In tropical regions, climate change is predicted to lead to increased drought frequency and intensity. The extent to which this will shift the functional diversity of tropical tree communities is unknown due to a limited understanding about the response of seedlings to variable soil moisture. We addressed this issue using an experimental approach in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. We exposed seedlings of eight tree species, representing different successional stages, to an experimental soil moisture gradient. We evaluated (1) How species mean trait values relate to species-specific demographic responses to drought, (2) How intraspecific variation in functional traits relates to a soil moisture gradient, (3) The extent to which demographic response to short-term experimental drought mirrored long-term demographic response of seedlings to natural variation in soil moisture. Growth and survival of species with more `conservative` functional strategies tended to be more sensitive to a change in soil moisture and more tolerant to drought compared to species with more `acquisitive` strategies. In addition, traits of individual seedlings within species varied with respect to soil moisture, suggesting a potential role for phenotypic plasticity in response to drought. Specifically, this response was significant for three species (Inga laurina, Guarea guidonia, Schefflera morototoni) and was primarily associated with relative carbon investment in leaves and roots. Species demographic responses to soil moisture in experimental and long-term studies were weakly positively correlated but more variables are at play under natural conditions, which partly decouples these responses. Overall, our results suggest that tree species with `conservative` functional strategies are likely to become more common under increasing drought frequency and intensity in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. However, understanding the broader implications of our findings will require considering the effects of other disturbances, including hurricanes, which may have contrasting effects. Furthermore, intraspecific variation in functional traits is likely to influence how the seedlings of tropical tree species cope with drought.

<p>Over the last two decades, mycoflorostic studies undertaken in Guyanese forests have uncovered hundreds of new fungal species and genera. One of the recovered fungal families was the Xylariaceae, although most were not identified to species. Members of this family play ecological roles as decomposers, endophytes, and pathogens of vascular plants and grass species. In addition, this group is increasingly recognized as a significant source of novel metabolic products with potential for applications in medicine, agriculture, and industrial biofuel. Given its potential, we took a more targeted approach to the documentation of this group. Our sampling efforts drawing on more than two decades of field collections yielded ca. 90 species in 12 genera, including a putative pathogen, <em>Xylaria karyophthora</em> of the seeds of <em>Chlorocardium</em> spp (Greenheart). Despite the significance of Greenheart to the Guyanese economy, little is known about the biology and ecology of this fungus. Due to the lack of available resources to study this fungus, our objectives were two-fold: first, to sequence and annotate the genome of <em>X. karyophthora</em> to provide a resource for genome-centric explorations, and to use this genome to infer the biology and ecology of this fungus. We focused on identifying and characterizing secretomes, viz. carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and secondary metabolites biosynthetic gene clusters (SMBGCs) to infer the nutritional strategy of this fungus. Our results suggest that <em>X. karyophthora</em> has the capacity to act as both an endophyte and a pathogen. To make further inferences about the population, we used SSR markers to elucidate the genetic diversity and population structure of <em>X. karyophthora</em>. <em>X. karyophthora</em> populations have high genetic diversity, potentially exploiting both outcrossing and inbreeding reproductive strategies, and demonstrate a pattern consistent with human-mediated spread. This work will contribute information on new species and records of Xylariaceous fungi and their allies from Guyana with particular emphasis on unraveling the epidemiology, genetic diversity, and population structure of <em>X. karyophthora.</em></p>

<p> Over the last two decades, mycoflorostic studies undertaken in Guyanese forests have uncovered hundreds of new fungal species and genera. One of the recovered fungal families was the Xylariaceae, although most were not identified to species. Members of this family play ecological roles as decomposers, endophytes, and pathogens of vascular plants and grass species.  In addition, this group is increasingly recognized as a significant source of novel metabolic products with potential for applications in medicine, agriculture, and industrial biofuel. Given its  potential, we took a more targeted approach to the documentation of this group. Our sampling  efforts drawing on more than two decades of field collections yielded ca. 90 species in 12 genera, including a putative pathogen, Xylaria karyophthora of the seeds of Chlorocardium spp (Greenheart). Despite the significance of Greenheart to the Guyanese economy, little is known  about the biology and ecology of this fungus. Due to the lack of available resources to study this  fungus, our objectives were two-fold: first, to sequence and annotate the genome of X.  karyophthora to provide a resource for genome-centric explorations, and to use this genome to  infer the biology and ecology of this fungus. We focused on identifying and characterizing  secretomes, viz. carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and secondary metabolites  biosynthetic gene clusters (SMBGCs) to infer the nutritional strategy of this fungus. Our results  suggest that X. karyophthora has the capacity to act as both an endophyte and a pathogen. To  make further inferences about the population, we used SSR markers to elucidate the genetic  diversity and population structure of X. karyophthora. X. karyophthora populations have high  genetic diversity, potentially exploiting both outcrossing and inbreeding reproductive strategies, and demonstrate a pattern consistent with human-mediated spread. This work will contribute  information on new species and records of Xylariaceous fungi and their allies from Guyana with  particular emphasis on unraveling the epidemiology, genetic diversity, and population structure  of X. karyophthora </p>

