Abstract
ABSTRACT Aquatic ecosystems support species diversity, and knowledge of plant communities is essential for wetland conservation programs. This study provides a checklist of aquatic vascular plants of South Brazil and establishes their floristic affinities with bordering South America phytogeographical domains. The checklist was based on 52 sources, including 35 floristic lists, 17 regional taxonomic studies, and information from an electronic database on wetlands of South Brazil. Floristic similarities with published checklists for neighbouring regions were assessed. A total of 780 species distributed in 277 genera and 85 families of vascular plants were reported for South Brazil. Families with higher species richness were Cyperaceae (128), Poaceae (102), Asteraceae (69), Plantaginaceae (21), Lentibulariaceae (20), and Onagraceae (20). The most represented genera were Eleocharis (41) and Cyperus (24). A cluster analysis revealed high similarity with Ibera (Argentinian Chaco), Pampa and Atlantic Forest, and low similarity with Pantanal, Caatinga and the Amazon Rainforest. The high number of aquatic plant families recorded relative to temperate and tropical climates suggests a zone of biogeographical overlap in Southern Brazil. The compiled data set reveals high biodiversity of wetlands of South Brazil, provides a baseline for future research, and highlights the need for regional conservation planning.
Highlights
Wetlands are estimated to comprise 20 % of the Brazilian territory (Neiff 2001; Junk et al 2014)
This study provides a checklist of aquatic vascular plants of South Brazil and establishes their floristic affinities with bordering South America phytogeographical domains
In this study, we addressed the following questions: (I) how many species are recorded in South Brazil? (II) How strong are the floristic links between wetlands of South Brazil (Pampa and Atlantic Forest) and other South American wetland regions such as Pantanal, Caatinga, Amazon Rainforest, and Argentinian Chaco? For this, we compiled the available floristic data of aquatic vascular plants of South Brazil wetlands, evaluated species distribution patterns within South Brazil wetlands and their floristic affinities with wetlands of neighbouring South American phytogeographical domains
Summary
Wetlands are estimated to comprise 20 % of the Brazilian territory (Neiff 2001; Junk et al 2014). The south coast basin includes the basin of the Guaíba river with its tributaries that end in the Patos Lagoon. This lagoon is the largest choked lagoon in the world, with an area of 10,227 km (Asmus 1998). The coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul consists of a coastal lake system shaped during Pleistocene and Holocene sea transgression and regression phases (Asmus 1998). This region has more than 60 freshwater or brackish water lagoons, in addition to estuaries and floodplains
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
