Synopsis of the genus Peperomia Ruiz & Pav. (Piperaceae) in Roraima State, Brazil

ABSTRACT Peperomia is the second most diverse genus of Piperaceae, with an estimated 1,600 species and a pantropical distribution. This work aims to present a taxonomic synopsis of the genus in the State of Roraima, in the extreme north of the Brazilian Amazon forest and belonging to the central-south portion of the Guayana Shield. Based on collecting expeditions and analysis of specimens in various herbaria, 23 taxa were recognized, with two new records for the State and one of them, a new record for Brazil. The taxa are differentiated mainly by phyllotaxis, shape and size of their leaves, in addition to habit and fruits. They have been found in areas of lowland, submontane, montane, tepui and floodplain (várzea) forests and mostly show a distribution restricted to the Neotropics. Some species in the state are presently known exclusively from Mount Roraima, and restricted to a few specimens.

Artisanal Extraction and Traditional Knowledge Associated with Medicinal Use of Crabwood Oil (Carapa guianensisAublet.) in a Peri-Urban Várzea Environment in the Amazon Estuary

Várzea forests of the Amazon estuary contain species of importance to riverine communities. For example, the oil extracted from the seeds of crabwood trees is traditionally used to combat various illnesses and as such artisanal extraction processes have been maintained. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the process involved in artisanal extraction of crabwood oil in the Fazendinha Protected Area, in the state of Amapá; (2) characterise the processes of knowledge transfer associated with the extraction and use of crabwood oil within a peri-urban riverine community; and (3) discern medicinal uses of the oil. The data were obtained using semistructured interviews with 13 community members involved in crabwood oil extraction and via direct observation. The process of oil extraction is divided into four stages: seed collection; cooking and resting of the seeds; shelling of the seeds and dough preparation; and oil collection. Oil extraction is carried out within the home for personal use, with surplus marketed within the community. More than 90% of the members of the community involved in extraction of crabwood oil highlighted the use of the oil to combat inflammation of the throat. Knowledge transfer occurs via oral transmission and through direct observation.

Bats of a varzea forest in the estuary of the Amazon River, state of Amapá, Northern Brazil

The varzea forests of the estuary of the Amazon River cover 25,000 km2within the states of Pará and Amapá. The mammals of those forests, especially bats, are still poorly known. Hence, the present study aimed at inventorying the bat species from three localities of a varzea forest in the estuary of the Amazon River. Between November and December 2013, we selected 18 sampling sites in the mouths of three tributaries of the Amazon River: the rivers Ajuruxí, Maracá, and Mazagão. We set up ten mist nets (12 x 3 m) along a 150-m linear transect in each sampling site, in a total sampling effort of 38,888 m2.h. We captured 403 individual bats of 40 species and five families. We recorded the families: Phyllostomidae (n = 31 species), Emballonuridae (n = 6 species), Moormopidae (n = 1 species), Vespertilionidae (n = 1 species), and Thyropteridae (n = 1 species). Carollia perspicillata, Artibeus planirostris, andCarollia brevicauda comprised 45% of the records. We also made the first record of Glyphonycteris daviesi for Amapá state, and captured rare species, such as Dicludurus albus andMacrophyllum macrophylum. Our results show that the varzea forest of the estuary of the Amazon River harbors high bat diversity, and, hence, conservation policies should be considered for the region. Those policies should encourage the responsible management of açaípalm (Euterpe oleracea) and timber. They should also fight illegal timber exploitation that threatens the fauna and flora of those biodiverse forests.

Model of wetland development of the Amapá coast during the late Holocene

The modern vegetation types, sedimentary sequences, pollen records and radiocarbon dating obtained from three sediment cores from Calçoene Coastal Plain were used to provide a palaeoecological history during the late Holocene of Amapá coastal wetland according to flood regime, sea-level and climatic changes. Based on these records, four phases of vegetation development are presented and they probably reflect the interaction between the flow energy to the sediment accumulation and the brackish/freshwater influence in the vegetation. This work suggests interchanges among time periods characterized by marine and fluvial influence. The longitudinal profile did not reveal the occurrence of mangrove in the sediment deposited around 2100 yr B.P. During the second phase, the mud progressively filled the depressions and tidal channels. The mangrove probably started its development on the channel edge, and the herbaceous field on the elevated sectors. The third phase is characterized by the interruption of mangrove development and the increase of "várzea" vegetation that may be due to the decrease in porewater salinity related to a decrease in marine water influence. The last phase is represented by the mangrove and "várzea" increase. The correlation between current patterns of geobotanical unit distribution and palaeovegetation indicates that mangrove and "várzea" forests are migrating over the herbaceous field on the topographically highest part of the studied coast, which can be related to a relative sea-level rise.

