A vegetação lenhosa sobre solos quartzíticos na Serra Negra (Rio Preto, MG): estrutura, diversidade e gradientes ambientais

Abstract

(The woody vegetation on quartzitic soils in Serra Negra (Rio Preto, MG): structure, diversity and environmental gradients.) Serra Negra is a part of the Mantiqueira range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It presents a vegetation mosaic with the predominance of ombrophilous forests and rupestrian fields. Physiognomies with shrubs and trees occur on quartzitic soils. This study aims to investigate structure and diversity patterns of the woody vegetation on quartzitic soils in Serra Negra and the relationship with environmental and edaphic variables. Ten quadrats (20m X50m) were randomly located on rupestrian fields along the landscape, totaling one hectare. All individuals with diameter at 30cm above ground (DAB) equal or greater than 3cm were sampled. The diameter, height and species were measured for each individual sampled. To analyze the edaphic factors, samples of superficial soil (20 cm depth) were taken for each quadrat. Other variables analyzed were altitude, steepness and percentages of rock, exposed soils and vegetation coverages. 1899 individuals were sampled, which included 30 families and 68 species. We found a high dominance, with around 30% of the individuals belonging to a single species, Eremanthus incanus (Less.) Less. (Asteraceae). The Shannon index found was 2.74 nats/ind and the equability (J) was 0.65. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that altitude and coverage by exposed soil were the variables with high correlation with vegetation structure. The most abundant and important species in this physiognomy, E. incanus e E. erythropappus, have economical value and are local explored for firewood. The overexploitation of this species allied with other factors, such the increases in tourist activities, could be a treat for the conservation of regional flora.