Florística, fitossociologia e caracteres edáficos de duas florestas estacionais deciduais no Triângulo Mineiro

Abstract

Deciduous dry forests are characterized by both seasonal climate and great leaf fall of the arboreus elements. They are distributed throughout tropical regions and within Triângulo Mineiro region they can be found in uphill turned around rivers. Currently, those forests are in a critical conservation status. Deciduous dry forests are the most threatened of all major tropical forests types. Despite their conservation status, ecological studies about these formations are few yet. The present study aims to research the vegetation structure and soils characteristics of two deciduous forests (Funil I and Funil II) located within Araguari river s valley (Minas Gerais State). For the phytossociology survey sixty 10 x 20 m plots were laid out in both areas. All the trees with a minimum circumference of 15 cm at 1.30 m upper ground were sampled. Composite soils samples were collected at a deep of 0-20cm for 20 plots in both forests. For each soil sample was analyzed pH, C, N, Ca, Mg, K, P, Al, Mn, Fe, thick sand, fine sand, silt and clay available. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to check relationships between the distribution of the most abundant species and soil caracters. 2,034 individuals was found in Funil I. They are distributed in 64 species, 49 genera and 32 families. In Funil II was found 1,125 trees distributed in 46 species, 39 genera and 22 families. Shannon index calculed was 2.76 nat/ind. to Funil I and 2.59 nat/ind. to Funil II. Pielou evenness index was equal to both environments (J =0.66). Myracrodruon urundeuva, Myrsine umbellata, Myrcia rostrata and Campomanesia velutina were the most important species of Funil I. In Funil II, M. urundeuva, Tabebuia roseo alba, Anadenanthera colubrina and C. velutina were the most important species. Chemical analysis of both forest s soils showed a high chemical similarity. The pH values of both soils Funil I and II indicated a moderate acid. Soil nutrients available was similar in both areas, except for P. In contrast with similarity chemical was found a high fisical difference between Funil I and Funil II soils. Thick sand contents in Funil II was bigger than Funil I. On the other hand, fine sand, silt and clay available in Funil I was bigger than Funil II. In the correspondence canonical analysis it was evidenced the most of the species is distributed throughout environment in both forests, just altering your abundances. Short gradients suggest that one or several environmental variables not analyzed at present work can be interfering in the species distribution. Therefore, for a best knowledge about the relationship between species distribution and environmental variables it is necessary more studies in different areas because just with a lot of replications we can understand and arrive to a model that really explain the distribution species within environment.