Cerrado Physiognomies Research Articles

Agribusiness Opportunity Costs and Environmental Legal Protection: Investigating Trade-Off on Hotspot Preservation in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Prior to deforestation, São Paulo State had 79,000 km(2) covered by Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) physiognomies, but today less than 8.5% of this biodiversity hotspot remains, mostly in private lands. The global demand for agricultural goods has imposed strong pressure on natural areas, and the economic decisions of agribusiness managers are crucial to the fate of Cerrado domain remaining areas (CDRA) in Brazil. Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of Brazilian private protected areas policy, and to propose a feasible alternative to promote CDRA protection. This article assessed the main agribusiness opportunity costs for natural areas preservation: the land use profitability and the arable land price. The CDRA percentage and the opportunity costs were estimated for 349 municipal districts of São Paulo State through secondary spatial data and profitability values of 38 main agricultural products. We found that Brazilian private protected areas policy fails to preserve CDRA, although the values of non-compliance fines were higher than average opportunity costs. The scenario with very restrictive laws on private protected areas and historical high interest rates allowed us to conceive a feasible cross compliance proposal to improve environmental and agricultural policies.

Patterns of water and heat flux across a biome gradient from tropical forest to savanna in Brazil

We investigated the seasonal patterns of water vapor and sensible heat flux along a tropical biome gradient from forest to savanna. We analyzed data from a network of flux towers in Brazil that were operated within the Large‐Scale Biosphere‐Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA). These tower sites included tropical humid and semideciduous forest, transitional forest, floodplain (with physiognomies of cerrado), and cerrado sensu stricto. The mean annual sensible heat flux at all sites ranged from 20 to 38 Wm−2, and was generally reduced in the wet season and increased in the late dry season, coincident with seasonal variations of net radiation and soil moisture. The sites were easily divisible into two functional groups based on the seasonality of evaporation: tropical forest and savanna. At sites with an annual precipitation above 1900 mm and a dry season length less than 4 months (Manaus, Santarem and Rondonia), evaporation rates increased in the dry season, coincident with increased radiation. Evaporation rates were as high as 4.0 mm d−1 in these evergreen or semidecidous forests. In contrast, ecosystems with precipitation less than 1700 mm and a longer dry season (Mato Grosso, Tocantins and São Paulo) showed clear evidence of reduced evaporation in the dry season. Evaporation rates were as low as 2.5 mm d−1 in the transitional forests and 1 mm d−1 in the cerrado. The controls on evapotranspiration seasonality changed along the biome gradient, with evaporative demand (especially net radiation) playing a more important role in the wetter forests, and soil moisture playing a more important role in the drier savannah sites.

Growth, photosynthesis and leaf water potential in young plants of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (Caesalpiniaceae) under contrasting irradiances

Growth and leaf nutrient content were compared in young potted plants of Copaifera langsdorffii in sunny and shaded areas without water stress. Besides, carbon assimilation and leaf water relations were evaluated by net photosynthesis, potential photochemical efficiency and leaf water potential during daily courses in dry and rainy periods under natural conditions in both contrasting irradiances. Higher values of total biomass, height and leaf area occurred in sunny than in shaded area. On the other hand, all young plants survived in shade under natural water stress probably by reason of fast and intense biomass accumulation in favor of roots in early development. There was no significant difference about nutrient concentration in leaves between plants growing in sunny and shaded areas. Net photosynthesis in shade increased occasionally when bunches of direct light reached the leaves. Theses sunflecks took place more frequently and at high intensity in dry period but they were more effective for net photosynthesis in rainy period. The ability of young plants to persist under natural conditions in contrasting irradiance up to 1,230 days after sowing could explain the wide distribution of C. langsdorffii in Cerrado physiognomies and in different types of forest.

