Author(s): ALBERGONI, L.; GARRASTAZU, M. C.; ROSOT, N. C.; ROSOT, M. A. D.

Summary: Abstract. This study aimed to characterize forest patches belonging to the Mixed Ombrophylous Forest (FOM) type, present in a sub-basin. The study area is located in the Rio do Peixe Basin, in Santa Catarina. The following landscape metrics were analyzed: patch total area, patch average size, number of patches, relative area in relation to the whole study area, relative area of the largest patch, shape index and average frequency distribution of patches by size. Analyses were performed in the program ArcGIS with the extension Patch Analyst, and it was also simulated a scenario with an edge effect of 50 meters. The forest patches occupy 33.9% of the area, distributed in 891 patches, with an average size of 12.9 ha, with an average shape index of 2.1 and the largest fragment has an area of 1849.8 ha. About 87% of the fragments are smaller than 10 ha, and only 2% are larger than 100 ha. With the edge effect, the patches would be reduced to 15.4% of the sub-basin area, distributed in 776 patches, with an average size of 6.7 ha, an average shape index of 1.75 and only 1.4% of the patches would be larger than 100 ha, according to this simulation. Also with respect to the simulation performed, 87% of the original patches would remain as well as 45.4% of the area. Moreover patches smaller than 1 ha would increase 23% in number, while the sum of their areas represent only 39% of the original.

Publication year: 2011

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Forestry

Keywords: Análise da paisagem, Floresta Ombrófila Mista, Fragmento florestal, Uso da Terra