Tree Responses to Soil and Edge Effects in a Semideciduous Forest Remnant

Abstract

The present study seeks to characterize the composition, structure, and functional traits of the tree stratum of a Semideciduous Forest in Pouso Alegre, MG, Brazil (22º12'43"S and 45º59'30"W), by comparing Edge and Interior habitats and their relation to human impacts and soil variables. The tree community (diameter at 1.3 m (DBH) higher than 5 cm) was inventoried using the point-centered quarter method by laying out 12 transects of 450 m each (six transects in the Edge and six in the Interior). Functional traits-wood density and seed mass-were obtained by genus. The impact evaluation and soil sample collection were realized per transect. We found significant differences in terms of the basal area (higher in Interior), diversity (higher in Interior) and community seed mass (higher in Edge). The effects of higher values of soil traits such as Calcium, Magnesium, cation sum (CS) and base saturation (V) on species composition were stronger in the Interior, while human induced impacts and soil Potassium had an overwhelming effect on the Edge.

Edge contrast modulates ant community responses to edge distance in agricultural landscapes

“…Humanmediated habitats can shelter exotics and open area ant species, which can mask species loss through species turnover. Therefore, approaches that emphasize other dimensions of biodiversity, such as species composition, decomposition of beta diversity (Baselga, 2010) and functional trait approaches (Terra et al, 2018), provide a better picture on how ant communities change along edge environments in agricultural landscapes. Such information is crucial to aid conservationists and stakeholders in designing better strategies for biodiversity conservation, since it allows them to access how antropogenic changes can filter species and affect ecological process (Socolar et al, 2016;Violle et al, 2007).…”

Unveiling neotropical serpentine flora: a list of Brazilian tree species in an iron saturated environment in Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais

“…Despite the proposal that serpentine soils are limiting factors to vegetation diversification, in our study it doesn't seem to be the key factor influencing this community's plurality, as the high species number can evidence. Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae, the families with higher species richness, also characterize the neighboring region flora (Guimarães, Almeida, Carneiro, Souza, & Siqueira, 2012;Terra et al, 2018), foregrounding its adaptive power facing edaphic variations.…”

Edge Effects on Successional Dynamics of Forest Fragments in the Brazilian Cerrado

“…Such changes can be abiotic, affecting microclimate conditions, incidence of light and wind (Camargo & Kapos, 1995;Didham & Lawton, 1999). Or biotic, modifying over time, the plant species abundance and composition, interactions between organisms, structure and dynamics of natural ecosystems (Harper et al, 2005;Magrach et al, 2014;Terra et al, 2018).…”