Diversity, floristic composition, and structure of the woody vegetation of the Cerrado in the Cerrado–Amazon transition zone in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract:We compared the diversity and species composition, and the structure of the vegetation of three distinct Cerrado phytophysiognomies (Cerradão, Dense Cerrado, and Typical Cerrado)

Effects of soil and space on the woody species composition and vegetation structure of three Cerrado phytophysiognomies in the Cerrado-Amazon transition

“…The present study area is located within the region known as the "Arc of deforestation" , where anthropogenic impacts represent a major threat to the local biodiversity. As shown in other studies (Marimon et al, 2014;Marimon-Junior and Haridasan, 2005;Kunz et al, 2009;Gomes et al, 2011;Maracahipes-Santos et al, 2015), the species richness of trees and shrubs in the Cerrados of eastern Mato Grosso is among the biome's highest. Given the results of these studies, together with those of the present survey, we would recommend the consolidation of existing conservation units, and the creation of new areas that protect the distinct Cerrado phytophysiognomies found in the region of the Cerrado-Amazon transition (see Venn diagram, Maracahipes-Santos et al, 2015).…”

“…In this case, despite the clear distinctions found in the structure and species composition of the three phytophysiognomies surveyed (Pinheiro and Durigan, 2012;Maracahipes-Santos et al, 2015), the causal factors are complex, and appear to depend on the interaction among the different chemical and granulometric properties of the soils, which have distinct effects. This complexity can be perceived in the second ordination axis, which separated the dense cerrado from the other two phytophysiognomies.…”

“…In this case, all three phytophysiognomies are essential for the maintenance of the biodiversity of the Cerrado in the Cerrado-Amazon transition (see, Maracahipes-Santos et al, 2015). Comparing areas of typical and stony Cerrado in Central Brazil, Mews et al (2014) concluded that the flora of adjacent Cerrado phytophysiognomies is complementary.…”

“…In this case, the simple classification of the soils does not appear to resolve questions related to the factors that determine the establishment of these phytophysiognomies in a given area or the variation in composition/structure observed in the vegetation types, as shown by the RDA (see Maracahipes-Santos et al, 2015). But even considering the edaphic properties on their own, no clear gradients (gradual changes) were found when one goes from the most well developed physiognomy, the CO, and the more open physiognomy, the TC, which could have represented a gradient of fertility or granulometry.…”

“…We studied the woody plant communities of three distinct Cerrado phytophysiognomies (sensu Eiten, 1972;Ribeiro and Walter, 2008) located inside a single vegetation fragment at three nearby sites -cerrado woodland, also known as cerradão (hereafter, CO -12°49'26.8" S, 51°46'06.0" W), dense cerrado savanna (hereafter, DC -12°49'07.6" S, 51°46'12.3" W), and typical cerrado savanna (hereafter, TC -12°50'02.5" S, 51°45'55.9" W) -in the Cerrado-Amazon transition zone in Ribeirão Cascalheira municipality, Mato Grosso State, Brazil (see Maracahipes-Santos et al, 2015) ( Figure 1). The region has well-defined rainy and dry periods, with mean annual precipitation of 1,400-1,600 mm and average temperatures of 24-25°C .…”