POSTER abstracts 2014

ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY OF SOIL FUNGI WITH NEXT

GENERATION SEQUENCING IN SEASONAL TROPICAL FORESTS IN THAILAND

Sarasa Amma1, Hirokazu Toju

2, Chongrak Wachrinrat

3, Hirotoshi Sato

2, Akifumi Tanabe

4,

Mamoru Kanzaki1

1 Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

([email protected]); 2 Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies,

Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; 3Graduate School of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry,

Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; 4National Research Institute of Fisheries Science,

The Fisheries Research Agency, Kanagawa, Japan

Little is known about the spatial and temporal patterns of the diversity of tropical fungi,

including mycorrhizal fungi which form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. Both

arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the class Glomeromycetes and ectomycorrhizal fungi

(EMF) in Bacidiomycetes and Ascomycetes assist plants to acquire soil nutrients such as

phosphorus in exchange of the phothosynthates allocated from host plants. Thus mycorrhizal

fungi can strongly affect nutrient and carbon cycles in terrestrial ecosystems. However, our

understanding of the relationships between plants and soil fungi in Southeast Asia remains

very poor. The aim of this study was to elucidate mycorrhizal fungi in the soil of seasonal

tropical forests at Sakaerat Biological Reserve in Southeast Thailand, to explore the effects of

forest types (dry deciduous vs. dry evergreen forests) and season (rainy vs. dry seasons). We

analyzed the community composition of soil fungi based on a massively parallel amplicon

pyrosequencing and found 818 operational taxonomic units from the samples collected in the

rainy season. The dry deciduous forest exhibited significantly more diverse fungal community

than the dry evergreen forest, even though tree species is higher in dry evergreen forest. These

results represent the first report of the diversity patterns of soil fungal communities from a

South East Asian forest.

SPORADIC FIRES IMPACT ON THE STAND STRUCTURE AND REPRODUCTIVE

ACTIVITY OF MAURITIA FLEXUOSA GROWING IN A TROPICAL SAVANNA

Linton Lee Arneaud1, Mike Oatham, Aidan Farrell

Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, West Indies

([email protected])

Mauritia flexuosa occurs on the margins of several hyper seasonal savannas of the Aripo

Savannas Environmentally Sensitive Area (ASESA) in Trinidad and Tobago. However, the

stability of its population is uncertain due to an increase in fire frequency.

Data was were gathered to ascertain whether Mauritia flexuosa populations are showing a

decline in the ASESA. Demographic parameters (diameter at breast height (DBH), size class

distribution, overall stem density and fecundity) of M. flexuosa populations within three

different environments (western or fire impacted savanna margins, eastern or intact savanna

margins, and palm islands also fire impacted) were sampled using a stratified randomized

sampling design.

Preliminary results indicated that individuals formed a typical “inverse-J” DBH size class

distribution. Reproductive output (inflorescences) on western margins, where the average

number of seeds per tree was 2017 and average weight of seeds per bunch was 40.58 kg, was

double the amount of that found on eastern margins. Male to female sex ratios were 1:1, and

the average diameter at breast height was 30.9 cm and did not vary significantly between the

three environments.

There was no evidence that the populations of M. flexuosa are unstable, this suggests that fire

has a profound influence on stand structure and reproductive activities.

mailto:[email protected]

COMPARATIVE THERMOREGULATORY BEHAVIOR OF BRAZILIAN TORTOISES:

SEASONAL PATTERNS OF BODY TEMPERATURE AND HOURS OF RESTRICTION

Ana Hermínia Bello Soares1, Helga Wiederhecker

1, Guth Berger

1, Gabriel Oliveira Caetano

1,

Guarino Colli1, Barry Sinervo

2

1 Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasil ([email protected]);

2 University of Santa Cruz, California, USA.

Reptiles present two strategies of thermoregulation: thermoconformity and thermoregulation.

Environment influences thermoregulation, but the nature of strategy differences

(evolutionarily selected or plasticity) is poorly understood. We assessed the thermoregulatory

behaviour of the Brazilian tortoises Chelonoides carbonaria (savannah inhabitant) and

Chelonoides denticulata (forest inhabitant) in captivity (same temperature). If

thermoregulatory behaviour is plastic, species temperatures will vary in a similar manner.

Conversely, if it is evolutionarily selected, we expect species to diverge in temperature. We

obtained body temperature (TB) and operative temperature (TO) instrumenting 14 C.

carbonaria, 12 C.denticulata and 5 tortoise models with Hobos. We registered temperature

every five minutes for 12 days (rainy season 6, dry season 6). We compared mean TB

between species and seasons. We calculated daily hours of restriction (HR) as the summatory

of minutes that TO was higher than average TB. TB differed between species (C.carbonaria >

C.denticulata) (Kruskal-Wallis, H= 3114.85, df=25, p<0.005) and seasons (dry < wet)

(Kruskal-Wallis H = 213.50, df = 1, p< < 0,05). HR were higher in the dry season (C.

carbonaria, 7.45 and C. denticulata 7.05) than in the rainy season (C. carbonaria, 6.49 and C.

denticulata 6.84). Species thermoregulated in a similar way. Differences were in accordance

with species original habitat, with C. denticulata keeping a cooler TB. Chelonoides

denticulata tends to behave as thermoconformer in the forest, but when submitted to a warmer

novel environment it thermoregulates. The longer HR in the rainy season (breeding season)

suggests that climate change might compromise C. denticulata reproduction.

ARE AGRICULTURAL LANDS ACCESSIBLE TO POLLINATORS?: FORAGING OF

MELIPONA QUADRIFASCIATA AS FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY INDICATOR

Danilo Boscolo1, Tatiana Machado de Souza2

1Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto –

FFCLRP, University of São Paulo – USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

([email protected]). 2Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical

Sciences, Campus Diadema, Federal University of São Paulo, Diamdema, São Paulo, Brasil.

Landscape change processes interfere with plant reproduction through pollinators responses,

what is directly linked to functional connectivity and accessibility of environments for these

animals. We aimed to estimate the accessibility of a modified Brazilian Savannah landscape

for Melipona quadrifasciata bees from their pollen foraging patterns in different landscape

contexts (more or less human modified). We allocated 15 nests of M. quadrifasciata: three

control colonies (adjacent to the crops), and 12 experimental colonies (in natural areas 500m

to 2000m away from crops) to assess when bees would forage mainly in the crops or stay in

natural areas. We made transects around the colonies to estimate available floral and pollen

resources and collected pollen from the bee’s pollen basket, to know their foraging patterns

from the collected resources. The diversity of pollens collected by the bees was largely

dependent on the distances between the crop and colonies, and was influenced by the

association between distance and diversity of environments around each colony. From our

data, it is possible to derive an indirect measure of landscape functional connectivity, what

have direct influence on their movement and efficiency as a vector of pollen exchange in

natural and farming environments. Maintaining healthy natural areas close to crop fields can

be a way to keep the pollination system running in the long term, as this would ensure that

natural areas around the colony are accessible enough to provide resources for nesting and

food constantly throughout the life of the colonies.


ATLANTIC FOREST FRAGMENTATION EFFECTS ON PLANT-POLLINATOR

INTERACTION NETWORKS IN BRAZIL

Patrícia Alves Ferreira1, Danilo Boscolo

1, Luciano Elsinor Lopes

3, Luisa G. Carvalheiro

4,5,

Jacobus C. Biesmeijer5,6

, Pedro Luis Bernardo da Rocha2, Blandina Felipe Viana

2

1 Biology Department – University of São Paulo – USP – FFCLRP – Ribeirão Preto – SP –

Brazil – ([email protected]), 2 Biology Institute – Federal University of Bahia –

UFBA – Salvador – BA – Brazil.3 Department of Environmental Sciences – DCAm – Federal

University of São Carlos – UFSCar – São Carlos – SP – Brazil, 4.

Institute of Integrative and

Comparative Biology – University of Leeds – Leeds – UK, 5 Naturalis Biodiversity Center –

Leiden University – Leiden – The Netherlands, 6 Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Dynamics – University of Amsterdam.

Plant-pollinator mutualistic interactions play an important role on the organisation and

persistence of biodiversity and the resilience of such networks is essential for the maintenance

of biodiversity and ecological services in fragmented environments. . We investigated the

effects of habitat loss and landscape changes on the structure of plant-pollinator networks in

the understory of Atlantic Rainforestin Northeastern Brazil. We explored the role of

landscape configuration (amount and spatial arrangement of remaining forest) on the structure

of plant-pollinator networks. Networks were sampled in seven 6x6km landscapes with

increasing forest cover (15-55%) within eight 0.64ha hexagonal plots per landscape. To our

knowledge this is the first study comparing landscapes to address the effect of habitat loss and

fragmentation in plant-pollinator networks. Our results indicate that habitat loss strongly

affects the structure of plant-pollinator networks in fragmented Atlantic Rainforest, since

network size (number of species) was positively influenced by the amount of available forest

in the landscape. Graphical analysis suggests a network simplification threshold under 35% of

forest cover. In those simplified networks the remaining plants and pollinator species are

mostly generalists which tend to widely interact with each other. Our results suggest that

interaction networks can also be used as functional indicators of landscape changes effects on

important environmental services such as pollination. The network simplification threshold

coincided with the extinction threshold for trees, birds and small mammals (30-40%) in the

same region, which may allow us to recommend planning goals for landscape management.


FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES: DISPERSAL IN A TROPICAL FOREST.

Kaylene Bransgrove1, Yoko Ishida

1

1James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, AustraliaUSTRALIA

([email protected]);

Fungal endophytes are fungi that asymptomatically inhabit all plant parts. They are abundant

and highly diverse. One leaf, for example, can house up to several hundred individuals.

Fungal endophytes contribute to plant health, provide increased resistance to disease and

insect herbivory and promote tolerance to drought. Dispersal is considered to be infection

and re-infection rather than though the plant. Understanding the dispersal mechanisms of

biota that contribute to forest health becomes more important as the effects of climate change,

and the stresses placed on tropical forests, become more apparent. The main objective of this

study was to investigate the presence of fungal endophytes in the vascular system of one

species of six rainforest genera (Alstonia, Argyrodendron, Castanospermum, Elaeocarpus,

Myristica and Syzygium) to indicate if they are being transmitted throughout the tree via

vascular system. Vascular cores were taken from five replicates of each genus and split into

phloem, sap and hardwood. The tissues were surface sterilised to remove contaminants and

fragments of tissue placed onto malt extract agar (MEA). Fungi were sub-cultured and

identified where possible. Results show more fungi are found in the sapwood in comparison

with the phloem and hardwood, but that in comparison with leaf tissues, very few fungi are

found within the vascular of these tree species. This indicates transmission through the

vascular system is not the primary means of dispersal of fungal endophytes in tropical forests

and that their dispersal is therefore dependent on climatic variables such as wind, temperature

and availability of moisture.

LIGHT DIFFUSION IN A TROPICAL DRY FOREST OF COSTA RICA

Sofia Calvo-Rodríguez1, Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa

1, Julio Calvo-Alvarado

2

1. Earth and Atmospheric Science Department , University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta,

Canada ([email protected])

2. Forest Engineering Department, Technological Institute of Costa Rica (ITCR), Cartago,

Costa Rica

LAI, the total leaf area in relation to the ground, determines the extent of light interception by

the canopy, and is therefore directly related to carbon and water exchange with the

atmosphere. LAI also has an impact on tree growth and recruitment through the interception

of light, which in turn affects primary productivity. Even though many instruments exist for

estimating LAI from the ground, they are often laborious and costly to run continuously.

Measurements of LAI from the field using traditional sensors (e.g., LAI-2000) require

multiple visits to the field under very specific sky conditions, making them unsuitable to

operate in inaccessible areas and forests with dense vegetation, as well as areas where

persistent sunny conditions are the norm like the tropical dry forests. With this context, we

proposed a factor to characterize light use efficiency based on NDVI and LAI measurements

taken from the field in the tropical dry forest of Santa Rosa National Park in Costa Rica. This

factor, defined as “K”, was calculated using daily NDVI data based on PAR (Photosynthetic

Active Radiation) measured by flux towers and with monthly measurements of LAI using the

LICOR (LAI-2000). After obtaining the “K” coefficients for each phenological stage of the

forest, a regression analysis was performed in order to assess the degree of correlation

between the LAI and NDVI. This “K” coefficient makes possible to obtain accurate LAI

values of tropical dry forests in intermediate stage of succession, using only NDVI data

derived from satellite (e.g., MODIS) without any intervention in the field.


TWENTY-YEAR BIOMASS DYNAMICS OF A FOREST EXPERIENCING FREQUENT

TYPHOON DISTURBANCES

Jiang-Zhong Chen 1, Guo-Zhang M. Song 1, Kuo-Jung Chao 2, Wei-Chun Chao 3

1 Department of Biological Resources, National Chiayi University, Taiwan

([email protected]) ; 2 International Master Program of Agriculture, College of

Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan; 3 Department

of Forest and Resources, National Chiayi University, Taiwan

Typhoons, which hit Taiwan in the frequency of 0.49 per year for at least several decades,

are the main determinant for carbon balance in forest ecosystem on this island. Typhoons

reduce forest biomass through disturbances; on the other hand, canopy gaps created by

typhoons promote biomass increment through facilitate growth of surviving trees and

recruitment. In this study, we asked: (1) For a forest experiencing frequent typhoon

disturbances, what proportion of biomass was lost yearly and what proportion of biomass

input was contributed by growth of surviving trees and recruitment respectively? (2) Did the

extent of typhoon disturbances increase in our study site in the last 20 years? (3) How did

forest biomass response to such temporal pattern of typhoon disturbances?

Our study was carried out in a lowland rainforest (Nanjenshan Forest Dynamic Plot

(22.059°N, 120.854°W)). The plot was established in 1993 and has been re-censused in 2000,

2008 and 2013. Every tree (diameter at breast height ≥ 1 cm) in this plot was mapped,

identified and measured (height and diameter at breast height). Weather data (mean hourly

wind speed and accumulated rainfall during landing) for every typhoon landing in southern

Taiwan from 1985-2013 will be collected to quantify the disturbance extent.

Our preliminary results showed that more 80% of biomass increment was contributed by

growth of surviving trees. For the last 20 years, biomass of this forest barely changed,

although the number of the landing typhoons varied amongst different census intervals.

RECONNECTING WITH NATURE: INCREASED CONSERVATION CONCERN SPILLS

OVER BETWEEN “WASTELANDS”, RESERVES, AND URBAN PARKS

Kwek Yan Chong1, Letchumi Mani

1, Xingli Giam

2, Hugh Tiang Wah Tan

1

1Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4,

Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore ([email protected]); 2Department of Ecology and

Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.

The increasingly urban global urban population also implies increasing disconnect from

nature, which can have serious consequences for future public support for conservation.

Opportunities for urban residents, especially the young, to appreciate biodiversity and

ecosystems should be maximized. Few cities have nature reserves that protect old-growth

vegetation, but many have urban parks consisting of manicured greenery as well as

“wasteland” or “brown field” sites consisting of heavily -degraded secondary regrowth after

land abandonment. Can contact with such habitats also serve to change attitudes towards

biodiversity conservation? We brought students from different high schools on guided walks

to nature reserves, urban parks, and wastelands in Singapore, and used questionnaires to

measure the level of concern and motivation towards biodiversity conservation before,

immediately after, and sometime after the walks. We found that nature walks at a particular

site not only increased the level of concern for the preservation of that site against future

development, but also spilled over into increased concern for other sites regardless of the

habitat type. This increased concern persisted even after 1–2 months. On the other hand,

agreement with various reasons for conservation showed only temporary shifts immediately

after the walk and largely returned to baseline levels after 1–2 months. We suggest that urban

parks and wasteland habitats can serve as starting points for keeping the urbanizing human

population in contact with nature nearby their homes and workplaces, but will need to be

supplemented with public education measures that can improve intrinsic motivations.


FIELD VALIDATION OF MODELED NONBREEDING DISTRIBUTION OF THE

CERULEAN WARBLER IN THE ANDES

Gabriel J. Colorado Z.1, Paul B. Hamel

2, David Mehlman

3 and Amanda D. Rodewald

4

1Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Amazonia, Leticia, Colombia

([email protected]); 2USDA Forest Service, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods

Research, Stoneville, MS, USA; 3

The Nature Conservancy, Migratory Bird Program,

Albuquerque, NM USA; 4 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

Continental-wide interest in conservation of the Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea:

Parulidae), a Neotropical migrant bird listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable, which is threatened

by habitat loss and degradation, has included the delineation of a nonbreeding map of

distribution based on existing and recent records that represents the locations with the highest

probability of encountering the species. A protocol of field verification of the accuracy and

predictive power of this distributional map was applied between 2006 and 2010 in Venezuela,

Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In this poster, we present a revision of the distributional model

for Cerulean Warbler on its wintering grounds based on these new data gathered during the

field verification across the Andes. Cerulean Warbler was detected in 23 of 138 visited sites

(i.e. stratified randomly assigned 1-km2 pixels), resulting in a naïve occupancy of 0.17%.

After correcting for imperfect probability of detection, occupancy increased up to

approximately 0.22. Data was organized and reanalyzed using the MAXENT algorithm, and a

revised nonbreeding distributional map was obtained. Additionally, landscape and regional

correlations of the occurrence of the species based on environmental variables measured at the

sites are assessed and graphically depicted. Conservation implications of these findings, in

particular the identification and prediction of important areas for conservation of the warbler

in the Andes are discussed.


EFFECT OF HABITAT STRUCTURE ON THE DIVERSITY OF DIURNAL

BUTTERFLIES FROM A HIGH-MONTANE ECOSYSTEM IN ANTIOQUIA

DEPARTMENT-COLOMBIA

Alejandra Clavijo-Giraldo1, Gabriel J. Colorado Z.

2, Carlos F. Álvarez-Hincapié

1,3

1 Grupo de Investigación en Sistemática Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cll

59A Nº63-20, bloque 16, Medellín, Colombia; 2Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede

Amazonía, Km 2 vía Tarapacá, Leticia, Colombia ([email protected]); 3Grupo de

Investigación aplicada al Medio Ambiente, Corporación Universitaria Lasallista, Caldas

(Antioquia), Colombia

Recent ecological studies have found a positive correlation between habitat structure and

animal communities that inhabit them. Generally, such studies try to test the hypothesis that

species diversity increases with increasing habitat complexity and heterogeneity due to the

fact that highly complex and heterogeneous habitats may provide more potential niches that

structurally simpler habitats. In this research, the effect of habitat complexity and

heterogeneity on the butterfly community (Papilionoidea-Hesperioidea) inhabiting three

vegetation types (Shrubs, highland forest and Paramo) was evaluated in a high-montane

ecosystem of the Central Cordillera in the department of Antioquia, Colombia. From January

to July 2012, butterflies were systematically sampled using entomological nets and Van

Someren Rydon traps baited with decomposed fish and fermented fruit. Vegetation structure,

complexity and heterogeneity was evaluated using 0.04-ha circular plots established around

the traps. We reported 108 species, 48 genus and five families of butterflies. Butterfly

diversity was highest in the shrub habitat (1D=25.02;

2D=11.97), followed by the highland

forest (1D=15.83;

2D=9.42) and Paramo (

1D=12.36;

2D=7.86). Richness and abundance of

butterflies’ species were positively associated with structural variables such as canopy cover,

vegetation density in horizontal and vertical strata, as well as habitat complexity. Similarly,

we found a positive association between butterfly diversity and the heterogeneity observed in

the vegetation types. Future studies based on both ecological criteria and taxonomic

information would provide greater knowledge on these kinds of associations, contributing to

the management and maintenance of habitats particularly in the Colombian Andean

ecosystems.


PHYSICAL BASIS OF THE IRIDESCENCE OF THE BLUE-THROATED SAPPHIRE

HYLOCHARIS ELICIAE FROM THE COLOMBIAN DARIEN

Gabriel J. Colorado Z.1, Herbert Vinck-Posada

2

1Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Amazonia, km 2 via Tarapaca, Leticia, Colombia

([email protected]), 2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Bogotá, Departamento

de Física, Bogotá, Colombia..

One of the most striking phenomena in nature is the origin of colour. coloration and its

origins. Typically, coloration can be produced physiologically (i.e. pigments) and structurally

(i.e. iridescence), which is produced in nanostructures that interact with the incident light.

