On the dynamics, floristic subdivision and geographical distribution of várzea forests in Central Amazonia

Abstract

Abstract. Within different stands of the white‐water inundation forest (várzea forest) in the Central Amazon region, composition, abundance, frequency and basal area of tree species were recorded. Determinations of age and radial growth rates were conducted using dendrochronological methods. Results show significant differences in age, history and species composition between stands as well as different growth strategies among dominant species. Assignment of tree species to growth strategies by means of anatomical and morphological features together with quantitative aspects of vegetational analysis permit the further differentiation of successional stages of várzea forests. General features of successional stages were quantitatively described and compared with forest types from outside the várzea. Many tree species of the várzea forests are widespread in South America, and not limited to floodplains. Their occurrence on sites with distinct dry seasons suggests that they are not specifically adapted to flooding but are tolerant to seasonality in general.

Seasonal changes of leaf Nitrogen content in trees of Amazonian floodplains

“…Study trees -Six tree species were chosen, all common to várzea floodplains in Central Amazonia and typical representants of different growth strategies and flood tolerance (Prance, 1979;Worbes et al, 1992): Cecropia latiloba (Cecropiaceae, "Embaúba", evergreen pioneer), Senna reticulata (Caesalpiniaceae, "Matapasto", evergreen pioneer), Nectandra amazonum (Lauraceae, "Louro", evergreen non-pioneer), Crateva benthamii (Capparidaceae, "Catoré", deciduous non-pioneer), Tabebuia barbata (Bignoniaceae, "Capitari", deciduous nonpioneer) and Vitex cymosa (Verbenaceae, 'Tarumã", deciduous non-pioneer).…”

Tree Species Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Wood Biomass of a Riparian Forest of the Lower Miranda River, Southern Pantanal, Brazil

“…This is somewhat surprising when the structure of these forest types is compared. Depending on the topographic position along the flooding gradient, late-successional inundation forests in the Amazon basin are highly stratified, the upper canopy establishing at heights between 20-35 m (Worbes et al 1992;Wittmann et al 2002). Upper-canopy trees represent 58%-65% of the total aboveground wood biomass in these forests (Schöngart 2003).…”

“…Structure and biomass of these forests is linked to the topographic position of forest stands and varies as a function of site colonization, stand age (forest succession) and frequency of natural habitat disturbance (Salo et al 1986;Terborgh and Petren 1991;Worbes et al 1992).…”

Efeito da inundação de longa duração sob o crescimento de Pouteria glomerata (Sapotaceae), uma arbórea da várzea da Amazônia Central

“…Diante das respostas apresentadas para o período experimental avaliado, a ausência da inundação representou a melhor condição ambiental para P. glomerata. Os resultados são corroborados pelos obtidos por Worbes et al (1992), Schluter et al (1993) Fernandez et al, (1999 e Parolin et al, (2001) em ambiente natural, que verificaram maior produtividade na fase terrestre que durante a fase aquática, bem como os maiores valores de assimilação fotossintética das plântulas controle em outros estudos com inundação artificial (Pimenta et al, 1998;Waldhoff et al, 1998;Parolin, 2001;Lopez e Kursar, 2003;Armbrüster et al, 2004) As plântulas que permaneceram sob inundação parcial apresentaram desenvolvimento ligeiramente menor que às plântulas controle. Sob este tratamento a espécie não produziu novas folhas, mas as manteve desde o início do experimento em bom estado fisiológico.…”

“…Por outro lado, outros mecanismos como o desvio do metabolismo aeróbio para anaeróbio, redução da taxa metabólica, produção de açúcares, antioxidantes e hormônios são adaptações para tolerar o déficit de oxigênio. Maiores detalhes podem ser encontrados em Joly e Crawford (1982), Worbes et al (1992), Crawford e Brändle (1996), Vartapetian e Jackson (1997), Pimenta et al (1998), Waldhoff et al (1998), De Simone et al (2003, Rengifo et al (2005), Oliveira-Wittmann (2007), Ferreira et al (2007Ferreira et al ( e 2009 e Parolin (2009).…”