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ABSTRACT
(Ecological wood anatomy of 19 native tree species of Paraná state, Brazil) In order
to investigate the ecological relationships between the anatomical elements of the
secondary xylem and environment, in this study was evaluated the wood of native
tree species from the Paraná state, considering the environmental peculiarities in
which they occur. Were sampled 19 species, of 14 families, in dense and mixed rain
forests. Some species have great ecological plasticity (generalists), while others are
specialists in relatively narrow niches, such as those that occur predominantly in
waterlogged soils (hydrophilous), high-montane environments and/or coastal plain.
For intraspecific analysis were sampled 16 trees of Calophyllum brasiliense, 11 of
Tapirira guianensis, from two soil: Organosol (O) and Spodosol (E) and 13
individuals of Ilex theezans in Spodosols (non-hydromorphic and hydromorphic) in
the coastal plain of Paraná state. Were also sampled 21 trees of Sebastiania
commersoniana in three soil units (Psamitic Sediment, Melanic Gleysol and Fluvic
Neosol) in the Iguaçu river plain. The wood samples were collected with a Pressler
increment borer with 12 mm diameter, 1.30 m above the ground. Histological slides
were prepared with 18-22 mm thick sections and dissociated material. We analyzed
the vessel diameter (DV), vessel frequency (FV), vessel grouping (AV), the
percentage of area occupied by the xylem vessels (% AV), the vessel elements
length (CEV), the fiber length (CF), the fiber width (LF), the fiber wall thickness (EPF)
and the height (AR) and width of the rays (LR). Were calculated the vulnerability (VN)
and mesomorphic (MS) index. The data were subjected to principal component
analysis (ACP) and cluster analysis. To compare the averages we used the Duncan
test and "t" test. Most of studied species have diffuse porosity, with distinct growth
layers, especially marked by radial flattening of the fiber walls and walls thickening. In
some species it was observed a tendency for semicircular porosity formation, with
variations in diameter and frequency of vessels in earlywood and/or latewood.
Considering the principal component analysis, 72% of the variation in the data is
explained by the first three axes. The variation in fiber (CF, LF, EPF) and vessels
(FV, DV) characteristics tend to be orthogonal in the first two axes of the ACP.
Therefore, in functional terms, it can be assumed that the first axis is related to
biomechanical factors of the secondary xylem, and the second and third axis are
more directly related to hydraulic conductance. In cluster analysis, were formed two
main groups: the first with the species that occur mainly in non-hydromorphic soils of
the Lowland Dense Rain Forest and High-Montane Dense Rain Forest; the second
group with the species of hydromorphic soils of the Fluvio-lacustrine Pioneer
Formation and Alluvial Mixed Rain Forest. In the intra-specific analysis were
identified different patterns of anatomical variation of the studied species. The results
are discussed based on the literature, considering the characteristics of the study
sites and auto-ecology of the species.
Key words: ecological anatomy, forest ecology, functional morphology, secondary
xylem.
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