Luis Fernando Tavares de Menezes

Structure and floristic pattern of a coastal dunes in southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Th e Brazilian shrublands area ( restinga ) is composed of marine coast vegetation on Quaternary sandy plains, where the species composition can vary depending on the surrounding ecosystems. Th e aims of this study were to describe the structure and fl oristic composition of a restinga near the community of Itaunas, in the northern part of the state of Espirito Santo, to identify any relationships between this restinga and surrounding plant formations, and to determine which are the species that occur preferentially in the coastal forests of Espirito Santo. We sampled woody plants with a diameter at breast height ≥ 2.5 cm, excluding lianas, in 50 plots of 100 m². We selected studies of coastal forests in the states of Espirito Santo and Bahia to prepare a database that would reveal patterns of fl oristic variation among these areas. We used two-way indicator species analysis for the identifi cation of the species that occur preferentially in the coastal forests of Espirito Santo. We identifi ed 114 species belonging to 38 families. Species richness was greatest for Myrtaceae (26 species), followed by Fabaceae (10). Th e Shannon index for the study area was 3.96. Th e estimated total density was 3,330 individuals/ha and basal area was 32.02 m²/ha. Th e highest importance value (IV) was for

Influence of environmental variation on Atlantic Forest tree-shrub-layer phytogeography in southeast Brazil

O presente trabalho analisou dados de 32 remanescentes florestais nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e Sao Paulo, atraves de analises multivariadas para responder a pergunta: Existem padroes floristicos do estrato arboreo-arbustivo da Floresta Atlântica relacionados a Serra do Mar e alargamento das planicies costeiras nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e Sao Paulo? Foram utilizadas tres analises multivariadas para investigar as relacoes entre a flora arboreo-arbustiva e a variacao ambiental das 32 areas. As analises demonstraram influencia de alteracoes geo-climaticas sobre a diferenciacao floristica das especies arboreas e arbustivas da Mata Atlântica. Este fato permitiu gerar grupos com as areas analisadas baseados em caracteristicas bioticas e abioticas, sustentando a existencia de padroes floristicos nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e Sao Paulo. Os grupos formados refletem a substituicao das especies arboreo-arbustivas entre as areas analisadas como consequencia de variacoes da precipitacao, altitude e temperatura media anual a medida que modifica o posicionamento da Serra do Mar e cresce a planicie costeira. Para cada grupo foram designadas especies preferenciais que devem ser consideradas em programas de restauracao e conservacao das regioes fitoecologicas por eles representadas.

Aporte e decomposição da serapilheira na Floresta Atlântica, ilha da Marambaia, Mangaratiba, RJ.

Litter production and decomposition of an Atlantic Forest fragment in Marambaia Island, Mangaratiba, RJ, were monitored from December 2003 to November 2004. For the litter deposition evaluation, 30 litter traps were installed and 36 litter bags were allocated in the area to quantify litter decomposition. Soil samples were collected at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth to evaluate soil fertility. The litter production was 7.9 Mg ha -1 and the highest deposition was verified in November and the lowest in June. The leaf fraction presented the highest contribution comparing to the others. In seven months of observation, litter decomposition rate was 40% and showed an exponential decrease. Different behavior for N, P and K release was verified. Exception for P, carbon, nutrients and H+Al presented highest concentrations in superficial layer.

Diversity of Myrtaceae in the southeastern Atlantic forest of Brazil as a tool for conservation

Herbarium data sources are often the only available information on plant species. In this paper, the potential use of herbarium data is highlighted in a case study of the family Myrtaceae in the Atlantic forest of the Brazilian State of Espírito Santo, focusing on areas of conservation priority and assessment of species diversity. Occurrence records were obtained from published texts, personal records, and information from herbarium collections available on the SpeciesLink website. Authoritatively, determined herbarium collections were used to clarify doubts related to species identifications. A total of 4,296 records were examined, corresponding to 292 accepted species names and 106 synonyms. The variables species richness and number of collections were highly correlated. Many areas have been poorly sampled, especially in the northern and northwestern regions of Espírito Santo. Areas with high endemism and diversity rates were those most collected, suggesting that a large information potential in richness and endemicity parameters remains unsampled in poorly known areas. Eighteen endemic species were reported, of which Campomanesia espiritosantensis, Myrcia follii, M. limae, and M. riodocensis are those most vulnerable to extinction. In order to improve Myrtaceae conservation status, effective government support in implementing conservation policy is required, as well as expansion and creation of new protected areas. We suggest that Priority Areas for Conservation should be used as suitable sites for implementation of some kind of further protection.

Leaf damage in a mangrove swamp at Sepetiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Leaf damage to Rhizophora mangle L., Avicennia schaueriana Stapf. & Leechman, and Laguncularia racemosa L. was studied in a two hectare mangrove swamp site in Sepetiba Bay. Seventeen arthropod morphospecies were identified as being responsible for the damage, and their species diversity was highest on A. schaueriana, followed by R. mangle and L. racemosa. Damage in terms of relative area was greatest in L. racemosa. Almost 9% of mangrove canopy leaf area demonstrated some damage. Loss of leaf area to herbivory was 12.1%, 8.3% and 6.2% in L. racemosa, A. schaueriana and R. mangle respectively. L. racemosa and A. schaueriana showed high percentages of leaf-margin damage in terms of the total damaged leaf area (82.2% and 56.3% respectively), while the most important type of damage in R. mangle was necrosis, representing 58.1% of the total damaged leaf area.

