Diametric distribution and main species in Miombo, Mopane and Mecrusse ecosystems in Mozambique

Abstract

Forest resources in Mozambique play an important role in the national economy, not only meeting basic needs of local communities, but also to supply the forestry industry and to export. This work aimed to evaluate the performance of probability density functions in the adjustment of the diametric distribution and phytosociological analysis through the horizontal structure of Miombo, Mopane and Mecrusse ecosystems. We adjusted the function Weibull 3P, Gama and Beta functions. The horizontal structure was analysed to verify the species with greater participation in the diametric distribution in the studied ecosystems. Weibull 3P function presented better adherence in all studied ecosystems; Gama and Beta function showed adherence in Miombo and Mopane. The three ecosystems presented different predominant species: in Miombo they were Julbernardia globiflora, Brachystegia spiciformes, Brachystegia boemii, Pterocarpus angolensis and Ptelliopsis myrtifolia; in Mopane Colophospermum mopane, Boscia mossambicensis, Adansonia digitada, Afzelia quansensis and Kirkia acuminata, and in Mecrusse is found only Androstachys johnsonii. Considering the differences observed, it is recommended that forest management considers the particularities of each ecosystem.