Influence of edge and topography on the vegetation in an Atlantic Forest remnant in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Like edge effects, variations in topography can influence the physiognomy and structural patterns of the vegetation due to the high dynamics encountered in inclined areas. We evaluated the effect of edges on the structure and physiognomy of the arboreal and woody understory communities in patches of an Atlantic Forest remnant in two distinct topographic positions. Four study situations were laid out (slope edge, top edge, slope interior, and top interior), with ten 10 × 10 m plots each to sample the arboreal components (circumference at breast height ≥15 cm), and ten 5 × 5 m plots (in the corner of each arboreal component plot) to sample the woody understory (circumference at ground level ≥3 cm and with circumference at breast height <15 cm). We investigated physiognomic and structural variables of edge and interior environments in similar topographic positions on both slope and top (level) areas of the same remnant forest. Physiognomic and structural differences between edge and interior vegetation were noted, and these were found to be still more evident when different topographic positions were considered. Physiognomic and structural variations between the edge and interior vegetation were more notable on slopes than on hill tops, indicating greater dynamics in areas with greater topographic inclinations.