Dynamics of Natural Regeneration in a Fragment of Dense Ombrophilous Forest in Urban Area

The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of natural regeneration in an urban forest fragment in Recife - PE. Ten plots of 5 m x 5 m were installed, the individuals with height (H) ≥ 1 m and the circumference at breast height (CBH) ≤ 15 cm were measured in 2010 and 2017. The floristic composition, diversity, phytosociological parameters and natural regeneration by height and total classes were evaluated. The individuals were distributed in height classes, where: C1 = H ≥ 1.0 up to 2.0 m; C2 = H> 2.1 to 3.0 m; C3 = H> 3.0 m and CAP <15 cm. The families with the highest number of individuals in both years were: Moraceae, Burseraceae, Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae. Together, these families accounted for 74.57% of the total number of individuals in 2010 and 73.40% in 2017. The predominance of individuals in the first class was observed, followed by the second and third. The species with the highest Total Natural Regeneration (TNR) were: Artocarpus heterophyllus, Helicostylis tomentosa, Protium giganteum, Protium heptaphyllum, Brosimum guianense and Mabea occidentalis, which together corresponded to a TNR of 60.09% in 2010 and 59.03 % in 2017. The species with the highest number of recruitments were Brosimum guianense, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Helicostylis tomentosa, Siparuna guianensis and Cymbopetalum brasiliense. It was concluded that there were no significant differences in the fragment within the time interval studied.