Apesar de vários estudos já terem examinado os efeitos de queimadas naturais, respostas das aves, como variação do padrão da comunidade, guilda trófica e das espécies, ao manejo de fogo ainda não foram investigadas em reservas do Cerrado, Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar a avifauna em trechos de campo sujo manejados (aceiros) e não manejados por fogo no Parque Nacional das Emas, Brasil Central. Este é o primeiro trabalho a avaliar os efeitos do manejo do fogo prescrito sobre comunidades de aves no Cerrado. Foram selecionados 12 locais de estudo. Em cada local, havia um transecto no aceiro e outro em campo sujo não manejado. Uma amostra consistiu em percorrer um transecto de 800m a pé, anotando as aves detectadas visual ou auditivamente a 15m do observador. Frequência de ocorrência e abundância das espécies e das guildas tróficas, riqueza total, abundância total da comunidade de aves e composição de espécies encontradas nos dois ambientes foram comparadas. No total, foram 881 registros e 41 espécies de aves. A riqueza e a abundância total de aves foram significativamente menores em aceiros. Houve diferença na composição de espécies de aves entre campos não manejados por fogo e aceiros. Dentre as guildas tróficas, os onívoros foram mais frequentes em campos não manejados. Granívoros, nectarívoros e onívoros foram mais abundantes em vegetação não manejada. Das 21 espécies analisadas separadamente, a coruja Athene cunicularia foi a única indicadora de aceiros e também mais frequente e abundante em aceiros. Por outro lado, foram identificadas quatro espécies indicadoras de campos sujos não manejados (Melanopareia torquata, Xolmis cinerea, Neothraupis fasciata e Coryphaspiza melanotis). Tais espécies podem ser usadas como indicadores ecológicos do regime e histórico do fogo e podem fornecer informações se os objetivos das ações de manejo do fogo estão sendo atingidos. Sete espécies foram mais frequentes e oito espécies foram mais abundantes em campos não manejados. Três dessas espécies são endêmicas do Cerrado (M. torquata, N. fasciata e Cypsnagra hirundinacea) e quatro estão sob algum grau de ameaça e são altamente sensíveis a distúrbios (Polystictus pectoralis, Alectrurus tricolor, C. melanotis e C. hirundinacea). Assim, cuidado e atenção devem ser redobrados para essas espécies, pois possuem alto valor para conservação e menor frequência ou abundância em aceiros. A menor riqueza e abundância de aves encontrada em aceiros devem estar relacionadas ao menor uso desse habitat, indicando menor disponibilidade de recursos como alimento, reprodução e abrigo, dado que o fogo altera a estrutura e composição da vegetação. Isso demonstra uma diminuição da qualidade do ambiental geral dos aceiros, provocada pela sua atual forma de manejo. Propomos que a queima dos aceiros seja feita em intervalos de 3 anos, em vez de 1 2 anos como tem sido realizada. Dessa forma, seria mantida a função dos aceiros como controle e barreira efetiva de incêndios e também para conservação da biodiversidade. / Several studies have investigated the effects of natural fires on Cerrado birds. However, avian responses to fire management have not been examined. We compared birds found in firebreaks (fire managed areas) and in fire unmanaged grasslands, in Parque Nacional das Emas, Central Brazil. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of prescribed fire on the Cerrado avifauna. We selected 12 study sites. We established one transect in the firebreak and another one in an unmanaged grassland area in each study site. Each bird count sample consisted of walking through an 800m transect recording birds seen or heard 15m from the observer. Species richness, total bird abundance, species composition, feeding guilds abundance and frequencies of occurrence and species abundance found in firebreaks and unmanaged grasslands were compared. In total, 881 individuals and 41 species were recorded. Species richness and total abundance were significantly lower in firebreaks. Species composition was different between firebreaks and unmanaged grasslands. Omnivores were more frequent and more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Granivores and nectarivores were more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Twenty-one bird species were analyzed separately, one of which (Athene cunicularia) was indicator of firebreaks and also more frequent and abundant in firebreaks. On the other hand, we identified four indicator species of unmanaged grasslands (Melanopareia torquata, Xolmis cinerea, Neothraupis fasciata and Coryphaspiza melanotis). These species might be used as ecological indicators of fire regime and history, and also give information if fire management goals are being achieved. Seven species were more frequent and eight species were more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Three of them are endemic of Cerrado (M. torquata, N. fasciata and Cypsnagra hirundinacea) and four of them are highly sensitive to human disturbances and threatened with extinction in some degree (Polystictus pectoralis, Alectrurus tricolor, C. melanotis e C. hirundinacea). Caution must be redoubled to these species, as they are of high conservation priority and less frequent and abundant in firebreaks. The lesser avifauna complexity in firebreaks than in unmanaged areas might be connected to the low use of this habitat, thus indicating lower resource availability, such as food, sites for reproduction and refuge. This is because fire changes vegetation structure and composition. We propose that firebreaks should be burnt every 3 years, instead of 1-2 years. In this way, fire management would keep its function as effective fire barriers and would also keep biodiversity conservation.

