Speaker
Description
The unique environmental conditions of the Brazilian Campos Rupestres (CR), such as shallow nutrient-poor soils, high temperatures, intense solar radiation, water scarcity, and natural fire regimes, have likely driven the evolution of distinctive functional strategies, e.g., desiccation and fire tolerance in Velloziaceae species. Although the effects of climate change on mountain biodiversity remain debated, the CR already faces serious threats from ecotourism, mining, increased fire frequency, and exotic species. In this context, integrative studies combining multiple dimensions of biodiversity are essential to understand the mechanisms behind diversity maintenance and informing conservation strategies. The plant family Velloziaceae, with about 300 species concentrated mainly in the CR, provides an excellent model for investigating these processes due to its high levels of microendemism and remarkable functional diversity. Here, we compiled spatial, morpho-functional, and phylogenetic data, evaluated species sampling trends, and assessed the effects of simulated species extinctions on patterns of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity within Velloziaceae. Our analysis of potential sampling biases revealed a correlation between species occurrences and proximity to roads. Rarefaction curves indicate a continuing potential for species discovery, especially within the Cerrado domain. Furthermore, species richness and endemism remained positively associated with sampling effort even after controlling for the effects of temperature and precipitation, suggesting that current knowledge of the family's distribution remains influenced by collection intensity. Finally, simulated extinctions suggest significant reductions in functional and phylogenetic diversity across eastern Brazilian mountain communities. Our findings show the importance of field sampling and taxonomic research for accurately documenting one of the most emblematic lineages of the CR flora. Furthermore, our findings highlight the vulnerability of CR ecosystems and the importance of integrative approaches combining species distributions, functional traits, and evolutionary history to guide conservation in threatened montane systems.
| Status Group | Postdoctoral Researcher |
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