Structure of the understory community in four stretches of Araucaria forest in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)We analyzed the structure of the understory community in the Atlantic Forest sensu lato, for which phytosociological descriptions of the understory are lacking. We delineated 50 plots of 10 x 20 m each at four sites within an Araucaria forest (a subtype of Atlantic Forest), located in the municipalities of Bananal, Campos do Jordao, Itabera and Barra do Chapeu, all of which are in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. To sample the resident species of the understory, we randomly selected five 1 x 1 m subplots within each plot, resulting in a total sampling area of 250 m(2) at each site. We identified differences among the locations, mostly due to proportional differences in growth forms, in terms of species richness and the importance values within the community Factors potentially influencing the understory structure include macrodimatic and microclimatic conditions, as well as forest fragmentation, the abundance of deciduous trees in the canopy, the surrounding vegetation and geographic location.28186101Program Pesquisas em Caracterizacao, Conservacao e Uso Sustentavel da Biodiversidade (Biota, Research into the Characterization, Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [2006/03288-1, 2001/05146-6]CNPq [479084/2007-6