Crown’s behavior and allometric relations of three tree species in corridors and forest edges

Abstract

Allometric studies of plant species in the fragmented landscape units corroborate to deeper understanding of fragmentation effects on resource allocation of the species. This study has aimed to compare allometric relations inherent in the size and shape of the crown of Vochysia tucanorum, Pera glabrata e Tapirira obtusa in two forest habitats: forest edge and forest corridors. Height/DSH, Dcrown/DSH, the first fork height, depth, asymmetry and displacement of the tree crown were compared using the F test (ANOVA single factor). T. obtusa was the more sensitive specie to changes in the environment. P. glabrata proved to be more aloof, with no difference in the allometric relations between two environments. V. tucanorum differ only in displacement of the crown (more displaced in the edge). The different behaviors of the species can be explained by regeneration guilds to which they belong and the plastic strategies adopted in obtaining resources they need.