Distribution of tree species in a geomorphological and pedological gradient of submontane semidecidual seasonal forest in the vicinity of Rio Doce state park, Minas Gerais

Distribuição de espécies arbóreas em gradiente geomorfológico e pedológico de floresta estacional semidecidual submontana, zona de amortecimento do parque estadual do Rio Doce, MG

Distribution of tree species in a geomorphological and pedological gradient of submontane semidecidual seasonal forest in the vicinity of Rio Doce state park, Minas Gerais

Distribuição de espécies arbóreas em gradiente geomorfológico e pedológico de floresta estacional semidecidual submontana, zona de amortecimento do parque estadual do Rio Doce, MG

Priscila Bezerra de Souza^I; João José Lelis^II; Carlos Ernesto Gonçalves Reynaud Schaefer^III; Agostinho Lopes de Souza^IV; João Augusto Alves Meira Neto^V

^IUniversidade Federal do Tocantins, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal. E-mail: <[e-mail]>

^IIUniversidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Solos. E-mail: <[e-mail]>

^IIIUniversidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Solos. E-mail: <[e-mail]>

^IVUniversidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal. E-mail: <[e-mail]>

^VUniversidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal. E-mail: <[e-mail]>

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the distribution of tree species in a fragment of submontane seasonal semideciduous forest, a buffer zone in the Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, is influenced by geomorphological and weather and soil variables, therefore it can represent a source of information for the restoration of degraded areas where environmental conditions are similar to those of the study area. A detailed soil survey was conducted in the area by sampling three soil profiles per slope segment, totaling 12 profiles. To sample the topsoil, four composite samples were collected from the 10-20 cm layers in each topographic range totaling 16 composite samples. In the low ramp and the lower and upper concave slopes, the texture ranged from clay to sandy-clay. The soil and topographic gradient was characterized by changes in the soil physical-chemical properties. The soil in the 10-20 cm sampled layer was sandier, slightly more fertile and less acid in the low ramp than the clayer soil, nutrient-poor and highly acid soil at the top. The soil conditions in the lower and upper slope of the sampled layers, in turn, were intermediate. The P levels were limiting in all soils. The species distribution along the topographic gradient was associated with variations in chemical fertility, acidity and soil texture. The distribution of Pera leandri, Astronium fraxinifolium, Pouteria torta, Machaerium brasiliense and Myrcia rufipes was correlated with high aluminum levels and to low soil fertility and these species may be indicated for restoration of degraded areas on hillsides and hilltops in regions where environmental conditions are similar. The distribution of Pouteria venosa, Apuleia leiocarpa and Acacia polyphylla was correlated with the less acid and more fertile soil in the environment of the low ramps, indicating the potential for the restoration of similar areas.

Keywords: Soil-vegetation, Topographic gradient e Geomorphological gradient.

