Montane Atlantic Forest Research Articles

Movement patterns of the rodent Trinomys dimidiatus in Atlantic Forest

AbstractAnimal movements of wild species are in theory related to individual and species' traits such as sex and reproductive condition, and temporal variation in resource availability or population density. Understanding how individuals move within an area throughout life, how frequent exploratory and dispersive movement are in the population and which individual traits and environmental conditions influence movement are of great importance for understanding how animals respond to environmental changes. Using capture‐mark‐recapture data of Trinomys dimidiatus gathered for 8 years in a montane Atlantic Forest area, we describe movement patterns by comparing two distance metrics (ORL—Observed Range Length and SDT—Mean Successive Distance/Time); we also evaluate the influences of sex on these distance metrics and residence time and number of captures on ORL. Additionally, model selection was used to evaluate the role of individual traits and environmental factors on T. dimidiatus' movements. We recorded 44 individuals (60.27%) with restricted movement pattern and 29 individuals (39.73%) with broad movement pattern within our grid. Broad movement pattern was observed in individuals with both long and short residence time. Males presented larger distance metrics and movements than females. Individuals with greater residence time presented larger ORL, mainly males. Heavier individuals of both sexes presented larger movements than lighter ones, especially males. Males presented shorter movements in periods of increased rainfall, but females' movements did not respond to rainfall variations. Overall, body mass was more important than rainfall in determining movements. The results here show that T. dimidiatus may present different movement patterns, including exploratory or dispersive movements to a new core area. Also, we highlight the importance of individual traits and environmental factors and reinforce sexual differences in individuals' movements and lifetime use of space.

Morphological, geographic and ecological evidence support a new species of Chusquea subg. Swallenochloa (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae) from Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Brazil

Specimens from the Serra do Caparaó (border of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states in Brazil) previously treated as Chusquea aff. heterophylla were compared with C. heterophylla. We found differences in macromorphology (including habit, culm leaf persistence and indument, subsidiary branch number, foliage leaf indument on sheath and blades, and spikelet size and bract proportions), abaxial micromorphology of the foliage leaf blades (including silica cell shape, prickle hair shape, bicellular microhair relative size and proportion of its cells, macrohair presence, long cell papillar shape, and subsidiary cell papillar shape and orientation) and in geographic distribution and habitat. These differences were considered enough to describe Chusquea riparia as a new species herein considered as microendemic to the Parque Nacional do Caparaó, growing only in riparian areas of montane Atlantic forest and campos de altitude. We provide illustrations, maps, taxonomic and phenological comments on the new species, and a key to the species of C. subg. Swallenochloa from the Parque Nacional do Caparaó.

First record on enchytraeids in a Savanna Tall Woodland (Cerradão) and Upper Montane Atlantic Forest in Brazil.

Brazil is considered a megadiverse country, but the soil fauna is still very poorly known. The aim of this study was to report, for the first time, the abundance and genus composition of terrestrial enchytraeids (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta) in Savanna Tall Woodland (Cerradão) and a pasture in Cerrado Biome and in Upper Montane Atlantic Forest and a grassland in Atlantic Forest Biome. The enchytraeid density in Pasture and Cerradao was 2,036 and 18,844 (204 and 2,094, on average) individuals per square meter, respectively. At the Atlantic forest and Grassland, density was 9,666 and 12,242 individuals per square meter (1,075 and 1,471 on average). About genus composition for the studied areas, Enchytraeus and Hemienchytraeus were found in the four ecosystems evaluated, while Tupidrilus and Fridericia were found only in Cerradão and Atlantic Forest, respectively. Achaeta was absent in Upper Montane Atlantic Forest, but dominant in pasture, while Guaranidrilus was absent in Pasture, but predominant in the other ecosystems.

Rugged relief and climate promote isolation and divergence between two neotropical cold-associated birds.

