José Aldo Alves Pereira

Environmental heterogeneity and disturbance by humans control much of the tree species diversity of Atlantic montane forest fragments in SE Brazil

The effects of human impact and environmental heterogeneity on the tree species diversity were assessed in 20 fragments of tropical montane seasonal forest in southeastern Brazil. Previous surveys of the tree community, soils and topography of the fragments provided the bulk of the data. The diversity parameters used were the means of species richness, Shannon diversity (H′), and Pielou evenness (J′) obtained from “bootstrap” sub-samplings of 1,000 trees. Morphometric variables obtained for the fragments included total, edge, and inner areas. Investigation forms were used to survey the history of human interventions and prepare an impacts matrix containing scores assigned to assess the extent, severity and duration of selected impacts. Scores for overall environmental impacts were obtained from the ordination scores produced by a multivariate analysis of the impacts matrix. A multivariate analysis of the standard deviations of soil variables was used to identify the variable which contributed most to soil heterogeneity. The same procedure was repeated for the variables related to topography and ground-water regime. The three species diversity parameters were related to the proportions of edges, the overall impacts scores, and the standard deviations of two selected soil and topographic variables. The species diversity in the fragments increased with increasing heterogeneity of both soil chemical properties and topographic features, and decreased with increasing proportion of forest edges. The evenness component of species diversity also increased with increasing severity of overall environmental impacts. This probably occurred because the 20 fragments did not include highly disturbed forests in the range and the intermediate disturbance effect on species diversity was therefore detected.

Human Impacts Affect Tree Community Features of 20 Forest Fragments of a Vanishing Neotropical Hotspot

The loss in forest area due to human occupancy is not the only threat to the remaining biodiversity: forest fragments are susceptible to additional human impact. Our aim was to investigate the effect of human impact on tree community features (species composition and abundance, and structural descriptors) and check if there was a decrease in the number of slender trees, an increase in the amount of large trees, and also a reduction in the number of tree species that occur in 20 fragments of Atlantic montane semideciduous forest in southeastern Brazil. We produced digital maps of each forest fragment using Landsat 7 satellite images and processed the maps to obtain morphometric variables. We used investigative questionnaires and field observations to survey the history of human impact. We then converted the information into scores given to the extent, severity, and duration of each impact, including proportional border area, fire, trails, coppicing, logging, and cattle, and converted these scores into categorical levels. We used linear models to assess the effect of impacts on tree species abundance distribution and stand structural descriptors. Part of the variation in floristic patterns was significantly correlated to the impacts of fire, logging, and proportional border area. Structural descriptors were influenced by cattle and outer roads. Our results provided, for the first time, strong evidence that tree species occurrence and abundance, and forest structure of Atlantic seasonal forest fragments respond differently to various modes of disturbance by humans.

Characterization of the bauxite mining of the Poços de Caldas alkaline massif and its socio-environmental impacts

The intensive use of mineral resources brings along significant changes to the environment. The mining sector is essential for world economics, as long as it is operated on a basis that is technically coherent, socially fair and environmentally correct. This study aimed to characterize the bauxite mining of the Pocos de Caldas plateau, MG, investigating its respective socio-environmental impacts. Through the overview presented, one can conclude that in most situations, the bauxite miningat the Pocos de Caldas plateau mitigates its negative social and environmental impacts in a satisfactory manner in addition to generating positive social impacts; and the restoration methods of the mining-disturbed ecosystems have been continually improved and should be replicated by small-and-medium-sized companies.

