Giants of the Amazon: How does environmental variation drive the diversity patterns of large trees?

For more than three decades, major efforts in sampling and analyzing tree diversity in South America have focused almost exclusively on trees with stems of at least 10 and 2.5 cm diameter, showing highest species diversity in the wetter western and northern Amazon forests. By contrast, little attention has been paid to patterns and drivers of diversity in the largest canopy and emergent trees, which is surprising given these have dominant ecological functions. Here, we use a machine learning approach to quantify the importance of environmental factors and apply it to generate spatial predictions of the species diversity of all trees (dbh ≥ 10 cm) and for very large trees (dbh ≥ 70 cm) using data from 243 forest plots (108,450 trees and 2832 species) distributed across different forest types and biogeographic regions of the Brazilian Amazon. The diversity of large trees and of all trees was significantly associated with three environmental factors, but in contrasting ways across regions and forest types. Environmental variables associated with disturbances, for example, the lightning flash rate and wind speed, as well as the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation, tend to govern the diversity of large trees. Upland rainforests in the Guiana Shield and Roraima regions had a high diversity of large trees. By contrast, variables associated with resources tend to govern tree diversity in general. Places such as the province of Imeri and the northern portion of the province of Madeira stand out for their high diversity of species in general. Climatic and topographic stability and functional adaptation mechanisms promote ideal conditions for species diversity. Finally, we mapped general patterns of tree species diversity in the Brazilian Amazon, which differ substantially depending on size class.

Impact of biochar on nitrous oxide emissions from upland rice.

The objective of this research was to assess the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) from soil amended with biochar in the culture of upland rice. The experiment was conducted in the field in a Cerrado Haplic Plinthosol under randomized block experimental design. The treatments consisted of fertilization with 100 kg N ha(-1) split into two applications, 60% at sowing and 40% at 45 days after crop emergence, combined with four doses of biochar (0, 8, 16 and 32 Mg ha(-1)), with four replications. The application of N and the emission of N2O, moisture retention and soil temperature, respiration (C-CO2), microbial biomass carbon in the soil (C-SMB), total nitrogen (TN), pH and agronomic efficiency in N use (AENu) were evaluated five years after the application of biochar. There was a significant correlation of the application of biochar with moisture retention (r = 0.94**), N2O emission (r = 0.86**) and soil pH (r = 0.65*), and N2O emissions showed a positive correlation (p < 0.05) with soil moisture (r = 0.77**) and pH (r = 0.66*). Thus the highest N2O emissions were observed shortly after N fertilization and in the treatments with 32 Mg ha(-1) of biochar. Despite the higher N2O emissions from the application of 32 Mg ha(-1) of biochar, the emission factor was lower (0.81%) than the maximum recommended by the IPCC. The higher N2O emissions with application of biochar are offset by more efficient use of N and consequently the possibility of reduction of applied doses.

Fast demographic traits promote high diversification rates of Amazonian trees.

The Amazon rain forest sustains the world's highest tree diversity, but it remains unclear why some clades of trees are hyperdiverse, whereas others are not. Using dated phylogenies, estimates of current species richness and trait and demographic data from a large network of forest plots, we show that fast demographic traits--short turnover times--are associated with high diversification rates across 51 clades of canopy trees. This relationship is robust to assuming that diversification rates are either constant or decline over time, and occurs in a wide range of Neotropical tree lineages. This finding reveals the crucial role of intrinsic, ecological variation among clades for understanding the origin of the remarkable diversity of Amazonian trees and forests.

Tropical forest lianas have greater non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in the stem xylem than trees.