In seasons of above normal precipitation, populations of annual weedy species increase in great abundance in semi-arid desert plant communities. These increases in biomass tie up a considerable portion of the available nitrogen of such ecosystems and may depress subsequent annual grass germination. A big sagebrush-annual bromegrass plant community was irrigated to simulate a spring growth period of abundant precipitation amenable to annual bromegras s productivity. Productivity and nitrogen content parameters were monitored throughout the spring and summer to evaluate the short and potential long term effects of this seasonal increase in "precipitation". Irrigation increased annual bromegrass productivity almost 50 percent. This increase was a result of the combined factors of increased soil moisture content and increased nitrogen availability due, apparently, to increased soil microfloral nitrification activity under low water water stress conditions. The increased annual growth resulted in a greater nitrogen uptake despite an observed decrease in irrigated bromegrass percent nitrogen values. Both the tie up and irrigation effect were maintained throughout the summer and into the subsequent annual germination period. However, total soil nitrogen levels and bromegrass nitrogen mineralization rates suggest that soil nutrient conditions for subsequently germinating bromegrass seedlings do not differ because of previous spring irrigation treatment.

High latitude and altitude ecosystems are currently undergoing rapid and unprecedented warming in response to anthropogenically induced climate change. Subarctic, alpine regions are particularly vulnerable to increases in air temperature and changing precipitation regimes, which have caused cascading hydrological and ecological impacts. In addition to changing flow regimes, thawing permafrost, and declining glaciers, widespread changes in vegetation composition, density and distribution have been observed across northern regions. Specifically, treeline is advancing with increasing latitude and altitude and shrubs are increasing in height, extent, and density. Despite widespread documentation of this northern greening, few field-based studies have evaluated the hydrological implications of these changes. Quantification of total evapotranspiration (ET) across a range of vegetation gradients is essential for predicting water yield, yet challenging in cold alpine catchments due to heterogeneous land cover. Direct field-level measurements of transpiration (T) and evaporative partitioning across subarctic, alpine ecosystems and species are rare, yet essential to assess sensitivities and hydrological response to changing climate drivers. This thesis presents six years of surface energy balance components and ET dynamics and two years of sap flux measurements and critical zone stable water isotope sampling at three sites along an elevational gradient in a subarctic, alpine catchment near Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. These sites span a gradient of thermal and vegetation regimes, providing a space-for-time comparison for future ecosystem shifts: 1) a low-elevation boreal white spruce forest (~12-20 m), 2) a mid-elevation subalpine taiga comprised of tall, dense willow (Salix) and birch (Betula) shrubs (~1-3 m) and 3) a high-elevation subalpine taiga with short, sparse shrub cover (< 0.75 m) and moss, lichen, and bare rock. We utilize both mass flux measurements and stable water isotopes to evaluate the timing, magnitude, sensitivities, and sources of plant water uptake across these vegetation covers. Total ET decreased and interannual variability increased with elevation, with mean May to September ET totals of 349 (±3) mm at the forest, 249 (±10) mm at the tall, dense shrub site, and 240 (± 26) mm at the short, sparse shrub site. The shrub sites exhibited similar ET losses over 6 years despite differences in shrub height and abundance, although daily rates were higher at the tall shrub site in the peak growing season. From May to September, ET:R ratios were the highest and most variable at the forest (2.19 ± 0.37) and similar at the tall, dense shrub (1.22 ± 0.09) and short, sparse shrub (1.14 ± 0.05) sites. In the mid-growing season, mean T rates were greater at the dense shrub site (2.0 ± 0.75 mm