Trees of a urban forest fragment: Floristic and structure

Abstract

This study aimed to carry out a floristic and structural survey of an urban forest fragment at ‘Parque Ecológico Municipal José Milanese’, in the municipality of Criciúma, Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, emphasizing the importance of this fragment for the conservation of endangered species. Survey consisted in the installation of 100 contiguous plots of 10 × 10 m in Submontane Dense Ombrophilous Forest, all tree species with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm were sampled. One hundred and thirty-seven (137) species were recorded, being Myrtaceae the richest family. Cryptocarya moschata Nees & Mart. presented the highest value of importance, mainly due to the larger diameter of its stems, followed by Psychotria vellosiana Benth., Myrcia pubipetala Miq. and Guatteria australis A.St.-Hil., evidencing the possibility of their use in ecological restoration programs in forest fragments of the region. We concluded that the fragment studied has a high specific richness when compared to others in the region, making it an important source of propagules for adjacent areas. In addition, the knowledge produced from this study may provide alternatives for use and management in similar areas, or even altered forest environments, in general.