Cerrado Flora Research Articles

Elevation modulates the impacts of climate change on the Brazilian Cerrado flora

AbstractAimClimate change is causing species distribution to shift across the globe. Lowland taxa are moving upslope with warming, while montane species face extinction. We tested the hypothesis that elevation controls the future distribution of plant species in the Brazilian Cerrado, home of 3.5% of the Earth's flowering plants (c. 5000 endemic species) in just 0.4% of the planet's land surface.LocationCerrado region in Brazil.MethodsWe estimated geographical range shifts of 7398 angiosperm species by 2040 using species distribution models (SDMs). We stacked the SDMs to derive the temporal variations of species richness and composition over the Cerrado.ResultsOur results show that between 50 and 52% of the Cerrado flora will experience net range loss due to climate change. While montane species were more likely to lose range, range gain was more common among lowland taxa. We estimate that 68–73% of the Cerrado extent will face net species losses by 2040. Net species loss was more likely to occur below 743–798 metres above sea level. Virtually the entire Cerrado will experience some level of species replacement due to climate change and species turnover will intensify as elevation increases.Main ConclusionsOur findings suggest that upslope migration allows lowland plants to track climate change (‘winners’), whereas montane taxa do not (‘losers’). As species move upslope, lowlands become local extinction hotspots and mountains harbour novel plant assemblages. Therefore, elevation exerts a central role in shaping Cerrado flora responses to climate change and potentially the long‐term efficacy of conservation and restoration efforts.

Phytochemical analysis, toxicity and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaves of Dipteryx alata Vogel.

In this study, our objective was to conduct a comprehensive phytochemical analysis, determine toxicity levels, and assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of extracts derived from the leaves of Dipteryx alata Vogel, a native species of the Brazilian cerrado flora. Three distinct extracts were prepared utilizing assisted ultrasound and the Soxhlet apparatus, namely, Ultrasound Crude Extract (UCE), Soxhlet Crude Extract (SCE), and the Soxhlet Ethanol Extract (SEE). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phytosterols, and saponins in all extracts. Additionally, alkaloids were specifically identified in the SCE and SEE extracts. In the analysis using LC-DAD, the compounds gallic acid, rutin, quercetin, luteolin and kampefrol were determined in higher concentrations in the SCE, followed by the SEE and UCE, respectively. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in all extracts, with UCE and SCE showing a higher concentration of β-sitosterol. SCE showed the highest concentration of all identified compounds. In the analysis of antioxidant activity by DPPH• and ABTS•+, SEE showed greater efficiency (IC50 = 2.98 ± 2.92 and 6.57 ± 0.89 μg/mL, respectively). In the toxicity test with Allium cepa, all extracts stimulated root growth at 50 g/mL; UCE and SEE stimulated root growth at 250 g/mL; and SEE inhibited root growth at 750 g/mL. In the Artemia salina toxicity, all extracts were non-toxic. Antibacterial activity was identified in the microorganisms S. aureus and S. mutans; however, the extracts did not show antifungal action against the strain of C. albicans. The extracts of D. alata have therapeutic potential for applicability in dentistry.

Extrafloral Nectary-Bearing Plants Recover Ant Association Benefits Faster and More Effectively after Frost-Fire Events Than Frost.

The Cerrado confronts threats such as fire and frost due to natural or human-induced factors. These disturbances trigger attribute changes that impact biodiversity. Given escalating climate extremes, understanding the effects of these phenomena on ecological relationships is crucial for biodiversity conservation. To understand how fire and frost affect interactions and influence biological communities in the Cerrado, our study aimed to comprehend the effects of these two disturbances on extrafloral nectar (EFN)-bearing plants (Ouratea spectabilis, Ochnaceae) and their interactions. Our main hypothesis was that plants affected by fire would grow again more quickly than those affected only by frost due to the better adaptation of Cerrado flora to fire. The results showed that fire accelerated the regrowth of O. spectabilis. Regrowth in plants with EFNs attracted ants that proved to be efficient in removing herbivores, significantly reducing foliar herbivory rates in this species, when compared to the species without EFNs, or when ant access was prevented through experimental manipulation. Post-disturbance ant and herbivore populations were low, with frost leading to greater reductions. Ant richness and diversity are higher where frost precedes fire, suggesting that fire restores Cerrado ecological interactions better than frost, with less impact on plants, ants, and herbivores.

