Spatial relationships between Ananas ananassoides (Bromeliaceae) and Tachigali vulgaris (Fabaceae) influencing the structure of the Amazon/Cerrado transition in Brazil

Abstract

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that: a) bromeliad Ananas ananassoides individuals and Tachigali vulgaris tree individual have an aggregate distribution pattern, and b) are spatially dissociated. To this effect, we quantified all A. ananassoides and T. vulgaris individuals (DBH of at least 30 cm) in large plot (1 ha) composed by 100 subplots measuring 10×10 m in a savanna woodland in the Bacaba Municipal Park, Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso. The spatial pattern of A. ananassoides and T. vulgaris, and their spatial relationships, were measured using the aggregation and the association index, respectively. Both species had an aggregate distribution pattern and were spatially dissociated, which corroborates the hypotheses of this study. In this case, the preferred occupation in gaps by both species and the growth of the bromeliad in clumps may be conditioning the populations’ spatial dependence. On the other hand, the bromeliad’s clump formation and the tree species shading may be mutually exclusive factors, which intensify their competition for space and light and reveal spatial incompatibility by these populations. Further studies should be conducted to better understand the interactions between the herbaceous and tree layer, incorporating the temporal dynamics of natural regeneration and habitat conditions.

Full text

290 F ELIAS ET AL
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANANAS ANANASSOIDES AND  291
Ecología Austral 27:290-295
Ecología Austral 27:290-295 Agosto 2017
Asociación Argentina de Ecología
Spatial relationships between Ananas ananassoides
(Bromeliaceae) and Tachigali vulgaris (Fabaceae) inuencing the
structure of the Amazon/Cerrado transition in Brazil
1*




ABSTRACT. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that: a) bromeliad Ananas ananassoides individuals
and Tachigali vulgaris tree individual have an aggregate distribution pattern, and b) are spatially dissociated. To
this effect, we quantied all A. ananassoides and T. vulgaris individuals (DBH of at least 30 cm) in large plot (1
ha) composed by 100 subplots measuring 10×10 m in a savanna woodland in the Bacaba Municipal Park, Nova
Xavantina, Mato Grosso. The spatial pattern of A. ananassoides and T. vulgaris, and their spatial relationships,
were measured using the aggregation and the association index, respectively. Both species had an aggregate
distribution pattern and were spatially dissociated, which corroborates the hypotheses of this study. In this
case, the preferred occupation in gaps by both species and the growth of the bromeliad in clumps may be
conditioning the populations’ spatial dependence. On the other hand, the bromeliad’s clump formation and
the tree species shading may be mutually exclusive factors, which intensify their competition for space and
light and reveal spatial incompatibility by these populations. Further studies should be conducted to better
understand the interactions between the herbaceous and tree layer, incorporating the temporal dynamics of
natural regeneration and habitat conditions.
[Keywords: interspecic competition; spatial dynamics, gaps, environmental heterogeneity]
RESUMO. Relações espaciais entre Ananas ananassoides (Bromeliaceae) e Tachigali vulgaris (Fabaceae)
inuenciando a estrutura orestal na transição Amazônia/Cerrado no Brasil. No presente estudo testamos
as hipóteses de que: a) os indivíduos da bromélia Ananas ananassoides e da árvore Tachigali vulgaris distribuem-se
de forma agregada, e b) dissociados no espaço. Para tanto, quanticamos todos os indivíduos de A. ananassoides
e de T. vulgaris (DAP mínimo de 30 cm) em uma grande parcela (1 ha) composta por 100 subparcelas de 10x10
m em um cerradão no Parque Municipal do Bacaba, Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso. O padrão espacial de A.
ananassoides e T. vulgaris, e suas relações no espaço, foram mensurados pelo índice de agregação e associação,
respectivamente. As duas espécies distribuíram-se de forma agregada e apresentaram-se dissociadas no
espaço, corroborando as hipóteses do presente estudo. Neste caso, a ocupação preferencial em clareiras de
ambas as espécies e o crescimento em touceiras da bromélia, pode estar condicionando a dependência espacial
das populações. Por outro lado, a formação de touceiras da bromélia e o sombreamento da espécie arbórea
podem ser fatores mutuamente excludentes, os quais intensicam a competição por espaço e luz entre essas
espécies e revelam incompatibilidade espacial das duas populações. Novos estudos devem ser realizados para
melhor compreender as interações entre os estratos herbáceo e arbóreo, incorporando a dinâmica temporal da
regeneração natural e as condições do hábitat.
[
Recibido: 30 de septiembre de 2016
Aceptado: 19 de marzo de 2017
* fernandoeliasbio@gmail.com
Editora asociada: Marina Omacini
Comunicación breve .

