Vegetation
The vegetation varies according to its physiographic location and distance from the ocean (Ule 1901; Lacerda, Araújo and Maciel 1993). The sea-land interface, which occupies a very small portion of the region, is covered by floristically poor low mangrove forests (Avicennia, Rhizophora, Laguncularia) and saltwater marshes (Salicornia, Sesuvium, Triglochin). Strand vegetation has many species common along tropical coasts. Low areas between the beach ridges and dune slacks support characteristic marshy vegetation. Beach ridges are occupied by diverse vegetation types that vary from sparse open communities to dense evergreen forest. The remnant forest (15-20 m high) contains at least 110 tree species, according to a preliminary survey of c. 4 ha (Sá et al. 1992), and is dominated by Leguminosae (Pterocarpus rohrii, Pseudopiptadenia contorta, Albizia polycephala) and Myrtaceae (Eugenia, Myrciaria, Marlierea). Most of the sandy coastal plain is covered by open scrub vegetation – probably caused by human activities; the Leguminosae and Myrtaceae are still prominent, together with Bromeliaceae and Euphorbiaceae.
The low xeromorphic forest on hillsides facing the ocean from Cabo Frio Island to the Búzios Peninsula is unique along this east coast. Columnar cacti give a characteristic appearance to the low thickets. Many endemic species occur. Present climatic conditions may have maintained this enclave as a holdover from vegetation that existed during the drier and colder glacial periods of the Pleistocene (Ab'Sáber 1974). Farther from the ocean, the low mountains (to c. 500 m) support forests similar to the Atlantic Coast rain forest, but with fewer epiphytes. Little is known on the floristic composition of these forests, but many Atlantic forest and coastal plain species occur.
Patrocinadores
Eventos
Parceiros
