XVI International Botanical Congess

This study aimed to check the relationship between tree species distribution and soil characteristics. Five 30m x 40m plots were randomly set up in two areas at different altitudes (site A at 50m a.s.l. and site B at 250m a.s.l.). Six soil surface samples were collected in each plot. All trees>10cm dbh were tagged and measured. Soil analysis showed that the sites differed, with soils from site A higher in sand, pH and P and site B higher in humidity, exchanged acidity and total N. Cluster analysis 9UPGMA) for tree density, but not for basal area, grouped better the plots. For the species grouping, TWINSPAN analysis showed three distinct divisions: 1) preferential species for site A such as Hyeronima alchorneoides and Licania kunthiana, 2) preferential species for site B such as Aniba firmula and Polyandrococos caudencens and a third group of common species (e.g. Actmostemon verticilatus and Mabea fistulifera). (Funded by CNPq, FENORTE).