Abstract
ABSTRACT We performed a phytosociological study on an altitudinal gradient in Lauraceas State Park (Parque Estadual das Lauraceas/PR), aiming to describe the Montane Atlantic Rain Forest, to verify the importance of Lauraceae, and to evaluate the communities’ successional stage. We distributed survey units (2,000 m2 quadrats) along an altitudinal gradient and surveyed all individuals with DBH ≥ 10 cm, which composed the arboreal component. In smaller quadrats (250 m2), we surveyed regeneration individuals. The community at 800 and 900 m a.s.l. shows typical characteristics of Montane forest in an advanced successional stage, and the abundance of Ocotea catharinensis is its main indicator. At 1,000 and 1,100 m a.s.l., the forest is characterized as Montane with short stature in an advanced successional stage, with the occurrence of typical upper montane species such as O. porosa and O. vaccinioides.
Highlights
The community was classified as typical Montane Atlantic Rain Forest, where Ocotea catharinensis is the dominant species followed by Cryptocarya aschersoniana, which very well characterizes a typical Southern Brazilian Ocotietum
The community was classified as a shortstature Montane Atlantic Rain Forest, where O. porosa and O. vaccinioides have high importance
Lauraceae is the main family in structural expression and species richness in the Montane Atlantic Rain Forest composition within the “Lauráceas” State Park, in both compartments adults and regeneration
Summary
The Lauráceas State Park (Parque Estadual das Lauráceas - PEL) harbors an important area of the Atlantic Rain Forest (ARF, or Dense Ombrophilous Forest – DOF, in the Brazilian classification system) The name of this conservation unit refers to the high frequency of trees from Lauraceae family, popularly called “canelas” (Paraná, 2002). According to Klein (1984), who studied the ARF in southern Brazil with Veloso, a slow succession tending to form the association named as Ocotietum was noted among almost all plant communities In this successional stage, Ocotea catharinensis Mez has marked dominance in the forest structure, which seems to be the most evolved stage of the forest succession and the best representation of the dynamic balance under the regional soil and the current climate conditions (Klein, 1984)
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