Characterization of adult arboreous vegetation in a fragment of Atlantic Rainforest, Igarassu-PE

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to provide a characterization of adult tree vegetation in a fragment of Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. Forty plots (10 x 25m) were set up, totaling 1 ha, in which all woody individuals with PBH ? 15 cm were sampled. A total of 1,576 individuals were recorded, of 115 species, 41 families and 69 genera. Shannon-Weaver diversity index was of 3.6 nats/ ind. Most species-rich families were: Myrtaceae (17 species), Melastomataceae and Mimosaceae (7), Caesalpiniaceae and Sapotaceae (6), Apocynaceae, Fabaceae and Rubiaceae (5). Most important species were
Eschweilera ovata, Dialium guianense, Pogonophora schomburgkiana, Brosimum discolor, Tapirira guianensis, Maytenus disticophylla, Parkia pendula, Byrsonima sericea, Allophyllus edulis and Ouratea hexasperma. Distribution of individuals per diameter classes showed a “reversed J” shape; per height classes, most individuals were concentrated at intermediate classes. Tree diversity in this fragment is amongst mean values recorded at the State. Most important families and species are also frequent in other surveys in forest remnants in the State of Pernambuco. The fact that a great number of individuals appear in low diameter and height classes may suggest that the fragment in regenerating, with areas at initial stages of succession.