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Plant population response to ecological and anthropogenic factors provides essential information for conservation and management, mainly for species occurring in ecosystems under intense and rapid land use changes, like the Cerrado. We assessed the effects of land use and management upon the distribution of size and on the frequency of life stages of Butia capitata, an intensively harvested fruit palm, endemic to a southeastern portion of the Brazilian Cerrado. Most populations had a reverse-J size-class distribution, indicating good recruitment in the landscape even under fruit harvesting pressure and extensive cattle ranching. Regeneration was null or scarce in areas under more intense land use and management pressure, such as found on large, industrial farms. Soil fertility and texture were associated with seedling frequency, soil texture with sapling frequency, and precipitation with juvenile frequency. These factors must be taken into account for the enrichment, introduction and restoration of populations, actions demanded by traditional populations and family farmers who harvest the valuable fruits of B. capitata. Populations in areas with intense land use and inadequate management practices may be doomed to plummet. In contrast, in areas managed by traditional peoples and family farmers, characterized by low intensity of fruit harvesting and low frequency of cattle, populations should persist. Supporting traditional peoples and family farmers’ livelihoods and promoting changes in the management of areas where the species occurs may contribute to in situ conservation of the Cerrado’s biodiversity in multiple-use landscapes.

Land use changes affect the abundance of plants, and even when plants are spared in agroecosystems, they are further impacted by management practices. Knowing how populations are impacted and the factors affecting them in the landscape is a major challenge in ecosystems under intense land use conversion, an even more important task when the plant is important for livelihoods. To understand how anthropogenic and environmental factors affect plant abundance and the population structure of Annona crassiflora, an important wild fruit tree of Cerrado, we evaluated populations in a gradient of anthropogenic and environmental conditions. Our sampling ranged from well-preserved sites, in natural areas, to highly disturbed pastures in the agroecosystems, covering an extensive area of the Cerrado biome. Results indicate that vegetation thinning and the presence of cattle negatively affect the abundance of small plants. High frequency of thinning and large cattle herds prevent recruitment of small plants in pastures, which may drive populations to local extinction in these sites. Reducing the frequency and intensity of vegetation thinning and cattle herd size may allow the recruitment of small plants into higher life stages. Fruit harvesting, which is positively associated with plant abundance, can continue to be practiced.

The palm Syagrus coronata plays an important ecological role in the caatinga ecosystems and is a source of income and livelihood for rural communities in semiarid northeastern Brazil. Despite its ecological and socioeconomic importance, little is known about the environmental factors determining its geographic distribution. The main goals of this study were to investigate the influence of climatic and environmental factors on the geographic distribution of S. coronata and to evaluate the conservation status within its potential distribution area. We modeled the fundamental niche of S. coronata using the MaxEnt algorithm and assessed the degree of vulnerability of environmental suitability areas quantifying the representativeness of protected areas and the different land use and land cover classes. Results predicted that the distribution of S. coronata is determined mainly by seasonality of precipitation and precipitation of the coldest quarter of the year. The areas of suitability, despite their large geographical extent, showed a high degree of environmental vulnerability, mainly due to the high conversion rate of native vegetation areas into agriculture and livestock and the low representation of protected areas. The results indicate a low effectiveness of the system of conservation units to protect the species, with anthropogenic disturbances threatening the quality of habitats and the persistence of S. coronata populations. Results can be used to support actions for the conservation and management of S. coronata, as well as decision making on the design of protected areas.

Sustainable Harvest of Mangaba (Hancornia speciosa) Fruits in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The harvesting of non–timber forest products can contribute to conserving biodiversity and improving quality of life for rural communities. However, overexploitation can generate negative impacts on harvested populations, demanding the establishment of sustainable management practices. We estimated the maximum sustainable harvest of Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae) fruits in a savanna in northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The structure and population dynamics were analyzed in 70 permanent plots (20 x 50 m) in the years 2008–2011. A matrix population model based on life stages (seedlings, saplings, adults 1, adults 2) was used to calculate the population growth rate (λ), the stable stage distribution and the elasticity, and to simulate the effects of different fruit harvesting levels. The population growth rate (λ) value was 1.02 (CI95% 0.98 to 1.05), the maximum sustainable fruit harvest rate was 87%, and the elasticity analysis indicated that survival of the larger–size adults is the most important parameter to maintain the population. Apparently, the H. speciosa population is stable, which may indicate that the current harvesting level is not affecting population regeneration. However, other natural or anthropic disturbances, such as charcoal production and fire, can increase adult mortality, leading to population decline.

We evaluated the survival and growth of Amburana cearensis, Cedrela fissilis, and Sterculia striata seedlings in three seasonally tropical dry forest fragments that were subjected to different logging levels (intact, intermediately and heavily logged). In each fragment, we planted 40 seedlings of each species and monitored these over a period of 1 year. The highest seedling survival rate (64%) occurred in the heavily logged fragment, which, however, also had the highest mortality risk for all species during the dry season. Only S. striata seedlings had different survival rates among the fragments. Height and diameter growth were higher at sites with higher canopy openness in the wet season. The survival and growth rates of seedlings planted in logged fragments indicate that this technique can be applied to restore and enrich logged forests of the Paranã River Basin.

