The woody vegetation is an important plant community constituent of tropical inselbergs,yet it remains largely overlooked.These environments of high socio-cultural and ecological value face pressures in many places,ma...The woody vegetation is an important plant community constituent of tropical inselbergs,yet it remains largely overlooked.These environments of high socio-cultural and ecological value face pressures in many places,mainly related to mining exploitation and fires.This study provides the first systematic overview of inselberg woody vegetation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.We used four inselbergs as models to characterize the composition and structure of the woody vegetation.In addition,the biomass and carbon storage were estimated using the general equations for tropical regions and carbon concentration values.Ten transects(50 m×2 m)were systematically installed on each inselberg,and all woody plants with a diameter at breast height≥5 cm were measured,registered,and identified.A total of 312 individuals belonging to 26 species,23 genera,and 14 families were found.The Fabaceae family and the genus Eugenia(Myrtaceae)exhibited a higher richness.The woody community's diameters ranged from 5.0 to 116.9 cm(with a mean of 23.9 cm),and heights ranged from 1.7 to 16.0 m(with a mean of 6.2 m).All specialist lithophyte woody species found on inselbergs are wind-dispersed.Among the endemic species of the Atlantic Forest,four were endemic to inselbergs,with Pseudobombax petropolitanum and Wunderlichia azulensis being threatened.A few species dominated the communities:P.petropolitanum,Guapira opposita,Amburana cearensis,and Tabebuia reticulata.Carbon accumulated in aboveground biomass ranged from 14 to 48 Mg ha-1,indicating variability in woody vegetation structure and growing conditions among inselbergs.Lastly,we highlight target species for potential use for inselberg vegetation restoration in stone mining areas in Atlantic Forest.展开更多
This study investigated forest recovery in the Atlantic Rainforest and Rupestrian Grassland of Brazil using the diffusive-logistic growth(DLG)model.This model simulates vegetation growth in the two mountain biomes con...This study investigated forest recovery in the Atlantic Rainforest and Rupestrian Grassland of Brazil using the diffusive-logistic growth(DLG)model.This model simulates vegetation growth in the two mountain biomes considering spatial location,time,and two key parameters:diffusion rate and growth rate.A Bayesian framework is employed to analyze the model's parameters and assess prediction uncertainties.Satellite imagery from 1992 and 2022 was used for model calibration and validation.By solving the DLG model using the finite difference method,we predicted a 6.6%–51.1%increase in vegetation density for the Atlantic Rainforest and a 5.3%–99.9%increase for the Rupestrian Grassland over 30 years,with the latter showing slower recovery but achieving a better model fit(lower RMSE)compared to the Atlantic Rainforest.The Bayesian approach revealed well-defined parameter distributions and lower parameter values for the Rupestrian Grassland,supporting the slower recovery prediction.Importantly,the model achieved good agreement with observed vegetation patterns in unseen validation data for both biomes.While there were minor spatial variations in accuracy,the overall distributions of predicted and observed vegetation density were comparable.Furthermore,this study highlights the importance of considering uncertainty in model predictions.Bayesian inference allowed us to quantify this uncertainty,demonstrating that the model's performance can vary across locations.Our approach provides valuable insights into forest regeneration process uncertainties,enabling comparisons of modeled scenarios at different recovery stages for better decision-making in these critical mountain biomes.展开更多
The description and understanding of plant communities is fundamental for the implementation of conservation or restoration programs, especially when these communities are highly threatened and need to be restored.Cam...The description and understanding of plant communities is fundamental for the implementation of conservation or restoration programs, especially when these communities are highly threatened and need to be restored.Campos rupestres, some Neotropical mountain grasslands located in central Brazil and part of the Cerrado biome(covering 2 million km2) host unique plant communities, currently threatened by quarrying and mining.The grassy matrix of campos rupestres, has long been considered a rich mosaic under the control of local topography and the