ABSTRACT Understanding how multiple drivers shape plant community diversity across environmental gradients is one of the most important issues in plant ecology and biodiversity conservation. We aimed to analyse plant community structure and diversity in four inselbergs in Espírito Santo State, Brazil. We evaluated species diversity, floristic composition and similarity, phytosociological structure, occurrence, and conservation status of rupicolous flora in the inselberg communities. We used field expeditions and plant inventory data from 370 sampling units. We estimated floristic similarity and compared diversity indexes among inselbergs. We observed marked differences in community structure and diversity among inselbergs, where the southern region had the highest number of taxa and higher values of diversity indices. There were also notable differences in floristic composition and phytosociological structure, with a decrease in similarity as geographical distance increased. This finding demonstrated the existence of differences in the patterns of dominance and vegetation cover along the latitudinal gradient, as well as differences in endemic, threatened, and exclusive species, and represents a first step toward establishing criteria for biodiversity conservation for inselbergs in Espírito Santo State.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to evaluate fine aboveground litterfall, deposition of nitrogen and phosphorus from total litterfall and leaf litter decomposition in areas of tall forest (Mata Alta) and low forest on sandy soils (Mussununga) in southeastern Brazil. Fine litterfall was collected monthly for two years (from June/2007 to May/2009) in 10 conical collectors (0.25 m2) in each phytophysiognomy (1 ha plots). The material was subsequently separated into leaves, branches, flowers and fruits, and unidentified material. Leaf decomposition rates were evaluated using 15 litterbags, three of which were collected every 30 days. Higher litterfall occurred in both phytophysiognomies during the rainy season, with leaves predominating. The lowest litterfall, nutrient input, and leaf litter decomposition values appeared to be nutrient conservation strategies, contributing to the ecological functioning of the Mussununga where soil fertility was lower than in the Mata Alta.

ABSTRACT Germination rate and establishment success of plants in harsh environments depend on the ability of seeds to withstand unfavorable environmental conditions and avoid predators. Brazilian coastal plains, known as restinga, are subject to environmental factors that seriously limit plant establishment and survival (e.g. salinity, desiccation, oligotrophy, flooding, high temperature and radiation levels). We tested, both in field and laboratory experiments, conditions for germination and establishment of Allagoptera arenaria, a palm tree often found in restinga ecosystems of southeastern Brazil, and which have a principal role in plant community dynamics. Our results showed that the absence of mesocarp, high radiation exposure, and temperature were the main drivers of seed germination. In the field, the highest germination rate was linked to nude seeds buried in open areas. High temperatures and/or predation damaged seeds that remained on the soil surface, especially if they were close to the mother plant and alongside dung piles made by dispersers. Under controlled conditions, seeds exhibited optimum germination at 35 ºC. Therefore, the germination and establishment of A. arenaria depend as much on environmental conditions as on a network of interactions including vertebrates and invertebrates, which allow this species to colonize harsh, open areas in restinga ecosystems.

RESUMO Os objetivos do estudo foram avaliar se plantas de duas comunidades arbóreas distintas e adjacentes da Mata Atlântica (Mata Alta e Mussununga) diferem em relação à herbivoria e se plantas com maior conteúdo de água ou menor concentração de fibras nas folhas sofrem mais herbivoria. Os resultados indicaram que as duas comunidades estudadas não diferem quanto à porcentagem de herbivoria foliar e fibras, embora indivíduos da Mata Alta apresentem maiores porcentagens de água em suas folhas que indivíduos da Mussununga. Desta forma, o padrão de herbivoria encontrado para as duas comunidades arbóreas parece não ser influenciado pela concentração de fibra e conteúdo de água. Outros fatores (i.e. defesas químicas e/ou herbívoros) podem estar atuando como principais agentes.

