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This study was conducted in the context of a taxonomic treatment for Myrcia species occurring in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. While revising current synonyms of endemic species of Myrcia sect. Gomidesia, we found consistent morphological separation between Myrcia gestasiana and Myrcia dolichopetala, presently treated as synonyms and detached here. Individuals co‐occurring with M. dolichopetala are here recognized and described as a new species, Myrcia macrobracteosa, the specific epithet being allusive of its unusually showy, persistent and accrescent bracts and bracteoles. A taxonomic treatment is provided for each species based on herbarium collections and field data, and their diagnostic characters are contrasted in a comparative table. Morphological plates of fresh and dry material are also provided with notes on taxonomy and distribution, including a map of occurrence records. The three taxa occur in urban forest remnants under extreme threat in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region. In this context, preliminary conservation assessments are also provided for each species based on occurrence data from herbaria and field information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Geological and geomorphological heritage (geoheritage) has many aspects, some of which are yet to be fully understood. Particularly, a scientific value of geo(morpho)sites is defined differently and established with not fully satisfying approaches. The attention to the El-Medallat hills, which are a group of small inselbergs in the southern Western Desert of Egypt, required the development of a new approach to focus on a scientific utility. The latter is not equated to the total value of geo(morpho)sites and their scientific value. The El-Medallat hills are put into the context of the international research in inselbergs. The relevant journal articles were collected, and the information from them was extracted to understand the relation of the El-Medallat hills to geographical and lithological foci of the international research in inselbergs. It is established that inselbergs were rarely reported from the Saharan domain of Africa, and sandstone inselbergs were studied much less intensively than granite ones. These lines of evidence imply the relatively high scientific utility of the El-Medallat geomorphosite due to its location in the Saharan domain of Africa and sandstone composition. The proposed approach is distinguished by an emphasis on research potential of geo(morpho)sites in the light of the international research experience.

ABSTRACT Islands are fundamental model systems in ecology, biogeography, and evolutionary biology. However, terrestrial islands, unlike their aquatic counterparts, have received comparatively less attention. Among these land islands, inselbergs (i.e. isolated rock outcrops with diverse lithologies and a modest topographical prominence) stand out as iconic examples distributed worldwide across global biomes. Due to their durable lithology, inselbergs change slowly, persisting for tens of millions of years. In this review, we propose a biological definition for inselbergs that captures three fundamental characteristics of inselbergs from the perspective of biota. These are old age, isolation and the presence of unique microhabitats that are rare or absent in the surrounding matrix, fostering distinct communities often with unique and endemic biota. We synthesise the state of the art and formulate a set of testable hypotheses to deepen our understanding of the origins and maintenance of diversity on inselbergs, which are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic threats. By offering different habitats compared to the surrounding habitat matrix (e.g. moist microhabitats in dryland landscapes and xeric environments in humid tropical landscapes), inselbergs may allow specific lineages to thrive beyond their typical geographical limits. Particularly in drylands and degraded landscapes, inselbergs may not just provide different habitats but also act as ecological refuges or evolutionary refugia by providing a wider range of potential microhabitats than the surrounding matrix, enhancing resilience and promoting regional biodiversity. The central role of the matrix ensures that the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of inselbergs differ from those of true islands such as oceanic islands. Given that inselberg biota coexist within a terrestrial matrix, interactions between inselberg and matrix populations impact each other significantly. Over evolutionary timescales, matrix species may contract to inselberg refugia, preserving lineages while cycles of isolation and reconnection may drive speciation via a species pump. Although inselberg biodiversity has been studied predominantly from an island biogeography perspective, we argue that depending on the spatial scale, habitat specificity and mobility of the organisms considered, a range of different theories and paradigms can help explain the biogeography and local distribution patterns of different taxonomic and functional groups of inselberg species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Quaternary climatic shifts can explain the current distribution of ancient ecosystems as well as the current distributions of gradients that hold species richness and diversity of several lineages in old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs) as inselbergs. Thus, the combination of phylogenetic approaches and temporal landscape connectivity allows disentangling the mechanisms involved in the origin of the disjunct distribution of plant species and the evolutionary heritage of Neotropical inselbergs. Location: Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Caatinga. Time Period: Pliocene until the current period. Major Taxa: Angiosperms. Methods: We used a compiled data set of 42 inselbergs across the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga biomes in eastern Brazil to describe their structure and phylogenetic diversity and map the landscape resistance distances and the effects of resistance on their phylogenetic beta diversity. We also aimed to identify the effectiveness of protected areas and gaps in the conservation of plant species in Brazilian inselbergs. Results: We found evidence of dispersal limitation in the inselberg species pool and a latitudinal gradient in plant species richness and phylogenetic diversity across the Neotropical inselberg landscape, with greater isolation between the northeastern and southeastern core areas. Our findings indicate that inselbergs can lead to a high turnover of phylogenetic diversity, thus imposing distinctiveness on the evolutionary lineages of the inselberg flora. Main Conclusions: Our results suggest that the current distribution of inselberg's flora in isolated ecosystems may result from a more connected distribution of this flora in the past, as postulated by the Pleistocene habitat fluctuations. However, the patterns of diversity have probably been influenced by events much older than Quaternary climate shifts, due to inselbergs climate stability areas (refugia) since ancient periods. Conservation of mountain vegetation is a crucial strategy for maintaining biodiversity and distinct phylogenetic lineages in the current rapid global climate and land use change scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Vegetation mapping is subject to a diversity of approaches and lack of coordination, leading