Results
Title

Assessing the potential of Araucaria angustifolia (Araucariaceae) as a nurse plant in highland grasslands of south Brazil.

Authors

Korndörfer, CL; Dillenburg, LR; Duarte, LDS

Abstract

The expansion of forests over natural grasslands is observed in many parts of the world. This study aimed to contribute to the investigation into the nursing effects promoted byAraucaria angustifoliaduring the process of forest expansion over grasslands in southern Brazil. Air temperature and humidity, and soil chemistry were evaluated beneath the canopy of isolated trees ofA. angustifolia, and compared with values in adjacent grassland areas and under the canopy of the shrubBaccharis uncinella.Milder summer temperatures and vapour pressure deficits were measured underAraucariaandBacchariscompared with open grassland. There were also ameliorating effects on soil chemistry under individuals of these two species, but these were more pronounced forAraucariathan forBaccharis.The results suggest that the large number of seedlings commonly found beneath the canopy ofAraucariais due not only to perching, but also to nursing, through the amelioration of environmental conditions.

Subjects

SOUTH Brazil; BRAZIL; BRAZILIAN pine; GRASSLANDS; FORESTS & forestry; ATMOSPHERIC temperature; SOIL chemistry; ATMOSPHERIC nucleation

Publication

New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2015, Vol 53, Issue 1, p5

ISSN

0028-825X

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1080/0028825X.2014.979837