Acta Botanica Brasilica 28(3): 456-464
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Acta Botanica Brasilica 28(3): 456-464. 2014. doi: 10.1590/0102-33062014abb3239 Floristic composition and structure of an upper montane cloud forest in the Serra da Mantiqueira Mountain Range of Brazil Patrícia Vieira Pompeu1,3, Marco Aurélio Leite Fontes1, Rubens Manoel dos Santos1, Paulo Oswaldo Garcia1, Talita Alves Batista1, Warley Augusto Caldas Carvalho1 and Ary Teixeira de Oliveira Filho2 Received: June 23, 2013. Accepted: April 16, 2014 ABSTRACT We analyzed the community structure of an upper montane cloud forest (elevation, 1900 m) in the Serra da Man- tiqueira Mountain Range, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Our objective was to determine the comparative tree species richness and floristic diversity within this forest, which is at one of the higher elevations in the range, in relation to surrounding forests that are at lower elevations, adjusting for elevational gradients. Within 15 permanent plots (40 × 10 m each), we tagged all tree individuals with a diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm, registering their height and diameter. To compare the study area with neighboring cloud forests, we used the Sørensen similarity coefficient and phytosociological parameters. We sampled 1250 individuals distributed among 89 species, 55 genera, and 34 families. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed no gradients related to the vegetation or soil. We found that tree species richness and diversity were high in the study area. There was structural and floristic heterogeneity among the communities evaluated, underscoring the importance of conservation of these high-elevation ecosystems, which are so unique and irreplaceable. Key words: Upper montane cloud forest, mountain forest, phytosociology, tree community, Atlantic Forest. Introduction expand the knowledge of cloud forest ecosystems in Bra- zil, describing and analyzing the community structure of The Serra da Mantiqueira Mountain Range is part of an upper montane cloud forest within the Atlantic Forest the Atlantic Forest Biome, which encompasses various types Biome, in the Serra da Mantiqueira. of forest formations. Cloud forests constitute a type of rain forest that occurs at higher elevations and is shrouded in low-level cloud cover for most of the year (Webster 1995). Material and Methods In the Serra da Mantiqueira, cloud forests typically occur above 1100 m. Neotropical cloud forests are among the rar- Study area est and most threatened ecosystems in the world (Bruijnzeel The study site is within the High Montane Private et al. 2010), collectively occupying an estimated area of only Nature Reserve (22°22’39”S; 44°48’55”W), located in the 2 approximately 215,000 km , which corresponds to only county of Itamonte, within the state of Minas Gerais, 1.4% of all tropical forests and 6.6% of all montane tropical Brazil. The reserve comprises 672 ha of continuous forest forests (Scatena et al. 2010). In Brazil, cloud forests within and montane grassland, the latter restricted to the highest the southern and southeastern segments of the Atlantic elevations (2100-2400 m). The area ranks eighth among Forest Biome form a distinct, albeit poorly studied, floristic the most irreplaceable ecosystems in the world in terms and phytogeographic unit (Bertoncello et al. 2011). At the of the diversity of vertebrate species, which are threatened higher elevations of the Serra da Mantiqueira, Meirelles with extinction, and there have been urgent calls for ad- et al. (2008) and França & Stehmann (2004) conducted ditional measures to ensure its effective management and tree community surveys at 1820-1940 m and at 1900 m, conservation (Le-Saout et al. 2013). The study area has a respectively. Nevertheless, the Atlantic Forest is considered history of complex disturbance, with fewer disturbances at a global priority area for the conservation of cloud forests the upper elevations. Currently, the area is strictly protected (Bruijnzeel et al. 2010). Therefore, this study aimed to and has been incorporated into the Serra da Mantiqueira 1 Universidade Federal de Lavras, Departamento de Ciências Florestais, CP 3037, Lavras, MG, CEP 37200-000, Brazil 2 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Botânica, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil 3 Author for correspondence: [email protected] Floristic composition and structure of an upper montane cloud forest in the Serra da Mantiqueira Mountain Range of Brazil Environmentally Protected Area. The study site, which Data analysis is at an elevation of 1900 m, is 15 km from the entrance To describe the horizontal structure of the tree commu- to Itatiaia National Park (near the Serra Fina Mountain nity, we calculated the classical phytosociological parameters Range). This area is part