Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Diversity, composition and biomass of native vascular plants regenerating under Acacia mangium Will. plantations in northern Amazonia

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Brazilian Journal of Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is imperative that studies can be developed to assess the role of homogeneous tree plantations in biodiversity conservation and the ability to store atmospheric carbon. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Acacia mangium Will. plantations established in areas originally occupied by savanna (locally termed “lavrado”) on the establishment success of vascular plants, by analyzing three attributes of the community—diversity, composition and biomass. All plants with base diameter ≥ 1 cm were measured in 28 0.05-ha plots (11 plots allocated in natural areas of “lavrado” and 17 under A. mangium plantations). Species diversity was much higher in A. mangium plantation than in the natural areas of “lavrado”. There was a clear floristic differentiation between A. mangium and “lavrado”, with high density of forest species and low density of “lavrado” species growing under A. mangium plantations. “Lavrado” plots presented high floristic similarity, but plots under A. mangium plantations were far less similar, indicating a more heterogeneous vegetation. Biomass of vascular plants in A. mangium plantations was about one-fifth of that found in natural “lavrado” sites, but in “lavrado” 92.6% of the total biomass was allocated in only two species, whereas in A. mangium plantation two species comprised only 43% of the total biomass. In A. mangium plantation, species classified as forest species and typical “lavrado” species accounted for 72.8% and 27.2% of total biomass, respectively. Our results showed that A. mangium plantations resulted in high alpha and beta plant diversity due to the invasion of alien forest species. Also, biomass of “lavrado” species in plantations was smaller and species relative abundances completely different from natural “lavrados”. Therefore, we conclude that forest plantations established in savannas cannot be used to meet conservationist purposes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ABRAF (2013) Anuário estatístico ABRAF 2013 ano base 2012. ABRAF, Brasília

    Google Scholar 

  • Abreu RCR, Hoffmann WA, Vasconcelos HL, Pilon NA, Rossatto DR, Durigan G (2017) The biodiversity cost of carbon sequestration in tropical savanna. Sci Adv 3:e1701284

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Aguiar A Jr, Barbosa RI, Barbosa JBF, Mourão M Jr (2014) Invasion of Acacia mangium in Amazonian savannas following planting for forestry. Plant Ecol Divers 7:359–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alrababah MA, Tadros MJ, Samarah NH, Ghosheh H (2009) Allelopathic effects of Pinus halepensis and Quercus coccifera on the germination of Mediterranean crop seeds. New For 38:261–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbosa RI (1997) Distribuição das Chuvas em Roraima. In: Barbosa RI, Ferreira EJG, Castellon EG (eds) Homem, Ambiente e Ecologia no Estado de Roraima. INPA, Manaus, pp 23–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbosa RI, Fearnside PM (2005) Above-ground biomass and the fate of carbon after burning in the savannas of Roraima, Brazilian Amazonia. For Ecol Manag 216:295–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbosa RI, Campos C, Pinto F, Fearnside PM (2007) The “Lavrados” of Roraima: biodiversity and conservation of Brazil’s Amazonian savannas. Funct Ecosyst Communities 1:29–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow J, Gardner TA, Araújo SI, Ávila-Pires TC, Bonaldo AB, Costa JE et al (2007) Quantifying the biodiversity value of tropical primary, secondary, and plantation forests. Proc Natl Acad Sci 104:18555–18560

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernard E, Fenton MB (2002) Species diversity of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in forest fragments, primary forests, and savannas in central Amazonia, Brazil. Can J Zool 80:1124–1140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berthrong ST, Pineiro G, Jobbagy EG, Jackson RB (2012) Soil C and N changes with afforestation of grasslands across gradients of precipitation and plantation age. Ecol Appl 22:76–86

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butchart SHM, Walpole M, Collen B, van Strien A, Scharlemann JPW, Almond REA et al (2010) Global biodiversity: indicators of recent declines. Science 328:1164–1168

