Mantiqueira Mountain Research Articles

A New Ant‐Friendly Aiouea (Lauraceae) From the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

ABSTRACTAiouea is a genus of Lauraceae restricted to the New World with about 75 accepted species. In Brazil, there are about 32 species, 21 endemic to the country. Recent field work in southeastern Brazil, as well as a comprehensive study of herbarium collections, revealed a new species that we describe here as Aiouea myrmecophila. It is endemic to the Atlantic rainforest of Espírito Santo state and occurs between 800 and 1120 m along the Mantiqueira Mountain range. It is categorized as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN criteria. Its putative relationships with other species in the genus are discussed.

Evaluating the impact of historical climate and early human groups in the Araucaria Forest of eastern South America

It has been hypothesized that the Araucaria Forest in southern Brazil underwent expansions in the past, driven either by human groups or by climate fluctuations of the Holocene and Pleistocene. Fossil pollen records of the Paraná pine Araucaria angustifolia, a dominant tree in that forest, provide some insights into when those may have occurred. Still, the timing of those expansions has never been estimated. To infer past range shifts and shed light on their main drivers, we employed next‐generation DNA sequencing (ddRADseq), machine learning, and a comprehensive database of fossil pollen records into a study of historical demographic inference and paleo‐distribution modeling of the Paraná pine. We found that A. angustifolia comprises two populations expanding at different times: one in the Mantiqueira mountain chain, the other in the southern Brazilian plateau. The southern population began to expand during the Last Glacial Period ~ 70 kya, long before human arrival in South America. Still, genetic analyses support that humans later impacted this population, resulting in lower genetic diversity, higher inbreeding, and high levels of gene flow over large distances with a weak pattern of isolation‐by‐distance. It is possible this resulted from human influence on seed dispersal and germination on the southern Brazilian plateau. The Mantiqueira population, in contrast, expanded only recently (~ 3 kya). This timing coincides with Holocene climatic changes and human settlements established further south, although, to date, there is little archeological evidence of human impact in the Mantiqueira. In addition, multitemporal species distribution models built from a combination of present‐day and pollen records infer a range expansion of the Araucaria Forest during glacial times until the cold humid HS1 event (~ 16 kya), when the forest was most widespread, with no evidence of glacial refugia. The combination of genomic and spatial analyses suggests that both human and climatic controls played a role in the dynamics of the Araucaria Forest.

Pedotransfer Functions in the Assessment of Fragile Mountainous Areas: Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Mountains in Southeastern Brazil

Objective: This study aimed to obtain the Bd of organic constitution horizons through PTFs and evaluate the C and N stocks of different soil classes found in the upper part of the INP. Theoretical framework: The evaluation of bulk density (Bd) depends on the method used to obtain the sample and presents great spatial variability, especially in mountainous regions such as the upper part of Itatiaia National Park (INP), Brazil. Techniques can be used for this purpose, including those of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) allowing the quantification of nutrients such as C and N in soils. Methodology: The research was conducted within the Itatiaia National Park (INP), situated in the Mantiqueira Mountains of southeastern Brazil. Soil samples were collected from the upper portion of the INP, specifically targeting soil profiles containing hystic horizons (O or H). The study employed pedotransfer functions (PTFs) established by Beutler et al. (2017) to estimate the soil bulk density (Bd) of organic horizons. Based on these assessments, stocks of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were calculated. The standard depth for these calculations was 30 cm. In total, 47 profiles were selected, 26 of which belonged to the order Histosols, 15 to Cambisols, and 6 Leptosols & Regosols. Results and conclusion: In general, a high C content, between 5 and 15 g kg-1, and N contents greater than 1.0 g kg-1 were observed. For Bd an increase in depth occurred, with values close to 0.50 Mg m-3 in the superficial horizons and > 0.75 Mg m-3 in depths greater than 30 cm. The area occupied by soil profiles presenting hystic horizons corresponds to 16403.69 ha (hectares) with 315645.7 Mg of C and 20043.0 Mg of N. Of this total, 10254.44 ha were Cambisols that store approximately 205282.1 Mg of C and 13121.8 Mg of N. Histosols occupied an area of 4148.38 ha and stored 90698.4 Mg of C and 5576.0 Mg of N. The area occupied by Leptosols & Regosols was 1347.74 ha and they stored 19665.1 Mg of C and 1345.1 Mg of N. For the Cambisols, the average values of C and N stocks were lower than those quantified in the Histosols, but considering the area occupied, the total C stock was more than twice the amount quantified in the Histosols. Research implications: Soils with organic horizons complicate Bd determination due to costly and unrepresentative collection methods. Additionally, converting soil masses to volume for nutrient stock measurements (e.g., C and N) is problematic. Due to limited accessibility in certain areas, obtaining undisturbed soil samples for evaluation can be challenging. In such cases, pedotransfer functions (PTFs) play a crucial role in assessing and modeling soil phenomena. Indirect quantification of Bd using PTFs has become essential for addressing these issues. Originality/value: This study utilizes pedotransfer functions (PTFs) to estimate soil bulk density (Bd) and, consequently, nutrient stocks in fragile mountainous soils, enabling monitoring of these environments.