At present there is uncertainty over the response of neotropical ecosystems to the climatic changes of the Quaternary. The majority of vegetation reconstructions from the region are derived from fossil pollen records extracted from lake sediments. However, the interpretation of these records is restricted by limited knowledge of the contemporary relationships between the vegetation and pollen rain of neotropical ecosystems, especially for more open vegetation such as savanna and dry forest. This research aims to improve the interpretation of these records by investigating the relationship between the vegetation and modern pollen rain of different savanna and seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) ecosystems in Bolivia using artificial pollen traps and surface lake sediments to analyse the modern pollen rain. Vegetation data is used to identify taxa that are floristically important within the different ecosystems and to allow modern pollen/vegetation ratios to be calculated. The modern pollen rain from the upland savanna is dominated by Moraceae/Urticaceae (35.1%), Poaceae (29.6%), Alchornea (6.1%) and Cecropia (4.1%), whilst the seasonally-inundated savanna sites are dominated by Moraceae/Urticaceae (30.7%), Poaceae (19.5%), Cyperaceae (14.0%) and Cecropia (7.9%). These two different savanna ecosystems are only slightly differentiated by their modern pollen rain. The main taxa in the modern pollen rain of the upland SDTF are Moraceae/Urticaceae (25.8%), Cecropia (10.5%), Acalypha (7.6%) and Combretaceae/Melastomataceae (6.7%). Seasonally-inundated SDTF is dominated by Cecropia pollen to the extent that it was removed from the pollen sum and the main non-Cecropia pollen types are Moraceae/Urticaceae (39.0%), unknown type df 61 (6.4%), Asteraceae (6.3%), Celtis (6.0%) and Physocalymma scaberrimum (4.9%). These two SDTF ecosystems are well differentiated by their modern pollen rain, implying that they may be defined in fossil pollen records. The modern pollen rain obtained from the surface lake samples is generally complementary to that obtained from the artificial pollen traps for a given ecosystem. All sites have a high Moraceae/Urticaceae pollen signal due to effective dispersal of this pollen type from areas of evergreen forest in close proximity to the study sites. The savanna sites show lower Poaceae percentages than have been previously reported in the literature by some authors and this raises the possibility than the extent of this ecosystem in the past may have been underestimated. Modern pollen/vegetation ratios show that many key vegetation types are absent/under-represented within the modern pollen rain.

The biochemistry of leaves merges the fates of trees and the atmosphere. Leaf primary metabolism cycles carbon and indirectly drives atmospheric circulation via the latent heat of transpiration. Tropical forests contain half of global forest carbon, and actively cycle carbon and energy year round, making them critical components of the coupled biosphere-climate system. Climate change threatens tropical forests with rising temperatures and increasing variability of precipitation. Their response will influence future biodiversity as well as the fate of the climate. Understanding the physiological attributes that define tropical tree responses and feedbacks to climate is a current research priority. The emission of isoprene gas from plant leaves has been demonstrated to enhance leaf tolerance to high temperatures and drought. Isoprene is a volatile secondary metabolite produced in the chloroplast by approximately one-third of plant species. While the benefits of isoprene are supported by extensive laboratory and greenhouse-based research, work has only begun to explore how the trait is integrated in plant functional strategies. Whether isoprene influences differential species performance and survival across environments has yet to be tested. An impediment to filling this clear ecological research gap has been a lack of instrumentation capable of quantifying isoprene emissions from leaves in remote field settings. The first study presented here tests the hypothesis that isoprene emission influences plant community assembly shifts across environmental gradients and through time in tropical forests. The capacity for a species to produce isoprene was associated with increased relative abundance at higher temperatures and following drought anomalies. A negative relationship with the length of seasonal drought suggests a trade-off between isoprene emission and other plant traits, such as deciduous leaf habit. The second study presents the development of a new instrument that is uniquely optimized for field-based ecological research on leaf volatiles. The new system, named PORCO (Photoionization of Organic Compounds), utilizes custom leaf cuvettes, precision light control, and an optimized commercial photoionization detector to achieve real-time detection of leaf emissions with detection limits better than 0.5 nmol m⁻² leaf s⁻¹. The third study utilizes PORCO to test hypotheses about the structuring of isoprene within plant functional strategies and across forest microenvironments in an eastern Amazonian evergreen tropical forest. The results support the role of isoprene—and potentially other volatile isoprenoids—in mitigating effects of intermittent sun exposure in the sub-canopy. Emissions are structured in a complex, multivariate manner that depends on taxonomy, leaf and wood characteristics, tree height, and light environment. The results from this dissertation work demonstrate that isoprene emission from leaves affects plant responses to climate at ecologically relevant scales. Isoprene influences climate not only by its effect on primary leaf functions, but also by directly altering atmospheric chemistry, and contributing to aerosol and cloud properties. Understanding isoprene's role in forest responses to increasing temperatures and drought will help to predict the feedbacks between forest ecosystems and climatic change.

