Floristic composition and edaphic relationships in ferruginous campo rupestre reference ecosystems

Land use change and occupation have led to modifications in the environment causing loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services throughout the planet.Some environments with high economic relevance,such as the ferruginous campo rupestre(rupestrian grassland known as Canga in Brazil),are even more susceptible to severe impacts due to their extreme habitat conditions and low resilience.The determination of reference ecosystems based on the intrinsic characteristics of the ecosystem is essential for conservation as well as to the implementation of ecological restoration.We proposed the reference ecosystem of the three main types of habitats of the ferruginous campo rupestre based on their floristic composition.We described the floristic composition of each habitat and evaluated the physicochemical properties of the soils and the relationship between plants and soils.All three habitats showed high diversity of plant species and many endemic species,such as Chamaecrista choriophylla,Cuphea pseudovaccinium,Lychnophora pinaster,and Vellozia subalata.The distribution of vegetation was strongly related with the edaphic characteristics,with a set of species more adapted to high concentration of base saturation,fine sand,organic carbon,and iron,while another set of species succeeded in more acidic soils with higher S and silt concentration.We provide support for the contention that the ferruginous campo rupestre is a mosaic of different habitats shaped by intrinsic local conditions.Failure to recognize the floristic composition of each particular habitat can lead to inappropriate restoration,increased habitat homogenization and increased loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.This study also advances the knowledge base for building the reference ecosystem for the different types of ferruginous campo rupestre habitats,as well as a key database for highlighting those species contribute most to community assembly in this diverse and threatened tropical mountain ecosystem.

Exergames： neuroplastic hypothesis about cognitive improvement and biological effects on physical function of institutionalized older persons

Exergames can be considered a dual task because the games are performed by a man-videogame interface, requiring cognitive and motor functions simultaneously. Although the literature has shown improvements of cognitive and physical functions due to exergames, the intrinsic mechanisms involved in these functional changes have still not been elucidated. The aims of the present study were（1） to demonstrate the known biological mechanisms of physical exercise regarding muscle adaptation and establish a relationship with exergames; and（2） to present a neurobiological hypothesis about the neuroplastic effects of exergames on the cognitive function of institutionalized older persons. These hypotheses are discussed.

Seed Size as Key Factor in Germination and Seedling Development of Copaifera langsdorffii(Fabaceae)

Seed size is a plastic trait of the plants that directly affect seed germination and seedling recruitment. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between seed size, seed germinability and seedling performance of Copaifera langsdorffii by testing four hypotheses: 1) larger seeds have higher germination percentage;2) smaller seeds require less time to germinate and for initial development of the seedlings;3) larger seeds produce more vigorous seedlings and 4) seed size negatively affects seedling root/shoot ratio. In 2011, we selected 30 individuals of C. langsdorffii from which 300 seeds were randomly collected in the plant canopy. All these seeds were weighted and placed in germination tray using vermiculite as substrate. Seed germinability and initial development of seedlings were monitored daily until cotyledons fell. Small seeds have higher germination percentage and germinate faster when compared to large seeds. Nonetheless, seedlings originated from larger seeds have longer development times, resulting in more vigorous seedlings. In addition, seedlings originating from small seeds allocate proportionally greater amount of resources to roots when compared to larger seeds. The fact that small seeds have higher germination percentage and faster germination favors the colonization of transient habitats. However, larger seeds produce more vigorous seedlings, favoring the seedling establishment in more stable habitats. Thus, we argue that high variability in seed size of C. langsdorffii favors its widespread geographic distribution.

The Effects of Host Diversity in Anthracnose Management and Race Composition of Colletotrichum sublineolum in Sorghum Lineage Mixtures

Alternative strategies of management of sorghum diseases were implemented using field experiments conducted in Embrapa Maize and Sorghum Research Center,Brazil in 2001 until 2003 to evaluate the efficacy of lineage mixtures of Sorghum bicolor for the control of anthracnose(caused by Colletotrichum sublineolum).The calculated values for disease severity considered the area under the disease progress curve(AUDPC)observed for the nine susceptible and resistant elite strains of sorghum planted in 30 stands randomly.Each stand was drawn in mixtures of three genotypes each,in the same proportions per plant.This design was compared with the severity of the disease measured in AUDPC calculated for each of the same nine strains of sorghum in pure stands.In most of the cases,the disease severity on the susceptible cultivars was decreased;and in some cases,reached 85%of disease reduction compared with disease progress in pure stand of correspondent plant.The implication and effect of these sorghum mixtures on the populations of C.sublineolum on each treatment were evaluated and revealed that there was an increase of frequency of complex races in most of these mixtures and a highest phenotypic diversity for virulence to pathogen populations from pure stands,than the characterized on populations collected from the mixtures,despite of the effectiveness on decrease of the anthracnose severity.

