Structure of the arboreal community of a forest residue located at Taquaritinga, state of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to carry out the floristic survey and describe the structure of the arbo­real community of a forest residue about 8,17 ha located in the region of Taquaritinga. Thirty six 10 m X 10 m plots were allocated in order to sample individual trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) equal or superior to 5.0 cm. Fifty three species from 47 genera and 29 families with Shannon's diver­sity index (H') of 3.16 and equability (J‘) of 0.56 were found. Meliaceae, Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae and Fabaceae-Faboideae were the families with the highest number of species. Among the species with the highest importance values were Guarea guidonia, Alchornea triplinervia, Miconia cinnamomifolia, Nectandra megapotamica, Schizolobium parahyba, and Albizia niopoides. The size structure analysis indicated a community in regeneration with the majority of the individuals under 15 cm dbh and distributed between 7 and 14.9 m high. Moreover, a stand of young individuals was present, from pioneers and secondary spe­cies, ascertaining the future of the community. In terms of sucession, the investigated area is characte­rized as in initial stage.

Additional keywords: floristic; phytosociology; arboreal diversity.