Eliminação da espécie Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (sansão-do-campo) em florestas em processo de restauração

O uso de espécies exóticas pioneiras em projetos de restauração tem sido justificado por um possível efeito facilitador na restauração e também por proverem benefícios econômicos, conciliando aspectos ecológicos, econômicos e sociais. Entretanto, espécies exóticas podem tornar-se um risco para os ecossistemas naturais se estas se configurarem como invasoras, desviando assim a trajetória sucessional esperada do ecossistema em restauração. As espécies exóticas podem, também, competir com a comunidade em regeneração, atrasando o processo sucessional. Práticas de manejo adaptativo são então necessárias, nestes casos, com a finalidade de redirecionar a trajetória natural da sucessão. O objetivo na execução deste estudo foi verificar quais os efeitos da eliminação de uma espécie arbórea exótica (M. caesalpiniifolia) sobre a comunidade nativa regenerante sob plantio de restauração florestal em região de floresta estacional semidecidual. Com a retirada dos indivíduos de sansão-do-campo, foram testadas as seguintes hipóteses: 1) Mimosa caesalpiniifolia exerce efeito supressor nas comunidades em restauração; 2) A resposta ao manejo será variável entre espécies, modelos de restauração e situações ambientais. O estudo foi realizado no município de Botucatu, estado de São Paulo, em duas áreas experimentais com características diferentes de solo e dois modelos de restauração (um sistema agroflorestal e um consórcio de espécies para madeira e lenha). Os tratamentos de eliminação de 100% das árvores (manejo) e testemunha foram comparados dentro de cada área e entre áreas. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas. Após o manejo houve aumento da diversidade e redução da área basal da regeneração, contudo, a perda de área basal foi recuperada após um ano, equiparando-se com as parcelas testemunha. Os resultados...The use of exotic species as facilitators in restoration plantings can be opportune as they can reconcile economic, social, and ecological benefits. Otherwise they may compete with native species during a later phase, delaying the successional process or even deviating the expected successional trajectory. In these cases, adaptive management practices (i.e. species removal) might be necessary to ensure the achievement of restoration goals. We looked at the effect of elimination of an exotic tree species (M. caesalpiniifolia) over the native species regeneration in forest restoration plantings. We tested the following hypotheses: 1) Mimosa caesalpiniifolia imposes a suppressive effect over the community in restoration, 2) The response to the management intervention will vary among species, models of restoration, and environmental situations. The study was undertaken in Botucatu, state of São Paulo, at two sites with contrasting soil fertility after 14 years of the establishment of two plantation models to restore the tropical semideciduous moist forest, namely: AS- Agroforestry System; and MIX- mixed commercial plantation with timber and firewood tree species. The natural regeneration of woody species (height ≥ 0.2 m) was compared between managed (M. caesalpiniifolia trees removed) and unmanaged (control) plots, soon after and one year after the thinning. . The experimental design was in randomized blocks with split plots. After the management the regeneration diversity increased and the basal area decreased; nevertheless, the basal area loss was recovered after one year, in comparison with the control plots. The results suggested that the management can have uneven effects depending on the tree species regenerating, however, there was no predictable pattern even regarding the pioneer species. A strong influence of site quality on the succession processes / ecosystem restoration is remarkable ..

Analysis of floristic composition and structure as an aid to monitoring protected areas of dense rain forest in southeastern Brazil

To study forest composition and structure, as well as to facilitate management plans and monitoring programs, we conducted a phytosociological survey in the PE Caverna do Diabo State Park and the Quilombos do Médio Ribeira Environmentally Protected Area, both located within the state of São Paulo, Brazil. We analyzed 20 plots of 400 m² each, including only individuals with a circumference at breast height > 15 cm. We employed cluster analysis and ordination (principal component analysis and correspondence analysis), including species data and abiotic data. We evaluated 1051 individuals, belonging to 155 species in 48 families. Of those 155, 18 were threatened species, 33 were endemic species, and 92 (59.4%) were secondary species. The overall Shannon index was 4.524, one of the highest recorded for a dense rainforest in southeastern Brazil. We found that our sample plots fell into three blocks. The first was forest in which there had been human disturbance, showing low species richness, minimal density, and a small relative quantity of biomass. The second was undisturbed mature forest, showing a comparatively larger quantity of biomass. The third was mature forest in which there had been natural intermediate disturbance (dead trees), showing higher species richness and greater density. We identified various groups of species that could be used in monitoring these distinct forest conditions

