Forest Biome Research Articles

Climate change critically affects the status of the land-system change planetary boundary

The planetary boundaries framework defines a safe operating space for humanity. To date, these boundaries have mostly been investigated separately, and it is unclear whether breaching one boundary can lead to the transgression of another. By employing a dynamic global vegetation model, we systematically simulate the strength and direction of the effects of different transgression levels of the climate change boundary (using climate output from ten phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project models for CO2 levels ranging from 350 ppm to 1000 ppm). We focus on climate change-induced shifts of Earth’s major forest biomes, the control variable for the land-system change boundary, both by the end of this century and, to account for the long-term legacy effect, by the end of the millennium. Our simulations show that while staying within the 350 ppm climate change boundary co-stabilizes the land-system change boundary, breaching it (>450 ppm) leads to critical transgression of the latter, with greater severity the higher the ppm level rises and the more time passes. Specifically, this involves a poleward treeline shift, boreal forest dieback (nearly completely within its current area under extreme climate scenarios), competitive expansion of temperate forest into today’s boreal zone, and a slight tropical forest extension. These interacting changes also affect other planetary boundaries (freshwater change and biosphere integrity) and provide feedback to the climate change boundary itself. Our quantitative process-based study highlights the need for interactions to be studied for a systemic operationalization of the planetary boundaries framework.

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.

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.

Influence of seasonal hydrological regimes on benthic macroinvertebrates in two the Brazilian biodiversity hotspots

Global warming has changed climate patterns worldwide causing an increase of extreme weather conditions that have altered annual seasonal hydrological regimes. These extreme climate-driven shifts modify habitat availability and can influence freshwater communities in disruptive ways. Our study investigates how changes in annual seasonal hydrological regimes affect the community structure and the Functional Feeding Groups (FFG) of benthic macroinvertebrates in two Brazilian biodiversity hotspots, the Brazilian Tropical Savannas (a.k.a., Cerrado) and Atlantic Forest biomes. We investigate whether annual variation in precipitation between biomes influence composition, richness, and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates and their proportions of FFG. We demonstrate that differences in annual precipitation rates affect the composition and abundance, but not richness of benthic macroinvertebrates. Changes in community structure are related to changes in annual precipitation, which modify stream variables. Our findings suggest that annual seasonal changes in hydrological precipitation modify benthic macroinvertebrate communities, especially in Cerrado, where dry seasons are more pronounced. Therefore, annual changes in precipitation rates may disrupt the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in tropical savannas, potentially leading to biodiversity loss.

Comparing the performance of three satellite-based data products for assessing protected area effectiveness

Protected areas (PAs) play a key role in tackling the ongoing biodiversity crisis, but there is a lack of sufficient information about how effectively they can mitigate different land-use pressures, such as deforestation and wildfires. The majority of studies assessing PA effectiveness have so far focused on forest loss as a proxy, finding that PAs in general reduce tropical deforestation pressures. However, data on the spread and incidents of fires could provide an interesting alternative, since several high-quality, open-access fire data products have lately become available at high spatial and temporal resolution. In this study, we compare how three satellite-based data products (forest loss, fire incidence, burned area) affect the results and conclusions of a matching-based analysis of the effectiveness of the PAs of Madagascar, a global biodiversity hotspot. We also compare the data products´ spatial and temporal resolution, the timespan they cover, and how user-friendly the downloading and pre-processing stages are. We found that Madagascar’s PAs have the capacity to mitigate forest conversion pressures, irrespective of which data product is used as a proxy for effectiveness. However, the level of effectiveness varies between the main forest biomes, and there is significant variation in the effectiveness between individual PAs. Overall, our results indicate that satellite-based fire data can potentially be used to a much greater extent for assessing future PA performance, especially when seeing that their high temporal resolution makes them particularly relevant for practical management purposes.

