Effects of light and temperature on seed germination in Cecropia hololeuca Miq. (Cecropiaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Banco de sementes de remanescentes naturais e de áreas reflorestadas em uma várzea do Rio Mogi-Guaçu - SP

Este estudo avaliou qualitativa e quantitativamente o banco de sementes de dois remanescentes florestais, de um povoamento de Eucalyptus robusta e de três áreas de reflorestamento com espécies nativas, localizados em uma várzea do rio Mogi-Guaçu, Luiz Antônio (21°31´S e 47°55´W), Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram usadas 12 parcelas de 10 x 10 m distribuídas sistematicamente em cada área de estudo. em cada parcela foram distribuídas aleatoriamente quatro subparcelas de 0,5 m x 0,5 m. Duas subparcelas foram usadas para coletar a serapilheira e duas para coletar o solo a 0-5 cm de profundidade. A amostragem foi realizada em setembro de 2001, nos remanescentes naturais e no povoamento de eucalipto e, em setembro de 2002, nas áreas reflorestadas. As amostras foram acondicionadas em vasos de plástico e incubadas com irrigações periódicas para a germinação das sementes por um período de sete meses, em dois ambientes de casa de vegetação: um a 100% de luz solar e outro sob tela com 70% de redução de luz solar. Na composição do banco de sementes de todas as áreas amostradas, houve predominância de espécies pioneiras dos primeiros estádios de sucessão. As espécies arbóreas mais importantes foram Aloysia virgata e Cecropia hololeuca. Os reflorestamentos com espécies nativas proporcionaram um banco de sementes com maior diversidade de espécies arbóreas nativas do que o povoamento de eucalipto. Este estudo indicou que a similaridade entre as florestas plantadas e as nativas deverá aumentar ao longo do tempo.

Uso da fitossociologia na avaliação da efetividade da restauração florestal em uma várzea degradada do rio Mogi Cuaçu, SP

This study objective was to evaluate the effective revegetation in a Mogi Guaçu River degraded floodplain area, located at Luiz Antonio municipality (21° 31' S e 47° 55' W), São Paulo State, Brazil. Two native riparian forest remnants (RIP1 and RIP2) and three 10-year-old reforested areas, planted of native species (R1, R2 and R3), were analyzed by using phytosociological describers of the arboreal stratum (trees with DBH ≥ 5 cm) as indicators. The arboreal stratum inventory was accomplished by 180 plots (10 × 10 m each), 60 representing every native forest and 20 for every reforested area. A total of 60 arboreal species was recorded, only six species (Cecropia hololeuca, Crotón urucurana, Genipa americana, Inga striata, Nectandra megapotamica e Peltophorum dubium) occurring in all the five studied areas. Seventeen species were common to both native forests, and nine species were recorded in all the reforested areas. Sebastlania commersonlana and Guarea macrophyllawere recorded in the native forests (RlP1 and RIP2), and Cecropia hololeuca, Croton urucurana and Inga striata occurring in all the reforested areas, were the species that best characterize the physiognomy of local diversity and were the most important among the studied species. The results showed that the rehabilitation of the areas made by the reforestation created conditions to implant forests with similar structures of the adjacent natural remainders. The reforestation with native species performed in the degraded floodplain of Mogi Guaçu River, initially with the predomination of invasive grasses, has been effective at the first stage of the ecological restoration process. The reforestation is making possible the natural regeneration of species from the adjacent remnants, what indicates that the similarity between planted forests and the native ones are rising through the time. The phytosociology, accomplished ten years after the planting date, is adequate to evaluate the effectiveness of the reforestation during the restoration process of degradated areas in the Mogi Guaçu floodplain.

Colonization pattern of Cecropia by Azteca ants: Influence of plant ontogeny, environment and host plant choice by queens

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influência de Cecropia pachystachya na incidência de ácaros (Arachnida, Acari) e de Leptopharsa heveae (Insecta, Hemiptera) em cultivo de seringueira

Cecropia pachystachya is a plant native to the states of Mato Grosso and São Paulo, usually found in rubber tree plantations. The goals of this study were to verify: a) whether the presence of C. pachystachya in rubber tree plantations influences the occurrence of mites in rubber trees; b) whether it can be used as a reservoir of predaceous mites; c) whether it serves as an alternative host for Leptopharsa heveae during the natural senescence of rubber trees. This study was conducted in two rubber tree plantations in São José do Rio Preto, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. One of them had numerous naturally growing individuals of C. pachystachya, while the other was free of spontaneous plants. We registered high richness of predaceous mites on C. pachystachya, but only 37.5% of them were found on rubber trees, which reveals low displacement rate of mites between the plants. Among the species that were common to both plants, only the predaceous Zetzellia agistzellia and the phytophagous mites Allonychus brasiliensis and Eutetranychus banksi were influenced by the presence of C. pachystachya. The incidence of L. heveae did not differ between the plantations under study and, moreover, C. pachystachya was not used as an alternative host by this insect, since no individuals were registered on its leaves during the natural senescence of rubber trees.