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman CA, Chapman CJ (1996) Exotic tree plantations and the regeneration of natural forests in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Biol Conserv 76:253–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chave J, Réjou-Méchain M, Búrquez A, Emmanuel C, Colgan MS, Delitti WB et al (2014) Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of tropical trees. Glob Change Biol 20:3177–3190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu C, Mortimer PE, Wang H, Wang Y, Liu X, Yu S (2014) Allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus on native and introduced tree species. For Ecol Manag 323:79–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan W, Ren H, Fu S, Wang J, Zhang JP, Yang L, Huang C (2010) Community comparison and determinant analysis of understory vegetation in six plantations in South China. Restor Ecol 18:206–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fensham RJ, Butler DW (2003) Spatial pattern of dry rainforest colonizing unburnt Eucalyptus savanna. Aust Ecol 28:121–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner T, Barlow J, Chazdon R, Ewers RM, Harvey CA, Peres CA, Sodhi NS (2009) Prospects for tropical forest biodiversity in a human-modified world. Ecol Lett 12:561–582

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Godoi S, Takaki M (2004) Effects of light and temperature on seed germination in Cecropia hololeuca Miq. (Cecropiaceae). Braz Arch Biol Technol 47:185–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gotelli NJ, Colwell RK (2001) Quantifying biodiversity: procedures and pitfalls in the measurements and comparison of species richness. Ecol Lett 4:279–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero PC, Bustamente RO (2007) Can native tree species regenerate in Pinus radiata plantations in Chile? Evidence from field and laboratory experiments. For Ecol Manag 253:97–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer Ø, Harper DAT, Ryan PD (2001) PAST: paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontol Electron 4:9. http://palaeo-electronica.org/2001_1/past/issue1_01.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennenberg KJF, Fisher K, Koudaio K, Goetze D, Orhtermann B, Linesenmair KE, Jeltsch F, Porembski S (2006) Phytomass and fire occurrence along forest–savanna transects in the Comoe National Park, Ivory Coast. J Trop Ecol 22:303–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann WA, Adasme R, Haridasan M, Carvalho M, Geiger EL, Pereira MAB, Gotsch SG, Franco AC (2009) Tree topkill, not mortality, governs the dynamics of alternate stable states at savanna–forest boundaries under frequent fire in central Brazil. Ecology 90:1326–1337

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanowski J, Catterall CP (2010) Carbon stocks in above-ground biomass of monoculture plantations, mixed species plantations and environmental restoration plantings in north-east Australia. Ecol Manag Restor 11:119–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledru MP (2002) Late quaternary history and evolution of the cerrados as revealed by palynological records. In: Oliveira PS, Marquis RJ (eds) The cerrados of Brazil: ecology and natural history of a neotropical savanna. Columbia University Press, New York, pp 33–50

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lemenih M, Teketay D (2005) Effect of prior land use on the recolonization of native woody species under plantation forests in the highlands of Ethiopia. For Ecol Manag 218:60–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemenih M, Gidyelew T, Teketay D (2004) Effects of canopy cover and understory environment of tree plantations on richness, density and size of colonizing woody species in southern Ethiopia. For Ecol Manag 194:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima TA, Vieira G (2013) High plant species richness in monospecific tree plantations in the Central Amazon. For Ecol Manag 295:77–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loumeto JJ, Huttel C (1997) Understory vegetation in fast-growing tree plantations on savanna soils in Congo. For Ecol Manag 99:65–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luck GW, Spooner PG, Watson DM, Watson SJ, Saunders ME (2014) Interactions between almond plantations and native ecosystems: lessons learned from north-western Victoria. Ecol Manag Restor 15:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson WE, Lima AP, Luizão R, Luizão F, Costa FR, Castilho CV, Kinupp VF (2005) RAPELD: a modification of the Gentry method for biodiversity surveys in long-term ecological research sites. Biota Neotrop 5:19–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCune B, Mefford MJ (2011) PC-ORD. Multivariate analysis of ecological data. MjM Software, Oregon, USA

  • Mesquita RCG, Ickes K, Ganade G, Williamson GB (2001) Alternative successional pathways in the Amazon basin. J Ecol 89:528–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mourão M Jr, Corleta A, Barbosa RI (2010) Padrões de auto-regeneração de espécies arbóreas dominantes em áreas de savana aberta em Roraima. In: Barbosa RI, Melo VF (eds) Roraima: Homem, Ambiente e Ecologia. FEMACT-RR, Boa Vista, pp 301–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers N, Mittermeier RA, Mittermeier GC, Fonseca GAB, Kent J (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403:853–858

