Genetic and chemodiversity in native populations of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi along the Brazilian Atlantic forest

Schinus terebinthifolia is a species native to different ecoregions in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The plant is listed on the National Relation of Medicinal Plants and recommended as phytomedicine, however while extractive exploitation prevails as the main route of raw material a significant variation of compounds will be detected. To assure the expansion of productive chain it is important to start by studying population diversity and chemical variations. We used SSR markers for studies of genetic structure among populations from dense ombrophilous forest (ES); the deciduous seasonal forest (SM); the savanna (DOU) and the sandbanks (ITA and MSP), and compared the results to their chemical profiles of essential oil. Genetic structure revealed differences among populations and significant fixation rates. Pairwise studies and Bayesian analysis showed similarities between ITA and SM and between DOU and MSP, proving that the patterns of distribution for the species do not follow the isolation by distance or similarity by environmental conditions. The comparison between PCA of genotypes and chemodiversity reinforces the unique profile for each population despite the environmental similarity observed and genetic analysis. The most divergent genotype and chemical group was found at the ombrophilous forest, strong evidence that we should undertake conservation efforts to prevent losses of biodiversity in that area.

Triuris hyalina Miers: first record of Triuridaceae in the southern Atlantic Forest of Paraná, Brazil

We report the first occurrence of the family Triuridaceae in the Atlantic Forest of Paraná state, Brazil. We found Triuris hyalina Miers in a nature reserve and present a description, taxonomic and ecological comments, distribution data, and images. It is a small, mycoheterotrophic plant species. We found it in an area of dense ombrophilous forest in the municipality of Piraquara, eastern Paraná. Our new record represents the first of the family in the state and the southernmost known occurrence of the species. The new occurrence highlights the importance of floristic surveys to better understand the flora of the Atlantic Forest.

Flora of Ceará, Brazil:Ditassa (Asclepiadoideae/Apocynaceae)

This study aimed to carry out a taxonomic floristic survey of species in the genus Ditassa (Asclepiadoideae/Apocynaceae), as part of the “Flora do Ceará: knowing to conserve” project. The study was based on the analysis of morphological characters of specimens from representative herbaria for the genus. The identifications were performed using specialized bibliography and confirmed by analyzing type collections. For Ceará state, six species of Ditassa were registered: D. blanchetii, D. capillaris, D. dardanoi, D. glaziovii, D. hastata and D. hispida. The species occur in Savana (Cerrado), Stepic Savanna (Caatinga/Carrasco), Dense Ombrophilous Forest (Wet forest) and Lowland Semideciduous Seasonal Forest (Tableland forest). Only D. capillaris and D. hastata were recorded in Conservation Units.

Composition and structure of a stretch of tropical forest in the Eastern Amazon

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the diversity. composition. forest structure of a stretch of dense ombrophilous forest in the state of Amapá. The area is located in the east of the state of Amapá. in the Eastern Amazon. at the following coordinates: 2º 0’0.00 ’’ N. 14º 0’0.00’’O. The sampling process used was systematic. where nine plots of 1 ha (100 m x 100 m) were allocated. 0.5 km apart. within a 13 km long and 0.03 km wide transect. The horizontal structure of the forest was evaluated using phytosociological parameters. One thousand seven hundred and ninety trees were sampled in this study. they were distributed in 131 species. 69 genera and 48 families. The species that presented more individuals were Pouteria guianensis Aubl. (136). Eschweilera coriacea (DC.) S.A.Mori (78). Inga paraensis Ducke (45). Licania paraensis Prance (38). The area is highly diverse and dissimilar with great variability and complexity in vegetable formation.

Forest restoration by different nucleation techniques in Urochloa grassland

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of brushwood, black plastic mulch, herbicide, and artificial perch on the natural regeneration of native species in Urochloa grassland. The experiment was conducted between February 2014 and February 2016 in the Dense Ombrophilous Forest, in the municipality of Morretes, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The treatments were: herbicide, herbicide + perch, black plastic mulch, black plastic mulch + perch, brushwood + herbicide, brushwood + herbicide + perch, and a control treatment. The evaluations were carried out at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months after the installation of the experiment, by counting and identifying regenerating woody species and estimating visually the percentage of herbaceous coverage. Initially, brushwood and black plastic mulch reduced the Urochloa grasses; however, this effect was lost over time due to the rapid growth of the grasses from the edges to the center of the plots. The use of perches in the treatments does not allow a significant increase of other species because of the continued inhibiting conditions for the establishment of seedlings. The herbicide is effective in removing the grasses; however, the recruitment of woody species is only satisfactory when perches are used to attract the dispersing fauna. For a successful ecological restoration of pastures, there is a need for the local elimination of Urochloa grasses.

