Atlantic Forest Research Articles

Geotechnologies on the phosphorus stocks determination in tropical soils: General impacts on society

Phosphorus (P) is a critical nutrient for primary production in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. As P mineral reserves are finite and non-renewable, there is an increasing discussion on its sustainable utilization to safeguard food security for future generations. Understanding the spatial distribution of soil P is central in advancing effective phosphorus management and fostering sustainable agricultural practices. This study aims to digitally map the stocks of available P (AP) and total P (TP) in Brazil at a fine resolution (30 m). Using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm and a database of topsoil (0-20 cm) with 28,572 samples for AP and 3154 for TP, we predicted P stocks based on environmental covariates related to soil formation processes. By dividing Brazil into two sub-regions, representing areas with native coverage and anthropogenic ones, we built independent predictive models for each sub-region. Our results show that Brazil has a TP stock of 531 Tg and an AP stock of 17.4 Tg. The largest soil TP stocks are in the Atlantic Forest biome (73.8 g.m2), likely due to higher organic carbon stocks in this biome. The largest AP stocks were in the Caatinga biome (2.51 g.m2) because of younger soils with low P adsorption capacity. We also found that fertilizer use significantly increased AP stocks in agricultural areas compared to native ones. Our results indicated that AP stocks strongly influenced Brazil's agricultural production, with a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.20 for coffee crops to 0.46 for soybean. The maps generated in this study are expected to contribute to the sustainable use of P in agriculture and environmental systems.

Post‐drought community turnover and functional redundancy in a tropical forest understorey

AbstractQuestionsDrought events are increasingly frequent, threatening the biodiversity of tropical forests. The understorey comprises a large fraction of the total plant species richness of these systems with the presence of highly diverse angiosperm families. Here, we quantified the effects of a drought on abundance and functional structures and on the ecosystem functioning of Rubiaceae assemblages along a topographic gradient.LocationMata das Flores State Park, an Atlantic Forest fragment in southeast Brazil.MethodsTwo vegetation surveys were performed: one during an El Niño‐induced drought, and the other three years after this drought. Abundance and functional structures were assessed using the 16 most‐abundant species of Rubiaceae, which comprised 92% of the total abundance. A litter decomposition experiment was carried out to estimate the percentage of mass loss by the Rubiaceae species. We carried out Procrustes analyses on abundance and functional structures and used Generalized Linear Mixed Models to test the effects of drought and topographic habitats on taxonomic and functional compositions, and mass loss.ResultsWe found that the functional structure and mass loss remained constant despite significant changes in the abundance structure after the drought.ConclusionThe evidence points to the maintenance of ecosystem functioning through functional redundancy, because functionally similar less‐abundant species replaced each other after the drought. We show that swarms of species can maintain biological diversity and stability in ecosystem functioning under drought in the understorey of a tropical forest.

Diversity and Flight Patterns of Caddisflies (Trichoptera) in an Atlantic Forest Fragment: Implications for Species Conservation in Threatened Ecosystems.

Anthropogenic activities have decimated the Atlantic Forest domain (AF) and increased the pressure on freshwater biota, such as Trichoptera, which is the most affected order by the current insect decline. Adult mobility is crucial for the colonisation of new environments unconnected by water sources. In this article, we describe the assemblage of caddisflies in a preserved AF fragment related to their functional feeding group and provide empirical data on the patterns of horizontal and vertical flight. Adults were collected using white sheet and light attraction traps, placed at different distances and heights from a stream in Pernambuco, Brazil. A total of 2934 specimens of 15 species from five families were collected, mostly collector-filterers. Horizontal flight was limited, with 80% of the abundance concentrated up to 20m. Vertical stratification was also concentrated at lower heights. A female-biased proportion was observed at higher strata. The richness and abundance of species decreased with increasing distances and heights from the stream. Overall, Chimarra sp. and Macrostemum scharfi were the dominant species. Trichoptera is a key taxon used as a biological indicator of water quality, and here, knowledge on the diversity and flight patterns of adults is expanded. At the risk of intensive pollution of rivers in Atlantic forests, data on the adult dispersal can be incorporated in the assessment of endangerment status and in conservation strategies.

MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION AND THE FIRST TAXONOMIC SYNTHESIS OF TERRESTRIAL CYANOBACTERIA FROM THE ATLANTIC FOREST IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Cyanobacteria are very morphological diverse and the taxonomic inventories are the basis of the knowledge about their biodiversity. However, these studies have decreased in the last years, mainly due to advances in molecular techniques, evenness these tools have their limitations, like sequence libraries. In order to reveal the importance of taxonomic inventories to little known organisms and unexplored areas, the present study was carried out with terrestrial cyanobacteria from the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil, compared to results with the state of the art of this group in the country. A total of 60 infrageneric taxa were found and 62.8% of identified species were new records to northeastern Brazil. Most of the previous studies were performed in the state of São Paulo (>70%) and half of the country has no records of terrestrial cyanobacteria due to the lack of studies. Thus, taxonomic surveys are still important to understand the cyanobacterial distribution and to characterize rare taxa and the biodiversity from unstudied areas and habitats.

Costs and benefits of restoration are still poorly quantified: evidence from a systematic literature review on the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The achievement of international forest restoration goals requires economically viable land‐use options. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a priority area for ecosystem restoration, as it is widely deforested to make place for intensive agriculture and one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots in the world. We systematically reviewed existing scientific literature on the biome to highlight the evidence on economic benefits and costs of forest restoration. A total of 15 publications were identified that quantify costs and/or economic benefits of forest restoration. We observed that most studies (11) [Correction added on 15 May 2024, after first online publication: In the preceding phrase, (12) was corrected to (11) in this version.] were published after 2018 and that research on the topic was biogeographically biased as 12 publications referred to study sites in Brazil's Southeast Region. Given its beneficial natural conditions, the Atlantic Forest is predestined for a wide range of restoration‐related opportunities, yet economic benefits of restoration are underexplored (seven studies). Moreover, benefits from a multifunctional use of restored forests are almost absent in the literature with only three studies presenting primary data. Elaboration of restoration costs is also limited to 10 studies that focus predominantly on active restoration. Thus, we argue that the economic costs and benefits of forest restoration are not well understood. Clarity thereon is, however, critical for policy formulation and to mobilize private investments. We therefore call for studies to fill in the knowledge gap on restoration economics in the Atlantic Forest biome, and to study restoration economics in other biomes as well.

A framework for the restoration of seed dispersal and pollination

Species reintroduction is a management strategy to restore ecosystem functioning through the reestablishment of ecological interactions and related ecological processes, like pollination and seed dispersal. Selecting the best species to achieve this goal remains challenging. We present a trait‐based framework to estimate the effects of species reintroductions on seed dispersal and pollination. Our framework assesses the potential contribution of a consumer species (e.g. seed disperser) by considering both the originality of its interactions and the availability of resources it consumes. Originality refers to the degree of uniqueness versus redundancy of a species' interactions compared with the interactions of the current consumer community. Resource availability, defined by the distribution of trait values in the resource community that enable interactions (like fruit size), determines the potential magnitude of a species' effect. The framework also allows assigning different weights to unique interactions, thereby facilitating decisions on whether to prioritize species that potentially add unique interactions if selected for reintroduction. Using our framework, we compared the potential effects of two reintroduced frugivores (agoutis and howler monkeys) on seed dispersal in an Atlantic Forest site. While both species have similar potential effects when not accounting for interaction originality, howlers interact with more common fruit's trait values, whereas agoutis have more unique interactions and with a broader variety of trait values. We also provide ways of generalizing our approach to include other factors, e.g. species abundances, to assess the consequences of other scenarios affecting community composition, such as species extinctions and invasions.

Dissimilar forests along the Rio Doce watershed call for multiple restoration references to avoid biotic homogenization

An environmental disaster caused by the rupture of a mining tailings dam has impacted a large area of the Rio Doce watershed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, resulting in unprecedented damage at spatial and temporal scales. The Atlantic Forest is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots. A long history of land use conversion has resulted in a highly fragmented landscape. Despite numerous restoration initiatives, these efforts have often biased criteria and use limited species assemblages. We conducted a comprehensive synthesis of the plant community in riparian forests along the Rio Doce watershed. Our work detailed vegetation composition (tree and sapling strata) and examined its relationship with edaphic and landscape factors, aiming to inform restoration projects with scientifically robust knowledge. A total of 4906 individuals from the tree strata and 4565 individuals from the sapling strata were recorded, representing a total of 1192 species from 75 families. Only 0.8% of the tree species and 0.5% of the sapling species occurred in all sampled sectors, with over 84% of the species occurring in a single watershed sector for both strata. We observed a high species heterogeneity modulated by turnover (92.3% in the tree, and 92.7% in the sapling strata) among sites. Overall, our research revealed a gradient of soil fertility influencing species composition across different strata. Additionally, we discovered that preserved landscapes had a positive impact on species diversity within both strata. The species exclusivity in the sampled sites and the high turnover rate imply the need to consider multiple reference ecosystems when restoring the watershed to reduce the risk of biotic homogenization. Finally, the reference ecosystems defined here serve as a basis for the selection of locally particular species in the implementation of restoration projects that aim to improve biodiversity, ecosystem services, and water security.