to low repeatability and predictive power in the species-rich flora of the Southwest Australian Floristic Region. Yet it has potential as a tool of use in fire management. Aims: This project, extending over five decades, aimed to develop an authoritative vegetation classification and map plant fire responses at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Methods: Using Muir's classification approach, field surveys were conducted with aerial photography in hand. Thirty-three vegetation units were identified, described, mapped, and photographed. Defining attributes and taxa were identified for each unit. Key results: Map, descriptions, and photographs detail forest, woodlands, mallee, scrub thickets, heath, wetlands, and granite communities on the Reserve. The forest, woodland, and shrublands were adequately classified and mapped. However, granite complex and mallee were least satisfactory, oversimplifying a rich diversity of vegetation types and habitats. Conclusions: The Reserve may be divided for management into the central third of heath, shrublands, and low woodlands largely across the isthmus, the dunes and wetlands of the west with a greater diversity of vegetation types, and the eastern granite inselberg attaining 408 m with the most diverse vegetation types. The latter inselberg needs continued protection from fire and other disturbances. Greatest change in vegetation is seen in lowland landscapes where fire activity has also been pronounced. Implications: Vegetation mapping has been a valuable aid for managers and fire planning, and for active comanagement with appropriate Aboriginal families. This project, extending over five decades, developed an authoritative vegetation classification and mapped plant fire responses at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Using Muir's classification approach, field surveys were conducted with aerial photography in hand. Thirty-three vegetation units were identified, described, mapped, and photographed. Defining attributes and taxa were identified for each unit. Vegetation mapping has been a valuable aid for phytogeographical placement of the Reserve, for managers and for fire planning. This article belongs to the Collection The Natural History of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Serra da Neve inselberg in Namibe Province, southwestern Angola is the second highest peak of Angola with an elevation of 2489 m. It remains one of the least explored regions in the country, despite several endemic species having been recently described from this inselberg. Here we provide an inventory of the amphibian and reptile species ocurring in Serra da Neve and compare its fauna with that of the surrounding habitats at lower elevations. We also examine the phylogenetic affinities of the inselberg taxa. A total of 59 herpetological taxa were recorded for the Serra da Neve inselberg and its immediate surroundings. These include 11 species of amphibians, belonging to nine genera and seven different families, and 48 species of reptiles, belonging to 32 genera and 12 families. Of these, one amphibian and seven reptiles from seven different genera are strictly endemic, making the inselberg the richest region in southwestern Africa with respect to strict endemics, with one endemic reptile taxa per 127 km2. Not surprisingly, most of the recorded taxa belong to clades that are endemic, or at least strongly associated, with southern Africa, but two are representatives of central African clades, and another two are more closely related to eastern African highland taxa. We also provide comments on the threats to the conservation of this endemic-rich inselberg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geodiversity of rocky ecosystems includes diverse plant communities with specific names, but their continental‐scale floristic identity and the knowledge on the role of macroclimate remain patchy. Here, we assessed the identity of plant communities in eastern Brazil across multiple types of rocky landscapes and evaluated the relative importance of climatic variables in constraining floristic differentiation. We provided lists of diagnostic species and an assessment of the conservation status of the identified floristic groups. We compiled a data set of 151 sites (4498 species) from rocky ecosystems, including campos rupestres, campos de altitude, granitic‐gneiss lowland inselbergs, and limestone outcrops. We used unsupervised clustering analysis followed by ANOSIM to assess floristic groups among sites. We performed a random forest variable selection to test whether the identified floristic groups occupy distinct climatic spaces. Six groups (lithobiomes) segregated floristically according to lithology and climate. Alongside campos de altitude and limestone outcrops, inselbergs were divided according to the biome in which they occur (Atlantic Forest or Caatinga), and campos rupestres were largely segregated according to their lithological matrix (ironstone or quartzitic). Plant communities of Caatinga inselbergs were more similar to limestone outcrops, while Atlantic Forest inselbergs communities resembled campos de altitude. The composition of plant communities on outcrops seems to be largely constrained by lithology, but climatic factors are also meaningful for sites with similar lithology. The current network of protected areas does not cover these unique ecosystems and their floristic heterogeneity, with Caatinga inselbergs and limestone outcrops being the least protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the mycobiomes of two soils with different ecological conditions located in Benin (West Africa) were investigated by environmental sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) of the ITS2-region of ribosomal DNA to gain information about the influence of pedological stratification on fungal diversity. For each soil depth and horizon, fungal diversity and community composition were analyzed as well as the potential impact of site characteristics, like vegetation, on these traits. The retrieved sequences revealed in all their replicates high similarities between fungal communities of samples from the same site and soil horizon, but differed within one site in their horizons. It was possible to assign a saprotrophic, symbiotrophic, or parasitic lifestyle to 24% of the recorded fungal mOTUs. Plant parasites were found in all samples in similar proportions. The presence of ectomycorrhizal fungi in one site could be linked to the presence of ectomycorrhizal trees. Overall, it was observed that fungal diversity decreased with increasing depth if only one horizon was present, whereas a deeper horizon present at one site contained communities with a distinct composition regarding the taxonomical affiliations and lifestyles of the fungi found compared to the upper layer. Hence, soil horizonation seems to drive differences in the composition of fungal communities, and should be regarded with more attention when analyzing soil mycobiomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geosites in syn- and post-collisional granitoid rocks of the Rio Doce Magmatic Arc are important markers of the tectonic environments associated with the amalgamation of the western portion of Gondwana during the Neoproterozoic. Another aspect that stands out in these geosites is the relief that resulted from the breakup of Pangea with the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean and the action of the climate propitiating the alteration of the rocks and the soil erosion