Despite its ubiquity in living organisms, this phenomenon is poorly understood. We evaluated

the structural and physical basis of the iridescence of the Blue-throated Sapphire Hylocharis

eliciae Bourcier & Mulsant 1846 (Aves: Trochilidae), a Neotropical lowland hummingbird,

restricted to the Endemic Bird Area of the Darien lowlands in the biogeographic Chocó,

Colombia, South America. We proposed some hypotheses about the selective advantages of

this kind of coloration, particularly exploring the potential function in intraspecific

communication (e.g. sexual selection) as well as in other phases of the life history of this

hummingbird (e.g. antipredatory function). We reviewed available information and conducted

experimental analyses (e.g. transmission electron microscopy, optical photography) on the tail

feathers of this bird. Using scanning electron microscopy, a quasi-periodic structure of keratin

was revealed, which allowed modelling to model based on the finite-difference frequency-

domain method. As a special result, we We obtained different resonances´ responses

associated with to the incidence angle. We stated some hypotheses about the selective

advantages of this kind of coloration, particularly exploring the potential function in

intraspecific communication (e.g. sexual selection) as well as in other phases of the life

history of this hummingbird (e.g. antipredatory function). We highlight the relevance of the

study of iridescence in living organisms from a nanophotonic perspective since it can

contribute to unveil the potential mechanisms behind this phenomenon, particularly in a

megadiverse country. Finally, we provide some research perspectives and biological and

physical hypotheses of interest to be assessed as outcome from our investigation.


IMPACTS OF HUNTING AND HABITAT DISTURBANCE ON MAMMALS IN A

FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE OF WESTERN ECUADOR

Geovanny Segovia, Daniel M. Griffith, Enrique de la Montaña, Ingrid S. Zurita

Central Research Department, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador

Few studies have investigated the simultaneous impacts of hunting and habitat disturbance on

game species in heavily deforested tropical landscapes, where large source habitat is absent.

We assessed the relative effects of hunting, habitat type, and forest fragmentation on four

mammal species in the biodiversity hotspot of western Ecuador. Between July 2013 and

March 2014, we placed camera traps for 30-50 days in each of 12 sites according to a

stratified random design to estimate relative abundances of paca (Cuniculus paca), Central

American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and nine-banded

armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). We used model averaging to compare each species’

abundance in forest fragments, agroforests, and silvopastoral systems and with habitat area,

forest cover within a 1-km radius, and road density (km km-2

) as a proxy for accessibility to

hunters. In a monthly survey of 40 hunters from July 2012 to November 2013, paca, agouti

and peccary comprised 77, 18 and 2% of the animals killed, respectively. Based on camera

traps, paca and agouti were less abundant in silvopastoral systems than forest fragments and

agroforests, but did not vary significantly with habitat area, road density or forest cover.

Collared peccary was only present in three forest sites. Armadillo did not differ significantly

with habitat type or the other variables. These species are able to survive in a heterogeneous

landscape consisting of forest fragments and a diverse agricultural matrix. Protection from

overhunting and preservation of forest and agroforestry habitat as opposed to extensive

pasture will be key to their persistence.

FIRST RECORD OF BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDROBATIDIS IN BRAZILIAN

CERRADO, AFFECTING TWO ENDEMIC SPECIES BOKERMANNOHYLA

PSEUDOPSEUDIS AND BOKERMANNOHYLA SAPIRANGA

Ana Carolina de Oliveira Ramalho1, Catia Dejuste de Paula

2, Jose Luiz Catão-Dias

1, Reuber

Albuquerque Brandão1

1. Universidade de Brasilia, Brasilia -DF, Brazil ([email protected]), 2. Universidade

de Sao Paulo, Cidade Universitaria Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil

Amphibians are considered the most endangered vertebrates in the world (1), and about 39%

of all New World amphibians are threatened by extinction (2). Brazil harbors the largest

global amphibian diversity, with more than 900 recorded species (3), of which at least 208

have already been registered in the Brazilian Cerrado (4). The Brazilian Cerrado is the most

diverse and endangered savanna in the world (5, 6), and presents an amphibian endemism rate

of about 50% (4). Infectious diseases are regarded as one of the most significant catalysts

driving global amphibian declines (2). Among infectious diseases, the emerging

chytridiomycosis is widely ac- cepted to be a prominent cause of anuran population declines,

and is considered by the Office International Des Epizooties to be a particularly threatening

disease for wild animals (7). Chytridiomycosis is caused by the chytrid fungus

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has been detected in more than 350 amphibian

species (8, 9, 1). This widespread emerging disease has evidently been linked to the extinction

and accentuated population declines in at least 200 amphibian species since 1980 (8). Herein,

we report the first occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Cerrado frog species.

The fungus was detected via histological analyses in three tadpoles of Bokermannohyla

pseudopseudis and in five tadpoles of Bokermannohyla sapiranga, both endemic Cerrado

species.

1- Stuart, S.N., Chanson, J.S., Cox, N.A., Young, B.E., Rodrigues, A.S.L., Fischman, D.L., Waller, R.W. (2004): Status and

trends of amphibian declines and extinctions worldwide. Science 306: 1783.

2- Young, B. E. (2004): Disappearing jewels: the status of New World amphibians. NatureServe.

3- Segalla, M.V., Caramaschi, U., Cruz, C.A.G., Garcia, P.C.A., Grant, T., Haddad, C.F.B., Langone, J. (2012): Brazilian

amphibians – List of species. <www.sbherpetologia.org.br>, accessed at: 2012.07.05.

4- Valdujo, P.H., Silvano, D.L., Colli, G.R., Martins, M. (2012): Anuran species composition and distribution patterns in

Brazilian Cerrado, a Neotropical hotspot. South American Journal of Herpetology 7: 63-78..

5- Klink, C.A., Machado, R.B. (2005): Conservation of the Brazilian Cerrado. Conservation Biology 19: 707-713.

6- Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., Fonseca G.A.B., Kent, J. (2000): Biodiversity hotspots for conservation

priorities. Nature 403: 853-858.

7- Schloegel, L.M., Daszak, P., Cunningham, A.A., Speare, R., Hill B. (2010a). Two amphibian diseases, chytridiomycosis

and ranaviral disease, are now globally notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE): an assessment.

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 92: 101-108.

8- Skerratt, L.F., Berger, L., Speare. R., Cashins. S., McDonald, K.R., Phillott, A.D., Hines, H.B., Kenyon, N. (2007): Spread

of chytridiomycosis has caused the rapid global decline and extinction of frogs. Ecohealth 4: 125-134.

9- Lips, K.R., Brem, F., Brenes, R., Reeve, J.D., Alford, R.A., Voyles, J., Carey, C., Livo, L., Pessier, A.P., Collins, J.P.

(2006): Emerging infectious disease and the loss of biodiversity in a Neotropical amphibian community. Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103: 3165-3170.


THE EFFECT OF HABITAT STRUCTURE ON ANXIETY AND EXPLORATORY

BEHAVIOUR IN THE FAWN-FOOTED MELOMYS, MELOMYS CERVINIPES.

Emma Delarue1

1Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns QLD 4878 Australia

([email protected])

The ability to adapt to environmental changes through behavioural modification is essential

for survival. Behaviour results from a series of complex interactions between the individual’s

genotype and the environment. As a result, different populations may show habitat-specific

behaviours. The fawn-footed melomys, Melomys cervinipes, is a tropical rodent occurring in

multiple habitats. It is a key component of the diet of many rainforest predators and plays a

significant role in rainforest trophic dynamics. The general behaviour of M. cervinipes, and

the influence of environmental conditions on behaviour, is poorly understood. I aim to

investigate the effect of habitat structure on anxiety and exploratory behaviour in M.

cervinipes from three habitats; 1) grassland, 2) regrowth rainforest and 3) abandoned hoop-

pine Araucaria cunninghami plantation. I will use four procedures – open field, novel object

test, light-dark test and acoustic startle response – to compare exploratory behaviour and

anxiety between populations. I expect that individuals from habitats of low complexity

(grassland) will be less bold (i.e. show lower levels exploratory behaviour and increased

anxiety) and those from complex habitats (rainforest) to be more bold. Furthermore,

individuals from open, highly disturbed habitats (plantation) will likely show the highest level

of exploratory behaviour and lower anxiety due to an increased need to take risks while

foraging in lower cover and open patches in the habitat. An increased understanding of how

M. cervinipes behaviour varies across different environments will provide a direct insight into

the effects of habitat disturbance on behaviour and how this may influence rainforest trophic

dynamics.

SOUND APPROACHES TO BIRD DIVERSITY ACROSS FOREST TRANSFORMATION

SYSTEMS IN JAMBI, INDONESIA

Kevin Darras1, Edho Walesa Prabowo

2, Yann Clough

1, Teja Tscharntke

1

presented by Lisa Denmead

1

Agroecology, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany,

[email protected]

Technological advances open up new venues for monitoring animal diversity. Automated

acoustic sampling can generate large amounts of data that complement and broaden our

understanding of biodiversity dynamics in space and time.

In this study I present the results of a one-year acoustic survey of birds across 44 plots located

in 7 different land-use systems in the province of Jambi (Sumatra, Indonesia). Sound

propagation profiles were measured to determine the size of the detection space in each plot,

and an online collaborative platform was created to identify animals in the sound recordings.

We also compare our data with traditional point counts and computer-based identification

methods.

Species richness decreases along the transformation gradient but each land-use type is

characterized by a specific bird community structure. Functional analysis reveals that forest

transformation favours generalist and omnivorous species at the cost of specialists and

frugivores. Bird activity measures reveal how dependent birds are on forest-like habitats.

Spectrograms show us the daily and seasonal dynamics of birds and other sonant animals in

disturbed habitats, which can also be summarized by acoustic indices.

Our results demonstrate that the rampant biodiversity loss cannot be stopped without

protecting indispensable natural habitat. But with a big data approach, we also pinpoint which

changes occur in space and time and can predict how the changing community composition

might affect important ecosystem services.


FROM FOREST TO OILPALM: ARBOREAL ARTHROPOD COMMUNITIES AS

INDICATORS FOR ECOSYSTEM STABILITY IN CENTRAL SUMATRA

Dr Jochen Drescher1, Prof Dr Stefan Scheu

1, Prof Dr Damayanti Buchori

2, Dr. Iskandar

Siregar3, Dr. Bambang Irawan

4

1Dept. of Animal Ecology, JFB-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of

Göttingen, Germany ([email protected]); 2Dept. of Plant Protection, Bogor Agricultural

University, Indonesia; 3Dept. of Silviculture, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia;

4Dept.

of Forestry, University of Jambi, Indonesia

Tropical lowland rainforests are in a rapid worldwide decline, often driven by the demand for

agricultural land. Such is the case in Jambi (Central Sumatra), where in the last ca. 50 years,

the vast majority of lowland rainforest has been transformed into rubber and oilpalm

plantations. Within the German-Indonesian research consortium ‘EFForTS’ (‘Ecological and

Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems’), we

analyse ecosystem- and climate-level patterns across four different habitat types (oldgrowth

secondary forest, extensive rubber cultivation, rubber and oilpalm monocultures) and compare

them with socioeconomic properties of associated households and villages.

As part of the ecosystem-level approach on revealing the various consequences of

deforestation and land-conversion, canopy arthropods have been sampled from 32 research

plots in Jambi, Central Sumatra (8 plots in each habitat type). In this poster, we will present

first data concerning the distribution of ca. 370.000 specimen (~40% of the projected number

of specimen) from 31 arthropod orders across the above land-use gradient. Being limited to an

analysis of preliminary data, the main aim of this poster is to raise awareness for the EFForTS

project in general and introduce another facet of its research activities, as this project is sure to

contribute a number of important insights to the ATBC community, both now and in future.


PRIORITY AREAS FOR PIG-NOSED TURTLE (CARETTOCHELYS INSCULPTA)

CONSERVATION IN THE KIKORI REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Carla C. Eisemberg1,2

, Yolarnie Amepou1, Erik Manasi

1, Mark Rose

3, Benedict Yaru

1, 4,

Arthur Georges1

1Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia

([email protected]); 2Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods,

Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; 3Flora & Fauna International, Jupiter

House, 4th Floor, Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JD UK; 4EcoCare Engineering Ltd, PO

Box 312 Port Moresby PNG.

The “Piku Project” was initiated in the Kikori region (PNG) because of an urgent need to

reverse the severe decline of the pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) population. This

study aims to identify priority areas for C. insculpta conservation in this region taking into

account the current biological and social data available. We used C. insculpta harvest and

nesting biology data collected during 2007-2008 and 2008-09 nesting seasons and human

census data to identify areas where conservation efforts would more likely be successful and

protect a higher percentage of the C. insculpta. The most suitable areas for C. insculpta were

those where a high number turtles and nests were found and at the same time were not located

in the community most exploited zones. We identified seven potential priority areas for

conservation and non-take areas in the Kikori region. Five priority areas are small in size and

surround main nesting sandbanks in the coast and riverine areas, where females congregate

before and after nesting. One priority area is larger in size and located in the delta and it

probably encompasses an important mangrove feeding ground for this species. One large

coastal area, surrounding Turuvio Island, seems to play an important role for C. insculpta,

since it is used both for feeding and nesting. However, the Kikori region has a highly variable

environment and C. insculpta are constantly adapting to this fluctuations. Population

monitoring inside and outside priority areas are necessary to ensure that vital areas for C.

insculpta are protected.


EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF AUTOMATED FOREST RESTORATION (AFR)

Stephen Elliott

Forest Restoration Research Unit, Science Faculty, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai,

Thailand, 50200 ([email protected])

Although the science and practice of tropical forest restoration has advanced considerably, its

broad scale implementation is limited, due to lack of skilled labour and inaccessibility of

restoration sites. In developing countries, the labour required for tree planting, weeding,

maintenance etc. often exceeds the local labour pool. Local people are unwilling to do such

laborious, temporary work for minimum wage. Most accessible flat land is already cultivated,

leaving only steep sites, far from roads, available for forest restoration. Workers are reluctant

to carry trees and materials long distances across rugged terrain.

Advances in drone and image recognition technologies raise the possibility of automating

forest restoration tasks, including: seed collection, aerial seeding, weeding, fertilizer

application and monitoring. Drones could identify fruiting trees and signal their GPS co-

ordinates back to seed collectors, thus reducing the time spent looking for fruiting trees.

Larger aerial vehicles could drop seeds, within biodegradable projectiles, which protect seeds

as they fall. The projectiles could be filled with soil/gel mixtures that maximize germination

and seedling establishment. Drones, with image recognition software, capable of

distinguishing between weeds and trees could deliver highly-targeted doses of systemic

herbicide, to reduce weed competition. A similar system could deliver fertilizer close to trees,

whilst minimizing waste. Finally, monitoring canopy closure with drone technology is already

happening and could be refined with the development of plant recognition software. This

poster illustrates these concepts and invites discussion of them at a workshop, to be held in

Chiang Mai, Thailand in November 2014.


DIVERSITY PATTERNS OF CONTINENTAL SOUTH AMERICAN TURTLES AND

PROCESS PROMOTERS

GB Falcon, GR Colli

Universidade De Brasília, Brazil ([email protected])

Understanding the biodiversity distribution patterns and process is a central issue in ecology,

which is no merely theoretical with source for decision makers too. These questions were

most studied with richness like synonym of diversity, but this approach no considers the

phylogenetic and functional importance of each species. Therefore, the present study

investigates patterns of diversity (richness, phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity) of

continental South American turtles and their determinants. Occurrence records and biological

information (phylogenies and functional traits) were compiled from literature of 46 species of

turtles to find patterns of richness, phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity. These three

diversity metrics were spatially structured by spatial eigenvector mapping which allowed

removing the spatial autocorrelation bias, the linear regression between metrics and of the

multiple regressions of each metric explained by environment predictors that represent the

hypothesis of the determinants contemporary process of the diversity; and partial regressions

to define environmental, spatial and residuals contribution of the models. The three metrics

followed the latitudinal gradient and were strongly correlated. The environment predictors

corroborate the hypothesis water-energy dynamic and availability-of-energy as determinants

of South American turtle’s diversity. The predictors of secondary representativity indicate that

the hypothesis of the environmental stress and stability are the reason of distinction among the

three metrics of diversity. The environmental and spatial predictors explained the most part of

diversity patterns. Anyhow evidences of the influence of historical aspects should be

considered for understanding the biodiversity patterns of an ancient lineage with low

evolutionary rates.

MULTI-SCALE HABITAT SELECTION BY THE THREATENED MANED THREE-

TOED SLOTH

Nereyda Falconi1, Emerson Vieira

2, Julio Baumgarten

3, Deborah Faria

3 & Gastón Giné

3

1Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Postgraduate Program, State University of Santa

Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil; 2([email protected]); 2 Ecology Department, University of

Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; 3Laboratoty of Applied ecology and Conservation, State University

of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.

We studied the habitat selection in different spatial scales of the maned three-toed sloth

(Bradypus torquatus), a vulnerable and endemic species of Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. We

radio-tracked seven individuals with VHF collars for 18 months in landscapes from Northeast

Brazil. For each monitored maned three-toed sloth we collected one to three locations per

week getting us a total of 23 to 50 localizations per animal. We employed the chi-square

goodness-of-fit test and Bonferroni confidence intervals a posteriori to detect any resource

used disproportionately to its availability at distinct scales: landscape, home range, forest

patch, and tree. At landscape scale, maned three-toed sloths preferred secondary and

agroforests and avoided open areas, whereas at home range scale sloths did not prefer any

forest category but, again, avoided open areas. At smaller spatial scales, sloths were highly

selective towards patches characterized by high density of trees with closed and dense

canopy. They selected large trees with high density of lianas, bromeliads, vine tangles and

high connectivity. These characteristics favor its mobility and crypticity. Results support the

idea that maned three-toed sloth can effectively use and even select disturbed forested

habitats. It is not clear, however, whether populations could be maintained in disturbed

habitats or within landscapes with low proportion of undisturbed habitats.

HABITAT APPROACH BASED ON DIRECT AND INDIRECT RECORDS OF FAUNA IN

FOREST INVENTORIES IN PERUVIAN RAINFOREST

Nereyda Falconi1,2

, Pavel Bermudez1, Jessica Galvez Durand

3, Renzo Piana

4, & John Organ

5.

1U.S. Forest Service/Peruvian Forest Sector Initiative, Lima, Perú;

2([email protected]); 3DGFFS/Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture, Lima, Perú;

4Wildlife Conservation Society, Lima, Perú; 5U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Massachusetts,

USA.

Information about fauna has recently been added to the permanent production forest

inventories by the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture with support of Peruvian Forest Sector

Initiative /US Forest Service. We chose to focus on collection of structural habitat data

complemented with direct observations of priority species of fauna so as to complement and

utilize the forest inventory data. To determinate potential occurrence of the species considered

priority for each region for use as an indicator of ecosystem health (around 25 mammal and

bird species) we used generalized linear models with binomial family and logit link. To date,

we have analysed data from one region with encouraging results. The principal factors that

affect the occurrence of some of our priority species in this region (Pecari tajacu, Mazama

americana, Tapirus terrestris, Dasyprocta fuliginosa, Cuniculus paca, Penelope jacquacu)

are habitat type, seral stage (small trees <1m or <10 cm DBH) and vegetation cover (first

level of horizontal and vertical foliage density). Further inventories in Peru will enrich our

records and bolster our science for these and other priority species. We believe wildlife

presence data complemented with habitat structural data can give us insights about which

factors are affecting the occurrence of these species and allow us to predict wildlife

assemblages at a broader landscape scale. This will facilitate implementation of the New

Forest and Wildlife Law in Peru, for which regulations are currently being developed, by

providing updated, accurate and solid technical information for the design of wildlife

management strategies.

PHYLOGENETIC DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION OF SOUTH AMERICAN

PITVIPERS

Jessica Fenker1, Leonardo Tedeschi

1, Alexander Pyron

2, Cristiano Nogueira

3

1 Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil, ([email protected]),

2 The George

Washington University, Washington, DC, USA, 3 Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São

Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

To analyse impacts of habitat loss on evolutionary diversity, and to test if biodiversity metrics

work as surrogates for phylogenetic diversity, we study spatial and taxonomic patterns of

phylogenetic diversity in a wide-ranging endemic Neotropical snake lineage. We updated

distribution maps using species distribution models and a revised presence-records database.

We estimated evolutionary distinctiveness using recent molecular and morphological

phylogenies, weighted by two measures of extinction risk: percentages of habitat loss and

IUCN threat status. We mapped phylogenetic diversity and richness levels, and compared

phylogenetic distances in pitviper subsets selected via endemism, richness, threat, habitat loss,

biome type and presence in biodiversity hotspots to values obtained in randomized

assemblages. Evolutionary distinctiveness differed according to the phylogeny used, and

conservation assessment ranks varied according to the chosen proxy of extinction risk. Two of

the three main areas of high phylogenetic diversity matched with areas of high species

richness. A third area was identified by one phylogeny, and was not a richness hotspot. Faunal

assemblages captured phylogenetic diversity levels no better than random. Pitvipers found in

the richest areas or in the IUCN Redlist showed significant phylogenetic clustering. Usual

biodiversity metrics were unable to adequately represent spatial patterns of evolutionary

diversity in pitvipers and current Redlist status fails to properly represent evolutionary

distinctiveness. Phylogenetic diversity is unevenly distributed even within biodiversity

hotspots, and species-poor areas may harbour high phylogenetic diversity. This reinforces the

need for targeted and spatially accurate approaches for adequately representing evolutionary

processes in conservation planning.

