UREDINALES (RUST FUNGI) BIOTA OF THE PARQUE NACIONAL DO ITATIAIA, BRAZIL: AN ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITION, SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ALTITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION

<div>The present study analyzed the composition, species diversity, and altitudinal distribution</div><div>of rust fungi (Uredinales) collected in the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Brazil.</div><div>Results were compared with other Atlantic Forest locations, the São Paulo Cerrado</div><div>and some other tropical regions. The Uredinales collections were made over the</div><div>course of two years, covering the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, from</div><div>500 to 2600m above the sea level. The Uredinales Biota is composed of 38 genera</div><div>(32 teleomorphs and 6 anamorphs) and 207 species, 178 of which were teleomorphic</div><div>and 29 anamorphic. The genera Puccinia, Uromyces and Phakopsora contained a</div><div>high number of species (58% combined). A hundred and ninety-two hosts belonging</div><div>to 63 botanical families were recorded. The rust/host ratio for ten of the richest</div><div>families in number of species was 1:8. A high similarity (50%) was found between</div><div>two altitudinal ranges. The results provide a strong additional argument for the need</div><div>to preserve and continue studies in such areas</div