The role of temporal scale in linear edge effects on a submontane Atlantic forest arboreal community

Abstract

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.

Pathways affect vegetation structure and composition in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

“…Plant communities with high number of individuals with small diameter and height were more frequent in the pathway edges but not in the control area, which indicates a typical initial regeneration phase (Guariguata & Ostertag 2001;Couto-Santos et al 2015). This condition was probably set well before the park creation (between 40's and 70's), with the implantation of the pathways, and remained stable over time due to path maintenance.…”

“…January- March 2017 Several studies addressed the changes in vegetation structure and composition at the edges of linear forest gaps (Demir 2007;Enoki et al 2012;Otto et al 2013;Li et al 2014) and just a few conducted in tropical forests focused on linear gaps caused by roads, gas pipelines and power lines (Reznik et al 2012;Prieto et al 2014;CoutoSantos et al 2015), or pastures (Ribeiro et al 2009a). In those studies, linear gaps aff ected the phenodynamics of animal dispersed plants (Reznik et al 2012), tree species structure and richness (Ribeiro et al 2009a;Couto-Santos et al 2015), and proportion of pioneer species (Prieto et al 2014). However, the extent to which the pathway width aff ects those forest attributes has never been properly assessed and understood.…”

The influence of El Niño and edge effects on the reproductive phenology and floral visitors of Eschweilera tetrapetala Mori (Lecythidaceae), an endemic species of the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil

“…Phenological observations were made within 30 permanent random plots (10 x 10 m; total 0.3 ha) established by Couto-Santos et al (2015), with 15 plots along the forest edge (0-100 m from an electrical line corridor) and 15 plots in the forest interior (>150 m from the edge). Couto-Santos et al (2015) inventoried 55 individuals of E. tetrapetala (DBH≥5.0 cm) in the area.…”

“…The mountains at the eastern edge of the Chapada Diamantina are covered by seasonal submontane forests (Atlantic Forest sensu lato) growing on deep latosols. These forests have experienced profound physical impacts in the last 30 years (Oliveira-Filho & Fontes 2000;Funch et al 2008;Couto et al 2011;Couto-Santos et al 2015), including the installation of electrical transmission lines. Clearing during these installations has created extensive linear edges and caused strong impacts on the local floristic composition and on the abundances of arboreal species, including Eschweilera tetrapetala (Lecythidaceae), which has been found to be more abundant in the forest interior than along artificial edges (Couto-Santos et al 2015).…”

“…In light of the restricted distribution of E. tetrapetala in seasonal submontane forests along the eastern edge of the Chapada Diamantina, where different population densities are known to occur along forest edges and in the forest interior (Couto-Santos et al 2015), and where variables related to precipitation are the main predictors contributing to models of its potential distribution (Menezes 2017), we investigated the reproductive phenology E. tetrapetala and its floral visitors to address the following questions: i) Are the flowering and fruiting phenophases of E. tetrapetala associated with environmental factors? ii) Are there differences in the reproductive phenologies of individuals growing in the forest interior and along the forest edge?…”