João Carlos Ferreira de Melo Júnior

Riqueza, estrutura e interações edáficas em um gradiente de restinga do Parque Estadual do Acaraí, Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

The present work characterized the flora and phytocommunities of a restinga gradient on the coast plain of Santa Catarina State and correlated them to edaphic attributes. The floristic survey followed the wide patrolling method and the community structure was determined through the plot method. Soil samples of each physiognomy were collected for analysis of macronutrients, organic matter, moisture, and litter thickness. Flora comprises 319 species, 244 of which occur exclusively in formations of herbaceous restinga (63), shrub restinga (32), shrub-tree restinga (46), and transition forest (103). The structural pattern of each restinga physiognomy studied was influenced by edaphic factors as organic matter, potassium, and aluminum contents, cation exchange capacity, and litter thickness. These attributes are determinant for the flora characterizing each phytocommunity.

Plasticidade morfoanatômica foliar de Tibouchina clavata (Melastomataceae) ocorrente em duas formações de restinga

Abstract Plastic responses in plants can be induced by spatial heterogeneity, being the restinga a supportive ecosystem to understand these responses due to its limiting environmental conditions. This study evaluated so compared the leaf plastic responses in two populations of Tibouchina clavata (Melastomataceae) inhabiting the herbaceous and forest formations of the restinga Acarai State Park, located in Sao Francisco do Sul-SC. In the ten individuals sample of each formation were measured leaf morphoanatomic attributes and stem. Environmental variables such as edaphic nutrition, gravimetric moisture and light radiation were measured. Mean values for each variable were compared by the Student t test. For each attribute, it was calculated phenotypic plasticity index. Morphological and anatomical attributes differentiate the two populations together, and the population of herbaceous formation typically xeromorphic due to more stringent environmental conditions. More favorable terms given by the increased supply of nutrients and water in the forest environment provided greater investment of growing individuals. Anatomical attributes were shown little plastic when compared to the morphological.

Variações fenotípicas em Andira fraxinifolia Benth. (Fabaceae) em duas fitofisionomias de Restinga

O estudo analisou a variabilidade de caracteres morfologicos de Andira fraxinifolia (Fabaceae) em duas formacoes de Restinga. Os especimes foram coletados no Parque Estadual do Acarai, Sao Francisco do Sul, SC, Brasil, em areas de vegetacao de Restinga arbustivo-arborea e de floresta de transicao. Cinco individuos foram selecionados em cada area para caracterizacao da altura da planta, do diâmetro a altura do peito, da morfologia das folhas e da anatomia do lenho caulinar. Andira fraxinifolia apresentou variacoes fenotipicas significativas entre as areas estudadas, com destaque as dimensoes das folhas e o tamanho da planta. Estes ajustes estruturais podem ser adaptativos, promovendo a sobrevivencia da especie em locais com condicoes ambientais distintas.

A xiloteca (coleção Joinvillea ‒ JOIw) da Universidade da Região de Joinville

Xiloteca e uma modalidade de colecao biologica que se reveste de grande importância ao contribuir com o registro da biodiversidade. No sul do Brasil existem poucas colecoes de madeiras, tendo o estado de Santa Catarina apenas uma unica colecao em atividade. Esta colecao abriga exemplares de madeiras provenientes, principalmente, da Floresta Atlântica e do Cerrado. Este trabalho objetiva apresentar a colecao existente, criando novas oportunidades de pesquisas e interacao com outras instituicoes e profissionais que trabalham com especies lenhosas. The wood collection (Joinvillea – JOIw) at the University of the Joinville Region Abstract A wood collection is a type of biological collection of great importance for biodiversity recording. In southern Brazil there are few wood collections and the state of Santa Catarina has just a single active collection. This collection has woody specimens coming mainly from the Atlantic Rainforest and Cerrado . This study presents the existing collection, creating new opportunities for research and interaction with other institutions and professionals working with woody species.

Plasticidade da folha e lenho de cinco espécies lenhosas em duas áreas de restinga no Sul do Brasil

This study examined comparatively the plasticity of five “lenhosas” species occurring in two areas of salt marsh in Santa Catarina State, as follow: Clusia criuva Cambess., Myrsine venosa A. DC., Ocotea pulchella (Nees e Mart.) Mez, Pera glabrata (Schott) Poepp. Ex Baill and T ernstroemia brasiliensis Cambess . Functional attributes of leaf and stem were measured, and in the fi eld trees’ height and diameter were taken at breast height. The environmental heterogeneity was characterized by chemical analysis of the soil, thickness of litter and gravimetric moisture. For each morphological and anatomical attribute the phenotypic plasticity index was calculated. Leaf traits showed variation among the areas in all studied species, especially regarding specifi c leaf area. Wood attributes changed little, showing a higher inheritability of characters or similar responses to the water condition from the point of view of water resources’ use of. The results corroborate to other studies indicating that leaf is more plastic to habitats variations

Adaptações estruturais de sete espécies ciófitas arbustivas de Floresta Ombrófila Densa

