Maristela Machado Araujo

Effects of seasonality, litter removal and dry-season irrigation on litterfall quantity and quality in eastern Amazonian forest regrowth, Brazil

Litterfall quantity and quality may respond to alterations in resource availability expected with ongoing land-use and climate changes. Here, we quantify the effects of altered resource availability on non-woody litterfall quantityandquality(nitrogenandphosphorusconcentrations)ineasternAmazonianforestregrowth(Brazil)through two multi-year experimental manipulations: (1) daily irrigation (5mm d −1 ) during the dry season; and (2) fortnightly litterremoval.Consistentwithothertropicalforestdatalitterfallexhibitedseasonalpatterns,increasingwiththeonset of the dry season and declining with the onset of the rainy season. Irrigation did not affect litterfall mass and had little impactonnitrogen(N)orphosphorus(P)concentrationsandreturn,exceptfordecreasinglitterPconcentrationatthe end of two irrigation periods. Litter removal did not alter litterfall mass or P concentration, but progressively reduced litterfall N during the course of the experiment. Overall, these results suggest significant resistance to altered resource availabilitywithintheboundsofourexperimentaltreatments;ourfindingsmayhelptoconstraincarbonandnutrient cycling predictions for tropical forests in response to land-use and climate changes.

Mecanismos de regeneração natural em remanescente de Floresta Estacional Decidual

Due to the loss of biodiversity and natural habitat because of the forests fragmentation, it is the needed to find alternatives that allow the recovery of these environments. Thus, this study aimed to obtain information about the potential of natural regeneration mechanisms (seed rain, soil seed bank, seedling bank and established natural regeneration) in a seasonal deciduous forest fragment in Santa Maria, RS state, in order to conserve and to recover these ecosystems. The study was conducted in a systematic way, having as a point of departure the demarcation of 14 sampling plots of 2000 sq m. From those plots, 70 subplots were randomly selected to evaluate the natural regeneration mechanisms. The seed rain was evaluated during one year based on the material that was monthly collected and analyzed from the collectors. To the study of the soil seed bank, soil samplings of 25cmx25cmx5cm were taken and the collected material was monitored during 7 months, observing the seed germination. The natural regeneration was evaluated in two classes: seedling bank and established The seed rain presented medium density of 1350 seeds m - ², in which 73 species, predominantly arboreal, were observed. In the soil seed bank, 108 species were observed, in which 74 % were herbaceous. In the seedling bank, 48 species were found and they were heliophilous and sciaphilous species, while in the established natural regeneration, 37 species were found, prevailing sciaphilous. This study concluded that the species with the greatest potential to perpetuate in the studied area were Gymnanthes concolor, Soroceae bonplandii, Eugenia rostrifolia, Trichilia claussenii, Trichilia elegans and Dasyphylum spinescens , and they are highly indicated to the enrichment of the area. The species Myrocarpus frondosus, Cupania vernalis, Nectandra megapotamica and Syagrus rommanzoffiana showed certain restriction, depending on the silvicultural treatments in the forest to assure their perpetuation in the area .

Biomass equations for forest regrowth in the eastern Amazon using randomized branch sampling

Forest regrowth occupies an extensive and increasing area in the Amazon basin, but accurate assessment of the impact of regrowth on carbon and nutrient cycles has been hampered by a paucity of available allometric equations. We develop pooled and species-specific equations for total aboveground biomass for a study site in the eastern Amazon that had been abandoned for 15 years. Field work was conducted using randomized branch sampling, a rapid technique that has seen little use in tropical forests. High consistency of sample paths in randomized branch sampling, as measured by the standard error of individual paths (14%), suggests the method may provide substantial efficiencies when compared to traditional procedures. The best fitting equations in this study used the traditional form Y=a×DBH b , where Y is biomass, DBH is diameter at breast height, and a and b are both species-specific parameters. Species-specific equations of the form Y=a(BA×H), where Y is biomass, BA is tree basal area, H is tree height, and a is a species-specific parameter, fit almost as well. Comparison with previously published equations indicated errors from -33% to +29% would have occurred using off-site relationships. We also present equations for stemwood, twigs, and foliage as biomass components.

