Richeria Grandis Research Articles

Flora arbórea de capões na Reserva da Biosfera da Serra do Espinhaço

“Capoes” are home to one of the greatest biological assets of the Serra do Espinhaco Biosphere Reserve and its conservation depends on extensive and detailed knowledge of its species. us, the aim of this study was to evaluate the floristic composition of the arboreal community of this vegetation. For this purpose, we selected 22 capoes marshes and forests in two Conservation Units: Semper-Vivas National Park and Biribiri State Park. e sampling of arboreal vegetation was carried out in permanent plots installed randomly inside the forests. For the total set of capoes, we found 1692 arboreal individuals, distributed in 112 species and 40 botanical families. e most representative species was Richeria grandis. e composition of the areas included generalist and typical species from humid environments and savanna (Cerrado) vegetation. Our results show that despite occupying a small territorial portion, these environments are important centers of multi-taxonomic biodiversity.

Vegetative propagation of Richeria grandis Vahl. by mini-cutting

Due to deforestation in Gallery Forests, the current environmental law requires their restoration. Using only seminal propagation for native species of this environment has limited the production of seedlings as the seeds of some species often have limiting factors. Richeria grandis Vahl., besides being a characteristic species of this environment, has high value in phytosociological importance; however, it has recalcitrant seeds. In view of this, the objective was to evaluate the rooting of R. grandis Vahl. mini-cuttings under the influence of indolebutyric acid (IBA) concentrations. Apical mini-cuttings were prepared with length of 8 ± 2 cm and two pairs of leaves with their leaf area reduced by 50%. For rooting, a mixture of 70% vermiculite and 30% carbonized rice husk with fertilizer was used as substrate. As treatments, four IBA concentrations were tested: 0; 2,000; 4,000; and 6,000 mg L-1, liquid in solution, for 10 seconds. The rooting of mini-cuttings was conducted in a greenhouse, for a period of 90 days. According to the results, this technique is feasible, since there was 100% survival and a high percentage of rooting, with the control treatment having the lowest value (85%). Calluses were found in non-rooted mini-cuttings and, using IBA, there was a tendency to increase the mean number of roots, sprouting percentage and mean sprouts per treatment.

Effects of microbial conditioning and temperature on the leaf-litter shredding activity of Phylloicus sp.

Few studies try to explain the effects in tropical lotic ecosystems of an increase in water temperature on the shredding activity of invertebrate shredders, particularly in association with the quality of the leaf litter and the degree of litter conditioning. Therefore, the aims of this study were as follows: i) to better understand how this key invertebrate shredder group affects the decomposition of different species of leaf litter under gradual increases in temperature and microbial conditioning; and ii) to verify the possible consequences on leaf mass loss (LML). Three species of leaf litter were used in two experiments. In experiment I, the litters of three species (Protium spruceanum, Richeria grandis and Inga laurina) at three conditioning levels (1, 7, 14 days) were tested under five different temperatures (20, 22, 24, 26 and 28°C). In experiment II, the leaf litters of three species were used, without conditioning, under four temperatures (20, 22, 26 and 27°C). The shredding performed by Phylloicus sp. was largely dependent on the lignin and cellulose concentrations in each leaf species, independent of conditioning. The presence or absence of conditioning may cause the shredders to use different energy compensation strategies in response to the temperature increases.

Temporal dynamics of organic matter, hyphomycetes and invertebrate communities in a Brazilian savanna stream

Abstract Leaf litter breakdown is an important process in riparian ecosystems, regulated by the concomitant fluctuations of allochthonous organic matter input (quality and quantity), the environmental conditions, and the decomposer community. Our objective was to assess the effects of temporal variability of litter quantity and quality over the stream's decomposer community. We hypothesized that the litter effects over the decomposer community would be overruled by Cerrado's harsh environmental conditions. Precipitation fluctuations, especially during dry and rain seasons, did modify the litterfall periodicity, but not the average organic matter entering the system or the litterfall triggers. Fifteen riparian species were identified contributing with organic matter into the stream, however, Richeria grandis contributed with 48% of litter biomass, helping explain the nutritional intra-annual balance given by the litter chemistry, that would be determinant for ecosystem stability. Higher aquatic hyphomycetes sporulation rates and invertebrate density during the dry season suggest that the decomposer community required a more stable environment (consistent low current) in order to colonize and exploit leaf litter. Our results point out that physical fragmentation was the predominant driver of litter breakdown for our system, due to high decomposition rates, litter remaining mass correlated negatively with precipitation, and low decomposer abundance and activity. Invertebrate collectors' abundance was negatively correlated with litter remaining mass and showed no temporal variation, suggesting that this functional group may have benefited from the particulate organic matter produced by physical fragmentation. Therefore, annual temporal variations on Brazilian savanna stream systems may drive the functioning of the ecosystem.

Influence of 2,4-D residues on the soil microbial community and growth of tree species

The 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) has low half-life in the soil, but it is capable of altering the soil microbial community. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of 2,4-D residues on the structure of the soil microbial community and the growth of tree species. The tolerance and phytoremediation potential of tree species were evaluated. The microbial analysis was performed by T-RFLP. The 2,4-D herbicide reduced the plant height of K. lathrophyton, number of leaves of C. ferrea and K. lathrophyton and root dry matter allocation for C. brasiliense, I. striata, P. heptaphyllum, and T. guianensis. Cucumis sativus intoxication on soil contaminated with 2,4-D was not significant. The structure of Fungi community in the rhizospheric soils of C. ferrea was altered. The herbicide 2,4-D increased the diversity of Fungi in rhizospheric soils of P. heptahyllum and R. grandis. Most tree species were tolerant, and the evaluation time was sufficient to remedy 2,4-D. The structures of the microbial communities Archaea, Bacteria, and Fungi were little influenced by 2,4-D. The diversity of the Archaea domain was not affected, the diversity of the Bacteria in Inga striata decreased while the fungi increased in Protium heptaphyllum and Richeria grandis with 2,4-D.

