Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T01:18:40.188Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The murundus of the cerrado region of Central Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

M. Diniz de Araujo Neto ,
P. A. Furley ,
M. Haridasan  and
C. E. Johnson
M. Diniz de Araujo Neto
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geografia e História, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
P. A. Furley
Affiliation:
Departament of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
M. Haridasan
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
C. E. Johnson
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Campos de murundus (earthmound fields) are common throughout the cerrado (savanna) in Brazil. They have a clearly defined distribution particularly where they are associated with ground water. There is a distinctive woody vegetation on the discrete mounds contrasting with surrounding grass-covered depressions.

After a reconnaissance ground and air-photograph survey of the nature and distribution of mounds within the Federal District, four one-hectare plots were chosen for detailed study within the ecological reserve of the University of Brasília. Measurements were made of the size, shape and frequency of mounds. Numbers varied from 26 to 61 ha-1 with a uniform distribution occupying 10–50% of the plots. Heights ranged from 0.05 to over 2 m. The generally semi-elliptical shape in ground plan had an average size of 7 by 5.5 m with no evidence of preferred orientation although water scouring from runoff partly influences the morphology. Volumes varied from 0.01 m3 to 141.5 m3. The soils of the murundus differed from those of surrounding depressions by being better drained, with bright colours and strong cohesive structures; they were more argillic with lower base saturation and pH values. Such sites favour colonization both by cerrado plants and by termites. A classification of the murundus is postulated. Although this paper does not consider the origins of murundus, they appear to relate more closely to drainage and differential erosion than to termite activity.

Keywords

BrazilCerradoearthmoundsmurundussavanna
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , February 1986 , pp. 17 - 35
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Arshad, M. A. 1982. Influence of the termite Macrotermes michaelseni (Sjost) on soil fertility and vegetation in a semi arid savannah ecosystem. Agro-Ecosystems 8:47–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cox, G. W. & Gakahu, C. G. 1985. Mima mound micro-topography and vegetation patterns in Kenyan savannas. Journal of Tropical Ecology 1:23–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diniz de Araujo Neto, M. 1980. Solos, água e relevo dos campos de murundus no Fazenda Água Limpa, Distrito Feral. Unpublished Masters thesis in Ecology, University of Brasllia, Brazil.Google Scholar
Eiten, G. 1972. The cerrado vegetation of Brazil. Botanical Reviews 38:201–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Embrapa, . 1978. Levantamento de reconhecimento dos solos do Distrito Federal, Serviço Nacional de Levantamento e Conservação de Solos. (SNLCS). Bol. téc 53, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agro-pecuária, Rio de Janeiro.Google Scholar
Fontes, L. R. 1979. Os cupins. Ciência e Cultura (Sao Paulo) 31:986–992.Google Scholar
Pinheiro, Fundação João. 1975. Aspectos geomorfológicas da área do Projeto Sagarana. Revista da Fundação João Pinheiro (Belo Horizonte) 5:14–18.Google Scholar
Furley, P. A. 1985. Notes on the soils and plant communities of Fazenda Água Limpa, Brasília, D.F. Brazil. Occasional Publications, N.S. No. 5, Department of Geography, University of Edinburgh. 138 pages.Google Scholar
Furley, P. A. & Newey, W. W. 1983. Geography of the biosphere. Butterworth, London.Google Scholar
Goodland, R. J. A. 1979. Análise ecológica da vegetaçāo do cerrado. Pp. 74–81 in Goodland, R. J. A. & Ferri, M. G.Ecologia do cerrado. Editora da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.Google Scholar
Guerra, A. T. 1980. 6e Dicionário geológico-geomorfológico. Fundação Instituto Brasileiro Geografia e Estatistica, Rio de Janeiro.Google Scholar
Hesse, P. R. 1955. A chemical and physical study of the soils of termite mounds in East Africa. Journal of Ecology 43:447–461.Google Scholar
Paulino, S. 1978. Levantamento de uma área de murundus. Unpublished MS. (estágio), Laboratorio de Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil.Google Scholar
Penteado-Orellana, M. M. 1980. Microrelevos associados a termitas no cerrado. Notícía Geomor-fológa (Campinas) 20:61–71.Google Scholar
Pomeroy, D. E. 1983. Some effects of mound-building termites on the soils of a semi-arid area of Kenya. Journal of Soil Science 34:555–570.Google Scholar
Pullan, R. A. 1979. Termite hills of Africa: their characteristics and evolution. Catena 6:267–291.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ratter, J. A. 1980. Notes on the vegetation of Fazenda Água Limpa, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. Departmental Publications, Series 1, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Sanchez, P. A. 1976. Properties and management of soils in the tropics. Wiley-Interscience, London.Google Scholar
SOIL SURVEY STAFF. 1975. Soil Taxonomy. Agriculture Handbook 436, Soil Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Troll, C. 1936. Termiten-savannen. Pp. 275–313 in Louis, H. & Panzer, W. (eds) Länderkundliche forschung. J. Engelhorns Nachf., Stuttgart.Google Scholar