Maria Jesus Nogueira Rodal

Florística e fitossociologia de um remanescente de vegetação caducifólia espinhosa arbórea em Caruaru, Pernambuco

The Deciduous Thorny Vegetation (DTV) that covers the semi-arid area of Northeastern Brazil, called caatinga, is highly diversified as a function of its climatic and morphopedological characteristics. Since little is known of its characteristics in the border of its distribution, as in the Agreste region on the Borborema plateau, a floristic and phytosociological survey was conducted in an area at Caruaru, Pernambuco. All plants > 1m high e > 3cm of stem diameter within 36 plots, 10 × 10m each, had their height and diameter measured. A total of 96 species, belonging to 41 families were found in the area, of which 55 species were included in the phytosociological survey. Most of them are also found in the dry core of the Northeastern semi-arid region, but a few of them occur in places with higher water availability. Total density (3,810 plant ha-1) and basal area (24.9m2 ha-1) and stem diameter distribution were within the range found in other DTV areas but the number of plants taller than 8 m was higher, almost double the previous highest value. The most important species were the same found in other DTV areas but different from those of regional Montane Forests (MF), Deciduous Non Thorny Vegetation (DNTV) and Humid Lowland Forests (HLF), in Northeast. In a cluster analysis, based on flora, HLF formed a separate group and in the other group DTV and MF were more similar than DNTV. Structurally, DTV has less small plants than both MF and DNTV and less large plants than MF but more than DNTV. The vegetation in the Agreste at Caruaru is an arboreal DTV, with tall plants and the presence of a few species more common in more humid areas than the dry core of the Northeast.

Caatinga revisited: ecology and conservation of an important seasonal dry forest.

Besides its extreme climate conditions, the Caatinga (a type of tropical seasonal forest) hosts an impressive faunal and floristic biodiversity. In the last 50 years there has been a considerable increase in the number of studies in the area. Here we aimed to present a review of these studies, focusing on four main fields: vertebrate ecology, plant ecology, human ecology, and ethnobiology. Furthermore, we identify directions for future research. We hope that the present paper will help defining actions and strategies for the conservation of the biological diversity of the Caatinga.

Identity and relationships of the Arboreal Caatinga among other floristic units of seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) of north-eastern and Central Brazil

The tree species composition of seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF) in north-eastern and central Brazil is analyzed to address the following hypotheses: (1) variations in species composition are related to both environment (climate and substrate) and spatial proximity; (2) SDTF floristic units may be recognized based on peculiar composition and environment; and (3) the Arboreal Caatinga, a deciduous forest occurring along the hinterland borders of the Caatinga Domain, is one of these units and its flora is more strongly related to the caatinga vegetation than to outlying forests. The study region is framed by the Brazilian coastline, 50th meridian west and 21st parallel south, including the Caatinga Domain and extensions into the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado Domains. Multivariate and geostatistic analyses were performed on a database containing 16,226 occurrence records of 1332 tree species in 187 georeferenced SDTF areas and respective environmental variables. Tree species composition varied significantly with both environmental variables and spatial proximity. Eight SDTF floristic units were recognized in the region, including the Arboreal Caatinga. In terms of species composition, its tree flora showed a stronger link with that of the Cerrado Dry Forest Enclaves. On the other hand, in terms of species frequency across sample areas, the links were stronger with two other units: Rock Outcrops Caatinga and Agreste and Brejo Dry Forests. There is a role for niche-based control of tree species composition across the SDTFs of the region determined primarily by the availability of ground water across time and secondarily by the amount of soil mineral nutrients. Spatial proximity also contributes significantly to the floristic cohesion of SDTF units suggesting a highly dispersal-limited tree flora. These units should be given the status of eco-regions to help driving the conservation policy regarding the protection of their biodiversity.

