Phenological Strategies of Plant Species in the Tropical Savanna and the Semi-Deciduous Forest of the Venezuelan Llanos

1976 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximina Monasterio ◽  
Guillermo Sarmiento
2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Baranovski

Nowadays, bioecological characteristics of species are the basis for flora and vegetation studying on the different levels. Bioecological characteristics of species is required in process of flora studying on the different levels such as biotopes or phytocenoses, floras of particular areas (floras of ecologically homogeneous habitats), and floras of certain territories. Ramensky scale is the one of first detailed ecological scales on plant species ordination in relation to various environmental factors; it developed in 1938 (Ramensky, 1971). A little later (1941), Pogrebnyak’s scale of forest stands was proposed. Ellenberg’s system developed in 1950 (Ellenberg, 1979) and Tsyganov’s system (Tsyganov, 1975) are best known as the systems of ecological scales on vascular plant species; these systems represent of habitat detection by ecotopic ecomorphs of plant species (phytoindication). Basically, the system proposed by Alexander Lyutsianovich Belgard was the one of first system of plant species that identiified ectomorphs in relation to environmental factors. As early as 1950, Belgard developed the tabulated system of ecomorphs using the Latin ecomorphs abbreviation; he also used the terminology proposed in the late 19th century by Dekandol (1956) and Warming (1903), as well as terminology of other authors. The article analyzes the features of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs on vascular plants. It has certain significance and advantages over other systems of ecomorphs. The use of abbreviated Latin names of ecomorphs in tabular form enables the use shortened form of ones. In the working scheme of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs relation of species to environmental factors are represented in the abbreviated Latin alphabetic version (Belgard, 1950). Combined into table, the ecomorphic analysis of plant species within association (ecological certification of species), biotope or area site (water area) gives an explicit pattern on ecological structure of flora within surveyed community, biotope or landscape, and on environmental conditions. Development and application by Belgrard the cenomorphs as «species’ adaptation to phytocenosis as a whole» were completely new in the development of systems of ecomorphs and, in this connection, different coenomorphs were distinguished. Like any concept, the system of ecomorphs by Belgard has the possibility and necessity to be developed and added. Long-time researches and analysis of literature sources allow to propose a new coenomorph in the context of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs development: silvomargoant (species of forest margin, from the Latin words margo – edge, boundary (Dvoretsky, 1976), margo – margin, ad margins silvarum – along the deciduous forest margins). As an example of ecomorphic characterization of species according to the system of ecomorphs by Belgard (when the abbreviated Latin ecomorph names are used in tabular form and the proposed cenomorph is used), it was given the part of the table on vascular plants ecomorphs in the National Nature Park «Orelsky» (Baranovsky et al). The Belgard’s system of ecomorphs is particularly convenient and can be successfully applied to data processing in the ecological analysis of the flora on wide areas with significant species richness, and the proposed ecomorph will be another necessary element in the Belgard’s system of ecomorphs. 


2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Domínguez-Castellanos ◽  
Beatriz Hernandez Meza ◽  
Angeles Mendoza D. ◽  
Gerardo Ceballos González

Resumen: Se determinó la estructura y el contenido de las madrigueras de Liomys pictus por tipo de vegetación y temporada del año, en dos selvas tropicales del Pacífico Mexicano. Se encontraron 24 madrigueras: en la selva baja la mayoría son complejas, mientras que  en la selva mediana son lineales, por consiguiente y de acuerdo a la clasificación de las madrigueras, en selva baja se presentaron madrigueras múltiples y en selva mediana madrigueras simples. De acuerdo al contenido, las de selva baja tienen en promedio una mayor cantidad de materiales en comparación a las de selva mediana. Se catalogaron un total de 248 especies de plantas de estas 50 se comparten en ambos sitios, del total de las especies se llegaron a identificar sólo 77. Las familias más representativas fueron Leguminoseae, Euphorbiaceae y Convolvulaceae. La estructura de las madrigueras no esta determinada por la temporalidad, sin embargo el contenido esta determinado con la cantidad de material almacenado aunque la producción de semillas esta definido por el patrón de fructificación que esta dado a lo largo del año.Palabras clave: Madrigueras, estructura, contenido, Liomys pictus, Jalisco, México.Abstract: We determined the structure and contents of burrows of Liomys pictus by vegetation type and season in two tropical forests of the Mexican Pacific. 24 burrows were found in the tropical dry forest and most complex, in the semi deciduous forest is linear, and therefore according to the classification of the burrows in the tropical dry forest are more numerous and simple in the semi deciduous forest. According to the content, of the tropical dry forest have on average a greater amount of material compared to the semi deciduous forest. Were categorized a total of 248 plant species of these 50 sites are shared in both the total number of species is to determine 77. The most representative families were Leguminoseae, Euphorbiaceae and Convulvolaceae. The structure of the burrows is not affected by the timing, but the content is determined with the amount of stored material but seed production is defined by the pattern of fruit that is given throughout the year.Key words: Burrows, structure, food hoarding, Liomys pictus, Jalisco, Mexico.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razia Sultana ◽  
ASM Saifullah ◽  
Rahat Khan Khan ◽  
Mir Talas Mahammad Diganta

