Daniela C. Zappi

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the countrys biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazils unique and diverse flora.

New Brazilian Floristic List Highlights Conservation Challenges

A comprehensive new inventory of Brazilian plants and fungi was published just in time to meet a 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity target and offers important insights into this biodiversitys global significance. Brazil is the home to the worlds richest flora (40,989 species; 18,932 endemic) and includes two of the hottest hotspots: Mata Atlântica (19,355 species) and Cerrado (12,669 species). Although the total number of known species is one-third lower than previous estimates, the absolute number of endemic vascular plant species is higher than was previously estimated, and the proportion of endemism (56%) is the highest in the Neotropics. This compilation serves not merely to quantify the scale of the challenge faced in conserving Brazils unique flora but also serves as a key resource to direct action and monitor progress. Similar efforts by other megadiverse countries are urgently required if the 2020 targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation are to be attained.

Interglacial microrefugia and diversification of a cactus species complex: phylogeography and palaeodistributional reconstructions for Pilosocereus aurisetus and allies

The role of Pleistocene climate changes in promoting evolutionary diversification in global biota is well documented, but the great majority of data regarding this subject come from North America and Europe, which were greatly affected by glaciation. The effects of Pleistocene changes on cold‐ and/or dry‐adapted species in tropical areas where glaciers were not present remain sparsely investigated. Many such species are restricted to small areas surrounded by unfavourable habitats, which may represent potential interglacial microrefugia. Here, we analysed the phylogeographic structure and diversification history of seven cactus species in the Pilosocereus aurisetus complex that are restricted to rocky areas with high diversity and endemism within the Neotropical savannas of eastern South America. We combined palaeodistributional estimates with standard phylogeographic approaches based on two chloroplast DNA regions (trnT‐trnL and trnS‐trnG), exon 1 of the nuclear gene PhyC and 10 nuclear microsatellite loci. Our analyses revealed a phylogeographic history marked by multiple levels of distributional fragmentation, isolation leading to allopatric differentiation and secondary contact among divergent lineages within the complex. Diversification and demographic events appear to have been affected by the Quaternary climatic cycles as a result of isolation in multiple patches of xerophytic vegetation. These small patches presently harbouring P. aurisetus populations seem to operate as microrefugia, both at present and during Pleistocene interglacial periods; the role of such microrefugia should be explored and analysed in greater detail.

Molecular phylogeny of tribe Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae) and taxonomic implications for Schlumbergera and Hatiora.

Tribe Rhipsalideae is composed of unusual epiphytic or lithophytic cacti that inhabit humid tropical and subtropical forests. Members of this tribe present a reduced vegetative body, a specialized adventitious root system, usually spineless areoles and flowers and fruits reduced in size. Despite the debate surrounding the classification of Rhipsalideae, no studies have ever attempted to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among its members or to test the monophyly of its genera using DNA sequence data; all classifications formerly proposed for this tribe have only employed morphological data. In this study, we reconstruct the phylogeny of Rhipsalideae using plastid (trnQ-rps16, rpl32-trnL, psbA-trnH) and nuclear (ITS) markers to evaluate the classifications previously proposed for the group. We also examine morphological features traditionally used to delimit genera within Rhipsalideae in light of the resulting phylogenetic trees. In total new sequences for 35 species of Rhipsalideae were produced (out of 55; 63%). The molecular phylogeny obtained comprises four main clades supporting the recognition of genera Lepismium, Rhipsalis, Hatiora and Schlumbergera. The evidence gathered indicate that a broader genus Schlumbergera, including Hatiora subg. Rhipsalidopsis, should be recognized. Consistent morphological characters rather than homoplastic features are used in order to establish a more coherent and practical classification for the group. Nomenclatural changes and a key for the identification of the genera currently included in Rhipsalideae are provided.

Plantas vasculares da região do Parque Estadual Cristalino, norte de Mato Grosso, Brasil

The results of the first detailed botanical inventory in the region of the Cristalino State Park, Mato Grosso, Brazil, are presented, including an annotated checklist. A total of 1366 species of vascular plants, representing 626 genera and 151 families, were recorded. The most species-diverse families included Leguminosae, Rubiaceae, Melastomataceae, Malvaceae (sens. lat.) and Moraceae. The flora includes at least seven new species and several endemics from the Serra do Cachimbo, as well as many new records for the State of Mato Grosso and several for Brazil. Further studies are likely to increase the number of species significantly. The region does not show high alpha-diversity by Amazonian standards but is ecologically diverse, resulting in high levels of beta-diversity. Considering this biological richness, its situation within the important yet relatively poorly studied ecotone of the Amazonian margin, and its strategic position at the advancing frontier of deforestation pushing northwards into the basin, Cristalino is a high priority for conservation.

