scholarly journals Effects of climate and forest structure on palms, bromeliads and bamboos in Atlantic Forest fragments of Northeastern Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 834-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Hilário ◽  
J. J. Toledo
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Palm Species

Abstract Palms, bromeliads and bamboos are key elements of tropical forests and understanding the effects of climate, anthropogenic pressure and forest structure on these groups is crucial to forecast structural changes in tropical forests. Therefore, we investigated the effects of these factors on the abundance of these groups in 22 Atlantic forest fragments of Northeastern Brazil. Abundance of bromeliads and bamboos were assessed through indexes. Palms were counted within a radius of 20 m. We also obtained measures of vegetation structure, fragment size, annual precipitation, precipitation seasonality and human population density. We tested the effects of these predictors on plant groups using path analysis. Palm abundance was higher in taller forests with larger trees, closed canopy and sparse understory, which may be a result of the presence of seed dispersers and specific attributes of local palm species. Bromeliads were negatively affected by both annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality, what may reflect adaptations of these plants to use water efficiently, but also the need to capture water in a regular basis. Bamboos were not related to any predictor variable. As climate and forest structure affected the abundance of bromeliads and palms, human-induced climatic changes and disturbances in forest structure may modify the abundance of these groups. In addition, soil properties and direct measurements of human disturbance should be used in future studies in order to improve the predictability of models about plant groups in Northeastern Atlantic Forest.

scholarly journals EXOTIC PALMS THREATENS NATIVE PALMS: A RISK TO PLANT BIODIVERSITY OF ATLANTIC FOREST

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Monteiro Condé ◽  
Fernando da Silva ◽  
Agostinho Lopes de Souza ◽  
Helio Garcia Leite ◽  
Eder Aparecido Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Palm Trees ◽  
Continuous Forest ◽  
High Germination ◽  
Palm Species ◽  
Forest Strata

ABSTRACT Invasive plants can profoundly modify physical and biological characteristics of their new environments, especially when such habitats are already fragmented and reduced by anthropogenic pressure, such as the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Here, we hypothesized that exotic palms successfully establish among the natural Euterpe edulis populations through a continuous propagule input by avifauna, high germination rates, and rapid growth. As a result, the native palm is experiencing decline and may be threatened with extinction. Beginning in 2007, we conducted a continuous forest inventory (FCI) every three years in the primary and secondary forest fragments of Viçosa, Minas Gerais. We use a Markov matrix to project future distributions of palm trees. The secondary forest contained three exotic palm species: Archontophoenix alexandrae, Livistona chinensis, and Arenga caudata. The first palm is a serious risk to natural E. edulis populations in the Atlantic because of frequent interactions with birds, rapid germination, and aggressive colonization in the lower to medium vertical forest strata. Currently, natural E. edulis populations are viable and sustainable, capable of regeneration, growth, and fruiting, their communities maintain continuous gene flow, dominating vertical forest strata compared with exotic palms. However, exotic palms should be monitored and control measures should be analyzed, especially in areas with A. alexandrae populations.

scholarly journals Diversity of scorpions (Chelicerata: Arachnida) in the Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

Check List ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Felipe de Araujo Lira ◽  
Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Moon Phase ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Important Center ◽  
Uv Lamps ◽  
Northeastern Atlantic

This study was conducted to measure the biodiversity of scorpion species in the remnants of the Brazilian northeastern Atlantic Forest, an important center of biodiversity and endemism. Collections were performed in twelve forest fragments in Sirinhaém municipality, Pernambuco State, through active searches at night by using UV lamps between 19:00h and 21:00h during the new moon phase in December 2012 and January 2013. A total of 1,125 specimens from two genera and five species were collected: Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893; Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982; Tityus brazilae Eickstedt & Lourenço, 1984; Tityus neglectus Mello-Leitão, 1932; and Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876), all belonging to the family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837. The most abundant species was T. pusillus (90.7%), followed by A. mauryi (7.1%). Tityus brazilae, T. neglectus, and T. stigmurus together represented less than 3% of the individuals sampled.

scholarly journals Helminths infecting Dryadosaura nordestina (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. M. Teixeira ◽  
R. J. Silva ◽  
S. V. Brito ◽  
D. A. Teles ◽  
J. A. Araujo-Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Helminth Infection ◽  
First Record ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Helminth Fauna ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Northeast Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Parasite Abundance

