Invasion of Australian palm in the understory of a planted forest, in Viçosa, MG, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the natural regeneration and the abundance of exotic palms in the understory of a planted forest of Araucaria angustifolia in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The sample corresponded to 40 plots of 2 m x 2 m. Diameter at ground level of all shrubs and trees with diameter ≤ 5 cm and height ≥ 0.5 m was measured. Phytosociological parameters and diversity indices were calculated. All species were classified regarding its life form, successional class and dispersion syndrome. We sampled 980 individuals that presented higher proportion of shrub species, typical of understory and zoochoric. The exotic species Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, known as Australian palm, presented the third largest importance value, highest dominance and 19.25% of the total basal area, considerably larger than the other species. A. cunninghamiana was characterized as an invasive species that dominate the natural regeneration stratum. Inibition of natural succession by exotic species, such as A. cunninghamiana, should be monitored, aiming at the withdrawal of the problem species what will ensure the succession process.