Abstract

VILLARROEL, Daniel; PINTO, Jesus Nazareno; RUIZ DE CENTURION, Teresa  and  PARADA, Alexander. Relationship between the woody cover and herbs richness in three Cerrado sensu lato physiognomies (Cerro Mutún, Santa Cruz, Bolivia). Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2009, vol.44, n.2, pp.83-98. ISSN 1605-2528.

With the purpose of analyzing the relationship between tree density and herb richness, three physiognomies of Cerrado sensu lato (campo sujo, campo cerrado and cerradão) were studied on Cerro Mutún, which is situated in the east of Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia). In order to evaluate tree density, 25 quadrants were established, each of one square meter, and distributed systematically over a 0.1 hectare plot in each of the physiognomies. The data were analyzed as follows: i. Using ANOVA to establish levels of species richness in the different physiognomies. ii. Looking at the corelation between herbaceous species richness and tree cover. iii. Examination of the similarity of herbaceous species composition in the different physiognomies. Results indicate that there are statistically significant differences in herbaceous species richness among the three physiognomies examined, campo sujo having the highest level (10.32 species per m²). Herb richness falls as tree cover increases. The analysis also indicated that species composition showed significant degrees of difference, cerradão sharing fewer species in common with the other two physiognomies. Thus floristic differences as well as different levels of species richness related to tree cover are both relevant factors in the ecology of each physiognomy.

Keywords : Cerrado sensu lato; Tree cover; Richness; Physiognomy; Cerro Mutún.

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