The intraspecific spatial distribution of
plants can be an important factor driving
the interspecific spatial arrangement in
the community (Bulleri et al. 2016) and,
consequently, the structure of the vegetation
(Budke et al. 2010). For example, the
intraspecific spatial patterns of bromeliads
can be connected with different mechanisms
(biotic and abiotic) governing the occupation
of natural communities by plant species, such
as facilitation (Beduschi and Castellani 2008;
Tsuda et al. 2016), competition (Oliveira et al.
2007; Beduschi and Castellani 2013), clump
formation (Cogliatti-Carvalho and Rocha
2001), microclimatic conditions (Cogliatti-
Carvalho et al. 2010), soil characteristics and
litter composition (Barberis et al. 1998). Most of
these factors promote the spatial dependence
of bromeliad individuals and can account for
spatial repulsion with other species, including

290 F ELIAS ET AL
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANANAS ANANASSOIDES AND  291
Ecología Austral 27:290-295
trees (Oliveira et al. 2007; Brancalion et al.
2009).
Ananas ananassoides (Baker) LB Sm., also
known as wild pineapple, is a terrestrial
bromeliad, perennial, and pollinated by
animals (e.g., birds and tortoises), with an
annual or intermediate flowering period
(Jerozolimski et al. 2009; Silveira et al. 2010;
Stahl et al. 2012). This species is considered
a pioneer once it presents small and
photoblastic seeds and higher germination
rates in areas with high luminosity (Silveira
et al. 2010). However, A. ananassoides does
not show differences in photosynthetic rates
in different light conditions, indicating shade
tolerance (Keller and Lüttge 2005). Thus,
the factors responsible for establishment
and growth (sexual and asexual) of A.
ananassoides are complex, and may be related
to the germination conditions determined by
the dynamics of gaps (Silveira et al. 2010). The
species grow individually or in clumps, being
generally found in areas of Cerrado ‘sensu
stricto’, but occurs in forests (Proença and Sajo
2007; Silveira et al. 2010). The plasticity in the
establishment and colonization in different
environments can condition changes in the
patterns of spatial distribution of this species,
in view of the direct competition for space and
light with tree species (Oliveira et al. 2007).
The savanna woodland (“cerradão”) is a
rare, transitional phytophysiognomy between
savanna and forest at Amazonia-Cerrado
transition, and Tachigali vulgaris L. G. Silva
and R. Lima is a typical tree species of such
formations (Ratter et al. 1973; Marimon-
Junior and Haridasan 2005; Araújo et al. 2011;
Solórzano et al. 2012). This species controls the
structural dynamics of the savanna woodland
due to its pioneer characteristic, high dispersal
capacity (anemochoric), quick germination,
short life cycle and high annual recruitment
and mortality rates (Felfili et al. 1999; Franczak
et al. 2011; Morandi et al. 2015; Reis et al. 2015).
Gaps caused by T. vulgaris in the savanna
woodland can provide feedback to its own
establishment (Franczak et al. 2011).
In this study we describe the intraspecific
distribution pattern and the spatial
relationships between A. ananassoides and
T. vulgaris in a savanna woodland area in
the Cerrado/Amazon transition in Brazil.
We hypothesize that: a) the populations are
aggregately distributed as a consequence
of the pioneer characteristic of both species
and as a result of clump formation by the
bromeliad (Benzing 1980; Felfili et al. 1999;
Cogliatti-Carvalho and Rocha 2001), which
limits recruitment and conditions the spatial
dependence of individuals in the site, as
observed for tree species (Dalling et al.
2002), and b) both populations are negatively
associated in the site due to mutually exclusive
factors such as shading by the tree species and
the bromeliad’s clump formation strategy,
which inhibits other plants from establishing
themselves within the limits of bromeliads
(Oliveira et al. 2007; Barberis et al. 2014).
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
   
  


  
   
    
    
  


292 F ELIAS ET AL
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANANAS ANANASSOIDES AND  293
Ecología Austral 27:290-295

 
   
  

  
    
    
  (
     
   
   

             
  


   
    


(χ)    
  χ
    

   
χ


 
      


       
   




      
     
      

     
 
   
     




   
         




   
     
  
      


    


re aggregated. The species were negatively
associated with one another (χ=-0 




  

   
      
   
      
      
  
      
  

  


   
  

   
   
   




    
    
   
    
   
   
      
  

   

   




292 F ELIAS ET AL
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANANAS ANANASSOIDES AND  293
Ecología Austral 27:290-295


      
       
    
  
  
          
      







  
  
   
   
   
 
   


  
  
    
    
   


Figure 1
, χ) and aggregation index 
 


Figura 1
χ
      



294 F ELIAS ET AL
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANANAS ANANASSOIDES AND  295
Ecología Austral 27:290-295


22
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109
Tsuda, É. T., and T. T. Castellani. 2016. Vriesea friburgensis: A natural trap or a nurse plant in coastal sand dunes?
Austral Ecology 41:273-281