Unraveling the genetic diversity of Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae) in isolated limestone outcrops: Conservation strategies.

Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) located on limestone outcrops are vulnerable to degradation caused by timber logging and limestone extraction for cement production. Some of these forests represent the last remnants of native vegetation cover, functioning as isolated islands. Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae) is a tree frequently found on limestone outcrops in the central region of Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and identify suitable populations for the establishment of Management Units (MUs) for conservation. Inter-simple sequence repeat markers were employed to assess the genetic diversity in ten populations sampled from the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes. The species exhibited substantial genetic diversity (HT = 0.345; PLP = 97.89%). Populations SAH, JAN, and MON demonstrated elevated rates of polymorphic loci (> 84.2%) along with notable genetic diversity (He > 0.325). Additionally, these populations were the primary contributors to gene flow. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most genetic variation occurs within populations (91.5%) than between them. In the Bayesian analysis, the ten populations were clustered into five groups, revealing the presence of at least three barriers to gene flow in the landscape: 1) the Central Plateau or Paranã River valley; 2) near the Espinhaço mountains or the São Francisco River valley; and 3) around the Mantiqueira mountain range, Chapada dos Veadeiros plateau, and disturbed areas. A positive and statistically significant correlation was observed between genetic (θB) and geographic distances (r = 0.425, p = 0.008). Based on these findings, we propose the establishment of Management Units in Minas Gerais state, encompassing the (1) southern region (MIN population), (2) central region (SAH population), and (3) north region (MON population), as well as in Goiás state, covering the (4) Central Plateau region. These units can significantly contribute to preserving the genetic diversity of these trees and protecting their habitat against ongoing threats.

A New Species of the Aplastodiscus albosignatus Group (Hylinae: Cophomantini) from the Northern Mantiqueira Mountain Range

Abstract The genus Aplastodiscus (Hylidae) is widely distributed in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and adjacent Argentina, and a single species inhabits the Cerrado in Central Brazil. The genus comprises 16 species included in four species groups. The A. albosignatus species group contains six described species, as well as two candidate species referred to as Aplastodiscus sp. 5 and Aplastodiscus sp. 6 in previous studies. Here we name and describe Aplastodiscus sp. 6, based on morphology, DNA sequences, and vocalizations. The new species is known only from the northern sector of the Mantiqueira Mountain Range and can be distinguished morphologically from most congeneric species based on body size, iris color pattern, and cloacal ornamentation. The new species is distinguished from its sister species A. leucopygius by its vocalization. The species of the A. albosignatus group share a conserved external morphology and most of the morphological characters traditionally included in their diagnoses failed to distinguish them. In contrast, advertisement call traits, such as call duration, call envelope, and distribution of sound energy in the harmonic series, were informative in Aplastodiscus species discrimination.

A New Species of Dendrophryniscus Jiménez de la Espada 1871 (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) from Mantiqueira Mountain Range, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

We described a new species of Dendrophryniscus from the Mantiqueira Mountains, a mountain range in the Atlantic Forest in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Dendrophryniscus cuca sp. nov. is known only from its type locality, the private Protected Area Chapada͂o da Serra Negra, municipality of Santa Bárbara do Monte Verde. The new species is morphologically distinguished from its congeners mainly by the combination of the following characters: medium size for the genus, longitudinal set of granules posterior to the corner of mouth, fingers neither fringed nor webbed, and presence of nuptial pads in males. Molecular analysis of the 16S mitochondrial DNA indicates a genetic distance range from 2.39% (D. brevipollicatus) to 17.92% (D. carvalhoi). Individuals were found in bromeliads, and we described a male–male amplexus with the presence of release vibrations, but calling activity was not observed. This is the fourth endemic anuran species of the Serra Negra da Mantiqueira, part of the Mantiqueira mountain range (Serra Negra da Mantiqueira), highlighting the importance of the region for the Neotropical herpetofauna.

