Au sein des sols forestiers, la richesse taxonomique et le rôle des microorganismes eucaryotes (en grande partie des champignons) restent encore largement méconnus. L’espèce d’arbre est un des facteurs qui structurent les communautés de ces microorganismes. Nous avons étudié l’impact de l’essence forestière (hêtre et épicéa) sur la diversité taxonomique et fonctionnelle de ces communautés par une approche métatranscriptomique et une approche biochimique (focalisée sur les champignons ectomycorhiziens). Nous avons montré un effet de la séquence étudiée (ADNr 18S, ADNc) sur la distribution taxonomique des communautés et développé un nouveau marqueur moléculaire mitochondrial pour l’étude des communautés de champignons métaboliquement actifs. L’identification de gènes d’intérêt écologique et industriel par séquençage systématique des banques métatranscriptomiques ainsi que l’identification fonctionnelle d’une nouvelle famille de transporteursmembranaires montrent l’intérêt de l’approche métatranscriptomique. L’approche biochimique a consisté en un dosage à haut débit, sur des extrémités racinaires ectomycorhizés, d’activités enzymatiques liées à la dégradation de la matière organique et à la mobilisation de l’azote et du phosphore du sol. L’ensemble de ces approches a permis de montrer un impact de l’essence forestière sur la nature des espèces présentes plutôt que sur la richesse taxonomique et une préférence d’hôte de certains groupes fongiques ectomycorhiziens. L’approche biochimique a montré une redondance fonctionnelle importante pour certaines activités enzymatiques tandis qu’une autre activité enzymatique était spécifique d’un groupe taxonomique fongique. / In forest soils, taxonomic richness and functional diversity of eukaryotic microorganisms (mainly Fungi) remain largely unknowned. Tree species is one of the main factors that structure eukaryotic microbial communities. We have studied the impact of tree species (beech and spruce) on taxonomic and functional diversity of these communities by using a metatranscriptomic approach and a biochemical one focusing on ectomycorrhizal fungi. We showed an effet of different sequences (18S rDNA, cDNA) on taxonomic composition of eukaryotic microbial communities and we developped anew mitochondrial molecular marker for the study of metabolically active fungal communities. Identification of ecologically and industrially important genes by the shotgun sequencing of metatranscriptomic libraries and also identification of a new family of transmembrane transporter demonstrate the great potential of the metatranscriptomic approach. The biochemical approachconsisted in a multiple enzymatic test carried out on ectomycorrhizal roots, of enzyme activities linked to organic matter degradation and phosphorus and nitrogen mobilization. All these approaches revealed an impact of tree species on the microbial species composition but not on taxonomic richness and also host preference for some ectomycorrhizal taxonomic groups. The biochemical approach showed a high functional redundancy for some enzyme activities while one activity was very specific of an ectomycorrhizal taxonomic group.

Species distribution and composition of bird communities of South Africa is not accidental, but is influenced by environmental conditions, habitat structure, and natural history of the area. Functional traits of the species (morphology, dietary strategies or reproductive parameters) give information on how the individuals interact with the environment they live in. The description of the functional characteristics, expose specific adaptations and the role of the species in the studied ecosystem. On the basis of functional characteristics we are able to estimate functional diversity of studied community. The spatial variability of species and functional diversity allocates longitudinal gradient. Regarding the morphological and reproductive parameters that are continuous in nature and more species- specific, we observe a faster increase in functional diversity. Considering the feeding preferences that are categorical and show a limited number of levels, a modest increase in functional diversity apparent is. Dietary functional diversity is more evenly distributed. Relationship between the functional and species diversity can provide us with information about how species are added to the community or answer the question to what extent the higher number of species requires more ecological space. The...

