Evaluation of a method of silvigenic analysis in a seasonal semideciduous forest/Avaliacao de um metodo de analise silvigenica em uma floresta estacional semidecidual

Aiming to contribute to the biological interpretation of silvigenics mosaics obtained by line interception method for inventorying canopy trees, this was applied in an area of 5.12 ha of a semi deciduous forest at the Ecological Station of Caetetus (Galia, Sao Paulo state, Brazil). Statistical analyses (Qui-square and adjusted residues) were applied to verify whether the eco-unit categories are associated with floristic composition and/or successional species groups. The predominance of steady-state eco-units 2A (compound of present trees) combined with the low frequency of eco-units in reorganization (gaps) and development eco-units indicated that the studied forest is in mature phase and little disturbed. Some few coherent associations were found between pioneers and early secondary species with eco-units which defining tree architectures allow larger entrance of light. Considering the eco-physiological parameters used to distinguish the successional species groups, many incoherent associations were found between late secondary species with eco-unit categories that are presumed to represent the earlier phases of silvigenesis. This kind of result suggests that the studied method of silvigenic analysis is not adequate to describe phases of forest regeneration. Keywords: Silvigenesis; sucessional characterization; silvigenic mosaic; Ecological Station of Caetetus. Visando contribuir para a interpretacao biologica de mosaicos silvigenicos obtidos pelo metodo de interceptacao de linhas para inventariar arvores de dossel, este foi aplicado numa area de 5,12 ha de uma Floresta Estacional Semidecidual na Estacao Ecologica de Caetetus (Galia, Sao Paulo). Analises estatisticas (Qui-quadrado e residuos ajustados) foram aplicadas para verificar se categorias de ecounidades estao associadas a composicao floristica e/ou aos grupos sucessionais de especies. O predominio de ecounidades em equilibrio 2A (composta por arvores do presente) combinado a baixa frequencia de ecounidades em reorganizacao (clareiras) ou em desenvolvimento indicou que a floresta estudada se encontra em fase madura e e pouco perturbada. Foram encontradas algumas associacoes coerentes entre especies pioneiras e secundarias iniciais com ecounidades formadas por arvores que possuem arquiteturas que permitem maior entrada de luz. Considerando os parametros ecofisiologicos usados para distinguir grupos sucessionais de especies, muitas associacoes incoerentes foram encontradas entre especies secundarias