Amazon vegetation: how much don’t we know and how much does it matter?

SummaryIn spite of the existence of a vast body of information on the plant diversity of the Amazon, there remain significant obstacles to informed decision-making and management for conservation. Species distributions are poorly understood and the relationships between diversity and composition of vegetation, ecosystem services and resilience to climatic fluctuations are insufficiently clear. The geographic distribution of phylogenetic diversity in relation to current protected areas is unexplored and very little is known about intraspecific genetic variability and its practical significance. Interpretation of vegetation differentiation and distribution remains relatively simplistic; there are still large parts of the basin for which few or no botanical data exist, and many rare and sparsely distributed species remain undiscovered. Improved understanding of the ecological roles, dynamics and associations of the species of greatest importance for the maintenance of sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem services, habitat restoration and adaptation to climate change is a high priority. In many cases these are common and widespread species. Some of these issues are explored by looking at the Cristalino region in northern Mato Grosso as a case-study. Effective integration, quality assessment, synthesis and application of existing data on the plant diversity of the Amazon will help to address these issues. However, more targeted information is needed from the ground. Future prioritisation of research effort will require a careful and pragmatic balance between the ‘traditional’ focus on rare and endemic species and species-rich communities, and the growing need to understand the key ‘framework’ elements that will determine the future of the Amazon environment. Similar situations are faced elsewhere in the tropics: for botanical research institutes in the 21st century this demands an urgent re-evaluation of core activities and concerted engagement with the issues and challenges facing conservation in a context of rampant population growth, climate change and environmental destruction.ResumoApesar da existência de um grande volume de informação a respeito da diversidade vegetal da Amazônia, uma série de obstáculos ainda dificulta a tomada de decisões devidamente informadas sobre conservação e manejo sustentável da região. Falta conhecimento com relação à distribuição das espécies, e às interações entre diversidade e composição da vegetação, aos serviços do ecossistema e sua adaptabilidade e resistência às flutuações climáticas. A distribuição da diversidade filogenética das espécies em relação às áreas atualmente protegidas ainda é desconhecida, e muito pouco é sabido sobre o significado prático da variabilidade intraespecífica. A interpretação dos diferentes tipos de vegetação permanece extremamente simplificada, com grandes áreas da bacia para as quais não há dados botânicos disponíveis ou os mesmos são insuficientes, e muitas espécies raras ou esparsamente distribuídas ainda aguardam descobrimento. Uma melhor compreensão dos papéis ecológicos, da dinâmica e das associações das espécies mais importantes para a manutenção de estilos de vida sustentáveis e dos serviços do ecossistema, recuperação de áreas degradadas e adaptabilidade às mudanças climáticas, são as grandes prioridades. Em muitos casos essas espécies são comuns e amplamente distribuídas. Alguns desses temas são explorados utilizando a região do Cristalino, no norte do Mato Grosso, como um estudo de caso. A integração efetiva, o controle da qualidade, a síntese e a aplicação dos dados existentes da diversidade vegetal da Amazônia serão fundamentais para a solução dessas questões. No entanto, ainda é necessário gerar a informação relevante a partir do estudo da área. A priorização das pesquisas futuras requer um equilíbrio cuidadoso e prático entre o foco ‘tradicional’, interessado em espécies raras e endêmicas e nas comunidades ricas em termos de espécies e a necessidade crescente de compreender os elementos da ‘estrutura’ que irá determinar o futuro do bioma amazônico. Situações semelhantes estão sendo enfrentadas nos trópicos como um todo: os institutos botânicos do século 21 precisam reavaliar urgentemente as suas principais atividades e engajar-se de modo coordenado para incluir os tópicos e desafios causados pelo crescimento populacional desordenado, mudanças climáticas e destruição ambiental.

