EDGE EFFECT ON A TREE COMMUNITY IN AN ARAUCARIA FOREST FRAGMENT IN BRAZIL

The forest fragmentation is considered to be one of the main processes causing negative effects on biodiversity. Among its effects, it causes changes in the composition and diversity of forest species through the replacement of original species by other adapted for disturbance areas. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of the edge effect over richness and abundance of tree species in an Araucaria Forest fragment in southern Brazil. Data from two plots of 1 hectare each submitted to annual inventories (since 1995) were used. Individuals with diameter at breast height (1.30 m) over 10 cm were measured, and their geographical coordinates were recorded. These individuals were plotted over a grid where the plots were divided into subplots of 10x100 m after the edge. In addition, the edge influence over mortality and ingrowth was assessed. The existence of influence over richness and abundance of tree individuals was observed, mainly in the region up to 30 m from the edge. The edge effect influences mainly the ingrowth in comparison to the mortality, and both plots responded differently to edge effects.