Abstract During a period of 5 years, we monthly monitor the phenology and the stem diameter increment of 12 of Schinus terebinthifolius trees. Dendrometer bands were used for it. This study was aimed to answer the following questions: (i) Are there conflicting demands for resource allocation in different phenophases? (ii) In which period does the stem diameter increment occur? (iii) Which phenophases are more likely related to stem radial growth? The phenological observations were carried out using the Activity Index. In order to identify patterns in phenology and diameter increment over the assessment period (2010-2015), we performed an analysis of seasonal decomposition, followed by Pearson’s correlation analysis. Apparently, there is no conflicting demand for resources, but an optimized distribution of them, regulated mainly by the allocation of nutrients derived from leaf senescence, as well as, temperature rise and photoperiod. Higher diameter growth rates occurred from December to March which coincided with the flowering period.

RESUMO Atualmente, os remanescentes em estágio avançado de sucessão no Estado do Paraná somam menos de 1% de sua área original. Este trabalho comparou a composição e estrutura da comunidade de sub-bosque em diferentes estágios sucessionais de Floresta Ombrófila Mista. Foram selecionados dois remanescentes florestais, um em estágio médio e outro em estágio avançado de regeneração natural, onde foram amostradas 38 parcelas de 5 × 5 m. Foram mensurados indivíduos com altura superiora 2 m e perímetro a 1,30 m de altura do solo ≤ 15 cm. Na área em estágio médio foram registradas 68 espécies, representadas por espécies secundárias com exigência de luz, destacando-se Nectandra megapotamica com os maiores valores de importância. Para área em estágio avançado foram registradas 52 espécies representadas por indivíduos tardios tolerantes à sombra, com destaque para Rudgea jasminoides. Como a comparação com outros estudos é prejudicada pelos diferentes tamanhos de parcelas e/ou os critérios de inclusão, sugerimos que uma padronização é necessária para melhorar o conhecimento e apoiar a conservação da biodiversidade das florestas tropicais da região Sul do Brasil.

ABSTRACT Currently, in Paraná State, forest remnants in advanced successional stages account for less than 1% of its original area. This study compared the understory community across different successional stages of the Araucaria Forest in southern Brazil. Forest remnants, one in intermediate and another in advanced stage of natural regeneration were selected, and a total of 38 plots of 5 × 5 m were sampled. Individuals reaching at least 2 m high or having circumference up to 15 cm at height 1.3 m above the soil surface were measured and identified. In the forest at an intermediate stage, 68 species were recorded being mostly light-dependent, with Nectandra megapotamica as the most important species. On the other hand, at an advanced stage, less species were found (52 species) but most individuals were shade-tolerant, with Rudgea jasminoides as the most important species. These differences are most probably caused because of the canopy density of each fragment. As the comparison with other studies is impaired due to different plot sizes and inclusion criteria, we suggest the standardization to improve knowledge and support biodiversity conservation of the southern tropical forest of Brazil.

Forest fragmentation affects biological communities by reducing habitat and increasing edges, thus reducing the effective size of the habitable zones. The subtropical atlantic Araucaria forest, typical on the southern Brazil, in some regions has been reduced to less than 1% of its original size lasting only in small isolated fragments. This study aimed to analyse the impact the edge has on vascular epiphyte ensemble in a remnant of Araucaria forest. We surveyed 40 host trees in four transects: one at the edge; and three at 15, 30 and 60 m from the edge. On each host tree we estimated the epiphyte biomass, using four size classes. We compared the transects using Jackknife estimator of absolute species number, diversity indices, non-metric multi-dimensional scaling and multi-response permutation procedure analysis. We recorded 85 epiphytes species. Absolute species richness and diversity were lower at the edge and higher at 60 m in from the edge. Shannon's evenness did not differ significantly among transects and Simpson's evenness values were inconsistent. The vascular epiphyte community under study was significantly altered by the edge.

O Dossel é um ecossistema complexo e ecologicamente diverso, possuindo espécies, nichos e processos próprios. Dentre as diversas formas de vida que o compõem, destaca-se a epífita. Este trabalho procurou reunir informações sobre esta sinúsia estabelecendo padrões florísticos para as epífitas no bioma Mata Atlântica. A maioria das epífitas é monocotiledônea (63,5%), seguida das Monilophyta (16,4%), Eudicotiledôneas (14,1%), Magnoliídeas (4,5%) e Lycophyta (1,6%). As famílias mais ricas são Orchidaceae com 45,8 % das espécies, Bromeliaceae com 12,9%, Polypodiaceae, com 5,5%, Araceae, com 5,0% e Piperaceae, com 4,7%. O bioma inteiro suporta, possivelmente, até cerca de 3.300 espécies, 69% das quais observadas em zonas ecotonais, 60,6% na Floresta Ombrófila Densa, 42,4% nas Formações Edáficas de Primeira Ocupação, 25,5% nas Florestas Estacionais e 22,5% na Floresta Ombrófila Mista. São ainda apresentadas sessões sobre histórico dos estudos sobre epífitas, composição taxonômica, importância ecológica, distribuição geográfica, classificação, evolução e estratégias adaptativas e distribuição espacial, contendo revisão bibliográfica atualizada sobre estes assuntos.

