Estrutura e Diversidade Genética de Eriotheca macrophylla (K. Schum.) A. Robyns (Malvaceae) no mini-corredor ecológico Sooretama/Goytacazes/Comboios, Espírito Santo, Brasil

Abstract

The state of the Espírito Santo is inserted in the area of Atlantic Forest and has its plant communities affected by habitat fragmentation. In the north, deforestation peaked in the 50's, the forests were reduced to 30% of its original cover and currently occur in fragments of different sizes in different stages of regeneration. In this context, the possibility of connection by means of ecological corridors fragments is a tool to maintain the dynamic structure and diversity of the population. This study aimed to check differences in population structure and genetic diversity of Eriotheca macrophylla (K. Schum.) A. Robyns in different ecological mini corridors fragments of the Espírito Santo: Sooretama / Goytacazes / Comboios. In each area we allocated 30 plots of 100m² and collected data of height and diameter of seedlings, young people and adults for population assessment and collected biological material for genetic diversity analyzes. Sooretama had fewer individuals and Comboios had more, indeed related to habitat preference for species. The species showed a random distribution and its structure concentrated in the initial diameter classes (up to 10 cm dbh) and height (up to 10m high), showing that there is regeneration. Were generated 109 fragments from seven (7) primers (88.95% polymorphic). Genetic diversity was high, with global Shannon index of 0.537. Through AMOVA, greater variability was observed within populations (94.2%). The ØST (0.0579) classifies the population as moderately structured. These results suggest intense communication between the fragments in the past (Nm = 4.06), indicating that there was a single population matrix. The high genetic diversity and the non-structural differentiation (horizontal, vertical and genetic) among populations, suggests that the E. macrophylla, distributed by the three fragments, has not been affected by history of the fragmentation.