Neste trabalho são estudadas epífitas, aqui consideradas como plantas vasculares usualmente encontradas sobre outras, sem parasitá-las, durante alguma fase do ciclo de vida. O local de estudos, a reserva da Cidade Universitária "Armando de Salles Oliveira" (aproximadamente 46o43’W, 23o33’S), em São Paulo-SP, é uma ilha de mata secundária em ambiente urbano e representa uma das poucas áreas cobertas por floresta na região. O clima em São Paulo é Cwa, com temperatura média anual de 19,2oC e precipitação de 1207 mm. As famílias de epífitas representadas são Polypodiaceae (9 espécies), Bromeliaceae (8), Orchidaceae (6), Moraceae (5), Araceae (4), Cactaceae (3), Piperaceae (1), Blechnaceae (1) e Araliaceae (1), totalizando 38 espécies, 3 delas exóticas. As epífitas representam 12% do total de espécies vasculares citadas para a reserva. Esta riqueza em espécies é maior do que seria esperada, dada a pequena pluviosidade local. Estão representadas todas as principais formas de vida epifíticas conhecidas. A estrutura do componente epifítico foi estudada em uma área contígua de 2000 m2 no interior da reserva, sobre todas as árvores de perímetro do caule a 1,30 m de altura (PAP) > 40 cm. As árvores foram mapeadas e espécie, altura, PAP e presença ou ausência de lianas foram registradas para cada uma delas. Dos 86 indivíduos arbóreos, 29 são de Alchornea sidifolia, 10 de Croton floribundus e 8 de Piptadenia gonoacantha, as espécies mais abundantes. Pterocarpus rohrii, Rollinia sylvatica e Myrcia tenuivenosa são citações novas para a reserva. Foram reconhecidas 2 subáreas na área amostrada, com base no estádio sucessional das árvores, evidenciando o caráter de mosaico da vegetação. Análises de distribuição de freqüências de DAP indicam o declínio das espécies mais abundantes e prevêem profundas alterações na estrutura da floresta. Foi feito um censo total dos indivíduos epifíticos com mais de 15 cm de comprimento presentes sobre todas as árvores amostradas. Foi considerado como indivíduo cada colônia, ou grupo compacto de plantas distintamente separado de outros da mesma espécie. Foram encontrados 380 indivíduos, sobre 58 árvores (67% do total). Para cada um deles foram registrados altura de fixação, diâmetro do substrato, inclinação, região da árvore (fuste; alta, média e baixa copa), tipo de substrato (bifurcação, cavidade e casca) e espécie. Análises detalhadas de distribuição ao longo das variáveis foram feitas para as 5 espécies mais abundantes: Microgramma squamulosa(75 indivíduos), Rhipsalis baccifera (67), Pleopeltis astrolepis (57), Aechmea bromeliifolia (52) e Polypodium hirsutissimum (45). O tamanho da árvore é positivamente correlacionado com a quantidade de epífitas que suporta. Há grandes variações entre as espécies arbóreas neste sentido. P. rohrii e Casearia sylvestris são as que suportam maiores quantidades de epífitas por indivíduo. As variáveis ligadas à árvore (espécie, DAP, estádio sucessional,subárea, presença ou ausência de lianas) parecem não influir na composição epifítica sobre ela. As epífitas apresentam ampla distribuição vertical e ao longo de diâmetros de substrato, com grande sobreposição entre as espécies e conseqüente ausência de estratificação. A. bromeliifolia apresentou preferência de estabelecimento em cavidades. A baixa copa e o fuste são as regiões das árvores com maior quantidade de epífitas. De forma geral, as epífitas têm preferência por alturas médias dentro da floresta (ca. 8 m), diâmetros grandes (10-30 cm), inclinações horizontais a médias e positivas. R. baccifera demonstrou preferência por P. rohrii como suporte; P. hirsutissimum e P. astrolepis, por A. sidifolia. M. squamulosa é a espécie de maior dispersão considerando-se todas as variáveis. / This work assesses floristics and structure of epiphytes, here defined as vascular plants usually found living on others, without parasitizing them, during at least a part of their life cycles. The study site, the reserve of the Cidade Universitária "Armando de Salles Oliveira" (nearly 46o43’W, 23o33’S), in São Paulo-SP (Brazil), is a secondary forested area isolated in urban environment and represents one of the few forested areas in this city. The climate type is Köppen’s Cwa, the mean annual temperature is 19,2 oC and the mean annual precipitation is 1207 mm. Polypodiaceae (9 species), Bromeliaceae (8), Orchidaceae (6), Moraceae (5), Araceae (4), Cactaceae (3), Piperaceae (1), Blechnaceae(1) and Araliaceae (1) are the families of epiphytes found at the study site, making up 38 species, 3 of them being exotic. Epiphytes are 12% of the vascular plant species cited for the reserve. This species richness is larger than expected in face of the little mean annual precipitation. All main epiphytic life forms are represented. The structure of the epiphyte community upon all the trees with girth of trunk at the height of 1,30 m (GBH) with more than 40 cm was studied in a 2000 m2 plot inside the reserve. The trees’ location inside the plot was mapped and species, height, GBH and presence/absence of lianas were recorded for each of them. From 86 trees, 29 were of Alchornea sidifolia, 10 of Croton floribundus and 8 of Piptadenia gonoacantha, the most abundant species. Pterocarpus rohrii, Rollinia sylvatica and Myrcia tenuivenosa are cited for the first time for the reserve. Two different subareas could be distinguished inside the plot as to the successional stage of the trees, an evidence for the mosaic character of the vegetation. DBH frequency distributions predict the decline of the most abundant species populations and consequent deep changes in the structure of the forest. A total census of the epiphytic stands more than 15 cm long was made upon all sampled trees. A stand was defined as a compact group of plants well separated from conspecifics. 