Natural regeneration of one fragment Dense Rain Forest the Watershed of River Capibaribe, PE-Brazil

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the phytosociology structure regenerating woody component in riparian area in the ‘Mata de Quizanga’, in the watershed of River Capibaribe, PE-Brazil. Were allocated 10 plots 1 × 25 m (25 m²), arranged systematically and 25 m apart from each other, being sampled all individuals with Circuference Base Height < 15 cm and with the following height classes (H): 1) 1.0 ? H ? 2.0 m; 2) 2.0 < H ? 3.0 m e 3) H > 3.0 m. Two hundred and four individuals belonging to 41 species, distributed in 28 genera and 21 botany families were sampled. The most representative families in species richness were Myrtaceae, Mimosaceae and Moraceae. Density and absolute dominance values ranged from 8.160 ind ha^-1 to 18.88 m² ha^-1, respectively. Individuals’ distribution by regeneration class had a predominance of individuals in the first two classes. Helicostylis tomentosa, Eschweilera ovata, Anaxagorea dolichocarpa, Protium heptaphyllum and Protium giganteum species stood out for number of individuals, importance value and natural regeneration, being considered as indicatives of future local forest formation. Shannon index (H’) obtained for the fragment was 3.20 nats ind-¹.