**3.3.2 Submontane formation**

In the state of Paraná, this formation can be found under 600 m a.s.l.. The Submontane Semideciduous Seasonal Forest occurs in soils of different lithologies (sandstone and igneous extrusive rocks) that result in Oxisols, Ultisols, Regosols (Psamments), Inceptisols, Leptosols and Arenosols (Roderjan et al., 2002). Depending on the lithology, different textures and fertility levels can be found in these soils.

Arboreal Diversity of the Atlantic Forest

**Atlantic Forest formations** 

**Biome** 

**ATLANTIC FOREST** 

**Atlantic Forest types** 

**Dense Rainforest** 

**Araucaria**

**Semideciduous** 

**Forest** 

in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil.

**Rainforest** 

of Southern Brazil: From the Beach Ridges to the Paraná River 119

undetermined species at the family level and 58 *taxa* represent groups with undetermined species at the genus level. It is important to mention that the Atlantic Forest is habitat for many other tree species that were not found due to the criterion of inclusion, or due do the

> **Number of measured individuals**

**Number of species**

*Alluvial* 2 0.32 766 78 59 32 3.38 0.94 0.77 *Lowland* 4 1.86 2808 148 87 49 3.93 0.96 0.79 *Submontane* 6 2.38 3251 265 132 57 4.61 0.98 0.83 *Montane* 6 3.48 3140 210 101 52 4.64 0.98 0.87 *Upper Montane* 11 0.97 4200 88 45 30 3.20 0.93 0.71

*Aluvial* 5 0.81 1792 79 54 33 2.48 0.74 0.57 *Montane* 14 7.49 7404 211 99 50 4.38 0.98 0.82

*Alluvial* 4 4.34 5354 157 107 43 4.26 0.98 0.84

*Submontane* 6 7.46 7911 252 140 56 4.46 0.98 0.81

**ATLANTIC FOREST 58 29.11 36627 700 256 83 5.53 0.99 -**  Table 2. Richness and other diversity parameters of the analyzed Atlantic Forest formations

Among the Atlantic Forest types analyzed in this study, the Dense Rainforest is the richest in tree species (469). These species are distributed in 174 genera and 72 families. This tropical forest presents the highest tree diversity according to the Shannon-Wiener index, being its Montane and Submontane formations the most diverse (Table 2; Figure 3). Even though the analysis shows the highest diversity value in the Montane formation, according to many studies, the Submontane formation shows a tendency of being the most diverse

Tabarelli & Mantovani (1999) compiled phytosociological studies on the Dense Rainforest in Southeastern Brazil, which comprised 432 species measured in 2.3 ha and considered 2640 trees measured through the quarter-plot method. According to these authors the richness of these forests are low when compared to other Neotropical Forests of South America. However, more studies considering similar conditions (*e.g.* larger plots – 1 ha – with

However, some diversity indexes such as Eveness presented for the Atlantic Forest types

According to Table 2, the Araucaria Rainforest presents less than half of the Dense Rainforest tree species richness (220), in part due to its lower environmental heterogeneity

(Guapyassú, 1994; Roderjan, 1994; Jaster, 1995; Athayde, 1997; Blum, 2006).

can be influenced by the disproportionate sampling among their formations.

homogeneous sites) are needed to corroborate these results.

**Number of genera**

29 9.01 14165 469 174 72 5.11 0.99 -

19 8.30 9196 220 101 51 4.29 0.97 -

10 11.80 13265 282 154 60 4.64 0.99 -

**Number of families**

**Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index** 

**Simpson Diversity Index 1-D** 

**Evenness** 

area needed to sample, that neither checklists can cover completely.

**Sampled area (ha)**

**Number of sites**

The emergent irregular canopy can reach around 35-40 m height. In the upper stratum are common *Aspidosperma polyneuron*, *Handroanthus heptaphyllus*, *Gallesia integrifolia*, *Balfourodendron riedelianum*, *Peltophorum dubium*, *Astronium graveolens*, *Diatenopteryx sorbifolia, Parapitadenia rigida, Cariniana estrellensis, Cedrela fissilis, Albizia hasslerii, Lonchocarpus guilleminianus*, *Machaerium stipitatum*, *Holocalyx balansae*, *Rauvolfia sellowii*, and *Nectandra megapotamica*, among others. The dominated strata are characterized by *Guarea macrophylla*, *Actinostemon concolor*, *Metrodorea nigra*, *Sorocea bomplandii* and *Pilocarpus pennatifolius* (Hueck, 1972; Leite et al., 1986; Leite & Klein, 1990; Maack, 2002; Roderjan et al., 2002; SEMA, 2002).