Hoist the colours: silviculture impacts fruit-feeding butterfly assemblage colouration in the Atlantic Forest

Hoist the colours: silviculture impacts fruit-feeding butterfly assemblage colouration in the Atlantic Forest

DNA barcoding reveals a new population of the threatened Atlantic Forest frog Sphaenorhynchus canga

Species identification plays a significant role in biodiversity conservation. As many species remain unrecognized, particularly in neotropical hotspots like the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (AF), novel molecular techniques are being widely employed to bridge this gap. In this study, we used DNA barcoding and phylogenetic tools to identify a new population of Sphaenorynchus canga in the central region of the Brazilian AF. Our results extend the species’ known distribution by approximately 200 km to the south, encompassing a different mountain range than its type locality (Serra do Espinhaço). This disjunct distribution, while not uncommon among amphibians, suggests a historical connection between these two mountain complexes as a biogeographic explanation. Despite the discovery of a new S. canga population, the species continues to face numerous anthropogenic threats such as mining, land use, and cattle ranching. Urgent conservation and research efforts are warranted to ensure the survival of S. canga populations across these habitats.

Unveiling the Anatomical and Functional Attributes of Stipular Colleters in Palicourea tetraphylla Cham. & Schltdl. and Palicourea rudgeoides (Müll. Arg.) Standl. (Rubiaceae).

The characterization of colleters in Rubiaceae is crucial for understanding their role in plant function. Analyzing colleters in Palicourea tetraphylla and Palicourea rudgeoides aims to deepen the understanding of these structures morphoanatomical and functional characteristics. The study reveals colleters with palisade epidermis and a parenchymatic central axis, classified as standard type, featuring vascularization and crystals. Colleter secretion, abundant in acidic mucopolysaccharides, proteins, and phenolic compounds, protects against desiccation. The ontogenesis, development, and senescence of the colleters are quite rapid and fulfill their role well in biotic and abiotic protection because these structures are present at different stages of development in the same stipule. Pronounced protrusions on the colleters surface, coupled with the accumulation of secretion in the intercellular and subcuticular spaces, suggest that the secretory process occurs through the wall, driven by pressure resulting from the accumulation of secretion. The microorganisms in the colleters' secretion, especially in microbiota-rich environments such as the Atlantic Forest, provide valuable information about plant-microorganism interactions, such as resistance to other pathogens and organisms and ecological balance. This enhanced understanding of colleters contributes to the role of these structures in the plant and enriches knowledge about biological interactions within specific ecosystems and the family taxonomy.

Nomenclatural revision and typification of extra-Amazonian Tachigali (Leguminosae - Caesalpinioideae)

Background and aims – The neotropical genus Tachigali comprises about 75 recorded species, including names described in Sclerolobium, synonymised in 1993 in Tachigali based on morphological, molecular, and anatomical characters. Most species are found in northern South America and the Atlantic Forest. However, some species are exclusively found in the savannas of central Brazil (Cerrado), Bolivia, and Paraguay. The Tachigali species from northern South America and Central America has already been revised. However, the extra-Amazonian Tachigali species were not correctly typified due to the impossibility of examining all syntypes. Therefore, the present work aims to present the nomenclatural review of the extra-Amazonian species of Tachigali. Material and methods – The list of accepted extra-Amazonian Tachigali names and their basionyms was made and verified through online databases. The original descriptions were consulted online or in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Library. The type specimens were examined in virtual herbaria and through visits to the B, IAN, G, K, M, NY, P, R, RB, US, and W herbaria. The International Code of Nomenclature of algae, fungi, and plants was followed for the type designation and nomenclatural notes. Key results – The nomenclatural review was carried out for 32 names. A total of 15 lectotypifications, representing 12 Tachigali species, and a new combination for Tachigali rubiginosa is proposed herein. Furthermore, the nomen dubium Sclerolobium macrophyllum is presented. Conclusion – Our study provides the nomenclatural review for the extra-Amazonian Tachigali species, including notes about the type materials, collectors, and authors of all species names, in addition to the holotype and lectotype images.