d-1) than the forest (1.47 ± 0.52 mm d-1). During this time, T:ET was lower at the forest (0.48) than at the tall, dense shrub site (0.80). During the growing season between the two years, 2020 was considerably wetter and cooler than 2019. At the tall shrub site, during the mid-growing season (July 1-Aug 15), T dropped considerably in 2020 (-26%), as T was suppressed during the short, wet growing season. In contrast, T at the forest was only moderately suppressed (-3%) between years in this same period. Evapotranspiration was more strongly controlled by air temperature during the early and late season at the forest, while ET at the shrub site was more sensitive to warmer temperatures in the mid-growing season. At the shrub sites, ET was energy limited with no observed soil moisture limitation on T. While 2H and 18O of volume weighted precipitation became more depleted with elevation, the opposite was true in xylem water, where 2H and 18O became more enriched with elevation. Plant water uptake was more reflective of snow water at the forest site than both shrub sites, particularly early in the year and during dry periods. Near-surface bulk soil water had more negative lc-excess at the forest throughout the season and with depth, highlighting increased contributions from soil evaporation. This study combined direct measurements of sap flux, ET, and critical zone isotopes to provide new details on multi-year plant-soil-water dynamics, critical zone water cycling, and species-specific plant water uptake patterns in seasonally frozen soils, which have not previously been reported in cold regions. Our results suggest that advances in treeline will increase overall ET and lower interannual variability; however, the large growing season water deficit and stable water isotope signature at the forest indicates strong reliance on soil moisture from late fall and snowmelt recharge and the potential for plant water stress. Differences between the shrub species were apparent in the sap flux and stable isotope measurements, highlighting the need to further evaluate species specific responses and feedbacks when predicting hydrological fluxes across subarctic ecosystems. Overall, our results suggest that predicted changes in vegetation type and structure in northern regions will have a considerable impact on water partitioning and will vary in a complex way in response to changing precipitation timing, phase and magnitude. / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy

In the past 15 years, a large amount of public-domain lidar data has been collected over the Southeastern United States. Most of these acquisitions were undertaken by government agencies, primarily for non-forestry purposes. That is, they were collected mostly to aid in the creation of digital terrain models and to support hydrological and engineering assessments. Such data is not ideal for forestry purposes mainly due to the low pulse density per square meter, the high scan angles and low swath overlaps associated with these acquisitions. Nevertheless, the large area of coverage involved motivated this work. In this dissertation, I first look at how such lidar data (from non-forestry acquisitions) can be combined with National Forest Inventory tree height data to generate a large-area canopy height model. A simple linear regression model was developed using two lidar-based metrics as predictors: the 85th percentile of heights of canopy first returns and the coefficient of variation of the heights of canopy first returns. This model had good predictive ability over 76 disparate lidar projects, covering an area of approximately 297,000 square kilometers between them. Factors leading to the residual lack-of-fit of the model were also analyzed and quantified. For example, predictive ability was found to be better for softwood forests, forests with more homogeneous vegetation structure and for terrains with gentler slopes. Given that as much as 30% of the US is covered by public domain non-forestry lidar acquisitions, this is a first step for constructing a national wall-to-wall vertical vegetation structure map, which can then be used to ask important questions regarding forest inventories, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat suitability and fire risk mitigation. Then, I examined whether