Injuries caused by animals to young imbuzeiro (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) plants in native and degraded caatinga areas

This study had the objective of evaluating the injuries caused by animals to young imbu tree (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) plants in native and degraded Caatinga areas, between the years 1997 and 2002. One thousand imbu tree scions were planted, being 500 in a degraded Caatinga area at the community of Alto do Angico, Petrolina-PE, and 500 in a native Caatinga area at the Caatinga Experimental Station of Embrapa Tropical Semi-Arid, Petrolina-PE. At every 30 days after having planted the scions, data were collected regarding survival and injuries caused by animals to the plants. The results showed that goats are responsible for the reduction on survival rates and for the slow development of young imbu tree in the degraded Caatinga area. In the native Caatinga area, of the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) and armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) caused the highest injury levels.