Evaluation of Pinus taeda L. Seed Dispersal by Tree-ring Analysis of Natural Regenerated Trees

ABSTRACT The Pinus taeda trees - introduced in Brazil in 1880 and in experimental trials in 1936 - have been listed in specialized literature of biological invasion process in some areas of general fields and altitude of the states of Parana and Santa Catarina such as, the savanna in the state São Paulo, sandbar in the state of Santa Catarina and pampas in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The annual tree-rings formed in the wood of Pinus taeda trees constitute an important tool in the evaluation of the biological invasion process. The present study aimed to evaluate the spatial-temporal dispersion of seeds by analyzing the tree-rings of Pinus taeda trees from plantations and natural regeneration in the region of Faxinal do Céu, state of Paraná. The results allowed determining the age and growth rate of the pine trees trunk from plantations; the date of germination, the seed dispersal area and the growth rate of trees of natural regeneration. The results allow, likewise discussing the invasion process of pine trees by seed dispersal in areas close to forest plantations.