Stages Of Plant Succession Research Articles

Recovery status of coastal vegetation in Mozambique: Insights from floristic composition and soil organic carbon analysis

The growing demand for land for slash-and-burn cultivation, driven by human population growth, has led to the creation of scattered cultivated fields and a mosaic of fallow areas in various stages of regeneration. While tropical forests have demonstrated the ability to rebound regarding tree species diversity and forest structure following disturbances, the extent of recovery in coastal vegetation in southern Africa remains uncertain and poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, our study collected biophysical data from smallholder fields, fallow land, and forests to evaluate the structure and functioning of coastal vegetation in Gaza province, southern Mozambique. We established 90 sample plots of 0.1 ha each at different stages of plant succession using opportunistic sampling approach. Within these plots, we recorded the diameter at breast height, total height, and species name of all trees and shrubs. Litter and soil samples were collected in 1 m² quadrats embedded within the main plot. Our findings indicate a high capacity for regeneration following the disturbance caused by slash-and-burn cultivation. Species composition varied significantly across different stages of succession, with 52 species identified in forests (FL), 34 in old fallow (OF), 29 in middle fallow (MF), 28 in initial fallow (IF), and 15 in cropland (CL). Richness and diversity increased over time after the practice of slash-and-burn cultivation, with a noticeable enhancement from the initial fallow stage. We observed a gradual recovery of soil carbon stocks in young fallow areas, while litter biomass decreased throughout the recovery phase of the fallow lands. Our study highlights that areas abandoned after agriculture can regenerate in terms of structure, floristic composition, and tree carbon content.

The Effect of Plant Diversity and Soil Properties on Soil Microbial Biomass and Activity in a Novel Ecosystem

Plant–microbial relations have not yet been fully disclosed in natural or seminatural ecosystems, nor in novel ecosystems developing spontaneously on post-coal mine heaps. The aim of this study was to determine which factor, biotic (plant taxonomic diversity vs. plant functional diversity) or abiotic (physicochemical substrate parameters), affects the biomass of soil microbial communities the most, as well as soil in situ respiration in novel ecosystems. The study was carried out on unreclaimed plots selected according to four different combinations of taxonomic and functional plant diversity. Additionally, plots on a reclaimed heap served as a comparison between the two management types. The biomass of several soil microbial groups was analysed using phospholipid fatty acids profiles. We detected that soil microbial biomass was more impacted by abiotic parameters (explaining 23% of variance) than plant diversity (explaining 12% of variance). Particularly, we observed that substrate pH was the most important factor shaping microbial community biomass, as shown in the RDA analysis. The highest microbial biomass was found in plots with low taxonomic and functional diversity. This finding can be explained by the fact that these plots represented a more advanced phase of vegetation development in the early stages of plant succession.

Ecological features of floristic structure of devastated lands of the RightBank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

In the proposed article we highlight the features of the floristic structure of the devastated lands of the Right Bank forest-steppe on the example of the Andriikovetskyi sand quarry. The research was conducted using general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, monitoring), field study and in-house research, herbarium specimens were collected and a summary of quarry flora was compiled. Ecological conditions within the mining facilities are formed individually, which is associated with the degree of anthropogenic disturbance and natural conditions of the region. It was found, that after the decommissioning of the study facility, the initial stages of plant succession within the quarry was influenced by such factors as unstable hydroclimatic conditions (significant influence is the availability of moisture for plants), elemental composition and structure of sand substrate, uneven terrain. During three years of research, 71 species of plants were identified by the collected herbarium material, the leading families are Asteraceae (14 genuses), which is typical for holarctic flora; Rosaceae (10 genuses); Fabaceae (5 genuses). It has been determined that according to Raunkier’s classification, hemicryptophytes predominate in the quarry territory, according to Serebryakov’s classification — grass polycarpics. It was found, that the structure of aboveground shoots is dominated by rosetteless species, the structure of the root system — species with a taproot. Were analyzed, that ecological structure of flora displays the adaptation of plants to environmental conditions and affects their distribution in ecotopes: the ratio of plants to light is dominated by heliophytes distributed in the most illuminated areas (for example, Galiummollugo L., Medicago sativa L., Trifolium pratense L.); to moisture — mesophytes, to temperature — megatherms, to nutrition — mesotrophs. The presence of a significant number of mesophytic and mesotrophic species indicates the beginning of the accumulation of elements and humic compounds necessary for the development of a stable phytocenosis. Among cenomorphs, the most numerous are ruderants (22.5% of the total number of species), silvants (11.3%), stepants (11.3%) and transitional types: pratant — ruderants (11.3%) and pratant-silvants (8.4%). According to the degree of adaptation to anthropogenic changes, autochthonous and allochthonous fractions were distinguished, and the share of apophytic species (23 species) prevails over adventitious (14 species). Among the apophytes, has been identified the most numerous group — aboriginal species that have completely switched to anthropogenic habitats (13 species); among the adventitious faction predominate species that are fully naturalized on anthropogenic ecotopes (11 species), at the time of settlement there are species listed before and after the XVI century. This differentiation of floristic composition confirms the need for renaturalization measures to stabilize edaphic conditions, which will accelerate the formation of zonal flora and increase biodiversity