The role of historical factors in establishing patterns of diversity in tropical mountains is of interest to understand the buildup of megadiverse biotas. In these regions, the historical processes of range fragmentation and contraction followed by dispersal are thought to be mediated by the interplay between rugged relief (complex topography) and climate fluctuations and likely explain most of the dynamics of diversification in plants and animals. Although empirical studies addressing the interaction between climate and topography have provided invaluable insights into population divergence and speciation patterns in tropical montane organisms, a more detailed and robust test of such processes in an explicit spatio-temporal framework is still lacking. Consequently, our ability to gain insights into historical range shifts over time and the genomic footprint left by them is limited. Here, we used niche modeling and subgenomic population-level datasets to explore the evolution of two species of warbling finches (genus Microspingus) disjunctly distributed across the Montane Atlantic Forest, a Neotropical region with complex geological and environmental histories. Population structure inferences suggest a scenario of three genetically differentiated populations, which are congruent with both geography and phenotypic variation. Demographic simulations support asynchronous isolation of these populations as recently as ∼40,000 years ago, relatively stable population sizes over recent time, and past gene flow subsequent to divergence. Throughout the last 800,000 years, niche models predicted extensive expansion into lowland areas with increasing overlap of species distributions during glacial periods, with prominent retractions and isolation into higher altitudes during interglacials, which are in line with signs of introgression of currently isolated populations. These results support a dual role of cyclical climatic changes: population divergence and persistence in mountain tops during warm periods followed by periods of expansion and admixture in lower elevations during cold periods. Our results underscore the role of the interplay between landscape and climate as an important mechanism in the evolution of the Neotropical montane biota.

Outcomes of a native bamboo on biomass and carbon stocks of a neotropical biodiversity hotspot

Old-growth tropical forests provide an essential climate regulation service to humans, functioning as carbon (C) sink due to the high productivity, species diversity, and variety of life forms, such as bamboos. Bamboos growth fast and display plastic functional traits, which favor the occupation of environments under different conditions, making them efficient C stockers in addition to providing raw material for local human populations. Asian bamboos are known to sequester considerable amounts of C in a short time, and although is likely that New World bamboo species have the same capacity, this perspective is rarely addressed. To evaluate the impact of a native bamboo on biomass and carbon stocks of an Atlantic Forest Protected Area, we first developed an allometric equation to estimate its live aboveground biomass (AGB) based on the destructive sampling method. We then compare our results to the AGB of forest components previously estimated for the same area, as well as to Asian and other Neotropical bamboo species to place our case study in a global scenario. In four 1-ha permanent plots in São Paulo State, Brazil, we made a census of all live culms and collected 20 healthy ones for equations purposes. The Merostachys neesii Rupr. (Poaceae) studied species has 343 clumps ha−1, 3663 culms ha−1, and 12.1 Mg ha−1 of biomass (5.2 Mg C ha−1) or 4% of total AGB and C stocks of the studied area. M. neesii's contributes as much as palms solely, but more than lianas and tree ferns together for the total AGB in the old-growth Montane Atlantic Forest we studied. These results show that the non-inclusion of bamboos may underestimate the role of terrestrial ecosystems in buffering anthropogenic CO2. The comprehension of bamboo ecology is crucial for conservation and management purposes, and it is relevant since, with global warming, the C stored may be released turning these ecosystems into source instead of a sink of C.

Holocene vegetation, climate and fire dynamics in the Serra dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil

We analysed pollen and macro-charcoal from a sediment core representing the last 9840 cal yr BP, collected at 2003 m a.s.l. in a patch of upper montane Atlantic Rain Forest (UMARF) embedded in a campos de altitude (high-elevation grassland) matrix in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, southeastern Brazil. From 9840 to 4480 cal yr BP, campos de altitude (CDA) was the dominant vegetation at the site, indicating that the climate was relatively cool and dry. However, pollen data document that UMARF was near the core site throughout the recorded Holocene. Relatively frequent high-magnitude fires occurred during the Early Holocene but became rarer in the Mid-Holocene after 4480 cal yr BP, when the climate became wetter. In the Mid-Holocene, UMARF and tree fern taxa became slightly more frequent at the site, but CDA vegetation continued to dominate most of the high-mountain landscape. A climatic change to wetter and warmer conditions during the last 1350 cal yr BP is evidenced by an increase in UMARF and even lowland forest taxa in our core, as well as the near complete absence of fire after this date.

