A comprehensive checklist of the angiosperms of a Cerrado fragment reveals outstanding species richness in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Jailson  Costa Gaspar; Guilherme Sousa da Silva; Gustavo da Silva Gomes; Janilde Melo do Nascimento; Domingos Lucas dos Santos Silva; Gonçalo Mendes da Conceição

doi:10.14808/sci.plena.2023.051201

A comprehensive checklist of the angiosperms of a Cerrado fragment reveals outstanding species richness in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Authors

Você Universidade Estadual do Maranhão - UEMA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9551-4463
Guilherme Sousa da Silva Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4250-0017
Você Universidade Federal do Pernambuco - UFPE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1640-5462
Você Universidade Estadual do Piauí - UESPI https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6623-7348
Você Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso - UNEMAT https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6700-6659
Você Universidade Estadual do Maranhão - UEMA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9056-9070

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14808/sci.plena.2023.051201

Keywords:

Biological Reserves, Conservation Units, Maranhão Parks

Abstract

The Morros Garapenses Environmental Protection Area (EPA) is home to significant biodiversity and an important paleobotanical site, with Permian fossil records, being a strategic area for studies in Maranhão. The objective of this study was to provide a list of species of phanerogams from the Morros Garapenses EPA. The material was collected through the walking method on pre-existing trails at different elevations and phytophysiognomies. The collection, herborization, identification, and classification of species followed the usual methodology for this type of research. A total of 297 species distributed in 196 genera and 70 families were cataloged. The families with highest specific richness were Fabaceae (60 species), Malvaceae (20 spp.), Rubiaceae (18 spp.), Cyperaceae (16 spp.), Euphorbiacae (14 spp.), and Bignoniaceae (13 spp.). Forty-nine species were endemic to Brazil, fifteen are being reported for the first time from Maranhão, and five from Cerrado. Several phytophysiognomies were found in the area, namely, Cerradão (33 species), Campo sujo (7 spp.), typical Cerrado (154 spp.), veredas (10 spp.), riparian forest (5 spp.), and anthropized areas (5 spp.). The study revealed a significant number of species in the Morros Garapenses EPA, stressing the urgent need to create a management plan for the sustainable use of natural resources and recovery of degraded areas.

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Published

2023-06-15

How to Cite

Costa Gaspar, J. ., Sousa da Silva, G., da Silva Gomes, G., Melo do Nascimento, J., dos Santos Silva, D. L., & Mendes da Conceição, G. (2023). A comprehensive checklist of the angiosperms of a Cerrado fragment reveals outstanding species richness in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. Scientia Plena, 19(5). https://doi.org/10.14808/sci.plena.2023.051201

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Issue

Vol. 19 No. 5 (2023): Maio/May 2023

Section

Articles

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