Abstract
ABSTRACT Anthropogenic disturbances in forests modify survival conditions and development of plants, which has direct effect on the height and spatial structure of tree populations. This study aimed to compare the height structure and spatial pattern of five tree species in two distinct fragments of seasonal semideciduous forest with different histories of conservation. We studied shade-intolerant (Astronium graveolens Jacq., Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng.) Harms) and shade-tolerant species (Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichler ex Miq.) Engl., Euterpe edulis Mart. and Holocalyx balansae Micheli). Sixty plots of 100 m2 (10 m x 10 m) were allocated, being 30 contiguous plots in each fragment. All individuals of five species were marked, assessed for total height data and mapped using Cartesian coordinates. We observed differences in height structure between fragments. All populations had a random spatial pattern, except to H. balansae in the less conserved fragment and E. edulis in the conserved fragment that showed a clumped spatial pattern. There were evidences of forest regeneration due to the establishment of shade-tolerant species in less conserved fragment and coexistence of functional groups in both fragments. The height structure and spatial pattern analyses indicating that anthropogenic exploitation changed the environment and population structure in the less conserved area when compared to conserved area. The anthropic exploitation was ceased few years ago, so it is expected that the less conserved fragment reach the stability of an old-growth forest.
Highlights
Disturbances in forests, as selective logging, change the habitat, especially with regard to moisture, temperature and luminosity in comparison with preserved habitats, affecting survival and development of plants (GUARIGUATA; OSTERTAG, 2001; LIEBSCH et al, 2008; BURTON et al, 2009)
The height structure and spatial pattern analyses indicating that anthropogenic exploitation changed the environment and population structure in the less conserved area when compared to conserved area
This study showed that populations of five tree species were altered by selective logging and their direct and indirect consequences
Summary
Disturbances in forests, as selective logging, change the habitat, especially with regard to moisture, temperature and luminosity in comparison with preserved habitats, affecting survival and development of plants (GUARIGUATA; OSTERTAG, 2001; LIEBSCH et al, 2008; BURTON et al, 2009). These microclimatic alterations cause changes in germination, growth and plant reproduction, with direct effect on size structure and spatial pattern of these populations (GETZIN et al, 2008; TSINGALIA, 2010; SAHU et al, 2012; SUZUKI et al, 2012). These structures can indicate the occurrence of forest regeneration (AGREN; ZACKRISSON, 1990)
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