Isomucor trufemiae J.I. de Souza, Pires-Zottarelli & Harakava (Mucorales, Mucoromycota): the second report worldwide and first from soil in northeastern Brazil

Isomucor trufemiae was isolated and described for the first time from soil samples collected in the state of São Paulo State, Brazil, in 2012. Eight years later, we isolated this species in the state of Pernambuco as the second record worldwide and the first record to northeastern Brazil. Isomucor trufemiae URM 8342 was isolated from a soil sample during a study on the diversity of Mucorales in a Montane Atlantic Forest area in the municipality of Bonito, Pernambuco, Brazil, and identified through morphological and molecular analyses (ITS and LSU sequences of rDNA). Aspects of the morphology and distribution of this species are commented in this manuscript.

Life history and ecology might explain incongruent population structure in two co-distributed montane bird species of the Atlantic Forest

Comparative phylogeography is a powerful approach to investigate the role of historical and environmental processes in the evolution of biodiversity within a region. In this regard, comparative studies of species with similar habitat preferences are valuable to reduce the confounding influence of habitat association when interpreting phylogeographic patterns. In the Atlantic Forest of South America, phylogeographic studies of highland and lowland species have shown distinct population structure patterns so far, suggesting that such species have responded differently to Pleistocene glacial cycles. Herein, we performed a comparative analysis using molecular data and paleodistribution models of two Montane Atlantic Forest (MAF) co-distributed passerine birds with similar habitat requirements but with distinct life-history traits and ecologies: the frugivore lek-breeding Blue Manakin (Chiroxiphia caudata) and the insectivore and socially monogamous Drab-Breasted Bamboo Tyrant (Hemitriccus diops). We aimed to shed light on the role of contrasting life histories and ecologies onto the demography and population structure of MAF species. We sampled both species throughout most of their distribution range, sequenced a mitochondrial and a nuclear molecular marker, and used standard phylogeographic methods to investigate population structure and ecological niche modeling (ENM) to infer the species’ paleodistributions. Our analyses recovered a phylogeographic break in H. diops in the region of the Doce River, but no genetic structure in C. caudata. We also found higher differentiation among subpopulations within each lineage of H. diops than among subpopulations of C. caudata. We suggest that these discrepancies in population structure might be due to distinct life-history traits and their impact on gene flow and generation time. For example, while H. diops is an insectivore species, C. caudata is a frugivore and the latter ecological aspect likely selects for a higher dispersion distance. Additionally, because C. caudata is a lek-breeding species, it has a longer generation time than H. diops. These traits could hinder genetic differentiation when populations become geographically isolated. Nonetheless, both species showed some common biological features, such as signatures of synchronous population expansion and larger distribution ranges during the Last Glacial Maximum, possibly due to similar cold tolerance.

Discovery of a new species of Anolis lizards from Brazil and its implications for the historical biogeography of montane Atlantic Forest endemics

Abstract Recent biological discoveries have changed our understanding of the distribution and evolution of neotropical biotas. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the discovery of closely related species isolated on distant mountains has led to the hypothesis that the ancestors of montane species occupied and dispersed through lowland regions during colder periods. This process may explain the distribution of an undescribed Anolis lizard species that we recently discovered at a montane site in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, a popular tourist destination close to the city of Rio de Janeiro. To investigate whether this species is closely related to other Atlantic Forest montane anoles, we implement phylogenetic analyses and divergence time estimation based on molecular data. We infer the new species nested within the Dactyloa clade of Anolis, forming a clade with A. nasofrontalis and A. pseudotigrinus, two species restricted to montane sites about 400 km northeast of Serra dos Órgãos. The new species diverged from its sister A. nasofrontalis around 5.24 mya, suggesting a cold-adapted lowland ancestor during the early Pliocene. Based on the phylogenetic results, we emend the definitions of the series taxa within Dactyloa, recognizing a clade containing the new species and several of its relatives as the nasofrontalis series. Lastly, we provide morphological data supporting the recognition of the new species and give it a formal scientific name. Future studies are necessary to assess how park visitors, pollutants, and shrinking montane habitats due to climate change will affect this previously overlooked anole species.

