Abiotic factors affecting the distribution of tree species in four forest formations of São Paulo

• Grant number: 11/20550-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal researcher: Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
• Grantee: Simone Rodrigues de Magalhães
• Home Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 99/09635-0 - Diversity, dynamics and conservation in São Paulo State Forests: 40ha of permanent parcels, AP.BTA.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/00837-0 - Development and distribution of tree species, of the four major forest types of São Paulo State, according to soil and topographic characteristics, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

This work aims to investigate the relationships between abiotic factors and distribution of tree species in the main forest formations of São Paulo State, as well as evaluate the possible role of biotic factors and historical disturbance in this distribution and applying that knowledge in ecological restoration. Thus, the study will be developed in four of Conservation Units (UC) (PE Ilha do Cardoso, Carlos Botelho EE, EE capybara, EE de Assis), each containing a well-preserved excerpts of Restinga Forest, Slope Atlantic Forest, Semideciduous Seasonal Forest and Cerradão. In each UC were placed parcels of 320 x 320 m (10.24 ha), with 256 sub-parcels of 400m2, which were provided to describe the physical and biotic factors, available in a relational database. The distribution of the dominance ans abundance of these species will be described in each area individually. The absolute dominance and abundance will be counted in each subplot, which will be georeferenced by the central coordinated . The data analysis will be made by means of models linear, mixed-effects regression with spatially correlated errors. The approach is based on the use of semivariograms to quantitatively describe the spatial structure in residual patterns of species dominance after accounting for the effects of environmental variables. With this knowledge, you can test the hypothesis that variation in physiological characteristics of certain species produce different residual spatial patterns of dominance. Although they are related to formations of São Paulo, this study applies to any conditions in Brazil, since we are accumulating knowledge on forest dynamics (ie ecological restoration) for application in ecological restoration.