Environmental structure and relationships in the setting of natural water springs in a Lower Highland Seasonal Forest in Brazilian South / Estrutura e relações ambientais no entorno de nascentes em uma Floresta Latifoliada Subtropical no Sul do Brasil

The aim of this research was to characterize an environmental structure in the setting of tree natural water springs in a Lower Highland Seasonal Forest, and to verify the relationship between community demography and soil variables as subsidies for species identification in riparian forest recovery programs in similar environments. The research was carried out in the National Forest of Chapecó, located in the west of the state of Santa Catarina in the southern region of Brazil. For this, three water springs were demarcated, where 26 plots of 200m² in each were allocated. All individuals with diameter at 1.30m of soil height ≥5.0cm were measured. Soil samples (0 to 20cm depth) were collected in the plots for chemical and physical analysis. To relate the abundance of the species to the edaphic variables, the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used. A total of 76 species belonging to 64 genera of 36 botanical families were reported in the study area. The families Fabaceae and Myrtaceae presented greater floristic richness. The edaphic variables that most influenced the distribution of the species were aluminum saturation and calcium, magnesium and potassium contents. Specific groups of indicator species were formed for each water spring. The species designated as generalists are the most recommended for the initial filling and recovery of degraded springs. Further rare species and with low density must be included after the initial recovery to increase diversity.(AU)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a vegetação arbórea em nascentes de Floresta Latifoliada Subtropical e verificar a relação entre a demografia da comunidade e variáveis edáficas, como subsídios para indicação de espécies em programas de recuperação de florestas ciliares de ambientes similares. O trabalho foi realizado na Floresta Nacional de Chapecó, localizada no oeste do estado de Santa Catarina no sul do Brasil. Para isso, foram demarcadas três nascentes, onde foram alocadas 26 parcelas de 200m2 em cada uma. Todas as árvores com Diâmetro a Altura do Peito (DAP) ≥5,0cm a 1,30m de altura do solo foram mensurados. Coletaram-se amostras de solo (0 a 20cm de profundidade) nas parcelas para análise das propriedades químicas e físicas. Para relacionar a abundância das espécies com as variáveis edáficas utilizou-se a Análise de Correspondência Canônica (CCA). Foram encontradas na área de estudo, 76 espécies pertencentes a 64 gêneros de 36 famílias botânicas. As famílias Fabaceae e Myrtaceae apresentaram maior riqueza florística. As variáveis edáficas que mais influenciaram na distribuição das espécies foram a saturação por alumínio e os teores de cálcio, magnésio e potássio. Ocorreu a formação de grupos específicos de espécies indicadoras para cada nascente. As espécies designadas como generalistas são as mais recomendadas para a recomposição de nascentes com a função de preenchimento inicial da área. Enquanto as espécies raras e de baixa densidade devem ser incluídas após a recuperação inicial com a função de aumentar a diversidade.(AU)

Environmental structure and relationships in the setting of natural water springs in a Lower Highland Seasonal Forest in Brazilian South / Estrutura e relações ambientais no entorno de nascentes em uma Floresta Latifoliada Subtropical no Sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to characterize an environmental structure in the setting of tree natural water springs in a Lower Highland Seasonal Forest, and to verify the relationship between community demography and soil variables as subsidies for species identification in riparian forest recovery programs in similar environments. The research was carried out in the National Forest of Chapecó, located in the west of the state of Santa Catarina in the southern region of Brazil. For this, three water springs were demarcated, where 26 plots of 200m² in each were allocated. All individuals with diameter at 1.30m of soil height ≥5.0cm were measured. Soil samples (0 to 20cm depth) were collected in the plots for chemical and physical analysis. To relate the abundance of the species to the edaphic variables, the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used. A total of 76 species belonging to 64 genera of 36 botanical families were reported in the study area. The families Fabaceae and Myrtaceae presented greater floristic richness. The edaphic variables that most influenced the distribution of the species were aluminum saturation and calcium, magnesium and potassium contents. Specific groups of indicator species were formed for each water spring. The species designated as generalists are the most recommended for the initial filling and recovery of degraded springs. Further rare species and with low density must be included after the initial recovery to increase diversity.