Physiological Characteristics of Trees Recommended for the Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Herbicides

ABSTRACT: Herbicides are inputs with a high volume of use in agricultural production systems for weed management; however, the environmental contamination they cause is a reality. The objective of this research was to evaluate the tolerance of tree species used for the phytoremediation of herbicides in the soil, to atrazine, clomazone and 2,4-D, through the evaluation of photosynthetic indices. Thus, a randomized block design experiment was conducted with four replications, in a 4 x 5 factorial arrangement, where the first factor represented the herbicides atrazine, clomazone and 2,4-D and the control treatment without herbicide (water). The second factor consisted in the use of pre-selected tree species for the phytoremediation of soils with residues of the products [Eremanthus crotonoides DC. (candeia), - Richeria grandis Vahl (richeria), Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl) Marchand, (breu-branco) Kielmeyera latrophyton Saddi, Kew Bull, (pau-santo) Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess (guanandi)]. The herbicides were applied through dishes placed under the culture containers of the plants, when they presented eight months of development. After 15 days from the herbicide application, the visual intoxication, stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E), CO2 concentration in the substomatal chamber (Ci), and water use efficiency (WUE) were evaluated. The herbicides affected differently the physiological characteristics of the tree species; atrazine was the most harmful product. Individuals under the effect of 2,4-D and clomazone presented lower variation for their physiological characteristics, compared to the respective control treatments. Breu-branco, despite showing low visual intoxication provided by the herbicides, was the most affected species by the products. On the other hand, candeia was the most tolerant species to the action of the herbicides.

Experimental assessment of temperature increase and presence of predator carcass changing the response of invertebrate shredders

The role of the invertebrate shredders in leaf decomposition process in tropical lotic ecosystems has been explored only recently. In addition to the influence of the quality of litter and the temperature, the risk of predation generally results in changes on the survival and behavior of invertebrate shredders. The aim of this study was to observe the responses of the invertebrate shredders to different species of leaf litters (Experiment 1: Talauma ovata and Inga laurina ; Experiment 2: Talauma ovata, Inga laurina and Richeria grandis ) under gradual temperature rise (24 °C, 26 °C, 28 °C, 30 °C, 32 °C), in the presence (Experiment 2) and absence (Experiment1) of fish (Astyanax sp.) carcasses, as well as to observe the possible consequences of the leaf mass loss (LML). The results from the first experiment suggest that the quality of the litter was capable of changing the feeding preference of the invertebrate shredders, regardless of temperature. In the second experiment, the leaf mass loss was faster in litter with higher quality (Talauma ovate and Richeria grandis ); in addition, we observed that the exploration of these resources resulted in the case-building in the presence of fish carcass. The negative correlation of leaf mass loss of Inga laurina in relation to temperature in the presence of fish carcass probably occurred due to an accelerated metabolic, respiratory and cardiac rates. Apparently, this process may have led to an increased shredding activity on the litters of better quality in relation to the Inga laurina. This fact may be related to less energy consumption, so as to meet their energy demands more efficiently.

Growth and seasonality of seedlings and juveniles of primary species of a cloud forest in northern Venezuela

ABSTRACTThe survival, height and leaf production of seedlings and juveniles of Aspidosperma fendleri and Richena grandis were measured monthly for three years after germination. During the first year, some seedlings and juveniles of Aspidosperma fendleri were collected and the number of rootlets, the primary root length and the shoot: root ratio were determined.Both species show periodicity in growth but their relative growth rate differs between species. For Aspidosperma fendleri, the highest relative growth rate (0.313 y-1) was found for individuals grown under greenhouse conditions followed by individuals growing in an old forest gap (0.143 y-1) and finally individuals under the forest canopy (0.137 y-1). For Richeria grandis, the relative growth rate under the forest canopy was 0.261 y-1. Leaf production for Aspidosperma fendleri in the forest (natural conditions) was 4.39 total mean leaf number for five years and 5.46 total mean leaf number under greenhouse conditions. For Richeria grandis it was 5.34 mean leaf production for four years. The root: shoot ratio for Aspidosperma fendleri was constant during the observation year. Aspidosperma fendleri showed a lower number of rootlets than did Richeria grandis. There was an inverse relationship between growth and survival during the dry season. During this period, mortality was higher and the highest mortality occurred during the first year when the total relative growth rate was highest.Slow growth is evident in both species. This mechanism may represent an adaptive advantage to remain dormant until there is an opening in the forest canopy. Since the seeds of Aspidosperma fendleri and Richeria grandis are highly vulnerable to predators and pathogens, slow growth as seedlings and juveniles allows them to survive, and contributes to regeneration in cloud forest.

Distribution of aluminium in accumulator plants by X‐ray microanalysis in Richeria grandis Vahl leaves from a cloud forest in Venezuela

Abstract. The leaf cells of a tropical tree which accumulates more than 1mg per gram dry weight of Al in its leaves were studied by X‐ray microanalysis. The analyses made in cell walls, vacuoles and chloroplasts of a mature leaf showed that A1 is accumulated preferentially in the cell wall. In the pre‐senescent leaf, A1 also invades the interior of cells and is deposited in chloroplasts and vacuole. Aluminium was found also in xylem vessels but only in traces in phloem tissue. It was not found in spongy parenchyma cells. The observed A1 distribution, i.e. at the adaxial leaf face, coincides with observed damage in tissues of pre‐senescent leaves. The means by which this plant copes with Al under natural conditions seems to be partially preventing it from entering the cell by deposition in cell walls. A hypothesis about the pathways of Al in accumulator plants is proposed.