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Leishmaniasis is a zoonoses caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the Leishmania genus that is transmitted to humans through the bite of previously infected phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera:Psychodidae:Phlebotominae). In Brazil, 2 types of leishmaniasis are endemic, tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In Baldim, a municipality in the Espinhaço Range Biospere Reserve (ERBR), 5 autochthonous cases of TL, and one autochthonous case of VL were reported from 2017 to 2022. Owing to the lack of data on entomological fauna, we surveyed the occurrence and distribution of phlebotomine sandflies that could act as Leishmania vectors, as well as natural Leishmania infection. During 1 year, 918 sandfly specimens belonging to 12 species were collected. The predominant species was Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (32.0%), a proven VL agent, followed by Evandromyia evandroi (Costa Lima & Antunes, 1936) (20.7%), Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brèthes, 1923) (17.0%), Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939) (12.2%), and Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (10.5%), all putative or proven TL agents. Seasonal fluctuations and endo-exophilic behavior were delineated for the main phlebotomine sandflies. The population of Lu. longipalpis was higher during the coolest and driest months, although different profiles were noted for the other species. Natural Leishmania infection was not detected in any of the 197 phlebotomine sandfly females analyzed. The results were compared with those previously obtained in other municipalities belonging to the ERBR. The presence of Leishmania vectors and human cases of leishmaniasis indicate a risk of Leishmania transmission in the region.

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Mountains are renowned for their bountiful biodiversity. Explanations on the origin of such abundant life are usually regarded to their orogenic history. However, ancient mountain systems with geological stability also exhibit astounding levels of number of species and endemism, as illustrated by the Brazilian Quartzitic Mountains (BQM) in Eastern South America. Thus, cycles of climatic changes over the last couple million years are usually assumed to play an important role in the origin of mountainous biota. These climatic oscillations potentially isolated and reconnected adjacent populations, a phenomenon known as flickering connectivity, accelerating speciation events due to range fragmentation, dispersion, secondary contact, and hybridization. To evaluate the role of the climatic fluctuations on the diversification of the BQM biota, we estimated the ancient demography of distinct endemic species of animals and plants using hierarchical approximate Bayesian computation analysis and Ecological Niche Modelling. Additionally, we evaluated if climatic oscillations have driven a genetic spatial congruence in the genetic structure of codistributed species from the Espinhaço Range, one of the main BQM areas. Our results show that the majority of plant lineages underwent a synchronous expansion over the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, c. 21 thousand years ago), although we could not obtain a clear demographic pattern for the animal lineages. We also obtained a signal of a congruent phylogeographic break between lineages endemic to the Espinhaço Range, suggesting how ancient climatic oscillations might have driven the evolutionary history of the Espinhaço's biota.

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A systematic monograph of the Trembleya s.s. clade is presented, a Brazilian endemic lineage of Melastomataceae comprising 11 species and currently recognised as part of Microlicia s.l. (Melastomataceae). First, we investigate phylogenetic relationships within Lavoisiereae using two nuclear markers and two sampling datasets (102 and 134 terminals). Then, we provide a systematic revision and new circumscription of the Trembleya s.s. clade, including line drawings, photos of living specimens, leaves and floral parts, distribution maps, a key to the 11 accepted species, comments on morphology, reproductive biology, richness, endemism, biogeography and recommended conservation assessments. A nomenclatural update of all taxa previously treated in Trembleya is also provided, including the designation of 45 lectotypes and the proposal of 38 new synonyms.

