Vascular plant community composition from the campos rupestres of the Itacolomi State Park, Brazil.

Angela Miazaki,João Meira-Neto,Markus Gastauer,Werner Leyh

doi:10.3897/bdj.3.e4507

Abstract

Campos rupestres are rare and endangered ecosystems that accommodate a species-rich flora with a high degree of endemism. Here, we make available a dataset from phytosociological surveys carried out in the Itacolomi State Park, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. All species in a total of 30 plots of 10 x 10 m from two study sites were sampled. Their cardinality, a combination of cover and abundance, was estimated. Altogether, we registered occurrences from 161 different taxa from 114 genera and 47 families. The families with the most species were Poaceae and Asteraceae, followed by Cyperaceae. Abiotic descriptions, including soil properties such as type, acidity, nutrient or aluminum availability, cation exchange capacity, and saturation of bases, as well as the percentage of rocky outcrops and the mean inclination for each plot, are given. This dataset provides unique insights into the campo rupestre vegetation, its specific environment and the distribution of its diversity.

Highlights

Campos rupestres are rare and endangered ecosystems composed of different physiognomies (Caiafa and Silva 2005) on quartzite material or sandstone, which displace forest formations in high altitudes (900 m above sea level) in southeastern Brazil (Magalhães 1966)
Due to the characteristic mosaic of different physiognomies of campo rupestre vegetation and the seasonal semideciduous Atlantic forest (Peron 1989, Gastauer and Meira Neto 2013), the park contains a diverse flora with many endemics (Batista et al 2004, Dutra et al 2008, Dutra et al 2009)
Campos rupestres contain a high degree of endemic species, little data are available for this endangered ecosystem (Gastauer and Meira Neto 2013)

Summary

Introduction

Campos rupestres (literally: rock fields) are rare and endangered ecosystems composed of different physiognomies (Caiafa and Silva 2005) on quartzite material or sandstone, which displace forest formations in high altitudes (900 m above sea level) in southeastern Brazil (Magalhães 1966). 20 (morpho)species occur in both study sites, and these belong to the families Asteraceae (6 species), Poaceae (5), and Cyperaceae (3), with Mesophaerum homolophylla (Lamiaceae), Byrsonima variabilis (Malpighiaceae), Cambessedesia hilariana (Melastomataceae), Myrcia splendens (Myrtaceae), Polygala paniculata (Polygalaceae) and Solanum granuloso-leprosum (Solanaceae) being the sole representatives of their families.

Results

Conclusion