En contexte équatorial, les sédiments intertidaux sont colonisés par un continuum écologique allant de vasières en cours de stabilisation à des sols colonisés par divers faciès de mangroves. Les fonctions microbiennes édaphiques de ces écosystèmes sont méconnues. Ces recherches ont donc eu pour objectif de définir les facteurs de contrôle et de variabilité spatio-temporelle des fonctions microbiennes des milieux estuariens et littoraux de Guyane française. Elles ont été conduites sur divers stades de colonisation biologique de ces habitats et à diverses échelles spatio-temporelles en tenant compte du rôle de l'instabilité hydro-sédimentaire et des variabilités induites par les saisons hydro-climatiques. Différents facteurs pouvant influencer les fonctions microbiennes ont été considérés : i) la qualité chimique (RMN solide du 13C) de la MOS en fonction de la composition des formations végétales et de leurs stades de développement ; ii) les caractéristiques physico-chimiques des sédiments et des eaux interstitielles en fonction de la localisation des divers faciès de mangroves. Les résultats ont mis en évidence l'importance des instabilités hydro-sédimentaires dans la mise en place et la structuration des fonctions microbiennes sédimentaires de Guyane. En outre, pour les différents modèles étudiés, les facteurs de structuration sont apparus variables. Néanmoins, la MO, en termes de quantité et de qualité, s'est révélée être un facteur prépondérant pour l'expression de ces fonctions des stades allant de la vasière nue à la jeune mangrove. En revanche, il est apparu plus difficile de discerner des facteurs structurants génériques pour les divers faciès de mangroves matures. / Under equatorial conditions, coastal sediments of intertidal mudflats form an ecological continuum, from bare mud being stabilized to soil settled by various mangrove facies. Edaphic microbial functions of terrestrial ecosystems are extensively documented; on the contrary, this is not the case with regards to sedimentary environment. This study had the main objective defining the drivers of the spatiotemporal variability of microbial functions (aerobic respiration, metabolic diversity, and enzyme activities) in coastal sediments of French Guiana. These researches were carried out according to biological colonization states (mudflats, pioneer and mature mangroves) and using various spatiotemporal scales considering the fundamental role of the hydro-sedimentary instability and potential variability due to hydro-climatic seasons. Different factors which can influence microbial functions were studied: i) the chemical quality (13C solid-state NMR) of OM with respect to vegetation presence and composition, and its development state; ii) the physicochemical characteristics of sediments and porewaters according to localization and topography of the different mangrove facies. Generally, results showed the importance of hydro-sedimentary instability for the establishment and structuring of microbial functions. Moreover, giving the different models, structuring factors were variables. However, OM, in terms of quantity and quality, was overriding for the expression of these functions and this was true for the evolution states from mudflat to young mangrove. By contrast, it appeared much more difficult discerning generalizable drivers for mature mangroves.

L'objectif de ce travail était d'étudier les interactions entre une plante à phytoremédiatrice ?, Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), le ver de terre, Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae) et les microorganismes telluriques d'un sol pollué au plomb. Dans un premier temps, il apparaît que dans les sols contaminés, la présence de ver conduit à un accroissement de la biomasse des parties aériennes et racinaires des plantes ainsi qu'à une augmentation de l'absorption de plomb. La caractérisation physico-chimique des agrégats racinaires a montré que l'activité des vers augmente le taux de matière organique, la capacité d'échange cationique ainsi que l'azote total, le potassium total et disponible. De plus, la présence des vers augmente certaines activités enzymatiques de la rhizosphère. La croissance accrue de L. camara pourrait résulter de ces différentes actions. L'action des vers de terre sur les plantes se ferait via les communautés microbiennes telluriques. Ainsi, la biomasse des microorganismes, bactéries et champignons, des agrégats racinaires augmente en présence de vers. La PCR-DGGE n'a pas permis de mettre en évidence de modifications de la structure taxonomique des communautés bactériennes sous l'influence du Pb et/ou du vers, par contre l'analyse des profils physiologiques par plaques Biolog montre clairement une diversification fonctionnelle bactérienne. Les communautés fongiques voient, elles, leur diversité taxonomique, augmenter sous l'action des vers. La restructuration des populations microbiennes, en présence de vers, des agrégats racinaires élaborés par les plantes en milieu pollué au plomb est l'élément déterminant pour la compréhension de l'impact de P. corethrurus sur la croissance et la phytoremédiation de L. camara. L'association de ces deux organismes aurait donc un potentiel considérable