Estrutura da paisagem agrícola e relevo no contexto da conectividade florestal

Abstract

Forest fragmentation, as a result of anthropic activities such as urbanization and agriculture, negatively impacts biodiversity and ecosystem services, threatening the connectivity of the landscape, whether structural or functional. Understanding the landscape structure and connectivity by focusing on forest fragments under the influence of relief is the objective of this study. To this end, we combined landscape ecology metrics, the index of Connectivity Probability (through Graph Theory) with the relief, through Digital Terrain Model (DTM), in the sub-basin of the Pirapora River. The characterization of the structure presented a landscape of agricultural matrix with high vegetation cover, predominantly wavy to strongly wavy relief, large fragments in the upstream and mouth of the sub-basin, close together and with complex shapes. When inserting the relief element, there were more significant differences in the metrics when the slope class is undulating and strongly undulating, especially in the metrics related to area and distance from the nearest neighbor. The functional connectivity of the landscape showed a high probability of connectivity, either in the ecological network or in its spatial potential and the relief impacted directly, making it more costly for the flow and maintenance of species in the fragments. In this context, it is necessary to explore the combination of landscape ecology metrics, connectivity indices, and relief at different scales and methods to better understand the landscape and its phenomena. In addition to actions for conservation and preservation of forest fragments mainly in the agricultural matrix, along riparian zones and small fragments (more fragile), that is, in territorial planning with a focus on forest preservation.