Plant populations can respond to temporal environmental heterogeneity caused by natural disturbances, such as herbivory. Palm individuals of several species are preyed upon by mammals, but the effects of such herbivory events on population dynamics remain poorly known. To evaluate the effects of environmental stochasticity on aGeonoma schottiana(Arecaceae) population, we surveyed annually 40 permanent 20 × 10-m plots in a riparian tropical forest over 5 y (2000–2004) and results were analysed using matrix models. The population growth rate (λ) was in equilibrium during the study period and only one bad year was identified (2002–2003), which had a higher mortality of juvenile individuals due to herbivory. Additionally, the bad year had a higher mortality of reproductive individuals than the other periods. The stasis matrix elements of the later life stages were the vital rates with highest elasticities. The mortality of juvenile and reproductive individuals had a negative contribution to λ in the bad year. Conversely, the growth of infant and juvenile individuals and the clonal growth of juveniles were the vital rates with highest contribution to stability maintenance of λ in the bad year in a life-table response experiment. The palm population had a high individual density, high proportion of the initial life stages, clonal growth, high fertility, abundant seed bank and high seedling recruitment. Despite these traits, if stochastic herbivory events occur frequently over a long period of time, the population will have a negative growth rate and the probability of local extinction will be very high.

To understand the growth and reproduction of the palm Geonoma schottiana in the gallery forest of Central Brazil, two hypotheses were raised: (i) production of leaves and reproductive structures are concentrated in the period of the year with high light availability; (ii) leaf production and reproductive activity are related to plant length. However, it is expected that senility effects will cause fast reduction in growth and reproduction activities in higher plants. Growth and reproduction were concentrated in the dry season, when insolation is higher than in the wet season, suggesting that leaf and inflorescence production on G. schottiana in the gallery forest understory is more limited by light than by soil humidity. As the individual grows, leaf number and blade area increase, but reproduction activity is independent of plant length. Resources stored in the stem are important to growth, but exogenous factors, as canopy openness, should be more important to reproduction. Plant senescence seems to have a lesser effect on the production of vegetative and reproductive structures in G. schottiana than has been detected in congeneric species with greater clonal activity. Para compreender os fatores que influenciam o crescimento e a reprodução de Geonoma schottiana em mata de galeria no Brasil Central, foram levantadas duas hipóteses: (i) a produção de folhas e de estruturas reprodutivas está concentrada no período do ano de maior insolação; (ii) a produção de folhas e a atividade reprodutiva estão relacionadas ao comprimento do indivíduo. Entretanto, espera-se encontrar uma redução brusca nas atividades de crescimento e reprodução em indivíduos mais altos devido aos efeitos da senilidade. O crescimento e a reprodução ocorreram concentrados na estação seca, quando a insolação é maior do que na estação úmida. Assim, a produção de folhas e inflorescências de G. schottiana no sub-bosque de matas de galeria pode ser mais limitada pela luminosidade do que pela umidade do solo. Conforme o indivíduo cresce, o número de folhas e a área foliar aumentam, mas a atividade reprodutiva foi independente do comprimento do indivíduo. Os recursos armazenados no estipe são importantes para o crescimento, embora os fatores exógenos, como a abertura do dossel, possam ser mais importantes para a reprodução do que os carboidratos armazenados. A senilidade dos indivíduos parece ter um efeito menor na produção de estruturas vegetativas e reprodutivas ao contrário do que o tem sido detectado em espécies co-genéricas com maior atividade clonal.

We examined the following hypotheses: (i) seeds of dry forest trees have high pre- and post-germination mortality by desiccation due to the time between seed dispersal and germination and to irregular rains at the onset of the rainy season; (ii) seedlings from seeds dispersed in the dry season which survive the dry spells are larger at the end of the first rainy season than those dispersed in the rainy season because the former have more time to grow. We evaluated the possible trade-off between few large seedlings (resulting from natural dispersal) × many small seedlings (resulting from delayed dispersal) on seedling survival during the dry season. We sowed eight tree species in a greenhouse in September, simulating the natural dispersal timing (before the rains), and in November, when rains are more constant. Because shading can counteract the effects of desiccation, we applied three levels of shade (10%, 40% and 72% of PPFD). From September 2005 to December 2006, we provided the daily precipitation of a median year from a major patch of dry forest in Central Brazil. At the end of the rainy season, a subset of seedlings was collected for growth measurements (dry mass) and the remainder was left to follow the dry season survivorship. The lower germination expected for seeds dispersed in the dry season and in full sun was not confirmed for species that had some dormancy. The delayed dispersal was advantageous for the initial establishment of fast germinating species, but it was irrelevant or even disadvantageous for others. Also, the greenhouse weather was certainly milder than the natural environment, reducing the potential for mortality by desiccation. The growth of the four species of higher dormancy were not affected by timing of seed dispersal, while three out of four fast germinating species had higher root biomass when dispersed in the dry season. The growth during the rainy season did not affect seedling survival during the dry season. Keeping seeds to sow when rain is constant might be a good strategy to increase the establishment of fast-germinating tree species.

