Dense Ombrophilous Forest Research Articles

Dynamics of Natural Regeneration in a Fragment of Dense Ombrophilous Forest in Urban Area

Dynamics of Natural Regeneration in a Fragment of Dense Ombrophilous Forest in Urban Area

Two new species of Anthurium (Araceae) from Caparaó National Park, southeastern Brazil

Two new species of the genus Anthurium are described from Caparaó National Park in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil. Presently known collections indicate that the two species occur in distinct elevation zones. A. caparaoense occurs in the semideciduous seasonal montane forest at 1400−1970 m, and A. erythrospadix in both semideciduous seasonal montane forest and dense ombrophilous forest, at 890−1280 m. Descriptions, illustrations, photographs and comparison with other similar species of Anthurium sect. Urospadix are provided, together with commentaries on geographical distribution, ecology and phenology.

Floristic and structure of the arboreal community of an Ombrophilous Dense Forest at 800 m above sea level, in Ubatuba/SP, Brazil

Abstract: Undoubtedly, the publication of floristic lists and phytosociological studies are important tools for metadata generation, quantification and characterization of the megadiversity of Brazilian forests. In this sense, this work had the objective of describing the composition and the structure of the tree community of one hectare of Dense Atlantic Rainforest, at an altitude of 800 m. All individuals, including trees, palm trees, arborescent ferns and dead and standing stems, with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of ≥ 4.8 cm were sampled. After the identification of the botanical material, we proceeded to calculate the usual phytosociological parameters, besides the Shannon diversity index (H') and Pielou equability index (J). A total of 1.791 individuals were sampled, of which 1.729 were alive, belonging to 185 species, 100 genera and 46 families. The results obtained showed a strong similarity of structure and floristic composition with plots of both Montana and Sub Montana Ombrophilous Dense Forest studied in the same region. This reinforces the hypothesis that the transition between the phytophysiognomies of the Atlantic Ombrophylous Dense Forest is gradual, and that the boundaries between them cannot be clearly established.

Landscape Genetics and Genetic Conservation of Two Keystone Species from Ombrophilous Dense Forest: Euterpe edulis and Ocotea catharinensis

Landscape Genetics and Genetic Conservation of Two Keystone Species from Ombrophilous Dense Forest: Euterpe edulis and Ocotea catharinensis

THE SLOPE DOES NOT INFLUENCE UNDERSTORY COMMUNITY ON A BRAZILIAN MONTANE ATLANTIC FOREST

The understory is a component of great relevance to the flora and structure of tropical forests. Mountain environments, through physical factors, can show differences in the structure and composition of this stratum. We aimed to analyze whether there is a correlation between the slope and the understory plant community. A transition area between the Montane Dense Ombrophilous Forest and the Araucaria Forest in the Atlantic Forest in South of Brazil was analyzed. 63 plots of 1 m² were made, being equally subdivided into three slope classes (0-25%, 40-60%, and >80%). 93 species, 63 genera and 42 families were recorded. The richest families were Myrtaceae (15 species), followed by Lauraceae (7), Dryopteridaceae (6), and Rubiaceae (5). The most frequent life forms were arboreal (43 species), followed by herbaceous (24) and shrubby (11). 58 species were transient and 35 were resident. The richness and diversity indices showed no significant differences between the structure and composition of the slope classes. The ordination analysis could not distinguish any slope class grouping. This is possibly justified by the environmental homogeneity of the sampled area created by the density and regularity of the canopy, climatic stability, high organic matter and shallow soil.

Nutritional Efficiency of Forest Species in Natural Regeneration of Tropical Forest in Brazil

The knowledge of the nutritional aspects of native species, mainly in natural regeneration, may be important for understanding their establishment, particularly in areas with low nutrient availability soils, such as tropical soils. This study aimed to determine the biological utilization efficiency (BUE) of the nutrients N, P, K, Ca, and Mg of forest species of natural regeneration in a Lowlands Dense Ombrophilous forest fragment in Pernambuco, Brazil. A phytosociological study of the fragment was carried out and were defined the ten species with the highest absolute density (AD). Three individuals per species were selected. The N, P, K, Ca, and Mg contents were determined in the sample leaves of the species, and the foliar biomass was determined “in loco”. Nine individuals of each species were collected according to the following diameter intervals at the base (DBs): DBs<5 cm; 5≤DBs<10 cm and 10≤DBs<15 cm. The content, stock and BUE of nutrients were calculated per species. The BUE of nutrients by species varied according to the following decreasing order: P>Mg>K>Ca>N. The highest BUE of nutrients was of the species Protium heptaphyllum. In tropical soils of low natural fertility, the use of these species can be recommended in environmental reforestation projects. The difference in the nutritional demand of the forest species can indicate the planting of those with greater capacity of absorption and BUE of nutrients, being more efficient in areas of soils with low natural fertility like in the tropical forests.

