Phytosociology and ecological factors on vegetation in a seasonal forest in the central area of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Understanding the phytosociology and conditioning ecological factors of the vegetation can subsidize interventions in forests.. We analyzed the arboreal stratum and natural regeneration, as well as the influence of environmental variables on species distribution in a seasonal forest in central Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Thirty-three plots were systematically installed for the arboreal stratum sampling. In each plot, the natural regeneration Class I and Class II were measured. The main species were Trichilia elegans and Cupania vernalis in natural regeneration and Trichilia clausseni and Nectandra megapotamica in arboreal stratum. Relief, soil, and canopy influenced the arboreal stratum and natural regeneration of species. In general, the regenerating stage of the species was conditioned by distinct variables from those related to the adult stage. However, there were cases where only one variable influenced both the adult and the regenerating stages, such as the relationship between soil organic matter content and Trichilia elegans.