Estrutura e florística do estrato arbóreo no cerrado sensu stricto de Buritis, Minas Gerais, Brasil

( Estrutura e floristica do estrato arboreo no cerrado sensu stricto de Buritis, Minas Gerais) . A crescente perda de cobertura do cerrado sensu stricto vem demandando mais estudos sobre sua ecologia para auxiliar em sua conservacao. Este estudo caracteriza a composicao floristica e estrutural do estrato arboreo de um cerrado sensu stricto e testa sua similaridade a outros locais com fisionomia similar. Atraves de parcelas, foi amostrada uma area de 1,45 ha, registrando-se individuos com DAS ≥ 10 cm. Foram calculados os parâmetros estruturais, indice de Shannon (H’), equitabilidade de Pielou (J’) e analisada a distribuicao de especies em classes de diâmetro, enquanto a distribuicao de individuos, em classes de altura e diâmetro. O estudo foi comparado a nove cerrados sensu stricto atraves da analise de similaridade. Registrou-se 1155 individuos, 90 especies, 73 generos e 37 familias. H’ foi igual a 3,75 e J’ igual a 0,83. Qualea grandiflora, Magonia pubescens, Curatella americana e Qualea parviflora apresentaram os maiores valores de importância. A densidade foi 796 individuos/ha e a area basal somou 11,87m 2 /ha. O estudo demonstra maior semelhanca entre o cerrado sensu stricto de Buritis e o encontrado sobre solos rochosos no norte de Goias e sul de Tocantins, alem de detectar padroes floristicos que apontam a relacao da flora arborea entre diferentes areas no Brasil central.

Role of Terrestrial Bromeliads in Nutrient Cycling, Restinga da Marambaia, Brazil

This study quantified the aboveground biomass and nutrient contents in terrestrial bromeliads in a dune forest at Restinga da Marambaia, RJ. Data of individuals in “quadrats” (4 m2) marked on a line perpendicular to the sea were collected in August 2001. Diameter (d) and height (h) were the variables that best correlated with the biomass of Quesnelia quesneliana, which presented highest biomass and concentrations of K. The total number of leaves was the variable that best correlated with the biomass of Billbergia amoena and Neoregelia cruenta. N. cruenta presented the highest concentrations of N and P. Nutrient contents were higher in Q. quesneliana.

Litter Dynamics in a Forest Dune at Restinga da Marambaia, RJ, Brazil

Restingas are extremely degraded, tropical sandy ecosystems and are poorly studied in terms of nutrient cycling. The present study aimed to evaluate litter dynamics in a forest dune at Restinga da Marambaia, RJ. Litterfall was collected monthly using two parallel transects installed 200 m apart from each other with 15 litter traps (0.25 m2), over two consecutive years. The litterfall was sorted into leaves, twigs, flowers, fruits, and refuse. Litter decomposition was evaluated by the ratio between litterfall and litter layer on the soil surface, which was estimated every four months by quadrats (0.25 m2) placed next to the litter traps. The average annual litterfall was low (6.8 t ha-1 year-1), mostly constituted by leaves (70%), with the greatest deposits occurring during the rainy season. The decomposition rate was low (0.85) and the turnover time was long (439 days). This litter dynamic contributes to the nutrient economy.

Water content, fibres, and herbivory in leaves of two distinct and adjacent tree communities of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

(Water content, fibres, and herbivory in leaves of two distinct and adjacent tree communities of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest). The aims of the present study were to verify whether plants from Mussununga differ from those of Mata Alta in relation to herbivory, water content, and fibres, and to test whether plants with lower leaf water content and higher fibres are less attacked by chewing insects. The results indicated that leaf herbivory percentages and fibres were similar between the two communities, although individuals from Mata Alta showed higher leaf water content than individuals from Mussununga. Thus, the herbivory patterns found for these tree communities do not seem to not be influenced by water content and fibres. Other factors (e.g., chemical defenses and/or herbivores) may be acting as main drivers.

Post-fire regeneration in seasonally dry tropical forest fragments in southeastern Brazil

Seasonally dry tropical forest is one of the highly threatened biome. However, studies on the effect of fire on these tree communities are still scarce. In this context, a floristic and structural survey in three forest areas in the southeast of Brazil that were affected by fire between 14 and 25 years ago was performed with the objective of evaluating post-fire regeneration. In each site, five systematically placed plots (25 m x 25 m each) were established. The more recently burnt site had significantly lower values of richness and diversity than the other two sites. However, the sites did not differ in density and basal area. Annona dolabripetala, Astronium concinnum, Joannesia princeps and Polyandrococos caudescens were within the 10 most important species for the three sites. Comparing these data with adjacent mature forests, the results indicated differences both in structural and floristic aspects, suggesting that the time after fire was not sufficient for recuperation of these areas. The recovery process indicate at least 190 years for areas return to basal area values close to those observed in mature forests nearby.