Vascular epiphytes on Pseudobombax (Malvaceae) in rocky outcrops (inselbergs) in Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest: basis for conservation of a threatened ecosystem

Abstract

This study evaluated the richness of vascular epiphytes on Pseudobombax sp. nov. in three inselbergs in the Atlantic Forest Domain in state of Espírito Santo and evaluated the floristic similarity between the areas. We sampled 111 phorophytes in three regions in the southern of Espírito Santo state and identified 151 species, 77 genera and 21 families of vascular epiphytes, of which the families Orchidaceae and Bromeliaceae showed the highest richness. Non-parametric estimators (Chao 2, Jackknife 1) indicate that 90 and 95% of species richness of epiphytes was recorded. The most diversified ecological category was the characteristic holoepiphytes. The ratio of the number of epiphytes and number of phorophytes sampled in a montane inselberg, in this study, was greater than the richness of vascular epiphytes found in the rocky outcrops of quartzite, and, in general, different types of Atlantic Domain forests, but smaller in richness for some Dense Ombrophilous Forests of southern Brazil. The three inselberg areas had distinct floras. The high richness, the endemism found, and the number of endangered species of epiphytes demonstrate the important role of Pseudobombax sp. nov., because of its architecture and size, in the maintenance of biodiversity on the inselbergs in southeastern Brazil. Key words: conservation, non-parametric estimators richness, specific phorophyte, vascular flora, industrial granite quarries. ResumoEste estudo avaliou a riqueza de epífitas vasculares sobre Pseudobombax sp. nov. em três inselbergs do Domínio Atlântico no estado do Espírito Santo e avaliou a similaridade florística entre as áreas. Foram amostrados 111 forófitos, em três regiões no sul do estado do Espírito Santo e identificados 151 espécies, 77 gêneros e 21 famílias de epífitos vasculares, das quais as famílias Orchidaceae e Bromeliaceae apresentaram maior riqueza. Estimadores não-paramétricos (Chao 2, Jackknife 1) indicam que 90 e 95% da riqueza específica de epífitas foi registrada. A categoria ecológica mais diversificada foi a dos holoepífitos característicos. A razão entre o número de epífitas e número de forófitos amostrados em um inselberg montano, neste estudo, foi maior do que a riqueza de epífitos encontrados nos campos rupestres, e, em geral, em diferentes tipos de florestas do Domínio Atlântico, mas menor em riqueza para algumas Florestas Ombrófilas Densas do sul do Brasil. As três áreas de inselbergs tinham floras distintas. A elevada riqueza, o endemismo encontrado e o número de espécies ameaçadas dos epífitos evidenciam a importante função de Pseudobombax sp. nov., por sua arquitetura e tamanho, para a manutenção da biodiversidade em inselbergs do sudeste brasileiro. Palavras-chave: conservação, estimadores não-paramétricos de riqueza, forófito específico, flora vascular, pedreira de granito industrial.

Floristic composition of a Neotropical inselberg from Espírito Santo state, Brazil: an important area for conservation

“…Duplicates were sent to the Herbaria RB, R, HUEFS, UFRN, VIC and SP, acronyms as listed in the Herbarium Index (Thiers 2015). List was complemented with existing data from other projects conducted at the same location (Couto 2013;Couto et al 2013Couto et al , 2016.…”

“…However, in floristic and ecological terms, inselberg refers to all granitic and gneissic rock outcrops, which are home to a specific, distinct type of vegetation different from that of the surroundings (Burke 2003;Barbará et al 2009;Couto et al 2016;Manhães et al 2016).…”

Checklist of ferns and lycophytes from Parque Estadual Mata das Flores, Castelo, Espírito Santo, Brazil

“…The main works in this direction are the checklists of Brade (1936Brade ( , 1947, Viegas (1992, 1993), Souza (2012), Aquije and Santos (2007), Couto et al (2016), and Sylvestre et al (2016). To contribute this type of…”

Epiphytic ferns in swamp forest remnants of the coastal plain of southern Brazil: latitudinal effects on the plant community

“…In Brazil, there have several studies of the fl oristic composition, community structure and spatial distribution of vascular epiphytes (Waechter 1986;Kersten & Silva 2001;Gonçalves & Waechter 2003;Giongo & Waechter 2004;Alves et al 2008;Dettke et al 2008;Kersten et al 2009;Menini Neto et al 2009;Bataghin et al 2010;Mania & Monteiro 2010;Blum et al 2011;Caglioni et al 2012;Oliveira et al 2013;Leitman et al 2014;Barbosa et al 2015;Padilha et al 2015;Couto et al 2016;Dislich & Mantovani 2016;Freitas et al 2016;Furtado & Menini Neto Acta Botanica Brasilica -30(4): 644-657. October-December 2016 2016).…”