Litterfall dynamics and soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in the Brazilian palm swamp ecosystems

Background: This study aimed to determine the litterfall production, accumulation, decomposition rate and nutrient stocks, and to estimate the soil carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) stocks in three palm swamp ecosystems with different land use intensities in the Southeast of Brazil.Methods: Three palm swamp ecosystems with different land use intensities were evaluated: Agua Doce(AD),conserved area;Capivara(CV), area with small agricultural practices;and Buriti Grosso(BG), area with an intensive land use. Produced and accumulated litterfall from the Cerrado areas surrounding the palm swamps were collected from October 2014 to September 2015, and the Ca, Mg, K, and P concentrations were determined in the dry and rainy seasons. Soil samples were collected in the surrounding Cerrado and within the palm swamps until 100 cm soil depth to determine bulk density and soil C and N contents and stocks.Results: Annual litterfall production in the Cerrado surrounding palm swamps was similar in AD(3.58 Mg·ha^-1·year^-1) and CV(3.79 Mg·ha^-1·year^-1), and was lower in BG(2.84 Mg·ha^-1·year^-1), and was more intense during the dry season. Furthermore, litterfall accumulation was higher in CV(7.12 Mg·ha^-1·year^-1) and BG(6.75 Mg·ha^-1·year^-1), culminating in lower decomposition rates. AD showed the highest decomposition rate(0.60) due to its vegetation structure and conservation. The macronutrient contents from the production and accumulated litterfall had a low influence of the land use, decreasing in the following order: Ca > K > Mg > P. Soils in CV and BG palm swamp areas showed higher values of C and N contents, due to the use of land for agricultural crops and cattle raising in an extensive(rangeland) system. The BG palm swamp, showed the highest C(124.03 Mg·ha^-1) and N(10.54 Mg·ha^-1) stocks due to the land use history with different agricultural practices over time.Conclusions: The litterfall dynamics in the Cerrado surrounding palm swamps was more affected by climatic variables than the intensity of land use, but the litter decomposition was more accelerated in the conserved area.Anthropic interventions with soil organic matter(SOM) inputs contributed to an increase in soil C and N stocks in the palm swamp ecosystems.

Vegetation structure and edaphic factors in veredas reflect different conservation status in these threatened areas

Background:In Cerrado humid areas,veredas are considered as hygrophilous communities,marked by the presence of the Mauritia flexuosa palm tree emerging in the wetter zones.Changes in veredas ecosystems due to drought and changes in the water table,which represent important areas for biodiversity maintenance in the Brazilian cerrado,can lead to the emergence of new landscapes and ecosystems.Assuming that the veredas are changed in species composition due to anthropogenic factors,in this study,we evaluated the flora composition and described the current vegetation profile of two veredas under different disturbances levels that are located in the north of Minas Gerais State,Brazil.Results:Altogether,2,268 individuals of 91 species belonging to 36 families were recorded.Our results demonstrated that the studied veredas were floristically different in terms of the arboreous-shrubby species composition,richness,and diversity.Despite the hygrophilous forest formations and open areas in the two veredas present typical species from these environments(same species with high importance values),the drought in the water table caused an expansion of Cerrado species in the open areas and in the hygrophilous forest.Furthermore,in the hygrophilous forest there was an increase in the abundance of species that occur in less saturated soils.Conclusion:Our results demonstrate that the studied veredas are changing in species composition due to anthropogenic factors which leads to the drought of these formations(water balance effect).These anthropogenic effects cause a modification with the expansion and increase in the abundance of typical species of other areas of Cerrado and resistant to less saturated soils,leading to the veredas collapse.Finally,future studies should investigate other veredas on a broader scale to detect changes in the water table that lead to a consequent change in vegetation structure.In this way,we will have support for the conscientious management and conservation of these areas that represent equilibrium places for the Cerrado biome.

Soil Attributes in Anthropized Hygrophilous Forest in Northern Minas Gerais State,Brazil

The soils of Brazilian Cerrado are characterized with high acidity and low fertility and productivity.However,these attributes are not homogeneously distributed through all phytophysiognomies of this biome,and wetland known as palm swamp or“veredas”are an exception.This study aimed to describe and compare the chemical and physical attributes of soil surface layers at six palm swamps areas under different anthropization processes in the northern region of Minas Gerais state,Brazil.Soil sampling of different hydromorphic soils were collected at 0-20 cm depth layer from 100 m2 plots in the studied areas.The variables were compared using the GLM procedure of ANOVA using Statistica 10 software.Soil chemical attributes and similarities between the six palm swamps areas were compared using the statistical software R.Soil chemical attributes were different and soil physical attributes were similar between the evaluated areas.The similarities among the attributes were classified into three groups according to the anthropic pressures,as well as with the origin of the soil material in the six palm swamps areas evaluated.It could be concluded that soil fertility can be reduced in palm swamps that suffered greater anthropic intervention.The three similarity groups might be associated not only to the anthropic pressures,but also to the raw material of soil at the six palm swamps areas evaluated.