STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST FRAGMENT IN IBITURUNA COUNTY, MG

Abstract

A survey describing the physiognomic structure and the species composition and diversity of the tree community was carried out in a fragment of tropical semideciduous forest. The forest fragment, with an area of 57ha, is situated at 21°09’S of latitude and 44°50’W of longitude, in Ibituruna county, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The surveys were carried out in two sectors of the fragment, Slope and Valley, where 26 (20×20m) plots were located. All trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 5 cm were identified and measured (diameter and height). The survey registered 1008 tree, distributed in 191 species, 128 genera and 54 families; 20 species were added to this total and registered during incursions outside the plots. The Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family stood out for its richness of species (30) and genera (18), representing 15,7% of the total species registered. In second place, the Myrtaceae family presented 20 species and 9 genera, followed by the Lauraceae family, with 17 species and 7 genera. Other families that contributed with an expressive number of species were: Meliaceae, with 11; Euphorbiaceae, with 8; Malvaceae and Rubiaceae, both with 7 species. This floristic profile may be considered typical of the semideciduous forests of the region.