Environmental Sciences Commons^™

Examining The Impact Of Pau Jacaré (Piptadenia Gonoacantha) Growth On Soil Fertility In The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, Aleksandra Ponomareva

Environmental Analysis Program Mellon Student Summer Research Reports

The Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil is an area of astounding diversity in both flora and fauna, taking its place among the top five “biodiversity hotspots” in the world. However, in the past 40 or 50 years the area has been increasingly threatened by the presence of humans – approximately 93% of the Rainforest has disappeared as a result of exploitation (Turner 2004). Unsustainable farming practices, as well as logging, cattle ranching and mining activities have caused soil infertility, water depletion, erosion and destruction of ecosystems. This project examines the effects of the Pau Jacaré, Piptadenia gonoacantha, tree on soil health …