Regeneração natural de uma área de caatinga no sertão Pernambucano, nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the structure of natural regeneration of economically important woody species of Caatinga in the municipality of Floresta-PE, assisting with information for sustainable forest management of the forest physiognomy. The forest inventory was conducted in an area of about 50 ha of savanna vegetation (8°30’37” S and 37°59’07” W), municipality of Floresta-PE. With 40 sampling units of 5 x 5 m, were measured the subjects into four classes: class 1 = 20 - 50 cm, class 2 = 51 - 100 cm, class 3 = 101-150 cm, class 4 = greater than 151 cm and less than 6 cm in circumference of the base height. In only 37 plots had individuals in the level of inclusion and were identified 15 species belonging to seven botanical families, especially Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Anacardiaceae. The diversity of Shannon-Weaver index (H ‘) was 1.91 nats.ind.-1, the uniformity of Pielou index (E) equals 0.71. The area presented estimated density of 2,080 ind. ha-1. The spatial distribution showed that the characteristics of most species occur in group or with a tendency to grouping. The species Bauhinia cheilanta and Poincianella bracteosa showed higher density values and were present in all classes of natural regeneration, providing evidence that they have potential to establish themselves on the area and possibly will be the dominant species after reaching adulthood.