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The Cerrado complex is covered by twelve physiognomies characterized by a gradient of grassland, savanna and forest formations. We assessed the recruitment (RI) and mortality (MI) of individuals and the gain (BG) and loss (BL) of basal area in the Cerrado complex. We used 26 sites classified into savanna (15) and forest formations (11); dry (19) and moist environments (7); non-disturbed (14) and disturbed areas (12) that were recovered from the literature. The median of the vegetation dynamics varied as follows: MI = 3.95, RI = 2.99, BL = 3.08 and the BG = 3.99. MI exceeded RI at 13 sites, and forests formation comprised 70% of the sites with high MI. The median RI was 2.2 times higher in savanna than in forest formations, while it was 1.7 times higher in disturbed areas than in non-disturbed ones. Although the vegetation dynamics have been studied for decades in Cerrado, the studies of disturbances are majority focused on fire and fragmentation effects, indicating that the research should go beyond it. Generalized additive models (GAMs) showed that the MI, RI, BL and BG differ in their responses to three environmental gradients: (1) elevation + temperature, (2) precipitation and (3) precipitation seasonality, even across sites with similar environmental conditions.

Abstract Comparative studies of tree dynamics can be useful for the conservation of forest fragments in the Cerrado. We tested if the successional dynamics in fragments of semideciduous forest (SF) and cerradão (CE) are influenced by edge effects (EE). Two surveys were carried out with plots allocation in both physiognomies, from the edge towards the interior of the fragments. All trees with diameter at breast height ≥ 5cm were measured, identified and classified (ecological groups). Both physiognomies showed high recruitment and mortality rates when compared with other forests in Cerrado. We found an EE on tree density (SF), and on mortality, total basal area and basal area of dead (CE), although do not so notorious on a short-term scale. Probably because EE did not influence the ecological groups and canopy cover. Our results suggest that the forest fragmentation can act as a disturbance agent, causing changes in the tree dynamics of the Cerrado forests.

Campos de murundus work as recharge zones and are important for the maintenance of water resources in Brazilian Cerrado. However, with the expansion of the agricultural frontier, this ecosystem may disappear or suffer high anthropogenic disturbances. The aim of the study was to evaluate the structure and distribution of woody species, after the implantation of artificial drainage channels in campo de murundus, in plots near and distant of the drains in the soil. We sampled woody individuals with ≥ 3 cm diameter at the base, and established 20 permanent plots of 20×50 m, 10 of which were between 0-20 m of the drains (edge) and 10 between 150-200 m distant from the drains (interior), totaling two hectares of survey. We recorded 47 species with total density of 230.5 ind.ha-1 and total basal area of 1.331 m2 ha-1. The diversity index of species was H’ = 3.18. We recorded higher density and basal area in the edge, and differential distribution and occupation of woody species in the microrelief of the murundus. This provides us strong evidence that the drains have altered the vegetation structure, especially in the edge of the remnant campos de murundus turning the vegetation woodier and denser.

Resumo Campo de murundus ou covoal é uma das fitofisionomias do Cerrado menos conhecidas floristicamente, cujo componente arbóreo é mais estudado que o componente herbáceo-subarbustivo. Apresentamos o levantamento florístico da família Asteraceae em um campo de murundus do município de Jataí, Goiás. As coletas foram realizadas por meio do método de caminhamento. Um total de 41 espécies foi registrado na área estudada, das quais 34 são autóctones e sete espécies são alóctones para o Cerrado. O número de espécies encontrado é superior ao registrado em campos de murundus do Parque Estadual do Araguaia e apenas Ayapana amygdalina e Chrysolaena obovata são comuns às duas áreas. As espécies comuns entre a área estudada e 14 outras localidades no Cerrado são Achyrocline alata, A. satureioides, Ayapana amygdalina, Mikania officinalis e Chromolaena laevigata. Algumas espécies são endêmicas e dentre estas, duas são restritas ao Cerrado, uma delas inclusive nova para a ciência. Do total apenas uma está registrada ocorrendo em campos de murundus na lista do Cerrado. Este estudo é o primeiro realizado para a família Asteraceae em campo de murundus e espera-se contribuir com a ampliação do conhecimento sobre as espécies que ocorrem nesta fisionomia.

This article evaluates the effectiveness of the methods fixed area plots (AP) and point-centered quarters (PQ) to describe a woody community from typical Cerrado. We used 10 APs and 140 PQs, distributed into 5 transects. We compared the density of individuals, floristic composition, richness of families, genera, and species, and vertical and horizontal vegetation structure. The AP method was more effective to sample the density of individuals. The PQ method was more effective for characterizing species richness, vertical vegetation structure, and record of species with low abundance. The composition of families, genera, and species, as well as the species with higher importance value index in the community were similarly determined by the 2 methods. The methods compared are complementary. We suggest that the use of AP, PQ, or both methods may be aimed at the vegetation parameter under study.