Transboundary conservation opportunities for Cerrado's plant species

Cerrado is considered one of the world's most threatened and floristically diverse tropical savannas. Distribution of the Cerrado flora comprises three countries: Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay; consequently, opportunities to conserve it require a transboundary effort. We aimed to (i) explore the relationship between a representative portion of Cerrado flora (8611 species), natural cover loss, and three country boundaries; and (ii) identify priority areas to expand protected areas at national and transboundary levels considering the different species conservation status, countries' governance, and natural cover loss. We modeled the distribution of Cerrado species for the three countries and overlapped species ranges with country boundaries to calculate species ranges shared between countries and the degree of endemicity. We identified national and transboundary priority regions to expand protected areas. We found that the areas with the highest plant richness are distributed in the central part of the Cerrado and Campos Rupestres Mountain Savanna ecoregions in Brazil (>8500 for the whole country). Bolivia ranked second in species richness (>4300), followed by Paraguay (>3700). The most anthropized areas in Brazil overlapped with regions predicted to foster the highest biodiversity. Conversely, such patterns were opposite in Bolivia and Paraguay, which harbored regions with high opportunities for Cerrado flora conservation. Transboundary prioritization suggested slightly higher species protection, including threatened and endemic species. Restoring some regions primarily in Brazil will be necessary to protect 30 % or 50 % of the study area. Together, the three countries can support more comprehensive conservation actions for the great diversity of the Cerrado flora.

Ferns and Lycophytes from the Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins: a contribution to the flora of the Jalapão, Brazil

Abstract This study contributes to the flora of ferns and lycophytes, also referred to as pteridophytes, from the Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins (EESGT), which is part of the Jalapão region in Tocantins. Although Jalapão is one of the largest protected areas in the Cerrado vegetation of Northern Brazil, its biodiversity has, thus far, been poorly reported in the literature. Therefore, fieldwork was recently carried out at EESGT in different habitats. Our collections and data from digital repositories included 31 ferns and four lycophyte species belonging to 20 genera of 15 families. Despite occupying only a small fraction of the landscape, forests concentrate most pteridophyte diversity, reinforcing their importance for the conservation of this group within the Cerrado. Eleven species are new records for Tocantins, one is new for Bahia, and one was recently described (Anemia areniticola). In addition to a list of all taxa, we provide illustrations and an identification key to encourage further studies on this often-neglected component of Cerrado flora.

Checklist of Angiosperms of a Cerrado Environmental Protection Area in the State of Maranhão, Brazil: floristic composition and new occurrences

This study presents an updated checklist of angiosperms from the Inhamum Municipal Environmental Protection Area (IMEPA), municipality of Caxias, a strategic area for understanding the Cerrado flora in the State of Maranhão, Brazil. The data presented provides information on the most representative taxa, number of collections, physiognomies of occurrence, life forms, endemicity to Brazil, new records for the State and a floristic similarity analysis with other Cerrado areas in this State. A total of 16 field excursions were carried out from January 2018 to June 2019, with random collections of fertile specimens made mostly on trails. We found 228 species of angiosperms distributed in 148 genera and 50 families. The most representative family was Leguminosae, with 54 species and 33 genera. Cyperus (Cyperaceae) was the most representative genus with seven species. A total of 40 species are endemic to Brazil, and ten are new occurrences for the State of Maranhão. The similarity analysis showed that the composition of angiosperm species from IMEPA is closer to that from the Buriti do Meio Environmental Protection Area, another conservation unit located in the same mesoregion within the State of Maranhão. Nonetheless, low similarity values were recorded, demonstrating an exclusive local richness in the analyzed areas. This study contributed to the knowledge of the Cerrado flora from the State of Maranhão, filling in the Cerrado diversity gaps in Northern Brazil.

