Functional recovery of secondary tropical forests

One-third of all Neotropical forests are secondary forests that regrow naturally after agricultural use through secondary succession. We need to understand better how and why succession varies across environmental gradients and broad geographic scales. Here, we analyze functional recovery using community data on seven plant characteristics (traits) of 1,016 forest plots from 30 chronosequence sites across the Neotropics. By analyzing communities in terms of their traits, we enhance understanding of the mechanisms of succession, assess ecosystem recovery, and use these insights to propose successful forest restoration strategies. Wet and dry forests diverged markedly for several traits that increase growth rate in wet forests but come at the expense of reduced drought tolerance, delay, or avoidance, which is important in seasonally dry forests. Dry and wet forests showed different successional pathways for several traits. In dry forests, species turnover is driven by drought tolerance traits that are important early in succession and in wet forests by shade tolerance traits that are important later in succession. In both forests, deciduous and compound-leaved trees decreased with forest age, probably because microclimatic conditions became less hot and dry. Our results suggest that climatic water availability drives functional recovery by influencing the start and trajectory of succession, resulting in a convergence of community trait values with forest age when vegetation cover builds up. Within plots, the range in functional trait values increased with age. Based on the observed successional trait changes, we indicate the consequences for carbon and nutrient cycling and propose an ecologically sound strategy to improve forest restoration success.

Malvaceae neotropicae novae vel minus cognitae X. New species of Quararibea from Colombia and Ecuador

In this advance of the taxonomic revision that is being carried out in the genus Quararibea (Malvaceae) for the north of South America, three new species are described in this contribution, which are compared morphologically with the species considered related in each case. A first, Q. cornejoi, known from the wet forests of western Ecuador that we associate with Q. grandifolia and Q. casasecae, taxa also distributed in the Pacific corridor of Ecuador and Colombia. A second species, Q. latilimbata, from the sub-Andean forests of the Central Cordillera of the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, related to the previous species and to the Amazonian species Q. duckei. All of them with an unusual trait in the genus, an androecium with the long staminal branches. Finally, Q.villanuevae, from the dry forests of the upper Magdalena Valley in the Department of Tolima, Colombia, associated with the Andean species Q. foenigraeca and Q. caldasiana. These last three species, which have androecium with smaller staminal branches, are assigned to a different morphological group. Illustrations and detailed photographs of the new species are included as well as keys to the identification of the treated species.

Historic Parting of the Wild from the Civilized in Pakistan

This chapter explores a dualistic system of environmental relations, one so ancient that it has evolved over time. The modern Hindi and Urdu term jangal means “dense forest,” but the ancient Sanskrit term from which it derives, jangala, referred to the arid, open savanna landscape of western India, which was culturally differentiated from the anupa wet forests of eastern India. There are other differences beyond the vegetative: whereas the jangala encompassed both wild and domestic space, the jangal is strictly the home of the wild; whereas the ancient jangala encompassed all that was civilized, the modern jangal excludes all that is civilized. The jangala encompassed both nature and culture, but the modern jangal is strictly the abode of nature. The encompassing of both wild and domestic within the ancient jangala supports the work of scholars like William Cronon, who see the Western dichotomy between society and wilderness as a product of modernity. Our concepts of nature are neither fixed nor independent of nature: nature and concepts of nature co-evolve — which speaks to Gregory Bateson's views of the inescapable relationship between nature and culture.

VASCULAR EPIPHYTES: THE UGLY DUCKLING OF PHENOLOGICAL STUDIES

The phenology of vascular epiphytes, which represent account for about 10 % of the world’s flowering plants and perform important ecological functions, has been just partially explored. Since phenology is a key tool for the management and conservation of species, the objective of this review was to synthesize the information published so far about the phenology of vascular epiphytes, detect gaps of knowledge, and suggest future lines of investigation to understand the underlying mechanisms. We conducted an online search for articles in Google Scholar and in the ISI Web of Science database from 1800 to 2020, with different combinations of keywords. 107 studies addressing the phenology of different holo-epiphyte species were found; 88 % of the studies were performed in the Neotropic, especially in tropical and subtropical wet forests. The phenology of only ca.2% (418 spp.) of all reported epiphyte species has been explored. There is a bias toward the study of the flowering and fruiting phenology in members of the Orchidaceae (192 spp.) and Bromeliaceae (124 spp.) families. In general, the vegetative and reproductive phenology of epiphytes tends to be seasonal; however, there is a huge gap in our understanding of the proximate and ultimate factors involved. Future research should explicitly focus on studying those factors.

