Head in the clouds: a new dwarf frog species of the Physalaemus signifer clade (Leptodactylidae, Leiuperinae) from the top of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

In an elevational gradient, the mountain top generally presents a reduced species diversity. However, it is there where we often find microendemic and quite often still undescribed species. That prediction is very common in underexplored Neotropical mountains, like those of the Caparaó National Park – a protected area that includes the highest peak of the Atlantic Forest, a megadiverse domain. Up in its top, we found a dwarf frog of the genus Physalaemus (Anura, Leptodactylidae, Leiuperinae), belonging to the P. signifer clade. After an integrative (morphological, bioacoustical, and genetic) analysis, we were able to describe it as a new species and found it to be sister to P. maculiventris. Due to its very restricted distribution at a site with extreme environmental conditions (which includes fires and frosts) and current instability in national environmental policy, we suggest this to be classified as an endangered species. A brief description of its natural history and the description of the species itself will now enable its proper conservation status categorization and the future planning for conservation actions.

The Eupatorieae tribe (Asteraceae) in Caparaó National Park, Espírito Santo / Minas Gerais, Brazil

The systematic treatment of Eupatorieae tribe (Asteraceae) in the Caparaó National Park, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Brazil, was carried out. Identification key, descriptions, taxonomic comments, flowering and fruiting data, illustrations and conservation status were provided for the species. In total, 35 species from 16 genera and 11 subtribes were surveyed, highlighting the great richness of this tribe in forest formation and mountain higlands in this national park. The most diverse genus is Mikania (14 spp.), followed by Chromolaena (four spp). The other genera are represented by either one or two species each. Twenty-one species are exclusive to Brazil and four species are restricted for the Atlantic Forest. Three species are new occurrence from Minas Gerais, meanwhile nine species are new record from Espírito Santo and five new occurrence for the Atlantic Forest biome. Symphyopappus myricifolius is an endemic species for the Caparaó National Park mountain highlands, and M. additicia is an endangered species.

Vascular plant checklist in an area of extreme biological importance: filling gaps in the Caparaó National Park-ES, Brazil

Regional floristic lists are essential for defining biodiversity conservation strategies and are key to assist in filling knowledge gaps. They aim to provide a data source for applying tools to reduce extinction rates and to conserve ecosystems. Herein we present the results of an inventory of vascular plants in a rainforest in the Caparaó National Park (CNP) and approach their implications for conservation and management of this protected area and the surrounding communities. We conducted botanical expeditions between the years 2012 and 2017 in a montane and upper-montane forest of the CNP. We found 361 species distributed in 78 families and 181 genera. The study area is home to new species for science that have recently been described in other publications outside that location, and 4 new records for Espírito Santo State; also 43 species listed in different extinction threat categories (VU, EN and CR) and another 190 categorized with lesser concerns (LC and NT). The families with the highest species richness were: Melastomataceae (41 spp.), Lauraceae and Myrtaceae (30), Orchidaceae (26), Rubiaceae (24), and Asteraceae (20). Our results contribute to greater knowledge of the CNP flora, of the montane environments in Brazil and the vegetation of Espírito Santo state, in addition to demonstrate the importance of this protected area to the conservation Atlantic Forest biodiversity.

Anurans of the Caparaó National Park and surroundings, southeast Brazil

The Atlantic Forest (AF) is one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world, and the most fragmented biome of Brazil. This biome includes different phytophysiognomies, as riparian, slope, cloudy forests, and grasslands. Such complexity, allied to huge latitudinal and high elevational range, provides diverse habitats and conditions for amphibian speciation. As a result, there are over 600 amphibian species known to occur in the AF. Within this biome the Caparaó National Park (CNP) is relevant, as it includes the highest peak of the biome, the Pico da Bandeira at almost 3,000 m above sea level, as well as different phytophysiognomies as rocky fields and humid forests. In spite of that, its amphibian fauna is still poorly described. We inventoried amphibians at the CNP and surrounding areas from 2016 to 2018 and recorded 47 anuran species, of which two are locally endemic and at least six have not been described yet. Additionally, we compiled data from previous surveys (2004 to 2008) and secondary data from scientific collections. All together, we registered a total of 61 anuran species from 12 families for the CNP and surroundings, placing this area among the 10 amphibian richest sites in the AF. Some of these species are represented by only one or two collected specimens and have not been registered in the CNP since the 1980’s, such as Thoropa lutzi and Hylodes vanzolinii. These species could be examples of population declines or even past local extinctions, highlighting the need of further sampling efforts in that highly biodiverse site.

Characterization and degradation state of the trails in Caparaó National Park

A large increase in visitation has recently been observed in Brazilian protected areas. The presence of visitors can cause changes in the environment, generating certain unwanted impacts. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the visitation at Caparaó National Park, map the main trails open to the public, and determine their degree of degradation. To define the most relevant trails for this study, the following criteria were used: visitation demand, impact intensity, and zoning. The elevation profile and other physical attributes of the selected trails were obtained by GPS. Erosion was established as the predominant impact, and the length of eroded stretches on each trail was evaluated. The trail to Pico da Bandeira through Casa Queimada has a greater declivity, and, although it sees fewer visitors than the trail to Pico da Bandeira through Tronqueira, it shows a higher erosion rate. This result indicates that, in certain cases, the declivity can contribute more significantly to the increase in erosion than the number of visitors.

Colanthelia longipetiolata (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new species of woody bamboo from the Brazilian Atlantic forest

Colanthelia is a woody bamboo genus belonging to the Arthrostylidiinae and currently includes nine species. It can be recognized by a suite of morphological characters including hollow and thick-walled culms, branch complement with a promontory in the base and a dominant divergent branch bearing few to many secondary small branchlets from its base, culm leaves with a relatively well developed girdle and a crest or skirt at the juncture of the sheath and girdle, racemose or weakly paniculate synflorescences, and relatively long and narrow spikelets with visible rachilla internodes. During recent fieldwork in Minas Gerais state, a new species, Colanthelia longipetiolata, from the Brazilian Atlantic forest was collected, which is here described and illustrated. So far as we know, the species is endemic to the Caparaó National Park, in Minas Gerais state. Comments on its habitat, distribution and conservation status, a morphological comparison between C. longipetiolata and C. sparsiflora, and a revised identification key to all species of the genus are provided.

Two new species of Anthurium (Araceae) from Caparaó National Park, southeastern Brazil

Two new species of the genus Anthurium are described from Caparaó National Park in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil. Presently known collections indicate that the two species occur in distinct elevation zones. A. caparaoense occurs in the semideciduous seasonal montane forest at 1400−1970 m, and A. erythrospadix in both semideciduous seasonal montane forest and dense ombrophilous forest, at 890−1280 m. Descriptions, illustrations, photographs and comparison with other similar species of Anthurium sect. Urospadix are provided, together with commentaries on geographical distribution, ecology and phenology.