during the Cenozoic, leaving a landscape full of inselbergs that allow us to reach minerals, rocks, and structures that were formed between 630 and 480 Ma. The morphology of syn-collisional granitoid geosites is controlled by NNW-SSE fractures of Colatina lineament, and secondarily, by a shear fracture pair of WNW-ESE and WSW-ENE directions. In post-collisional granitoid geosites, the main control is the shape of the intrusion, and secondarily, a pair of shear fractures of WNW-ESE and WSW-ENE directions. The State of Espírito Santo has a strong connection between rural communities and cities with the local geology. Several initiatives to preserve this landscape can be noticed in the different tourist areas, such as the Pontões Capixabas Natural Monument and Pedra Azul State Park. Espírito Santo is a good example of geoconservation in Brazil, but at the same time, it needs to be aware of its geotourism potential, which can contribute to the local rural communities. For this, actions are needed to spread geological knowledge in schools, by training guides and taking this information to rural communities through new routes and using existing routes combined with geological knowledge, geodiversity, and cultural manifestations of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs) have a disjunct yet wide distribution worldwide. Old lineages, rare and geographically restricted species, generally characterise these landscapes. Although the last decade provided evidence supporting the OCBIL theory, many studies are biased towards local scales, woody plants and specific OCBILs. Therefore, broad‐scale investigations across different types of OCBILs are needed.We used 5186 flowering plant species (woody and herbaceous) distributed across 129 rocky outcrop sites in Brazil to investigate (1) the relative influence of climate on the phylogenetic diversity and structure of OCBILs; (2) their phylogenetic signature; (3) whether vegetation type influences phylogenetic diversity and structure of OCBILs after controlling for climate; and (4) the OCBILs' evolutionary median community age.We found that rocky outcrops exhibit lower than expected phylogenetic diversity and are home to plant communities composed of closely related species (i.e. phylogenetic clustering) relative to the reference species pool, primarily due to temperature seasonality. Each rocky outcrop shows a distinct phylogenetic signature, indicated by plant families with more descendant species than expected by chance. Even after controlling for climate, phylogenetic diversity and structure remain low and clustered in most rocky outcrops. The median community age estimated at the species level is lower in campos de altitude than in other rocky outcrops.Synthesis. We show that the influence of climate seasonality is pervasive in the phylogenetic diversity and structure of Brazilian rocky outcrops at different taxonomic levels. We also show that the phylogenetic signature of rocky outcrops comprises a mix of relatively old and young overrepresented plant families whose descendants contribute to their low phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic clustering. Overall, the combination of low phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic clustering and comparably low median community age across Brazilian rocky outcrops indicates that, on average, these OCBILs are subjected to strong environmental constraints and serve as arenas of recent diversification rather than a steady accumulation of taxa. Therefore, these findings indicate different OCBILs as hotspots for various plant lineages and species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular epiphytes are a characteristic life form in many tropical regions and often occur growing on bare rocks. South America has the highest diversity. Here, we describe a neglected life form: hyperepilithics adapted and restricted to growing on vertical (inclination above 70°) and bare rock walls without having roots intruding the substrate. Hyperepilithics are in particular present on Brazilian inselbergs and dominated by highly specialized Bromeliaceae, mainly of the genera Stigmatodon, Tillandsia and Alcantarea, whereas Orchidaceae surprisingly has a low representation. An overview of this habitat, the life form hyperepilithics and a comparison with similar paleotropical habitats (mainly inselbergs in Western/Eastern Africa and India) are provided. Attention is drawn to hyperepilithics as a most promising and not yet exploited source for a sustainable urban 'vertical gardening', for example in tropical megacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The municipality of Boa Nova, in northeastern Brazil, is in an ecotone zone between the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest phytogeographic domains. The transition phytophysiognomy is seasonal forest and known locally as mata de cipó. In these phytophysiognomies there are lajedos, which are rock outcrops colonized by vegetation well-adapted to extreme microclimatic variation and vegetation diversity is affected by the vegetation types of the surrounding areas. Due to the singularity of these environments and the relevance of floristic studies for conservation, this work aimed to identify the species richness and compare the similarity of the flora on four rock outcrops in Boa Nova. The flora was surveyed during exploratory walks along lajedos between 2016 and 2019. In total, 162 species were identified on the Boa Nova outcrops. The flora has a composition and structure similar to semiarid outcrops, as well as endemic species that also occur in surrounding phytophysiomies. Despite the proximity, a similarity index revealed there is floristic dissimilarity between the areas. Nine new occurrences were recorded for the region, five species are threatened with extinction (Aosa gilgiana, Ficus cyclophylla, Hippeastrum stigmovittatum, Pleroma caatingae and Trixis pruskii), and 43 species are common in anthropogenic areas. This reinforces the importance of actions to conserve these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the mycobiomes of two soils with different ecological conditions located in Benin (West Africa) were investigated by environmental sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) of the ITS2-region of ribosomal DNA to gain information about the influence of pedological stratification on fungal diversity. For each soil depth and horizon, fungal diversity and community composition were analyzed as well as the potential impact of site characteristics, like vegetation, on these traits. The retrieved sequences revealed in all their replicates high similarities between fungal communities of samples from the same site and soil horizon, but differed within one site in their horizons. It was possible to assign a saprotrophic, symbiotrophic, or parasitic lifestyle to 24% of the recorded fungal mOTUs. Plant parasites were found in all samples in similar proportions. The presence of ectomycorrhizal fungi in one site could be linked to the presence of ectomycorrhizal trees. Overall, it was observed that fungal diversity decreased with increasing depth if only one horizon was present, whereas a deeper horizon present at one site contained communities with a distinct composition regarding the taxonomical affiliations and lifestyles of the fungi found compared to the upper layer. Hence, soil horizonation seems to drive differences in the composition of fungal communities, and should be regarded with more attention when analyzing soil mycobiomes.