pour le traitement de sites industriels pollués au plomb / The objective of this work was to study the interactions between phytoremediating plant Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), the earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossocolecidae) and microorganisms in soil contaminated with lead. Initially, it appears that in the contaminated soil, the presence of earthworm leads to an increase in the biomass of root and aerial parts of plants and increased absorption of lead. The physico-chemical characterization of root-aggregates showed that the activity of earthworms increases the rate of organic matter, cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen, total and available potassium. Moreover, the presence of earthworms increases certain enzymatic activities in the rhizosphere. The increased growth of L. camara could result from these different actions. The action of earthworm on plants would be through terrestrial microbial-communities. Thus, the biomass of microorganisms, bacteria and fungi, of root-aggregates increase in the presence of earthworms. By PCR-DGGE, we were unable to demonstrate differences in taxonomic diversity of the bacteria community but the analysis of physiological profiles with Biolog plates showed that the activities of earthworm enhance the functional diversity of soil bacteria. In other hand, the restructuring of fungal taxonomy has been clearly observed by the activity of earthworm. All changes observed can explain increased growth of plants and improved phytoextraction of heavy metal. Finally, the study underlines the role of the earthworms on the growth and the phytoextraction efficiency of the plants. So, the combination of earthworm P. corethrurus and plant L. camara could be considerable potential for the treatment of industrial sites polluted with lead

A Araucaria angustifolia, conhecida como Pinheiro-do-Paraná é uma espécie ameaçada de extinção no Brasil, está inserida num bioma rico em biodiversidade, a Mata Atlântica, e muito pouco se conhece sobre os atributos microbiológicos dessas florestas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar potenciais atributos microbiológicos do solo e algumas variáveis ambientais (atributos químicos, físicos e efeito sazonal), a fim de estabelecer bioindicadores de qualidade do solo em Florestas de Araucária. Os estudos foram conduzidos em dois parques estaduais localizados em diferentes regiões do Estado de São Paulo, no município de Campos do Jordão (Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordão - PECJ), nos municípios de Apiaí e Iporanga (Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira - PETAR) e também no município de Barra do Chapéu. Foram escolhidas três áreas no PETAR: FN floresta nativa de araucária, ND floresta de araucária com distúrbio antropogênico e PL plantio de araucária; e quatro áreas foram selecionadas no PECJ: FN floresta nativa de araucária, ND floresta de araucária com distúrbio antropogênico, PL plantio de araucária e PF plantio de araucária com ocorrência de fogo acidental. Ao acaso, foram selecionadas quinze árvores de araucária por área e sob a copa de cada uma delas foram retiradas amostras na profundidade de 0 a 20 cm, nas épocas seca e de chuva. Foram avaliados os atributos microbiológicos: arilsulfatase (ARIL), fosfatase ácida (FOSF), -glicosidase (GLIC), desidrogenase (DESID), nitrogênio (NBM) e carbono da biomassa microbiana (CBM), Número Mais Provável (NMP) de amonificantes (AMO), nitritadores (NITRI), nitratadores (NITRA) e desnitrificantes (DESN), respiração basal (RESP), respiração induzida por substrato (RIS), quociente metabólico (qCO2) e microbiano (qMIC). Além disso, foram estabelecidos perfis de ácidos graxos ligados a ésteres de fosfolipídios (EL-PLFAs) e o perfil de capacidade de utilização de substratos de carbono (Biolog). Alguns parâmetros químicos foram avaliados (pH, H++Al3+, Al3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, P, S, N, carbono orgânico total e a capacidade de troca catiônica) e físicos (teores de argila, silte e areia). Verificou-se que o PL do PETAR e PF do PECJ foram relacionados aos atributos microbiológicos ARIL, DESN, CBM e qMIC nos dois períodos. A partição da variabilidade revelou que a atividade microbiana foi influenciada mais pelas variáveis físico-quimicas do solo do que pelas áreas e épocas de coleta. Foram identificados perfis de ácidos graxos semelhantes aos aqui obtidos, PETAR e PECJ, em um trabalho anterior no PECJ, o que pode ser indicação de um padrão de EL-PLFA próprio do ecossistema de araucária. Os ácidos graxos 10Me18:0 (actinobactéria), a relação ácido graxo saturado/insaturado (sat/insat), o consumo dos substratos -metil-D-glicosídeo e o ácido 2-hidroxibenzóico foram também relacionados às áreas PL (PETAR) e PF (PECJ) nos períodos avaliados. Já os ácidos graxos 18:19c (fungo) e 16:17c (bactéria Gram-), o consumo dos substratos glicose-1-fosfato, -D-lactose e ácido -hidroxibutírico estavam relacionados às áreas impactadas dos dois parques durante os períodos de seca e chuva. Portanto, esses atributos microbiológicos são potenciais indicadores de qualidade do solo em Florestas de Araucária, no entanto, novas