Microclimate in different highland forest phytophysiognomies in the Atlantic Forest

Name: SALIM CALIL SALIM NETO

Publication date: 28/07/2017
Advisor:

Name	Role
JOSÉ EDUARDO MACEDO PEZZOPANE	Advisor *

Examining board:

Name	Role
HENRIQUE MACHADO DIAS	Internal Examiner *
JOÃO VITOR TOLEDO	External Examiner *
JOSÉ EDUARDO MACEDO PEZZOPANE	Advisor *
ROBERTO AVELINO CECÍLIO	Internal Examiner *
SUSTANIS HORN KUNZ	Internal Alternate *

Pages

Summary: The Atlantic Forest Biome is recognized for its high biodiversity and for
harboring species endemic to its associated ecosystems. Over altitudinal
gradient is observed the formation of altitude ecosystems that differ markedly in
their phytophysiognomic structures. The present study aimed to study the
influence of the phytophysiognomy on the definition of the microclimate near the
ground. The study area is located in the Forno Grande State Park, Castelo, ES,
Brazil (lat. 20°31’13”S; long. 41°06’21”W) and consists of a slope facing east
with 1.1 ha, at 1,450m altitude. Over a year, three microclimatic studies were
carried out. In the first one the aim was to characterize the net radiation (Rn),
photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), air temperature, vapor pressure deficit
(VPD) at one meter in height, besides the surface temperature and temperature
of the soil in four depths, through automatic meteorological stations installed in
an altitude forest that has two areas with different phytophysiognomies. In a
second study, an analysis of the spatial distribution of RFA in the study area
was performed to verify the relationship of LAI and basal área (BA) in the
transmissivity of the RFA. In the third study, in two seasons of the year, 10 days
(5 days in the summer and 5 days in the winter) were selected to verify the
regime of sunflecks within the study area. According to the results, the
phytophysiognomic differences condition a differentiated microclimate inside the
altitude forest, being possible to observe remarkable seasonality and influence
of the cloudiness in the microclimatic differences. The area composed of a more
closed canopy phytophysiology with a higher index of leaf area attenuates the
effects of solar radiation during the day and plays an important role in
maintaining energy at night, making the microclimatic variation more stable in
comparison with the area that presents a more open canopy
phytophysiognomy. In the more open area, higher values of air temperature and
maximum VPD were observed, in addition to higher soil temperature. As for the
spatial variability of PAR, it was possible to establish an attenuation model in
function of the LAI and BA. As for the spatial variability of RFA, it was possible
to establish an attenuation model based on LAI and AB. The difference in the
phytophysiognomy makes the regime of sunflecks within each area unequal,
being in the closed canopy of less intensity and duration compared to the more
open phytophysiognomy. The difference in microclimate observed between the
two environments probably controls the composition and distribution of the
species in the studied forest, thus requiring new studies that investigate the
phytosociology and the ecophysiology of the species that compose it.

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