COMPOSIÇÃO FLORÍSTICA ARBÓREA EM RESERVA EXTRATIVISTA NO AMAPÁ

O estudo avaliou a composição florística e a diversidade da vegetação do trecho denominado Alto Cajari, na Reserva Extrativista do Rio Cajari, abrangendo os municípios de Mazagão, Laranjal do Jari e Vitória do Jari no estado do Amapá.Foram alocadas 27 parcelas de 20 x 100 m, totalizando uma área amostrada de 5,4 hectares. Em cada parcela foi realizada a identificação e contagem do número de indivíduos com DAP ≥ 9 cm.As tipologias vegetais encontradas no Alto Cajari são predominantemente dos ecossistemas de floresta ombrófila densa e savana amazônica. Nas 27 parcelas foram amostrados 437 indivíduos, 34 famílias e 74 espécies. Fabaceae (15 espécies), Anacardiaceae (5), Lauraceae e Myrtaceae (4) se sobressaíram em riqueza de espécies. As espécies que mais se destacaram foram Cecropia palmata Willd. (28), Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth (22), Himatanthus articulatus (Vahl) Woodson (21), Spondias mombin L. (19), Tabebuia aurea (Silva Manso) Benth.& Hook. f ex S. Moore (18) e Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd. (18).

Toward a Census of Mimosa (Leguminosae) in the Atlantic Domain, Southeastern Brazil

This study is a taxonomic treatment of Mimosa from the state of Rio de Janeiro, a significant region of the Atlantic Domain in southeastern Brazil. We recognize 36 species (38 taxa), corresponding to 31% of the Mimosa species listed for the domain. A total of 816 specimens were analyzed, and around 40% of the studied taxa are endemic to the Atlantic Domain. Dense ombrophilous forests, seasonal semideciduous forests, plus secondary vegetation types have the highest species richness, despite the genus being found in all vegetation types in the state. Five species are endangered in Brazil. An identification key, morphological descriptions and comments, a table summarizing vegetation data, illustrations, and geographic distributionmaps are provided. This study extends the known geographic distribution of several taxa of Mimosa, andincludesnewrecords for the study area. Additionally, we propose the synonymization of M. extensa Benth. var. annae Barneby with the typical variety.

ATLANTIC BATS: a data set of bat communities from the Atlantic Forests of South America.

Bats are the second most diverse mammal order and they provide vital ecosystem functions (e.g., pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient flux in caves) and services (e.g., crop pest suppression). Bats are also important vectors of infectious diseases, harboring more than 100 different virus types. In the present study, we compiled information on bat communities from the Atlantic Forests of South America, a species-rich biome that is highly threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. The ATLANTIC BATS data set comprises 135 quantitative studies carried out in 205 sites, which cover most vegetation types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest: dense ombrophilous forest, mixed ombrophilous forest, semideciduous forest, deciduous forest, savanna, steppe, and open ombrophilous forest. The data set includes information on more than 90,000 captures of 98 bat species of eight families. Species richness averaged 12.1 per site, with a median value of 10 species (ranging from 1 to 53 species). Six species occurred in more than 50% of the communities: Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Sturnira lilium, Artibeus fimbriatus, Glossophaga soricina, and Platyrrhinus lineatus. The number of captures divided by sampling effort, a proxy for abundance, varied from 0.000001 to 0.77 individuals·h-1 ·m-2 (0.04 ± 0.007 individuals·h-1 ·m-2 ). Our data set reveals a hyper-dominance of eight species that together that comprise 80% of all captures: Platyrrhinus lineatus (2.3%), Molossus molossus (2.8%), Artibeus obscurus (3.4%), Artibeus planirostris (5.2%), Artibeus fimbriatus (7%), Sturnira lilium (14.5%), Carollia perspicillata (15.6%), and Artibeus lituratus (29.2%).

