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The shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora.

Passage of a fire can break dormancy of the seeds of many plant species in fire-prone ecosystems. This response to fire is especially well known for the Fabaceae family, but has been poorly studied in Southern Brazil. We collected seeds of four Fabaceae species present in grasslands-forest mosaics of Southern Brazil: Mimosa bimucronata, Desmodium barbatum, Sesbania virgata and Collaea stenophylla. Seeds were exposed to different heat treatments (exposure to 60° and 80 °C for 5 minutes, to 100 °C for 2 minutes, control without heat treatment); not all species were tested in all treatments. After the treatment, the seeds were kept in a germination chamber with a light period of 12/12 hours and temperature of 25 °C. Germinated seeds were counted every 2 days. The results were analyzed by randomization testing. Germination of D. barbatum and S. virgata was increased after exposure to high temperatures (80° and 60 °C, respectively), while M. bimucronata showed reduced germination after temperatures of 80 °C and C. stenophylla no response. This study is the first for Southern Brazil to show a positive response of germination for grassland species exposed to high temperatures, simulating fire effects. As the study presented distinct responses of species to the heat treatment, it seems important to conduct more works with other species from the family, in order to be able to detect more general patterns. Resumo: A passagem do fogo pode quebrar a dormência de sementes de muitas espécies em ecossistemas suscetíveis ao fogo. Essa resposta ao fogo é especialmente bem conhecida para espécies da família Fabaceae, mas tem sido pouco estudado no Sul do Brasil. Coletamos sementes de quatro espécies de Fabaceae presentes em mosaicos de campo-florestas do Sul do Brasil: Mimosa bimucronata, Desmodium barbatum, Sesbania virgata e Collaea stenophylla. As sementes foram expostas a diferentes tratamentos de calor (60 °C e 80 °C, ambos por 5 minutos, e 100° C por 2 minutos, mais controle sem tratamento de calor). Nem todas as espécies foram submetidas a todos os tratamentos. Após o tratamento, as sementes foram mantidas em câmara de germinação com fotoperíodo 12/12 horas e temperatura de 25 °C. A porcentagem de sementes germinadas foi contada a cada 2 dias. Os resultados foram analisados por teste de aleatorização. A taxa de germinação de D. barbatum e S. virgata aumentou quando expostas a altas temperaturas (80 °C e 60 °C, respectivamente), enquanto M. bimucronata mostrou redução e C. stenophylla nenhuma resposta aos tratamentos. Esse estudo foi o primeiro para o Sul do Brasil a mostrar uma resposta positiva na germinação de espécies campestres expostas a altas temperaturas, simulando os efeitos do fogo. Como o estudo apresentou respostas distintas, é importante conduzir trabalhos com outras espécies da família a fim de detectar padrões gerais. Palavras-chave : Campos Sulinos, ecofisiologia, Fabaceae, fogo, vegetação campestre, choque térmico.

Resumo. Esse trabalho tem como finalidade fornecer informações sobre um teste pioneiro (bait-lamina test) utilizado nos Campos do Sul do Brasil para avaliar a atividade alimentar dos invertebrados do solo -um indicativo de taxas de decomposição da serapilheira nos ecossistemas. Descrevese o comportamento alimentar durante dois meses, acessando a profundidade do solo (0-8 cm) na qual ocorre maior consumo e analisando duas formas de quantificação deste consumo (técnica conservativa X técnica prática) em dois diferentes ecossistemas campestres. Foram estabelecidas 100 unidades amostrais (u.a.) independentemente em cada área (pastejada e não pastejada), adicionando a cada uma duas bait-lamina, uma disposta horizontalmente na superfície do solo, e outra verticalmente dentro do solo. Para cada data amostral (9, 16, 22, 29 e 65 dias de exposição) foram sorteadas 20 u.a. para análise. Foi observado grande consumo desde o início da exposição, tanto na superfície quanto dentro do solo. A atividade da fauna diferiu com a profundidade do solo, sendo maior na superfície e na profundidade de 6,5-8 cm. Em relação às diferentes técnicas, ambas revelaram resultados similares quando se compararam as duas áreas. A área pastejada demonstrou menor atividade dos invertebrados do que a não pastejada. Esses resultados constituem base para futuras pesquisas no Brasil, relatando que o teste de bait-lamina nos Campos Sulinos pode oferecer resultados otimizados após cerca de uma quinzena de dias de exposição. Palavras-chave:Detritívoros do solo; Decomposição; Integridade funcional do solo; Pampa. Evaluation of Soil Invertebrates Feeding Activity in South Brazilian Campos -Bait Lamina Test.Abstract. The aim of this work is to inform about a pioneer bait-lamina test in the South Brazilian Campos to evaluate the soil invertebrates feeding activity which is an approaching to leaf litter decomposition rates in the ecosystems. The feeding activity was tested during two months, across 8 cm of soil depth and employing a comparison between two techniques of consumption quantification (conservative technique vs. practical technique) in two different grassland areas (grazed and not grazed) were described. One hundred independent sampling units (s.u.) were established on each area, and in each s.u. two bait-lamina were inserted: one horizontally and another vertically. For each sampling date (9, 16, 22, 29 e 65 days of exposition), 20 s.u. were sorted and analyzed. We observed a high feeding activity from the beginning of the experiments, both in the surface and within the soil. Soil fauna feeding activity differed according to soil depth, being higher on the surface and for 6.5-8 cm deep in the soil. Both techniques lead to similar results when the two areas were compared. The grazed site showed lower invertebrate feeding activity than the site not grazed. These findings constitute a basis for future researches in Brazil, relating that the bait-lamina test can offer useful results around fifteen days of exposition.Keywords: Decomposition; Functional ...

Knowledge on biodiversity is fundamental for conservation strategies. The Brazilian Pampa region, located in subtropical southern Brazil, is neglected in terms of conservation, and knowledge of its biodiversity is fragmented. We aim to answer the question: how many, and which, species occur in the Brazilian Pampa? In a collaborative effort, we built species lists for plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi that occur in the Brazilian Pampa. We included information on distribution patterns, main habitat types, and conservation status. Our study resulted in referenced lists totaling 12,503 species (12,854 taxa, when considering infraspecific taxonomic categories [or units]). Vascular plants amount to 3,642 species (including 165 Pteridophytes), while algae have 2,046 species (2,378 taxa) and bryophytes 316 species (318 taxa). Fungi (incl. lichenized fungi) contains 1,141 species (1,144 taxa). Animals total 5,358 species (5,372 taxa). Among the latter, vertebrates comprise 1,136 species, while invertebrates are represented by 4,222 species. Our data indicate that, according to current knowledge, the Pampa holds approximately 9% of the Brazilian biodiversity in an area of little more than 2% of Brazil's total land. The proportion of species restricted to the Brazilian Pampa is low (with few groups as exceptions), as it is part of a larger grassland ecoregion and in a transitional climatic setting. Our study yielded considerably higher species numbers than previously known for many species groups; for some, it provides the first published compilation. Further efforts are needed to increase knowledge in the Pampa and other regions of Brazil. Considering the strategic importance of biodiversity and its conservation, appropriate government policies are needed to fund studies on biodiversity, create accessible and constantly updated biodiversity databases, and consider biodiversity in school curricula and other outreach activities.