Abstract
There are few studies on the effects of fire on the seasonal semideciduous forest of the Cerrado region. This study aimed to assess the effect of fire on Semideciduous forest fragments located in the Altamiro Moura Pacheco State Park (AMPSP). The study area is located in the central state of Goias. A total of 10 plots (50 x 20 m; 1,000 m 2 ) were drawn in the remaining forests seeking to portray two areas: area which underwent forest fire (burned area; B) and unburned area (unburned; UB). A total of 771 individuals with DBH (≥ 5 cm) were identified. A total of 303 individuals were recorded in the burned area (B), comprising 28 families, 41 genera and 47 species, while the unburned area (UB) had 468 individuals comprising 25 families, 43 genera and 50 species. The species Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan, Emmotum nitens (Benth.), Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam, Tapirira guianensis Aubl., Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemao and Luehea candicans Mart. had the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) values and occur in both areas. The percentage of dead trees differed between the areas, where the burned area had a mortality of 12.69% and the unburned area of 7.29% in regards to the number of individuals. Density per plot was the only parameter that differed between the areas, where the burned area (B) had the lowest values. The fire affected all diameter classes, demonstrating the fragility of this vegetation type in regards to fire. The fire had a greater effect on trees in the smaller diameter classes, reducing the frequency of individuals in the burned area and changing height distribution, which may have favored the establishment of lianas and invasive species.
Highlights
The Brazilian Cerrado region occupies about 25% of Brazil with an original area of approximately 203 million km2 (RIBEIRO; WALTER, 2008), of which only 47% remains (BRASIL, 2014)
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fire occurrence on the tree community structure of the Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in the Altamiro de Moura Pacheco State Park (AMPSP) using floristic surveys of the burned and unburned areas of the Park
A total of 303 individuals were sampled in the burned area (B), comprising 27 families, 43 genera and 48 species
Summary
The Brazilian Cerrado region occupies about 25% of Brazil with an original area of approximately 203 million km (RIBEIRO; WALTER, 2008), of which only 47% remains (about 103 million km2) (BRASIL, 2014). The fire acts directly on the plant communities and may modify the floristic composition, forest structure, plant recruitment (COCHRANE; SCHULZE, 1999) and reduce tree density per area (LIMA, et al, 2009). Effects of fire in the Cerrado biome are regarded as a determining factor for the structure and functioning of the biome (SIMON et al, 2009). We hypothesized that the occurrence of the fire changes the community structure in Semideciduous Seasonal Forest Cerrado. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fire occurrence on the tree community structure of the Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in the Altamiro de Moura Pacheco State Park (AMPSP) using floristic surveys of the burned and unburned areas of the Park
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
