Structure and floristic relationships between Cerrado sensu stricto sites on two types of substrate in northern Cerrado, Brazil

Abstract

Structure and floristic relationships between Cerrado sensu stricto sites on two types of substrate in northern Cerrado, Brazil. Biota Neotrop. (13)4: http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v13n4/en/abstract?article+bn02213042013 Abstract: We described and compared the floristic composition, richness, species diversity and structure of the tree-shrub component in pairs of Typical Cerrado (Cerrado Típico) and rocky outcrop Cerrado (Cerrado Rupestre) in two localities in Tocantins State. In each locality, we set up 10 plots of 20 × 50 m at a site, the Cerrado Típico and other Cerrado Rupestre, and sampled the individuals with Db 30cm ≥ 5 cm. The rocky outcrop Cerrado did not present any trend towards lower richness and basal area compared to the Cerrado on deep soil. Few species occurred across the four sites and only two important species (Anacardium occidentale and Qualea parviflora) in the four vegetation structure were common to both environments assessed. Furthermore, the occurrence of habitat-specialist species of rocky outcrops and high altitudes (Mimosa claussenii, Tibouchina papyrus, Schwartzia adamantium and Wunderlichia cruelsiana) and the high dissimilarity among sites suggest that altitude is the main responsible for the floristic dissimilarity, followed by the influence of substrate type. Therefore, the information with respect to phytophysiognomy type as a parameter to select areas for conservation, by itself, does not effectively ensure biodiversity preservation, owing to the existing flora heterogeneity not only at local but also at regional scale, revealed by the floristic and structural particularity of each site. Resumo: Descrevemos e comparamos a composição florística, a riqueza, a diversidade de espécies e a estrutura do componente arbustivo-arbóreo em pares de Cerrado Típico e Cerrado Rupestre em duas localidades no Estado de Tocantins. Em cada localidade, alocamos 10 parcelas de 20 × 50 m em um sítio de Cerrado Típico e em outro de Cerrado Rupestre e amostramos os indivíduos com Db 30cm ≥ 5 cm. Não identificamos tendência de que o Cerrado sobre solo raso com afloramentos rochosos tivesse riqueza e área basal inferiores ao Cerrado sobre solo profundo. Poucas espécies ocorreram nos quatro sítios e apenas duas espécies (Anacardium occidentale e Qualea parviflora) importantes para a estruturação das quatro vegetações foram comuns aos dois ambientes analisados. Aliado a isso, a ocorrência de espécies habitat-especialistas de ambientes com afloramentos rochosos e de elevadas altitudes (Mimosa claussenii, Tibouchina papyrus, Schwartzia adamantium e Wunderlichia cruelsiana) e a elevada dissimilaridade entre os sítios sugerem a altitude como principal responsável pela dissimilaridade florística, seguida pela influência do tipo de substrato. Assim, a utilização apenas da informação sobre o tipo fitofisionômico como parâmetro para escolha de áreas para conservação não garante a preservação efetiva da biodiversidade devido à heterogeneidade das floras existentes, tanto em escala local como regional, demonst...

Savannas on two different substrates in Brazil have a similar species diversity, but distinct edaphic conditions and species composition

“…Abreu et al (2012) and Mews et al (2014) suggested-but did not test their hypothesis-that the considerable environmental heterogeneity of the RS is the main factor promoting species diversity in this environment, despite the lower density of plants found in this environment, and the physical limitations imposed by the rocky outcrops (Pinto et al 2009;Abreu et al 2012;Mews et al 2014), these environments were similar in their species diversity. A number of previous studies (e.g., Gomes et al 2011;Maracahipes et al 2011;Abreu et al 2012;Lemos et al 2013;Mews et al 2014) also recorded similarities in the diversity of woody plant species in Cerrado savanna vegetation growing on different types of substrate, which indicates that this parameter may not be affected directly by the depth of the substrate or the chemical and granulometric properties of the surface layers of the soil. We confirmed here that the limitations of the RS substrate are counterbalanced by the greater heterogeneity of microsites found in this environment (measured here in terms of the variation in the chemical and granulometric properties of the soil), which support the occurrence of a variety of species, resulting in the similarities in species richness and diversity found between the RS and DS.…”

“…Despite these differences in species composition and vegetation structure, studies of adjacent RS and DS savannas have found little variation in the species diversity of the RS and DS (Gomes et al 2011;Maracahipes et al 2011;Abreu et al 2012;Lemos et al 2013;Mews et al 2014). Mews et al (2016) concluded that the marked differences between the substrates of these two environments are responsible for the differences in the composition of their plant communities.…”

Optimizing biomass estimates of savanna woodland at different spatial scales in the Brazilian Cerrado: Re-evaluating allometric equations and environmental influences

“…(n = 14). Despite high beta-diversity in the Cerrado biome, a few dominant species (oligarchic species) often account for most of the total denisity in many physiognomies [ 39 – 41 ].…”

Influence of Soil Type and Rocky Outcrops on the Species Distribution in a Woody Plant Community at Brazilian Semiarid

“…(Mid-west Brazil). Lemos et al (2013), in similar studies in a Cerrado sensu stricto area in Tocantins state (Mid-west Brazil) suggest that A. occidentale and Q. parviflora seem not to be influenced by different kinds of substrates. Ratter et al (2003) point that taxa of the genus Qualea are well-adapted to different substrates, and thus are widely distributed by the Cerrado biome.…”