1. 1 INFLUENCE OF LIGHT AND FLOODING IN TREE REGENERATION OF HIGH VARZEA AND LOW VARZEA FORESTS IN RDS MAMIRAUÁ, CENTRAL AMAZON RAFAEL LEANDRO DE ASSIS 1 FLORIAN WITTMANN 2 1 Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia 2 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry

2. 2 Forest: 60.000 - 100.000 Km 2 (3% of total Amazonian Forest); Forest: 60.000 - 100.000 Km 2 (3% of total Amazonian Forest); Flood pulse as dominant factor active in: Flood pulse as dominant factor active in: the ecological process the ecological process Cycles of life in the biome Cycles of life in the biome Growth rhythms Growth rhythms Formation of a high diversity of habitats Formation of a high diversity of habitats Junk (2000) VÁRZEA ECOSYSTEM Foto: Rafael Assis economic activities economic activities Fisheries, agriculture, livestock, extractivism Fisheries, agriculture, livestock, extractivism

3. 3 Due to nutrient richness in the soils, there is a greater diversity among the floodplain forests Due to nutrient richness in the soils, there is a greater diversity among the floodplain forests Rural areas more densely populated and the most endangered of the Amazon; Rural areas more densely populated and the most endangered of the Amazon; Main threats to varzea: Main threats to varzea:  Degradation of habitats due to expanding agriculture, livestock farming and urbanization  Increase in demand for fish from the floodplain, due to urbanization sprawl, causing over-exploitation;  LOGGING Provarzea (2007) VÁRZEA ECOSYSTEM

4. 4 LOGGING IN THE VARZEA FORESTS http://www.canalciencia.ibict.br/pesquisas Schöngart (2003) ;Worbes et al. (2001), Higuchi et al. (1994), Anderson et al. (1991), Klenke & Ohly (1993); Higuchi et al. (1994); Uhl (1998) http://www.desafios.org.br/Edicoes/4/artigo12907-1.ass 60 to 90% of wood exploited in the Central and Western Amazon originated from varzea 60 to 90% of wood exploited in the Central and Western Amazon originated from varzea Many species of interest and lower costs in transportation Many species of interest and lower costs in transportation Major threat to biodiversity, because in general the wood is extracted from unsustainable manner Major threat to biodiversity, because in general the wood is extracted from unsustainable manner The development of sustainable management plan is important for maintenance of ecosystem and particularly the endangered species The development of sustainable management plan is important for maintenance of ecosystem and particularly the endangered species

5. 5 SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN VARZEA In 1996 RDS Mamirua has been created, protected area with sustainable use with the basic objective to promote the conservation of biodiversity and at the same time, ensure the improvement of ways of life through the rational and sustainable exploitation of natural resources In 1996 RDS Mamirua has been created, protected area with sustainable use with the basic objective to promote the conservation of biodiversity and at the same time, ensure the improvement of ways of life through the rational and sustainable exploitation of natural resources Participatory management: criteria for exploitation of low-impact Participatory management: criteria for exploitation of low-impact as the trunk, more valued, accessibility, species immune, source seeds species as the trunk, more valued, accessibility, species immune, source seeds species based on scientific research: based on scientific research: impacts by monitoring of permanent plots, populations ecology, growth rings impacts by monitoring of permanent plots, populations ecology, growth rings

6. 6 TARGETS TO A SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT Investigate the natural regeneration of trees in high varzea and low varzea Investigate the natural regeneration of trees in high varzea and low varzea Compare the composition and structure of the regenerating community with the data pre-existing community mature trees Compare the composition and structure of the regenerating community with the data pre-existing community mature trees Understand the influence of varying light and flooding in tree regeneration, especially for the timber important species Understand the influence of varying light and flooding in tree regeneration, especially for the timber important species

7. 7 8 1 6 4 2 Flooding (m) 3 5 7 Low Varzea High Varzea 12 625 m 2 Wittmann et al. (2002) Flooding average (m) 2.2 36 4.1 111 STUDY AREA Period (days/ year)

8. 8 8 1 6 4 2 flooding (m) 3 5 7 LVHV 625 m 2 FLORISTIC INVENTORY Sampling in points with different levels of light penetrationSampling in points with different levels of light penetration Total inventory = 3.2 ha, 1.6 ha in each forestTotal inventory = 3.2 ha, 1.6 ha in each forest All woody plants 1 m height were measured and identifiedAll woody plants 1 m height were measured and identified In each sample measures of light (rPAR) were made during successive daysIn each sample measures of light (rPAR) were made during successive days

9. 9 The level of the last flood was measured in each plot The level of the last flood was measured in each plot Time series average has been prepared using data from the Manaus's port Time series average has been prepared using data from the Manaus's port FLOODING Foto: Rafael Assis Schöngart et al. (2005)

