Rainforest In Southern Brazil Research Articles

Mixed rain forest in southeastern Brazil: tree species regeneration and floristic relationships in a remaining stretch of forest near the city of Itaberá, Brazil

The aim of this work was to evaluate the floristic composition, richness, and diversity of the upper and lower strata of a stretch of mixed rain forest near the city of Itaberá, in southeastern Brazil. We also investigated the differences between this conservation area and other stretches of mixed rain forest in southern and southeastern Brazil, as well as other nearby forest formations, in terms of their floristic relationships. For our survey of the upper stratum (diameter at breast height [DBH] > 15 cm), we established 50 permanent plots of 10 × 20 m. Within each of those plots, we designated five, randomly located, 1 × 1 m subplots, in order to survey the lower stratum (total height > 30 cm and DBH < 15 cm). In the upper stratum, we sampled 1429 trees and shrubs, belonging to 134 species, 93 genera, and 47 families. In the lower stratum, we sampled 758 trees and shrubs, belonging to 93 species, 66 genera, and 39 families. In our floristic and phytosociological surveys, we recorded 177 species, belonging to 106 genera and 52 families. The Shannon Diversity Index was 4.12 and 3.5 for the upper and lower strata, respectively. Cluster analysis indicated that nearby forest formations had the strongest floristic influence on the study area, which was therefore distinct from other mixed rain forests in southern Brazil and in the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range.

Feeding ecology of fish in a coastal river of the Atlantic Rain Forest

Feeding ecology of fish assemblage in a costal river of the Atlantic Rain Forest in Southern Brazil was investigated. Monthly samples using different fishing techniques were completed on a section of the river characterized as a freshwater environment, and an adjacent tide-influenced estuarine section. Species were grouped into three major Feeding Mode Functional Groups: Zoobenthivore, Omnivore and Detritivore. The river section with the greatest occurrence was the site where the most abundant species are likely to feed most intensively. Freshwater strangler species (Cyphocharax santacatarinae - detritivorous, Rhamdia quelen and Oligosarcus hepsetus - zoobenthivorous) presented higher stomach repletion in the freshwater environment while marine migrants (Genidens genidens and Etropus crossotus - zoobenthivorous) and estuarine residents (Bairdiella ronchus - zoobenthivorous) presented higher repletion in the tide-influenced estuarine stretch. Use of food resources was influenced by spatial and temporal variations linked to environmental characteristics such as salinity, habitat heterogeneity, life history evolution, feeding specialization and resource partitioning. Hypotheses concerning potential keystone species, ecosystem engineers or strong interactors were also discussed.

New bee species of the genus Monoeca (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Tapinotaspidini) from Brazil

Four new species of the genus Monoeca Lepeletier &amp; Serville are described. Two of them, Monoeca campestris sp. nov. and Monoeca planaltina sp. nov. are from Cerrado savanna, Monoeca mourei sp. nov. is from gallery forests and Monoeca catarina sp. nov. is from the Atlantic rainforest of southern Brazil. A key to Brazilian species of Monoeca is provided.

Host Fungi and Feeding Habits of Ciidae (Coleoptera) in a Subtropical Rainforest in Southern Brazil, with an Overview of Host Fungi of Neotropical Ciids

Ciids or minute tree-fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Ciidae) are amongst the most abundant and speciose fungivorous beetles. They spend most of their lives in or around polypore basidiomes, which are used as a food resource and shelter by larvae and adults. The study of Neotropical ciids is incipient and there is no comprehensive work on their host fungi. The present work provides a descriptive analysis of the Ciidae fauna, its feeding habits and polypore hosts at a subtropical rainforest in São Francisco de Paula, southern Brazil. A discussion on the current knowledge of host fungi of Neotropical Ciidae is also provided. Polypore basidiomes were collected in field trips carried out monthly from Aug 2006 to Mar 2007 and kept in the laboratory for up to 3 mo, while adult beetles were continuously captured from them. Basidiomes of 376 individual fungi were collected, comprising a total of 40 species. Among these, 152 individual fungi of 33 species had ciid beetles. Twenty-one species of ciids were recognized among 233 emergent adults. Only 1 ciid species was considered monophagous, 6 were considered oligophagous, and 6 polyphagous. Eight ciid species had less than 5 occurrences, and thus could not be included in any category. There is empirical evidence, from data provided or compiled herein, indicating that some morphologically similar Ciidae species, usually comprising a species group, frequently use the same or closely related species of fungi as the host. This is the first faunistic study on Ciidae and their host fungi in the Neotropical region.