CONSERVATION PLANNING AT FOREST PLANTATION LANDSCAPES IN BRAZIL

Silvio F. B. Ferraz1, Walter de Paula Lima

1, Fernando F. B. Ferraz

3, Carolina Bozetti

Rodrigues2, Carla Cassiano

2, Lara Garcia

2

1Forest Hydrology Laboratory, Forest Science Department, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of

Agriculture (ESALQ), University of São Paulo([email protected]); .2Forest Resources

Graduate Program, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (ESALQ), University of São

Paulo (USP); 3Avix Geoambiental

Forest plantations in Brazil cover about 6 million of hectares in 2012, due to internal and

external demand growth for fiber and wood. Forest management plans are seeking

environmental sustainability of those planted areas, guided by crescent restrictions enforced

by government, environmental certification and society pressure. . Landscape indicators

commonly reflects environmental management, and the development of tools for landscape

analysis and monitoring could be an opportunity to improve forest management in order to

conserve biodiversity, water and ecological processes. We developed a method for monitoring

forest plantation landscapes in order to increase their sustainability. Forest plantation

landscape structure calculation was based on landscape metrics of each forest management

unit (FMU), trying to consider different components of the ecosystem: eucalyptus plantations

(genetic material diversity, age diversity, water use at maximum growth) and natural areas

(vegetal typology diversity, landscape proportion, edge density, proximity and core area).

Data used for index calculation was extracted of land-use maps including forest stands and

database, natural vegetation and water use simulation provided by 3PG forest growth model.

Metrics obtained on assessment of forest landscapes were comparative seeking extreme

values in relation to the entire populations of FMU observed at considered areas. The

comparative analysis allowed identifying critical areas that could have their management

improved and also, well managed areas that could be considered as high value conservation

sites due to their current status. The methodology allowed an integrated and comparative view

of FMU status considering different aspects related to natural areas and forest stands

management and it has been supporting environmental decisions at landscape scale.


THE VALUE OF SMALL REMNANTS AT LOWLAND SEASONAL BRAZILIAN

ATLANTIC RAINFOREST FOR PRIMATE CONSERVATION

Priscila C. R. Ferreira1, Joedison Rocha

1, Tainah C. Moreira

1, Christine S. S. Bernardo

1

1Conservation Biology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual do

Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, Bahia, Brazil ([email protected])

Population surveys provide information on the species conservation status and areis crucial

for population viability analysis and long- term monitoring. We estimated relative abundance

(sightings/10 km) and density (groups/km2) of the endemic Wwied’s marmoset Callithrix

kuhlii in three fragments of Atlantic Rainforest in Bahia, northeastern Brazil. We compared

our findings with other researcher’s’ data obtained in 2002-2003 and 2007. We used principal

component analysis to identify remnant forests with similar features (forest remnant size,

primate richness, forest type, protection status and elevation). We recorded 48 sightings of C.

kuhlii in 366.77 km walked. We found larger abundance and density of C. kuhlii in small

fragments of lowland seasonal forests, which are not protected by the Brazilian law (2.50

sightings/10 km and 4 groups/km2

at Camacan and 1.47 sightings/10 km and 5.59 groups/km2

at Itororó). Long- term monitoring is needed to infer if higher abundance may be temporary

due to crowding effect caused by recent habitat fragmentation in the study areas. The low

abundance of the species in protected large areas of ombrofilous forests suggest that groups

are more sparsely distributed and may range larger areas, resulting in low densities (e.g. 1.66

groups/km2

in Una Biological Reserve, 2.85 in Conduru State Park and 3.36 in Serra das

Lontras National Park). Our results show the importance of lowland seasonal forests to C.

kuhlii. Thus, conservation strategies to protect these areas should increase matrix

permeability, which will benefit not only C. kuhlii but also endangered sympatric species such

as the golden-headed lion tamarin Leontopithecus chrysomela.


STRATEGIC HABITAT AREAS FOR MAINTAINING CONSERVATION STATUS OF A

COMMON ENDEMIC PRIMATE IN BRAZILIAN HOTSPOT

Priscila C. R. Ferreira1, Christine S. S. Bernardo

1, Leonardo G. Neves

2, Katia Maria P. M. B.

Ferraz3

1Conservation Biology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual do

Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, Bahia, Brazil ([email protected]); 2Institute for Social

and Environmental Studies in Southern Bahia; 3Department of Forest Science, Universidade

de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Conservation actions have been mainly focused on improving the status of threatened species.

However, anticipating potential threats for common species are less-costly and allow planning

actions in advance. Habitat suitability models were used to identify and quantify strategic

habitat areas for Callithrix kuhlii, by using Maxent software. This “near threatened” marmoset

is endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest and habitat loss is the main threat to the

species, which originally occurs from southern Bahia to northeastern Minas Gerais. We used

60 presence records and seven environmental variables (precipitation of the driest and wettest

month, average diurnal temperature range, drainage density, elevation, distance from roads

and percentage of tree cover) to elaborate the distribution model. Data were sampled by

bootstrapping with 10 random partitions with replacements, 70% used for training and 30%

for testing. The model was accurate and well fitted, presenting AUC=0.78 (±0.04) and

p=0.005. Precipitation of the driest month (26.33%) and elevation (39.21%) were the

variables that highly contributed to the model. About 2.3% of the modeled area has suitability

index higher than 60% (named as “strategic habitat areas for C. kuhlii”). Most of them are

located in seasonal forests (64%), but all the protected areas with the presence of C. kuhlii are

in ombrofilous forests, which hold no more than 22% of the strategic areas for the species.

Thus, encouraging land owners to keep seasonal forests free from threats (e.g. fire) will help

maintaining the conservation status of C. kuhlii.


EVIDENCE OF DEPENDENCE ON SCATTER-HOARDING RODENTS FOR PALM

SEEDLING RECRUITMENT IN A TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

Caroline Marques Dracxler1,2

, Pierre-Michel Forget1

1Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département Ecologie et Gestion de la Biodiversité,

ECOTROP, UMR 7179 CNRS-MNHN, Brunoy, France; 2([email protected])

Scatter-hoarding rodents play a crucial role for seed dispersal and predation of large-seeded

plants in tropical forests. However, the result of the interaction between scatter-hoarding

rodents and plants in forests subjected to hunting is not very well understood. In this study,

we investigate how scatter-hoarding rodents can contribute to the early seedling recruitment

(1-yr seedlings) of two palm species (Astrocaryum aculeatissimum and Attalea humilis) in a

lowland Atlantic Forest subjected to moderate hunting pressure. Since A. aculeatissimum is

more frequently predated by invertebrates than A. humilis, we hypothesize that a higher

proportion of A. aculeatissimum seedlings will be arising from scatter-hoarded seeds, due the

escape of invertebrate seed predation. We found that 83% (n=35) of A. aculeatissimum

seedlings and 75% (n=12) of A. humilis seedlings were originated from seeds scatter-hoarded

by rodents. Although there was no difference between the number of seedlings originated

from cached seeds between the species (df=1,F=3.23,p>0.05), the results shows that, in total,

more seedlings arose from seeds cached (df=1,F=7.62,p<0.01) and virtually all seedlings

(n=57) were established from seeds dispersed by rodents. Our study shows the importance of

the scatter-hoarding behavior and the dependence of seed dispersal for seedling establishment

in hunted forests. Despite not all seeds dispersed were buried, our study shows that scatter-

hoarding rodents can contribute to seedling recruitment both by abandoning the seeds on the

ground surface, as well burying them for late consumption. We highlight that the hunting of

rodents can disrupt important scatter-hoarding dynamics that can generate drastic changes on

palm regeneration.

INFLUENCE OF HUNTING AND FOREST FRAGMENTATION ON ANIMAL-

MEDIATED SEED DISPERSAL IN A FOREST-SAVANNA MOSAIC

Franck Trolliet1, Pierre-Michel Forget

2, Marie-Claude Huynen

1, Alain Hambuckers

1

1. Behavioral Biology Unit, University of Liege, Belgium

2. Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Brunoy, France

Anthropogenic pressures can have cascading effect on plant-animal interactions. Hunting has

been demonstrated as altering frugivore community composition in favor of small body-sized

frugivores, possibly releasing inter-specific competition for resources and influencing

dynamics of animal-mediated seed dispersal. In addition, seed dispersal of bird-dispersed tree

species are thought to be more resilient to forest fragmentation than species dispersed by large

mammals. Here, we seek to understand how the interplay between hunting and fragmentation

might influence seed dispersal of a plant species that is dispersed by primates and hornbills.

We collected data in a forest-savanna mosaic in DR Congo across five sites varying in size

and hunting pressure. We collected fruits below the canopy of 34 Staudtia kamerunensis

(Myristicaceae) trees in order to evaluate the percentage of seed dispersal failure.

Preliminary data analysis suggest that trees surrounded by more forest know higher

percentages of efficient seed dispersal, and trees in sites with higher availability of S.

kamerunensis and higher abundance of primates know higher level of dispersal failure. Also,

our first data suggest that abundance of primates is inversely related to that of hornbills which

is positively related to higher rate of efficient seed dispersal.

These results suggest a possible saturation effect, effective seed dispersal away from

conspecific parent plants decreasing at sites with high availability of conspecific parent trees

and high level of fragmentation. In addition, hunting might indirectly favor frugivorous birds

and increase seed removal of bird-dispersed trees. Results will need to be further discussed in

light of multivariate statistical analysis.

REVISITING THE BIOGEOGRAPHIYC REGIONS OF CERRADO, THE BRAZILIAN

SAVANNA

.

Renata Françoso1, Toby Pennington

2, Kyle Dexter

3, Ricardo Machado

1, James Ratter

2

1 Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil . ([email protected]);

2Royal Botanic

Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Determining spatial patterns of biodiversity is fundamental to biogeography, especially to

drive conservation politics and biodiversity prospecting. The Cerrado, a Brazilian savanna, is

a biodiversity hotspot. To drive some conservation actions, our aim was to revisit

biogeographic regions of Cerrado based on the similarity of wood plant communities. We also

wanted to characterize their environmental attributes and species composition. We used 411

surveys in a cluster analysis. Those localities were characterized regarding bioclimatic

variables, soil, geology, watershed, and altitude. We used a canonical correspondence analysis

preceded by a forward selection to observe which variables are more important for each

group. An indicator species analysis was conducted to know what kind of species is important

for each group, based on their known distribution. We recovered seven regions through the

Cerrado, from which three are very different from the others, being influenced by Atlantic

Forest in south, by Amazonia and Caatinga in north, and by Chaco in south-west. Annual

mean temperature and altitude are the most important variables. The regions north, north-east,

central-west and south-west have greater temperatures. The south, south-east, and central

have colder temperatures and high altitudes, but the altitude is remarkable in the central

region. The great proportion of endemism is in the central and north-east regions, but the

amount of endemism in the south and south-east are not negligible, suggesting that those

groups are strongly driven by historic process. Moreover, those regions are the most

deforested and threatened of the Cerrado biome, being urgent the deforestation restraint.


BIRD COMMUNITIES IN EARLY-STAGE ASSISTED REGENERATION ARE

COMPARABLE TO THOSE IN CONVENTIONAL REVEGETATION.

Amanda N. D. Freeman1,2

, Lucas Von Der Linden1,3

1The School for Field Studies, Centre for Rainforest Studies, Yungaburra, Australia

([email protected]); 2School of Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane,

Australia; 3University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA

The direct tree-planting methods used in conventional revegetation in the Wet Tropics

uplands are expensive and labor intensive but have been shown to be successful in providing

habitat for a suite of rainforest bird species. The “kickstart” assisted regeneration method,

which aims to convert disused pasture to forest by using herbicides and bird-attracting

perches and water troughs, has been suggested as a lower-cost alternative. In the Wet Tropics

uplands, three 0.64 ha sites have been established using these methods and are being

monitored for their effectiveness in providing habitat for rainforest birds. Bird surveys were

undertaken in three early-stage (2 year old) kickstart plots and in three similarly-aged

conventional revegetation plots situated in the same upland corridor in order to compare their

bird communities. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed that the bird communities of

conventional revegetation and kickstart sites were not significantly different from each other

and were equally dissimilar to the bird communities of nearby rainforest sites. The

distribution of bird species in different habitat classes was also very similar between the

kickstart and conventional revegetation sites. Whereas small numbers of some upland

endemic bird species were recorded in the conventional revegetation sites, however, none

were recorded in the kickstart sites. Ongoing monitoring will reveal whether the bird

communities of the kickstart sites will remain similar to those of the conventional

revegetation sites through time and whether there are differences in their utility to upland

endemic bird species, some of which may be threatened by climate change.


SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION OF THE GENUS ELAEOCARPUS L.

(ELAEOCARPACEAE)

Janet Gagul1,2

, Darren Crayn1, Paul Gadek

1, Andrew Rozefelds

3, Andrew Thornhill

1

1Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia

2 School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Australian Tropical

Herbarium ([email protected])

3 Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia

Elaeocarpus L, the largest genus in the plant family Elaeocarpaceae, comprises between 350

and 400 species with a mainly Indo-Pacific distribution. The islands of New Guinea (c.85

spp.) and Borneo (c.70 spp.) have the greatest concentration of species. The genus is well

defined morphologically by the distinct fringed flowers and firm fleshy fruits with woody

stones. These woody stones (mesocarps) are very hard, highly ornamented and vary in size

and shape, providing useful characters to differentiate species. Furthermore, a number of

fossil mesocarps assigned to Elaeocarpus are known, however the relationships of these fossil

species to extant lineages of Elaeocarpus are unknown. This study aims to utilise molecular

phylogenetics and fruit morphology of both extant and fossil material to investigate the

evolution of the genus, including dating of past events. Specifically, we will: 1) reconstruct

the phylogeny with a focus on species from New Guinea which are currently under-

represented in existing data sets, 2) determine the evolutionary patterns of fruit morphology in

the genus, 3) resolve the phylogenetic placement of fossil Elaeocarpus fruits and 4) use these

fossils to calibrate the molecular evolutionary rate and thereby determine the dates of

evolutionary events within Elaeocarpus. The results will be useful to help understand the

evolutionary history of Old World tropical forests.

ENVIRONMENTAL FILTERS AND COMPETITION DRIVE VEGETATION

ASSEMBLY OF A SANDY ECOSYSTEM IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Markus Gastauer1, Amílcar Walter Saporetti-Junior

1, Fernando Valladares

2, João Augusto

Alves Meira-Neto3

1Center of Environmental Research Floresta-Escola Mário de Almeida Franco, Frutal, Minas

Gerais, Brazil ([email protected]); 2Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas

(CSIC), Madrid, Spain; 3Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Evolution, Department of Plant

Biology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Mussunungas are savanna ecosystems limited to sandy Spodosol patches inserted in the

Atlantic Rainforest matrix in Southeastern Brazil. Different physiognomies occur along a soil

gradient of fine-to-coarse sand ratio (F/C) and profundity ranging from grassland (smallest

F/C), open savannas, savannas, closed and park savannas to woodland (largest F/C, more

profound soils). Species richness increases together with F/C and soil profundity, while

shading reduces in this direction. We hypothesized that the environmental gradient within

Mussunungas between shading and the soil F/C displays two opposing environmental filters

causing phylogenetic clustering on its ends, because of closely related species share more

functional traits. Phylogenetic overdispersion or weaker phylogenetic cluster due to

competition is expected on intermediate positions of the gradient where both filters act with

moderate strength. We computed NRI and NTI for all physiognomies in Mussununga patches

near Caravelas, Bahia. We built a phylogeny containing plant species surveyed in this and

former studies. We analyzed the distribution of life forms within phylogeny and confirmed

that closely related species share more ecological traits. Grasslands, open savannas as well as

woodlands (at the opposite end of the gradients) are phylogenetically clustered, while

physiognomies from intermediate positions are overdispersed. Low F/C selects for

hemicryptophytic and chamaephytic monocots while phaenerophytic eudicots dominate in

closed and park savannas as well as in woodland. While environmental filtering selects for

different phylogenetic lineages at extreme positions of the soil and shade gradients,

phylogenetic overdispersion emerges as a result of competitive exclusion at the intermediate

position of the gradient.

INTERACTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL SORTING AND CHANCE: OVERLAP OF

PROCESSES DESCRIBE PHYLOSTRUCTURE OF A MEGADIVERSE TROPICAL

FOREST

Markus Gastauer1, João Augusto Alves Meira-Neto

2

1Center of Environmental Research Floresta-Escola, Frutal, Minas Gerais, Brazil

([email protected]); 2Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Evolution, Department of Plant

Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Density dependence, environmental sorting and chance have been discussed to understand the

composition of biological communities. The objective of this study was to identify which of

these factors prevails in organizing the tree community from a single hectare divided in 100

plots of 10 x 10m in a primary forest patch from the Atlantic Forest domain situated in Viçosa

municipality, Brazil. Therefore, we analyzed species-environment correlations via canonical

correspondence analysis and identified different pedo-environments. We analyzed

phylogenetic structure as net relatedness index (NRI) and nearest taxon index (NTI) of each

pedo-environment. Altogether, we found 218 species, but the species-environment

correlations were weak in comparison with those found in other studies, although study site

presented a short environmental gradient, dividing the plot into an upper, more acidic hillside

and a lower, more fertile bottom. Per plot species richness and diversity was higher in the

hillside plots. Aluminum concentration was significantly higher in the more acidic hillside.

The NRI and NTI were correlated positively with the soil pH and negatively with the soil’s

aluminum concentration, so the bottom plots showed higher phylogenetic overdispersion than

the hillside plots. This pattern may be explained by the greater importance of environmental

filters in more acidic soils that formed less favorable habitats, while the influence of

competition and therefore the rate of competitive exclusion were higher in the more favorable,

less acidic plots.

EFFECTS OF EMERGENT TREES ON TROPICAL MONTANE FOREST DYNAMICS

Kazusa Hasegawa1, Takashi Mizuno

1, Witchaphart Sungpalee

2, Kriangsak Sri-Ngernyuang

3,

Mamoru Kanzaki1

1Graduate school of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan ([email protected]);

2

Faculty of Agricultural Production Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; 3 Faculty of

Architecture and Environmental Design, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Emergent class” occurs above the canopy in various tropical forests. Emergent forms the

unevenness of canopy and affects the stand dynamics of the forests. The emergent class exists

even in tropical montane forests. We examined the dynamics of emergent as a disturbance

agent of a tropical montane forest. Our study site is 300 m x 500 m permanent plot located in

Doi Inthanon National Park, North Thailand. In this plot, 5 to 6-yr interval census was carried

out for trees over 1 cm dbh. We used 2003, 2009, and 2014 census data. The definition of

emergent in this study is dbh≧80 cm, following Mizuno et al. (unpublished). Stem density

(over 1 cm dbh) in 2003 was 5972.6 /ha, and total BA was 41.5 m2/ha. Emergent tree density

was 6.5 /ha with BA of 6.16 m2/ha. Emergent accounted for only 0.11 % in density but 14.9

% in BA. Seven emergent tree died during from 2003 to 2009 and loss of BA by the mortality

was 0.56 m2/ha being smaller than the loss by the morality of canopy trees, 1.5 m

2/ha BA.

The disturbance by the fall of dead emergent trees, however, brought the huge canopy gap and

passively contributed to elevate the habitat diversity for the recruits and consequent species

diversity of recruits.


ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISTRIBUTION OF ROAD KILL OF

LUMHOLTZ’S TREE-KANGAROO (DENDROLAGUS LUMHOLTZI) ON THE

ATHERTON TABLELANDS IN TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Sigrid Heise-Pavlov*; Audrey Mutschlecner# and Jesse Cohen^

*#^Centre for Rainforest Studies at the School for Field Studies, Yungaburra, Queensland,

Australia ([email protected]) # Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA

^ Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA

This study utilizes records of reported road kill incidences of Lumholtz’s Tree-Kangaroo

(LTK) (Dendrolagus lumholtzi), a marsupial folivore endemic to the rainforests of North

Queensland, to identify factors which may result in high incidences of road kill of LTK along

major roads on the Atherton Tablelands using multivariate statistics and GIS.

More males than female Lumholtz’ Tree-kangaroos were victims of road kill, but there was

no significant change in road kill across seasons.

Amongst road matrices, number of curves, canopy closure, proximity of roads to potential

LTK habitat and distance of forested vegetation to the road, only road structure was found to

significantly affect the abundance of road kill. Most road kill incidences were recorded along

road segments with steep banks.

Seven road kill hot spots with high numbers of road kill incidences were identified along

main roads between Atherton, Malanda, Milla Milla and Ravenshoe. Degree of fragmentation

was found to be a significant determinant of these hotspots.

This information is of relevance for conservation planning for this species as it will assist in

the preservation of suitable habitat and the mitigation of road kills.


