Cerrados in Argentina? Structure, diversity and biogeography of the woody component of a savanna in the Misiones Province

VELAZCO, S.J.E.; GALVÃO, FRANKLIN; KELLER, HÉCTOR ALEJANDRO; BEDRIJ, NATALIA ALEJANDRA

RODRIGUESIA

Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2018 p. 335 - 349

0370-6583

The Teyú Cuaré field, inMisiones province, Argentina, has been renowned for its flora and physiognomy,which led researchers to indicate that it could be a relict of Cerrado biome.We analyzed the floristic structure of the woody component of a savannacommunity in this site, and discussed the processes that could contribute tothe permanence of this vegetation type over time. Perimeter and height of allwoody individuals ≥10 cm of perimeter at soil height were collected in 12square plots (400 m2 each one). We found 15 families and 17 species in our siteand compared the woody flora surveyed at this site with the flora of otherCerrado areas from Brazil and Paraguay. Leptolobiumelegans had thehighest importance value. The woody flora of the area is closely related to theCerrado areas from Paraná state in Brazil and Canindeyú and Amambay inParaguay. This site probably reflects old open physiognomies which werepredominant in Misiones and Southern of Brazil in the late Pleistocene andmiddle Holocene. We inferred that the permanence of open physiognomies at TeyúCuaré is probably related to mechanisms that act at different levels, such asgeological, edaphic, anthropological, and fire disturbance