Bryophytes from restinga in Setiba State Park, Espírito Santo State, Brazil

A total of 34 bryophyte species were identified (25 hepatics, 9 mosses) from restinga at Setiba State Park, Guarapari Municipality, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Several species reported previously from restinga appear to be erroneous records, based on misidentification

Bromeliaceae species from coastal restinga habitats, Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and Bahia.

Bromeliaceae is one of the most representative plant families in restinga habitats. We analyzed the speciesrichness and composition of Bromeliaceae in 13 restinga habitats along the Brazilian coast. We found a total of 41species distributed along the restinga habitats studied. The restinga of Praia do Sul, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, hadthe highest number of species (15), whereas the restinga of Abaeté, in the state of Bahia, had the lowest (4). Our dataare suggestive that the Doce River may represent the limit of distribution for some bromeliad species, with some speciesoccurring only south of that river and others occurring only to the north of it. The differences in Bromeliaceae speciescomposition among restinga habitats probably are not only due to differences in local environmental conditions, butalso due to the geographic distribution pattern of each species and to the present degree of disturbance at each restinga

Some new additions to the hepatic flora (Jungermanniophyta) for the State of Bahia, Brazil

In this paper are recorded 18 taxa of hepatics (Jungermanniophyta) for the first time for the state of Bahia, Brazil. Of these, Harpalejeunea ovata (Hook.) Schiffn. is new for Brazil. Morphological characters, notes on habitat and substrate are given for each species. Illustrations for Harpalejeunea ovata, Pycnolejeunea callosa (Lindenb.) Steph., Pycnolejeunea macroloba (Nees & Mont.) Schiffn., Rectolejeunea berteroana (Gott. ex Steph.) Evans and Trachylejeunea crenata (Mont. & Nees) Schust. are given

Bryophytes from some Caatinga areas in the state of Bahia (Brazil)

The caatinga is a deciduous and xerophilous vegetation that covers large areas in Brazil. An irregular rainfall with a marked dry period is a characteristic feature. This paper represents the first contribution to the knowledge of the bryoflora from caatinga vegetation in the State of Bahia. The survey was carried out in several areas from Bahia in which eigthteen species of bryophytes were found (15 mosses and 3 liverworts). The bryoflora from caatinga is composed mainly of generalists and xerophilous taxa, but even some hygrophilous species can be found. A number of species including Hyophiladelphus agrarius, Hyophila involuta, Calymperes palisotii ssp. richardii, Bryum argenteum, Entodontopsis leucostega, Octoblepharum albidum, Frullania ericoides also occur in other vegetation types. However, there are a number of species restricted to this type of vegetation, such as Helicophyllum torquatum and Riccia vitalii, at least in Bahia. Most moss species were acrocarpous with erect and short (short-turf) growth-form, whereas the foliose hepaticae were of incubous, and thallose forms

Improving the 14c dating of marine shells from the Canary Islands for constructing more reliable and accurate chronologies

Radiocarbon dating of closely associated marine mollusk shells and terrestrial material (charred wood or bone) collected from archaeological contexts on Tenerife and Fuerteventura islands allowed us to quantify the marine C-14 reservoir effect (Delta R) around the Canary Archipelago. Coastal Fuerteventura has a positive weighted mean Delta R value of +185 +/- 30 C-14 yr, while for Tenerife a range of negative and positive values was obtained, resulting in a Delta R weighted mean value of 0 +/- 35 C-14 yr. These values are in accordance with the hydrodynamic system present off the Canary Islands characterized by a coastal upwelling regime that affects the eastern islands (Fuerteventura and Lanzarote) but not the other islands of the archipelago, namely Tenerife. Because of this oceanographic pattern, we recommend the extrapolation of these results to the remaining islands of the archipelago, i.e. the first value must be used for the eastern islands, while for the central and western islands the acceptable Delta R value is 0 +/- 35 C-14 yr

Characterizing degradation of palm swamp peatlands from space and on the ground: an exploratory study in the Peruvian Amazon

Peru has the fourth largest area of peatlands in the Tropics. Its most representative land cover on peat is a Mauritia flexuosa dominated palm swamp (thereafter called dense PS), which has been under human pressure over decades due to the high demand for the M. flexuosa fruit often collected by cutting down the entire palm. Degradation of these carbon dense forests can substantially affect emissions of greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change. The first objective of this research was to assess the impact of dense PS degradation on forest structure and biomass carbon stocks. The second one was to explore the potential of mapping the distribution of dense PS with different degradation levels using remote sensing data and methods. Biomass stocks were measured in 0.25 ha plots established in areas of dense PS with low (n = 2 plots), medium (n = 2) and high degradation (n = 4). We combined field and remote sensing data from the satellites Landsat TM and ALOS/PALSAR to discriminate between areas typifying dense PS with low, medium and high degradation and terra firme, restinga and mixed PS (not M. flexuosa dominated) forests. For this we used a Random Forest machine learning classification algorithm. Results suggest a shift in forest composition from palm to woody tree dominated forest following degradation. We also found that human intervention in dense PS translates into significant reductions in tree carbon stocks with initial (above and below-ground) biomass stocks (135.4 ± 4.8 Mg C ha−1) decreased by 11 and 17% following medium and high degradation. The remote sensing analysis indicates a high separability between dense PS with low degradation from all other categories. Dense PS with medium and high degradation were highly separable from most categories except for restinga forests and mixed PS. Results also showed that data from both active and passive remote sensing sensors are important for the mapping of dense PS degradation. Overall land cover classification accuracy was high (91%). Results from this pilot analysis are encouraging to further explore the use of remote sensing data and methods for monitoring dense PS degradation at broader scales in the Peruvian Amazon. Providing precise estimates on the spatial extent of dense PS degradation and on biomass and peat derived emissions is required for assessing national emissions from forest degradation in Peru and is essential for supporting initiatives aiming at reducing degradation activities

