Floristic composition and dispersal syndromes in Araucaria Forest remnants in the municipality of Colombo, Paraná state, Brazil

Abstract

This study was conducted in Araucaria Forest remnants in the municipality of Colombo, eastern Paraná state, Brazil. Data on species occurrence, life forms and dispersal syndromes were collected once a week along a 9 km transect, revealing the presence of 512 species among trees (n = 135), shrubs (n = 121), herbs (n = 157), climbers (n = 70), epiphytes (n = 24) and hemiparasites (n = 5). Of 469 species classified according to dispersal syndromes, 42.4% were zoochoric, 33.6% autochoric and 23.8% anemochoric. The high richness observed, the highest among similar studies previously conducted in the Araucaria Forest, along with the occurrence of endangered species of trees (and mammals), indicates that the study area is an important remnant for biodiversity conservation.