Functional richness mediates landscape and management effects on tree biomass and soil fertility during secondary forest succession

Secondary forests can play a critical role in conserving plant biodiversity and sequestering carbon. However, intensive past management, fragmentation, and initial soil fertility can hinder forest recovery during secondary succession, especially in terms of tree species selection. In turn, tree species selection can negatively impact soil fertility recovery and may slow down the succession process, but the direct and indirect effects between these factors remain unclear. To assess the complex interactions among landscape, previous management, soil and vegetation, 27 secondary forests of varying ages, previously used for eucalyptus plantations, located in diverse landscape configurations within the Atlantic Forest biome, were examined. Key variables, such as planting frequency, cutting frequency, forest cover in the landscape, patch isolation between fragments, functional richness, tree aboveground biomass (AGB), soil sum of bases, soil organic matter, and soil phosphorus concentration were used to construct a structural equation model to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of landscape and previous management on forest development. Cutting frequency and patch isolation had a negative direct effect on functional richness. Additionally, a strong positive direct effect of functional diversity on aboveground biomass and soil sum of bases was found. Thus, cutting frequency and patch isolation had negative indirect effects on biomass and soil sum of bases (a proxy for soil fertility), mediated by functional richness. These findings underscore the significance of integrating plant functional diversity into restoration strategies to preserve ecosystem functioning and efficiently recover biodiversity, tree biomass, and soil fertility in secondary forests.

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) marked reliable value of Ulu Muda Forest Reserve

Water resources must be preserved because they are vital for agricultural, industrial, and domestic use, especially in tropical forest regions. Given the importance of the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve to the Kedah state in sustaining paddy cultivation for the country, this study aimed to provide reliable forest classification method and produce Normalized Difference Vegetation Index-Maximum Likelihood Classification of forest density map for Ulu Muda Forest Reserve. Here, the study reports measurements of the satellite remote sensing index for the forest based the image date. The forest recorded NDVI index of 0.72 to 0.98 for high density, NDVI index of 0.61 to 0.71 for moderate and NDVI index of 0.26 to 0.60 for low density area. The index showed higher value, which is comparable with reports of other tropical forest elsewhere. The results were influenced using satellite remote sensing pre-processing, processing, and classification. As a result, based on the satellite image indices approach, upper threshold of the higher density, the forest can exhibit higher capability for sustaining its ecological and hydrological functions. Given that most of the tropical forest biome has sustained this threshold, forest management should be sustained at this state, and more measures should be taken for example increase of protection forest classification in Rancangan Pengurusan Hutan (RPH) that is one of yearly planning report in states of Peninsular Malaysia. In the meantime, Geographical Information System (GIS) capacity should be mandate looking forwards for more utilisation in mapping for planning and projection of forest resource management activities.

A new species and new records of the spider genus Dubiaranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from southern Brazil and Uruguay, with an analysis of the potential distribution of the species

Dubiaranea magatama Cajade, Hagopián & Rodrigues n. sp. is described from Uruguay, and southern Brazil based on males and females from several types of native forests, and a potential distribution for this species is modeled. The predicted model for this species indicates a Pampean province and southern Atlantic Forest biome distribution. Three variables contributed significantly to the model with positive influence: the spatial component, the proximity to large rivers, and the tree cover. Also, we provide new records of Dubiaranea difficilis (Mello-Leitão 1944) for Uruguay and a model of its potential distribution was performed. It showed that tree cover, the proximity to large rivers, the spatial component and precipitation/evapotranspiration constraints were recovered for the model with positive influence, expanding the potential distribution area previously proposed.

Vitisma coriacea sp.n. (Insecta: Dictyoptera) from the mid-Cretaceous in northern Myanmar, first record of the genus in amber

The genus Vitisma Vršanský, 1999 is characterised by a shield-like, convex pronotum with transverse margins, scleroritized forewings with sometimes white macula, long clavus and rather simplified venation (simple Sc, straight and expanded M veins, CuA narrow and branched, A simple, R reaching apex). The hindwing venation is similar to the Blattulidae with a distinct pterostigma, but R1 is comb-like and CuA branched. The first record of Vitisma coriacea sp. n. in Burmese amber extends its palaeogeographic distribution to Gondwana, similar to other Umenocoleoidea. So far, the genus was only known from sediments in Spain, Russia, Mongolia, and possibly Japan. It also suggests that representatives of Vitisma inhabited warmer, tropical forest biomes.

