Iva Carneiro Leão Barros

Diversity of ferns and lycophytes in Brazil

This compilation of ferns and lycophytes in Brazil is an update of the one published in 2010 in Catalogo de Plantas e Fungos do Brasil. The methodology consisted in collecting data from regional checklists, taxonomic revisions, and selected databases. Invited specialists improved the list accessing a website housed at the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. The results show 1,253 species: 1,111 of ferns and 142 of lycophytes. This number is 6.5% higher than the previous one (1,176 spp.). The percentage of endemic species decreased from 38.2% to 36.7%. We recognized 36 families and 133 genera (vs. 33 families, 121 genera in 2010). The 10 most diverse families are Pteridaceae (196 spp.), Dryopteridaceae (179), Polypodiaceae (164), Hymenophyllaceae (90), Thelypteridaceae (86), Aspleniaceae (78), Lycopodiaceae (64), Selaginellaceae (55), Anemiaceae (51), and Cyatheaceae (45). The three most diverse genera are still Elaphoglossum (87 spp.), Thelypteris (85), and Asplenium (74). The richest phytogeographic domain continues to be in the Atlantic Rainforest with 883 species which also has the largest number of endemic and threatened species, followed by the Amazon Rainforest (503), Cerrado (269), Pantanal (30), Caatinga (26), and Pampa (eight). Minas Gerais remains as the richest state (657 spp. vs. 580 in 2010).

Pteridófitas de uma área remanescente de Floresta Atlântica do Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

A checklist of the pteridophytes occurrence in Ecological Reserve of Jangadinha, in the municipality of Jaboatao dos Guararapes was made as a contribution to the study of remnant area of Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco, Brazil. Auto-ecology information about the species are included. Collections were made in five points of the Reserve, namely Banho-Frio -1, Banho-Frio - II, Area do Acude, Area do Reservatorio and Mata do Curado. Twenty-five species of the following 14 families were recognized: Schizaeaceae (2 spp.), Gleicheniaceae (2 spp.), Hymenophyllaceae (1 sp.), Cyatheaceae (1 sp.), Pteridaceae (7 spp.), Vittariaceae (1 sp.), Dennstaedtiaceae (2 spp.), Thelypteridaceae (2 spp.), Dryopteridaceae (1 sp.), Davalliaceae (lsp.), Blechnaceae (1 p.), Polypodiaceae (2 spp.), Lycopodiaceae (1 sp.) and Selaginellaceae (1 sp.). Pteridophytes occurred in all points studied. Banho-Frio-I was richer in species than the other places, and Mata do Curado is relatively poor. The microhabitat with most species were those enclosed inside the forest and their edge, mainly in the humid slopes.

Pteridófitas ocorrentes em fragmentos de Floresta Serrana no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Resumo Foi realizado um levantamento florístico e análise de aspectos ecológicos das pteridófitas ocorrentes no brejo de Serra Negra em Bezerros, estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Caracterizada como Brejo de Altitude ou Floresta Serrana, a área de estudo apresenta flora diferenciada da vegetação semi-árida que a cerca, por isso, os Brejos de Altitude, em especial a Serra Negra de Bezerros, atualmente estão sofrendo acelerado processo de devastação. Em um período de um ano, foram encontradas 31 táxons específicos, sendo a família Polypodiaceae a mais representativa com 46% dos registros. A espécie Trichomanes angustifrons (Fée) Wess. Boer destaca-se como novo registro para o Nordeste do Brasil. Os aspectos ecológicos que predominaram no brejo de Serra Negra de Bezerros foram o hábito herbáceo, o habitat rupícola, o tipo de ambiente mesófilo, a forma de vida hemicriptófita e os afloramentos rochosos como ambientes preferenciais. O fator condicionante da área ainda possuir certa diversidade específica, mesmo com a ampla restrição da mata nativa é que foram mantidas importantes condições ambientais necessárias para a sobrevivência da pteridoflora, como temperaturas baixas, umidade relativa do ar elevada e garoa noturna e matinal sempre presente.

