scholarly journals Floristic structure and composition of Guadua forests in the Colombian coffee region1

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Ramírez-Díaz ◽  
Juan Carlos Camargo-García

ABSTRACT In the coffee region (900-2,000 m a.s.l.) of the Colombian Andes, the forest remnants correspond mainly to fragments dominated by the bamboo species Guadua angustifolia Kunth (Guadua). These highly fragmented forests are found in landscapes with a high degree of transformation due to the agricultural activity and urban expansion. With the purpose of contributing to the knowledge of the ecological characteristics of these forests, the floristic structure and composition (alpha, beta and gamma diversity) of seven forest fragments located in the middle (Quindío) and lower basins of the La Vieja river (Risaralda) were studied. A total of 70,961 individuals and 172 species belonging to 54 families were found. Fifty percent of the families were represented by only one species, and the families Araceae and Leguminosae showed the highest taxonomic richness, respectively with 21 and 14 species. The diversity indices for these forests revealed values comparable to those of tropical forest ecosystems (Shannon-Weiner values between 3,167 and 3,798). Likewise, the cluster analysis (based on Euclidean distances) showed that the stands present a similarity below 0.65 (65 %), associated with the 35 species reported, in seven fragments that characterize a varied floristic composition. This finding implies that these fragments should not be seen as isolated units, but as sites embedded in a diverse regional landscape. This represents important habitats for these species, which are capable of maintaining significant levels of diversity, even under management conditions.

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin dos Santos ◽  
Luiza Sumiko Kinoshita ◽  
Andréia Alves Rezende

In this study we evaluated floristic composition patterns of communities of climbers within ten inventories carried out in semideciduous forest fragments of southeastern Brazil. One of the inventories is original, being carried out for the present study in Ribeirão Cachoeira forest, Campinas, São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil. This inventory was then pooled together to other nine climbers' inventories made in other forests of Southeastern Brazil to form a data base, which was examined regarding species richness, similarity, species distribution and climbing methods. The total number of species obtained was 355, belonging to 145 genera and 43 families. The ten most diverse families Bignoniaceae (45 species), Fabaceae (42), Malpighiaceae (36), Asteraceae (31), Apocynaceae (29), Sapindaceae (28), Convolvulaceae (21), Cucurbitaceae (14), Passifloraceae (10), and Euphorbiaceae (8) contributed to 74.4% of the total number of species recorded. The commonest climbing method in the studied sites was main stem or branch twining, accounting for 178 species or 50.1% of the total, the second commonest was tendril climbing (121 species, 34.1%), and the least, scrambling (56 species, 15.8%). We found a high percentage of exclusive species i.e., those occurring in only one forest site, which accounted for 49.3% of the total recorded. The mean similarity among forest sites (30%) may be considered low. The climbing species contribution to the total wood plant richness recorded on the forests sites was very high in some of the sites (up to 52.5%). These results indicated the importance of climber communities to plant diversity for semideciduous forests in Southeastern Brazil, enhancing the regional diversity and the conservation value of these forest remnants.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Zambrano ◽  
Rosamond Coates ◽  
Henry F. Howe

Abstract:Contemporary defaunation of fragmented forests potentially alters patterns of seed predation and dispersal. Alternatively, the remaining fauna may compensate for missing animals, resulting in equivalent rates of seed dispersal and predation. In the Los Tuxtlas region of southern Mexico, populations of large terrestrial fruit-eating mammals are diminished or absent from many forest remnants. This study reports fruit removal and seed predation patterns of Poulsenia armata (Moraceae), in forest fragments and a continuous forest (LTBS). Contrary to expectation, we found no differences in seed predation (mean ± SD) between LTBS (7.2 ± 1.8 seeds per station) and forest fragments (5.6 ± 1.1). However more fruits were removed in the LTBS (11.4 ± 0.9 fruits per station) than in forest fragments (8.1 ± 0.8). Animal activity, recorded by camera traps, differed between animal guild with fewer seed dispersers in forest fragments (mean = 0.43 ± 0.02 photos wk−1) than in the LTBS (mean = 0.68 ± 0.05). Fruits and seeds attracted many species of mammal (n = 12) in both habitats, indicating substantial redundancy. Remnant forest patches in the Los Tuxtlas landscape retain great ecological value, both as refuges for mammals and habitats for trees, such as P. armata.