Cunoniaceae from Caparaó National Park, Mantiqueira Mountain Range, Brazil

Abstract A floristic treatment is presented for Cunoniaceae in the Caparaó National Park (PNC), located in the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, on the border of the Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states. This conservation unit comprises the highest mountain peak in southeastern Brazil, Bandeira Peak, at 2,890 m of elevation. Its vegetation encompasses different phytophysiognomies, including Dense Ombrophilous Forests, Montane Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests, and High-Altitude Grasslands. Cunoniaceae was represented in the PNC by four species: Lamanonia ternata, L. ulei, Weinmannia humilis, and W. paulliniifolia. To contribute to further taxonomic studies and species conservation in the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, morphological descriptions, identification keys, photographs in vivo, and comments on the taxonomy, geographic distribution of the recorded species are provided.

A new species of Odontophrynus (Anura, Odontophrynidae) from the southern portion of the Mantiqueira mountains

Using an integrative approach (morphology of the adult and larvae, bioacoustics, osteology, karyotype, and molecular data), we described a new tetraploid species of Odontophrynus to the Mantiqueira mountain range, in southeastern Brazil. The data suggest that Odontophrynus toledoi sp. nov., O. juquinha and Odontophrynus sp. (aff. juquinha) comprise a clade with specimens distributed along three distinct mountain ranges in Brazil: Mantiqueira (O. toledoi sp. nov.) and Espinhaço (O. juquinha) mountains, both in southeastern Brazil, and Diamantina Plateau (O. aff. juquinha), in northeastern Brazil. The new species is morphologically similar and closely related to O. juquinha, but is distinguished in morphology (both adult and larval), karyotype (O. toledoi sp. nov. is tetraploid and O. juquinha is diploid), and corroborated by phylogenetic inferences. We also show that these species do not exchange haplotypes in the 16s gene. Furthermore, although the raw acoustic parameters of Odontophrynus toledoi sp. nov. and O. juquinha overlap at the limits of their ranges, we found a clear difference in the acoustic space structure.

Thismia mantiqueirensis (Thismiaceae), a new species of Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

In the present study, we describe and illustrate Thismia mantiqueirensis, a new mycoheterotrophic species belonging to the subgenus Ophiomeris, section Ophiomeris, from the Altomontane Dense Ombrophilous Forest in Mantiqueira mountains, southeast Brazil. We provide the description, taxonomic, ecological, and conservation comments, as well as images and illustrations of the new species.

From rock to soil: Elemental mobility during pedogenesis in a deep Ultisol profile at the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, Southeastern Brazil

A better understanding of the mobility of chemical elements during weathering and leaching processes requires the complete analysis of soil profiles down to the bedrock, especially in tropical environments, due to the great thickness of the weathering mantle. We studied a deep profile comprising solum, saprolite and rock at the Mantiqueira Mountain Range in Brazil aiming to assess the mobility of major and trace elements in an Ultisol and its parent rock (gneiss). A 63-m borehole was drilled from the topsoil down to the gneiss. Samples from the solum (A + B horizons), saprolite and gneiss were collected and analyzed for chemical, physical and mineralogical attributes and elemental contents. A mass balance equation was applied to quantify the net result of weathering considering Ti as the most stable element. Despite the steep relief, a very deep soil profile was found (24-m solum + saprolite). Alkaline and alkaline earth metals (e.g., Ca, K, Sr, Rb and Ba) and Mn were strongly depleted in the solum and saprolite. Al, Fe, Zn, P, Zr, Y and V showed residual enrichment in the saprolite, while Al and Zr revealed enrichment in the transformation from saprolite to solum. Biggest changes were observed in the rock/saprolite interface, not in saprolite/solum. The efficient drainage of this soil might be related to the weathering of the saprolite. Variations of elemental contents from the soil surface down to the parent rock helped to elucidate the changes of elemental contents caused by the weathering and leaching processes.

