Analysis of causality between spatial, physical, anthropic and biotic indicators in Atlantic Forest fragments

• Grant number: 14/02597-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Rogério Hartung Toppa
• Grantee: Silvania Goularte Correia
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to study the correlations that can to exist between abiotic, metric and anthropic indicators of forest fragments and biotic indicators. Based on found results, it is intended to elaborate an Environmental Quality of Forest Fragments Index, with the purpose of subsidize the decision-making for conservationist projects. Faced with the process of global fragmentation of formerly continuous areas of vegetation, indicators and criteria to evaluate the quality and ecological relevance of these fragments become essential. Works purposed to elaborate an Index that summarize the quality of forest fragments in a unique value are still scarce. To the present study, forest fragments of the municipality of Salto de Pirapora/SP are going to be selected. These fragments are going to be analyzed for their abiotic, metric, biotic and anthropic characteristics, via selected indicators. Using a StepWise linear regression, it is going to be possible to verify if there are abiotic, spatial and anthropic indicators that explain the variations in the biotic indicators. If these indicators exist, it is intended to elaborate a system based on fuzzy rules, in which the input variables will be the found indicators and the output variable will be the Environmental Quality of Forest Fragments Index. The validation of the mathematical model is going to be made from actual data (Salto de Pirapora/SP). In this way, the system can provide the Index that will indicate to the user the environmental quality of forest fragments.