TITLE:
Where Are the Bromeliads? A Study on Different Trails in the Ecological Reserve of Guapiaçu, RJ
AUTHORS:
Johnatan Jair de Paula Marchiori, Vinicius de Souza Oliveira, Gilcéa Teixeira Fontana Boone, Luan Luciano dos Santos Pereira, Natália Cristina Barbosa Moura, Ana Beatriz Mamedes Piffer, Anderson Mathias Holtz, Lusiane de Sousa Ferreira, Raquel Cetto Sampaio
KEYWORDS:
Bromeliads, Atlantic Forest, Ecological Restoration
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.14 No.2,
February
15,
2023
ABSTRACT: Bromeliaceae are important in ecological restoration, showing easy adaptation to different environments, and constantly interacting with each other through ecological relationships, whose effects may or may not benefit the species involved. The hypothesis tested whether the population density of Hohenbergia augusta is higher in areas at a more advanced successional stage (brown trail), since the species is typical of more structured forest environments, occurring especially in the lower strata of the forest. Six plots of 10 meters (6 × 10 m) were installed, parallel to the brown and yellow trails, and with a distance of 5 m from the edge. Plots were allocated alternately between the two sides of the trail, 10 meters apart from each other when on the same side. In each plot, all H. augusta (Vell.) E. Morren bromeliads were sampled, without a minimum inclusion criterion, provided they were epiphytic phorophytes. The logarithm of the value was used for data normalization and later, the data were tested in a student’s t-test. The study pointed out that the highest population density of H. augusta occurred in the brown trail because the area is in a more advanced successional stage.