DANTAS, J. A. P.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7919863774478400; DANTAS, José Altair Pereira.
Abstract:
The Caatinga is a biome located entirely in Brazilian territory and one of the most
threatened. Among the various threats, extensive livestock has been identified as a
of the most important. The objective of this research was to evaluate the environmental impact of this activity
on floristic composition and phytosociological structure. The study was carried out in two
experimental conditions in caatinga areas, without grazing (area I) and under grazing (area II), in
Municipality of Pombal, Paraíba. The multiple-plot method proposed by
Rodal et al. (2013) according to which only live plants of tree-shrub size are included
with CNS ≥ 9.5 cm and At ≥ 1.0 m. For both areas, 671
individuals, distributed in 11 families, 19 genera and 19 species. Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae,
Cactaceae and Malvaceae had the highest number of species recorded in the survey.
Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Malvaceae were the families that exhibited the
larger numbers of individuals. Aspidosperma pyrifolium and Piptadenia retusa species,
had the highest values for the phytosociological parameters analyzed in area I,
while Sida sp. and Cenostigma pyramidale were the most representative of area II. In
according to the Jaccard index, the two areas are similar, and in terms of diversity, area I
showed a higher value for the Shannon index. The results obtained suggest that the
traditional way of managing the herds, practiced in the experimental conditions studied,
have negative environmental consequences mainly reflected in the loss of diversity
floristics and density of individuals.
