CHARACTERIZATION OF FINE FUELS OF GRASSY-WOODY STEPPE IN PARANA STATE, BRAZIL/CARACTERIZACAO DO MATERIAL COMBUSTIVEL FINO DA ESTEPE GRAMINEO-LENHOSA NO ESTADO DO PARANA, BRASIL

The Grassy-Woody Steppe region of Parana, also known as "Campos Gerais", covers approximately 20,000 [km.sup.2] of the state, composing a phytogeographic zone with vegetation adapted to relatively dry environments. It presents high danger of fires, especially after the winter, when the dead fuel accumulation and the meteorological conditions favor the propagation of fire. The present study aimed to characterize the fine fuel material of this vegetation. The research was developed in the Private Natural Heritage Reserve "Caminho das Tropas" (coordinated UTMs 620334 and 7196739), located in Palmeira municipality, Brazil. Fuel collections were done in 35 points distributed in an area of 25 hectares, being carried out 4 samplings during a year in the seasons of autumn, winter, spring and summer. Three classes of fuels were considered for analysis: live fuel, dead fuel and miscellaneous. The average load of thin fuels obtained was 10,985 Mg.ha-1 (megagramm per hectare), which is within the range of values obtained by several authors for field vegetation, which can vary from 4.90 to 13.80 Mg.[ha.sup.-1]. The moisture content remained practically constant for living fuels in the four seasons of the year, while for the other classes the variations were more accentuated in the summer season. For the proportion of live fuel, dead fuel and miscellaneous in relation to the total fuel collected at each season, the dead fuel remained stable while the live fuel and the miscellaneous presented significant statistical differences. The results contribute to the knowledge of the fuel material of the Parana steppe region, as well as, for the fire behavior evaluation to prevent or control fires that may occur in this vegetation. Keywords: forest fire prevention; forest fuels; natural fields. A regiao da Estepe Gramineo-Lenhosa no Parana, tambem conhecida por Campos Gerais, cobre aproximadamente 20.000 [km.sup.2] do Estado, compondo urna zona fitogeografica com vegetacao de campos limpos adaptada a ambientes relativamente secos. Apresenta elevado perigo de incendios, especialmente apos o inverno, quando a massa de material morto e as condicoes meteorologicas favorecem a propagacao do fogo. O presente estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar o material combustivel fino dessa vegetacao. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na Reserva Particular do Patrimonio Natural (RPPN) Caminho das Tropas, localizada no municipio de Palmeira--PR. As coletas de material foram feitas em 35 pontos distribuid