The influence of chinese fan palm in the regeneration of the Montane Ombrophilous Dense Forest in Serra da Cantareira, SP

Abstract

The Montane Ombrophilous Dense Forest belongs to Atlantic Forest’s domain, an important biodiversity hotspot. In Brazil, most of the invasion reports are related to terrestrial plants, being this forest the most affected. In this context is the Cantareira State Park (PEC), Sao Paulo. The PEC is home to a remnant that has a focus of invasion by several plant species, including Livistona chinensis (N.J. Jacquin) R. Brown ex Mart., known as Chinese Fan Palm. Given the potential for invasion of this species, a floristic-phytosociological study was conducted in order to analyse a possible inhibition effect in the natural regeneration process of the arboreous component caused by juveniles individuals of Livistona chinensis, with heights varying between 3 and 6 m. For each palm were installed 8 plots of 1 x 1 m, placed in quadrants, with the palm’s stipe in the center, in a way that half of the plots were placed under the canopy and half around the palm. In the analysis were considered arboreal and palms specimens ≥ 20 cm in height and with a Perimeter at Breast Height (PAP) ≤ 15 cm. The results pointed to a drastic reduced number of seedlings and saplings (28.95% and 29.85%) and of the species richness (16.13% and 8.33% of species) occurring under the canopies of these exotic palm trees in comparison with the surroundings (71.05% and 70.15% of the sampled individuals; and 61.29% and 58.33% of species, respectively). The study has shown the inhibiting effect of young individuals of this species on the forest regeneration in the PEC, by substantially reducing the richness of species and the abundance of arboreal individuals under the projection of their canopies, possibly because they serve as a shield and cause excessive shading of the place.

Keywords:
Invasive exotic species; Ecological succession; Livistona chinensis