Improving collection efforts to avoid loss of biodiversity: lessons from comprehensive sampling of lycophytes and ferns in the subtropical Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Estimating species richness with herbarium data and new collections allows us to understand the distribution of diversity. We investigated the accuracy of lycophyte and fern sampling along a vegetation gradient in the subtropical Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. We compiled lycophyte and fern collection metadata and estimated species richness and assessed sampling accuracy for sixty 50 x 50 km units using ACE, Chao 1, Chao 2, Jackknife 1 and Jackknife 2 estimators. We compiled data for 12,779 fern specimens of 441 species, 67 of which were sampled in only one unit (singletons) and 35 in two units (duplicates). Of the 60 units examined, only 11 had observed values that were above 70% of their estimated values, and 14 had observed levels between 65-70% of the estimated values, meaning that 35 units had a sampling accuracy of less than 65%. In spite of the long history of lycophyte and fern collecting in the study area, there remain units with a lower than expected sampling accuracy for a subtropical forest. is nding indicates that a sizeable collection e ort is needed in order to discover the actual distribution of species before the e ects of fragmentation and deforestation become permanent.

Nicotiana azambujae (Solanaceae): A wild tobacco presumably extinct rediscovered after 73 years

“…Additionally, some portions of the state, even with the immense effort of the Herbário Barbosa Rodrigues and Inventário Florístico Florestal de Santa Catarina, remain practically unknown, such as the midwestern portion of the state, some mountains, and coast dunes. As the rates of original vegetation cover loss are growing in Santa Catarina, giving way to agriculture, silviculture, and urbanization (Fundação SOS & INPE 2009;Vibrans et al 2012), it becomes essential to begin collecting in these areas since the forest cover is small and highly fragmented to prevent more species loss (Gasper et al 2016).…”

An overview of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the state of Maranhão, Brazil

“…In this sense, taxonomic inventories contribute to characterize areas of endemism, reveal taxonomic novelties and improve scientific collections (Moura et al, 2014;Freitas et al, 2017). Further, the analysis of species distribution databases can help to identify gaps in sampling and species records, and can also be used in macroecological studies, species distribution modeling and to promote conservation strategies (Gasper et al, 2016).…”