title: Inorganic chemical composition of native trees of the Atlantic Forest.
abstract: The Atlantic Forest with its exuberant vegetation of high level of biodiversity is classified as one hotspot of the world. Chemical composition of leaves from native trees and underlying soils was evaluated by INAA. The predominant species Euterpe edulis, Bathysa meridionalis, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Marlierea tomentosa, Gomidesia flagellaris, and Gomidesia spectabilis belonging to the diverse plant families were studied. Euterpe edulis, the most abundant understory specie, presented the lowest element concentrations except for Zn. Some variation in chemical composition was noted, however, the chemical specificity of tree species can be more predominant than the soil variability for the obtained leaf concentrations. Factor values obtained through the Monte-Carlo assisted factor analysis were used for species discrimination, The results indicate that chemical investigation of native trees is a quite promising tool for biodiversity studies in the Atlantic Forest.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Centenário 303, Piracicaba SP, Brazil. ejfranca@cena.usp.br
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: De França
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: De Nadai Fernandes
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bacchi
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Verburg
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012989:Soil Pollutants