The present study aimed to evaluate changes in floristic composition and structure of the woody vegetation after an accidental fire occurred in sites of typical "cerrado" without (SB, control) and with (CB) clumps of Actinocladum verticillatum bamboo in Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso state. In both sites we sampled all woody individuals with diameter at soil height (Db30= 30 cm aboveground) ≥ 3 cm, before and after the fire. Sampling was performed in 30 plots of 10 × 10 m, 15 at each site. The fire caused more evident changes in the floristic composition and reductions in the richness and diversity of woody species in the CB (loss of 61% of species) than in the SB site (loss of 20%). However, the fire caused similar relative loss of individuals (67.4% and 73.5%) and basal area (75.6% and 55.2%) in SB and CB sites, respectively, with exception of small individuals, which were more markedly reduced in CB site. Fires in cerrado areas occupied with clumps of A. verticillatum may create conditions of positive feedback and result in decrease of density and local exclusion of species less tolerant to fire.
conservation; fire ecology; savanna; woody species