Vegetation types of the upper Madeira River in Rondônia, Brazil

We characterize the vegetation types of the upper basin of the Madeira River in the Brazilan state of Rondonia, a biodiverse region with elevated rates of habitat loss. Vegetation and environmental parameters were recorded from 37 observation points distributed along and near a 160 km stretch of the Madeira River and representing the range of regional environments. Analysis of structure and floristic variables, as well as associated edaphic attributes and water table fluctuation, permitted recognition of five main vegetation types and seven subtypes. Open Ombrophilous Forest was the most frequently encountered vegetation type and occurred on well-drained, nutrient-poor soils, whereas Dense Ombrophilous Forest was seldom recorded. Alluvial Ombrophilous Forests (varzea) were found along a narrow strip of land along the banks of the Madeira River on the most fertile soils in the study area. Semideciduous Forests were found on small areas of rocky outcrops with shallow soils and reduced water availability during the dry season. Campinaranas, which range from open savanna physiognomies to closed canopy forests, were found to be a key environment in the lowlands south of the Madeira River on silty hydromorphic soils, where they harbor a peculiar flora tolerant of flooding during the rainy season. Our classification of the main vegetation types in the upper Madeira River illuminates a high degree of floristic and environmental heterogeneity in a highly threatened region. Our results will be useful for designing conservation strategies aimed at protecting the full range of floristic diversity present in the region.

The vascular flora and vegetation of Queimada Grande Island, São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil

Abstract Studies of the vegetation on islands off the coast of southeastern Brazil are still very scarce, despite their importance for assessing, managing, and conserving insular biodiversity. We present here a list of the vascular flora of Queimada Grande Island (QGI; 24°29′10″ S, 46°40′30″ W, 57 ha, 33.2 km from the coast) in southeastern Brazil and describe its phytophysiognomies. The island is covered mainly by Atlantic Forest (Dense Ombrophilous Forest), as well as with rock outcrop and anthropogenic vegetation with herbaceous-shrub phytophysiognomies. QGI showed relatively low species richness (S = 125) when compared to other Brazilian coastal islands. Herbaceous (52) and climbing species (31) predominated on QGI. The richest families were Fabaceae (11 species), Poaceae (9), and Apocynaceae, Asteraceae and Orchidaceae (8 species each). Most species (S = 112) are autochthonous from different phytophysiognomies of the southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest complex. Many species associated with anthropically disturbed areas (S = 26) can be found on QGI, including the invasive grass Melinis minutiflora. There was a slight predominance of zoochory (S = 50). We did not identify any species endemic to QGI. One of its species (Cattleya intermedia, Orchidaceae) is vulnerable at both national and regional levels, and another (Barrosoa apiculata, Asteraceae) is presumably extinct on the mainland in São Paulo State. The vascular flora of QGI originated from the mainland Atlantic Forest complex, following the pattern of other coastal islands in southeastern Brazil. The flora and vegetation of QGI reflect the combination of insular conditions, the small size of the island, habitat restriction, steep topography, incipient soils, and the past use of the area with the introduction of several foreign species. We recommend permanent monitoring of the vegetation cover of QGI and its management, in order to ensure the conservation of the local native biota.

Historical knowledge, richness and relative representativeness of the avifauna of the largest native urban rainforest in the world

ABSTRACT Stretching for more than 10,000 ha in the Metropolitan Area of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil, Serra da Cantareira comprises the largest native urban rainforest in the World, harboring a rich and diverse Atlantic Forest avifauna. Despite its closeness to major urban areas, few bird surveys have been conducted there. In this article we present an updated compilation of all bird species recorded for Serra da Cantareira, including personal records from the authors. A total of 326 species have been recorded for Serra da Cantareira since 1901; of these, nine have not been sighted there for the last two decades. The number of bird species endemic to the Atlantic Forest is high (80), and seven of its species are globally threatened. According to multivariate analyses the species diversity at Serra da Cantareira is similar to other regions of the Atlantic Forest, such as Carlos Botelho and Intervales state parks, where the vegetation is also ombrophilous dense forest. We discuss local changes in the avifaunal composition over the last decades and suggest the incorporation of large forest remnants to the Cantareira State Park to mitigate the impact of the northern section of Rodoanel Mario Covas, a highway (SP-21) that will soon be operational and will negatively impact the biodiversity of Serra da Cantareira.

