Effects of fire on above- and belowground biomass in wet lands at Jalapão, Tocantins

• Grant number: 09/14978-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2009
• End date: June 30, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Tomaselli Fidelis
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Di Santi Lyra
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Grassland ecosystems are responsible for more than 30% of terrestrial annual net primary productivity. The Brazilian Cerrado is of great importance, since it is considered to be a hotspot of biodiversity. In the region of Jalapão (Central Brazil, Tocantins), fire is an important tool to stimulate resprouting for cattle, as well as for the management of "capim dourado" (Syngonanthus nitens, Eriocaulaceae), which as great economical importance for local people. Therefore, studies about vegetation responses to fire are of crucial importance for this region. Both above- and belowground biomass are affected by fire frequency, intensity and season, influencing thus the vegetation dynamics. In grassland ecosystems, primary productivity is usually underestimated, since most studies do not consider belowground biomass. Therefore, the present proposal intends to evaluate the effects of different fire histories (exclusion since 2 and 4 years) on plant community and capim dourado by analyzing the above- and belowground biomass at different seasons (wet and dry). The results will be useful for local conservation biologists to estimate a more efficient fire regime to these areas, contributing thus to the management of capim dourado and plant community.

Scientific publications

(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)

FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; DI SANTI LYRA, MARIA FERNANDA; PIVELLO, VANIA REGINA. Above- and below-ground biomass and carbon dynamics in Brazilian Cerrado wet grasslands. JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, v. 24, n. 2, p. 356-364, MAR 2013. (08/10049-9, 09/14978-7)