380 stands were found, on 58 trees(67% of total). For each stand, height of attachment, branch or trunk diameter, inclination, height zone (trunk, lower, middle or upper crown), type of substrate (hole, fork or bark) and epiphyte species were recorded. The five more abundant species were analysed as to the distribution along the variables. They were: Microgramma squamulosa (75 stands), Rhipsalis baccifera (67), Pleopeltis astrolepis (57), Aechmea bromeliifolia (52) and Polypodium hirsutissimum (45). Tree height and DBH were positively correlated with number of stands and number of epiphyte species. There is great variability between tree species in these aspects. P. rohrii and Casearia sylvestris are the species with highest numbers of stands per tree. Tree characteristics such as species, DBH, successional stage, successional vegetation stage and presence/absence of lianas don’t seem to have influence on epiphyte composition on them. Epiphytes show broad vertical and diameter distributions. Species’ vertical and diameter distributions overlap largely and, as a consequence, there is no distinct stratification. A. bromeliifolia showed preference for establishment in holes. Lower crown and trunk were the zones with the largest number of stands. Epiphytes as a whole show preference for middle heights in the forest (ca. 8 m), large diameters (10-30 cm), horizontal to middle and positive inclinations. R. baccifera showed preference for P. rohrii as support tree; P. hirsutissimum and P. astrolepis showed preference for A. sidifolia. M. squamulosa is the most ubiquituous epiphytic analyzed species.

Este trabalho analisa aspectos, em diversas escalas temporais e espaciais, da estrutura e dinâmica da comunidade arbórea na Reserva da Cidade Universitária Armando de Salles Oliveira (CUASO) (23º33\' S, 46º43\' W), em São Paulo, SP. A partir dos dados obtidos são sugeridas ações de manejo para fins de conservação da comunidade arbórea no local. A Reserva é uma mancha de floresta secundária com cerca de 10 ha de área. O histórico (1930-1994) das modificações da paisagem no entorno (330 ha) da Reserva é descrito, e evidencia o processo de urbanização ocorrido no período, com conseqüente diminuição de área coberta por vegetação herbácea e aumento da área coberta por construções. As áreas florestadas sofreram declínio e posterior recuperação parcial. Cerca de 40% da Reserva tem vegetação com mais de 70 anos de idade, e 22% são áreas com menos de 27 anos de idade, localizadas próximo às bordas. Foi realizado o mapeamento, medição de DAP e identificação de todas as 1157 árvores com DAP &gt; 25 cm em 8,58 ha (Área 1, a área total da Reserva com exceção do lago e uma porção de 1,5 ha dominada por Eucalyptus sp.) e de todas as 1270 árvores com DAP &gt; 9,5 cm em 2 ha (Área 2) no interior da Reserva. Na Área 1 foram encontradas 91 espécies (10,9% exóticas) e índice de Shannon H\' = 3,34 nats/ind., com 33,7% das espécies sendo representadas por apenas um indivíduo. Espécies exóticas e nativas introduzidas estão, em geral, restritas às porções próximas à borda, com exceção de Archontophoenix cunninghamiana. Não existem áreas na Reserva a mais de 110 m de distância da borda, devido ao seu tamanho e formato. Análises de correspondência mostram variação importante na comunidade (DAP &gt; 25 cm) com a distância da borda até cerca de 50 m, mas sugerem maior importância da idade da vegetação na determinação da composição da comunidade. Na Área 2, foram encontradas 103 espécies (10,7% exóticas) e H\' = 3,54 nats/ind. Foram descritas as mudanças na estrutura e composição da comunidade arbórea (DAP &#8805; 15,9 cm) ocorridas entre 1992 e 1997 em uma área de 100 x 50 m no interior da Reserva. Densidade e área basal da comunidade total aumentaram consideravelmente no período; diversidade e equabilidade permaneceram praticamente as mesmas, mas diversidade e equabilidade de espécies nativas diminuíram. Entre as árvores com DAP &#8805; 9,5 cm, em uma área de 2,1 ha, A. cunninghamiana foi a espécie com maior densidade, com 305 indivíduos (22,5% do total). A espécie mostra preferência por estabelecimento em locais sombreados. A análise da estrutura de tamanhos indica um aumento futuro da densidade relativa da espécie. Dois levantamentos com 2,5 anos de intervalo (DAP &#8805; 9,5 cm) mostraram a morte de três dos 154 indivíduos iniciais e o recrutamento de mais 89, levando a um crescimento populacional de 19,4 %.ano-1, muito elevado. CUAKIA, um gap model derivado de KIAMBRAM, foi parametrizado para simular o estado atual da floresta na Reserva. O modelo previu uma fase sucessional inicial dominada por Piptadenia gonoacantha, seguida por uma fase de dominância de Croton floribundus e Alchornea spp. e, posteriormente, por Ficus insipida e outras espécies de dossel tolerantes à sombra e de grande longevidade. A distribuição espacial de árvores em múltiplas escalas espaciais foi analisada usando a função L (modificação de K de Ripley) e g