Abstract We analyzed the patterns of infection by helminths in populations of the Gymnophthalmidae lizard Dryadosaura nordestina from three Atlantic Forest fragments in Northeast Brazil. Prevalence and mean intensity of infection by location showed the following results: ARIE Mata de Goiamunduba (60.8 % and 10.4 ± 8), RPPN Engenho Gargaú (83.3 % and 20.8 ± 19.7) and Benjamim Maranhão Botanical Garden (70.4 % and 7.78 ± 5.8). We provide the first records of helminth infection for the lizard D. nordestina, in which three species of nematodes, Aplectana sp., Cosmocerca sp. and Physaloptera lutzi and one trematode Haplometroides odhneri were recovered. Trematodes of the genus Haplometroides were previously known as parasites only in snake and amphisbaenian hosts in South America. Now, our study provides the first record of a species belonging to this genus parasitizing lizards. In conclusion, our study shows that D. nordestina have a depleted helminth fauna (three species at maximum), similar to other studies with lizards of this family in Brazil and that its parasite abundance is related to host snout-vent length, but not to the sex.

scholarly journals Analysis of the reproductive stage and ovarian histomorphometry of Dermanura cinerea (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in an Atlantic Forest fragment of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nivaldo B. Lima Junior ◽  
Maria J.G. Arandas ◽  
Fabricya R. Silva ◽  
Erivaldo A. Antonio ◽  
Francisco C.A. Aguiar Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Reproductive Stage ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Histomorphometric Analysis ◽  
Forest Fragment

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to analyze the reproductive stage, histology and morphometry of the ovary of Dermanura cinerea in an Atlantic Forest fragments in the Biological Reserve of Saltinho, Pernambuco, Brazil. Adult females were captured monthly by mist net, during two consecutive nights from June/2014 to November/2015. The meteorological data were provided by the National Institute of Meteorology and grouped together with the reproductive data, in six periods: period I (June to August/2014), period II (September to November/2014), period III (December/2014 to February/2015), period IV (March to May/2015), period V (June to August/2015) and period VI (September to November/2015). The females were classified according to their reproductive stages in: Inactive, pregnant, lactating and postlactating. Among the 25 females caught, 10 inactive females were selected for the histomorphometric analysis of the ovaries and then they were euthanized. After that, the specimens had their ovaries removed, fixed, processed and included in Paraplast. The organs were cut and stained by Hematoxylin - Eosin and the histological slides produced were submitted to the appropriate optical microscope analysis. Each type of ovarian follicle was estimated according to the histological characteristics evidenced for other mammals. In the morphometric analysis, it was considered: The area of the ovary (measured in square millimeter), Quantification of different types of ovarian follicles (unilaminar and multilaminar primary follicles, antral and matures) and corpus luteum, as well as the area of each by those different follicles (measured in square micrometer) The results indicated that 16 females were inactive, 5 were lactating, 4 were pregnant and no post-lactating. The histological analysis revealed that the ovaries of D. cinerea exhibit characteristics, structures and cellular types similar to other mammals. The morphometric data of the study area were statistically evaluated using the Student’s t-test. Therefore, ovarian histomorphometric analysis are very important to infer with greater certainty about the reproduction of a species. Thus, it was observed that females of D. cinerea exhibit two reproductive peaks, that is, they can give birth either at the end of dry periods or from the beginning to the middle of the rainy season. The main feature observed in the ovary of this species, found in the Atlantic Forest area of the state of Pernambuco, is the preparation of the ovarian cortex to ovulate in months of high rainfall throughout the year. Therefore, this species tries to adjust its reproductive period with the variations of the environmental conditions, so that the reproduction might occur during the period more favorable for the maintenance of their offspring.

scholarly journals Home Range, Diet, and Activity Patterns of Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in Very Small and Isolated Fragments of the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert Leonardo Nascimento Pinheiro ◽  
Antonio Rossano Mendes Pontes
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Daily Path Length ◽  
Common Marmosets ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
The Impact

We evaluate the impact of very small and isolated forest fragments on the common marmosets home range, diet, and activity patterns, in the northeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Three groups were studied in three forest fragments, from January to October 2010, totaling 360 hours of observations and 1,080 field-hours. Systematic observations were recorded using Instantaneous Scan Sampling, and a checklist of the items exploited was built throughad libitumobservations. We recorded location of the groups and calculated home range. We recorded 11,639 scans and 236ad libitumfeeding records. 83.4% (n=10) of food items were plant species, the only animal protein was from insects (n=2; 16.6%), and the diet was based almost exclusively on gums. Mean home range was 5.5 ha, mean daily path length was 1,167 meters, and no differences were detected between seasons. Resting dominated their activity budget and varied between seasons. Common marmosets survived in this environment through a remarkable increase in their exploitation of tree gums (up to 98% of their feeding bouts) to compensate for the lack of food, in home ranges slightly larger than in the literature. Thus, they travelled and foraged less than expected and rested more since food was easily obtained.

