Caracterização e história biogeográfica dos ecossistemas secos neotropicais

Abstract

Resumo A região Neotropical, detentora da maior riqueza de espécies no globo, ocorre do México Central ao sul do Brasil. Neste trabalho, buscamos sumarizar as principais informações disponíveis na literatura que caracterizam os biomas neotropicais de Florestas Sazonalmente Seca (FTSS), Chaco e Savanas. Revisamos hipóteses biogeográficas concernentes a esses ambientes que buscam explicar sua dinâmica histórica. Nosso objetivo é oferecer uma caracterização desses biomas como etapa principal para o entendimento das principais hipóteses biogeográficas a eles associadas. Ainda que comporte como um cenário atraente para pesquisa, as espécies neotropicais são pouco estudas, sendo questões referentes a seus aspectos ecológicos, origem, história evolutiva e manutenção da elevada biodiversidade desconhecidas ou, ainda, pouco compreendidas. Embora, nossa revisão apresente pesquisas com diferentes pontos de vista quanto à dinâmica biogeográfica das formações vegetais, há consenso de que é produto de complexa interação entre os processos históricos, ecológicos e biológicos. Os estudos em biodiversidade de regiões ameaçadas, como os Neotrópicos, são norteadores para simulações e previsões de impactos, planos e estratégias de pesquisa.

Seed biometry: another functional trait in caatinga

“…In the Brazilian semiarid, environmental conditions are similar to those of other dry tropical forests, with large interspecific and seasonal physiological variations (Trovão, Fernandes, Andrade, & Dantas Neto, 2007;Albuquerque et al, 2012). As for physiognomy, Lima, Carvalho, Ribeiro, and Manfrin (2018) pointed out similarities with arid regions in northern Colombia, Venezuela and Central America. However, the situation is even more complicated in Caatinga, a dry tropical forest that occupies one of the largest land areas in the world and exists at the limit of water resources availability for forests (Miles et al, 2006;Santos et al, 2014).…”

Influence of seasonal vegetation dynamics on hydrological connectivity in tropical drylands

“…It is important to highlight this connectivity behaviour should be similar to other seasonal dry biomes areas, constituting half of tropical areas (Pennington et al, 2018). These seasonal dry biomes include zones such as dry forests in Central and South America (Banda et al, 2016; Gerard et al, 2020; Lima et al, 2018), dry forests in the Horn of Africa region (Van Passel et al, 2020), and sub‐Saharan tree savannas (Räsänen et al, 2020). These biomes exhibit continuous ground cover, mainly during wet season, contrasting with subtropical/Mediterranean drylands, with interchanges between vegetation patches and bare areas (Bergkamp, 1998; Dickie & Parsons, 2012; Hoffman et al, 2013; Moreno‐De‐Las‐Heras et al, 2020; Okin et al, 2015; Puigdefábregas, 2005; Puttock et al, 2013; Urgeghe & Bautista, 2015).…”

“…The contemporary literature classifies the Brazilian semi-arid vegetation, locally called "Caatinga" as a neotropical dry forest. This classification is based on the evolution scenario and species assembly, density cover and phenology (Banda et al, 2016;Lima et al, 2018;Morrone, 2015). The most common trees/shrubs in Caatinga are Spondias tuberosa, Caesalpinia pyramidalis, Ziziphus joazeiro, and Mimosa tenuiflora.…”

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi density on growth and metabolism of Handroanthus serratifolius (Vahl) S.O. Grose seedlings

“…Bioprospecting for AMF in unexplored areas is crucial for gaining a better understanding of the symbiotic interaction between AMF and forest species. The Alter‐do‐Chão savannah serves as a suitable area for this study due to its hot and dry climate with well‐defined seasons, as well as the presence of grasses, small shrubs, herbs and woody plants (Lima et al, 2018). The soil in this environment is predominantly sandy, leached, with a high aluminum content, and exhibits low fertility (Coutinho, 2006).…”