The Procyon cancrivorus is a wild animal, which belongs to the carnivore order, present in all Brazilian territory, some Central American countries, Uruguay and Argentina. Although this animal is not in the list of endangered species, there are few morphological data about this species. Only studies about the habits,habitat and some morphological data were found in Brazilian and world literature. The purpose of this study was to describe the proximal and distal insertions of the posterior and medial thigh muscles of the P. cancrivorus, comparing them with domestic carnivores literature data, such as dogs and cats. The five specimens were collected postmortem, victims of accidents on highways. The animals were fixed in formaldehyde (10%) and stored in opaque covered tanks. The description of the thigh musculature was made possible by the dissection technique, visualizing its proximal and distal insertions, irrigation and innervation. The results were documentedwith a digital camera and compared with literature data of the thigh muscles of domestic animals such as cats and dogs. Studies on the quadriceps femoris, sartorius, tensor fascia lata, bicepsfemoris, semitendinosus, adductor, semimembranosus, caudal crural abductor, twins, quadratus femoris, gracilis and pectineus were carried out and great similarity with the thigh muscles of carnivores such as cats and dogs were found.

The Procyon cancrivorus, as well as its entire family, is an endemic species of the Americas. It is widely found throughout the Brazilian territory and it inhabits all biomes, particularly the cerrado. This study used five adult specimens of P. cancrivorus for the characterization of the leg muscles. The animals were collected on roads (i. e. they had been killed by accident). The muscles were dissected, observing their proximal and distal insertions macroscopically, together with their topographic relationships to the arteries and nerves. The muscles studied are considered muscles of the tibia. The cranial tibial muscles, brevis, longus, long digital extensor and lateral extensor digitorum are craniolaterally distinct in the tibia, and the gastrocnemius muscles, lateral flexor of the fingers, popliteus, flexor digitorum, flexor digitorum and medial tibial flow are located in the caudal region of the tibia. The muscles of this group act as flexors and extensors of the hock joint and as flexors and extensors of the digital joints, except the popliteal muscle that acts as a flexor of the knee joint. The muscles studied were compared with their muscles in domestic carnivores, like the dog and cat, and great similarity was found.

The Procyon cancrivorus, as well as its entire family, is an endemic species of the Americas. It is widely found throughout the Brazilian territory and it inhabits all biomes, particularly the cerrado. This study used five adult specimens of P. cancrivorus for the characterization of the leg muscles. The animals were collected on roads (i. e. they had been killed by accident). The muscles were dissected, observing their proximal and distal insertions macroscopically, together with their topographic relationships to the arteries and nerves. The muscles studied are considered muscles of the tibia. The cranial tibial muscles, brevis, longus, long digital extensor and lateral extensor digitorum are craniolaterally distinct in the tibia, and the gastrocnemius muscles, lateral flexor of the fingers, popliteus, flexor digitorum, flexor digitorum and medial tibial flow are located in the caudal region of the tibia. The muscles of this group act as flexors and extensors of the hock joint and as flexors and extensors of the digital joints, except the popliteal muscle that acts as a flexor of the knee joint. The muscles studied were compared with their muscles in domestic carnivores, like the dog and cat, and great similarity was found.

O Procyon cancrivorus (mão-pelada) é um carnívoro amplamente encontrado no território brasileiro, porém com escassas informações literárias ao seu respeito. Portanto, justifica-se a escolha desta espécie para estudo, tendo como base aspectos morfológicos, que é fundamental para o conhecimento biológico das espécies. Foram utilizados cinco animais mortos por acidente, procedentes de coleta em rodovias. Os músculos foram dissecados e observados macroscopicamente as inserções proximais e distais dos músculos: M. pronador redondo, M. flexor radial do carpo, M. flexor superficial dos dedos, M. flexor ulnar do carpo, M. braquiorradial, M. palmar longo, M. flexor profundo dos dedos, M. pronador quadrado, M. extensor radial do carpo, M. extensor comum dos dedos, M. extensor lateral dos dedos, M. extensor ulnar do carpo, M. abdutor longo. Os músculos flexores são inervados principalmente pelo nervo mediano e nervo ulnar, e irrigados por artérias de mesma designação, enquanto os músculos extensores são irrigados pela artéria radial e seus ramos, sendo inervado pelo nervo radial. Para efeito comparativo, o modelo deste carnívoro silvestre foi comparado com a morfologia de carnívoros domésticos (cão e gato), amplamente descritos na literatura. Observou-se então a grande similaridade em relação à morfologia destes carnívoros.