Disentangling the relative influence of regeneration processes on marsh plant assembly with a stage-structured plant assembly model

In salt marshes, abiotic factors, interspecific competition or facilitation, and herbivory have been discussed extensively as important drivers of marsh plant distribution patterns. However, the relative importance of various regeneration processes across stress gradients received little attention, despite their importance in explaining plant community dynamics. In this study, we built a stage-structured plant assembly model to study how the influence of each regeneration process on plant assembly dynamics varies with environmental stress level, plant succession stage and initial seed availability, in a salt marsh in Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in China. We found plant assembly at higher saline conditions is mainly governed by stress tolerance regardless of the stage of succession and initial seed availability, as salinity stress can suppress biomass accumulation and propagule production of salt intolerant species. Under less saline conditions with high seed availability, juvenile competition plays the most important role throughout succession. When initial seed availability is low, dispersal is more important at the beginning, but juvenile competition is more important at later stage and determines the plant competition outcomes. Our findings imply seed availability is important in determining plant succession trajectories under less stressful conditions, and should be given more attention during restoration management in coastal marshes.

Mammals of Mt. Pinatubo, Luzon Island, Philippines: Extreme Resilience Following Catastrophic Disturbance

The catastrophic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 destroyed the forests that covered the peak and impacted the surrounding habitat over a broad area of central Luzon. Information on the mammal fauna of Mt. Pinatubo prior to the eruption is limited but documents a variety of native mammals. In 2011 and 2012, we surveyed mammals at localities along an elevational gradient on the eastern slope of the mountain where vegetation had been devastated by pyroclastic flows and subsequent lahars, and habitat reflected early stages of plant succession. We documented eight species of bats (five fruit bats and three insectivorous bats), seven species of small nonvolant mammals (two non-native and five native rodents), and two native large mammals. Additional species of bats and non-volant mammals present in the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo prior to the eruption or recently documented at other localities in the Zambales Mountains may be present in remnant forest habitat elsewhere on Pinatubo. Across five survey localities where habitat was in the early stages of regeneration, native species of small non-volant mammals were more widespread and much more abundant than were non-natives. The most abundant native species, Apomys sacobianus, may be endemic to Mt. Pinatubo. It is an extreme example of a “disturbance specialist” that thrives in a severely disturbed habitat. Results underscore the disturbance tolerance of many native small mammals of Luzon and reveal a resilience that is remarkable for a highly endemic insular fauna. Mt. Pinatubo presents opportunities for further studies on how natural disturbance has shaped the evolution of the Philippine biota and may influence its future conservation.

Spontaneous plant recolonization on reclaimed post-coal mining sites in East Kalimantan, Indonesia: Native versus alien and succession progress