RESUMO

Este estudo teve como objetivos testar a hipótese de que a distribuição de espécies arbóreas num fragmento de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual Submontana, Zona de Amortecimento do Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, MG, é influenciada por variáveis geomorfológicas e edáficas e, dessa forma, fornecer subsídios para a recuperação de áreas degradadas em condições ambientais similares às da área de estudo. Foi realizado um levantamento detalhado de solos na área, com a abertura de perfis, sendo três em cada faixa (Rampa baixa, Baixa encosta côncava, Alta encosta côncava e Topo), totalizando 12 perfis. Nas coletas superficiais de solo foram colhidas quatro amostras compostas, na profundidade de 10-20 cm em cada faixa topográfica (Rampa baixa, Baixa encosta côncava, Alta encosta côncava e Topo), totalizando 16 amostras compostas. A partir dessas coletas foi realizada a caracterização química e granulométrica de cada amostra. Os solos foram classificados de acordo com o novo Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos. Os resultados da análise textural do solo na posição topográfica de Topo indicaram que a textura desse solo era muito argilosa. Nas posições topográficas Rampa baixa, Baixa encosta côncava e Alta encosta côncava, a textura variou de argilosa a argiloarenosa. O gradiente pedológico e topográfico é caracterizado por alterações nas propriedades físico-químicas do solo, sendo este amostrado (10-20 cm) na Rampa baixa mais arenosa, pouco mais fértil e menos ácida, em comparação com a do solo no Topo, mais argiloso, com teores baixos de macronutrientes e elevada acidez. A Baixa Encosta e Alta Encosta dos solos amostrados (a 10-20 cm), por sua vez, apresentaram condições edáficas intermediárias. Os teores de P eram limitantes em todos os solos. A distribuição das espécies ao longo do gradiente topográfico é associada com as variações da fertilidade química, acidez e textura do solo. Pera leandri, Astronium fraxinifolium, Pouteria torta, Machaerium brasiliense, Myrcia rufipes, Swartzia apetala e Lecythis lurida apresentaram suas distribuições correlacionadas com os teores elevados de alumínio e baixa fertilidade do solo, podendo ser indicadas para restauração de áreas degradadas em encostas e topos de morros em regiões com condições ambientais semelhantes às da área estudada. Pouteria venosa, Apuleia leiocarpa e Acacia polyphylla tiveram suas distribuições correlacionadas com solo menos ácido e mais fértil do ambiente mais plano de rampas, apresentando potencial para restauração de áreas similares.

Palavras-chave: Solo-vegetação, Gradiente topográfico and Geomorfológico.

1. INTRODUCTION

In the last decades, there has been a considerable progress in studies of forest communities, mainly in view of their importance for the conservation of biological diversity. In addition, this has progressively becoming more essential due to the disordered process of land occupation which, in the most divergent regions of the country, has split contiguous forest formations into fragments. Moreover, the remaining areas are usually located on private estates and exposed to countless disturbances (OLIVEIRA FILHO et al., 1994a).

Several studies have shown that one of the main factors in the floristic composition and forest structure is the effect of environmental heterogeneity, which can be act even in small fragments (OLIVEIRA FILHO et al., 1994b, 1998; DURIGAN et al., 2000; BOTREL et al., 2002; CARVALHO et al., 2005; ROCHA et al., 2005). This heterogeneity is a result of the diversity of factors interacting in the communities. Due to the response of the species to these factors, each location has its particular features as well as characteristics in common with other locations. Trends that can answer a few questions and raise several others can be observed acting as a driving force towards further studies (RODRIGUES et al., 2007).

At a local scale, the topography of tropical forests is considered the most essential variable in spatial distribution and structure, because it generally represents changes in soil properties, mainly in terms of groundwater regime and fertility. The correlation between tree species distribution, soil variables and topography has been successively demonstrated in several studies on tropical forests (OLIVEIRA FILHO et al., 2001; ESPÍRITO SANTO et al., 2002; SOUZA et al., 2003; CARVALHO et al., 2005; FERREIRA JR. et al., 2007).

In fragments of seasonal semideciduous forest in regions with hilly or mountainous landscape changes in the distribution of tree vegetation along the topographic gradients and their relationships with edaphic factors need to be analyzed to define conservation and management strategies of these remnant forests as well as of forest restoration in already degraded areas (MARTINS et al., 2003).

In the region of the Vale do Rio Doce, in the northern Zona da Mata of the state of Minas Gerais, a series of studies has been conducted in forest fragments, to increase the understanding of the ecology of native tree species aiming at selecting species that will be used in subsequent efforts of revegetation and identification (DRUMOND AND MEIRA-NETO, 1999; LOMBARDI and GONÇALVES, 2000; LOPES et al., 2002; BORTOLUZZI et al., 2004). Basically, these studies determine the preferential habitats of species growth and establishment and identify correlations between floristics and structure of the tree community.