uni e bivariada. O conjunto de indivíduos com DAP &gt; 25 cm apresentou distribuição regular em pequenas escalas (r < 6 m) e agregada em escalas maiores (17 m < r < 115 m). Quase todas as espécies analisadas apresentaram distribuição agregada em alguma escala espacial. Os resultados sugerem competição em pequena escala e limitação de dispersão de sementes como os principais fatores determinantes dos padrões encontrados. Os dados de mapeamento das árvores com DAP &gt; 25 cm foram usados para a divisão da Reserva em áreas de vegetação relativamente homogênea. Análise de correspondência foi usada como ferramenta de ordenação de parcelas circulares (r = 10 m) dispostas em uma grade regular com espaçamento de 10 m. Os valores de cada parcela foram mapeados e com base nestes mapeamentos foram definidas nove zonas de manejo no interior da Reserva. Uma das zonas é quase exclusivamente ocupada por Eucalyptus sp.. Outras apresentam predominância de espécies exóticas e/ou plantadas na Reserva. Sugere-se a introdução de espécies nativas e o controle de exóticas, especialmente A. cunninghamiana, no interior e no entorno da Reserva. / This work analyses the structure and dynamics, at several spatial and temporal scales, of the arboreal community in the Reserve of the Cidade Universitária Armando de Salles Oliveira (CUASO) (23º33\' S, 46º43\' W), São Paulo, SP. Based on these data, management actions are suggested, aiming at the conservation of the arboreal community at the site. The Reserve is a secondary forest patch with an area of approximately 10 ha. We describe the 1930-1994 changes in landscape structure in the surroundings (330 ha) of the Reserve, showing the urbanization process in the region. As a consequence, the area covered by grasslands was reduced and the area covered by buildings increased. Forested areas declined and recovered partially afterwards. Roughly 40% of the Reserve encompasses vegetation more than 70 years old and 22% are areas less than 27 years old, located near the edges. We mapped, measured the dbh and identified all 1157 trees with dbh &gt; 25 cm in 8.58 ha (Area 1, the total area of the Reserve excluding the lake and a 1.5 ha-area dominated by Eucalyptus sp.) and all 1270 trees with dbh &gt; 9.5 cm in 2 ha (Area 2) in the Reserve. In Area 1 we found 91 species (10.9% being exotic) and a Shannon index H\' of 3,34 nats/ind., with 33.7% of the species being represented by only one individual. Exotic species and introduced natives were generally restricted to the regions near the edge, with the exception of Archontophoenix cunninghamiana. No place inside the Reserve is more than 110 m away from the edge, due to the size and shape of the Reserve. Correspondence analyses showed important variation of the community (dbh &gt; 25 cm) with distance to the edge up to 50 m, but suggest that age of vegetation is more important in defining the composition of the community. In Area 2 we found 103 species (10.7% exotic) and H\' = 3.54 nats/ind. We analysed structural and compositional changes of the arboreal community (dbh &#8805; 15.9 cm) between 1992 and 1997 within a 100 x 50 m plot. Density and basal area of the total community increased considerably in the period; species diversity and evenness remained almost the same, but diversity and evenness of native species decreased. In a 2.1 ha area inside the Reserve, A. cunninghamiana was the species with the highest density among trees with DBH &#8805; 9.5 cm, with 305 individuals (22.5% of total). The species shows preference for establishment in shady sites. The size structure analysis indicates a future increase in the relative density of the species. Two surveys with a 2.5 years interval (DBH &#8805; 9.5 cm) showed the death of three of the initial 154 individuals and the recruitment of 89 more, leading to a population growth of 19.4 %.year-1, a very high rate. CUAKIA, a gap model derived from KIAMBRAM, was parameterized to simulate the present state of the forest in the Reserve The model predicted an initial sucessional phase dominated by Piptadenia gonoacantha, followed by a phase dominated by Croton floribundus and Alchornea spp. and, later, by Ficus insipida and other shade-tolerant and long-living canopy species. The spatial distribution of trees was analysed using the L (modification of Ripley\'s K) and g functions, in their univariate and bivariate forms. The total pool of individuals with dbh > 25 cm showed uniform distribution at small scales (r < 6 m) and clumped distribution at bigger scales (17 m < r < 115 m). Almost all species showed clumped distribution at some scale. The results suggest competition at small scales and seed dispersal limitation as the main determinants of the patterns found. The data from the mapping of trees with dbh &gt; 25 cm were used to divide the Reserve into areas covered with relatively homogeneous vegetation. Correspondence analysis was used to ordinate circular plots (r = 10 m) laid out on a regular 10 m-interval grid. Scores of each plot were mapped and this mapping was used to define nine management zones inside the Reserve. One of the zones is almost exclusively occupied by Eucalyptus sp.. Others are dominated by exotics or trees which were planted in the Reserve. We suggest the introduction of native species and the control of exotics, especially A. cunninghamiana, inside the Reserve and in its surroundings.

