Phytosociology and species distribution model in an atlantic rain forest degraded by mining in Joinville, SC, Brazil

Abstract

A phytosociological study was done to support the recuperation in an atIantic rain forest area on Timbé HilI (JoinvilIe, Santa Catarina state, Brazil), degraded by mining since 20 years ago to extract cIay and gross sand. The point-centered quarter method was used on a grid of 90 sampling points at 10 m intervals, obtaining data for frequency, density and dominance (absolute and relative), value of importance, value of cover and Shannon & Wiener indexo The folIowing families were considered the most important ones: Myrtaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Moraceae, Bignoniaceae, and Melastomataceae. The most expressive and recommended species for recuperation of the area were Alchornea triplinervia (Sprengel) Müll. Arg., Calyptranthes lucida Martius ex DC., Casearia obliqua Sprengel, Cecropia pachystachya Tréc., Marlierea eugeniopsoides (Legrand & Kausel) Legrand, Miconia cinnamomifolia (De.) Naudin, Ocotea acutifolia (Nees) Mez, Ocotea odorifera (Vellozo) Rohwer, Sloanea sp.1, Tabebuia cassinoides (Lam.) DC., and Tapirira guianensis Aublet. The Shannon & Wiener diversity index was H' =3.72. The estimate of species richness was calculated by three methods: Jackknife estimate, logarithmic series and lognormal distribution. Logarithmic series and lognormal distribution were used as species distribution models. The best fit was lognormal distribution, which demonstrated an irregular distribution of species deriving from structural pattern of community, perhaps due to mining acti vity.