WATER-LIMITATION INFLUENCES SEEDLING RECRUITMENT FROM SOIL

SEEDBANKS IN A TROPICAL LANDSCAPE

Gemma L. Horner1, Susan G.W. Laurance

1, Nigel I. J. Tucker

2, Ana C. Palma

1

1Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Studies (TESS) and School of Marine

and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia; 2Biotropica Australia Pty

Ltd, PO Box 866, Malanda, Australia.

Seedling recruitment has a crucial role in rainforest restoration because only a small

proportion of the original forest species can be part of the initial plantings. The composition

of recruited seedlings is influenced by a combination of biotic and abiotic environmental

variables of which we believe the availability of soil water is an important limiting factor.

We explored how soil-water and the age of tree plantings influenced the community

composition of seedlings from soil seedbanks in northern Australia, in a greenhouse

experiment. Soils were collected from tree plantings of three ages: young (<5 years), medium

(6-11 years) and old (>12 years) and were separated into a paired watering treatment: wet

(2890 ml/week) and dry (1030 ml/week), with 12 sites collected in total. Over a four-month

period, 1304 seedlings germinated of 45 species. We found total seedling abundance and

species richness was significantly higher in the wet treatment. Older tree plantings also had

significantly more species than the youngest tree plantings but not more individuals. Exotic

species of herbs and grasses dominated all the samples, and were proportionally higher than

native species and shrub/tree life-forms in wet and younger treatments. Native species were

higher in abundance and richness in wet and older treatments. Surprisingly, we saw no effect

of seed size (small < 2mm vs medium >2mm) on the water limitation or planting age. Seed

dispersal mechanism changed with age of planting. These results suggest that improving soil

water capacity in tree plantings will increase recruitment success in rainforest restoration

projects.

RESPONSES OF INSECT SEED PREDATORS TO SEQUENTIAL FLOWERIMG OF

DIPTEROCARPS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Tetsuro Hosaka1, Takakazu Yumoto

2, Yu-Yun Chen

3, I-Fang Sun

3, S. Joseph Wright

5, Shinya

Numata1, Nur Supardi Md. Noor

6

1Department of Tourism Science, Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo

Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan (hosaka-

[email protected]); 2Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506,

Japan; 3Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Donghwa

University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan; 4Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado

0843-03092, Ancón, Republic of Panamá; 5Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kepong,

Selangor, 52109, Malaysia

The Dipterocarpaceae in SE Asia is known for its supra-annual and synchronous reproductive

phenology called general flowering (GF). During the GF, closely-related species stagger their

flowering peaks by a few weeks while their seeds mature simultaneously. Such community-

wide masting is thought to facilitate seed survival through satiating seed predators with huge

amount of seeds. However, if seed predators track flowering hosts and buildup their

population size utilizing the time-lag of flowering among hosts, the predator satiation

hypothesis would not be supported. Therefore, we examined the time of seed utilization and

adult emergence of seed predators in relation to flowering order of Shorea spp. at Pasoh

Forest Reserve in Peninsular Malaysia.

Two major seed predators, small weevils and large weevils, were specific to immature and

mature Shorea seeds, respectively. Small weevils utilized hosts in flowering order, suggesting

that they track the sequential flowering of hosts, while large weevils utilized hosts almost

simultaneously. However, the time of adult emergence was later than the oviposition window

of any host species for both small and large weevils, suggesting that they alternate generation

only once during the GF. Host utilization by small weevils in order of flowering implies that

early flowering species will not have an advantage by joining GF since early flowering

species flower before congeners and therefore suffer greater seed predation by small weevils.

In contrast, late flowering species will have an advantage since small weevils have already

laid some of their eggs on early flowering species.

EFFECT OF FOREST FIRE AND LIGHT ON REGENERATION OF BAMBOO

(CEPHALOSTACHYUM PERGRACILE) IN KACHANABURI, THAILAND

Panida Kachina1,2

, Dokrak Marod1

1Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of forestry, Kasertsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

([email protected]); 2Graduate School of Life Science, Tohoku University,

Aobayama,Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan

To understand the effect of forest fire on regeneration of bamboo (Cephalostachyum

pergracile), we compared the number of bamboo culms and clump dynamics h in unburned

(UB) and fire-burned (FB) areas from 2008 to 2011, in mixed deciduous forest at Mae Klong

Watershed Research Station, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. In this area, gregarious flowering

occurred in 2001; thus, the age is the same for all bamboo. Twenty plots of 1.5x1.5 m were

established in each site. Forest fire occurred three times in FB during the study period. The

results showed that shoot production and the diameter of culms were higher in UB than FB

though the study period. In addition, the survival rate of culms was higher in UB than FB.

These results indicate the fire destroys the new shoots and depresses bamboo survival. We

also investigated the production of bamboo in gap and understory in the fire-burned area to

understand the effect of light intensity on bamboo production. We found that the height of

culms, number of culms per clump and culms diameter were higher in gaps. This result

suggests that light promotes bamboo growth. Thus, forest fire destroys aboveground culms

but still stimulate bamboo to produce new shoot, even though the culms size of FB is smaller

than that of UB at same age.

RATTAN USE AND KNOWLEDGE BY WOMEN IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

Yumi Kato1

1Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

([email protected])

I will present the changing use of rattans and transmission of knowledge about producing

rattan handcrafts by women in Sarawak, Malaysia. With the development of the recent

terrestrial transportation in Sarawak Malaysia, local people’s rattan use also shifted. Before,

people accessed to the resources along the river, however they access to the resources along

the road recently. I conducted interview about the place and species of rattan use by women in

Belaga District, Sarawak, Malaysia. I analysed what factors changed people’s access to rattan

resources. In this presentation, I also consider the relation between transmissions of

techniques about rattan handcrafts product and women’s life style change.


CONSERVATION DRONES FOR DUMMIES

Lian Pin Koh1, Serge Wich

2

1Environment Institute, and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of

Adelaide, Australia ([email protected]); 2Liverpool John Moores University,

United Kingdom

Over the past five years, there has been growing interest in the use of small unmanned aircraft

systems (sUAS) for environmental research and applications. Although commercial sUAS are

becoming readily available, most are either unsuitable for use in demanding field conditions

(e.g., Parrot AR Drone 2.0, DJI Phantom 2), or prohibitively costly for many researchers,

costing at least several tens of thousands of dollars (e.g., Trimble Gatewing, Sensefly eBee).

ConservationDrones.org, co-founded by Lian Pin Koh and Serge Wich, seeks to build

capacity in the use of low-cost and autonomous sUAS for ecological research and

conservation applications (<$5,000). These cost-savings are achieved through innovative use

of off-the-shelf materials for building sUAS guidance systems, sensors and airborne

platforms. This talk is targeted at the complete novice conservation drone user. I will provide

essential information on the various options for acquiring your own drone, how much they

might cost, how to program a drone mission, what camera systems it could carry for different

applications, and what post-processing software are available.

TAKE-AWAYS ARE NOT ALWAYS CONVENIENT: SEED DISPERSAL IN A

HABITAT SPECIALIST IN WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Shivani Krishna1, Hema Somanathan

1

1Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, CET campus, Thiruvananthapuram,

Kerala 695016, India ([email protected])

Janzen-Connell hypothesis predicts that dispersal away from parent trees is advantageous.

However, for species with rare regeneration microsites and specialized habitat needs such

dispersal might reduce survivorship. To understand the role of dispersal processes in the

recruitment dynamics of a habitat specialist species (Myristica fatua), we examine the seed

dispersal patterns generated by frugivores and their subsequent rearrangement by the

secondary removers. M. fatua is highly restricted in its distribution and adults exhibit clumped

spatial patterns. Focal tree observations and transect walks were done to understand the

pattern of seed dispersal generated by frugivores. During the 196 hours of observation, two

bird species, three primate species and one squirrel species were found feeding on M. fatua

fruits across three sites. Grey hornbills were the most important visitors that dispersed 66.66%

of fruits observed (N=354). Tethered-line experiments were conducted to examine the post-

dispersal seed fate of experimentally placed seeds. Crabs secondarily removed a large

percentage (63.3%) of seeds (n = 60) placed on the forest floor compared with rodents (25%)

and other unknown agents (13.3%). The dispersal template resulting from hornbill dispersal

appears to be largely unfavorable for the recruitment of this species since most of the seeds

were dropped outside the swamps. However, secondary seed transport by crabs was restricted

to the swamps where the conditions were favorable. Our study suggests that in such habitat

specialist species, the Janzen- Connell hypothesis might not be significant given that dispersal

away from the conspecifics is disadvantageous.


LOW XYLEM SAP FLUX REDUCES DAYTIME STEM CO2 EFFLUX IN MANGO

TREES

Norbert Kunert1,2,

, Jens Edinger1

1 Department of Biogeochemical Processes, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena,

Germany 2 Laboratory of Forest Management, Brazilian National Institute for Research in the Amazon,

Manaus, Brazil ([email protected])

Contact presenting author: [email protected]

The relationship between diurnal xylem sap flux and diurnal stem CO2 efflux (Estem) was

assesseds for three mango trees (Mangifera indica) in a tropical orchard in the Center of

Manaus, Brazil. A closed dynamic chamber system was used to measure diurnal courses of

Estem for several days. Bark surface temperature and xylem sap flux were continuously

monitored for the same time period. Estem was on average 1.42 ± 0.53 µmol m-2

s-1

during the

day and night time fluxes averaged 1.15 ± 0.38 µmol m-2

s-1

. Mean maximum xylem sap flux

density was 12.8 ± 3.3 g cm-2

s-1

. Estem followed in general a distinct diurnal course with

increasing rates during the day and declining rates at night. Despite the in general strong

relationship between the diurnal temperature variation and Estem, a significant depression of

Estem was present at times of high evaporative demand. The relatively low sap flux rates

reduced Estem significantly during the midday. Our results are supporting the hypothesis that

tree internal transport processes are significantly influencing the rates of CO2 emitted by tree

stems and that there is a strong involvement of dissolved CO2 uplift even with slow sap flux

rates in tropical trees. The ability to allocate carbon might be very crucial for tropical tree

species to deal with water stress related carbon starvation.

FINE–SCALE HABITAT HETEROGENEITY EXPLAINS THE LOCAL DISTRIBUTION

OF TWO AMAZONIAN FROG SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN

Rafael F. Jorge, Pedro I. Simões,William E. Magnusson & Albertina P. Lima

Coordenação de Biodiversidade and Programa de Pós–Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto

Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Avenida Efigênio Sales, 2239, Bairro Aleixo,

Manaus, Amazonas ([email protected])

Species-distribution models based on remote sensing data may be useful to support

conservation decisions at wide scales. However, they may be inadequate for planning

conservation zones within individual reserves because many species occur patchily within the

broad envelopes defined by such models. We investigated the spatial distributions of two frog

species of conservation concern, Atelopus spumarius and Allobates sumtuosus, within a 64-

km2 reserve in Brazilian Amazonia. We undertook visual and acoustic surveys in 40 riparian

plots distributed throughout the two major drainage basins in Reserva Ducke, on the outskirts

of Manaus, from January to March 2013. Each species was totally or largely confined to only

one or other of the major drainage basins within the reserve. The drainages differ in

environmental variables, such as stream pH and the density of connected and isolated pools.

The differences in abiotic characteristics of drainages are associated with the limited

distributions of the frog species. Within drainages, distributions are also affected by stream

size. The density of Allobates sumtuosus was negatively affected by stream pH and stream

discharge and positively influenced by the number of isolated pools. The occurrence of

Atelopus spumarius was associated with streams with high discharge, pH near neutral and

many pools connected to the stream. Very large reserves will probably contain sufficient

landscape heterogeneity to accommodate most species. However, due to strongly patchy

distributions, in situ studies using fine–scale species-distribution models will be necessary to

assess the adequacy of small reserves in Amazonia for the conservation of anurans.


INTEGRATING ONLINE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA REPOSITORIES AND

BIOACOUSTIC RESEARCH: A STUDY CASE STUDY ON AMAZONIAN FROGS.

Eveline Salvático; Pedro Ivo Simões; Juliana Schietti; William E. Magnusson & Albertina P.

Lima

Coordenação de Biodiversidade (CBIO) and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia,

Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Brazil ([email protected]).

Widespread changes in land use occur faster than the accumulation of information on native

species and their behavioral diversity. Data gaps are especially wide regarding changes in

forest structure and its associated biota and their effects on acoustic signals of highly vocal

vertebrates. Intra-specific variation in acoustic signals of Amazonian anurans has been

investigated before, but studies rarely focused on hypotheses of acoustic adaptation. We

investigated the relationships between forest structure and the properties of acoustic signals of

the frog Allobates sp.. Additionally, we searched the acoustic environment across sampling

plots for species that emitted signals that overlapped in bandwidth with those of the focal

species. The study was conducted in 35 permanent sampling plots distributed in forests along

a 600 km SW-NE transect of the interfluve between two large southern tributaries of the

Amazon River. Plots are used by several research groups and vegetation structure parameters

and species composition in each plot were available in online repositories, allowing tests of

associations between divergence in acoustic signals and fine-grained environmental gradients.

Acoustic signals of Allobates sp. are shorter and emitted at lower frequencies in forests with

higher tree densities and larger tree basal areas but signal modulation was not affected by

environmental parameters. The presence of a congeneric species that emitted signals with

overlapping frequency bandwidth was not associated with acoustic variation in the focal

species. Besides uncovering acoustic variation related to clinal environmental changes, our

work highlights the importance of ecological data repositories in accelerating bioacoustic

research.

FUNCTIONAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC RESPONSES OF BRAHEA ACULEATA

(PALMAE) TO GRAZING AND LEAF HARVESTING IN NORTHWESTERN MEXICO

Leonel López Toledo1,2

, Franceli Macedo Santana1, Christa Horn

2, Bryan A. Endress

2

1Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San

Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, México; 2 Institute San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global,

California, USAnited States of America . ([email protected]).

In tropical regions, leaves of many palm species are used for thatching roofs and handicrafts

and are eaten by cattle. Also, cattle’s grazing is very common in the forest. Cattle may have

preference for some species, especially for those perennial in the dry season. These two

factors may cause an important leaf area loss and may affect functional and demographic

plant attributes Thus, they may affect the performance of Brahea aculeata individuals, an

intensively harvested used non-timber forest species.. In the Sierra de Alamos Reserve,

Northwestern Mexico cattle grazing in the forest and leaf harvesting are common. In 2011, an

experimental system was established in B. aculeata populations to explore the effects of

grazing and leaf harvesting over two years on the during two years. We re gistered functional

(FA) and demographic attributes (DA). of B. aculeata. We found that grazing and leaf

harvest intensity differentially affects the FA and DA of B. aculeata. The FA showed a

negative general trend, with increase in the first year and reduction during the second year.

Specifically, in the first year leaf production was 1.67 leaves/leaf area loss proportion, while

for the second year decreased to 0.069 leaves/leaf area loss proportion. The DA were less

affected as only the growth was reduced (-0.33 cm/leaf area loss proportion), while

mortality/fecundity were not affected. Climatic conditions likely affect mortality, as during

the first year there was a a strong drought which was five times more severe was registered

and this was five 5.0-times higher than in for the second year. Sustained defoliation and

grazing have minor effects, and a sustainable management may be possible. Hohowever, the

long-time effects need to be understood to explore sustainable harvesting practices. explored.


THE DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF CLIMBING PLANTS IN A DISTURBED

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

Hock Keong Lua

National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, Singapore

([email protected])

Climbing plants are usually not a major component of floristic studies of tropical rainforests,

mainly due to difficulties in field identification and access to fertile specimens. For forest

management purposes, climbing plants are often considered detrimental to tree growth and

targeted for removal without sufficient knowledge on the species and their rarity. A survey of

herbaceous and woody climbing plants, excluding climbing rattans, was carried out in a

tropical rainforest in the city-state of Singapore. The study aims to investigate the diversity

and distribution of climbing plants, and to compare the species composition across forest

types with varying degrees of disturbance. 21 circular plots of approximately 0.2 hectare each

were set out in four forest types in both primary and secondary forests. A total of 182 climber

species were recorded, of which 16% was observed only from primary forest, 15% only from

degraded primary forest, 1% only from mature secondary forest and 2% only from semi-

mature secondary forest. Forty percent of climber species did not exhibit a clear affinity with

forest type, of which 12% were found in all four types. More than half are listed as

endangered or rarer. A Kruskal-Wallis test did not detect any significant difference in climber

species composition between the forest types. This suggests that climber species composition

does not vary with disturbance within the same forest area, even though primary and degraded

primary forests were found to have more climber species (24%) than secondary forests (2%).


TREE NATURAL REGENERATION IN A SEASONALLY DRY TROPICAL FOREST ON

LIMESTONE OUTCROPS IN CENTRAL BRAZIL

Daniel Marra1,2,3

, Benedito Pereira4, Christopher Fagg

5, Jeanine Felfili

5,6

1Institute of Special Botany and Functional Biodiversity Research, University of Leipzig,

Leipzig, DE ([email protected]); 2Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena,

DE; 3Forest Management Laboratory, National Institute for Amazonian Research, Manaus,

BR; 4Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, Florianópolis, Brasil;

5University of

Brasília, Brasília, Brasil; 6In memoriam

The land use has drastically reduced seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) areas. SDTFs have

high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynamics and succession depend on natural

regeneration (NR). We compared floristic and structural patterns of the NR with mature trees

[Mt (DBH ≥ 5 cm)] of a SDTF in Central Brazil. Within the RN categories [JuvA (total height

< 100 cm) and JuvB (total height ≥ 100 cm and DBH < 5 cm)] we recorded 597 individuals

belonging to 69 species and 57 genera from 29 families of angiosperm. Within RN and Mt we

recorded 110 species distributed in 33 families. The RN and Mt had 54 common species

(~50% of the total richness). The Shannon diversity was 3.83, 3.13 and 3.33 for Mt, JuvA and

JuvB, respectively. Besides the high number of exclusive species recorded in Mt (23), JuvA

(18) and JuvB (24), comparisons indicated low floristic-distance (51%) between strata.

Canonical Correspondence Analysis indicated significant correlation between species

abundance and environmental variables, more evident in Mt. The studied forest had a resilient

NR, with high tree species richness and diversity. Our results highlight the ecological

importance of this remnant for the conservation of SDTFs in Central Brazil.


EVALUATION OF NATURAL SUCCESSION IN A DECIDUOUS FOREST

V. Carrasco-Carballido1, C. Martínez-Garza

1 and F. Márquez

1

Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa,

Cuernavaca, Morelos 62209, Mexico ([email protected])

Degradation of ecosystems negatively impacts the stability of biological cycles and processes.

Species respond in different ways to disturbances, yet some may facilitate ecosystem

restructuring. In six 51 x 30 m plots we established plantings using eight treatments,

each in a 9.30 m × 10 m sub blocks for a total of 720 plants (120 per species) for each

treatment.

We use six tree species, three slow growing trees and three fast-growing trees; each group had

two Fabaceae species, because of their ability to fix nitrogen. Plantings will be evaluated

between 2012 and 2015. Preliminary censuses conducted in 2013 showed 80.5% survival and

initial natural seedling recruitment was composed of 77 woody species. Soils presented 2.12%

organic matter, and a pH of 6. In July 2014 we will start nutrientsaddition to evaluate once a

year.

INTEGRATING RAINFOREST CONSERVATION INTO THE AGRICULTURAL

LANDSCAPE

Marinés de la Peña-Domene1, Luz María Ayestarán Hernández

2, José Flavio Márquez

Torres2, Fernando Matínez Monroy

3, Cristina Martínez-Garza

2 and Henry F. Howe

1

1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA,

2Centro de

Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de

Morelos, Mexico ([email protected]), 3Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.

Deforestation and habitat fragmentation driven by food production systems put tropical

forests at risk of destruction. Conventional grazing systems, the main economic activities in

tropical regions, are in need of transformation to become more productive and

environmentally friendly. Our goal is to bring together community participation in a

conservation strategy that favors landscape connectivity but also profits community farmers.

In Los Tuxtlas Reserve, we used plantings of economically valuable trees within the pastures.

Plantings of animal-dispersed trees attract animals that bring seeds from the forest, which

accelerate forest succession in pastures. Plantings work as stepping stones connecting

fragmented landscapes, assisting conservation of tropical species and maintain integrity of

forest communities. We have registered an increase in number of species of bats (from two to

nine species) and birds (from five to fifteen species) to the planted plots. Frugivorous bats and

birds had the highest increase in species, followed by insectivorous and omnivorous birds.

Arrival of seeds has increased, though the majority of seeds are from exotic grasses and herbs;

yet within the last year we observed an increase in seed arrival of forest species like Poulsenia

armata (Moraceae) and Bursera simaruba (Burseraceae). Nevertheless, establishment

limitations did not decrease due to competition with grasses. Fifteen species recruited,

however densities were as low as 3 to 0.5 individuals per hectare. Experimental proof-of-

concept of animal-mediated restoration will be a powerful tool for preserving and managing

“countryside diversity” and connectivity in permanent agricultural mosaics, while still leaving

80-90% of land in productive pasture or farms.


