Biologia reprodutiva de Aechmea bruggeri Leme (Bromeliaceae): uma espécie endêmica da Floresta Atlântica ameaçada de extinção

Abstract

Bromeliaceae Juss. presents approximately 3172 species and is considered the fourth family of Angiosperms with the largest species richness of the Atlantic domain. Their representatives play an important ecological role, acting in important biological processes in ecosystems where they occur, such as those related to pollination and seed dispersal. Despite the high ecological importance, there is still little knowledge about many aspects of the reproductive biology of most species of bromeliads. Aechmea bruggeri is endemic to the Atlantic Forest and was framed in category "Critically Endangered" in the latest revision of the "List of Threatened Species of the state of Minas Gerais." The aim of this study were investigate aspects of the reproductive biology of A. bruggeri, to contribute to the knowledge of the evolution of different mechanisms in the reproduction of the Bromeliaceae family and for developing strategies for conservation and management of populations of A. bruggeri and other endemic and endangered species. The species is self-incompatible and alogamous dependent on pollinators for fruit and seed, and in the study area, has a high rate of fruit set under natural conditions. Aechmea bruggeri is effectively pollinated by hummingbirds species of Thalurania glaucopis. This study demonstrated that, locally, the populations of the species analyzed are viable and fertile, although they are subject to the action of predation of seeds by larvae of beetles.