Biodiversity distribution patterns and the ecological processes underlying them reflect how organisms respond to abiotic and biotic factors that interact across both space and time. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that small-scale environmental variations shape ecological and phylogenetic patterns in arboreal communities through environmental filters created by the specific conditions of each environment examined. We investigated a mosaic of Atlantic forest environments, analyzing species composition, community dynamics, and phylogenetic relationships among the various environments. This approach provided valuable insight into how environmental factors influence the ecological differentiation of these communities. Variations in conditions and resources produced environmental filters that resulted in significant small-scale heterogeneity in species composition, community dynamics, and evolutionary relationships among the environments. By considering the dynamic interations between biotic and abiotic factors, we conclude that the prevailing environmental conditions at these sites play a crucial role in shaping the behavior and distribution of the species that inhabit them. • Influence of the environment on the ecological differentiation of communities in a short scale gradiente (∼14 km). • Distinct stresse conditions determine high heterogeneity of species, temporal behavior, and evolutionary relationships. • Biotic and abiotic factors interact dynamically and condition the behavior and distribution of species in a short scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inselbergs are landforms shaped by a number of erosion processes. They can be characterized either by a predominance of dissolution features or fracturing and occasionally exhibit massive slopes. In this study we demonstrate the main structural mechanisms driving the formation of dissolution features, such as gnammas. In granitic rocks, mafic ellipsoidal enclaves can act as a starting point for differential erosion. The enclaves and their orientation control the early stages of dissolution features (ellipsoidal microcavities and gnammas). In the Pedra do Cruzeiro inselberg, located in Quixadá, northeastern Brazil, 99 enclaves were analyzed in a 230m SW-NE transect on the inselberg slope. The data show that the primary trend of enclave orientation (86E on average) coincides with the orientation of the majority (97%) of dissolution features in their first and second stages. In advanced erosion phases in which mega karren are developed, they are not solely controlled by preexisting structural patterns, attesting to the superimposition of the surface runoff of the inselberg over the structure (e.g., magmatic foliation and mafic enclave orientation).

Advancing functional ecology depends fundamentally on the availability of data on reproductive traits, including those from tropical plants, which have been historically underrepresented in global trait databases. Although some valuable databases have been created recently, they are mainly restricted to temperate areas and vegetative traits such as leaf and wood traits. Here, we present Rock n' Seeds, a database of seed functional traits and germination experiments from Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation, recognized as outstanding centers of diversity and endemism. Data were compiled through a systematic literature search, resulting in 103 publications from which seed functional traits were extracted. The database includes information on 16 functional traits for 383 taxa from 148 genera, 50 families, and 25 orders. These 16 traits include two dispersal, six production, four morphological, two biophysical, and two germination traits—the major axes of the seed ecological spectrum. The database also provides raw data for 48 germination experiments, for a total of 10,187 records for 281 taxa. Germination experiments in the database assessed the effect of a wide range of abiotic and biotic factors on germination and different dormancy‐breaking treatments. Notably, 8255 of these records include daily germination counts. This input will facilitate synthesizing germination data and using this database for a myriad of ecological questions. Given the variety of seed traits and the extensive germination information made available by this database, we expect it to be a valuable resource advancing comparative functional ecology and guiding seed‐based restoration and biodiversity conservation in tropical megadiverse ecosystems. There are no copyright restrictions on the data; please cite this paper when using the current data in publications; also the authors would appreciate notification of how the data are used in publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the spectacular geomorphological features of Jurassic (Younger) Granites in NE Nigeria by using field observations and some structural (i.e. joints) analyses. The study area is in the Sahel region of the Subsaharan of Africa as a transition zone between the Sahara Desert and Equatorial region, where many studies have focused on the loess deposits, ergs, climate change, and Saharan Desert boundary changes. Morphological features of rocks in the study area have not been widely discussed in the literature. However, inselbergs, ruwares, and pillar structures are the major landforms in this vast plain with an arid environment. Boulders, blocks, mushrooms, and corestones, tafoni, shelter caves, flared slopes, polygonal cracks, and weathering pits are minor features. Weathering products consisting of white-colored, granular quartz-bearing grus and red clayey laterite surround the granite masses. Subsurface weathering has favored the formation of major geomorphological features; however, subsequent superficial weathering leading to hydration and stripping occurred mostly under the humid climatic conditions with seasonal variation of dry and humid climatic conditions. Local paleoenvironmental – paleoclimatic conditions would have prevented excess weathering and erosion in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As espécies de Wunderlichia (Asteraceae) são endêmicas das regiões central e leste do Brasil, geralmente encontradas em afloramentos rochosos e sujeitas a altas irradiação solar e temperatura. Tais condições sugerem ocorrência de múltiplas adaptações xeromórficas em Wunderlichia azulensis. Este estudo visou caracterizar a morfoanatomia dos órgãos vegetativos de W. azulensis. Raízes, caules e folhas foram coletados de um afloramento rochoso no Maciço do Itaoca, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brasil. O material vegetal foi fixado, desidratado e emblocado em resina plástica para seções transversais. Testes histoquímicos foram realizados para identificação das classes químicas nas folhas e tricomas de W. azulensis. A morfologia dos tricomas foi avaliada em microscópio eletrônico de varredura. As raízes apresentaram uma estrutura morfoanatômica distinta que pode ser caracterizada como xilopódio. As folhas apresentaram um conjunto de atributos anatômicos adaptativos, como células epidérmicas com paredes anticlinais retas ou levemente sinuosas, alta densidade de tricomas e camada subepidérmica. Os testes histoquímicos revelaram substâncias fenólicas e óleos essenciais no mesofilo. Este estudo contribuiu para o conhecimento sobre as adaptações anatômicas das plantas rupícolas e de ambientes xeromórficos, e sugere futuros estudos para elucidação da estrutura das raízes e caules de W. azulensis.