Abstract. Hapsari L, Trimanto, Budiharta S. 2020. Spontaneous plant recolonization on reclaimed post-coal mining sites in East Kalimantan, Indonesia: Native versus alien and succession progress. Biodiversitas 21: 2003-2017. Comparative vegetation analyses subjected to recolonization of spontaneous plants were carried out in two post-coal mining reclamation sites, with different ages of reclamation, specifically 9 years old and 17 years old, in Bontang, East Kalimantan. This study aims to determine the spontaneous plant diversity and composition, identify the spontaneous alien plant species invasion (IAS), analyze the underlying micro-climates and soil factors and their association to the spontaneous plant recolonization, also to evaluate the succession progress. Results showed that both reclamation sites have undergone some vegetation and environmental improvements. The plant succession stage of both sites was identified at the same stage, as establishment phase of early-succession stage in transition to mid-succession stage. The spontaneous plants were comprised of two layers, i.e. (i) understories include grasses, ferns, lianas, herbs, shrubs and tree seedlings; and (ii) saplings include some of trees and small trees. Plant diversity indices on both sites were in moderate category. At understory layer, the 9-y.o. site was mostly dominated by grass Polytrias indica, whereas the 17-y.o. site was dominated by shrub Asystasia gangetica. At sapling layer, the 9-y.o. site was mostly dominated by Glochidion obscurum, whereas the 17-y.o. site was dominated by Macaranga tanarius. Dominant pioneer tree and shrub species in two reclamation sites mostly from general species component of secondary tropical forests from the families Euphorbiaceae, Phyllantaceae, Melastomaceae, Leguminosae, and Lamiaceae. It was recorded seven IAS in the 9-y.o. site, which six out of seven species were dominant. Meanwhile, in the 17-y.o. site was recorded eight IAS but only four species were dominant. Two dominant noxious weed species were also identified. Each IAS and noxious weed species has invasiveness traits that make them well-grown, successfully recolonized and invaded the reclamation site. Environmental factors include air temperature, air moisture, and light intensity; and soil conditions include pH, C/N ratio and physicochemical properties affected the variation of spontaneous plant establishment on each reclamation site. These comparative study findings may become inputs for coal mining operations management to evaluate and improve their reclamation program; such as by soil reconditions, controlling the populations of IAS, and planting more intensively of native tree species.

Meadow Birds at the Waning Traditional Pasture Animal Husbandry

Журнал принимает на русском и английском языках статьи, представляющие результаты научных исследований в различных областях теоретической и прикладной экологии. Приоритет отдается научным статьям, основанным на явно сформулированных гипотезах.

Carbon stock increases up to old growth forest along a secondary succession in Mediterranean island ecosystems.

The occurrence of old-growth forests is quite limited in Mediterranean islands, which have been subject to particularly pronounced human impacts. Little is known about the carbon stocks of such peculiar ecosystems compared with different stages of secondary succession. We investigated the carbon variation in aboveground woody biomass, in litter and soil, and the nitrogen variation in litter and soil, in a 100 years long secondary succession in Mediterranean ecosystems. A vineyard, three stages of plant succession (high maquis, maquis-forest, and forest-maquis), and an old growth forest were compared. Soil samples at two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm), and two litter types, relatively undecomposed and partly decomposed, were collected. Carbon stock in aboveground woody biomass increased from 6 Mg ha-1 in the vineyard to 105 Mg ha-1 in old growth forest. Along the secondary succession, soil carbon considerably increased from about 33 Mg ha-1 in the vineyard to about 69 Mg ha-1 in old growth forest. Soil nitrogen has more than doubled, ranging from 4.1 Mg ha-1 in the vineyard to 8.8 Mg ha-1 in old growth forest. Both soil parameters were found to be affected by successional stage and soil depth but not by their interaction. While the C/N ratio in the soil remained relatively constant during the succession, the C/N ratio of the litter strongly decreased, probably following the progressive increase in the holm oak contribution. While carbon content in litter decreased along the succession, nitrogen content slightly increased. Overall, carbon stock in aboveground woody biomass, litter and soil increased from about 48 Mg ha-1 in the vineyard to about 198 Mg ha-1 in old growth forest. The results of this study indicate that, even in Mediterranean environments, considerable amounts of carbon may be stored through secondary succession processes up to old growth forest.