1986 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Lorence ◽  
Robert W. Sussman

ABSTRACTTwo stands of mature evergreen wet forest in Mauritius (Mascarene Islands) were sampled for floristic composition to assess the extent of invasion by weedy exotic phanerogams (Brise Fer, 550 m alt.; Bon Courage, 200–260 m alt.). All individuals ≥ 2.5 cm dbh were recor ded in 50×2 m transects totalling 0.1 ha at each site, and 2×2 m seedling plots totalling 40 m were also sampled at each site. Both forests showed a high degree of invasion. Although exotics constituted only 5% of woody species ≥ 2.5 cm dbh at Brise Fer and 14.5% at Bon Courage, they comprised 34.8% and 20.8% of the individuals, respectively. Seedling plots at both sites were dominated by exotics, which comprised 20.6% of the species and 97.4% of the individuals at Brise Fer, and 22.2% of the species and 73.9% of the individuals at Bon Courage. Comparisons are made with Macabé forest, sampled nearly 50 years ago. These data suggest that unless steps are taken to check the spread of exotics, floristic composition at these sites will shift towards total invasion and degradation as has occurred elsewhere on Mauritius.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Marques de Paiva

<p>The Atlantic Forest presents great biological complexity and high richness and endemism levels, but it is one of the most threatened phytogeographic domain on the planet. Brazil is one of the Rubiaceae diversity centers in the Neotropics. The relevance and representativeness of the Rubiaceae family in the Atlantic Forest is highlighted in floristic composition studies and tropical forest community structures. However, despite the urban expansion in the state of Rio de Janeiro, we still find large areas of continuous vegetation with high connectivity degree. Recently, Rubiaceae flora and floristic surveys were conducted in <em>Restinga</em> and forest areas of Rio de Janeiro state protected by Conservation Units. New Rubiaceae species also have been described in the fluminense flora and they showed localized distributions and small populations. The current paper analyzes the floristic composition of the Rubiaceae in eight Atlantic Forest remnants in the State of Rio de Janeiro - Área de Proteção Ambiental de Grumari, Área de Proteção Ambiental Palmares, Parque Estadual da Serra da Tiririca, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Parque Nacional de Jurubatiba, Reserva Biológica de Poço das Antas, Reserva Biológica do Tinguá e Reserva Ecológica de Macaé de Cima - using the PAST software ("<em>Paleontological Statistics</em>") with Sørensen coefficient. Low similarity levels were found due to the habitats’ heterogeneity. <em>Restinga</em> and forest remnants formed distinct groups. The dendrogram showed the formation of three groups, but only Área de Proteção Ambiental de Grumari and Parque Nacional de Jurubatiba (<em>Restinga</em> areas) showed strong bootstrap support (98%). The current study pointed out 19 micro endemic species from the Atlantic Forest, thus conservation strategies were herein discussed. Discrepancies between the Catalogue of Flora of Rio de Janeiro and the Red Book of Brazilian Flora (two of the main reference catalogs of Brazilian flora) have been identified. We also highlight the need for recollecting microendemic species from the Atlantic Forest. We have suggested developing the Red Book of Endangered Species Plant of the State of Rio de Janeiro and launching research projects based on the phylogeographic approach and on conservation biology to faster broadcast information about species that face restricted distribution in the Atlantic Forest.</p>


Rodriguésia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Brilhante de Medeiros ◽  
Bruno Machado Teles Walter ◽  
Washington Luis Oliveira

This work describes the woody layer composition and structure in two seasonal forest fragments in the Tocantins river basin and compares them to other remnants of this forest physiognomy in Brazil. The survey was carried out by using 17 plot samples (20 × 50 m) located in Palmeirópolis, state of Tocantins, and in Minaçú, state of Goiás. All woody individuals showing diameters > 5 cm, at 1.30 cm above ground level, were recorded. The higher floristic similarity of these forest remnants compared with other closer seasonal forests did not show a distinct pattern. The floristic composition was more similar to that of a deciduous seasonal forest in the Paranã valley, and more dissimilar to other forests in this same valley. This result and a higher dissimilarity related to the southern forests in Goiás suggest that the forest fragments showed a floristic composition and structure typical of lowland seasonal forests in the Tocantins river basin. The results also indicated that the forest fragments have distinct floristic compositions with a relatively similar structure and diversity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Bianca Fernandes ◽  
Ligia Batista

In recent years, anthropogenic actions have intensified forest fragmentation, causing several damages to the landscape’s natural components, propagating the loss of biodiversity. This study aims to present an analysis of the forest fragments in a conservation unit located at southern of Brazil. The evaluation was carried out for the years 1998, 2008, and 2018, by using landscape metrics and classification of remote sensing imagery of the Landsat satellite. The following metrics were analyzed: area and edge, shape, core area, and aggregation. The results indicated an increase of 16.88% in the total area of vegetation, and the percentage of fragments increased from 16.16% to 18.89%. The number of fragments decreased, resulting in an increase of the mean area in 5.4 ha. The percentage of vegetation under border effect changed from 40.2% to 37.1%. In 1998, the average nearest neighbor distance was 155.4 m, and in 2018, 149.7 m. However, this distance is still classified as a high degree of isolation, which hinders the movement of organisms and the dispersion of species. Thus, all the analyzed metrics indicated a decrease in the fragmentation, except for the edge density metric, in which its increase of 1.86 pointed to a lower degree of conservation during the analyzed period. A study of this nature is important as it provides subsidies for future researches and can contribute to action strategies to be adopted in the management plan of the area.