The genus Stigmatodon occurs in vertical and bare granite slopes, typical of the inselbergs of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Here, we present the first broad phylogenetic analysis focused on Stigmatodon, sampling a total of 83 terminals, including 16 of the 20 species of the genus and the morphologically similar species of Vriesea. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis using two plastid markers (matK and rps16-trnK) and the nuclear gene PHYC to infer phylogenetic relationships and reconstruct ancestral states for ecological and morphological characters. Our results suggest the monophyly of Stigmatodon as originally circumscribed is only possible with the inclusion of morphologically and ecologically similar Vriesea species. In addition, the morphological and anatomical traits led us to propose a new circumscription for the genus, combining eight species of Vriesea to Stigmatodon as S. andaraiensis, S. freicanecanus, S. lancifolius, S. limae, S. oliganthus, S. pseudoliganthus, S. vellozicolus, and S. zonatus. The stomata positioned above the ordinary epidermal cells, the adaxial water-storage parenchyma with axially elongated cells, the stamens positioned in two groups of three on each side of the corolla, and the tubo-laciniate stigma are exclusive to Stigmatodon in its new circumscription. These new morphological and phylogenetic results constitute a relevant contribution to the taxonomy and evolution of Bromeliaceae, one of the most diverse and ecologically important families of flowering plants of the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cloud forests usually occur at high-altitude sites of the Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil, albeit scattered and fragmented along the mountain tops. In this habitat, the vegetation occurs at low-temperature conditions and is usually provided by additional water sources that arise due to the horizontal precipitation of the frequent fogs. Together with the more considerable air movement and higher luminosity, these factors are conditioning for singular floras at high elevations, mainly the vascular epiphytes, which are macro and microclimate dependent. In the mountains range at the center of the Espírito Santo state, Southeastern Brazil, some mountain tops such as Pedra Azul (PA) hold these environmental features. Here, we aimed to present the first checklist of vascular epiphytes in the Pedra Azul State Park and surroundings based on fieldwork and herbarium specimens. The checklist comprises 152 species, 65 genera, and 17 families, the main families being Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Polypodiaceae, with the main genera represented by Vriesea, Acianthera, and Peperomia. The holoepiphytes were the main category among the epiphytes, although an unusually high number of facultative epiphytes were recorded. Asplenium theciferum and Octomeria cucullata are recorded in Espírito Santo for the first time, and we confirmed the occurrence of Rhipsalis cereuscula in the state. Overall, the richness recorded in PA is amongst the highest of the Atlantic Forest cloud forests. Six species are threatened at the national level and 32 at the state level. These results support the importance of the protected area for conserving the flora; however, several species - including threatened - were only recorded in the surroundings, demonstrating that the buffer zone of the Pedra Azul State Park must be included in the management plans.

Background and Aims: Rock outcrop vegetation is distributed worldwide and hosts a diverse and unique flora that evolved under harsh environmental conditions. Unfortunately, seed ecology in such ecosystems has received little attention, especially regarding seed traits, germination responses to abiotic factors and the potential role of phylogenetic relatedness on such features Here, we provide the first quantitative and phylogenetically-informed synthesis of the seed functional ecology of Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation, with a particular focus on quartzitic and ironstone campo rupestre., Methods: Using a database of functional trait data, we calculated the phylogenetic signal of seven seed traits for 371 taxa and tested whether they varied among growth forms, geographic distribution, and microhabitats. We also conducted meta-analyses that included 4,252 germination records for 102 taxa to assess the effects of light, temperature, and fire-related cues on the germination of campo rupestre species and explored how the aforementioned ecological groups and seed traits modulate germination responses., Key Results: All traits and germination responses showed a moderate-to-strong phylogenetic signal. Campo rupestre species responded positively to light and had maximum germination between 20-25 ºC. The effect of temperatures beyond this range was moderated by growth form, species geographic distribution, and microhabitat. Seeds exposed to heat shocks above 80 °C lost viability, but smoke accelerated germination. We found a moderating effect of seed mass for in responses to light and heat shocks, with larger, dormant seeds tolerating heat better but less sensitive to light. Species from xeric habitats evolved phenological strategies to synchronise germination during periods of increased soil water availability., Conclusions: Phylogenetic relatedness plays a major role in shaping seed ecology of Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation. Nevertheless, seed traits and germination responses varied significantly between growth forms, species geographic distribution and microhabitats, providing support to the regeneration niche hypothesis and the role of functional traits in shaping germination in these ecosystems., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Cloud forests usually occur at high-altitude sites of the Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil, albeit scattered and fragmented along the mountain tops. In this habitat, the vegetation occurs at low-temperature conditions and is usually provided by additional water sources that arise due to the horizontal precipitation of the frequent fogs. Together with the more considerable air movement and higher luminosity, these factors are conditioning for singular floras at high elevations, mainly the vascular epiphytes, which are macro and microclimate dependent. In the mountains range at the center of the Espírito Santo state, Southeastern Brazil, some mountain tops such as Pedra Azul (PA) hold these environmental features. Here, we aimed to present the first checklist of vascular epiphytes in the Pedra Azul State Park and surroundings based on fieldwork and herbarium specimens. The checklist comprises 152 species, 65 genera, and 17 families, the main families being Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Polypodiaceae, with the main genera represented by Vriesea, Acianthera, and Peperomia. The holoepiphytes were the main category among