Áreas de preservação permanente na legislação ambiental brasileira

A Area de Preservacao Permanente (APP), principal area protegida instituida por norma juridica no Brasil, foi criada pelo Codigo Florestal (Lei 4.771) em 1965. Por sua importância ecologica e fornecimento de bens e servicos ambientais ao homem, as APPs sao reconhecidas por suas funcoes tecnicas como areas que devem ser preservadas. Muitas interpretacoes divergem do espirito da criacao da Lei, seja pelo preciosismo linguistico ou pelo uso distorcido da hermeneutica O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar os principais pontos conflituosos do entendimento, da interpretacao e da instituicao das Areas de Preservacao Permanente. Concluiu-se que ha, na literatura, pertinentes interpretacoes contrarias ao espirito da norma juridica que institui as APPs; as APPs devem ser preservadas e, em caso de degradacao, a legislacao deixa patente que o passivo ambiental deve ser sanado; a intocabilidade das APPs nao e inexoravel, pois o CONAMA, em alguns casos, pode definir criterios para sua utilizacao; as intervencoes em APP, permitidas por lei nos casos de utilidade publica, interesse social e atividade eventual e de baixo impacto ambiental necessitam de melhor regulamentacao.

Levantamento de reconhecimento com apoio digital dos solos do município de Nazareno-MG

This research was carried out in Nazareno County, State of Minas Gerais, which has been subjected to serious environmental problems due to inadequate soil use. Information about soils is necessary for the appropriate monitoring when implementing measures to mitigate or correct the problem. The objective of this work was to produce a soil recognition map. It is intended to subsidize future and more detailed mapping of the area. The choice of the work area was due to the high degree that the erosive processes reached in Nazareno. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) aided the mapping process and the investigation, minimizing costs and increasing the quality and precision of the results. Five soil mapping units were defined: LVAd (58%) was predominant, followed by CXbd2 (16%), and CXbd1 (15%). The unit LVdf (7%) occurs in the north of the municipal district and the unit GXbd occupies the smallest area (2%).

Fire risk map for the Serra de São Domingos Municipal Park, Poços de Caldas, MG

This study constructed a fire risk map for the Serra de Sao Domingos Municipal Park (SSDMP), southern Minas GeraisSate, Brazil, which harbors Atlantic Forest remnants and endangered species. Geo-processing techniques were used for producing a preliminary risk map for altimetry (a), land slope (e), slope orientation (d), land-use/cover (u) and influence of roads and buildings (i). After, the risk maps were overlaid to produce a structural fire index (SFI)-based risk map for the Park. The SFI was calculated by using the formula SFI = 0,35i + 0,30u + 0,15d + 0,10a + 0,10e. The risks classes were classified as low (0.0-0.9), moderate (1.0 1.9), high (2.0-2.9), very high (3.0-3.9) and extreme (4.0-5.0). All data were processed with 2.5 m base spatial resolution by using the ArcView GIS. According to the SFI calculated, the SSMP area can be divided into the following fire risk zones: Low (0.93%), Moderate (61.77%), High (31.32%), Very High (4.79%) and Extreme (1.19%). The main risk factor is due to the influence of roads and buildings and most fires start due to anthropogenic causes. The low and moderate risk classes comprehend most of the rainforest area. Clearings and grasslands fit mainly the High risk class. The most vulnerable area of SSDMP was the Northern area bordering pasture, crops and eucalypt fields. The SFI map can be a valuable tool for elaborating a fire prevention plan in a small conservation unit when few climate and fire occurrence data are available.