Linking leaf elemental traits to biomass across forest biomes in the Himalayas

Linking leaf elemental traits to biomass across forest biomes in the Himalayas

Water Balance In Hapic Cambisols Under Forest And Pasture In The Bonfim Watershed: Mountainous Region Of Rio De Janeiro State

Objective: To estimate the water volumes of the main components of BH in a Haplic Cambisol in forests and pastures in the Bonfim River basin, mountainous region of RJ. Theoretical framework: The water balance (BH) accounts for the volumes of water input and output in a given space (Haplic Cambisols under forests and pastures). Method: The study period was 01/01/2000 and 12/31/2019. The HYDRUS-1D model was used to estimate water volumes in BH. Pedotransfer functions were used to determine the physical water parameters of water retention and conduction in the soil. The daily precipitation and evapotranspiration data were considered upper boundary conditions, and the lower boundary conditions were considered free drainage. Water absorption by the roots was considered as the additional factor (Sink factor) in the soil water mass balance. Results and conclusion: The average annual precipitation was 1462 mm and the potential evapotranspiration was 1026 mm. In lhe area under pastures: 83%, 7% and 9% of the total precipitated and percolated, transpired and evaporated, respectively. In areas under forests: these values were 43%, 51% and 6%. In the dry season, evapotranspiration was 20% of the total precipitation in the forest area and 8% in the pasture areas. Percolation in the dry season was 17% of the total precipitation in the pasture and 7% in the forest. In the rainy season the percolated values were 66% in the pasture and 36% in the forest. Implications of the research: Knowing the volumes of water in the components of the BH can help in decisions regarding the organization of land use and cover systems in basins of the Atlantic Forest biome. Changing soil use and cover systems alters the volumes of water percolated or evapotranspired. Originality/value: Estimating the water volumes in the BH components in pasture and forest allows predicting the effects of climate change and land use and their consequences.

Spatial phylogenetics of Fagales: Investigating drivers of temperate forest distributions

AbstractAimQuantifying the phylogenetic diversity of temperate trees is essential for understanding the processes that have shaped the modern distribution of temperate broadleaf forest and other major forest biomes. Here, we focus on Fagales, an iconic member of forests worldwide, to uncover global diversity and endemism patterns and investigate the distribution of root nodule symbiosis (RNS), an important morphological specialisation in this clade, as a key factor behind these patterns.LocationGlobal.TaxonFagales.MethodsWe combined phylogenetic data covering 60.2% of living species, fine‐scale distribution models covering 90% of species, and nodulation data covering all species to investigate the distribution of species richness and phylogenetic diversity at fine spatial scales compared to the distribution of RNS. We identify abiotic environmental factors associated with RNS and with Fagales diversity in general.ResultsWe find the highest species richness in temperate east Asia, eastern North America, and equatorial montane regions of Asia and Central America. By contrast, relative phylogenetic diversity (RPD) is highest at higher latitudes, where RNS also predominates. We found a strong spatial structuring of regionalisations of Fagales floras, reflecting distinct Northern and Southern Hemisphere floras (except a unique Afro‐Boreal region), each with distinct RNS‐environment relationships.Main ConclusionsAlthough species richness and phylogenetic regionalisation for Fagales accord well with traditional biogeographic concepts for temperate forests, this is not the case for RPD. RNS is almost universal in the highest RPD regions, which may reflect ecological filtering promoting RNS in these regions. Our results highlight the utility of global‐scale, clade‐specific spatial phylogenetics and its utility for understanding drivers of diversity in species‐rich clades.