Reviewing the Cerrado's limits, flora distribution patterns, and conservation status for policy decisions

The Cerrado contains a wide variety of vegetation types, and it is known for its high biodiversity but is highly threatened. We review the changes through time of geographical limits, studies on flora distribution patterns, and conservation status of Cerrado. Even with advances in technology, only the first government official map of Cerrado in 1993 included disjunct cerrado vegetations, that is, cerrado enclaves in other phytogeographic domains. The lack of cerrado enclaves delimiting and changes of geographical limits of Cerrado affects the land regulations because Brazilian government programs, or even laws, can be specific to a phytogeographic domain. Cerrado flora distribution presented a consistent pattern among studies along time, in which different regions show high similarity in their floristic composition, namely Biogeographic Districts (BD). We need conservation actions in each BD, since protected areas and deforestation rates are uneven among the BDs. Today, only 8.36% of cerrado are in Conservations Units (CU), far from the goal of 17% by 2020. Only 6.51% of cerrado are Indigenous Lands (IL). Both protected areas (CU and IL) have practically not increased since 2009. Discounting area overlapped, only 14.41% of Cerrado territory is in Protected Areas. The clear-cut deforested area reached 49.9% of Cerrado in 2019. From 2016–2019, the average annual deforestation rate is proportionally 78% higher than in Amazon. In recent years, the higher deforestation rates are in the states of North and Northeast of Brazil. We need strategic plans to conserve areas in all Biogeographic Districts, including disjunct cerrado areas, and think out how to reduce deforestation rates and promote sustainability actions.

UHPLC-(ESI)-HRMS and NMR-Based Metabolomics Approach to Access the Seasonality of Byrsonima intermedia and Serjania marginata From Brazilian Cerrado Flora Diversity.

Seasonality is one of the major environmental factors that exert influence over the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. The application of the metabolomics approach for quality control of plant extracts is essentially important because it helps one to establish a standard metabolite profile and to analyze factors that affect the effectiveness of the medicinal plants. The Brazilian Cerrado flora is characterized by a rich diversity of native plant species, and a number of these plant species have been found to have suitable medicinal properties. Some of these plant species include Byrsonima intermedia and Serjania marginata. To better understand the chemical composition of these plant species, we conducted a study using the state-of-the-art techniques including the HPLC system coupled to an Exactive-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization interface UHPLC-(ESI)-HRMS and by NMR being performed 2D J-resolved and proton NMR spectroscopy. For the analysis, samples were harvested bimonthly during two consecutive years. UHPLC-(ESI)-HRMS data were preprocessed and the output data uploaded into an in-house Excel macro for peak dereplication. MS and NMR data were concatenated using the data fusion method and submitted to multivariate statistical analysis. The dereplication of LC-HRMS data helped in the annotation of the major compounds present in the extracts of the three plant species investigated allowing the annotation of 68 compounds in the extracts of B. intermedia (cinnamic acids, phenolic acids derived from galloyl quinic and shikimic acid, proanthocyanidins, glycosylated flavonoids, triterpenes and other phenols) and 81 compounds in the extracts of S. marginata (phenolic acids, saponins, proanthocyanidins, glycosylated flavonoids among other compounds). For a better assessment of the great number of responses, the significance of the chemical variables for the differentiation and correlation of the seasons was determined using the variable importance on projection (VIP) technique and through the application of the false discovery rate (FDR) estimation. The statistical data obtained showed that seasonal factors played an important role on the production of metabolites in each plant species. Temperature conditions, drought and solar radiation were found to be the main factors that affected the variability of phenolic compounds in each species.