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the distribution of tree species in a fragment of submontane seasonal semideciduous forest, in the buffer zone of the Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, MG, is influenced by geomorphological and edaphic variables to provide relevant information for the restoration of degraded areas environmentally similar to those of the study area.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

2.1. Study area

The study was conducted in a 1,500-ha forest fragment in Dionísio-MG (19°48'S and 42°31'W, at approximately 450 m asl), which is a buffer zone in the Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais. The climate in the region is humid subtropical, with a rainy summer and dry winter season, from April through September. The average annual rainfall is 1,450 mm and the annual temperature ranges from 20 to 23°C (GILHUIS, 1986). The soils are mostly Red-Yellow and Haplic Cambisols, both dystrophic, acidic and with low natural fertility, a common characteristic of soils in the region of Vale do Rio Doce. The relief is hilly to strongly hilly and the soil texture is from clay to very clay (LOMBARDI; GONÇALVES, 2000). The fragment vegetation was characterized as a submontane seasonal semideciduous forest (VELLOSO et al., 1991), growing on the geomorphological gradients, ie, the topographic positions: low ramp, low concave slope, concave slope and hill top.

2.2. Vegetation sampling

The plot method (MUELLER-DOMBOIS; ELLENBERG, 1974) was used in this study. One hundred and twenty contiguous 10 x 10 m plots were determined, corresponding to a total sampling area of 12,000 m², or 1.20 ha, distributed over the following topographic units: low ramp, lower concave slope, upper concave slope and hill top. Four groups of 30 contiguous plots were marked along the slope: plots 1 - 30 in the low ramp, 31 - 60 in the lower concave slope, 61 - 90 in the upper concave slope and 91 - 120 on the top.

All trees with circumference greater than or equal to 10 cm, 1.30 m from the ground (CBH) were considered. The botanical material was identified based on the literature and by comparison in the Herbarium in the Department of Plant Biology at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa. The species index was updated with the specific binomens of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1993) and Missouri Botanical Garden Web site (available at: http://www.mobot.org/W3T/search/vast.html) in June 2007. The classification system APG II was used (SOUZA; LORENZI, 2005).

2.3. Soil analysis

A detailed soil survey was conducted in the area, with the opening of three profiles per range (low ramp, lower concave slope, and upper concave slope hill top), totaling 12 profiles. After that, the chemical properties and particle size distribution of each horizon were characterized. The soils were classified according to the new Brazilian Soil Classification System (EMBRAPA, 1999).

Based on the created map, four composite samples were collected at a depth of 10-20 cm in each topographic range, to measure the soil chemical properties in the plots, totaling 16 composite samples. The definition of these four ranges was based on soil mapping in the field, where four plots of each class were selected in which composite sampling was randomly performed, as follows: plots 1 - 4 in the low ramp, 5-8 in the lower concave slope, 9 - 12 in the upper concave slope and 13 - 16 at the hill top. Analyses were performed in the laboratory of the soil department of the UFV. The following soil characteristics were determined: pH in water, total organic carbon, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca⁺²), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al ⁺³), potential acidity (H + Al), sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity [CTC (t)] effective cation exchange capacity at pH 7.0 (T), base saturation index (V), Al saturation index (m) and soil size fractions (sand, silt and clay) to define the texture class (EMBRAPA, 1997).

The Monte Carlo permutation (randomization) test was used to evaluate the significance level of the main axis of canonical ordination, to assess the probability of matches found in the relationships among environmental variables. The coefficients of regression between the chemical and physical characteristics of the profiles studied in the different altitude ranges low ramp, lower concave slope, upper concave slope, and hill top were tested to show the significance of the correlation of the curve trend line.

2.4. Ordination of soil and vegetation data

To test the hypothesis that species distribution varies along the geomorphological and pedological gradient, the vegetation data were analyzed together with data from soil analysis, based on the canonical correlation analysis (CCA) (TER BRAAK, 1987). The CCA provides a direct ordination analysis of the gradients, explaining the species distribution in relation to environmental variables (TER BRAAK, 1987; TER BRAAK, 1995).

