The Influence of Soils on the Floristic Composition and Community Structure of an Area of Brazilian Cerrado Vegetation

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of soil factors on the structure, richness and distribution of woody Cerrado species within the National Forest of Paraopeba, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Individuals with basal stem circumference $ 10 cm were sampled in five plots of 20 3 100 m. The study was conducted in five environments with different physiognomies and types of soils. A total of 132 species were recorded. The species with the greatest importance values varied between different areas, as did structure. Canonical correspondence analysis ordination showed three different groups closely related to soil fertility and Al levels. These relations were also confirmed by Pearson's correlation where richness was positively related to pH, K, Ca, Mg and P and negatively to Al. The basal area was positively correlated with levels of P, Mg, Ca and T (base saturation) and negatively with Al, also using Pearson's correlation. Likewise, density was positively correlated with Mg and negatively with Al. The analysis shows that soil fertility and the concentration of Al are two of the most important factors responsible for structural and floristic variation and for differentiating dystrophic and mesotrophic Cerradão.

Influence of edaphic factors on the floristic composition of an area of cerradão in the Brazilian central-west

“…The occurrence of Astronium fraxinifolium and Terminalia argentea, which have a weak preference for mesotrophic soils, is not surprising; however, the other species are certainly unexpected. These anomalies have been recorded in other studies (Ratter, personal communication;Araújo et al 2011;Neri et al 2012), and it has been suggested that they occur on mesotrophic soils within dystrophic landscapes.…”

Relações solo-vegetação na estruturação de comunidades de cerrado sensu stricto no sul de Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…Neri et al (2012) encontraram correlações positivas entre áreas de elevada área basal e teores de fósforo. Portanto, acredita-se que o que melhor explica e sustenta uma comunidade arbórea de cerrado rupestre sobre neossolos litólicos seja o elevado teor de minerais primários disponíveis.…”

Carbon-optimised land management strategies for southern Amazonia

“…The Cerrado covers around 204 million hectares of Central and part of Northern Brazil (IBGE 2013). Due to rainfall seasonality, soil fertility, drainage properties and the occurrence of fire, the Cerrado structure ranges from the treeless Bcampo^to a relatively dense forest of trees of approximately 15 m in height (Neri et al 2012). Indeed, its biodiversity is very high, including the existence of endemic species.…”