Influência do distúrbio antrópico na estrutura de populações vegetais ao longo de um gradiente de elevação na caatinga

Sérgio de Faria Lopes; Maiara Bezerra Ramos; Humberto Araújo de Almeida; Gilbevan Ramos de Almeida; Fernanda Kelly Gomes da Silva; Anderson Silva Pinto

doi:10.53661/1806-9088202448263640

Authors

Sérgio de Faria Lopes Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Departamento de Biologia, Campina Grande, PB - Brasil.
Maiara Bezerra Ramos Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Colegiado de Ciências Biológicas, Petrolina, PB - Brasil
Humberto Araújo de Almeida Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em em Biologia Vegetal, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brasil
Gilbevan Ramos de Almeida Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Campina Grande, PB - Brasil.
Fernanda Kelly Gomes da Silva Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Campina Grande, PB - Brasil.
Anderson Silva Pinto Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação, Recife, PB - Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53661/1806-9088202448263640

Keywords:

Population structure, Altitude, Generalist species

Abstract

Elevation gradients are useful models for testing how the variation of abiotic factors and anthropogenic disturbance modulate the population structure of plant species. Despite the small range of elevation, mountains in the semi-arid region of Brazil are subject to different levels of anthropic pressure. We investigated whether structural parameters of two species (Croton blanchetianus Baill. and Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.) Gagnon & G.P. Lewis) with wide distribution in Caatinga, vary along an elevation gradient. We established 45 plots on three elevation levels. Next, we calculated abundance, percentage of tiller individuals, number of tillers, average diameter, average height, basal area, and above-ground biomass in each plot. Additionally, we recorded six metrics of chronic anthropogenic disturbance (CAD) in each plot. We tested whether species parameters differed between elevation levels and evaluated the influence of CAD on the structural parameters of each species. Abundance, percentage of tiller individuals, and number of tillers were higher at the gradient base for the two species. The metrics of CAD significantly influenced abundance and number of tillers, showing that there is an increase in these parameters in the most disturbing areas. The high capacity for regrowth of dry forest species provides resilience; however, it can contribute to proliferating populations of generalist species tolerant to environments with high rates of CAD. The study highlights relevant observations related to the ecology and distribution of plant populations in the Caatinga, mainly related to elevation gradient recognized as important refuges of biodiversity in this region of Brazil.

Keywords: Population structure; Altitude; Generalist species.