scholarly journals Seed predation by rodents and safe sites for large-seeded trees in a fragment of the Brazilian Atlantic forest

2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 763-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
SRR. Pinto ◽  
AMM. Santos ◽  
M. Tabarelli
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Small Rodent ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Seed Predator ◽  
Safe Sites ◽  
Adult Trees

Seed predation by small rodents is an emerging theme in the ecology of modified landscapes. Here we investigate the role played by the small rodent Oryzomys oniscus as a seed predator of large-seeded trees in a large remnant of the Atlantic forest - the Coimbra forest (3,500 ha), Alagoas state, northeastern Brazil. O. oniscus was captured and identified by setting twenty 500 m long transects, each one composed of 25 traps 20 m apart. This procedure resulted in 483 trap-nights set during a 20-mo period. We used 692 seeds (>15 mm length) from ten local large-seeded tree species for the seed predation trials that basically consisted of three treatments: one seed on the ground freely accessed by vertebrates (unprotected seed), one seed totally protected by an exclosure, and one partially-protected seed (exclosure just for medium-sized and large vertebrates). O. oniscus was captured throughout the Coimbra forest including forest edges (76 captures) and interior areas (67), and this small rodent was responsible for all seed predation visually documented inside exclosures. A 24 hours period of seed exposition permitted elevated rates of seed removal and predation. Seeds were much more removed/predated beneath fruiting trees, but rates varied according to the level of seed protection - 26.3% of predation among partially-protected versus 19.2% among unprotected seeds. Seeds suffered higher levels of seed predation/removal at the forest edge as well (up to 90%). In both habitats, most seeds (>84%) remained intact beneath trees without fruits, regardless of the level of seed protection. Our results suggest that O. oniscus may operate as an effective large-seed predator in forest fragments, in which adult trees without fruits constitute low resource spots and thereby provide, at least temporarily, safe sites for large seeds.

scholarly journals Autoecology of Dryadosaura nordestina (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Atlantic forest fragments in Northeastern Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 418-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian A. Garda ◽  
Pedro H.S. de Medeiros ◽  
Marília B. Lion ◽  
Marcos R.M. de Brito ◽  
Gustavo H.C. Vieira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments

Drastic erosion in functional attributes of tree assemblages in Atlantic forest fragments of northeastern Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 249-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bráulio A. Santos ◽  
Carlos A. Peres ◽  
Marcondes A. Oliveira ◽  
Alexandre Grillo ◽  
Cecília P. Alves-Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Functional Attributes ◽  
Tree Assemblages

Topography as a determinant of bird distribution in secondary Atlantic Forest fragments

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Rômulo Ribon ◽  
Luane Reis dos Santos ◽  
Paulo De Marco ◽  
Miguel Ângelo Marini
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Occupancy Models ◽  
Occupancy Probability ◽  
Ecological Association ◽  
Forest Mountain

Abstract The spatial distribution of Neotropical birds at local scales is often associated with plant successional stages and unique microhabitats such as bamboo stands and treefall gaps. Only 15% of the Atlantic Forest remains, yet this habitat is home to more than 200 endemic birds. Understanding the distribution of bird species within the Atlantic Forest can improve the test of ecological hypotheses related to habitat use and habitat selection. This study analyses the distribution of birds among different types of relief (lowlands, ravines, hillsides, and hilltops) in 41 forest fragments of different sizes (1 to 384.5 ha) within the Atlantic Forest, south east Brazil. The presence and absence data were analysed with dynamic occupancy models to determine the influence of area and topography in the distribution of bird species. Of the 169 species detected, we were able to estimate an occupancy probability of 67. Among them, relief type was an important variable for 26 species (39%). Most species showed a preference for lowlands and ravines, and some showed an association of combinations of these two reliefs with hillsides and hilltops. These preferences might be related to distribution of preferred food, nesting microhabitats, and thermoregulation. For the endemic and threatened Atlantic Forest mountain birds, the ecological association with areas of relief is a strong, and previously unsuspected, spatial distribution pattern. Our results suggest that the ecology and distribution of birds in tropical forests across hilly regions could be better understood if topography is considered. This pattern should be better investigated among other taxa in tropical forests.

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