ABSTRACT - (Structural adaptations of seven shade shrubs in species of Tropical Rain Forest). Understory species are adapted to shade condition imposed by the canopy. This study characterized, by means of leaf attributes, the strategies used by different species of understory. The study was conducted at the Botanical Garden of the University of the Region of Joinville, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Seven shade species were selected. Of each species, five individuals were selected and 25 leaves were collected for morphological and anatomical analysis and chlorophyll content. The incident light intensity on each specimen was measured. The results confirmed the high degree of shading in understory plants. The ratio chlorophyll a/b was >1 and therefore contrary to expected. Statistical tests showed the existence of patterns of response to shading, morphologically characterized by fresh weight, leaf area, length and width of the blade and leaf specific area and, anatomically, the thickness of the spongy parenchyma. The convergence of these attributes is associated with greater use of light that reaches the understory.Keywords: leaf traits, light, rain forest, understoryRESUMO - (Adaptacoes estruturais de sete especies ciofitas arbustivas de Floresta Ombrofila Densa). As especies do subosque sao adaptadas a condicao de sombreamento imposta pelo dossel. O presente estudo caracterizou, por meio de atributos foliares, as estrategias utilizadas por diferentes especies de subosque. O estudo foi realizado no Jardim Botânico da Universidade da Regiao de Joinville, SC, Brasil. Foram selecionadas sete especies ciofitas. De cada especie foram selecionados cinco individuos, dos quais 25 folhas foram coletadas para analise morfoanatomica e de teor de clorofila. A intensidade luminosa incidente sobre cada especime foi medida. Os resultados confirmaram o alto grau de sombreamento das plantas em subosque. A razao clorofila a/b foi >1 e, portanto, contraria a esperada. Os testes estatisticos evidenciaram a existencia de padroes de resposta ao sombreamento, caracterizados morfologicamente pela massa fresca, area foliar, comprimento e largura do limbo e area especifica foliar e, anatomicamente, pela espessura do parenquima lacunoso. A convergencia destes atributos esta relacionada ao maior aproveitamento da luz que atinge o subosques.Palavras-chave: atributos foliares, floresta atlântica, luminosidade, subosque

Vulnerability assessment of a coastal dune system at São Francisco do Sul Island (Santa Catarina, Brazil)

In this paper a Coastal Dune Vulnerability Index (CDVI) has been applied on a beach located in the eastern side of Sao Francisco do Sul Island (Brazil). The aim of this study is to assess the vulnerability of a coastal dune system and to identify the areas that result most sensitive to environmental changes. The CDVI has been applied along six transects traced out on two sectors that have been selected based on dune characteristics: Zone A is characterized by well developed parabolic dunes, whereas Zone B is characterized by transverse dunes. The analysis involved 51 quantitative and qualitative variables, divided into five groups: geomorphological dune system condition, marine influence, Aeolian effect, vegetation condition and human effect. The total CDVI was computed as the unweighted average of the partial vulnerability indices. In summary, the total vulnerability can be classified as medium: the geomorphological factor must be monitored at Grande beach, in particular the blowouts in Zone A and the frontal dune retreat in Zone B. The results of the study confirm that the management of coastal areas might be improved using a tool such as the CDVI, which can be easily applied on a regular basis to take under control the factors that mostly affect the evolution of the site.

Morpho-sedimentological and vegetational characterization of Grande beach at São Francisco do Sul Island (Santa Catarina, Brazil)

ABSTRACT A multidisciplinary study based on several digital (geology, lithology, shoreline evolution, photo-interpretation of aerial and ortho-photographs) and field (topographic and vegetational surveys, grain-size analysis) datasets prompted new insights to a better definition of the processes in action at the Grande beach at São Francisco do Sul Island (Santa Catarina, Brazil). The resulting data enabled us to produce a multi-thematic map at 1:50,000 scale that might be useful in assisting decision-makers to manage the coastal system, taking into account involved factors at once and not separately. In addition, the map may be implemented and integrated with new information, since the database is provided in geographical information system. The results confirmed the importance of addressing coastal systems with a multi-faceted approach that can be applied everywhere, not only in settings similar to São Francisco do Sul Island.

Plasticidade morfoanatômica foliar em Smilax campestris (Smilacaceae) em gradiente ambiental de restinga, SC, Brasil

(Foliar morphoanatomical plasticity of Smilax campestris (Smilacaceae) in an environmental gradient of restinga, Santa Catarina State, Brazil). In this study, the foliar morphoanatomical plasticity of Smilax campestris (Smilacaceae) was analyzed along an environmental gradient in different restinga formations, in the coastal plain of São Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Twenty individuals were selected by formation, from which 140 leaves were collected for the morphoanatomical characterization. The environmental heterogeneity was characterized by soil nutrition and light radiation. Data were evaluated using ANOVA and PCA. All the leaf traits analyzed, as well as the environmental variables, showed a statistically signifi cant difference among the four restinga formations, with emphasis on the traits of dry mass, fresh mass, leaf area, specifi c leaf area, abaxial epidermis thickness and leaf density. The main environmental variables were: organic matter, base saturation, sum of bases and magnesium content. The morphoanatomical adjustments of S. campestris in response to different environmental conditions resulted in sclerophyllous leaves, with a pronounced xeromorphic appearance near the sea that gradually becomes less evident within the continent.

Morphoanatomical plasticity of Tibouchina clavata (Melastomataceae) in ombrophilous forest and restinga forest

Structural adjustments in plants may occur in response to environmental constraints, which may influence plant growth and development, as well as patterns of species coexistence. The present study aimed to evaluate the plastic responses of Tibouchina clavata (Melastomataceae) occurring in two forest formations governed by different environmental conditions. Ten leaves of ten individuals were collected in each formation, for a total of n = 100 per area. as were stem samples, for measuring architectural, morphological and foliar traits. Environmental variables considered included edaphic nutrition, water availability and light radiation. The phenotypic plasticity index was calculated for each trait. Morphoanatomical traits varied among populations with greater emphasis on plant height and stem diameter, in contrast to the lower variation observed for leaf traits. Foliar morphoanatomy met the expected pattern for plants that grow under conditions of greater luminosity. Greater development of the aerial system (height and diameter of the stem) was observed in the plants of the ombrophilous forest, indicating that this growth is related to the soil fertility and water availability. The phenotypic plasticity index indicates low plasticity for T. clavata in the geographic distribution studied.