View source for Serra do Mar coastal forests

{{Short description|Ecoregion in Brazil}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
| name = Serra do Mar coastal forests
| image = Serra do mar paraná.jpg
| image_size =    
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = Forest in Serra do Mar, [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], [[Brazil]].
| map = Serra do Mar coastal forests WWF.png
| map_size = 240
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Serra do Mar coastal forests localization as delineated by [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]].
| biome = [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]
| biogeographic_realm = [[Neotropical realm|Neotropical]]
| border = [[Alto Paraná Atlantic forests]]
| border1 = [[Araucaria moist forests]]
| border2 = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| border3 = [[Bahia coastal forests]]
| border4 = [[Cerrado]]
| bird_species = 628<ref name = "Atlas"/>
| mammal_species = 175<ref name = "Atlas">
{{cite book |last1 = Hoekstra |first1 = J. M. |last2 = Molnar |first2 = J. L. |last3 = Jennings |first3 = M. |last4 = Revenga |first4 = C. |last5 = Spalding |first5 = M. D. |last6 = Boucher |first6 = T. M. |last7 = Robertson |first7 = J. C. |last8 = Heibel |first8 = T. J. |last9 = Ellison |first9 = K. |title = The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference |publisher = [[University of California Press]] |editor1-last = Molnar |editor1-first = J. L. |year = 2010 |isbn = 978-0-520-26256-0 |url = https://archive.org/details/atlasofglobalcon0000unse |url-access = registration }}</ref>
| area = 104800
| country = {{BRA}}
| state = [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]
| state1 = [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro]]
| state2 = [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]]
| state3 = [[Minas Gerais]]
| state4 = [[Espírito Santo]]
| state5 = [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]
| state6 = [[Rio Grande do Sul]]
| habitat_loss = 70.0
| habitat_loss_ref = <ref name="metzger">{{cite journal|author=Ribeiro, M. C.|title=The Brazilian Atlantic Forest: How much is left, and how is the remaining forest distributed? Implications for conservation|volume=142|issue=6|pages=1141–1153|year=2009|doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2009.02.021 |display-authors=2|last2=Metzger|first2=Jean Paul|last3=Ponzoni|first3=Flávio Jorge|last4=Hirota|first4=Márcia Makiko|journal=Biological Conservation}}</ref>
| protected = 36.2
| protected_ref = <ref name=dopa>[https://dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ecoregion/60160 Serra do Mar coastal forests]. DOPA Explorer. Accessed 5 November 2022.</ref>
}}

The '''Serra do Mar coastal forests''' is an [[ecoregion]] of the [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|tropical moist forests]] [[biome]]. It is part of the [[Atlantic Forest]] of eastern South America. This ecoregion has an outstanding biodiversity consisting of flora, mammals, birds, and [[Herpetology|herpetofauna]].

==Geography==
The [[Serra 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 of [[Brazil]] for about {{convert|1000|km|mi}}.

The ecoregion lies within the states of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]], [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro]], [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], [[Minas Gerais]], [[Espírito Santo]], [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]], and [[Rio Grande do Sul]].

==Climate==
[[File:Mata Atlântica Ao redor da R. Oswaldo Cruz 2.jpg|left|thumb|The forest in [[Serra do Mar State Park]], seen next to the [[Rodovia Oswaldo Cruz|Oswaldo Cruz highway]], in [[Ubatuba]].]]
The climate is subtropical with high levels of annual rainfall. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,400 to 4,000 millimeters without a dry season.<ref name = eoe>[https://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Serra_do_Mar_coastal_forests Serra do Mar coastal forests]. ''Encyclopedia of Earth''. Accessed 6 November 2022.</ref>

==Flora==
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 families [[Leguminosae]] (''[[Copaifera trapezifolia]]''), [[Sapotaceae]] (species of ''[[Pouteria]]'' and  ''[[Chrysophyllum]]''), and [[Lauraceae]]. 

