LEVANTAMENTO FITOSSOCIOLÓGICO DE REMANESCENTES FLORESTAIS NO MUNICÍPIO DE MOSSORÓ - RN

Abstract

The municipal district of Mossoró - RN is inserted into the Caatinga biome and like other coun- ties its vegetation is notably mischaracterized. Thus a phytosociological study of forest remnants was conduct- ed in Mossoró, seeking knowledge of forest wealth for possible conservation. Bibliographic and cartographic materials were consulted, as well as maps were used for better spatial visualization of forest remnants. Areas where there are forest remnants were highlighted and four sites were chosen to characterize the vegetation. At these sites, the phytosociological study was conducted by installing plots of 20 x 20 m, within which were esti- mated height and diameter at breast height (DBH) of all living individuals of the shrub and herbs layers. The phytosociological parameters considered were: Margal ef and Menhinick Diversity Index, Frequency, Density, Dominance and Coverage and Importance Percentage Index. It was found that Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) and Croton sonderianus Mull. Arg. have excelled in number of individuals, frequency and density. Poincianel- la pyramidalis (Tul.) was the one that stood out in most of the analyzed parameters. Species that stand out in an area are found at low frequency in the other. This variation can be probably explained by several factors, one of them may be the anthropic level among the studied areas. Diversity indices indicated that Point 4 showed the greatest diversity and the lowest point 3. However, the Caatinga vegetation of the areas analyzed has low diver- sity, probably by the effects of human disturbance, but with proper planning and managements could avoid its complete disappearance.