10. 10 FLORISTIC COMPOSITION Forest N º Individuals Individuals per plot (média) Species Genera Families VA 1054 52,7±21,2 3360 ind/ha 90 82 34 VB 432 21,6±20,1 1376 ind/ha 51 46 24  66 species restricted to HV and 27 restricted to LV; only 24 in both Estimated density of individuals

11. 11 Sorensen = 35,4%

12. 12 EspéciesIVI 1 Coussarea ampla 34,94 2 Virola calophylla 18,28 3 Tococa capitata 12,61 4 Naucleopsis ternstroemiiflora 11,78 5 Inga sp1 10,01 6 Solanum leucocarpon 8,96 7 Virola elongata 8,67 8 Alchorneopsis floribunda 8,36 9 Iryanthera juruensis 7,99 10 Clarisia racemosa 7,5 1-10129,1 16-92170,9 EspéciesIVI1 Elaeoluma glabrescens 36,4 2 Tovomita schomburgkii 21,35 3 Cecropia latiloba 20,27 4 Leonia glycycarpa 17,86 5 Duroia genipoides 14,68 6 Neea madeirana 12,37 7 Oxandra riedeliana 11,44 8 Mabea nitida Spruce 11,23 9 Rheedia brasiliensis 10,8 10 Pterocarpus amazonum 8,02 1-10164,4 16-51135,5 MATURE FOREST X REGENERATION High VarzeaLow Varzea  Most dominance in VB → greater restriction of establishment of species 1 m alturaSpeciesIVI1 Couepia sp. 15,25 2 Cecropia latiloba 14,12 3 Symmeria sp. 10,94 4 Tabebuia barbata 10,82 5 Vitex cymosa 9,62 6 Coccoloba sp 9,51 7 Pouteria elegans 9,43 8 Hevea spruceana 8,43 9 Piranhea trifoliata 8,35 10 Crataeva benthamii 8,06 Low varzea ≥ 10 cm DBHSpeciesIVI1 Pouteria procera 11,86 2 Eschweilera sp. 10,57 3 Eugenia sp. 10,17 4 Homalium guianense 8,61 5 Xylopia calophylla 8,41 6 Aspidosperma riedelii 6,33 7 Malouetia tamaquarina 6,32 8 Piranhea trifoliata 6,16 9 Pseudobombax munguba 5,35 10 Tapura juruana 5,13 High Varzea ≥ 10 cm DBH

13. 13 LIGHT AND FLOODING x REGENERATION Periodic flooding is less limiting to the LV community than HV In HV, plots with different levels of flooding may vary on the number of individuals and floristic composition

14. 14 LIGHT AND FLOODING x REGENERATION LV= greatest number of species that require a high amount of light Sorensen: VA > 70; VB = 50%. Baixo: ≤6% Alto: >6% Baixo: ≤6% Alto: >6% ForestHVLV rPAR average (%) 15,58±17,916,41±16,4

15. 15 HV LV

16. 16 Among the species of greatest economic value, none showed high number of individuals Among the species of greatest economic value, none showed high number of individuals  Macrolobium acaciifolium Swartzia sp Ocotea cymbarum Calycophyllum spruceanum MANAGEMENT OF TIMBER RESOURCES IN VARZEA FORESTS Of the 23 species with only 1 ind., 8 are of timber Causes: 1) Slow growth, resulting in high mortality and low rate of establishment 2) Low number of microsites favorable to its regeneration 3) Results may be indicating a decrease in population in the study area

17. 17 Among the species of interest, few present condition of timber exploration Among the species of interest, few present condition of timber exploration Meanwhile, many with the potential use of non-timber and others not yet commercially exploited but have potential for timber use: Meanwhile, many with the potential use of non-timber and others not yet commercially exploited but have potential for timber use: 1. Apeiba echinata – ships 2. Clarisia recemosa – construction, shipbuilding, carpentry 3. Heisteria acuminata – furniture 4. Iryanthera juruensis – construction, carpentry, plywoods 5. Virola calophylla – furniture, plywoods 6. Virola elongata –furnitureplywoods 6. Virola elongata – furniture, plywoods MANAGEMENT OF TIMBER RESOURCES IN VARZEA FORESTS

18. 18 CONSUMPTION AND ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT SPECIES

19. 19 The flood is the factor that most influences the distribution of species in lowland forests of the area studied and the light affects the community in a different way of regenerating of HV and LV The flood is the factor that most influences the distribution of species in lowland forests of the area studied and the light affects the community in a different way of regenerating of HV and LV Is possible that occurs a constant alternation of species that make up the tree community present in the lowland forests Is possible that occurs a constant alternation of species that make up the tree community present in the lowland forests Reevaluate the criteria of management in the Reserve and consider the exploitation of other species potentially important Reevaluate the criteria of management in the Reserve and consider the exploitation of other species potentially important FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

20. 20 Thank You