such lidar data could be further used to predict understory shrub presence over disparate forest types. The predictability of classification model was low (accuracy = 62%, kappa = 0.23). Canopy occlusion factors and the heterogeneity of the understory layer were implicated as the main reasons for this poor performance. An analysis of the metrics chosen by the modeling framework highlighted the importance of non-understory metrics (metrics related to canopy openness and topographic aspect) in influencing shrub presence. As the proposed set of metrics were developed over a wide range of temperate forest types and topographic conditions of Southeastern US, it is expected that it will be useful for more localized future studies. Lastly, I explored the possibility of combining lidar-derived canopy height maps with Landsat-derived stand-age maps to predict plantation pine site index over large areas (site index is a measure of forest productivity). The model performance was assessed using a Monte Carlo technique (RMSE = 3.8 meters, relative RMSE = 19%). A sample site index map for large areas of Virginia and South Carolina was generated (map coverage area: 832 sq. km) and implications were discussed. Analysis of the resulting map revealed the following: (1) there is an increase in site index in most areas, compared to the 1970s, and (2) approximately 83% of the area surveyed had low levels of productivity (defined as site index < 22.0 meters for base age of 25 years). This work highlights the efficacy of combining lidar-based canopy height maps with other similar remote sensing based datasets to understand aspects of forest productivity over large areas, and to help make policy-relevant recommendations. / Ph. D. / Remote sensing, in the context of forestry and forest resource management, involves the acquisition of data over large forested areas by sensors situated at a distance. A good example is a high resolution satellite image over several hundred square kilometers allowing us to identify (say) patches of deforestation, reduced forest productivity, or species diversity. Lidar (which stands for Light Detection and Ranging) is a relatively new remote sensing technology in which the time it takes for a laser pulse to travel to a feature and return back to the sensor is used to measure how far away the feature is from the sensor. In forests, data from airborne laser scanners enable the measurement of both horizontal and vertical canopy structure (such as tree height and canopy cover). Data from airborne laser scanners have been collected over a large area of the US (roughly 30%). However, the sensors and acquisition parameters are optimized for the inexpensive collection of the data needed for topographic mapping, and not for forest measurement. Moreover, the lidar data were collected in disparate and dissimilar projects, making the production of maps over large areas technically challenging. A systematic study is required looking at whether lidar data from such dissimilar projects can be used together to generate robust forest parameter maps over large areas. This dissertation details such a study. Airborne laser scanner data collected for topographic mapping across many disparate projects can be used to estimate several important characteristics about forests. My conclusions are as follows: • Lidar data can be combined effectively with field measurement data to produce high quality, wall-towall tree height maps over a large area. • These lidar data can be used to map understory shrub presence, albeit with less accuracy, since fewer laser pulses penetrate the canopy. • Forest age, as estimated using multi temporal earth resource satellite data, can be combined with lidar-derived tree heights to estimate site index (a way to know how fast trees grow on a site) for pine plantations. Most sites in the study area (Eastern Virginia and Central South Carolina) are not particularly productive (site index <22 meters), but they are more productive on the whole than they were in the 1970s. Overall, the work outlined in this dissertation highlights the efficacy of using lidar data from disparate nonforestry projects along with other datasets to monitor useful forest parameters over large areas, and to help make policy-relevant recommendations.

No description available.

