Caracterização fisionômica e avaliação do estágio de conservação/regeneração da vegetação natural da Serra da Jiboia

Abstract

Forests are considered dynamic systems, which change over time in response to disturbances of natural or anthropogenic origin. The observation of differences in physiognomy, composition and structure within the forest continuum supports the theory that the forest is considered as a mosaic of patches of different ages. to understand the dynamics of patches in a forest, it is necessary to characterize it, which includes three aspects: composition, structure and physiognomy. The physiognomy of the vegetation can infer the dominant traits of one or a few plant forms. It is in this context that one observes different vegetation types of the Atlantic Forest, thus conferring a certain physiognomic characteristic, representing several patterns for the vegetation. In this scenario, the State of Bahia presents in the Recôncavo Sul Baiano, an important remnant of Forest Atlantic, still well preserved, the Serra da Jiboia. In view of this, the present study aimed to describe the different physiognomic patterns and determine the stages of conservation/regeneration of the natural vegetation of Serra da Jiboia (SJ). The study was carried out at 4 sites in SJ which has an area of approximately 22,000 hectares and is located in the municipalities of Castro Alves, Elísio Medrado, Santa Terezinha, São Miguel das Matas and Varzedo, in the state of Bahia. For this purpose, a protocol based on the Resolution CONAMA 05/1994, for the characterization of the Atlantic Forest in the State of Bahia. They were Launched 50m transects, for the elaboration of a profile diagram. after application of the proposed methodologies, the site I-Fazenda Cai Camarão, was classified as a Secondary Forest in Medium Stage of Regeneration (FSEMR), site II- Morro da Pioneer, it was classified as a Secondary Forest in Advanced Stage of Regeneration (FSEAR), site III- Jequitibá Reserve (CPMVS), was classified as a Primary Semideciduous Seasonal Forest (FESP), and the IV-RPPN – Guariru site, was classified as Primary Atlantic Dense Ombrophylous Forest (FODAP). Through applied methodology, it was noticed that the different physiognomic patterns studied have structural differences, also resulting in differentiated patterns in relation to the dynamics space, especially the vertical. The interpretation of the results of this work allows to infer the great diversity of the structure of the patches that make up the forest mosaic of Serra da Jiboia, and that its conservation can allow the natural regeneration of the vegetation native, and which can also be used to increase connectivity between patches of different ages, providing gene flow and, consequently, an increase in richness and local diversity.