Author(s): PAPA, D. de A.; ABIB, T. H.; FERREIRA, L. do N.; FIGUEIREDO, E. O.; RODRIGUEZ, L. C. E.

Summary: Understanding ecological variations in tropical forests is essential for defining conservation and management strategies. Changes in the composition and structure of forests, in relation to altitude, have been investigated on many tropical slopes. Although the degradation of its natural habitat continues, the Amazon biome represents 30% of the world's tropical forests and houses at least 10% of the known biodiversity. Considering the magnitude of Amazon diversity, this study evaluated the influence of terrain elevation on abundance, dominance and floristic richness of the primary vegetation in four neighboring farms (Caçula, Guarujá, Anhumas and Jaraguá) located in State of Acre, Brazil, by means of Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) image. Data from each area were obtained from Acre Institute of the Environment's (IMAC) census inventory. Segmented linear regression models were used to observe the effect of the terrain elevation on the variables studied. The selection of models was made considering the Akaike?s Information Criterion (AIC). For Guarujá and Jaraguá farms, the models indicated a relationship between altitude and ecological variation. On the other hand, in Caçula and Anhumas, it was not possible to observe the influence of terrain elevation on any variable. It is important to take into consideration the impact of break-points, applicable in Guarujá and Jaraguá farms, when creating altitude stratified limits to manage the landscape.

Publication year: 2017

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Acre

Keywords: Acre, Amazonia Occidental, Amazônia Ocidental, Biodiversidad, Biodiversidade, Biodiversity, Bosques tropicales, Bujari (AC), Condição ambiental, Environmental factors, Factores ambientales, Fazenda Anhumas, Fazenda Caçula, Fazenda Guarujá, Fazenda Jaraguá, Floresta tropical, Geotécnica, Radar, Remote sensing, Sena Madureira (AC), Sensoriamento remoto, Teledetección, Topografia, Tropical forests, Western Amazon