avaliações são necessárias para as devidas validações dos bioindicadores e monitoramento dessas áreas. / Araucaria angustifolia, also called Brazil Pine, is an endangered species in Brazil. It is part of one of the richest ecosystems in biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest, and little is known about the soil microbiological attributes in this forest. The objective was to evaluate the potential of the soil microbiological attributes and some environmental variables (physical-chemical properties and seasonal effect) to act as bioindicators of soil quality in Araucaria Forests. This study was undertaken in two different state parks in the São Paulo State, in Campos do Jordão county (Campos do Jordão State Park - PECJ), and in Apiaí and Iporanga counties (Alto Ribeira Touristic State Park - PETAR) and also in Barra do Chapéu county. Three areas were surveyed in PETAR: FN Native Araucaria forest, ND Native Araucaria forest with anthropogenic disturbance, and PL Reforested Araucaria; and four areas in PECJ: FN Native Araucaria forest, ND Native Araucaria forest with anthropogenic disturbance; PL Reforested Araucaria, and PF Araucaria reforestation submitted to an accidental fire. Fifteen Araucaria trees were selected at random in each area and the soil and roots were sampled at 0 20 cm depth, in two contrasting seasons (dry and wet). The microbiological attributes evaluated were: arylsulfatase (ARIL), acid phosphatase (FOSF), -glucosidase (GLIC), dehydrogenase (DESID), carbon (CBM) and nitrogen microbial biomass (NBM), most probable number (NMP) of bacterial ammonium oxidizers (AMO), nitrite oxidizers (NITRI), nitrate oxidizers (NITRA) and denitrifiers (DESN), basal microbial respiration (RESP), substrate induced respiration (RIS), and metabolic (qCO2) and microbial quotient (qMIC). Additionally we determined the phospholipid fatty acid profiles (ELPLFA) and the community level physiological profile (Biolog). Some chemical attributes were evaluated (pH, H++Al3+, Al3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, P, S, CEC, C/N ratio, total organic carbon (COT), total nitrogen (NT), as well as some physical ones (soil texture: clay, sand and silt contents). There was a high correlation between the PL of PETAR and the PF of PECJ and the microbiological attributes ARIL, DESN, CBM and qMIC in both periods. The partitioning of the variability evidenced that microbial activity was influenced in a higher degree by the physical-chemical properties of soil than by study areas or periods. We identified similar fatty acid profiles in PETAR and PECJ and they were also similar to the ones found in a previous work in PECJ, what could indicate a specific EL-PLFA pattern in the Araucaria ecosystem. The fatty acids 10Me18:0 (actinobacteria), the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio (sat/insat), the substrate utilization of -methyl-D-glucoside and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid were also related to PL (PETAR) and PF (PECJ), in both periods. The 18:19c fatty acid (fungi) and 16:17c (Gram-), the glucose-1-phosphate, -D-lactose and -hydroxybutyric acid were C-source for microbial communities of the impacted areas in both parks during the wet and dry periods. Therefore, these attributes are potential microbial indicators of soil quality in Araucaria forests, however, new evaluations are required to confirm these biomarkers and to monitor these areas.

The conservation and restoration of pollinators is essential for sustaining viable plant populations in fragmented landscapes because they promote genetic diversity among isolated individuals. As it is expected that populations in remnant and restored forests perpetuate with the passing of the years, restoration programs on highly fragmented agricultural landscapes should be planned with consideration for achieving this purpose. In this work, we evaluated plant-pollinator interactions in restored tropical forests, aiming to establish first, the pollination requirements of plant species in these communities, and secondly, if the pollinator requirements are being fulfilled and the interactions between plants and pollinators are being recovered throughout restoration practices. This work comprises two chapters: On the first one (\"Are the assemblages of tree pollination modes being recovered by tropical forest restoration?\") we did an extensive literature review about the pollination biology of tree species in primary forests, restoration plantings and naturally regenerated forests, to compare and identify patterns on the functional diversity and the assemblages of plant pollination modes. On the second chapter (\"Functional responses and effects from bee communities in restored tropical forests\") we sampled bees (i.e. the most important pollinators) and identified the pollen grains attached to their bodies in primary forests, restoration plantings, disturbed herbaceous areas and sugar cane fields; afterwards we analyzed and compared the functional diversity of bee communities and their floral resources, and the structure of plant-bee interactions, as well as in response to habitat isolation. We found that different restoration practices leaded to changes on patterns