Mata Atlântica The Atlantic Rainforest Hotspot

______________

I: Ecosystem Biogeography

M Vale, R Sears, T Kittel r510

Global Biomes –

Major South American Tropical Rainforests(original extent)

The Atlantic Forestoldest

Amazon Lowland Forestyoungest

Submontane & IntramountainAndean Forest

(Northern S. American Pacific Forest)mid-aged

Guyanas and VenezuelaHighland Forest

oldest

Várzea –flooded forest

Terra Firme

Mata Atlântica Amazon= precipitation =

- avg T 14-21ºC - avg T 26-27ºC- mountainous - flat- crystalline soils - alluvial sediment- historically isolated - contiguous- tree ferns, epiphytes - palms, lianas- endemism high

Atlantic Forest vs. Amazon Forest

Physiognomy (Structure) -

• Denser with fewer tall trees

• Fewer emergent trees

• Several forest layers– slopes more light

penetration

• Understory with ferns

• Less palms, lianas & vines

• Rich epiphyte cover

> 90% deforestation (v. 20%)

vs

Trade Wind Tropical Rainforestsof the Americas

The Atlantic Forest

Guyanas & VenezuelaHighland Forest

Caribbean Highland Forests& E Central American Forests

Submontane & IntramountainAndean Forest

(Northern S. American Pacific Forest)

Trade Winds + Escarpment

Trade Wind-Escarpment Tropical Rain Forests• Atlantic Forest• E Madagascar & E South Africa• NE Australia • SW India

Conservation International’s Biodiversity Hotspots

Atlantic Forest

Caribbean Islands

W Ghats

Madagascar

4 Major Trade Wind Forests: Conservation International’s Hotspots

Trade Wind-Escarpment Tropical Rain Forests + Disjunct from Equatorial Forests • Atlantic Forest• E Madagascar & E South Africa• NE Australia • SW India

WWF Ecoregionsof So America

Pernambuco Interior Forest

Pernambuco Coastal Forest

Bahia Coastal Forest

Bahia Interior Forest

Paraná/Paraíba Interior Forest

Serra do Mar Coastal Forest

Araucária Moist Forest

Ecoregionsof the Atlantic Forest

Serra do Mar Coastal Forest

Serra do Mar Coastal Forest

Ecoregions

Evergreen Forest

Semi-deciduous Forest

Paraná/Paraíba Interior Forest

Araucária Forest

• “Cannot bear the sight of the oceans”• Sharp limit at S but smooth N

• Altitudinal compensation towards the north• Andean fauna

Serra do Mar Coastal Forest

Araucária Moist Forest

Ecoregions

Vegetation along the altitudinal gradient of the Mata Atlântica

2000

1500

0 man-groves

restingaforest

800

300

lower montaneforest

mountainrainforest

campos rupestres

cloud vegetation/elfin forest

metersa.s.l.

horizontal distance

RestingasMangroves

Ecoregions

Restinga

Holocene sandsEdaphic = soil influenced

Mangroves

Restinga

Vegetation along the altitudinal gradient of the Mata Atlântica

2000

1500

0 man-groves

restingaforest

800

300

lower montaneforest

mountainrainforest

campos rupestres

cloud vegetation/elfin forest

metersa.s.l.

horizontal distance

High AltitudeGrasslands

Ecoregions

Altitudinal GradientHigh Altitude Fields: Campos de Altitude / Campos Ruprestes

Cloud-drenchedvegetation

Summary

• High structural diversity– Atlantic v. Amazon physiognomy

– Ecoregional differences• Tropical v. Subtropical – including Araucária forests • Coastal v. Interior – Evergreen to Semideciduous

– Vegetation formations w/in regions: • Restinga, Mangroves• High elevation gradients forest to grasslands

•NGS Sights & Sounds videoclip:http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0403/sights_n_sounds/media1.html