ABSTRACT The aims of the present study were to verify whether plants from Mussununga differ from those of Mata Alta in relation to herbivory, water content, and fibres, and to test whether plants with lower leaf water content and higher fibres are less attacked by chewing insects. The results indicated that leaf herbivory percentages and fibres were similar between the two communities, although individuals from Mata Alta showed higher leaf water content than individuals from Mussununga. Thus, the herbivory patterns found for these tree communities do not seem to not be influenced by water content and fibres. Other factors (e.g., chemical defenses and/or herbivores) may be acting as main drivers.

RESUMO Este trabalho quantificou a biomassa aérea e o conteúdo de nutrientes de bromélias terrestres na floresta de duna na Restinga da Marambaia, RJ. Dados de indivíduos em “quadrats” (4 m2) demarcados numa linha perpendicular ao mar foram coletados em agosto de 2001. Diâmetro (d) e altura (h) foram as variáveis que melhor se correlacionaram com a biomassa aérea de Quesnelia quesneliana, que apresentou a maior biomassa e concentrações de K. Número total de folhas foi a variável que melhor se correlacionou com a biomassa em Billbergia amoena e Neoregelia cruenta. N. cruenta apresentou as maiores concentrações de N e P. O conteúdo de nutrientes foi maior em Q. quesneliana.

ABSTRACT This study quantified the aboveground biomass and nutrient contents in terrestrial bromeliads in a dune forest at Restinga da Marambaia, RJ. Data of individuals in “quadrats” (4 m2) marked on a line perpendicular to the sea were collected in August 2001. Diameter (d) and height (h) were the variables that best correlated with the biomass of Quesnelia quesneliana, which presented highest biomass and concentrations of K. The total number of leaves was the variable that best correlated with the biomass of Billbergia amoena and Neoregelia cruenta. N. cruenta presented the highest concentrations of N and P. Nutrient contents were higher in Q. quesneliana.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do consórcio do cafeeiro 'Conilon' (Coffea canephora) com seringueira no microclima, na nutrição, no crescimento e na produtividade do cafeeiro. As seringueiras foram plantadas em duas fileiras duplas, distantes 33 m, no espaçamento de 4x2,3 m entre as plantas. Os tratamentos consistiram das distâncias dos cafeeiros em relação às seringueiras: 3, 6, 9, 12 e 15 m. Foram realizadas medidas das variáveis atmosféricas (temperatura, irradiância e humidade relativa), da concentração foliar dos nutrientes, do comprimento dos entrenós de ramos plagiotrópicos e ortotrópicos, da área foliar individual, da concentração de clorofila e da produtividade. O consórcio promove mudanças nas condições microclimáticas dos cafeeiros próximos da seringueira, tendo ocorrido diminuição da temperatura e da irradiância e aumento da umidade relativa do ar. A proximidade do cafeiro em relação às seringueiras promove alongamento dos ramos plagiotrópicos e ortotrópicos e aumenta a área foliar individual; porém, não afeta as concentrações foliares de N, K, Mg, Fe, Zn e B em café 'Conilon' e não tem impacto negativo na produtividade.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of intercropping 'Conilon' coffee (Coffea canephora) with rubber trees on coffee tree microclimate, nutrition, growth, and yield. Rubber trees were planted in two double rows 33 m apart, with 4x2.3 m spacing between plants. Treatments consisted of the distances from the coffee plants to the rubber trees: 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 m. Measurements of atmospheric variables (temperature, irradiance, and relative humidity), leaf nutrient concentration, internode length of plagiotropic and orthotropic branches, individual leaf area, chlorophyll content, and yield were performed. Intercropping promotes changes in the microclimatic conditions of coffee plants close to rubber trees, with reduction of temperature and irradiance level and increase in air relative humidity. The proximity of the coffee tree to the rubber trees promotes the elongation of the plagiotropic and orthotropic branches and increases the individual leaf area; however, it does not affect leaf concentrations of N, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, and B in 'Conilon' coffee and does not have a negative impact on yield.