nature of substrate, but this affirmation has not been well studied.We analyzed whether plant communities varied in relation to edaphic factors within the stony substrate and the sandy substrate of this grassy matrix.We selected 5 sites where occur both grasslands on stony substrate and on sandy substrate, and we carried out vegetation surveys and soil analyses.We counted 222 plant species within our communities, among which38.6% are exclusively found on campos rupestres.Our results show that both soil-types are strongly acidic, nutrient poor and exhibit a seasonal variation.Phosphorus increases and p H and organic carbon decrease during the dry season.Stony soils areslightly richer in nutrients than sandy soils and differences in soil granulometry and composition have led to the formation of distinct plant communities.Some species are confined to either one or the other grassland-type, which makes the plant composition of each community unique.Variations in edaphic factors generate heterogeneous grasslands favorable to a high plant diversity.Conservation programs and restoration actions have to maintain or recreate this heterogeneity.The presence of distinct plant communities implies that different strategies might be adopted to improve the restoration of these ecosystems.展开更多
The campo rupestre sensu lato is a vegetation type that occurs in South American mountains,supports a distinctive flora characterized by high rates of endemism,high herbaceous species richness and often-neglected but ...The campo rupestre sensu lato is a vegetation type that occurs in South American mountains,supports a distinctive flora characterized by high rates of endemism,high herbaceous species richness and often-neglected but also species-rich of the arboreal stratum.We aimed to investigate how environmental factors and elevation are associated with the distribution and diversity of woody species in different rupestrian vegetation types across South America.Using a database of 2,049 woody species from 185 sites across four vegetation types within the campo rupestre,we assessed how the vegetation types were grouped according to their floristic composition and number of shared indicator species,as well as by using different beta diversity indices.The most important variables from a set of 27 variables(e.g.altitude,geo-edaphic and climatic)explaining species distribution were identified using redundancy analysis(RDA)and variation partitioning methods.The distribution of vegetation types was related to both environmental and spatial fractions,with a set of 17 variables retained(e.g.rockiness,grass cover and temperature seasonality as the most important variables).There was an association between the floristic composition of each vegetation type and the elevation range.Although the identified vegetation types are floristically related,they are distinguished by exclusive and habitat-specialist woody species.This uniqueness of vegetation types should be considered in terms of complementarity for the conservation of campos rupestres.展开更多
Land use change and occupation have led to modifications in the environment causing loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services throughout the planet.Some environments with high economic relevance,such as the ferrugin...Land use change and occupation have led to modifications in the environment causing loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services throughout the planet.Some environments with high economic relevance,such as the ferruginous campo rupestre(rupestrian grassland known as Canga in Brazil),are even more susceptible to severe impacts due to their extreme habitat conditions and low resilience.The determination of reference ecosystems based on the intrinsic characteristics of the ecosystem is essential for conservation as well as to the implementation of ecological restoration.We proposed the reference ecosystem of the three main types of habitats of the ferruginous campo rupestre based on their floristic composition.We described the floristic composition of each habitat and evaluated the physicochemical properties of the soils and the relationship between plants and soils.All three habitats showed high diversity of plant species and many endemic species,such as Chamaecrista choriophylla,Cuphea pseudovaccinium,Lychnophora pinaster,and Vellozia subalata.The distribution of vegetation was strongly related with the edaphic characteristics,with a set of species more adapted to high concentration of base saturation,fine sand,organic carbon,and iron,while another set of species succeeded in more acidic soils with higher S and silt concentration.We provide support for the contention that the ferruginous campo rupestre is a mosaic of different habitats shaped by intrinsic local conditions.Failure to recognize the floristic composition of each particular habitat can lead to inappropriate restoration,increased habitat homogenization and increased loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.This study also advances the knowledge base for building the reference ecosystem for the different types of ferruginous campo rupestre habitats,as well as a key database for highlighting those species contribute most to community assembly in this diverse and threatened tropical mountain ecosystem.展开更多
