Composição, estrutura e diversidade da comunidade arbórea de um fragmento urbano de floresta estacional semidecidual (Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil)

Abstract

Composition, structure and diversity of the tree community of an urban Fragment of semideciduous tropical forest (Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil). This study aimed to assess the structure and diversity of tree community of a small fragment (2 ha) of urban semideciduous forest belonging to the Botanical Garden of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Trees (DBH ≥ 5 cm) were sampled at 25 random plots of 20 x 20 m (1 ha). We sampled 2491 individuals, 437 standing dead and 2054 living individuals belonging to 78 species, 62 genera and 33 families. The most important species in the community were Miconia latecrenata, Anadenanthera colubrina, Vismia guianensis, Syzygium jambos, Xylopia sericea, Miconia cinnamomifolia, Eugenia sp1, Brosimum guianense, Lacistema pubescens and Casearia arborea, which together amounted to 72.3% of VI. There was a strong predominance of species occurring "frequently" in the flora of Minas Gerais, and species of early successional stages (pioneer and early secondary). The vast majority of species (76.9%) and individuals (87.1%) presented zoochorous dispersion. As a reflection of strong ecological dominance, the index value of species diversity (Shannon H '= 2.82 nats.ind-1) was the lowest compared with other secondary forests of similar vegetation types in the region. The community also has a high density of the exotic Syzygium jambos (the 4th in VI), potentially invasive in Neotropical forests. The 437 standing dead trees represent 17.5% of individuals, a high proportion in comparison with other secondary forests in the region. The diameter distribution of the community and principal populations was like "reverse-J", with a large concentration of individuals in the first class, showing high regenerative capacity. Due to the large presence of small individuals, the basal area obtained, 20.5 m².ha⁻¹, was low in comparison with other secondary forests. The detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of quantitative (absolute density) of species, resulted in a strong division, with eigenvalue of 0.70 for axis 1, showing that the fragment has a high heterogeneity. Together, the results show that although the forest fragment has a long time of natural regeneration (> 70 years of abandonment), presents an immature tree community with relatively low diversity, following the pattern usually attributed to urban forests worldwide.