PHYTOSOCIOLOGY AND SUCCESSIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A FRAGMENT OF TROPICAL SEASONAL FOREST IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

In Brazil, the seasonal tropical forest is located between the humid forests in the east and savannas in the west and it has been historically fragmented, leaving few remnants today. This study was carried out at the Sao Roque Municipal Park also known as Mata da Camara, in Sao Roque, SP, Brazil. The objective of the present work was to carry out a phytosociological survey of the tree stratum in three different altitudinal situations within a forest fragment, as well as the successional characterization of this fragment by identifying the ecological groups of species. The plot method was used with a total of 42 plots arranged in 3 blocks of 14 plots each, totaling 0.945 ha of sampled area. All individuals with PBH (perimeter at breast height) of 15 cm or more were sampled. A total of 1413 individuals belonging to 117 species and 47 families were sampled. The Shannon diversity index was 4.011. The three areas showed respectively 22, 32 and 13% of individuals of pioneer species, 42, 28 and 46% of individuals of early secondary species, and 32, 38 and 39% of individuals of late secondary species. It is concluded that the area is in initial stage of succession in its peripheral portion, and in intermediate tending to terminal stage in its inner portion, but taking the seasonal forest fragments of the State of Sao Paulo as reference, one can say that Mata da Camara represents a portion of preserved forest.