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The vegetation of granite rock outcrops in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the need for its protection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2002

SERGIO TADEU MEIRELLES
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia Geral, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, CEP 05508–900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
VÂNIA REGINA PIVELLO
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia Geral, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, CEP 05508–900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
CARLOS ALFREDO JOLY
Affiliation:
Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biologia,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Caixa Postal 6108, CEP 13083–970, Campinas, SP, Brazil

Abstract

Rock outcrop communities usually receive very little attention from scientists and environmentalists. We examined the vegetation occurring in eight gneiss-granite rock outcrops at Rio de Janeiro State (Brazilian Atlantic coast) which exists in natural associations on soil islands. A total of 86 vascular plant species, belonging to 30 families, was found on 347 soil islands. Bromeliaceae, Asteraceae and Velloziaceae species were the most frequent plants, many of them endemic to these habitats. Ordination and cluster analyses using species frequency on each site made evident some major distinctions related to local influences, most probably the proximity to the sea. Each outcrop presented high values of the Shannon-Wiener index of species diversity. Species richness was very dependent on the total area, and high beta diversity was observed amongst sites. Similarities with the South American and African rock-outcrop communities were found. Despite their uniqueness as habitats, their possession of several endemic species and the fragility of the ecosystem involved, Brazilian rock outcrops are not protected by specific environmental legislation and we propose urgent actions for their protection.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1999 Foundation for Environmental Conservation

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