Lianas (woody vines) are important components of tropical forests and are known to compete with host trees for resources, decrease tree growth and increase tree mortality. Given the observed increases in liana abundance in some forests and their impacts on forest function, an integrated understanding of carbon dynamics of lianas and liana-infested host trees is critical for improved prediction of tropical forest responses to climate change. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are the main substrate for plant metabolism (e.g., growth, respiration), and have been implicated in enabling tree survival under environmental stress, but little is known of how they vary among life-forms or of how liana infestation impacts host tree NSC. We quantified stem total NSC (NSC) concentrations and its fractions (starch and soluble sugars) in trees without liana infestation, trees with more than 50% of the canopy covered by lianas, and the lianas infesting those trees. We hypothesized that i) liana infestation depletes NSC storage in host trees by reducing carbon assimilation due to competition for resources; ii) trees and lianas, which greatly differ in functional traits related to water transport and carbon uptake, would also have large differences in NSC storage, and that As water availability has a significant role in NSC dynamics of Amazonian tree species, we tested these hypotheses within a moist site in western Amazonia and a drier forest site in southern Amazonia. We did not find any difference in NSC, starch or soluble sugar concentrations between infested and non-infested trees, in either site. This result suggests that negative liana impact on trees may be mediated through mechanisms other than depletion of host tree NSC concentrations. We found lianas have higher stem NSC and starch than trees in both sites. The consistent differences in starch concentrations, a long term NSC reserve, between life forms across sites reflect differences in carbon gain and use of lianas and trees. Soluble sugar concentrations were higher in lianas than in trees in the moist site but indistinguishable between life forms in the dry site. The lack of difference in soluble sugars between trees and lianas in the dry site emphasize the importance of this NSC fraction for plant metabolism of plants occurring in water limited environments. Abstract in Portuguese and Spanish are available in the supplementary material.

A novel in situ passive heating method for evaluating whole-tree responses to daytime warming in remote environments.

BACKGROUND: Many significant ecosystems, including important non-forest woody ecosystems such as the Cerrado (Brazilian savannah), are under threat from climate change, yet our understanding of how increasing temperatures will impact native vegetation remains limited. Temperature manipulation experiments are important tools for investigating such impacts, but are often constrained by access to power supply and limited to low-stature species, juvenile individuals, or heating of target organs, perhaps not fully revealing how entire or mature individuals and ecosystems will react to higher temperatures. RESULTS: We present a novel, modified open top chamber design for in situ passive heating of whole individuals up to 2.5 m tall (but easily expandable) in remote field environments with strong solar irradiance. We built multiple whole-tree heating structures (WTHSs) in an area of Cerrado around native woody species Davilla elliptica and Erythroxylum suberosum to test the design and its effects on air temperature and humidity, while also studying the physiological responses of E. suberosum to short-term heating. The WTHSs raised internal air temperature by approximately 2.5 °C above ambient during the daytime. This increased to 3.4 °C between 09:00 and 17:00 local time when thermal impact was greatest, and during which time mean internal temperatures corresponded closely with maximum ambient temperatures. Heating was consistent over time and across WTHSs of variable size and shape, and they had minimal effect on humidity. E. suberosum showed no detectable response of photosynthesis or respiration to short-term experimental heating, but some indication of acclimation to natural temperature changes. CONCLUSIONS: Our WTHSs produced a consistent and reproducible level of daytime heating in line with mid-range climate predictions for the Cerrado biome by the end of the century. The whole-tree in situ passive heating design is flexible, low-cost, simple to build using commonly available materials, and minimises negative impacts associated with passive chambers. It could be employed to investigate the high temperature responses of many understudied species in a range of complex non-forest environments with sufficient solar irradiance, providing new and important insights into the possible impacts of our changing climate.

Functional susceptibility of tropical forests to climate change.

Tropical forests are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, yet their functioning is threatened by anthropogenic disturbances and climate change. Global actions to conserve tropical forests could be enhanced by having local knowledge on the forests' functional diversity and functional redundancy as proxies for their capacity to respond to global environmental change. Here we create estimates of plant functional diversity and redundancy across the tropics by combining a dataset of 16 morphological, chemical and photosynthetic plant traits sampled from 2,461 individual trees from 74 sites distributed across four continents together with local climate data for the past half century. Our findings suggest a strong link between climate and functional diversity and redundancy with the three trait groups responding similarly across the tropics and climate gradient. We show that drier tropical forests are overall less functionally diverse than wetter forests and that functional redundancy declines with increasing soil water and vapour pressure deficits. Areas with high functional diversity and high functional redundancy tend to better maintain ecosystem functioning, such as aboveground biomass, after extreme weather events. Our predictions suggest that the lower functional diversity and lower functional redundancy of drier tropical forests, in comparison with wetter forests, may leave them more at risk of shifting towards alternative states in face of further declines in water availability across tropical regions.

Pre-Columbian earth-builders settled along the entire southern rim of the Amazon.