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Pteridium aquilinum (Dennstaedtiaceae) colonization affects ecological and restoration processes. The knowledge of the impacts on the ecological succession by this species allows the use of restoration strategies in invaded environments. This work aimed to evaluate the floristic composition, diversity, structure, density, basal area, height, and diameter of natural regeneration in three areas of the Atlantic Forest in the Serra do Espinhaço Biosphere Reserve in an area invaded by P. aquilinum after a fire. Three environments with different coverage intensities by P. aquilinum were studied, and the plants over 10 cm in height or 5 cm in canopy diameter were measured. The floristic composition and diversity were analyzed using indices presented by Chao, Fisher, Margalef, Pielou, Shannon-Weaver, and Simpson, and similarity was evaluated by the Jaccard index. Species density, basal area, height, and canopy diameter classes were also evaluated. The floristic composition, diversity, structure of natural regeneration, density, and basal area were higher in post-fire areas with a lower coverage by P. aquilinum. The topsoil coverage with plant litter and the possible effect of P. aquilinum allelopathy probably reduced the species richness and diversity. The proportion of plants from the lowest height and canopy diameter classes was higher under moderate coverage by P. aquilinum. The reduction in the floristic composition, diversity, number of species, and basal area in post-fire areas colonized by P. aquilinum is probably due to this species aggressiveness. The population of this plant is high, accumulating large quantities of plant litter as a physical barrier preventing light and propagules from reaching the soil, reducing the germination of the seed bank and, consequently, the natural regeneration. The floristic composition, diversity, structure of natural regeneration, density, and basal area were lower in areas with higher coverage by P. aquilinum. The proportion of plants in the most significant height and canopy diameter classes was higher with reduced coverage by P. aquilinum. The P. aquilinum reduced forest succession in areas after a fire.

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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plant individuals within a population differ in their phenology and interactions with pollinators. However, it is still unknown how individual differences affect the reproductive success of plants that have functionally specialized pollination systems. Here, we evaluated whether plant individual specialization in phenology (temporal specialization) and in pollination (pollinator specialization) affect the reproductive success of the crepuscular-bee-pollinated plant Trembleya laniflora (Melastomataceae). METHODS: We quantified flowering activity (amplitude, duration and overlap), plant-pollinator interactions (number of flowers visited by pollinators) and reproductive success (fruit set) of T. laniflora individuals from three distinct locations in rupestrian grasslands of southeastern Brazil. We estimated the degree of individual temporal specialization in flowering phenology and of individual specialization in plant-pollinator interactions, and tested their relationship with plant reproductive success. KEY RESULTS: Trembleya laniflora presented overlapping flowering, a temporal generalization and specialized pollinator interactions. Flowering overlap among individuals and populations was higher than expected by chance but did not affect the individual interactions with pollinators and nor their reproductive success. In contrast, higher individual generalization in the interactions with pollinators was related to higher individual reproductive success. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that individual generalization in plant-pollinator interaction reduces the potential costs of specialization at the species level, ensuring reproductive success. Altogether, our results highlight the complexity of specialization/generalization of plant-pollinator interactions at distinct levels of organization, from individuals to populations, to species.

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Ectothermic organisms, such as insects, are highly temperature dependent and are good models for studies that predict organisms' responses to global climate change. Predicting how climate change may affect species distributions is a complicated task. However, it is possible to estimate species' physiological constraints through maximum critical temperature, which may indicate if the species can tolerate new climates. Butterflies are useful organisms for studies of thermal tolerance. We tested if species have different thermal tolerances and if different habitats influence the thermal tolerance of the butterflies present in Brazil's campo rupestre (open areas) and forest islands (shaded areas). A total of 394 fruit-feeding butterflies, comprising 45 species, were tested. The results separated the species into two statistically different groups: the resistant species with maximum critical temperature of 53.8 ± 7.4 °C, and the non-resistant species with maximum critical temperature of 48.2 ± 7.4 °C. The species of butterflies displayed differences in maximum critical temperature between the campo rupestre and forest islands that can be related to the two distinct habitats, but this did not correlate phylogenetically. Species from the forest islands were also divided into two groups, "resistant" and "non-resistant", probably due to the heterogeneity of the habitat; the forest islands have a canopy, and in the understory, there are shaded and sunny areas. Species from forest islands, especially species that displayed lower thermal tolerance, may be more susceptible to global warming.

