Chuva de sementes em fragmentos de floresta estacional semidecidual montana

Abstract

There is a consensus among authors that the fragmentation of tropical forests is being described as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Seed rain performs a key role in the formation of seed banks and seedling, thus constituting the initial phase of organization structure of plant communities, with the promotion of new individuals in the community. Seed rain was presented as an interesting alternative to fragmentation study. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the seed rain of three different fragments sizes present in a mosaic of fragments located in the city of Barbacena, between the coordinates 21º13'42 '' S and 43º46'01 '' W, seeking to answer if there is a relationship between fragment size, shape and degree of isolation with plenty of diaspores, species richness, dispersion syndrome and fruit biometricy. This vegetation in fragments is defined as Montane semideciduous forest. It was installed 20 collectors per fragment, with a total sample area of 60 m². A total of 163,148 seeds were found in three fragments. With the Kruskal-Wallis test, the diaspores’ difference found in each fragment showed no significance (c² = 3.055; DF = 2, p = 0.216), as well as species richness and biometry, it was possible to infer that the small fragment shows ecological similarity with other fragments. It was also found closer proximity and connection in this fragment, so that it appears as the most potentially conserved fragment. In conclusion, this study shows the importance of conservation of small fragments, thinking of landscape scale for better planning and management of conservation actions.