Tropical Dry Forests of Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil: Diversity, Conservation Status, and Natural Regeneration

2020 ◽

pp. 115-124

Author(s):

Raja Prakasam ◽

Balaguru Balakrishnan ◽

Soosairaj Sebastian

Keyword(s):

Tamil Nadu ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Eastern Ghats ◽

Tropical Dry Forests ◽

Plant Resources ◽

Dry Forests ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

National Wealth ◽

Floristic Studies

Tropical dry forests occur as patches in Tamil Nadu distributed along the East Coast, Eastern Ghats, and plains of the Indian Peninsula. The floristic studies of these regions are of great national relevance as plant resources in a tropical climate contribute to national wealth. Dry forests of the plains in Tamil Nadu have been neglected and the area under study has remained practically unexplored. This chapter studies distribution of tropical dry forests, especially in Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu. In total, 187 sacred groves were surveyed for their distribution and floristic composition. The GPS position of each grove was noted and their distribution maps were prepared. The groves were classified based on conservation status, namely well conserved, moderately conserved and degraded. Extensive botanical explorations were carried out periodically during 2012–2016 in these groves and 812 species belonging to 480 genera under 124 families were recorded. The endemic, threatened species of these groves were also documented.

Download Full-text

Global Overview of Tropical Dry Forests

Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability - Handbook of Research on the Conservation and Restoration of Tropical Dry Forests ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-0014-9.ch001 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

G. N. Tanjina Hasnat ◽

Mohammed Kamal Hossain

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Endangered Species ◽

Land Surface ◽

Forest Type ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Tropical Dry Forests ◽

Land Conversion ◽

Dry Period ◽

Dry Forests ◽

The World

Forests cover almost one-third of the Earth's land surface. Tropical dry forests are the second-most-important forest type in the world covering approximately 42% of tropical and sub-tropical forest area. The main features of these forests are their deciduousness, a prolonged dry period extending 3-9 months, and little annual precipitation of 250-2,000 mm. Tropical dry forests are found in five of the eight realms in the world. More than half of the forests are distributed in the Americas, with other portions in Africa, Eurasia, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The forests are unique in nature, and provide shelter to a huge number of endemics and endangered species. Among woody plant species, about 40% are not found anywhere in the world. These forests are now the most threatened among all forest types. The conservation status of these forests is endangered. Deforestation, rapid civilization, land conversion, fire, and climate change are the major threats. Proper management with time-oriented policy could be helpful to restore these forests and protect the existing remnant areas.

Download Full-text

Reptile diversity and community composition in the Puyango dry forest

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2625v1 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Acosta Vásconez Ana ◽

Cisneros-Heredia Diego ◽

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Tropical Dry Forests ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

Phylogenetic Groups ◽

Dry Forests ◽

History Of ◽

Dry Deciduous Forest

Reptiles are key animals in vertebrate communities in most ecosystems. However, there is little information on their diversity and abundance in dry forests of Ecuador. Between 2013 and 2014 we studied the reptile diversity and natural history of the Puyango Protected Forest, on the border between the province of Loja and El Oro, Ecuador. This area protects relicts of dry deciduous forest in hills and patches of semi-deciduous forest around ravines. We used belt transects in three different streams and irregular band transects in trails, together with pitfall traps, funnel traps, and litter quadrants. The richness of the Puyango Protected Forest represents a small percentage of the Ecuadorian reptile diversity, but covers much of the representative phylogenetic groups of tropical dry forests of the world. Sampling was effective to determine saurian diversity, but more sampling is needed to estimate snake diversity. Evidence of the presence of 21 species, divided into 10 families, was obtained; of which 14 are snakes (including a potential new species of the genus Epictia) and seven are lizards. Natural history is described for each species, including time and space use, and their conservation status is analyzed. The reptile community is characterized by a relative homogeneity over the vegetation remnants and the highest abundances correspond to saurian species.

