This study aims to detect the composition, abundance patterns, and successional stage distributions exhibited by arboreal species inside and at the linear edge of a submontane seasonal forest in the Chapada Diamantina (12°28'31'S, 41°23'14'W), Bahia, Brazil. The individual plants with breast height diameters ≥5 cm were sampled in 30 quadrats (10 m × 10 m), 15 in the forest edge and 15 inside the forest. Species were classified according to successional category. Phytosociological and diversity indices were calculated. Shannon indices were compared using Hutcheson's t-test, and the remaining parameters were analyzed by ANOVA. Linear edges exerted a high impact on the floristic composition, diversity, and abundance of species, though little interference was observed in the structure of the community, since phytosociological parameters and the proportions of successional categories did not differ between the edge and inner forest fragment. The impact of linear infrastructure was similar to that of other border types. Additionally, even though the distance between forest fragments was very short, an edge effect was observed, which underlines the importance of linear forest edges to biodiversity conservation.

Abstract:Isotopic composition of leaf carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) is determined by biotic and abiotic factors. In order to determine the influence of leaf habit and site on leaf δ13C and δ15N in the understorey of two Atlantic forests in Brazil that differ in annual precipitation (1200 and 1900 mm), we measured these isotopes in the shaded understorey of 38 tropical tree species (20 in the 1200-mm site and 18 in the 1900-mm site). Mean site values for δ15N were significantly lower at the 1200-mm site (−1.4‰) compared with the 1900-mm site (+3.0‰), and δ13C was significantly greater in the 1200-mm site (−30.4‰) than in the 1900-mm site (−31.6‰). Leaf C concentration was greater and leaf N concentration was lower at 1200-mm than at 1900-mm. Leaf δ15N was negatively correlated with δ13C across the two sites. Leaf δ13C and δ15N of evergreen and deciduous species were not significantly different within a site. No significant phylogenetic signal for any traits among the study species was found. Overall, site differences were the main factor distinguishing traits among species, suggesting strong functional convergence to local climate and soils within each site for individuals in the shaded understorey.

We compared the reproductive phenology and fl oral visitors of Eschweilera tetrapetala growing along the edge and in the interior of a submontane forest in the Chapada Diamantina mountains, Bahia State, Brazil. We sought to determine if there were inter-annual diff erences in intensity and seasonality associated with environmental conditions, and if there were diff erences in fl oral visitors between the two environmental contexts. Phenological observations were performed for three years, and included the occurrence of an El Niño event. We applied circular statistics to detect seasonal trends, performed cross correlations between phenophases and climate, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for inter-annual variation, and the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test for edge-interior diff erences in the species richness of fl oral visitors. We observed inter-annual variations in the intensity and seasonality of fl ower production that accompanied variations in rainfall, possibly associated with El Niño events. Floral visitor richness diff ered between the forest edge and interior, with seven species recorded for the interior and only one for the edge. Reduced fruit set was also observed at the forest edge. Th is study contributes to our understanding of the infl uence of El Niño and edge eff ects on the reproductive phenologies of tropical plants.

Phenological diversity, seasonality and leaf longevity may affect leaf habits, reflecting plant responses to environmental conditions. Maprounea guianensis Aubl. is a widespread species in Brazil that is associated with different forest types. We investigated how phenological diversity, seasonality and leaf longevity affect leaf habits of its populations growing in humid and dry forests in the Chapada Diamantina mountains. We made monthly observations of leaf budding and fall in 62 individual trees between 2004 and 2012 (84 months), estimating leaf longevity based on phenophase evaluations. We made use of circular statistics, cross correlations and the Shannon–Wiener Index to evaluate our data. There was little variation in rainfall distribution between the study years, although water availability differed at each site. Phenophase seasonality was found to be negatively correlated with rainfall but positively correlated with photoperiod. Low phenological diversity was observed within each site, but not between sites, and leaf longevity was reduced in the dry forest. Although macroclimatic conditions were similar throughout the range of occurrence of M. guianensis in the region, we found that phenological behaviour and leaf longevity differed according to micro-site differences, demonstrating the plasticity of the species, which may favour its occupation of different environments.

Este estudo propôs uma intervenção ambiental para esclarecer sobre as potencialidades e problemas enfrentados pela mata ciliar do Rio Catolé no município de Itapetinga (BA). A pesquisa foi desenvolvida com 06 turmas do 3º ano do Ensino Médio de uma Unidade de Ensino do município. Métodos: i) aula sobre o conteúdo “Mata ciliar do Rio Catolé: problemas e potencialidades”; ii) aplicação do jogo “Reconquista da Mata Ciliar”; iii) questionários. Verificou-se um aumento no conhecimento após a intervenção ambiental. Este trabalho pode auxiliar: i) Programas de reflorestamento na APP “mata ciliar do Rio Catolé”; ii) Educação Ambiental na Mata Ciliar do Rio Catolé e iii) Projetos políticos pedagógicos que visem conscientizar a respeito dessa temática.

We compared the functional diversity of community at edge and interior areas of an Atlantic forest fragment to test the hypothesis that higher functional diversity exists along edges - in consonance with their higher abundance and floristic diversity as compared to the interior of the forest. By considering a set of vegetative, reproductive and phenological traits and ecosystem service aspects of edge and interior environments, we defined plant functional groups using Cluster Analysis, followed by a silhouette width analysis, together with functional diversity indices of richness, divergence, evenness and dispersion. The main functional groups formed were similar between the edges and interior. Functional richness was the only index that demonstrated differences between edge and the interior. Alterations were perceived in relation to species richness and the Shannon index. Edge effects were not significant in the formation of functional groups. In contrast to our original hypothesis, similar groups were formed both along the edge in the interior - indicating that species played similar ecological roles in both environments, with similar responses to different environmental factors - so that forest edges were colonized by a series of different species that maintained diversity patterns similar to those found in the forest interior.

Eschweilera tetrapetala is a tree endemic to Submontane Seasonal Forests in inland Atlantic forest areas of the Chapada Diamantina Mountains, Northeastern Brazil. The effects of climate change on the spatial distribution pattern of that species were investigated to identify priority areas for its conservation. Distribution patterns and population densities were obtained by sampling individuals in ten 200 x 10 m transects, and in thirty additional 10 x 10 m border and interior forest plots. The occurrence data were subjected to Ecological Niche Modelling using Bioclim, Maxent, and Support Vector Machine algorithms. The predicted model for the current distribution of E. tetrapetala, using the Bioclim, Maxent, and Support Vector Machine algorithms, evidenced stable areas of strong environmental suitability in the east of the Chapada Diamantina. The models also show an expansion of areas with environmental suitability during the Mid-Holocene, with retraction in the present and greater reductions predicted in future global warming scenarios. The number of individuals in the plots varied from zero to 14, indicating an aggregated distribution. Morisita’s index indicated a random distribution along a forest edge but aggregated in the forest interior. Eschweilera tetrapetala is sensitive to climatic change and anthropogenic pressure, at both regional and local scales.

We evaluated the diversity of Myrtaceae in Chapada Diamantina National Park (CDNP) and neighboring municipalities (NM), identifying the areas with the highest richness and those with the lowest sampling efforts, collecting specimens in situ, and analyzing herbarium collections. The geographic data and maps include collection efforts (CE), species richness (SR), and estimated richness (J1). Ninety-seven species and nine genera were recorded for NM, with 82 species and nine genera occurring in CDNP. The CE and SR were similar in NM and CDNP, and the quadrants with the highest values were in the municipalities of Lençóis and Palmeiras. The J1 was also similar in NM and CDNP. Fifteen species found in NM do not occur in CDNP, and some are considered endangered or are restricted to non-protected areas, especially caatinga areas. Some species showed distributions limited to only one or two vegetation types, although many areas have been only superficially surveyed. Endemic species are subject to anthropic pressure, and some are currently considered endangered or vulnerable. The expansion of the limits of the CDNP to encompass areas of caatinga vegetation will improve the conservation status of the family.