Canopy is a structurally complex and ecologically distinct ecosystem with its own processes, species and niches. Among the life forms that join together to form the canopy, epiphytes are one of the most important. This paper aimed to summarize important information about this sinusia and establish floristic patterns for the Brazilian rain forest. The majority of the epiphytes were monocots (63.5% of the species), followed by monilophytes (16.4%), eudicots (14.1%), magnoliids (4.5%) and Lycophytes (1.6%). The most species-rich families were Orchidaceae (45.8%), Bromeliaceae (12.9%), Polypodiaceae (5.5%), Araceae (5.0%) and Piperaceae (4.7%). The bioma supports possibly 3,300 epiphyte species, 69% of them registered for ecotonal zones, 60.6% for tropical rain forest, 42.4% for restingas and mangroves, 25.5% for seasonal forests and 22.5% for subtropical rain forest. Sections on history of the epiphyte studies, taxonomic composition, ecological importance, geographyc distribution, evolution and spatial distribution with up-to-date revision are also presented.

O estudo das epífitas vasculares foi realizado em uma área de 3.000 m² de floresta na planície litorânea na Ilha do Mel (25°30’ S 48°23’ W); o levantamento qualitativo foi realizado em toda a área; para o estudo quantitativo, foram sorteados 100 forófitos, divididos em intervalos de 2 m a partir do solo. Em cada intervalo, registraram-se todas as espécies epifíticas ocorrentes, sendo estimado o valor de importância epifítico a partir das freqüências nos estratos, nos forófitos e nas espécies forofíticas. No levantamento total, foram encontradas 77 espécies (16 de Pteridophyta, 53 de Liliopsida e 8 de Magnoliopsida), das quais 70 foram amostradas nos forófitos analisados. As famílias mais ricas foram Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae e Polypodiaceae e os gêneros foram Vriesea, Encyclia e Maxillaria. A área com maior similaridade florística com este estudo localiza-se no Município de Torres (RS). As espécies mais importantes quantitativamente foram Microgramma vaccinifolia, Codonanthe gracilis, Epidendrum latilabre e E. rigidum. As espécies amostradas foram agrupadas em três categorias quanto à preferência por intervalos de altura: exclusivas, preferenciais e indiferentes. O número de ocorrências de epífitos em um mesmo forófito variou de 1 a 35, enquanto o número de espécies variou de 1 a 21 (médias 14 ± 7,6 e 10 ± 4,6, respectivamente). Os primeiros estratos (0-2 m, 2-4 m e 4-6 m) foram os mais ricos em espécies epifíticas. As espécies forofíticas com maior número de ocorrências foram Andira fraxinifolia e Ternstroemia brasiliensis, e com maior número de espécies Ocotea pulchella e Guapira opposita. Quanto à fidelidade sobre espécies forofíticas, foram encontradas espécies epifíticas exclusivas, preferenciais e generalistas, esta incluindo a maioria das espécies amostradas.

This study was carried out in a 3,000 m² area of coastal plain forest at "Ilha do Mel" (25°30’ S; 48°23’ W). The qualitative survey was carried out on the whole area, while the quantitative survey was done on 100 assorted trees, separated into two meters-high strata starting from the ground level. In each strata we recorded all of the occurring epiphytic species. The epiphytic importance index was calculated from the frequencies found for each stratum, for each host tree and for each species of host tree. In this survey, 77 species (16 of Pteridophyta, 53 of Liliopsida and 8 of Magnoliopsida) were found, of which 70 were sampled in the trees surveyed. The richest families were Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae and Polypodiaceae, while Vriesea, Encyclia and Maxillaria were the richest genera. The area located in the Torres County (RS) presented the closest floristic similarity to the one used in this survey. From the quantitative point of view, Microgramma vaccinifolia, Codonanthe gracilis, Epidendrum latilabre and E. rigidum were the most important species. The sampled species were grouped into three categories, exclusive, preferential or indifferent, according to their occurrence in the different height intervals in relation to the ground. The frequency of epiphytic individuals in a host tree varied from 1 to 35, while the number of species varied from 1 to 21 (average of 14 ±7.6 and 10 ± 4.6, respectively). The first (0-2, 2-4 and 4-6 m) strata were the richest in epiphytic species. For the host tree species, the highest frequencies of epiphytic individuals were found for Andira fraxinifolia and Ternstroemia brasiliensis, while Ocotea pulchella and Guapira opposita presented the largest number of species. Regarding to fidelity on host tree species, exclusive, preferential and generalist species were found, the last one included most of the species.