Identification and characterization of floristic groups in dry forests relicts of a West Coast region of New Caledonia

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanguy Jaffré ◽  
Frédéric Rigault ◽  
Jérôme Munzinger
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Multivariate Techniques ◽  
Exact Relation ◽  
Humid Forest

We describe the floristic composition of dry forest relicts on the west coast of New Caledonia. Using multivariate techniques, four floristic groups were defined from 71 floristic samples. The large proportion of species with rain forest affinities in all floristic groups shows similarities with the ?dry? rainforest of Australia. The two more open and disturbed groups have the highest proportion of species associated with dry areas, the strongest level of endemism and more ?most threatened? species. The two more closed groups have the highest proportion of rain forest species, but are slightly less original and have fewer threatened species. This raises the question of the exact relation of the dry forest still present in the study area to mesic forest, which has not yet been studied separately from dense humid forest in New Caledonia. The influence of the local micro-climatic conditions on the distribution of floristic groups appears critical. A good knowledge of these conditions is necessary for a sound delimitation of new protected areas, and for the implementation of protective and restorative measures appropriate to each vegetation category.

A New Micro-Endemic Species of Alectryon (Sapindaceae) from Koghis Forest, New Caledonia

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-162
Author(s):  
Jérôme Munzinger ◽  
Porter P. Lowry ◽  
Martin W. Callmander ◽  
Sven Buerki
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Humid Forest ◽  
Iucn Red List Categories ◽  
Red List Categories

Abstract—The new species Alectryon hirsutus is described from New Caledonia. It is distinguished from the only other member of the genus occurring on this southwest Pacific island, A. carinatus, by its uniformly densely hirsute indumentum (vs. glabrous or with short, appressed trichomes) as well as features of its leaves [(2‐)3‐5 pairs of leaflets vs. 1‐2]) and fruits (9‐16 × 16‐28 mm vs. 5.6‐13 × 5.7‐10.6 mm), along with its presence in dense humid forest (vs. sclerophyllous or lowland dry forest). A preliminary conservation status of Critically Endangered [CR] is suggested following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

scholarly journals Prioritizing conservation of tropical dry forests in the Pacific

Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Gillespie ◽  
Kristin O'Neill ◽  
Gunnar Keppel ◽  
Stephanie Pau ◽  
Jean-Yves Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forests ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
The Pacific

AbstractTo identify forests of high priority for conservation in tropical dry forests of New Caledonia, Fiji, the Marquesas and Hawaii, we examined patterns of woody plant species richness (total, native and endemic) and threatened species (IUCN categorization and density) at the stand level, using Gentry's transect method. There were associations between total, native and endemic plant species richness in all four Pacific dry forest regions but we found no significant association with the presence or density of species listed on the IUCN Red List. Dry forests in New Caledonia and Hawaii merit the highest conservation priority in the Pacific, based on level of endemism and number of threatened species. The study sites that merit high conservation priority are Metzdorf, Nekoro and Pindai, in New Caledonia, Kokee and Kaupulehu, in Hawaii, and Vatia, in Fiji. New Caledonia and Fiji have a small dry forest extent and protected area extent compared with other dry forests in biodiversity hotspots. Although we identified priority areas for dry forest conservation, more comparative plot data, presence/absence data in fragments and regional geographical data are needed to adequately manage and protect dry forests in the Pacific.

scholarly journals The arboreal component of a dry forest in Northeastern Brazil

2006 ◽  
Vol 66 (2a) ◽  
pp. 479-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. N. Rodal ◽  
L. M. Nascimento
Keyword(s):  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Transition ◽  
Humid Forest ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Standing Dead ◽  
Semi Arid

The dry forests of northeastern Brazil are found near the coastal zone and on low, isolated mountains inland amid semi-arid vegetation. The floristic composition of these dry montane forests, as well as their relationship to humid forests (Atlantic forest sensu stricto) and to the deciduous thorn woodlands (Caatinga sensu stricto) of the Brazilian northeast are not yet well known. This paper sought to determine if the arboreal plants in a dry forest growing on a low mountain in the semi-arid inland region (Serra Negra, 8° 35’ - 8° 38’ S and 38° 02’ - 38° 04’ W) between the municipalities of Floresta and Inajá, state of Pernambuco have the same floristic composition and structure as that seen in other regional forests. In fifty 10 x 20 m plots all live and standing dead trees with trunk measuring > 5 cm diameter at breast height were measured. Floristic similarities between the forest studied and other regional forests were assessed using multivariate analysis. The results demonstrate that the dry forest studied can be classified into two groups that represent two major vegetational transitions: (1) a humid forest/dry forest transition; and (2) a deciduous thorn-woodland/ dry forest transition.

scholarly journals Phytogeographical patterns of dry forests sensu stricto in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 623-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL M. ARRUDA ◽  
WALNIR G. FERREIRA-JUNIOR ◽  
REINALDO DUQUE-BRASIL ◽  
CARLOS E.R. SCHAEFER
Keyword(s):  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Floristic Similarity ◽  
Humid Forest ◽  
Quaternary Climate ◽  
Dominant Soil ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
Semi Arid

