As espécies herbáceas terrícolas têm papel fundamental nas interações bióticas que ocorrem no interior de florestas. Entender as relações ecológicas que envolvem este grupo de plantas é essencial para a compreensão da dinâmica de florestas tropicais, sobretudo em ambientes perturbados e complexos, como a floresta tropical atlântica brasileira. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar como as comunidades herbáceas terrícolas se relacionam com as características ambientais de floresta tropical atlântica primária e secundária, no sul do Brasil. Nós coletamos dados sobre composição e estrutura (riqueza, cobertura e altura média) de comunidades herbáceas em 16 parcelas de 36m² em cada habitat florestal. Nós analisamos a variação da composição herbácea nos dois habitats através de Análise de Variância Multivariada por Permutação (PerManova) e executamos uma análise de caminhos, utilizando a abordagem PLS-PM (Partial Least Square Path modeling), para testar efeitos diretos e indiretos da estrutura do componete arbóreo, fertilidade do solo, luminosidade e do componente lenhoso regenerativo na estrutura das comunidades herbáceas. Os resultados da PerManova mostraram que as comunidades herbáceas foram diferentes entre floresta primária e floresta secundária; as variáveis ambientais que significamente contribuiram para essa variação foram a abertura da copa, o pH e o teor de matéria orgânica. A análise de caminhos mostrou que na floresta primária a estrutura da comunidade herbácea foi afetada direta e positivamente pela fertilidade do solo e indireta e negativamente pela estrutura do componente arbóreo através de sua influência direta no componente lenhoso regenerativo; na floresta secundária a estrutura da comunidade herbácea foi afetada diretamente, tanto positivamente pela disponibilidade de luz, quanto negativamente pelo componente lenhoso regenerativo. De uma forma geral, as variáveis consideradas explicaram bem a variação nos dados das comunidades herbáceas. As comunidades herbáceas de florestas primárias e secundárias são diferentes em resposta ao ambiente biótico e abiótico peculiar de cada habitat florestal. A interação entre espécies herbáceas e o componente lenhoso regenerativo parece aumentar na floresta secundária, reforçando a ideia de que as relações entre esses grupos de plantas são intensificadas em ambientes perturbados. / Terrestrial herbs play a fundamental role in biotic interactions occurring inside forests. The study of the ecological relationships involving this plant group is essential for the understanding of the dynamics of tropical forests, especially in complex and disturbed environments, as the Brazilian Atlantic forest. The objective of this study was to evaluate how herb communities are related to environmental characteristics of old-growth and secondary tropical Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. We collected data on composition and structure (cover, richness and average height) of herbaceous communities in 16 plots with 36 m² in each forest habitat. We used a permutation multivariate analysis of variance (PerMANOVA) to evaluate the variation in composition of herb communities in old-growth and secondary forest and performed a path analysis to test direct and indirect effects of tree component structure, canopy openness, soil fertility and understory woody component on herb community structure. PerMANOVA results showed that composition of herb communities were different between old-growth and secondary forest; the environment variables canopy openness, organic matter, and pH significantly explained a proportion of the variability of the composition of herb communities. Path analysis indicated that in old-growth forest the herb community structure was affected direct and positively by soil fertility and indirect and negatively by the structure of tree component structure as above mediated by its influence on understory woody component. In secondary forest the herb community structure was affected directly and positively by light availability and negatively by the understory woody component. In general, the analysed variables explained well the variation in the herbaceous community data. Herb communities in old-growth and secondary forests respond differently to biotic and abiotic variables. Interactions between woody regeneration and herbaceous communities seem to increase in secondary forest, reinforcing the idea that relations between these plant groups are intensified in disturbed environments.

