scholarly journals Influences of environmental variables on the natural regeneration in a forest under restoration after bauxite mining and a reference ecosystem in Southeastern Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly de Almeida Silva ◽  
Sebastião Venâncio Martins ◽  
Aurino Miranda Neto

The shrub-tree floristic compositions of the natural regeneration stratum of a bauxite mine in the process of restoration and in a reference ecosystem (remnant of a preserved secondary Seasonal Semi-Deciduous Forest) were analysed to evaluate forest restoration conditions five years after planting. The influences of canopy openness, accumulated leaf litter and soil attributes in the regeneration stratum were also investigated in both forests. The floristic composition of the regeneration stratum in the restoration forest and in the reference ecosystem are distinct, due to the difference in the environmental variables. Results showed that the reference ecosystem favours the presence of species that tolerate environments with greater shading and higher aluminium and organic matter content in the soil, while the forest under restoration favours the presence of species adapted to fertile soils and those that tolerate greater luminosity. The restoration actions implanted are making possible the return of native species in bauxite mined area.

1961 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-40
Author(s):  
J.J. Reynders

Analyses of limestone soils under shifting cultivation, involving the growing of sweet potatoes and laros (Colocasia escalenta) for 6-8 months and a natural regeneration period of 15-20 years followed by burning of the secondary forest, showed this system to be sound. The organic-matter content of the A1 horizon shows little variation during cultivation and regeneration, and the acidity of the top soil is directly related to exchangeable-Ca levels. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan S. Stark

The influence of heavy metals (copper, lead and zinc) associated with urban runoff, on assemblages of macrofauna in intertidal soft sediments was studied in two estuaries in the Sydney region. The patterns of distribution and abundance of fauna and assemblages was found to vary significantly at several spatial scales: within bays in an estuary, between bays within an estuary and between bays from different estuaries. Significant differences were found in concentrations of heavy metals in sediments, but there was very little difference among bays in other environmental variables: grain-size characteristics and organic matter content of sediments. Bays polluted by heavy metals had significantly different assemblages to unpolluted bays, were generally less diverse and were characterized by an order-of-magnitude greater abundance of capitellids, spionids, nereids and bivalves. Unpolluted bays had greater abundance of crustaceans and several polychaete families, including paraonids and nephtyids and were generally more diverse. There was a significant correlation between patterns of assemblages and concentrations of heavy metals, but not with other environmental variables.


2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 894-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Lammel ◽  
L. C. B. Azevedo ◽  
A. M. Paula ◽  
R. D. Armas ◽  
D. Baretta ◽  
...  

Abstract Brazil is the biggest coffee producer in the world and different plantation management systems have been applied to improve sustainability and soil quality. Little is known about the environmental effects of these different management systems, therefore, the goal of this study was to use soil biological parameters as indicators of changes. Soils from plantations in Southeastern Brazil with conventional (CC), organic (OC) and integrated management systems containing intercropping of Brachiaria decumbens (IB) or Arachis pintoi (IA) were sampled. Total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), microbial activity (C-CO2), metabolic quotient (qCO2), the enzymes dehydrogenase, urease, acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization and number of spores and soil fauna were evaluated. The greatest difference between the management systems was seen in soil organic matter content. The largest quantity of TOC was found in the OC, and the smallest was found in IA. TOC content influenced soil biological parameters. The use of all combined attributes was necessary to distinguish the four systems. Each management presented distinct faunal structure, and the data obtained with the trap method was more reliable than the TSBF (Tropical Soils) method. A canonic correlation analysis showed that Isopoda was correlated with TOC and the most abundant order with OC. Isoptera was the most abundant faunal order in IA and correlated with MBC. Overall, OC had higher values for most of the biological measurements and higher populations of Oligochaeta and Isopoda, corroborating with the concept that the OC is a more sustainable system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A.M. Barboza ◽  
Tatiana Cabrini ◽  
Gustavo Mattos ◽  
Viviane Skinner ◽  
Ricardo Cardoso

Log-spiral beaches display defined physical gradients alongshore. However, the majority of studies focus on the variability of a single population of macrofauna species. We aimed to investigate the variation in species distribution and in community structure along ten transects on a log-spiral beach. Principal component analysis indicated a clear physical gradient alongshore. Redundancy analysis showed that the sheltered end was related to smaller particle sizes, higher organic matter content and high densities of polychaetes. The exposed end was characterized by coarser sand, lower organic matter content and a high presence of crustaceans. Model selection indicated that the “best fit” to explain the variability in the number of individuals included grain size and beach slope. Variability of the polychaete Scolelepis squamata was best explained by grain size, slope and sediment sorting. The best model for the cirolanid Excirolana armata only included sediment sorting. The physical gradient in sediment texture and the beach slope explained more than one-third of the variability in community structure. The physical variables were also correlated with the distribution of the individual species. We showed that the physical gradient on log-spiral coasts may be an important driver of macrofauna variability, even at mesoscales and in dissipative conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Pereira Bernardes ◽  
Fernando Luis Mantelatto ◽  
Thiago Elias da Silva ◽  
Aline Nonato de Sousa ◽  
Camila Hipólito Bernardo ◽  
...  

