IMPACTO AMBIENTAL AO LONGO DE TRILHAS EM ÁREAS DE FLORESTA TROPICAL DE ENCOSTA: Maciço da Tijuca Rio de Janeiro - RJ

Abstract

The goal of this research was to identify and assess the environmental gradient generated by the spread of the edge effect on the forest trail in two selected areas with different degrees of urban density ( Catrambi area – high density, and Soberbo area – low density), on the edge of Floresta da Tijuca - Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The working hypothesis was that the increase in urban pressure on the city-forest interface zone edge about a change in the dynamics of the edge effect, accelerating its propagation, especially in regard to structural and microclimatic changes, with a direct impact on the system’s functionality. Field data were restricted to four main variables: analysis of vegetation structure on trail border, Soil Apparent Density on trail, microclimatic variability between the trails and, finally, litter analysis on the patches of the border forest.