Survey of medium- and large-sized mammals in Atlantic Forest remnants of Conceição dos Ouros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Conceição dos Ouros is located in the Mantiqueira mountain range (elevation: 831‒1443 m a.s.l.), State of Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil. The largest two Atlantic Forest remnants of the Municipality of Conceição dos Ouros total more than 2,000 ha and the main vegetation type is seasonal semi-deciduous forest, isolated by a matrix of agricultural fields and pasture. The Municipality does not have any protected areas and is located in a highly fragmented region, albeit considered of special importance for the conservation of terrestrial vertebrates in the State of Minas Gerais. Due to a cooperation with the Municipality of Conceição dos Ouros to carry out a survey of the local biodiversity, in this study we present the results of the survey of medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals from the two forest remnants in the region. Sampling was performed from July 2019 to August 2021 and comprised a camera trap survey, active searching including direct (e.g. carcass sightings) and indirect (e.g. footprints and faeces) evidence of species presence and interviews with residents. Twenty-nine native and two non-native species were documented. Ten species are in some category of threat of extinction at regional, national or global levels. This is the first survey of the terrestrial mammal fauna in the area of Conceição dos Ouros and results could be helpful in designing conservation strategies at the local scale.

Unveiling the diversity of Giant Neotropical Torrent frogs (Hylodidae): phylogenetic relationships, morphology, and the description of two new species

The Neotropical family Hylodidae comprises 46 currently recognized rheophilic Torrent frog species, today classified in the genera Crossodactylus, Hylodes, Megaelosia, and Phantasmarana, all endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Megaelosia and Phantasmarana are distributed along the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira mountain ranges, southeastern Brazil, and are the least speciose genera of the family, including all the mute giant hylodids. Megaelosia is a monotypic genus, whereas Phantasmarana comprises six currently recognized species: P. apuana, P. bocainensis, P. boticariana, P. jordanensis, P. lutzae, and P. massarti. Herein, we provide a taxonomic revision of these Giant Neotropical Torrent frogs, offering a comprehensively sampled species-level molecular phylogeny. By combining molecular and morphological data, we confirm that Megaelosia and Phantasmarana are valid genera. We provide diagnostic traits for both genera, redescribe the poorly known species P. jordanensis, and describe two new species from distinct localities at Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, P. curucutuensis sp. nov. and P. tamuia sp. nov., presenting details of adult and larval morphology, and notes on their natural history and behaviour. We further discuss systematic and taxonomic concerns, and evolutionary processes related to distribution, body sizes, and communication in the family Hylodidae. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:61EA0116-6FB9-44B8-A2CE-E99D7B887E8B http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:079339E6-C802-4B47-A3A3-9FA0D0FCA3D1 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0EA22628-89E9-483B-AB90-F3F0D18E28F1

A new species of the sharpshooter genus Hanshumba (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini) from the Mantiqueira mountain range, southeastern Brazil, associated with olive orchards

A new species of Hanshumba Young, 1977 is described and illustrated from the Mantiqueira mountain range (southeastern Brazil), municipalities of Wenceslau Braz (state of Minas Gerais) and São Bento do Sapucaí (state of São Paulo). The new taxon is associated with olive orchards and is considered a potential vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. This bacterium causes a serious disease known in Brazil as olive leaf desiccation syndrome. Hanshumba mariae sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other five known species of the genus by the following combination of features: (1) apical third of ventral margin of male pygofer with small inner process bearing setae; (2) male abdominal segment X (anal tube) without processes; (3) style with apex narrow, obtuse, not foot-shaped; (4) aedeagus with distinct dorsal lobe along basal two-thirds and with apical portion expanded, bearing dorsal projection; (5) paraphyses with distal pair of rami forceps-like, their basal halves divergent from each other, distal halves approximately parallel, apices acute; (6) female sternite VII with posterior margin shallowly emarginate, bearing slight median lobe; and (7) valvula II of ovipositor with approximately 15 low teeth. Both males and females of the new species are described in detail. A key to the six known species of the genus is provided.

Tillandsia mantiqueirae (Bromeliaceae), a New Species from Minas Gerais State, Brazil

A new species of rupicolous Tillandsia from the Mantiqueira mountain range in Southern Minas Gerais State is described based on morphology and leaf anatomy. This new taxon is close to T. nuptialis. The known distribution and conservation status of this new species are discussed.

