ECÓTONOS CAMPO-FLORESTA NA ÁREA DE PROTEÇÃO AMBIENTAL DA ESCARPA DEVONIANA, CAMPOS GERAIS DO PARANÁ, BRASIL

Abstract

Ecotones are transition zones between adjacent ecological systems with a number of characteristics uniquely defined by spatial and temporal scales and intensity of interactions between these systems. Once this ecological concept of ecotone is multiscalar, it was considered whole the Escarpa Devoniana Environmental Protection Area region as ecotonal, since it is configured as a transition area between grassland and forest habitats. Moreover, the high biological and environment diversity characterize the region as supporting great ecological significance within the Atlantic Forest Biome, arising studies to understand the regional reality in order to minimize impacts, balancing use and conservation. In this sense, this study aims to analyze the landscape structure through spatial patterns as resulted from ecological processes involved in field-forest ecotones within the region. So, through the perspective of the landscape ecology, it was analyzed the composition and structure of six selected areas: two conservation units (control areas) and four managed areas (sample areas). Through the geoprocessing Envi 4.7 and ArcGIS 9.3 softwares, the images were prepared to perform Guidos 1.3 and Fragstats 2.0 softwares. The results point to a highly fragmented forest landscape, providing opportunities for a multitude of potential ecotones with the grassland matrix. The patches are mostly of small size, under 10 ha, isodiametrics, however, few representative in terms of occupied area in the landscape. On the other hand, some large patches, over 100 ha, stand out in the landscape. From the ecological perspective, large patches can act maintaining biodiversity by acting as source areas, whereas small one would act as stepping-stones, refuges or forest nucleators. Geomorphology is the main controlling factor of the structural conformation of the patches and almost 41% of the landscape are under ecotones.