Characterization of the Parque Estadual Lagamar de Cananéia vegetation, South Coast, São Paulo State, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot due to its high species richness, endemicity, and threats. We characterized the phytophysiognomies and listed the vascular species of the Parque Estadual Lagamar de Cananéia (PELC). All species and habits found along the trails covered in the PELC were collected, and the phytophysiognomies were mapped by photointerpretation. We mapped eight vegetational phytophysiognomies, with Submontane Dense Ombrophilous Forest representing 53.9%, whereas Montane and Lowland forests covered 14.3% and 13.2%, respectively. The known flora of PELC is composed of 540 vascular species distributed in 122 families, with 55 species of ferns and lycophytes, two gymnosperms and 483 Angiosperms, with threatened species (20 species). The PELC has a diversity of phytophysiognomies and a high richness of species, thus confirming its importance for the conservation of the plant biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest in the State of São Paulo.

Keywords:
Atlantic Forest; flora; Nature Conservation Unit; Ribeira Valley