Plotting a future for Amazonian canga vegetation in a campo rupestre context

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219753
• Publication Date: 2019-08-05T17:24:16Z
• Authors: Daniela C. Zappi; Marcelo F. Moro; Barnaby Walker; Thomas Meagher; Pedro L. Viana; Nara F. O. Mota; Mauricio T. C. Wa...; Eimear Nic Lughadha
• Keywords: Endemism

In order to establish effective conservation strategy, drivers of local and regional patterns biodiversity need be understood. The composition is dependent on a number factors including evolution redistribution lineages through dispersal environmental heterogeneity. Brazilian canga characterised by ferrugineous substrate, found both in the Iron Quadrangle Minas Gerais Carajás mountains Amazonia. Canga one several specialised habitat types comprising campo rupestre, montane vegetation within or adjacent major bioregions, Atlantic Forest Amazonia, with exceptionally high levels diversity endemism arising from history variation. inform for canga, more broadly we performed floristic phylogenetic analyses investigating affinities between 28 sites different substrates (canga quartzite) geographic locations (Carajás, Pará [Amazonia]; Cadeia do Espinhaço, Gerais; Chapada Diamantina, Bahia). Through analysis 11204 occurrences 4705 species angiosperms, that Amazonian plant communities formed cohesive group, distinct assemblages Eastern Brazil (Minas Gerais, Bahia), either quartzite. megatree across all investigated shows associations certain clades few shared sites, while comparison heterogeneity sites. reserves has been recognized addressed creation national park. However, current sampling does not provide sufficient reassurance areas now benefitting full legal protection adequately represent flora.