Richness and distribution of lizards from the Caatinga-Cerrado-Amazonia ecotone, mid-northern region of Brazil

• Grant number: 23/18274-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Thaís Barreto Guedes da Costa
• Grantee: Nathan Graia Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/07161-6 - Evolution and biogeography of the herpetofauna: patterns, process and implications for conservation in a scenario of environmental and climate changes, AP.JP

Abstract

The so-called Mid-North region of Brazil, located mainly in the state of Maranhão, extends from the 6 degrees south, 42 to the 46 west and is limited by the Atlantic Ocean to the North. The region has a complex landscape, due to the contact between the Caatinga, Amazon and Cerrado biomes, the latter a biodiversity hotspot. It brings together unique phytogeographic and climatological characteristics, which gives it rich biodiversity and endemism and gives it the status of a priority area for conservation. Although considered a rich area, there is an extensive gap in knowledge about the composition and distribution of biodiversity for many groups, such as lizards. Therefore, this work aims to contribute to (i) knowledge about the composition of species that form the lizard fauna of Maranhão; (ii) map the distribution of all lizard species in Maranhão; (iii) identify areas of high richness and endemism; (iv) indicate sampling gaps that should be the target of future inventories; and, finally, (vi) use this information in an integrated way to indicate priority areas for conservation.