RESUMO: O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a vegetação arbórea em nascentes de Floresta Latifoliada Subtropical e verificar a relação entre a demografia da comunidade e variáveis edáficas, como subsídios para indicação de espécies em programas de recuperação de florestas ciliares de ambientes similares. O trabalho foi realizado na Floresta Nacional de Chapecó, localizada no oeste do estado de Santa Catarina no sul do Brasil. Para isso, foram demarcadas três nascentes, onde foram alocadas 26 parcelas de 200m2 em cada uma. Todas as árvores com Diâmetro a Altura do Peito (DAP) ≥5,0cm a 1,30m de altura do solo foram mensurados. Coletaram-se amostras de solo (0 a 20cm de profundidade) nas parcelas para análise das propriedades químicas e físicas. Para relacionar a abundância das espécies com as variáveis edáficas utilizou-se a Análise de Correspondência Canônica (CCA). Foram encontradas na área de estudo, 76 espécies pertencentes a 64 gêneros de 36 famílias botânicas. As famílias Fabaceae e Myrtaceae apresentaram maior riqueza florística. As variáveis edáficas que mais influenciaram na distribuição das espécies foram a saturação por alumínio e os teores de cálcio, magnésio e potássio. Ocorreu a formação de grupos específicos de espécies indicadoras para cada nascente. As espécies designadas como generalistas são as mais recomendadas para a recomposição de nascentes com a função de preenchimento inicial da área. Enquanto as espécies raras e de baixa densidade devem ser incluídas após a recuperação inicial com a função de aumentar a diversidade.

Spatial and temporal distribution of non-biting midge larvae assemblages in streams in a mountainous region in southern Brazil.

The spatial and temporal structure of non-biting midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae assemblages and some environmental factors that affect their distribution were analyzed in a montane river and its tributaries in a temperate climate region of southernmost Brazil. In total, 69 taxa were recorded after four seasonal samplings (winter, spring, summer, and autumn). The dominant taxa were Rheotanytarsus sp. 1, Rheotanytarsus sp. 2, Cricotopus sp. 2, and Polypedilum (Polypedilum) sp., although dominance varied among the four sampling sites. The variations in dominance, abundance, and richness among the different sites were affected by environmental characteristics, such as the presence of marginal vegetation and a heterogeneous substratum, and also by human activities. Strictly environmental factors, such as altitude, and factors related to annual weather patterns, such as mean temperature and precipitation, influenced the spatial and temporal distribution of certain taxa and the structure of faunal assemblages. The influence of the riparian vegetation and riverbed heterogeneity on the composition, richness, and abundance of the chironomid larvae assemblages indicates that human activities, such as deforestation and the construction of dams, constitute a serious threat to the conservation of these insects and to the fauna that depends on them for food.

Diversity of non-biting midge larvae assemblages in the Jacuí River basin, Brazil.

The richness and composition of a mountain-river chironomid larvae assemblage in the Jacuí River basin, Brazil were studied, and compared with other riverine non-biting midge larvae assemblages previously studied in the country. Additionally, the influence of some regional-scale environmental characteristics on the spatial distribution of these assemblages was tested. The specimens were collected at 12 sites in the middle course of the Jacuí River basin (in the state of Rio Grande do Sul) between April 2000 and May 2002. Around 100 taxa were recorded. The dominant taxa belonged to the genera Rheotanytarsus, Cricotopus, Polypedilum, and Pseudochironomus. Twenty-two rare taxa were found, representing 22% of the total of taxa inventoried. Fourteen genera (Aedokritus, Axarus, Endotribelos, Kiefferulus, Manoa, Oukuriella, Phaenopsectra, Stenochironomus, Xenochironomus, Xestochironomus, Cardiocladius, Metriocnemus, Paracladius, and Rheocricotopus) represent new occurrences in Rio Grande do Sul. The similarity analysis of the chironomid larvae assemblages inventoried in 32 regions of Brazil indicated five groups with similarity higher than 50%. The groups, when the effects of spatial autocorrelation were removed, displayed a weak positive correlation between the assemblage composition and the aquatic system or hydraulic conditions and the hydrographic basin, and a weak negative correlation in relation to the biome. The altitude showed no correlation with the composition of the assemblage. The relatively high richness of the region surveyed in relation to other Brazilian regions corroborates some tendencies already noted in other parts of the world, such as: i) lotic systems may constitute an exception to the rule that diversity is greater in tropical regions, ii) regions of transitional relief may contain the greatest richness of Chironomidae, and iii) in rivers, the group might have its spatial distribution influenced to a greater extent by local environmental characteristics than by regional ones.