A forest type dominated by Peltogyne gracilipes Ducke (Caesalpiniaceae) occurs on Maraca Island o... more A forest type dominated by Peltogyne gracilipes Ducke (Caesalpiniaceae) occurs on Maraca Island on a range of soil types. Maraca is located in Roraima State (Brazil) in the Rio Uraricoera and has an area of about 100,000 ha. This study compares the structure and floristic composition of the Peltogyne forest with the most widespread lowland forest type on Maraca and investigates some factors that could be involved in the persistent monodominance of Peltogyne. Three 0.25 ha plots were set up in each of three forest types: Peltogyne-rich forest (PRF), Peltogyne-poor forest (PPF) and forest without Peltogyne (FWP). Within each plot all trees (~ 10 cm dbh) were recorded. Seedlings and saplings were sampled in sub-plots of 2 m x 1 m (seedlings) and 4 m x 4 m (saplings). In the PPF and FWP, Sapotaceae were the most important family with the highest dominance and relative density values. Caesalpiniaceae showed high values in the PRF and PPF. Licania kunthiana, Pradosia surinamensis and Sima...
This study presents the taxonomic treatment of tree Leguminosae species recorded in a Seasonal Se... more This study presents the taxonomic treatment of tree Leguminosae species recorded in a Seasonal Semideciduous tabuleiros forest at Estação Ecológica Estadual de Guaxindiba, São Francisco de Itabapoana, Rio de Janeiro. In the study area 49 species belonging to 36 genera were inventoried, of which Machaerium Pers (five species) and Inga Mill. (four species) are the most representative. The species Ormosia nitida Vogel is a new record for the state of Rio de Janeiro. Identification key, morphological descriptions, field photos, geographical distribution and habitat data and comments on all treated species are provided.
Objetivou-se analisar os estudos de diagnóstico da vegetação nos planos de manejo (PM) de Unidade... more Objetivou-se analisar os estudos de diagnóstico da vegetação nos planos de manejo (PM) de Unidades de Conservação (UCs), dos Parques, em áreas de restinga no país, visando identificar que metodologias são utilizadas e obter um panorama destes diagnósticos. A conservação da restinga brasileira é de suma importância devida à alta pressão antrópica sofrida nessas áreas, que realizam serviços ecológicos vitais. Uma estratégia utilizada para a conservação de áreas ecologicamente relevantes é a criação de UCs, porém, muitas dessas ainda enfrentam dificuldades em sua efetiva implementação e gestão, principalmente pela falta de um plano de manejo para nortear seu correto manejo. A categoria Parque foi escolhida para este estudo por ser a mais frequente em áreas de restinga. A metodologia consistiu na análise dos PM disponíveis nos sites dos órgãos gestores das UCs. Foram encontrados 24 Parques (8 Nacionais, 13 Estaduais e 3 Municipais), na qual 18 possuem PM. A maioria dos PMs (15) realizou o diagnóstico via dados secundários e com a coleta de dados primários. Entre os métodos para coleta de dados primários, o de Avaliação Ecológica Rápida foi o mais utilizado, por 60% dos PMs. Em 77% dos planos, utilizou-se o sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento. Os PMs apresentaram diagnósticos da vegetação, com dados consolidados em campo, com preferência por uma metodologia rápida e acessível aos gestores.
This study investigated the current Leguminosae tree species composition in coastal forests over ... more This study investigated the current Leguminosae tree species composition in coastal forests over lithosoil soil or sandy plains in the eastern and central portion of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A comparative study between the Atlantic Forest areas of the Southeast Region of Brazil was conducted to evaluate the influence of environmental variables on floristic differentiation. A total of 34 areas of the Southeast Region was selected from the NeoTropTree platform and the Leguminosae species in these areas were the basis for a similarity analysis. The Jaccard Similarity Index and the UPGMA method were applied for grouping analysis. The relationships between the Leguminosae species composition and the environmental variables were investigated via Cannonical Correspondance Analysis (CCA). The cluster analysis showed that the Leguminosae tree species group of this portion of Rio de Janeiro coastline share floristic affinity with seasonal forests, a result confirmed by CCA. This floristic differentiation is sustained by an exclusive group of Leguminosae species established over lithosoils or sandy plains, and signals that the extent of dry forests in Rio de Janeiro state might be larger than currently stated. The results justify distinct conservation actions in view of the floristic singularities of these areas.
Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) derived from charcoal particles (paleo + modern) deposited in the soil col... more Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) derived from charcoal particles (paleo + modern) deposited in the soil column has been little studied in the Amazon, and our understanding of the factors that control the spatial and vertical distribution of these materials in the region's forest soils is still unclear. The objective of this study was to test the effect of forest type and distance from the ignition source on the PyC stocks contained in macroscopic particles of soil charcoal (≥2 mm; 1 m depth) dispersed in ecotone forests of the northern Brazilian Amazon. Thirty permanent plots were set up near a site that had been occupied by pre-Columbian and by modern populations until the late 1970s. The sampled plots represent seasonal and ombrophilous forests that occur under different hydro-edaphic restrictions. Our results indicate that the largest PyC stock was spatially dependent on distance to the ignition source (<3 km), occurring mainly in flood-free ombrophilous forests (3.46 AE 5.22 Mg PyC/ha). The vertical distribution of PyC in the deeper layers of the soil (> 50 cm) in seasonal forests was limited by hydro-edaphic impediments that restricted the occurrence of charcoal. These results suggest that PyC stocks derived from macroscopic charcoal particles in the soil of this Brazilian Amazon ecotone region are controlled by the distance from the ignition source of the fire, and that forest types with higher hydro-edaphic restrictions can inhibit formation and accumulation of charcoal. Making use of these distinctions reduces uncertainty and improves our ability to understand the variability of PyC stocks in forests with a history of fire in the Amazon. K E Y W O R D S carbon sequestration, charcoal stock, global carbon cycle, pyrogenic carbon, seasonal forest, soil charcoal
A forest type dominated by Peltogyne gracilipes Ducke (Caesalpiniaceae) occurs on Maraca Island o... more A forest type dominated by Peltogyne gracilipes Ducke (Caesalpiniaceae) occurs on Maraca Island on a range of soil types. Maraca is located in Roraima State (Brazil) in the Rio Uraricoera and has an area of about 100,000 ha. This study compares the structure and floristic composition of the Peltogyne forest with the most widespread lowland forest type on Maraca and investigates some factors that could be involved in the persistent monodominance of Peltogyne. Three 0.25 ha plots were set up in each of three forest types: Peltogyne-rich forest (PRF), Peltogyne-poor forest (PPF) and forest without Peltogyne (FWP). Within each plot all trees (~ 10 cm dbh) were recorded. Seedlings and saplings were sampled in sub-plots of 2 m x 1 m (seedlings) and 4 m x 4 m (saplings). In the PPF and FWP, Sapotaceae were the most important family with the highest dominance and relative density values. Caesalpiniaceae showed high values in the PRF and PPF. Licania kunthiana, Pradosia surinamensis and Sima...
This study presents the taxonomic treatment of tree Leguminosae species recorded in a Seasonal Se... more This study presents the taxonomic treatment of tree Leguminosae species recorded in a Seasonal Semideciduous tabuleiros forest at Estação Ecológica Estadual de Guaxindiba, São Francisco de Itabapoana, Rio de Janeiro. In the study area 49 species belonging to 36 genera were inventoried, of which Machaerium Pers (five species) and Inga Mill. (four species) are the most representative. The species Ormosia nitida Vogel is a new record for the state of Rio de Janeiro. Identification key, morphological descriptions, field photos, geographical distribution and habitat data and comments on all treated species are provided.
Objetivou-se analisar os estudos de diagnóstico da vegetação nos planos de manejo (PM) de Unidade... more Objetivou-se analisar os estudos de diagnóstico da vegetação nos planos de manejo (PM) de Unidades de Conservação (UCs), dos Parques, em áreas de restinga no país, visando identificar que metodologias são utilizadas e obter um panorama destes diagnósticos. A conservação da restinga brasileira é de suma importância devida à alta pressão antrópica sofrida nessas áreas, que realizam serviços ecológicos vitais. Uma estratégia utilizada para a conservação de áreas ecologicamente relevantes é a criação de UCs, porém, muitas dessas ainda enfrentam dificuldades em sua efetiva implementação e gestão, principalmente pela falta de um plano de manejo para nortear seu correto manejo. A categoria Parque foi escolhida para este estudo por ser a mais frequente em áreas de restinga. A metodologia consistiu na análise dos PM disponíveis nos sites dos órgãos gestores das UCs. Foram encontrados 24 Parques (8 Nacionais, 13 Estaduais e 3 Municipais), na qual 18 possuem PM. A maioria dos PMs (15) realizou o diagnóstico via dados secundários e com a coleta de dados primários. Entre os métodos para coleta de dados primários, o de Avaliação Ecológica Rápida foi o mais utilizado, por 60% dos PMs. Em 77% dos planos, utilizou-se o sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento. Os PMs apresentaram diagnósticos da vegetação, com dados consolidados em campo, com preferência por uma metodologia rápida e acessível aos gestores.
This study investigated the current Leguminosae tree species composition in coastal forests over ... more This study investigated the current Leguminosae tree species composition in coastal forests over lithosoil soil or sandy plains in the eastern and central portion of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A comparative study between the Atlantic Forest areas of the Southeast Region of Brazil was conducted to evaluate the influence of environmental variables on floristic differentiation. A total of 34 areas of the Southeast Region was selected from the NeoTropTree platform and the Leguminosae species in these areas were the basis for a similarity analysis. The Jaccard Similarity Index and the UPGMA method were applied for grouping analysis. The relationships between the Leguminosae species composition and the environmental variables were investigated via Cannonical Correspondance Analysis (CCA). The cluster analysis showed that the Leguminosae tree species group of this portion of Rio de Janeiro coastline share floristic affinity with seasonal forests, a result confirmed by CCA. This floristic differentiation is sustained by an exclusive group of Leguminosae species established over lithosoils or sandy plains, and signals that the extent of dry forests in Rio de Janeiro state might be larger than currently stated. The results justify distinct conservation actions in view of the floristic singularities of these areas.
Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) derived from charcoal particles (paleo + modern) deposited in the soil col... more Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) derived from charcoal particles (paleo + modern) deposited in the soil column has been little studied in the Amazon, and our understanding of the factors that control the spatial and vertical distribution of these materials in the region's forest soils is still unclear. The objective of this study was to test the effect of forest type and distance from the ignition source on the PyC stocks contained in macroscopic particles of soil charcoal (≥2 mm; 1 m depth) dispersed in ecotone forests of the northern Brazilian Amazon. Thirty permanent plots were set up near a site that had been occupied by pre-Columbian and by modern populations until the late 1970s. The sampled plots represent seasonal and ombrophilous forests that occur under different hydro-edaphic restrictions. Our results indicate that the largest PyC stock was spatially dependent on distance to the ignition source (<3 km), occurring mainly in flood-free ombrophilous forests (3.46 AE 5.22 Mg PyC/ha). The vertical distribution of PyC in the deeper layers of the soil (> 50 cm) in seasonal forests was limited by hydro-edaphic impediments that restricted the occurrence of charcoal. These results suggest that PyC stocks derived from macroscopic charcoal particles in the soil of this Brazilian Amazon ecotone region are controlled by the distance from the ignition source of the fire, and that forest types with higher hydro-edaphic restrictions can inhibit formation and accumulation of charcoal. Making use of these distinctions reduces uncertainty and improves our ability to understand the variability of PyC stocks in forests with a history of fire in the Amazon. K E Y W O R D S carbon sequestration, charcoal stock, global carbon cycle, pyrogenic carbon, seasonal forest, soil charcoal
