Resumo Matas ciliares são ambientes heterogêneos, no qual, epífitos encontram condições ideais para se desenvolverem. Essas plantas, retiram da atmosfera os nutrientes necessários à sobrevivência, podendo ter sua ocorrência e distribuição influenciada pela qualidade e quantidade das precipitações. O objetivo foi realizar uma análise integrada de parâmetros botânicos, meteorológicos e químicos da precipitação, a fim de compará-los em fragmentos de mata ciliar, nos trechos inferior (São Leopoldo-SL) e superior (Caraá-CA) da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio dos Sinos (BHRS), RS Brasil. Para tal, foram realizadas análises químicas da água de chuva, analisada a estrutura comunitária das samambaias epifíticas e, avaliada a caracterização ecológica, através do Protocolo de Avaliação Rápida de Hábitats (PARH). Os resultados demonstraram que a composição química da água de chuva é influenciada pelo entorno de cada local estudado, sendo que do terço superior (CA), a maior contribuição é de íons de origem marinha, enquanto que, no trecho inferior (SL), a mesma é oriunda da urbanização e industrialização. Da mesma forma, ficou evidenciada a redução da riqueza e simplificação da estrutura comunitária de samambaias epifíticas e de sua qualidade ambiental de acordo com as categorias do PARH, em direção à foz da BHRS. A análise integrada aplicando diferentes métodos foi uma ferramenta eficiente para avaliar a sua qualidade ambiental, pois permite integrar um maior número de variáveis bióticas e abióticas, podendo ser aplicada em diferentes cenários.

Abstract Riparian forests are heterogeneous environments, in which epiphytes find ideal conditions to develop. These plants absorb the necessary nutrients for survival from the atmosphere, and their occurrence and distribution can be influenced by the quality and quantity of precipitation. The objective of this research was to perform an integrated analysis of botanical, meteorological and chemical precipitation parameters so as to compare them in fragments of the riparian forest in the lower (São Leopoldo-SL) and upper (Caraá-CA) stretches of the Rio dos Sinos Hydrographic Basin (RSHB), RS, Brazil. Rainwater was chemically analyzed, the community structure of epiphytic ferns was surveyed and the ecological characterization was evaluated through the Rapid Habitat Assessment Protocol (RHAP). The results showed that the chemical composition of rainwater is influenced by the environment of each area. In the upper stretch (CA), for instance, the main contribution is that of marine ions, while in the lower stretch (SL), the most impacting aspects are urbanization and industrialization. Similarly, the results depict a reduction of richness and a simplification of the community structure of epiphytic ferns and their environmental quality according to the RHAP categories, towards the base level of the RSHB. The integrated analysis, in which different methods were applied, proved to be an efficient tool to evaluate environmental quality. This analysis considers that a greater number of biotic and abiotic variables may be applied in different scenarios.

Regnellidium diphyllum Lindm. is a heterosporous fern growing in wetlands and humid soils that are being converted to agricultural activities. Many products that are used in agriculture contain copper, resulting in surface and groundwater contamination. Germination and initial development tests were performed using Meyer's solution containing copper sulphate at concentrations of 0 (control), 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 mg L-1. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber at 25 ± 1ºC for 28 days, with a 12/12-hour light/dark cycle and a photon flux density of 100 µmol m-2 s-1. The lowest germination rate (6%) was observed at 100 mg L-1. Primary root growth was significantly reduced at > 10 mg L-1. Secondary leaves of sporophytes grown in concentrations > 5 mg L-1 were progressively shorter than were those formed by the control plants. We conclude that the release of pollutants containing copper into the natural habitats of R. diphyllum can cause phytotoxicity, threatening the establishment of populations and worsening the already vulnerable conservation status of this species.