The current concerning on potential effect of CO2 on climate change has assigned to the biomass of the tropical forest the importance as a sink of carbon. However, the heterogeneity of the natural ecosystems in tropics has significant implications for biomass estimation. This study proposed different biomass models using destructive sampling for the highly diverse Atlantic Forest. Models from two different approaches: generalized and species-specific were fitted and had the performance compared. Regarding the generalized models, it was proposed different covariates including diameter at breast height (dbh), height to the crown base, woody specific gravity (wsg) and functional plant traits. The species-specific models were fitted by linear mixed-models (LME) using species as a random effect and ordinary least square (OLS). The performance of all models and approaches were compared to existing models from the literature. Also, different estimates of biomass in stand- and forest-level, and the implications for carbon quantification were verified. Additionally, two methods for calibration for individual tree-level biomass model were proposed, and different strategies for tree selection were tested. The primary results show that the species-specific model using LME had better performance and can be used for the most abundant species, and models that include dbh, wsg, and plant traits are suitable for less abundant species. The calibration using the LME method in some cases can be used as an alternative for species that do not have a random effect presented here being a reasonable alternative for diverse tropical forests such as Atlantic Forest. / Devido à atual preocupação do potencial efeito do CO2 nas mudanças climáticas atribuiu-se à biomassa das florestas tropicais uma grande importância como reservatório de carbono. No entanto, a heterogeneidade dos ecossistemas naturais nos trópicos tem significativas implicações para a estimativa de sua biomassa. O presente estudo propõe diferentes modelos de biomassa utilizando amostragem destrutiva para Mata Atlântica, uma floresta altamente diversa. Duas abordagens de modelos: generalizados e espécies-específicos foram ajustados e o desempenho comparado. Em relação aos modelos generalizados, foram testadas diferentes covariáveis, utilizando o diâmetro à altura do peito (dbh; em inglês), a altura da base da copa, densidade básica da madeira (wsg; em inglês) e os \"functional plant traits\". Os modelos espécies-específicos foram ajustados por modelos mistos lineares (LME; em inglês) utilizando as espécies como efeito aleatório e pelos mínimos quadrados (OLS; em inglês). O desempenho dos diferentes modelos e abordagens foi comparado ao desempenho de modelos existentes da literatura. Também foram verificadas diferentes estimativas de biomassa em nível de estande e floresta, assim como as implicações para a quantificação de carbono. Ainda, foram testados dois métodos de calibração para o modelo de biomassa em nível de árvore individual, variando o número de árvores e estratégias para seleção de árvores. Com base nos resultados, o modelo espécies-específicos usando LME apresentou melhor desempenho, podendo ser uma alternativa para as espécies mais abundantes, enquanto o modelo generalizado que inclui dbh, wsg e \"functional plant traits\" mostraram-se adequados para espécies menos abundantes. A calibração usando o método LME em alguns casos pode ser usada como uma alternativa para espécies que não possuem equação específica, sendo uma alternativa razoável para florestas tropicais altamente diversas, como a Mata Atlântica.