Réalisé en cotutelle avec l'Université Montpellier II / L’étude qualitative et quantitative du mode de développement des plantes envahissantes est actuellement considérée comme une étape clef dans la compréhension des phénomènes d’invasion. L’objectif de ce travail est de préciser les relations qui existent entre la structure architecturale des buissons et leur caractère proliférant. Nous avons sélectionné cinq espèces buissonnantes (Cornus sericea L., Cornaceae ; Prunus virginiana L., Rosaceae ; Rhamnus cathartica L., Rhamnaceae ; Rhus typhina L., Anacardiaceae ; Zanthoxylum americanum Mill., Rutaceae) qui sont connues pour leur aptitude à bloquer la succession végétale sous certaines conditions au Sud du Québec (Canada). L’analyse architecturale a permis chez ces espèces de caractériser les unités structurelles et leurs modifications ontogéniques. Ces modifications ontogéniques doivent être prise en compte afin d’obtenir une description complète de la plasticité phénotypique chez ces espèces. L’analyse des différentes unités structurelles révèle qu’elles ne possèdent pas la même signification fonctionnelle : les niveaux d’organisation les plus grands sont responsables majoritairement des capacités de plasticité phénotypique de la plante et de sa compétition. Ces analyses ont abouti à la définition de trois stratégies architecturales correspondant à des comportements individuels et qui sont également pertinentes pour expliquer la prolifération des populations. / Qualitative and quantitative studies of the pattern of invasive plant development is now considered a key aspect in understanding invasiveness. This work was performed to determine relationships between shrub architectural plasticity and proliferating behaviour. We selected five shrub species (Cornus sericea L., Cornaceae ; Prunus virginiana L., Rosaceae ; Rhamnus cathartica L., Rhamnaceae ; Rhus typhina L., Anacardiaceae ; Zanthoxylum americanum Mill., Rutaceae) known to arrest plant succession under certain conditions in Southern Québec, Canada. Architectural analysis revealed species’ structural units and their ontogenic changes. These ontogenic changes need to be calibrated if a full description of phenotypic plasticity is to be obtained. Analysis of the plant structural units reveals that they are of different functional significance: the higher the level of organization, the greater the capacity for phenotypic plasticity and competition. We defined three architectural strategies related to individual behaviours and which can relevantly explain the population proliferation of shrubs.

Menispermaceae é uma família de distribuição pantropical que compreende diversos hábitos, em sua maioria, trepadeiras herbáceas e lianas, além de ervas, arbustos e árvores e onde se faz presente a variação cambial do tipo câmbios sucessivos. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo anatômico do caule e da raiz com ênfase nas lianas e trepadeiras herbáceas. Estudou-se 10 gêneros, 14 espécies e 31 espécimes. Cinco espécies são trepadeiras herbáceas, uma é herbácea (Cissampelos ovalifolia), uma é arbustiva (Abuta grandifolia), e o restante são lianas. As lianas e o arbusto apresentam em seus caules, a variação cambial do tipo câmbios sucessivos, enquanto as trepadeiras herbáceas e a erva não apresentam essa variação estrutural. Demonstra-se na liana Abuta imene, de maneira inédita para a família, que o periciclo origina o tecido conjuntivo, e esse, por sua vez, os câmbios sucessivos. Na análise comparativa do xilema secundário em diversos anéis sucessivos contidos no mesmo caule, destaca-se que o lenho produzido pelos novos anéis vasculares, normalmente, não difere qualitativamente do anel vascular original, no entanto há diferenças quando aos caracteres quantitativos: os diâmetros dos elementos de vasos sofreram aumento estatisticamente significativo no sentido centro-periferia. A análise do caule entre dois hábitos de Abuta grandifolia (liana X arbusto) mostrou que ambos possuem o mesmo padrão anatômico, porém, destaca-se que os diâmetros de elementos de vasos são menores no arbusto. Variações quantitativas ocorrem entre o lenho de caule e a raiz de trepaderias herbáceas e estão relacionadas ao diâmetro e comprimento dos elementos de vasos que são maiores nos caules. Alguns dados são relatados, pela primeira vez, para essa família: (1) Classifica-se o sistema subterrâneo de Disciphania hernandia como raiz tuberosa; (2) Ruptura do raio vascular através da transformação de iniciais radiais em iniciais fusiformes no xilema e floema; (3) A constatação de câmbios sucessivos na raiz da liana Chondrodendron platiphyllum. Apesar da similaridade quanto à estrutura anatômica geral do caule, existem caracteres que separam as trepadeiras herbáceas das lianas, tais como: o tipo de parênquima, morfologia dos cristais, o diâmetro e a distribuição