We tested the relationship between the length of pasture use and the density, richness, and composition of naturally regenerating tropical seasonal deciduous forest in pastures. We sampled regenerating trees in 25 pastures distributed in four age classes ranging from < 6 to 40 yr of use. Density and composition of regenerating trees did not change with pasture age, but richness was lower in 25- and 40-yr-old pastures. Nonetheless, a number of species seem to be able to resprout even after 40 yr of ranching.

The goal of restoration is to accelerate ecosystem recovery, but in ecosystems that naturally regenerate rapidly restoration techniques need to be selected carefully to facilitate rather than impede natural recovery. We compared the effects of five restoration techniques, such as plowing the soil, removing grasses, adding forest litter, seeding, and planting nursery-growing seedlings, on the regeneration of seasonal deciduous forest trees in four abandoned pastures in central Brazil. We monitored all woody stems immediately prior to treatments and again 14 months after the treatments. We recorded an average of 16,663 tree stems per hectare and a total of 83 species before implementing treatments. Planting strongly increased species richness; adding litter and seeding had weaker positive effects on richness; and plowing and grass removal had no effect. Plowing substantially reduced the density of naturally established stems. Despite the high survival of planted seedlings, stem density in planting treatments did not change because the tractor and digging holes to plant seedlings caused mortality of naturally regenerating seedlings. Tree stems grew more in the grass release plots than in the control plots. Our results suggest that early succession of seasonal deciduous forest in pastures in the region studied does not need to be stimulated once the perturbation is stopped and that intensive restoration efforts may actually slow recovery. We recommend only enrichment planting of seedlings that are not able to resprout.

The handicrafts made from Syngonanthus nitens scapes have been an important source of income for rural communities in the Jalapao region of Brazil since the late 1990s. This study analyzed S. nitens harvest and management techniques and the economic importance of the handicrafts. We also tested the effects of harvest on S. nitens population ecology. Handicrafts provide about US$1,800/year per artisan, being especially important to women. Experimental scape harvesting in mid-October, which is when knowledgeable artisans harvest and when the seeds are mature, had no consistent effects on population density, plant survival, or reproduction (clonal or sexual) after one year. Since 40% of the new recruits come from seeds, harvest after seed maturation, combined with removal of only the scapes and not the flowerheads, can allow for S. nitens seeds to remain in the populations and help ensure sustainability of the growing S. nitens handicraft activity. Important economic aspects of S. nitens harvest sustainability include the high value of the handicrafts and the fact they are not perishable.

We studied the effect of forest gaps and cattle grazing on survival and growth of seedlings of seven native tree species, planted in dry forest fragments with different intensities of past logging in Central Brazil. Seedling survival after 12 mo ranged from 35 to 77 percent among species. Survival of most species was similar in gaps and understory in minimally disturbed forest remnants, but was lower in the gaps of more heavily logged forests. In contrast, growth was much higher in gaps than in understory in minimally disturbed forests, but for most species was similar in gaps and understory in more heavily logged forests. We did not detect an effect of cattle on seedling survival. Seedlings of the most commonly logged species show a high potential to survive and grow when planted in logged forests.

We assessed seed fate of six tree species in a seasonally deciduous forest of Central Brazil. Seed germination, predation, removal and death caused by pathogens or dessication were followed in an undisturbed forest site, a logged forest site, and an active pasture. In both forest types we sowed seeds under patches of liana tangles (Low Forest habitat) and under patches of mature forest (High Forest habitat). Seeds were monitored weekly for up to 8 months. Overall, small-seeded species ( Astronium fraxinifolium and Tabebuia impetiginosa ) had high germination, although germination was lower in the pasture due to insect predation. The hard-coated seeds of Erythrina sp. had higher germination rates in the pasture. The large-seeded Cavanillesia arborea and Swartzia multijuga had high seed removal (ca. 90%) in the pasture and under High Forest, but only 23–34% under Low Forest in the logged site. Lower removal of large seeds in Low Forest suggests that this habitat conceals the seeds and constrains the movement of large mammals. Both species were favored in Low Forest, suggesting that caution should be used when managing lianas. When protected from predation, seeds with a soft coat and high water content, such as the seeds of Eugenia dysenterica and S. multijuga , died from desiccation in the pasture. Restoration efforts must take into consideration high mortality caused by desiccation or insect predation in abandoned pastures of dry forests.

Seed dispersal, predation, desiccation and seedling survival are strong bottlenecks that impede tropical forest recovery on abandoned agricultural lands (reviewed in Holl 2002). The ability to resprout after disturbances overcomes these barriers, as those individuals bypass the seed stage and have more vigorous shoots than seedlings (Bond & Midgley 2001, Kammesheidt 1999, Kennard et al. 2002). Resprouting is a particularly important recovery mechanism in tropical dry forests (reviewed in Vieira & Scariot 2006). There are a number of reasons why resprouting may be more important in dry forests than in rain forests, including slower decay rates of trunk bases (Ewel 1980), or adaptation of plants to drought (Bond & Midgley 2001, Sampaio et al. 1993).

