Brazilian Flora 2020: Innovation and collaboration to meet Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC)

Abstract

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) was established by the Conference of Parties in 2002 to decrease the loss of plant diversity, reduce poverty and contribute to sustainable development. To achieve this overarching goal, the GSPC has established a series of targets, one of which is to ensure that plant diversity is well understood, so that it can be effectively conserved and used in a sustainable manner. Brazil hosts more than 46,000 species of plants, algae and fungi, representing one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, and playing a key role in the GSPC. To meet the GSPC goals of Target 1 and facilitate access to plant diversity, Brazil committed to preparing the List of Species of the Brazilian Flora (2008-2015) and the Brazilian Flora 2020 (2016-present). Managing all the information associated with such great biodiversity has proven to be an extremely challenging task. Here, we synthesize the history of these projects, focusing on the multidisciplinary and collaborative approach adopted to develop and manage the inclusion of all the knowledge generated though digital information systems. We further describe the methods used, challenges faced, and strategies adopted, as well as summarize advances to date and prospects for completing the Brazilian flora in 2020.

Molecular markers indicate the phylogenetic identity of southern Brazilian sea asparagus: first record of Salicornia neei in Brazil

“…Current records indicate Salicornia species names recognized in South America (Alonso & Crespo 2008;BFG 2018;Steffen et al 2015), of which S. neei is not mentioned as having been collected in Brazil, or even at the Atlantic coast further north of the La Salada lagoon (Pedro Luro, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina; 39° S; Steffen et al 2015). La Salada lagoon accession (KM984628) also shows highly similar ETS sequences to southern Brazilian accessions ( Fig.…”

“…It was regarded as a synonym for Salicornia gaudichaudiana Moq., Sarcocornia ambigua (Michx.) M.A.Alonso & M.B.Crespo, the Mediterranean species Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A.J.Scott (Scott 1977), Salicornia fruticosa L. (BFG 2018) and Salicornia perennis Mill. (=Sarcocornia perennis (Miller) A.J.Scott) (Costa et al 2006;Isacch et al 2006;Davy et al 2006) or the North American Salicornia virginica L. (Reitz 1961).…”

A complete digitization of German herbaria is possible, sensible and should be started now

“…In this context it is important to consider that scientific approaches of elucidating the ancestral relationships of organisms and delimiting species and taxonomic groups -the field of biological systematics -has been revolutionized by the advent of (mainly molecular) phylogenetics as an evolutionary method and by electronic tools that will enable an integrative taxonomy. In addition to past and present distribution records of species, herbaria provide material samples for biological research in diverse fields (Funk 2003), including global change biology (Meineke et al 2018, Lang et al 2019, and are a major source of species discovery (Bebber et al 2010). Comprehensive and free access to the information in herbaria as unique archives of biological information is thus a core task in building a research infrastructure that makes full use of the existing collection resources.…”

“…Biodiversity discovery and research: A digital infrastructure of botanical collections will accelerate the discovery and description of species (Bebber et al 2010). In the face of rapid species loss, it is necessary to accelerate and streamline taxonomic workflows.…”

Genlisea hawkingii (Lentibulariaceae), a new species from Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…The Genlisea subgen. Tayloria includes eight species all endemic to Brazil [1,8,9], and chiefly colonizing the highlands in Minas Gerais. Particularly, most of the species are from Serra do Espinhaço in Minas Gerais [10].…”