We tested the hypothesis that tree species adapted to ecotones between forest-swamps have leaf structures varying in response to land water saturation (drained and wetland), which could further influence their resistance against insect herbivory. The hypothesis was tested at the crown and leaf scale. We assessed differences in the plant architecture (height, circumference at breast height, trunk height, and crown) and leaf traits (sclerophylly and anatomy) of tree species inhabiting wetland and drained soils and investigated which variables explained variance in leaf herbivory rates. The study was conducted in Montane and wetland Forests in the Itacolomi State Park, in Southern Brazil, focusing on the Clethra scabra Pers., which inhabits both habitats, and also Myrcia amazonica DC. and Myrcia laruotteana Cambess (congeneric) which inhabit Montane forest and wetland forest, respectively. It was found that C. scabra individuals in wetland areas had simpler crown structure and higher leaf sclerophylly rates than those individuals of this species in the drained habitat. However, the two C. scabra populations did not differ regarding overall foliage thickness and damage by herbivory between drained and wetland habitats. Variables that were related to herbivory in this species were adaxial epidermis thickness and circumference at breast height. Myrcia individuals from wetland areas had less damaged leaves but thinner epidermis than in drained soils, but no variable correlated to herbivory at the leaf scale. Our hypothesis was partially corroborated and suggests that C. scabra is more influenced by soil saturation than Myrcia, and its herbivory is related with structural and anatomic parameters.

Although important, phenological studies comparing congeneric species or the same species growing in different habitats are still scarce for the tropics. Herein, we integrate phylogeny, ecology and biometeorology to verify whether the phenophases of congeneric species Myrcia laruotteana and Myrcia amazonica or Clethra scabra differ when their populations inhabit wetland and drained habitats and to determine what abiotic factors affect the vegetative and reproductive phenophases of these species in distinct habitat patches. We collected data on phenological events of 80 trees for 1 year in Itacolomi State Park, Brazil, and related them to abiotic local factors. Contrary to our expectation, the phenophases of the congeneric species did not differ between habitats, but the reproductive phenophases of C. scabra did and was greater in drained soil. Phenophases of C. scabra were affected by the depth of the water table and maximum temperature in the wetland soil. Insolation, precipitation, maximum temperature and relative humidity influenced Myrcia and Clethra in the drained soil. The differences between C. scabra populations suggest that this species is phenotypically plastic and can present distinct phenophases depending on the habitat it inhabits. On the other hand, the congeneric Myrcia species may have similar phenophases in distinct habitats because of their shared similarities during their evolution. This study provides a better understanding of the ecology of these species and their adaptations to different abiotic conditions. Data of this nature are important in a changing world and can inform strategies for adaptive management.

In this study, a ground anchored wall located in Belo Horizonte containing 295 anchorages in a sandy silt soil was analyzed. The load capacity of all the anchors was calculated by extrapolation of the receipt tests by the Van der Veen method through the CsAGeo web application. The shear strength in the soil-anchor interface was obtained from a semi-empirical method. Two criteria to analyze the extrapolated curves of Van der Veen were used. In the first criteria, the shear strengths of all the extrapolated curves were calculated. In the second criteria, only those curves from the extrapolations considered as reliable were used to calculate the shear strengths. The main objective of this work is to set up the value of shear strength at the soil-anchor interface through extrapolation of the mathematical and semi-empirical methods. The semi-empirical method was carried out in soil and executive methodology equal to the work analysed, which increases the accuracy of these values contributing to containments using anchors. The results were grouped according to the ranges of the penetration resistance (N SPT). An increasing tendency was identified in the shear strength as the value of the resistance to penetration increased. In addition, the linear tendency was observed for the reliable curves.

We used seed rain to monitor a conserved forest and a 5-6-year-old forest undergoing natural regeneration after fire. The sampled species were classified according to regionality, life forms, dispersal modes, and successional stage, and the forests were compared. The type of forest and time since disturbance had significant effect on the abundance of seeds -67.3% being produced in the forest under restoration. Biological diversity was higher in the conserved forest. On the other hand, species richness was not affected by the type of forest, and the species composition was similar between forests. In addition, we found similar proportions of life forms, zoochorous species, and non-pioneer species in the forests. Our study shows that natural regenerating forests can recover different attributes of the seed rain in few years when in forest matrices. Thus, to accelerate restoration and create trustworthy forests we should conserve the remaining mature fragments and use them to facilitate ecological restoration.