Diversity of reproductive ecological groups in semideciduous seasonal forests

Abstract

Ecosystem degradation leads to loss of interactions between animals and plants, and changes in frequency of pollination systems, dispersal modes and sexual systems of plants. The objective of the present work was to compare the reproductive ecological groups of tree species among semideciduous seasonal forests remnants in the Triangulo Mineiro, Brazil, and to understand the organization of those plant communities. We analyzed the reproductive biology of 243 tree species found in 10 fragments, which showed different levels of disturbance. The occurrence and relative density of the species were used to estimate the importance of each reproductive feature. The study was based on a compilation of data present in specialized works and community surveys conducted in the region. We aggregated the species of these communities in ecological groups according to their reproductive characteristics. The frequency of species in each reproductive ecological group was, to a certain extent, similar between remnants. The pollination by small insects (small bees, wasps and flies) represented 42%, dispersal by birds 35%, and hermaphrodite sexual system 54% of the species. Clearer differences among fragments were found on the relative densities of each reproductive ecological group. Relatively specialized bat and moth pollination, as well as wind dispersal were common in the most disturbed fragment. But generalist reproductive characteristics predominated in the studied fragments.