VEGETATION CLASSES AS SURROGATES FOR BAT RICHNESS CONSERVATION

IN THE AMAZON: ARE CURRENT GOALS ENOUGH?

Ana Carolina M. Martins1, Bárbara Q. Zimbres

2, Ricardo B. Machado

3, Jader Marinho-Filho

3

1. Graduate Program in Ecology, University of Brasilia, Brazil; 2. Graduate Program in

Zoology, University of Brasilia, Brazil; 3. Department of Zoology, University of Brasilia,

Brazil

The Convention on Biological Diversity recommends that 10% of each ecosystem should be

protected. In the next IUCN World Parks Congress, it will be suggested a change for a 17%

goal. Is this approach good enough to ascertain the conservation of bats, which comprise great

part of mammal richness in tropical forests? We used systematic planning, to assess how

different conservation goals - 10% and 20% - applied to an environmental surrogate -

vegetation classes - can result in spatially representative solutions for bat conservation in

Brazil. We used the software Marxan to identify priority areas for protection of different

vegetation classes, that present high bat richness. Results suggest that a 10% goal would not

be enough to include regions with higher bat richness. Increasing the goal to 20% would be

necessary. We additionally discuss the lack of adequacy of some current reserves for the

protection of this mammal group.

Keywords: Chiroptera, Marxan, priority areas, biodiversity surrogates, systematic planning

for conservation

BRAZILIAN EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS OF GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR

PLANT CONSERVATION

Raquel Negrão1; Tainan Messina

1; Lucas Almeida Braga Moulton

1; Lucas Costa Moraes

1;

Rodrigo Amaro1; Luiz Santos Filho

1; Eline Matos Martins

2; Gustavo Martinelli

3

1National Centre for Plant Conservation Researcher/Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden, Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil; 2National Centre for Plant Conservation Researcher/Rio de Janeiro Botanic

Garden, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ([email protected]); 3National Centre for Plant Conservation

Coordinator/Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazil is concentrating efforts to accomplish the ambitious goals of the Global Strategy for

Plant Conservation, assessing the extinction risk of 43.801 plant species by 2020, and

conserving 75% of threatened species in situ and ex situ. Combining national conservation

policies with GSPC targets is relevant for developing international protocols to conservation.

The National Center for Plant Conservation assumed the role of organizing data, gathering

researchers, following the recognized criteria for assessing species extinction risk and

planning actions, in order to race against time and resource limitations to minimize species

extinction in our mega diverse and threatened ecosystems. To accomplishment of GSPC

targets, Targets 1, 2 and 3 is ongoing with the challenge of assessing a mega diverse flora in a

developing country, which resulted in publishing the first Red Book of Flora with 4.617 plant

species; Targets 3, 10, 15 and 16 are undertaken by protocols based on research and practical

experience, training and built networks for plant conservation actions. We obtained important

partnerships and as scientists to collaborate with the goals. In order to continue working with

targets, we need to raise the necessary funds to support more capacity building, research and

conservation strategies. We need to gain scale given the threats which rapidly eliminate the

vegetation of the country and increase collaboration with organizations and the public. Thus

we aim to continue the assessments, to plan conservation actions for threatened species, to

indicate priority areas for conservation, in order to halt flora biodiversity loss in Brazil.

CONSERVATION OF THREATENED PLANT SPECIES IN BRAZILIAN PROTECTED

AREAS: CURRENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES

Nina Pougy Monteiro1; Daniel Maurenza

1; Eline Matos Martins

2; Marcio Verdi

1; Raquel

Negrão1; Rodrigo Amaro

1; Gustavo Martinelli

3

1National Centre for Plant Conservation Researcher/Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden, Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil; 2National Centre for Plant Conservation Researcher/Rio de Janeiro Botanic

Garden, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ([email protected]); 3National Centre for Plant Conservation

Coordinator/Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

As signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Brazil has committed to protect at

least 75% of its known threatened plant species inside protected areas (PAs), thus, reaching

Target 7 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). The Brazilian government

classifies PAs into two comprehensive categories: PAs of integral protection (IP, IUCN I-IV

categories) and PAs of sustainable use (SU, IUCN V-VI categories). These categories differ

basically in their management strategies and permitted uses. Here, we analyzed the

contribution of the current network of PAs in Brazil in achieving Target 7 of GSPC. We used

occurrences records for 2118 threatened species listed in the Red Book of Brazilian Flora. We

superimposed these records to a map of PAs’ distribution and determined species’

occurrences inside PAs. We found that 769 species (36%) are completely out of PAs, 1349

species (64%) have at least one record in a given PA, and only 186 species (9%) are fully

covered by Brazil’s current system. For those species that occur in PAs, 66% have more than

half of their distribution inside PAs, 26% occur in SU PAs, and only 27% occur in IP PAs.

Further, 79, 66, and 41% vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered species,

respectively, have at least one occurrence in PAs. Although Brazil is almost reaching Target 7

in terms of absolute numbers, the government still needs to allocate resources for expanding

and managing properly the current network of PAs. This should guarantee the effective

persistence of this imperiled flora.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS IN TREE COMMUNITIES OF

RAIN FORESTS IN SOUTHWESTERN BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA

Pamela Moser1, Washington L. Oliveira

1, Marcelo B. Medeiros

3, José R. Pinto

2, Pedro V.

Eisenlohr4, Isabela L. Lima

1, Glocimar P. Silva

3 and Marcelo F. Simon

3

1 Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil;

2 Departamento de

Engenharia Florestal, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil;3 Embrapa Recursos

Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil ([email protected]);4 Departamento

de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

We discuss the composition and abundance patterns of tree species in rain forests and their

relationship with environmental and geographical space in an area affected by the Jirau

hydroelectric dam on the middle Madeira River basin, southwestern Brazilian Amazonia.

Trees were sampled in 20 1-ha forest plots distributed among areas affected and unaffected by

the hydroelectric reservoir. Predictors of species distribution included in the analyses were

soil fertility (sum of bases) and texture, slope, and the vertical distance from the nearest

drainage. We sampled 8504 individuals belonging to 909 species/morphospecies. The patterns

of species richness and diversity were different between forests located at right and left banks

of the river and in the upstream-downstream direction. Species widely distributed across the

Amazon such as Euterpe precatoria and Attalea speciosa have shown high abundance values.

Although the results indicate that the largest part, between 68 and 78 percent of variation, was

not explained by environment or by space, the analyses indicate significance of environmental

predictors. The predictor with the greatest effect on the floristic changes was the sum of

bases, coupled with the vertical distance from the nearest drainage, the latter reflecting the

influence of the riparian zone. The forests sampled were heterogeneous and included

transitional formations between unflooded rain forests and seasonally inundated (varzea,

campinarana) forests. The influence of edaphic and geological factors at the mesoscale found

here corroborates the division of the Amazon region into floristic units based on such

determinants.

HABITAT AND DYNAMICS OF CEROXYLON QUINDIUENSE (KARSTEN) SEEDLING

BANK IN CLOUD FORESTS OF COLOMBIAN ANDES

1Omar Melo

1,

2Nathaly Rodríguez

2 &

3Luis Alfredo Lozano

3

1Department of Forest Sciences, University of Tolima, Colombia ([email protected]);.

2Research Biodiversity and Tropical Ecosystems Dynamic Group, University of Tolima,

Colombia; [email protected]. 3Faculty of Forest Engineering, University of Tolima,

[email protected].

In the Colombian Central Andes (Tolima), for five years we re evaluated four fragments of

cloud forest with 1-ha permanent monitoring plots of one hectare (4°00´01,86 N y

75°37´13,33 W), located between 2600 and 2800 altitude meters, 2100 annual precipitation

millimeters and annual average temperature of 16 °C. Structure and floristic diversity were

monitored along with the , spatial distribution patterns and the young population dynamics

(YP) and reproductive population (RP) of Ceroxylon quindiuense palm, the national tree from

the Colombian Republic and an endangered species (CITIES). YP hads average densities of

378±35 individuals per hectare, heights between 3 and 15 meters and a clumped distributiones

gregariously. RP hads heights between 25 and 45 meters and 150±25 individuals per hectare

and tendeds to be more uniformly distributedity. Average basal area of the forest is 22±7.,5

square meters per hectare, with and C. quindiuense representings 32.,8% of the basal area.

Total abundance of the forest was 707±42 trees per hectare with and C. quindiuense

representing has 20.,93% of all stems. Density of species for the forest starting from 10 cm

entimeters of diameter at breast height (DBH) is 68±9 and Shannon index (H´) was

2.,78±0.,53. Mortality rate of YP is 2.,74±0.,53% and recruitmenting is 2.,57±0.,71, which

shows stability in population size. For RP, mortality rate was 3.,12±0.,79% and

recruitmenting is 1.,07±0.,11. These results provide insights into allow implementing

strategies for managing ement of populations of C. quindiuense, in order to guarantee their

recovery.

NATURAL REGENERATION INCREASE BY EFFECT OF AVIFAUNA IN DEGRADED

AREAS OF COLOMBIAN UPPER ANDEAN FOREST.

1Omar Melo,

2Andrey Esguerra.,

3Nathaly Rodríguez &

4Ferney

Rojas

1Department of Forest Sciences, University of Tolima, [email protected].

2Universidad

Autonoma Chapingo, [email protected]. 3 Research Group in Biodiversity and

Tropical Ecosystems Dynamic, University of Tolima, [email protected]. 4Corporacion

Ambiental Empresarial, Camara de Comercio de Bogotá, [email protected]

The research was developed in La Poma Ecological Park located in the Colombian eastern

mountain range, Cundinamarca (X: 993300 – 990659; Y: 967900 – 977900). It has 128

hectares and the average temperature is 8 degrees Celsius, with frequent frosts all the year.

The height above sea level varies between 2.500 and 2.700 meters. The annual average

precipitation is 630 millimeters and is classified like high mountain dry forest. The ecological

restoration was monitored throw the evaluation of critical zones of the park that had

deterioration characteristics like bare soils, grassland presence, erosion problems and others in

order to evaluate the effects produced by the establishment of hangers in these areas whereby

the natural regeneration processes were activated through seed dispersal by birds. 16 bird-

hangers were established in four monitoring zones, it was signposted and each divided into

eight parts and an inventory of existing flora was made. 6 pioneer species were found with 83

individuals in total. For the seed rain evaluation dispersed by birds a sampling was made in

each bird-hanger established. The seeds dispersed were counted, measured and grouped by

morphotypes. An experiment with 30 sampling was conducted in order to evaluate the

germination. The seed rain was 72,75±12 seed/square meter/year. The seeds germinated were

460±47. The morphotypes were 11. The soil seed bank was increased in 25% how

consequence of the bird-hangers. This strategy for ecological restoration was successful

because of the natural regeneration increase as well as the seedling survival.

SEEDLING BANK ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF THREE TREE SPECIES IN CONTRASTING

ENVIRONMENTS OF THE COLOMBIAN CHOCO BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION

1Omar Melo

1,

2Monica Cardona

2 & Nathaly Rodríguez

3

1Department of Forest Sciences, University of Tolima, Colombia ([email protected]).

2Faculty of Forest Engineering, University of Tolima, [email protected].


[email protected].

The seedling banks of the species Roucheria monsalveae, Vochysia ferruginea and

Cespedesia macrophylla wereas characterized in contrasting environmental settings of the

light regime of the hyper-wet tropical rain forests of the region Bajo Calima in the Colombian

Choco Biogeographic region, with a higher precipitation to 7000 millimeters by year, which

convert the region in one of the zone rainier in the world and with high biodiversity. Trees are

used for commercialization by the local Afro-ethnic community that belongs to the Afro-

ethnic, therefore the natural populations has been affected which leads to the risking the

sustainability of the resource. The first species generates seedling banks in Photosynthetically

Active Radiation (PAR) environments with 20%, the second grows under canopy with 12%

PAR, and the third is generated in the forest gaps with PAR radiation higher than 65%. The

seeding banks densities were 135, 28 and y 253 seedings per by square meter, respectively. R.

monsalveae establishes its seedling bank under the canopy of the mother tree environment. V.

ferruginea is established in forest gaps independent of the distance to the mother tree. These

results can be used to permits generate strategies for the natural regeneration of these species

glimpsing resource recovery.

BIRD CONSERVATION IN ATLANTIC FOREST REMNANTS IN WEST PARANÁ

STATE, BRAZIL

Luiz A. M. Mestre

Universidade Federal do Paraná, Palotina, Paraná, Brazil ([email protected])

This paper describesd the bird community, comparesd bird habitats preferences and

discussesd the importance of the forest remnants in Palotina region, West Paraná, South

Brazil. The West of Paraná is a highly impacted region of Atlantic Forest, currently

dominated by plantations. Palotina municipality has only 1% of native vegetation, surrounded

by soy beans, corn plantations and urban areas. For this reason it is important to understand

how birds are using this landscape to help future management efforts. The bird community

was sampled by point counts, mist nets and random observations from 2011 to 2014. We

classified the habitats (% of bare ground, trees, lianas, grass) in 18 points counts and

compared with the bird community sampled by correspondence analisys. We observed 160

bird species, 33 observed only in the larger forest fragment (a forest reserve of 400ha). Most

species were understory and arboreal insectivores. However, most numerous are open habitat

generalists birds. Our results corroborate what those of other authors, showing significantly

different communities in open sites compared to forested areas. With this data, we found a

clear preference of some species forby forested sites, and their dependence on the

conservation of these areas. Herein, we emphasize the importance of forest remnants and the

recover of forested areas in the West Paraná region to maintain and increase richness of an

impacted community of Atlantic Forest birds.

STRUCTURE OF BIRD COMMUNITIES IN PRESERVED AND MODIFIED ÁREAS IN

SAINT-HILAIRE/LANGE NATIONAL PARK, ATLANTIC FOREST, SOUTH BRAZIL.

Luiz A. M. Mestre1, Rodrigo F. Torres

2, Luciana Festti

1, Ricardo Krul

1

1Universidade Federal do Paraná; [email protected].

2 Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade;

This paper described and compared the structure of bird communities occurring in Saint-

Hilaire/Lange National Park and in the modified areas near the border of this reserve, located

in Atlantic Forest of Paraná State, South Brazil. The modified sites were influenced by

agriculture, psiculture, small scale mining and urban areas. We sampled the bird communities

by 30 mist nets open for 2 days and 184 point counts in four expeditions from 2012 to 2013.

We registered 240 bird species. We captured 1666 individuals of 98 species in mist nets (416

recaptures), and observed by point counts 2051 individuals of 143 species. Despite the

graphic analysis (MDS) does not showed clear separation of the communities sampled in the

treatments, we found statistical differences (Anosim tests) between preserved and modified

sites. We registered by point counts significantly more individuals and species near urban

areas, probably due habitat heterogeneity. However, we did not find statistical differences in

different guilds abundance between sites. Birds classified as having lower sensitivity to

human impacts were significantly more abundant in urban and pciculture influenced sites.

Despite we found few specialist birds, we registered five endangered species in the reserve.

The results showed a strong influence on bird community from the preserved matrix and the

structure of remained vegetation in modified sites. Finally, we reinforce the importance long

term studies in modified areas to monitor the influence of impacts in border of this National

Park.

NEW PERMANENT RESEARCH PLOTS IN AUSTRALIAN TROPICAL RAINFOREST -

FLORISTICS, STAND STRUCTURE AND BIOMASS.

MG Bradford1, AJ Ford

1, PT Green

2, MJ Liddell

3 & DJ Metcalfe

1*

1. CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences, Tropical Forest Research Centre, Atherton, QLD 4883

2. Department of Botany, La Trobe University, Bundoora VIC 3086

3. Chemistry Department, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870

* [email protected]

As part of the national Terrestrial Ecology Research Network (TERN) initiative in Australia,

we have established a fully enumerated 25 ha research plot at 700 m asl in rainforest in the

Wet Tropics region of far north Queensland, and a companion site at sea level; both plots

have carbon flux towers and the lowland site has a canopy crane. Australian wet tropical

rainforests are floristically diverse and support high levels of endemism, but their restricted

distribution makes them particularly vulnerable to climate change and other anthropogenic

influences. Baseline data collected now, and intensive survey of future growth records along

with monitoring of soils, hydrology, carbon fluxes, climate, vertebrate and invertebrate

populations, will improve our understanding of existing ecosystem processes and the impacts

of environmental change.

We report the results of the initial census of >23,000 stems >10 cm diameter from 211 species

and 52 families, dominated by Lauraceae, Rutaceae, Proteaceae and Elaeocarpaceae.

Endemism was high at a species level with 79.6% of stems ≥10 cm DBH found on the plot

endemic to Australia and 44.1% endemic to the Wet Tropics bioregion. A further census of

all vascular plants in one hectare revealed 270 species from 78 families. Basal area across the

25 ha averages 51 m2

ha-1

and above ground biomass 420 Mg ha-1

. The lowland forest

supports 38 m2

ha-1

and 270 Mg ha-1

. Seedling diversity broadly parallels canopy diversity,

but with a much lower proportion of early successional species present.


SEED DISPERSING BIRDS RESPOND TO LOCAL RAINFOREST COVER:

CONSEQUENCES FOR SEED FATE

Catherine Moran1, 2, 3

and Carla Catterall1

1 Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA

([email protected]); 2 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook

University, Cairns, AUSTRALIA; 3 CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Tropical Forest Research

Centre, Atherton, AUSTRALIA.

Most Australian rainforest plants are dispersed by fruit-eating birds. In partly deforested

landscapes, seed dispersal within and between forest patches is influenced by these birds’ use

of forest fragments, and by their patterns of fruit consumption. If the dispersers of a plant

species decline or disappear, this will set an ultimate limit to the fate of its seeds – reduced

dispersal. Therefore an important question for the conservation of rainforest plant

communities is how to sustain or recover seed disperser abundances in fragmented forests.

We assessed the effects of fragment size and surrounding forest cover on communities of seed

disperser birds in an extensively-cleared Australian rainforest landscape, where different bird

species vary in both their sensitivities to fragmentation and their roles as seed dispersers. In

surveys of single one-hectare plots within 25 rainforest fragments, we recorded 20 seed

disperser species. We used regression modelling to test how well particular seed disperser

variables (species abundances, richness and abundance of functional groups) could be

predicted by fragment size and six measures of surrounding forest cover (within 200m,

1000m and 5000m radii, for cover of rainforest and of all forest types). Model comparisons

showed that the amount of rainforest cover within 200m was the best predictor of the

abundances of fragmentation-sensitive disperser species, and of birds which disperse most

plant species (including plants which have few dispersers). We conclude that a high

proportion of local rainforest cover will help maintain seed disperser assemblages and seed

dispersal in forest fragments and during forest restoration.


INTERSPECIFIC COMPARISON OF DIPTEROCARP REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY

USING LONG-TERM FLOWERING AND FRUITING DATA AT FRIM

Ayaka Morimoto1, Shinya Numata

1, Tetsuro Hosaka

1, Mazlan Hashim

2, Naoki Tani

3, Akiko

Satake4, Tomoaki Ichie

5, Noraliza Alias

6, Nashatul Zaimah Noor Azman

6

1

Department of Tourism Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachiouji, Tokyo, Japan

([email protected]), 2

INSTeG, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Skudai,

Johor Bahru, Malaysia, 3 Forestry Division, Japan International Research Center for

Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, 4 Graduate School of Environmental Science,

Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, 5 Faculty of Agriculture, Kochi University,

Nankoku, Kochi, Japan, 6

Forestry Biotechnology Division, Forest Research Institute

Malaysia, Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia

In Southeast Asian tropical rainforests, a unique reproductive phenomenon of plants known as

general flowering (GF) occurs at irregular intervals, involving synchronization among diverse

taxa. Dipterocarps are the major components of flowering species in the GF. GF has large

variations in the density and composition of flowering trees and in time of year. However, the

differences in reproductive phenology among dipterocarp species are still unknown. To

address the question, we conducted interspecific comparison of reproductive phenology of

over 70 dipterocarp species in seven genera grown at dipterocarp arboretum in Forest

Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). We determined the GF events based on the monthly

flowering and fruiting records over 30 years. As a result, we found several times of

reproductive synchronization (defined as GF events) during the period. Furthermore, the

frequencies of reproductive events were different among species. Several species in Hopea

and Vatica flowered more frequently than others. Meteorological conditions before GF events

were also differed among the events; both low night-time temperature and prolonged drought

were found before major GF, but the low temperature was not observed before minor GF.

Therefore, combination of climatic cues may associate with the magnitude of GF. We also

found that there were differences in composition of flowering species between GFs with

different triggers. Responses of dipterocarp species to climatic cues might be different with

some ecological traits of each species.