FITOSSOCIOLOGIA DA COMUNIDADE LENHOSA DE UMA ÁREA DE CERRADO RUPESTRE NO PARQUE ESTADUAL DOS PIRENEUS, PIRENÓPOLIS, GOIÁS

This work aimed to study the floristic composition and phytosociology of an area of cerradosensu stricto located on rocky outcrops in Parque Estadual dos Pireneus, municipality of Pirenópolis,Goiás. The studied area is located between 15º47’71’’S - 15o47’77’’S and 48º49º’96’’W - 48o50’15’’W, atthe altitude of 1.355 m. Ten 20 m x 50 m plots were randomly sampled to include all woody individuals with BD(30cm) ! 5 cm. We registered 30 botanical families encompassing 45 genera and 56 species. Myrtaceae family showed the highest number of species (8), followed by Fabaceae and Melastomataceae (6 each), Malpighiaceae (4) and Clusiaceae (3). There were 507 individuals/ha, the basal area was 3.91 m2/ha , and the standing dead trees represented 9.07% of the total number of individuals. Shannon’s (H’) index was 3.33 nats/ind. Czekanowski similarity indices suggest that the beta diversity was high, mostly due to variation in species density between plots. The area has a characteristic flora of this region and species composition restricted to rocky outcrops adapted to shallow soils near the rocky substrate as well as generalist species of Cerrado physiognomies.

Fitossociologia do estrato herbáceo-subarbustivo em campo limpo úmido no Brasil Central

O campo limpo úmido é uma das fisionomias de Cerrado onde o lençol freático é superficial durante o ano todo. Em geral ocorrem bordeando as matas de galeria, sendo um local de ligação entre estas e as fitofisionomias bem drenadas de Cerrado. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a estrutura fitossociológica do estrato herbáceo-subarbustivo de uma comunidade de campo limpo úmido na Fazenda Água Limpa, Brasília, e avaliar possíveis alterações na composição e cobertura de espécies, em diferentes ocasiões no período de 13 meses, após incêndio. Uma área de 400×400 m foi subdividida em quatro porções de 200×200 m onde foram sorteadas as linhas de amostragem. No levantamento fitossociológico, adotou-se o método de interseção na linha, onde cada linha foi dividida em seções de 1 m. Foram amostradas 84 espécies incluídas em 54 gêneros e 24 famílias. A similaridade de Sørensen entre as quatro transeções amostradas foi baixa, entre 0,26 e 0,55%. As linhas sobre solos com lençol freático superficial o ano todo apresentaram composição de espécies diferenciada das linhas sobre solos com flutuação sazonal do lençol freático. A similaridade entre os cinco períodos de inventário foi elevada, pois as espécies mais importantes mostraram pouca variação nas suas taxas de cobertura ao longo do ano.

Nutritional adaptations of native plants of the cerrado biome in acid soils

Soils of the cerrado biome, mostly oxisols and deep sandy entisols, are acid, dystrophic and poor in available nutrients. These soils are not very different from soils that occur in the Amazon region. However, the open savanna physiognomies of cerrado with lower biomass of their different components are deficient in nutrients at the ecosystem level, unlike the Amazon forests which retain high nutrient reserves in their live biomass. Field crops are susceptible to aluminum and manganese toxicities, besides nutrient deficiencies, in cerrado soils and do not grow well in the absence of liming and fertilization. However, concepts of nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, well established for cultivated plants, should not be extended to native species in natural ecosystems, indiscriminately. Many native plants in the cerrado biome are resistant or tolerant to soil conditions deemed unfavorable for cultivated plants but their geographic distribution, frequency in native communities, growth and productivity are determined by water and nutrient availability and other edaphic conditions. Species growing on acid soils are aluminum tolerant or resistant, since their capacity to absorb essential nutrients, growth and reproduction is not affected by high aluminum levels in the soil. Many common species of the cerrado, instead of excluding aluminum, absorb and transport it to leaves and accumulate it in different tissues including leaves and seeds whereas others do not survive in the absence of exchangeable aluminum, even though no specific role of Al in plant metabolism is yet established.

Evaluation of three methods for sampling ground-dwelling Ants in the Brazilian Cerrado

Few studies have evaluated the efficiency of methods for sampling ants, especially in regions with highly variable vegetation physiognomies such as the Cerrado region of central Brazil. Here we compared three methods to collect ground-dwelling ants: pitfall traps, sardine baits, and the Winkler litter extractor. Our aim was to determine which method would be most appropriate to characterize the ant assemblages inhabiting different vegetation types. More species were collected with pitfall traps and with the Winkler extractor than with sardine baits. Pitfall traps collected more species in the cerrado (savanna) physiognomies, particularly in those with a poor litter cover, whereas the Winlker extractor was more efficient in the forest physiognomies, except the one subject to periodic inundations. There was a low similarity in species composition between forest and cerrado physiognomies, and this pattern was detected regardless of the method used to sampling ants. Therefore, even the use of a single, relatively selective method of collection can be enough for studies comparing highly distinct habitats and/or conditions. However, if the purpose of the sampling is to produce a more thoroughly inventory of the ant fauna, we suggest the use of a combination of methods, particularly pitfall traps and the Winkler extractor. Therefore, the Ants of the Leaf-Litter (ALL) Sampling Protocol appear to be an adequate protocol for sampling ants in the highly-threatened Brazilian cerrado biome.

