SPECIAL ISSUE Effect of selective logging on forest structure and nutrient cycling in a seasonally dry Brazilian Atlantic forest

Aim The Brazilian Atlantic forest covers c. 10 % of its original extent, and some areas are still being logged. Although several ecological studies in Atlantic forest have been published over the past two to three decades, there has been little research on forest dynamics and there is a particular lack of information on the effects of disturbance. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of selective logging on forest structure, floristic composition soil nutrients, litterfall and litter layer in a seasonally dry Atlantic forest. Location The Mata do Carvão is located in the Guaxindiba Ecological Reserve in São Francisco do ltabapoana district (2124 ¢ S, 4104 ¢ W), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods Four plots (50 · 50 m) were set up in 1995 in each of two stands: unlogged and logged. In each plot, all trees ‡ 10 cm d.b.h. were enumerated, identified and measured. Vouchers were lodged at UENF Herbarium. Five surface soil samples were collected in each plot in the dry season (in October 1995). Litterfall was collected in eight traps (0.50 m2) in each plot over a year fro