Abstract:The Alto Ribeira Touristic State Park (PETAR) is part of the ecological continuum of the Paranapiacaba Range, one of the most preserved sites of the Atlantic Forest in São Paulo State. However, studies exploring its floristic structure and compostition are rare. The objective of this study was to map the vegetation and characterize the flora of the different vegetation types of PETAR to contribute to its management plan. Aerial photographs were used to produce a general and a detailed map of the park. Data collected through field surveys were combined with secondary data to characterize PETAR's flora. It was found that the Ombrophilous Dense Forest is the predominant vegetation type in PETAR (65%), which mostly occurs at elevations that correspond to the Montane (78.2%) and Lower Montane (19.4%) types. There are also areas of High Montane (0.1%) and Alluvial vegetation (1.7%). The Ombrophilous Open Forest with bamboos, where large patches of bamboos have replaced the tall closed forest, occurs in approximately 13%. Sites of secondary vegetation, which have been regenerating after past clearcuts comprise about 17%. The detailed map showed 12 different vegetation types, which were characterized according to vegetation height and density of cover. The most perserved sites, characterized by tall trees and a closed canopy structure, comprised about 37% of the park's vegetated area. Primary and secondary data were pooled and resulted in a list of 680 native plant species, with the field surveys adding 162 new records for the park. It was found that 40 species belong to some category of threat according to the official red lists of São Paulo State, Brazil, and of the world. Forty-four exotic species were identified, of which 14 were classified as invasive.

AGRADECIMENTOS À minha família, por tudo, por fazerem parte da minha vida e terem me ajudado em vários momentos durante o mestrado, seja dando carona, costurando meus coletores de sementes e até indo a campo comigo. Marcolino, Hiromi, Jorge, Cintia e Henrique, vocês são demais! Dona Shige, obrigada por mudar minha vida e por ter feito parte dela! À Vânia, pelo projeto que me ofereceu, orientação, suporte e paciência em esclarecer todas as dúvidas que tive ao longo do projeto. Aos membros do meu Comitê de Acompanhamento, Hilton Thadeu Zarate do Couto e Giselda Durigan, pelas valiosas discussões durante as reuniões. Ao Hilton também pela ajuda com as análises estatísticas e à Giselda pelas ajudas em campo. Aos técnicos do departamento de Ecologia, Welington, Walter, Marco, Lenilda, Paulo César, Geison, Nathália e, principalmente, Maurício Perine, por toda ajuda em campo, no laboratório ou ajudas emergenciais. Ao Sérgio Tadeu Meirelles e ao pessoal do Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Vegetal, principalmente ao Cristiano, à Bruna, ao Bira e ao Tiago, pelas discussões sobre pesquisa, sobre vida, sobre tudo. À Socorro, à Bernadete e, principalmente, à Vera, por toda ajuda com os assuntos burocráticos da pós. Ao Benedito Lopes, pelas informações sobre Pinus que eu não encontrava em lugar algum. Aos funcionários da Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara, pelas caronas até a rodoviária e aos funcionários Marco e, principalmente, Carlos, pelas ajudas em campo. Aos funcionários da Estação Ecológica e Experimental de Itirapina, Dito e Isabel pelo suporte e, principalmente, Gilson, pela ajuda em campo. À Denise Zanchetta, pelo apoio à pesquisa. À Dalva Mattos e seus orientados, Raquel, Rafael e, principalmente, Leite, por me mostrarem as áreas dentro da Estação Ecológica de Itirapina e pelas ajudas de modo geral. Aos motoristas do IB, Israel, Sivinski, Waldir, Amaral e Kléber. À Márcia Balistiero, por me mostrar diferenças entre sementes de Pinus. À Diana e à Paula, pela ajuda em campo. À Luisa e ao Fábio, pela ajuda em laboratório e na estufa. Às pessoas que tiveram paciência de me ouvir ao longo do mestrado: Capote,

Recognising which life-history factors can potentially explain the success of biological invasions is essential to understand why certain exotic species are more successful to invade a given system than others, and also to better predict invasion outcomes. We focused on the three most planted pine tree species in Southern Brazil -Pinus elliottii, P. caribaea and P. oocarpaas a natural system to test the hypothesis that some key vital attributesfecundity (number of seeds produced), seed viability, germinability, seedling growth vigour (biomass and stem length)could be driving the greater invasion of P. elliottii in the region. We collected seeds of P. elliottii var. elliottii, P. caribaea subsp. hondurensis and P. oocarpa in two sites of similar climate and soil in the Cerrado biodiversity hotspot. Seeds were tested for viability and germinability, and seed production was estimated. Under laboratory conditions, we evaluated seedling survival, stem and root development, biomass production and mortality for each species. Although P. elliottii is regarded as the most successful invasive pine species in the Cerrado, it did not outperform the other pines in terms of seed viability, germinability and seedling survival, and it had the slowest growth. P. elliottii did produce, however, at least twice as many seeds as the other species. P. caribaea revealed high seed viability and seedling survival, the fastest seedling development, but low seed production. P. oocarpa showed the lowest seed viability, but fast root growth and very low seedling mortality. Our results suggest seed production is a key factor for P. elliottii invasion success. However, given the strong performance of P. caribaea and P. oocarpa for germinability and growth, we emphasise the risk of both species also becoming successful invaders in the Cerrado. We highlight the need for constant monitoring of emerging pine individuals in native ecosystems to avoid future invasions.