Dominant phytophysiognomies in part of the Nabileque and Miranda sub-regions, south of the Pantanal wetland

Abstract

The objective of this work is to define a methodology for discrimination of phytophysiognomies in wetlands, using products of remote sensing and field works. The study consisted on visual interpretation of TM Landsat images corresponding to the dry season (September/89), on photographic paper, 1:100,000 scale, in B/W images for bands 4 and 5, and in color composite 3B, 4G and 5R. Sampling areas with different color, texture and form patterns were defined in the images, associated to different phytophysiognomies, which were verified on the field. Also, panchromatic aerial photographs in the scale 1:20,000 of the year 1974 were utilized to evaluate areas where the limits of phytophysiognomies were not clear. The methodology allowed to identify structurally differentiated plant cover, corresponding to the strata of arboreal, scrub and herbaceous vegetation, subdivided in fourteen classes associated with the dominant floristically distinct phytophysiognomies and regionally known as Paratudal (Tabebuia aurea, parkland), Carandazal (Copernicia alba, palm savanna), Gallery Forest, Semideciduous Forest, Forest Island, Paratudal-carandazal-semideciduous Forest, "Canjiqueiral" (Byrsonima orbignyana, scrub or parkland), "Espinheiral" (thorn scrub), Flooded "Espinheiral", Seral Stage of Gallery Forest, Swamps, Scrub Grassland, and Flooded Grassland.