The objective of this study was to characterize and compare the floristic composition of eight fragments of Calcareous Dry Forest and Arboreal Caatinga in the north of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The survey of the tree species was performed by periodic visits to the fragments. We found 114 tree species belonging to 40 botanical families in the eight fragments. Of a total of 89 species found in the Calcareous Dry Forest fragments, 37 (42%) were typical of this formation. On the other hand, from the 75 species sampled in the Arboreal Caatinga remnants, 25 species (33%) occurred only in these fragments. The cluster analysis suggested that the floristic composition of the fragments was affected by the phytophysiognomy and by local bioecological conditions. The observed relationship between remnant area and tree species richness suggests that area was a good indicator of species richness in the forest fragments. The results of this study indicate that both historical (phytophysiognomy) and ecological (e.g., remnant area and occurrence of human disturbance) factors constitute important elements that determine the composition and richness of tree species of forest fragments in the north of Minas Gerais State.
Floristic; fragmentation; Deciduous Dry Forests; Calcareous Dry Forests; Arboreal Caatinga
