Leonardo Dias Meireles

Composição florística da vegetação altimontana do distrito de Monte Verde (Camanducaia, MG), Serra da Mantiqueira Meridional, Sudeste do Brasil

A Serra da Mantiqueira apresenta um mosaico de formacoes vegetacionais composto por florestas altimontanas, florestas de araucaria, campos de altitude e afloramentos rochosos. Realizamos um levantamento floristico nas formacoes altimontanas do distrito de Monte Verde, Camanducaia, MG, Sudeste do Brasil, para quantificarmos a riqueza especifica de cada formacao e analisarmos a distribuicao geografica das especies. Foram coletadas 499 especies, distribuidas entre 97 familias e 285 generos. As familias com maior riqueza especifica foram Asteraceae (77 especies), Melastomataceae e Orchidaceae (25), Myrtaceae (24), Solanaceae (23), Cyperaceae e Fabaceae (22), e Rubiaceae (18). Os generos mais ricos foram Baccharis (16 especies), Solanum (15), Leandra (10), Myrceugenia (9), Tibouchina (8) e Myrcia (7). Registramos a ocorrencia de tres especies recem-descritas e cinco novos registros para o estado de Minas Gerais. Cerca de 60 especies sao exclusivas do Sudeste brasileiro, enquanto 124 ocorrem tambem na regiao Sul. A presenca de especies endemicas e com distribuicao geografica restrita destaca a influencia da Serra da Mantiqueira na distribuicao de especies vegetais no Dominio da Floresta Atlântica. Floristic composition of high-montane vegetation in the district of Monte Verde (Camanducaia, Minas Gerais), Serra da Mantiqueira Meridional, Southeast Brasil Abstract The Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range harbors a mosaic of high-mountain vegetation composed of upper montane forests, Araucaria forests, high-altitude grasslands and rocky outcrops. A floristic survey was carried out in the upper montane formations of Monte Verde district, Camanducaia, in the State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, to quantify the richness of each formation, and analyze the geographic distribution of species. A total of 499 species was collected, distributed among 97 families and 285 genera. The richest families were Asteraceae (77 species), Melastomataceae and Orchidaceae (25), Myrtaceae (24), Orchidaceae (23), Solanaceae (23), Cyperaceae and Fabaceae (22), and Rubiaceae (18). The richest genera were Baccharis (16 species), Solanum (15), Leandra (10), Myrceugenia (9), Tibouchina (8), and Myrcia (7). The occurrence of three newly described species and five new records for Minas Gerais state were observed. About 60 species occur only in the southeast of Brazil, while 124 also occur in the southern region of Brazil. The occurrence of endemic species and species with narrow geographic distribution showed the influence of the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain chain on the distribution of plant species in the Atlantic Forest Domain.

Stability or breakdown under climate change? A key group of woody bamboos will find suitable areas in its richness center

Bamboos play an important role in forest dynamics, but management strategies are needed to avoid monodominance. Understanding how climate change would influence the geographic distribution of bamboos could provide management tools for habitat conservation, as well as prevent the expansion of this group. We investigated the distribution patterns of Merostachys species that are endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, under current and future climate scenarios. We obtained occurrence records based on field collection, herbaria data and online databases. We used the Maxent algorithm to model potential distribution. Future scenarios considered the IPCC forecasted climate for 2070. Our models showed that a reduction in suitable areas for Merostachys species will likely occur, but the existence of suitable areas under climate changes in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest indicates climatic stability in some areas of occurrence of these species in their richness center. Since the fact that in places with local dominance of woody bamboos there is a decrease in the diversity of other plant species, the occurrence of Merostachys throughout the suitable areas may represent risks to biodiversity conservation. Investigations of the synergistic effects of climate change and the local dominance of woody bamboos are required. Therefore, management measures may be very important to control the occurrence of woody bamboos in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, mainly in climatically stable areas.

