Forest Structure and the Species Composition of the Parque Estadual Mata Atlântica, Located in Goiás State, Brazil

Ismael Martins Pereira,Ademilson Coneglian,Vera Lúcia Gomes-Klein,Vagner Santiago Do Vale,Ednaldo Cândido Rocha,Jovan Martins Rios

doi:10.1155/2018/1219374

Ismael Martins Pereira, Ademilson Coneglian + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1219374

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Abstract

The Parque Estadual Mata Atlântica (PEMA), Goiás state, Brazil, is an Atlantic Forest reserve which has not been studied yet. The aims were to investigate plant biodiversity and characterize the flora to support the management plan. We adopt the point-centered quarter method to inventory the tree-shrub and lianas with the diameter at breast height more than or equal to 5 cm. The study was performed through 1.86 km of transect with 187 sampled points. We sampled 748 individuals and identified 109 species, 82 genera, and 51 families. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′) was 3.97, and Pielou’s evenness (J) was 0.846, both considered high. The Fabaceae family was the most diverse with 20 species. Aspidosperma polyneuron, an endangered tree species, had greater relative dominance and importance value. The floristic similarity analysis indicated that the PEMA vegetation belongs to the seasonal forest, currently very fragmented and degraded. Due to several anthropogenic threats, we suggest the following recommendations: prevent the exploitation of species, avoid hunting, control invasive grasses, prevent forest fires, and promote environmental education. This study demonstrates the importance of PEMA for species conservation. Therefore, this study is essential for the development of management plan and the conservation of PEMA biodiversity.

Highlights

The Atlantic Forest Domain (AFD) is the second largest American rainforest [1], recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot [2]. This forest originally covered ca. 148 million hectares; approximately 92% is distributed in 17 Brazilian states, and the remainder belongs to Argentina and Paraguay [3, 4]
The aims of the present study were to inventory the flora of tree-shrubs and lianas of Parque Estadual Mata Atlantica (PEMA), located in the Agua Limpa municipality, Goias state, Brazil, to improve the knowledge of local flora, and to support the management plan of PEMA
The study was performed through 1.86 km of transect with 187 sampled points

Summary

Introduction

The Atlantic Forest Domain (AFD) is the second largest American rainforest [1], recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot [2]. The Seasonal Dry Neotropical Forests (SDNF) are inland in the country as enclaves in the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes [5, 6]. These forests occur in disjunct patches scattered throughout the Neotropic, and the major biomes where SDNF is in contact are the savanna woodland (e.g., the Cerrado), lowland tropical rainforest, and montane forest [7]. Other disjunctions of SDNF in the valleys of Sao Francisco and Paranarivers in Goias and Tocantins states are not measured [9]

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