of abundance and species proportions of several plant pollination modes, which were stronger in locations under active restoration activities than in naturally regenerated forests. Specifically in the case of bees, we found that the demand for their function as pollinators in restoration plantings was even higher than that in primary forests, since many bee pollinated tree species were being widely and preferably used due to their great colonizing ability, or because of the many other ecosystem functions and services that they provide. We observed that bee communities were getting benefited by such over-representation of bee floral resources, since many species visited more frequently the tree species in restoration plantings than any other habitat. In spite of such preference, the bee abundance and functional diversity of bee communities was not fully recovered in restoration areas, maybe because of other habitat requirements that still remained undersupplied (e.g. nesting resources). Although the functional diversity on bee communities was high in general, only a small part, which was also the most vulnerable (i.e. larger bees that nest above-ground, have different levels of sociality and are polylectics), was the principal in charge of the pollination of the most important plant species in primary and restored forests (i.e. native woody plants, from initial successional stages and with different pollination modes). Throughout this work we analyzed and discussed the implications of these results for the recovery of plant-pollinator interactions and on future decisions in restoration and conservation planning / A conservação e restauração dos polinizadores são essenciais para a manutenção das populações vegetais nas paisagens fragmentadas, pois eles proporcionam diversidade genética entre os indivíduos espacialmente isolados. Dado que se espera que as populações nas florestas remanescentes e restauradas se perpetuem com o passar dos anos, os programas de restauração devem ser planejados também considerando alcançar este objetivo. Neste trabalho avaliamos as interações planta-polinizador em florestas tropicais em restauração, objetivando estabelecer primeiro, os requerimentos de polinização nestas comunidades e segundo, se os requerimentos de habitat dos polinizadores estão sendo satisfeitos e as interações entre plantas e polinizadores estão se recuperando através das práticas de restauração. O trabalho compreende dois capítulos: No primeiro (\"Os sistemas de polinização de espécies arbóreas estão se recuperando por meio da restauração de florestas tropicais?\") realizamos uma revisão exaustiva na literatura sobre a biologia da polinização das espécies de árvores em florestas primárias, plantios de restauração e florestas naturalmente regeneradas, para depois comparar e identificar os padrões na diversidade funcional e nas assembléias de modos de polinização. No segundo capítulo (\"Respostas e efeitos funcionais das comunidades de abelhas em florestas tropicais restauradas\") coletamos abelhas (i.e. os principais polinizadores) e identificamos os grãos de pólen aderidos no seu corpo, em florestas primárias, plantios de restauração, áreas herbáceas degradadas e cultivos de cana-de-açúcar; depois analisamos e comparamos a diversidade funcional das comunidades de abelhas e seus recursos florais, a estrutura das redes de interação e também em resposta ao isolamento do habitat. Encontramos que diferentes práticas de restauração geraram maiores mudanças nas proporções de vários modos de polinização, em lugares submetidos a atividades de restauração ativa do que nas florestas regeneradas naturalmente. Especificamente no caso das abelhas, encontramos que a demanda pela sua função como polinizadores nos plantios de restauração era ainda maior do que nas florestas primárias, pois muitas espécies de árvores polinizadas por abelhas estavam sendo preferivelmente plantadas graças a sua maior habilidade como colonizadoras, ou devido à outras funções e serviços ecossistêmicos que elas provem. Observamos que as abelhas estavam se beneficiando dessa super-representação de recursos florais, dado que várias espécies visitaram mais freqüentemente as árvores presentes nos plantios de restauração do que em outras áreas. Apesar dessa preferência, a abundância de indivíduos e a diversidade funcional nas comunidades de abelhas ainda não estavam totalmente recuperadas nas áreas em restauração, provavelmente porque alguns dos seus requerimentos de habitat estão ainda pouco fornecidos (e.g. recursos de nidificação). Mesmo que a diversidade funcional nas comunidades de abelhas tenha sido alta de maneira geral, somente uma pequena parte dela, que também foi a mais vulnerável (i.e. abelhas de maior porte que nidificam por cima do solo, tem diferentes níveis de sociabilidade e são polilécticas), foi a principal encarregada do transporte de pólen das plantas mais importantes das florestas primárias e restauradas (i.e. plantas lenhosas, nativas, de successão inicial e com diferentes modos de polinização). Ao longo deste trabalho analisamos e discutimos as implicações destes resultados para a recuperação das interações planta-polinizador e nas futuras decisões no planejamento da restauração e conservação ecológica

