from fruits) and ingested seeds of Miconia prasina by two bird species, Turdus albicollis and T. amaurochalinus, and also compared retention times of seeds by both thrush species. Control seeds germinated more frequently than those ingested for one species, T. albicollis. The germination time of ingested seeds by T. amaurochalinus was similar to the control seeds but seeds ingested by T. albicollis took longer to germinate than the controls. Both thrush species had a similar seed defecation pattern. The cumulative number of defecated seeds increased by 2 hours after fruit ingestion. At the end of the first 30 minutes both species had already defecated approximately 50% of the seeds ingested Our results suggest that both species could act as disperser agents of M. prasina.

The Demography of Miconia prasina (Melastomataceae) During Secondary Succession in Puerto Rico1

ABSTRACT Miconia prasina (Melastomataceae) is an important colonizing species during early stages of secondary succession in Puerto Rico but its abundance declines with increasing stand age. We studied its demography for 2 yr (1995–1997) in three populations across a pasture to forest chronosequence (1‐, 12‐, and 25‐yr old) and in one population in a hurricane‐disturbed older forest (>60‐yr old). Vegetative growth was positive in the two young sites, but negative in the two older sites. The highest percentage of plants that flowered occurred in the two younger sites but highest seed production occurred in the 25‐yr‐old site. Although seed germination occurred in the two older sites, no seedlings established. Vegetative reproduction (root sprouts) was found in all sites, with most sprouts occurring in young sites. The 2 yr of census data were used to construct stage‐based transition matrices. In the two young sites, the average population growth rate was positive (λ > 1), while average population growth was negative in the two older sites (λ < 1). Elasticity, a measure of the effects of proportional changes in life‐history transitions to the long‐term population growth rate, varied across both stages and sites. Elasticity shifted from large plants in young sites to small plants in older sites. Across all sites, elasticities related to survival were more important than those of growth or vegetative reproduction. The demographic analysis supported the previous observations of changes in the density of M. prasina based on the chronosequence and also suggests that establishment via seeds must occur prior to abandonment in active pastures.

Galhas entomógenas de Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC (Melastomataceae) em remanescentes de Floresta Atlântica Nordestina.

The objective of this work was to describe the morphology of the insect galls occurring in Miconia prasina (Melastomataceae) and their yearly frequencies in four remnants of Atlantic forest in northeastern Brazil. In each study area young individuals up to 2 m were marked and observed monthly for the number of galls. The leaf-galling insects induced elliptic, spherical and fusiform types in the leaf blade of M. prasina growing at four studied fragments; a cylindrical type in Refúgio Charles Darwin; and a piriform type in the axillary bud in the Cachoeira and Capoeirão fragments. In the selected individuals 1131 new galls were counted along a year. Of these, 548 were elliptic, 336 spherical, 125 fusiform, 81 cylindrical and 41 piriform. The gall inductors were generally registered in larger numbers in the most humid months. The results of this study contribute to increase the knowledge of Neotropical galls diversity.

Heterotrophic Soil Respiration in Relation to Environmental Factors and Microbial Biomass in Two Wet Tropical Forests

We examined the correlation between fungal and bacterial biomass, abiotic factors such as soil moisture, carbon in the light soil fraction and soil nitrogen to a depth of 0–25 cm and heterotrophic soil respiration using a trenching technique – in a secondary forest (Myrcia splendens, Miconia prasina and Casearia arborea) and a pine (Pinus caribeae) plantation in the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico. Soil respiration was significantly reduced where roots were excluded for 7 years in both the secondary forest and the pine plantation. Microbial biomass was also significantly reduced in the root exclusion plots. In root exclusion treatment, total fungal biomass was on average 31 and 65% lower than the control plots in the pine plantation and the secondary forest, respectively, but the total bacterial biomass was 24 and 8.3% lower than the control plots in the pine plantation and the secondary forest, respectively. Heterotrophic soil respiration was positively correlated with fungal biomass (R2=0.63, R2=0.39), bacterial biomass (R2=0.16, R2=0.45), soil moisture (R2=0.41, R2=0.56), carbon in light fraction (R2=0.45, R2=0.39) and total nitrogen (R2=0.69, R2=0.67) in the pine plantation and the secondary forest, respectively. The regression analysis suggested that fungal biomass might have a greater influence on heterotrophic soil respiration in the pine plantation, while the bacterial biomass might have a greater influence in the secondary forest. Heterotrophic soil respiration was more sensitive to total N than to carbon in the light fraction, and soil moisture was a major factor influencing heterotrophic soil respiration in these forests where temperature is high and relatively invariable.

