Melo et al. 2015 (Conference Paper) Brazil

Bromeliaceae from a submontane Atlantic Forest area in northeastern Brazil

Author(s):—A. Melo, J. Maciel, R. Louzada & M. Alves in Benko-Iseppon, A.M.; Alves, M. & Louzada, R. (2015) An overview and abstracts of the First World Congress on Bromeliaceae Evolution. Rodriguésia 66(2): A1-A66.

Publication:— (2015).

Abstract:—Bromeliaceae is one of the richest families in the Atlantic Forest with a high number of endemic species. The Serra do Urubu comprises a well-preserved and continuous, submontane (600 to 800 m) forest fragment in the southern part of the state of Pernambuco (northeastern Brazil). Several studies with Orchidaceae, ferns and birds have confirmed the value of the area for conservation because of its biological diversity. A floristic inventory was carried out with field trips from August 2010 to December 2014. Local herbaria (UFP, PEUFR,HST, IPA, and JPB) were also visited to study specimens previously collected in the area. Bromeliaceae is represented in Serra do Urubu by 42 species and 17 genera. The family is one of the most diverse among the Angiosperms in the study area, which holds almost 40% of all species cited so far to the state of Pernambuco. Aechmea and Vrisea with nine species each, and Tillandsia with four species comprise more than half of the species found in the area. Twenty-three species are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, and 11 of them are restrictedto the ?Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco? (Pernambuco Endemism Center). Twenty species are endemic to the states of northeastern Brazil, including Achemea gustavoi, which is considered Critically Endangered; Canistrum pickelii and Guzmania monostachia, Vulnerable; and Canistrum auratiacum, Endangered. Vrisea wawranea Antoine is Endangered and restricted to the states of Espírito Santo, Bahia and Pernambuco and finally, Aechmea serragrandensis Leme & J.A. Siqueira which was known only from a few populations in the state of Alagoas and was recently found in the area. The diversity of bromeliads found in the Serra do Urubu reinforces its value for conservation of submontane forests in northeastern Brazil.

Keywords:—Submontane Forest; Conservation; Pernambuco.