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The widespread threat of species extinctions caused by the destruction and degradation of tropical primary forest (PF) could potentially be mitigated by the expansion of regenerating secondary forest (SF). However, the conservation value of SF remains controversial, and is dependent on many site- and landscape-scale factors, such as habitat age and isolation. The aim of this thesis was to assess the role that SF can play in conserving forest bird communities in central Panama. We study a chronosequence of SF aged 20 – 120-years-old, with sites either isolated from or connected to extensive PF. Our results suggest that SF supports high levels of avian species diversity, and similar community composition to PF. Whilst forest age plays a small role in determining compositional similarity to PF, connectivity to extensive PF was the main determinant of community composition. However, despite high species richness and complex community composition, some specialist PF bird species were consistently absent from SF, and isolated PF. The functional diversity of bird communities did not vary substantially across the forest age and isolation gradient, although we did find some inter-guild differences; with distinct responses in communities of avian insectivores and frugivores. Isolation caused shifts in the trophic traits of insectivores, but resulted in alterations in the dispersal traits of frugivores. The response of bird and tree community composition to forest age and isolation was similar, although isolation had a stronger impact on bird communities. Bird diversity and composition tracked changes in forest structure over succession. When examining the role of birds in seed-dispersal networks, we found bird gape width was the key predictor of seed size consumed. Large-gaped birds consume a wider variety of seed-sizes than small-gaped birds, and small-seeded trees attract a greater number of bird species than large-seeded trees. These results imply high levels of redundancy among small-gaped avian frugivores and small-seeded plant species, but low levels of redundancy among large-seeded plant species and their avian dispersers. This suggests that large-seeded plants may be most at risk of dispersal failure following any change in avian frugivore assemblages. Together, these results suggest that SF can play a key role in sustaining most tropical biodiversity, and in maintaining ecosystem services. Our findings emphasise the importance of integrating SF into conservation strategies to support and buffer tropical PF habitats.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-04-09T12:04:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Oscar Daniel Plazas Jiménez - 2018.pdf: 5372786 bytes, checksum: ccb044675f67ad084ee0892aa9c09bae (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-04-09T12:42:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Oscar Daniel Plazas Jiménez - 2018.pdf: 5372786 bytes, checksum: ccb044675f67ad084ee0892aa9c09bae (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-09T12:42:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Oscar Daniel Plazas Jiménez - 2018.pdf: 5372786 bytes, checksum: ccb044675f67ad084ee0892aa9c09bae (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-06 / Theoretical and empirical evidence suggest that the mass ratio and the niche complementarity hypothesis are able to explain how species trait composition drives decomposition, an ecosystem process related with nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. These two hypotheses are respectively related with the mean trait values of individuals present in a given community and its variance. Thus, it is impossible to test them adequately without experiments planned to approach these two aspects simultaneously. Although leaf functional traits influence decomposition process, an experimental design made to disentangle the unique, combined and strength of effects of the mechanisms proposed by MRH and NCH on decomposition should use leaf functional traits as predictors, but this has not yet been done. Here, we used two leaf nutritional traits (leaf nitrogen and magnesium-calcium content) and one structural trait (specific leaf area; SLA) from 20 species of seasonal dry forest to simulate leaf mixtures with different mean trait values (calculated as community-weighted mean; CWM) and variation of trait values (functional diversity; FD). For each trait, 40 leaf mixtures with different quasi-orthogonal combinations of CWM and FD were selected and left in the field to decompose for six months. We found that MRH mechanisms exert predominant role on decomposition where low and high CWM values were related with high biomass loss. Then, this add more evidence to support that the mean trait values of leaf mixtures are the main drivers of biomass loss. Contrary to previously evidences, trait complementarity does not increase efficiency and instead, an increasing in niche complementarity (high FD values) was followed by a decreasing in biomass loss efficiency. So, this question the importance of mechanism behind NCH on leaf decomposition. Additionally, we found that