Estudo comparativo das madeiras de cecropia palmata (imbaúba) e eucalyptus grandis para produção de celulose e papel

Pós-graduação em Ciência Florestal - FCA

Forest natural regeneration and biomass production after slash and burn in a seasonally dry forest in the Southern Brazilian Amazon

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Floristic relationships among inland swamp forests of Southeastern and Central-Western Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Florística e fitossociologia em parcelas permanentes da Mata Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal

This paper summarizes floristic and phytossociology data of 11, out of 14 plots of 1 ha, allocated along an altitudinal gradient in the Serra do Mar, Silo Paulo, Brazil. The study was conducted at Serra do Mar State Park and the plots start at the sea level (10 m - plot of Restinga Forest that occurs at Praia da Fazenda, Picinguaba, municipality of Ubatuba) up to 1100 m above sea level (the Montane Ombrophilous Dense occurs alongside the Itamambuca Trail, municipality of Silo Luis do Paraitinga). The Restinga Forest occurs in Pleistocenic Coastal Plain where the soil is classified as a sandy Quartzipsamment (Quartzenic Neosol), while along the slopes of the Serra do Mar, the Ombrophylus Dense Forest grows on the top of a pre-Cambrian crystalline basement with granitic rocks, where the soil is a sandy-loam Dystrophic Inceptisol (Cambisol/Latosol). In all 14 plots soils are acidic (pH 3 - 4), chemically poor, with high dilution of nutrients and high saturation of aluminum. In the Restinga and at the foot of the slope the climate is Tropical/Subtropical Humid (Af/Cfa), with no dry season, an average annual rainfall over 2,200 mm and an average annual temperature of 22 degrees C. Towards the top of the Serra do Mar there is a gradual cooling along the slope, but there is no reduction in rainfall, so at 1,100 m above sea level the climate is classified as Humid Subtropical (Cfa/Cfb), with no dry season and an average annual temperature of 17 degrees C. It is important to remark that, almost daily, from 400 m above sea level up to the top of slopes the mountains are covered by a dense fog. In the 14 plots 21,733 individuals with DBH >= 4.8 cm, including trees, palms and ferns, were marked, measured and sampled. The average number of individuals sampled in each plot was 1264 ind.ha(-1)(+/- 218 SE 95%). Within the parameters considered trees prevailed (71% in the Montane ODF to 90% in the Restinga Forest), followed by palms (10% in the RF and 25% in the Montane Ombrophilous Dense Forest/ODF) and ferns (0% % in the RF and 4% in the Montane ODF). Regarding these proportions the Exploited Lowlands ODF differs from the others with only 1.8% of palm trees and striking 10% of ferns. The forest canopy is irregular with heights ranging from 7 to 9 m, rarely emergent trees reach 18 m, and due to this irregularity of the canopy the amount of light that gets through sets conditions for the development of hundreds of epiphytic species. Aside from Montana ODF, where the number of dead trees was more than 5% of individuals sampled, in the other phytophysiognomies this value was below 2.5%. In the 11 plots where the floristic study was conducted we found 562 species in 195 genera and 68 families. Only seven species - Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae), Calyptranthes lucida Mart. ex DC. and Marlierea tomentosa Cambess (both Myrtaceae), Guapira opposita (Veil.) Reitz (Nyctaginaceae), Cupania oblongifolia Mart. (Sapindaceae), Cecropia glaziovii Snethl. and Coussapoa microcarpa (Schott) Rizzini (both Urticaceae) - occurred from Restinga to Montane ODF, while 12 other species did not occur only in the Restinga Forest. Families with the greatest number of species are Myrtaceae (133 spp), Fabaceae (47 spp), Rubiaceae (49) and Lauraceae (49) throughout the gradient and Monimiaceae (21) specifically in portions Montane ODF. Only in the F plot, where logging has occurred between 1950 and 1985, the abundance of palm trees has been replaced by Cyatheaceae. The study shows a peak of diversity and richness, Shannon-Weiner index (H') ranging from 3.96 to 4.48 nats.ind(-1), in the intermediate altitudes (300 to 400 m) along the slope. Several explanations for this result are raised here, including the fact that these elevations are within the limits expansions and retractions of the different phytophysiognomies of the Atlantic ODF due to climate fluctuations during the Pleistocene. The results presented in this paper demonstrate the extraordinary richness of tree species of the Atlantic Rainforest from the northeastern coast of the State of São Paulo, reinforcing the importance of its conservation throughout the altitudinal gradient. The richness of this forest justifies a long term commitment to study its dynamics and functioning through permanent plots, and monitor the impacts of climate change in this vegetation.