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Mountains are among the most biodiverse areas on the globe. In young mountain ranges, exceptional plant species richness is often associated with recent and rapid radiations linked to the mountain uplift itself. In ancient mountains, however, orogeny vastly precedes the evolution of vascular plants, so species richness has been explained by species accumulation during long periods of low extinction rates. Here we evaluate these assumptions by analysing plant diversification dynamics in the campo rupestre, an ecosystem associated with pre-Cambrian mountaintops and highlands of eastern South America, areas where plant species richness and endemism are among the highest in the world. Analyses of 15 angiosperm clades show that radiations of endemics exhibit fastest rates of diversification during the last 5 Myr, a climatically unstable period. However, results from ancestral range estimations using different models disagree on the age of the earliest in situ speciation events and point to a complex floristic assembly. There is a general trend for higher diversification rates associated with these areas, but endemism may also increase or reduce extinction rates, depending on the group. Montane habitats, regardless of their geological age, may lead to boosts in speciation rates by accelerating population isolation in archipelago-like systems, circumstances that can also result in higher extinction rates and fast species turnover, misleading the age estimates of endemic lineages.

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A new species of Amphisbaena from the Espinhaço Mountain Range in Bahia State is described based on morphological and molecular data. Amphisbaena caetitensis sp nov. is a small four-pored amphisbaenian with 186-194 body annuli, 10-12 tail annuli, 16 dorsal and 19-22 ventral segments on a midbody annulus and a strikingly distinctive tail tip. The most similar species is A. uroxena, but they can be distinguished by some morphological features besides the genetic divergence of 7.65% on the mitochondrial 16S rRNA.

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Abstract Considering that the economic valuation of ecosystem services is a useful approach to support the conservation of natural areas, we aimed to estimate the monetary value of the benefits provided by a protected area in southeast Brazil, the Serra do Cipó National Park. We calculated the visitor's willingness to pay to conserve the ecosystems of the protected area using the contingent valuation method. Located in a region under intense anthropogenic pressure, the Serra do Cipó National Park is mostly composed of rupestrian grassland ecosystems, in addition to other Cerrado physiognomies. We conducted a survey consisting of 514 interviews with visitors of the region and found that the mean willingness to pay was R$ 7.16 year-1, which corresponds to a total of approximately R$ 716,000.00 year-1. We detected that per capita income, the household size, the level of interest in environmental issues and the place of origin influenced the likelihood that individuals are willing to contribute to the conservation of the park, as well as the value of the stated willingness to pay. This study conveys the importance of conserving rupestrian grassland and other Cerrado physiognomies to decision makers and society.

Resumo Dado que a valoração econômica de serviços ecossistêmicos é uma abordagem útil para incentivar a conservação de áreas naturais, tivemos como objetivo estimar o valor monetário dos benefícios fornecidos por uma área protegida no sudeste do Brasil, o Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó. Calculamos a disposição a pagar dos visitantes pela conservação dos ecossistemas abrangidos pela área protegida, usando o método da valoração contingente. Localizado em uma região que sofre intensa pressão antrópica, o Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó é composto majoritariamente por campos rupestres, além de outras fitofisionomias do Cerrado. Realizamos 514 entrevistas com os visitantes da região e encontramos uma disposição a pagar média de R$ 7,16 ano-1, o que corresponde ao total de aproximadamente R$ 716.000,00 ano-1. Detectamos que renda per capita, número de dependentes, nível de interesse por temas relacionados ao meio ambiente e local de origem influenciam a probabilidade de o indivíduo estar disposto a contribuir para a conservação do parque, assim como o valor da disposição a pagar declarada. Este estudo atrai atenção dos tomadores de decisão e da sociedade para a importância de se conservar os campos rupestres e outras fitofisionomias do Cerrado.

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Considering that the economic valuation of ecosystem services is a useful approach to support the conservation of natural areas, we aimed to estimate the monetary value of the benefits provided by a protected area in southeast Brazil, the Serra do Cipó National Park. We calculated the visitors willingness to pay to conserve the ecosystems of the protected area using the contingent valuation method. Located in a region under intense anthropogenic pressure, the Serra do Cipó National Park is mostly composed of rupestrian grassland ecosystems, in addition to other Cerrado physiognomies. We conducted a survey consisting of 514 interviews with visitors of the region and found that the mean willingness to pay was R$ 7.16 year1, which corresponds to a total of approximately R$ 716,000.00 year1. We detected that per capita income, the household size, the level of interest in environmental issues and the place of origin influenced the likelihood that individuals are willing to contribute to the conservation of the park, as well as the value of the stated willingness to pay. This study conveys the importance of conserving rupestrian grassland and other Cerrado physiognomies to decision makers and society.(AU)

