Abstract
The increase in rates of habitat loss requires an understanding of how biodiversity is distributed. Campo rupestre is an old, climatically buffered, and infertile landscape located in Brazil. Considered a biodiversity hotspot, the campo rupestre is mainly threatened by mining activity that requires a large operating area. Campo rupestre is known for its restricted distribution area and high abiotic heterogeneity, which modulates species coexistence and richness. To recognise the association between habitat type and plant communities, we propose to describe the floristic composition of herbaceous and shrub components in four habitats of the campo rupestre comprising quartzite and ferruginous substrate. We classified habitat types by the main surface soil features. In each habitat, we sampled ten 100-m2 plots to access information on the shrub and ten 1-m2 plots for the herbaceous component. Altogether we sampled 153 species, belonging to 38 families. The cluster analysis ordered by Sorensen metric indicates a clear distinction of species composition in the shrub component in the four habitats. However, the floristic composition of the herbaceous component was similar between the four habitats but showed a distinction when contrasting with the substrate type. Our results highlight the local taxonomic distinction between habitat types and substrates, indicating that the ecological distinction among substrate types of the campo rupestre cannot be overlooked in conservation and restoration actions.
Highlights
The world is witnessing an unprecedented increase in rates of fragmentation and habitat loss, which comes along with abrupt increases in species extinction, loss of genetic diversity, and ecosystem services
To recognise the association between habitat type and plant communities, we propose to describe the floristic composition of herbaceous and shrub components in four habitats of the campo rupestre comprising quartzite and ferruginous substrate
We found 91 species in the QO (68 shrub and 23 herbaceous species); 52 species in QG (31 shrub and 21 herbaceous species), totalling 99 species in habitats of quartzite substrate (Fig. 2b)
Summary
The world is witnessing an unprecedented increase in rates of fragmentation and habitat loss, which comes along with abrupt increases in species extinction, loss of genetic diversity, and ecosystem services. The campo rupestre forms a complex landscape composed of a variety of habitats such as quartzite and ferruginous outcrops interconnected by stony, gravel, sandy, acidy, nutrient-poor, and low water retention soils (Conceição & Pirani, 2005; de Carvalho et al, 2014; Fernandes, 2016; Schaefer et al, 2016a,b; Silveira et al, 2016) This edaphic diversity is one of the main local modulators of the coexistence of plant species, often endemic and rare (Giulietti et al, 1997; Jacobi et al, 2007; Messias et al, 2013; Fernandes, 2016; Gomes et al, 2021).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