Phylogenetic beta diversity in an upper montane Atlantic Forest along an altitudinal gradient

Studying community phylogenies along elevation gradients can inform us about the influences of environmental conditions on the structuring communities, and therefore allow predictions on how future environmental changes may affect them. The aim of the work was to evaluate the processes that govern tree communities along an altitudinal gradient in an upper montane Atlantic Forest in the Mantiqueira Range, southeastern Brazil. To do so, we analyzed the phylogenetic structure of angiosperm tree communities in four elevations (ranging from 1500 to 2100 m) and verified if it varies significantly with altitude. We also analyzed the phylogenetic beta diversity among local angiosperm tree communities along the altitudinal gradient. Further, we evaluated the soil and temperature influences over these communities. The results showed tendency of increasing phylogenetic clustering with the elevation. We also verified that the phylogenetic lineages of the tree communities are replaced along the altitudinal gradient influenced by changes in temperature and soil, indicating phylogenetic niche conservatism. This suggest that these communities could move to higher altitudes in a global warming scenario, and that would change their species composition and abundance due to changes in soil along the altitudinal gradient. Thus, the highest areas would be threatened as they would not have higher altitude locations to migrate to. In addition, phylogenetic lineages which only occur, or occur in their large majority, at highest altitudes (i.e., Cunoniaceae and Winteraceae) would be locally extinct by the current (or future) climatic scenario.

Miconia lucenae (Melastomataceae), a new species from montane Atlantic Forest in Espírito Santo, Brazil.

We describe Miconia lucenae R.Goldenb. & Michelang., a new species from the montane Atlantic Forest in Santa Teresa in the state of Espírito Santo. Our analysis, based on three plastid spacers (atpF-atpH, psbK-psbl and trnS-trnG), one plastid gene (ndhF, not available for M. lucenae), and two nuclear ribosomal loci (nrITS and nrETS), showed that it belongs to a small clade with Miconia paradoxa (Mart. ex DC.) Triana (Minas Gerais) and M. michelangeliana R.Goldenb. & L.Kollmann (Espírito Santo). The three species in the “Paradoxa clade” can be recognized by the plants with glabrous or glabrescent branches and leaves, white petals and yellow stamens, these with the connectives not prolonged below the thecae, ventrally unappendaged, dorsally unappendaged or with a minute tooth, the latter bilobed or not, glabrous ovary, and the fruits with a persistent calyx. Miconia lucenae can be recognized, among the species in this clade, by the shrubby plants with terete young branches, short inflorescences, usually with red axes, and the 2-bracteolate, sessile, 4-merous flowers, with a ciliolate inner portion of the sepals, lanceolate petals, and 4-celled ovaries. This species can be considered as endangered according to IUCN criteria.

A New Species of Merostachys (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae) from the Montane Atlantic Forest of Southern Bahia, Brazil

Abstract—Merostachys delicatula, a new species recorded thus far only from the montane Atlantic forest of southern Bahia, is described and illustrated here. Comments on its taxonomy, distribution, habitat, and phenology are presented. Among the narrow-leaved congeners occurring in Bahia, the new species is most similar to M. leptophylla. It is distinguished by having internodes glabrous to scabrous (vs. glabrous in M. leptophylla); internodes with an infranodal band of trichomes (vs. absent); culm leaf sheaths abaxially scabrous (vs. glabrous); upper glumes 1.2‐2.1 mm wide (vs. 3.5‐4 mm); anthecia dull (vs. shiny); lemmas 1.5‐2.7 mm wide, abaxially pubescent (vs. ca. 4 mm, glabrous); and paleas 1.2‐2.3 mm wide (vs. ca. 4 mm). We also provide an assessment of the conservation status of the new species and a geographic distribution map for both species.

