Massive post-fire flowering events in a tropical mountain region of Brazil: high episodic supply of floral resources

Conceição, Abel Augusto; Alencar, Thiago Gondim; Souza, Jumara Marques; Moura, Alan Daniel Cerqueira; Silva, Gabriela Almeida

doi:10.1590/s0102-33062013000400025

Cited by 26 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Recent discussions have recognized that the flora of the cerrados is not only highly fire-resistant (Simon & al., 2009) but also fire-dependent (Simon & Pennington, 2012). Likewise, post-fire flowering bursts and well-developed underground structures occur in several taxa of the campos rupestres, suggesting that fire may have played a role in the evolution of these regeneration traits (Simon & al., 2009;Conceição & al., 2013Silveira & al., 2016), including those of Diplusodon. However, landscape heterogeneity is one of the defining characteristics of campos rupestres (Giulietti & al., 1997;Silveira & al., 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Diplusodon (Lythraceae), endemic to the campos rupestres and cerrados of South America

Inglis

Cavalcanti

2018

TAXON

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Diplusodon is the second–largest genus of the Lythraceae with 103 species of shrubs or subshrubs endemic to the Cerrado Domain. Many species are narrow endemics, restricted to campos rupestres on quartzite rocks, while others are found in cerrado and, more rarely, in gallery, or dry forest margins. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from nuclear ITS and ETS sequences strongly support the monophyly of Diplusodon. We found four major clades, three of which are strongly correlated with endemism and are centered in the Espinhaço Range (CEP), the Plateau Goiano (PG) and the Chapada Diamantina (CD). The fourth clade was designated the Cerrado clade (C), containing species from all three centers of diversity as well as widely distributed species and several species of lower–elevation cerrado. Species with the most plesiomorphic features occur in the clades east of the São Francisco River (C, CEP, CD), while the greatest morphological diversity is found in the PG. The crown node of the genus is estimated to date to the late Pliocene, likely diversifying in the campos rupestres, where most of the later Pleistocene speciation bursts also appear to have occurred. These patterns of diversification in Diplusodon appear to agree with old stable landscapes (OSL) theory, where high levels of in situ speciation in islands of campo rupestre, possibly isolated by more intense fire regimes of the surrounding cerrado vegetation, resulted in accumulation of high numbers of microendemic species. However, the adaptability of the genus is evidenced by multiple dispersal events to lower elevation cerrado, several long–distance dispersals, notably in the C clade, and the presence, in several clades, of species found both in campo rupestre and cerrado habitats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Diplusodon (Lythraceae), endemic to the campos rupestres and cerrados of South America

Inglis

Cavalcanti

2018

TAXON

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“…In campos rupestres fire is a common phenomenon (Alves & Silva, 2011;Conceição et al, 2013;Fernandes et al, 2014;Veldman et al, 2015;Silveira et al, 2016). This ecosystem occurs mainly in Espinhaço mountain range and presents a rich and endemic flora and fauna (Lara & Fernandes, 1996;Giulietti et al, 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The herbaceous layer generally possess high postfire resilience, great capacity of rapid reestablishment and almost complete recovery after months since the fire event RESEARCH ARTICLE -ANTS 1 -Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil 2 -Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa-MG, Brazil (Neves & Conceição, 2010). Many graminoid species mainly found at higher altitudes sprout and blossom shortly after fire disturbances (Kolbek & Alves, 2008;Neves et al, 2011;Ribeiro & Figueira, 2011;Conceição et al, 2013;Alves et al, 2014). In contrast to the herbaceous stratum, shrubs and trees exhibit thick, corky, or exfoliating bark that protect the gems and guarantees their survival after fire.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ants in Burned and Unburned Areas in Campos Rupestres Ecosystem

