In ecological communities, the proportion of plant species with different dispersal syndromes is known as the dispersal spectrum, which can result from different selective pressures such as climate. This is because variations in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure and precipitation result in distinct flora and fauna among different sites. If climate conditions along an altitudinal range act as a strong direct or indirect selective pressure on dispersal syndromes, the dispersal spectrum among plant communities in different altitudes should be distinct. We organized the dispersal syndromes in five hierarchical levels according to the levels of detail in diaspore morphology and, consequently, different degrees of specificity to the dispersers. Then we identified, within each hierarchical level, the syndromes of tree species of four forest types of the Atlantic Rainforest along a 1200 m altitudinal range in Southeast Brazil. Among 327 species, we found two syndromes in the most general hierarchical level (abiotic and biotic dispersal), three in the following level (wind, self and animal), three in the intermediate level (barochory, autochory and endozoochory), two in the forth level (mammal and bird), and 12 syndromes in the most specific level, all of which were related to the morphology of diaspores dispersed by wind, autochory, mammals and birds. The dispersal spectrum in the five hierarchical levels was similar among the four forest types. Overall, the majority of species is dispersed by biotic agents, considered here as animals and the parent plant itself. Within biotic agents, the most important are animals, specifically birds. Most bird-dispersed species present drupoid diaspores. Our results indicate that the selective pressures on dispersal syndromes originated from climate conditions that vary with altitude are not strong, hence resulting in the same dispersal spectrum among the forest types. Keywords: animal dispersal, biotic dispersal, bird dispersal, hierarchy of classification of dispersal syndromes. Biota Neotropica. 14(1): e20130003. MARTINSBiota Neotropica. 14(1): e20130003.abió tica e bió tica), três no nível seguinte (vento, pró pria planta parental e animais), três no nível intermediá rio (barocoria, autocoria e endozoocoria), duas no quarto nível (mamíferos e aves) e 12 síndromes no nível mais específico, relacionadas à morfologia dos diá sporos dispersos pelo vento, autocoria, mamíferos e aves. O espectro de dispersã o nos cinco níveis foi similar nas quatro formações florestais. De forma geral, a maior parte das espécies é dispersa por agentes bió ticos, aqui considerados animais e a pró pria planta parental. Dentre os agentes bió ticos, os mais importantes sã o os animais, especificamente as aves. A maioria das espécies dispersas pelas aves apresenta diá sporos drupó ides. Nossos resultados indicam que as pressõ es seletivas sobre as síndromes de dispersã o ocasionadas pelas condiçõ es climá ticas que variam com a altitude não sã o fortes. Assim, a ausência destas pressõ es ...
Aulas de Ciências incorporam uma motivação natural pelas vivências práticas que conduzem à investigação dos diversos aspectos da natureza. As atividades práticas contribuem para aproximar o conhecimento com as experiências vividas, além de despertar a curiosidade e o sentimento crítico. No entanto, a aplicação dessas atividades também envolve as condições de infraestrutura da escola e da própria dinâmica do experimento, idealmente optando por materiais acessíveis e não restritivos a grupos etários para maior viabilidade e visibilidade. Assim, propomos um experimento de Ciências sobre predação de frutos e de lagartas artificiais utilizando massa de modelar a base de cera. Buscamos sugerir uma alternativa prática de fácil obtenção e manipulação e com variada possibilidade didática.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.