Composição florística de um trecho de vegetação arbustiva caducifólia, no município de Ibimirim, PE, Brasil

Com o objetivo de contribuir para o conhecimento da estrutura taxonomica e identidade floristica da vegetacao arbustiva caducifolia das chapadas sedimentares do semi-arido de Pernambuco, foi realizado o levantamento da flora angiospermica de uma area situada no municipio de Ibimirim, PE. Em 343 coletas, foram identificados 139 taxons, distribuidos em 92 generos e 38 familias. As familias com maior riqueza foram: Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae e Mimosaceae com 42% e 33% das especies e generos, respectivamente. A partir da analise de 831 especies listadas em 15 levantamentos floristicos, distribuidos em 19 areas (Ceara, Pernambuco, Piaui e Sergipe), identificou-se que o maior numero de especies em comum ocorreu com levantamentos localizados em chapadas sedimentares e caatingas instaladas no cristalino, e o menor, com o levantamento de cerrado no Estado do Piaui. A partir dos aspectos floristicos, funcionais e grau de deficiencia hidrica da area de estudo, a vegetacao foi considerada como pertencente a caatinga.

Alienígenas na sala: o que fazer com espécies exóticas em trabalhos de taxonomia, florística e fitossociologia?

(Aliens in the room: what to do with exotic species in taxonomic, floristic and phytosociological studies?): The ever-growing presence of exotic organisms (many of which become invasive) throughout the planet has led to the emergence of biological invasions as a field of study within ecology. To enable communication between scientists in this field, a terminology has developed. However, this terminology has been ignored by many botanists in Brazil where there is confusion regarding definition of exotic, naturalized, invasive, weed and ruderal species, leading to inconsistent use of the concepts. Moreover, different authors have adopted antagonistic positions when dealing with exotic species existing in their study areas, either in the preparation of taxonomic treatments or in floristic and phytosociological surveys. While some authors include in floras cultivated, non reproducing species, others exclude even widespread and common invasives. We present here, in Portuguese, the main concepts related to the theme of bioinvasion and draw the attention of Brazilian authors to the necessity for consistent use of the terminological framework available for biological invasions. We also propose that authors should clearly label exotic plants reported in their work, differentiating exotics from native species. Finally, we suggest criteria to help botanists decide when exotic plants should or should not be included in taxonomic treatments or in floristic surveys.

Flora de um brejo de altitude na escarpa oriental do planalto da Borborema, PE, Brasil

Studies in the northeastern upland forests (brejo de altitude) indicate that the humid ones show higher richness of species and have more floristic simalarity with the lowland humid forests. Considering the lack of data about humid sub-montane forests, a survey was carried out in the upland forest of Bonito, Pernambuco, aiming to identify their floristic composition. Voucher, habit, and pattern of distribution of each species are presented. The results were compared with 22 surveys in the northeastern Atlantic Rainforest (latu sensu). Two hundred and seventeen species, distributed in 65 families, were sampled at the study area. Among those, 50% were cited in other upland forests and lowland forests in Pernambuco and Bahia States. The majority of species are scattered along South America, occurring from the north portion, penetrating through the Atlantic coast, as well as in the Brazilian central plateau, and sometimes reaching the semi-arid regions within the upland forests. Another important group of species are distributed starting at Central America to the middle region of South America, with a few occurring also in the south of North America (United States and Mexico).

Florística e fitogeografia da vegetação arbustiva subcaducifólia da Chapada de São José, Buíque, PE, Brasil