Physical damage caused by litterfall is a source of seedling mortality that can be influenced by environmental disturbances, such as the isolation of forest fragments due to habitat destruction. The impact of physical damage in seedling mortality was evaluated in forest fragments and continuous forests in central Amazonia using artificial seedlings. A total of 11 reserves distributed among three sites were studied: three 1-ha, three 10-ha, two 100-ha, and three continuous forest reserves. In each reserve, ten transects each comprised of ten artificial seedlings were monitored for one year at four-week intervals. Survival curves were compared using failure time analysis, and the effect of reserve size on artificial seedling mortality after one year was analyzed with a categorical model. In the analysis of survival curves, artificial seedling survival was significantly greater in the continuous forest than in the 10-ha reserve at one site only, a result that may have occurred by chance. After one y...

Tropical dry forests are the most threatened tropical terrestrial ecosystem. However, few studies have been conducted on the natural regeneration necessary to restore these forests. We reviewed the ecology of regeneration of tropical dry forests as a tool to restore disturbed lands. Dry forests are characterized by a relatively high number of tree species with small, dry, wind-dispersed seeds. Over small scales, wind-dispersed seeds are better able to colonize degraded areas than vertebrate-dispersed plants. Small seeds and those with low water content are less susceptible to desiccation, which is a major barrier for establishment in open areas. Seeds are available in the soil in the early rainy season to maximize the time to grow. However, highly variable precipitation and frequent dry spells are important sources of mortality in seeds and seedlings. Collecting seeds at the end of the dry season and planting them when soil has sufficient moisture may increase seedling establishment and reduce the time they are exposed to seed predators. Germination and early establishment in the field are favored in shaded sites, which have milder environment and moister soil than open sites during low rainfall periods. Growth of established seedlings, however, is favored in open areas. Therefore, clipping plants around established seedlings may be a good management option to improve growth and survival. Although dry forests have species either resistant to fire or that benefit from it, frequent fires simplify community species composition. Resprouting ability is a noticeable mechanism of regeneration in dry forests and must be considered for restoration. The approach to dry-forest restoration should be tailored to this ecosystem instead of merely following approaches developed for moister forests.

A bacia do rio Paranã (Goiás e Tocantins) com 5.940.382ha, tem alta diversidade de fitofisionomias, incluindo a floresta estacional decidual sobre afloramento calcário, que ainda não foi estudada nesta região. Este trabalho objetivou o levantamento quantitativo da vegetação arbórea de uma floresta estacional decidual sobre afloramento calcário (13°49'34''S e 46º 41'55''W; 478m de altitude) na fazenda São José, São Domingos, GO. Foram demarcadas cinco linhas a intervalos de 100m, onde foram aleatoriamente alocadas 25 parcelas permanentes de 20 × 20m (1,0 ha). Em cada parcela foram amostrados todos os indivíduos com diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP) igual ou maior que 5cm, onde foram medidos o DAP e a altura, e identificadas as espécies. Foram amostrados 588 indivíduos (536 vivos e 52 mortos ainda em pé), pertencentes a 36 espécies, 31 gêneros e 21 famílias, com índice de Shannon 2,99 e Equabilidade 0,83. As principais espécies em valor de importância (VI), foram: Tabebuia impetiginosa (43,81), Aspidosperma pyrifolium (35,64), Luetzelburgia sp. (21,77), Commiphora leptophloeos (18,79), Myracrodruon urundeuva (15,79), Pseudobombax tomentosum (13,42), Combretum duarteanum (13,04), Luehea divaricata (12,24), Cabralea canjerana (11,99), Ficus pertusa (11,82), Jacaranda brasiliana (11,68) e Aspidosperma sp. (10,57) que juntas somaram 73,5% do VI total, enquanto as 24 espécies restantes somaram 26,5%. Esta floresta é similar, em termos de diversidade, a outras áreas de afloramentos na região. The Paranã river basin (States of Goiás and Tocantins, Brazil), with 5,940,382 ha, has many different plant physiognomies, including the deciduous forest on limestone outcrops which has not yet been studied in this region. In this paper we present the structure of the tree community of a deciduous forest on a limestone outcrop (13º49'34'' S; 46º 41'55'' W) in São Domingos municipality, Goiás State, Brazil. Twenty-five plots of 20m × 20m (400m²) were randomly placed on lines 100 m apart. Trees with dbh > 5cm were tagged, measured, and identified to species. In the phytosociological study, 588 individuals were sampled. A total of 36 tree species, belonging to 31 genera and 21 families were registered. The species with the highest importance value (IV) were: Tabebuia impetiginosa (43,81), Aspidosperma pyrifolium (35,64), Luetzelburgia sp. (21,77), Commiphora leptophloeos (18,79), Myracrodruon urundeuva (15,79), Pseudobombax tomentosum (13,42), Combretum duarteanum (13,04), Luehea divaricata (12,24), Cabralea canjerana (11,99), Ficus pertusa (11,82), Jacaranda brasiliana (11,68) and Aspidosperma sp. (10,57). Together these make up 73.5% of total IV while the 24 remaining species constitute 26.5%.

