Environmental variables underlying the diversification of Caatinga ecoregions

• Grant number: 24/01556-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Agreement: NSF - Dimensions of Biodiversity and BIOTA
• Principal Investigator: Vera Nisaka Solferini
• Grantee: Stephanny dos Santos Nobre
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/03428-5 - Dimensions US-BIOTA-Sao Paulo: traits as predictors of adaptive diversification along the Brazilian Dry Diagonal, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The Caatinga is the largest Semi-Arid region in the world, comprising the largestSeasonally Dry Tropical Forest (SDTF) in the Neotropics. Despite its importance, thebiome has received less attention than its neighbor biomes, as the Amazonia and AtlanticForest, in terms of scientific projects as well as in conservation issues.The Caatinga has been divided in 8 ecoregions, each of them presenting distinctbiotic and abiotic patterns. This study aims to investigate the diversification of theecoregions, their evolutionary histories and the processes that led to their currentconfiguration. To achieve this, Ecological Niche Modeling will be employed for eachecoregion, seeking to comprehend the mechanisms that contributed to their differentiation.The study will provide a characterization of these ecoregions as a primary step fordeveloping biogeographic hypotheses associated with them. Understanding biodiversity inthreatened regions, such as the Neotropics, is essential for simulations and impactpredictions, as well as for the development of research plans and strategies. (AU)