Historical knowledge, richness and relative representativeness of the avifauna of the largest native urban rainforest in the world

Stretching for more than 10,000 ha in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, Serra da Cantareira comprises the largest native urban rainforest in the World, harboring a rich and diverse Atlantic Forest avifauna. Despite its closeness to major urban areas, few bird surveys have been conducted there. In this article we present an updated compilation of all bird species recorded for Serra da Cantareira, including personal records from the authors. A total of 326 species have been recorded for Serra da Cantareira since 1901; of these, nine have not been sighted there for the last two decades. The number of bird species endemic to the Atlantic Forest is high (80), and seven of its species are globally threatened. According to multivariate analyses the species diversity at Serra da Cantareira is similar to other regions of the Atlantic Forest, such as Carlos Botelho and Intervales state parks, where the vegetation is also ombrophilous dense forest. We discuss local changes in the avifaunal composition over the last decades and suggest the incorporation of large forest remnants to the Cantareira State Park to mitigate the impact of the northern section of Rodoanel Mário Covas, a highway (SP-21) that will soon be operational and will negatively impact the biodiversity of Serra da Cantareira.

Piptocarpha longipedunculata (Asteraceae, Vernonieae) a new species of Serra do Mar, São Paulo, Brazil

Piptocarpha longipedunculata is a new species that is endemic to the São Paulo state in Brazil and occurs in the northern region of Serra do Mar. It is classified as endangered (EN) due to its limited geographic distribution. The species grows in areas of Ombrophilous Dense Forest, riparian forests and forest edges of Atlantic Forest Domain. It resembles Piptocarpha axillaris and Piptocarpha macropoda in its overall appearance, but differs mainly by its long pedunculated capitula with few flowers. Its characteristics and relationships within the genus are discussed here. Illustrations and a distribution map are also provided.

Traits and functional strategies as predictors of demographic variations over a chronosequence

Traits and functional strategies when related to demographic rates provide important information about the distribution of species and their performance in different environments. Therefore, predictions were made that: (1) plant communities in tropical forests, distributed over a chronosequence, have different trade-offs between demographic rates and functional traits due to variations in light availability and (2) acquisitive, intermediate and conservative species have different demographic rates throughout the chronosequence. To test these predictions, data from eight functional traits (maximum plant height; specific leaf area; leaf dry matter content; leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations; wood density; and seed shape) were collected from 64 tree species, distributed in six secondary (three 17 and three 25 years old) and three mature (>40 years old) Ombrophilous Dense Forest fragments. Demographic rates (mortality, recruitment and growth) of the species were determined for periods of three and five years, in each forest. Mortality was higher and growth rate was lower in the 17-year-old than in the mature forest, and the acquisitive group had the highest recruiting rate, but interactions were not significant. Thus, the majority of relationships between demographic rates and functional traits did not correspond to the predictions, as some traits were not better predictors of the demography of species in a determined forest than others and that these relationships did not vary across the chronosequence. Therefore, the trade-offs between functional and demographic characteristics are related to the species and not to environmental differences across the age gradient, and when the species are separated into groups, the predicted changes in demography are valid across the gradient.

Phyllanthus carmenluciae, a supreme species of Phyllanthus (Phyllantaceae) from Brazil

We describe a new species of Phyllanthus, currently known only from the Serra de Baturité mountains in Ceará State, Brazil, a region of predominantly dense ombrophilous forests. Phyllanthus carmenluciae is quite distinct from other species of the genus, and is therefore considered supreme, and is also named to honor the current president of the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court (STF), Cármen Lúcia Antunes Rocha. This species is characterized by having pubescent cylindrical branches, a mucronate leaf apex, inflorescences in bisexual cymules, with two proximal staminate flowers and two distal pistillate flowers, and anthers sagittate with vertical clefts. We present information concerning ecological aspects of the species, geographic distribution, affinities with other species of Phyllanthus, photographs, and its conservation status.

Genera of Belytinae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) recorded in the Atlantic Dense Ombrophilous Forest from Paraíba to Santa Catarina, Brazil

The parasitoid wasps Belytinae (Hymenoptera: Diaprioidea: Diapriidae) recorded thus far in the Atlantic Dense Ombrophilous Forest are reviewed at the supra specific level. The knowledge about the diversity of Belytinae in the Atlantic Forest is relatively poor, although these parasitoids may play a key role in the natural regulation of populations of the Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae (Diptera). The material used in this study comes mostly from standardized collections in 18 regularly spaced sites, from Paraíba to Santa Catarina Brazilian states, between 2000 and 2002, by the project “Richness and diversity of Hymenoptera and Isoptera along a latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Forest – the eastern Brazilian rain forest” (Biota/SP – FAPESP). At each location ten Malaise traps and a hundred Moericke traps were installed, both along two parallel transects spaced 100 m from each other. Further, a similar effort for the sweeping of vegetation was applied at each locality, being each sweeping sample the result of 5 minutes of sweeping. Traps, and sweeping of vegetation in the summed localities yielded a total of 1,241 Belytinae specimens, of which we recognize 115 morphospecies in eight genera (Aclista, Belyta, Cinetus, Odontopsilus, Scorpioteleia, Lyteba, Tropidopsilus and Camptopsilus). A further belytine genus (Miota), recorded in similar environment, was found at the collection of the Federal University of Espírito Santo and added to the list, totalling nine here keyed genera; for each genus we include a diagnosis, comments and a discussion on its records, distribution and biology; we also provide twenty-two plates with 102 figures (93 photographs and 9 maps).