Composition and structure of a Miridae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) assemblage from a relict of deciduous rainforest in southern Brazil

A two-year study was carried out to evaluate the composition, abundance and species richness of Miridae from Parque Estadual do Turvo, municipality of Derrubadas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Samplings were made in the springs of 2003 and 2004 (October), and autumns of 2004 and 2005 (May), using a beating tray method, along two trails of the park. Sampling effort (hours x collectors) in the quantitative collections totaled 153 hours. Two-hundred mirid specimens of 50 species were collected. The most abundant mirid was Prepops setosipes (Reuter, 1910), representing 23% of the collected individuals, followed by Collaria capixaba Carvalho &amp; Fontes, 1981 (10.5%) and Tropidosteptes cribratus (Stål, 1860) (7%), the latter recorded in all sampling periods. The highest abundance was observed in the springs of 2003 and 2004, with 53 and 78 individuals, respectively. Rarefaction method showed that estimated species richness was higher in autumn/2004 than in the other sampling periods, and higher along Yucumã than in Garcia trail. Besides a higher species richeness, Yucumã had more exclusive species than Garcia trail. The percent of species represented by one or two specimens in quantitative samplings (singletons and doubletons) was 60%. Additional samplings including hand collection, random beating tray and light trap collections added 20 species not recorded in the quantitative samplings.

Mineral nutrient fluxes in rainfall and throughfall in a lowland Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil

The ecosystems occurring on dystrophic soils, such as sandy soils, are highly dependent on nutrients from the atmosphere and those cycled by their own biota. Nutrient inputs from rainfall and throughfall were measured between October 2001 and August 2003 in a secondary Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil. Canopy interception (rainfall minus throughfall) was 17.3% of the annual rainfall of 2,235 mm. Monthly interception ranged from 12 to 31% during the rainiest months (precipitation above 200 mm) and from 1 to 45% during the driest months (precipitation below 50 mm) indicating relatively high variability during this period. The studied site may be susceptible to water stress in this period due to the high permeability of the sandy soil. Approximately 80% of the Ca and Na and 57% of Mg were mainly from rainfall (bulk deposition) whereas the main input source for K was net throughfall (about 78%). Mean annual inputs via throughfall (in kg ha−1) were: 90.6 for Na, 29.1 for K, 7.1 for Ca, and 2.9 for Mg. The highest nutrient inputs occurred during the rainy season. Na fluxes were relatively high, while K, Ca, and Mg inputs were low, compared with other tropical and subtropical forests. Information on nutrient fluxes for different forest ecosystems are fundamental for building up a database that can give support to environmental diagnosis, to forest management, and to conservation and restoration techniques.

Feeding ecology of Rivulus luelingi (Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae) in a Coastal Atlantic Rainforest stream, southern Brazil

Feeding habits of the killifish Rivulus luelingi collected in a black water stream of the Coastal Atlantic Rainforest in southern Brazil were investigated. Eight samplings were made between April 2003 and January 2004. The diet, assessed through a similarity matrix with the estimated contribution values of food items, included microcrustaceans, aquatic immature insects (larvae and pupae), aquatic adult insects, terrestrial insects, insect fragments, spiders, and plant fragments. Differences in the diet according to temporal variations (months) were registered, but changes related with size classes evaluated and high/low precipitation period were not observed. The species presented an insectivorous feeding habit, and its diet in the studied stream was composed of autochthonous (mainly aquatic immature insects) and allochthonous (mainly insect fragments) material.

High diversity of ants foraging on extrafloral nectar of bromeliads in the Atlantic rainforest of southern Brazil