Correlation but no causation between leaf nitrogen and maximum assimilation: The role of drought and reproduction in gas exchange in an understory tropical plant Miconia ciliata (Melastomataceae)

Alternative hypotheses were tested to explain a previously reported anomaly in the response of leaf photosynthetic capacity at light saturation (A(max)) in Miconia ciliata to dry-season irrigation. The anomaly is characterized by an abrupt increase in leaf A(max) for nonirrigated plants at the onset of the rainy season to values that significantly exceeded corresponding measurements for plants that were irrigated during the previous dry season. Hypothesis 1 posits that a pulse in leaf nitrogen increases CO(2) assimilation in nonirrigated plants at the onset of the wet season and is dampened for irrigated plants; this hypothesis was rejected because, although a wet-season nitrogen pulse did occur, it was identical for both irrigated and nonirrigated plants and was preceded by the increase in assimilation by nonirrigated plants. Hypothesis 2 posits that a reproduction-related, compensatory photosynthetic response occurs in nonirrigated plants following the onset of the wet season and is dampened in irrigated plants; consistent with hypothesis 2, high maximum assimilation rates for control plants in the wet season were significantly correlated with fruiting and flowering, whereas irrigation caused flowering and fruiting in the dry season, spreading M. ciliata reproductive activity in irrigated plants across the entire year.

Estrutura e relações ambientais de grupos florísticos em fragmento de floresta estacional subtropical

The objective of this study was to determine floristic groups of the shrub-tree vegetation strata of an excerpt from Forest Subtropical Deciduous slope in Parque Estadual Quarta Colonia, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to analyze their structure and to determine key environmental factors for plant species occurrence, in order to provide restoration programs of of degraded areas as reference ecosystem. A phytosociological survey was carried out for vegetation analysis on 12 plots of 200 m2 (10 x 20 m), systematically distributed on a topography gradient at 20 m interval, systematically distributed on four tracks of 100 m between them, following the gradient of topography. In each plot, it species was identified and it was measured circumference at breast height (CAP) and overall height of tree individuals, represented by those with CAP 115 cm, named upper stratum. Understory strata information was obtained on circular plots of a radius of 1.78 m, set up in the center of 10 x 20 m plots, from individuals with height 30 and CAP<15 cm. Environmental variables were steepness, light intensity and soil chemistry and texture. Data analyses of vegetation structure and diversity were evaluated by using TWINSPAN and environmental correlations of floristic composition by using CCA (Canonical Correspondence Analysis). It was identified two groups, with species composition belonging to different stages of natural succession, suggesting differences of agricultural land use history and soil chemical characteristics. For that, some species may be indicated in forest restoration programs.

Caracterização da vegetação e espécies para recuperação de mata ciliar, Ijuí, RS

Riparian forests form ecological corridors and enable the preservation of biodiversity and water resources. The maintenance of these ecological functions often requires the environmental restoration of these ecosystems. Thus, we aimed to characterize the arboreal vegetation and identify species for recovery in areas of riparian forests. The study was conducted in two fragments on the left and right banks of the river Ijui, in the municipality of Ijui, RS. The vegetation was inventoried in 10 systematic strips, of lengths from 15-35 m, perpendicular to the river, with a distance of 50 m, which were subdivided into plots of 10 x 10 m, totaling 21, in which were identified and measured all individuals with girth breast height (GBH) ≥ 15cm. Data from the inventory were used in the floristic and structural characterization of vegetation, in a clustering analysis (TWINSPAN) and supplied a basis for the indication of species for recovery. We identified 38 species distributed in 20 families. The three groups formed showed different succession stages. For the environmental recovery of altered areas, with similar environmental characteristics, it is suggested the use of Ateleia glazioviana , Helietta apiculata , Dalbergia frutescens and Parapiptadenia rigida as these facilitate succession. The planting of Eugenia uniflora and Prunus myrtifolia can help in attracting disperser fauna. Cupania vernalis and Pilocarpus pennatifolius may be used for the enrichment of areas in a more advanced stage of forest succession.