New record of Juliomys ossitenuis Costa, Pavan, Leite & Fagundes, 2007 (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae) in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil

Juliomys ossitenuis Costa, Pavan, Leite and Fagundes, 2007 was previously known in Brazil from the Atlantic Forest of the Southeastern Region to the Dense Ombrophilous Forest and Araucaria Forest of the Southern Region. The new record from Chapecó, in Santa Catarina state, confirmed by morphological and cytogenetic analyses, extends its distribution about 300 km westwards. This is the westernmost record for the species, in a region characterized by the transition between deciduous and Araucaria forests.

STRUCTURE AND FLORISTIC COMPOSITION IN A DENSE OMBROPHILOUS FOREST AREA UNDER FOREST MANAGEMENT

This study shows the phytosociology and floristics of a Dense Ombrophilous Forest fragment under forest management in Portel city, Pará State. Six conglomerates were sampled, divided into secondary and tertiary plots totaling 120 sample units of 0.4 hectares each, in which all trees with diameter at breast height (130 cm above ground; DBH) above 10 cm were measured. These individuals were botanically identified, and evenness and floristic similarity were calculated. There were 3,586 individuals distributed in 42 families, 121 genera, and 174 species. Families Fabaceae, Lecythidaceae, and Sapotaceae were the ones that obtained the highest IVI and the highest representativity of individuals. Species Eschweilera coriacea (DC.) S.A.Mori, Vouacapoua americana Aubl., and Tetragastris altissima (Aubl.) Swart were the ones with the highest IVI. Among the ten highest results, we highlight Syzygiopsis oppositifolia Ducke and Manilkara dardanoi Ducke, with great potential for timber production. The Shannon diversity index averaged 3.83 between the plots, and the Pielou evenness averaged 0.84, showing that the area presents high floristic diversity and great potential for forest management activities.

Influência da precipitação pluviométrica na regeneração natural em trecho de uma floresta ombrófila densa aluvial (Influence of rainfall in natural regeneration in a dense ombrophylous forest alluvial in eastern amazona, Pará, Brasil

R E S U M OO objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência da precipitação interna sobre a composição e estrutura da regeneração natural em um trecho de floresta ombrófila densa aluvial no estuário amazônico. Os dados foram coletados de fevereiro a julho de 2016, em quatro parcelas de 20 x 20m, subdivididas em subparcelas de 1 x 1m para análise da composição florística e estrutural da regeneração e instalados 11 pluviômetros para amostragem da precipitação. Houve pouca variação na quantidade de indivíduos, famílias, gêneros e espécies entre o período chuvoso e o menos chuvoso. Pariana campestris Aubl., Anthurium sinuatum Benth. ex, Schott, Costus arabicus L. e Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. foram mais representativas devido aos impactos antrópicos na área. Conclui-se que não houve influência da precipitação interna na abundância e na riqueza de espécies da regeneração natural.Palavras-chave: Floresta de várzea; florística; estrutura. A B S T R A C T The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of internal precipitation on the composition and structure of natural regeneration in an alluvial dense ombrophilous forest in the Amazonian estuary. The data were collected from february to july 2016, in four 20 x 20m plots, subdivided into 1x1m subplots to analyze the floristic and structural composition of the regeneration and using 11 pluviometers to sample the precipitation. There was little variation in the number of individuals, families, genera and species between the rainy season and the less rainy season. Pariana campestris Aubl., Anthurium sinuatum Benth. Schott, Costus arabicus L. and Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. were more representative due to anthropic impacts on the area. It was concluded that there was no influence of internal precipitation on the abundance and richness of natural regeneration species.Keywords: Floodplain forest, Floristic, Structure.

Nutritional Contribution of Litter in Rainforest of Brazil

Lowlands Dense Ombrophilous Forest is one phytophysiognomies of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The main ecological characteristic of this forest is the Ombrophilous environment, related to high rainfall and temperature indexes. Nutrient cycling is well balanced in the periods of good thermo-pluviometric distribution. Global climatic changes have been intensifying in recent years making rainfall irregular, changing its distribution and intensity throughout the year. This can affect the natural regeneration and vegetative growth of the species. This study aimed to correlate litterfall and nutrient contribution with climatic variations, identifying the level of importance of this correlation and which nutrients may have their compromised cycling. Literfall was collected monthly in 40 collectors. N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents were determined and their stocks were calculated. The litter deposition was 8,261.15 kg ha-1 year-1 and was not influenced by rainfall and temperature. The N, P, K, Ca and Mg stock in this litter was 244.93 kg ha-1 year-1, being stored just of N 113.75 kg ha-1 year-1. P and K stocks varied with rainfall and temperature, suggesting that variations in these climatic variables may interfere in the cycling of these nutrients in this forest fragment.