Sexual Systems of Plants in a Brazilian Montane Forest

ABSTRACT In this study, vegetation reproduction has been investigated in order to understand aspects of speciation, structuring and composition of plant communities. Thus, we sought to characterize the frequency of sexual systems from species recorded in seed rain occurring in a tropical rainforest (Atlantic Forest) in Caparaó National Park, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. We collected the seed rain for twelve months, classified and recorded the species for: sexual system; pollination and dispersion syndrome; and fruit type. Then we measured the correlation between these attributes through correspondence analysis. Regarding sexual systems, 71% were hermaphrodites, 13% dioecious, and 11% monoecious. Hermaphrodites are best associated with pollination, dispersion and fruit types, represented by 65% of data variance. This study may contribute to elaborating management and conservation programs taking into account the interaction of plants with the local fauna.

摘要：本研究围绕植被繁殖展开调查，旨在解析植物群落的物种形成、群落结构与组成特征。据此，我们旨在明确巴西圣埃斯皮里图州卡帕劳国家公园内热带雨林（大西洋森林，Atlantic Forest）的种子雨所记录物种的有性系统分布频率。我们连续12个月收集种子雨，对记录到的物种按以下类别开展分类与记录：有性系统、传粉综合征与扩散综合征以及果实类型。随后通过对应分析探究上述属性间的相关性。就有性系统而言，两性株占比71%，雌雄异株占13%，雌雄同株占11%。两性株与传粉、扩散及果实类型的关联度最高，其数据方差贡献占比达65%。本研究可为结合植物与当地动物群落的相互作用制定管理与保护方案提供参考依据。