Structure and factors of forest birds diversity forming in the Ishim river area (Russia)

The paper studies the relationship between specific parameters of habitats (the forest area along the route, the average age of the forest, the closure of the crowns, the condition of the crowns, the type of anthropogenic impact, the stage of vegetative succession, the wetting of the forest), the abundance of birds, Shannon and Simpsons indices of the species diversity of forest ornithocenosis. This study is based on the materials of field bird records conducted in the seasons of 20142016 on 28 permanent routes in the forest habitats of the Ishim River area (Russia). A statistically significant effect of the anthropogenic impact on the Shannon diversity index and the significant influence of the plant succession stage on Shannons species diversity index and the abundance of birds have been established by the method of one-way analysis of variance using the nonparametric Kraskel-Walliss criterion. It is shown that the maximum value of Shannons index of variety is characteristic for the ornithocenosis of recreational forests; the one close to the maximum is in forests in which grazing is carried out. In the course of plant succession, there is initially an insignificant increase in the total abundance of birds, then a significant decrease in it, as well as a sharp decrease of Shannons diversity index. The obtained results show that the anthropogenic load in form of cattle grazing and recreation conditions an increase in forest habitats heterogeneity and thereby contributes to an increase in bird species diversity.

Plant Life-Forms and Environmental Filtering during Primary Succession on Loose Volcanic Substrata (Kamchatka, Russia)

Peculiarities of the forest vegetation dynamics and the main factors and mechanisms of environmental filtering were studied on loose deposits of the Tolbachinskii Dol Volcanic Plateau (Kamchatka) by means of plant life-form analysis. It was found that, in the earlier stages of plant succession, polycarpic herbs, acrocarpous mosses, and fruticulose lichens dominated. Forest communities of 35 years old differed from the old-growth ones by the proportions of plant life-forms and the total coverage. Environmental filtering is manifested by the most successful development of plants having special morphological adaptations of belowground systems to loose unstable substrata.

Plant biomass and nutrients (C, N and P) in natural, restored and prior converted depressional wetlands in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, U.S.

Monitoring is an essential component of restoration and measurements of biomass and nutrient concentrations are often used as indicators of ecosystem function. We studied restored depressional wetlands in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region. The first study, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP-Wetlands), compared hydrologically restored wetlands (aged 5–10 years) with natural wetlands and prior converted croplands. We measured aboveground biomass and plant nutrient concentrations at Coastal Plain sites, from Delaware to North Carolina. At the CEAP sites, herbaceous biomass was highest in Restored wetlands, while existing tree biomass was highest in Natural sites. Nutrient concentrations were significantly higher in Prior Converted and Restored sites, relative to Natural sites. In the second study, we compared biomass and nutrient data at a separate set of restored sites, originally sampled by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in 1994 and resampled in 2011, 15 years later. The primary temporal change was increased tree biomass near the upland-wetland boundary. Both studies indicate that these restored wetlands are in early stages of plant succession, but should develop similarly to natural sites if succession is allowed to progress for decades. This time could be reduced by planting late-successional species characteristic of undisturbed local natural sites. Nutrient data, especially for the SERC wetlands, indicated that these restored wetlands resemble natural sites more in terms of plant nutrient concentrations and that the sites, similar to natural wetlands, will become less nitrogen limited as the impacts of previous agricultural activities decline.

Environmental factors that affect primary plant succession trajectories on lahars (Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico)

The earliest stages of plant succession on severely disturbed sites usually follow highly unpredictable trajectories. However, in the Popocatepetl volcano area (50 km SE of Mexico City), the development of physiognomically distinct primary plant communities suggests the occurrence of various successional trajectories only 10 years after the onset of colonization of a temperate forest on lahars. To characterize plant communities and determine the environmental factors that drive the differences observed between plant communities and their successional trajectories, we monitored 64 circular sample plots (3.14 m2) from 2002 to 2011. We examined the plant communities’ composition and structure in terms of their species richness and abundance, plant cover, and maximum stem height, and recorded 13 environmental factorsrelated to the volcanic deposit characteristics, microclimate, soil, flow dynamics and gravitational processes. A cluster analysis of the species abundance data showed that, by 2011, six plant community types (CT’s) had established, including grasslands, and open, dense and very dense shrub lands. As these communities developed over the same period of time and within the same overall ecosystem, then these plant community types were interpreted as different stages of the same successional trajectory. Two sequential main stages that drive regeneration were identified from this successional trajectory: a) the first four years are characterized by a steady increase in species richness and physiognomic development (plant size and coverage), mostly dominated by Baccharis conferta,Eupatorium glabratum andSenecio barba-johannis; b) from the sixth year onwards, a continued increase in the abundance of those same species led to the development of the dense shrubland communities. Differences in the availability of soil resources and disturbances linked to recent lahar flows were the main factors accounting for such differences.

