Arboreal Vegetation on the North and South Slopes of a Montana Forest in Nova Friburgo-RJ, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Different environmental attributes of north and south slopes of a Dense Ombrofilous Montana Forest in Serra do Mar can explain landscape variation and ecosystem forest species composition. Twelve slopes were assessed in the interfluve zone in Nova Friburgo, State of Rio de Janeiro, six on each slope exposition, using the point-centered quarter method on the north and south slopes. The 480 individuals evaluated belong to 119 species, 75 genera, and 40 families. The similarity between the slopes was 36%, where 43 species were common to both north and south slopes, 36 species were exclusive to south slopes, and 40 were exclusive to north slopes. The most abundant species was Euterpe edulis L. with 50 individuals on south slopes and 29 on north slopes. It was concluded that high biodiversity and slopes exposition have an influence on species similarity/exclusivity patterns.

Keywords:
diversity; similarity; Atlantic Forest.