Floristic diversity in megadiverse and undersampled provinces of the Cerrado Domain.

• Grant number: 25/09194-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: José Rubens Pirani
• Grantee: José Rubens Pirani
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Luísa Lucresia de Sales Ribeiro ; Marcelo Fernando Devecchi ; Otávio Luis Marques da Silva ; Paulo Takeo Sano ; Vania Nobuko Yoshikawa

Abstract

The Brazilian Cerrado harbors extraordinary floristic diversity, yet significant gaps remain in biodiversity knowledge, necessitating greater investment in floristic surveys and taxonomic studies to improve conservation and biogeographic understanding of this domain. Among the most diverse areas of the Cerrado, the Central-Southeast/South region (sensu Ratter et al. 2003) stands out due to its significant sampling deficit. Some taxonomic groups are notable for their richness, abundance, and endemism, such as the families Anacardiaceae, Bignoniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Ochnaceae, and Sapindaceae in the woody component, and Asteraceae, Eriocaulaceae, Orchidaceae, Phyllanthaceae, and Velloziaceae in the herbaceous component. The main objective of this project is to contribute to the knowledge of the flora in the Central-Southeast and South regions of the Cerrado, fostering high-quality training in megadiverse and/or understudied botanical groups in Brazil, and strengthening ties between scientists and local communities through outreach activities and the co-production of scientific knowledge. A robust database will be compiled, expeditions will be conducted in undersampled areas, and synopses and monographs on the aforementioned families will be produced, including illustrated guides focusing on the most notable species. Additionally, outreach activities will be developed with local communities, involving schools, civil society organizations, decision-makers, tour guides, and conservation unit managers. The project aims to strengthen the relationship between local and scientific communities, train new generations of researchers, and improve plant sampling in these areas to raise knowledge to a level comparable to neighboring regions within the domain. This will support biological conservation initiatives and contribute to understanding the floristic, biogeographic, and evolutionary affinities of the Cerrado's biota. (AU)