Two matrices were constructed for this analysis: a vegetation matrix containing the values of species density in the plots, and an environmental matrix containing the soil data. The analysis was performed by using the program PC-ORD (MCCUNE; MEFFORD, 1999). Only species with five or more trees were considered in the total survey, since in ordination techniques, rare species hardly influence results (GAUCH, 1982) but impair the interpretation of CCA. Therefore, the vegetation matrix consisted of 27 tree species and the environmental matrix of the variables P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, fine sand, coarse sand, and clay.

3. RESULTS

3.1. Physicochemical soil characterization

The results of textural analysis of soil ranged from top topographic position. In the plots of the lower ramp and lower and upper concave slopes, the texture ranged from clay to sandy-clay.

The results of soil chemical analysis are presented in Table 1. In relation to pH, H + Al, m, all soils were acidic and had a clear pattern of variation along the topographic gradient. But the Al content increased from the low ramp to the top, indicating greater soil acidity at the hill top than in the low ramp, and intermediate contents in the upper and lower concave slope positions.

The levels of extractable P by Mehlich - 1 were extremely low and represent the chemical poverty of the system and the dependence on biocycling for the maintenance of the forest biomass.

3.2. Ordination of soil and vegetation data

The results of canonical correlation analysis 10-20 cm are presented in Figure 1 and in Table 2. The scores of species and their respective abbreviations are given in Table 3.

The eigenvalues for the first two axes of canonical ordination sampled in topsoils 10-20 cm were 0.323 and 0.303 with the first axis explaining 16.3% of the total variance of the data and the second 13.9%.

The permutation test of Monte Carlo, for the first two ordination axes sampled in soils 10-20 cm, showed that the correlations between species abundance in plots and the soil variables were significant at 5% probability.

The species ordination on the first and second axes of CCA (Figure 1) sampled in surface soil (10-20 cm) suggests that species such as Machaerium brasiliense, Swartzia apetala, Lecythis lurida, Astronium fraxinifolium, Pera leandri, Pouteria torta, Myrcia rufipes, Myrcia tijucensis and Jacaranda macrantha tend to be more abundant in plots on the top, with more loamy soil, higher Al content, higher Mg and K concentrations and greater depth.

On the opposite far end of the gradient, another group of species was shown to be correlated with better conditions of chemical fertility and more sandy soil texture, including Pouteria venosa, Apuleia leiocarpa, Acacia polyphylla, Tapirira guianensis, Miconia calvescens, Myrcia fallax, Newtonia contorta, Siparuna guianensis, Licania octandra, Xylopia aromatica, and Xylopia sericea, among others (Figure 1). It is important to note that these species occur on the low ramp and on the lower and upper concave slopes.

However, the ordination of the plots on the first and second axis (Figure 1) sampled in the soil surface (10-20 cm) showed a soil gradient where the plots (1 - 4) of the low ramp were correlated with more sandy soil. In this same direction of axis 1, the plots of the top position (plots 13, 14, 15 and 16) were correlated with soils with higher clay and Al content.

The set of results shows that despite being little evident, the changes in the soil chemical fertility and texture over the topographic gradient may influence the tree vegetation distribution in the gradient, especially between the topographic positions low ramp and top, which confirms the initial study hypothesis.

3.3. Analysis of environmental variables and the Pearson Correlation (r)

The chemical and physical attributes of the profiles in the four ranges identified in the fragment of the Mata do Mumbaça (low ramp, lower and upper concave slope, and hill top) classified soil fertility in the low ramp as better, the Dystrophic Cambisols in the lower and upper concave slope as poorer and the Dystrophic Latossolo Amarelo on the top as poorest.