dos elementos de tubos crivados e a transformação das iniciais, tanto fusiformes quanto radiais nas trepadeiras herbáceas. Fornece-se, ainda, alguns aspectos anatômicos do floema secundário no caule. Recomenda-se a padronização de estudos do lenho na família através do primeiro anel. Discute-se a presença de raio medular na família. Conclui-se que os caules das lianas são muito similares, portanto, a identificação das porções do lenho utilizadas em objetos comercializados somente é possível ao nível de família. / The pantropical family Menispermaceae includes several habits, like herbaceous vines, herbs, shrubs, and trees, showing cambial variant of successive type. The present study is an anatomical approach of stem and root of woody and herbaceous vine habits. In the present study, 31 specimens were investigated, sampling 10 genera and 14 species. Of those species, five are herbaceous vines, one is herb (Cissampelos ovalifolia) and one is shrub (Abuta grandifolia), and the rest are woody vines. Stems of woody vines and shrubs show successive cambia, not assigned to herbs and herbaceous vines. For the first time in the family, it is observed in the woody vine Abuta imene that the conjunctive tissue originates from the pericycle, and that the successive cambia, on its turn, originates from the conjunctive tissue. In the comparative analysis of secondary xylem in its several successive rings in the same stem, the wood produced by new vascular rings does not differ qualitatively from the original vascular ring, while there are differences in quantitative characters: diameter of vessel elements show significant increase in centreperiphery direction. The stem analysis between two habits of Abuta grandifolia (woody vine X shrub) shows that both have the same anatomical pattern. However, diameter of vessel elements is smaller in shrubs. Quantitative variation occurs between stem and root in herbaceous vine wood, and are related to diameter and length of vessel elements, which are larger in stems. Some data are described for the family for the first time: (1) The subterranean system of Disciphania hernandia is assigned as root tuber; (2) Splitting of ray by transformation of ray initials to fusiform initials in xylem and phloem; (3) Presence of successive cambia in woody vine root of Chondrodendron platiphyllum. Despite the anatomical general resemblance of stem, there are characters that distinguish herbaceous from woody vines, like: the kind of parenchyma, crystal morphology, diameter and distribution of sieve tube elements, and transformation of fusiform and ray initials in herbaceous vines. Additionally, some anatomical aspects of secondary phloem in stem are shown. The standardization of woody studies in the family considering the first ring is recommended. Discussions are made about the presence of medullary ray in the family. It is concluded that the stem of woody vines are very similar to each other, and thus, identification of woody portions used in commercialized objects is possible only at familial level.

Magistro darbe tiriama lauko – krūmynų stirnų (Capreolus capreolus) populiacijos būklė ir tvarkymas Vilkaviškio rajono savivaldybės teritorijoje. Darbo objektas – lauko – krūmynų stirnų populiacijos bei jų naudojimas Vilkaviškio rajono savivaldybės teritorijoje. Darbo tikslas - išnagrinėti lauko-krūmynų stirnų populiacijų būklę Vilkaviškio rajono savivaldybės teritorijoje. Darbo metodai – literatūros loginės ir statistinių duomenų analizė. Darbo rezultatai – Vilkaviškio rajono savivaldybės teritorijos medžioklės ploto vienetai vieni iš palankiausių veistis lauko – krūmynų stirnoms. Šioje teritorijoje buvo sumedžiota 1,39 % stirnų Lietuvos mastu per tiriamus septynerius metus. Kai kuriuose medžioklės ploto vienetuose stirnų populiacija turi tendenciją mažėti. Yra medžioklės plotų, kuriuose dėl išmintingo ūkininkavimo yra palaikoma stabili stirnų populiacija. / This postgraduate thesis examined the field - shrub reo - deer (Capreolus capreolus) population status and management Vilkaviškio the district municipality. Object of the thesis - field - shrub reo - deer population and their use Vilkaviškio the district municipality. Purpose of the thesis – analyse field-shrub Stirnų populations of the state Vilkaviškio the district municipality. Methods of the thesis - logical literature and statistical data anglysis. Rezults of the thesis – Vilkaviškio district units of the territory of the hunting area one of the most favorable reproducing the field – shrub roe deer. In this territory has been hunted the field – shrub roe deer 1.39% level during the seven years in Lithuania. Some of the hunting area units the field – shrub roe deer population has a tendency to decrease. There are hunting areas, where farming is a prudent the field – shrub roe deer maintained a stable population.

