Floristic composition, plant species abundance, and soil properties of montane savannas in the Gran Sabana, Venezuela

Ramírez, Nelson; Dezzeo, Nelda; Chacón, Noemí

doi:10.1016/j.flora.2006.07.005

Cited by 25 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The species richness found in both the sedimentary and crystalline areas was higher than that recorded in other arid environments in the world, which ranges from 33 to 75 species (Aarrestad et al, 2011;Alhamad et al, 2010;Donovan et al, 2010;He et al, 2007;Ramírez et al 2007), and was similar to the range (from 21 to 71 species) found in other caatinga areas (Araújo et al, 2005;Feitoza et al, 2008;Maracajá and Benevides, 2006;Reis et al, 2006). In general, both species richness and composition were similar between the sedimentary and crystalline areas (Tables 1 and 2).…”

Section: Species Richness and Compositionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Spatial variations in floristic composition and in the structure of vegetable communities have been characterised in a number of arid and semiarid regions in the world, contributing to the growing body of knowledge on the biodiversity of plants in these environments (Albuquerque et al, 2005;Fulbright, 2004;He et al, 2007;Morgenthal et al, 2006;Ramírez et al, 2007;Rodal and Nascimento, 2006;Silva et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, (1) microhabitats can have specific microclimatic and edaphic characteristics that allow the establishment of particular species, including rare species, and reduce the densities of generalist populations from nearby microhabitats (Alcoforado-Filho et al, 2003;Araújo et al, 2005;Fulbright, 2004;Lemos and Rodal, 2002;Reis et al, 2006;Silva et al, 2009); (2) variations in soil texture and the availability of nutrients help determine the species composition and vegetation types (Aarrestad et al, 2011;Amorim and Batalha, 2008;Araújo et al, 1999;Cañadas et al, 2010;He et al, 2007;Morgenthal et al, 2006;Ramírez et al, 2007); (3) soils with a higher water retention capacity allow increased biomass and ground cover (Alhamad et al, 2010;Munhoz et al, 2008); (4) the composition and structure of herbaceous plant communities growing under the canopy of woody species may be distinct from those in open areas due to litter fall, light interception and changes in nutrient availability (Cabin and Marshall, 2000;Fuller, 1999). Consequently, the vegetation community structure may be very different even among microhabitats in close proximity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial variation in the structure and composition of the herbaceous community in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil

Silva

Santos

et al. 2013

Braz. J. Biol.

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In the arid and semiarid environments of the world, microhabitats serve as models for the structure of vegetation communities. The goal of this study was to identify differences in the structures of the herbaceous communities growing on a crystalline substrate and those growing on a sedimentary substrate in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. One hundred 1 × 1 m plots were established in each area for quantitative sampling, with 69 species recorded in the crystalline area and 76 in the sedimentary area. The average plant density was higher in the sedimentary area, and average diameters and heights were greater in the crystalline area. The families and species with a high Importance Value Index (IVI) and a high Mixed Ecological Value Index (MEVI) differed between the areas. Of the species with high densities, only four were found in both areas. Shannon-Weiner diversity index values in the crystalline (2.96 nats/ind.-1 ) and sedimentary (2.89 nats/ind. ) areas were similar. Evenness values on both substrates were also similar (0.72 and 0.71 in the crystalline and sedimentary areas, respectively). This study shows that variations in plant establishment conditions between crystalline and sedimentary areas in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil should be considered as structure-modeling factors for the herbaceous community.Keywords: dry forest, phytosociology, herb, soil, caatinga, microhabitat. Variação espacial na estrutura da comunidade herbácea em uma região semiárida do Nordeste do Brasil ResumoNos ambientes áridos e semiáridos do mundo, os micro-habitats modelam a estrutura das comunidades vegetais. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar diferenças nas estruturas das comunidades herbáceas instaladas sobre o solo do embasamento cristalino e a bacia sedimentar em uma região semiárida do Nordeste do Brasil. Foram estabelecidas 100 parcelas de 1 × 1 m em cada área para amostragem das comunidades. Foram registradas 69 espécies na área cristalina e 76 na área sedimentar. A densidade média das plantas foi maior na área sedimentar e os diâmetros e as alturas médias foram maiores na área cristalina. As famílias e as espécies com maior Índice ) e sedimentar (2,89 nats/ind.-1 ) foram semelhantes. Os valores de equabilidade, em ambas as áreas, também foram semelhantes (0,72 e 0,71, nas áreas cristalina e sedimentar, respectivamente). Este estudo mostra que as variações nas condições de estabelecimento das plantas entre áreas cristalinas e sedimentares, em uma região semiárida do Nordeste do Brasil, devem ser consideradas como um fator modelador da estrutura das comunidades herbáceas.

