SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND STRUCTURAL VARIATION OF Copaifera arenicola IN A CAATINGA FRAGMENT

Dráuzio Correia Gama,Janisson Batista De Jesus,Robério Anastácio Ferreira,José Monteiro Do Nascimento Júnior

doi:10.5380/rf.v50i3.65583

Abstract

The study of spatial distribution of tree populations has proven to be important for revealing how individuals are horizontally organized in the environment, facilitating the structural understanding and forms of colonization and dispersion of propagules. The present work aimed at studying the pattern of spatial distribution of tree species Copaiferaarenicola [(Ducke) J. Costa e L.P.Queiroz] and its structural relation with the altimetric profile in a Caatinga fragment in Ribeira do Pombal municipality, Bahia. Census of all individuals in the area with circumference at breast height (CBH) ≥ 6 cm was performed. The spatial distribution analysis was conducted for the whole population using Ripley K univariate function, with maximum search radius (h) of 128 m. 409 individuals were found, corresponding to absolute density of 89.49 ind. ha-1 and 0.681 m². ha-1 of basal area. The group of C. arenicola individuals corresponds to a stable population in expansion phase, presenting higher number of young and medium individuals. The pattern of spatial distribution of individuals in the area under study was the uniform arrangement. None of the altimetric classes of the area had a different influence on the structure and distribution of arboreal individuals.

Highlights

IntroductionAmong the species of Copaifera L. genus (belonging to botanical family Fabaceae), 17 of them, existing in Brazil, are considered extra-Amazon, as is the case of Copaifera arenicola [(Ducke) J
Among the species of Copaifera L. genus, 17 of them, existing in Brazil, are considered extra-Amazon, as is the case of Copaifera arenicola [(Ducke) J
Given the vertical and horizontal structure of Copaifera arenicola population, it is probably a stable population in its natural regeneration and expansion phase, since, according to Lehn (2007), the higher number of individuals are concentrated in classes with lower average height

Summary

Introduction

Among the species of Copaifera L. genus (belonging to botanical family Fabaceae), 17 of them, existing in Brazil, are considered extra-Amazon, as is the case of Copaifera arenicola [(Ducke) J. This species is endemic in Caatinga Phytogeographic Domain sedimentary region and is exclusively distributed across Bahia, Ceará, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte states. In Bahia it occurs in Raso da Catarina Ecoregion, in sandy and deep soils (GAMA; NASCIMENTO JÚNIOR, 2019)

Methods

Results

Conclusion