As espécies herbáceas terrícolas têm papel fundamental nas interações bióticas que ocorrem no interior de florestas. Entender as relações ecológicas que envolvem este grupo de plantas é essencial para a compreensão da dinâmica de florestas tropicais, sobretudo em ambientes perturbados e complexos, como a floresta tropical atlântica brasileira. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar como as comunidades herbáceas terrícolas se relacionam com as características ambientais de floresta tropical atlântica primária e secundária, no sul do Brasil. Nós coletamos dados sobre composição e estrutura (riqueza, cobertura e altura média) de comunidades herbáceas em 16 parcelas de 36m² em cada habitat florestal. Nós analisamos a variação da composição herbácea nos dois habitats através de Análise de Variância Multivariada por Permutação (PerManova) e executamos uma análise de caminhos, utilizando a abordagem PLS-PM (Partial Least Square Path modeling), para testar efeitos diretos e indiretos da estrutura do componete arbóreo, fertilidade do solo, luminosidade e do componente lenhoso regenerativo na estrutura das comunidades herbáceas. Os resultados da PerManova mostraram que as comunidades herbáceas foram diferentes entre floresta primária e floresta secundária; as variáveis ambientais que significamente contribuiram para essa variação foram a abertura da copa, o pH e o teor de matéria orgânica. A análise de caminhos mostrou que na floresta primária a estrutura da comunidade herbácea foi afetada direta e positivamente pela fertilidade do solo e indireta e negativamente pela estrutura do componente arbóreo através de sua influência direta no componente lenhoso regenerativo; na floresta secundária a estrutura da comunidade herbácea foi afetada diretamente, tanto positivamente pela disponibilidade de luz, quanto negativamente pelo componente lenhoso regenerativo. De uma forma geral, as variáveis consideradas explicaram bem a variação nos dados das comunidades herbáceas. As comunidades herbáceas de florestas primárias e secundárias são diferentes em resposta ao ambiente biótico e abiótico peculiar de cada habitat florestal. A interação entre espécies herbáceas e o componente lenhoso regenerativo parece aumentar na floresta secundária, reforçando a ideia de que as relações entre esses grupos de plantas são intensificadas em ambientes perturbados. / Terrestrial herbs play a fundamental role in biotic interactions occurring inside forests. The study of the ecological relationships involving this plant group is essential for the understanding of the dynamics of tropical forests, especially in complex and disturbed environments, as the Brazilian Atlantic forest. The objective of this study was to evaluate how herb communities are related to environmental characteristics of old-growth and secondary tropical Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. We collected data on composition and structure (cover, richness and average height) of herbaceous communities in 16 plots with 36 m² in each forest habitat. We used a permutation multivariate analysis of variance (PerMANOVA) to evaluate the variation in composition of herb communities in old-growth and secondary forest and performed a path analysis to test direct and indirect effects of tree component structure, canopy openness, soil fertility and understory woody component on herb community structure. PerMANOVA results showed that composition of herb communities were different between old-growth and secondary forest; the environment variables canopy openness, organic matter, and pH significantly explained a proportion of the variability of the composition of herb communities. Path analysis indicated that in old-growth forest the herb community structure was affected direct and positively by soil fertility and indirect and negatively by the structure of tree component structure as above mediated by its influence on understory woody component. In secondary forest the herb community structure was affected directly and positively by light availability and negatively by the understory woody component. In general, the analysed variables explained well the variation in the herbaceous community data. Herb communities in old-growth and secondary forests respond differently to biotic and abiotic variables. Interactions between woody regeneration and herbaceous communities seem to increase in secondary forest, reinforcing the idea that relations between these plant groups are intensified in disturbed environments.

As espécies herbáceas terrícolas têm papel fundamental nas interações bióticas que ocorrem no interior de florestas. Entender as relações ecológicas que envolvem este grupo de plantas é essencial para a compreensão da dinâmica de florestas tropicais, sobretudo em ambientes perturbados e complexos, como a floresta tropical atlântica brasileira. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar como as comunidades herbáceas terrícolas se relacionam com as características ambientais de floresta tropical atlântica primária e secundária, no sul do Brasil. Nós coletamos dados sobre composição e estrutura (riqueza, cobertura e altura média) de comunidades herbáceas em 16 parcelas de 36m² em cada habitat florestal. Nós analisamos a variação da composição herbácea nos dois habitats através de Análise de Variância Multivariada por Permutação (PerManova) e executamos uma análise de caminhos, utilizando a abordagem PLS-PM (Partial Least Square Path modeling), para testar efeitos diretos e indiretos da estrutura do componete arbóreo, fertilidade do solo, luminosidade e do componente lenhoso regenerativo na estrutura das comunidades herbáceas. Os resultados da PerManova mostraram que as comunidades herbáceas foram diferentes entre floresta primária e floresta secundária; as variáveis ambientais que significamente contribuiram para essa variação foram a abertura da copa, o pH e o teor de matéria orgânica. A análise de caminhos mostrou que na floresta primária a estrutura da comunidade herbácea foi afetada direta e positivamente pela fertilidade do solo e indireta e negativamente pela estrutura do componente