Influência do gado e da monocultura de eucalyptus sp. em florestas ripárias do sul do Brasil

Abstract

The change in land use due to agricultural activities causes a landscape change that leads to the creation of isolated forest fragments that remain embedded in a matrix that may present a greater or lesser aggressiveness according to their use. The environmental quality of this matrix can affect species composition and forest structure through several factors that impact the surrounding environment, but on the other hand, depending on its type, the array can act as an important source of biodiversity conservation. This study was conducted in two neighboring farms located in Eldorado do Sul, RS. Terra Dura Farm, owned by Celulose Riograndense S/A and most of the area is used for the monoculture of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.). The remnants of native forest are exclusively associated with the various streams that cross the area and surrounded by eucalyptus plantations of various ages and stages of production. The area is used for the planting of eucalyptus during 30 years. The cattle was isolated 20 years ago. Eldorado Farm is intended for extensive cattle ranching and its vegetation is characterized by a predominance of field with fragments of riparian forests that livestock use for grazing. We survey ten riparian fragments, five in each farm, were allocated two transects parallel to the stream to 20 m away from each other in which five were randomized plots of 10 x 10 m sampling of the tree component of the fragments. In each sampling unit circumference were recorded for all individuals with diameter at breast height greater than or equal to 5 cm (DBH ≥ 5 cm). The juvenile component was sampled in 5 x 5 m plots concentric in each plot of 10 x 10 m was sampled all individuals with more than one meter in height and less than 5 cm in diameter and estimated its total height, and its diameter at ground level (DAS). The density and composition of the herbaceous layer was sampled in plots of 1 x 1 m plots of concentric to 5 x 5 m. In these sample units of all vegetation was removed up to 1 m high, which were taxonomically identified and separated in life forms (tree, shrub, herb, grass, fern, lianes and epiphytes). To evaluate the understory in the eucalyptus plantations were selected four plots were allocated three transects of 100 m length at different distances from the edge (5, 25 and 50 m) and two transects (5 and 25 m) into the riparian vegetation. In each transect were randomly selected five samples of 5 x 5 m and sampled all juveniles using the same criteria previously cited for this stratum. In fragments adjacent to eucalyptus plantations, 61 species were found for adults and 77 for juveniles and the estimated carbon storage was 106 Mg.ha-1 for adults and 4.3 Mg.ha-1 for the herbs. In areas with presence of cattle were sampled for 62 adults and 48 for juveniles, with a carbon stock of 85.5 Mg.ha-1 for adults and 0.9 Mg.ha-1 for herbaceous. In the understory of the eucalyptus plantations were found 32 species, with 16 exclusive and 71 within the riparian forest, with 55 exclusive. Our results showed that in small forest fragments embedded in eucalypt plantations seem to be better preserved than those exposed to livestock. In addition, areas with the presence of cattle showed a reduction in carbon stock of 23.8% for the upper stratum and 79.4% in the herbaceous layer compared to areas without the presence of livestock and the planting of eucalyptus has an important role, although limited, due to shortcut the trees for the maintenance of species diversity of native forest adjacent to their understory and can act as a catalyst of the regeneration of native vegetation and maintenance of local diversity.