Distribution of the community of palm trees in the altitudinal gradient of the Atlantic Rainforest in the Northeast of the State of São Paulo

• Grant number: 01/06023-5
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2002
• End date: March 31, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Simey Thury Vieira Fisch
• Grantee: Simey Thury Vieira Fisch
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Taubaté (UNITAU). Taubaté , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although the Atlantic Rainforest is better preserved in mountainous areas, the alterations which the altitudinal gradient provokes in the vegetation has received little attention in studies carried out on this bioma. Elevation has beenindicatedas the cause of the decline in the diversity of palms and for the abundance of one or few species in intermediary altitudes. Based on these premises, this project has the principal aim of correlating the occurrence of palm trees with the altitude factor in the Atlantic Rainforest of the northeast of the State of São Paulo. The studies will be developed in the Conservation Units of the Serra do Mar State Park (Picinguaba Nucleus, Santa Virgínia Nucleus/Natividade da Serra and Bananal Ecological Station), the Forest formations of which occur at altitudes which vary from 0 to 1900 m. In these localities, samples will be taken at every 200 m of altitude (0 m sea level, 200, 400, 600, 800, ~940, 1200, 1400 and ~1600 m). Morphometric evaluations will be carried out, existing palm trees collected and the physical medium of each sample unit will be characterized. The project will have a multidisciplinary team from the University of Taubaté (academics and teachers) and the collaboration of researchers from the following research institutions: Forestry Institute, Botanical Institute (SP), Prof. Mello Leitão Museum (ES), Botanical Gardens Institute of Rio de Janeiro (RJ). (AU)