L’étude qualitative et quantitative du mode de développement des plantes envahissantes est actuellement considérée comme une étape clef dans la compréhension des phénomènes d’invasion. L’objectif de ce travail est de préciser les relations qui existent entre la structure architecturale des buissons et leur caractère proliférant. Nous avons sélectionné cinq espèces buissonnantes (Cornus sericea L., Cornaceae ; Prunus virginiana L., Rosaceae ; Rhamnus cathartica L., Rhamnaceae ; Rhus typhina L., Anacardiaceae ; Zanthoxylum americanum Mill., Rutaceae) qui sont connues pour leur aptitude à bloquer la succession végétale sous certaines conditions au Sud du Québec (Canada). L’analyse architecturale a permis chez ces espèces de caractériser les unités structurelles et leurs modifications ontogéniques. Ces modifications ontogéniques doivent être prise en compte afin d’obtenir une description complète de la plasticité phénotypique chez ces espèces. L’analyse des différentes unités structurelles révèle qu’elles ne possèdent pas la même signification fonctionnelle : les niveaux d’organisation les plus grands sont responsables majoritairement des capacités de plasticité phénotypique de la plante et de sa compétition. Ces analyses ont abouti à la définition de trois stratégies architecturales correspondant à des comportements individuels et qui sont également pertinentes pour expliquer la prolifération des populations. / Qualitative and quantitative studies of the pattern of invasive plant development is now considered a key aspect in understanding invasiveness. This work was performed to determine relationships between shrub architectural plasticity and proliferating behaviour. We selected five shrub species (Cornus sericea L., Cornaceae ; Prunus virginiana L., Rosaceae ; Rhamnus cathartica L., Rhamnaceae ; Rhus typhina L., Anacardiaceae ; Zanthoxylum americanum Mill., Rutaceae) known to arrest plant succession under certain conditions in Southern Québec, Canada. Architectural analysis revealed species’ structural units and their ontogenic changes. These ontogenic changes need to be calibrated if a full description of phenotypic plasticity is to be obtained. Analysis of the plant structural units reveals that they are of different functional significance: the higher the level of organization, the greater the capacity for phenotypic plasticity and competition. We defined three architectural strategies related to individual behaviours and which can relevantly explain the population proliferation of shrubs. / Réalisé en cotutelle avec l'Université Montpellier II

Menispermaceae é uma família de distribuição pantropical que compreende diversos hábitos, em sua maioria, trepadeiras herbáceas e lianas, além de ervas, arbustos e árvores e onde se faz presente a variação cambial do tipo câmbios sucessivos. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo anatômico do caule e da raiz com ênfase nas lianas e trepadeiras herbáceas. Estudou-se 10 gêneros, 14 espécies e 31 espécimes. Cinco espécies são trepadeiras herbáceas, uma é herbácea (Cissampelos ovalifolia), uma é arbustiva (Abuta grandifolia), e o restante são lianas. As lianas e o arbusto apresentam em seus caules, a variação cambial do tipo câmbios sucessivos, enquanto as trepadeiras herbáceas e a erva não apresentam essa variação estrutural. Demonstra-se na liana Abuta imene, de maneira inédita para a família, que o periciclo origina o tecido conjuntivo, e esse, por sua vez, os câmbios sucessivos. Na análise comparativa do xilema secundário em diversos anéis sucessivos contidos no mesmo caule, destaca-se que o lenho produzido pelos novos anéis vasculares, normalmente, não difere qualitativamente do anel vascular original, no entanto há diferenças quando aos caracteres quantitativos: os diâmetros dos elementos de vasos sofreram aumento estatisticamente significativo no sentido centro-periferia. A análise do caule entre dois hábitos de Abuta grandifolia (liana