The waterlogging of soils creates selective environments for plant species. The frequency and duration of flooding influence the responses to ecological processes, determining the structure and floristic composition of vegetation formations. We investigated the relationship between floristic composition and environmental heterogeneity of native field, one physiognomic type found interspersed with semideciduous forest in the plains in the northern part of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, which is characterized by varying degrees of waterlogging. Our results indicate that the differentiation of physiognomic types of native field is related to the frequency and duration of waterlogging to which each is subjected, resulting in a somewhat shared flora, dominated by phanerophytes. Flooding was also found to account for differences between the areas analyzed in terms of the soil pH, which ranged from strongly acid to extremely acid. The geographic proximity between the native field studied and areas of muçununga (or mussununga, a coastal forest ecosystem associated with the Atlantic Forest) did not increase the floristic similarity between the two.

Foram analisadas a estrutura e a composição florística de uma formação de restinga arbustiva aberta no Parque Estadual de Itaúnas, ES, e verificada a similaridade entre a flora das formações de restinga arbustiva da Região Sudeste do Brasil. Para o levantamento, foi utilizado o método de intercepto de linha, contemplando indivíduos com altura igual ou superior a 50 cm. Os parâmetros fitossociológicos de frequência e valor de importância (VI) foram calculados. A similaridade da flora das restingas arbustivas da Região Sudeste foi verificada utilizando o índice de Sørensen. Foram encontradas 42 espécies em 28 famílias, sendo Fabaceae e Bromeliaceae as mais ricas (quatro espécies cada). As 10 espécies mais importantes representaram 65,6% do VI total, evidenciando forte estrutura oligárquica, principalmente no estrato herbáceo. Assim, puderam ser apontadas espécies que caracterizam esta formação, a qual é associada com fatores ambientais que condicionam a composição e abundância florística. A análise de similaridade evidenciou que as restingas do sudeste formam dois blocos florísticos distintos, um ao norte (litoral do Espírito Santo) e outro mais ao sul (litoral do Rio de Janeiro). Foram comuns a todas as restingas analisadas Manilkara subsericea,Pilosocereus arrabidae e Byrsonima sericea, podendo ser consideradas de ampla distribuição na costa sudeste.

This study analyzed the structure and floristic composition of an open scrub restinga at Parque Estadual de Itaúnas, Espírito Santo and verified the similarity between floras of the restinga formations in southeastern Brazil. The line intercept method was applied to sample individuals equal or greater than 50 cm tall. The frequency and an importance value were estimated. The similarity of the flora of the restinga formations in southeastern Brazil was performed using the Sørensen index. We surveyed 42 species in 28 families, being Fabaceae and Bromeliaceae the richest families (four species each). The 10 most important species represented 65.6% of the total importance value, showing a strong oligarchic structure, especially in the herbaceous layer. Thus, we identified some species that characterize this formation, which is associated with environmental factors that constrain floristic composition and abundance. The similarity analysis evidenced two distinct floristic blocks of southeastern restingas, one in the north (the coast of Espírito Santo) and another further to the south (coast of Rio de Janeiro). Some species were common to all analyzed resting formations - Manilkara subsericea, Pilosocereus arrabidae and Byrsonima sericea and may be considered of wide distribution on the southeast coast.