Carvão de resíduos de indústria madeireira de três espécies florestais exploradas no município de Paragominas, PA

The timber industry in Amazonia generates large quantities of residues from log processing. A viable alternative for the enterprises is the production of charcoal from these residues. This study evaluates the main properties of the charcoal from Manilkara amazonica (macaranduba), Lecythis pisonis (sapucaia) and Piptadenia suaveolens (timborana), carbonized in 7 and 10 days. The charcoal was produced from residues of timbers from the sawmill of Cikel Brasil Verde S. A., in Rio Capim estate, Paragominas, PA. A series of 30 kilns was used, being 10 for each species, of which 5 kilns used a 7-day carbonization process and 5 kilns 10 days. After the carbonization, samples of the charcoal produced were collected for studying gravimetric yield and physical, chemical and mechanical properties. The main results were: gravimetrical yield of the charcoal varied from 21,47 to 29,59 % (humid base); the bulk medium density varied from 178,51 to 231,14 kg.m-3; apparent medium density from 0,38 to 0,53 g.cm-3; calorific power from 23451 to 28830 kj.kg-1; volatile materials content from 23,94 to 31,47 %; ashes from 0,7 to 2,5 %; fixed carbon from 68,29 to 74,49 %; and the friableness varied from 12 to 32,6 %. It was noted that species is the main factor that influences the properties of the charcoal. It was not possible to say which species produced the best charcoal, from the properties analyses, because all the three species present some good characteristics, but these are always accompanied by other inadequate characteristics.

Dimensionamento amostral para avaliação de altura e diâmetro de mudas de Cabralea canjerana

In nurseries, it is important to determine the number of plants to be evaluated so that inferences about seedling growth are reliable. The aim of this research was to estimate the sample size (number of plants) necessary to evaluate plant height, collar diameter and relation plant height/collar diameter of canjerana seedlings (Cabralea canjerana (Vell.) Mart.) and to verify its variability among tubes, substrates and ages evaluation. An experiment was conducted in the nursery, in which nine treatments, organized in randomizes blocks design with four replication, were formed by the combination of three sizes of tubes (100, 180 and 280cm3) and three substrates (100% peat, 80% peat + 20% rice hulls and 60% peat + 40% rice hulls). It was evaluated the following characters, in ten ages: plant height, collar diameter and relation plant height/collar diameter, in ten plants sampled at random in each experimental unit. Analyses of variance, means comparison tests and verification of normality were carried and the sample size was calculated. The sample size to evaluate the plant height, collar diameter and relation plant height/collar diameter of canjerana seedlings is dependent on age evaluation. For the tubes, substrates and ages evaluation studied, 18 plants per experimental unit (pot) are enough to predict the these characters average, with an estimation error equal to 10% of estimated average, with a degree confidence of 95%.

Mecanismos de regeneração natural em diferentes ambientes de remanescente de Floresta Ombrófila Mista, São Francisco de Paula, RS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural regeneration mechanisms in three floristic groups of the remaining Mixed Rain Forest, located in San Francisco de Paula, RS. The data were collected in six conglomerates of one hectare, subdivided into 16 plots, in which seed rain, soil seed bank, and seedling bank were collected. The groups presented differences in the density of individuals in the seed rain and in

Classificação e crescimento de unidades de vegetação em Floresta Ombrófila Mista, São Francisco de Paula, RS.

This work was developed with the objective of studying the present ecological groups in the Mixed Rainy Forest and of describing the composition and the growth dynamics during the four seasons. The work had been accomplished in ten permanent conglomerates of 1 ha (100m x 100m), which were divided into ten strips of 10m x 100m (1000m 2 ) and these ones subdivided into ten subunits of 10m x 10m (100m 2 ). In this research, one 10m x 100m strip in conglomerate was selected, totaling ten subunits, where it had been installed, at BHD height, dendrometric bands in all trees with CBH ≥ 30 cm, to verify the annual and the seasonal growth. The density per species formed a matrix (99 x 39) used to test vegetation grouping through TWINSPAN (Two-way indicator species analysis), since three ecological groups were verified. Group 1 was denominated primary forest; group 2, humid site forests, and group 3, secondary forest. ≥ 30 cm. The annual average increment was larger for the primary forest, following the secondary forest and the forest of humid places. In decreasing order, the average periodic increment was larger in the summer, spring, autumn and winter. The species that stood out in density terms and increment were Cupania vernalis and Nectandra megapotamica .