Seasonality of litterfall and leaf decomposition in a cerrado site

We investigated annual litterfall and leaf decomposition rate in a cerrado site. We collected woody plant litter monthly from April 2001 to March 2002 and from July 2003 to June 2004. We placed systematically 13 litter traps (0.5 x 0.5 m) in a line, 10 m one from the other. We sorted litter into 'leaves', 'stems', 'reproductive structures', and 'miscellanea' fractions, oven-dried them at 80 degrees C until constant mass and weighed the dry material. To assess leaf decomposition rate, we packed leaves recently shed by plants in litter bags. We placed seven sets of nine litter bags in a line, 10 m one from the other, on the soil surface and collected nine bags each time after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months. Total and leaf litter productions showed a seasonal pattern. Leaf litterfall was the phenological attribute that showed the strongest response to seasonality and drought. Decomposition was slower in the cerrado that we studied compared to a more closed cerrado physiognomy, reflecting their structural and environmental differences. Thus, decomposition rates seem to increase from open to closed cerrado physiognomies, probably related to an increase of humidity and nutrients in the soil.

Carnivore mammals in a fragmented landscape in northeast of São Paulo State, Brazil

Sao Paulo is the most developed state in Brazil and little of its native vegetation remains. In Luiz Antonio and Santa Rita do Passa Quatro municipalities, only small fragments of cerrado (Brazilian savanna) physiognomies (cerradao, cerrado sensu stricto) and of semideciduous forest have been left, surrounded by eucalyptus silviculture and sugar-cane agriculture. However, that vegetation mosaic still shelters large mammals, including several carnivore species. To detect the carnivores present in such a mosaic area (50,000 ha), and to find out how they use the landscape, we recorded them through 21 camera traps and 21 track plots, during 18 months. Species richness, diversity and relative frequency were evaluated according to the habitat. Ten species were recorded, some of them locally threatened to extinction (Puma concolor, Leopardus pardalis, Chrysocyon brachyurus). Species diversity did not significantly differ among fragments, and although most species preferred one or another habitat, the carnivore community as a whole explored all the study area regardless of the vegetation cover; eucalyptus plantations were as used by the carnivores as the native fragments. Therefore, it seems possible to maintain such animals in agricultural landscapes, where some large native fragments are left and the matrix is permeable to native fauna.

Controls on stand transpiration and soil water utilization along a tree density gradient in a Neotropical savanna

Environmental controls of stand-level tree transpiration ( E) and seasonal patterns of soil water utilization were studied in five central Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) sites differing in tree density. Tree density of Cerrado vegetation in the study area consistently changes along topographic gradients from ∼1000 trees ha −1 in open savannas (campo sujo) at the lower end of the topographic gradient to >3000 trees ha −1 in woodlands (cerradão) at the upper end of the gradient. Tree canopy resistance ( r C) increased linearly with increasing daily mean air saturation deficit ( D) at all sites, but cerradão and cerrado denso sites with higher tree density and higher tree leaf area index (LAI) had lower r C values at all values of D compared to physiognomies with lower tree density, suggesting that r C was less sensitive to changes in D in physiognomies with high tree density and LAI . During the peak of the dry season, mean soil water potential at 0.20 m depth was most negative in the sites with the lowest tree basal area and increased linearly with basal area across sites. In contrast, soil water storage in the 0.10–2.50 m layer decreased exponentially with increasing basal area, consistent with trees in higher density sites utilizing a larger proportion of available soil water at depth during the dry season. Maximum tree transpiration was highest in the cerradão and cerrado denso (∼0.81 mm day −1). Despite higher evaporative demand during the dry season, E was similar between the dry and wet seasons within each study site, which was associated with lower LAI and canopy conductance ( g C) during the dry season compared to the wet season. Leaf area index was a good predictor of E and g C. For both dry and wet season data combined, E increased asymptotically with increasing LAI across all physiognomic types, allowing LAI to be used as a predictor of spatial variation of E. The lack of seasonality in E across the Cerrado physiognomies studied could not be explained by individual constraining variables such as D or soil water potential near the surface, but was consistent with the influence of multiple regulatory effects of D and soil water potential on seasonal changes in leaf area and g C.

