EVALUATION OF FIRE IMPACT IN THE REGENERATION STRATUM IN A SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST SITE IN VICOSA, MG

This study was carried out in a fragment of a Seasonal Semideciduous Forest, which belongs to the Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil (20 degrees 35'-28 degrees 50'S e 42 degrees 45'-43 degrees 00'W), where ten 5 x 5m plots, 1m away from each other, were set up. A controlled burning was performed on the plots, following the wind-driven fire technique, according to the slope orientation. The natural regeneration layer was floristically and structurally characterized before and after the fire. The floristic survey was performed on the upper right corner of each plot aided by a 1 x 1m wooden square strung with rubber bands each 10cm, making up a net for mapping the sampled individuals in two distinct periods; before fire treatment and then two years after that. Twenty four species and 12 families were sampled for both inventories. The families with greater species richness were: Rubiaceae (6), Fabaceae (4) e Myrtaceae (4). The floristic similarity found was 35% and the species with higher cover value were: Sorocea bomplandii, Psychothria sessilis, and Anadenanthera macrocarpa. There was no meaningful reduction in the species density between the samplings, the same cannot be considered for the Shannon diversity index. The individuals sampled belonged to shrubby or woody vegetation, with resprouting being the key mechanism for this fragment regeneration.