Floristic and Phytosociology in a fragment handled by quilombolas in Santa Leopoldina, Espírito Santo: tools for restoration in the Central Corridor of the Atlantic Forest. (original) (raw)

This study was conducted in a fragment of Atlantic Forest managed by quilombolas in Santa Leopoldina, ES, to determine its floristic diversity and successional stage. The chosen area is part of the “Center of Endemism of Vascular Plants of the Serra do Mar”, the “Priority Areas for Flora Conservation” and is also operating area of the “Ecological Corridors Project.” Between August 2005 and February 2006 an inventory of 0.1 ha was conducted using 10 transects of 50 x 2 m, sampling individuals with DBH ≥ 2.5 cm. We recorded 297 individuals belonging to 54 species and 28 families. The predominance of species and individuals in the ecological group of the early secondary, the distributions of height and diameter, basal area per hectare (29,77 m²) as well as the species with the highest Importance Value (Zeyheria tuberculosa, Siparuna guianensis e Cedrela fissilis) refer us to a secondary forest at an intermediary stage of natural regeneration. The value of Shannon diversity index obtained in this study (H’ = 3.35) is average compared to other studies in the Atlantic Forest, with high equability (J = 0.84). Being a fragment very important for the quilombolas, mentioning how useful more than half of the native trees found in the fragment, as the potential for connectivity, studies and strategies for conservation and recovery of social and biological diversity are essential.