The Physical and Biotic environment

The region where the Nascentes do Iguaçu Ornithological Observatory is located is part of the pre-montane rainforests on the western slope of the Mata Atlântica, locally known as "Serra do Mar", a natural division between the littoral and the First Plateau of Paraná (Primeiro Planalto Paranaense).  Its location can be characterized as an ecotone area, due to the transition of environments that can be observed, with the presence of vegetation from subgroups of phytogeographic formations of Dense Ombrophilous Forest (Atlantic Forest), in the higher areas, and of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (Araucaria Forest), in the lower areas. 

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According to the vegetation classification of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for characterization of the phytogeographic subformations [1], the areas of the Ornithological Observatory include zones of Dense High-montane Ombrophilous Forest and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest.  In the IBGE maps, there is no detailing of subformations of the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest [2]. However, due to the location between altitudes of 400m to 1,000m, the scientific literature allows us to deduce that the areas of the Observatory in this subformation can be classified as Montane Mixed Ombrophilous Forest [1].

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On the other hand, the former Institute of Land, Cartography and Geosciences (ITCG), today part of the structure of the Instituto Água e Terra (IAT), the Paraná state environment authority, classifies the areas of the Observatory as High-montane and Mixed Montane Ombrophilous Forest [3]. The ITCG's work was based on the publications of the naturalist and geologist Reinhard Maack.  In 1950, this researcher published the first phytogeographic map of Paraná.

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The third image gallery to the right and below this page shows these classifications from IBGE and ITCG in map form.

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In addition to these classifications, there is a cloud forest that occurs locally at 1,150m altitude and is approximately 100 meters from the eastern limit of the Observatory perimeter. The proximity of these three vegetational formations gives rise to greater biological diversity, adapted to the ecological dynamics of these environments in and around the Observatory.  This characterization proves the importance of the area for biodiversity research and conservation.

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In the montane environment, the flora contains species more adapted to the lower annual thermal averages due to the high altitude, which favors the occasional occurrence of frosts, and to the variable, though quality, soils — Argisols, Latosols and Cambisols.  In these environments, which are still well preserved, threatened tree species can be found, such as the Black Canela (Ocotea catharinensis), Canela-sassafras (Ocotea odorifera), Imbuias (Ocotea porosa), Peroba (Aspidosperma olivaceum), Araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia), Canjerana (Cabralea canjerana), Cedro-rosa (Cedrela fissilis), among others.  In the lower strata of the montane environment are the Casca d'anta (Drimys brasiliensis), Caúnas (Ilex taubertiana and Ilex microdonta) and Xaxins (Dicksonia sellowiana and Cyathea phalerata).  Also noteworthy are species of the Myrtaceae and Rubiaceae families, which constitute a recurring pattern in the best-preserved forest areas in this vegetation formation.

 

Above 1,150m, in the high-montane environment, in areas adjacent to the Ornithological Observatory, the large forest vegetation is replaced by cloud forest and vegetational refuges.   These formations are rare and of great biological importance due to the endemic status of many species that subsist there.  Occurring exclusively in the high-montane environment, the Ipêzinho (Tabebuia catarinensis), the Gramimunha (Weinmannia humilis) and the Carne-de-vaca (Clethra uleana) grow on progressively shallower and less fertile soils — Litholic Neosols and unsaturated Organosols — where it is common to find mosses and liverworts covering the trunks, tree branches and soil.

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The diversity of the fauna is also a factor that elevates the importance of the Ornithological Observatory.  Besides birds, several species of other animal groups, some rare or endangered, can be found locally.  Among the mammals there are Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), Tayras (Eira barbara), Coatis (Nasua nasua), Howler Monkeys (Alouatta guariba), Collared Peccaries (Pecari tajacu), Collared Anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla), and the Bushdog (Speothos venaticus).  The presence of the Mountain Toad (Brachycephalus coloratus), an amphibian species recently described by science and endemic to the mountain complex, is also worthy of mention [4].

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In an expedited survey on the occurrence of reptile species at the Ornithological Observatory, conducted in January 2024, it was possible to estimate that almost 70 species of this class of animals may occur in the areas of the Natural Reserve [8]. Examples of these species are the Teiú (Salvator merianae), an easily visible diurnal lizard, and a group of snakes such as "Cobra-cipó" (Chironius bicarinatus) and a type of true Coral Snake (Micrurus altirostris). The report of this survey can be read in Portuguese at this link and photographs of some species that occur at the Observatory can be viewed in the reptile gallery.

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In the other three image galleries, more photographs and maps are presented that illustrate the diversity of the physical and biotic environment at the Ornithological Observatory.  ​The references on the side include some technical-scientific publications that supported the survey presented in this text and that can be used as a reference for further study [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8].