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Section: Species Richness and Compositionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Spatial variation in the structure and composition of the herbaceous community in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil

Silva

Santos

et al. 2013

Braz. J. Biol.

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“…The palm swamp is partially flooded, and the forest supports a vegetation of much higher biomass than the other two plant formations. Based on the literature (Fölster, 1986;Berry et al, 1995;Ramírez et al, 2007), it is expected that acid soils, low concentrations of soil base cations and P as well as high Al concentrations will be found at the three sites. Plants do not just reflect soil nutrient availability, but their nutrition depends upon the genetic capability of nutrient acquisition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The reported soil pH values are 4.6 to 5.6 in water and 3.8 to 4.6 in KCl (Fölster, 1986) and the cation-exchange complex is highly saturated (80%-90%) with Al, while the level of basic cations, among them especially Ca, is very low. In the Gran Sabana, located in the Canaima National Park, Ramírez et al (2007) reported pH 4.37-4.47 in 1 M KCl and 0.65-1.10 cmol kg -1 exchangeable Al extracted with 1 M KCl solution and determined by titration with NaOH. A field survey was conducted in the present work to explore Melastomataceae Al-accumulating species in a vegetation continuum, which includes a savanna shrubland, a swamp community dominated by the palm Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae) and an evergreen forest.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aluminum accumulation in nineteen Melastomataceae species from three contrasting plant formations in acid soils

Olivares

Colonnello²,

Peña

et al. 2010

Z. Pflanzenernähr. Bodenk.

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This study describes the aluminum (Al) accumulation in relation to macronutrient and micronutrient elements in 19 Melastomataceae species in the Guayana Region in Venezuela. The purpose was to investigate the Al accumulation in four tribes and different life forms. Aluminum accumulation was predicted in the basal tribes Miconieae and Merianieae in contrast to the derived tribes and herbs from any tribe, which generally do not accumulate Al. The survey was done in a vegetation continuum, which includes a savanna shrubland, a palm-swamp community, and an evergreen forest in the Guayana region in southeastern Venezuela. The highest value of soil Al concentration was found in the savanna shrubland, where ten lignified Miconiae and one Merianeae Al accumulators were present. At the forest, the site with highest soil acidity, four Al-accumulator tree species from Miconiae were found. Miconia lepidota showed similar Al foliar concentrations in the savanna shrubland and forest, but foliar Ca was lower in the forest, even though it was the site with highest Ca in the soil. At the palm-swamp community, the Melastomeae shrub Macairea pachyphylla was found with an Al concentration of 0.59 g kg -1 in leaves and 0.16 g kg -1 in bark. At the same site, Al accumulation occurred in one Microlicieae species, one Miconieae species, and in the Melastomeae herbs Pterogastra divaricata

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Vegetation Types and Representativeness

Bjedov

Obratov–Petković

2019

Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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Floristic composition, plant species abundance, and soil properties of montane savannas in the Gran Sabana, Venezuela

Cited by 25 publications

References 24 publications

Spatial variation in the structure and composition of the herbaceous community in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil

Spatial variation in the structure and composition of the herbaceous community in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil

Aluminum accumulation in nineteen Melastomataceae species from three contrasting plant formations in acid soils

Vegetation Types and Representativeness

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