Florística do entorno de cavernas em remanescentes de Mata Atlântica e Caatinga de Sergipe

Abstract

The conservation of the vegetation present inthe surroundings of caves contributed to the maintenance of the biodiversity, especially becausethe cave ecosystems have unique ecological relations. The aim of this paper was provide a floristic list of the Atlantic rainforest and Caatinga(dry forest) remnants in the vicinity of seven caves in Sergipe state, Northeast Brazil. Were realized consultations in database of Herbarium of Federal University of Sergipe (ASE) and six field expeditions (from September/2014 to February/2015), being the sampling performed within a radius of 60 meters from the entrance of each cave. After the taxonomic identification, the species were classified as endemic and/or invasive alien of the Atlantic rainforest and Caatinga. Were recorded 79 species in 69 genera belonging to 38 families in the Atlantic rainforest and 35 species in 34 genera belonging to 20 families in the Caatinga. Were found three invasive alien species (two species to the Atlantic rainforest and one species for the Caatinga) and six endemic species (five species to the Atlantic rainforest and one for the Caatinga). Considering the two surveys are estimated 156 species for the surroundings of the caves in the state. Despite the surrounding fragments of caves showed to be anthropized, they have significant floristic richness and are important for the maintenance of ecological processes in the cave ecosystem.