The discovery of large geometrical earthworks in interfluvial settings of southern Amazonia has challenged the idea that Pre-Columbian populations were concentrated along the major floodplains. However, a spatial gap in the archaeological record of the Amazon has limited the assessment of the territorial extent of earth-builders. Here, we report the discovery of Pre-Columbian ditched enclosures in the Tapajós headwaters. The results show that an 1800 km stretch of southern Amazonia was occupied by earth-building cultures living in fortified villages ~Cal AD 1250-1500. We model earthwork distribution in this broad region using recorded sites, with environmental and terrain variables as predictors, estimating that earthworks will be found over ~400,000 km2 of southern Amazonia. We conclude that the interfluves and minor tributaries of southern Amazonia sustained high population densities, calling for a re-evaluation of the role of this region for Pre-Columbian cultural developments and environmental impact.

Man-made soil drainage alters the vegetation structure and woody species distribution in campo de murundus

Campos de murundus work as recharge zones and are important for the maintenance of water resources in Brazilian Cerrado. However, with the expansion of the agricultural frontier, this ecosystem may disappear or suffer high anthropogenic disturbances. The aim of the study was to evaluate the structure and distribution of woody species, after the implantation of artificial drainage channels in campo de murundus, in plots near and distant of the drains in the soil. We sampled woody individuals with ≥ 3 cm diameter at the base, and established 20 permanent plots of 20×50 m, 10 of which were between 0-20 m of the drains (edge) and 10 between 150-200 m distant from the drains (interior), totaling two hectares of survey. We recorded 47 species with total density of 230.5 ind.ha-1 and total basal area of 1.331 m2 ha-1. The diversity index of species was H’ = 3.18. We recorded higher density and basal area in the edge, and differential distribution and occupation of woody species in the microrelief of the murundus. This provides us strong evidence that the drains have altered the vegetation structure, especially in the edge of the remnant campos de murundus turning the vegetation woodier and denser.

Resilience of savanna forest after clear-cutting in the cerrado-amazon transition zone / Resiliência de cerradão após corte raso da vegetação na transição cerrado-amazônia

The dynamics of the natural process of recuperation of the structure and diversity of native vegetation following anthropogenic disturbance has been the subject of a great deal of controversy in restoration ecology research. The present study evaluates the natural regeneration of savanna forest (cerradão) 32 and 36 years after the clearcutting of the vegetation. We compared species diversity, and the structure and dynamics of the vegetation in two communities, one representing preserved cerradão (PC), and the other, the regenerating cerradão (RC), which was clearcut in 1976. Surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2012, 32 and 36 years after clear-cutting, respectively. In 2008, we demarcated 81 permanent 10 m x 10 m plots, 50 in the RC and 31 in the PC, and measured all live plants with a diameter at soil level > 5 cm. In 2012, the plots were resampled, including the original plants and all the recruits. The species were classified as specialists in savanna (SA) or forest habitat (FO), or as generalists (SA/FO). The RC presented the highest species richness and diversity, density, annual increment, and mortality rates. However, no significant differences were found between communities in the distribution of specialist or generalist species, or between years (2008 and 2012) in basal area or recruitment rates. While the species composition of the two communities is highly similar, the RC was characterized by a higher frequency of SA species, and was more similar to nearby savanna communities (cerrado sensu stricto). Trees in the RC were smaller and suffered higher rates of mortality than those in the PC, but also higher annual increments. While the RC demonstrated a high degree of resilience following clear-cutting, it was still found to be at an intermediate stage of succession, even after almost four decades, indicating that regeneration is a slow process.

A dinâmica de recuperação da diversidade e estrutura da vegetação nativa, a partir de processos naturais, após distúrbios antrópicos, tem sido objeto de controvérsias em estudos de ecologia da restauração. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a regeneração natural de cerradão em 32 e 36 anos, após corte raso da vegetação. Comparamos os parâmetros florísticos e estruturais e a dinâmica da vegetação (entre 2008 e 2012) de duas comunidades de cerradão, sendo uma de cerradão preservado (CP) e outra em regeneração desde 1976 (CR). Demarcamos em 2008, 81 parcelas permanentes (10 x 10 m), sendo 50 no CR e 31 no CP e medimos todas as plantas vivas com diâmetro a altura do solo > 5 cm. Em 2012, reamostramos todas as plantas e incluímos os recrutas. Classificamos as espécies como especialistas em habitats savânicos (SA), florestal (FO) ou generalistas em habitats savânicos e florestais (SA/FO). O CR apresentou maior riqueza e diversidade de espécies, densidade de indivíduos, incremento periódico anual e taxa de mortalidade. Porém, as duas áreas não apresentaram diferenças na distribuição das espécies entre os habitats (SA, FO, SA/FO) e área basal (em 2008 e 2012) e taxa de recrutamento (entre 2008 e 2012). Apesar do CR e CP apresentarem elevada similaridade florística, o CR apresentou maior frequência de indivíduos de espécies com habitat SA bem como maior similaridade com duas outras comunidades savânicas (cerrado sentido restrito) próximas. Ainda, o CR possui indivíduos com menores diâmetros e consequentemente maiores taxas de mortalidade e incremento periódico anual. Apesar da resiliência do cerradão em relação ao corte raso esse ainda se encontra em estágio intermediário de sucessão, mesmo quase quatro décadas após o distúrbio, indicando que a regeneração é um processo lento.