Pteridoflora e seus aspectos ecológicos ocorrentes no Parque Ecológico João Vasconcelos Sobrinho, Caruaru, PE, Brasil

A floristic survey and analysis of ecological aspects of the pteridophyte flora from Parque Ecologico Joao Vasconcelos Sobrinho, also known as Brejo dos Cavalos, characteristically an area of upland forest in the Municipality of Caruaru in Pernambuco State was carried out. The State has few forest remnants of such forest type, which are true biological refuges to innumerous species of pteridophytes. Six bimonthly excursions were conducted within a year, as well as a research about the species deposited in herbaria of Pernambuco, where a diversity of 74 species was found. These were distributed in 32 genera and 16 families, being the Pteridaceae family the most representative. There is the predominance of herbaceous, hemicryptophytous, terrestrial species and those of the forest interior. The low index of epiphyte species, the high diversity of the genera Adiantum L. and number of herbaria surveyed species reflect the secondary character of the forests and give the evidence of a richer pteridophyte flora in previous time.

A Karyotype Comparison Between Two Closely Related Species of Acrostichum

Abstract Acrostichum aureum and A. danaeifolium are morphologically similar sympatric species which grow in mangrove communities. To evaluate the cytological differences between these species, their karyotypes were analyzed with conventional staining, triple-staining with chromomycin A3 (CMA), distamycin A (DA) and DAPI, silver nitrate, and in situ hybridization with 45S rDNA as probe. Both species have the same chromosome number (2n = 60) with only small differences in chromosome size and morphology. The CMA+ banding pattern revealed four terminal bands in A. danaeifolium and six in A. aureum. DAPI+ bands were not found. The maximum number of nucleoli per interphase nucleus and the number of 45S rDNA sites were consistent with the number of CMA+ bands: four in A. danaeifolium and six in A. aureum. All meiotically analyzed materials showed 30II with normal chromosome pairing and segregation, except in one plant with a chromosome bridge and fragment in cells of anaphase I and II. It is suggested that sympatry and karyotypic orthoselection have contributed to keep the morphological and karyological similarities in such widespread species.

Fragmentation and loss of habitat: consequences for the fern communities in Atlantic forest remnants in Alagoas, north-eastern Brazil

Background: The reduction of forest areas and the fragmentation of remaining forest is a major threat to biodiversity and is one of the primary causes of species extinction in the Atlantic forest biome. Aims: To evaluate the effects of the fragmentation and loss of habitat (size, edge effect, isolation and type of matrix) the richness, abundance, diversity and species composition of ferns in Atlantic forest fragments. Methods: For each of 11 fragments, plots of 10 × 20 m2 were compared in the interior and at the forest edge. Data were analysed by general linear models, or by the use of similarity indices for floristic composition. Results: Eighty-eight species were recorded. Fragment size and type of environment (interior vs. edge) were related to the biological variables studied: large fragments and forest interior environments had larger populations of ferns, with a higher diversity. Floristic compositions were distinct for both the interior vs. edge environments and large vs. small fragments. Conclusions: Although larger fragments present a higher number of species, the preservation of smaller fragments, which have a different suite of species from those found in the large fragments, is important to guarantee the maintenance of the highest number of fern species in the Atlantic forest. Small fragments are not merely subsets of the species occurring in the larger fragments. The turnover in the species composition between fragments of different size suggests high spatial variability in the study area.

As samambaias e licófitas no semiárido do Brasil

Little knowledge has been gathered on ferns and lycophytes occurring in the semi-arid region of Brazil known as the Caatinga, perhaps due to the widespread idea that a semi-arid climate would be incompatible with environmental demands of ferns and lycophytes (high humidity and shade). Ferns and lycophytes are represented in the semi-arid region of Brazil by at least 41 species, 20 genera and 11 families, distributed in the northeastern states (except Maranhao) and Minas Gerais. In this region, most of the species were recorded in moist, shaded microhabitats: cracks in rocks, ravines in shaded areas, springs, temporary lakes or areas with temporarily flooded soil. Although the majority of species recorded are widely distributed throughout Brazil, the high representation of aquatic species and low representation of epiphytes demonstrate the unique identity of the fern and lycophyte flora of the semi-arid region.