Cerrado vegetation study using optical and radar remote sensing: two Brazilian case studies

The amount of phytomass is a crucial parameter in ecology as a whole. Conventional methods to estimate phytomass parameters are often prohibitive in terms of time, environment, and manpower. Seasonality in Brazilian savanna physiognomies is marked by green leaves lost during the dry season and regrowth during the wet season. Branches and trunks remain the same through the seasons. The amounts of the phytomass components can be estimated by nondestructive methods using remote sensing. This paper presents case studies where the abilities to predict vegetation variation are tested using optical and radar images. The foliar component leaf area index (LAI) obtained in the field is related to the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) obtained from satellite images, and both methods present a strong relationship with green leaves biomass. Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS-1) images are used to estimate the aboveground woody biomass. Campo cerrado physiognomy showed the highest seasonal variation in NDVI, and cerradão the lowest variation in NDVI. During August, the lower the NDVI values, the lower the solar albedo and the higher the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) albedo. During November, the higher the NDVI values, the lower the PAR and the higher the solar albedo. The same proportion in seasonal variation was observed with LAI values. A significant equation is proposed to estimate trunk and branch biomass using allometric parameters and JERS-1 backscattering.

Avifauna urbana no Lago Pôr do Sol, Iporá, Goiás, Brasil

Bird communities in urban areas are poorly studied in Brazil. The purpose of the present work was to describe the avifauna of the Lago Pôr do Sol, an urban lake in the municipality of Iporá in the state of Goiás, central Brazil. The fieldwork was carried out from May 2001 to April 2002, during 24 biweekly visits to the area. A transect was used to estimate species richness and bird abundance. A total of 70 species (27.2/month) belonging in 32 families and 1,701 bird findings (141.6 findings/month) were recorded. Twenty-six (37.1%) of the species found in Iporá were not recorded in a similar survey in Goiânia, 234 km away. This seems to reflect differences in the original Cerrado physiognomies in the two areas. The division of species in trophic categories showed the Iporá bird community to be dominated by omnivorous and insectivorous species. However, considering the number of individuals for any trophic level, there was a prevalence of insectivores. On the other hand, species and individuals were distributed among four habitat categories, which are related to significant habitat heterogeneity in the lake. The Range Centre Index values for most species is under 0.5, suggesting that the Lago Pôr do Sol is close to the midpoint of the geographical ranges of the bird species recorded.

Spectral linear mixture modelling approaches for land cover mapping of tropical savanna areas in Brazil

It is estimated that approximately 60% of the natural vegetative cover of the Brazilian savanna, locally known as the Cerrado and the second largest biome in South America, have already been converted. Despite this rapid conversion pace, there have only been limited attempts to operationally monitor this major farming frontier with remote sensing data. In this study, we evaluated the performance of spectral linear mixture models (SLMM) for the mapping of the major Cerrado physiognomies. Two SLMMs were considered: a general model, comprising the vegetation, soil and shade components, and a specific model, restricted to the ‘true’ Cerrado physiognomies. We also considered the potential effects of atmospheric contamination, and the influence of endmember sources on the fraction images derived from the general and specific models, respectively. The general model, apparently resistant to the atmosphere with respect to land cover discrimination, primarily enhanced forested domains and non‐vegetated targets (water bodies and bare soils). By contrast, the specific model, regardless of the endmember source, significantly distinguished the major Cerrado physiognomies. Such contrasting and complementary behavior suggests a potential synergism between the general and specific models for the mapping and monitoring of a complex environment such as the Cerrado biome.

