1. Updated list of long-term monitored tree species in a forest with high diversity and endemism in the highlands of Espírito Santo, Brazil.
- Author
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Saiter, Felipe Zamborlini, France Oza, Eduardo, Freitas, Joelcio, Ramos, Eliana, da Cunha Manhães, Vitor, Zorzanelli, João Paulo F., Cavalcante de Lima, Haroldo, Casavecchia, Simona, Pesaresi, Simone, and Maria Villela, Dora
- Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to update the list of tree species monitored in an undisturbed forest at the Santa Lúcia Biological Station (SLBS), in the highlands of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. At this site, trees and palms with a DBH = 6.4 cm have been monitored by surveying permanent plots totaling 1.02 ha. Surveys were carried out in 1992-1993 (S1), 2003-2004 (S2), and 2017-2018 (S3), recording high levels of species richness and diversity. We also aimed to identify the threatened species among those monitored, present more accurate values for diversity measures, and compare species diversity across the different surveys. The study was supported by the speciesLink, Jabot, and Flora e Funga do Brasil databases and involved searching for updates on species determinations of 1,233 vouchers from 17 herbaria; updating synonyms and circumscriptions of families and genera; reviewing determinations by examining vouchers in person or through high-resolution images; and adjusting voucher arrangements into morphospecies. We compiled the threat categories of species from the list of threatened species in the state of Espírito Santo, the CNCFlora red list, and the IUCN red list. Richness (number of species), the Shannon diversity index (H'), and Pielou's evenness (J) for each survey were calculated from a species-based abundance matrix. The updated list includes 386 species, 168 genera, and 69 families. Myrtaceae (75), Lauraceae (46), Fabaceae (31), Sapotaceae (25), and Melastomataceae (22) were the richest families. Despite progress in resolving determination issues, 44 morphospecies remained unidentified, 24 of which lack fertile vouchers available for taxonomic evaluation. Richness, diversity, and evenness in each survey were as follows: 365 species, H' = 5.23, and J = 0.89 in S1; 363 species, H' = 5.18, and J = 0.88 in S2; and 358 species, H' = 5.18, and J = 0.88 in S3. Diversity remained high over time, with variation among surveys not being significant. We identified that 88 species (about 23% of the total) were assigned to a threat category in at least one of the consulted lists of threatened species. Surprisingly, 34 new species have been described from vouchers collected at SLBS plots, most of which have been recognized as endemic to the highlands of Espírito Santo. Data highlight SLBS as a refuge for endemic and threatened species in a region officially recognized as of very high priority for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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