Evaluation of record data of Rutaceae towards the compilation of the flora of Espírito Santo state and its conservation

• Grant number: 21/05898-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: July 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Phytogeography
• Principal Investigator: José Rubens Pirani
• Grantee: Marcelo de Oliveira Gigier
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is home to a great number of species of living organisms and high levels of endemism, notably in the Mata Atlântica domain, recognized as a world biodiversity hotspot. In relation to plants, some groups are particularly rich or almost restricted to that phytogeographical domain, as is the case of the Rutaceae, an angiosperm family with 56 species registered in the Mata Atlântica, all endemic to Brazil. The historical occupation of this region resulted in a significant loss of its original forest covering, threatening the existence of innumerous species. Among the biological conservation initiatives regarding the domain, it is noteworthy the elaboration of lists of threatened species, which comprise different impact levels, from those globally renowned as IUCN and national ones, like CNCFlora. However, the elaboration of these lists needs to be enriched with complementary data, especially those of species occurrence in and outside conservation units (CUs) aimed to protect the biota's integrity. Currently, our knowledge concerning species distribution in many parts of the country, including major number of CUs, is incomplete or absent, which hinders our understanding related to species' risk of extinction and articulate public policies. We will undertake a project with this approach, focusing on the Rutaceae, which is very expressive in the Mata Atlântica of the Espírito Santo state in Eastern Brazil. We are going to execute a synthesis of the species in the family occurring inside the Espírito Santo CUs, by the construction of a virtually complete occurrence data base and by revisiting the geographic location of each register. We will discriminate species as exclusive or unknown occurrence inside these protected areas. In this sense, our results will be useful as a subside for the elaboration of the Rutaceae treatment for the Flora of Espírito Santo series, and will promote adequate verification and actualization of georeferencing data. Additionally, our findings will subsidize the accomplishment of catalogues of the threatened species in conservation units, which will be publish online in the future.