Foi realizado o levantamento da flora angiospermica de um trecho de vegetacao arbustiva subcaducifolia na Chapada de Sao Jose, Buique, Pernambuco, com a finalidade de ampliar o conhecimento sobre a flora daquela chapada, bem como compreender suas relacoes floristicas com outros conjuntos vegetacionais do Nordeste, especialmente no semi-arido. A flora angiospermica foi composta por 192 taxons, distribuidos em 130 generos e 60 familias. Euphorbiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Myrtaceae, Mimosaceae, Fabaceae e Cactaceae foram as mais representativas em numero de especies. A analise de agrupamento revelou que o tipo de substrato exerce uma forte influencia na reparticao espacial das especies dentro do semi-arido e confirmou a existencia de um conjunto de especies indicadoras das areas sedimentares, formado por Caesalpinia microphylla Mart. (Caesalpiniaceae), Bocoa mollis (Benth.) R.S. Cowan (Fabaceae), Byrsonima gardneriana A. Juss. (Malpighiaceae) e Zanthoxylum stelligerum Turic. (Rutaceae). A flora da area de estudo e relacionada com a da caatinga do cristalino, caatinga de areas sedimentares e carrasco. Todavia, o alto numero de especies de Myrtaceae, raras na caatinga, o caracter subcaducifolio da vegetacao e a presenca de Cactaceae e Bromeliaceae, tipicas da caatinga, sugerem que a area de estudo representa o final de um gradiente que se inicia em areas sedimentares situadas em menores altitudes.

Composição florística da floresta estacional decídua montana de Serra das Almas, CE, Brasil

In the Brazilian semi-arid region, the flora in the sedimentary basins has been poorly studied, but the few surveys already done indicate great floristic and physiognomic heterogeneity. Even neighboring sites may be floristically different. To test this hypothesis, the floristic composition and the biological spectrum of the seasonal deciduous forest at Serra das Almas, Ceara, was analyzed and compared to those of 14 other northeastern Brazil sedimentary areas. A total of 104 species belonging to 40 families were found at the 1 ha site. Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Erythroxylaceae and Myrtaceae were the families with the most species and phanerophytes the main life form, comprising 87% of the species. About 72% of the species were trees and shrubs, 15% were lianas, 6% understory shrubs and 7% herbs. A cluster analysis of the woody flora of the 14 areas, using the Jaccard index and a posteriori group averages, indicated the formation of groups as a function of geographical proximity of the areas. However, this effect was not significant, according to the Mantel test, demonstrating floristic heterogeneity even in neighboring areas. The flora of the forest at Serra das Almas was most similar to that of the vegetation found atop the Ibiapaba plateau.

Padrões das síndromes de dispersão de plantas em áreas com diferentes graus de pluviosidade, PE, Brasil

This study aimed to describe the proportion of dispersal syndromes in three remnants of native vegetation with distinct total rainfall and number of dry months. During three years of monthly sampling we collected and described fruits and diaspores of 107 species. The areas with precipitation less than 700 mm/year (Floresta and Caruaru) showed similar proportions of dispersal syndromes (autochory, anemochory and zoochory), whereas Tapacura (mean annual precipitation 1300 mm) was distinguished mainly by zoochory, which varied from 29% (Floresta) to 51% (Tapacura) of the species. The distribution of dispersal syndromes along a vertical gradient showed a higher proportion of zoochory in the understory of more humid areas such as Tapacura, while in drier areas (Floresta and Caruaru) autochory and anemochory were more representative in the canopy. These results indicate that the abiotic vectors become more important with the decrease in rainfall, and also that dispersal-syndrome proportions differ with stratification.

Checklist of angiosperms from the Pedra Furada Municipal Park, northeastern Brazil

Due to the scarcity of data on the biotic diversity of rocky outcrops, this work presents the checklist of flowering plants (angiosperms) from the Pedra Furada Municipal Park (8°34’30” S, 36°52’45” W; 3 ha), in the northeast region of Brazil. Random samples were carried out from Jan-Dec 1998 and 2004-2009, totaling 125 species and 44 families. Fabaceae (14 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (13), Convolvulaceae (10), Cyperaceae (7), Apocynaceae (6), Cactaceae (6) and Bromeliaceae (5) comprise about 50% of the species. Due to variations in the rock slope and soil depth, the plants are distributed throughout three environments: slopes (65 species), plateaus (39) and escarpments (5), with some of them occurring both in plateaus and slopes (17). Among the species of the park, some are endemic to the caatinga ( e.g. Piptadenia stipulacea and Maytenus rigida ), and others are restricted to rocky outcrop areas ( Ameroglossum pernambucense and Pithecoseris pacourinoides ), providing evidence of the park’s relevance to the preservation of the local flora.