Abstract The litters in the forest floor are the principal contributor for regulating the cycling of necessary elements, primary productivity and maintain soil fertility within the forest ecosystems. Therefore, this study was conducted in a deciduous forest of Bangladesh to ascertain the leaf-litter production and decomposition along with elemental dynamics (K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co and Zn). Leaf-litter samples from five deciduous plant species and soil samples were collected from the Madhupur Sal Forest for about six months (July-December) in 2018. Production of leaf-litter during the dry season (December) was found in an order of Shorea robusta>Dipterocarpus indicus>Terminalia bellirica>Tectona grandis>Grewia microcos. The decomposition rates were higher for the long sampling period (90 days) followed by the intermediate (60 days)> short(30 days) sampling period. The nutrient release pattern from the leaf-litter was similar (Ca>K>Mn>Fe>Zn>Co) for all plant species except for Terminalia bellirica and Tectona grandis. The Pearson correlation coefficients showed a significant relationship between K and Fe (r=0.54; p<0.05), Ca and Co (r=0.59; p<0.01), Fe and Co (r=0.97; p<0.05) in leaf-litters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant variation in the litter production, decomposition and nutrient content (except Zn; p>0.05) among the different plant species (p<0.05). There revealed a significant dynamic of necessary elements from soil to trees and vice-versa.


Botany ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 779-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Jaroszewicz ◽  
Ewa Pirożnikow

Many studies show large discrepancies between the potential (studied in the greenhouse) and realized (studied in the field) effects of endozoochory. The influence of environmental conditions on the fate of endozoochorically dispersed seeds and subsequent plant establishment is still not well understood. We addressed this issue by studying the viable seed content of the dung of European bison ( Bison bonasus L.) by means of seedling germination in the greenhouse and in two forest habitats in Białowieża Primeval Forest. The number of seedlings and the number of plant species that emerged from 1 L of feces were positively correlated with dung longevity. Generative shoots were produced by plants only in coniferous forest. Their number was positively correlated with dung longevity and with light availability. Germination of seeds from bison feces was higher in coniferous forest than in deciduous forest but did not differ between open- and closed-canopy plots within the same habitat. We conclude that (i) seed germination and plant establishment after endozoochorous dispersal is influenced by dung longevity; (ii) the number of generative shoots produced by endozoochorously dispersed plants is influenced by dung longevity and light availability; (iii) seeds of some plant species, present in dung, stay viable for at least 3 years.


2010 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 843-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogério R. Faria ◽  
Andréa C. Araújo

The aim of this study is to describe interactions between hummingbirds and ornithophilous species at Serra da Bodoquena in midwest Brazil, with focus on flowering phenology and pollination of these plant species. In two habitats, gallery forest and semi-deciduous forest, data on flowering phenology of ornithophilous species were collected monthly over 14 months. In addition, data on morphology and floral biology, as well as visitor frequency and hummingbird behavior, were recorded. The studied community contained eight ornithophilous plant species and six hummingbird species. The ornithophilous species flowered throughout the year, and the greatest abundance of flowers was at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry one. The herit huingbird Phaethornis pretrei and feales of Thalurania furcata, were the most similar in floral resource use. Acanthaceae is the most representative family of ornithophilous plant species in Serra da Bodoquena and, thus, represents the main food source for hummingbirds. Ruellia angustiflora is especially important because it flowers continuously throughout the year and is a significant food resource for P. pretrei, which is the main visitor for this plant guild.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 2314 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ventura-Cordero ◽  
P. G. González-Pech ◽  
C. A. Sandoval-Castro ◽  
J. F. J. Torres-Acosta ◽  
J. Tun-Garrido

Goats browsing in a tropical deciduous forest (TDF) obtain a large proportion of their diet from a large number of plant species. Nevertheless, the goat’s feed resource selection has not been studied in such an ecosystem. This study aimed to determine whether goats browsing in a TDF display active feed resource selection. Two browsing sites were used (A = 2.2 ha and B = 2.6 ha). The effective availability (g) of all plant species available was measured for each site using 10 m × 20 m exclusion quadrants. Three non-pregnant adult goats (34.9 ± 2.4 kg liveweight) with browsing experience were observed using the continuous bite monitoring method to determine their respective dry matter intake. The selection of different plants was determined using the Jacobs’ selection index (JSI). The goats’ dry matter intake per day was 723 and 310.8 g for Sites A and B, respectively. At both browsing sites, the plant with the highest biomass availability was Gymnopodium floribundum (75.5% and 49.3% for Sites A and B, respectively). Nevertheless, the plant species most actively selected by goats were Eragrostis ciliaris at Site A (JSI = 0.99, P < 0.05) and Mimosa bahamensis at Site B (JSI = 0.96, P < 0.05). Some plant species were not consumed at Sites A and B (three and five species, respectively). In conclusion, feed resource selection was not associated with the biomass availability of the plants selected or refused. Goats were able to show active feed resource selection in the TDF, and this could change according to the characteristics of the browsing site.


2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL O'NEAL CAMPBELL

There is increased international interest in religiously based restrictions on land and forest stand use. However, the extent to which so-called sacred groves represent earlier forest ecosystems, and their possible role in biodiversity conservation, are interrelated and complex issues, and neglected in the context of Ghanaian savannahs, which are believed to be in transition from a forested past. Geographical information system (GIS) analysis of time-series images, aerial photographs, statistical analysis of ecological field data and social surveys were used to investigate the Ghanaian savannah. Sacred groves were found to be similar in plant species content and structure to the deciduous forest of southern Ghana. Between 1960 and 1996, these groves experienced far fewer forest losses than unprotected tree stands (<20%, as opposed to up to 100%). Non-sacred groves also contained lower plant species richness and higher numbers of invasive species such as neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). Sacred groves, while dependent on respect for religion, local cultural structures and individual peer pressure, offer a role that may support and also be supported by official conservation efforts.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document