the epiphytes, although an unusually high number of facultative epiphytes were recorded. Asplenium theciferum and Octomeria cucullata are recorded in Espírito Santo for the first time, and we confirmed the occurrence of Rhipsalis cereuscula in the state. Overall, the richness recorded in PA is amongst the highest of the Atlantic Forest cloud forests. Six species are threatened at the national level and 32 at the state level. These results support the importance of the protected area for conserving the flora; however, several species - including threatened - were only recorded in the surroundings, demonstrating that the buffer zone of the Pedra Azul State Park must be included in the management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulau Ubin is located in the Johor Strait between the Malay Peninsula and Singapore Island. The topography shaped in a granitoid complex of Permo-Triassic age, comprises jungle covered and isolated blocky hills, a flat and marshy central valley floor, and a coastline in which grooved boulders are prominent. In papers published in 1847, 1849 and 1851 (but here reporting their content in modern terminology) J. B. Logan attributed the island landscape to deep differential chemical weathering, followed by exposure of the resulting bedrock morphology. This is characterized by massive blocks protruding between a saprolithic cover—in modern parlance a two-stage etch origin of a group of inselbergs of nubbin (or knoll) type covered by blocks and boulders derived from the breakdown of the outer shell or shells or sheet structures. The Pulau Ubin nubbins carry remnants of a saprolithic veneer and are of 'wet' type by contrast with the saprolith-free 'dry' forms of arid or seasonally arid climes. The conversion of nubbins to bornhardts in arid climes also is noted. Logan identified the crucial aspects of what is still a highly favoured hypothesis of inselberg origin based on field evidence from many parts of the world and articulated by Falconer in 1911. But there was in Logan's time no agreed and appropriate technical terminology. Moreover, some of Logan's reports such as that dated 1849 are disorganized and diffuse, but contain occasional insightful observations and deductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The true identity of Mandevilla luetzelburgii (Apocynaceae) is clarified and the new M. bullata, largely misidentified as the former species, is described. Drawings for both species are given and a key for morphologically related species is provided. A lectotype is selected for Dipladenia luetzelburgii Ross & Markgr. Mandevilla bullata is assessed as Endangered (EN) and M. luetzelburgii as Critically Endangered (CR), according to IUCN criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the floristics of granitoid inselbergs in the hitherto poorly documented south-eastern region of the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR) and adjacent Great Western Woodlands, addressing several hypotheses of OCBIL (old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes) theory. We found exceptional taxon richness (1550 taxa on 89 inselbergs, with 58 well-sampled inselbergs and 1493 taxa chosen for detailed analyses). Granite inselberg endemism declined towards the arid inland, although taxon richness did not. OCBILs are likely to be found up to 500 km inland, not ~300 km as previously hypothesized. Hybrids were extremely rare on the 58 inselbergs analysed, whereas rare species, including singletons, were abundant. Conversely, exotic weeds were less common than in the whole SWAFR flora (8.2% vs 12.8%). Granite plant communities were distributed in bands parallel to the south coast, approximating the general transition from the Esperance and Boylya Floristic Districts across the SWAFR boundary north into the Arid Zone's Great Western Woodlands. Positive correlations were found between several plant life forms and inselberg area. There was a decrease from the coast inland for most life forms, except for annual and graminoid herbs that increased in taxa inland. Thus, inselberg floristics exemplify the coast-to-inland OCBIL transition in this global biodiversity hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterisation of geoheritage and the understanding of the physical and socio-cultural features of a territory are essential to achieve the major geoconservation goals: protection and sustainable use of exceptional elements of geodiversity. This research was done in the Sertão Central, an economic vulnerable area in the hinterland of northeast Brazil, remarked by the Caatinga Biome and a rocky, semiarid landscape. The area comprises an assemblage of deformed igneous and metamorphic rocks, such as gneisses, TTG rocks, schists, and granites. Starting from a regional geoheritage inventory done in 2015, fourteen geosites were selected and assessed, representing a wide regional tectonic evolution from the Precambrian West Gondwanan orogenesis to the Cenozoic development of particular examples of Brazilian granitic inselbergs. In addition to the inventory of geosites, six geodiversity sites were also evaluated, along with five geocultural sites, highlighting the cultural value of geodiversity in the area. Based on the available information, an analysis with the main features and spatial configuration of the geoheritage was developed, allowing to designate the most appropriate use for each geological site. Considering geoconservation as a geoscientific fostering for the sustainable development, our study suggests a set of general guidelines for the management of geoheritage, in order to facilitate the decision-making process by local managers and stakeholders as well as to promote the discussion on geotourism strategies for the region. Organised according to well-defined geoconservation strategies, these guidelines could enhance the sustainable development of vulnerable regions, such as Sertão Central itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar o levantamento de samambaias e licófitas do Morro do Pico (22°56'05.2''S,43°07'13.8''W), que está localizado na Área de Proteção Ambiental dos Fortes, litoral do município de Niterói, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A área é formada por afloramentos rochosos e remanescentes de Mata Atlântica adjacente. As coletas foram realizadas entre o mês de maio a outubro de 2014, o material foi herborizado e depositado no herbário do Museu Nacional (R). A chave de identificação é apresentada com base em características morfológicas diagnósticas. Foram encontradas dez famílias, distribuídas em quinze gêneros, totalizando vinte e seis espécies. As famílias com maior riqueza foram Pteridaceae (10 spp.), Anemiaceae (quatro spp.) e Selaginellaceae (três spp.). A mata adjacente apresenta maior riqueza em relação ao inselberg. Dentre os táxons encontrados somente nesta formação, destacam-se Anemia tomentosa var. anthriscifolia, Doryopteris collina, Selaginella convoluta e S. sellowii.