1 The effects of fragmentation on quantitative measures of floristic diversity in a palm community were examined in the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments study area in central Amazonia. Three 1-ha, three 10-ha, two 100-ha and three continuous forest reserves, distributed among three sites, were surveyed. In each reserve, 10 20 × 20 m plots were sampled, resulting in a total of 110 plots representing 4.4 sampled hectares. 2 The taxon composition of this palm community was dominated by stemmed, understorey palms. A total of 23 225 individuals from 36 taxa was recorded; five of the taxa were not sampled in continuous forest. 3 Taxa richness did not vary across reserve size or sites unless taxa not sampled in the continuous forest were removed from the analysis. Smaller forest fragments then harboured fewer taxa in the seedling stage than large forest fragments or continuous forest, despite the short time since isolation (10–15 years). There was a significant effect of location on the number of taxa per plot for all life stages, but only seedling and total were significantly affected by reserve size. 4 Reserve size did not affect the Shannon and Evenness indices. Reserves of similar sizes were floristically more similar than reserves of very different sizes. 5 Palms are important for the structure and composition of the forest. Their conservation may require the establishment of a number of large reserves.

The fruits of the palm Butia capitata are harvested from wild populations. A lack of knowledge of their ecology has hindered the establishment of sustainable management practices. We investigated fruit biometric parameters, yield and phenology in two populations of B. capitata in the cerrado (savanna) in the north of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, at two study sites: in the communities of Mirabela (Fazenda Baixa site, studied from December 2006 through December 2007) and Campos (studied throughout 2007). Overall, adult palms produced an annual average of 7.6 leaves. At the Fazenda Baixa site, the mean annual number of infructescences was 4.9, compared with only 1.6 at the Campos site, and the annual yield was 197-373 and 145-468 fruits per tree (in 2006 and 2007, respectively), compared with 67-247 at the Campos site. Reproductive events were seasonal and influenced by rainfall distribution. Typically, inflorescences and immature infructescences appeared in the dry season, mature infructescences appearing in the rainy season. Inflorescence production and fruit biometric parameters differed between the two populations. Fruit yield correlated with height and leaf biomass. We found that B. capitata fruits, which are highly perishable, should be harvested when nearly-ripe and remain attached to the infructescence during transport. Our findings have important implications for the development of strategies for sustainable management and in situ conservation of populations of this species.

Protected areas are important sources providing plant resources for human populations, and contributing to the livelihood and income of families. To test the ecological apparency hypothesis, that there is positive relationship between the visibility of a species and its use, we conducted an ethnobotanical survey in the protected area of the Itauna rural settlement in the municipality of Planaltina, in the state of Goias, in central Brazil. The phytosociological parameters were obtained in 5.6 ha area of the Brazilian cerrado (savanna), and the ethnobotanical survey conducted with semi-structured interviews with 75 people. There was a weak positive correlation between the use value and the phytosociological parameters. A principal component analysis showed that seven species (Pterodon pubescens, Hancornia speciosa, Hymenaea stigonocarpa, Eugenia dysenterica, Annona crassiflora, Stryphnodendron adstringens and Solanum lycocarpum) have high use value, despite having low density, dominance and frequency. Nineteen species showed a positive relationship between their use value and their phytosociological parameters. The relationship between vegetation structure and use value differed among species in the protected area, indicating that more attention should be paid to those under more pressure, with low abundance. Further studies of these seven species should be conducted to determine whether human pressure is affecting populations structures and to define management strategies.

O efeito da distância da borda na estrutura, composição e diversidade da comunidade de árvores, considerando todos os tamanhos de indivíduos, foi estudado em um fragmento bem preservado de Floresta Estacional Decidual no Nordeste do Estado de Goiás, Brasil. Parcelas foram sistematicamente estabelecidas em seis distâncias (0, 40, 80, 160, 280 e 400 m) da borda, ao longo de 10 transecções ortogonais na borda floresta-pastagem. Foram amostrados 602 indivíduos adultos/ha, 8.927 indivíduos juvenis/ha e 54.167 plântulas/ha distribuídas em 58 espécies. Embora a composição de plântulas e adultos tenha variado significativamente ao longo do gradiente floresta-pastagem, a variação explicada pela distância da borda foi abaixo de 4%. Entre as variáveis de estrutura da comunidade e os índices de diversidade testados houve variação significativa apenas na diversidade de plântulas e na altura de adultos entre as distâncias da borda floresta-pastagem. O fragmento de floresta estacional apresentou apenas tênue efeito de borda, considerando-se os parâmetros de comunidade avaliados. Essa conclusão contrasta com resultados encontrados em florestas tropicais úmidas, os quais indicam diferenças abruptas entre a comunidade de árvores da borda e as do interior de fragmentos florestais. The effects of edge distance on the structure, composition and diversity of tree community, considering individuals of all size classes, were studied in a well-preserved fragment of deciduous dry forest in northeastern Goiás state, Brazil. Plots were systematically established at six distances (0, 40, 80, 160, 280 and 400 m) from the edge, over 10 orthogonal transects on the forest-pasture edge. It was sampled 602 adult individuals/ha, 8,927 saplings/ha and 54,167 seedlings/ha distributed in 58 species. Although the composition of seedlings and adult individuals varied significantly over the forest-pasture gradient, the variation explained by edge distance was below 4%. Among parameters of community structure and tested diversity indexes, there was significant variation only for diversity of seedlings and height of adult trees among forest-pasture edge distances. The dry forest fragment showed only a slight edge effect on the evaluated tree community parameters. This conclusion contrasts with findings from studies on tropical rain forests which indicate sharp differences between edge and interior tree communities in forest fragments.