In southern Brazil, we frequently observed inflorescences of two bromeliad species, Aechmea lindenii and A. nudicaulis, being visited by ants. We recorded the species spectrum and frequency of ants on inflorescences by examining more than 200 plants in three habitats to assess whether they were specifically associated to the bromeliad flowers. We recorded up to 36 associated ant species at A. lindenii and seven at A. nudicaulis, with non-plateauing species accumulation curves. Three species richness estimators (ICE, Jack2, and Chao2) indicated 40–46 species for A. lindenii in secondary forest. Ant species of the genera Crematogaster and/or Camponotus were always among the most frequent. To explain the association of bromeliad flowers with such a high richness of ant species we tested two hypotheses: (1) ants exploit extrafloral nectar on the flowers or (2) ants hunt for abundant hummingbird-transported flower mites that likely effect plant reproduction by feeding on nectar and pollen. After excluding all flower visitors we recorded for the first time the production of extrafloral nectar at the sepal tips of the two Aechmea species from early buds to the early fruiting period. Ants were present at 88% of all inflorescences during that period. In contrast, flower mites could only be found as soon as the first flowers had opened, that is, when the inflorescences had already been visited by ants for several days. Quantitative behavioral analyses of worker ants on A. lindenii inflorescences revealed that they spent 42% of their time inspecting the sepal tips. Preying on mites was rarely observed. We conclude that the extrafloral nectar secreted at the sepal tips constitutes the main target for a high diversity of unspecialized ants. Nevertheless, the ants might ultimately serve the bromeliads by reducing the mites' impact on plant fitness. No sul do Brazil freqüentemente observamos inflorescências de duas espécies de bromélias, Aechmea lindenii e A. nudicaulis, sendo visitadas por formigas. Registramos as espécies de formigas e as suas freqüências nas inflorescências de mais de 200 plantas, em três tipos de habitat, para testar se elas foram específicamente associadas com flores de bromelias. Registramos até 36 espécies de formigas associadas a A. lindenii e sete associadas a A. nudicaulis, com curvas de acumulação de espécies não alcançando um platô. Três estimadores de riqueza (ICE, Jack2, e Chao2) indicaram 40–46 espécies para A. lindenii em floresta secundária. Espécies dos gêneros Crematogaster e/ou Camponotus sempre estiveram entre as mais frequentes. Para testar a associação de flores de bromélias com a alta riqueza de espécies de formigas nós testamos duas hipóteses: (1) formigas usam néctar extrafloral das flores ou (2) formigas atacam os ácaros muito abundantes, transportados por beija-flores, e que possivelmente interferem na reprodução das plantas por consumirem néctar e pólen. Excluindo todos os visitantes florais, registramos pela primeira vez a produção de néctar extrafloral nas pontas das sépalas das duas espécies de Aechmea no período de botões jovens até o início da frutificação. Formigas estiveram presentes em 88% de todas as inflorescências neste período. Em contraste, ácaros em flores foram encontrados somente assim que as primeiras flores abriram, momento em que as inflorescências já tinham sido visitadas pelas formigas há vários dias. Análises quantitativas do comportamento das formigas operárias em inflorescências de A. lindenii revelaram que elas ficaram 42% do seu tempo inspecionando as pontas das sépalas. Predação por ácaros foi observada raramente. Concluímos que o néctar extrafloral secretado nas pontas das sépalas constitue o principal alvo para uma alta riqueza de formigas não-especializadas. Contudo, as formigas poderiam, em última análise, beneficiar as bromélias reduzindo o impacto dos ácaros sobre as plantas.

Patterns of litter production in a secondary alluvial Atlantic Rain Forest in southern Brazil

Above-ground litter production is one of the most accessible ways to estimate ecosystem productivity, nutrient fluxes and carbon transfers. Phenological patterns and climatic conditions are still not fully explained well for tropical and subtropical forests under less pronounced dry season and non-seasonal climates, as well as the interaction of these patterns with successional dynamics. Monthly litterfall was estimated for two years in a 9 to 10 year old secondary alluvial Atlantic Rain forest. Total litterfall was higher in the site with more developed vegetation (6.4 ± 1.2 ton ha-1 year-1; 95% confidence interval) as compared to the site with less developed vegetation (3.0 ± 1.0 ton ha-1 year-1). The monthly production of 11 litter fractions (eight fractions comprising the leaf litter of the seven main species of the community and other species; reproductive parts, twigs £ 2 cm diameter, and miscellaneous material) were correlated with meteorological variables making possible to identify three patterns of deposition. The main pattern, dominated by leaf-exchanging species, consisted of a cycle with the highest litterfall at the beginning of the rainy season, preceding by basically three months the peaks of the annual cycles of rainfall and temperatures. Other two patterns, dominated by brevi-deciduous species, peaked at the end of the rainy season and at the end of the non-rainy season. Tropical and subtropical dry forests that present the highest leaf fall gradually earlier than rain forests (as the studied sites) are possibly related to the start of senescence process. It seems that such process is triggered earlier by a more severe hydric stress, besides other factors linked to a minor physiological activity of plants that result in abscission.

Developmental time of immature forms of Sabethes aurescens Lutz (Diptera, Culicidae) from artificially perforated bamboo in the rain forest of southern Brazil

The development time of the immature forms of Sabethes aurescens Lutz, 1905, from perforated bamboo in the southern Brazil rain forest was studied under laboratory conditions. Mean development periods were 5±2.23, 10±5.20, 14±8.26, 36±13.90 and 9±2.43 days, respectively, for the four larval instars and pupae. The 4th instar of females was longer than that of males. Implications of the long development time of the immature forms of Sa. aurescens are discussed.

