XVI International Botanical Congess

The distribution of tree species and soil variables was investigated in a fragment of semideciduous forest in Martinho Campos, SE Brazil. The forest was sampled by 40 15 × 15 m² quadrats where soil samples were collected for lab analyses and trees with basal diameter >= 5 cm were identified and measured (circumference and height). Three soil groups were recognized and discriminated by PCA as to their chemical and textural properties: Ustifluvent, Ustropept, and Dystropept. Forest physiognomy differed in Ustropept habitat, where tree slenderness was significantly higher. A CCA demonstrated that tree species distribution within the fragment was significantly correlated with soil nutrients content (particularly Ca and K) and ground water regime.