COMMUNITY DIVERGENCE IN A TROPICAL FOREST FOLLOWING A SEVERE

CYCLONE

Helen T Murphy1, Daniel J Metcalfe

2, Matt G Bradford

1, Andrew J Ford

1 CSIRO, Tropical Forest Research Centre, PO Box 780, Atherton QLD 4883 Australia

([email protected]); 2CSIRO, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park QLD

4102 Australia

Cyclones are relatively infrequent, may cause massive and widespread disturbance to tropical

regions, and are recognized as important determinants of the structure of tropical rainforest

communities. Climate change scientists predict that the intensity of cyclones will increase in

the future; understanding the long-term implications of these major disturbances for tropical

forest composition and structure will be vital in anticipating and adapting to future changes

and impacts. We established a long-term monitoring site in a rainforest area impacted by

severe tropical Cyclone Larry which crossed the North Queensland coast of Australia in

March 2006. We monitored recruitment, growth and mortality of nearly 17,000 seedlings in

90 quadrats across the study area for almost five years following the cyclone and measured

the impact of variation in cyclone disturbance and debris load on community diversity,

composition and dispersion as the forest recovered. We show that the level of structural

disturbance sustained by the forest has a strong and immediate influence on community

dynamics. Quadrats in severely disturbed areas, which were characterised by multiple

treefalls and extensive canopy loss, had higher levels of diversity and variation in community

assemblage than quadrats in areas characterised primarily by branch loss and defoliation. A

rapid divergence in community composition between quadrats in the most- and least-severely

disturbed areas resulted in the development of statistically distinct community states across

relatively small scales. This provides further evidence that severe cyclones are important in

maintaining species diversity in tropical forests.


A PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SPECIES DISTRIBUTION SCIENCE IN STRATEGIC

PLANNING FOR WEED INVASIONS IN THE TROPICS

Travis Sydes1 and Helen T Murphy

2

1Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia

2CSIRO, Tropical Forest Research Centre, Atherton, QLD 4883, Australia

Weed management planning generally occurs within a contemporary or near future

timeframe. It identifies current issues and emerging risks and responds by assigning some

measure of priority to guide on-ground management tactics. This approach facilitates the

practical implementation of the most effective strategies at hand as well as providing a degree

of capacity to respond to new outbreaks as they occur.

Future uncertainties in weed distribution are fuelled by forecast transitions in climate,

anticipated increase in human population and the consolidation of species we are already

actively managing. As a consequence future management scenarios will need to respond to

the introduction of new species from multiple sources as well as the expansion and

contraction in currently established species.

In this paper we demonstrate an avenue for practical application of forecasting and responding

to future weed distributions in a Pest Adaptation Response Strategy (PARS). Important in the

design of this approach is the ability to both critique and compliment the current planning

tools in place. By considering how a current management plan interacts with future pathways

of spread and trends in suitable habitat, a profile of risk and a range of appropriate and

proactive management responses can be considered. In addition, the Pest Adaptation

Response Strategy provides managers with a future investment forecast, for example,

identifying areas that are likely to require a sustained high investment in management over

long time-frames or those areas where investment may decrease over time.

WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF HOST PLANT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION FOR

BEETLES FEEDING ON AUSTRALIAN MYRTACEAE?

Flávia Nogueira de Sá1, Chris Reid

2, Lesley Hughes

3

1University of Brasília, Campus Planaltina, Brasília, Brazil ([email protected]);

2Australian

Museum, Dept Entomlogy, Sydney, Australia; 3Macquarie University, Dept Biological

Sciences, Sydney, Australia.

Different plant species host distinct insect communities. There are many approaches to

explain differences in insect richness on their hosts, among which is their geographic

distribution. It has been proposed that widespread plants support more species of insects. In

the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of the extent of the geographical

distribution of plants on the number of herbivorous beetle species feeding on them (families

Chrysomelidae and Curculionidae). We selected 12 host plant species from 6 genera

(Angophora, Callistemon, Eucalyptus, Kunzea, Leptospermum and Melaleuca – all

Myrtaceae); one member of each pair had a wide distribution and the other was narrowly

distributed. Plant distributions were based on information from PlantNet (NSW Flora online).

Insect communities on each plant species growing in the Sydney area were sampled and

identified. A comparison of insect species richness on each host species within each pair was

based on sample rarefaction curves (Mao´s Tau). We collected 169 individual beetles from 60

different species. Only two beetle species were found on the Melaleuca spp. and only two on

the narrowly distributed Callistemon; these species pairs therefore were not considered

further in the analysis. For the Kunzea and Leptospermum pairs, rarefaction curves showed

that the widespread plant species hosted a significantly higher number of beetle species.

Curves of communities on widespread and narrow plants were not significantly different on

Angophora and Eucalyptus. Results suggest therefore that while the geographic distribution of

hosts may influence species richness of herbivore communities, other factors must also be

considered.

mailto:[email protected]);%202

DIPTEROCARP FLORA OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

Shinya Numata1, Tetsuro Hosaka

2, Naohiro Amemiya

2, Mazlan Hashim

3, Toshihiro Yamada

4,

Naoki Tani5, Yoshihiko Tsumura

6, Soon Leong Lee

7, Norwati Muhammad

7

1Department of Tourism Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachiouji, Tokyo, Japan

([email protected]); 2Department of Tourism Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University,

Hachiouji, Tokyo, Japan, 3INSTeG, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Skudai, Johor

Bahru, Malaysia, 4

Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University,

Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan, 5

Forestry Division, Japan International Research

Center for Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, 6

Department of Forest Genetics,

Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, 7

Forestry Biotechnology

Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia contains approximately 160 of dipterocarp species in lowland, hill,

montane and swampy forests. “Forester’s manual of Dipteroracps” written by Symington

(1943, 2004) compiles floristic information of dipterocarps in Peninsular Malaysia, and

provides our knowledge about dipterocarp flora in Peninsular Malaysia. However, there are

few studies that have attempted to analyse the floristic information of dipterocarps. Here, we

have developed a GIS database of dipterocarp flora of forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia

using Symington’s data. In the present study, a total of 262 forest reserves including 159

species were chosen to investigate floristic pattern of dipterocarps in Peninsular Malaysia. A

cluster analysis showed geographically recognizable floristic regions of dipterocarps: northern

area, eastern part and the others. To examine effects of geographical and environmental

factors on dipteroarp floristic composition and similarity pattern, we analysed geographical

and environmental correlates of dipterocarp flora using WorldClim dataset supplied by

worldclim.org. We found significant relationship between floristic composition and

environmental factors among the forest reserves. The similarity of floristic composition was

significantly related to both geographical distance and several environmental factors, and our

results also suggested that rainfall seasonality is an important factor to explain the floristic

pattern of dipterocarps in Peninsular Malaysia. We will discuss how the floristic pattern of

dipterocarps in Peninsular Malaysia is influenced by the environmental factors as well as past

climatic change.


DIFFERENCES OF CLIMATE-GROWTH RESPONSES FOR TWO WOOD SPECIES OF

FLOODED SAVANNAS OF BRAZIL

Patrícia Tiemi de Paula Leite1,2

; Sejana Artiaga Rosa2; Jochen Schöngart

2,3,4; Cátia Nunes da

Cunha2,5

1State University of São Paulo (UNESP), Postgraduate Program in Vegetal Biology, São

Paulo, Brazil ([email protected])

2Dendroecological Laboratory of Brazilians Central-West Biomes (INCT-INAU), Mato

Grosso, Brazil. 3Nacional Institute of Research of Amazon

(INPA), Amazonas, Brazil

4Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany

5Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Department of Botany and Ecology, Institute of

Bioscience, Mato Grosso, Brazil

The Pantanal in Central Southern America is a largest wetland periodically flooded by rivers

as a result of the seasonal precipitation regime in their watersheds, and the flood pulse is the

main force controlling biota at these floodplains. Changes in temperature and rainfall can

modify the components of the hydrologic cycle and affect these wetlands, but little is known

about how these systems will respond to climate changes. For the require knowledge of long-

term growth trees and their response to climate we built a chronology based on tree rings

analysis for establish climate-growth relations of Handroanthus heptaphyllus and Tabebuia

aurea, occurring in flooded savannahs of Pantanal, Brazil. Correlations between sea surface

temperature anomalies (SSTA) of the Pacific Ocean (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) and

interannual growth variation for two species was assessed. Tree growth of both species was

influenced by El Niño events, but there were different responses. Trees of T. aurea occupy

elevations in the lowland are not subject to annual flooding and tree growth respond

positively to Niño 1+2 region (r= 0.35, p<0.01, n=11) and Niño 4 region (r= 0.34, p<0.01,

n=11). In turn, trees of H. heptaphyllus that occupy portions of flooded savannas, growth tree

is not rainfall dependent, and there was a negative correlation with Niño 1+2 and 4 regions

(r= -0.33, p<0.05, n=12). The correlation between a tree-ring chronology and climate indicate

annual ring formation for both species and sensitivity to climatic conditions, but the responses

in two different ways is related to specific site conditions

Contact Information: Patricia Tiemi de Paula Leite, São Paulo Estate University (UNESP),

Institute of Vegetal Biology, Av. 24A no. 1515, Bela Vista, 13506-900, Rio Claro, Brazil,

Phone: 0055 19 3526-9603, E-mail: [email protected]



ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF FUNGUS-EATING MAMMALS

Susan Nuske1, Karl Vernes

2, Brad Congdon

1, Sandra Abell-Davis

1

1School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland,

Australia ([email protected]); 2

School of Environmental & Rural Science,

University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

Conservation of ecosystems should aim to preserve the processes and interactions that

maintain ecosystem function. One important interaction for many Australian ecosystems

involves an interaction between a diversity of Australian plants, their mycorrhizal fungal

partners and Australian mammals that are mycorrhizal dispersers. Extensive loss of Australian

mammal abundance and diversity could have consequences for ecosystem functioning

through potential major reductions in dispersal of these vital fungi. However, little is known

of the direct consequences of mammal spore dispersal on the fungi-plant relationship, even

within intact forests. This poster presentation will outline the results of a quantitative review

that synthesises the extent that fungi are essential for the diets of Australian mammals and the

relative importance of Australian mammals for the dispersal of these fungi. Dietary studies for

Australian mammals were examined and criteria established to assess whether fungi were

important as a food resource and whether the mammals could be considered ‘fungal-

specialists’. At least 53 native mammals have been recorded to have fungal spores within

their scats. Traditionally, bettongs and potoroos (family Potoroidae) were considered the only

fungal specialists, but several other mammal species also consume fungi at a similar diversity

and amount, for example, Rattus fuscipes. These results highlight the consequences of losing

mammalian diversity in Australia for mycorrhizal communities, their plant symbionts and for

the functioning of the remaining forests.


CARBON AND NITROGEN STABLE ISOTOPE RATIOS OF PLANTSAND SEDIMENTS

IN BATAN BAY, PHILIPPINES

Yuya Ogawa1, Mamoru Kanzaki

1, Kaoru Kitajima

1, Takanori Nakano

2, Resurreccion B.

Sadaba3

1 Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto Japan

([email protected]). 2

Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto Japan 3 University of the Philippines Visayas, Philippines

Carbon and Nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ13

C and δ15

N) are widely used to analyze

ecosystem cycles of organic matters. The result may be summarized with an isoscape models,

which is an effective way to show the material flow. In particular, stable isotope of wetland

sediments has been used to infer the mixing ratios of origin to organic matter in aquatic

ecosystems. We analyzed δ13

C, δ15

N, TC and TN of leave and roots of mangrove plants,

phytoplankton, microphytobenthos, and sediments in Batan bay, Philippines where mangrove

forest stands had been extensively converted to fish ponds from 1988 to 2008 (reduction of

mangrove cover was from 89.2% to 9.8% of the bay). The sampling locations were recorded

with ArcGIS in combination with satellite images taken in March 2013. The patterns of δ13

C

and δ15

N values of plant and sediment samples were consistent with predictions from the

general food web structure. The δ13

C values of sediments gradually increased from the land to

the sea (river side δ13

C = -29‰ ~ -27‰, bayside δ13

C = -27‰ ~ -25‰), likely reflecting the

shift of organic matter origins from terrestrial plants and mangroves to marine phytoplankton.

We also confirmed the δ13

C values of sediments in mangrove forest floors and inside fish

ponds showed no significant difference and were both ca.-27‰. This result indicated that

organic matters derived from mangroves remain important in the sediment carbon pools of the

fish pond ecosystem for decades after near complete logging of mangrove stands.


DIVERGENT TREE ASSEMBLAGE RESPONSES TO TROPICAL FOREST

FRAGMENTATION ACROSS A STRONG SEASONALITY GRADIENT

Rodrigo L. L. Orihuela¹, Carlos A. Peres2, Gabriel Mendes³, João A. Jarenkow¹ and Marcelo

Tabarelli3

¹Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS,

Brasil ([email protected]); ²School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia,

Norwich, UK; ³Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife,

Brasil

We examine the effects of forest fragmentation on the structure and composition of tree

assemblages within three seasonal and aseasonal forest types of southern Brazil, including

evergreen, Araucaria and deciduous forests. Trees assemblages were sampled in each forest

types within 10 plots of 0.1 ha (10x100 m) in both continuous forest areas and 10 adjacent

forest fragments. All trees ≥ 10 cm DBH within each plot were measured, identified to species

level, and assigned to trait categories. Spatial landscape metrics were used as explanatory

variables. We detected differences between both forest types and landscape contexts in terms

of overall tree species richness, and the density and species richness of different functional

groups of regeneration strategy, seed dispersal mode, and woody density. Taxonomic shifts

were also documented including clear replacements in indicator tree species sensitive to

habitat fragmentation. Overall, evergreen forest fragments exhibited the largest deviations in

terms of assemblage structure compared to continuous forest plots, particularly due to floristic

differences between forest types. The evergreen, Araucaria and deciduous forests diverge in

the ecological/biogeographic composition of tree floras, particularly in the relative species

contribution of functional groups in relation to regeneration strategy and stress tolerance. By

supporting a more diversified light-demanding and stress-tolerant flora with reduced

richness/abundance of shade-tolerant, old-growth species, both deciduous and Araucaria tree

assemblages are more intrinsically resilient to contemporary human-disturbances, in terms of

species erosion and functional shifts. These findings support evolutionary differences between

forest types in their ecological and physiological sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbances.


CARBON STOCKS AND COCOA YIELDS IN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS OF

CENTRAL AMERICA

Eduardo Somarriba1, Rolando Cerda

1, Luis Orozco

1, Olivier Deheuvels

1,2, Héctor Dávila

1,

Tania Espina1, Henry Mavisoy

1, Guadalupe Ávila

1, Estefany Alvarado

1, Verónica Poveda

1,

1 CATIE, Division of Research and Development, 7170, Cartago, Turrialba 30501, Costa

Rica . ([email protected]);, 1, 2

CIRAD, UMR System, F-34070 Montpellier, France

Cacao cultivation in Central America is closely linked with indigenous populations,

environmental conservation, poverty alleviation and climate change mitigation. We estimated

the carbon stocked in a network of 229 permanent plots in cocoa agroforestry systems

(CAFS) in five Central American countries. Carbon stocks were fractioned by both system

compartments and shade tree use/form. Cocoa plantations were assigned to a five-class

typology and tested for independence with growing region using contingency analysis. Most

CAFS had mixed or productive shade canopies. Only 4% of cocoa plantations were full sun or

rustic. Cocoa tree density was low (548 ±192 trees ha−1). Total carbon (soil + biomass + dead

biomass) was 117 ±47 Mg ha−1, with 51 Mg ha−1 in the soil and 49 Mg ha−1 (42% of total

carbon) in aboveground biomass (cocoa and canopy trees). Cocoa trees accumulated 9 Mg C

ha−1 (18% of carbon in aboveground biomass). Timber and fruit trees stored 65% of

aboveground carbon. The annual rate of accumulation of carbon in aboveground biomass

ranged between 1.3 and 2.6 Mg C ha−1

y−1

. Inventories and carbon storage rates in Central

American CAFS are significant and similar to those in other cocoa growing regions around

the world. The sale of carbon stored in Central American CAFS can generate a modest

income for cocoa farmers. Our results offer Central American cocoa producers a rigorous

estimate of carbon stocks in their cocoa plantations. This knowledge may help them to certify

and sell their cocoa and associated products under sustainable production standards.


THE CONTINENTAL SNAKE FAUNAS OF SOUTH AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA: A

COMPARATIVE STUDY

Davi Lima Pantoja1

1Departamento de Zoologia, IB, Universidade de Brasília. 70910-900. Brasília, Distrito

Federal, Brazil ([email protected])

Biological communities may converge under similar selective forces. South America and

Australia present similar environments, mostly covered by structurally open vegetation,

however, the proportion of closed/forested habitats is lower in Australia. I used species

diversity, natural history, and phylogeny to describe continental snake faunas and to interpret

faunal assembly. Faunal structure in each continent corresponds to the proportion of closed

and open habitats, with closed/forested habitats harboring higher diversity. The higher

taxonomic richness in South America stems from the combination of continental area,

latitudinal extension, area within the tropics, proportion of forested areas, altitudinal range,

rainfall, diversity of landscapes, climate, vegetation, opportunities for “duplicating faunas” in

isolated similar environments, longer and older history, more numerous autochthonous

lineages, and immigrant colonization. Ecological traits consistently associated with the richest

lineages define the main character of each fauna. Several biological attributes appear in

similar proportions of species in the two continents. Terrestriality, nocturnality, oviparity,

reptile-based diet, and short and medium body length are the most common attributes in both

faunas. For each main ecological guild in Australia there is a similar guild in South America,

although with different proportions of species. Local diversities similarly reflect regional

diversity, suggesting a strong historical effect upon faunal assembly, with convergent results

at the continental scale. A higher rate of diversification through Australian open habitats

probably balances the stronger effect of closed habitats in South America. The snake faunas

of South America and Australia are markedly different, although convergent in several

aspects.


SEED DISPERSAL IN AMAZONIAN FLOODPLAINS

Pia Parolin1,2

, Florian Wittmann3, Leandro V. Ferreira

4

1University of Hamburg, Biocentre Klein Flottbek, Dept. Plant Diversity, Germany

([email protected]); 2French National Institute for Agricultural Research

(INRA), TEAPEA Sophia Antipolis, France; 3MPI Chemistry, Mainz, Germany;

4Museu

Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil

Amazonian floodplain forests are highly diverse, with more than one thousand tree species

that are highly adapted to the regular flood pulse. In the present study, we summarize the

available knowledge on the dispersal modes of tree species from the floodplain forests of the

Central Amazon. The dispersal syndromes of the single species were determined by an

extensive literature review, added by personal observations and the analysis of the

morphology of the diaspores. Among the studied species, we found that all known means of

dispersal common to trees are also represented in Amazonian floodplains. However, most

trees display adaptations to take advantage of the seasonal flood pulse for dispersal. A high

number of species are dispersed by floatation or water currents. In fact, the peak of fruit

maturity occurs during the high-water period. The diaspores possess adaptations which

enhance dispersal linked to water and which are not found in species of the surrounding

uplands, e.g. spongy tissues, and air filled spaces. Fruits and seeds are the object of dispersal,

covering all sizes and types, e.g. pods, capsules, drupes, berries, pyxidia. Besides hydrochory,

zoochory is a frequent dispersal syndrome, with a high number of species being dispersed by

fish. In light of the fine-tuned relationships between plants and animals, and the imminent

threats imposed by human actions to floodplain forests of the Amazon River such as the

building of dams, the need to understand the interactions and main modes of dispersal is

fundamental for the conservation of the integrity of these forests and the foodchains therein.


INVESTIGATING THE FUNCTIONAL IMPORTANCE OF ANTS IN AN AFRICAN

SAVANNA: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Catherine L. Parr1, Paul Eggleton

2, Theo Evans

3, & Andrew B. Davies

4

1Department of Earth, Ocean & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69

3GP, UK ([email protected]), 2Natural History Museum, London, UK,

3Department

of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 4Department of Zoology

& Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Biodiversity is needed for healthy functioning of ecosystems, and, in particular, for the many

valuable and critical services provided to humans (Ecosystem Services). Through their large

biomass and diversity of functional roles, ants and termites are considered dominant animal

groups in tropical systems, yet our understanding of how these groups affect biodiversity and

ecosystem processes and functioning is poor. Here we present preliminary results from a

novel experiment where using a large-scale manipulative approach we experimentally

excluded ants from areas of natural, undisturbed African savanna. We explored the influence

ant communities have on other invertebrate abundance and diversity and the functional value

of ants in this system. In addition the effectiveness of the chemical exclusion and speed of

change of the response variables (different ecosystem services) were determined.


COMMUNITY DYNAMICS OF SECONDARY RAINFOREST ON THE ATHERTON

TABLELANDS: SOME PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Catherine L. Pohlman1, Miriam Goosem

2, Susan Laurance

3, William F. Laurance

3, Rod

Fensham4,5

, Stephen Goosem6, Noel Preece

7.

