Comparative study between the Australian and Brazilian savannas: is aluminum in the soil a survival factor for the plant species?

• Grant number: 12/13762-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Habermann
• Grantee: Marcelo Claro de Souza
• Supervisor: Neal William Menzies
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Queensland, St Lucia (UQ), Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/07809-1 - MULTIVARIATE AND MOLECULAR APPROACHES IN THE PHENOLOGY STUDY OF FUNCTIONAL GROUPS OF BRAZILIAN SAVANNA, BP.DR

Abstract

Originally, 20% of the Earth crust was occupied by savannas. The savanna's biome flora basically comprises three physiognomies: "campos rupestres", savannas and forests. In relation to shrubs/trees, it is possible to group them in three functional groups according to their deciduousness: evergreen, semi-deciduous and deciduous species. In order to realize this classification, an ecophysiological study will be conducted among the deciduousness functional groups between Australian and Brazilian savannas. In Brazil, we will study the savanna communities close to Brasília - DF and Itirapina - SP municipality, and in Australia the communities close to Darwin and Alice springs municipalities (North State). The aims of this study are: 1- evaluate the macronutrients and aluminum contents on leaves, specific leaf area (SLA) and phylogenetic relationships between Australian and Brazilian savanna biomes; 2 - establish a scientific agreement between Instituto de Biociências- UNESP campus from Rio Claro and The University of Queensland; 3 - exchange scientific experiences about the Brazilian and Australian savanna's research. We intend to answer the following questions: How much is variable the nutritional pattern (macronutrients and Al3+) and SLA among the functional groups from Australian and Brazilian savanna, considering the soils differences (they will be characterized too)? Is there any phylogenetic relationships between the Al3+ accumulation and the functional groups and biomes? (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MC SOUZA; G HABERMANN. Equações lineares para estimativa de área foliar de Styrax pohlii e Styrax ferrugineus. Brazilian Journal of Biology, v. 74, n. 1, p. 222-225, 2014-02-00. (12/13762-3, 10/07809-1)

DE SOUZA, MARCELO C.; BUENO, PAULA C. P.; MORELLATO, LEONOR P. C.; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO. Ecological strategies of Al-accumulating and non-accumulating functional groups from the cerrado sensu stricto. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, v. 87, n. 2, p. 813-823, JUN 2015. (10/07809-1, 12/13762-3, 10/51307-0)

SOUZA, M. C.; HABERMANN, G.. Non-destructive equations to estimate the leaf area of Styrax pohlii and Styrax ferrugineus. Brazilian Journal of Biology, v. 74, n. 1, p. 4-pg., 2014-02-01. (12/13762-3, 10/07809-1)

SOUZA, MARCELO C.; FRANCO, AUGUSTO C.; HARIDASAN, MUNDAYATAN; ROSSATTO, DAVI R.; DE ARAUJO, JANAINA F.; MORELLATO, LEONOR P. C.; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO. The length of the dry season may be associated with leaf scleromorphism in cerrado plants. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, v. 87, n. 3, p. 1691-1699, SEP 2015. (10/07809-1, 12/13762-3, 10/51307-0)

DE SOUZA, MARCELO CLARO; ROSSATTO, DAVI RODRIGO; COOK, GARRY DAVID; FUJINUMA, RYOSUKE; MENZIES, NEAL WILLIAM; CERDEIRA MORELLATO, LEONOR PATRICIA; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO. Mineral nutrition and specific leaf area of plants under contrasting long-term fire frequencies: a case study in a mesic savanna in Australia. TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION, v. 30, n. 1, p. 329-335, FEB 2016. (10/07809-1, 12/13762-3)