Litterfall: A Bio-indicator for Edge Effect in a Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest

• Main Authors: Murilo Rezende Machado, Rodrigo Camara de Souza, Geângelo Petene Calvi, Fátima Conceição Márquez Piña-Rodrigues, Paulo Sergio dos Santos Leles
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro 2018-07-01
• Series: Floresta e Ambiente
• Subjects: forest fragmentation; atlantic forest; deciduous material
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2179-80872018000300114&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the use of litterfall as an indicator of fragmentation in a Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest in Além Paraíba, MG, Brazil. Litterfall was collected monthly for one year in conical collectors (0.25 m2 of surface), located at seven distances from the forest edge: 10, 30, 60, 100, 160, 250 and 350 m. The litterfall was dried in an oven and separated (leaves, branches, reproductive structures, miscellaneous). Litterfall was greater near the forest edge, probably due to a predominance of species with high leaf deposition (pioneers and deciduous). Litterfall had peaks at the beginning of the rainy season for the average obtained from the seven distances from the forest edge. The edge effect did not clearly influence the contribution of the fractions or the seasonality of total litterfall.