Unveiling neotropical serpentine flora: a list of Brazilian tree species in an iron saturated environment in Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais

Serpentine soils are those holding at least of 70% iron-magnesium compounds, which make life intolerable for many species. Although plant's adaptation to environmental toughness is widely studied in tropics, virtually nothing is known about Brazilian serpentine flora. Our aim was to bring up and characterize the serpentine flora in Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. We performed expeditions utilizing rapid survey sampling method to identify the arboreal compound in the area. Plants within circumference at breast high (CBH) up to 15,7 cm were included in our study. A specialist identified all the individuals to species level. We found 246 species located in 59 botanical families. Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae were the most representative families in the area. Serpentine areas usually present a few species capable to survive to adverse conditions, contrasting the high number found in our study. To our knowledge, this is the first floristic survey in serpentine areas in the neotropics, reinforcing the need for more studies about plant diversity in those areas. It seems that serpentinites is not the key factor influencing plant diversity in the neotropics. The high diversity found in our study strengthens serpentine areas as a place for conservation concern.

Óxidos de ferro e área superficial de Latossolo subtropical sob campo e floresta nativa / Iron oxides and specific surface area of the subtropical Oxisol under native pasture and forest

As condições climáticas atuais indicam avanço da vegetação de floresta sobre os campos na região dos Campos de Cima da Serra no Rio Grande do Sul. Essa mudança na vegetação altera o conteúdo de matéria orgânica e a umidade do solo. Este estudo objetivou avaliar os óxidos de ferro pedogênicos em um Latossolo sob campo e floresta nativa e relacionar os mesmos com os teores de carbono orgânico e a área superficial específica do solo. Os teores de carbono orgânico são maiores no solo sob floresta e, possivelmente, influenciaram processos dissolutivos de óxidos de ferro cristalinos e a neoformação de tipos metaestáveis de baixa cristalinidade. O incremento de C orgânico no solo sob floresta elevou expressivamente a área superficial específica do solo, mascarando o efeito geralmente positivo dos óxidos de Fe sobre essa característica física.(AU)

The current weather conditions indicate a substitution of grassland by forest vegetation in the Campos de Cima da Serra in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This change in vegetation changes the contents of soil organic matter and soil moisture. This study aimed to evaluate the pedogenetic iron oxides in an Oxisol under native forest and grassland and its relationship with soil total organic carbon content and soil specific surface area. Replacing grassland with native forest resulted in an accumulation of soil organic carbon and possibly influenced dissolutive processes of crystalline iron oxides types and neoformation of metastable types of low crystallinity. In native forest soil, the increase of total organic carbon increased the soil specific surface area, masking the positive effect of iron oxides on this physical characteristic.(AU)

The uptake of different iron salts by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeasts can be enriched with microelements, including iron; however, special physicochemical conditions are required to formulate a culture media that promotes both yeast growth and iron uptake. Different iron sources do not affect biomass formation; however, considering efficacy, cost, stability, and compatibility with Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolism, ferrous sulphate is recommended.