1The School for Field Studies, PO Box 141, Yungaburra QLD 4884, Australia

([email protected]); 2 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook

University, PO Box 6811, Cairns QLD 4870, Australia; 3 School of Marine and Tropical

Biology, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns QLD 4870, Australia; 4 The

Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong, QLD 4066,

Australia; 5 The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD

4072, Australia; 6 Wet Tropics Management Authority, PO Box 2050, Cairns QLD 4870,

Australia; 7 Biome5 Pty Ltd, QLD, Australia.

In tropical regions, secondary rainforests often regenerate on abandoned agricultural lands but

often lack the high species richness and carbon storage of the original rainforest. We are

investigating barriers to rainforest regeneration in tropical Australia in an attempt to

determine how we can accelerate the restoration of these forests to increase their carbon

sequestration and biological diversity. A chronosequence of secondary rainforest sites has

been established on the Atherton Tablelands of northeastern Queensland (17°08’–17°35’S,

145°30’–145°42’E) and a number of field observational and experimental studies are being

conducted. For one of these studies, we are measuring annual variation in the dynamics (rates

of recruitment, mortality and growth) of trees, saplings and seedlings for a subset of sites

from the chronosequence. Here we present some initial results from our first year of

measurements for secondary forest sites ranging in age from 20 to 70 years, as compared with

two primary forest sites. We intend to increase the number of sites and the age range of sites

included in these measurements in future years.


ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF TWO ANDEAN SPECIES TO EXTREME

CLIMATE CONDITIONS, COLOMBIA

Adriana Sanchez1,2

, Juan Posada1, William Smith

2

1. Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia ([email protected])

2. Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

Global climate models suggest that there will be increases in temperature and changes in the

precipitation and cloud patterns in the tropics, causing an impact in the Colombian páramos

and the critical ecosystem services they provide. However, little is known about the páramo

plant ecophysiology, crucial to our understanding of how these native species will respond to

changes in climate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ecophysiological responses

of two representativespecies of the Colombian páramo (Espeletia grandifloraand Chusquea

tessellata) to the extreme contrasts in seasonal climate (dry and wet season) that occur

naturally, and may also mimic predicted impacts due to global warming.Field measurements

of microclimate (e.g. solar radiation, cloud dynamics, air and leaf temperatures) and

corresponding effects on growth physiology such as photosynthetic carbon gain, chlorophy

fluorescence, and water stress were measured for 10 months during both the wet and dry

seasons.The dry season averaged higher daily air temperatures, lower humidity, and higher

solar radiation compared to the wet season. Contrary to what was expected, photosynthetic

carbon gain was higher during the dry season, even though water stress was evident

(especially for Chusquea) and Fv/Fm ratios were lower. We conclude that higher solar

radiation and diurnal air temperatures in the dry season increases productivity in both species,

while cloudier conditions during the wet season reduce carbon assimilation and growth.

UNDERSTANDING CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENT ON

SEAGRASS USING LAND-USE CHANGE SCENARIOS AND BAYESIAN NETWORKS.

Amélie A. Augé1, Owen Woodberry

2, Ben Reid

1, Robert L. Pressey

1, Jon E. Brodie

3, Allan

Dale4, Hugh Yorkston

5, Ann E.Nicholson

6

1 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville,

Queensland 4811, Australia

[email protected] 2 Bayesian Intelligence, Clarinda, Victoria 3169, Australia

3 TropWater, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia

4 The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia

5 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia

6 Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia

Tropical seagrass meadows in coastal waters have essential ecological functions for coral

reefs and numerous associated species. They provide sediment stabilisation, food resources,

and critical habitats. However, due to their proximity to the coast in shallow waters, they are

highly vulnerable to the effects of coastal development and related marine activities (e.g.

decreased water quality, shipping activities, dredging). With increasing development of

coastal zones in the coming decades due to human population growth and coastal migration, it

is necessary to assess potential scenarios of coastal development and their impacts to inform

management. To understand cumulative impacts on seagrass of different configurations of

coastal development, we use the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) coastal zone as a case study.

Along the 2000 km length of the GBR coastal zone, we apply a combination of spatially-

explicit scenarios of coastal development to 2035, covering land uses and related marine

activities, and Bayesian belief networks with expert elicitation. Our approach incorporates

uncertainty both in future development, related to unpredictable socio-economic drivers, and

in effects of cumulative impacts of stressors. Using this case study, we propose extension of

our approach as a tool for large-scale planning and decision-support for decision makers to

minimize the impacts of coastal development.


ISLANDS WITHIN ISLANDS: THE EFFECTS OF HABITAT FRAGMENTATION AND

NOVEL COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS ON ENDEMIC HAWAIIAN DROSOPHILA

POPULATIONS

Matthew C. Mueller, Donald K. Price

Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Graduate Program, University of

Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo HI

Habitat fragmentation coupled with novel invasive species can disrupt community

interactions in tropical ecosystems. Hawaiian terrestrial ecosystems have been transformed

since human colonization, with fragmented upland forests remaining important refugia for

native organisms. Hawaiian Drosophila are important indicator species for ecosystem change

as they represent a large adaptive radiation of up to 1000 niche-specialists species, with

species on all main Hawaiian Islands and a growing number of endangered and declining

species. We are examining isolated communities in a network of lava-fragmented forests

(called kīpuka) on Hawaii Island to determine the effect of fragment size, fragment isolation,

invasive rats, climate and host-plant density on the abundances of four native species,

Drosophila tanythrix, D. silvestris, D. sproati, D. murphyi, and one exotic pest D. suzukii.

We found that rat exclusion has a positive impact on native and exotic Drosophila

abundances, suggesting that rats may alter the impact of predators on Drosophila. The rarest

native Drosophila were only found in the largest kīpuka, while the more abundant D.

tanythrix appeared common in all but the smallest kīpuka. Interestingly, exotic flies are the

only Drosophilids observed in small kīpuka, and were seasonally abundant in the largest

kīpuka. Overall, it appears that habitat fragmentation and invasive species negatively impact

Hawaiian Drosophila, with the rarest species requiring larger continuous kīpuka habitats and

the absence of introduced rats. The exotic D. suzukii may be replacing native Drosophila in

the more disturbed and smaller kīpuka, but appear maladapted to seasonal changes at high

elevation.

MULTI-SCALE HABITAT-USE BY THE ENDANGERED BLACK-THROATED FINCH,

POEPHILA CINCTA, IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA

Juliana Rechetelo 1,2

, Eric P. Vanderduys 2, James Moloney

1, Denise Hardesty

2 and Tony

Grice 2

1

School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville,

Queensland, Australia; 2 Ecosystems Sciences, CSIRO, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

([email protected])

Understanding an animal’s ecological requirements and how it uses habitat is a prerequisite

for successful conservation outcomes. This is particularly true for populations in decline as

the lack of detailed information compromises effective management. The black-throated finch

Poephila cincta (BTF) is an endemic granivore of eastern Australia and the southern

subspecies has undergone a major range contraction. BTFs occur in open grassy woodlands

but little detail is known about their habitat requirements. Habitat use is probably influenced

by a combination of multi-scale factors. This study evaluated the importance of different

factors – vegetation physiognomy and species composition - in a multi-scale habitat use

approach covering fine, medium and large scales. Foraging and nesting areas were described

at a fine scale (30 foraging patches and 20 nest locations); areas where BTFs were commonly

seen were compared with intermediate and non-reliable areas at a medium scale (10 sites); a

large scale comparison was made between the southern (Townsville area) and northern (Cape

York) subspecies. The presence of bare ground in areas with a good mix of grass species

seems to influence the choice for foraging patches. Eucalyptus platyphylla and Melaleuca

viridiflora were the tree species most used for nesting. Structure of the tree layer and the

presence of weeds also influence habitat use.


HABITAT AND DYNAMICS OF CEROXYLON QUINDIUENSE (KARSTEN) SEEDLING

BANK IN CLOUD FORESTS OF THE COLOMBIAN ANDES.

1Nathaly Rodríguez

1,

2Omar Melo &

3Luis Alfredo Lozano

2


Colombia ( [email protected]);. 2Department of Forest Sciences, University of Tolima,

Colombia [email protected]. 3Faculty of Forest Engineering, University of Tolima,

[email protected].

In the Colombian Central Andes (Tolima), four fragments of cloud forest with altitudes

between 2600 and 2800 meters, 2100 mm precipitation millimeters per year, and annual

average temperature of 16°C were selected (4°00´01,86 N y 75°37´13,33 W) with the

purpose of assessing and monitoring seedling banks of Ceroxylon quindiuense palm; the

national tree from the Colombian Republic and an endangered species (CITIES) due to

anthropogenic activity and the global climate change. In 40 seedling banks, weas determined

the dry matter accumulated by the seedlings since their germination to two years of growth

and characterization of their habitat. C. quindiuense seeds germinate four months after

dispersion, have ; it has a mean density of 135 seeds per square meter and require litter

between 45-50 cm entimeter-depth. Canopy coverage must be over 60%. Seeds do not

germinate in open space. Initial growth requires photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)

below 22% and canopy coverage between 45-55%. Starting biomass ranges between 0.,45

and 1.,55 grams per plant. Two years later, the seedlings generate 20±7 gram of dry matter.

Mortality surpassed 35% and recruitment produces every 18 months and yields below 12%.

C. quindiuense competes with others species of Myrcia, Ocotea, Nectandra, Cedrela,

Oreopanax and Miconia genre. This review seeks to generate strategies of natural

management for restoration and conservation of the species in disturbed habitats.


ROOT AND FUNCTIONALITY RELATIONSHIP IN TREES FOR ECOLOGICAL

RESTORATION OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTS IN THE COLOMBIAN ANDES

1Rodríguez Nathaly.,

2Melo Omar.,

3Ochoa Alexandra. &

4Rojas Ferney.

1Research Group in Biodiversity and Tropical Ecosystems Dynamic, University of Tolima,

[email protected]. 2Department of Forest Sciences, University of Tolima,

[email protected]. 3Fundacion Natura, [email protected]

3Corporacion Ambiental

Empresarial, Camara de Comercio de Bogotá, [email protected].

The research was carried out in the eastern mountain range of Colombian Andes (Ecological

Park La Poma), coordinates 4º31´48,52”N and 74º16´51,73”W. The annual average

precipitation is 630 millimeters, the average temperature is 8 degrees Celsius, permanent

cloudiness and frequent frosts, which generate an environmental surroundings with water

restrictions, temperature and light for growth of the native trees in Ecological Restoration

program in the zone. The goal was evaluate the relationship between the plant´s functionality

and the root´s architecture like adaptation factor for critical environments for Lafoencia

acuminata (La), Cedrela montana (Cm), Alnus acuminata (Aa), Myrcianthes leucoxila (Ml)

and Xilosma espiculiferum (Xe). Trees with ages between 2 and 18 years were evaluated. The

specific leaf area (SLA), the overground biomass (OB), the underground biomass (UB), the

root/shoot ratio (R/S), the proportion of roots (length stem/deep main root), growth (G%) and

mortality (M%) were determined. The species with high values of SLA (La= 180,6; Cm=67,1

and Aa=61,7) showed low R/S (<0,31), high values in the proportion of roots (0,26 – 0,32),

low relative growth (<19%) and low mortality rates (less than 2,3%). The species with low

SLA (MI=109,1 and Xe=90,9) showed high R/S (0,65 and 0,53), less proportion of roots

(0,24 and 0,23), high growth (26 and 28%) but high mortality also (7,5 and 8,3%). Species

with deep roots have low mortality but reduce growth, it use more lighting resources in

contrast with species with surface roots that use the soil resources more in order to produce

more coverage in less time, which generate competition that increase mortality.

ROOT BIOMASS IS LOWER FOLLOWING LITTER REMOVAL IN LOWLAND

TROPICAL FOREST, PANAMA

Chadtip Rodtassana1 and Edmund Tanner

1

1Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ([email protected])

Litterfall transfers nutrients to soil; roots (and mycorrhizas) absorb nutrient but also die and

decompose. A long-term litter manipulation experiment established in 2003 in lowland

tropical forest in Panama investigates the effects of changing nutrient input in litterfall. A

general prediction is that root mass should increase in the infertile condition, but first

measurements of roots after 18 months of manipulation showed the opposite - less root

biomass in litter removal plots. Therefore my study aims to investigate the general idea of

root-nutrient relationships and fine root dynamics specifically in lowland tropical forest using

various methods including sequential coring, ingrowth cores and root windows. After a long-

term of manipulation (10 years) the results from sequential coring showed that fine root

biomass in top soil layer (0-5 cm) was significantly lower in litter removals than the controls

during wet season, which is the opposite of the general prediction. Thus although across sites

those with less fertile soils have higher root biomass and root/shoot ratio, when a site is

impoverished by removing nutrients root biomass and litter production decrease.


DRINKING BEHAVIOUR OF CAPTIVE SPECTACLED FLYING FOXES PTEROPUS

CONSPICILLATUS: IMPLICATIONS FOR CAPTIVE COLONY MANAGEMENT

Tasmin L. Rymer1,2

and Neville Pillay2

1 School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, P. O. Box 6811, Cairns,

QLD 4870, Australia ([email protected]); 2

School of Animal, Plant and

Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South

Africa

Captive animal facilities provide a valuable service to the conservation of threatened and

vulnerable species. However, appropriate management of wild animals held in captivity is

dependent on behavioural preferences and physiological needs. Spectacled flying foxes

Pteropus conspicillatus are megachiropterans that are frequently remanded into captive

colonies due to injury or disease. These large-bodied bats require freely available salt water to

replenish electrolytes lost via defecation. We tested whether flying foxes have a preference

for a particular salinity of water (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%) over a five day period,

predicting that they would prefer salt water at concentrations closer to sea water (2%) as they

are known to drink sea water in nature. Contrary to expectations, flying foxes consumed, on

average, significantly lower quantities of 2% salt water compared to the other concentrations,

although consumption varied on any given day. The pattern of salt water consumption varied

over time, with no discernable pattern. While spectacled flying foxes consume higher

concentrations of salt water in nature, we suggest that captive flying foxes prefer a variety of

lower concentrations, because this resource is readily available, allowing them to balance the

rate of nutrient loss and nutrient gain more closely. Managers of captive flying fox colonies

should consider providing different concentrations of salt water below 2% to meet nutritional

requirements under captive conditions.


BARRIERS TO ADOPTING THE CARBON FARMING INITIATIVE

Edison M Salas1, 2, 4

, Stephen M Turton1, 2

, Colin Macgregor1, 2

, Penny van Oosterzee1, 2, 3

.

1School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland

4878, Australia [email protected]; 2Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability

Science (TESS), James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia; 3Biocarbon Pty

Ltd., PO Box 1200, Atherton, QLD 4883, Australia; 4Secretaría de Educación Superior,

Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENESCYT), Quito, Ecuador

The potential benefits that carbon farming activities can have on climate change mitigation

and biodiversity conservation have spurred the generation of policies to foster the reduction of

greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and to enhance carbon sequestration and biodiversity. In

Australia in 2012, the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) was made available to

farmers/landholders to augment income or offer alternative livelihoods through implementing

carbon farming projects on their land. But how has the farming community responded to this

initiative?

This paper provides a critique of literature that has explored the perceived barriers to the

adoption of new initiatives such as the CFI, and ranks their importance. In general, barriers

can range from adopters’ background and demographic characteristics to the specific barriers

of any new initiative. The article also proposes a way to study the barriers to the adoption of

the CFI considering the factors related to the knowledge, motivation and capacity that

landholders have about the policy. Finally, this paper examines how the barriers may vary

according to the type and size of landholders’ agricultural operations.


NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF LIANA ABUNDANCE ON ABOVEGROUND CARBON

STORAGE ARE STRONGER IN HIGH-CARBON, MOIST FORESTS

Sandra M. Durán1,*

, G. Arturo Sánchez-Azofeifa1, Rodrigo S. Ríos

2, and Ernesto Gianoli

2,3

1Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G

2E9, Canada ([email protected]); 2Departamento de Biología, Universidad de la Serena,

Casilla 554, La Serena, Chile; 3Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción,

Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile.

The fate of carbon sinks in tropical forests is uncertain due to structural changes that may

reduce carbon storage potential. Increased liana abundance is one of these changes that may

reduce biomass carbon. We evaluated the indirect and direct effects of liana abundance on

aboveground carbon storage (AGC) to understand whether (1) the effects of lianas vary with

different climatic conditions, and (2) across tropical forest types. We used data from 145 old-

growth forests worldwide, including dry (47), moist (52), and wet forests (46). We used

structural equation modeling to determine direct and indirect effects of climate, stand

variables (e.g., basal area, diameter at breast height, and wood density) and liana abundance

on AGC. Liana abundance was greater in dry forests, but had stronger effects on AGC in

moist forests. In wet forests, lianas show no effects on AGC. Our models explained more than

80% variation on AGC in all forest types. Lianas were negatively associated with stand wood

density in dry forests, while in moist forests they had negative effects on stand basal area and

diameter. Mechanisms by which lianas reduce AGC may vary across forest types. In dry

forests may be due to selection of trees with high wood density, while in moist forests the

mechanisms may include reductions in fecundity, reproduction, tree growth rates and

increases in mortality. Incorporating lianas in assessments of carbon stocks is imperative

given current increases in liana abundance and biomass in tropical regions.


RIPARIAN WOODY PLANT DIVERSITY AND FOREST STRUCTURE IN AN

AMAZON CITY

Otilene dos Anjos Santos1, Márcia Daniela de Souza Silva

1, Alinne Costa Cavalcante

Rezende1, Ana Kyssia Ferreira Filatoff

1, Sheyla Regina Marques Couceiro

2

1 Universidade Nilton Lins, Departamento de Pós-graduação, Laboratório de Biologia

Vegetal, Manaus, AM, Brazil ([email protected])

2

Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Instituto de Ciências e Tecnologia das Águas,

Santarém, PA, Brazil

Although urban expansion is increasingly becoming a global problem, the effects of

urbanization on local biodiversity, especially in developing countries, are still poorly

understood. We have investigated riparian plant species richness in urban core and peri-urban

streams with the objective of generating information about the diversity of species and levels

of similarity between the two areas. The study was conducted in Manaus, Amazonas/Brazil.

The average richness of species in peri-urban streams was lower (87.13 ± 0.43) than in the

urban core area (108.2 ± 0.49). The Shannon diversity index was 1.22 for the species of the

peri-urban and 1.03 for urban core area. The analysis of the total composition of tree species

showed a dissimilarity of 73.77% among the study zones. When analyzing the origin of

species in the urban area, the proportion of native species was significantly higher (61 %) than

the exotic species (p = 0.001). Thus, our results suggest that, as urbanization continues to

expand, the efforts toward the conservation of riparian vegetation within urban landscape

could withstand greater concentration of species. Despite the richness of species becoming

lower, the cities still retains a large number of native species, providing opportunities for the

conservation of regional and global biodiversity, restoration and education.


DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION OF MANGOSTEEN AND ITS RELATIVES

(GARCINIA SPP., CLUSIACEAE)

Rismita Sari1, 2, 3

, Paul Gadek1, Sandra Abell-Davis

1, 2, Wendy Cooper

2

1School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld, Australia

([email protected]); 2Australian Tropical Herbarium, Cairns, Qld., Australia

3Bogor

Botanical Garden, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, West Java, Indonesia

Garcinia spp. (Clusiaceae) are well-known as a source of tropical fruits that are used in

cooking and as a source of medicine. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) are

horticulturally important in South-East Asia, Australia and some South American countries,

while Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.N.) Robson is a weight-loss food supplement from India.

Related species are used in traditional food preparations such as gelugor (G. atroviridis Griff.

ex T. Anders.) prepared by Malay people in Sumatra and Malay Peninsula, kandis

(G.parvifolia (Miq.) Miq.) by West Sumatra and West Kalimantan people, and G. indica

(Thouars) Choisy and G. gummi-gutta in India. For the last two decades the chemical

composition of many species have been investigated and the results have shown that Garcinia

contains many potentially important chemical compounds. However, few studies have

documented the morphological and genetic diversity of this group. In this poster we

document the species that occur in Australia. The number of species increased from 8 to 12,

based on an intensive assessment of morphological (diversity). There is potential for many

Garcinia species to be cultivated as fruit trees since many species produce edible fruits or

useful compounds. The conservation of many wild Garcinia species are threatened by land

opening activities for plantations, logging, farming and other uses. Conservation of Garcinia

diversity in terms of plant stock in ex situ conservation institutions such as Bogor Botanical

Garden will help preserve the opportunity for future exploitation, but these conservation

efforts must be based on a solid understanding of phylogenetic relationships within the genus.


BATS FEED PITCHER PLANTS WITH THEIR FAECES: FEEDING EXPERIMENTS

REVEAL THE PLANT’S BENEFITS

Caroline Regina Schöner1, Michael Gerhard Schöner

1, Gerald Kerth

1, Charles Clarke

2, and T.

