Brazil Eco Adventure Tours
Rainforest - Hiking & Biking - Wildlife

Ecosystem Tropical Rainforest
Montane Altitudinal Zone

 Bergregenwald   Bosque Montano   Floresta Montana
The location of the montane altitudinal zone in the tropical rainforest ecosystem depends on latitude. In the Atlantic Rainforest Southeast Reserves ( > 24° ) it is located between 400 and 1000 m above sea level. The vegetation of this altitudinal zone is called montane tropical rainforest (floresta ombrófila densa montana).

Montane tropical rainforests thrive on loamy clay soils (lithosols) which compared to the submontane belt are shallower and contain less organic material. Due to the higher elevations above sea level, temperatures of the montane zone are lower than the the ones of the submontane (ø 15°C) and it rains more frequently (ø 2.500 mm/year).
Montane Rainforest
 

Therefore, the trees of the montane zone are lower ( < 25 m) and thinner than the ones of the submontane zone. Below 800 m on the inland side of the coastal mountain ranges, the montane rainforest often merges into Araucaria forest (floresta ombrófila mista). Characteristic species of the montane altitudinal zone divided by layers (stratums) are:
 
Upper arboreal stratum (canopy):
estopeira (Cariniana estrellensis), bocuva (Virola bicuhyba), maçaranduba (Manilkara subsericea), guapeva (Pouteria torta) figueira (Ficus spp.), embiruçu (Pseudobombas grandiflorum), pau-sangue (Pterocarpus rohrii), cedro (Cedrela odorato), cajarana (Cabralea canjerana), caovi (Pseudopiptadenia warmingii), pau d'óleo (Copaifera trapezifolia), canela (Ocotea spp., Nectandra spp.), guamirim e cambuis (Myrcia spp., Eugenia spp.).
 
Lower arboreal stratum:
macuqueiro (Bathysa meridionalis), flor-de-cera (Psychotria nuda), pasto-de-anta (Psycotria sessilis), aguaís-da-serra (Chrysophyllum spp.) bréjauba (Atstocaryum aculeatissimum) e palmito-juaara (Euterpe Edulis).
 
Brushy stratum:
rubiaceae (Psychotria spp., Rudgea spp., Faramea spp.), pipe (Piperaceae) e acanthaceae (Justicia spp., Aphelandra spp.), xaxins-de-espino (Cyathea spp.).
 
Inferior stratum - herbaceous:
acanthaceae, rubiaceae, araceae, marantaceae e piperaceae.
 
Source: Carlos Renato Fernandes (Floresta Atlântica)
               Nicia Wendel de Magalhães (Descubra o Lagamar)
 
    Home Brazil Geology Biomes Ecosystems Protected Areas Climate Maps About Contact Site Map