The first soil class found in the low ramp includes relatively young and rich soil, also dystrophic Haplic Cambisols, where the landscape has a flat to slightly inclined topography, with consequently more concentrated and fertile environments. In a more detailed evaluation of the chemical characteristics along the diagnostic profile of this soil class, it was observed that only in the 30-50 cm, 50-70 cm and 70-100 cm layers base saturation (V) is above 20%, featuring a richer environment only in deeper layers, while the material of origin was naturally very leached.

The lower and upper slope are composed of dystrophic Haplic Cambisols located on the concave and steeper slopes, just below the dystrophic Latossolo Amarelo of the top and uphill from the richer soils in the low ramp. These ranges of dystrophic Cambisols (lower and upper slope) represent a concave and ascending environment, intermediate between the dystrophic Latossolo Amarelo of the hill top, uphill from the Cambisols of the low ramp, slightly more fertile in terms of soil chemical fertility and water content.

The hill top is associated with dystrophic yellow latosol that contains strongly drained soils with clay texture. These soils were found on the highest heights and least sloping topography, characterizing a dystrophic environment that is richer in organic carbon, with high exchangeable Al contents in the deeper layers (30-50 cm, 50-70 cm and 70-100 cm). It is important to note that both the low ramp as well as the lower and upper slopes had been formed by colluvial sediments originated from the highest altitudes, or from the saprolites exposed by erosion.

The levels of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the Cambisols of the low ramp were significant and highest, therefore the values of the sum of bases (SB) and base saturation (V) as well as the pH were the highest and equilibrium phosphorus levels considerably high.

In the lower and upper slopes, the pH of the Cambisols was high, though lower than in the low ramp. The levels of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were low, which resulted in a base saturation (V) of less than 40%, so the soil was characterized as dystrophic, but alic, due to the low exchangeable Al content.

The top range (dystrophic yellow Latosol) was characterized by strong acidity and low levels of P, K and Ca²⁺, which conferred low levels of SB and V. The Al saturation levels (m) were also the highest, due to the higher absolute value of exchangeable Al, but with very high levels of OM that can complex exchangeable Al.

In summary, if the values of SB and V were used as markers of the soil nutritional status, they would indicate an ascending fertility gradient from the hill top to the upper concave slop and from the lower concave slope to the low ramp.

The environmental heterogeneity, reflected in the different soils classes, is related to the geomorphological gradient underlying the area. At the top of the area, with less slope, is the dystrophic Yellow Latosol, where there are more leached soils with impoverished nutrient content, due to a more advanced pedogenesis (EMBRAPA, 1999), apart from the more marked drainage, resulting in an extremely oligotrophic environment, acid and rich in Al³⁺.

The leaching and stability of the former erosion surface can explain the destruction of easily weatherable primary minerals of the Dystrophic Yellow Latosol at higher altitudes and clay formation (mainly of kaolinite) was a consequence.

The existence of an environment that is a little richer in areas of low ramps is given by the accumulation of younger colluvial soil, where saprolite is closer to the surface.

With regard to the chemical and physical properties, it was observed that few environments had a positive regression with the variables studied, while in general, most nutrients were highly correlated with OM, including Ca+Mg, SB, K, pH, Al and P.

The levels of available P extracted by Mehlich were correlated with OM in all topographic ranges, particularly in the horizons A (0-20 cm) and B (30-50 cm). It is noteworthy that the regression between these two variable, P and OM, was perfect and positive (r² = 1) in the lower and upper concave slope at depths of 0-20 cm and 30-50 cm.

The values of silt and sum of bases (SB) in the 0-20 cm layer were highly correlated in all topographical segments, but the r² values were negative. The values of pH and OM are clearly correlated in the surface soils (0-20 cm and 30-50 cm) of the lower concave slope.

Low correlations were found in the 0-20 cm surface layer between the variables Ca+Mg x Clay and SB x clay whereas Ca+Mg x OM were well correlated in all environments. The silt and K levels in the deep low ramp (70-100 cm) and deep upper slope (30-50 cm) were zero, in other words, these two variables did not depend on each other, opposite to what occurs when the silt levels correspond to higher concentrations of micas and primary minerals with potassium.

