Restingas: aspectos fisionômicos e atributos biológicos em um ecossistema adjacente à Floresta Atlântica do Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco

Abstract

The Center of Endemism Pernambuco is particularly important biogeographical and shelter the Atlantic Forest to the north of San Francisco River ocated between Alagoas and Rio Grande do Norte States. A ecosystem adjacent to the Atlantic forest sensu lato is the restinga vegetation. The sou these formations are composed predominantly for sandy sediments, classified as marine quartz sand. Some studies show that there is a natural variation in diversity, richness, ecological attributes and composition of woody species in structural gradients. However the restinga were not provided with researches. Therefore it is evident the need for such studies in a highly fragile ecosystem by human action. This study aims to characterize the structural parameters and biological attributes of the woody species of restinga of Center of Endemism Pernambuco. The study was conducted in the areas of restinga located north of the Rio San Francisco River, between parallels 5°OO’OO “and l0°30’OO” S and meridians 34°50’OO” and 37°12’OO” W (of Alagoas to Rio Grande do Norte States). The first part of the study was associated with the compilation of existing structural data, in addition to field surveys, for a joint analysis of the structure of these areas, analyzing the factors determining the similarities or differences between structural parameters, and an evaluation of correlations between these ecosystems and abiotic gradients. The results show that the structure of restinga studied seems not be influenced by abiotic gradients. However, the difference between some parameters, which influence the structure of the areas, may be related to the degree of anthropic action of restinga. The second part holds a database related to reproductive strategies of the woody species studied with a view to understand the factors that maintain vegetal diversity at area. These data are compared with other ecosystems, with the intention of promoting in the future an adjustment of management practices and conservation in the restinga. Inconspicuous fl.owers that offer nectar as a resource, open, pollinated by bees, hermaphrodite, with fleshy fruits, medium size and biotic dispersal syndromes are the characteristics of the biological attributes that fit the majority of species of restinga of Center of Endemism Pernambuco. In the results of the second part, note that the biological attributes appear to be similar to other tropical forests, with few changes, according to physiognomic and abiotic differences these ecosystems. This information may be used to guide future work in the study area because research with this type of approach could provide key data on the structure and functioning of the restinga.