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Mata Atlântica The Atlantic Rainforest Hotspot
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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
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