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson BW, Mesquita R, Pereira JLG, Souza SGA, Batista GT, Couto LB (1999) Allometric regressions for improved estimate of secondary forest biomass in the central Amazon. For Ecol Manag 117:149–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira AKM, Nunes AC, Farias GC (2012) Predation of Curatella americana seeds by Aratinga aurea parrots. Braz J Biosci 10:526–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Parrota JA (1992) The role of plantation forests in rehabilitating degraded tropical ecosystems. Agric Ecosyst Environ 41:115–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parrota JA, Knowles OH, Wunderle JM (1997) Development of floristic diversity in 10-year-old restoration forests on a bauxite mined site in Amazonia. For Ecol Manag 99:21–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peltzer DA, MacLeod CJ (2014) Weeds and native plant species are negatively associated along grassland and kiwifruit land management intensity gradients. Aust Ecol 39:39–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reis SM, Lenza E, Marimon BS, Gomes L, Forsthofer M, Morandi P, Marimon BH Jr, Feldpausch T, Elias F (2015) Post-fire dynamics of the woody vegetation of a savanna forest (Cerradão) in the Cerrado-Amazon transition zone. Acta Bot Bras 29:408–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roitman I, Felfili JM, Rezende AV (2008) Tree dynamics of a fire-protected cerrado sensu stricto surrounded by forest plantations, over a 13-year period (1991–2004) in Bahia, Brazil. Plant Ecol 197:255–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossatto DR, Hoffmann WA, Franco AC (2009) Differences in growth patterns between co-occurring forest and savanna trees affect the forest–savanna boundary. Funct Ecol 23:689–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sano EE, Rosa R, Brito JLS, Ferreira LG (2009) Land cover mapping of the tropical savanna region in Brazil. Environ Monitor Assess 1:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Senbeta F, Teketay D, Näslund BÅ (2002) Native woody species regeneration in exotic tree plantations at Munessa-Shashemene forest, southern Ethiopia. New For 24:131–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vale-Júnior JF, Schaefer CEGR (2010) Solos sob savanas de Roraima: gênese, classificação e relações ambientais. Ioris, Boa Vista

    Google Scholar 

  • Veldman JW, Overbeck GE, Negreiros D, Mahy G, Le Stradic S, Fernandes GW, Durigan G, Buisson E, Putz FE, Bond WJ (2015a) Where tree planting and forest expansion are bad for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Bioscience 65:1011–1018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veldman JW, Overbeck GE, Negreiros D, Mahy G, Le Stradic S, Fernandes GW, Durigan G, Buisson E, Putz FE, Bond WJ (2015b) Toward an old-growth concept for grasslands, savannas, and woodlands. Front Ecol Environ 13:154–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wunderle JM (1997) The role of animal seed dispersal in accelerating native forest regeneration on degraded tropical lands. For Ecol Manag 99:223–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yirdaw E, Lukkanen O (2003) Indigenous woody species diversity in Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations in the Ethiopian highlands. Biodivers Conserv 12:567–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Shenglei F (2009) Allelopathic effects of eucalyptus and the establishment of mixed stands of eucalyptus and native species. For Ecol Manag 258:1391–1396

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to F.I.T. Manejo Florestal do Brasil LTDA for allowing us to conduct this research in its farms. Financial support was provided by F.I.T., National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/Universal 459735/2014-4) and Federal University of Amapá (PAPESQ/UNIFAP Edital N° 015/2015). We thank Paulo Apóstolo and Ricardo Perdiz for plant identification, Eder Oliveira, Wesley Souza, Agnaldo de Souza, Wicles Batista and Marcelo Cruz for field work organization and assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Amapá, Rodovia Juscelino Kubitschek, KM 02, Jardim Marco Zero, Macapá, Amapá, CEP: 68902-280, Brazil

    José Julio Toledo

  2. Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA, Av. André Araújo 2936 - Petrópolis, Manaus, Amazonas, CEP: 69067-375, Brazil

    Henrique E. M. Nascimento

Authors
  1. José Julio Toledo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Henrique E. M. Nascimento
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

JJT designed the research and collected the data. JJT and HEMM analyzed the data. HEMN wrote the paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henrique E. M. Nascimento.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (TIFF 3586 kb)

Supplementary material 2 (DOCX 26 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Toledo, J.J., Nascimento, H.E.M. Diversity, composition and biomass of native vascular plants regenerating under Acacia mangium Will. plantations in northern Amazonia. Braz. J. Bot 42, 457–465 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-019-00539-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-019-00539-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation