Community structure of ferns in riparian forest: evaluation in anthropization gradient

  • Ivanete Teresinha Mallmann FEEVALE
  • Vinícius Leão da Silva FEEVALE
  • Jairo Lizandro Schmitt FEEVALE
Keywords: bioindicators, fragmentation, phytosociology, Southern Brazil, urbanization.

Abstract

Riparian forests are essential to the maintenance of biodiversity and foster the development of ferns that are indicators of environmental quality. However, these forests have been degraded due mainly to high population density, pattern of urban settlement and agricultural expansion in rural areas. This study evaluated the environmental quality of riparian vegetation of the Cadeia River in Southern Brazil, using phytosociological parameters of the understory’s fern community and a Rapid Assessment Protocol of Habitat Quality (RAPQH). One hundred and twenty plots of 25 m2 were equally distributed among three fragments (FI, FII, FIII). All species of herbaceous ferns were inventoried in each sample unit. We calculated parameters of density, frequency, relative dominance and importance value (IV) of species for the analysis of community structure. The lowest species richness was recorded at FIII (seven species). The floristic composition is more heterogeneous and richness is higher in FI, where the parcels had greater plant cover and RAPQH scores. The RAPQH score decreased with increasing degree of urbanization in the surrounding matrix and FI and FII were classified as “natural,” while FIII was classified as “impacted.” Considering the four species with the highest IV in the three fragments (totaling 69.11% of IV in the FI, 78.36% and 91.06% in FII and FIII respectively), it can be affirmed that the fern community structure is degraded with increasing anthropization.

Author Biographies

Ivanete Teresinha Mallmann, FEEVALE
Graduate Life Sciences - Full Degree by Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (2002) and a BA (2003), postgraduate - Specialization in Diagnosis and Environmental Planning from the University of Caxias do Sul (2004), Master of Environmental Quality by Feevale (2009). It Capes scholarship, a doctoral student in Environmental Quality University Feevale.
Vinícius Leão da Silva, FEEVALE
Possui graduação em Ciências Biológicas pela Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (2010). Mestre em Qualidade Ambiental pela Universidade FEEVALE (2013). Atualmente é Bolsista Capes, Doutorando em Qualidade Ambiental pala Universidade Feevale. Tem experiência na área de Botânica Geral, com ênfase em Taxonomia, Efeito de Borda/Qualidade Ambiental e Ecologia de Samambaias e Licófitas, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: Sul do Brasil, Taxonomia e Ecologia de Samambaias e Licófitas.
Jairo Lizandro Schmitt, FEEVALE
Doutor em Botânica pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; professor titular e docente permanente do PPG em Qualidade Ambiental (nota 5) e do Curso de Ciências Biológicas, da Universidade Feevale. Coordenador Adjunto de Mestrado Profissional para a Área de Ciências Ambientais da Capes. É membro da Comissão Interna de Bolsas PROBIC/CNPq, do Conselho Consultivo da Floresta Nacional de Canela e de São Francisco de Paula (RS). Líder do grupo de pesquisa ?Indicadores de Qualidade Ambiental? e orientador de projetos de pesquisa de discentes de doutorado, mestrado e iniciação científica voltados à avaliação da influência do meio físico e antrópico sobre a biodiversidade vegetal.
Published
20/01/2016
Section
Papers