of the Atlantic Forest Biome, and for each species (Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg 1974): abso- the predominant type of vegetation formation is dense lute and relative density; absolute and relative dominance; high montane rain forest (IBGE 2012). The area can also absolute and relative frequency; and importance value, be classified as tropical broadleaf evergreen upper montane which is the sum of the aforementioned relative values. cloud forest (Oliveira-Filho 2009) or simply upper montane To evaluate species diversity, we employed the Shannon cloud forest (Bruijnzeel & Hamilton 2000; Bruijnzeel 2001; diversity index and Pielou’s evenness index (Brower & Zar Scatena et al. 2010). We observed that, in comparison with 1997), applying a rarefaction curve, based on species rich- the surrounding areas (at lower elevations), the study site ness versus the number of individuals, in the program PC- presented greater epiphytism, with more mosses on tree ORD, version 5.1 (Mccune & Mefford 2006). For the species trunks and in tree canopies, smaller leaf sizes and a greater with the highest importance values, we drew statistical abundance of vines, as well as bamboos (which do not occur comparisons for abundance and basal area using one-way at the lower elevations). ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test (Zar 2010), which allowed According to the Köppen classification system, the us to recognize patterns of structural organization within climate of the region under study is type Cwb, character- populations. Data normality were tested, and parameters ized by humid temperate with dry winters, the average were transformed by square root functions (for abundance) temperature in the warmest and coolest months being < or log transformed (for basal area) when necessary. 17.3°C and > 12.7 °C, respectively (Sá Júnior et al. 2012). The The correlations between soil variables and species historic average annual rainfall is 1749 mm (Pane & Pereira abundance were analyzed by canonical correspondence 2005). Geologically, the study area is part of Paraíba do Sul analysis (CCA), again with PC-ORD. The CCA was Complex, covering a lithologic group comprising mainly performed to evaluate floristic patterns correlated with gneisses and migmatites, which corresponds to an environ- soil variables. From the abundance data of the 23 species ment with extremely strong relief, with crests sectioned at represented by five or more individuals, we constructed a the higher elevations due to faulting (Pane & Pereira 2005). species composition matrix in which values were log trans- The resulting soils are Inceptisols (Pane & Pereira 2005). formed to compensate for deviations caused by outliers (ter Braak 1995). To create the soil data matrix, we performed Sampling a preliminary CCA, eliminating correlated environmental variables or those that correlated only weakly with the We sampled the tree community in 15 permanent plots ordination axes. Therefore, the final CCA was calculated (40 × 10 m each; total area, 0.6 ha), distributed systematically using the following variables: sand, silt, and clay fractions; at regular intervals, 15 m apart, all at an elevation of 1900 m. pH, P, K, Ca, and Al; sum of bases; cation exchange capac- Using numbered aluminum tags, we tagged all trees with a ity at pH 7.0; organic matter; and remaining phosphorus. diameter ≥ 5 cm with. We also measured the circumference We used the Sørensen similarity coefficient (Brower & Zar and height of those individuals using a tape measure and 1984) and phytosociological parameters in order to compare a graduated pole, respectively. The reproductive material the study area with other cloud forests studied in the Serra collected was processed following the usual herbarium da Mantiqueira: at Poços de Caldas (Costa et al. 2011); at techniques and deposited in the following herbaria: ESAL, Camanducaia (França & Stehmann 2004); at Monte Verde UEC, RB; which acronyms are in accordance with the In- (Meireles et al. 2008); and at Bocaina de Minas (Carvalho dex Herbariorum (Thiers continuously updated) plus the et al. 2005). Herbarium at the State University of Montes Claros. For the classification of specimens down to the family level, we followed the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III guidelines (APG III 2009). Results Texture and chemical analyses of one composite soil We sampled 1250 individuals distributed among 89 sample from each plot, sampled in the center and vertices, species, 55 genera, and 34 families (Tab. 1). The families were conducted at the Soil Analysis Laboratory at the Fed- with highest species richness were Myrtaceae, with 20 eral University of Lavras following the Brazilian Agency for species; Melastomataceae, with nine; Lauraceae, with six; Agricultural Research protocol (EMBRAPA 1997). The fol- Aquifoliaceae, with four;