Plantas de ocorrência espontânea como substratos alternativos para fitoseídeos (Acari, Phytoseiidae) em cultivos de seringueira Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ácaros Plantícolas (Acari) da Estação Ecológica de Paulo de Faria, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

O presente estudo foi realizado na Estação Ecológica de Paulo de Faria, região norte do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, visando conhecer a biodiversidade de ácaros associados a plantas em fragmentos de mata estacional semidecidual nativa. Cento e vinte e três espécies das subordens Gamasida, Actinedida, Acaridida e Oribatida (35 identificadas nominalmente), pertencentes a 78 gêneros de 25 famílias, foram coletadas sobre 18 espécies vegetais. As espécies mais freqüentes foram Euseius concordis (Chant) e Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae), encontradas sobre oito e seis espécies vegetais, respectivamente. A maior riqueza de espécies foi observada em Psicotria cartagenensis (oito espécies), Cecropia pachystachya (sete espécies), Guarea kunthiana e Jacaratia spinosa (seis espécies).

Efeito da temperatura e a participação do fitocromo no controle da germinação de sementes de embaúba

A embaúba é considerada uma espécie pioneira que ocorre na mata Atlântica, principalmente em borda da mata ou em matas secundárias. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a análise da influência da temperatura e do modo de ação da luz através de curva de fluência resposta, para a melhor compreensão do comportamento das sementes desta espécie. Através de incubações isotérmicas foi determinada que a temperatura ótima de germinação de sementes de Cecropia glaziovi, situa-se entre 25 e 30ºC e a saturação da indução da germinação com luz branca mediada pelo fitocromo ocorreu com 1W.m-2. Embora as sementes de embaúba necessitem de luz de alta razão de V:VE para a indução do processo, a germinação ocorreu em fluência baixa de luz branca, indicando alta sensibilidade dessas sementes ao ambiente aberto, como borda de matas e pequenas clareiras. Estas características indicam a participação do fitocromo B no controle da germinação de sementes nesta espécie.

Fruits as unusual food items of the carnivorous bat Chrotopterus auritus (Mammalia, Phyllostomidae) from southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Frugivory by toucans (Ramphastidae) at two altitudes in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

Toucans are prominent components of the tropical American avifauna. Although these birds are very conspicuous, there are few ecological studies focusing on them. In this study, the diets of four sympatric toucans (Ramphastos vitellinus, R. dicolorus, Selenidera maculirostris, and Baillonius bailloni) were assessed by recording feeding bouts at two altitudes in the Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil. Our results show that toucans are predominantly frugivorous birds (96.5% of the 289 feeding bouts were on fruits). In the lowlands (70 m elev.), only fruits (48 species, 27 families) were recorded, while in the highlands (700 m elev.), toucans were observed feeding on fruits (25 species, 22 families), flowers, leaves, and insects. Non-fruit items were recorded only in the highlands, most of them eaten by B. bailloni. Cecropia glaziovii and Euterpe edulis, two abundant plants in the highland and lowland sites, respectively, and Virola oleifera, a plant that produces lipid-rich arillate fruits, were eaten heavily by the toucans. The number of feeding bouts recorded for R. vitellinus in the lowlands was positively correlated with lipid content of the fruits eaten. The diameters of fruits eaten by toucans varied greatly (range = 0.4-25.0 mm). While the large Ramphastos species not only ate tiny fruits (e.g., Hyeronima alchorneoides) but also large ones (e.g., Virola gardneri), the toucanets ate piecemeal the large fruits that exceeded their gape width, suggesting that gape size did not limit the use of any fruit by the toucans at our study sites.

Frugivory by phyllostomid bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a restored area in Southeast Brazil

We studied the potential contribution of frugivorous bats to the reestablishment of vegetational diversity in a restored area. We analysed the diets of the bat species and the differences between them in the consumption of fruits of autochtonous and allochthonous species. Planted (autochtonous) species were the basis of diets, especially Solanum mauritianum and Cecropia pachystachya, whereas for allochthonous species we found that Piperaceae to be of particular importance. Carollia perspicillata was the main seed disperser for allochthonous species, and potentially the most important bat in the promotion of vegetation diversity in the study area. Our results suggest that frugivorous bats are especially important in the reestablishment of vegetation in disturbed areas, and that restorarion efforts should focus on the planting of different zoochorous species that would guarantee a high year-round fruit production, thereby facilitating natural plant reestablishment by frugivorous bats in regenerating areas. © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS.