Structure, composition and small litter dynamics of a semi-deciduous forest in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

Structure, floristic composition, and the dynamics of small litterfall and the litter layer were studied for one year in semi-deciduous forest in Mato Grosso, Brazil. This vegetation type is rapidly disappearing as its mesotrophic soils are much in demand for agricultural development. The field site was located at 15°42′S, 56°06′W in the cerrado (savanna) region of the seasonal tropics not far from the southern limit of the Amazonian forest. The 0.25 ha study plot contained 236 trees with a dbh ≥5 cm and a maximum height of over 20 m. Stand basal area was 21.8 ± 2.0 m2 · ha−1. Tabebuia impetiginosa, Dipteryx alata, and Astronium urundeuva were dominant among the 35 recorded tree species from 20 families. Structure and floristics of the study site were similar to semi-deciduous forest found elsewhere in Mato Grosso. Total smalllitterfall was 7.7 ± 0.3 t · ha−1 · year−1. and fell within the range reported for semi-deciduous and deciduous tropical forests. Leaf litter made up over 68% and was five times higher in the dry season than in the wet season. Mean mass of small ground litter was 3.1 ± 0.4 t · ha−1 ranging from 1.6 ± 0.1 t to 6.1 ± 0.2 t · ha−1 for the wet and dry season, respectively. Seasonality of litterfall and decomposition of leaf litter was very high compared with published data.