The Brazilian shrublands area (restinga) is composed of marine coast vegetation on Quaternary sandy plains, where the species composition can vary depending on the surrounding ecosystems. The aims of this study were to describe the structure and floristic composition of a restinga near the community of Itaúnas, in the northern part of the state of Espírito Santo, to identify any relationships between this restinga and surrounding plant formations, and to determine which are the species that occur preferentially in the coastal forests of Espírito Santo. We sampled woody plants with a diameter at breast height > 2.5 cm, excluding lianas, in 50 plots of 100 m². We selected studies of coastal forests in the states of Espírito Santo and Bahia to prepare a database that would reveal patterns of floristic variation among these areas. We used t wo-way indicator species analysis for the identification of the species that occur preferentially in the coastal forests of Espírito Santo. We identified 114 species belonging to 38 families. Species richness was greatest for Myrtaceae (26 species), followed by Fabaceae (10). The Shannon index for the study area was 3.96. The estimated total density was 3,330 individuals/ha and basal area was 32.02 m²/ha. The highest importance value (IV) was for Protium heptaphyllum (IV, 23.4), indicating that it is characteristic of the Espírito Santo restinga. The results of our floristic analysis indicate that the species composition of the Itaúnas restinga is influenced by the so-called tabuleiro forests (coastal lowland forests on Tertiary deposits), which are most common in northern Espírito Santo. This seems to be the main factor responsible for the gradual reduction in floristic similarity between the restingas in the north of Espírito Santo and those in the south of the state, each constituting a distinct floristic block. In addition, we generated lists of species that occur preferentially in the restinga and tabuleiro forests. Those lists could inform decisions regarding environmental restoration programs.

Este estudo descreve a florística do componente arbóreo e arbustivo da Floresta Atlântica sobre as encostas da Ilha da Marambaia, RJ. Também são avaliadas quais das espécies encontradas constam em listas de espécies ameaçadas e qual a semelhança deste componente da vegetação com locais próximos cobertos pelo mesmo tipo de vegetação. A coleta de dados se valeu do esforço conjunto de caminhadas arbitrárias e de unidades amostrais conhecidas como "Transect". O critério de inclusão na amostragem foi o mesmo para ambos os métodos (DAP igual ou maior a 5 cm). O componente estudado foi comparado a outras áreas através de uma análise de similaridade, seguida de um dendrograma. Os cálculos de similaridade foram baseados no coeficiente de Bray-Curtis. Detectamos, ao todo, 235 espécies, distribuídas em 134 gêneros e 52 famílias. As famílias mais ricas são Myrtaceae (38 spp.), Fabaceae (20 spp.) e Rubiaceae (20 spp.), enquanto os gêneros mais ricos são Eugenia (16 spp.), Myrcia (8 spp.) e Ocotea (6 spp.). Dezenove das espécies detectadas constam em listas de espécies ameaçadas de extinção e o componente estudado tem maior similaridade com a floresta em Rio Bonito (RJ). As evidências mostram que a vegetação estudada parece estar bem preservada e representa uma área importante para esforços conservacionistas. Os resultados indicam ainda que o remanescente florestal em questão aparenta ser mais semelhante a locais mais secos e distantes do que próximos e úmidos.

This study describes the tree and shrub component of the Atlantic Forest on the slopes of Marambaia Island, RJ. It further evaluates which species are found at threatened species lists and the similarity that the studied forest component has with other nearby locations with similar vegetation. Data gathering relied on the joint effort of arbitrary walks and sampling units known as Transect. The same sampling criterion was applied at both approaches (DBH greater than or equal to 5 cm). A similarity analysis, followed by a Cluster analysis, was used to compare the studied vegetation component. Similarity calculations were based in the Bray-Curtis coefficient. We detected a total of 235 species. These are divided in 134 genera and 52 families. The richest families are Myrtaceae (38 spp.), Fabaceae (20 spp.) and Rubiaceae (20 spp.). The richest genera are Eugenia (16 spp.), Myrcia (8 spp.) and Ocotea (6 spp.). Nineteen of the detected species are currently listed as threatened and the studied forest component is mostly resembled to the vegetation at Rio Bonito (RJ). Our evidence shows that the evaluated tree and shrub layer seems to be well preserved and represents an important area for conservational efforts. The results additionally indicate that this vegetation seems to have a greater floristic resemblance to drier and further locations, rather than to more humid and close ones.

