Tree species sprouting from root buds in a semideciduous forest affected by fires

Abstract

Tree species which sprouted from root buds were identified in a 3.6ha area of a Semideciduous Seasonal Forest fragment in Campinas, São Paulo State (22° 55' S and 47° 05' W), affected by several fires. Connection between sprouts and main trunk root system was confirmed by digging and root exposure. Twenty seven tree species with root buds were identified, with a high proportion of Leguminosae species. The majority of identified species (45%) were characteristic of initial secondary succession stages. Distances between sprouts and main trunks varied from 0.6m (Guettarda viburnioides Cham. and Schltdl- Rubiaceae.) to 14.0m (Colubrina glandulosa Perkins-Rhamnaceae). These results lead discussions about natural and/or human-made disturbances influence on the sprouting from root buds, and its possible consequences in forest dynamics, besides the spatial occupation, and structure of populations of tree species which present their potential capacity of regeneration.