ANÁLISE ESPACIAL DOS FRAGMENTOS FLORESTAIS NA ÁREA DO PARQUE NACIONAL DOS CAMPOS GERAIS, PARANÁ

Abstract

The fragmentation of habitats figures into the most serious threats to the conservation of ecosystems nowadays. As a direct result of the human action, the fragmentation of the natural environment produces different environments that modify the dynamic of ecological relations among fauna, flora and the abiotic system. The rupture of a landscape unit generates smaller patches that present a dynamic that is different from the existing original environment. The isolation of the fragments has a negative effect on the species that causes the decrease on the immigration or recolonization. The connectivity among fragments through ecological corridors is an important alternative to the habitat conservation. This way, the management of landscape fragmentation is a challenge on the implantation of programs that target the treat and maintenance of the remaining natural ecosystems. The goal of the present work is to analyse the spatial structure of the forest fragments spread throughout the Campos Gerais National Park – PR, with strategic function for the preservation programs of Mixed Ombrofila Forest in the State of Parana. The software Spring (version 4.2) was used on the map that illustrates the use of land and the distribution of fragments, and the Fragstats software was used to generate metrics to analyses those fragments relations. It was verified that 55,9% of the Park is covered by forest vegetation, distributed among 302 fragments. The major fragment (font-area) concentrates 78,0% of the total forested area. Small fragments perform the most part of landscape, but their total area represents a low contribution on the forest class. The font-area presented high rate of shape and low rate of isolation. On the others fragments, the usual rank of isolation was low to medium. The analysis of the spatial distribution of fragments indicated that they rise in some areas due both to the antropic action as to the dynamic of occupation of the vegetation on litolic soils of the Devonian Cuesta. The results presented will provide evidence for future studies on the management of the antropic fragmentation of this area.