Acta Scientiarum: Biological Sciences (Jan 2011)
Estrutura espacial e deposição de sementes de Hymenaea courbaril L. em um fragmento florestal no sudoeste goiano = Spatial structure and seed deposition of Hymenaea courbaril L. in a forestal fragment in the southeast of the Goiás State
Abstract
O objetivo do presente trabalho é identificar e descrever o padrão dedistribuição espacial de Hymenaea courbaril L. (Fabaceae) e os fatores condicionantes em um fragmento florestal, denominado Mata do Açude, município de Jataí Estado de Goiás. O procedimento adotado para coleta dos dados espaciais foi o método da distância conhecidocomo T – Square, utilizado para duas classes de tamanho: jovens e adultos, com circunferência de caule inferior e superior a 15 cm, respectivamente. Os fatores condicionantes analisados foram o padrão espacial de deposição das sementes e as características do substrato (solo e serrapilheira). A estrutura espacial da população foi identificada pelo teste de Hines (ht), a qual apresentou distribuição agregada, tanto para indivíduos adultos (ht = 1,47, p The objective of this study was to identify and describe the pattern of spatial distribution of Hymenaea courbaril L. (Fabaceae) and its structuring factors in the Mata do Açude forest fragment in Jataí Municipality, Goiás state. We used two individual size classes: juveniles and adult, with stalk circumference smaller and bigger than 15 cm, respectively. The population spatial data were sampled by the ‘T-Square’ distance method and the structuring factors analyzed were the spatial deposition pattern of seeds and substrate conditions (soil and litter). The Hines statistical test (ht) was used to detect the population spatial pattern. The tree population presented aggregated spatial structure, for both adults (ht = 1.47, p < 0.005) and juveniles (ht = 1.88, p < 0.005), with greater seed density at four meters from the plant. The soil conditions were not different among sampled points. On the other hand, the litter conditionspresented significant differences for moisture and dried organic matter. These data suggested that the recruitment and spatial distribution of H. courbaril in the Mata do Açude is strongly structured by the seed deposition pattern and litter conditions.
