The study of the floristic and structural variations of the tree-shrub component was carried out in two successional stages of Semideciduous Forest, initial and mature, located in the Mata do Paraíso Forest Reserve, in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The Forest Reserve is located at 20º45'S and 42º55'W, with average altitude of 689 m. The regional climate is classified as Cwb by the Köppen system. Individual trees with > 4.8 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were sampled in 20 - 10 x 30 m plots (10 plots in each site). In the initial forest, 399 individuals were identified with distribution among 27 families and 55 species. Based on the importance value (IV), the most representative species were Piptadenia gonoacantha, Vernonanthura diffusa, Miconia cinnamomifolia, Piptocarpha macropoda and Luehea grandiflora. The Shannon diversity index (H') was 3.31 nat.ind.-1 and the Pielou evenness (J') was 0.83. In the mature forest, 623 individuals were identified with distribution among 31 families and 78 species. Based on their importance value (IV), the most representative species were Euterpe edulis, Piptadenia gonoacantha, Nectandra lanceolata, Myrcia sphaerocarpa and Guapira opposita. The Shannon diversity index (H') was 3.46 nat.ind.-1 and the Pielou evenness (J') was 0.79. The diameter distributions of the four most abundant species in each forest site showed a distinct pattern, apparently related to the successional stage.
Semideciduous forest; community structure; phytossociology