Composição e diversidade de répteis Squamata na região sul do Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, Brasil Central

Neste estudo são apresentados os resultados de amostragem de Squamata do Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, MG, na área nuclear do Cerrado brasileiro, através de metodologia padronizada. A riqueza, diversidade e distribuição das espécies são comentadas e comparadas com os resultados em outras regiões do Cerrado. A fauna de Squamata na região inclui pelo menos 50 espécies, dentre as quais 25 lagartos, três anfisbenas e 22 serpentes, distribuídas em 12 famílias: Polychrotidae (1), Tropiduridae (3), Scincidae (4), Teiidae (3), Gymnophthalmidae (6), Anguidae (1), Amphisbaenidae (3), Anomalepididae (1), Leptotyphlopidae (1), Boidae (2), Colubridae (16) e Viperidae (2). A riqueza registrada e estimada indica que a região pode figurar entre as mais ricas em todo o Cerrado. As espécies de Squamata parecem possuir preferências previsíveis sobre os diferentes hábitats disponíveis, e admite-se a grande influência de fatores histórico-filogenéticos na distribuição espacial das espécies. A fisionomia do carrasco destacou-se por abrigar duas espécies restritas à região, Stenocercus quinarius e Psilophthalmus sp., sendo promissora para novos estudos. Os ambientes abertos, especialmente as fisionomias savânicas típicas do Cerrado, apresentaram maior riqueza, em concordância com outros locais estudados, e com implicações diretas na conservação da diversidade biológica do Cerrado.

Influence of soil fertility on the distribution of tree species in a deciduous forest in the Triângulo Mineiro region of Brazil

Dry semideciduous and deciduous forests occur only on calcium-rich soils and occupy almost 20% of the 200 million ha of the cerrado region of central Brazil. Other savanna physiognomies of woodlands and grasslands, and gallery forests generally occur on acid soils with low calcium levels. The literature on phytosociological aspects of such cerrado physiognomies is quite abundant whereas there is very little information on deciduous forests. Also lacking is information on soil fertility and its influence on species distribution. The objective of the present study was to study the distribution of native species within a dry deciduous forest in the Araguari river valley, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais as related to soil properties. A 1-ha sampling area, with no apparent difference in physiognomy, was divided into fifty 10 m × 20 m plots arrayed in 10 × 5 grid and all trees with a minimum circumference of 15 cm at 1.30 m height were surveyed. A composite soil sample was collected from 0 to 10 cm depth in each plot and soil pH, organic C and nutrient availability were determined. Cluster analysis based on soil chemical properties showed the existence of two distinct groups of plots. Further field examinations revealed that the forest was situated in an area of transition between mica schist and basalt parent materials, without any apparent difference in the forest physiognomy. The basalt-derived soil in 23 plots had significantly higher availability of Ca (47.0 cmol(+) kg−1 soil), Mg (2.59), and K (0.96) than the mica schist derived soil (Ca—18.4, Mg—1.29, and K—0.66) in the remaining 27 plots, though both soils would be classified as eutrophic. A total of 59 species belonging to 27 families were encountered in the area as a whole, of which 36 were common to both soils. In total, 16 species occurred exclusively on the mica schist soil and 7 on the basaltic soil. Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem. (Anacardiaceae) and Tabebuia roseo-alba (Ridl.) Sandwith (Bignoniaceae) were species with high importance values in the forest as a whole. Though there was no significant difference in the diversity index between the two soils, the importance values of these species was larger in the basalt-derived soil with higher nutrient availability.

Synthetic Aperture Radar (L band) and Optical Vegetation Indices for Discriminating the Brazilian Savanna Physiognomies: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract The all-weather capability, signal independence to the solar illumination angle, and response to 3D vegetation structures are the highlights of active radar systems for natural vegetation mapping and monitoring. However, they may present significant soil background effects. This study addresses a comparative analysis of the performance of L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and optical vegetation indices (VIs) for discriminating the Brazilian cerrado physiognomies. The study area was the Brasilia National Park, Brazil, one of the test sites of the Large-Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere (LBA) experiment in Amazonia. Seasonal Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1) SAR backscatter coefficients (σ°) were compared with two vegetation indices [normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI)] over the five most dominant cerrados’ physiognomies plus gallery forest. In contrast to the VIs, σ° from dry and wet seasons did not change significantly, indicating primary response to vegetation structures. Discriminant analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed an overall higher performance of radar data. However, when both SAR and VIs are combined, the discrimination capability increased significantly, indicating that the fusion of the optical and radar backscatter observations provides overall improved classifications of the cerrado types. In addition, VIs showed good performance for monitoring the cerrado dynamics.