C3 and C4 plant leaf breakdown and assimilation by aquatic macroinvertebrates in streams of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The breakdown of allochthonous plants is of great importance in providing energy and nutrients in streams. In this regard, shredder macroinvertebrates play an important role in decomposing organic matter. Changes in land use strongly influence the type of material entering a stream, which ultimately affects the food chain dependent on this material. This study compared the decay of C3 (Mollinedia schottiana) and C4 (Brachiaria brizantha) plants in the montane Atlantic Forest of Brazil using litterbag experiments in two streams draining watersheds of different land uses. Concomitantly, we investigated the colonisation and assimilation of these plant detritus by aquatic macroinvertebrates. The breakdown of C4 plants in the forest stream was faster than that of C3 plants; however, aquatic macroinvertebrates did not assimilate the C4 carbon. These results support other studies that have shown a greater abundance of shredders in montane tropical streams (lower temperature) than in lowland streams. Moreover, the findings of this study support the view that changes in land use alter the structure of the benthic community, and that these changes can alter the leaf breakdown process.

The tadpole of Physalaemus orophilus from the Atlantic rainforest of southeastern Brazil (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae).

The neotropical genus Physalaemus Fitzinger is currently composed by 48 species (Cardozo Pereyra 2018). Recently, a phylogenetic analysis aiming to investigate the internal relationships of the genus recovered two major clades, the Physalaemus cuvieri and P. signifer clades (Lourenço et al. 2015). The following species groups were retrieved in the first clade: P. biligonigerus, P. cuvieri, P. gracilis, P. henselii, and P. olfersii groups (Lourenço et al. 2015). This proposal redefined the P. olfersii group including P. olfersii (Lichtenstein Martens), P. soaresi Izecksohn, P. maximus Feio, Pombal, Caramaschi, P. feioi Cassini, Cruz, Caramaschi and P. lateristriga (Steindachner). The authors also allocated tentatively P. orophilus Cassini, Cruz, Caramaschi, and P. insperatus Cruz, Cassini, Caramaschi in the P. olfersii group due to their morphological similarity with the other species (Cruz et al. 2008; Cassini et al. 2010). Otherwise, Physalaemus aguirrei Bokermann was not recovered nested within this group, contradicting what was suggested in a previous phenetic analysis (Nascimento et al. 2005). Members of the P. olfersii group inhabit the Atlantic rainforest and most of them have a similar advertisement calls with pulsed notes, without frequency modulation and harmonic structure (Giaretta et al. 2009; Cassini et al. 2010; Lourenço et al. 2015). Regarding their larval stage, only P. soaresi, P. maximus, and P. olfersii have their tadpoles described (Weber et al. 2005; Baêta et al. 2007; Giaretta et al. 2009). Physalaemus orophilus occurs in montane Atlantic Forest sites at the eastern slope of the Espinhaço Range in the State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil (Cassini et al. 2010). Herein, we describe the tadpole of P. orophilus from Quadrilátero Ferrífero mountain region, southern limit of the Espinhaço Range and compared it to the known tadpoles of the P. olfersii group.

Nitrogen input by bamboos in neotropical forest: a new perspective.