Fermentation of Sugarcane Biomass Hemicellulosic Hydrolysate by Yeast-Producer of Xylitol and Ethanol Isolated from the Atlantic Forest and the Brazilian Amazon Forest

Fermentation of Sugarcane Biomass Hemicellulosic Hydrolysate by Yeast-Producer of Xylitol and Ethanol Isolated from the Atlantic Forest and the Brazilian Amazon Forest

When the predator becomes the prey: record of Mischocyttarus rotundicollis (Cameron, 1912) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) feeding on a spider in southeastern Brazil

Social wasps are commonly considered generalists in their feeding habits, but there are genera with little information regarding their diet, such as Mischocyttarus de Saussure, 1853 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), the most species-rich wasp genus in the world. The objective of this study is to report Mischocyttarus rotundicollis (Cameron, 1912) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) feeding on a spider in the southeastern region of Brazil, aiming to expand information about its feeding behavior. The record occurred occasionally on September 23, 2023, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the ecotone region between the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. The feeding of a species from the Araneidae family occurred in its web, and the individual of M. rotundicollis used the tarsi of its legs to cling to the silk threads of the web, which could suggest a specialization for the exploitation of this food resource. Our record provides further information on the feeding behavior and diet of M. rotundicollis and presents the first information on spider feeding by this species. Further studies are suggested to evaluate this possible hypothesis of specialization of the genus for foraging in spider webs.

Vegetation changes through recurrent fire affect soil water behavior and enhance landslides in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, southeast Brazil

The role of fire in vegetation-soil–water interactions and its implications for soil stability and slope failures is poorly documented in humid tropical regions. This paper focuses on the relationships between vegetation change through recurrent fire and its effects on hydraulic conductivity and soil suction. Two monitoring sites were chosen on steep slopes in the mountainous domain of the Atlantic rainforest: the first is representative of degraded secondary rainforest (DRf) 25–30 years after slash and burn agriculture; the other represents herbaceous-shrubby vegetation (HS) resulting from wildfires in short-time intervals (<5 years). Two fires had previously occurred on the HS slope, one in December 2014 and the other in September 2019. Continuous records of rainfall and soil suction at depths of 10, 20, 50, 100, 150, and 220 cm provided a 6-year data collection from January 2015 to December 2020. Hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) field tests were conducted around the two monitoring sites before and after the September 2019 fire. The main results include: a) soil suction in the topsoil of both vegetation covers follow the rainfall inputs with high values of Ksat (DRf = 195 mm/h; HS = 203 mm/h); b) while quick rainfall-suction responses prevail within the DRf soil profile, soil suction at HS maintains a mean suction value around -27 kPa below 100 cm deep; c) field observations attest to the occurrence of hydrophobicity after the 2019 fire; d) Ksat tests just after this fire indicated a decreasing mean value from 203 mm/h to 46 mm/h; and e) by the end of the dry season after fire, there is a delayed increase in soil suction reaching -143 kPa at a depth of 100 cm and in smaller proportions at 220 cm deep. These results indicate that post-fire soil changes tend to favor the sudden loss of soil stability and slope failure during extreme rainfall events.

Synopsis of Pavonia Cav. (Malvaceae) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

Pavonia stands out as one of the most diverse genera within the Malvaceae, boasting 270 species with a widespread distribution throughout the Americas. The defining characteristics of the genus include the presence of an epicalyx, five carpels, 10 stigmas, and the absence of nectaries in the leaf and foliaceous bracts. This research focuses on presenting the Pavonia species in the state of Pernambuco, located in Northeastern Brazil, utilizing herbarium consultations. Among the 13 Pavonia species documented in Pernambuco, the majority are distributed across the Caatinga (7 species) and the Mata (5 species) phytogeographic zones. Notably, P. cancellata is found in all zones. This study unveils two new records for Pernambuco—P. hexaphylla and P. repens. Additionally, the distribution of P. ducke-limae, originally endemic to the Atlantic Forest, is expanded. Within the Caatinga, three species—P. glazioviana, P. repens, and P. varians are identified as endemic. Furthermore, lectotypification is performed for the names P. blanchetiana, P. glazioviana, and P. varians.

