Biomassas de partes aéreas em plantas da caatinga Aboveground biomass of caatinga plants

As biomassas de partes aéreas de nove espécies da caatinga foram determinadas e relacionadas com as medidas das plantas, cortando-se 30 plantas de cada espécie e separando-as em caule, galhos, ramos e folhas. As espécies foram divididas em dois grupos: seis espécies com plantas grandes e três com plantas menores. Cada grupo foi separado em classes de diâmetro do caule (DAP). As alturas totais (HT) dobraram (3,8 a 8,5 m) da classe de menor para a de maior diâmetro (<5 e 27,5-30 cm), as áreas de projeção das copas (APC) aumentaram 14 vezes (4,8 a 67,3 m²) e as biomassas (B) cresceram 113 vezes (4 a 454 kg). Os valores máximos foram menores que os de outras formações vegetais tropicais de locais mais úmidos. As proporções das biomassas das partes em relação à biomassa aérea total variaram menos que os valores absolutos, indicando que as plantas vão-se desenvolvendo de forma mais ou menos proporcional. Nas plantas a partir de 17,5 cm de DAP, cerca de 70% da biomassa era de caules e galhos maiores que 5 cm de diâmetro, 20% de galhos entre 1 e 5 cm, 5% de ramos <1 cm e 5% de folhas. A variável isolada que melhor estimou as biomassas das partes, nos dois grupos de espécies, foi o DAP, com equações de potência (B = a DAP b). Em algumas partes e grupo, HT e APC também foram significativamente correlacionas com as biomassas, embora com R² inferiores às equações com DAP. Combinando DAP e HT, melhorou-se ligeiramente o ajuste, mas não deve compensar o esforço de obter H no campo. Portanto, as biomassas das partes da planta podem ser estimadas a partir das medidas dos diâmetros do caule, um processo não destrutivo.<br>Biomass of aboveground parts of nine caatinga species were determined and related to plant measurements. Thirty plants of each species were collected and separated into stems, branches, twigs and leaves. The species were divided in two groups: six species of large plants and three species of smaller plants. Each group was divided into classes of stem diameter (DBH). Plant height (H) doubled (3.8 to 8.5 m) from the smallest-diameter class to the largest diameter (<5 and 27.5-30 cm), canopy projection areas (CPA) increased 14 times (4.8 to 67.3 m²) and biomass (B) increased 113 times (4 to 454 kg). The highest values are below those found in other tropical vegetation types in more humid sites. The ratio of biomass of separated plant parts to total aerial biomass varied less than their absolute values, indicating that plants develop in a relatively uniform way. Plants with DBH above 17.5 cm had about 70% of biomass consisting of stems and branches > 5 cm diameter, 20% of branches from 1 to 5 cm, 5% of twigs < 1 cm and 5% of leaves. DBH was the single variable that best predicted biomass of parts, in both species groups, according to a power equation (B = a DBH b). H and CPA were also significantly related to biomass for some parts and group, but with R² lower than DBH. Combining DBH and H improved estimation but not enough to justify the extra field effort in determining H. Therefore, plant part biomass can be estimated from measurements of stem diameter, in a non-destructive process

An assessment of potential responses of Melaleuca genus to global climate change

The genus Melaleuca consists of around 260 species covering over eight million hectares (including native and introduced species) and distributed mostly in Australia, but also occurring in South-East Asia, the Southern United States and the Caribbean. Melaleuca populations predominantly occur in wetland or/and coastal ecosystems where they have been significantly affected by climate change. This paper assesses the potential responses of the Melaleuca genus to climate change, based on the synthesis of worldwide published data. The main findings include: (i) that the Melaleuca genus has a rich species diversity, and significant phenotypic diversity in a variety of ecosystems; (ii) they demonstrate significant local adaptation to harsh conditions; and (iii) the fossil records and taxon biology indicate the evolution of the Melaleuca genus began around 38 million years ago and they have survived several significant climatic alterations, particularly a shift towards cooler and drier climates that has occurred over this period. These findings show that the Melaleuca genus is highly resilient and adaptable and based on this, this paper argues that Melaleuca can adapt to climate change through Wright's 'migrational adaptation', and can be managed to achieve sustainable benefits