Characterization of Amazonian forest fragments in the catchment of the Taxidermista I River in Alta Floresta, MT

• Main Authors: Carlos José da Silva, Monica Elisa Bleich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2013-11-01
• Series: Biotemas
• Subjects: Amazon; Integrated management; Landscape fragmentation
• Online Access: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/2175-7925.2013v26n4p45

Maintaining the connectivity of the remaining forest in the state of Mato Grosso is critically important, and the preservation of riparian vegetation of streams contributes greatly to retaining the integrity of the mosaic of habitats found in this region. The aim of this study was to characterize the Amazonian forest fragments remaining in the catchment of the Taxidermista I River, in Alta Floresta, MT, in order to provide input for the implementation of recovery projects in degraded areas and the conservation of forest fragments. The forest fragments were vectorized and the size, perimeter, and distance of each fragment to the nearest watercourse were evaluated. The circularity index, or the edge/interior ratio, was also determined. In the watershed of the Taxidermista I River, 63 forest fragments ranging in size from 0.44 to 67.51 ha, with perimeters between 262.67 and 4756.26 m, were recorded. The distance from each forest fragment to the nearest watercourse ranges from 0 to 450 m; however, 71.4% of the fragments are connected to a watercourse. The majority of the fragments in this watershed are elongated and occupy a small area, but their perimeter/edge is large relative to their size, which makes them susceptible to edge effects, especially from nearby cattle farms.