Estudo da composição específica e biomassa das comunidades vegetais na reserva de Maputo

Abstract

The present study is about the woody and herbaceous plant biomass in the Maputo Reserve and its relationship with the elephant. A preliminary map was made based on aerial photographs taken in August 1989, from the DINAGECA archive at a scale of 1:20,000. Subsequently, field visits (ground truthing) were carried out, which allowed the production of the final map, which underwent reductions to the scale presented in annex 1. In parallel, using the Point-Centered Quarter method, at least 100 individuals from the arboreal and shrub strata were identified and recorded. . Based on these species, the specific wood composition of plant communities was determined by applying the formula. The classification of plant communities was made by comparing the species found in the communities with those described in the literature, taking into account the most frequent or indicator species. Biomass determination was based on formulas, having obtained higher woody biomass in forests. A sprocket was set in motion and at each point of the bite of the "teeth" of the wheel, the species bitten was identified and recorded. By the quantification of these species it was . possible to determine the specific herbaceous composition of different plant communities. Along the transects, 50 squares of 1 m2 each were made. In each square, the % of coverage of each identified species was determined, the vegetation was separated into grasses and non-graminis and dried in the open air. Afterwards, they were submitted to an oven at 90° for 2 days. Using a scale, the dry weight of the herb was measured. The plain has greater herbaceous biomass than other communities. The X2 test was performed and from this it can be concluded that there is a significant difference in biomass between the different plant communities (p < 0.001, G.L = 7). Using graphs, the relationship between woody and herbaceous plant biomass was determined. It was found that "there is a direct relationship between biomass and elephant presence. The greater the woody biomass, the greater the density of elephants.