Neves¹,

Anjos²,

Reis³

et al. 2016

Sociobiology

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Ground-dwelling ants have shown consistent resilience to fire in savanna environments. We carried out a study to investigate how ant community structure responds to fire in a harsh and fragile Cerrado ecosystem, the campos rupestres. We studied the change in the ant communities on a local scale subjected to fire in two rocky outcrop habitats at two different elevations (800m above sea level and 1300m a.s.l.). Pitfall trap samples were set at three different periods after a fire event: one, four, and ten months later. Overall, one hundred and fifteen ant species were collected. On a local scale, at the altitude of 800 m asl, no difference in richness and composition of the ant community was found between burned and control plots, whereas at 1300 m asl the burned areas showed higher richness and different ant composition in comparison to control areas. Differences were clear in the rainy period, four months after the fire. Ten months later, no difference between the richness of ant species in burned and unburned plots was found at higher altitudes, even though the plots showed distinct species composition. These data support the hypothesis that fire must be a structuring disturbance factor for some groups in the ant assemblages and indicate that ant community structure at higher elevations is somehow influenced by the recover of the campos rupestre vegetation.

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“…While this can be explained as an irregular reproductive event (i.e. does not occur every year), we suggest that as the campo rupestre is a fire‐prone environment, numerous species are resprouters (Le Stradic, Hernandez, Fernandes, & Buisson, ; Le Stradic et al., ) and need fire as a stimulus to induce flowering and fruiting (Conceição, Alencar, Souza, Moura, & Silva, ; Munhoz & Felfili, ). Such a strategy would allow them to avoid years of sub‐optimal climate and thus expend more resources in optimal years (Venable, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Reproductive phenology of two co‐occurring Neotropical mountain grasslands

Stradic

Buisson

Fernandes

et al. 2018

J Vegetation Science

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Aim: Climate tends to explain phenological variations in tropical ecosystems. However, water availability and nutrient content in soil strongly affect plant communities, especially those on old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs), and may impact these ecosystems' plant reproductive phenology over time. Here, we compare the reproductive phenology of sandy and stony tropical grasslands, two co-occurring herbaceous communities of the campo rupestre OCBILs. We asked whether flowering, fruiting and dispersal are seasonal in both grasslands, and whether these phenophases differ due to variations in soil properties. We also asked whether the phenological strategies and the number of flowers and fruits differ between these two grasslands as soil conditions vary.Location: Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods:The phenology of herbaceous species of sandy and stony grasslands was monitored monthly over two consecutive years.Results: Plants on sandy and stony grasslands flowered and fruited throughout the year. We did not find a distinct seasonal pattern at the community level of either studied grassland. However, flowering, fruiting and seed dissemination occurred in stony grasslands mainly during the rainy season, while sandy grassland species flowered in both seasons and fruited and disseminated seed mainly during the dry season, as observed in other savanna vegetation types in the Cerrado. Flower and fruit production was higher in sandy grasslands than in stony grasslands, which may be linked to higher water retention in sandy grassland soils. In both communities, species of Cyperaceae, Eriocaulaceae and Xyridaceae contributed most to overall production, whereas Poaceae and Velloziaceae, two important families in campo rupestre, barely participated in the reproductive phenology during our 2-yr survey. Conclusions:Despite a strong seasonal climate, there was no reproductive seasonal pattern at the community level in campo rupestre. This first investigation of Neotropical grassland phenology indicates that the differences in soil content may constrain the grassland reproductive phenology and restrict reproduction of stony grassland species to the most favourable season. Further studies of grassland phenology are necessary to disentangle the relative importance of soil, climate and other triggers, especially fire.

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Massive post-fire flowering events in a tropical mountain region of Brazil: high episodic supply of floral resources

Abstract: The species Vellozia sincorana L.B.Sm. & Ayensu is key to biodiversity conservation in the tropical mountain region of Brazil. The massive post-fire flowering of this endemic species provides a large, episodic supply of floral resources, mostly nectar, to animals.

Cited by 26 publications

References 17 publications

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Diplusodon (Lythraceae), endemic to the campos rupestres and cerrados of South America

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Diplusodon (Lythraceae), endemic to the campos rupestres and cerrados of South America

Ants in Burned and Unburned Areas in Campos Rupestres Ecosystem

Reproductive phenology of two co‐occurring Neotropical mountain grasslands

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