Forest firefighting technology: Strategic water reservoir placement for terrestrial and aerial vehicles

Forest fires pose significant environmental, economic, and social threats to protected areas. Understanding their destructive potential is crucial for effective risk management. Two key factors in firefighting are water availability and emergency response networks. This study aimed to determine optimal locations for water reservoirs, supporting terrestrial and/or aerial firefighting in the Caparaó National Park within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Geotechnological tools (fuzzy logic, Euclidean distance, network analysis) were employed to identify strategic reservoir locations, considering land use, slope, proximity to roads, watercourses, and fire risk. The application of these methodologies revealed that terrestrial firefighting alone fell short of meeting the specified demand, capable of addressing at most 92.13 % of demand within the longest available timeframe (20 min). Additionally, the number of reservoirs required for this method was significantly higher (724 reservoirs) compared to aerial firefighting (42 reservoirs). Analyzing the investment needed for reservoir construction relative to the covered area in each evaluated scenario, it is evident that the terrestrial approach incurs a significantly higher cost ($40,664.35.km−2) than the aerial approach ($2358.98.km−2). From these results, it was concluded that the use of geotechnological tools is efficient in identifying strategic water reservoir locations for replenishing firefighting vehicles, and all methodologies support the creation of priority measures and plans for firefighting, proving to be viable, applicable, replicable, and adaptable to any other protected areas and economically significant regions.

Combining LiDAR and Spaceborne Multispectral Data for Mapping Successional Forest Stages in Subtropical Forests

The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest presents great diversity of flora and stand structures, making it difficult for traditional forest inventories to collect reliable and recurrent information to classify forest succession stages. In recent years, remote sensing data have been explored to save time and effort in classifying successional forest stages. However, there is a need to understand if any of these sensors stand out for this purpose. Here, we evaluate the use of multispectral satellite data from four different platforms (CBERS-4A, Landsat-8/OLI, PlanetScope, and Sentinel-2) and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to classify three forest succession stages in a subtropical ombrophilous mixed forest located in southern Brazil. Different features extracted from multispectral and LiDAR data, such as spectral bands, vegetation indices, texture features, and the canopy height model (CHM) and LiDAR intensity, were explored using two conventional machine learning methods such as random trees (RT) and support vector machine (SVM). The statistically based maximum likelihood (MLC) algorithm was also compared. The classification accuracy was evaluated by generating a confusion matrix and calculating the kappa index and standard deviation based on field measurements and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data. Our results show that the kappa index ranged from 0.48 to 0.95, depending on the chosen dataset and method. The best result was obtained using the SVM algorithm associated with spectral bands, CHM, LiDAR intensity, and vegetation indices, regardless of the sensor. Datasets with Landsat-8 or Sentinel-2 information performed better results than other optical sensors, which may be due to the higher intraclass variability and less spectral bands in CBERS-4A and PlanetScope data. We found that the height information derived from airborne LiDAR and its intensity combined with the multispectral data increased the classification accuracy. However, the results were also satisfactory when using only multispectral data. These results highlight the potential of using freely available satellite information and open-source software to optimize forest inventories and monitoring, enabling a better understanding of forest structure and potentially supporting forest management initiatives and environmental licensing programs.

Multiple sources of evidence unravel a complex taxonomic history: the new genus Leonoria of the Spermacoce clade (Spermacoceae-Rubiaceae)

For a long time, the taxonomic status of Denscantia, a genus endemic to the Atlantic Forest along the Brazilian coast, has been a topic of discussion. Phylogenetic analyses using two nuclear and four chloroplast DNA markers from 82 accessions representing 19 genera of the Spermacoce clade (tribe Spermacoceae, Rubiaceae) confirm that the Brazilian genus Denscantia is biphyletic. Together with the recovered phylogenetic relationships, the analyses of reproductive morphological characters, leaf morphology and anatomy, histochemical, geographic distribution ranges, and ecological niche derived from climatic space further demonstrate that Denscantia calcicola is a distinct lineage from the other Denscantia species. Therefore, the above-mentioned species should be taxonomically designated as a new monospecific genus, Leonoria. Significant morphological differences between Leonoria and Denscantia were found in inflorescence organization, style shape, fruit dehiscence and pollen morphology. Morphological and anatomical variation among leaf traits was found in epidermal cells, trichome distribution, mesophyll histochemistry and vascular organization. The analysis of occurrence records of 207 specimens demonstrates a clear ecological distinction between of Denscantia s.s. and Leonoria, which is ecologically confined to limestone outcrops associated with seasonally dry forests. The current study highlights the importance of an integrative taxonomic approach combining multiple sources of evidence to unravel complex taxonomic history within Spermacoceae.