Engineering geological mapping procedures in data-scarce hillsides for shallow landslide assessments: Applications in southeastern Brazil

This paper shows the results obtained from a group of simple and basic procedures used to assess slope instability in terms of shallow landslides on data-scarce hillsides at the slope unit scale. The procedures are based on engineering geological mapping to obtain geological and geotechnical data and on an adapted Hovland 3D safety factor (SF3D) associated with a van Genuchten infiltration model to simulate the rainfall percolation. The procedures were applied on a data-scarce hillside in the Campos do Jordão municipality located in the Mantiqueira Mountains, São Paulo state, Brazil. This area was chosen because it is affected by shallow landslides due to a loss of shear strength when suction decreases or dissipates due to rainfall infiltration. The combined procedures permitted the total SF3Dto be obtained from the partial SF of each grid cell (considering 4 different rainfall events and quasi-saturation conditions) and the failure probability (SF3D < 1) and marginal probability (1 <SF3D < 1.5) to be calculated for 2 potential rupture surfaces (PRS1 and PRS2) on each slope. The total SF3Dresults under quasi-saturation conditions, which are generated primarily by rainfall events of long duration, are less than 1 for part of the slopes but less than 1.5 for all the slopes, which reflects the favorable conditions for shallow landslides to occur. The failure probability values (SF < 1) for all slopes vary from 0.01 to 0.05 for PRS1 and from 0.02 to 0.12 for PRS2, and the reliability index values range from 1.64 to 2.35 and from 1.22 to 2.08 for PRS1 and PRS2, respectively.All of these results verify that all the slopes and selected potential rupture surfaces are compatible with the occurrence of shallow landslides on December 31st, 1999/January 1st, 2000.Large-scale engineering geological mapping proved to be fundamental because it provided detailed mapping of the spatial arrangement and characterizations of the geological material, thereby permitting adequate definitions of the potential rupture surfaces and the adoption of geotechnical and hydraulic parameters to calculate the SF3D and the failure probability (SF < 1).

A new species of Erythrogonia Melichar, 1926 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini) from the Mantiqueira mountain range, southeastern Brazil, associated with olive orchards.

A new species of the diverse Neotropical sharpshooter genus Erythrogonia Melichar, 1926 is described and illustrated from the Mantiqueira mountain range, municipality of Maria da F, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The new taxon is associated with olive orchards and has been implicated as a vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al., 1987, which causes a disease known in Brazil as olive leaf scorch syndrome. Erythrogonia sinvali sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other 90 known species of the genus by the following combination of features: (1) crown black without conspicuous contrasting spots; (2) frons with large yellow median spot; (3) pronotum black with large yellow area covering most of disk; (4) forewing dark red, without contrasting spots or stripes, costal margin narrowly black, apical portion dark brown; (5) aedeagus elongate, curved dorsally, with pair of spiniform apical processes; (6) paraphyses greatly reduced; (7) basal portion of male anal tube with pair of spiniform curved processes; (8) posterior margin of female abdominal sternite VII broadly emarginate and with broad central lobe; (9) female sternite VIII with sclerotized areas, including a transverse bar located at bases of ovipositor valvulae I, followed by a pair of elongate sclerites and a posterior bilobed sclerite. Both males and females of the new species are described in detail. A putative group of five species within Erythrogonia is preliminarily proposed, including the new taxon, E. separata Melichar, 1926, E. dorsalis (Signoret, 1853), E. calva (Taschenberg, 1884), and E. melichari Schmidt, 1928. Among these species, the male terminalia of E. sinvali sp. nov. are more similar to those of E. separata.

