plant volatiles in remnants of Atlantic Forest under the antropogenic influence

Abstract

In São Paulo, despite intense fragmentation that occurred in recent decades, there are still important remnants of forest, particularly in the areas of Serra do Mar, which cover part of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. However, the process of disturbed and chaotic urban growth in the metropolitan region of São Paulo (MRSP) has taken gradual removal of vegetation, remaining few remnants forests. These urban forest have great importance in maintaining the quality of the environment and, therefore, would be expected that the human impact was increasingly reduced. In contrast, it has been observed that these remnants are constantly affected by various abiotic agents leading to degradation of the vegetation, including air pollution. Among the most phytotoxic pollutants, there is ozone (O3) that is present in concentrations of risk to ecosystems. O3 can induce the production of volatile organic compounds from plants. The volatiles have a key role in chemical and biological functions of the environment, especially they actively participate in atmospheric chemistry, producing secondary aerosol particles and allowing a buildup of ozone. Thus, it is believed that high ozone concentrations found in forest remnants in the metropolitan area of São Paulo is a consequence of the emission of plant volatiles induced by ozone itself. Therefore, the role of plant volatiles in the atmosphere in urban forest need to be elucidated. In this sense, it is proposed here characterize the emissions and distribution of plants volatile present in the urban forests and green areas of the metropolitan region of São Paulo so that to support ozone models which are essential for implementation of public policies appropriate to improvement of air quality. (AU)