Ecology of Sinningia rupicola (Mart.) Wiehler (Gesneriaceae) in two Private Natural Heritage Reserves in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

RESUMO

Sinningia rupicola (Gesneriaceae), an endangered species classified as endemic to the cangas of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero is presented here under an ecological approach. It was based on data analysis of two populations sampled in the Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPN) Capanema and Poço Fundo belonging to the company Vale S.A., located at the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study aimed to characterize the populations of the species regarding the number of individuals, area of occupancy (AOO), extent of occurrence (EOO) and the environmental aspects of the record sites. The populations were related to topography, hydrography, vegetation cover and lithology, as well as substrate, micro-habitat and phenology evaluation. In total, it was registered 1,397 individuals, 1,254 at RPPN Capanema and 143 at RPPN Poço Fundo. The populations were found occurring on quartzitic rocks, at altitudes ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 m. The populations were characterized as predominantly saxicolous, flowering between January and March and with fruits between February and March. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the occurrence of Sinningia rupicola in varied lithologies suggesting that its occurrence in natural environments may be wider than previously assumed.

Palavras-chave:
canga ; distribution; endemism; GIS; quadrilátero ferrífero; quartzite; RPPN