Spatiotemporal changes in land cover land use in protected areas of Serra da Mantiqueira, Southeastern Brazil

An assessment of the dynamics of land cover and use in and around a Protected Area (PA) located in the Área de Preservação Ambiental da Serra da Mantiqueira (APASM; Mantiqueira Mountain Range Environmental Protection Area) and Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI; Itatiaia National Park) has been developed. This PA is part of the Brazilian Mata Atlântica (MA; Atlantic Forest) biome, which is of great importance in providing water resources and in biodiversity maintenance since it is one of the largest and most populated urban centers in Brazil. In two contiguous drainage basins, with an area of 24,757.65 hectares (ha), proposals have been sought that lead to monitoring of forests pressured by anthropic actions that have as an inductor vehicle the roads built around the PA. Results obtained by Remote Sensing (RS) data show that pasture areas have grown 43% between 1985 and 2005 and forest areas have declined 20% in the same period. However, between 2005 and 2017, there was a 22% decline in pasture area and rehabilitation in forest areas by 26%. Urban spots have steadily grown by nearly 120% between 1985 and 2017. In a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment and using multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) with a weighted sum to environmental attributes of roads and urban spots, it has also been verified that 85% of the study area is under high or very high pressure, which can jeopardize the maintenance of biodiversity and water resources in the region due to population increase induced by secondary roads and their paving, which moves towards the PNI limits.

Hidden by the name: A new fluorescent pumpkin toadlet from the Brachycephalus ephippium group (Anura: Brachycephalidae).

Species of Brachycephalus has been having taxonomical issues due its morphological similarity and genetic conservatism. Herein, we describe a new species of Brachycephalus from the south Mantiqueira mountain range and semidecidual forests in the municipalities of Mogi das Cruzes, Campinas and Jundiaí, state of São Paulo, Brazil, based on an integrative approach. It can be distinguished from all species of the B. ephippium species group based on morphological characters (especially osteology and head shape), advertisement call and divergence in partial mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (16S). The new species is genetically similar to B. margaritatus and morphologically similar to B. ephippium. It can be differentiated from B. ephippium by the presence of dark faded spots on skull and post-cranial plates, presence of black connective tissue connective tissue scattered over dorsal musculature, parotic plate morphology, smaller snout-vent length (adult SVL: males 13.46–15.92 mm; females 16.04–17.69 mm) and 3% genetic distance. We also present natural history data and discuss the robustness of the integrative approach, geographic distribution, genetic data, behaviour, fluorescence in ontogeny, and conservation status.

Integrative taxonomy supports high species diversity of south-eastern Brazilian mountain catfishes of the T. reinhardti group (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)

The mountain area between the Mantiqueira and Espinhaço ranges of south-eastern Brazil is of special interest for biologists by sheltering headwaters of two of the largest South American river basins, as well as comprising sections of two main world biodiversity hotspots. Mineral exploitation activities have caused great environmental impact, but biological inventories have demonstrated a rich biota with some organisms still poorly known. We herein analyse catfishes of the Trichomycterus reinhardti species group, endemic to this area. With the objective of inferring species limits, we combine morphological variation to unilocus coalescent methods of species delimitation using fragments of the mitochondrial genome (total of 1924 bp) for 38 individuals collected in 14 sites. The phylogenetic analysis supported a clade endemic to the Rio São Francisco basin and neighbouring Rio Doce headwaters, Espinhaço mountain range, and another one, endemic to the Rio Grande drainage, Rio Paraná basin, between Mantiqueira and Canastra mountain ranges. This biogeographic pattern may be explained by geological evidence indicating that the upper Rio Grande drainage was connected to the upper Rio São Francisco basin until the Middle Miocene, instead of being part of the Rio Paraná basin as today. The integrative analysis supported a total of 10 species, six of which are new and here described. Interestingly, the small areas inhabited by species here delimited are highly coincident with the distribution range of other mountain fish species. High level of local species endemism is possibly related to the uncommon regional relief, with small subdrainages crossed by transversal hills as a result of geological gaps, supporting a complex palaeogeographic scenario favouring isolation of taxa in small areas. Under a conservation perspective, these small areas of endemism for mountain fishes deserve special attention due to the process of environmental decline along centuries in the region. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0E3981E9-D7A9-4C9B-B56A-85621F33A7CB

Foehn-like Wind in the Mountains of Southeastern Brazil as Seen by the Eta Model Simulation

Abstract The present study gives evidence of the occurrence of foehn-like wind on the eastern slopes of the mountains at Southeastern Brazil. A particular case was detected based on observational evidence on 4 July 2015 near the city of Cruzeiro, state of Sao Paulo, on the Serra da Mantiqueira mountains. Results obtained from numerical simulations are consistent with the foehn wind occurrence deducted from the analysis of regional patterns and time series of selected meteorological parameters.