Aspectos da vegetação arbórea em fragmento de estepe estacional savanícola, barra do quaraí-RS, Brasil

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the floristic composition, the horizontal and vertical structures, as well as the spatial distribution patterns of the tree component in a Steppe Savanna Park located at 'Parque do Espinilho', in Barra do Quaraí, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Floristic composition and phyto-sociological analysis were carried out in a four (04) ha permanent plot (40 000 m2), where all individuals which circumference (C) was ≥ 15.7 cm, measured 30 cm from the ground, were sampled and had their circumference and total height measured. A mean of 145 individuals/ha was found, distributed in 11 species, 10 genera and eight (08) families, with basal area of 4.06 m2/ha. The Shannon Diversity Index (H') for the tree vegetation was 1.86, and the species with the highest importance values were Prosopis nigra (25.86%), Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco (24.57%), Prosopis affinis (24.30%) and Vachellia caven (10.51%), representing 85.26% of the total. The tree vegetation has two strata, the lower one with 93.3% of the trees and the upper one with only 6.7% of total. The species Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco dominated with 70.0% of trees in this stratum. Regarding the spatial distribution pattern of the species, Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco presented a grouped tendency, whereas the other ones were grouped. The savannah steppe park studied is mainly characterized by the occurrence of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco, Prosopis nigra, Prosopis affinis and Vachellia caven, constituting a unique combination of species in Brazil, presenting question of rarity in terms of species composition and structure.