Temporal and ontogenetic variations in feeding habits of Hollandichthys multifasciatus (Teleostei: Characidae) in coastal Atlantic rainforest streams, southern Brazil

Feeding habits of the characin Hollandichthys multifasciatus were investigated. Samplings were made between March 2004 and February 2005 in two black water streams of the coastal Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil. The diet, evaluated by qualitative and quantitative methods, included aquatic and terrestrial insects, decapods, oligochaetes, plants and spiders. Large individuals feed mainly on plants, terrestrial insects, and spiders, whereas small fish feed basically on plants and oligochaetes. The species showed an omnivorous feeding habit, and its diet was composed of autochthonous (mainly oligochaetes) and allochthonous (plants and terrestrial insects) material.

Genetic structure of sigmodontine rodents (Cricetidae) along an altitudinal gradient of the Atlantic Rain Forest in southern Brazil

The population genetic structure of two sympatric species of sigmodontine rodents (Oligoryzomys nigripes and Euryoryzomys russatus) was examined for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence haplotypes of the control region. Samples were taken from three localities in the Atlantic Rain Forest in southern Brazil, along an altitudinal gradient with different types of habitat. In both species there was no genetic structure throughout their distribution, although levels of genetic variability and gene flow were high.

A new species of Trachycephalus (Anura: Hylidae) from the Atlantic Rain Forest in southern Brazil

A new species of Trachycephalus is described from the Araucaria plateau of northern Rio Grande do Sul and western Santa Catarina states, southern Brazil, where it occurs in forests from about 550 to 950 m a.s.l. The new species was previously confused with T. imitatrix and might also occur in adjacent regions of Paraná state and Misiones province, Argentina. It is a large sized hylid (mean SVL 77.6 mm in females, 57.2 mm in males) with greenish to olive or brown dorsal coloration in life, conspicuous dorsal pattern of dark ocelli and spots, and broad, black and white-edged transverse bands on limbs. The yellow iris has a characteristic black reticulated pattern forming a radial symmetric network of four light, petal-like spots. The advertisement call consists of a long series of multi-pulsed notes with duration between 470– 760 ms, note intervals between 0.8–3.0 s and note repetition rates of 24–36 per s. The dominant frequency spectrum ranges between 1100 and 1800 Hz, with a peak at about 1550 Hz.

New records of lignocellulolytic fungi (Basidiomycetes) from the Atlantic Rain Forest in State of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Ten new records of Auriculariales, Hymenochaetales, and Polyporales are reported and added to the checklist of the lignocellulolytic Basidiomycetes species of the Atlantic Rain Forest in Southern Brazil (State of Santa Catarina). Trechispora mollusca (Pers.) Liberta is reported for the first time to Brazil.

Interaction network and the relationships between bromeliads and hummingbirds in an area of secondary Atlantic rain forest in southern Brazil

The reciprocal importance of bromeliads and hummingbirds has been proposed for many years, even suggesting coevolution between these two groups. Nevertheless, data are lacking that allow a better test of the relationships involved. Here we investigate the relationship between bromeliads and hummingbirds in an area of secondary Atlantic rain forest in southern Brazil. The study examined the interactions among 12 species of bromeliad and 10 of hummingbird at Reserva Natural Salto Morato, Paraná state. The number of flowering species of bromeliad and the species richness and abundance of hummingbirds were quantified monthly between November 2004 and October 2005. Focal observations on each bromeliad species were made to determine the hummingbird visitors. Neither species richness nor abundance of hummingbirds were related to bromeliad phenology. Together with the monthly variation in visit frequency by a given pollinator to a given plant, these factors indicate a generalization in the use of bromeliads by hummingbirds and argue against tight coevolution. Ramphodon naevius and Thalurania glaucopis were the main pollinators in the community. Aechmea nudicaulis was the most generalist bromeliad species. The generalist species interacted with other generalists or with asymmetric specialists and there was no specialist–specialist interaction. This produced a strongly organized and nested matrix of interactions. This nestedness is similar to other plant-pollinators networks, supporting the hypothesis that the evolutionary relationship between bromeliads and hummingbirds is no stronger than that of other pollination networks.

