Diversity of Myrtaceae in and surroundings the Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil

Paulo Sérgio Neves Dos Santos,Ligia Silveira Funch,Marla Ibrahim Uehbe De Oliveira,Ana Paula Lima Do Couto-Santos

doi:10.1590/2175-7860202172098

Abstract

Abstract We evaluated the diversity of Myrtaceae in Chapada Diamantina National Park (CDNP) and neighboring municipalities (NM), identifying the areas with the highest richness and those with the lowest sampling efforts, collecting specimens in situ, and analyzing herbarium collections. The geographic data and maps include collection efforts (CE), species richness (SR), and estimated richness (J1). Ninety-seven species and nine genera were recorded for NM, with 82 species and nine genera occurring in CDNP. The CE and SR were similar in NM and CDNP, and the quadrants with the highest values were in the municipalities of Lençóis and Palmeiras. The J1 was also similar in NM and CDNP. Fifteen species found in NM do not occur in CDNP, and some are considered endangered or are restricted to non-protected areas, especially caatinga areas. Some species showed distributions limited to only one or two vegetation types, although many areas have been only superficially surveyed. Endemic species are subject to anthropic pressure, and some are currently considered endangered or vulnerable. The expansion of the limits of the CDNP to encompass areas of caatinga vegetation will improve the conservation status of the family.

Highlights

Information concerning the diversity and distribution of plant species is essential for studies of phytogeography, ecology, and conservation (CBD 2010), data is often scarce in tropical regions - which can hinder effective conservation planning (Antonelli et al 2015; Maldonado et al 2015)
The Espinhaço Range extends into Bahia state as the Chapada Diamantina mountain range, in the center of the semiarid region, and it harbors a mosaic of campo rupestre, cerrado, Atlantic forest, and caatinga vegetations (Funch et al 2009; Beserra et al 2007)
Myrtaceae is one of the largest plant families of the Brazilian flora (Forzza et al 2010) and is often among the largest collections in herbaria in Bahia state, especially in the HUEFS and ALCB herbaria, which hold the largest collections from the current study area

Summary

Introduction

Information concerning the diversity and distribution of plant species is essential for studies of phytogeography, ecology, and conservation (CBD 2010), data is often scarce in tropical regions - which can hinder effective conservation planning (Antonelli et al 2015; Maldonado et al 2015). One of its diversity hotspots is the Espinhaço Range, which, by itself, comprises almost 15% of the Brazilian vascular flora (Silveira et al 2016). The Espinhaço Range extends into Bahia state as the Chapada Diamantina mountain range, in the center of the semiarid region, and it harbors a mosaic of campo rupestre, cerrado, Atlantic forest, and caatinga vegetations (Funch et al 2009; Beserra et al 2007). The largest legal protection area outside the Amazon is the Chapada Diamantina National Park (CDNP) in the Serra do Sincorá Range within the Chapada Diamantina (Funch et al 2009). The CDNP was originally designed to protect the natural landscape, and no previous evaluation was made in terms of the preservation of the regional flora and vegetation - and caatinga (dryland) vegetation was not included within its boundaries (Funch & Harley 2007)

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Results

Conclusion