Spatial Pattern and Fine-Scale Genetic Structure Indicating Recent Colonization of the Palm Euterpe edulis in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest Fragment

In this study we surveyed all trees ≥10 cm diameter at breast height within 20 0.1 ha plots in a 3,500 ha forest fragment, surrounded by sugar cane fields, of the Brazilian Atlantic forest to compare tree species assemblages at the forest edge (0–100 m into forest) vs forest interior (>200 m). Plots were perpendicular to the margin. The mean number of tree species was significantly higher in the forest interior (35.4 ± SD 7.1 vs 18.4 ± SD 4.4). In addition, forest edge differed from interior in the proportion of shade-tolerant, emergent, large/very large-fruited species, and large-seeded tree species. Among the 134 tree species recorded, 24% were exclusive to the forest edge and 57% to the forest interior. Our results suggest that both the current system of protected areas and archipelagos of small fragments (1) tend to retain only a subset of the original flora, (2) will converge in terms of floristic and ecological composition (biotic simplification and homogenization), and (3) will lose rare and threatened tree species.

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Community responses to fine-scale environmental conditions: Ferns alpha and beta diversity along Brazilian Atlantic forest remnants

Acta Oecologica ◽

10.1016/j.actao.2019.103475 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 101 ◽

pp. 103475 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lucas Erickson Nascimento da Costa ◽

Xavier Arnan ◽

Rafael de Paiva Farias ◽

Iva Carneiro Leão Barros

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Beta Diversity ◽

Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Community Responses ◽

Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽

Forest Remnants

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Neither barriers nor refugia explain genetic structure in a major biogeographic break: phylogeography of praying mantises in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Mitochondrial DNA Part A ◽

10.1080/24701394.2018.1445242 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 1284-1292 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bernardo F. Santos ◽

Marcus V. Scherrer ◽

Ana Carolina Loss

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Brazilian Atlantic Forest

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Gene flow and fine-scale spatial genetic structure in Cabralea canjerana (Meliaceae), a common tree species from the Brazilian Atlantic forest

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467416000067 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 135-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Arthur Tavares de Oliveira Melo ◽

Edivani Villaron Franceschinelli

Keyword(s):

Gene Flow ◽

Genetic Structure ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Tree Species ◽

Spatial Genetic Structure ◽

Molecular Ecology ◽

Spatial Distance ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Flow Process

Abstract:The Atlantic forest is the biome most severely affected by deforestation in Brazil. Cabralea canjerana spp. canjerana is a dioecious tree species with widespread distribution in the Neotropical region. This species is considered a model to ascertain population ecology parameters for endangered plant species from the Atlantic forest. Fine-scale spatial genetic structure and pollen-mediated gene flow are crucial information in landscape genetics and evolutionary ecology. A total of 192 adults and 121 offspring were sampled in seven C. canjerana populations in the Southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, to assess whether pollen-mediated gene flow is able to prevent spatial genetic structure within and among Atlantic forest fragments. Several molecular ecology parameters were estimated using microsatellite loci. High levels of genetic diversity (HE = 0.732) and moderate population structure (θ = 0.133) were recorded. No significant association between kinship and spatial distance amongst individuals within each population (Sp = 0.000109) was detected. Current pollen-mediated gene flow occurs mainly within forest fragments, probably due to short-distance flights of the pollinator of C. canjerana, and also the forest fragmentation may have restricted flight distance. The high levels of genetic differentiation found amongst the seven sites sampled demonstrated how habitat fragmentation affects the gene flow process in natural areas.

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