Clues about wood density and trace-element variability of Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barneby for bioenergy use.

The interest of biofuel producers in Neotropical species that have high growth rates, slight wood density variability, and elemental composition that does not compromise the environment has increased in recent decades. We investigated the density and chemical characteristics of wood of Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber × Ducke) Barneby as a source for the generation of bioenergy.

Climate variability of the southern Amazon inferred by a multi-proxy tree-ring approach using Cedrela fissilis Vell.

The analysis of climate variability and development of reconstructions based on tree-ring records in tropical forests have been increasing in recent decades. In the Amazon region, ring width and stable isotope long-term chronologies have been used for climatic studies, however little is known about the potential of wood traits such as density and chemical concentrations. In this study, we used well-dated rings of Cedrela fissilis Vell.

Space-resolved determination of the mineral nutrient content in tree-rings by X-ray fluorescence.

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) offers rapid, multi-elemental, low cost and non-destructive elemental analysis. Different studies have used this technique to investigate distribution and concentration of essential and deleterious elements in vegetation. Special emphasis has been recently placed on the key aspects concerning sampling processes, laboratory protocols and calibration methods for quantitative analysis.

Evidence to wood biodeterioration of tropical species revealed by non-destructive techniques.

The wood biodeterioration process is one of the symptoms produced by biotic agents that affect the biomechanics of urban trees and reduce their useful life and environmental services. This process is mainly studied through methods that are time-consuming or destructive and provide little information regarding the degradation process at the cellular scale. Based on a non-destructive study of five tropical urban trees: Poincianella pluviosa (sibipiruna), Pterocarpus rhorii (aldrago), Rhamnidium elaeocarpum (saguaraji), Trichilia clausenii (Catiguá) and Lafoensia glyptocarpa (mirindiba rosa); the wood decaying zone, by xylophagous fungi, was analized.