Abstract: This study evaluated the relationships between environmental factors and the spatio-temporal distribution of H. pudibundus, with the hypothesis of differential occupation in coastal areas of southeastern Brazil. The samplings took place monthly in January-December 2000 period, along nine transects from 2 to 40 m of depth, in Ubatuba region, northern coast of São Paulo. We collected 1808 individuals of H. pudibundus. The highest abundance was recorded in winter in the transects 10-25 m deep. Abundance was positively correlated with organic matter content and texture sediment (phi values). With the retreat of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) in autumn and winter, the sediment swirls, suspending the detritivore and filter-feeding macrofauna, increasing the food availability. Sites characterized by finer sediment offer higher food availability, besides facilitating H. pudibundus burying behavior. Due to its opportunistic predatory behavior, this species feeds on a variety of organisms, including mollusks, annelids and foraminifera, which are preys more abundant in the studied area and in sediments of finer grain size.


2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 764-773
Author(s):  
E. R. Silva ◽  
G. S. Sancinetti ◽  
A. Fransozo ◽  
A. Azevedo ◽  
R. C. Costa

Abstract This study evaluated the abundance and spatial-temporal distribution of the shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in the coastal region of Macaé, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Monthly samples were obtained from March 2008 to February 2010 in six stations located in Inner (5, 10 and 15m depth) and Outer (25, 35 and 45m depth) areas. It was used a commercial fishery boat equipped with an otter-trawl net (3.5 m mouth width, mesh size 20mm and 15mm in the cod end). Water samples were taken for determination of temperature and salinity, and sediment samples for determination of texture and organic matter content. A total of 7146 shrimps were sampled. About 95% of all shrimps were caught in the shallow area, i.e., depths <20m. Greatest abundances were recorded in winter and spring. No significant correlation was observed between sediment (phi) and abundance. The distribution of X. kroyeri in the studied area was closely related to seasonal cold waterfront of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) and temperature was the main factor affecting the species abundance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
BFJV. Rosa ◽  
RT. Martins ◽  
RG. Alves

The oligochaetes are considered good indicators of ecological conditions and specific types of habitats. Among the factors that influence the distribution of these invertebrates are the water flow and the nature of the substrate. The aim of this study is to describe the composition and distribution of oligochaete species in a first-order stream in Atlantic Forest and try to identify if some species are associated with characteristics of particular types of habitats. In the dry season and in the rainy season, sand and litter samples in two riffle areas and two pool areas were collected in different parts along the stream using a hand net. The greatest observed richness and abundance occurred in sand in the pool, however the greatest estimated richness was obtained for litter in the pool. The Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed effect of the different types of habitat on the abundance and richness of oligochaetes. The Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and Multiresponse Permutation Procedure analysis (MRPP) indicated that the variation in the fauna composition had relation with different types of substrates. The indicator species analysis showed that Limnodrilus. hoffmeisteri was an indicator species in both the riffle sand and pool sand and Pristina americana was only an indicator in the pool sand. The high organic matter content in both sandy habitats probably favored the greater abundance of oligochaetes. The results showed that the substrate constitutes an important factor for the local distribution of these invertebrates in streams. The variation of the community structure among mesohabitats and the presence of indicator species of specific types of habitats in the stream demonstrate the importance of environmental heterogeneity for the oligochaetes fauna in forested streams.


2013 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 1345-1356 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHELE FURLAN ◽  
ANTONIO L. CASTILHO ◽  
LISSANDRA C. FERNANDES-GOES ◽  
VIVIAN FRANSOZO ◽  
GIOVANA BERTINI ◽  
...  

This study investigated the importance of variations in environmental factors affecting the abundance patterns of decapods on the southeastern Brazilian coast. Sampling was carried out monthly from January 1998 through December 1999 in Ubatumirim and Mar Virado, Ubatuba region, using a commercial shrimp fishing boat equipped with double-rig nets. Six areas adjacent to rocky shores were chosen. Bottom-water samples were collected using a Nansen bottle, to measure the temperature and salinity. Sediment samples were also obtained by means of a Van Veen grab, for determination of texture and organic-matter content. The association of environmental factors with species abundance was evaluated by Canonical Correspondence Analysis (α = 0.05). Forty-one species of Decapoda were used in the multivariate analysis. The analysis indicated that sediment texture (phi) and bottom temperature were the main factors correlated (p < 0.05) with the spatial and temporal abundance of the species. Considering the study region as faunal transition zone, including a mixture of species of both tropical and subantarctic origin, the species responded differently to environmental factors, mainly temperature. It is conceivable that the decapods adjust their distribution according to their intrinsic physiological limitations, possibly as a result of the available resources.


2017 ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Felipe García-Oliva ◽  
José Manuel Maass

The effects of conversion of tropical deciduous forest into pasture were examined on the Central Pacific Coast of Mexico. Under forested  conditions two situations of nutrient cycles were determined: 1] hilltop locations where biological processes of soil were dominant; and 2] midslope locations where topographic characteristics were the main factor. When the forest cover was cut and burned, grasses were introduced for continuous cattle grazing, which led to changes in physical and chemical soil properties. Each topographic position responded differently to the conversion. The hilltop locations had higher nutrient retention capacity, which related strongly to higher soil organic matter content. In contrast, the midslope locations had a low nutrient protection capacity. After 11 years of use as pasture, the hilltop locations lost 700 kg N ha-1, 2,500 kg Ca ha-1 and 500 kg P ha-1, similar to the midslope locations losses.


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