Ornamental flora of the Cerrado in landscape architecture: a portrait of its practical application

Abstract The rich diversity of the Cerrado flora has great ornamental potential, however it is barely present in Landscape Architecture projects in Brazil and incipient in the commercial market. The study sought to systematize part of the knowledge generated by the experiences of eight professionals who work in the Landscape Architecture field and are part of a spontaneous and growing movement that seeks the development of management techniques and a language referenced by phytophysiognomies of the Cerrado, especially its savannas and grasslands. Information was gathered from semi-structured interviews with eight professionals with practical experience in introducing Cerrado flora species in Landscape Architecture projects and analyzed to identify motivations, composition and language aspects, most-used species, technical aspects of implementation and management and perceptions of market and production chain. Reiterated points were mapped and categorized. Interviews revealed efforts to develop a compositional language referenced by the Cerrado with a predominance of herbaceous species and high species diversity in keeping with the contemporary naturalistic Landscape Architecture movement. A list of 84 potentially ornamental species used by interviewees was compiled. Difficulties and market impasses were identified. Much needed strategies for increasing Cerrado flora species use in Landscape Architecture are: engagement of society via environmental education, communication and marketing; research on Cerrado soil and ecology for species selection; qualification of labor; advocacy for public policies including promotion of production chains, research and education.

A preliminary vascular flora of the Parque Ecológico Ermida Dom Bosco, Distrito Federal, Brazil

The area known as Parque Ermida Dom Bosco on the shores of the Paranoá Lake, 7.8 km from the centre of Brasília (Rodoviária do Plano Piloto), Distrito Federal, Brazil, is a preservation area of Monumento Natural category (since 2019), and one of the few protected areas of the Distrito Federal without a floristic list. Collecting focused on the vascular flora and was undertaken as monthly, 1-day events from August of 2017 to August of 2018. Our study identified 293 species, of which half (50%) were distributed among just seven botanical families: Fabaceae (42 species), Asteraceae (31 spp.), Malpighiaceae (19 spp.), Myrtaceae (19 spp.), Lamiaceae (14 spp.), Poaceae (12 spp.), and Euphorbiaceae (8 spp.), a result that is congruent with the known Cerrado flora. Anemopaegma goyazense (Bignoniaceae) was recorded from a protected area in the Distrito Federal for the first time; other regional species with narrow geographic distributions recorded were Mimosa gatesiae (Fabaceae), Myrcia capitata and Myrcia federalis (Myrtaceae).

Among cradles and museums: seasonally dry forest promotes lineage exchanges between rain forest and savanna

ABSTRACTBackground: Cerrado comprises heterogeneous vegetation types. The flora of the vegetation types has distinct biogeographic origins and thus can be hypothesised to have distinct evolutionary imprints.Aims: We hypothesised that the flora of riparian forest was phylogenetically overdispersed, whereas those of more open habitats were phylogenetically clustered.Methods: We built a species-level phylogeny for 1,663 species of trees, shrubs and palms and analysed the pattern of lineage distribution, alpha and beta phylogenetic diversity among Cerrado vegetation types (riparian forest, rocky savana, savana and seasonally dry forest - SDTF).Results: We found a gradient of high phylogenetic diversity and overdispersion from riparian forests towards phylogenetic clustering in vegetation in more open and drier habitats. Habitat shifts were common along the evolutionary history of all families analysed and most families showed a high frequency of shifts from SDTF to riparian forest and savanna.Conclusions: SDTF seems to be a transitional habitat in evolutionary terms, promoting lineage exchanges between stands of riparian forest and savanna. While riparian forest can be seen as a ‘museum’, that harbours ancient lineages, savanna and rocky savanna are a ‘cradle’ of derived lineages. Habitat shifts are an important underlying drive of high present-day Cerrado flora diversity.

