Comparison between canopy and understory in Ombrophilous Dense Forest (Atlantic Forest), Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Santa Virginia, São Paulo, Brazil

• Grant number: 10/19951-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2011
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Marco Antonio de Assis
• Grantee: Carolina Biscola Jardim
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Floristic and phytosociological studies are important for recognition of species, patterns of distribution and richness for the tree canopy and understory. Specifically in the State of São Paulo studies considering the lower strata and comparing it with the community of the canopy, are still not sufficient to understand certain patterns of richness and similarity. This study is part of a broader project, "Floristic composition and structure of the Atlantic Rain Forest on State Park of Serra do Mar, Sao Paulo Brazil (FAPESP / Biota 10/50811-7), which aims analyze the floristic composition and structure of this forest. Accordingly, this study aims to survey phytosociological understory component in an area of 0.4 ha in a Tropical Rainforest Montana, situated about 600 m in the Núcleo Santa Virginia State Park of Serra do Mar. For this, all will be sampled tree species that present PAP less than 15 cm (H e 1.5 m PAP <15 cm). In addition, we intend to analyze the results compared with the composition and structure of the upper stratum in the same area sampled. We believe that there are possible species selectivity of the canopy, reflecting on the community structure of understory and that this component varies in species richness, density and frequency when compared to the upper stratum, contributing significantly to local species diversity. (AU)