Abstract
Abstract Worldwide, the Atlantic forest domain is considered one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots. In the Northeast region of Brazil, only 2% of its original territory is covered by forests, and part of these forested areas are found in the form of enclaves (“Northeastern brejos”) surrounded by the Thorny woodland. This study aimed to identify the phytogeographic patterns of the species of Leguminosae present in an area of Atlantic forest domain in Northeast Brazil and relate these patterns to abiotic and/or biotic factors to explain the current distribution. For this goal, a floristic inventory was carried out with assessments of dispersal syndromes for each species and construction of maps with distribution patterns. For Baturité Mountain, 60 genera and 128 species of Leguminosae were found. Twelve distribution patterns were identified, ranging from restricted to the Northeast region of Brazil to extracontinental. Long-distance dispersion events were the best explanation for the extracontinental distribution pattern, whereas vicariance can explain distribution restricted to the American continent.
Highlights
The Atlantic forest domain has an incredibly diverse biota (MMA 2000), likely having up to 8% of the world’s biodiversity (Silva & Casteleti 2005)
Baturité Mountain, located in the state of Ceará, is considered one of the greatest “Northeastern brejos” (Silva & Casteleti 2005; Siqueira Filho & Leme 2006) with vegetation varying according to the slope and elevation on the slope, ranging from seasonal semideciduous forest, seasonal deciduous forest to the rainforest (Oliveira & Araújo 2007)
This study aimed to identify the phytogeographic patterns of the species of Leguminosae present in an area of Atlantic forest in Northeast Brazil
Summary
The Atlantic forest domain (hereafter Atlantic forest) has an incredibly diverse biota (MMA 2000), likely having up to 8% of the world’s biodiversity (Silva & Casteleti 2005). 2 de 11 on this domain, it still harbors high levels of biological richness and endemisms (MMA 2000) It is considered one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots worldwide (Mittermeier et al 2005). The Atlantic forest from the Northeast of Brazil occupies about 2% of its original territory (Tabarelli et al 2006) Some of these areas are found in the form of enclaves (“Northeastern brejos”) inside the Thorny woodland (Caatinga) (Silva & Casteleti 2005). These areas are considered refuges for both flora and fauna because they present a more humid, colder climate than the dry vegetation surrounding them (Andrade-Lima 1982). The few studies conducted in the area show a vibrant flora, and Leguminosae is one of the most diverse families in this area (Lima et al 2012a, b; Figueiredo & Barbosa 1990; Cavalcante et al 2000; Araújo et al 2006)
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