Analysis of Cerrado Physiognomies and Conversion in the MODIS Seasonal–Temporal Domain

Abstract The “cerrado” biome in central Brazil is rapidly being converted into pasture and agricultural crops with important consequences for local and regional climate change and regional carbon fluxes between the atmosphere and land surface. Satellite remote sensing provides an opportunity to monitor the highly diverse and complex cerrado biome, encompassing grassland, shrubland, woodland and gallery forests, and converted areas. In this study, the potential of Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data is analyzed to discriminate among these diverse cerrado physiognomies and converted pastures based on their seasonal dynamics and phenology. Four years (2000–03) of MODIS 16-day composited, 250-m resolution vegetation index (VI) data were extracted over a series of biophysically sampled field study sites representing the major cerrado types. The temporal VI profiles over the cerrado formations exhibited high seasonal contrasts with a pronounced dry season from June to August and a w...

Distribuição da brioflora em diferentes fisionomias de cerrado da Reserva Biológica e Estação Experimental de Mogi-Guaçu, SP, Brasil

O trabalho refere-se à distribuição da brioflora ocorrente no cerrado Reserva Biológica e Estação Experimental de MogiGuaçu. Este bioma apresenta fisionomias que variam de florestas a campos. As coletas foram realizadas entre 1993 e 1995, na casca de 15 espécies de forófitos arbustivo-arbóreos, ao longo de um transecto, passando por cinco fisionomias diferentes de cerrado. Estudaramse 1.345 exsicatas de 49 gêneros e 92 espécies de briófitas. A brioflora está relacionada às fisionomias de cerrado e não aos forófitos arbustivo-arbóreos. As fisionomias são mais semelhantes quanto à flora de musgos do que em relação à flora de hepáticas. As briófitas distribuem-se em três grupos de fisionomias: cerrado sentido restrito, campo cerrado e transição / cerrado sentido restrito de Myrsine / campo cerrado queimado.

Description and ecology of a new species of sun spider (Arachnida: Solifugae) from the Brazilian Cerrado

A new species of solifuge from São Paulo State, south-eastern Brazil, is described, together with its phenology, habitat use, activity pattern and the effect of fire on the population. Mummucia coaraciandu n. sp. differs from other Mummuciidae in cheliceral dentition and pleurite coloration. Over a one-year period, 649 individuals of M. coaraciandu were captured in 72 pitfall traps distributed in three Cerrado physiognomies: borders of gallery forest (N=53), campo sujo (N=561) and campo cerrado (N=35). The species is diurnal and showed two peaks of surface activity during the year: the highest peak occurred in the cold–dry season (June to July) and the smaller peak in the middle of the warm–wet season (December to February). The number of individuals per trap was negatively correlated with the mean monthly temperature, but showed no correlation with the monthly precipitation. The sex ratio was male-biased (7:1) and the number of males trapped was positively correlated with the number of reproductive females. More individuals were trapped in burned areas when compared with unburned areas 1 month after the fire. This difference between the two areas was not observed 1 month before and 3–4 months after the passage of the fire (when the vegetation had recovered). Mummucia coaraciandu is the second solifuge described from the Brazilian Cerrado and its ecology is very similar to that of Mummucia mauryi from Caatinga vegetation.

Influência da flora das florestas Amazônica e Atlântica na vegetação do cerrado sensu stricto

The contribution of Amazonian and Atlantic floras was analyzed in twelve localities in the cerrado biome. A total of 290 tree and shrub species were recorded in those localities. Of these, 41.1% occurred only in cerrado and are probably endemic, and 58.9% also occurred in Atlantic and/or Amazonian forest. For non-endemic species the contribution of Atlantic forest was greater (44.8%) than Amazonian ones (1.4%), with the remaining 12.7% species found in both forest biomes. The proportions of species with centers of distribution in Atlantic and Amazonian forest showed a slight decrease toward the center of cerrado biome. For the former, the distance explained only 30% of variation in proportions by a polynomial model fit to the data, and for the latter a significant linear model explained 78% of variations. The flora of Amazon forest and Atlantic forest showed a segregation with altitude. The proportions of species with centers of distribution in the Atlantic forest showed a slight increase with altitude, but a polynomial model explained only 18% of this variation. Inversely, there was a linear relationship between the proportions of species with centers of distribution in Amazonian forest and altitude that explained 31% of variation. The differences in contribution patterns of the Atlantic and Amazonian forest flora to the cerrado physiognomy is discussed with respect to climatic changes during the Quaternary and to differences in plant species tolerance to fire and low temperature in the cerrado biome.