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The Atlantic Forest is recognized as one of the richest forests in biodiversity and
is one of the most devastated and seriously threatened ecosystems in the planet.
Moreover, the pace at which changes occur in coverage, fragmentation and destruction
of habitats in this biome is one of the fastest, so many and urgent strategies are
necessary to promote its conservation. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the major
threats to maintain biodiversity in all terrestrial ecosystems. These threats are
extraordinary in the Atlantic Forests, particularly in the region of Paraguay, the most
continental and meridional portion of this forest, which is affected mainly by
deforestation for agricultural use. Ecological restoration includes a diverse set of
concepts and techniques developed to reduce disturbances and to restore the taxonomic
composition, structure and function of the biological systems. The work was conducted
in plots located in the following Refuges and Biological Reserves owned by Itaipu
Binacional: Mbaracayú, Carapá, Limoy, Itabó and Tatí Yupí, in the departments of
Canindeyú and Alto Paraná, Paraguay. The research was developed between 2008 and
2009, aimed to compare these forest formations on different soil types in the area of
influence of the Itaipu dam, to define and recommend the appropriate species for
ecological restoration. Considering the same history of use, prior to their protection, six
permanent plots were studied, measuring and monitoring biodiversity. The plots were
set in forests of 1.0 ha in each of the previously mentioned biological reserves. The
plants with DBH ≥10 cm were measured. 127 species, in 86 genera and 40 families
were recorded. The species were grouped into 20 climaxes, heliophytes 8, pioneers 42,
secondaries 39, shadow tolerant species 3 and 15 without consideration of the
successional group. The largest Shannon index (H') was for Tatí Yupí with 3.728, and
the lowest was for Itabó 02 with 3.036. The largest index of similarity (Jac) resulted for
Limoy-Tatí Yupí with 0.52, and the lowest were for the plots of Itabó 02-Tati Yupí and
Itabó 02-Mbaracayú with 0.37. The soil types that occur in the studied plots are two
Ultisols and four Oxisols. The Factorial Analysis of Correspondence (ANACOR) for
relative density, frequency and dominance were calculated using the program SPSS.
The plots of Mbaracayú and Itabó 04 were the most particular and the plots of Carapá,
Limoy, Tatí Yupí and Itabo 02 were characterized as nearby forests. 90 species are
recommended for ecological restoration.