Embolism resistance in stems of herbaceous Brassicaceae and Asteraceae is linked to differences in woodiness and precipitation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plant survival under extreme drought events has been associated with xylem vulnerability to embolism (the disruption of water transport due to air bubbles in conduits). Despite the ecological and economic importance of herbaceous species, studies focusing on hydraulic failure in herbs remain scarce. Here, we assess the vulnerability to embolism and anatomical adaptations in stems of seven herbaceous Brassicaceae species occurring in different vegetation zones of the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, and merged them with a similar hydraulic-anatomical data set for herbaceous Asteraceae from Tenerife. METHODS: Measurements of vulnerability to xylem embolism using the in situ flow centrifuge technique along with light and transmission electron microscope observations were performed in stems of the herbaceous species. We also assessed the link between embolism resistance vs. mean annual precipitation and anatomical stem characters. KEY RESULTS: The herbaceous species show a 2-fold variation in stem P50 from -2.1 MPa to -4.9 MPa. Within Hirschfeldia incana and Sisymbrium orientale, there is also a significant stem P50 difference between populations growing in contrasting environments. Variation in stem P50 is mainly explained by mean annual precipitation as well as by the variation in the degree of woodiness (calculated as the proportion of lignified area per total stem area) and to a lesser extent by the thickness of intervessel pit membranes. Moreover, mean annual precipitation explains the total variance in embolism resistance and stem anatomical traits. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of woodiness and thickness of intervessel pit membranes are good predictors of embolism resistance in the herbaceous Brassicaceae and Asteraceae species studied. Differences in mean annual precipitation across the sampling sites affect embolism resistance and stem anatomical characters, both being important characters determining survival and distribution of the herbaceous eudicots.status: publishe

Embolism resistance in stems of herbaceous Brassicaceae and Asteraceae is linked to differences in woodiness and precipitation

Background and Aims Plant survival under extreme drought events has been associated with xylem vulnerability to embolism (the disruption of water transport due to air bubbles in conduits). Despite the ecological and economic importance of herbaceous species, studies focusing on hydraulic failure in herbs remain scarce. Here, we assess the vulnerability to embolism and anatomical adaptations in stems of seven herbaceous Brassicaceae species occurring in different vegetation zones of the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, and merged them with a similar hydraulic–anatomical data set for herbaceous Asteraceae from Tenerife.[br/] Methods Measurements of vulnerability to xylem embolism using the in situ flow centrifuge technique along with light and transmission electron microscope observations were performed in stems of the herbaceous species. We also assessed the link between embolism resistance vs. mean annual precipitation and anatomical stem characters.[br/] Key Results The herbaceous species show a 2-fold variation in stem P50 from –2.1 MPa to –4.9 MPa. Within Hirschfeldia incana and Sisymbrium orientale, there is also a significant stem P50 difference between populations growing in contrasting environments. Variation in stem P50 is mainly explained by mean annual precipitation as well as by the variation in the degree of woodiness (calculated as the proportion of lignified area per total stem area) and to a lesser extent by the thickness of intervessel pit membranes. Moreover, mean annual precipitation explains the total variance in embolism resistance and stem anatomical traits.[br/] Conclusions The degree of woodiness and thickness of intervessel pit membranes are good predictors of embolism resistance in the herbaceous Brassicaceae and Asteraceae species studied. Differences in mean annual precipitation across the sampling sites affect embolism resistance and stem anatomical characters, both being important characters determining survival and distribution of the herbaceous eudicots

Cambial activity in dry and rainy season on branches from woody species growing in Brazilian Cerrado

Seasonal cambial activity was investigated in one-to three-year-old branch modules (branch constructional units) of ten woody species from cerrado sensu stricto, a savanna-like ecosystem, of southern Brazil. Relationships between cambial activity and environmental factors (precipitation, temperature, day length) and leaf production were tested using generalized linear mixed model. Regardless the plant habit and leaf shedding patterns, cambial activity (about 5 months) corresponded to the core of the rainy season (when at least 66% of the annual precipitation had been reached), even though there was some delay or advance in the timing of cambial activity depending on the branch age or species. Cambial activity began in the dry season and ceased before the end of rainy season. Although cambial activity has been positively correlated with day length, precipitation, temperature, and budding for all species, day length, among the assessed factors, seems to be the best predictor of onset and cessation of cambial activity in the branch modules of cerrado species223110CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP301352/2008-9; 302657/2011-82003/13579-5; 2003/13578-9; 2009/17778-