Local scale variation in plant assemblage’s attributes in the semi-arid region, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Variations in physiognomy and structure associated to abiotic factors in local scale rarely are reported for the typical vegetation of Northeastern Brazil semi-arid, Caatinga. It was tested if six adjacent biotopes with distinct altitudinal (450-690m) and pedological aspects present different woody plant attributes (structure and physiognomy). A total of 2,055 stems, 23 families, 64 species/ morpho-species were recorded. Clear altitudinal or pedological local-scale gradient could not be defined along a priori defined biotopes, which hold in fact two phytocoenoses: Plateau Summit, at greatest altitude, with distinct physiognomy and exclusive taxa; and lower altitude assemblage, presenting physiognomic and structural similarity