Structure of the herbaceous synusiae in Mixed Ombrofilous Forest at Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, southern Brazil

Abstract

The herbaceous synusiae is pointed out as an important indicator of forest conservation, because it generally responds to disturbance in a distinct way than tree species. The present study was carried out at Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Cambará do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, aiming to describe the floristics, the structure and the biological spectrum of the herbaceous synusiae, having it as an indicator of the conservation level. The survey was conducted in 30 sample units, where was observed the presence of ground herbaceous species and its respective covering. Floristic composition was supplemented with collections of species in the vicinity of the sampling units. 31 species of Angiospermae (28) and Pteridophyta (three) were inventoried 26, from these were sampled. The high covering and frequency of Ichnanthus pallens (Sw.) Benth., 98% and 93.3% respectively, followed by Coccocypselum reitzii L.B. Sm. et Downs with 66% and 100%, gave them special attention to them in terms of physiognomy and synusiae structure. The specific diversity (H’) was 2.639 (nats) and the equability (J’) was 0.810. The most frequent life form was the Hemicryptophyte. The results show a dense and rich herbaceous synusiae, although altered by natural and anthropic disturbances, among them, the ones caused by the cattle, which must be removed from the forest area in the conservation unit.