CONTRASTING LEVELS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY AMONG POPULATIONS OF THE ENDANGERED TROPICAL PALM EUTERPE EDULIS MARTIUS

ABSTRACT Euterpe edulis is a tropical species that produces the heart of palm, an edible product of high economic importance. However, its natural populations have been severely threatened by unrestricted exploitation, along with the destruction of its natural biome, the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. In this work, we examined the genetic diversity status of five natural populations using isozyme markers. Despite their limitations and replacement by DNA-based markers, isozymes are codominant markers that reveal accurate estimates of genetic diversity and structure patterns, as do microsatellites. Six informative isozyme markers were used to analyze the genetic variability of populations located in different areas of the Atlantic Forest (Ombrophilous Dense Forest and Seasonal Forest), and with different degrees of perturbation. Mean genetic diversity for all populations (Ho = 0.172, for 13 loci) was considered low for a tropical species, even for the markers used. Populations from Ombrophilous Dense Forest at the very South limit of distribution of the heart of palm presented the lowest genetic variability (Ho = 0.141), which is clearly observed from the allele frequencies, and might implicate in less adaptive potential in a scenario of climate change. On the contrary, the Seasonal Forest population presented the highest diversity (Ho = 0.237). It comprises one of the largest remaining reservoirs of heart of palm and maybe of its genetic variability. The contrasting levels of genetic diversity encountered in this study rehash the constant need of monitoring and conserving the current genetic diversity of E. edulis populations, as well as exploring strategies for its breeding.

Diversity, vertical structure and floristic relationships of vascular epiphytes in an urban remnant of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

ABSTRACT This study was conducted in a fragment of montane seasonal semi-deciduous forest (Minas Gerais State) with a history of anthropogenic disturbance. Our goals were to characterise the composition, structure and floristic diversity of vascular epiphytes and to investigate the floristic similarities of the community with other areas of urban seasonal forests in Brazil. We sampled 61 phorophytes with 47 epiphytic species. The richest families were Bromeliaceae (seven) and Polypodiaceae (seven). The most common ecological category was accidental holoepiphytes with 21 species - an unprecedented result for the Neotropical region. The Shannon index was 2.95 and the Pielou evenness index 0.77, showing a relatively high diversity with a few dominant species and numerous rare species. Similarity analyses showed a longitudinal gradient and strong influence of the distance from the ocean on floristic relationships as well as influence of dense ombrophilous forests on the composition of the vascular epiphytes of the surveyed area.

Habitat heterogeneity as a local and regional-scale driver of primate assemblage structure in northernmost Brazilian Amazonia

We performed line transect surveys in two fishbone human settlements (defined as clearings cut through forests in a fishbone pattern, extending along secondary roads from a main road) in different vegetation types, as well as in one protected area. A total of 410 sightings of eight primate species were recorded in the three study areas. The mean total primate abundance was 3.28 groups/10 km walked, and there were significant differences between areas with different plant physiognomies. The abundance of the larger primate species Alouatta macconnelli and Ateles paniscus (Atelidae) was higher in the dense ombrophilous forests of the Entre Rios human settlement, whereas those of all the other species were higher in the forest mosaics of the Novo Paraíso human settlement and Viruá National Park. The habitat generalist Sapajus apella presented the highest abundances in all the areas. No significant differences were detected in relative biomass between study areas. Additionally, no significant differences were detected in the overall abundances or relative biomasses of the hunted species (Sapajus apella, Alouatta macconnelli, Ateles paniscus, and Chiropotes chiropotes) between study areas. Human impact has been recognized as shaping primate assemblages. However, in this study, primates were not part of the dietary repertoire of the non-Amazonian immigrants inhabiting the fishbone human settlements. Thus, although the primate assemblages varied considerably at the regional and local level, they were shaped by habitat heterogeneity, which allowed the competing species to coexist through habitat segregation.