Aquatic macrophytes of the Rio Doce valley lacustrine system, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

This paper refers to aquatic flora species composition and distribution in protected and surrounding areas located in the Rio Doce valley lakes, Minas Gerais state, the third largest Brazilian lacustrine system. Data were collected from previous works, herbaria collections and field samplings done between 2007 and 2010 in aquatic environments located within and around the Parque Estadual do Rio Doce (PERD). We recorded 184 aquatic macrophyte species in different taxonomic groups, habits and life forms. In this study we propose the creation of a new life-form category, "embalsada", applied to plants established on floating meadows. This work contributed 152 new records for the Rio Doce valley in Minas Gerais, two of which were new to the state and one undescribed species. A floristic similarity characterization between protected and surrounding areas indicated that PERD protects 74% of all aquatic macrophyte species found. However, we found that 26% of all species are unsafe because they do not occur in this conservation unit.