whereas nutritional traits were able to predict leaf decomposition, structural traits were not, in opposite to what is reported in the literature. Our results highlight that the mean resources quality of the leaf mixtures is the main driver of biomass loss and trait complementarity does not increase efficiency of biomass loss. Due to this, we proposed that in future studies mean resources quality of the leaf mixtures will be use as parameter to test and predict the possible impacts of human-induced changes on nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. / Evidências empíricas e teóricas sugerem que os mecanismos propostos pelas hipóteses da razão da massa e da complementaridade de nicho (HRM e HCN respectivamente) são capazes de explicar como a composição de atributos funcionais das espécies determina a decomposição, um importante processo ecossistêmico relacionado com a ciclagem de nutrientes e o sequestro de carbono. Essas duas hipóteses estão relacionadas, respectivamente, com o valor médio dos atributos das espécies presentes em uma dada assembleia ou com a sua variação. Portanto, é impossível testar adequadamente essas duas hipóteses sem experimentos planejados para abordar simultaneamente esses dois aspectos, algo que é raramente feito. Os atributos funcionais foliares apresentam forte efeito nas taxas de decomposição em ecossistemas terrestres. Assim, um desenho experimental feito para separar a magnitude relativa dos efeitos únicos e combinados da HRM e HCN sobre a decomposição de folhas deve usar atributos foliares como preditores, mas até agora isso não foi feito. Neste trabalho, simulamos misturas de folhas com diferentes valores médios ponderados pela abundância (i.e., community weighted mean, CWM) de atributos e dispersão (i.e., functional diversity; FD) destes valores para dois atributos foliares nutricionais (conteúdo de nitrogênio e conteúdo de magnésio e cálcio) e um atributo estrutural (área foliar específica; SLA) quantificados para 20 espécies de floresta estacional semidecídua. Para cada atributo, selecionamos 40 misturas de folhas com diferentes combinações quase-ortogonais de CWM e FD que posteriormente foram deixadas durante seis meses no campo para decompor. No geral, encontramos que os mecanismos propostos pela HRM têm um papel predominante na decomposição, porque altos e baixos valores de CWM estiveram relacionados com uma alta perda de biomassa. Isso adiciona mais evidência à que os valores médios dos atributos das misturas de folhas são os principais determinantes da perda de biomassa. Porém, diferente do esperado, o aumento da complementaridade dos atributos das misturas de folhas (isto é, altos 8 valores de FD) levou à uma diminuição da eficiência da perda de biomassa e não à um aumento, como era esperado. Isso coloca em questão a importância dos mecanismos propostos pela HCN na decomposição de folhas. Adicionalmente, encontramos que os atributos nutricionais foliares foram capazes de predizer a perda de biomassa enquanto que, ao contrário do reportado na literatura, o atributo estrutural SLA não teve qualquer relação com a decomposição. Nossos resultados destacam que em misturas de folhas os valores médios do conteúdo de nutrientes estão associados com as taxas de decomposição e a complementaridade dos atributos não incrementou a eficiência na perda de biomassa. Portanto, nós propomos que em estudos futuros os valores médios do conteúdo de nutrientes das misturas de folhas sejam usados como parâmetros para testar e predizer os possíveis efeitos das mudanças na biodiversidade induzidos pelo homem sobre a ciclagem de nutrientes e o sequestro de carbono

A Araucaria angustifolia, conhecida como Pinheiro-do-Paraná é uma espécie ameaçada de extinção no Brasil, está inserida num bioma rico em biodiversidade, a Mata Atlântica, e muito pouco se conhece sobre os atributos microbiológicos dessas florestas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar potenciais atributos microbiológicos do solo e algumas variáveis ambientais (atributos químicos, físicos e efeito sazonal), a fim de estabelecer bioindicadores de qualidade do solo em Florestas de Araucária. Os estudos foram conduzidos em dois parques estaduais localizados em diferentes regiões do Estado de São Paulo, no município de Campos do Jordão (Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordão - PECJ), nos municípios de Apiaí e Iporanga (Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira - PETAR) e também no município de Barra do Chapéu. Foram escolhidas três áreas no PETAR: FN floresta nativa de araucária, ND floresta de araucária com distúrbio antropogênico e PL plantio de araucária; e quatro áreas foram selecionadas no PECJ: FN floresta nativa de araucária, ND floresta de araucária com distúrbio antropogênico, PL plantio de araucária e PF plantio de araucária com ocorrência de fogo acidental. Ao acaso, foram selecionadas quinze árvores de araucária por área e sob a copa de cada uma delas foram retiradas amostras na profundidade de 0 a 20 cm, nas épocas seca e de chuva. Foram avaliados os atributos microbiológicos: arilsulfatase (ARIL), fosfatase ácida (FOSF), -glicosidase (GLIC), desidrogenase (DESID), nitrogênio (NBM) e carbono da biomassa