Composition of Caatinga Species Under Anthropic Disturbance and Its Correlation With Rainfall Partitioning

Maria Gabriela De Queiroz,Alexandre Maniçoba Da Rosa Ferraz Jardim,Thieres George Freire Da Silva,George Do Nascimento Araújo Júnior,Carlos André Alves De Souza,Luciana Sandra Bastos De Souza,Magna Soelma Beserra De Moura

doi:10.1590/2179-8087-floram-2019-0044

Maria Gabriela De Queiroz, Alexandre Maniçoba Da Rosa Ferraz Jardim + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8087-floram-2019-0044

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Abstract

Abstract The vegetation structure is a good indicator of the conservation condition of an ecosystem, since it reflects alterations caused by anthropic action. This study proposes to analyze the phytosociological aspects of the Caatinga domain under anthropic disturbance and their correlations with hydrological variables. Twenty-five 400 m 2 plots were sampled in the municipality of Floresta - PE, Brazil. Phytosociological parameters such as density, frequency and dominance were calculated. The seasonality of plant area index was analyzed for six species. The association between structural characteristics and hydrological variables (throughfall, stemflow and interception loss) in the species was evaluated by multivariate analysis. A total of 930 individuals, six families and 10 species were recorded. The abundance of the species Cenostigma pyramidale in the area may be an indicator of the degree of change in the vegetation. The structural characteristics of the species revealed little association with rainfall partitioning.

Highlights

The vegetation structure is a good indicator of the conservation condition of an ecosystem, since it reflects alterations caused by anthropic action
This study proposes to analyze the phytosociological aspects of the Caatinga domain under anthropic disturbance and their correlations with hydrological variables
The association between structural characteristics and hydrological variables in the species was evaluated by multivariate analysis

Summary

Introduction

The vegetation structure is a good indicator of the conservation condition of an ecosystem, since it reflects alterations caused by anthropic action. This study proposes to analyze the phytosociological aspects of the Caatinga domain under anthropic disturbance and their correlations with hydrological variables. Twenty-five 400 m2 plots were sampled in the municipality of Floresta - PE, Brazil Phytosociological parameters such as density, frequency and dominance were calculated. The seasonality of plant area index was analyzed for six species. The Caatinga is a domain found exclusively in the semiarid region of Brazil. Its features differentiate it from the main biomes of the world, with species highly heterogeneous and endemic, dominated by arboreal and shrubby plant species.

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