Angiosperm endemism in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest biodiversity hot-point

Abstract

Given the importance of understanding endemic species distribution for conservation strategies and the status of the Atlantic Forest as a conservation hotspot, we carried out a study to evaluate where are located the areas of endemism (AoE) at Bahia Coastal Forests (BCF), a threatened and species rich area of this hotspot. To achieve this aim, we recovered and filtered the occurrence data of 547 angiosperm taxa endemic to BCF and applied endemicity analyses using different grid cell sizes (5′ × 5′, 10′ × 10′, and 15′ × 15′) and data extrapolation options. A consensus rule was applied to the resulting areas, joining AoE that shared at least 40% of its species. Most of the recovered AoE are located in the central region of BCF, which might be related to a higher humidity compared to northern and southern areas, which had fewer areas recovered. These results could also reflect the higher sampling effort in the central region of BCF, as this area had most intensive botanical studies so far. The use of extrapolation options generated more AoE regardless of cell size; this technique indicated potential AoE that would not have been detected otherwise due to low sampling effort, such as the vicinities of Wenceslau Guimarães at northwestern BCF. We recommend that more botanical exploration should be done at BCF northern and southern areas to overcome sampling bias and define more accurately the number and limits of AoE, highlighting the need for more focused conservation strategies in this hot-point within the Atlantic Forest.

Areas of endemism of Pteridaceae (Polypodiopsida) in Brazil: a first approach

“…So, the users can add a value (a percentage of the cell size) for each of these parameters. According to Casagranda et al (2009), a larger assumed presence radius is used for smaller cells to increase the extrapolation to neighbouring cells, and a smaller radius for larger cells to avoid unjustified extrapolation to much larger areas (Ostroski et al, 2020). Thus for each grid size, a different filling value may be used (Narv aez-G omez et al, 2022).…”

“…In addition, these radius-filling options tend to increase the number of AoE, and the EI, as described by Casagranda et al (2009) (and seen in this study by comparing analyses 1 with 2, 3 with 4, and 5 with 6). This data exploration strategy is, therefore, interesting to overcome sampling biases and gaps (Szumik and Goloboff, 2004;Ostroski et al, 2020).…”

Beyond Carbon: The Contributions of South American Tropical Humid and Subhumid Forests to Ecosystem Services

“…It is the second‐largest tropical rain forest in South America. Its unique geomorphological complexity, edaphic heterogeneity, and thermal gradients contribute to a wide range of forest types and species endemism (Cantidio & Souza, 2019; Correia et al., 2020; Oliveira‐Filho & Fontes, 2000; Ostroski et al., 2020). The Atlantic Forest mosaic includes ombrophilous, semi‐deciduous, deciduous, and pioneer forest formations (e.g., mangrove), which are classified based on the altitudinal gradient in montane, submontane, and lowland forests.…”

Rediscovery and expansion of the distribution of Phyllanthus itatiaiensis Brade (Phyllanthaceae) in southeastern Brazil

“…It extends along the eastern coast of South America, with 90% of its area within Brazilian territory. Thus, it represents one of the principal phytogeographic domains in Brazil (Ribeiro et al 2009;Colli-Silva et al 2020;Ostroski et al 2020). The forest retains enormous species richness and high endemism of both plant and animal taxa (Myers et al 2000).…”