Superabundância de bambus em paisagens fragmentadas é influenciada pela forma do fragmento, distância de estradas e tipo de matriz

Abstract

Forest fragmentation and anthropogenic land uses may act as invasion facilitators of alien plant species. However, little attention has been given to the expansion of native species that become locally overabundant. These overabundant species could negatively affect others native species, causing local extinctions, but the effects and causes of the native overabundance species are poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether landscape characteristics, such as urbanization, land-cover attributes, proximity index, and mean shape complexity, influence the abundance and coverage of two overabundant bamboo species. The study was conducted in 15 forest fragments around Alfenas, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. We calculated composition and configuration parameters at three buffer distances (600 m, 800 m and 1000 m). Bamboo density and coverage in each fragment were quantified for 30 circular plots (2 m radius): 15 from the edge (0 m) and 15 within the interior (50 m) of the fragment. Both bamboos are forest species that are sensitive to light variations. We found that the abundance of Paradiolyra micrantha and Merostachys sp. increases with distance from roads and cities in moderately disturbed habitats, characterized by having a more irregular fragment shape and the proximity of open matrix types near the fragments. However, it was observed that the bamboo species did not respond similarly to invasive species, and where favored only in areas of moderate disturbance, which forest fragments are far from cities and roads, surrounded by a higher proportion of agricultural matrices like coffee and sugarcane, low percentage of pasture, and also when fragments have a more regular shape. These results are important to improve our knowledge of the natural history of overabundant plant species and for fragmented landscape conservation programs. Management projects to improve the quality of remnants should aim to maintain more regular fragment shapes and the agricultural matrices near them should be shrub or tree based.