Se analizan las formas del relieve de los Arribes del Duero zamoranos, en concreto, de un sector de la comarca del Bajo Sayago situado entre el embalse de Miranda de Douro, al Norte, y la localidad de Pinilla de Fermoselle, al Sur. A través del trabajo de campo y de la fotointerpretación de imágenes aéreas se ha realizado una cartografía geomorfológica de detalle a escala 1:25.000, así como un estudio pormenorizado de las formas estructurales y de modelado que caracterizan esta zona de la penillanura zamorana. En concreto, se detallan los tres niveles de superficies de erosión y los cuatro tipos de relieve residuales, esto es, de montes-isla o inselbergs que se han identificado en la penillanura, al tiempo que se explican pormenorizadamente las formas del berrocal, las formas fluviales y el origen de la garganta del Duero.

The aim of the present study was to describe the floristic composition of a rocky outcrop in Serra da Raiz, piedmont of Borborema, Paraíba, and verify the similarities or dissimilarities with other inselbergs northeastern Brazil. The work resulted in the registration of 138 plant species, and the families Fabaceae, Poaceae and Euphorbiaceae with the largest number of species. Comparing this work with other floristic studies, it appears that the rocky outcrop in piedmont Borborema shares floristic characteristics with the surrounding regions (seasonal forest) than with other inselbergs northeastern Brazil. Factors related to pediplanation, similarity to surrounding areas, geographical distances and heterogeneity of rocky outcrops were compared and discussed in this work.

The true identity of Mandevilla luetzelburgii (Apocynaceae) is clarified and the new M. bullata, largely misidentified as the former species, is described. Drawings for both species are given and a key for morphologically related species is provided. A lectotype is selected for Dipladenia luetzelburgii Ross & Markgr. Mandevilla bullata is assessed as Endangered (EN) and M. luetzelburgii as Critically Endangered (CR), according to IUCN criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper subscribes to the concept of Key Geoheritage Area (KGA) which is currently being developed. Three localities in northeast Brazil are described as possible candidates for KGA. They represent the diversity of erosional granite landscapes found in cratonic areas. Pedra da Boca is an impressive cluster of tall domes rising from the marginal escarpment of Borborema Plateau, with gigantic tafoni. Pai Mateus is located on the Borborema Plateau and consists of a group of low granite elevations (ruware, whalebacks) with residual boulders scattered on their surfaces. These boulders are hollowed out by weathering, providing another very distinctive type of tafoni. Quixadá area is an inselberg landscape, with a few dozens of bedrock hills rising from the plain. Among minor features, karren are ubiquitous. Collectively, these three sites show different types of cratonic granite scenery, a multitude of medium-size and minor geomorphic features, and illustrate pathways for inselberg formation and decay through long-term weathering and erosion. Therefore, they are considered to fit the concept of KGA. In addition, each landscape has considerable aesthetic and scenic values, with great potential for geotourism and geoeducation. Nevertheless, their current conservation status is low and geointerpretation nearly nonexistent and these challenges are to be addressed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andorinhas Hill is an integral part of the Serra da Tiririca State Park rocky outcrop complex and is located in the municipality of Niterói, RJ. The colonization by exotic plants was evaluated based on point-transect and intercept-line techniques. On the main trail, the plants were registered with the GPS aid, and their presence was recorded in two circular plots of five meters on both sides of the trail, at horizontal intervals of 100 m, totaling 19 intervals. Each species cover values were estimated according to Braun-Blanquet scales, considering five classes: C1 (10%), C2 (25%), C3 (50%), C4 (75%) and C5 (100%). In the adjacent tracks, twenty transects were stretched, perpendicularly arranged to the main trail and the line length that was intercepted by each exotic species was taken note. With the obtained values in the two techniques, the phytosociological parameters were calculated. From the point-transect technique 15 invasive species were collected, belonging to 13 families and 15 genus. The species with the highest frequency and coverage values were Megathyrsus maximus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Furcraea foetida e Euphorbia umbellata. In turn, the line intercept technique showed eight species belonging to five families. The species of most importance were F. foetida, Phyllostachys aurea, Oeceoclades maculata, M. maximus e Tradescantia zebrina. Of the exotic species total number, those with invading characteristics are Furcraea foetida, Megathyrsus maximus and Phyllostachys aurea which are cultivated in the surroundings, along the trails and established on the outcrop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, one Lepidaploa and one Critoniopsis, were found in two diversity hotspots, the municipalities of Santa Teresa and Governador Lindenberg, in the Atlantic Forest, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Lepidaploa congesta differs from other Brazilian species of the genus by its indumentum, leaf apex, inflorescences, and the apex of involucral bracts. Critoniopsis canaliculata differs from the other Brazilian species of the genus by its habit, branches, phylotaxy, petiole morphology, leaf color, cypselae indumentum, and pappus color. According to an informal assessement performed by applying criteria of the IUCN red list, Critoniopsis canaliculata should be included in the Critically Endangered (CR) category, whereas Lepidaploa congesta is Data Deficient (DD). These discoveries show that the current knowledge on biodiversity in Espírito Santo State still is incipient, even in sites with decades of biological inventories, such as Santa Teresa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Oxygen isotope-inferred ages as old as the Jurassic have been derived from weathered monzogranite underlying the folded Mount Augustus Sandstone, which forms the massive anticlinal Burringurrah (or Mount Augustus) inselberg, in the Gascoyne district of Western Australia. This large inselberg stands ~700 m above the surrounding duricrusted Neogene Gascoyne planation surface at ~400 m. The 1150 m thick Mount Augustus Sandstone (c. 1620 Ma), buried by some 10 km of rock of the Edmund and Collier Groups, underwent folding during the Edmundian Orogeny (1030–950 Ma). Abundant Permian glacial deposits throughout western and southern Australia suggest that the landscape was extensively impacted by a continental ice mass during the