A alocação de C em biomassa aérea é uma importante via do fluxo de elemento em ecossistemas terrestres. Uma forma de monitorar este processo é por meio de bandas dendrométricas que subsidiam informações relevantes sobre o perfil de incremento diamétrico arbóreo ao longo do tempo. Porém, este monitoramento se torna mais eficientes quando realizados sob a ótica de grupos funcionais, uma vez que florestas tropicais apresentam alta diversidade biológica. No entanto, deve-se considerar que a perda de carbono para o ambiente, seja em termos de respiração autotrófica, mortalidade ou produção de serapilheira, também é um atributo importante na dinâmica de florestas tropicais. Desta forma, torna-se crucial o monitoramento da entrada e saída de C em ecossistemas terrestres tropicais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil de incremento diamétrico arbóreo (IDA) e a produção de serapilheira em duas florestas tropicais brasileiras. Primeiramente instalaram-se 850 bandas dendrométricas em árvores de uma comunidade da floresta Amazônica (FAMZ). Na floresta Atlântica (FAT) foram instaladas 1532 bandas em árvores localizadas em três fitofisionomias ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal (100, 400 e 1000 metros de altitude). Para a estimativa da serapilheira 64 coletores foram espalhados aleatoriamente numa área de 20 ha da FAMZ e 40 coletores por nível de altitude foram espalhados na FAT. Na floresta Atlântica as árvores localizadas no meio do gradiente (400 m) foram as que apresentaram maior incremento diamétrico arbóreo anual, seguido pela comunidade a 100 m e por fim a comunidade localizada na maior altitude. As árvores apresentaram redução de incremento diamétrico arbóreo durante a estação de menor índice pluviométrico e menor temperatura média do ar. Na floresta Amazônica as árvores amostradas apresentaram menor taxa de incremento arbóreo durante a estação seca, que também é a mais quente. Em geral, temperatura e precipitação foram as variáveis ambientais que apresentaram grande influência no perfil de incremento diamétrico arbóreo, sendo que na FAT a temperatura atuou positivamente na taxa de incremento diamétrico arbóreo dos indivíduos amostrados a 400 e 1000 metros de altitude e na FAMZ esta variável interferiu negativamente no desenvolvimento das árvores. Em ambas as florestas a precipitação foi correlacionada positivamente com o perfil de crescimento das árvores. A análise de ordenação mostrou que em ambas as florestas houve um forte agrupamento das árvores dentro dos subgrupos funcionais, destacando assim sua a eficiência na análise de respostas ambientais em ecossistemas tropicais. A produção de serapilheira foi 20% maior na FAMZ do que na FAT. A principal fração representada na serapilheira total foi a folha. Novamente a temperatura foi uma variável ambiental importante no aporte do material decíduo. Estes resultados trazem importantes contribuições sobre o uso de grupos funcionais em estudos que visem a alocação de biomassa em florestas tropcais, além de trazer uma comparação entre a dinâmica de crescimento arbóreo nas duas maiores florestas tropicais brasileiras / Allocation of C in aboveground biomass is an importantpathway of the element flow in terrestrial ecosystems. One way to monitor this process is through dendrometric bands that support relevant information about tree diametric increment over time. However, this monitoring becomes more efficient when performed in functional groups, since tropical forests have high biodiversity levels. However, one must consider that the loss of carbon to the atmosphere, either in terms of autotrophic respiration, mortality or litter production, is also an important attribute in the dynamics of tropical forests. Thus, it is crucial to monitor the incoming and outgoing of C in tropical terrestrial ecosystems. The goal of this study was to evaluate the tree diametric increment rate and litterfall in two Brazilian tropical forests. Firstly,850 dendrometric bands ware installed on trees of a community in the Amazon rainforest (FAMZ). In the Atlantic forest (FAT) 1532 bandswere installedon trees located in three vegetation types along an altitudinal gradient (100, 400 and 1000 ma.s.l.). For litterfall, 64 collectors were placed randomly over an area of 20 ha in FAMZ and 40 collectorswere scattered per level altitude in the FAT. In the Atlantic forest trees located in the middle of the gradient (400 m a. s. l.) showed the greatest annual diametric increase, followed by trees located at 100 m (a.s.l.) and finally trees located at 1000 m (a.s.l.). During the dry season and lower mean airtemperature trees showed slow growth. In the Amazon forest the sampled trees had slower growth rate during the dry season, which was the hottest season. In general, temperature and precipitation were the environmental variables that had great influence on the tree diametric growth. The air temperature acted positively on the growth rate of individuals sampled at 400 and 1000 meters altitude in the FAT and in the FAMZ this variable showed negative effect on tree growth. In both forests precipitation was positively correlated with the tree growth rate. Ordination analysis showed that in both forests there was a strong grouping of trees within the functional subgroups, thus highlighting its efficiency in the analysis of environmental responses in tropical ecosystems. Litterfall production was 20% higher in FAMZ than in the FAT. The main fraction of total litterfall was leave. Again the temperature was an important environmental variable in the production of the deciduous material. These results provide important contributions on the use of functional groups in studies seeking at biomass allocation in tropcais forests, besides bringing a comparison between the dynamics of tree growth in the two largest Brazilian rainforests

