DOI: 10.5061/dryad.m37pvmd5g
title: Relationship of woody species composition with edaphic characteristics in threatened riparian Atlantic Forest remnants in the upper Rio Doce basin, Brazil

description: Studies on the composition, richness, and diversity of plant species in
 tropical communities are essential for understanding relevant ecological
 processes and for developing appropriate conservation policies.
 Considering that areas subject to direct impacts due to dam breach may in
 the long-term present changes in species composition and in soil
 parameters, we evaluated the composition of the flora, described the
 current vegetation profile, and evaluated whether differences in species
 composition was influenced by soil variables of three areas along the
 Gualaxo River, in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. In addition, we identified
 important plant species through occurrence and phytosociological
 parameters for ecological restoration projects in the affected region,
 serving as reference areas. We sampled plant species with DBH ≥ 5 cm
 (diameter at breast height – measured 1.30 m above ground level) in 77
 plots distributed in three riparian forest areas. We calculated
 phytosociological parameters and related them to edaphic factors. A total
 of 1579 individual plants belonging to 53 botanical families and 227
 species were sampled in the three areas. The Fabaceae family was the most
 representative with 46 species. Species composition and diversity among
 the sampled areas was similar and was associated with edaphic factors.
 Furthermore, some species (e.g. Xylopia sericea, Cupania emarginata and
 Ocotea pulchalla) showed an important relation with soil variables. Some
 species of the genera (e.g., Byrsonima, Xylopia, Ocotea, and Croton) and
 families (e.g., Fabaceae and Myrtaceae) found here, can be important
 species in the restauration process for the local and regional maintenance
 of floristic identity in the Rio Doce river.
description: We selected
 three areas of riparian forest (Seasonal Semideciduous Forest - Atlantic
 Forest) along the Gualaxo do Norte River, affluent of the Rio Doce River,
 in the Municipality of Mariana, MG for the vegetation sampling. The
 Gualaxo do Norte River was directly affected from the Samarco dam breach,
 as the ore tailings flow crossed the entire Gualaxo River until getting
 into the Rio Doce river. The plot method was used for vegetation
 characterization and sampling. The floristic and phytosociological survey
 of the adult stratum was carried out in 77 plots of 100 m2 (10 m × 10 m)
 established in three areas of Gualaxo do Norte River as follow: Águas
 Claras – AC (20° 17' 16.5" S and 43° 14' 59.0" W) with
 28 plots, Antônio Pereira – AP (20° 16' 34.0" S and 43° 25'
 50.0" W), with 24 plots, and Monsenhor Horta - MH (20° 20'
 52.7" S and 43° 18' 42.7" W) with 25 plots, totalling 7700
 m2. The individual's identification was carried out in the field,
 given prior species knowledge. Plant material was collected (vegetative or
 reproductive) for identification through specialized literature and
 existing material, and if not identified to the species level, were sent
 to specialists. Vouchers for all plant species were collected, identified,
 and deposited in the Montes Claros (MCMG) Herbarium, from Unimontes, and
 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BHCB) Herbarium. The family names
 followed the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG IV 2016), and species names
 were confirmed in the Plant list database (http://www.theplantlist.org/)
 and updated/corrected whenever
 necessary.
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