Dado que a valoração econômica de serviços ecossistêmicos é uma abordagem útil para incentivar a conservação de áreas naturais, tivemos como objetivo estimar o valor monetário dos benefícios fornecidos por uma área protegida no sudeste do Brasil, o Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó. Calculamos a disposição a pagar dos visitantes pela conservação dos ecossistemas abrangidos pela área protegida, usando o método da valoração contingente. Localizado em uma região que sofre intensa pressão antrópica, o Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó é composto majoritariamente por campos rupestres, além de outras fitofisionomias do Cerrado. Realizamos 514 entrevistas com os visitantes da região e encontramos uma disposição a pagar média de R$ 7,16 ano1, o que corresponde ao total de aproximadamente R$ 716.000,00 ano1. Detectamos que renda per capita, número de dependentes, nível de interesse por temas relacionados ao meio ambiente e local de origem influenciam a probabilidade de o indivíduo estar disposto a contribuir para a conservação do parque, assim como o valor da disposição a pagar declarada. Este estudo atrai atenção dos tomadores de decisão e da sociedade para a importância de se conservar os campos rupestres e outras fitofisionomias do Cerrado.(AU)

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A new species of Simpsonichthys is described from the upper rio Jequitinhonha basin, Minas Gerais, eastern Brazil. It is diagnosed from all congeners by presenting an A-patterned frontal squamation. Additionally, males of the new species differs from all congeners by the color pattern of body, the color of iris, the absence of contact organs in the pectoral fin, presence of scales on anal-fin base, pectoral-fin length, caudal fin length, and eye diameter. Females of the new species can be diagnosed from remaining congeners by the pectoral-fin length. The conservation status of the new species is evaluated. Comments on the relationships of the new species within the genus Simpsonichthys are presented.

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Senna includes about 300 species with circumtropical distribution, widely represented in the Americas, also occurring in Africa, Australia, Asia and Oceania. The genus is represented in Brazil by 80 species, of which 26 are endemic. The Serra Geral de Licínio de Almeida (SGLA), situated in the central portion of the Cadeia do Espinhaço, state of Bahia, Brazil, presents areas relatively little studied, with great potential for the registration of new information about Brazilian biodiversity. The floristic survey of Senna in the SGLA included analysis of specimens collected from February 2012 to October 2013. The analyses were supplemented with dried collections from the following herbaria: ALCB, BHCB, HUEFS, HUNEB, HRB, MBM and SPF.The genus is represented in the study area by 14 taxa, the most representative in the area were: S. silvestris subsp. bifaria var. bifaria, S. macranthera var. striata and S. macranthera var. nervosa, occurring principally in cerrado environments. The taxonomic treatment includes a key for the identification, descriptions, illustrations, photos, data of the geographical distribution, reproductive phenology and comments about the taxa.

Senna inclui cerca de 300 espécies com distribuição circumtropical, amplamente representada nas Américas, ocorrendo ainda na África, Austrália, Ásia e Oceânia. O gênero está representado no Brasil por 80 espécies, dentre estas 26 são endêmicas. A Serra Geral de Licínio de Almeida (SGLA), inserida na porção central da Cadeia do Espinhaço, estado da Bahia, Brasil, apresenta áreas relativamente pouco estudadas, com grande potencial para registro de novas informações acerca da biodiversidade brasileira. O levantamento florístico de Senna na SGLA incluiu análises de espécimes coletados de fevereiro de 2012 a outubro de 2013. As análises foram complementadas com coleções dos seguintes herbários: ALCB, BHCB, HUEFS, HUNEB, HRB, MBM e SPF. O gênero está representado na área de estudo por 14 táxons, onde os mais representativos foram: S. silvestris subsp. bifaria var. bifaria, S. macranthera var. striata e S. macranthera var. nervosa, ocorredo principalmente em ambientes de cerrado. O tratamento taxonômico inclui uma chave para a identificação, descrições, ilustrações, fotografias, dados de distribuição geográfica, fenologia reprodutiva e comentários sobre os táxons.

