11 5 1780 the journal of biodiversity data 30 October 2015 Check List LISTS OF SPECIES Check List 11(5): 1780, 30 October 2015 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/11.5.1780 ISSN 1809-127X © 2015 Check List and Authors Plant diversity on granite/gneiss rock outcrop at Pedra do Pato, Serra do Brigadeiro State Park, Brazil Bruno Vancini Tinti1, Carlos E. R. G. Schaefer2, Jaquelina Alves Nunes3, Alice Cristina Rodrigues1, Izabela Ferreira Fialho1 and Andreza Viana Neri1* 1 Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução de Plantas. Campus Universitário, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil 2 Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Solos. Campus Universitário, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil 3 Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais. Praça dos estudantes, 43, Santa Emília, 36800-000, Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Campo de Altitude, one of the ecosystems Taking into consideration the large geographic area associated with the Atlantic Forest, occurs mainly in encompassed by the Atlantic Forest, latitudinal and high plateaus of Southeastern Brazil. The study area is altitudinal variation, as well as the presence of associated in Serra do Brigadeiro State Park, Southeastern Brazil. ecosystems, this domain presents considerable We sampled six habitats (swamp field, Vellozia field, heterogeneity in floristic composition and habitats. This high mountain field, scrub slope, high altitude scrub, domain comprises tropical and subtropical regions with and cloud forest) that represent three physiognomies different vegetation type, both forest and non-forest (grassland, scrub, and woodland). Overall, 180 species types. A remarkable vegetation type associated with the were recorded, belonging to 128 genera and 58 families. Atlantic Forest is found mostly on quartzite, granite or The richest families were Orchidaceae (20 species), gneiss rock outcrops. However, they are different from Asteraceae (19), Melastomataceae (18), Rubiaceae (11), one another in floristic composition and structure of Myrtaceae (9) and Cyperaceae, Lauraceae, Solanaceae plant communities (Alves and Kolbek 2010). In Brazil, and Poaceae with five species each. The genera with the ecosystem that occurs on quartzite is known as highest number of species were: Baccharis, Miconia and “Campo Rupestre”, different from the ecosystems that Tibouchina with five species each; Solanum with four; occur on granite and gneiss which are known as “Campo Paepalanthus, Myrcia, Myrciaria and Vellozia with three. de Altitude” and Inselberg. Campo de Altitude is high altitude grasslands above 1,700 m, although there are Key words: mountain vegetation, campo de altitude, also similar formations in summits of lower mountains high altitude rocky complexes, gradient, Atlantic Forest (Safford and Martinelli 2000). Inselberg usually is domain represented by dome-shaped outcrops abruptly rising in surrounding plains that attain different heights and can be found in a broad spectrum of sizes and various INTRODUCTION degrees of isolation (Bremer and Sander 2000). The Atlantic Forest is known for its high plant Campo de Altitude, the object of the present study, endemism (Mori et al. 1981) and also as a center of mostly occurs in the highlands of Southeastern Brazil. global biodiversity (Barthlott et al. 1996). It is included Porembski (2007) pointed out that numerous mainland among the 34 hotspots worldwide because of its high ecosystems such as inselbergs and mountain peaks can biodiversity and number of endemic species and because be considered terrestrial islands. Those isolated habitats of habitat loss (Mittermeier et al. 2005). According to present spatial and ecological isolation that works as Stehmann et al. (2009) the richness of this domain is a barrier against dispersion and migration. Ecological ca. 15,800 species, 48% of which are endemic. However, isolation can be attributed to the lack of soil and also despite the legal protection, anthropic pressure the climate, whereas they are considered the coldest (deforestation and overexploitation) still threatens the orobiome (sensu Walter 1984) in eastern South America, habitats, and consequently only a few fragments remain because of the high altitude and geographic exposure to (11% of the original forest; Ribeiro et al. 2009). southern winds and polar fronts (Safford 1999a, 1999b). Check List | www.biotaxa.org/cl 1 Volume 11 | Number 5 | Article 1780 Tinti et al. | Plant diversity on rock outcrop, Brazil Campo de Altitude represents a small portion of the MATERIAL AND METHODS earth’s surface, the total area is probably less than 350 Study area km2 (Safford 1999a). These areas are usually included in The studied area is located in the southeast region of conservation units, mainly because they are useless for Brazil and is part of the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain agriculture and grazing (Benites et al. 2007). range, with predominance of plutonic rocks (granite) Different physiognomies are associated with rock and high grade metamorphics (migmatites, gneiss) outcrops in Campo