4. DISCUSSION

4.1. Physicochemical soil characterization

It appears that the soils are poor, with high Al levels and low base saturation (ALVAREZ V. et al., 1999). The occurrence of forest vegetation in dystrophic soils suggests that the replacement of nutrients depends on an efficient cycling strategy (RODRIGUES et al., 1989).

Levels of P, K, Ca, and Mg gradually increased from the hill top to the low ramp. This shows a slightly higher chemical fertility in the soil of the low ramp compared to the poorer soil leached from the top (MARTINS et al., 2003). Along soil geomorphological gradients, soil fertility normally increases from the top to the low ramp, and these variations are related to the removal of material from the higher and their deposition in the lower parts (RESENDE et al., 1995; BOTREL et al., 2002; MARTINS et al., 2003).

The results agree with the known chemical pattern of soils in the region of Zona da Mata - MG, where soils in higher landscape positions are dystrophic, with higher Al levels, while the slopes and flat land are more fertile and less acid (CÔRREA, 1983; CARVALHO-FILHO, 1989; KER; SCHAEFER, 1995; MARTINS et al., 2003).

4.2. Ordination of soil and vegetation data

According to BOTREL et al. (2002) and to MARTINS et al. (2003), plots installed in positions lowered and the lower third of the slope are correlated with sandy soil and with higher concentrations of P, K, Ca and MG. On the opposite side of axis 1, plots of topographic positions the upper third of the slope and top soil are correlated with more clay soils, poor in nutrients and with higher aluminum content.

As mentioned above, the first two axes explained approximately 31% (axis 1) and 30% (axis 2) of the total variance of the data, indicating that the floristic variables contains a lot of noise, i.e, a high proportion of not explained variance, which is very common in vegetation data (TER BRAAK, 1987). But these values can be considered intermediate compared with similar studies conducted in seasonal semideciduous forest in southern Minas Gerais (BOTREL et al., 2002) and in the Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais (MARTINS et al., 2003), indicating the existence of a environmental gradient where some species are restricted to certain plots along it.

Among these, Astronium fraxinifolium, which occurs in different forest formations and the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), is considered a generalist species (RIZZINI, 1963), in other words, it is adapted to poor soils as well. In this study the species Xylopia sericea was found in the upper concave slope, as confirmed in the study of (MARTINS et al., 2003).

This group of species adapted to more selective edaphic conditions, e.g., high acidity and very low fertility, could be used in forest restoration projects of degraded areas, mainly in slopes and hill tops covered with degraded pastures (MARTINS et al., 2003).

Pouteria venosa, Apuleia leiocarpa, Siparuna guianensis, Newtonia contorta, Licania octandra, Myrcia fallax, Miconia calvescens and Tapirira guianensis have been sampled frequently in floristic phytosociological surveys carried out in seasonal semideciduous forest, particularly the genera Apuleia, Siparuna, Myrcia and Tapirira, which can be recommended for forest restoration in these environments (BOTREL et al. 2002; LOPES et al., 2002; MARTINS et al., 2003).

According to (MARTINS et al., 2003) the content and aluminum saturation increased significantly from low ramp to the top.

The set of results confirm the considerations of (CLARK, 2002) and (MARTINS et al., 2003), on the relationship between edaphic factors and vegetation, which highlight the role of topography and edaphic factors in determining species distribution.

4.3. Analysis of environmental variables and the Pearson Correlation (r)

Ranges of dystrophic Cambisols, dystrophic Haplic Cambisols and dystrophic Yello Latosol, these are areas of intense mass movement, where thick colluvia burying previous soil levels are not uncommon, as described by (FERREIRA JR. et al., 2007).