Leguminosae in an altitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Forest of Serra do Mar State Park, São Paulo, Brazil

Studies on floristic and structural variations of forests in relation to altitude have contributed to the knowledge of patterns and causes of spatial distribution of plants in the Atlantic Forest. Geographical variables such as latitude, longitude and altitude result in different vegetation types, which limits newly established are not consensus. In the north coast of Sao Paulo state altitudes vary from the Restinga Forest, near the sea level, to the vegetation at the top of Cuscuzeiro Mountain at 1,279 m altitude. In order to evaluate the richness, taxonomic diversity, floristic similarity and the potential indicator of Leguminosae in the characterization of different vegetation types of Atlantic Forest on the northern coast of Sao Paulo, a matrix with the presence and absence of 142 species, in 15 different altitudinal belts was built. The greatest species richness was observed in the Restinga Forest (0-10 m), with 84 species, and in Montane Forest (500-1,200 m), with 69 species. The altitudinal belt with the highest number of tree species was 10-50 m, with 34 species. In the higher altitudes that number was significantly lower with six species of 1,100-1,200 m, and no species above this quota. The cluster analysis (Jaccard index) showed dissimilarity of the belts 0-10 m and 1,100-1,200 m in relation to the intermediate belts. The Lowland Forest and Submontane share the largest number of species (25). Some species characterize certain formations or have their preferred environment located at a specific elevation, as is the case of Abarema brachystachya and Inga subnuda (0-20 m), Inga lanceifolia, Inga mendoncaei and Ormosia minor (800-1,200 m). Distinguished for occupying all the phytophysiognomies: Abarema langsdorffii and Senna macranthera. Leguminosae, although well adapted to the first colonization and exploration of diverse environment, was poorly represented above 1,100 m altitude.

Asteraceae dos Campos Rupestres das Serras da Bocaina e de Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brasil

This work reports on a floristic survey of Asteraceae in rocky outcrop grasslands on the Bocaina and Carrancas mountain range, located in the Upper Rio Grande highlands, southern Minas Gerais State, as well as on an analysis of floristic similarity between mountainous areas of Brazilian Plateau. The floristic survey was carried out in 11 areas on the Bocaina and Carrancas mountain range. The floristic similarity was carried out between 17 other grasslands of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. In this floristic survey, the family showed 117 species, 43 genera and 14 tribes. The richest genera were Baccharis (14), Lessingianthus(10),Mikania(8) and Chromolaena(8). The mountain range of Bocaina and Carrancas showed highest floristic similarity with the mountain range of Canastra, mountain range of Sao Jose and Toca dos Urubus, while the lowest similarity were with the mountain range ofOrgaos. There was no significant correlation in relation to floristic similarity and geographical distance between the areas analyzed. The relationships in floristic composition between the groups formed are probably related to geomorphological, edaphic, climatic, vegetation beyond the influence of phytogeographic domains where these grasslands are located.

Distribution of Leguminosae tree species in different altitudinal levels along the Atlantic Rain Forest in the Brazilian coast

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened tropical forests in the world. Leguminosae, by its great richness and dominance among arboreal stratum elements, is of major importance in the floristic composition and structure of this forest. We investigated the distribution of legume species on an altitudinal gradient to find out the altitudinal zones with higher richness of species; the altitudinal zones with greater floristic similarity; the possible presence of species that may be exclusive to certain vegetation types and the altitudinal amplitudes of those species, as well as the occurrence of species substitution along the altitudinal gradient. Therefore, thirty one studies conducted in different altitudinal levels between 5° S and 29° S were analyzed. A matrix with 142 tree species distributed in altitudinal zones (every 100 m) from sea level to 2100 m was built. The greatest species richness was observed in the Submontane Forest (50–500 m) with 92 species. The cluster analysis revealed a strong dissimilarity of the 1400–2100 m (Upper Montane) and 0–10 m zones (Restinga Forest). The Submontane and the Montane Forest share the highest number of species (38 ssp.). Forty species are unique to Submontane. Substitution of species was verified. Some species have their preferred habitat located at a specific altitudinal amplitude, as is the case of Inga laurina and I. subnuda (0–10 m), I. lanceifolia and Machaerium scleroxylon (800–1200 m). The Leguminosae, although well adapted to the first colonization and establishment of diverse environment, was poorly represented above 1500 m altitude.