| Serra do Mar coastal forests | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Serra do Mar coastal forests localization as delineated byWWF. | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Borders | |
| Bird species | 628[1] |
| Mammal species | 175[1] |
| Geography | |
| Area | 104,800 km2 (40,500 sq mi) |
| Country |  Brazil |
| States | |
| Conservation | |
| Habitat loss | 70.0%[2] |
| Protected | 36.2%[3] |
TheSerra do Mar coastal forests is anecoregion of thetropical moist forestsbiome. It is part of theAtlantic Forest of eastern South America. This ecoregion has an outstanding biodiversity consisting of flora, mammals, birds, andherpetofauna.
TheSerra do Mar mountain range defines this ecoregion. The Serra do Mar coastal forests extend from the Atlantic coast up the seaward-facing slopes of the Serra do Mar, along the southern coast ofBrazil for about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi).
The ecoregion lies within the states ofSão Paulo,Rio de Janeiro,Paraná,Minas Gerais,Espírito Santo,Santa Catarina, andRio Grande do Sul.
The climate is subtropical with high levels of annual rainfall. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,400 to 4,000 millimeters without a dry season.[4]
The plant communities in the ecoregion include coastal scrub, lowland rain forests, and montane rain forests.
The lowland rain forests are composed of four strata, including a dense canopy layer and emergent trees which grow up to 30 meters high. Common canopy and emergent trees include species from the plant familiesLeguminosae (Copaifera trapezifolia),Sapotaceae (species ofPouteria andChrysophyllum), andLauraceae.
Tropical montane cloud forests occur from 1,200 to 1,500 meters elevation in the northern portion of the ecoregion, and 700 to 1100 meters in the south. They are found on seaward-facing mountain slopes with high rainfall and frequent year-round cloud cover.[5]
Tropical montane cloud forests are dense forests, characterized by small trees and shrubs and abundant and diverseepiphytes. Species ofMyrtaceae are the predominant canopy trees, includingSiphoneugena reitzii,Myrceugenia euosma,Myrceugenia bracteosa, otherMyrceugenia species,Myrcia hartwegiana, andMyrcia palustris. Canopy trees typically have tortuous trunks, rigid branches, rounded crowns, and small glossy (glabrous) or coriaceous leaves.Drimys brasiliensis and species ofLauraceae andMelastomataceae are also common, andMimosa scabrella,Clethra scabra,Tibouchina sellowiana,Lamanonia sp.,Ilex taubertiana, andIlex microdonta are less common.[5]
Epiphytes are diverse and abundant in the cloud forests, and includebromeliads,orchids,ferns,mosses,liverworts, andlichens.[5]
Native animals include thepuma (Puma concolor),crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous),coati (Nasua nasua),skunk (Conepatus chinga),tapir (Tapirus terrestris),brocket deer (Mazama sp.),armadillo (Dasypus sp.),agouti (Dasyprocta sp.),harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), andtinamous (Tinamus sp.).[5]
Thesouthern muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides) andgolden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) areprimates endemic to the ecoregion. Both areendangered. TheBrazilian slender opossum (Marmosops paulensis) is endemic to the ecoregion's montane forests.[4]
Rare and limited-range birds native to the ecoregion include theblue-bellied parrot (Triclaria malachitacea),white-bearded antshrike (Biatas nigropectus),plumbeous antvireo (Dysithamnus plumbeus),Rio de Janeiro antwren (Myrmotherula fluminensis),gray-winged cotinga (Lipaugus conditus),kinglet cotinga (Calyptura cristata),Kaempfer's tody-tyrant (Hemitriccus kaempferi), andcherry-throated tanager (Nemosia rourei).[4]
Rare and limited-range amphibians include the frogsOlolygon jureia andCycloramphus carvalhoi.[4]
70% of the original forest has already been altered by settlement and agriculture.
The primary ongoing threats to this ecoregion are urban development and tourism infrastructure.
36.2% of the ecoregion is inprotected areas. Protected areas includeGuaricana National Park,Itatiaia National Park,Saint-Hilaire/Lange National Park,São Joaquim National Park,Serra dos Órgãos National Park,Serra da Bocaina National Park,Serra do Itajaí National Park,Superagui National Park,Tijuca National Park,Araras Biological Reserve,Bom Jesus Biological Reserve,Parque Equitativa Biological Reserve,Poço das Antas Biological Reserve,Serra Geral Biological Reserve,Tamboré Biological Reserve,Tinguá Biological Reserve,União Biological Reserve,Bananal Ecological Station,Carijós Ecological Station,Chaúas Ecological Station,Guaraguaçu Ecological Station,Guanabara Ecological Station,Ilha do Mel Ecological Station,Itapeti Ecological Station,Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station,Monte das Flores Ecological Station,Tamoios Ecological Station, andTupiniquins Ecological Station.[3]
Media related toSerra Do Mar Coastal Forests Ecoregion at Wikimedia Commons