Floral biology of Pilosocereus tuberculatus (Werderm.) Byles & Rowley: a bat pollinated cactus endemic from the “Caatinga” in northeastern Brazil1

Summary: Brazil is the third major centre of diversity for the family Cactaceae, with approximately ¾ of the species found in the country being endemic, and a total of 162 native species, including around 20 belonging to Pilosocereus. This family is exclusively pollinated by animals, varying widely between beetles, bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and bats. Pilosocereus tuberculatus is a tree-like cactus with candelabriform branching, with a relict distribution restricted to a few localities in the states of Pernambuco, Bahia, Sergipe and probably southern Piauí. The present work reports observations of bat-pollination in natural populations of the species in an area of dryland woody vegetation (‘caatinga’) in the municipality of Buíque, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The slightly zygomorphic flowers have olive-green outer perianth-segments and white inner perianth-segments with purplish spots, and a straight, almost cylindric flower tube 3.5–4.0 cm long. Nocturnal anthesis, a strong smell and internally white flowers with abundant nectar (23–309µl) of relatively low sugar content (9.5–17.0%) are characteristic of the bat-pollination syndrome. Pollen is available and the stigma is functional during anthesis as a whole, from between 18:00–18:20h and 8:20–8:50h the following morning. Visits were recorded during the day by bees (Apis mellifera, Trigona spinipes and Xylocopa grisescens) and a hummingbird (Heliomaster squamosus) and during the night by bats (Glossophaga soricina and Lonchophylla mordax). The bats were observed at intervals varying between 5 seconds and 55 minutes, during 18 nights (i.e. 270 hours of observation). In P. tuberculatus spontaneous self-pollination did not produce fruits. The ratio of fruits formed by cross-pollination (69%) compared with manual self-pollination (0%) indicates that the predominant reproductive system in P. tuberculatus is allogamy, and that its reproduction depends on the efficiency of the pollen-vectors. Based on behaviour displayed during bat, bee and hummingbird visits, and the ratio of natural fruit formation, P. tuberculatus depends mostly on its nocturnal visitors for pollination. Bat-pollination, which is predominant for the genus Pilosocereus, has been interpreted as a mechanism of parallel evolution between cacti and bats, and it is possible to consider P. tuberculatus as an example of this close relationship, including a the new record of the glossophagine bat L. mordax as a cactophilic bat.

Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, and Biogeography of South American Epiphytic Cacti

Epiphytes represent an important element of the tropical flora and are widely distributed across vascular plants. Despite this diversity, however, little is yet known of the evolutionary history, habitat preference, morphological diversity, and biogeographical patterns of epiphytes as a whole. Approximately 10% of cacti are epiphytes inhabiting humid regions, and Rhipsalis represents the largest genus of these. Here we reconstruct relationships among species of the genus Rhipsalis on the basis of plastid and nuclear DNA markers (trnQ-rps16, rpl32-trnL, psbA-trnH, internal transcribed spacers, and malate synthase) and use them as a basis to study the evolution of habit, key morphological features, and the biogeographical history of the genus. Rhipsalis is highly supported as monophyletic, presenting three main lineages. Two lineages are marked by unique floral morphologies and one presents an exclusive stem-shape morphology. In spite of this, neither of these features seems to have been associated with small-scale habit transitions or large-scale transitions through different biogeographical regions. Several lineages of the genus seem to have originated in coastal Brazil and subsequently occupied other tropical forests in South America, North America, Africa, and Asia. These events occurred in relatively recent times, with most of them taking place on terminal branches, thus suggesting recent associations between South American epiphytic flora.

Revisão de Mitracarpus (Rubiaceae - Spermacoceae) para o Brasil

This paper presents the revision of Mitracarpus from Brazil. The study is based on field observations and study of herbarium specimens. Mitracarpus is a neotropical genus, distributed from the southern United States to central Argentina, with one invasive species occurring in the Old World. The genus presents three centres of diversity: Mexico, the Caribbean region and Brazil. Twenty four species are accepted, of which six are new to science: Mitracarpus albomarginatus, M. buiquensis, M. diversifolius, M. eitenii, M. nitidus and M. robustus. A key to identify the species, updating of the names and their typification, synonymy, descriptions, illustrations are provided, together with data on their conservation status.

Botanical Results of the Sesse & Mocino Expedition (1787 - 1803). VII. A Guide to Relevant Scientific Names of Plants

Botanical results of the Sesse & Mocino Expedition (1787-1803) , Botanical results of the Sesse & Mocino Expedition (1787-1803) , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی