This is a repository copy of Tropical tree growth driven by dry-season climate variability.

This study aimed to determine the tree structure, floristic composition and species diversity in the Araucaria State Park, southern Brazil. We allocated 100 plots of 100 m 2 (1 ha) each one, and we recorded all trees with diameters at breast height ≥ 5 cm. We sampled 1368 individuals of 106 species, 75 genera and 44 families. Fabaceae, Lauraceae and Myrtaceae showed the greatest richness of species. The diversity of tree species was high (H '= 3.96), although the observed richness was less than the estimated one. The basal area was 46.88 m 2 ha -1 . We observed an intrinsic association between Araucaria angustifolia and Nectandra megapotamica, and a predominance of secondary and zoochorous (> 70%) species. Endangered and vulnerable species in the Santa Catarina state, such as Araucaria angustifolia, Cedrela fissilis, Dicksonia sellowiana and Ocotea porosa were sampled in the Park, highlighting its importance for the conservation of the Mixed Ombrophylous Forest.

ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar as espécies arbóreas raras e comuns da família Myrtaceae amostradas pelo Inventário Florístico Florestal de Santa Catarina na Floresta Estacional Decidual. Esta floresta ocorre ao longo do rio Uruguai e afluentes, sob baixas temperaturas no inverno e chuvas bem distribuídas ao longo do ano, com árvores do dossel e emergentes predominantemente caducifólias. Coletaram-se dados em 78 unidades amostrais com 0,40 ha cada, registrando-se árvores com diâmetro na altura do peito ≥ 10 cm. Utilizou-se a metodologia Rabinowitz para segregar as espécies em raras ou comuns, considerando três variáveis: distribuição geográfica, especificidade por habitat e tamanho populacional. Das 28 espécies amostradas, 78,57% (22 spp.) apresentaram alguma forma de raridade e 21,43% (6 spp.) foram comuns. As espécies de Myrtaceae na Floresta Estacional Decidual são, em geral, amplamente distribuídas, mas seletivas quanto ao habitat e possuem poucos indivíduos. Destacam-se três espécies consideradas raras na floresta avaliada: Eugenia subterminalis, Myrcianthes gigantea e Siphoneugena reitzii com um indivíduo cada. Campomanesia xanthocarpa foi a espécie mais comum. Todas as espécies avaliadas são zoocóricas e podem ser utilizadas em restauração ambiental.Palavras-chave: domínio Mata Atlântica, análise de raridade, conservação. AbstractWe surveyed the common and rare species of Myrtaceae that were sampled in the Santa Catarina Forest Floristic Inventory of the Seasonal Deciduous Forest. This forest runs along the Uruguay River and its tributaries, with cold winters and rainfall distributed throughout the year, and a mostly deciduous and emergent canopy. We collected data in 78 sample units, each with an area of 0.40 ha, and recorded trees ≥ 10 cm diameter at breast height. We used Rabinowitz methodology to separate common and rare species, based on three variables: geographic distribution, habitat and population size. Of the 28 species sampled, 78.57% (22 spp.) were rare and 21.43% (6 spp.) were common. Myrtaceae species in the Seasonal Deciduous Forest are generally widely distributed, but are selective in relation to habitat and low in abundance. It is important to note that three species were considered rare in this forest: Eugenia subterminalis DC., Myrcianthes gigantea (D.Legrand) D.Legrand and Siphoneugena reitzii D.Legrand with one individual each. Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Mart.) O.Berg was the most common species. All species are dispersed by animals and can be used in habitat restoration.

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As dendrochronology noticeably increased in tropical regions during the last three decades, some general patterns could emerge from comprehensive analyses of case studies. Here, we investigated the state of dendrochronology's contributions to the bioclimatology of wood species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (AF). We asked: Which species and sites had cross-datable growth-ring series suitable for bioclimatic inference? What were the sampling and analytical methods applied? What do these studies tell us about plant-growth sensitivity to climate conditions? Which knowledge gaps may be identified? For this, we searched for articles addressing climate-growth relationships by means of cross-dated growth-ring chronologies within the AF. We found 11 articles, covering 16 chronologies from 10 species. The average number of trees in chronologies was 16 individuals. 87% of chronologies suggested a positive precipitation signal, and some positive temperature signal was identified in all chronologies that were compared to monthly or seasonal temperature series. The findings are supported by the specialized literature, which points out the influence of precipitation in the tropics. However, making stronger conclusions about the role of climate on the growth of AF tree species will require greater efforts in surveying the diverse tree flora and developing rigorous cross-dated chronologies.

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-(The rarity of tree species of Lauraceae on the plateau of Santa Catarina State, Brazil). The rare species are particularly important from the point of view of conservation ecology and evolutionary biology, and often become the focus for policy decisions. The objective was to evaluate the Lauraceae rarity sampled by the Floristic Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina in Deciduous Forest (DF) and Araucaria Forest (AF). Data were collected in 234 sampling units of 0.40 ha each, recording trees with diameter at breast height ≥ 10 cm. We used Rabinowitzʼs methodology to segregate rare and common species, considering three variables: geographic distribution, habitat specificity, and population size. Of the 37 species, 59.46% were rare and 40.54% were common. 56.76% of the species were eurytopic and 59.46% euryecious. 2.70% of the species were exclusive of DF, 67.57% exclusive of AF, and 29.73% occurred in both. This analysis contributed to the understanding of the rarity of the species in the studied region and it can also contribute to conservation actions for this family on Santa Catarina plateau, since most species are somewhat rare and intense forest fragmentation is the current scenario. Keywords: analysis of rarity, Atlantic Forest, canelas RESUMO -(A raridade das espécies arbóreas de Lauraceae no planalto do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil). As espécies raras são particularmente importantes do ponto de vista da conservação, ecologia e biologia evolutiva, além de ser frequentemente o foco para decisões políticas. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a raridade de Lauraceae amostradas pelo Inventário Florístico Florestal de Santa Catarina na Floresta Estacional Decidual e na Floresta Ombrófila Mista. Coletaram-se dados em 234 unidades amostrais com 0,40 ha cada, registrando-se árvores com diâmetro na altura de 1,30m ≥ 10 cm. Foi utilizada a metodologia Rabinowitz para segregar as espécies em raras ou comuns, considerando três variáveis: distribuição geográfica, especificidade por habitat e tamanho populacional. Das 37 espécies, 59,46% apresentaram raridade e 40,54% foram comuns. Classificou-se 56,76% das espécies como euritópica e 59,46% eurioica. Das espécies, 2,70% foram exclusivas da Floresta Estacional Decidual, 67,57% exclusivas da Floresta Ombrófila Mista e 29,73% ocorreram em ambas. Esta análise colaborou para a compreensão da raridade das espécies da região estudada e pode contribuir para ações de conservação dessa família no planalto catarinense, uma vez que a maior parte das espécies é de alguma forma rara e o cenário atual é de intenso processo de fragmentação florestal. Palavras-chave: análise de raridade, Floresta Atlântica, canelas