Mapping vegetation in a late Quaternary landform of the Amazonian wetlands using object-based image analysis and decision tree classification

Fan-shaped morphologies related to late Quaternary residual megafan depositional systems are common features over wide areas in northern Amazonia. These features were formed by ancient distributary drainage systems that are in great contrast to tributary drainage networks that typify the modern Amazon basin. The surfaces of the Amazonian megafans constitute vegetacional mosaic wetlands with different campinarana types. A fine-scale-resolution investigation is required to provide detailed classification maps for the various campinarana and surrounding forest types associated with the Amazonian megafans. This approach remains to be presented, despite its relevance for analysing the relationship between stages of plant succession and sedimentary dynamics associated with the evolution of megafans. In this work, we develop a methodology for classifying vegetation over a fan-shaped megafan palaeoform from a northern Amazonian wetland. The approach included object-based image analysis (OBIA) and data-mining (DM) techniques combining Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) images, land-cover fractions derived by the linear spectral mixing model, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, and the digital elevation model (DEM) acquired during the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). The DEM, vegetation fraction, and ASTER band 3 were the most useful parameters for defining the forest classes. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), ASTER band 1, vegetation fraction, and the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS)/Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) transmitting and receiving horizontal polarization (HH) and transmitting horizontal and receiving vertical polarization (HV) were all effective in distinguishing the wetland classes campinarana and Mauritia. Tests of statistical significance indicated the overall accuracies and kappa coefficients (κ) of 88% and 0.86 for the final map, respectively. The allocation disagreement coefficient of 5% and a quantity disagreement value of 7% further attested the statistical significance of the classification results. Hence, in addition to water, exposed soil, and deforestation areas, OBIA and DM were successful for differentiating a large number of open (forest, wood, shrub, and grass campinaranas), forest (terra firme, várzea, igapó, and alluvial), as well as Mauritia wetland classes in the inner and outer areas of the studied megafan.

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.

Big game or big loss? High deer densities are threatening woody plant diversity and vegetation dynamics

Land-use change and current game management have favored an increasing population of wild ungulates (especially deer) in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Here, we assess the impact of high deer densities (>30 ind km−2) on the highly diverse woody vegetation of Mediterranean ecosystems, where big game have been favored for the last decades. We examine whether prolonged deer browsing (over 30 years) affected plant composition, diversity and dynamics of the original (non-browsed) vegetation. Deer browsing led to an average decrease of 30.4 % in woody plant diversity (species richness), due to a lack of regeneration for the most preferred plant species. Species belonging to early stages of succession (mostly Labiatae and Cistaceae) were non-preferred by deer. Conversely, the most preferred species belonged mainly to late stages of plant succession. Deer impact on Mediterranean shrublands is causing biotic homogenization of plant communities and is threatening vegetation dynamics by forcing it to return to earlier succession stages. Strict deer population control favouring larger trophies but lower offspring numbers together with an adequate habitat management (increasing grass and acorn availability) would be the most efficient measures to reverse this diversity loss. Restoration work seems only appropriate for the most vulnerable species. We highlight the need of sampling deer-free areas with low or null historical browsing to assess the real impact of deer on woody plant diversity and vegetation dynamics.

Open and disturbed habitats support higher diversity of Syrphidae (Diptera)? A case study during three yr of sampling in a fragment of Araucaria forest in southern Brazil.

The diversity of hoverflies in five different habitats of the Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná , Brazil, from September 1999 to August 2002 was studied. These five areas had been exposed to various types of anthropogenic disturbance at different times, which resulted in different stages of plant succession. In total, 2,841 specimens of 151 species of Syrphidae were collected using malaise traps. The highest species richness and abundance were found at the edge of the forest (Forest Edge), whereas the lowest was found in the most conserved areas. Evenness values increased along the succession gradient. The accumulation curve of new occurrences of syrphid species nearly approached an asymptote starting on the third month of the third year. Estimates of syrphid species richness using different methods indicated that between 155 and 288 species are found in the study area, according the Michaelis–Menten and the Chao2 estimators, respectively. The richness and abundance of representatives of the subfamily Syrphinae were higher in more open areas, where herbaceous plants predominate. Nineteen hoverfly species can be considered as environmental indicators, as they were collected exclusively or mainly in one of the defined habitat types. The degree of opening of the vegetation seems to be the factor determining the distribution of Syrphidae species, a conclusion based on the finding that grassy clearings in Araucaria Forests had more species. Hence, we conclude that, to become established, Syrphidae communities need conserved mosaic landscapes.