Dinâmica da comunidade lenhosa de uma floresta de galeria na transição Cerrado-Floresta Amazônica no Leste de Mato Grosso, em um período de sete anos (1999 a 2006) / Woody community dynamics of a gallery forest in the transition Cerrado-Amazon Forest in Eastern Mato Grosso, over a seven year period (1999 to 2006)

O estudo foi realizado na floresta de galeria do Córrego Bacaba (14º 43' 12,2" S e 52º 21' 36,7" W), na transição Cerrado-Floresta Amazônica em Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso. O objetivo foi avaliar e comparar a dinâmica da comunidade lenhosa de três porções da floresta localizadas em um gradiente topográfico (alto, meio e baixo) em um período de sete anos. O inventário consistiu de 141 parcelas permanentes de 10 × 10 m distribuídas nas três porções da floresta, onde foram medidos os indivíduos com CAP > 15 cm, em 1999 e 2006. Foram calculados os parâmetros de dinâmica e o incremento periódico anual (IPA), com base no número de indivíduos e na área basal. Nas três porções de floresta a mortalidade foi superior ao recrutamento. A porção do baixo foi a mais dinâmica, pois apresentou a maior taxa de mortalidade (6,84 por cento) e o maior recrutamento (4,73 por cento). A elevada dinâmica da floresta deve-se, provavelmente, ao estágio de sucessão intermediário no qual ela se encontra e às diferentes condições do ambiente conforme a topografia. Os valores do IPA de algumas espécies comuns às três porções de floresta permitiram confirmar que ocorrem diferenças no incremento de uma porção para outra, indicando que algumas espécies apresentam restrições e outras são beneficiadas para crescer em determinados ambientes. Por outro lado, algumas espécies apresentaram valores de IPA similares nas três porções da floresta, confirmando plasticidade às diferentes condições ambientais. As espécies estudadas apresentaram taxas distintas de recrutamento, mortalidade e incremento relacionadas aos grupos ecológicos e à localização topográfica. Sugere-se que o gradiente topográfico e a inundação sazonal contribuem para posicionar esta comunidade entre as florestas tropicais mais dinâmicas.

The study was carried out on the gallery forest of the Bacaba stream (14º 43' 12.2" S and 52º 21' 36.7" W), in the transition between Cerrado and Amazon Forest in Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate and compare the dynamics of the woody community at three sections of the forest (upper, middle and lower) in a topographic gradient over a seven year period. The inventory consisted of 141 permanent plots (10 × 10 m) distributed in the three sections where all individuals > 15 cm girth at breast height were recorded in 1999 and 2006. Based in density and basal area, the Periodic Annual Increment (PAI) and dynamics parameters were calculated. In all forest sections the mortality was higher than recruitment. The lower section was the most dynamic, because presented the higher mortality (6.84 percent) and recruitment (4.73 percent) rates. The community was dynamic, probably due to its current intermediary successional stage and the different environmental conditions depending on the topography. The PAI values of the species in common with all sections confirm differences in increment, indicating that some have restrictions and others benefit to grow in certain environments. On the other hand, some species had similar PAI values in the three forest sections, confirming a plasticity to adapt to different environmental conditions. The species presented different recruitment, mortality and increment rates, related to the ecological groups and topographic position. We suggest that the topographic gradient and seasonal flooding contribute to include this community among the most dynamic tropical forests.