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Senna includes about 300 species with circumtropical distribution, widely represented in the Americas, also occurring in Africa, Australia, Asia and Oceania. The genus is represented in Brazil by 80 species, of which 26 are endemic. The Serra Geral de Licínio de Almeida (SGLA), situated in the central portion of the Cadeia do Espinhaço, state of Bahia, Brazil, presents areas relatively little studied, with great potential for the registration of new information about Brazilian biodiversity. The floristic survey of Senna in the SGLA included analysis of specimens collected from February 2012 to October 2013. The analyses were supplemented with dried collections from the following herbaria: ALCB, BHCB, HUEFS, HUNEB, HRB, MBM and SPF.The genus is represented in the study area by 14 taxa, the most representative in the area were: S. silvestris subsp. bifaria var. bifaria, S. macranthera var. striata and S. macranthera var. nervosa, occurring principally in cerrado environments. The taxonomic treatment includes a key for the identification, descriptions, illustrations, photos, data of the geographical distribution, reproductive phenology and comments about the taxa.(AU)

Senna inclui cerca de 300 espécies com distribuição circumtropical, amplamente representadanas Américas, ocorrendo ainda na África, Austrália, Ásia e Oceânia. O gênero está representado no Brasilpor 80 espécies, dentre estas 26 são endêmicas. A Serra Geral de Licínio de Almeida (SGLA), inserida naporção central da Cadeia do Espinhaço, estado da Bahia, Brasil, apresenta áreas relativamente poucoestudadas, com grande potencial para registro de novas informações acerca da biodiversidade brasileira. Olevantamento florístico de Senna na SGLA incluiu análises de espécimes coletados de fevereiro de 2012 aoutubro de 2013. As análises foram complementadas com coleções dos seguintes herbários: ALCB, BHCB,HUEFS, HUNEB, HRB, MBM e SPF. O gênero está representado na área de estudo por 14 táxons, ondeos mais representativos foram: S. silvestris subsp. bifaria var. bifaria, S. macranthera var. striata e S. macrantheravar. nervosa, ocorredo principalmente em ambientes de cerrado. O tratamento taxonômico inclui uma chavepara a identificação, descrições, ilustrações, fotografias, dados de distribuição geográfica, fenologiareprodutiva e comentários sobre os táxons.(AU)

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Species richness and seasonal abundance of solitary bees were investigated in rocky, montane grassland (campo rupestre) (1180 m asl) and cerrado sensu stricto (680 m asl) in the Biribiri State Park, Diamantina, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Three hundred nineteen nest traps of bamboo canes and black cardboard tubes were monthly inspected at each site during 15 months. A total of eight species of bees built 97 nests. Four species were common to both sites. Tetrapedia aff. curvitarsis Friese and Tetrapedia aff. peckoltii Friese were the most abundant at campo rupestre and cerrado s.s., respectively, followed by Centris analis (Fabricius) in campo rupestre and Centris tarsata Smith in cerrado s.s. The nesting peaks occurred in May in campo rupestre and in February in cerrado s.s. Three cuckoo bees and one bee-fly were collected as natural enemies. The findings suggest that differences between the sites were related more to ecological factors (floral resources, natural nest sites) than to the altitudinal difference. The species richness was similar to that in other habitats with open vegetation. We demonstrate the need to use several types of trap-nest to increase the range of species sampled; some species used only one of the two types traps provided. We also comment on the limitations of trap-nests in cerrado vegetation. Most cerrado species of bees are very selective in their choice for a nesting site, but bees that use trap-nests are more generalists.

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We describe a new species of tarantula from the highlands of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Males of the new species can be distinguished from congeners by having palpal bulb keels weakly developed, and metatarsus I strongly curved, touching apex of retrolateral spur when folded. Females can be distinguished by the color pattern, carapace and legs black with conspicuous white rings on distal femora, patellae, tibiae, and metatarsi. The male of Pterinopelma felipeleitei sp. nov. was previously misidentified and described under the name Pterinopelma sazimai Bertani, Nagahama & Fukushima, 2011. The true male of P. sazimai is herein described from a specimen collected near the type locality. Similar to the conspecific female, this male has characteristic blue iridescent setae covering the carapace, chelicerae, legs, and palps. The new species is sympatric with P. sazimai . Both species inhabit a habitat locally known as 'campos rupestres'.