The present study evaluated the relationship between herbivory and leaf quality of three abundant... more The present study evaluated the relationship between herbivory and leaf quality of three abundant tree species (Cupania oblongifolia Mart., Siparuna guianensis Aubl. and Xylopia sericea St. Hill.) in the understory of a eucalyptus plantation and an adjacent Atlantic Rainforest fragment. Herbivory differed among species, since X. sericea was less attacked, while C. oblongifolia and S. guianensis were more. The species showed similar herbivory patterns between the investigated areas (eucalyptus plantation versus forest), although X. sericea showed higher herbivory rates in the forest fragment. Fiber values (NDF, CEL and LIG) varied significantly among the species, being lower in S. guianensis. X. sericea, the species with the highest C/N ratio, higher concentrations of total phenols, smaller leaf area and higher trichome density, showed the lowest leaf herbivory rates, corroborating the hypothesis that herbivory is lower in species with lower nutritional quality and a greater set of leaf defense features.
The Herbarium of the Center for Biosciences and Biotechnology (HUENF) has promoted the teaching o... more The Herbarium of the Center for Biosciences and Biotechnology (HUENF) has promoted the teaching of botany and the conservation of flora for over 10 years, through its Extension project. This project includes a sub-project entitled “Itinerant HUENF” which aims to bring the knowledge of Botany to the communities of the northern and northwestern regions of Rio de Janeiro State. In this project, Extension and Open University fellows have the opportunity to visit different educational institutions, public agencies and rural communities, bringing knowledge about the importance of the Herbarium for the conservation of the region's flora, through exposition, lectures and short courses. HUENF has been actively participating in UENF's Itinerant Science Fairs, with exhibitions of botanical specimens (e.g. voucher specimens and fruits from the carpological collection), enabling greater public interaction with our project. In 2019, we participated in 19 itinerant activities. HUENF also receives regular visits from students and teachers from public and private elementary and higher education institutions. This year, 392 students / teachers from 18 educational institutions have visited the HUENF. Currently, the HUENF collection has 11,827 cataloged botanical samples and 11,131 are available for consultation online. Thus, HUENF acts as an auxiliary tool for teaching biodiversity of the northern and northwestern regions of Rio de Janeiro State, being important for the promotion of regional environmental education based on community awareness of the preservation of the flora
Twenty-five years ago, the Union of Concerned Scientists and more
than 1700 independent scientist... more Twenty-five years ago, the Union of Concerned Scientists and more than 1700 independent scientists, including the majority of living Nobel laureates in the sciences, penned the 1992 “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity” (see supplemental file S1). These concerned professionals called on humankind to curtail environmental destruction and cautioned that “a great change in our stewardship ofthe Earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided.” In their manifesto, they showed that humans were on a collision course with the natural world. They expressed concern about current, impending, or potential damage on planet Earth involving ozone depletion, freshwater availability, marine life depletion, ocean dead zones, forest loss, biodiversity destruction, climate change, and continued human population growth. They proclaimed that fundamental changes were urgently needed to avoid the consequences our present course would bring....
Seasonally dry tropical forest is one of the highly threatened biome. However, studies on the eff... more Seasonally dry tropical forest is one of the highly threatened biome. However, studies on the effect of fire on these tree communities are still scarce. In this context, a floristic and structural survey in three forest areas in the southeast of Brazil that were affected by fire between 14 and 25 years ago was performed with the objective of evaluating post-fire regeneration. In each site, five systematically placed plots (25 m x 25 m each) were established. The more recently burnt site had significantly lower values of richness and diversity than the other two sites. However, the sites did not differ in density and basal area. Annona dolabripetala, Astronium concinnum, Joannesia princeps and Polyandrococos caudescens were within the 10 most important species for the three sites. Comparing these data with adjacent mature forests, the results indicated differences both in structural and floristic aspects, suggesting that the time after fire was not sufficient for recuperation of these areas. The recovery process indicate at least 190 years for areas return to basal area values close to those observed in mature forests nearby.