Structure and Floristic Composition of Flood Plain Forests in the Peruvian Amazon I. Overstorey

Three Peruvian flood plain forests adjacent to the Ucayali river were sampled using nine 1 ha permanent sample plots in which stems exceeding 10 cm DBH were identified and measured. These plots were measured four times during 1993-1997. Three plots were established in each of the three forest types high restinga, low restinga, and tahuampa, characterised in part by an annual inundation of one, two and four months per year, respectively. Stem density varied from 446 to 601 per hectare, and the basal area ranged between 20 and 29 m2/ha. A total of 321 species were recorded in the nine hectare sample, with 88-141 species in each 1 ha plot. Species composition indicated a relatively low similarity between the forest types. Plots with the longest flooding contained the most species, expressed both as per unit area as well as per 1000 stems. The flood plain forests contained fewer tree species than adjacent non-flooded terra firme forest. Family importance values were calculated for each forest. In all three forests Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Annonaceae and Lauraceae were important. The Moraceae family was conspicuous in both high restinga and low restinga. The Arecaceae and Meliaceae were notable in high restinga, as was Rubiaceae in low restinga. Lecythidaceae, Sapotaceae and Chrysobalanaceae exhibited relatively high values in the tahuampa forest. High species importance values were obtained for Maquira coriacea, Guarea macrophylla, Terminalia oblonga, Spondias mombin, Ceiba pentandra, Hura crepitans, Eschweilera spp., Canipsiandra angustifolia, Pouteria spp., Licania micrantha, Parinari excelsa and Calycophyllum spruceanum. Among the species of smaller stature, Drypetes amazonica, Leonia glycicarpa, Theobroma cacao and Protium nodulosum attained high values

Morphology and divisional morphogenesis of brackish water ciliate Novistrombidium rufinoi sp. nov. (Ciliophora: Oligotrichia) from Brazil

The strombidiid ciliate Novistrombidium rufinoi sp. nov. is described from observations on live and protargol-impregnated specimens. The organisms were isolated from samples of slightly brackish water from Cabiúnas Lagoon, located in Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, an environment conservation area in the northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The new species measures ~40 x 35 μm in vivo and differs from congeners by having a 7?11 μm long, adherent, non-retractile tail that lacks cilia and a conspicuously spring-shaped adoral zone which has two thigmotactic membranelles. Stomatogenesis in the opisthe is hypoapokinetal and parental oral apparatus is retained in the proter.Fil: Da Silva Paiva, Thiago. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Domingos da Silva Neto, Inácio. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Orquideas del Parque Estatal de Serra do Tabuleiro, S de Brasil

Orchidaceae show a high diversity of species in Brazil, especially in the Atlantic Forest Biome. Over the course of a 12-month study in the State Park of Serra do Tabuleiro in Southern Brazil, collections were made of orchids occurring in areas of restinga and riparian vegetation. A total of 92 orchid species were registered, belonging to three subfamilies and 51 genera. Octomeria was the best represented genus with ten species. Among all collections, two species are new records for Santa Catarina state, and 20 species is reported for the first time in the studied region. Regarding to conservation, 17 species (19%) are currently included with different threat labellings in any of the red lists of threatened plant species of Brazil. Among the total of orchids registered, 55 species (59%) are characteristic holoepiphytes, 47 species (51%) are restricted to the Atlantic Forest, 77 species (84%) occur in the riparian vegetation, and only nine species (10%) are restricted to restinga vegetation. The remarkable richness of orchids found in the present study highlights the importance for conservation the studied forest remnants. The historical of environmental degradation of the restinga vegetation can be negatively influencing the current floristic composition of the orchid community.Las Orchidaceae presentan una gran diversidad de especies en Brasil, especialmente en el Bioma de la Mata Atlântica. Tras estudiar durante un año el Parque Estatal de Serra do Tabuleiro, se realizaron numerosas recolecciones de las orquídeas presentes en áreas de restinga y bosque de ribera. Se registraron 92 especies de orquídeas, pertenecientes a 3 subfamilias y 51 géneros. Octomeria fue el género mejor representado, con 10 especies. De los táxones observados, 2 especies son novedad para el estado de Santa Catarina, y 20 especies se citan por primera vez en la región estudiada. Respecto a su conservación, 17 especies (19%) están actualmente incluidas con distintos grados de amenaza en alguna de las listas rojas de flora amenazada de Brasil. De todas las orquídeas observadas, 55 especies (59%) son holoepífitos típicos, 47 especies (51%) se restringen a la Mata Atlântica, 77 especies (84%) crecen en los bosques ribereños, y sólo 9 especies (10%) se restringen a la vegetación de restinga. La destacable riqueza de orquídeas evidenciada en el presente estudio viene a destacar la importancia de conservar los fragmentos de bosque estudiados. El registro histórico de la degradación ambiental de la vegetación de restinga puede influir negativamente a la composición florística de la comunidad de orquídeas de estas zonas.The first author was supported by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) - Postdoctoral scholarship (Proc. 5328-09-8)

Composição florística de três trechos de restinga arbórea contaminada por Pinus sp., no Parque Estadual do Rio Vermelho, Florianópolis, SC.

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciências Biológicas. Biologia.Trabalho de Conclusão de Curs