ABSTRACTFire can change the species composition, diversity, and structure of savanna vegetation, thus altering growth and mortality rates. Such changes in the woody vegetation of burned savanna forest were evaluated over four years in comparison to unburned savanna forest. All woody plants with a diameter at breast height > 10 cm were measured in 100 permanent plots. Six months later, 38 of these plots were burned. Three and a half years later, all surviving individuals were re-sampled. Species richness, diversity, and the number of individuals did not change in the burned plots, although they had significantly higher (p < 0.05) increases in basal area and mortality rates (5.1% year-1) than the unburned plots (3.0% year-1).Tachigali vulgarishad the greatest post-fire increase in basal area (53%). The results indicate that fire alters the dynamics and structure of the savanna forest, excluding the less fire-tolerant species and smaller individuals (? 15cm). Tachigali vulgaris is a key species for the recovery of savanna forest biomass due to its considerable post-fire gains in basal area, at least over the short term due to its short life cycle. It follows that frequent burning of savanna forest would result in a marked change in the species composition and structure of its woody vegetation.

Testamos a hipótese de que a baixa diversidade de espécies lenhosas em uma floresta monodominante e possíveis fatores ambientais associados influenciam a ocorrência de samambaias na transição Cerrado-Floresta Amazônica. O objetivo foi analisar e comparar a riqueza florística, cobertura de dossel e aspectos ecológicos das samambaias em florestas de transição. As samambaias foram amostradas em uma floresta monodominante de Brosimum rubescens Taub. (MO) e uma floresta estacional mista (MI) em Nova Xavantina-MT. O substrato terrícola, a forma de vida hemicriptófita e o hábito herbáceo foram predominantes. A diversidade de espécies lenhosas foi superior à de samambaias, que apresentaram um total de 304 indivíduos, sete espécies, quatro gêneros e duas famílias. A família de maior riqueza foi Pteridaceae, representada por cinco espécies (71%). A floresta MI apresentou seis espécies, destacando-se Adiantum tetraphyllum Willd. com 209 indivíduos. Na MO foram encontradas apenas duas espécies, corroborando a hipótese de que a baixa diversidade de lenhosas influencia na diversidade de samambaias. Provavelmente, a cobertura do dossel, a qualidade da serapilheira e/ou fatores edáficos podem estar relacionados com a baixa diversidade de samambaias na MO, uma vez que tais condições podem atuar como filtro de espécies no ambiente monodominante, favorecendo somente as mais competitivas e adaptadas.

We tested the hypothesis that the low tree diversity in a monodominant forest and possible associated environmental factors influenced the ferns occurrence in the Cerrado-Amazon forest transition zone. The objective was to analyse and compare species richness, canopy cover and ecological aspects of ferns in the transitional forests. The ferns were sampled in a Brosimum rubescens Taub. monodominant forest (MO) and a seasonal mixed forest (MI). The terrestrial substrate, hemicryptophytes life form and herbaceous habit were prevalent. The diversity of woody species was higher than that of ferns, which had a total of 304 individuals, seven species, four genera and two families. The richest family was Pteridaceae, represented by five species (71%). MI forest presented six species and Adiantum tetraphyllum Willd. was the principal, with 209 individuals. Only two species were registered in the MO forest, supporting the hypothesis that low tree diversity and associated environmental conditions influences the diversity of ferns. Probably the canopy cover, the quality of the litter layer and/or edaphic factors may be related to the low diversity of ferns in the MO, since such conditions may act as an environmental filter of species, favoring only the most competitive and adapted to such conditions.