Resumo A crescente perda de cobertura do cerrado sensu lato vem aumentando a visibilidade desse bioma, gerando uma crescente quantidade de informação a seu respeito. Atualmente, essa atenção já permite identificar padrões fitogeográficos, definindo províncias florísticas com base nos padrões de diferenciação da flora. Este estudo descreve uma área ainda não estudada de cerrado sensu stricto, próxima aos limites de duas dessas províncias florísticas, e testa se as ligações florísticas entre a área estudada e seu entorno são coerentes com os padrões fitogeográficos propostos na literatura. Para tal, uma área de 1,45 ha foi amostrada pelo método de parcelas, registrando-se indivíduos com CAS ≥ 31,4 cm. Foram calculados os parâmetros estruturais, índice de Shannon (H’) e equitabilidade de Pielou (J’) para descrever a vegetação. Os resultados foram comparados a nove áreas de cerrado sensu stricto através de uma análise de agrupamento (UPGMA) a partir do coeficiente de SØrensen. Foram registrados 1155 indivíduos, 90 espécies, 73 gêneros e 37 famílias. H’ foi igual a 3,75 e J’ igual a 0,83. Qualea grandiflora, Magonia pubescens, Curatella americana e Qualea parviflora apresentaram os maiores valores de importância. A densidade foi de 796 indivíduos ha-1 e a área basal no nível do solo foi de 11,87 m2 ha-1. Os resultados chamam atenção para as dificuldades de comparar estudos com diferentes metodologias e demonstram que o cerrado sensu stricto de Buritis possui valores de similaridade com áreas em seu entorno que estão de acordo com os padrões de diferenciação florística propostos na literatura.

Abstract The growing loss of cerrado sensu stricto coverage has increased its visibility and generated a rising amount of information about this biome. Such attention has already allowed identifying phytogeographic patterns and defining floristic provinces based on the flora differentiation patterns. This study aims to describe an unknown cerrado sensu stricto area close to two floristic-province borders and test if the area has floristic connections with surrounding locations in agreement with patterns proposed in the literature. A total area of 1.45 ha was sampled by plots, gathering data of individuals with circumference at soil height > 31.4 cm. Structural parameters, Shannon’s index (H’) and Pielou’s equitability (J’) were calculated to describe the vegetation. Results were compared through similarity analysis (SØrensen’s coefficient) to nine other cerrado sensu stricto vegetation surveys. A total of 1155 individuals were recorded, 90 species, 73 genera and 37 families. H’ was 3.75 and J’ was 0.83. Qualea grandiflora, Magonia pubescens, Curatella americana and Q. parviflora were the species with highest importance values. Tree density was 796 individuals ha-1 and total basal area at soil height reached 11.87 m2 ha-1. The results call attention to the difficulties of comparing studies with different methodologies and reveal that Buriti’s cerrado sensu stricto has similarity values which are in agreement with the floristic differentiation patterns proposed in the literature.

Analisamos a estrutura de uma floresta mal drenada na Restinga da Marambaia, RJ, e a amplitude ecológica das espécies quanto à tolerância à inundação do solo. Foram amostrados em 50 parcelas contíguas de 10 X 10m (0,5 ha), indivíduos com diâmetro do caule a altura do peito (DAP) >2,5 cm. Registramos 1.223 indivíduos vivos (distribuídos em 24 famílias, 43 gêneros e 57 espécies). O índice de diversidade de Shannon (H') foi de 2,87 e a equabilidade (J') foi de 0,68. A densidade total foi de 2.446 ind. ha-1 e a área basal de 25,14 m². ha-1. As famílias mais ricas em espécies foram Myrtaceae (13), Leguminosae (5), Annonaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrsinaceae e Sapindaceae (4). Dez espécies apresentaram valor de importância (VI) acima de nove, correspondendo o somatório de seus valores a 75% do VI total. As espécies com maiores valores de VI foram Tapirira guianensis Aubl. (42,42), Amaioua intermedia Mart. ex Roem. & Schult. (40,77) e Chaetocarpus myrsinites Baill. (39,98), que juntas detiveram 41% do VI total. A comunidade arbórea analisada foi composta principalmente por espécies preferenciais de áreas secas, ou seja, espécies com preferência por alagamento periódico do solo ou solos mais secos, mas não com alagamento permanente ou quase permanente do solo. A maior similaridade da floresta mal drenada da Marambaia foi observada com as florestas inundáveis do Parque Nacional de Jurubatiba, RJ (21,4 e 23,8%). Nossos resultados permitiram concluir que não existe uma flora particular para as formações inundáveis nas restingas do sul e sudeste brasileiro e que mudanças do padrão florístico da vegetação dessas áreas ocorrem em função da proximidade da fonte de propágulos de espécies com alta tolerância à inundação do solo e secundariamente relacionada a questões fitogeográficas, ligadas à limitação da distribuição de espécies pelas condições climáticas das regiões subtropicais.

