This research aimed to evaluate the phytophysiognomic variations in four forest formations related to flood gradient and edaphic characteristics. The study was carried out at the Jacarenema Nautral Municipal Park, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo state, Brazil. We made four soil profiles varying in depth, and collected one sample from each horizon per profile. Piezometers were set up at 2m depth in each phytophysiognomy to record groundwater variance. Recognition and delimitation of the vegetation units followed the phytophysiognomic, ecological and floristic criteria of the different formations, and vegetation characteristics of each phytocenose were expressed by means of an illustrative profile. Four distinct classes of soil were found beneath the phytophysiognomies. Very poorly drained Histosol (Thionic, Sapric, Solodic) was found beneath the Flooded Forest, poorly drained Gleysol (Thionic, Humic, Solodic) beneath the Seasonally Flooded Forest, moderately to imperfectly drained Spodosol (Humiluvic, Hydromorphic, Duric) beneath the Non-Flooded Transitional Forest, and excessively drained Quartzarenic Entisol (Orthic, Spodic) beneath the Non-Flooded Forest. It is evident from the outcome that there are indeed vegetation responses to edaphic variables.
Flooded forests; non-flooded forests; pedologic gradient; sandy coastal-plain vegetation