Download Full-text

Principles of Natural Regeneration of Tropical Dry Forests for Restoration

Restoration Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1526-100x.2006.00100.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 11-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 238

Author(s):

Daniel L. M. Vieira ◽

Aldicir Scariot

Keyword(s):

Natural Regeneration ◽

Tropical Dry Forests ◽

Dry Forests

Download Full-text

New data concerning the distribution, behaviour, ecology and taxonomic relationships of Minas Gerais Tyrannulet Phylloscartes roquettei

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270902002150 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 241-253 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marcos A. Raposo ◽

Juan Mazar Barnett ◽

Guy M. Kirwan ◽

Ricardo Parrini

Keyword(s):

Distribution Pattern ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Type Locality ◽

Dry Forests ◽

Male Specimen ◽

Taxonomic Relationships ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Distribution Behaviour ◽

Near Threatened

We report new observations of the globally threatened Minas Gerais Tyrannulet Phylloscartes roquettei from two areas in the São Francisco Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, between July 1993 and February 2002. Four pairs, one fledged young and two lone individuals were observed in the course of our fieldwork. It was previously known only from a female taken in the mid-1920s and sight records and tape-recordings in 1977. Our records extend the species' known range 250 km south and west of the type-locality region. Details of the first-known male specimen are presented, along with novel data concerning its vocalizations and behaviour. We draw attention to the possible relationship of the species to a group of four other Phylloscartes tyrannulets with similarly patterned faces and overall plumage, which exhibit a similar circum-Amazonian distribution pattern to three Phyllomyias tyrannulets. We also take the opportunity to draw more attention to the imperilled conservation status of the dry forests upon which P. roquettei and a host of other threatened and Near-threatened avian taxa depend.

Download Full-text

A global overview of the conservation status of tropical dry forests

Journal of Biogeography ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2699.2005.01424.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 491-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 574

Author(s):

Lera Miles ◽

Adrian C. Newton ◽

Ruth S DeFries ◽

Corinna Ravilious ◽

Ian May ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Tropical Dry Forests ◽

Dry Forests

Download Full-text

Ecology of Natural Regeneration of Tropical Dry Forests of Africa and Its Implications for Their Sustainable Man

Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability - Handbook of Research on the Conservation and Restoration of Tropical Dry Forests ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-0014-9.ch018 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 346-358

Author(s):

Stephen Syampungani ◽

Annie Namuuya Sikanwe ◽

Paxie W. C. Chirwa

Keyword(s):

Environmental Conditions ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Size Class ◽

Tropical Dry Forests ◽

Herbaceous Layer ◽

Dry Forests ◽

Root Suckers

Recovery of African dry forests and woodlands is through either sexual or vegetative means. A sufficient number of regeneration pool (root suckers, sprouts, and seedlings) tend to occur in the herbaceous layer of the African dry forests. However, the prevailing environmental conditions such as fires and competition for nutrients and light influence the number of surviving individuals to enter the next size class. Developing restoration strategy for the African savannas requires the knowledge of regeneration mechanisms and dynamics of these woodlands which will be helpful in their management.

Download Full-text

Reptile diversity and community composition in the Puyango dry forest

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2625 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Acosta Vásconez Ana ◽

Cisneros-Heredia Diego ◽

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Tropical Dry Forests ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

Phylogenetic Groups ◽

Dry Forests ◽

History Of ◽

Dry Deciduous Forest

Reptiles are key animals in vertebrate communities in most ecosystems. However, there is little information on their diversity and abundance in dry forests of Ecuador. Between 2013 and 2014 we studied the reptile diversity and natural history of the Puyango Protected Forest, on the border between the province of Loja and El Oro, Ecuador. This area protects relicts of dry deciduous forest in hills and patches of semi-deciduous forest around ravines. We used belt transects in three different streams and irregular band transects in trails, together with pitfall traps, funnel traps, and litter quadrants. The richness of the Puyango Protected Forest represents a small percentage of the Ecuadorian reptile diversity, but covers much of the representative phylogenetic groups of tropical dry forests of the world. Sampling was effective to determine saurian diversity, but more sampling is needed to estimate snake diversity. Evidence of the presence of 21 species, divided into 10 families, was obtained; of which 14 are snakes (including a potential new species of the genus Epictia) and seven are lizards. Natural history is described for each species, including time and space use, and their conservation status is analyzed. The reptile community is characterized by a relative homogeneity over the vegetation remnants and the highest abundances correspond to saurian species.

Download Full-text