Estrutura e diversidade da comunidade arbórea de uma floresta superomontana, no Planalto de Poços de Caldas (MG)

A survey of the tree community of a ombrophilous upper montane forest, situated in Poços de Caldas, Brazil (1200-1575 m of altitude; 21°46’25”S, 46’24”10”W) was carried out in order to assess its environmental and structural variation. The physiognomic (density, basal area and distribution of size of the trees) and community structure (composition, distribution and diversity of species) were analyzed through 22 plots of 5 x 100 m, where the tree individuals with diameter at breast height ≥ 5  cm were sampled. The topographic variables were measured and the surface soil samples were collected to obtain their chemical and texture attributes. The survey resulted in 53 botanic families, 104 genera, 178 species and 1963 individuals, as well as four soil classes: distrofic and eutrofic Argisoil, Cambisoil and Litolic Neosoil, distributed sequentially from the hilltop to the base of the fragment. The canonic correspondence analyses showed a gradient of tree species distribution mainly correlated with variations of quotas, magnesium content (Mg++) and aluminum saturation (m).Foi realizado o levantamento da comunidade arbórea de uma floresta tropical superomontana, situada na Serra de São Domingos, no planalto de Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brasil (altitude de 1.200 m a 1.575 m; 21°46'25"S, 46'24"10"W), com o objetivo de avaliar as variações estruturais e variáveis ambientais relacionadas. Foram analisados aspectos da estrutura fisionômica (densidade, área basal e distribuição de tamanho das árvores) e comunitária (composição, distribuição e diversidade de espécies). Foram alocadas 22 parcelas de 5 x 100 m no fragmento para amostragem dos indivíduos arbóreos com diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP) ≥ 5 cm, e coleta de dados topográficos e amostras de solo superficial (0-20 cm) para análises químicas e texturais. Foram registradas 53 famílias botânicas, 104 gêneros, 178 espécies e 1963 indivíduos, assim como três subgrupos de solos: Neossolos Litólicos, Cambissolos e Argissolos (distróficos e eutróficos), distribuídos ao longo da variação altitudinal do fragmento. Uma análise de correspondência canônica revelou um gradiente de distribuição das espécies arbóreas principalmente correlacionada com as variações altitudinais, o teor de Magnésio (Mg++) e saturação por alumínio (m)

STRUCTURE AND DIVERSITY OF THE TREE COMUNITY OF A UPPER HIGHLANDS FOREST ON THE PLATEAU OF PO\uc7OS DE CALDAS, MG STATE

Foi realizado o levantamento da comunidade arb\uf3rea de uma floresta tropical superomontana, situada na Serra de S\ue3o Domingos, no planalto de Po\ue7os de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brasil (altitude de 1.200 m a 1.575 m; 21\ub046'25\u201dS, 46'24\u201d10\u201dW), com o objetivo de avaliar as varia\ue7\uf5es estruturais e vari\ue1veis ambientais relacionadas. Foram analisados aspectos da estrutura fision\uf4mica (densidade, \ue1rea basal e distribui\ue7\ue3o de tamanho das \ue1rvores) e comunit\ue1ria (composi\ue7\ue3o, distribui\ue7\ue3o e diversidade de esp\ue9cies). Foram alocadas 22 parcelas de 5 x 100 m no fragmento para amostragem dos indiv\uedduos arb\uf3reos com di\ue2metro \ue0 altura do peito (DAP) 655 cm, e coleta de dados topogr\ue1ficos e amostras de solo superficial (0-20 cm) para an\ue1lises qu\uedmicas e texturais. Foram registradas 53 fam\uedlias bot\ue2nicas, 104 g\ueaneros, 178 esp\ue9cies e 1963 indiv\uedduos, assim como tr\ueas subgrupos de solos: Neossolos Lit\uf3licos, Cambissolos e Argissolos (distr\uf3ficos e eutr\uf3ficos), distribu\ueddos ao longo da varia\ue7\ue3o altitudinal do fragmento. Uma an\ue1lise de correspond\ueancia can\uf4nica revelou um gradiente de distribui\ue7\ue3o das esp\ue9cies arb\uf3reas principalmente correlacionada com as varia\ue7\uf5es altitudinais, o teor de Magn\ue9sio (Mg++) e satura\ue7\ue3o por alum\uednio (m).A survey of the tree community of a ombrophilous upper montane forest, situated in Po\ue7os de Caldas, Brazil (1200-1575 m of altitude; 21\ub046'25\u201dS, 46'24\u201d10\u201dW) was carried out in order to assess its environmental and structural variation. The physiognomic (density, basal area and distribution of size of the trees) and community structure (composition, distribution and diversity of species) were analyzed through 22 plots of 5 x 100 m, where the tree individuals with diameter at breast height 655 cm were sampled. The topographic variables were measured and the surface soil samples were collected to obtain their chemical and texture attributes. The survey resulted in 53 botanic families, 104 genera, 178 species and 1963 individuals, as well as four soil classes: distrofic and eutrofic Argisoil, Cambisoil and Litolic Neosoil, distributed sequentially from the hilltop to the base of the fragment. The canonic correspondence analyses showed a gradient of tree species distribution mainly correlated with variations of quotas, magnesium content (Mg++) and aluminum saturation (m)