Gondwanan Permian glaciation, and which provides a maximum age for most recorded chemical weathering profiles within Australia. Nine samples of kaolinite were collected from a 30 m deep exposure of weathered monzogranite cropping out in the core of the anticline beneath the overlying Mount Augustus Sandstone within the topographic amphitheatre of 'The Pound'. Four samples from the profile were analysed, revealing two ages of weathering. The higher samples immediately below the unconformably overlying boulder ferricrete (δ18O VSMOW values of +12.0 and +14.0‰) imply a Jurassic to early Cretaceous weathering age, while the lower samples (δ18O VSMOW values of +17.6 and +18.3‰) are indicative of a Neogene age. These results suggest downward 'younging' of the profile consistent with a top-down advancing weathering front that developed after uncapping of the anticlinal inselberg and exposure of the underlying monzogranite to surficial chemical weathering. A long-term rate of landscape denudation of ~11 m/Ma is estimated from established geological events, rock ages and thicknesses. Dykes and quartz veins suggest that Burringurrah was still deeply buried 500 Ma ago, with the denudation rate indicating exposure of the upper surface of the Mount Augustus Sandstone by ~100 Ma. The oxygen isotope data suggest that weathering of the monzogranite beneath the Mount Augustus Sandstone occurred during Jurassic to early Cretaceous times (~200 to 100 Ma), ages broadly coincident with those derived from the application of denudation rates. This suggests that Burringurrah initially developed as an inselberg prior to at least the past 100 Ma. The younger ages from lower parts of the profile suggest that weathering continued into the Neogene/Quaternary (23 Ma to present), during which time the surrounding, now dissected, planation surface was also weathered. Highlights • Correlated oxygen isotopes constrain the age of kaolinitic weathering of monzogranite. • Weathering profile provides Jurassic-Cretaceous (~200 to 100 Ma) and Neogene ages. • Burringurrah sandstone inselberg was a feature of the landscape from 100 Ma. • Demonstrates age of an inselberg with no other stratigraphic age indicators • These ages are broadly coincident with those derived from regional denudation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O presente estudo apresenta uma discussão sobre a geomorfologia atual em áreas de intrusões graníticas e os processos envolvidos no seu desenvolvimento. O objeto de estudo é o inselberg denominado Pedra da Andorinha, inserida dentro da unidade de conservação municipal “Refugio de vida silvestre Pedra das Andorinhas”, localizado em Taperuaba no município de Sobral-CE, onde se destacam suas fisionomias e seus aspectos gerais, contextualizando a formação regional e suas características atuais. Os resultados foram obtidos a partirda atividade de campo, realizada nos dia 16 e 17 de junho,da disciplina de geomorfologia no curso de Geografia daUniversidade Federal do Ceará –UFC.

While spiders constitute the most abundant and diverse arthropods in many habitats, they remained under-studied, especially in tropical rainforests. The goal of this study is to assess the spatial distribution of the spider family Ctenidae by assessing associations of species diversity and population traits among different habitat conditions. Fieldwork was carried out during 2013 in habitats varying in flooding frequency (plateau vs. flooded forest) and elevation (inselberg vs. lowland) in the Nouragues National Natural Reserve, French Guiana. Assemblage composition, population structure, and trait measurements of one dominant species were assessed using hand collection in replicated quadrats. We found strong effects on ctenid assemblages attributable to both elevation and flooding, with changes in relative abundance of species among habitats, but few correlated densities between species. At the population level, main differences in species distribution between and within habitats were detected only when juveniles were taken into account. No effect of elevation was found on the measurements of traits of the dominant species, but legs were proportionally shorter in flooded habitats, suggesting reduced active dispersal in these habitats. Our study highlights the value of complementary of measures of diversity and traits at different biological scales in Ctenidae.

The variation of vegetation in altitudinal gradients is usually conditioned by the thermal gradient. We hypothesized that the vegetation structure varies abruptly as a result of very distinct environments whose formation is not only related to altitude and climate. We selected three areas in the Morro do Baú, in Ilhota municipality, Southern Brazil. In each, we allocated 50 plots of 100 m2 (Area 1 - 340 m a.s.l., Area 2 - 540 m a.s.l. and Area 3 - 810 m a.s.l.). We measured all individuals with DBH = 4,77 cm. We elaborated a Venn diagram and compare areas using rarefaction curves. We applied DCA and NMDS ordination to identify the degree of vegetation variation. Because of its strong distinction, we compared Area 3 with part of the data from IFFSC. The vegetation structure varies abruptly between Areas 1/2 and 3, the latter being a true cloud forest determined by the joint effects of altitude, climate, soils and geomorphology. Regionally, however, the similarities are not greater with other cloud forests, but with areas near and of approximately the same altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While spiders constitute the most abundant and diverse arthropods in many habitats, they remained under-studied, especially in tropical rainforests. The goal of this study is to assess the spatial distribution of the spider family Ctenidae by assessing associations of species diversity and population traits among different habitat conditions. Fieldwork was carried out during 2013 in habitats varying in flooding frequency (plateau vs. flooded forest) and elevation (inselberg vs. lowland) in the Nouragues National Natural Reserve, French Guiana. Assemblage composition, population structure, and trait measurements of one dominant species were assessed using hand collection in replicated quadrats. We found strong effects on ctenid assemblages attributable to both elevation and flooding, with changes in relative abundance of species among habitats, but few correlated densities between species. At the population level, main differences in species distribution between and within habitats were detected only when juveniles were taken into account. No effect of elevation was found on the measurements of traits of the dominant species, but legs were proportionally shorter in flooded habitats, suggesting reduced active dispersal in these habitats. Our study highlights the value of complementary of measures of diversity and traits at different biological scales in Ctenidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]