Spatial pattern analysis of trees of four forest communities in southeastern Brazil, using Ripley’s K Function

Author(s)

Capretz, Robson Louiz

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba. [2004]. 79 f., ilustrações.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz
• Defense date: 17 dez. 2004

Examining board members

Batista, João Luis Ferreira; Rodrigues, Ricardo Ribeiro; Santos, Flavio Antonio Maës dos

• Advisor: Batista, João Luis Ferreira
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Indexed in: Banco de Dados Bibliográficos da USP-DEDALUS; Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações - USP
• Location: Universidade de São Paulo. Biblioteca Central da Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; ESALQ-BC/t639.94 85618; C251a

Abstract

Tree spatial patterns are influenced by abiotic and biotic environment. Among the main abiotic factors are topography, light, nutrients, soil and water availability. Among biotic factors are density-dependent processes, as intraespecific and interespecific competition, herbivory, pathogens, phenology and seed dispersion. Investigation of tree spatial patterns, patterns in size classes, and dominant species patterns can show evidences about the structure of plant communities. Description of trees spatial pattern was made using the most appropriate statistical tools for mapped data. Ripley’s K Function has as its main attributes the power to detect the spatial patterns in different distance scales simultaneously, and to investigate spatial independence among groups of trees. Observed patterns were compared to Complete Spatial Randomness model, in univariate function, and to Complete Spatial Independence model, in bivariate function. Different forests, typical from Southeastern Brazil, were compared in this study: Forest Savanna (Cerrad˜ao), Dense Rain Forest, Seasonal Semideciduous Forest and Restinga. This mastership thesis is part of Project 'Diversity, dynamics and conservation in forests in the State of São Paulo: 40 ha of permanent plots', from FAPESP Biota Program. In this project, one permanent plot of 10.24 ha was located in each forest stand, and all its trees with circunference at breast height equals 15 cm or higher were measured, mapped and identified. The results obtained in this study shows the aggregated pattern as the most common pattern in tropical forests. The trees spatial pattern in Cerradão and Restinga were very similar, aggregation was observed in the same distance scales. For the Dense Rain Forest, the spatial pattern was significant for all the distance scales... (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 01/11825-3 - Analysis of the spatial patterns of trees in for forest formations in the State of São Paulo, through second order analyses (Ripley's K function)
• Grantee: Robson Louiz Capretz
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master