Koedoe ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C.M. Smit ◽  
G.J. Bredenkamp ◽  
N. Van Rooyen ◽  
A.E. Van Wyk ◽  
J.M. Combrinck

A vegetation survey of the Witbank Nature Reserve, comprising 847 hectares, was conducted. Phytosociological data were used to identify plant communities, as well as to determine alpha and beta diversities. Eleven plant communities were recognised, two of these are subdivided into sub- communities, resulting in 14 vegetation units. These communities represent four main vegetation types, namely grassland, woodland, wetland and disturbed vegetation. Grassland communities have the highest plant diversity and wetland vegetation the lowest. Floristic composition indicates that the vegetation of the Rocky Highveld Grassland has affinities to the grassland and savanna biomes and also to the Afromontane vegetation of the Great Escarpment. An ordination scatter diagram shows the distribution of the 14 plant communities or sub-communities along a soil moisture gradient, as well as along a soil depth/surface rock gradient. The sequence of communities along the soil moisture gradient is used for calculating beta-diversity indices. It is concluded that the relatively small size of the Witbank Nature Reserve is unlikely to have significant negative effects on the phytodiversity of the various plant communities. This nature reserve is therefore of considerable importance in conserving a representative sample of the Rocky Highveld Grassland.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Macielle Macedo Coelho ◽  
André Márcio Amorim

The aim of this study is to survey the angiosperms of two montane forest remnants in the southern Bahia, Brazil: Corcovado (SCO) and Pedra Lascada (SPL). Both fragments are located in the municipality of Almadina and Barro Preto, respectively, and are 18 km distant from each other. We sampled 899 species of angiosperms distributed in 437 genera and 116 families. The SCO was the richest area with 678 species, distributed in 367 genera and 100 families. SPL showed 466 species in 269 genera and 88 families. The percentage of species identified was 85.8% and of this total, 37.7% are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, 11.2% are endemic to southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo and 7% are disjunct between the Atlantic Forest and Amazon. The remaining percentages (44.3%) were of species widely distributed. The richest families in the two areas were Orchidaceae (10%), Rubiaceae (7%), Bromeliaceae (5.5%), Melastomataceae (4.2%) and Poaceae (4%). The richest genera were Psychotria (2%),Piper (1.8%), Ocotea (1.6%),Vriesea (1.5%) and Peperomia (1.4%). More than half of the recorded species showed non-arboreal habit, regarding life forms documented. That comes against the assertion that many authors in the tropical forests, where species richness in angiosperms is expected for non-woody species, especially in montane forests. Twelve species have been identified as new, but seven others already described from collections previously obtained in these two areas. Orchidaceae, Rubiaceae, Poaceae and Bromeliaceae showed significant richness in this study these families are commonly reported as the richest in other inventories in the Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia reinforcing their importance to the regional flora. The high levels of richness, endemism, and the growing numbers of new taxonomic discoveries from the SPL and SCO sites indicate the biological importance of these two forest remnants. The implementation of parks or other protected environmental reserves would be essential to the conservation of its species.


2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 763-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrisoula Pirini ◽  
Vasiliki Karagiannakidou ◽  
Savvas Charitonidis

The role of aquatic vegetation in wetland ecosystems is closely related with their abundance, diversity and distribution, which in turn represents synergy of various environmental factors. The floristic composition of the aquatic vegetation in two neighboring lakes (Vegoritida and Petron) in north-central Greece was investigated by means of 160 relev?s, which were recorded using the Braun-Blanquet method. The analysis of relev?s based on TWINSPAN clustering showed the existence of 10 plant communities from the Lemnetea, Potametea, Phragmito-Magnocaricetea and Juncetea maritimi classes. The most important environmental factors for the vegetation differentiation in the study area, according to the ordination diagram, are light intensity and water depth of the habitats. The plant species diversity was quantified with species richness, Shannon Diversity and evenness indices at a scale of each relev?, with a sampling size of 20 m2. There was a clear differentiation between the relev?s at the more eutrophic Petron Lake and those at Vegoritida Lake. The mean plot diversity was also calculated for each plant community, to enable comparison of the diversity indices among the communities at the plot level.


Author(s):  
Stephany Diolino Cunha ◽  
Bruna Sampaio Crivilin ◽  
Matheus da Silva Araújo ◽  
Luís Antônio Coimbra Borges

Forest fragmentation is defined as the process by which a continuous area of habitat is reduced in size and divided between spaces. Therefore, due to the increase in these areas, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review of the literature on forest fragments in the Atlantic Forest biome in order to verify their main characteristics and landscape ecology. Publications in search platforms referring to the period from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed such as: SciELO, Google academic and CAPES journals portal. The search terms entered were: “Studies of forest fragments in the Atlantic Forest biome” and “Landscape ecology in forest fragments”. A total of 15 articles were selected from among the works found, and 5 of these were chosen to be evaluated in the present study. Four of the five works were carried out in the state of Espírito Santo, close to basins and sub-basins, and only one work was carried out in a state park. Thus, the evaluated works with the theme, study of fragmentation and ecology of the landscape showed a high degree of fragmentation, meaning that they have fragments smaller than 5 hectares; in addition, all fragments have an irregular edge effect. Therefore, measures aimed at the conservation of biodiversity are needed in all places so that there is ecological restoration of the landscape and conservation of fauna and flora in the Atlantic Forest biome. 


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