scholarly journals Marked Differences in Butterfly Assemblage Composition between Forest Types in Central Amazonia, Brazil

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 942
Author(s):  
Isabela Freitas Oliveira ◽  
Fabricio Beggiato Baccaro ◽  
Fernanda P. Werneck ◽  
Thamara Zacca ◽  
Torbjørn Haugaasen
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
High Water ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Contrasting Habitats ◽  
Seasonally Flooded

Amazonia comprises a mosaic of contrasting habitats, with wide environmental heterogeneity at local and regional scales. In central Amazonia, upland forest (terra firme) is the predominant forest type and seasonally flooded forests inundated by white- and black-water rivers (várzea and igapó, respectively) represent around 20% of the forested areas. In this work, we took advantage of a natural spatial arrangement of the main vegetation types in central Amazonia to investigate butterfly assemblage structure in terra firme, várzea and igapó forests at the local scale. We sampled in the low- and high-water seasons, combining active and passive sampling with traps placed in both the understory and canopy. Terra firme supported the highest number of butterfly species, whereas várzea forest provided the highest number of butterfly captures. The high species richness in terra firme may reflect that this forest type is floristically richer than várzea and igapó. Várzea is a very productive environment and may thus support a higher number of butterfly individuals than terra firme and igapó. Most butterfly species (80.2%) were unique to a single forest type and 17 can be considered forest type indicator species in this landscape. Floodplain forest environments are therefore an important complement to terra firme in terms of butterfly species richness and conservation in Amazonia.

scholarly journals Determinants of livelihood strategy variation in two extractive reserves in Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER NEWTON ◽  
WHALDENER ENDO ◽  
CARLOS A. PERES
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Local Variation ◽  
Physical Geography ◽  
Livelihood Strategies ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Rubber Tappers ◽  
Extractive Reserves ◽  
Seasonally Flooded

SUMMARYExtractive reserves account for a significant proportion of the remaining intact forest within Brazilian Amazonia. Managers of extractive reserves need to understand the livelihood strategies adopted by rural Amazonians in order to implement projects that benefit the livelihoods of local residents whilst maintaining forest integrity. Whilst resident populations are often descended from immigrant rubber-tappers, dynamic economic and social conditions have led to a recent diversification of land-use practices. This two-year study in two large contiguous extractive reserves encompassing both unflooded (terra firme) and seasonally flooded (várzea) forest, shows the degree to which local livelihood strategies of different settlements are heterogeneous. Extractive offtake of forest products and fish catches and agricultural activities, together with income from sales, for 82 households in 10 communities were quantified in detail by means of weekly surveys. The survey data were combined with interviews to examine the demographic and wealth profile, and engagement in alternative activities, in 181 households across 27 communities. All households and communities were engaged in all three subsistence activity types, but there was large variation in engagement with income-generating activities. Households within a community showed considerable congruence in their income-generating activity profiles, but there was significant variation between communities. Yields from agriculture and fishing were more temporally stable than extraction of highly-seasonal forest products. Generalized linear mixed models showed that forest type was consistently important in explaining yields of both agrarian and extractive products. Communities with greater access to terra firme forest were inherently more agricultural, and strongly committed to manioc production. Communities with greater access to flooded forest, however, showed a greater dependence on fishing. Conservation should be more attuned to the diversity and dynamism of livelihood strategies in protected areas; in particular, reserve managers and policy makers should account for the effect of local variation in physical geography when designing sustainable development projects.

scholarly journals Phenology and fruit set comparison of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) in a natural population and a plantation in the central Amazon, Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-101
Author(s):  
Grace Anne Coelho FERREIRA ◽  
Adrian Paul Ashton BARNETT ◽  
Cristiane KRUG
Keyword(s):  
Natural Population ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Myrciaria Dubia ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
One Year ◽  
Seasonally Flooded

ABSTRACT Myrciaria dubia (Myrtaceae) is a shrub that produces fruits with high concentrations of ascorbic acid (1380 to 1490 mg 100 g-1 of pulp and 2050 mg 100 g-1 of peel), 20 times more than acerola and 100 times more than lemon. Native to the Amazon region, it occurs naturally on the seasonally-flooded banks of lakes and rivers, but also has been cultivated commercially in terra firme. In this study, phenological observations and fruit yield evaluations were carried out in a natural population of camu-camu in a floodplain habitat and a plantation in terra firme in central Amazonia. Biweekly visits were made over one year to collect data on flowering, fruiting and leaf phenology. At the height of flowering, flower buds were marked and tracked until fruit matured and were harvested for biometrics and seed counting. Fruits varied from 1.01 to 2.73 cm in diameter and 1.14 to 10.87 g in weight and fruit production was higher in the wild stand. Phenology differed between habitats and phenophase synchrony was higher in the natural population. Despite being native to flooplain forests, fruit production in terra firme occurred throughout the year, suggesting that there are few restrictions on fruit development in cultivated plantation.