基金the project funding from Fundacao de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIGNo: APQ-02049-21)+3 种基金the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPqgrant 312567/2021-9)the Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJgrant E26/201.007/2022) for funding support
文摘The woody vegetation is an important plant community constituent of tropical inselbergs,yet it remains largely overlooked.These environments of high socio-cultural and ecological value face pressures in many places,mainly related to mining exploitation and fires.This study provides the first systematic overview of inselberg woody vegetation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.We used four inselbergs as models to characterize the composition and structure of the woody vegetation.In addition,the biomass and carbon storage were estimated using the general equations for tropical regions and carbon concentration values.Ten transects(50 m×2 m)were systematically installed on each inselberg,and all woody plants with a diameter at breast height≥5 cm were measured,registered,and identified.A total of 312 individuals belonging to 26 species,23 genera,and 14 families were found.The Fabaceae family and the genus Eugenia(Myrtaceae)exhibited a higher richness.The woody community's diameters ranged from 5.0 to 116.9 cm(with a mean of 23.9 cm),and heights ranged from 1.7 to 16.0 m(with a mean of 6.2 m).All specialist lithophyte woody species found on inselbergs are wind-dispersed.Among the endemic species of the Atlantic Forest,four were endemic to inselbergs,with Pseudobombax petropolitanum and Wunderlichia azulensis being threatened.A few species dominated the communities:P.petropolitanum,Guapira opposita,Amburana cearensis,and Tabebuia reticulata.Carbon accumulated in aboveground biomass ranged from 14 to 48 Mg ha-1,indicating variability in woody vegetation structure and growing conditions among inselbergs.Lastly,we highlight target species for potential use for inselberg vegetation restoration in stone mining areas in Atlantic Forest.
基金financial support from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development(CNPq)and the Federal University of Ouro PretoFinancial support from the Minas Gerais Research Foundation(FAPEMIG)under grant number APQ-06559-24 is also gratefully acknowledged。
文摘This study investigated forest recovery in the Atlantic Rainforest and Rupestrian Grassland of Brazil using the diffusive-logistic growth(DLG)model.This model simulates vegetation growth in the two mountain biomes considering spatial location,time,and two key parameters:diffusion rate and growth rate.A Bayesian framework is employed to analyze the model's parameters and assess prediction uncertainties.Satellite imagery from 1992 and 2022 was used for model calibration and validation.By solving the DLG model using the finite difference method,we predicted a 6.6%–51.1%increase in vegetation density for the Atlantic Rainforest and a 5.3%–99.9%increase for the Rupestrian Grassland over 30 years,with the latter showing slower recovery but achieving a better model fit(lower RMSE)compared to the Atlantic Rainforest.The Bayesian approach revealed well-defined parameter distributions and lower parameter values for the Rupestrian Grassland,supporting the slower recovery prediction.Importantly,the model achieved good agreement with observed vegetation patterns in unseen validation data for both biomes.While there were minor spatial variations in accuracy,the overall distributions of predicted and observed vegetation density were comparable.Furthermore,this study highlights the importance of considering uncertainty in model predictions.Bayesian inference allowed us to quantify this uncertainty,demonstrating that the model's performance can vary across locations.Our approach provides valuable insights into forest regeneration process uncertainties,enabling comparisons of modeled scenarios at different recovery stages for better decision-making in these critical mountain biomes.
