scholarly journals Life-forms, pollination and seed dispersal syndromes in plant communities on ironstone outcrops, SE Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Maria Jacobi ◽  
Flávio Fonseca do Carmo
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Pollination Syndrome ◽  
Rock Outcrops ◽  
Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Se Brazil ◽  
Seed Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Forest Islands

Rock outcrops play an important role in enhancing plant diversity in montane ecosystems. Ironstone outcrops (cangas) are among the lithotypes less known and most threatened in SE Brazil, due to mining activities. Besides species composition, a key feature to promote their conservation and restoration is the knowledge of the community prevalent life-forms, pollination and seed dispersal syndromes. The analyses were done based on published floristic surveys of cangas in SE Brazil. A total of 353 species of angiosperms (70 families) were assigned to one of the two predominant physiognomies (open areas and forest islands) on ironstone outcrops. Sixteen families responded for 70% of all species. Compared to Raunkiaer's spectrum, phanerophytes were over- and therophytes were under-represented. Phanerophytes were the predominant life-form in forest islands, while hemicryptophytes were outstanding in open areas. Entomophily was the dominant pollination syndrome in both habitats. Zoochory was dominant in forest islands and ranked last in open areas, where anemochory and autochory prevailed. Considering that both forest islands and open areas are subjected to the same climatic conditions, the results corroborate the influence of geoedaphic components in the three traits analysed.

Biogeography of seed-dispersal syndromes, life-forms and seed sizes among woody rain-forest plants in Australia's subtropics

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1736-1750 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Butler ◽  
R. J. Green ◽  
D. Lamb ◽  
W. J. F. McDonald ◽  
P. I. Forster
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Seed Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Forest Plants

Fruiting phenology and seed dispersal syndromes in caatinga, a tropical dry forest in the northeast of Brazil

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUCIANA MARIA SOBRAL GRIZ ◽  
ISABEL CRISTINA S. MACHADO
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Fruiting Phenology ◽  
Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Seed Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Ballistic Dispersal

This study describes the fruiting phenology of woody plants and their dispersal syndromes in caatinga (semi-arid region in the northeast of Brazil). The fruiting phenology of 42 species with different dispersal modes and life-forms was followed over a period of 1 y. Animal dispersal was the most commonly observed dispersal mode (36%), followed by anemochory (33%), ballistic dispersal (19%) and barochory (12%). Overall, a greater number of species fruited during the rainy season. Zoochorous species were the most representative in the rainy season, whereas anemochorous species predominated during the dry season. Five different life-forms were observed, and the occurrence of dispersal modes was discussed for each of them. In the caatinga plant community studied the patterns of life-forms, fruiting phenology and seed dispersal syndromes were similar to other tropical seasonal ecosystems.Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal descrever como se comportam as espécies de caatinga (região semi-árida do Nordeste brasileiro) com relação ao modo de dispersão durante as estações seca e chuvosa. Foram observados também os modos de dispersão apresentados em cada forma de vida. A fenofase de frutificação foi acompanhada em 10 indivíduos de 42 espécies durante um intervalo de um ano. A zoocoria representou o modo de dispersão mais observado (36%), seguido da anemocoria (33%), balística (19%) e barocoria (12%). Um maior número de espécies frutificou durante a estação de chuvas, sendo a zoocoria mais representativa nesta estação, enquanto que a anemocoria foi mais representativa na época de estiagem. Foram observadas várias formas de vida, discutindo-se o modo de dispersão em cada uma delas. Constatou-se que as espécies de caatinga estudadas encontram-se dentro dos padrões gerais de época de dispersão dos diásporos e representatividade das síndromes de dispersão observados em outros ecossistemas com sazonalidade.

scholarly journals A numerical analysis of Ephedra L. based on reproductive features

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Yang
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Old World ◽  
Geographic Ranges ◽  
Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Plant Taxon ◽  
Seed Dispersal Syndromes

