PADRÕES DE REGENERAÇÃO EM CLAREIRAS DE ORIGEM ANTRÓPICA NA VÁRZEA DA RDS MAMIRAUÁ, AMAZÔNIA CENTRAL.

Abstract

Despite the existence of a large number of studies on forest
gaps in tropical regions, none of them deals with the
regeneration patterns resulting from human action in
Amazonian floodplain forests. The present study investigated
the structure and species composition of trees regenerating in
gaps originating from different types of land-use: selective
logging and agricultural activity. Two gaps of selective logging
(CE) and two gaps of agriculture (CA), both at the Jarauá
Sector - RDSM, Central Amazonia, Brazil were selected. Two
control areas were established below a nearby continuous
canopy (SD). In each gap a circular plot with r=5 m was
established. All trees above 1 m of high and < 10 cm of DBH
diameter at breast height) were inventoried. A total of 382
individuals were sampled and species were classified
according to the Importance Value Index (IVI). Highest value
of abundance was found at the CE (174 individuals), followed
by CA (114 individuals) and SD (94 individuals). Species
richness at the three sites was 43, 25 and 36 species,
respectively. Basal area was higher at the CA plots (1,733
m2), followed by SD (0,683 m2), and CE (0,348 m2).
Comparing to gaps originating from agricultural activity, gaps
originating from selective logging and these below the
continuous canopy had higher floristic similarity as well as a
higher diversity of regenerating species.