The Role of Sprouts in the Restoration of Atlantic Rainforest in Southern Brazil

Abstract The relative importance of sexual reproduction (seed) and sprouting as sources for regeneration in Brazilian Atlantic Forest was evaluated in three different successional forest stages: young forest, immature forest, and late‐successional forest. Young plants (10–100 cm tall) of tree species were classified into the following categories: (1) seedlings that are nonsprouting—plants that originated through sexual reproduction as seeds; (2) stem base sprouting—plants that sprouted at the base of an existing plant; and (3) underground stem sprouting—plants that sprouted from subterranean stems of an existing plant. A total of 1,030 individuals of 48 species were collected. Underground stem sprouting is the rarest form of propagation, with stem base sprouting somewhat more common and possibly associated with recovery of damaged parts. The greatest contribution to regeneration was due to seeds: 92% of the individuals counted in 67% of the plant species. However, 13 species were “facultative” sprouters as seedlings and sprouters were observed in this group. The three forest ages differed in the proportion of regeneration strategies; in immature forest, sprouting was more common (15%) than in young (7%) and late‐successional (3%; p &lt; 0.05) forest. In these three forest stages, germinating seeds are the major source of new plants; although sprouting as a reproductive strategy is rare, it is related to recovery after damage of an already existing plant and may be due to previous land use history (agriculture) and low soil fertility. Restoration using natural regeneration should consider these factors to understand seed arrival as seed is the main source of regeneration.

Vegetation and pollen rain relationship from the tropical Atlantic rain forest in Southern Brazil

The relationship between the southern Brazilian tropical Atlantic lowland rain forest and modern pollen rain was studied by pollen traps. The study was carried out on a one hectare plot undisturbed rain forest of the reserve Volta Velha and two secondary forests, ± 50 and 7 years old. About 248 identified tree, shrub and herb species (excluding epiphytes) of 50 families were represented by 126 different pollen and spore types (including non-local taxa). The calculated average influx of pollen rain from the native Atlantic rain forest was 12465 pollen grains per cm² and year. The influx from the ± 50 years old and from the 7 years old secondary forest was relatively low (4112 and 3667 grains per cm² and year, respectively) compared to the undisturbed rain forest. The occurrence of pollen grains of herbs and fern spores were significantly higher in the secondary forests than in the undisturbed rain forest.

Ecological restoration, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation: The experience of the Society for Wildlife Research and Environmental Education (SPVS) in the Atlantic Rain Forest of Southern Brazil

Summary Since 1999, SPVS has been involved in three projects that combine two fundamental goals over the course of 40 years: the conservation of one of Brazil's most important remnants of Atlantic Forest and the implementation of projects for carbon sequestration. In addition, there is an interest in replicating these projects in order to restore other degraded areas, protect the Brazilian biomes, and help to diminish deforestation and forest fire, therefore reducing carbon emissions. The acquisition of 19,000 ha of degraded areas of high biological importance in southern Brazil was the first step towards the implementation of the projects. These areas are owned by SPVS, a Brazilian NGO, and are being restored, conserved and transformed into Private Natural Reserves, in partnership with the NGO – The Nature Conservancy, and financed by the companies – American Electric Power, General Motors and Chevron Texaco. The process of forest restoration involves several stages: soil studies, surveying the region's native plants, planning for restoration by means of a Geographical Information System, production of seedlings, application of different techniques for planting (such as manual or mechanised planting with seedlings and stakes), and biomass and biodiversity monitoring. To guarantee the survival of the seedlings on the planted areas, during the first three years, there is a continuous and systematic maintenance programme including weeding of undergrowth, crowing and organic fertilisation. The three projects already planted around 500,000 seedlings of native species until September 2004, and aim to plant a further 300,000 until 2008.

A new Brazilian species of Stenochironomus Kieffer mining decayed leaves in bromeliads (Diptera: Chironomidae)

All life stages of Stenochironomus atlanticus Pinho &amp; Mendes sp. n. are described and figured. The larva mines decaying leaves held in the water of several bromeliad species (Canistrum lindenii (Regel) Mez, Neoregelia laevis (Mez) L.B. Smith, Nidularium innocentii Lemaire, Vriesea philippocoburgii Wawra, and Vriesea vagans (L.B. Smith) L.B. Smith.) in the Atlantic Rain Forest in southern Brazil [Desterro Environmental Conservation Unit (Unidade de Conservação Ambiental Desterro – UCAD), Santa Catarina Island]. Stenochironomus atlanticus is the only species in the genus found in the phytotelmata habitat, and it apparently is restricted to this environment.

Reproduction of the Freshwater Catfish Pimelodella pappenheimi in Southern Brazil

In the subtropical Atlantic rain forest of southern Brazil, reproduction of the catfish Pimelodella pappenheimi was studied over a two years period in a small coastal stream representing a widely undisturbed aquatic habitat. According to analyses of the gonad status, reproduction is mainly seasonal with a peak in the rainy summer months, consisting of multiple spawning. The average body length of the fishes attaining sexual maturity was the same in both sexes. At the study site summer storms cause flash floods, and heavy rainfalls can suddenly increase the river flow. Reproductive females were found to burrow in the clay palisades of the river sediments which is regarded a behavioural adaptation protecting the offspring from being washed away.