ABSTRACT
Understanding the influence of fine-scale abiotic filters on plant communities can provide important insights into floristic patterns of the Brazilian Cerrado. We aimed to evaluate the interactions of the soil and the plant community composition with their distribution in different sandy environments of Brazilian Cerrado, the Jalapão region. Eight environments were sampled, each with ten plots of 20 × 50 m. All woody individuals presenting circumference at soil height ≥ 10 cm were sampled. Subplots of 5 × 15 m were demarcated, where woody individuals with a circumference at soil height ≥ 5 and < 10 cm were sampled. Subplots of 2 × 2 m were also demarcated to sample herbaceous individuals. Soil samples varying from 0 to 20 cm of depth were collected for each plot (20 × 50 m). Overall, 20000 individuals that belong to 338 species and 76 families were sampled. The dominant family was Fabaceae. There were significant differences among the environments regarding species richness and soil. The analyzed soils are extremely poor and with a tendency to sandy texture, small chemical and/or physical variations imply differences in the distribution of vegetation. Our study revealed abiotic filters exerted crucial fine-scale effects on plant community in the Jalapão region.
Subject(s)
Plants , Soil , Humans , Brazil , Fabaceae , Sand , Soil/chemistryABSTRACT
Phytosociological studies are essential for the elaboration of conservation strategies for the Cerrado. The goal of this study was to survey two areas of cerrado stricto sensu: Fazenda Canaã and Fazenda Providência, located in the Municipality of Porto Nacional, State of Tocantins. There were 10 plots of 100 m2 allocated in each area. All individuals with circumference equal to or greater than 10 cm, at ground height ≥10 cm were sampled, soil samples were taken for physical-chemical analysis. Sampling in Canaã resulted in 379 individuals belonging to 28 families and 50 species. In Providência, there were 300 individuals from 27 families and 49 species. The Shannon-Wiener Index for the Canaã was 3.48 and for Providência, 3.45. The studied areas presented a large number of small sized individuals, presenting a reverse J-shaped diameter structure. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed significant scores for the first axes (p < 0.05) according to the Monte Carlo test, which explained 70% total variability of the data. The variables with the highest structure coefficient in axis 1 were clay (0.94), pH (0.62) and magnesium (-0.32). On axis 2, the most important variables were aluminum (0.29), silt (0.25) and potassium (-0.078). These soil variables show a differentiation of the study areas.(AU)
Subject(s)
Grassland , Biodiversity , Soil AnalysisABSTRACT
Phytosociological studies are essential for the elaboration of conservation strategies for the Cerrado. The goal of this study was to survey two areas of cerrado stricto sensu: Fazenda Canaã and Fazenda Providência, located in the Municipality of Porto Nacional, State of Tocantins. There were 10 plots of 100 m2 allocated in each area. All individuals with circumference equal to or greater than 10 cm, at ground height ≥10 cm were sampled, soil samples were taken for physical-chemical analysis. Sampling in Canaã resulted in 379 individuals belonging to 28 families and 50 species. In Providência, there were 300 individuals from 27 families and 49 species. The Shannon-Wiener Index for the Canaã was 3.48 and for Providência, 3.45. The studied areas presented a large number of small sized individuals, presenting a reverse J-shaped diameter structure. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed significant scores for the first axes (p < 0.05) according to the Monte Carlo test, which explained 70% total variability of the data. The variables with the highest structure coefficient in axis 1 were clay (0.94), pH (0.62) and magnesium (-0.32). On axis 2, the most important variables were aluminum (0.29), silt (0.25) and potassium (-0.078). These soil variables show a differentiation of the study areas.
Subject(s)
Soil Analysis , Biodiversity , GrasslandABSTRACT
In the State of Tocantins, there is an abundance of water bodies, and consequently a large range of gallery forests. Despite growing awareness of the importance of these forest resources and the need to conserve them, little is known about the composition and floristic diversity of existing remnants, which still represent part of the original vegetation. The aim of this study was to review and compare the floristic composition and structure of the tree layer of the gallery forest in two microbasins of Taquaruçu Grande Sub-basin, Palmas County, Tocantins State. For phytosociological sampling, contiguous 50 plots of 10 x 10 m were set in each area, where all the individuals with trunk circumference greater than or equal to 15, at 130 cm from the ground were sampled. To calculate the phytosociological parameters, was used Fitopac 1 software, and for the similarity calculation, was used Similarity Score of Sõrensen. 928 individuals were recorded, totaling 139 tree species belonging to 45 botanical families for Area 1 and 2. Species richness for the two areas studied showed no differences, and the Shannon diversity index (H) that 3.751 and 3.671, showing that the species distribution was uniform A1 (J = 0.83) and A2 (P = 0.822). The similarity index between areas was 42%, a result considered low.(AU)
Apesar da importância desses recursos florestais e da necessidade de conservá-los, pouco se sabe sobre a composição e diversidade florística dos remanescentes existentes. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar e comparar a composição florística e estrutural do estrato arbóreo da mata galeria em duas microbacias da sub-bacia do ribeirão Taquaruçu Grande, município de Palmas, Tocantins. Para o levantamento fitossociológico, foram alocadas 50 parcelas contíguas de 10 x 10 m em cada área, na qual todos os indivíduos com circunferência de tronco maior ou igual a 15 a 130 cm do solo foram amostrados. Para o cálculo dos parâmetros fitossociológicos foi utilizado o programa Fitopac 1, e para o cálculo da similaridade foi usado o Índice de Similaridade de Sõrensen. Foram registrados 928 indivíduos, totalizando 139 espécies arbóreas pertencentes a 45 famílias botânicas para as áreas 1 e 2. A riqueza de espécies para as duas áreas não mostrou diferenças expressivas, assim como o índice de diversidade de Shannon (H) com 3,751 e 3,671, mostrando também que a distribuição das espécies foi uniforme A1 (J = 0,83) e A2 (J = 0,822). O índice de similaridade entre as áreas foi 42%, resultado considerado baixo.(AU)
Subject(s)
Forests , Biota/analysis , Biota/classification , Forestry/classification , Forestry/organization & administration , Forestry/standardsABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Curatella americana L. (Dilleneaceae) is a medicinal plant very frequently cited as acting against gastrointestinal disorders in ethnopharmacological inventories of the Cerrado region of Brazil. AIM OF THE STUDY: The ethanolic extract (CEB) and infusion (BI) of Curatella americana bark were investigated for their ability to prevent and heal ulceration of the gastric mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preventive and healing actions of Curatella americana were evaluated in experimental in vivo models in rodents that simulated this disease in human gastric mucosa. RESULTS: CEB significantly decreased the severity of gastric damage formation induced by the combination of several gastroprotective models (HCl/ethanol, indomethacin/bethanecol, absolute ethanol, stress and pylorus ligature). But, unlike CEB, the BI did not exert gastroprotective effect. The gastroprotective action of CEB involved antisecretory action, augmentation of gastric mucus (48%) and participation of endogenous sulfhydryl compounds that increase efficacy of barrier mucosa against injurious agents. CEB also presents effective healing action in chronic gastric disease (1.90+/-0.55 vs. 6.86+/-0.46 mm2)in the control) and its action mechanisms consisted of increasing the PGE2 (40%) and somatostatin levels (269%) while decreasing the gastrin level in rat plasma (79%). CONCLUSIONS: The gastroprotective effect and healing action of Curatella americana involved modulation of PGE2, somatostatin and gastrin levels, probably due to the presence of oligomeric and polymeric proanthocyanidins in the bark.