Speaker
Description
The Brazilian Campos Rupestres (CR), ecosystems primarily found on mountaintops and high plateaus, harbor exceptional plant species richness, endemism, and functional diversity. Their unique combination of environmental conditions, e.g. shallow and nutrient-poor soils, high temperatures, intense solar radiation, water scarcity, and natural fire regimes, has potentially driven the evolution of multiple functional strategies in their flora. Besides the effects of climate change on mountain biodiversity, the CR already faces serious threats from human activities, such as tourism, mining, increased fire frequency, and the spread of exotic species. Given this scenario, integrative studies combining spatial, phylogenetic, and functional trait data are essential to elucidate the mechanisms behind the maintenance of diversity and to anticipate future scenarios, thus guiding more effective conservation strategies. Velloziaceae stands out as an ideal model to investigate these processes. With around 260 species concentrated mainly in the Espinhaço Range, the family shows high levels of microendemism and functional diversity. Here, we compiled spatial, morpho-functional, and phylogenetic data, evaluated species sampling trends, and estimated the effects of simulated species extinctions on patterns of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity in the two largest genera of the family: Barbacenia Vand. and Vellozia Vand. Our analysis of potential sampling bias revealed a correlation between species occurrence and proximity to roads. Rarefaction curves indicate a continuing potential for species discovery, especially within the Cerrado and Caatinga domains, pointing to opportunities for further exploration. Comparative analyses between current and future scenarios revealed significant reductions in functional richness and originality, as well as phylogenetic diversity, with paired tests indicating negative median and mean differences across metrics. In addition, kernel density hypervolume analyses showed that nearly 50% of the current functional trait space may be lost. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of CR ecosystems to biodiversity loss and emphasize the urgency of targeted conservation actions.
| Status Group | Postdoctoral Researcher |
|---|---|
| Poster Presentation Option | Undecided/No preference |
