Phytogeographical patterns of dry forests sensu stricto in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

The Deciduous Complex that occurs in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, raises questions about the fl oristic affi nities of these formations in relation to neighboring phytogeographical domains. Little is known about the identity of the seasonal forest formations that comprise this complex, or about its relationships to abiotic components, such as soils, topography and climate. This study aimed to recognize the patterns of fl oristic similarity of all studied fragments of dry forest of northern Minas Gerais with soil and climate attributes, based on the available database. Cluster analysis indicated the existence of two fl oristic groups that had clear associations with either the Koppen's BSh (semi-arid) or Aw (seasonal tropical) climates. Likewise, the subdivisions of these groups showed clear associations with the dominant soil classes in the region. The Red-Yellow Latosol is the dominant soil classes in the BSh climatic domain, seconded by alluvial areas associated with Fluvic Neosols. The Aw domain comprised a much varied set of soils: Nitosols, Argisols, Cambisols and Litholic Neosols, most derived from the Bambuí limestone/slate formation. The ecotonal nature of northern Minas Gerais State provides a complex interaction between the fl ora of neighboring phytogeographical domains. This, allied to pedogeomorphological factors, allowed a better understanding of the effects of late Quaternary climate changes for the Deciduous Complex evolution. We conclude that the Latosols under present-day semi-arid climates (BSh) are relicts of former wetter climates, during which humid forest (semideciduous) expansion took place. Later, these semideciduous forests were subjected to a much drier climate, when selection for deciduousness led to the present-days Deciduous Complex scenario.

Ethnopedology of a Quilombola Community in Minas Gerais: Soils, Landscape, and Land Evaluation

“…The presence of flattened tops with Dystric Xanthic Ferralsols (Clayic) (FRxady) and Rhodic/Xanthic Lixisols (LXro/xa), locally denominated as "Highlands with red earth" (Figure 1), is associated with a complex of semi-deciduous forest and degraded seasonal deciduous forest (Carrasco), corroborating Arruda et al (2013). This vegetation, commonly found in the semiarid northern region of MG corresponds to secondary forest characterized by assemblying species of dry forest, including cerrado (savanna) and caatinga.…”

“…The presence of Ferralsols with corresponding semi-deciduous forest formations in this semiarid domain indicates a more humid paleoclimate, which is necessary for the pedogenesis of this deep-weathered soil and associated vegetation (Arruda et al, 2013). The establishment of the semiarid climate in the São Francisco River Depression led these forests to more deciduous formations, culminating in the current distribution Rev Bras Cienc Solo 2017;41:e0160223 pattern.…”

“…Catuti is considered to be a region susceptible to desertification (Brasil, 2010). As the study area is in a transitional region between Caatinga (dry forest) and Cerrado (savanna) (Ab'Sáber, 2003), it has Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests and Deciduous Seasonal Forests (Seasonal Dry Forests strictu sensu that mix species from different biomes and whose presence is related to carbonates of the Bambuí Group (Arruda et al, 2013). Degraded deciduous forests are denominated carrascos (Andrade-Lima, 1981).…”

First avifaunal survey of a Cerrado dry forest enclave on the right bank of the São Francisco River, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with insights on geographic variation of some species

“…Seasonally dry tropical forests (hereafter SDTFs) present a circum-Amazonian distribution in South America and have been the main focus of many recent biogeographic and conservation studies (e.g., Prado & Gibbs, 1993;Espírito-Santo et al, 2009;Pennington et al, 2000Pennington et al, , 2006Pennington et al, , 2009Zanella, 2010;Werneck, 2011;Werneck et al, 2011;Santos et al, 2012;Arruda et al, 2013;DryFlor, 2016). These forests are usually associated with fertile soils and with climates marked by highly seasonal rainfall with a severe dry season of three to six months, when most of the vegetation is leafless (Pennington et al, 2006;DryFlor, 2016).…”

Relações entre Atributos do Solo e Vegetações da Região Ecotonal do Médio Rio São Francisco, Brasil

“…Por causa do predomínio do clima semiárido na região, os fatores edáficos são considerados bons determinantes para o estabelecimento de populações de espécies vegetais (Queiroz, 2006;Santos et al, 2012;Arruda et al, 2013). Estudos sobre a relação solo-vegetação evidenciam-se bem esclarecedores para diversas localidades brasileiras (Schaefer et al, 2009) (Velloso et al, 2002).…”