de Altitude, forming a mosaic of (Benites et al. 2007). The Serra do Brigadeiro State Park synusiae with grassland, shrub, scrub and rock outcrop is located in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais state vegetation. Bare rocks, cliffs and rock peaks are also and it is surrounded by the Atlantic Forest. The park elements of the high altitude landscape (Safford and belongs to eight municipalities: Araponga, Fervedouro, Martinelli 2000). This group of physionognomies Miradouro, Ervália, Sericita, Pedra Bonita, Muriaé and shapes what we can call High Altitude Rocky Complexes Divino. The annual average rainfall is 1,300 mm and the (Benites et al. 2003). annual average temperature is 18°C. The causes of Campo de Altitude formation are The terrain is rough and consists of different landforms complex and rooted in the ancient landscape evolution, and habitats: plateaux, steep slopes, escarpments, during the late Pleistocene, when the cold and dry valleys and swamps (Schaefer et. al. 2007). The peaks in climate was dominant in southeastern South America the park are all above 1,500 m, and Pedra do Pato reaches (Safford 1999b). The great number of endemic species 1,980 m above sea level (20°44ʹ35.64ʺ S, 042°28ʹ03.5ʺ W). indicates that they had a long term evolution and the Due to the landscape and the altitude, it experiences paleobotanical evidence suggests that rock outcrops much lower temperatures than the surrounding region. have covered the mountains tops of Southeastern Brazil since the Pleistocene (Behling and Lichte 1997; Safford Data collection 1999a). Pedra do Pato was named after its outline that The flora of Campo de Altitude has various origins, resembles a duck (Figure 1). The study was carried out in in which 21% of the genera are derived from temperate six habitats (swamp field, Vellozia field, high mountain taxa originating outside Brazil (Safford 2007). This field, scrub slope, high altitude scrub and cloud forest) pattern is not exceptional for Brazil, but is found in representing three physiognomies (grassland, scrub most tropical mountains, since they possess a temperate and woodland). The woodland forest was represented climate (Safford 2007). According to Safford (2007), by cloud forest: vegetation in high altitude with a the Campo de Altitude is island of temperate climate great humidity throughout the year. The samples were above the tropical Atlantic Forest domain. Analysing collected once a month during 2010 and the plants the macroclimatic patterns, Safford (1999b) suggested collected during the first reconnaissance expedition to that the Campo de Altitude is essentially a high latitude the area were included in the list, but the habitats where variant of tropical Andean páramos, with enhanced they were collected was not specified (collecting permit: seasonality. IEF number 094/10). Despite this relationship with Andean highland The fertile samples were registered in the Herbarium flora, Campo de Altitude show little floristic similarity VIC at Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Minas Gerais, between each other. The Itatiaia mountain range, for Brazil). The samples that were not in reproductive stage example, presented only six species in common with were no registered. The identifications were made by Serra das Cabeças (Caiafa and Silva 2005; Ribeiro et comparisons with exsiccates in the Herbarium VIC, by al. 2007). Although both belong to the same large consulting specialists and literature. The classification mountain range (Serra da Mantiqueira), the distance of families and confirmation of accepted names follow between the mountains is probably one of the factors the Lista de Espécies da Flora do Brasil (2014). that contributed to the low similarity (Siene et al. Comparison between areas of Campo de Altitude can 2000). However, it is difficult to adequately discuss be difficult due to different sampling efforts. However, we Campo de Altitude because we still have a severe lack of decided to compare our results to published floristic lists information about this habitat. from 10 other sites. The published lists selected were the Considering the limited floristic data from this ones in which the studied vegetation were mentioned by environment, the main objective of this article was to the authors that was Campo de Altitude, so that to ensure contribute to the knowledge of the flora of Pedra do Pato that were not another type of vegetation on granite and in Serra do Brigadeiro State Park, Minas Gerais State, gneiss. Thus, we compare our florist list with previously Brazil; as well as contributing to greater information published floristic lists from Itatiaia, Serra das Cabeças about the flora of Campo de Altitude in this area and the (Totem Mountain), Alto Misterioso, Serra da Pedra surrounding vegetation. Branca and six mountains of the Serra do Mar in Paraná. Check List | www.biotaxa.org/cl 2 Volume 11 | Number 5 | Article 1780 Tinti et al. | Plant diversity on rock outcrop, Brazil Figure 1. View of the study area; Pedra do Pato Mountain, Serra do Brigadeiro State Park, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Photo by Braz Cosenza.