BackgroundNitrogen (N) is an important macronutrient that controls the productivity of ecosystems and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a major source of N in terrestrial systems, particularly tropical forests. Bamboo dominates theses forests, but our knowledge regarding the role of bamboo in ecosystem functioning remains in its infancy. We investigated the importance of a native bamboo species to the N cycle of a Neotropical forest.MethodsWe selected 100 sample units (100 m2 each) in a pristine montane Atlantic Forest, in Brazil. We counted all the clumps and live culms of Merostachys neesii bamboo and calculated the specific and total leaf area, as well as litter production and respective N content. Potential N input was estimated based on available data on BNF rates for the same bamboo species, whose N input was then contextualized using information on N cycling components in the study area.ResultsWith 4,000 live culms ha−1, the native bamboo may contribute up to 11.7 kg N ha−1 during summer (January to March) and 19.6 kg N ha−1 in winter (July to September). When extrapolated for annual values, M. neesii could contribute more than 60 kg N ha−1y−1.DiscussionThe bamboo species’ contribution to N input may be due to its abundance (habitat availability for microbial colonization) and the composition of the free-living N fixer community on its leaves (demonstrated in previous studies). Although some N is lost during decomposition, this input could mitigate the N deficit in the Atlantic Forest studied by at least 27%. Our findings suggest that M. neesii closely regulates N input and may better explain the high diversity and carbon stocks in the area. This is the first time that a study has investigated BNF using free-living N fixers on the phyllosphere of bamboo.

Bat richness (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in an area of montane Atlantic Forest in the Serra da Mantiqueira, state of Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil

Abstract: In recent years there has been an increase in research interest in remnants of Atlantic Forest above 500 m a.s.l., such as in the Serra da Mantiqueira, which is considered a priority area for conservation. The chiropterofauna of the Serra da Mantiqueira remains relatively under-studied, and here we present a list of bat species from the "Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Cachoeira do Tombo", a private conservation unit located in an area of montane Atlantic Forest in the Serra da Mantiqueira. Bats were captured with mist nets along trails and near a diurnal roost. A total of 498 individuals of 19 bat species belonging to the families Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae and Molossidae were captured. Phyllostomidae were captured only along the trails, Molossidae were captured only in the diurnal roost and Vespertilionidae were captured in both. The species accumulation curves did not show stabilizing trends. However, 80% of the expected richness was sampled and the species richness of bats found is similar to other studies previously carried out in the region. In contrast to other inventories carried out in the Atlantic Forest, Desmodus rotundus was the species most frequently captured along the trails. A large number of individuals of Molossus aztecus sheltering in man-made structures were caught, constituting an unusual event. Additionally, here we report cohabitation of this species with Molossus molossus for the first time. Our results show that this area, which appears on the map of environmental conflicts for the state of Minas Gerais, has a rich chiropterofauna and also further corroborate the importance of using mist-nets at roosts to increase the probability of capturing the richness and abundance of insectivorous bats present in the area.

A review of the ornithological knowledge of the northern Serra do Mar mountains in the state of S\xe3o Paulo, southeastern Brazil

The northern portion of the Serra do Mar mountains in the state of São Paulo, near the border with the state of Rio de Janeiro, including a portion of the Rio Paraíba Valley, ranges between 450 and 1900 m a.s.l. in altitude and is composed of submontane and montane Atlantic Forest. It is unique in that the ornithological knowledge of the region can be traced back to the 19th century. Here we present a compilation of historical and recent data, including intensive field work undertaken between 1989 and 2015 in nine natural areas as well as the Bananal Ecological Station (BES), the only protected area in the region. A total of 371 bird species were recorded in the Bananal region and can be separated into two main bird communities, those of the higher Serra de Bananal and those of the lowlands of the Paraíba Valley. These are typical of the avifauna of the mountainous regions of the Serra do Mar and the Paraíba Valley, respectively. Of the above species, 23 lacked any recent records with a single possible extinction, 257 were recorded in the BES, 111 are endemic to the Atlantic Forest and 15 are listed as threatened. Despite its small size compared to other protected areas in the Serra do Mar, the BES and its surrounding areas have well preserved regional characteristics and are highlighted as an important area for bird conservation in the northern portion of the Serra do Mar in São Paulo.

