Adaptation strategies of arboreal species typical of waterlogged ground environments: a morphological, biochemical and ecophysiological approach

• Grant number: 94/02058-3
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: September 01, 1994 - March 31, 1998
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal researcher: Carlos Alfredo Joly
• Grantee: Carlos Alfredo Joly
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Riverine forests constitute an extremely degraded ecosystem in the State of São Paulo, with few representative remnants remaining principally in the interior of the state. In the face of this situation, some projects for the recuperation of these areas have been proposed. Due to the fact that the riverine environment is very peculiar in its abiotic characteristics, and subject to periodical flooding, few species manage to develop in these conditions. This characteristic is confirmed by the low floristic diversity of these areas, if compared to the mesophile forests of the tableland. There exists few studies tackling the strategies of tolerance to flooding of Brazilian species. Works with this focus could provide important support for projects of recomposition of riverine vegetation. The objective of this work is to provide this support, through the study of the effect of hydric saturation of the soil on typical species of this environment, evaluating the germinative behavior and the morphological, physiological and metabolic responses, both of the root system and the exposed part of the plants. (AU)