Patterns and trends in the spatial heterogeneity of land surface phenology of global forests

Land-surface phenology is a widely used indicator of how terrestrial ecosystems respond to environmental change. The spatial variability of this plant functional trait has also been advocated as an indicator of the functional composition of ecosystems. However, a global-scale assessment of spatial patterns in the spatial heterogeneity of forest phenology is currently lacking. To address this knowledge gap, we developed an index based on satellite retrievals and used it to quantify phenological diversity across global forest biomes. We show that there is considerable variation in phenological diversity among biomes, with the highest overall levels occurring in arid and temperate regions. An analysis of the drivers of the spatial patterns revealed that temperature-related factors primarily determine the variation in phenological diversity. Notably, temperature seasonality and mean annual temperature emerged as the most significant variables in explaining this global-scale variability. Furthermore, an assessment of temporal changes over an 18-year period revealed strong climate-driven shifts of phenological diversity in boreal and arid regions, suggesting that there may be an ongoing widespread homogenisation of land surface phenology within forest ecosystems. Our findings ultimately contribute to the development of a novel Essential Biodiversity Variable, which may enable scientists and practitioners to quantify the functional composition of ecosystems at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales.

Unraveling the genetic diversity of Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae) in isolated limestone outcrops: Conservation strategies.

Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) located on limestone outcrops are vulnerable to degradation caused by timber logging and limestone extraction for cement production. Some of these forests represent the last remnants of native vegetation cover, functioning as isolated islands. Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae) is a tree frequently found on limestone outcrops in the central region of Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and identify suitable populations for the establishment of Management Units (MUs) for conservation. Inter-simple sequence repeat markers were employed to assess the genetic diversity in ten populations sampled from the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes. The species exhibited substantial genetic diversity (HT = 0.345; PLP = 97.89%). Populations SAH, JAN, and MON demonstrated elevated rates of polymorphic loci (> 84.2%) along with notable genetic diversity (He > 0.325). Additionally, these populations were the primary contributors to gene flow. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most genetic variation occurs within populations (91.5%) than between them. In the Bayesian analysis, the ten populations were clustered into five groups, revealing the presence of at least three barriers to gene flow in the landscape: 1) the Central Plateau or Paranã River valley; 2) near the Espinhaço mountains or the São Francisco River valley; and 3) around the Mantiqueira mountain range, Chapada dos Veadeiros plateau, and disturbed areas. A positive and statistically significant correlation was observed between genetic (θB) and geographic distances (r = 0.425, p = 0.008). Based on these findings, we propose the establishment of Management Units in Minas Gerais state, encompassing the (1) southern region (MIN population), (2) central region (SAH population), and (3) north region (MON population), as well as in Goiás state, covering the (4) Central Plateau region. These units can significantly contribute to preserving the genetic diversity of these trees and protecting their habitat against ongoing threats.

An improved method for edge detection based on neighbor distance for processing hemispheric photography

Abstract Hemisphere photos are now widely applied to provide information about solar radiation dynamics, canopy structure and their contribution to biophysical processes, plant productivity and ecosystem properties. The present study aims to improve the original ‘edge detection’ method for binary classification between sky and canopy, which works not well for closed canopies. We supposed such inaccuracy probably is due to the influence of sky pixels on their neighbor canopy pixels. Here, we introduced a new term ‘neighbor distance’, defined as the distance between pixels participated in the calculation of contrast at the edges between classified canopy and sky, into the ‘edge detection’ method. We showed that choosing a suitable neighbor distance for a photo with a specific gap fraction can significantly improve the accuracy of the original ‘edge detection’ method. We developed an ND-IS (Neighbor Distance-Iteration Selection) method that can automatically determine the threshold values of hemisphere photos with high accuracy and reproductivity. It combines the modified ‘edge detection’ method and an iterative selection method, with the aid of an empirical power function for the relationship between neighbor distance and manually verified gap fraction. This procedure worked well throughout a broad range of gap fractions (0.019–0.945) with different canopy compositions and structures, in five forest biomes along a broad gradient of latitude and longitude across Eastern China. Our results highlight the necessity of integrating neighbor distance into the original ‘edge detection’ algorithm. The advantages and limitations of the method, and the application of the method in the field were also discussed.

