Dieter Liebsch

Florística e estrutura de comunidades vegetais em uma cronoseqüência de Floresta Atlântica no Estado do Paraná, Brasil

We describe the tree structure of three Atlantic Forest fragments on the coast of Parana, in order to detect differences in community structure throughout the succession process and to support future vegetation restoration projects. The study area was the Reserva Natural Rio Cachoeira, where three sites were chosen based on length of time since the last manmade disturbance (mostly agriculture and lodging); these were, respectively, 20-, 80- and 120-year-old forests. The 20-year-old forest had the lowest richness, diversity, basal area and volume. The 80-year-old forest had the highest density and richness. The 120-year-old forest had the highest diversity, equitability and volume. Diversity, basal area and volume were significantly different among the three sites. There were no important differences among structures of populations of species shared by the three areas. On the other hand, structural characteristics of exclusive species were important to determine differences among sites.

Fenologia reprodutiva de espécies vegetais da Floresta Ombrófila Mista do Paraná, Brasil

The Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (FOM) or Araucaria Forest, vegetation that occupies regions with a highly seasonal climate subject to frost, used to cover 40% of Parana State. Nowadays, however, there is less than 1% of advanced and well conserved FOM covering this State. This study presents the reproductive phenological patterns (flowering and fruiting) of the plant species found in FOM fragments located in three municipalities of Parana State in order to subside restoration activities. Monthly phenological observations in 543 individuals of 145 species, representing several life forms (71 trees, 52 bushes, 18 vines and four epiphytes) were conducted between January 2004 and December 2005 employing the activity index. Flowering was recorded mainly between September and December, with a peak in October and November (68 species), followed by fruiting, which was concentrated between December and April, peaking in February (61 species). During the coldest months (June to August), the number of species with flowers or fruits was very low, with less than five species per phenophase. The availability of araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze) seeds varied between the years, but usually occurred between April and September. Significant correlations between phenophases and some abiotic factors, especially day length and temperature, were found. Therefore, plant species of the FOM proved to be highly seasonal, with periods of high and low flowering and fruiting activity, as consequence of the climatic seasonality, characteristic of the study region.

Floristic composition and dispersal syndromes in Araucaria Forest remnants in the municipality of Colombo, Paraná state, Brazil

This study was conducted in Araucaria Forest remnants in the municipality of Colombo, eastern Parana state, Brazil. Data on species occurrence, life forms and dispersal syndromes were collected once a week along a 9 km transect, revealing the presence of 512 species among trees ( n = 135), shrubs ( n = 121), herbs ( n = 157), climbers ( n = 70), epiphytes ( n = 24) and hemiparasites ( n = 5). Of 469 species classified according to dispersal syndromes, 42.4% were zoochoric, 33.6% autochoric and 23.8% anemochoric. The high richness observed, the highest among similar studies previously conducted in the Araucaria Forest, along with the occurrence of endangered species of trees (and mammals), indicates that the study area is an important remnant for biodiversity conservation.

Reproductive phenology of plant species of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest in Paraná, Brazil

The Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (FOM) or Araucaria Forest, vegetation that occupies regions with a highly seasonal climate subject to frost, used to cover 40% of Parana State. Nowadays, however, there is less than 1% of advanced and well conserved FOM covering this State. This study presents the reproductive phenological patterns (flowering and fruiting) of the plant species found in FOM fragments located in three municipalities of Parana State in order to subside restoration activities. Monthly phenological observations in 543 individuals of 145 species, representing several life forms (71 trees, 52 bushes, 18 vines and four epiphytes) were conducted between January 2004 and December 2005 employing the activity index. Flowering was recorded mainly between September and December, with a peak in October and November (68 species), followed by fruiting, which was concentrated between December and April, peaking in February (61 species). During the coldest months (June to August), the number of species with flowers or fruits was very low, with less than five species per phenophase. The availability of araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze) seeds varied between the years, but usually occurred between April and September. Significant correlations between phenophases and some abiotic factors, especially day length and temperature, were found. Therefore, plant species of the FOM proved to be highly seasonal, with periods of high and low flowering and fruiting activity, as consequence of the climatic seasonality, characteristic of the study region.

Vascular epiphyte biomass in a South Brazilian fragment of Atlantic Forest

The present study aimed at sampling the biomass of vascular epiphytes within a protected area in South Brazilian Atlantic Forest. All tree specimens with diameter at breast height equal or greater than 4.8 cm were measured and divided into classes. In each class, 10% of tree specimens were randomly selected for epiphytic biomass measuring. Furthermore, we divided the phorophytes into five tree parts to analyze epiphytic biomass. We generated mathematical models to estimate epiphytic biomass in similar forest areas. We analyzed 55 phorophytes and found an estimated epiphytic biomass of 5.3 Mg/ha. Epiphytic biomass ranged from 0.02 to 135 kg and the lower values were found on small-sized phorophytes. Higher values of epiphytic biomass were found on phorophytes with diameter at breast height between 30 and 36.5 cm. The tree part with higher epiphytic biomass was the outer crown. The epiphytic biomass showed a high correlation with phorophyte diameter, according to the mathematical models. We selected two equations which presented the most similar values to the ones we measured. Our results corroborate that epiphytes play a very important role as to the biomass level within tropical forests.