Observation of Diurnal Soaring Raptors In Northeastern Brazil Depends On Weather Conditions and Time of Day

Weather conditions influence flight performance of soaring raptors, which take advantage of the strength of rising air currents to travel and forage. Most studies on soaring raptors are not conducted when precipitation and fog are present or during the hottest times of the day, when it is expected that these factors reduce species' detectability. The effect of weather on the movement of migratory birds has been studied extensively, but few studies have addressed these effects on nonmigratory tropical raptors. We described the richness, composition, and activity patterns of a diurnal soaring raptor community and we identified how daily weather conditions affected the probability of observing a species. For 11 mo, we surveyed five fixed points in an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area consisting mainly of montane Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil, for a total of 98 point counts. We recorded 12 species of soaring raptors, of which five made up 88% of all sightings. We added new records for three soaring raptor species, updating the previous richness list for the study region to 26 species. Daily wind velocity positively influenced the probability of observing Short-tailed Hawks (Buteo brachyurus). Daily relative humidity positively influenced the probability of observing Mantled Hawks (Pseudastur polionotus) and negatively influenced that of Roadside Hawks (Rupornis magnirostris). Six species would not have been recorded if afternoon samplings were not made. We demonstrated the need to consider weather conditions and time of day to increase the chance of observing diurnal soaring raptors.

New species and new subfamily placement of the enigmatic neotropical leafhopper tribe Neopsini (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae)

Abstract Six new species of Neopsis from montane Atlantic forest and Cerrado of Brazil (Minas Gerais) and montane Amazon forest of Peru are described and illustrated. Neopsis amazonica Hamilton is newly recorded from Amazonas State (Brazil) and its male is described and illustrated for the first time. The female terminalia of Neopsis robusta Linnavuori and Lonnia pallida (Linnavuori & DeLong) are also illustrated for the first time. A key to all eleven species of the genus is provided. Tribe Neopsini is newly placed in subfamily Tartessinae, a subfamily previously recorded only from the Australian and Indomalayan regions, based on morphological characters and phylogenetic evidence.

Biogeographical patterns of Myrcia s.l. (Myrtaceae) and their correlation with geological and climatic history in the Neotropics

Many recent studies discuss the influence of climatic and geological events in the evolution of Neotropical biota by correlating these events with dated phylogenetic hypotheses. Myrtaceae is one of the most diverse Neotropical groups and it therefore a good proxy of plant diversity in the region. However, biogeographic studies on Neotropical Myrtaceae are still very limited. Myrcia s.l. is an informal group comprising three accepted genera (Calyptranthes, Marlierea and Myrcia) making up the second largest Neotropical group of Myrtaceae, totalling about 700 species distributed in nine subgroups. Exclusively Neotropical, the group occurs along the whole of the Neotropics with diversity centres in the Caribbean, the Guiana Highlands and the central-eastern Brazil. This study aims to identify the time and place of divergence of Myrcia s.l. lineages, to examine the correlation in light of geological and climatic events in the Neotropics, and to explore relationships among Neotropical biogeographic areas. A dated phylogenetic hypothesis was produced using BEAST and calibrated by placing Paleomyrtinaea princetonensis (56Ma) at the root of the tree; biogeographic analysis used the DEC model with dispersal probabilities between areas based on distance and floristic affinities. Myrcia s.l. originated in the Montane Atlantic Forest between the end of Eocene and early Miocene and this region acted as a secondary cradle for several lineages during the evolution of this group. The Caribbean region was important in the diversification of the Calyptranthes clade while the Guayana shield appears as ancestral area for an older subgroup of Myrcia s.l. The Amazon Forest has relatively low diversity of Myrcia s.l. species but appears to have been important in the initial biogeographic history of old lineages. Lowland Atlantic Forest has high species diversity but species rich lineages did not originate in the area. Diversification of most subgroups of Myrcia s.l. occurred throughout the Miocene, as reported for other Neotropical taxa. During the Miocene, geological events may have influenced the evolution of the Caribbean and Amazon forest lineages, but other regions were geological stable and climate changes were the most likely drivers of diversification. The evolution of many lineages in montane areas suggests that Myrcia s.l. may be particularly adapted to such environments.