microbiana (CBM), Número Mais Provável (NMP) de amonificantes (AMO), nitritadores (NITRI), nitratadores (NITRA) e desnitrificantes (DESN), respiração basal (RESP), respiração induzida por substrato (RIS), quociente metabólico (qCO2) e microbiano (qMIC). Além disso, foram estabelecidos perfis de ácidos graxos ligados a ésteres de fosfolipídios (EL-PLFAs) e o perfil de capacidade de utilização de substratos de carbono (Biolog). Alguns parâmetros químicos foram avaliados (pH, H++Al3+, Al3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, P, S, N, carbono orgânico total e a capacidade de troca catiônica) e físicos (teores de argila, silte e areia). Verificou-se que o PL do PETAR e PF do PECJ foram relacionados aos atributos microbiológicos ARIL, DESN, CBM e qMIC nos dois períodos. A partição da variabilidade revelou que a atividade microbiana foi influenciada mais pelas variáveis físico-quimicas do solo do que pelas áreas e épocas de coleta. Foram identificados perfis de ácidos graxos semelhantes aos aqui obtidos, PETAR e PECJ, em um trabalho anterior no PECJ, o que pode ser indicação de um padrão de EL-PLFA próprio do ecossistema de araucária. Os ácidos graxos 10Me18:0 (actinobactéria), a relação ácido graxo saturado/insaturado (sat/insat), o consumo dos substratos -metil-D-glicosídeo e o ácido 2-hidroxibenzóico foram também relacionados às áreas PL (PETAR) e PF (PECJ) nos períodos avaliados. Já os ácidos graxos 18:19c (fungo) e 16:17c (bactéria Gram-), o consumo dos substratos glicose-1-fosfato, -D-lactose e ácido -hidroxibutírico estavam relacionados às áreas impactadas dos dois parques durante os períodos de seca e chuva. Portanto, esses atributos microbiológicos são potenciais indicadores de qualidade do solo em Florestas de Araucária, no entanto, novas avaliações são necessárias para as devidas validações dos bioindicadores e monitoramento dessas áreas. / Araucaria angustifolia, also called Brazil Pine, is an endangered species in Brazil. It is part of one of the richest ecosystems in biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest, and little is known about the soil microbiological attributes in this forest. The objective was to evaluate the potential of the soil microbiological attributes and some environmental variables (physical-chemical properties and seasonal effect) to act as bioindicators of soil quality in Araucaria Forests. This study was undertaken in two different state parks in the São Paulo State, in Campos do Jordão county (Campos do Jordão State Park - PECJ), and in Apiaí and Iporanga counties (Alto Ribeira Touristic State Park - PETAR) and also in Barra do Chapéu county. Three areas were surveyed in PETAR: FN Native Araucaria forest, ND Native Araucaria forest with anthropogenic disturbance, and PL Reforested Araucaria; and four areas in PECJ: FN Native Araucaria forest, ND Native Araucaria forest with anthropogenic disturbance; PL Reforested Araucaria, and PF Araucaria reforestation submitted to an accidental fire. Fifteen Araucaria trees were selected at random in each area and the soil and roots were sampled at 0 20 cm depth, in two contrasting seasons (dry and wet). The microbiological attributes evaluated were: arylsulfatase (ARIL), acid phosphatase (FOSF), -glucosidase (GLIC), dehydrogenase (DESID), carbon (CBM) and nitrogen microbial biomass (NBM), most probable number (NMP) of bacterial ammonium oxidizers (AMO), nitrite oxidizers (NITRI), nitrate oxidizers (NITRA) and denitrifiers (DESN), basal microbial respiration (RESP), substrate induced respiration (RIS), and metabolic (qCO2) and microbial quotient (qMIC). Additionally we determined the phospholipid fatty acid profiles (ELPLFA) and the community level physiological profile (Biolog). Some chemical attributes were evaluated (pH, H++Al3+, Al3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, P, S, CEC, C/N ratio, total organic carbon (COT), total nitrogen (NT), as well as some physical ones (soil texture: clay, sand and silt contents). There was a high correlation between the PL of PETAR and the PF of PECJ and the microbiological attributes ARIL, DESN, CBM and qMIC in both periods. The partitioning of the variability evidenced that microbial activity was influenced in a higher degree by the physical-chemical properties of soil than by study areas or periods. We identified similar fatty acid profiles in PETAR and PECJ and they were also similar to the ones found in a previous work in PECJ, what could indicate a specific EL-PLFA pattern in the Araucaria ecosystem. The fatty acids 10Me18:0 (actinobacteria), the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio (sat/insat), the substrate utilization of -methyl-D-glucoside and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid were also related to PL (PETAR) and PF (PECJ), in both periods. The 18:19c fatty acid (fungi) and 16:17c (Gram-), the glucose-1-phosphate, -D-lactose and -hydroxybutyric acid were C-source for microbial communities of the impacted areas in both parks during the wet and dry periods. Therefore, these attributes are potential microbial indicators of soil quality in Araucaria forests, however, new evaluations are required to confirm these biomarkers and to monitor these areas.