Ecological characteristics and structure of the tree community in a forest remnant from the Belém Area of Endemism, Brazil

Abstract

This study was conducted in a fragment of upland forest located in the Belém Area of Endemism, eastern Amazon, Brazil, where 375 plots of 20 x 20 m each were established, totalizing a sampled area of 15 ha. All trees having diameter at breast height (DBH) > 10 cm were surveyed, analyzed for usual phytosociological parameters, and characterized for the following structural and functional attributes: 1) vertical stratification; 2) successional stage; and 3) dispersal syndrome. We sampled 16,709 individuals, representing 165 species from 41 families. The species with highest IVI (Importance Value Index) in the community was Eschweilera coriacea (DC.) S.A.Mori. The predominant syndrome was zoochory (135 species, 81.8%), followed by barochory (19 species, 11.5%) and anemochory (11 species, 6.7%). Regarding successional categories, late secondary species accounted for 60% of the community, while pioneer species formed the minority group (7.9%). The three vegetation strata showed significant differences in species richness, abundance, and basal area. Despite being highly threatened by predatory hunting and extraction of natural resources, the analyzed forest remnant (Gunma Park) has high conservation value and needs to be supervised and monitored.