We analyzed the structure of a seasonally flooded beach-ridge forest and species functional characteristics regarding soil flood tolerance at Restinga da Marambaia (Rio de Janeiro). We sampled 50 contiguous 10 x 10m plots (0.5 ha) and recorded woody individuals with trunk breast height diameter (dbh) >2.5 cm. We found 1223 live trees, belonging to 24 families, 43 genera and 57 species. Shannon's index was 2.87 and equitability (J') 0.68. Total estimated density and basal area were 2446 ind.ha-1 and 25.14 m².ha-1. The most species-rich families were Myrtaceae (13), Leguminosae (5), Annonaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrsinaceae and Sapindaceae (4). Ten species had importance values (IV) over nine and included 75% of total IV. Species with high IV were Tapirira guianensis Aubl. (42.42), Amaioua intermedia Mart. ex Roem. & Schult. (40.77) and Chaetocarpus myrsinites Baill. (39.98), which together hold 41% of total IV. Results indicated that the tree community studied was mainly composed of species that prefer drier or periodically flooded soils, but not permanently flooded soils. The seasonally flooded forest in Restinga da Marambaia shows greatest similarity with seasonally flooded forests at Jurubatiba National Park - RJ (21.4%; 23.8%). Since the flora of seasonally flooded forests in southern and southeastern Brazilian restingas apparently is not restricted to these formations, it is reasonable to conclude that floristic pattern changes in the vegetation of these areas may be the result of the proximity of species' propagule sources (i.e., those with high soil flood tolerance), plus the phytogeography of the species linked to distribution limits caused by climatic conditions.

O presente trabalho analisou dados de 32 remanescentes florestais nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo, através de análises multivariadas para responder a pergunta: Existem padrões floristicos do estrato arbóreo-arbustivo da Floresta Atlântica relacionados a Serra do Mar e alargamento das planícies costeiras nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo? Foram utilizadas três análises multivariadas para investigar as relações entre a flora arbóreo-arbustiva e a variação ambiental das 32 áreas. As análises demonstraram influência de alterações geo-climáticas sobre a diferenciação florística das espécies arbóreas e arbustivas da Mata Atlântica. Este fato permitiu gerar grupos com as áreas analisadas baseados em características bióticas e abióticas, sustentando a existência de padrões florísticos nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo. Os grupos formados refletem a substituição das espécies arbóreo-arbustivas entre as áreas analisadas como conseqüência de variações da precipitação, altitude e temperatura média anual à medida que modifica o posicionamento da Serra do Mar e cresce a planície costeira. Para cada grupo foram designadas espécies preferenciais que devem ser consideradas em programas de restauração e conservação das regiões fitoecológicas por eles representadas.

This work assessed data from 32 forest sites in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil, using multivariate analysis to answer the question: Are there floristic patterns of the Atlantic Forest tree-shrub layer related to the Serra do Mar and the width of coastal plains in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo? Three multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between the tree-shrub flora and environmental variation in these 32 study areas. Our analyses demonstrated the influence of geo-climatic variation on floristic differentiation of tree and shrub species in Atlantic Forest regions generating groups of areas based on similar biotic and abiotic characteristics. These groups support the existence of floristic patterns within the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and reflect tree-shrub species substitution between the study areas as a consequence of annual rainfall, altitude, and mean annual temperature variation linked to a change in the position of the Serra do Mar and an increase in coastal plain width. Preferential species were cited for each group and should be considered in restoration and conservation programs for the phytoecological regions represented by the groups.