arbóreo através de sua influência direta no componente lenhoso regenerativo; na floresta secundária a estrutura da comunidade herbácea foi afetada diretamente, tanto positivamente pela disponibilidade de luz, quanto negativamente pelo componente lenhoso regenerativo. De uma forma geral, as variáveis consideradas explicaram bem a variação nos dados das comunidades herbáceas. As comunidades herbáceas de florestas primárias e secundárias são diferentes em resposta ao ambiente biótico e abiótico peculiar de cada habitat florestal. A interação entre espécies herbáceas e o componente lenhoso regenerativo parece aumentar na floresta secundária, reforçando a ideia de que as relações entre esses grupos de plantas são intensificadas em ambientes perturbados. / Terrestrial herbs play a fundamental role in biotic interactions occurring inside forests. The study of the ecological relationships involving this plant group is essential for the understanding of the dynamics of tropical forests, especially in complex and disturbed environments, as the Brazilian Atlantic forest. The objective of this study was to evaluate how herb communities are related to environmental characteristics of old-growth and secondary tropical Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. We collected data on composition and structure (cover, richness and average height) of herbaceous communities in 16 plots with 36 m² in each forest habitat. We used a permutation multivariate analysis of variance (PerMANOVA) to evaluate the variation in composition of herb communities in old-growth and secondary forest and performed a path analysis to test direct and indirect effects of tree component structure, canopy openness, soil fertility and understory woody component on herb community structure. PerMANOVA results showed that composition of herb communities were different between old-growth and secondary forest; the environment variables canopy openness, organic matter, and pH significantly explained a proportion of the variability of the composition of herb communities. Path analysis indicated that in old-growth forest the herb community structure was affected direct and positively by soil fertility and indirect and negatively by the structure of tree component structure as above mediated by its influence on understory woody component. In secondary forest the herb community structure was affected directly and positively by light availability and negatively by the understory woody component. In general, the analysed variables explained well the variation in the herbaceous community data. Herb communities in old-growth and secondary forests respond differently to biotic and abiotic variables. Interactions between woody regeneration and herbaceous communities seem to increase in secondary forest, reinforcing the idea that relations between these plant groups are intensified in disturbed environments.

MSc (Zoology) / Department of Zoology / See the attached abstract below

Soil microbial communities are affected extensively by addition of amendments to their environment. Of particular concern is the addition of poultry litter, which contains a substantial C, energy, and nutrient supply, but also antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), antimicrobials, and a multitude of microbial species. This project seeks to primarily assess if there is a change in bacterial community structure in response to poultry litter amendments to pasture land across geographically independent land across northern Georgia. It may be that changes in the relative abundance of bacterial communities also result in alteration in ARGs, and the community resistance to antibiotics (“resistome”) which in turn increases the potential threat of antibiotic resistance genes. While another part of this study will determine changes in integrons and specific ARGs, this project will focus on changes in bacterial communities and the potential functional changes in the community, which in turn have consequences for ARG levels and its horizontal transfer to various members of the soil community. Addition of waste from livestock is a historical method for increasing nutrients needed in the soil for the cultivation of crops, and in turn causes pronounced shifts in soil microbial communities due to the addition of large amounts of carbon, nutrients, foreign microbes, and other material. This study is unique because it utilizes a novel and relatively large landscape-scale to determine if there are discernable and repeatable patterns of bacterial community structure change in response to amendment regardless of exact soil type or source of chicken litter amendment. In the future, these data can also provide insight into the changes in the relative abundance antibiotic related genes associated with community change. / M.S. / Soil is complicated, both in terms of its physical makeup and the organisms that live inside of it. Predicting changes in soil based on the addition of foreign material such as chemicals or biological waste is not an easy process, and whether or not it is even possible to reliably predict those changes is a matter of some dispute. This study is designed to illustrate that such changes can in fact be reliably and consistently predicted even with regard to the addition of complicated materials to the soil. In this study, specifically, the material in question is chicken litter. A mix of the bedding and waste produced by chickens, litter is commonly handled by composting and is added to soil in farms as a fertilizer rich in organic matter. It is possible to point at specific elements of the soil such as the chemistry and bacteria and see how it is changed with the addition of chicken litter, which allows us to determine the nature and extent of the change that chicken litter has on soil. This study is conducted on a larger scale than similar experiments conducted in the past, making it apparent that these relationships exist on a repeated basis. It is the object of this study to pave the way and make it easier for scientists in the future to determine these relationships in other unique contexts.