FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISATION OF AN ANTHROPISED ATLANTIC FOREST FRAGMENT

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the functional expression of tree sinusiae in three sectors of a forest fragment in relation to different land use histories. The study recorded the number of individuals, number of individuals with multiple stems and number of tillers, calculated the percentages of tillered individuals and species, and then classified the species into regeneration and dispersal guilds. The most anthropised sector of the forest showed higher tillering and a larger proportion of pioneer and light-demanding climax species. The sector with moderate anthropisation presented intermediate tillering and mixed occurrence of light-demanding and shade-tolerant guilds. The non-anthropised sector showed lower tillering and a higher number of shade-tolerant species. The distribution of zoochorous individuals was not significant. In conclusion, the different levels of anthropisation provided distinct patterns of tillering and different compositions in regeneration guilds, highlighting their influence on the ecology of tropical forests.