According to (RESENDE et al., 1988), the formation of an increasing nutrient gradient and water content in the direction top to base is common in soils with steep topography. This gradient is a result of the effect of topography on the factor time in soil formation, as controller of the period of exposure to bioclimatic agents (climate and organisms), as observed by (RESENDE et al., 1997). These authors claim that older soils (longer exposure time to weathering agents) are located on the highest surfaces with smooth surface, while younger soils are located in the most rejuvenated parts of the landscape, which are exactly the lower and sometimes more rugged areas.

In these younger soils, in agreement with (RESENDE et al., 1988, 1997; 2002) and Guerra and (CUNHA, 1996), natural fertility tends to be higher, the clay fraction activity increased (cation exchange capacity), the amount of easily wheatherable primary minerals larger and silt content higher, as opposed to the soils in high positions, which are more weathered by the high pedogenetic age, deep, porous and with lower natural fertility. These more weathered soils act as a great P drain, where most soil P is adsorbed to iron and aluminum oxides and recalcitrant organic matter in forms unavailable in the short term (NOVAIS; SMYTH 1999; MCGRATH et al., 2001; RESENDE et al., 1997).

According to (NOVAIS; SMYTH, 1999), with increasing weathering degree, gradual changes in the soil characteristics make it electropositive, causing a drop of the ECEC (effective cation exchange capacity) and reduced base saturation, while gradually increasing the retention of anions such as phosphate, making the soils acid, leached and very P-poor.

The previous weightings explain the low nutrient levels in the dystrophic Latossolo Amarelo (Top) and the high values of potential acidity (H + Al) and exchangeable (Al), Al saturation (m), as well the strongly acidic character (EMBRAPA, 1999). They also explain the low P content in the four soil classes, confirming the statement of Resende et al., (1988) that P deficiency is high in 65.1% of the tropical soils and moderate in 26.6%. According to (RESENDE et al., 1988) and (RAVEN et al., 2001), the plant demand for P is much lower than for nitrogen (N) and potassium (K).

(RESENDE et al., 2002) formulated the principle that in essence, plants need sunlight, water and nutrients and that these factors form the basic environmental triangle, while the other factors - soil class, relief, geological substrate and so on, are supporting factors and should therefore be interpreted in terms of resources of radiation, water and nutrients. This concept shows how the heterogeneity of the abiotic environment creates locally differentiated conditions which affect the vegetation, influencing ecological aspects.

One aspect related to conservation and restoration of forest formations of the Mata Atlântica is the presence of environments considered unstable in terms of erosion and nutrient loss. According to (RESENDE et al., 2002), the low nutrient resource in poor soils with shallow solum (horizon A + B), is maintained under natural vegetation, by the process of nutrient cycling. When the native vegetation is removed, this process is minimized, causing significantly increased nutrient losses.

Since a great part of the Atlantic Forest biome, particularly in the Southeast, is characterized by the hilly relief called "Mares de Morros", the depletion of the dystrophic soil of these regions is aggravated by the predominance of the so-called steep landforms, on the edges of amphitheater-like ravines, which are typical of this strongly hilly relief. The term "Mares de Morros" was, according to (MAIO, 1980), coined by Deffontaines to designate the morphology of the landscape dominated by convex elevations in the shape of a "half orange", resulting from fluvial dissection and physicochemical weathering of the rocks of the Precambrian crystalline mass.

5. CONCLUSIONS

The pedological and topographic gradient was characterized by alterations in physicochemical soil properties; the 10-20 cm soil layer in the low ramp were more sandy, slightly more fertile and less acid compared with the hill top, where the soil was more clay, nutrient-poor and highly acidic. The conditions in the same soil layers in the lower and upper slope, in turn, were intermediate. P levels were limiting in all soils.

The species distribution along the topographic gradient was associated with changes in chemical fertility, acidity and soil texture.

6. REFERENCES

Recebido em 26.04.2010 e aceito para publicação em 28.05.2012.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  02 Oct 2012
• Date of issue
  Aug 2012

History

• Received
  26 Apr 2010
• Accepted
  28 May 2012