Diversidade florística de trepadeiras em um fragmento vegetacional no município de Lago da Pedra, Maranhão

Abstract

Climbing plants play a relevant ecological role in tropical ecosystems, contributing to vegetation cover, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity maintenance. Given the scarcity of floristic studies in Maranhão, especially in the municipality of Lago da Pedra, this study aimed to assess the diversity of climbing plants in a forest fragment located in the aforementioned municipality. The methodology involved field collection, herborization, and identification of the material through morphological analysis using a stereoscopic microscope, following taxonomic protocols according to Peixoto and Maia (2013). Furthermore, a floristic similarity analysis was performed using the Jaccard index and the UPGMA method, based on comparisons with other studies in different Brazilian biomes. Thirty-four species were recorded, distributed across 24 genera and 14 botanical families. The most representative families were Fabaceae (9 species) and Bignoniaceae (4 species). Regarding climbing habits, 20 species (58.8%) are herbaceous and 14 species (41.2%) are woody. The predominant climbing mechanism was the voluble climbing mechanism, present in 18 species (52.9%), followed by tendrils (10 species; 29.5%) and braces (6 species; 17.6%). The data obtained revealed low similarity with other sampled areas in Brazil, indicating a unique floristic composition relevant to conservation. It is concluded that the studied fragment harbors a significant diversity of climbers, making it essential to implement conservation strategies and expand studies in the region to inform public environmental policies and promote local environmental education.