SUMMARY: The study aimed at characterizing the arboreal-shrubby component in fragments of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest, in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The vegetation survey was performed in four sampled fragments in 57 plots. In the plots, the identification of the individuals and measurement of circumference at breast height (CAP) was carried out, according to the following classes of size: Class I) arboreal strata, individuals with CAP ≥ 30 cm (10 x 20 m); Class II) arboreal strata, individuals with 15 ≤ CAP < 30 cm (10 x 10 m); Class III) established natural regeneration, individuals with 3 ≤ CAP < 15 cm (5 x 5 m) and Class IV) bank of seedlings, individuals with height ≥ 30 cm and CAP < 3 cm (2 x 2 m). The data of Class I constituted a matrix parcel x species, which was used in a multivariate analysis, allowing the classification of groups of plots that characterize microhabitats. The forest fragments presented low floristic richness of typical species of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest. From this environment highlight two main groups, one characteristic of riparian forest and the other from capões. In the riparian forests (GR1), highlighted Eugenia uruguayensis and Gymnanthes klotzschiana. In capões (GR2), the predominant species were Araucaria angustifolia, Podocarpus lambertii and Myrceugenia cucullata. The condition of species in different classes associated with their ecological characteristics allows identifying possible strategies for perpetuation of the arboreal-shrubby component of population and management of the fragments aiming at its conservation.

RESUMEN: El estudio tuvo como objetivo caracterizar el componente arbóreo-arbustivo en fragmentos de Bosque Umbrófilo Mixto. El relevamiento de la vegetación se realizó en cuatro fragmentos muestreados en 57 parcelas. Se identificaron los individuos y se midió la circunferencia a la altura del pecho (CAP), considerando las siguientes clases: Clase I) estrato arbóreo, CAP ≥ 30 cm (10 m x 20 m); Clase II) estrato arbóreo, 15 ≤ CAP < 30 cm (10 m x 10 m); Clase III) regeneración natural establecida, 3 ≤ CAP < 15 cm (5 m x 5 m) y clase IV) banco de plántulas, altura ≥ 30 cm y CAP < 3 cm (2 m x 2 m). Los datos del estrato arbóreo (Clase I) constituyeron una matriz de parcela x especie, la cual fue utilizada en análisis multivariado, permitiendo la clasificación de grupos de parcelas que caracterizan a los microhábitats. Los fragmentos de bosque en cumbres de la sierra presentaron baja riqueza florística de especies típicas del Bosque Umbrófilo Mixto. De este ambiente típico, se destacan dos grupos principales, uno característico de bosques de galería y el otro de bosques en islas (capões). En los bosques de galería (GR1), destacaron Eugenia uruguayensis y Gymnanthes klotzschiana. En los bosques en islas (GR2), las especies predominantes fueron Araucaria angustifolia, Podocarpus lambertii y Myrceugenia cucullata. La condición de especies en las diferentes clases asociadas a sus características ecológicas permite identificar posibles estrategias para perpetuar el componente arbóreo-arbustivo de las poblaciones y de fragmentos buscando su conservación.

ABSTRACT The use of a forest seedling bank has been recommended as an alternative to increase species richness in forest nurseries, as well as to produce seedlings of species that are diffi cult to propagate, especially those that belong to the late secondary and climax successional groups, which are not as commercially available. However, little is known about the impact of this method on forest dynamics. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the resilience and dynamics of a seedling bank in a remnant of a subtropical seasonal forest belonging to the Atlantic Forest Biome when subjected to different intensities of seedling removal. The experiment was conducted in a random block design in a factorial scheme (5 × 4), with treatments composed of fi ve intensities of removal of individuals from the seedling bank and the four seasons. The treatments were distributed into 18 blocks and the experimental units were composed of 1 m × 2.5 m plots. The resilience of the seedling community was assessed by examining effects of the fi ve removal intensities. The dynamics between the evaluation periods within each treatment were verifi ed by comparing the number of species and seedlings present before the treatments with those in the other evaluation periods. After one year, we found that tree-shrub vegetation had a partial capacity for restoration after withdrawal of individuals from the seedling bank. Our results show that the impact on the regeneration community can absorb the effects of up to 25% seedling removal. The technique of seedling transplantation may be recommended for species that have abundant regeneration, such as Actinostemon concolor, Eugenia rostrifolia, Trichilia claussenii and Nectandra megapotamica.

Knowledge of the carrion-breeding insects present at a local level is important and necessary for defining the post-mortem interval. Climate changes and globalisation are affecting species ranges and population dynamics. In this note, we report the incidence of Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on dead human bodies and carrion in Northern Italy. These data confirm the spread of this species in the Northern regions. The partial sequencing of a 583-bp region of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene of an Adriatic population did not reveal any difference compared to the same genomic region in the African and South American populations of this species.