Dinâmica da comunidade lenhosa de um Cerrado Típico na região Nordeste do Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil / Dynamics of the woody community of a typical cerrado in Northeastearn Mato Grosso, Brazil

O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar as mudanças na comunidade lenhosa em um período de quatro anos. Foram estabelecidas 50 parcelas permanentes de 10 × 10 m onde foram amostrados todos os indivíduos com diâmetro a 30 cm acima do solo (DAS 30 cm) > 5 cm em 2002 e em 2006. No inventário de janeiro de 2002, foram encontrados 945 indivíduos pertencentes a 77 espécies, 65 gêneros e 35 famílias ao passo que em janeiro de 2006 foram 1.106 indivíduos distribuídos em 80 espécies, 66 gêneros e 36 famílias. A diversidade de espécies e a estrutura diamétrica da comunidade não diferiram no período. As taxas de mortalidade (4,01 por cento ano-1) e de perda de área basal (0,68 por cento ano-1) foram compensadas pelas taxas de recrutamento (6,67 por cento ano-1) e de ganho de área basal (2,26 por cento ano-1), indicando a manutenção da comunidade como aparentemente estável. O incremento periódico anual (IPA) da comunidade foi de 0,31 cm ano-1, sendo superado pelo IPA de Euplassa inaequalis, Kielmeyera rubriflora e Byrsonima coccolobifolia (0,72, 0,49 e 0,47 cm ano-1, respectivamente), indicando o potencial de crescimento de tais espécies como importante para estratégias de recuperação de áreas degradadas. A ausência de fogo no período estudado pode ter sido o fator responsável pela dinâmica da vegetação do cerrado estudado, favorecendo o estabelecimento de algumas espécies lenhosas e proporcionando aumento em densidade e biomassa.

The objective of the study was to investigate changes in the woody plant community in a four-year period. It was established 50 permanent plots of 10 × 10 m and all individuals with diameter above ground 30 cm (DAG 30 cm) > 5 cm were sampled in 2002 and 2006. In the inventory of January 2002, were found 945 individuals belonging to 77 species, 65 genera and 35 families and in January 2006, were 1,106 individuals, 80 species, 66 genera and 36 families. Community species diversity and diameter structure did not change within the period. Mortality rates (4.01 percent year-1) and basal area losses (0.68 percent year-1) were offset by recruitment (6.67 percent year-1) and gain (2.26 percent year-1), indicating community maintenance as stable apparently. The periodic annual increment (PAI) of the community was 0.31 cm year-1, being overcome by the PAI of Euplassa inaequalis, Kielmeyera rubriflora and Byrsonima coccolobifolia (0.72, 0.49 and 0.47 cm year-1, respectively), indicating the growth potential of such species as important for recovery strategies on degraded areas. The absence of fire during the study period may have been the main factor behind the dynamics of the vegetation of the studied cerrado, favoring the establishment of some woody species and providing increase in density and biomass.

Estrutura e composição florística da vegetação lenhosa em cerrado rupestre na transição Cerrado-Floresta Amazônica, Mato Grosso, Brasil / Structure and floristic composition of woody vegetation in cerrado rupestre in the Cerrado-Amazonian Forest transition zone, Mato Grosso, Brazil

O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a composição florística e a estrutura da vegetação lenhosa (incluindo monocotiledôneas e lianas) em cerrado rupestre na zona de transição Cerrado-Floresta Amazônica, no Parque do Bacaba, em Nova Xavantina, MT (14º 41' S e 52º 20' W) e compará-las com outros estudos de cerrado sentido restrito. Foram demarcadas aleatoriamente 10 parcelas de 20 × 50 m, nas quais foram medidos os indivíduos vivos e mortos em pé com diâmetro mínimo a 30 cm do solo (DAS) > 3 cm. O cerrado rupestre apresentou alta densidade (3.766 indivíduos vivos), riqueza florística (85 espécies, 67 gêneros e 34 famílias) e área basal (15,72 m²ha-1), e ainda elevado valor do índice de diversidade de espécies de Shannon-Wiener (H' = 3,47) e equabilidade de Pielou (J = 0,78) em relação às áreas comparadas. As espécies com maior valor de importância foram Erythroxylum suberosum, Qualea parviflora, Anacardium occidentale, Kielmeyera rubriflora e Vatairea macrocarpa. A maior similaridade florística entre comunidades de cerrado típico e rupestre localizadas em áreas com menores altitudes do leste mato-grossense sugere que nessa região a proximidade geográfica e a altitude exercem influência sobre a composição de espécies, independentemente do substrato. A comunidade apresentou distribuição de alturas unimodal, predominando indivíduos de porte arbustivo com altura < 3 m e DAS < 5 cm. É sugerido aqui que estudos florísticos e fitossociológicos realizados em cerrado rupestre empreguem DAS mínimo de 3 cm e incluam espécies de monocotiledôneas e de lianas para representar de maneira mais realística a riqueza e composição de espécies e a estrutura da vegetação. A elevada riqueza e diversidade de espécies registrada no presente estudo podem estar relacionadas à posição pré-Amazônica deste cerrado rupestre, enfatizando a importância da manutenção do Parque do Bacaba no sentido de garantir a proteção de sua diversidade biológica.