Water mites as potential long-term bioindicators in formerly drained and rewetted raised bogs

Many environmental studies of restored peatlands focus on biogeochemical cycles, productivity and decomposition. However, changes in the composition and structure of invertebrate assemblages in restored bogs have received little attention. In the present study we describe effects of rewetting on the water mite faunas (Acari: Hydrachnidia) of four raised bogs located in northwestern Germany. All examined peatlands had been drained in the past, and two of them had been subjected to peat extraction. The examined sites had been rewetted 2, 12, 14 and 25years prior to our surveys, and currently represent different stages of plant succession. With increasing age after rewetting, the vegetation developed more complex structure as defined by Sphagnum status, and water mite fauna became somewhat similar to the fauna in an undisturbed raised reference bog. Water mites were found almost exclusively in bogs 25years after wetting, and in these bogs they occurred in sites with more complex vegetation structure. Because water mites have high demands on abiotic and biotic factors due to their complex life cycle (i.e., the larvae are parasites, and the nymphs and adults are predators), we can infer that their mere presence irrespective of species abundance and richness reflects positive effects of the rewetting measures conducted in peat bogs.

The importance of edaphic niches and pioneer plant species succession for the phytomanagement of mine tailings

Phytomanagement in terms of phytostabilisation is considered a suitable method to decrease environmental risks of metal(loid) enriched mine tailings. The goal of this study was to identify plant-favourable edaphic niches in mine tailings from a semiarid area, in order to obtain relevant information for further phytostabilisation procedures. For this purpose, a transect-designed sampling from non-disturbed soils to two mine tailings was performed, including the description of soil and plant ecology gradients. Plant ecological indicators showed several stages in plant succession: from weeds to stable patches of late successional plant species. PCA results revealed that plant distribution at the tailings was driven mainly by salinity while metal(loid) concentrations played a minor role. The presence of soil desiccation cracks generated low salinity patches which facilitated favourable niches for plant establishment. Edaphic-patch distribution may condition phytostabilisation since ploughing or the employment of certain amendments should take into account favourable niches for plant growth.

The effects of farmland abandonment and plant succession on soil properties and erosion processes: a study case in centre of Portugal

The aim of this research was to assess changes in the physical and chemical properties of soil and the rate of erosion under traditional land use and during the natural vegetation succession following land abandonment, in a marginal area of Portugal. A chronosequence was used, which included soils cultivated with cereal crops (the traditional land use in the territory), the typical stages in vegetation succession following land abandonment (herbaceous, shrub and wood), and native forest (used as a reference ecosystem).The results indicated that the differences in both soil properties and soil erosion were related to land management and the different stages in plant succession, highlighting that continuous cropping is primarily responsible for depleting soil nutrients and intensifying the degradation processes. http://dx.doi.org/10.17127/got/2012.2.008 Data de submissão: 2012-10-16 Data de aprovação: 2012-12-17 Data de publicação: 2012-12-30

Habitat use and circadian pattern of Solitary Tinamou Tinamus solitarius in a southern Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

SummarySolitary Tinamou Tinamus solitarius is a threatened Brazilian bird, and very little is known about its ecology and behaviour. In this study we aimed to verify the use of habitats in different stages of plant succession and the circadian activity pattern of the species. The study was conducted in Santa Catarina state (27º43’S, 48º49’W). Six camera traps were used to record the species in three areas of different successional stages during a 12-month period. Traps remained at each sample site for two months, after which they were moved to a new site, a minimum distance of 100 m apart. A total of 76 independent records of Solitary Tinamou were obtained, and its habitat use was found to be different within the three successional stages (P = 0.02). The majority of 54 independent records were obtained in the secondary forest; not one photo of the species was taken in the most degraded area. Solitary Tinamou exhibited a crepuscular pattern of activity, with most records (n = 38) taken at 07h00 and 06h00, and it appears to be sensitive to forest clearance.