O MANEJO SUSTENTÁVEL DAS ÁREAS ALAGÁVEIS DA AMAZÔNIA CENTRAL E AS COMUNIDADES DE HERBÁCEAS AQUÁTICAS

Herbaceous species in the Amazon floodplains particularly C4 plants may exhibit NPP values about three times those of the floodplain forest. Although restricted to relatively small areas, they show high diversity and are very important in the carbon and nutrient budgets of the region, enriching the aquatic system and associated floodplains through their decomposition, both during the aquatic and terrestrial phases of the hydrologic cycle. Sustainable management systems for Amazon floodplains should consider the importance of herbaceous vegetation in the nutrient budget of the region. Because of favorable nutrient conditions várzea forests are frequently replaced by farms and pasture lands for cattle and buffalo ranching. The substitution of the forest by herbaceous plant communities has little effect on total primary production because these communities are often more productive than the forest itself, but it affects strongly biomass. On the other hand, massive removal of herbaceous plants for the introduction of less adapted crops w ill reduce species diversity and the fertility of the várzea, and w ill require additional fertilization. Susceptibility of these degraded systems to fire increases during the terrestrial phase, resulting in losses of crops and pastures, and leading to further degradation of the natural plant communities and associated animals of the floodplains, w ith fare reaching negative consequences for human life.

Population abundance and biomass of large-bodied birds in Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests

Little is known about the contribution of different forest types to the beta-diversity, abundance and biomass of the avifauna in lowland Amazonia. This paper presents data on the large-bodied bird assemblages of adjacent upland (terra firme) and seasonally flooded (várzea and igapó) forests in the lower Rio Purús region of central-western Brazilian Amazonia. We focus our analysis on 23 large-bodied canopy and terrestrial bird species from 10 families, on the basis of 2,044 bird sightings obtained during line-transect censuses conducted over a two-year period. Large toucans comprised the most numerically abundant large birds in terra firme and igapó forests, whereas macaws were the most abundant in nutrient-rich várzea forests that were seasonally inundated by white-water. The aggregate population density of all bird species in terra firme forest was slightly higher than that in várzea forest. Igapó forest, which was seasonally inundated by black-water, sustained the lowest population densities. Terra firme and várzea forests differed considerably in species composition and abundance whereas igapó forest shared many species with both terra firme and várzea. Our results suggest that Amazonian floodplain forests play a major role in the persistence and community dynamics of the large-bodied forest birds.Pouco se sabe sobre a contribuição de diferentes tipos de florestas aos padrões de beta-diversidade, abundância e biomassa da avifauna na região amazônica. Este artigo apresenta dados à respeito das aves de médio a grande porte em florestas de terra firme e florestas adjacentes sujeitas a inundação sazonal (várzea e igapó) na região do baixo Rio Purús da Amazonia centro-ocidental. Nossa análise, baseada num total de 2,044 observações obtidas durante censos ao longo de transectos, foi direcionada a 23 espécies de aves de médio a grande porte pertencentes a 10 famílias. As aves mais abundantes em florestas de terra firme e igapó foram os tucanos, e as araras as mais abundantes em florestas de várzea. A densidade de população agregada de todas as espécies na terra firme foi ligeiramente mais elevada do que na várzea. A floresta de igapó sustentaram as mais baixas densidades populacionais. Terra firme e várzea diferem consideravelmente na composição e abundância de espécies, visto que a avifauna do igapó é intermediária entre a da terra firme e a da várzea. Os resultados sugerem que as florestas inundáveis tem uma papel muito importante na manutenção das comunidades de aves de grande porte na Amazônia, e pricipalmente aquelas espécies que usam grandes mosaicos de floresta.

Social wasps of two wetland ecosystems in brazilian Amazonia (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae)

In Brazilian Amazonia, 20 genera and more than 200 species of polistine wasps are recorded. Local faunas with 70 to 80 species are usually found in non floodable forest environments. However, a variety of wetlands exist in the region, the most expressive in surface area being varzea systems. In this paper, information is presented on polistines from two areas of wetlands in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Amapá. These are reciprocally compared and also with nearby terra firme locations. Collecting methods consisted of active search for nests, handnetting and automatic trapping of individuals. Forty-six species of 15 genera were collected in Mamirauá, AM, most being widespread common wasps. However, five species deserve special mention in virtue of rarity and/or restricted distribution: Metapolybia rufata, Chartergellus nigerrimus, Chartergellus punctatior, Clypearia duckei, and Clypearia weyrauchi. In Região dos Lagos, AP, 31 species of 9 genera were collected, nearly all being common species with the exception of some Polistes, like P. goeldi and P. occipitalis. Even though less rich than vespid faunas from terra firme habitats, the Mamirauá fauna proved to be quite expressive considering limitations imposed by the hydrological regime. In Região dos Lagos, however, the very low diversity found was below the worst expectations. The virtual absence of otherwise common species in environments like tidal varzea forests along Araguari River is truly remarkable. The causes of low diversity are probably related to isolation and relative immaturity of the region, allied to strong degradation of forested habitats.