Resumo As novas condições ambientais impostas por eventos de distúrbios criam um mosaico de manchas em diferentes estágios sucessionais. Nosso objetivo foi descrever a variação temporal de uma floresta estacional semidecidual em função do histórico de perturbação antrópica, verificando possíveis mudanças na dinâmica e estrutura da floresta. Nós amostramos a vegetação arbórea com diâmetro a 1,3 m do solo (DAP) ≥ 5 cm em 15 parcelas permanentes de 20 × 20 m onde realizamos quatro inventários (2003, 2005, 2007 e 2015). Nós verificamos uma diminuição da densidade e aumento da área basal, o que indica que a comunidade arbórea analisada se encontra em estágio tardio de sucessão. A estrutura fitossociológica, a riqueza e a diversidade de espécies da comunidade arbórea não apresentaram mudanças ao longo dos monitoramentos. Entretanto, o predomínio da espécie Protium spruceanum pode ser uma resposta às mudanças ambientais provocadas pela mineração que ocorreu na área há 250 anos. As influências duradouras dos distúrbios antrópicos tornam este tipo de trabalho imprescindível por permitir a compreensão dos processos ecológicos, possibilitando um gerenciamento factual das florestas pelo manejo e conservação efetivos.

Abstract The new environmental conditions imposed by disturbance events often create a mosaic of spots in different successional stages. Our objective was to describe the temporal variation of a semideciduous seasonal forest based on its anthropic disturbance history, verifying possible changes in forest dynamics and structure. We sampled the arboreal vegetation with a diameter at breast height (1.3 m above the ground; DBH) ≥ 5 cm in 15 permanent plots of 20 × 20 m where we performed four inventories (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2015). We observed a density decrease and a basal area increase, which indicates the late successional stage of the analyzed tree community. The phytosociological structure, richness and species diversity of the tree community did not show changes throughout the monitoring. However, the Protium spruceanum predominance may be a response to the environmental changes caused by the mining occurred in the area 250 years ago. The anthropic disturbances enduring influences make this type of work indispensable because it allows the ecological processes understanding, allowing a factual management of the forests by the its effective management and conservation.

ABSTRACT The present study seeks to characterize the composition, structure, and functional traits of the tree stratum of a Semideciduous Forest in Pouso Alegre, MG, Brazil (22º12’43”S and 45º59’30”W), by comparing Edge and Interior habitats and their relation to human impacts and soil variables. The tree community (diameter at 1.3 m (DBH) higher than 5 cm) was inventoried using the point-centered quarter method by laying out 12 transects of 450 m each (six transects in the Edge and six in the Interior). Functional traits – wood density and seed mass – were obtained by genus. The impact evaluation and soil sample collection were realized per transect. We found significant differences in terms of the basal area (higher in Interior), diversity (higher in Interior) and community seed mass (higher in Edge). The effects of higher values of soil traits such as Calcium, Magnesium, cation sum (CS) and base saturation (V) on species composition were stronger in the Interior, while human induced impacts and soil Potassium had an overwhelming effect on the Edge.