AVALIAÇÃO DA COBERTURA FLORESTAL NA PAISAGEM DE MATA ATLÂNTICA NO ANO DE 2010, NA REGIÃO DE OURO PRETO - MG

This study aimed to evaluate the current state of conservation and the landscape connectivity in the area covering part of the counties of Ouro Preto, Mariana and Ouro Branco, MG. This area is located at the upper course of the Velhas river, Carmo river, Gualaxo do Sul river and Colonia creek. The region belongs to the Mata Atlantica phytogeographic ecosystem and encompasses different Conservation Units (CUs). RapidEye AG (Jun/2010) with 5 m of spatial resolution images were used. The study area was divided into three classes: Seasonal semideciduous montane forest; Natural vegetation 2; Anthropic use. The results showed that the study area is well preserved, particularly inside the CUs where the fragments are bigger and are considered priority sites for conservation. The natural formations of the region corresponded to 87.08% of the study area. The metrics showed that the average distance between the 262 fragments is 72.18 m. The shape of the fragments do not favor the preservation of biodiversity, because they are complex and irregular (fractal). The application of edge effects initially increases the fragmentation and, subsequently reduces the size of individual vegetation spots, smoothing their complex shapes. Strong anthropic pressures are present outside the buffer zone of the State Park of Itacolomi. The weak points are those surrounding pastoral and mining areas, mainly field areas of CUs in Ouro Branco and pasture areas inside the Cachoeira das Andorinhas State APA.

Legal Guidelines for Campos de Altitude Restoration

ABSTRACT Due to impacts on Campos de Altitude vegetation, new environmental management strategies that consider regional ecophysiological information are being requested. Information was sought on the reproductive and propagation aspects of the species with higher importance value in Serra da Mantiqueira (Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais State), in order to guide the embellishment of a state regulation regarding Campos de Altitude. The state of Minas Gerais does not have minimum criteria of richness and diversity for species selection in ecological restoration projects. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the ecophysiological studies in Campos de Altitude, as well as a greater interaction between scientists, legislators, and community through environmental education instruments, seeking greater effectiveness of legal mechanisms for conservation.

Diversity of medium-sized and large mammals from Atlantic Forest remnants in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Studies on mammal diversity provide the essential groundwork for the development of conservation methods and practices. The region of the Pocos de Caldas Plateau is lacks such studies, which may be a problem for future conservation actions. Here, we analyze the richness of medium-sized and large mammals from Atlantic Forest remnants on the Pocos de Caldas Plateau, Minas Gerais state. Diurnal censuses of direct observations and mammal signs were conducted, and we documented 20 species of mammals belonging to eight orders. Three species of primates, one carnivore, one cingulate, one lagomorpha, three rodents, one artiodactyla, and two marsupials were found. The largest forest remnant that presented the greatest richness is currently a conservation unit. Forest remnants are important for the consolidation of management strategies and have fundamental role for the conservation of mammal diversity in the south of Minas Gerais state.

Alometria e arquitetura de Copaifera langsdorffii (Desf.) Kuntze (Fabaceae) em fitofisionomias neotropicais no sul de minas gerais

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar padroes alometricos e feicoes arquiteturais de Copaifera langsdorffii em diferentes fisionomias de uma regiao de tensao ecologica. As fisionomias de floresta, corredor, cerrado e cerrado rupestre foram estudadas nos municipios de Lavras e Carrancas, sul de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram estudadas as relacoes entre diâmetro do tronco, altura, area da copa, grau de deflexao e deslocamento relativo da copa, sendo analisado o grau de semelhanca, entre as fisionomias, por meio de regressoes e analise covariância. Foi realizada uma analise de componentes principais (PCA) com variaveis biometricas coletadas e morfometricas calculadas, para caracterizacao de grupos mais homogeneos que evidenciem a plasticidade morfologica da especie e suas diferentes estrategias e investimento em recursos. Como resultado das analises de regressao e covariância, encontraram-se padroes distintos, principalmente entre as fisionomias de floresta e cerrado, das fisionomias de cerrado rupestre e corredor. Um padrao de crescimento com maior investimento em altura na floresta, objetivando a garantia de espaco no dossel, e outro mais ligado ao crescimento horizontal da copa, nas fisionomias de cerrado rupestre e corredor. A PCA apresentou um gradiente de plasticidade morfologica para a especie. A fisionomia de floresta apresentou maiores valores de altura total, largura de copa e diâmetro do tronco, e a fisionomia de cerrado rupestre mostrou valores mais elevados de grau de deflexao da copa (assimetria). O cerrado e o corredor formaram uma transicao entre floresta e cerrado rupestre, no gradiente de feicoes morfologicas da especie nas fisionomias.