Amphibian conservation status in Brazil: Spatial patterns, threats, and challenges

Extinction risk assessments are valuable conservation tools, especially for sensitive groups like amphibians, which are facing escalating threats from habitat loss and degradation. In this scenario, Brazil stands out as a pivotal player in amphibian conservation due to its exceptional amphibian diversity. Between 2010 and 2014, 973 amphibian species were assessed in Brazil. More recently, from 2017 to 2018, this number increased to 1096. In this study, we (1) compare the extinction risk status of Brazilian amphibians between the 1st and 2nd assessments; (2) evaluate the reasons for changes in status; (3) identify the main threats and research recommendations; and (4) analyze the spatial patterns of threatened species in relation to protected areas and ecoregions in Brazil. Our findings reveal an increase in the number of threatened species from the first to the second assessment. The categories of Least Concern and Critically Endangered experienced the most significant increases, with 169 and 16 more species, respectively, while the count of Data Deficient species dropped by 71. The primary factor contributing to these changes is the availability of new, more precise information, affecting 134 species, or 85.4% of the cases. Threatened species are predominantly clustered within the Atlantic Forest biome, itself the most endangered biome in Brazil, hosting 46 species, or 78% of the total. Notably, one-third of threatened species in Brazil do not inhabit protected areas and thus require immediate conservation attention. While substantial progress has been made in understanding Brazilian amphibians in recent years, an urgent need persists for fundamental research. This research should encompass taxonomy, natural history, and the evaluation of threat impacts, providing a robust foundation for more effective conservation efforts concerning this group.

Thermal, water, and land cover factors led to contrasting urban and rural vegetation resilience to extreme hot months.

With continuing global warming and urbanization, it is increasingly important to understand the resilience of urban vegetation to extreme high temperatures, but few studies have examined urban vegetation at large scale or both concurrent and delayed responses. In this study, we performed an urban-rural comparison using the Enhanced Vegetation Index and months that exceed the historical 90th percentile in mean temperature (referred to as "hot months") across 85 major cities in the contiguous United States. We found that hot months initially enhanced vegetation greenness but could cause a decline afterwards, especially for persistent (≥4 months) and intense (≥+2 °C) episodes in summer. The urban responses were more positive than rural in the western United States or in winter, but more negative during spring-autumn in the eastern United States. The east-west difference can be attributed to the higher optimal growth temperatures and lower water stress levels of the western urban vegetation than the rural. The urban responses also had smaller magnitudes than the rural responses, especially in deciduous forest biomes, and least in evergreen forest biomes. Within each biome, analysis at 1 km pixel level showed that impervious fraction and vegetation cover, local urban heat island intensity, and water stress were the key drivers of urban-rural differences. These findings advance our understanding of how prolonged exposure to warm extremes, particularly within urban environments, affects vegetation greenness and vitality. Urban planners and ecosystem managers should prioritize the long and intense events and the key drivers in fostering urban vegetation resilience to heat waves.

Ideas and perspectives: Sensing energy and matter fluxes in a biota-dominated Patagonian landscape through environmental seismology – introducing the Pumalín Critical Zone Observatory

