**3.1.5 Upper Montane formation**

114 The Dynamical Processes of Biodiversity – Case Studies of Evolution and Spatial Distribution

This formation presents a continuous canopy (about 20-25 m height) and two physiognomies can be distinguished. *Calophyllum brasiliense* trees dominate the canopy of areas with soils subject to waterlogging (Histosols, Spodosols and Entisols). This species is generally associated with *Tabebuia cassinoides*, *Tapirira guianensis, Ficus luschnatiana*, *Ilex pseudobuxus*, *Clusia criuva* and *Pouteria beaurepairei*. In better-drained lands, non-hydromorphic Entisols (Quartzipsamments/Arenosols) and Spodosols support higher diversity. There are common in the canopy *Tapirira guianensis*, *Ocotea pulchella*, *Ficus organensis*, *Manilkara subcericea*, *Pera glabrata, Alchornea triplinervia*, *Andira anthelmia*, *Ilex theezans*, *Ternstroemia brasiliensis*, besides many Myrtaceae such as *Psidium cattleianum* and *Myrcia multiflora* (Leite & Klein, 1990; Silva,

The Alluvial Dense Rainforest grows in Fluvisols and Gleysols in alluvial plains influenced

The canopy is usually 20-25 m tall and some expressive species of this formation are *Pseudobombax grandiflorum*, *Alchornea triplinervia*, *Ficus organensis*, *Andira anthelmia* and *Syagrus romanzoffiana*. *Inga sessilis, Coussapoa microcarpa, Psidium cattleianum*, *Ocotea pulchella*, *Myrcia insularis* and *Marlierea tomentosa* are also important in these communities (Roderjan et

This ecosystem comprises the lower portions of slopes of the mountain ranges and the Ribeira River Valley. According to IBGE (1992), this formation occurs between 30 and 400 m a.s.l.. However, Roderjan et al. (2002) adapted the upper limit of the Submontane formation to 600 m a.s.l., considering the regional scale. Results of a survey performed by Blum & Roderjan (2007) agree well with this limit. The Submontane Atlantic Rainforest generally occurs on Argisols, Oxisols and Cambisols, mainly in colluvial fans (Roderjan et al., 2002). The dense canopy varies between 25 and 30 m in height and is characterized by high tree diversity and richness. *Virola bicuhyba*, *Sloanea guianensis*, *Aspidosperma pyricollum*, *Cedrela fissilis*, *Cariniana estrellensis*, *Pseudopiptadenia warmingii* and *Schyzolobium parahyba* are frequent in the canopy. *Bathysa australis*, *Pausandra morisiana*, *Euterpe edulis*, *Geonoma gamiova* and *Psychotria nuda* are common in the dominated strata (Leite & Klein, 1990; Maack, 2002;

This formation presents the highest floristic diversity of Southern Brazil due to the combination of factors like soils with good physical support and nutritional capacity, higher temperatures and well distributed rainfalls (Leite & Klein, 1990; Roderjan et al., 2002). These features also promote the development of dense and large-sized arboreal communities, associated with terrestrial and epiphytic strata, extremely rich and abundant (Blum, 2010).

The forest communities distributed over the intermediate slopes of the mountain ranges at elevations above the Submontane limits are classified as Montane formations. According to Roderjan et al. (2002) and Blum (2006), in the state of Paraná these communities are situated

It is noteworthy that the upper limit is also variable depending on specific soil and climate and, in many cases, the Upper Montane formation can already occur below 1200 m a.s.l. (Pires et al., 2005). Floristic differences are observable in relation to the lower level, but

1990; Jaster, 1995; Jaster, 2002; Roderjan et al., 2002; Pires et al., 2005).

by mountain range sediments carried by rivers (Roderjan et al., 2002).

**3.1.2 Alluvial formation** 

al., 2002; Pires et al., 2005; Zacarias, 2008).

Roderjan et al., 2002; Pires et al., 2005; Blum, 2006).

**3.1.3 Submontane formation** 

**3.1.4 Montane formation** 

between 600 and 1200 m a.s.l..

In the state of Paraná, faults belonging to the Brasiliano (or Pan African) Cycle and the Ponta Grossa Arch currently confine the Upper Montane Rainforests (or Cloud Forests), allowing such vegetation to reach areas close to the main tops of the Sea Mountain Range (Scheer et al., in press b). This formation generally occurs from 1200 m a.s.l (Roderjan et al., 2002), even though it can be found at 900 m a.s.l., in small isolated mountains due to geomorphological conditions and the "*Massenerhebung* effect" (Grubb, 1971). In larger mountains, such as the Paraná Peak, the typical Upper Montane Rainforest ranges from 1400 to 1850 m a.s.l.., interspersed with high altitude grasslands. The changes in vegetation from forests to grasslands are abrupt and include ecotonal areas with "dwarf forests" or shrubby physiognomy with species of both formations across a gradient of a few meters (2-5 m).

Although typical Upper Montane Forests are composed by simplified tree associations, 346 vascular plant species have been detected in four mountain ranges (Scheer & Mocochinski, 2009). Small-sized trees ranging from 3 to 7 m tall, are subject to more restrict environmental conditions, such as low temperatures, strong winds and constant and heavy cloudiness, intense light radiation and shallow soils with low fertility and substantial histic horizons (Histosols and Leptosols). *Ilex microdonta*, *Siphoneugena reitzii*, *Myrceugenia seriatoramosa*, *Citronella paniculata, Weinmannia humilis*, *Ocotea porosa, Podocarpus sellowii* and *Drimys brasiliensis* are typical species in such areas (Leite & Klein, 1990; Roderjan, 1994, Koehler et al., 2002; Roderjan et al., 2002; Pires et al., 2005; Scheer, 2010; Scheer et al., in press a).