Este é o primeiro tratamento taxonômico de uma família de angiospermas para a fiorala da Reserva Ducke. A família está representada na Reserva por 35 espécies, distribuídas em 14 gêneros. Os gêneros com seus respectivos números de espécies são: Bactris(8), Geonoma(6), Astrocaryum(5), Attalea(3), Oenocarpus(3), Euterpe(2), Desmoncus(1), Hyospathe(1), inanella(1), Manicarla(1), Mauritia(1), Mauritiella(1), Socratea(1) e Syagrus(1). O tratamento inclui chaves para identificação dos gêneros e das espécies encontrados na Reserva, além de descrições sucintas das espécies. As chaves utilizam, principalmente caracteres encontrados em material herborizado, em estado fértil. This is the first taxomomic treatment of a family for the Fiorala of the Ducke Reserve. Fourteen genera with 35 species are treated for the palm family, with keys to all genera and species and brief descriptions of all species. The keys are based on characters found on fertile herbarium specimens. Listed by decreasing diversity, the genera are: Bactris(8), Geonoma(6), Astrocaryum(5), Attalea(3), Oenocarpus(3), Euterpe(2), Desmoncus(1), Hyospathe(1), irianella(1), Manicaria(1), Mauritia(1), Mauritiella(1), Socratea(1) and Syagrus(1).

Population structures of six tree species in three fragments of intact seasonal deciduous forest and three fragments disturbed by logging were studied in the northeastern Goiás. Forty random 400 m² plots were allocated in each fragment to survey plant population structures, number of stumps, cattle feces, burnt logs, and canopy openness. Soil cover by life forms was estimated in 1m² sub-plots. Lianas were abundant in intermediately logged fragments and invasive herbs in the most disturbed fragment. Cattle avoided dense herbaceous strata, such as liana tangles. Cavanillesia arborea, Eugenia dysenterica and Swartzia multijuga trees occurred at very low densities in all the fragments and their seedlings were practically absent, which might endanger their future populations in these fragments. Myracrodruon urundeuva, Tabebuia impetiginosa and Astronium fraxinifolium, the most logged species, had high density of seedlings in all the fragments. However, the highest density of saplings and juvenile individuals occurred in the most disturbed fragment.As estruturas populacionais de seis espécies de árvores foram estudadas em três fragmentos de floresta estacional decidual intactos e três fragmentos impactados pela exploração seletiva de madeira no nordeste goiano. Quarenta parcelas de 400m² foram estabelecidas em cada fragmento para a amostragem de populações, número de tocos, fezes de gado, troncos queimados e abertura de dossel. A cobertura do solo por formas de vida foi estimada em sub-parcelas de 1m². Lianas foram mais abundantes em fragmentos com perturbação intermediária, enquanto herbáceas invasoras no fragmento mais perturbado. Cavanillesia arborea, Eugenia dysenterica e Swartzia multijuga ocorreram em densidades muito baixas em todos os fragmentos e plântulas foram praticamente ausentes, o que pode ameaçar o futuro de suas populações. Myracrodruon urundeuva, Tabebuia impetiginosa e Astronium fraxinifolium, as espécies mais exploradas da região, tiveram alta densidade de plântulas em todos os fragmentos. Entretanto, a maior densidade de plântulas estabelecidas (>1 ano) e juvenis ocorreu no fragmento mais perturbado.

A bacia do rio Paraná, localizada entre os Estados de Goiás e Tocantins, com 5.940.382 ha, apresenta alta diversidade de fitofisionomias, incluindo a floresta estacional decidual sobre afloramento calcário, que ainda não foi estudada nesta região. Este trabalho teve como objetivo o levantamento quantitativo em uma floresta estacional decidual sobre afloramento calcário (13º31'11" S e 46º29'48" W; 530 m de altitude) na fazenda São Vicente, São Domingos-GO. Para o levantamento foram demarcadas cinco linhas, a intervalos de 100 m, onde foram distribuídas, aleatoriamente, 25 parcelas de 20 x 20 m. Em cada parcela foram amostrados todos os indivíduos com diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP) igual ou maior que 5 cm, onde foram medidos o DAP e a altura e anotado o nome da espécie. Foram amostrados 896 indivíduos, sendo 860 vivos e 36 mortos, em 51 espécies, 41 gêneros e 25 famílias, com índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wienner de 3,18 e equabilidade de 0,81. As principais espécies em valor de importância (VI), não incluindo a categoria de indivíduos mortos, foram Pseudobombax tomentosum (36,39), Dilodendron bipinnatum (31,55), Tabebuia impetiginosa (26,66), Combretum duarteanum (18,38), Luehea divaricata (12,76), Cavanillesia arborea (12,52), Myracrodruon urundeuva (12,23), Chorisia pubiflora (12,21) e Acacia glomerosa (10,11), que juntas somaram 57,60% do VI total. A diversidade foi maior que a encontrada em outras áreas de afloramento na região. The Parana River basin (states of Goias and Tocantins, Brazil), with 5,940,382 ha, has a high diversity of phytophysiognomies, including the deciduous forest on limestone outcrops, which has not been studied yet in this region. In this paper we present the structure of an arboreal community in a deciduous forest on limestone outcrops (13º31'11" S and 46º29'48" W) in Sao Vicente Farm in the municipality of São Domingos, Goias, Brazil. Twenty-five plots of 20 m x 20 m (400 m²) were randomly allocated on lines set 100 m apart. Trees with at least 5 cm of diameter at breast height (DBH) were tagged, measured, and identified to the species level. A total of 51 tree species, belonging to 41 genera and 25 families were registered among the 860 individuals sampled. These values are higher than those found for two other limestone outcrops in this region, except for density, probably as a consequence of the improved conservational status of this area. The species with the highest importance value (IV) were: Pseudobombax tomentosum (36.39), Dilodendron bipinnatum (31.55), Tabebuia impetiginosa (26.66), Combretum duarteanum (18.38), Luehea divaricata (12.76), Cavanillesia arborea (12.52), Myracrodruon urundeuva (12.23), Chorisia pubiflora (12.21) and Acacia glomerosa (10.11), comprising together 57.6% of total. Diversity was greater than that found in other outcrop areas in the region.