This study aimed to analyze the floristic composition and the structure of a savanna on rocky soil ("cerrado rupestre") woody vegetation (including monocots and lianas) in the Cerrado-Amazon Forest transition zone located at Parque Municipal do Bacaba, Nova Xavantina, State of Mato Grosso (14º 41' S and 52º 20' W), and compare it with other cerrado stricto sensu studies. Ten 20 × 50 m plots were randomly established, within which all live and dead woody plants with at least 3 cm of trunk diameter at 30 cm above ground level (DSH30 > 3 cm) were measured. The cerrado rupestre showed high density (3,766 live individuals), richness (85 species, 67 genera and 34 families) and basal area (15.72 m²ha-1), as well as high levels of Shannon-Wiener species diversity (H' = 3.47) and evenness (J = 0.78) indices. The most important species were Erythroxylum suberosum, Qualea parviflora, Anacardium occidentale, Kielmeyera rubriflora and Vatairea macrocarpa. The greatest floristic similarity found between typical cerrado and "cerrado rupestre" communities from lower altitude areas of Northeastern Mato Grosso suggest that, in this region, altitude and geographical distance influence the species composition, regardless of the substrate. The community presented unimodality in the heights distribution and is mostly compounded by shrubby individuals with height < 3 m and DSH < 5 cm. We suggest that floristic and phytosociological studies conducted in "cerrado rupestre" should adopt DSH > 3 cm and include monocot and liana species, so as to more realistically represent the vegetation richness, species composition and structure. The high species richness and diversity registered in this study might be related to this "cerrado rupestre" pre-Amazonian location, which emphasizes the importance of "Parque do Bacaba" maintenance as a guarantee of its biological diversity protection.

Impactos do agrupamento do bambu Actinocladum verticillatum (Nees) McClure ex Soderstr. (POACEAE) sobre a vegetação lenhosa de duas fitofisionomias de Cerrado na transição Cerrado-Floresta Amazônica / Impact of Actinocladum verticillatum (Nees) McClure ex Soderstr. (POACEAE) clumps on the woody vegetation in two Cerrado physiognomies in transition Cerrado & Floresta Amazônica, east of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Este estudo analisou os efeitos do agrupamento de uma espécie de bambu nativa do Cerrado (Actinocladum verticillatum) sobre a composição florística, diversidade e estrutura da vegetação lenhosa de um cerradão e de um cerrado típico adjacentes no Parque Municipal do Bacaba, Nova Xavantina-MT. Foram instaladas 60 parcelas de 10x10 m, sendo 30 no cerradão e 30 no cerrado típico. Em cada fitofisionomia, foram instaladas 15 parcelas em um sítio sem bambu (SB) e 15 em um sítio com cobertura estimada de folhagem de bambu superior a 90% (CB). Foram amostrados todos os indivíduos arbustivo-arbóreos com diâmetro a 30 centímetros do solo (DAS) ≥ 3 cm. Foi avaliada a riqueza, a diversidade de espécies, a similaridade florística, a distribuição de diâmetros e alturas e o índice de valor de importância das espécies (VI). De forma geral, os sítios CB das duas fitofisionomias apresentaram menores valores quanto ao número de indivíduos, espécies, gêneros, famílias, densidades e áreas basais em relação aos sítios SB, com redução mais acentuada nestes parâmetros no cerrado típico em relação ao cerradão. Os resultados sugerem que a ocupação do espaço e a redução da incidência luminosa causada pelas touceiras do bambu dificultam a germinação das sementes e o estabelecimento das plântulas de espécies arbustivo-arbóreas, selecionando as espécies mais tolerantes ao sombreamento modificando a composição florística e a estrutura da vegetação.

