FLORA AND STRUCTURE OF SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS MONTANE FOREST IN PARAIBA AND PERNAMBUCO STATES

This study aimed to assess affinities among that and 17 other forest communities in Paraiba and Pernambuco. It was used UPGMA, TWINSPAN analysis, Mantel's t test to assess geographical distance influences in similarities between communities and analysis to detect habitat indicator species. The hypothesis that suggests that the 1.000 mm isohyet split humid and dry forests in the Northeast region was tested. Results pointed out a Wet Forest (FU) group including Submontane Ombrophilous and Low Land Seasonal Forests, and a Dry Group (FS) which included Montane Seasonal Forests and Savanna-montane Forest Transition areas. The floristic heterogeneity showed 0.21 Sorensen average similarities. The 1.000 mm isohyet and the number of dry months explained the floristic patterns established. Mantel's t test showed that similarities were related to geographical distances. The indicator species analyses pointed out ten species with significant preference to the phyto physiognomy tested, except for Seasonally Dry Montane Forests. The low similarity levels with all forest communities compared pointed out the floristic singularity registered at the Pico do Jabre Montane Seasonal Forest.