A dark scenario for Cerrado plant species: Effects of future climate, land use and protected areas ineffectiveness

AbstractAimThe anthropogenic climate change and land use change are considered two of the main factors that are altering biodiversity at the global scale. An evaluation that combined both factors can be relevant to detect which species could be the most vulnerable and reveal the regions of highest stability or susceptibility to biodiversity. We aimed to: (a) assess the effect of climate change and land use on the distribution of Cerrado plant species for different countries where they occur, (b) evaluate the effectiveness of the current network of protected areas (PAs) to safeguards species under different greenhouse–gas (GHG) emissions and land use scenarios, and (c) estimate the vulnerability of species based on protection effectiveness and habitat loss.LocationBolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.MethodsWe modelled the distribution of 1,553 plant species of Cerrado and evaluated species range loss caused by present and future land use and two GHG for 2050 and 2080. We assessed species vulnerability combining the representativeness of species within conservation units with the loss of species’ ranges outside PAs.ResultsWe found that climate change and land use will cause great damage to Cerrado flora by 2050 and 2080, even under optimistic conditions. The greatest impacts of land use will occur in the regions where the greatest richness will be harboured. The conservation of the species will be seriously affected since the PA network is not as effective in safeguarding them under current or future conditions.Main conclusionsThe low level of protection together with the losses caused by the advance of agricultural lands will lead most species being highly vulnerable. Due to the distinct impacts of climate and land use over the three countries, conservation strategies should be implemented at transboundary and national levels.

FLORA AND FLORISTIC AFFINITIES OF THE CERRADOS OF MARANHÃO STATE, BRAZIL

Cerrado vegetation is the main formation covering c.60% of the land surface of Maranhão, Brazil, with cerradão being the dominant physiognomy. To characterise the cerrado flora in Maranhão, 12 localities were selected across its distribution in the northeastern, central, southern and southeastern regions of the state. A total of 150 angiosperm species were identified, distributed across 105 genera and 43 families. Twelve are new occurrences in Maranhão, and of these, four are also new records for Northeast Brazil. Two distinct floristic regions were recognised: the cerrados of the northeastern and central regions, and the cerrados of the southern region. Three subgroups were recognised in the southern region: cerrados of the highest altitudes, medium-altitude cerrados and cerrados of variable altitudes. Floristic comparisons with the Brazilian cerrados suggest that the medium-altitude southern cerrados of Maranhão are similar to those of the central region of Brazil, whereas the northeastern, central and southern highest-altitude regions form a distinct floristic group.

Conservation assessment of cassava wild relatives in central Brazil

Crop wild relatives (CWR) are a key component of the world’s biota since they have the potential to contribute traits for crop improvement. The rich flora of the Brazilian Cerrado harbours a large number of CWR, but little is known about their distribution and conservation status. This study focused on the conservation of cassava (Manihot) wild relatives in the Cerrado. To accomplish this, we performed herbarium and field surveys to assess species conservation status based on geographic distribution, population density estimates, and rates of habitat loss. We found 75 species of Manihot occurring in the Cerrado, including 59 endemics. Among the endemic taxa, 24 are at some level of threat according to IUCN classification (14% Vulnerable, 22% Endangered, 5% Critically endangered), mostly owing to narrow geographic range and habitat loss. Most species are locally abundant, ranging from 55 to 1493 mature individuals per hectare. A quarter of the species recorded have been described over the past 5 years, indicating that the diversity of Manihot in the Cerrado is still underestimated. Areas of high species richness and endemism coincided mostly with Cerrado highlands, particularly in northern Goias state. Field surveys in 16 reserves indicate that 54% of Cerrado endemics are not represented in these protected areas. We believe that the patterns of distribution and conservation status uncovered here for Manihot are representative of many plant groups that are particularly diverse in high-altitude areas in the Cerrado. This calls for expansion of the network of protected areas to cover a wider range of environments, particularly those with a concentration of rare and endemic species, to ensure the effective in situ conservation of CWR present in the Cerrado flora.

