Shrub and tree species composition in the cerrados of southwest Minas Gerais
Titel:
Shrub and tree species composition in the cerrados of southwest Minas Gerais
Auteur:
Douglas Antônio de Carvalho Fernando Roberto Martins
Verschenen in:
Cerne
Paginering:
Jaargang 15 (2009) nr. 2 pagina's 142-154
Jaar:
2009
Inhoud:
In order to improve the knowledge about variations in the floristic community of Brazilian cerrado, especially inregard to soil and climate conditions, we conducted a floristic assessment of the tree and shrub community of three disjoint adjacentregions situated in three municipalities of southwest Minas Gerais state (geographical coordinates 20-23ºS and 44-47ºW). Over aperiod of 24 months, in 49 allocated plots of 20 x 20 m, all tree and shrub species 1 m high or more in vegetative and/or reproductivestage were sampled. Additional random samples of blossoming plants were collected outside plots, and each plot was analyzed andcategorized for soil type. 170 botanical species were identified belonging to 103 genera and 46 families. Family Fabaceae and genusMiconia presented the largest number of species. Although the cerrado of southwest Minas Gerais extends over marginal areas ofoccurrence of Brazilian cerrado, its floristic composition is rich not only in species but also in genera and families. Some species foundin these cerrados also occur in local semideciduous forests, while other species that are frequently found in other areas of cerrado werenot found in southwest Minas Gerais. Tibouchina sellowiana does not feature in the list of species occurring in Brazilian cerrados.There is little similarity among the three sampled areas due to soil factors and different types of human influence in each of the areas.Alpinópolis presented cerrado sensu stricto subtype cerrado ralo, with 75 species and red-yellow latosol. Campo do Meiopresented cerrado sensu stricto subtype cerrado típico, with 88 species and red latosol. Pimenta falls under the cerradão category,with 124 species and red latosol. On the subsurface, the soil of Pimenta was found to present lower Al+++ saturation, which apparentlyshapes conditions for a more vigorous vegetation. The cerrado soils sampled in this study showed high similarity to cerrado soils inother parts of Brazil.
Uitgever:
Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA (provided by DOAJ)
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