Diversity of Rudgea Salisb. for the Northeast region and distribution modeling of Atlantic Forest species under climate change

• Grant number: 22/11717-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: Carla Poleselli Bruniera
• Grantee: Isabella Capitanio Rossatto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Rudgea (Rubiaceae) is an exclusively neotropical plant genus with a center of diversity located in the Atlantic Forest. It is becoming difficult to find some species in their original environment because of their slow growth and because of the pressure imposed by anthropogenic disturbances. These disturbances, in association with climate change, raise grave concerns regarding the conservation of Rudgea. Furthermore, it is estimated that there is a great diversity in this genus yet to be characterized and described, mainly in places with a lack of knowledge and low number of collections in the field, as is the case in the northeastern region of Brazil. Thus, the present work aims to carry out a taxonomic treatment of Rudgea in the northeastern states of Brazil, in addition to studying how climate change can affect the distribution of the species of this genus that occur in the northeastern Atlantic Forest. To assess the genus diversity in the northeastern region, we will carry out expeditions to collect samples, consult specialized literature, visit herbaria and request loans. To study the impacts of climate change, a current distribution modeling will be carried out as well as future distribution modeling considering the influence of predicted future scenarios. We expect to find a decrease in the area of occurrence of the Atlantic Forest species and a change in their geographical position. These results can contribute to strategic decision-making for the conservation of the most threatened species.