The cerrado flora is one of the richest among the world's savannas with more than 6000 species. The cerrado covers a large territory, contains the three most important hydrographycal basins in South America and a high diversity. The objective of this work, that is part of the project Biogeography of the Cerrado Biome, was to analyse alfa and beta diversity in the cerrado sensu stricto. The sampled places were: Brasília National Park -- DF, Águas Emendadas Ecological Station -- DF, Environmentally protected Area of Gama-Cabeça de Veado -- DF, Silvânia -- GO, Paracatu -- MG and Patrocínio -- MG. The sampling was randomized with 10 plots of 20x50m in each study-site. Woody plants from 5cm dbh, excluding lianas were sampled. Shannon & Wienner's and Simpson's diversity index were used to calculate alfa diversity and Whittaker's index for beta diversity. The latter measures the rate of replacement in species composition from one place to another. A species-area curve was also drawn for the sixty plots sampled. A classification by the TWINSPAN method was also carried out. The cerrado sensu stricto in Chapada Pratinha can be separated in two phytogeographic zones: Distrito Federal -- Silvânia and Paracatu -- Patrocínio. Those coincide with a land system classification which places the first zone in the highlands and the second in the lowlands.
Cerrado; savanna; alfa diversity; beta diversity; Brazil