Florística e aspectos fitogeográficos dos "campos" do Parque Estadual do Jaraguá, São Paulo, Brasil

As formações campestres e savânicas no Domínio da Mata Atlântica na região metropolitana de São Paulo são bem documentados mas ainda pouco estudados. O Parque Estadual do Jaraguá (PEJ), localizado na cidade de São Paulo, possui uma formação campestre em sua porção mais alta, entre 905 a 1125 m de altitude, vulnerável à perturbação antrópica. O primeiro levantamento florístico realizado no PEJ constatou 55 espécies arbustivo-arbóreas na formação denominada “campos”, sugerindo mais estudos na área. A recente descoberta da presença no PEJ de populações de uma espécie rara, Baccharis trineura Soria & Zardini, motivou este novo levantamento da flora vascular, buscando aprofundar a amostragem sobretudo no componente herbáceo-subarbustivo. A lista de espécies foi então comparada com inventários disponíveis de outras áreas com campos e cerrados de topo de morro das proximidades, inseridas no Domínio da Mata Atlântica. O presente estudo buscou ainda investigar se os campos do PEJ têm origem antrópica ou autóctone, e detectar se sua flora é mais relacionada à da Mata Atlântica circundante ou à do Cerrado. Ao longo de um ano, coletas quinzenais foram realizadas nos 37 hectares de campos do PEJ. Este levantamento registrou 242 espécies nativas de 50 famílias vasculares, dentre as quais 112 são típicas de cerrado e 34 são ruderais. A comparação desses dados com as outras listas florísticas mostra que a vegetação campestre do PEJ apresenta 51 espécies em comum com os do Parque Estadual do Juquery, 20 com o Núcleo Curucutu do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, 28 com a Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara, 16 com a Reserva Biológica de Moji Guaçu e 11 com o Parque das Furnas do Bom Jesus. Os resultados corroboram a suposição de que os campos do PEJ sejam autóctones, pelo contraste do elevado número de espécies nativas com a baixa taxa de espécies ruderais e exóticas, além da presença de espécies ameaçadas ou vulneráveis. O elevado número de espécies típicas da flora do Cerrado e a alta similaridade do PEJ com outras vegetações savânicas já estudadas na região, além do expressivo índice de pirófitas, indicam que a formação campestre do PEJ provavelmente constitua uma área disjunta de cerrado, um notório pirobioma. Uma breve discussão sobre provável natureza relictual essa formação campestre é apresentada.

Trabeculae and Al-accumulation in the wood cells of Melastomataceae species from Brazilian savanna

Family Melastomataceae is an important component of the Brazilian Cerrado flora, inhabiting different environments from those with well-drained soils to swamp soil sites. Several members of this family are recognized as aluminum (Al)-accumulating. We studied the wood anatomy of six species of Melastomataceae (Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana, M. fallax DC., M. chamissois Naudin, M. ligustroides (DC.) Naudin, Microlepis oleaefolia (DC.) Triana, Rhynchanthera dichotoma DC.), growing in different environments of Cerrado, exploring the occurrence of trabeculae and Al-accumulation sites. We processed the material following the usual techniques in wood anatomy and histochemistry. We used a chrome azurol-S spot-test in fresh material to detect Al-accumulation. The common features were diffuse porosity, vessel elements with simple perforation plates and vestured pits, abundant parenchyma-like fiber bands and septate fibers, axial parenchyma scanty to vasicentric, and heterocellular rays. The presence of trabeculae in vessel elements, septa in parenchyma cells, and aluminum in the G-layer of the gelatinous fiber walls, in the septa of fibers, in cambial initials and derivatives cell walls, and in the vacuole of ray cells are recorded for the first time for Melastomataceae. The results of this study indicate an additional role for gelatinous fibers in Al-accumulation, and offer a new perspective on Al-compartmentalization in the wood cells from Cerrado species.