Ethanol, acetaldehyde, and methanol in the gas phase and rainwater in different biomes and urban regions of Brazil

In the context of the increasing global use of ethanol biofuel, this work investigates the concentrations of ethanol, methanol, and acetaldehyde, in both the gaseous phase and rainwater, across six diverse urban regions and biomes in Brazil, a country where ethanol accounts for nearly half the light-duty vehicular fuel consumption. Atmospheric ethanol median concentrations in São Paulo (SP) (12.3 ± 12.1 ppbv) and Ribeirão Preto (RP) (12.1 ± 10.9 ppbv) were remarkably close, despite the SP vehicular fleet being ∼13 times larger. Likewise, the rainwater VWM ethanol concentration in SP (4.64 ± 0.38 μmol L−1) was only 26 % higher than in RP (3.42 ± 0.13 μmol L−1). This work demonstrated the importance of evaporative emissions, together with biomass burning, as sources of the compounds studied. The importance of biogenic emissions of methanol during forest flooding was identified in campaigns in the Amazon and Atlantic forests. Marine air masses arriving at a coastal site led to the lowest concentrations of ethanol measured in this work. Besides vehicular and biomass burning emissions, secondary formation of acetaldehyde by photochemical reactions may be relevant in urban and non-urban regions. The combined deposition flux of ethanol and methanol was 6.2 kg ha−1 year−1, avoiding oxidation to the corresponding and more toxic aldehydes. Considering the species determined here, the ozone formation potential (OFP) in RP was around two-fold higher than in SP, further evidencing the importance of emissions from regional distilleries and biomass burning, in addition to vehicles. At the forest and coastal sites, the OFP was approximately 5 times lower than at the urban sites. Our work evidenced that transition from gasoline to ethanol or ethanol blends brings the associated risk of increasing the concentrations of highly toxic aldehydes and ozone, potentially impacting the atmosphere and threatening air quality and human health in urban areas.

Effects of geographical origin and post-harvesting processing on the bioactive compounds and sensory quality of Brazilian specialty coffee beans

Specialty coffee beans are those produced, processed, and characterized following the highest quality standards, toward delivering a superior final product. Environmental, climatic, genetic, and processing factors greatly influence the green beans’ chemical profile, which reflects on the quality and pricing. The present study focuses on the assessment of eight major health-beneficial bioactive compounds in green coffee beans aiming to underscore the influence of the geographical origin and post-harvesting processing on the quality of the final beverage. For that, we examined the non-volatile chemical profile of specialty Coffea arabica beans from Minas Gerais state, Brazil. It included samples from Cerrado (Savannah), and Matas de Minas and Sul de Minas (Atlantic Forest) regions, produced by two post-harvesting processing practices. Trigonelline, theobromine, theophylline, chlorogenic acid derivatives, caffeine, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid were quantified in the green beans by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Additionally, all samples were roasted and subjected to sensory analysis for coffee grading. Principal component analysis suggested that Cerrado samples tended to set apart from the other geographical locations. Those samples also exhibited higher levels of trigonelline as confirmed by two-way ANOVA analysis. Samples subjected to de-pulping processing showed improved chemical composition and sensory score. Those pulped coffees displayed 5.8% more chlorogenic acid derivatives, with an enhancement of 1.5% in the sensory score compared to unprocessed counterparts. Multivariate logistic regression analysis pointed out altitude, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, sweetness, and acidity as predictors distinguishing specialty coffee beans obtained by the two post-harvest processing. These findings demonstrate the influence of regional growth conditions and post-harvest treatments on the chemical and sensory quality of coffee. In summary, the present study underscores the value of integrating target metabolite analysis with statistical tools to augment the characterization of specialty coffee beans, offering novel insights for quality assessment with a focus on their bioactive compounds.