A bacia do rio Paraná (GO e TO), com 5.940.382 ha, tem alta diversidade de fitofisionomias, com sua flora pouco conhecida. As atividades de extração de madeira e implantação de pastagem contribuíram decisivamente para a remoção da vegetação. Este estudo foi conduzido em uma floresta estacional decídua sobre afloramento calcário (aproximadamente 13º41'16"S e 46º44'20"W e 462 m de altitude) - fazenda Canadá (São Domingos-GO). Foram demarcadas cinco linhas paralelas, a intervalos de 100 m, onde foram distribuídas aleatoriamente 25 parcelas de 20 x 20 m (total de 1 ha). Em cada parcela foram amostradas todas as árvores com diâmetro do caule a 1,3 m de altura do solo (DAP) > 5 cm, nos quais foi medido o DAP, estimada a altura máxima e identificada a espécie. Foram amostrados 924 indivíduos de 48 espécies, 38 gêneros e 24 famílias e obtidos o índice de Shannon-Wienner de 2,99 nats/ind. e a equabilidade de 0,77. As espécies que apresentaram maior valor de importância (VI) foram Myracrodruon urundeuva (36,09), Pseudobombax tomentosum (34,75), Dilodendron bipinnatum (26,61), Combretum duarteanum (22,19), Jacaranda brasiliana (21,57), Commiphora leptophloeos (19,18), Astronium fraxinifolium (13,84), Tabebuia impetiginosa (13,79), Pseudobombax longiflorum (11,64) e Machaerium scleroxylon (10,00), que juntas somaram 69,9% do VI total. A diversidade foi próxima à encontrada em outros trabalhos em floresta estacional decídua sobre solo e afloramento na região. The Parana River basin - an area of 5,940,382 ha located in Brazil- has a highly diverse phytophysiognomy and scarce flora information. Wood extraction and pasture activities have decisively contributed to the removal of vegetation in this area. This study was carried out in a seasonal deciduous forest on limestone outcrop (approximately 13º41'16" S and 46º44'20" W) on Canada Farm (São Domingos-GO.) Twenty -five plots of 20 m x 20m (1 ha) were randomly allocated on parallel lines 100 m apart. Trees with stem diameter at 1.3 m breast height (DBH) > 5 cm were sampled and their DBH, maximum height and species determined. In the phytosociological study, 924 individuals comprising 48 species, 38 genera and 24 families were sampled. The species with the highest importance value (IV) were Myracrodruon urundeuva (36.09%), Pseudobombax tomentosum (34.75%), Dilodendron bipinnatum (26.61%), Combretum duarteanum (22.19%), Jacaranda brasiliana (21.57%), Commiphora leptophloeos (19.18%), Astronium fraxinifolium (13.84%), Tabebuia impetiginosa (13.79%), Pseudobombax longiflorum (11.64%) and Machaerium scleroxylon (10.00%), comprising 69.9% of the total IV. Diversity was close to that found in other seasonal deciduous forest studies in the region.

