Estrutura da comunidade arbórea em um remanescente florestal urbano (Parque do Sabiá, Uberlândia, MG)

Abstract

This research envolved a floristic and phytosociological study of the tree comunity of a semideciduous mesophytic forest remnant located in the Parque do Sabiá, one of the largest urban parks in Uberlândia, MG (18°54’52”S and 48°14’02” W). All the individuais with circunference at breast height, equal or superior to 15 cm, found in 104 plots of 10 x lOm (1,04 ha) were identified, measured, tagged and their height was estimated. All the standing trees were also included. For each species the following parameters, either absolut or relatives, were obtained: density, ffequency and dominance, in order to make possible the ordenation of the species and families according to the Importance Value Index (IVI). The Covering Value Index and the Shannon Diversity Index (H’) were also calculated, to the species as well as to the families. Some 1126 individuais ffom 80 species and 37 families were sampled. The families Leguminosae, Anacardiaceae and Lauraceae, and the species Tapirira marchandii, Virola sebifera, Casearia grandi/Jora, Copaifera langsdorffii cmd Inga vera stood out as the higner IVI. Floristic and phytosociological data obtained in the studi area were compared to other areas of mesophytic and gallery forest. The Shannon Diversity Index (3,547 nats/ind) is considered high, similar to the values obtained for other mesophyllous forest, but density (958,65 ind/ha) and basal area (26,8 m2/ha) are relatively low, which may indicate the effects of local antropic interference. The number of dead individuais without is high (124 ind/ha) and also reflects the incorrect use of the area. This research looks forward to offer data that will lead to a better use of the mesophytic Forest of the Parque do Sabiá, so that the conservation of this formation, whigh is of great importance to the quality of life in Uberlândia, can be guaranteed.