Threatened flora from the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil: Arecaceae

Guilherme Alves Elias,Robson Dos Santos,Joanna Marie Tucker Lima

doi:10.1590/2236-8906-32/2018

Guilherme Alves Elias, Robson Dos Santos + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906-32/2018

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Palms (Arecaceae) are key elements that contribute to the forest biodiversity of the State of Santa Catarina. However, the official List of Endangered Flora Species of that State is incomplete, including only two Arecaceae species (Butia catarinensis Noblick & Lorenzi and B. eriospatha (Mart. Ex Drude) Becc.). Within this context, this study proposes a revision of the Official List of Arecaceae for Santa Catarina, based on the assessment of the conservation status made for each of the State’s native palm species. To assess the conservation status of the palm species in Santa Catarina, important sources on species distribution were used, including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), a compilation of previously published, herbarium information, field observations, and data from the Floristic and Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina (IFFSC). Information for each species was imported into GeoCAT software (Geospatial Conservation Assessment Tool). All 11 native palm species of Santa Catarina were evaluated. Ten species were considered at risk of extinction according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. This large number of palm species at risk of extinction calls attention to the urgent need for updates of the Official List of Endangered Species in the State.

Highlights

The Brazilian State of Santa Catarina plays a critical role in the conservation of regional biodiversity (Azevedo-Santos et al 2017), as it is the only State once completely covered by the Atlantic Forest, one of the most fragmented and threatened Brazilian biomes (Lucas & Bunger 2015)
Due to the importance of palms in Santa Catarina forests and the lack of associated information and inclusion criteria, this study proposes a revision to the Official List of Endangered Flora Species for the State of Santa Catarina for the family Arecaceae, based on conservation status assessments carried out for each of the State’s native palm species
Endangered - Astrocaryum aculeatissimum was the only species classified as Critically Endangered (CR), the most threatened category before being considered Regionally Extinct (RE)

Summary

Introduction

The Brazilian State of Santa Catarina plays a critical role in the conservation of regional biodiversity (Azevedo-Santos et al 2017), as it is the only State once completely covered by the Atlantic Forest, one of the most fragmented and threatened Brazilian biomes (Lucas & Bunger 2015). The official List of Endangered Flora Species for the neighboring State of Rio Grande do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 2014) provides a complete evaluation of that State’s 15 native palm species and classifies 13 of these as ‘at risk of extinction’ (Soares et al 2014). Rio Grande do Sul followed established IUCN Red List criteria; Santa Catarina did not. Within this context, due to the importance of palms in Santa Catarina forests and the lack of associated information and inclusion criteria, this study proposes a revision to the Official List of Endangered Flora Species for the State of Santa Catarina for the family Arecaceae, based on conservation status assessments carried out for each of the State’s native palm species

Materials and methods

Results and Discussion

Literature cited