Igapó seed patches: a potentially key resource for terrestrial vertebrates in a seasonally flooded forest of central Amazonia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Antunes ◽  
Fabrício Baccaro ◽  
Victor Lery Caetano Andrade ◽  
José Ferreira Ramos ◽  
Roberto Da Silva Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Flood Pulse ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Seasonally Flooded

Abstract In Amazonian igapó forests (seasonally flooded forests on blackwater river margins), the end of the annual flood pulse results in the formation of extensive mat-like seed patches. The seeds in these patches then germinate, forming a dense, highly heterogeneous, assemblage. Animal–plant interactions in these areas, as well as the influence that the patches have on the occurrence of herbivorous vertebrates, remain almost completely unstudied. Using camera traps in areas with and without seed/seedling patches, we tested the relationship between these seed accumulation sites and the presence of bird and mammal species. At the micro-scale (between treatments), vertebrate occurrence was not related to patch presence. At the larger scale (local), distance from adjacent upland (terra firme) forest and seed patch size were correlated with vertebrate distribution. The widespread occurrence of terrestrially active birds and mammals throughout igapó forests, not just where food resource densities were high, seems to be a compromise strategy between exploring the area to select the most favourable food items, and minimizing the risk of being predated when spending extended time foraging at the concentrated food sources represented by the seed patches. Our results underline the potential importance of igapó forests as a key habitat for a variety of terrestrial terra firme taxa, as well as emphasize the dynamic nature of this forest type, and should encourage further studies of this habitat and resource availability system.

scholarly journals Vertical stratification of bat assemblages in flooded and unflooded Amazonian forests

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria João Ramos Pereira ◽  
João Tiago Marques ◽  
Jorge M. Palmeirim
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Vertical Stratification ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Flooded Forests ◽  
Ordination Analysis ◽  
Seasonally Flooded ◽  
Amazonian Forests ◽  
The Vertical Distribution

Abstract Tropical rainforests usually have multiple strata that results in a vertical stratification of ecological opportunities for animals. We investigated if this stratification influences the way bats use the vertical space in flooded and unflooded forests of the Central Amazon. Using mist-nets set in the canopy (17 to 35 m high) and in the understorey (0 to 3 m high) we sampled four sites in upland unflooded forests (terra firme), three in forests seasonally flooded by nutrient-rich water (várzea), and three in forests seasonally flooded by nutrient-poor water (igapó). Using rarefaction curves we found that species richness in the understorey and canopy were very similar. An ordination analysis clearly separated the bat assemblages of the canopy from those of the understorey in both flooded and unflooded habitats. Gleaning carnivores were clearly associated with the understorey, whereas frugivores were abundant in both strata. Of the frugivores, Carollinae and some Stenodermatinae were understorey specialists, but several Stenodermatinae mostly used the canopy. The first group mainly includes species that, in general, feed on fruits of understorey shrubs, whereas the second group feed on figs and other canopy fruits. We conclude that vertical stratification in bat communities occurs even within forests with lower canopy heights, such as Amazonian seasonally flooded forests, and that the vertical distribution of bat species is closely related to their diet and foraging behaviour.

scholarly journals Treetop shelter of a neotropical river otter cub (Lontra longicaudis - Carnivora: Mustelidae) in an Amazonian flooded forest

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-312
Author(s):  
Pedro Manuel Ribeiro Simões dos Santos ◽  
Valdely Ferreira Kinupp ◽  
Alexandre Coletto-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Strong Relationship ◽  
High Water ◽  
Breeding Cycle ◽  
River Otter ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Flooded Forest ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Seasonally Flooded ◽  
Made In ◽  
Lontra Longicaudis

The finding of a Neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis) cub occupying a shelter in a hollowed treetop is reported. The observation was made in a seasonally flooded forest in Central Amazonia, during the high water peak of the annual inundation cycle. A literature review indicates that this is the first description of a shelter of the species, both in a hollowed tree and in Amazonia. This observation can indicate a strong relationship between the species' breeding cycle with the annual dynamics of Amazonian rivers. We discuss potential advantages and disadvantages of breeding when water level is high.

scholarly journals Floristic, edaphic and structural characteristics of flooded and unflooded forests in the lower Rio Purús region of central Amazonia, Brazil

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torbjørn Haugaasen ◽  
Carlos Augusto Peres
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Black Water ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
White Water ◽  
High Concentrations