This study evaluated the effects of a Cerrado native bamboo species (Actinocladum verticillatum) clumps on the floristic composition, diversity and structure of the woody vegetation in two adjacent areas of "cerradão" and typical "cerrado" in the Bacaba Municipal Park, Nova Xavantina, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Sixty plots of 10 x 10 m were established, 30 in each forest physiognomy. In each physiognomy, 15 plots were placed in a bamboo-free site (SB) and 15 in a site with an estimated bamboo leaf cover of over 90% (CB). All individuals (shrubs and trees) with a diameter at soil height (DSH = 30 cm aboveground) ≥ 3 cm were sampled. Species richness and diversity, floristic similarity, diameter and height distribution, and the species importance value index (IVI) were evaluated. In general, CB sites of both physiognomies had lower values of number of individuals, species, genera, families, density and basal area compared to SB sites, with marked decrease in these parameters in the cerrado in relation to cerradão. Results suggest that the space occupation and reduction of light incidence caused by bamboo clumping affect seed germination and seedling establishment of Cerrado shrubs and trees, selecting more shade-tolerant species and changing the floristic composition and vegetation structure.

Environmental determinants for natural regeneration of gallery forest at the Cerrado/Amazonia boundaries in Brazil / Determinantes ambientais para regeneração natural de mata de galeria na transição Cerrado/Amazônia no Brasil

Natural regeneration and structure and their relationship to environmental variables were studied in three sections of a gallery forest, in Eastern Mato Grosso, Brazil (14º43'S and 52º21'W). The assumption was that natural regeneration is constrained by environmental determinants at all stages of development of the tree community. The objective was to analyse the forest structure and to verify the relationship between species distribution and abundance at different stages of regeneration and environmental variables. In each section, 47 contiguous (10x10m) permanent plots were established to sample trees (gbh≥15cm), following a systematic design. Seedlings (0.01 to 1m height), saplings (1.01 to 2m) and poles (from 2.01m height to gbh<15cm) were sampled in sub-plots of 1x1m, 2x2m and 5x5m, respectively. In each plot, soil properties, gaps projection, bamboos, rocky cover, declivity and depth of ground watertable were determined. The relationships between the environmental variables with trees and seedling communities were assessed by canonical correspondence analysis. In spite of the sections being near to each other, they presented large differences in floristics, structure and site conditions. The forest soil presented a low cation exchange capacity and a high level of Al saturation. The occurrence of bamboos and gaps and the depth of ground watertable limited the occurrence of poles and trees. The high degree of structural heterogeneity for each regeneration category was related primarily to a humidity gradient; but soil fertility (Ca+Mg) was also a determinant of seedling and sapling communities.

Foi estudada a regeneração natural e a estrutura de três seções de uma floresta de galeria no leste de Mato Grosso, Brasil (14º43'S e 52º21'W). O objetivo foi analisar a estrutura da floresta e verificar a relação entre a distribuição e abundância das espécies nos diferentes estágios de regeneração e entre as variáveis ambientais. Em cada seção de floresta foram estabelecidas, sistematicamente, 47 parcelas (10x10m) contíguas e permanentes para amostrar as árvores (CAP≥15cm). As plântulas jovens (0,01 a 1m de altura), as plântulas maiores (1,01 a 2m) e as arvoretas (de 2,01m de altura a CAP≥15cm) foram amostradas em sub-parcelas de 1x1m, 2x2m e 5x5m, respectivamente. Para cada parcela foram determinadas as propriedades do solo, projeção das clareiras, cobertura de bambus, rochosidade, declividade e profundidade do lençol freático. A relação das variáveis ambientais com as árvores e comunidades de plântulas e arvoretas foi determinada a partir de uma análise de correspondência canônica. Apesar das seções de floresta serem próximas entre si, apresentaram diferenças importantes em relação à composição florística, estrutura e variáveis ambientais. Os solos apresentaram reduzida capacidade de troca catiônica e elevados níveis de saturação de alumínio. A ocorrência de bambus e clareiras e a profundidade do lençol freático limitam a ocorrência de arvoretas e árvores. A elevada heterogeneidade estrutural em cada categoria de regeneração esteve relacionada principalmente a um gradiente de umidade, mas a fertilidade do solo (Ca+Mg) também foi determinante nas diferentes comunidades de plântulas.