Heterogeneity of the woody flora of swamp forests in southeastern and southern Brazil

By

Kurtz, Bruno Coutinho
Caris, Elisa Araujo Penna
Scarano, Fábio R.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2014-12-9

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

10

Series / Issue

Issue: 6

Pages

1359--1379

Subjects

Atlantic forest , Biodiversity conservation , Cerrado , floristics , Wetlands

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/10.6.1359

 

Abstract

Swamp forests are associated with hydromorphic soils and are naturally fragmented in their distribution. Several local phytosociological surveys on the woody flora of these forests have been conducted in southeastern and southern Brazil. We present here a comprehensive floristic list based on these surveys, including 77 families, 211 genera and 518 native species. The richest families were Myrtaceae (78 species), Fabaceae (47) and Lauraceae (38). The richest genera were Eugenia (24), Myrcia (24), Miconia (21) and Ocotea (20). The woody flora of these swamp forests has great heterogeneity, with most species occurring in one or few sites. Their flora is formed by a few flooding specialist or tolerant species, common in many sites, and many other species that come from the surrounding vegetation. Considering the high degree of deforestation in southeastern and southern Brazil, including swamp forests, the floristic patterns presented here can be useful for the future efforts of conservation, management and restoration of these forests.