Despite a natural history interest in the early 1900s, relatively little ecological research has been carried out in the Rio Purús basin of central Amazonia, Brazil. Here we describe a new study area in the region of Lago Uauaçú with an emphasis on the climate, forest structure and composition, and soil characteristics between adjacent unflooded (terra firme) and seasonally inundated forests; situated within both the white-water (várzea) and black-water (igapó) drainage systems that dominate the landscape. The climate was found to be typical of that of the central Amazon. Várzea forest soils had high concentrations of nutrients, while terra firme and igapó soils were comparatively nutrient-poor. Terra firme forests were the most floristically diverse forest type, whereas várzea was intermediate, and igapó the most species-poor. The Lecythidaceae was the most important family in terra firme while the Euphorbiaceae was the most important in both várzea and igapó. There were significant differences between forest types in terms of number of saplings, canopy cover and understorey density. In contrasting our results with other published information, we conclude that the Lago Uauaçú region consists of a typical central Amazonian forest macro-mosaic, but is a unique area with high conservation value due to the intimate juxtaposition of terra firme, várzea and igapó forests.

scholarly journals Anuran diversity in urban and rural zones of the Itacoatiara municipality, central Amazonia, Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-130
Author(s):  
Marcelo MENIN ◽  
Rafaela Fernanda Batista FERREIRA ◽  
Izomar Barbosa MELO ◽  
Marcelo GORDO ◽  
Gustavo Yomar HATTORI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Habitat Mosaics ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Rural Sites ◽  
Urban Sites

ABSTRACT Few studies in the Amazon region have evaluated anuran diversity in urban forest fragments or in areas with differing degrees of anthropogenic impact. We determined the composition and abundance of the anurofauna in urban and rural sites within the municipality of Itacoatiara in central Amazonia, Brazil. Specimens were sampled from January 2012 to May 2013 in 10 urban sites and five rural sites. A total of 1,538 anurans (930 in rural sites and 608 in urban sites) were recorded, belonging to 29 species in five families. Species richness was higher in rural sites, with 10 exclusive species. All species found in urban sites were also found in rural sites, however, species abundance varied considerably between the habitats. Sampling- and individual-based rarefaction curves showed a tendency toward stabilization of species richness only in the urban sites. We concluded that the anuran assemblages in the urban sites are depauperate due to the absence of many species associated to pristine terra firme or várzea and igapó forests. Habitat loss and quality degradation in urban landscapes are the main factors threatening amphibian diversity. The anuran assemblages in our study areas were similar to those recorded in other Amazonian habitats. Conservation measures involving anurans in this region should consider the preservation of habitat mosaics, including both pristine terra firme, várzea and igapó forests.

scholarly journals Structure and Composition of Terra Firme and Seasonally Flooded Várzea Forests in the Western Brazilian Amazon

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1361
Author(s):  
Yennie K. Bredin ◽  
Joseph E. Hawes ◽  
Carlos A. Peres ◽  
Torbjørn Haugaasen
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Floodplain Forests ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Flooded Forests ◽  
Terra Firme Forest ◽  
Seasonally Flooded

Research Highlights: Rare, or sparsely distributed, species drive the floristic diversity of upland, terra firme and seasonally flooded forests in the central Juruá—a remote and hitherto floristically poorly known area in the Brazilian Amazon. Background and Objectives: Floristic inventories are critical for modelling and understanding the role of Amazonian forests in climate regulation, for sustainable management of forest resources and efficient conservation planning. Yet, detailed information about the often complex spatial distributions of many Amazonian woody plants is limited. Here, we provide information about forest structure and species composition from a remote terra firme forest and an adjacent floodplain forest in the western Brazilian Amazon. More specifically, we ask (1) how floristically different are the terra firme and floodplain forests? and (2) how variable is species composition within the same forest type? Materials and Methods: Between September 2016 and October 2017, we inventoried 97 plots (each 0.1 ha; 100 × 10 m) placed at least 800 m apart, with 46 plots in terra firme forest and 51 in seasonally flooded forest. We included all trees, hemi-epiphytes and palms with diameter at breast height (dbh) > 10 cm and woody lianas > 5 cm dbh. We examine forest structure, family- and species-level floristic composition and species diversity within and between forest types using family and species importance values, rarefaction curves and dissimilarity matrices. Results: Terra firme forest and seasonally flooded forest woody plant communities differ both in structure and species composition, which was highly variable within forest types. Many species were shared between terra firme and seasonally flooded forests, but most species were forest type-specific. Whereas species richness was greatest in the terra firme forest, floodplain species richness was among the highest regionally. Conclusions: Floodplain forests are a crucial complement to terra firme forests in terms of Amazonian woody plant diversity.

scholarly journals Roles of Spatial Scale and Rarity on the Relationship between Butterfly Species Richness and Human Density in South Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. e0124327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Mecenero ◽  
Res Altwegg ◽  
Jonathan F. Colville ◽  
Colin M. Beale
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Human Density

Countryside Stewardship Scheme and Butterflies: A Study of Plant and Butterfly Species Richness

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 443-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Field ◽  
T. Gardiner ◽  
C. F. Mason ◽  
J. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Butterfly Species
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