Pteridófitas de um remanescente de Floresta Atlântica em São Vicente Férrer, Pernambuco, Brasil: Pteridaceae

A floristic survey of the pteridoflora at the Mata do Estado, located in the Municipality of Sao Vicente Ferrer, Mata Norte (Atlantic Forest) Zone in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, was performed. The study was developed in this area, due to its great extension of ca. 600ha, and also because of a great of diversity pteridophytes , result of a humidity gradient where the environmental and physical factors such as the altitude levels and the,, precipitation, as well as the distribution of those precipitations has fundamental importance for the vegetation of the area. Traditional methods were used to carry out the floristic survey. The usual methods and specialized literature were utilized for the analysis and identification of the collected specimens. Illustrations and geographic distribution of the species are presented, and also a description of new reference species and comments on families, genera and species. The work aims to contribute to a better floristic and ecological understanding of the pteridoflora of the Atlantic Forest Reserves located in the mountainous region of the Northeastern Brazil. The family Pteridaceae is represented in the studied area with by twenty especies distributed in seven genera (Pityrogramma Link, Adiantopsis Fee, Hemionitis L. with and Acrostichum L. with one specie each; Doryopteris J. Sm. with four species; Adiantum L. with nine species and Pteris L. a tree species and one variety). Adiantum humile Kunze is a new reference for the state of Pernambuco.

Richness, geographic distribution and ecological aspects of the fern community within the Murici Ecological Station in the state of Alagoas, Brazil

We conducted a floristic survey of ferns within the Murici Ecological Station (remnant of the northeastern Atlantic Forest), located near the municipalities of Messias and Murici, in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. To increase knowledge of the ferns of Alagoas, we evaluated the species occurring in the study area in terms of richness, composition, geographic distribution, similarities with species in other Brazilian biomes, regional conservation status and ecological aspects. Data were obtained from field work conducted between March 2009 and September 2010. We identified 107 species of ferns, of which 19 represent new records for Alagoas. The richest families were Pteridaceae (29 species) and Polypodiaceae (22 species). The richest genera were Adiantum (15 species) and Thelypteris (9 species). Most of the species sampled are widely distributed throughout Brazil and the Americas. Within the context of the northeastern Atlantic Forest, 12 species were considered endangered. Concerning the ecological aspects, 88.8% of the species identified were herbaceous, 57.9% were terrestrial and 70.0% occurred in the forest interior.

Florística e distribuição geográfica das samambaias e licófitas da Reserva Ecológica de Gurjaú, Pernambuco, Brasil

Resumo O presente estudo visou realizar o inventario das samambaias e licofitas da Reserva Ecologica de Gurjau (Pernambuco, Brasil) avaliando a riqueza, composicao, distribuicao geografica e raridade das especies. Foi realizado a partir do exame das colecoes dos principais herbarios do Estado e levantamento floristico com trabalho de campo. A distribuicao geografica das especies no globo e em territorio brasileiro foi baseada em dados da literatura e foram consideradas como especies raras aquelas com apenas um ou dois pontos de coleta na Floresta Atlântica Nordestina. Foram registradas duas especies pertencentes ao grupo das licofitas e 75 especies pertencentes ao grupo das samambaias, das quais 10% sao raras, no contexto da Floresta Atlântica Nordestina. As familias mais representativas foram Pteridaceae (21 especies), Thelypteridaceae (8 spp.) e Polypodiaceae (8 spp.). Os generos com maior numero de especies foram Adiantum (14 spp.) e Thelypteris (7 spp.). A maioria das especies e amplamente distribuida nos tropicos e tambem em territorio brasileiro. Palavras-chave: conservacao, Floresta Atlântica, riqueza, samambaias. Abstract This paper aimed floristic survey the ferns and lycophytes from Reserva Ecologica de Gurjau (Pernambuco, Brazil) evaluating the richness, composition, geographical distribution, and rarity of the species. The study was realized from examination the collections of major herbaria in the State and floristic survey with field work. The geographical distribution of species on the globe and in Brazilian territory was based on literature and were considered rare species as those with one or two collection points in the Northeastern Atlantic Forest. The floristic survey identified two species of lycophytes and 75 species of ferns. Among ferns, 10% were considered rare in the context of the Northeastern Atlantic Forest. The most representative families were Pteridaceae (21 species) Thelypteridaceae (8 spp.) and Polypodiaceae (8 spp.). The richest genera were Adiantum (14 spp.) and Thelypteris (7 spp.). Most species are widely distributed in the tropics and also in Brazilian territory. Key words: Atlantic Forest, conservation, ferns, richness.