The biological collections of the Herbarium of
Biosciences and Biotechnology Center of the State
... more The biological collections of the Herbarium of Biosciences and Biotechnology Center of the State University of Norte Fluminense (HUENF) represent an important source for research, education and extension, incorporating testimonies of research and experiments carried out at the University. These collections provide a record of regional biodiversity, a source of information for floristic checklists and conservation studies. The HUENF consists of botanical collections from distinct ecosystems of the northern Rio de Janeiro. This botanical collection of 9,520 herbarium specimens, where 8,632 (91%) are recorded in a database, an important bank of plant species for the region. The HUENF has been reference to regional studies, contributing with information on the regional flora, constantly being consulted by teachers and students from schools and Universities and researchers of the region. The HUENF has a home page with information about events, course, schedule of visits and availability of the latest publications. The development of this extension project has allowed the transfer of knowledge of scientific practices and their application, with HUENF acting as a non-formal space for the teaching of local flora for education institutions of the region.
The ecosystems fragmentation is possibly the greatest environmental alteration caused by the huma... more The ecosystems fragmentation is possibly the greatest environmental alteration caused by the human being. The APA do Rio São João, RJ, covered originally by the Atlantic forest of the fluminense coastal lowland - habitat of the golden lion tamarin, is an excellent example of the landscape fragmentation. In spite of having fragmented, several located forest fragments in APA maintain high biodiversity. That is being proven for a study about the arboreal diversity in ten fragments of varied sizes, presents in this Conservation Unit. A total of 212 species belonging to 43 botanical families was registered in the two hectares sampled and studied. Differences in the community's structure among the fragments were observed due mainly to the different historical disturbance. The forest fragmentation in the APA do Rio São João produced strong effects in the vegetation structure and composition, resulting in a great number of small forest fragments. The lack of options for sizes and desira...
The biological collections of the Herbarium Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia da Universidade... more The biological collections of the Herbarium Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia da Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (HUENF) represent an important support for research, education and extension, incorporating testimonies of research carried out at the University. These collections provide a record of regional biodiversity, a source of information for the identification and development of species inventories. Established in 2005, the Herbarium HUENF consists of collections of plants, wood and pollen, from distinct types of the Atlantic forest biome. The botanical collection has about 9,500 vouchers, with 8,632 (90.6%) registered in the database (BRAHMS), being an important and unique collection of preserved plant specimens of the region. Thus, the HUENF is considered a reference for studies in the region contributing with information on the floristic composition of the different forest types of the Atlantic Forest (Rain Forest, Seasonally dry Forest, sand dune vegetation and mangrove) of the northern Rio de Janeiro State.
Estimates of extinction risk for Amazonian plant and animal species are rare and not often incorp... more Estimates of extinction risk for Amazonian plant and animal species are rare and not often incorporated into land-use policy and conservation planning. We overlay spatial distribution models with historical and projected deforestation to show that at least 36% and up to 57% of all Amazonian tree species are likely to qualify as globally threatened under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. If confirmed, these results would increase the number of threatened plant species on Earth by 22%. We show that the trends observed in Amazonia apply to trees throughout the tropics, and we predict thatmost of the world’s >40,000 tropical tree species now qualify as globally threatened. A gap analysis suggests that existing Amazonian protected areas and indigenous territories will protect viable populations of most threatened species if these areas suffer no further degradation, highlighting the key roles that protected areas, indigenous peoples, and improved governance can play in preventing large-scale extinctions in the tropics in this century.