A numerical analysis of Ephedra L. was conducted based on 29 characters of reproductive organs. The results indicate that species are not grouped according to their geographic ranges, sect. Alatae is in one group, sect. Asarca excluding E. cutleri and E. viridis consists of a Eu-asarca group while sect. Ephedra plus E. cutleri and E. viridis of the traditional sect. Asarca make up a third expanded Ephedra group. The Old World sect. Monospermae including E. rhytidosperma, E. equisetina, E. nebrodensis, E. monosperma and E. procera was rediscovered in this study while those Himalayan endemic species (e.g. E. minuta, E. likiangensis, E. saxatilis, E. dawuensis and E. gerardiana) used to be grouped in the Old World sect. Monospermae are clustered together with sect. Scandentes including E. foeminea, E. ciliata, E. altissima and E. fragilis. This study further confirms that the adaptive seed dispersal syndromes of sect. Asarca have originated for not only once. Some new features are introduced as related to dispersal, e.g. weight and size of seeds, and nature and thickness of the outer envelope.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v20i1.15464Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 20(1): 51-60, 2013 (June) 

scholarly journals Effects of Life-form and Plants Functional Traits on Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur Distributed in Different Parts in Dry Region of Western India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genda Singh ◽  
Bilas Singh
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Western India ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
N Content ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Leguminous Species ◽  
C And N

Abstract Background: Plants adapt to adverse environmental conditions accumulate varying concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) compounds to cope up with adverse climatic conditions. Carbon, N and S concentrations were determined in roots, stem and leaves of 33 species of trees/shrubs with objectives to observe the effects of life-form and plants functional traits, and select species with high concentration of these elements for their utilization in afforestation and medicinal uses. Results: Concentrations of C, N, and S and C: N and N: S ratio varied (P<0.05) between species, organs, life-forms and functional traits (legume vs non-legume). These variables were higher (except C in roots and stem) in trees than shrubs, and in leguminous than non-leguminous species. Non-leguminous species showed high S content and low N: S ratio. Antagonistic and synergistic relations were observed between C and N, and N and S concentration respectively. Species showed varying potential in assimilating carbon by regulating uptake and accumulation of these elements in different organs making them adapt to the habitats affected by drought and salinity. We observed strong plant size/life-form effects on C and N content and C: N and N: S ratios and of function on S content. Conclusions: Life-form/size and varying functions of the species determined C: nutrient ratio and elemental composition and helped adapting varying environmental stresses. This study assist in selecting species of high carbon, nitrogen and S content to utilize them in afforesting the areas affected by water and salt stresses, increased carbon storage and species with high S/N content in medicinal uses.

scholarly journals PATTERNS OF SEED DISPERSAL SYNDROMES AT DIFFERENT ALTITUDES IN THE SEMIARID REGION

FLORESTA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1751
Author(s):  
Wedson Batista dos Santos ◽  
Luiz Carlos Marangon ◽  
Fernando José Freire ◽  
Rafael Leite Braz ◽  
José Edson De Lima Torres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Sampling Area ◽  
Dispersal Patterns ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Seed Dispersal Syndromes ◽  
Altitude Level

The objective of this study was to assess the patterns of seed dispersal syndromes of woody plants from nine forest fragments distributed at different altitude levels on the Araripe plateau, in Pernambuco, Brazil. For data collection, we divided the altitudes within the region into three categories: lower level (altitudes ≤600 m); intermediate level (600< altitudes <750 m); and higher level (altitudes ≥750 m). We registered nine fragments, three per altitude level. In each of them, we distributed 20 rectangular sampling units with 250 m², totaling a sampling area of 4.5 ha. We quantified, collected, and identified woody plants with a diameter at breast height higher than or equal to 0.1 m (DBH 1.30 m ≥0.10 m). We characterized the dispersal syndrome according to the characteristics of the fruits and seeds and based on a literature review. In the whole region, we sampled 6,987 individuals, distributed in 35 families, 82 genera, and 153 species. Approximately 41% of all individuals are dispersed by animals, 37% by the plant’s own mechanisms, and 21% by the wind. In terms of dispersal, 47% of species were classified as zoochorous, 23% as autochorous, and 14% as anemochorous. Seed dispersal patterns vary according to altitude levels, with higher regions tending to present greater representativeness of biotic dispersers and lower ones, abiotic.

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