Ulmar Grafe3

1Zoological Institute and Museum, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Greifswald, Germany

([email protected]); 2School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar

Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia; 3Faculty of Science, University Brunei Darussalam, Gadong,

Brunei Darussalam

Mutualisms are key inventions in nature allowing the interacting species to utilize novel

resources and settle in otherwise hostile habitats. However, the degree to which partner

species benefit from each other is often unknown. The pitcher plant Nepenthes hemsleyana

grows on nutrient poor soils and compensates the lack of nutrients with a threefold strategy:

nutrient uptake 1st by the roots and 2

nd by pitchers, which capture and digest arthropods. The

3rd

and unique strategy of N. hemsleyana is that their pitchers are regularly used as roosts by

bats (Kerivoula hardwickii) which, in turn, contribute more than 33% to the pitcher plants

nitrogen gain. Here we present a feeding experiment with N. hemsleyana plants both in the

peat swamp forests of Brunei and in the greenhouse to quantify the plant’s benefits of

harbouring bats. The pitcher plants were randomly allocated to four treatments: 1) not fed (i.e.

nutrient uptake only by roots), fed with 2) arthropods, 3) bat faeces, and 4) both. By

comparing growth and photosynthesis rates as well as the nitrogen, phosphorous and

potassium content in new grown leaves our aim was to reveal the plant’s benefits at different

levels. Additionally, the same feeding experiments were conducted with wild growing

individuals of a closely related species (Nepenthes rafflesiana) to compare them with those of

N. hemsleyana. The overall aim of this study is to clarify how strongly N. hemsleyana

depends on its mammalian interaction partner.


INCORPORATING HABITAT HETEROGENEITY IN MODELLING SEED DISPERSAL

OF A DEER DISPERSED TROPICAL TREE

Sachin Sridhara1, Soumya Prasad2, David Westcott3, Will Edwards1

1James Cook University, Queensland, Australia ([email protected]); 2Indian

Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; 3CSIRO Ecosystem Science – Atherton, Queensland,

Australia.

Seed dispersal models, incorporating both simulations and empirical data, have recently

found intimate links between fruiting densities, neighbourhood configuration and the

distances or spatial patterns of seed dispersal. These models however, have rarely

incorporated the presence of heterogeneity in the habitats. Heterogenous habitats can vary in

fruiting tree densities and the presence of other important resources. These differences

influence movement patterns of dispersers and consequently the patterns of seed dispersal.

We investigated the influence of heterogenous habitats in the seed dispersal of a deer

dispersed tropical tree. After mapping the trees in an area of 50 hectares, we laid plots in a

grided manner to measure resources such as water, availability of cover, and estimate the

arrival of seeds. We used generalized models to examine the relationship between fruiting

density, availability of cover and habitat type on seed arrival. Preliminary results suggest that

habitat type does influence the arrival of seeds, perhaps due to the variation in key resources

for the disperser. Our study underscores the necessity to incorporating habitat heterogeneity

and the spatial spread of key resources of the disperser, in modelling seed dispersal.

ALLOMETRY FOR JUVENILE TREES IN AN AMAZONIAN FOREST AFTER WIND

DISTURBANCE

Gabriel Henrique Pires de Mello Ribeiro1 , ([email protected]), Rempei Suwa

2, Daniel

Magnabosco Marra13,4

, Adriano José Nogueira Lima1, Takuya Kajimoto

5, Moriyoshi

Ishizuka5, Niro Higuchi

1

1Tropical Forestry Department, National Institute for Amazon Research, Manaus-AM, Brazil

([email protected]); 2Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Kansai Research

Center, Nagaikyutaroh, Momoyama, Fushimi, Kyoto, Japan; 3Department of Biogeochemical

Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany; 4Universität Leipzig,

AG Spezielle Botanik und Funktionelle Biodiversität, Leipzig, Germany; 5Forestry and

Forest Products Research Institute, Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Abstract: Allometric models were developed in the Amazon to estimate the aboveground

mass AGM, belowground mass BGM and total mass TM of juvenile trees (stem diameter at

breast height DBH ≤ 5 cm, tree height H ≥ 30 cm) in the open-canopy terra-firme forest after

wind disturbance were developed in the Amazon. For comparison, the allometric models were

also developed for a closed-canopy terra-firme forest. After six models were compared in

each forest type, the model with diameter at ground basis DGB and H was selected as the best

model for estimating AGM and TM, and the model with diameter at ground basis DGB as a

single variable was selected as the best model for estimating BGM considering the values of

the adjusted coefficient of determination and the standard deviation of the mean. Models

based on the diameter at breast height DBH showed poor fitting for each biomass component

compared with those based on DGB for the open-canopy forest. The juvenile trees in the

open-canopy forest showed higher AGM and H at a given DGB than in the closed-canopy

forest, while the DGB – BGM relationships did not differ significantly between the open-

canopy and closed-canopy forest. We It was concluded that the allometric models for

estimating AGM and TM are unique to each forest type. This would be because light-

demanding species show higher allocation to AGM than BGM to be advantageous for

competition for light by achieving rapid height growth.

Key words: Biomass allocation pattern - Natural regeneration - Wind disturbances

MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF PSOMOPHIS, AND HISTORY

OF DIAGONAL NEOTROPICAL OPEN AREAS

Leonardo Goncalves Tedeschi1, Jessica Fenker

1, Cristiano Nogueira

2, Lilian Gimenes

Giugliano1

1 Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil ([email protected]),

2

Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo,

São Paulo Brasil.

The South American arid diagonal is formed by three tropical open vegetation regions in the

center of the continent: Caatinga, Cerrado and Chaco. The genus of snakes Psomophis

comprises three species and is widely distributed in this region. However, their relationships

and distribution are still poorly understood. The present work aims to study the evolutionary

relationships and biogeography of Psomophis to bring new data about the biogeography the

South American open diagonal. The species of Psomophis showed low intraspecific diversity

and high interspecific differences. The divergence date of the genus was estimated in the

Oligocene and the differences between species were dated from the middle to late Miocene.

We obtained significant niche identity differences between each species and indications that

there are barriers between species distributions. The probable ancestral area of this group is

between southern portions of the Chaco and northern part of the Pampas. The second

divergence event in the group probably occurred between Cerrado and Chaco, after the

subsidence of the Upper Paraguay depression, in the Pantanal lowlands. This supports the

hypothesis that Pampas and Monte regions should be included as a biogeographical unit of

arid diagonal. This is the most significant study about Psomophis since its description. Since

biogeography is an important tool for management and conservation of species, this work

show a biogeographic pattern to the principal open areas of South America, and helps to

future studies of conservation of this areas as a whole single formation.

IMPORTANCE OF NICHE-BASED MODELLING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF

EXPLOITED TROPICAL SPECIES: THE CASE OF TAXA SUCH GUIBOURTIA BENN

Felicien Tosso1, KassoDainou

1, Alain Hambuckers

4, Louis Francois

5, Brice Sinsin

3, Olivier J.

Hardy2, Jean-Louis Doucet

1

1. Universite de Liege - Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech. Laboratoire de Foresterie des Regions

Tropicales et Subtropicales. Unite de Gestion des Ressources Forestieres et des Milieux

Naturels. Passage des Deportes, 2. B - 5030 Gembloux (Belgique).

2. Unite Evolution Biologique et Ecologique, Departement de Biologie des Organismes,

Universite Libre de Bruxelles, B-1050, Bruxelles (Belgique).

3. Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquee, Faculte des Sciences Agronomiques (FSA) Universite

d’Abomey Calavi (UAC), 01 BP 526 Cotonou (Benin)

4. Departement des Sciences et de Gestion de l’Environnement, Universite de Liege, Quai

Van Beneden 22, B-4000 Liege (Belgium)

5. Unite de Modelisation du Climat et des Cycles Biogeochimiques, Universite de Liege, Bat.

B5c, Allee du Six Aout 17, B-4000 Liege (Belgium)

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Genus Guibourtia belongs to the family Fabaceae, subfamily of Caesalpinioideae . In Africa,

it is composed of 13 species and includes taxa with a strong cultural and commercial value.

Today, the pressure of logging combined with low densities would pose significant threats to

some species. Understanding the determinants of species distribution is essential to the

implementation of appropriate conservation strategies . A first component of this research was

to identify climate determinants explaining the distribution of species. To this end, we

combined static models (MaxEnt and logistic regression) with data from global climate model

CNRM CM5 , based on the occurrence of these taxa between 1950 and 2000. As result, the

species of the genus Guibourtia are sensitive to precipitating factors (69.2%) and thermal

amplitude (74.3 %). In a second step, it will be used climate models geological eras past to

infer the distribution of the species during the Quaternary, and to establish the link with

phylogeographic and phylogenetic analyzes. Such modeling to scale of their distribution area

could be used to evaluate the sensitivity of species of the genus Guibourtia and eventual

impacts of climate change on base of the climate change models in the future. Thus, using the

criterion A3 IUCN could be inferred on the conservation status of taxa of the genus

Guibourtia.

Keywords: Guibourtia, potential niche, conservation, molecular phylogeny, functioning of

organisms, Africa

ENSURING PROTEIN SUPPLY AND FOOD SECURITY THROUGH PARTICIPATORY

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: PRELIMINARY LESSONS LEARNT FROM PILOT

PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

Nathalie Van Vliet1, Cornelis Daniel

2, Sebastien Le Bel

2, Jean Claude Nguinguiri

3, Robert

Nasi1

1. Center for International Forestry Research ([email protected]), 2. CIRAD, 3.

FAO

Participatory wildlife management in Africa has been proposed as a promising way to manage

wildlife in a sustainable manner, while ensuring the various services provided by bushmeat to

local communities. The main assumption under participatory wildlife management is that

hunting can be sustainable if the rights and responsibilities to manage de resource are

devolved to local communities. Although there are several examples of community wildlife

management in East and West Africa, there are only very few in Central Africa, and only in

Cameroon. To test the possibility for participatory wildlife management in their countries,

with support from a project developed by FAO, the Ministries in charge of wildlife in Congo,

Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Gabon have developed 86 pilot

sites for participatory wildlife management, two in each country. As part of the preliminary

phase of the pilot projects we assisted the Ministries in developing a common tool box to

guide the implementation of baseline studies. The aim of the methodology is to provide the

minimum information necessary for identifying opportunities and bottle necks for establishing

participatory wildlife management. In this presentation we present the different steps of the

tool box and illustrate examples of application in our three four pilot countries. Our work

illustrates how the use of baseline information can be used to guide participatory wildlife

management in practice and adapt management interventions according to local contexts. Our

study shows that according to local realities, the process for implementing participatory

wildlife management might imply different types of interventions: from tackling governance

aspects to optimising market chains.


EFFECTS OF CLIMATE AND DEFORESTATION ON VELVET ANT ASSEMBLAGES

(HYMENOPTERA: MUTILLIDAE) IN SOUTHEASTERN AMAZONIA

Cecília Rodrigues Vieira1,2

1Utah State University, Department of Biology, Logan, UT - USA;

2Universidade de Brasília,

Departamento de Zoologia, Brasília, DF -– Brazil (e-mail: [email protected])

The combined effects of habitat loss and climate change threaten biodiversity in tropical

forests. In the Amazonian "arc of deforestation", a vast and understudied region at the

Amazonia-Cerrado transition, pervasive changes in land use are a major environmental

concern. Herein I investigated the influence of local climate change and habitat loss on the

diversity and structure of velvet ant assemblages in the arc of deforestation. I selected two

forest fragments with distinct histories of deforestation (8 and 30 years). In each fragment I

placed 25 Y-shaped arrays of pitfall traps along a 0.5 km transect, where I recorded ten

environmental and two microclimate parameters. Within a month, I collected ~1,000

individuals from 30 velvet ant species. Abundance, richness and equitability were higher in

the older fragment. Temperature (sd), tree diameter and moisture (mean) were positively

correlated with distance to forest edge and clearly discriminated the two fragments. Mean

temperature was inversely related to humidity and canopy openness explained most of the

variance in microclimate from the edge to the interior. Some species are more associated with

fragments than with the edge-interior gradient and differences in canopy openness and

temperature (sd) between patches promoted reorganization of community structure. Reduced

canopy affected local climate, increasing daily variation in temperature. Pronounced changes

in community structure are expected after alterations in canopy cover, leaf litter and

temperature, leading to shifts of species distributions. Most species from the interior of

fragments are rare, highlighting the importance of protected areas and corridors of mesic

habitats.

TEMPORAL VARIATION IN A SEED RAIN OF AN ATLANTIC MONTANE

TROPICAL FOREST OF BRAZIL

Daniella Vinha1, Julia Caram Sfair

2, Flavio A. M. Santos

1, Carlos A. Joly

1

1Plant Biology Department, State University of Campinas/UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil

([email protected]) 2Department of Botany, Federal University of Pernambuco/UFPE, Recife, Brazil

Tropical montane forests exhibit high frequency of fog, clouds and low seasonality in rainfall

and temperatures throughout the year. In such areas, phenological studies have revealed the

existence of low interspecific synchrony in fruiting which could result in lower seasonality in

seed rain. While much research effort has been carried out in seasonal forests, less is known

about seed rain in aseasonal forests. Our aim was to evaluate seasonality in seed rain within a

2-years temporal series in order to test the hypothesis that there is no temporal variation in

abundance and species richness. We installed 100 seed traps (summed up 29 m2 at 0.5 m

height) and collected monthly all diaspores in 2-ha of Montane Atlantic forest. We used

circular statistics to test seasonality of data that included environment variables. Contrary to

expected our results revealed that abundance and species richness of seed rain showed

seasonality with two or more peaks throughout the year. The occurrence of these peaks is

related to small variations of environment variables, such as air moisture and temperatures

and wind speed. Other factors like seed disperser activity and plant phylogenetic relationship

may also play important roles in the pattern observed. Therefore future studies should

evaluate the relative contribution of these biotic processes in temporal variation of seed rain

abundance and species richness in Montane tropical forests.

Financial Support: FAPESP 2011/02390-5


SMALL MAMMAL RECOLONISATION AND SUCCESSION WITHIN VARYING

AGES OF TROPICAL RAINFOREST REVEGETATION

Tegan Whitehead1, Miriam Goosem

2

1School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland,

Australia ([email protected]); 2School of Earth and Environmental Science,

James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia

The conversion of tropical rainforest to grazing pasture drastically changes small mammal

community composition. Restoring the landscape through ecological revegetation is thus an

increasingly important management technique to conserve rainforest mammals. This study

aimed to determine the habitat age at which small mammal species recolonised revegetated

habitats on the southern Atherton Tablelands, northeast Queensland, Australia. We focussed

on changes in rainforest mammal abundance and diversity with increasing habitat age. Small

mammal trapping and mark-recapture techniques investigated mammal diversity, abundance

and community composition within remnant rainforest, three age classes of ecological

revegetation and abandoned grazing pasture. Small mammal community composition differed

between rainforest and pasture. The pasture and 3-year old revegetated sites were similar in

composition, both lacking rainforest small mammals. Six- and 7-year old revegetation

plantings provided sub-optimal habitat for both rainforest and grassland mammals, whilst 16-

and 22-year old revegetated habitats were dominated by rainforest species, with some

individuals frequently recaptured. As revegetated habitats aged, the small mammal

community composition transitioned from a grassland-like composition to a community

dominated by rainforest species. The older revegetated habitats functioned within the

landscape by mitigating the movement barriers imposed on rainforest mammals by pasture

and 3-year old revegetation sites. Although rainforest small mammals were occasionally

captured within the 6- and 7-year old habitats, revegetated plantings did not substantially aid

their conservation until the habitat was at least 16-years old. This highlights the importance

of commencing revegetation as early as possible to minimise future population declines and

maximise the conservation of rainforest mammals.


BIODIVERSITY PATTERNS WITHIN PARANÃ RIVER BASIN: WHAT WE CAN

LEARN FROM DISTRIBUTION MODELS OF SPECIES-LEVEL AND COMMUNITY-

LEVEL?

Anderson C. Sevilha1,2

, Robert L. Pressey3, Helga C. Wiederhecker

1, Jeremy VanDerWal

1,4,

Kristen J. Williams5, Simon Ferrier

5 and Stephen E. Williams

1

1Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, School of Marine and Tropical

Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; 2Embrapa Genetic Resources

& Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil ([email protected]); 3Australian

Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University,

Townsville, QLD, Australia; 4eResearch Centre, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD,

Australia; 5CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, ACT,

Australia.

A good conservation plan starts with adequate information about species occurrences,

accurate species identifications, and an understanding of biodiversity patterns and the

ecological mechanisms that regulate them. Here, we present the results of our efforts in

digging deep for biological information and their use in assessing biodiversity patterns for the

Paranã River Basin, one of the main priority areas for conservation within a global

biodiversity hotspot, the Cerrado biome, in Brazil. We describe how we gathered more than

140,000 species records for the area from which only ~21,000 were considered reliable for

our purpose; comprising 21 taxonomic groups. We evaluated biodiversity patterns with two

different approaches: species-level and community-level for vascular plants and terrestrial

vertebrates. We estimated species richness patterns using MaxEnt to model the distribution of

2159 species (245 birds, 44 mammals, 30 reptiles, 27 amphibians and 1813 plants), and

modelled community patterns based on occurrences of 430 species of birds, 101 of mammals

and 4026 of plants using Generalised Dissimilarity Modelling (GDM). We identified

geographical and taxonomic gaps in the dataset, characterizing species in terms of threats and

endemism, and used rarefaction to estimate total numbers of species in major biological

groups considering the potential additions from future sampling efforts. We discuss why

plants were more diverse on elevation gradients and vertebrates at lower elevations, interpret

dissimilarities within communities, and identify complementarities between MaxEnt and

GDM in highlighting the importance of some areas for biodiversity conservation.


TRACKING THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE INVASIVE HOUSE CROW (CORVUS

SPLENDENS), USING MOLECULAR MARKERS.

Urszula Krzeminska1,Sadequr Rahman

1, Robyn Wilson

1, Chris Austin

1

1School of Science, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway,

Malaysia ([email protected])

The common house crow (Corvus splendens), is amongst the most wide-spread species of

bird with many adverse effects on native fauna and flora, including predation, competitive

displacement and disease.It attains high population densities and is considered a pest in many

locations with breeding colonies in more than 20 countries outside its native range. To study

population genetics of this species and to understand its colonization patterns and recent

evolutionary history, a set of molecular markers has been tested. The markers include

autosomal microsatellites described in the previous studies of passerine birds, mitochondrial

markers, sex-linked CHD gene and single nucleotide polymorphisms identified by the NGS.

Such a broad set of markers can be usedto determine the origin of the house crow

populations, gene flow among populations and the rates of changes in the nuclear genome in

comparison to the mitochondrial genome. Preliminary results revealed low levels of genetic

variation within crow populations in Malaysia and Singapore, and confirmed population

isolation based on both nuclear and mitochondrial markers. In the future samples from more

locations will be screened to address questions about the molecular ecology of crows and to

investigate the selection on female-linked traits. In addition it has been shown that DNA

sufficient for subsequent molecular analysis can be extracted from feathers exposed to the

environmental conditions for over six months. This shows the potential to use shed feathers

for the genetic analysis, especially with species of significant conservation concern.

POTENTIAL CLIMATE-INDUCED ALTITUDINAL SHIFTS OF TREE SPECIES ON A

TROPICAL OCEANIC ISLAND

Jain-Hong Yang1,3

, Guo-Zhang M. Song1,

Tzung-Yu A. Yang2

1Department of Biological resources, National Chiayi University, Taiwan;

2National Museum

of Natural Science, Taiwan; 3Corresponding Author ([email protected])

Climate change shifts spatial ranges of tree species towards higher latitude and altitude

through warming. Such shifts may cause changes of forest composition, loss of ecosystem

functions, and species extinct. Forests on tropical islands are usually characterized by high

biodiversity and endemism. However, the nature of low environmental heterogeneity and

high geographic isolation of oceanic islands makes their resident organisms more sensitive to

climate change than those on continents. The goals of our study are to: (1) assess forest

composition and vegetation zonation along the altitudinal gradient on a tropical island, (2)

estimate to what extent climate change will shift altitudinal distribution of tree species and (3)

identify species susceptible to climate change. Our study site is located on Kolombangara,

Solomon Islands (8°S, 157°E). We are going to set up at least three plots (0.04 ha) every 200

m along a ridge which altitude ranges from 500 m to 1,700 m. In each plot, girth and height

of trees (diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm) will be measured and their species will also

be identified. Important environment factors (e.g. slope, aspect) will be assessed.

Classification of forest type will be carried out with two way indicator species analysis

(TWINSPAN) and relationships between tree spatial distribution and environment factors

will be explored with detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). Altitudinal shifts of tree

species will be quantified by comparing distribution of populations of adult trees (DBH ≥ 10

cm) and saplings (10 cm > DBH ≥ 1 cm). Species with little altitudinal shift will be

recognised as those subject to climate-induced extinction.


POSTER abstracts 2014

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