A alocação de C em biomassa aérea é uma importante via do fluxo de elemento em ecossistemas terrestres. Uma forma de monitorar este processo é por meio de bandas dendrométricas que subsidiam informações relevantes sobre o perfil de incremento diamétrico arbóreo ao longo do tempo. Porém, este monitoramento se torna mais eficientes quando realizados sob a ótica de grupos funcionais, uma vez que florestas tropicais apresentam alta diversidade biológica. No entanto, deve-se considerar que a perda de carbono para o ambiente, seja em termos de respiração autotrófica, mortalidade ou produção de serapilheira, também é um atributo importante na dinâmica de florestas tropicais. Desta forma, torna-se crucial o monitoramento da entrada e saída de C em ecossistemas terrestres tropicais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil de incremento diamétrico arbóreo (IDA) e a produção de serapilheira em duas florestas tropicais brasileiras. Primeiramente instalaram-se 850 bandas dendrométricas em árvores de uma comunidade da floresta Amazônica (FAMZ). Na floresta Atlântica (FAT) foram instaladas 1532 bandas em árvores localizadas em três fitofisionomias ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal (100, 400 e 1000 metros de altitude). Para a estimativa da serapilheira 64 coletores foram espalhados aleatoriamente numa área de 20 ha da FAMZ e 40 coletores por nível de altitude foram espalhados na FAT. Na floresta Atlântica as árvores localizadas no meio do gradiente (400 m) foram as que apresentaram maior incremento diamétrico arbóreo anual, seguido pela comunidade a 100 m e por fim a comunidade localizada na maior altitude. As árvores apresentaram redução de incremento diamétrico arbóreo durante a estação de menor índice pluviométrico e menor temperatura média do ar. Na floresta Amazônica as árvores amostradas apresentaram menor taxa de incremento arbóreo durante a estação seca, que também é a mais quente. Em geral, temperatura e precipitação foram as variáveis ambientais que apresentaram grande influência no perfil de incremento diamétrico arbóreo, sendo que na FAT a temperatura atuou positivamente na taxa de incremento diamétrico arbóreo dos indivíduos amostrados a 400 e 1000 metros de altitude e na FAMZ esta variável interferiu negativamente no desenvolvimento das árvores. Em ambas as florestas a precipitação foi correlacionada positivamente com o perfil de crescimento das árvores. A análise de ordenação mostrou que em ambas as florestas houve um forte agrupamento das árvores dentro dos subgrupos funcionais, destacando assim sua a eficiência na análise de respostas ambientais em ecossistemas tropicais. A produção de serapilheira foi 20% maior na FAMZ do que na FAT. A principal fração representada na serapilheira total foi a folha. Novamente a temperatura foi uma variável ambiental importante no aporte do material decíduo. Estes resultados trazem importantes contribuições sobre o uso de grupos funcionais em estudos que visem a alocação de biomassa em florestas tropcais, além de trazer uma comparação entre a dinâmica de crescimento arbóreo nas duas maiores florestas tropicais brasileiras / Allocation of C in aboveground biomass is an importantpathway of the element flow in terrestrial ecosystems. One way to monitor this process is through dendrometric bands that support relevant information about tree diametric increment over time. However, this monitoring becomes more efficient when performed in functional groups, since tropical forests have high biodiversity levels. However, one must consider that the loss of carbon to the atmosphere, either in terms of autotrophic respiration, mortality or litter production, is also an important attribute in the dynamics of tropical forests. Thus, it is crucial to monitor the incoming and outgoing of C in tropical terrestrial ecosystems. The goal of this study was to evaluate the tree diametric increment rate and litterfall in two Brazilian tropical forests. Firstly,850 dendrometric bands ware installed on trees of a community in the Amazon rainforest (FAMZ). In the Atlantic forest (FAT) 1532 bandswere installedon trees located in three vegetation types along an altitudinal gradient (100, 400 and 1000 ma.s.l.). For litterfall, 64 collectors were placed randomly over an area of 20 ha in FAMZ and 40 collectorswere scattered per level altitude in the FAT. In the Atlantic forest trees located in the middle of the gradient (400 m a. s. l.) showed the greatest annual diametric increase, followed by trees located at 100 m (a.s.l.) and finally trees located at 1000 m (a.s.l.). During the dry season and lower mean airtemperature trees showed slow growth. In the Amazon forest the sampled trees had slower growth rate during the dry season, which was the hottest season. In general, temperature and precipitation were the environmental variables that had great influence on the tree diametric growth. The air temperature acted positively on the growth rate of individuals sampled at 400 and 1000 meters altitude in the FAT and in the FAMZ this variable showed negative effect on tree growth. In both forests precipitation was positively correlated with the tree growth rate. Ordination analysis showed that in both forests there was a strong grouping of trees within the functional subgroups, thus highlighting its efficiency in the analysis of environmental responses in tropical ecosystems. Litterfall production was 20% higher in FAMZ than in the FAT. The main fraction of total litterfall was leave. Again the temperature was an important environmental variable in the production of the deciduous material. These results provide important contributions on the use of functional groups in studies seeking at biomass allocation in tropcais forests, besides bringing a comparison between the dynamics of tree growth in the two largest Brazilian rainforests