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.<ref name = Falkenberg>de Barcellos Falkenberg, D., Voltolini, J.C. (1995). The Montane Cloud Forest in Southern Brazil. In: Hamilton, L.S., Juvik, J.O., Scatena, F.N. (eds) ''Tropical Montane Cloud Forests''. Ecological Studies, vol 110. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2500-3_8</ref>

Tropical montane cloud forests are dense forests, characterized by small trees and shrubs and abundant and diverse [[epiphyte]]s. Species of [[Myrtaceae]] are the predominant canopy trees, including ''[[Siphoneugena reitzii]], [[Myrceugenia euosma]], [[Myrceugenia bracteosa]]'', other ''[[Myrceugenia]]'' species, ''[[Myrcia hartwegiana]]'', and ''[[Myrcia palustris]]''. Canopy trees typically have tortuous trunks, rigid branches, rounded crowns, and small glossy (glabrous) or coriaceous leaves. ''[[Drimys brasiliensis]]'' and species of [[Lauraceae]] and [[Melastomataceae]] are also common, and ''[[Mimosa scabrella]], [[Clethra scabra]], [[Tibouchina sellowiana]], [[Lamanonia]]'' sp., ''[[Ilex taubertiana]]'', and ''[[Ilex microdonta]]'' are less common.<ref name = Falkenberg/>

Epiphytes are diverse and abundant in the cloud forests, and include [[bromeliad]]s, [[orchid]]s, [[fern]]s, [[moss]]es, [[liverwort]]s, and [[lichen]]s.<ref name = Falkenberg/>

{{see also|List of plants of Atlantic Forest vegetation of Brazil}}

==Fauna==
Native animals include the [[cougar|puma]] (''Puma concolor''), [[crab-eating fox]] (''Cerdocyon thous''), [[South American coati|coati]] (''Nasua nasua''), [[Molina's hog-nosed skunk|skunk]] (''Conepatus chinga''), [[South American tapir|tapir]] (''Tapirus terrestris''), [[brocket deer]] (''Mazama'' sp.), [[armadillo]] (''[[Dasypus]]'' sp.), [[agouti]] (''Dasyprocta'' sp.), [[harpy eagle]] (''Harpia harpyja''), and [[tinamou]]s (''Tinamus'' sp.).<ref name = Falkenberg/>

The [[southern muriqui]] (''Brachyteles arachnoides'') and [[golden lion tamarin]] (''Leontopithecus rosalia'') are [[primate]]s endemic to the ecoregion. Both are [[endangered species|endangered]]. The [[Brazilian slender opossum]] (''Marmosops paulensis'') is endemic to the ecoregion's montane forests.<ref name = eoe/>

Rare and limited-range birds native to the ecoregion include the [[blue-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''), and [[cherry-throated tanager]] (''Nemosia rourei'').<ref name = eoe/>

Rare and limited-range amphibians include the frogs ''[[Ololygon jureia]]'' and ''[[Cycloramphus carvalhoi]]''.<ref name = eoe/>

==Conservation==
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.
[[File:Serra do Mar forest WWF.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Satellite picture of Serra do Mar coastal forests ecoregion (within yellow line).<br/>The [[deforestation]] (tan areas) of the ecoregion is visible.]]
[[File:Golden lion tamarin family.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Golden lion tamarin]], an endemic species of the Serra do Mar coastal forests, in [[Rio de Janeiro]].]]

36.2% of the ecoregion is in [[protected areas of Brazil|protected areas]]. Protected areas include [[Guaricana 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]], and [[Tupiniquins Ecological Station]].<ref name = dopa/>

==See also==
*[[Atlantic Forest#Ecoregions|Ecoregions in the Atlantic Forest biome]]
*[[List of ecoregions in Brazil]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{WWF ecoregion|id=nt0160|name=Serra do Mar coastal forests}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline |Serra do Mar}}

{{coord missing|Brazil}}

[[Category:Atlantic Forest]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Brazil]]
[[Category:Forests of Brazil]]
[[Category:Flora of the Atlantic Forest|.]]
[[Category:Environment of Espírito Santo]]
[[Category:Environment of Minas Gerais]]
[[Category:Environment of Piauí]]
[[Category:Environment of Rio de Janeiro (state)]]
[[Category:Environment of Rio Grande do Sul]]
[[Category:Environment of São Paulo (state)]]
[[Category:Environment of Santa Catarina (state)]]
[[Category:Flora of Espírito Santo|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Minas Gerais|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Rio de Janeiro (state)|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Rio Grande do Sul|*]]
[[Category:Flora of São Paulo (state)|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Santa Catarina (state)|*]]
[[Category:Neotropical tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]