Ditylenchus drepanocercus (Nematoda), a potential biological control agent for Miconia calvescens (Melastomataceae): host-specificity and epidemiology

Miconia calvescens (velvet tree; miconia) is a devastating invasive weed in Hawaii and French Polynesia. As part of a program aimed at biological control of miconia, pathogens attacking it in its native range were studied. Ditylenchus drepanocercus, the aetiological agent of angular leaf-spot of miconia was selected for further evaluation of its biological control potential. Natural disease intensity was evaluated during 1 year at two sites, Viçosa and Dionı́sio, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. At both sites, the disease incidence did not correlate with any of the climatic factors that were evaluated. At Dionı́sio, disease severity correlated positively with relative humidity and temperature. In a field-conducted host-range survey, D. drepanocercus was found only on Miconia prasina and Miconia calvescens. This method is an alternative for host-range evaluation of biocontrol candidates under laboratory or greenhouse conditions and its limitations and advantages are discussed. An ad hoc observation was made of D. drepanocercus attacking Miconia phanerostila indicating that the neotropical populations of the nematode have a host-range limited to some species of Miconia. These observations, together with the probable adaptation of the nematode to habitats in Hawaii and French Polynesia, suggest that this pathogen deserves further study as a classical biocontrol agent for M. calvescens.

Tree architecture and secondary tropical rain forest development: A case study in Araracuara, Colombian Amazonia

Summary Four successional forests, the oldest 30 years old, and a mature forest on the low terrace of the Caqueta river (Colombian Amazonia), were analysed architecturally. The architecture of these secondary forests was largely determined by species of Vismia , Miconia and Inga reaching their maximal crown expansion during the first 30 years of secondary forest development. Forest profiles were drawn to scale, indicating the development phase of every tree (Dbh > 5 cm). Three development phases were distinguished according to crown architecture, i.e. potential trees, trees of the present and trees of the past. These development phases were used to determine the dynamics of the species within the secondary forest A first approximation of the secondary forest development in Araracuara is as follows: 1. Within seven years a set of trees of the present (Vismia glaziovii and Miconia minutiflora) develop a low ( 2. Between seven and eleven years Vismia japurensis and Vismia macrophylla develop a higher (10–15 m) canopy of trees of the present making survival of the previous set of the present impossible. Again potential trees of other species are present, some of them emerging. 3. Around 20 years Miconia poeppigii, Miconia myriantha, Jacaranda copaia and several Inga species form a still higher (c. 20 m) canopy of trees of the present, making survival of the Vismia set almost impossible. Most potential trees in this development phase are lower than the trees of the present, some are still emerging, i.e. Cecropia spp. A lower (ca. 10m) set of the present is formed by several Miconia species already present from the initiation of the succession ( Miconia prasina, Miconia pilgeriana, Miconia punctata, Miconia splendens ) and Piper arboreum 4. Around 30 years the canopy of Miconia and Inga species starts to degenerate. Potential trees grow into the gaps. 5. In the mature forest the formation of gaps by trees of the past is the most important factor in the regeneration From every tree species encountered in the transects documented by profiles, the basic branching pattern, i.e. architectural model (sensu HALLE et al. 1978), was determined. For every transect an architectural spectrum was made. These spectra show the numbers of individuals and species having the same architectural models. By approximation, the results are broadly in agreement with earlier research from French Guyana. Young secondary forests have many individuals with Rauh's model, together with many individuals with Roux's model, and few individuals with Troll's and Massart's model, and certainly few species with those models. In mature forest there is a large number and great variety of Troll's model, Massart's model and often Aubrevilles model, and still quite a number of individulas with Rauh's model. Roux's model is found in the understorey of the mature forest

Forest Recovery in Abandoned Cattle Pastures Along an Elevational Gradient in Northeastern Puerto Rico

A major cause of tropical deforestation has been the conversion of lowland forest into pastures for cattle grazing. We studied forest structure and species composition following abandonment of cattle pastures in 23 abandoned pastures 9.5-60 yr old and seven forested sites > 60 yr old. Sites were chosen along an elevational gradient from 10-450 m and represented subtropical wet and moist forest life zones. Age since abandonment was the best predictor of stand characteristics. Woody plant density, basal area, species number, and diversity were low 10 yr after abandonment, but increased rapidly after 10 to 15 yr post-abandonment. Although distance to nearest seed source and hurricane exposure are factors that could affect forest recovery, there was little variation among sites and no effects were detected. Elevation and age were significant determinants of species composition. At higher elevations (> 100 m), the shrub Miconia prasina (Melastomataceae) was the dominant pioneer species, but in the low elevation, a larger group of shrubs and small trees colonized abandoned pastures. At higher elevations, the species composition of recovering sites did not include many mature forest species. After 40 yr of recovery, secondary forest stands cannot be distinguished from undisturbed sites in terms of density, basal area, species number, or diversity, but it appears that it will require centuries for these sites to return to a species composition similar to undisturbed forests.

Evaluation of Herbicides Applied to Foliage of Four Tropical Woody Species

We applied the herbicides 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (Picloram), 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium ion (Paraquat), (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid (2,4-D), and (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T), alone or in various combinations, as foliage sprays to guava (Psidium guajava L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), rose apple (Eugenia jambos L.), and camasey (Miconia prasina (Sw.)DC). A 1:1 mixture of Paraquat and Picloram at 12 lb./A. or 2,4-D:2,4,5-T (1:1) at 24 lb./A. generally desiccated and defoliated more leaves during the first month after treatment, but Picloram at 6 lb./A. caused more defoliation 12 months after treatment. Camasey was more susceptible to the herbicides tested than guava, mango, and rose apple.