The Deciduous Complex that occurs in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, raises questions about the floristic affinities of these formations in relation to neighboring phytogeographical domains. Little is known about the identity of the seasonal forest formations that comprise this complex, or about its relationships to abiotic components, such as soils, topography and climate. This study aimed to recognize the patterns of floristic similarity of all studied fragments of dry forest of northern Minas Gerais with soil and climate attributes, based on the available database. Cluster analysis indicated the existence of two floristic groups that had clear associations with either the Koppen's BSh (semi-arid) or Aw (seasonal tropical) climates. Likewise, the subdivisions of these groups showed clear associations with the dominant soil classes in the region. The Red-Yellow Latosol is the dominant soil classes in the BSh climatic domain, seconded by alluvial areas associated with Fluvic Neosols. The Aw domain comprised a much varied set of soils: Nitosols, Argisols, Cambisols and Litholic Neosols, most derived from the Bambuí limestone/slate formation. The ecotonal nature of northern Minas Gerais State provides a complex interaction between the flora of neighboring phytogeographical domains. This, allied to pedogeomorphological factors, allowed a better understanding of the effects of late Quaternary climate changes for the Deciduous Complex evolution. We conclude that the Latosols under present-day semi-arid climates (BSh) are relicts of former wetter climates, during which humid forest (semideciduous) expansion took place. Later, these semideciduous forests were subjected to a much drier climate, when selection for deciduousness led to the present-days Deciduous Complex scenario.

Revision of Pycnandra subgenus Achradotypus (Sapotaceae), with five new species from New Caledonia

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Swenson ◽  
Jérôme Munzinger
Keyword(s):  
New Caledonia ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Corolla Lobe ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
New Members ◽  
Infrageneric Classification ◽  
Humid Forest ◽  
Leaf Venation ◽  
Wide Range

Pycnandra is a genus of Sapotaceae (Chrysophylloideae), restricted to New Caledonia, and includes ~60 species. The genus is a member of the monophyletic Niemeyera complex of Australia and New Caledonia and it is characterised by the lack of staminodes and a fruit containing a single seed, plano-convex cotyledons and absence of endosperm. In New Caledonia, several segregate genera have been recognised, but weak cladistic support for these groups and homoplasious morphology renders a narrow generic concept untenable. Instead, a broad generic circumscription of Pycnandra with an infrageneric classification recognising the subgenera Achradotypus, Leptostylis, Pycnandra, Sebertia and Trouettia results in a stable nomenclature. Here we revise Pycnandra subg. Achradotypus that includes 14 species, of which five (P. belepensis, P. blaffartii, P. bracteolata, P. glabella, and P. ouaiemensis) are described as new. Members of subg. Achradotypus are distinguished from other subgenera on the basis of a character combination of two stamens opposite each corolla lobe (except P. litseiflora), glabrous leaves (except P. belepensis and P. decandra), a distinctive reticulate tertiary leaf venation (except P. comptonii), and sepal-like bracts that often are borne along the pedicel. All species are restricted to Grande Terre except for P. decandra, whose distribution also extends to nearby Art Island (Belep Islands), and P. belepensis, which is endemic to that same island. The members grow in a wide range of vegetation types from dry maquis to humid forest, from sea level to the highest mountain massif, and on ultramafic soils to schist and greywacke (not limestone). Because of past and present threats such as mining, logging and fire, preliminary IUCN Red List assessments are provided for all species. Five taxa (P. chartacea, P. decandra subsp. decandra, P. glabella, P. litseiflora, and P. neocaledonica) are proposed the IUCN status Endangered, and P. belepensis and P. ouaiemensis are proposed to be Critically Endangered. We suggest that some locations where these species occur should be given protection in the form of nature reserves.

scholarly journals Changes in the floristic composition of a Terra Firme rain forest In Brazilian Amazonia over an eight-year period In response to logging

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Olegário Pereira de CARVALHO
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Permanent Sample Plots ◽  
Brazilian Amazonia ◽  
Number Of Species

Changes in the floristic composition over an eight-year period in a logged area at the Tapajós National Forest in Brazilian Amazonia arc discussed. Two treatments of different intensities of logging were compared with an undisturbed (control) forest. Data were collected from permanent sample-plots. The effects of logging on floristic composition were stronger in the more heavily logged treatment. The number of species decreased immediately after logging, but started to increase before the fifth year after logging and was higher at the end of the study period than before logging. The more heavily logged plots responded more to disturbances, as judged by the increase in the number of species during the period after logging. This forest appears to recover its initial floristic composition after disturbance without intervention.

Nutrient-uptake and -use efficiency in seedlings of rain-forest trees in New Caledonia: monodominants vs. subordinates and episodic vs. continuous regenerators

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 277-292
Author(s):  
Jennifer Read ◽  
Stéphane McCoy ◽  
Tanguy Jaffré ◽  
Murray Logan
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Uptake Efficiency ◽  
Nutrient Use ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Efficient Uptake ◽  
Efficiency And Productivity

Abstract:The upper canopy of some rain forests in New Caledonia is dominated by single species. These monodominants are commonly secondary species, their dominance not persisting without disturbance. We tested whether dominance is associated with efficient uptake and use of nutrients (N, P and K), comparing between seedlings of monodominants (Nothofagus spp., Arillastrum gummiferum and Cerberiopsis candelabra) and 14 subordinates, grown in a nursery house. We also tested whether this trend applies more broadly to shade-intolerant trees that regenerate episodically (ER species) versus shade-tolerant trees that regenerate continuously (CR species). In the sun treatment, monodominants had higher photosynthetic nutrient-use efficiency and productivity for N and K, and uptake efficiency for N, P and K, than subordinates; ER species had higher photosynthetic nutrient-use efficiency for N, P and K, and uptake efficiency for N and P, than CR species. Uptake efficiency and productivity per nutrient mass were uncorrelated across species, yet Nothofagus spp., A. gummiferum and C. candelabra combined high levels of both traits for N, and Nothofagus spp. and A. gummiferum combined moderate to high levels for P, in sun-grown seedlings. This trait combination may contribute substantially to competitiveness and post-disturbance dominance on these nutrient-poor soils.

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