Abstract. The coastal temperate rainforests (CTRs) of Chilean Patagonia are a valuable forest biome on Earth given their prominent role in biogeochemical cycling and the ecological value and dynamics of surface processes. The Patagonian CTRs are amongst the most carbon-rich biomes on Earth. Together with frequent landscape disturbances, these forests potentially allow for episodic and massive release or sequestration of carbon into and from the atmosphere. We argue that, despite their particular biogeographic, geochemical, and ecological roles, the Patagonian CTRs in particular and the global CTRs in general are not adequately represented in the current catalog listing critical zone observatories (CZOs). Here, we present the Pumalín CZO as the first of its kind, located in Pumalín National Park in northern Chilean Patagonia. We consider our CZO a representative end-member of undisturbed ecosystem functioning of the Patagonian CTRs. We have identified four core research themes for the Pumalín CZO around which our activities circle in an integrative, quantitative, and generic approach using a range of emerging techniques. Our methodological blend includes an environmental seismology that also fills a critical spatiotemporal scale in terms of monitoring critical zone and surface processes with a minimum intervention in those pristine forests. We aim to gain quantitative understanding of these topics: (1) carbon sink functioning; (2) biota-driven landscape evolution; (3) water, biogeological, and energy fluxes; and (4) disturbance regime understanding. Our findings highlight the multitude of active functions that trees in particular and forests in general may have on the entire cascade of surface processes and the concomitant carbon cycling. This highlights the importance of an integrated approach, i.e., “one physical system”, as proposed by Richter and Billings (2015), and accounts for the recent advances in pushing nature conservation along the Chilean coast.

ORGANIC CARBON DYNAMICS IN SOIL FROM FOREST FRAGMENTS IN THE ATLANTIC FOREST AND CERRADO BIOMES

The study aimed to evaluate changes in organic carbon concentrations and oxidizable fractions of soil organic matter in and around forest fragments in the Atlantic Forest (AF) and Cerrado (CE) biomes. Soil samples were collected from four forest fragments, two in the AF and two in the CE, in which three internal points were sampled: edge (ED), half radius (HR), and center (CF), as well as a point in the surroundings; no-tillage (NT) and permanent pasture (PP) in AF and CE, respectively. The total organic carbon (TOC) content and the carbon of the oxidizable fractions (F1, F2, F3, F4) were quantified. The CF of the AF forest fragments showed the highest TOC and C contents in the labile fractions F1 and F2 (the fraction most sensitive to changes in the environment), with the lowest contents in the ED. In the CE, the fragments showed different TOC contents and dynamics, with the highest TOC and F1 contents in the HR and the lowest in the CF of fragment 1, while in fragment 2 the highest TOC contents were in the CF and the lowest in the ED and HR, but they did not differ in the contents of the F1 and F2 fractions. The lower levels of TOC and C labile in the ED of the fragments are due to the negative interference of the edge effect, which, through abiotic factors, has modified the species composition and structure of the plant community, altering the dynamics of C storage and emission.

Palynology of Huberia (Melastomataceae: Cambessedesieae): diversity and taxonomic implications

Huberia DC. is a genus belonging to the family Melastomataceae, which comprises 37 species distributed in vegetation formations of the Amazon Forest and Andes complex and the Atlantic Forest biome. Recent phylogenetic studies have modified the circumscription of the genus to include the genera Behuria Cham. and Dolichoura Brade. Furthermore, the genus was placed in the new tribe Cambessedesieae, together with the genera Cambessedesia DC. and Merianthera Kuhlm. In view of the relevant contribution of palynology to taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, this study aimed to expand the palynological knowledge of Huberia. Samples from 22 species were obtained from specimens deposited in the herbaria of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (RB), National Museum/UFRJ (R), Municipal Botanical Museum of Curitiba (MBM), and Federal University of Paraná (UPCB). Flower buds were acetolysed and used to prepare pollen sediment slides. Slides were mounted with glycerinated gelatin and analyzed and photographed under a light microscope. The results showed pollen grains in monads, small, varying in shape from prolate-spheroidal to subprolate; heteroaperturate (colporate and pseudocolpate), tricolporate, with a small, very small, or non-existent polar area in syncolporate pollen; colpi long or very long and narrow, endoaperture lalongate with median constriction in most species and lolongate in others; exine perforate, rugulate, or striate microreticulate and the sexine thicker than the nexine. Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that palynological characters provide information for the taxonomy of the group.