Um trecho com 2 ha de mangue na Baía de Sepetiba foi estudado quanto ao dano foliar em Rhizophora mangle L., Avicennia schaueriana Stapf. & Leechman. e Laguncularia racemosa L. Foram reconhecidas 17 morfospécies de artrópodes causadoras de dano. A. schaueriana apresentou maior riqueza de morfoespécies danificadoras de folhas, seguida de R. mangle e L. racemosa. A area relativa de dano foi maior em L. racemosa e menor em R. mangle. Nossos resultados mostraram que 8,8% da área foliar do dossel do mangue estudado foi afetado pela predação. A perda de área foliar por herbivoria foi de 12,1%, 8,3% e 6,2% em L. racemosa, A. schaueriana and R. mangle, respectivamente. O consumo da borda da folha foi mais expressivo em L. racemosa and A. schaueriana, correspondendo a 82,2% and 56,3% de dano total na folha, respectivamente. Em R. mangle, o dano mais expressivo foi a necrose que correspondeu a 58,1% de toda a área de dano foliar.

Leaf damage to Rhizophora mangle L., Avicennia schaueriana Stapf. & Leechman, and Laguncularia racemosa L. was studied in a two hectare mangrove swamp site in Sepetiba Bay. Seventeen arthropod morphospecies were identified as being responsible for the damage, and their species diversity was highest on A. schaueriana, followed by R. mangle and L. racemosa. Damage in terms of relative area was greatest in L. racemosa. Almost 9% of mangrove canopy leaf area demonstrated some damage. Loss of leaf area to herbivory was 12.1%, 8.3% and 6.2% in L. racemosa, A. schaueriana and R. mangle respectively. L. racemosa and A. schaueriana showed high percentages of leaf-margin damage in terms of the total damaged leaf area (82.2% and 56.3% respectively), while the most important type of damage in R. mangle was necrosis, representing 58.1% of the total damaged leaf area.

RESUMO A produção e a decomposição de serapilheira de um fragmento de Floresta Atlântica de encosta na Ilha da Marambaia, Mangaratiba, RJ, foram estudadas durante o período de dezembro de 2003 a novembro de 2004. O aporte de serapilheira foi mensurado partindo de trinta coletores cônicos. A taxa de decomposição da serapilheira foi quantificada por meio de 36 sacolas de decomposição instaladas na área. Para avaliação da fertilidade do solo foram coletadas amostras nas profundidades de 0-5, 5-10 e 10-20 cm. A produção total de serapilheira foi de 7,9 Mg ha-1, sendo a maior deposição verificada no mês de novembro e a menor em junho. A fração foliar foi a de maior contribuição em relação às demais. A taxa de decomposição da serapilheira foi 40% em 7 meses de observação, seguindo modelo exponencial. Verificou-se comportamento diferenciado quanto à liberação de N, P e K. Com exceção do fósforo, os maiores valores de nutrientes, carbono e H+Al foram observados na camada superficial.

ABSTRACT Litter production and decomposition of an Atlantic Forest fragment in Marambaia Island, Mangaratiba, RJ, were monitored from December 2003 to November 2004. For the litter deposition evaluation, 30 litter traps were installed and 36 litter bags were allocated in the area to quantify litter decomposition. Soil samples were collected at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth to evaluate soil fertility. The litter production was 7.9 Mg ha-1 and the highest deposition was verified in November and the lowest in June. The leaf fraction presented the highest contribution comparing to the others. In seven months of observation, litter decomposition rate was 40% and showed an exponential decrease. Different behavior for N, P and K release was verified. Exception for P, carbon, nutrients and H+Al presented highest concentrations in superficial layer.