Influence of fire on the natural regeneration of a semideciduous seasonal rainforest fragment

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the influence of fire in a forest fragment through litter biomass analysis, regeneration of Cecropia sp., and canopy openness. Two treatments were established, one of them corresponding to an area affected by fire (T1) and the other not affected by fire (T2), both areas encompassing 0.3 ha of forest. Samples were collected in 20 different sites in each treatment, weighed and placed in an oven at 70 °C to constant weight. To quantify Cecropia sp. regeneration a census was performed in both areas. Hemispheric images collected at 5 different points in each area were used to analyze canopy openness. Data were analyzed through analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a significant difference between treatments was detected. The area affected by fire had higher canopy openness, greater amount of Cecropia sp., and lower litter biomass when compared with the area that was not affected by fire. This indicates that fire interfered with the structure and composition of the burned forest.