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We describe a new species of tarantula from the highlands of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Males of the new species can be distinguished from congeners by having palpal bulb keels weakly developed, and metatarsus I strongly curved, touching apex of retrolateral spur when folded. Females can be distinguished by the color pattern, carapace and legs black with conspicuous white rings on distal femora, patellae, tibiae, and metatarsi. The male of Pterinopelma felipeleitei sp. nov. was previously misidentified and described under the name Pterinopelma sazimai Bertani, Nagahama & Fukushima, 2011. The true male of P. sazimai is herein described from a specimen collected near the type locality. Similar to the conspecific female, this male has characteristic blue iridescent setae covering the carapace, chelicerae, legs, and palps. The new species is sympatric with P. sazimai . Both species inhabit a habitat locally known as 'campos rupestres'.(AU)

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A partial genome dataset was sequenced for the orchid Cattleya crispata using both Illumina and 454 technologies. The chloroplast genome was assembled using iterative runs of MIRA software that yielded a circular molecule with 148,343 bp in length and deposited in GenBank database (Accession Number KP168671). The plastid genome conserved the quadripartite structure present in most Orchidaceae chloroplasts and was composed by 79 protein-coding genes, 39 tRNAs and 8 rRNAs. Genome structure, gene order and orientation were similar to previously described chloroplasts for Cymbidium orchids, differing in gene order for petN and psbM genes. Data described here contain the first report of a complete chloroplast for the Neotropical subtribe Laeliinae and may contribute to improve the phylogenetic resolution and allow the development of new molecular markers for population genetic studies of orchids.

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PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite markers were developed for the critically endangered carnivorous species Philcoxia minensis (Plantaginaceae) for further population genetic studies aiming at its conservation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 29 clones containing 40 microsatellites from a genomic enriched library. A total of 27 primer pairs were developed and evaluated in 30 individuals of a natural P. minensis population. Seventeen markers successfully presented amplification products within the expected size range, of which 12 were polymorphic. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.03 to 0.65 and from 0.00 to 0.77, respectively. Positive transferability with the related species P. bahiensis was observed for the same 17 markers. CONCLUSIONS: The 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers are suitable for studies in genetic diversity and structure, mating system, and gene flow in P. minensis and also may be useful for similar issues regarding the related species P. bahiensis.

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We describe seven new species of Selaginellasubg.Stachygynandrum (Selaginellaalstonii, Selaginellablepharodella, Selaginellacrinita, Selaginellamucronata, Selaginellamucugensis, Selaginellasaltuicola, and Selaginellasematophylla) from Brazil and discuss their possible affinities and conservation status. Scanning electron micrographs of stem sections, leaves, and spores are provided to illustrate the new taxa. In Selaginellaalstonii and Selaginellasaltuicola vegetative growth from strobilus tips is reported and discussed. Four of the new species are from the Espinhaço Mountain Range associated with Campos Rupestres (montane savannah/rocky fields) vegetation. Three of these (i.e., Selaginellablepharodella, Selaginellacrinita, and Selaginellamucugensis) were collected in the northern part of the range in Chapada Diamantina, state of Bahia, while Selaginellaalstonii is from the southern part of the range in the state of Minas Gerais. Selaginellamucronata is found in Atlantic Rainforest vegetation in the state of Espírito Santo, whereas Selaginellasaltuicola inhabits Cerrado (tropical savannah) vegetation in the state of Mato Grosso. Selaginellasematophylla is the most widely distributed of the new species and was collected in Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro states in Campos Rupestres and Atlantic Rainforest vegetation. Selaginellaalstonii occurs in rocky caves, Selaginellablepharodella, Selaginellacrinita, Selaginellamucugensis, and Selaginellasematophylla seem adapted to seasonally dry places, living on sandy or humid soils, Selaginellamucronata occupies humid, forest understory, and Selaginellasaltuicola is adapted to wet places associated with rocks or logs in waterfalls. Of the seven new species, six are considered local endemics (except for Selaginellasematophylla) because of their restricted currently known distributions to one or two localities within a single state in Brazil. Additionally, we propose new synonymy for Selaginellapalmiformis (syn. = Selaginellabahiensissubsp.manausensis, ≡ Selaginellamanausensis) and Selaginellavestiens (syn. = Selaginellafragillima); the last species is endemic to Brazil, recorded in the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais. Finally, based on literature discussed and this study, we conclude that the number of well-documented Brazilian Selaginella species is 61, of which 58 are native and three introduced and naturalized. These statistics are likely to change with further work on Selaginella from Brazil.

