Geographical ecology and conservation of Eugenia L. (Myrtaceae) in the Brazilian Cerrado: Past, present and future

Abstract

Human actions have caused the fragmentation of natural vegetation, habitat loss and climate change. The Cerrado, considered one of the global hotspots of diversity, has suffered great habitat loss due to these factors, which has been aggravated by the agricultural expansion that took place during the last 60 years. In this context, we chose species of the genus Eugenia L. (Myrtaceae) occurring in the Brazilian Cerrado to describe richness patterns and range loss, and determine conservation priorities for the Cerrado. Ecological niche models (ENMs) were applied to calculate the geographical range of each species in the past (Last Glacial Maximum – LGM, 21 000 years ago), present (PIP, representing current climatic conditions – 1760 years ago) and future (near future – NF, 2080–2100). These results were combined to calculate the richness of the group and also to estimate the range loss of these species in the future. Moreover, we evaluated the irreplaceability of areas for species conservation, aiming to maximize the biotic stability of Eugenia species. Our results showed that the highest species richness in the past was found in the southwestern region of the Cerrado and, currently, the richest regions are found in the central and southeastern areas. However, in the future, we predict a shift of the greatest values of richness towards the southeastern region, an area currently occupied by the Atlantic forest. Although areas with high conservation priorities were found scattered across the biome, this shift is worrisome due to the high fragmentation rate and intensive human occupation thoughout the Atlantic region. Thus, conservation efforts should focus on areas found within these limits.

Quantifying seed germination based on thermal models to predict global climate change impacts on Cerrado species

“…Consequences of temperature increase and reduction of the rainfall volume in the most pessimistic scenarios will cause species to change their distribution to transitional regions of biomes with a favourable climate, mainly for non-dormant seeds with a degree of vulnerability. Thus, a greater displacement of the most sensitive species to more humid and milder temperatures in the Cerrado can be expected, as is predicted for certain species (Oliveira et al, 2019b; Velazco et al, 2019). In species of Eugenia , a decrease of richness in Cerrado areas has been verified from the past to the present and tends to continue, in the future, where the species will move towards the south of the Cerrado and other biomes (Oliveira et al, 2019b).…”

“…Thus, a greater displacement of the most sensitive species to more humid and milder temperatures in the Cerrado can be expected, as is predicted for certain species (Oliveira et al, 2019b; Velazco et al, 2019). In species of Eugenia , a decrease of richness in Cerrado areas has been verified from the past to the present and tends to continue, in the future, where the species will move towards the south of the Cerrado and other biomes (Oliveira et al, 2019b). However, changes can be so severe and rapid in populations that there may be a decrease in species richness and extinction at local and regional levels, with greater risk for endemic species (Strassburg et al, 2017).…”

“…In the Cerrado, especially, the rains may be reduced by 20% over the years in central areas, and expectations show increased drought periods until 2100 (Marengo et al, 2009). As a consequence of temperature increase, patterns of distribution of some species to less arid regions are expected, where there is inevitable risk of species extinction (Oliveira et al, 2019b).…”

Geographical distribution of Stryphnodendron adstringens Mart. Coville (Fabaceae): modeling effects of climate change on past, present and future

“…However, these areas were lost in the present, which indicates a range retraction. Indeed, Oliveira et al (2015Oliveira et al ( , 2018 demonstrated that other plants, endemic to "Cerrado", showed a range retraction between LGM and present. As discussed by Ab'Saber (2000) in glacial periods, there was a retraction of "Cerrado" vegetation.…”

Effect of Eugenia winzerlingii Extracts on Bemisia tabaci and Evaluation of its Nursery Propagation

“…Our results then argue in favor of seed propagation of E. winzerlingii when massive reproduction is required. The contribution in the knowledge of potential uses of Eugenia genus leads us to strengthen the conservation and sustainable preservation of this plant [35].…”