Influence of landscape features on forest maturity: The case of a fragmented landscape in the serra do mar coastal forest in Brazil

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate which landscape features could influence the maturity of fragments of the Serra do Mar Coastal Forest in the southeastern Brazil. We measured vegetation structure of 11 forest fragments, and used basal area as indicator of forest maturity state. Landscape features were characteristics of forest fragment, including size, shape, altitude, age and spatial evolution (changes such as reduction, expansion or fragmentation); and characteristics of the fragment's surroundings, including distance of the nearest highway, road, urban area and fragment of "continuous" forest, and also type of surrounding human settlement. Linear regression analysis was performed to describe the relationships between forest maturity and landscape features, and AIC was used to select the best model. Spatial evolution of the fragments and distance from the highway, roads and urban areas have better explained forest maturity. Our results could support conservation strategies to identify, locate and protect the more mature forests in tropics. © 2011 ABECO.