文摘The description and understanding of plant communities is fundamental for the implementation of conservation or restoration programs, especially when these communities are highly threatened and need to be restored.Campos rupestres, some Neotropical mountain grasslands located in central Brazil and part of the Cerrado biome(covering 2 million km2) host unique plant communities, currently threatened by quarrying and mining.The grassy matrix of campos rupestres, has long been considered a rich mosaic under the control of local topography and the nature of substrate, but this affirmation has not been well studied.We analyzed whether plant communities varied in relation to edaphic factors within the stony substrate and the sandy substrate of this grassy matrix.We selected 5 sites where occur both grasslands on stony substrate and on sandy substrate, and we carried out vegetation surveys and soil analyses.We counted 222 plant species within our communities, among which38.6% are exclusively found on campos rupestres.Our results show that both soil-types are strongly acidic, nutrient poor and exhibit a seasonal variation.Phosphorus increases and p H and organic carbon decrease during the dry season.Stony soils areslightly richer in nutrients than sandy soils and differences in soil granulometry and composition have led to the formation of distinct plant communities.Some species are confined to either one or the other grassland-type, which makes the plant composition of each community unique.Variations in edaphic factors generate heterogeneous grasslands favorable to a high plant diversity.Conservation programs and restoration actions have to maintain or recreate this heterogeneity.The presence of distinct plant communities implies that different strategies might be adopted to improve the restoration of these ecosystems.
文摘The campo rupestre sensu lato is a vegetation type that occurs in South American mountains,supports a distinctive flora characterized by high rates of endemism,high herbaceous species richness and often-neglected but also species-rich of the arboreal stratum.We aimed to investigate how environmental factors and elevation are associated with the distribution and diversity of woody species in different rupestrian vegetation types across South America.Using a database of 2,049 woody species from 185 sites across four vegetation types within the campo rupestre,we assessed how the vegetation types were grouped according to their floristic composition and number of shared indicator species,as well as by using different beta diversity indices.The most important variables from a set of 27 variables(e.g.altitude,geo-edaphic and climatic)explaining species distribution were identified using redundancy analysis(RDA)and variation partitioning methods.The distribution of vegetation types was related to both environmental and spatial fractions,with a set of 17 variables retained(e.g.rockiness,grass cover and temperature seasonality as the most important variables).There was an association between the floristic composition of each vegetation type and the elevation range.Although the identified vegetation types are floristically related,they are distinguished by exclusive and habitat-specialist woody species.This uniqueness of vegetation types should be considered in terms of complementarity for the conservation of campos rupestres.
基金Anglo American and Knowledge Center for Biodiversity for financial supportthe research funding agencies CNPq(Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico)+2 种基金scholarship from CNPq(151341/2023-0,150001/2023-1)FAPEMIG(Fundação de AmparoàPesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais)Peld-CRSC 17(Long Term Ecology Program-campo rupestre of Serra do Cipó)。
文摘Land use change and occupation have led to modifications in the environment causing loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services throughout the planet.Some environments with high economic relevance,such as the ferruginous campo rupestre(rupestrian grassland known as Canga in Brazil),are even more susceptible to severe impacts due to their extreme habitat conditions and low resilience.The determination of reference ecosystems based on the intrinsic characteristics of the ecosystem is essential for conservation as well as to the implementation of ecological restoration.We proposed the reference ecosystem of the three main types of habitats of the ferruginous campo rupestre based on their floristic composition.We described the floristic composition of each habitat and evaluated the physicochemical properties of the soils and the relationship between plants and soils.All three habitats showed high diversity of plant species and many endemic species,such as Chamaecrista choriophylla,Cuphea pseudovaccinium,Lychnophora pinaster,and Vellozia subalata.The distribution of vegetation was strongly related with the edaphic characteristics,with a set of species more adapted to high concentration of base saturation,fine sand,organic carbon,and iron,while another set of species succeeded in more acidic soils with higher S and silt concentration.We provide support for the contention that the ferruginous campo rupestre is a mosaic of different habitats shaped by intrinsic local conditions.Failure to recognize the floristic composition of each particular habitat can lead to inappropriate restoration,increased habitat homogenization and increased loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.This study also advances the knowledge base for building the reference ecosystem for the different types of ferruginous campo rupestre habitats,as well as a key database for highlighting those species contribute most to community assembly in this diverse and threatened tropical mountain ecosystem.