O efeito da remoção da serapilheira sobre as variáveis do processo fotossintético (trocas gasosas... more O efeito da remoção da serapilheira sobre as variáveis do processo fotossintético (trocas gasosas, fluorescência da clorofila a, e conteúdo de pigmentos fotossintéticos) das espécies tropicais Xylopia sericea A. St.-Hil. e Siparuna guianensis Aubl. foi avaliado em um plantio abandonado de eucalipto (Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson (Myrtaceae)) durante os períodos chuvoso e seco, após 5 anos de remoção da serapilheira, na Reserva Biológica União, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A remoção da serapilheira não influenciou as respostas ecofisiológicas das espécies. Entretanto, significativa variação sazonal foi verificada. Durante o período seco, a concentração intercelular de CO2 (Ci ), a transpiração (E), e a condutância estomática (gs ) apresentaram redução nos valores, enquanto a eficiência intrínseca no uso da água (EIUA), a dissipação não-fotoquímica (NPQ) e os carotenoides aumentaram, resultado que sugere uma estratégia protetora contra estresse. No entanto, os valores de Fv /Fm (rendimento quântico máximo) e Fm /Fo (taxa de rendimento da fluorescência pelos estados aberto e fechado) indicam que, mesmo durante o período seco, não houve redução fotoquímica nas espécies. Apenas S. guianensis apresentou redução nos valores da taxa de fotossíntese líquida (A) durante o período seco. Os dados sugerem que X. sericea é fotossinteticamente mais eficiente sob condições de baixa disponibilidade de água e que a remoção da serapilheira por um período de 5 anos não promove diferenças nos processos ecofisiológicos das espécies analisadas.
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than 1700 independent scientists, including the majority of living Nobel
laureates in the sciences, penned the 1992 “World Scientists’ Warning to
Humanity” (see supplemental file S1). These concerned professionals called on humankind to curtail environmental destruction and cautioned that “a great change in our stewardship ofthe Earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided.” In their manifesto, they showed that humans were on a collision course with the natural world. They expressed concern about current, impending, or potential damage on planet Earth involving ozone depletion, freshwater availability, marine life depletion, ocean dead zones, forest loss, biodiversity
destruction, climate change, and continued human population growth.
They proclaimed that fundamental changes were urgently needed to avoid the consequences our present course would bring....
Biosciences and Biotechnology Center of the State
University of Norte Fluminense (HUENF) represent an
important source for research, education and extension,
incorporating testimonies of research and experiments
carried out at the University. These collections provide
a record of regional biodiversity, a source of information
for floristic checklists and conservation studies. The
HUENF consists of botanical collections from distinct
ecosystems of the northern Rio de Janeiro. This botanical
collection of 9,520 herbarium specimens, where
8,632 (91%) are recorded in a database, an important
bank of plant species for the region. The HUENF has
been reference to regional studies, contributing with
information on the regional flora, constantly being
consulted by teachers and students from schools and
Universities and researchers of the region. The HUENF
has a home page with information about events,
course, schedule of visits and availability of the latest
publications. The development of this extension project
has allowed the transfer of knowledge of scientific
practices and their application, with HUENF acting as a
non-formal space for the teaching of local flora for education
institutions of the region.
policy and conservation planning. We overlay spatial distribution models with historical and projected deforestation to
show that at least 36% and up to 57% of all Amazonian tree species are likely to qualify as globally threatened under
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. If confirmed, these results would increase the number
of threatened plant species on Earth by 22%. We show that the trends observed in Amazonia apply to trees throughout
the tropics, and we predict thatmost of the world’s >40,000 tropical tree species now qualify as globally threatened. A
gap analysis suggests that existing Amazonian protected areas and indigenous territories will protect viable populations
of most threatened species if these areas suffer no further degradation, highlighting the key roles that protected areas,
indigenous peoples, and improved governance can play in preventing large-scale extinctions in the tropics in this century.