New initiatives for Brazilian aquatic plant data management

Initiatives directed at managing information on aquatic plants can support different areas of scientific research, educational practices and political decisions for sustainable management and protection of wetlands and natural resources, as well as reveal knowledge gaps regarding aquatic plants and wetlands. Furthermore, such initiatives can contribute directly to consolidating wetland classification systems in Brazil. The objectives of this work are to present and explore the use of a data repository and online platform created specifically for the management of data on aquatic plants in Brazil. The data repository for aquatic plants was developed to store information on species occurrence records in a standardized form considering: systematics, taxonomy, habit, life form, geographic distribution, hydrographic basin, wetland, bibliographic references and herbarium material. A total of 3,903 records referring to the Southeast Region of Brazil were generated for the data repository. This total encompassed 1,036 species distributed among 132 families and 466 genera. Our results illustrate the diversity of information available regarding aquatic plants, circumscribe this group of species and serve as a source of data about them. Similar databases and electronic infrastructures can be developed for other flora in the future

Composição florística de angiospermas no carste do Alto São Francisco, Minas Gerais, Brasil

A ocorrência de rochas carbonáticas delimita um tipo particular de relevo, o carste, o qual, pela geomorfologia e hidrologia específicas, difere das paisagens dominantes. Na região cárstica do Alto São Francisco, conhecida como "Mata de Pains", encontram-se exemplos marcantes de relevos cársticos ocorrentes em Minas Gerais. No cárste, a cobertura vegetal é composta por mosaico fitofisionômico apresentando áreas florestadas e áreas abertas, com notável diversidade florística. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar o levantamento das espécies de angiospermas em áreas com afloramentos de rocha carbonática na Região Cárstica do Alto São Francisco, bem como verificar a relação florística da região estudada com a flora dos domínios fitogeográficos brasileiros. Para o levantamento, no período de 2002 a 2006, foram realizadas expedições mensais para coletas de material botânico fértil concentradas em áreas relacionadas a rochas carbonáticas. O material coletado totalizou 1.512 exsicatas e foi incorporado ao acervo do herbário BHCB. Foram encontradas 456 espécies de angiospermas, distribuídas em 299 gêneros e 77 famílias. O hábito herbáceo foi o melhor representado, com 161 espécies, seguido dos hábitos arbustivo e arbóreo (111 espécies cada), escandente (73 espécies). A flora encontrada na Mata de Pains apresenta influências, em ordem de importância, dos domínios fitogeográficos Mata Atlântica, Cerrado, Amazônia, Caatinga, Pantanal e Pampa. Inventários florísticos em regiões cársticas nos diferentes domínios fitogeográficos podem, em conjunto, fornecer informações importantes no entendimento histórico da vegetação neotropical

Acanthostachys calcicola (Bromeliaceae, Bromelioideae), a new species from a limestone outcrop in Tocantins State, Brazil

A new species of bromeliad, Acanthostachys calcicola, a third taxon for the genus, is here described. A. calcicola was discovered during field work in the limestone outcrops of south-eastern Tocantins, central Brazil. It is most similar to A. strobilacea, but differs from it in petal colour and length, and exserted stamens and pistil. A conservation assessment classifies A. calcicola as endangered (EN) with extinction

Composição florística de angiospermas no carste do Alto São Francisco, Minas Gerais, Brasil

The occurence of carbonatic rocks defines a typical type of relief, called karst, that, by its geomorphology and hydrology, usually differs from the surrounding landscape. In the upper São Francisco river basin, some striking remnants of vegetation associated to karst can be found, which are locally knwon as Mata de Pains. In this region, a mosaic of different physiognomies, including forests and open areas, which present noteworthy plant diversity, composes the vegetation. The aim of this study is to provide an inventory of angiosperm species in areas of carbonatic rocks outcrops in the upper São Francisco river basin karst region, as well as analyze the floristic relationship of the study area with different Brazilian phytogeographic domains. Fieldwork was performed during the period of 2002 a 2006, when collections of fertile speciemns were done in areas associated to carbonatic rock outcrops. During the study, 1512 exsicates were incorporated to BHCB herbarium collection. A total of 456 angiosperm species were inventoried, distributed in 299 genera and 77 families. Herbaceous habit was better represented, with 161 species, followed by shrubs and trees (111 species each) and lianas (73 species). The flora of the study area presents more influence of the Mata Atlântica domain (Atlantic Rain Forest), followed by, in order of importance, Cerrado, Amazonia, Caatinga, Pantanal and Pampa. Floristic surveys in different karst regions inserted in different phytogeographic domains may, together, provide useful information in understanding the phytogeografic history of Neotropical vegetation

Stachytarpheta lajedicola (Verbenaceae), a new species from the Caatinga of Minas Gerais state, Brazil: the first report of the genus in limestone outcrops

ABSTRACT Stachytarpheta is one of the largest genera of Verbenaceae, found mainly in the campos rupestres of Brazil. We describe a new species, Stachytarpheta lajedicola, and report for the first time the occurrence of the genus in limestone outcrops. The new species is endemic to the Caatinga domain, northern Minas Gerais state, growing in an open karst formation of the municipality of Matias Cardoso, locally known as Lajedão. Its main diagnostic characteristics are the branches with well-developed longitudinal edges, leaves with attenuate to caudate apex, and inflorescences with linear bracts, exceeding the calyx in length. We provide a detailed description, illustrations, photographs, a geographic occurrence map, and comparisons with the morphologically similar species. Stachytarpheta lajedicola may be considered Critically Endangered (CR), and the biological importance of Lajedão and the conservation of the new species are discussed