Two new species of Monteverdia (Celastraceae) from Ecuador

This contribution describes two new species of Monteverdia restricted to western Ecuador. Monteverdia multicostata Cornejo & Biral, from wet forests of Esmeraldas and Manabí provinces, is easily distinguished from all other known Monteverdia species by having the largest fruits in the genus (to 3.5 cm long) and by its unusual multi-ridged seeds. Monteverdia zakii Biral & Cornejo, from the Montane Andean forests of Pichincha, is characterized by the unique combination of: lenticellate twigs, coriaceous leaves with inconspicuous secondary veins and a large fruit with a truncate base. This set of characters distinguishes it from the related M. macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Biral.

HERPETOFAUNA PADA HABITAT HUTAN BATU GAMPING DI MANOKWARI, PAPUA BARAT; SPESIES, KERAGAMAN, KEKAYAAN DAN POPULASI

The research was conducted in the Maruni limestone forest habitat. The observation plots were carried out at an altitude of 35 masl to> 212 masl. Observations were made 2 times every day (day and night). The method of calculating diversity is done using the Shannon-Wieners Index and the species population is calculated using the Alikodra formula. 11 species were found that belong to the Varanidae, Boidae, Gekkonidae, Ranidae, and Hylidae families. The diversity of wildlife in the Maruni limestone location follows the altitude of the habitat. Reptiles do not differ according to height. The most common types are in the class of lizards, monitor lizards, and frogs. The types of herpetofauna that can be found are carnivores and are not protected. This type of monitor lizard can be found in abundance in low areas to an altitude of> 200 meters above sea level. Meanwhile, monitor lizards can be found in wet forests and near water sources. Similar to lizards, frogs inhabit wet or watery areas. The diversity of wildlife species in limestone habitats in each class of Reptiles is 18%. The population of herpetofauna species found varied between 25-1200 individuals.

An amazing new Capsicum (Solanaceae) species from the Andean-Amazonian Piedmont

Capsicum regale Barboza & Bohs, sp. nov., a new species from the tropical wet forests of the eastern Andean slopes (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru) is described and illustrated. This new species belongs to the Andean clade (all species 2n = 26) of Capsicum and is similar to C. longifolium Barboza & S.Leiva in its glabrescence, calyx morphology, and corolla and seed color but differs in its membranous and elliptic leaves, fleshy calyces, deeper stellate corollas, longer filaments, longer and purple fruiting pedicels, purple berries, and larger seeds. Its chromosome number was counted (2n = 26), a preliminary assessment of conservation status is given and discussed, and an updated identification key to the species of the Andean clade is provided.

Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil from Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. from Guatemala

Background:Pimenta dioica is a native tree of Central America, Southern Mexico, and the Caribbean used in traditional medicine. It grows in wet forests in the Guatemalan departments of Petén and Izabal. Since the plant is not being economically exploited in Guatemala, this study was aimed at determining the composition of the essential oil of P. dioica leaves and fruits and the antibacterial activity of the leaves in order to evaluate its possible use in health products. The essential oils of fruits and leaves are used as rubefacient, anti-inflammatory, carminative, antioxidant, and antiflatulent in different countries. Methods: Fruits and leaves of P. dioica from Izabal Department were collected in April 2014 and extracted by hydrodistillation method. The oils were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: Yields of 1.02 ± 0.11% for dried leaves and 1.51 ± 0.26% for fruits were obtained. Eugenol was the main component (65.9–71.4%). The leaf oil showed growth inhibition against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions: The authors consider that the tree’s leaves can be evaluated as a source of ingredients for antiseptic products, and that it is important to evaluate other types of properties such as anti-inflammatory activity.