NATURAL REGENERATION OF Roupala montana Aubl., Piptocarpha macropoda Back. AND Persea fusca Mez. IN FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN THE GAMA GALLERY FOREST-D.F., BRAZIL

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the distribution of the natural regeneration of three gallery forest species under four site conditions in a gallery forest. The forest is located in Fazenda Água Limpa, Distrito Federal, Brazil. The species were Roupala montana, a common species between gallery forest and cerrado, Piptocarpha macropoda, a long lived pioneer species and Persea fusca, a shade tolerant species. They are native in Gama forest. Site conditions within the forest were: Forest-savanna edge, closed canopy, steambank and gap. Ten 10x20m strip were established in each of the three site condition. Each strip was subdivided in 5 x 5 m plots. In each plot, all individuals up to 1 m high were recorded. The gaps were small, therefore, only one plot was located under each of them. There was a significant difference in the distribution of individuals of the same species in each of the three site conditions according to the Komogorov-Smirnov test. Species distribution was also different even though they were in the same condition suggesting that there are gradients in the forest, probably humidity and light. The results indicated that Persea fusca needs shade for better development, Roupala montana germinates in any place but grows better on the edge with campo limpo. Piptocarpha macropoda showed a pioneer behaviour.