Florística e fitossociologia em três diferentes fitofisionomias campestres no Sul do Brasil

RESUMO A proposta deste estudo foi avaliar a composição e a estrutura de comunidades campestres, procurando discutir a similaridade florística entre as diferentes fitofisionomias e a influência da flora do Cerrado na sua composição. O estudo foi realizado no Parque Estadual de Vila Velha (PEVV) (25º12'34"-25º15'35"S e49º58'04"-50º03'37"W), Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil. Para o levantamento foram alocadas 30 parcelas de 1 × 1 m em cada área,e acrescentadas coletas aleatórias nas fitofisionomias: campo seco (CS), campo úmido (CU) e campo rupestre (CR). Foram amostradas 283 espécies, sendo 163 espécies no CS, 87 no CU e 59 CR. Das espécies identificadas em nível específico,36,48% (85) foram citadas para áreas de Cerrado da região. As análises de agrupamento apontaram que as composições florísticas das três formações campestres são significativamente distintas entre si, isto se deve a diversos fatores, especialmente em relação ao regime hídrico do solo.

Tree species of South America central savanna: endemism, marginal areas and the relationship with other biomes

Biological knowledge is important for guidance of conservation polices. In the Cerrado, an extremely diverse biome, the last synthesis of floristic knowledge has more than ten years. To understand the progress on the information, our aim was quantify the tree species of the Cerrado, and assess their distribution. We compiled 167 inventories and rapid surveys of tree species, corresponding to 625 sites. We accessed the species distributions in the Brazilian biomes, and estimated the number of species in the savannas of Cerrado using four algorithms. We observed a greater local richness in more central regions of the biome, but due to high beta diversity, more peripheral regions presented a greater cumulative richness. The Atlantic Forest was the most important neighbouring biome, influencing the floristic composition of the Cerrado. The proportion of typical Cerrado species was 16%. The highest proportion of endemic species is possibly found in other life forms, and it is crucial that these species are included in inventories and floristic surveys. To guide new studies and help supplement the knowledge of the Cerrado's flora, we identified the main sampling gaps, located mainly in ecotonal regions, which are responsible for the largest number of species recorded in studies of the Cerrado.

The length of the dry season may be associated with leaf scleromorphism in cerrado plants.

Despite limitations of low fertility and high acidity of the soils, the cerrado flora is the richest amongst savannas. Many cerrado woody species show sclerophyllous leaves, which might be related to the availability of water and nutrients in the soil. To better understand the function and structure of cerrado vegetation within its own variations, we compared two cerrado communities: one in its core region in central Brazil (Brasília, DF) and the other on its southern periphery (Itirapina, SP). We contrasted the length of the dry season, soil fertility rates, leaf concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and Mg and the specific leaf area (SLA) between these communities. The dry season was shorter on the periphery, where the soil was more fertile although more acidic. Plants from the periphery showed higher SLA and higher leaf concentrations of N, P, Ca and Mg. We propose that the higher SLA of plants from the periphery is related to the shorter dry season, which allows better conditions for nutrient uptake.

Ecological strategies of Al-accumulating and non-accumulating functional groups from the cerrado sensu stricto.

The cerrado's flora comprises aluminum-(Al) accumulating and non-accumulating plants, which coexist on acidic and Al-rich soils with low fertility. Despite their existence, the ecological importance or biological strategies of these functional groups have been little explored. We evaluated the leaf flushing patterns of both groups throughout a year; leaf concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Al, total flavonoids and polyphenols; as well as the specific leaf area (SLA) on young and mature leaves within and between the groups. In Al-accumulating plants, leaf flushed throughout the year, mainly in May and September; for non-accumulating plants, leaf flushing peaked at the dry-wet seasons transition. However, these behaviors could not be associated with strategies for building up concentrations of defense compounds in leaves of any functional groups. Al-accumulating plants showed low leaf nutrient concentrations, while non-accumulating plants accumulated more macronutrients and produced leaves with high SLA since the juvenile leaf phase. This demonstrates that the increase in SLA is slower in Al-accumulating plants that are likely to achieve SLA values comparable to the rest of the plant community only in the wet season, when sunlight capture is important for the growth of new branches.