X arbusto) mostrou que ambos possuem o mesmo padrão anatômico, porém, destaca-se que os diâmetros de elementos de vasos são menores no arbusto. Variações quantitativas ocorrem entre o lenho de caule e a raiz de trepaderias herbáceas e estão relacionadas ao diâmetro e comprimento dos elementos de vasos que são maiores nos caules. Alguns dados são relatados, pela primeira vez, para essa família: (1) Classifica-se o sistema subterrâneo de Disciphania hernandia como raiz tuberosa; (2) Ruptura do raio vascular através da transformação de iniciais radiais em iniciais fusiformes no xilema e floema; (3) A constatação de câmbios sucessivos na raiz da liana Chondrodendron platiphyllum. Apesar da similaridade quanto à estrutura anatômica geral do caule, existem caracteres que separam as trepadeiras herbáceas das lianas, tais como: o tipo de parênquima, morfologia dos cristais, o diâmetro e a distribuição dos elementos de tubos crivados e a transformação das iniciais, tanto fusiformes quanto radiais nas trepadeiras herbáceas. Fornece-se, ainda, alguns aspectos anatômicos do floema secundário no caule. Recomenda-se a padronização de estudos do lenho na família através do primeiro anel. Discute-se a presença de raio medular na família. Conclui-se que os caules das lianas são muito similares, portanto, a identificação das porções do lenho utilizadas em objetos comercializados somente é possível ao nível de família. / The pantropical family Menispermaceae includes several habits, like herbaceous vines, herbs, shrubs, and trees, showing cambial variant of successive type. The present study is an anatomical approach of stem and root of woody and herbaceous vine habits. In the present study, 31 specimens were investigated, sampling 10 genera and 14 species. Of those species, five are herbaceous vines, one is herb (Cissampelos ovalifolia) and one is shrub (Abuta grandifolia), and the rest are woody vines. Stems of woody vines and shrubs show successive cambia, not assigned to herbs and herbaceous vines. For the first time in the family, it is observed in the woody vine Abuta imene that the conjunctive tissue originates from the pericycle, and that the successive cambia, on its turn, originates from the conjunctive tissue. In the comparative analysis of secondary xylem in its several successive rings in the same stem, the wood produced by new vascular rings does not differ qualitatively from the original vascular ring, while there are differences in quantitative characters: diameter of vessel elements show significant increase in centreperiphery direction. The stem analysis between two habits of Abuta grandifolia (woody vine X shrub) shows that both have the same anatomical pattern. However, diameter of vessel elements is smaller in shrubs. Quantitative variation occurs between stem and root in herbaceous vine wood, and are related to diameter and length of vessel elements, which are larger in stems. Some data are described for the family for the first time: (1) The subterranean system of Disciphania hernandia is assigned as root tuber; (2) Splitting of ray by transformation of ray initials to fusiform initials in xylem and phloem; (3) Presence of successive cambia in woody vine root of Chondrodendron platiphyllum. Despite the anatomical general resemblance of stem, there are characters that distinguish herbaceous from woody vines, like: the kind of parenchyma, crystal morphology, diameter and distribution of sieve tube elements, and transformation of fusiform and ray initials in herbaceous vines. Additionally, some anatomical aspects of secondary phloem in stem are shown. The standardization of woody studies in the family considering the first ring is recommended. Discussions are made about the presence of medullary ray in the family. It is concluded that the stem of woody vines are very similar to each other, and thus, identification of woody portions used in commercialized objects is possible only at familial level.