ResumenDescribimos siete nuevas especies de Selaginellasubg.Stachygynandrum (Selaginellaalstonii, Selaginellablepharodella, Selaginellacrinita, Selaginellamucronata, Selaginellamucugensis, Selaginellasaltuicola y Selaginellasematophylla) de Brasil y discutimos sus posibles afinidades y estado de conservación. Micrografias electrónicas de barrido de secciones de los tallos, hojas y esporas se proveen para ilustrar los nuevos taxa. Igualmente, se describe y discute el crecimiento vegetativo a partir del ápice de los estróbilos en Selaginellaalstonii y Selaginellasaltuicola. Cuatro de las especies nuevas proceden de la Cadena del Espinhaço asociadas a vegetación de Campos Rupestres (sabana montana). Tres de éstas (i.e., Selaginellablepharodella, Selaginellacrinita y Selaginellamucugensis) fueron recolectadas en la parte norteña de la Cadena del Espinhaço en la Chapada Diamantina, estado de Bahia, mientras que Selaginellaalstonii se registra para la parte sureña en el estado de Minas Gerais. Selaginellamucronata se encuentra en vegetación de Bosques Lluviosos del Atlántico en el estado de Espírito Santo, mientras que Selaginellasaltuicola habita vegetación de Cerrado (sabana tropical) en el estado de Mato Grosso. De las nuevas especies, Selaginellasematophylla es la más ampliamente distribuida y se ha recolectada en los estados de Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais y Río de Janeiro en vegetación de Campos Rupestres y Bosques Lluviosos del Atlántico. Selaginellaalstonii crece sobre rocas en cuevas, mientras que Selaginellablepharodella, Selaginellacrinita, Selaginellamucugensis y Selaginellasematophylla parecen estar adaptadas a lugares estacionalmente secos, creciendo sobre suelos arenosos o húmedos; a su vez, Selaginellamucronata crece en el sotobosque de bosques húmedos y Selaginellasaltuicola está adaptada a vivir en lugares húmedos asociada a rocas o troncos en cascadas. De las siete nuevas especies, seis son consideradas tentativamente endémicas locales (con la excepción de Selaginellasematophylla) debido a su distribución restringida a una o dos localidades dentro de un sólo estado de Brasil. Adicionalmente, proponemos nuevos sinónimos para Selaginellapalmiformis (syn. = Selaginellabahiensissubsp.manausensis, ≡ Selaginellamanausensis) y Selaginellavestiens (syn. = Selaginellafragillima), la cual se confirma como endémica de Brasil donde se registra para los estados de Goiás y Minas Gerais. Finalmente, de acuerdo con este estudio y la literatura discutida, estimamos que el número de especies brasileñas de Selaginella debidamente documentadas es de 61, de las cuales 58 son nativas y tres introducidas y naturalizadas. Esta estadística muy probablemente cambiará conforme se realicen estudios adicionales sobre Selaginella en Brasil.

RESUMO

Camposrupestres are rare and endangered ecosystems that accommodate a species-rich flora with a high degree of endemism. Here, we make available a dataset from phytosociological surveys carried out in the Itacolomi State Park, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. All species in a total of 30 plots of 10 x 10 m from two study sites were sampled. Their cardinality, a combination of cover and abundance, was estimated. Altogether, we registered occurrences from 161 different taxa from 114 genera and 47 families. The families with the most species were Poaceae and Asteraceae, followed by Cyperaceae. Abiotic descriptions, including soil properties such as type, acidity, nutrient or aluminum availability, cation exchange capacity, and saturation of bases, as well as the percentage of rocky outcrops and the mean inclination for each plot, are given. This dataset provides unique insights into the campo rupestre vegetation, its specific environment and the distribution of its diversity.