Diversity of trees and lianas in two sites in the coastal Atlantic Forest of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Here, we report the diversity of trees and lianas in two fragments of coastal Atlantic forest in the Brazilian state of Sergipe. We found a total of 314 trees in 86 species and 37 families in in the Trapsa forest, and 147 trees in 44 species and 28 families in the Junco forest. The diversity of lianas was similar between sites, with 16 species (10 families) being recorded at Trapsa, and 11 species (9 families) at Junco. The cluster analyses found distinct patterns of spatial similarity for trees and lianas, possibly reflecting differences in species richness between these two life forms. Overall, the results indicate that remnants of the Atlantic coastal forest in Sergipe still harbor a significant diversity of plant species.