A diversidade, estrutura e distribuição espacial de palmeiras em um cerrado sensu stricto foi estudada. Os dados foram coletados em 21 parcelas de 20 × 50 m distribuídas aleatoriamente em 152 ha (400 × 3800 m). Os diâmetros foram adquiridos a 0,10 m acima do nível do solo. Registraram-se o estágio reprodutivo e a altura dos indivíduos. Foram identificadas seis espécies de palmeiras, totalizando 1671 indivíduos em 2,1 ha. A densidade total das espécies foi de 795,7 palmeiras.ha-1, destacando-se Syagrus flexuosa (Mart.) Becc. (41,2%), S. petraea (Mart.) Becc. (21,7%) e S. comosa (Mart.) Mart. (11,2%). As mais freqüentes foram S. flexuosa e Allagoptera leucocalyx (Drude) O. Kuntze. A área basal total foi de 0,51 m2.ha-1. S. flexuosa teve o maior VI. A distribuição de alturas e diâmetros foi quase unimodal para todas as espécies. O coeficiente de correlação entre diâmetro e altura foi baixo (r = 0,0002 a 0,1247). Syagrus comosa apresentou a maior altura (380 cm). Butia archeri destacou-se em diâmetro (6,8-21 cm). Todas as espécies apresentaram-se férteis, destacando-se B. archeri (100%). Todas as espécies tiveram padrão de dispersão agregado. Uma classificação por TWINSPAN (autovalor 0,501), separou dois grupos: B. archeri, S. comosa e S. petraea, como preferenciais para um grupo de parcelas, e A. campestris, A. leucocalyx e S. flexuosa, como menos agregada. Conclui-se que o cerrado apresenta uma rica e abundante flora de palmeiras com diferenças morfológicas e estruturais que precisam ser melhor conhecidas para se determinarem padrões da diversidade e estrutura de palmeiras para o bioma. The diversity, structure and spatial distribution of palms in a cerrado sensu stricto was studied. Data were collected in 21 plots of 20 × 50 m distributed randomly over a 152 ha area (400 × 3800 m). The diameters were taken at 0.10 m above the level of the soil. The reproductive stage and height per individual were recorded. Six species of palms was identified and a total 1671 individuals in 2.1 ha. The total density of the species was 796 palms.ha-1, in particular Syagrus flexuosa (Mart.) Becc. (41.2%), S. petraea (Mart.) Becc. (21.7%) and S. comosa (Mart.) Mart. (11.2%). The most frequent were S. flexuosa and Allagoptera leucocalyx (Drude) O. Kuntze. The total basal area was 0.51 m2.ha-1. S. flexuosa showed the greatest VI. The height and diameter distributions were almost unimodal, with all species. The coefficient of correlation between diameter and height was low (r = 0.0002 to 0.1247). Syagrus comosa produced the largest height value (380 cm). Butia archeri stood out in diameter (6.8-21 cm). All species were fertile, particularly B. archeri (100%). The pattern of dispersal of all species was aggregated. A classification by TWINSPAN (eigenvalue 0.501) separated B. archeri, S. comosa, and S. petraea as preferential for a group of plots and A. campestris, A. leucocalyx, and S. flexuosa as indifferent. It was concluded that the cerrado contains a rich and abundant flora of palms with morphological and structural differences that requires further research to determine patterns of diversity and structure of palms for the biome.

The flowering phenology of 27 taxa of palms in a lowland moist forest in the central Amazon was recorded over a 40 month period. Phenological data were transformed into measures, of synchrony, regularity, and duration. Flowering was observed at all times of year and there was no correlation with rainfall either for the current month or for any monthly lag interval. The 27 taxa were divided into three pollination groups—weevil, bee/fly, or beetle—based on their behavior at anthesis. Phenology was significantly correlated with pollination groups. Weevilpollinated palms had higher synchrony and shorter duration of flowering than other groups. Bee/fly-pollinated palms had lower synchrony and longer duration of flowering. The beetle-pollinated palms were intermediate between the two other groups. Seasonal regularity of flowering was similar in all three groups. We suggest that, at least inBactris, taxa exhibit staggered flowering.

Phenology, floral biology, the reproductive system, and pollination of the macauba palm, Acrocomia aculeata were studied in Central Brazil. The species is arborescent, single-stemmed, and reaches heights of up to 16 m. Flowering occurs between August and December, peaking between October and November. Fruit fall (harvest) is between June and March, with a peak in November. Inflorescences are androgynous with marked protogyny. The basic pollination syndrome is by beetles, with wind playing a secondary role. The principal pollinators are Andranthobius sp. (Curculionidae), Mystrops cf mexicana (Nitidulidae) and Cyclocephala forsteri (Scarabaeidae). Cross-pollination between different individuals (xenogamy) accounts for most of the reproductive system. However, the species is self-compatible, with geitonogamy accounting for a significant percentage of fruit set. The combination of two pollination strategies (wind and insects) with a flexible reproductive system (crossand self-pollination) suggests that A. aculeata can be highly successful in the colonization of new areas, as is evidenced by the ample distribution of species in the Neotropics.

Fruit set, fruit production, and fruit fall of the arborescent palm Acrocomia aculeata were documented for the Distrito Federal in central Brazil in 1984-1986. Flowering began in August and extended to mid-December with the highest concentration of open inflorescences (>50% of the total) occurring from mid-October until mid-November. There was a significant correlation (Spearman rank correlation coefficient; r = 0.69; N = 8; P = 0.05) between flowering time and fruit set over the course of the reproductive season. The inflorescences that opened in October were those that produced highest fruit set, with fruit set mean of 25.4 percent (SD = 20.9) in the first half and 28.9 percent (SD = 24.4) in the second half of October. Overall, fruit set was less than 10.0 percent, although it ranged from 0 to 85.0 percent. Each infructescence produced about 60 fruits, but it ranged from 0 to 271 fruits. Fruit fall occurred for 6 to 10 months, generally concentrated from October to January.