The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) was established by the Conference of Parties in 2002 to
decrease the loss of plant diversity, reduce poverty and contribute to sustainable development. To achieve this
overarching goal, the GSPC has established a series of targets, one of which is to ensure that plant diversity is
well understood, so that it can be effectively conserved and used in a sustainable manner. Brazil hosts more
than 46,000 species of plants, algae and fungi, representing one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, and
playing a key role in the GSPC. To meet the GSPC goals of Target 1 and facilitate access to plant diversity,
Brazil committed to preparing the List of Species of the Brazilian Flora (2008–2015) and the Brazilian Flora
2020 (2016–present). Managing all the information associated with such great biodiversity has proven to be an
extremely challenging task. Here, we synthesize the history of these projects, focusing on the multidisciplinary
and collaborative approach adopted to develop and manage the inclusion of all the knowledge generated though
digital information systems. We further describe the methods used, challenges faced, and strategies adopted, as
well as summarize advances to date and prospects for completing the Brazilian flora in 2020.

https://www.repositorio.ufop.br/bitstream/123456789/11055/1/ARTIGO_BrazilianFlora2020.pdf

Brazilian Flora 2020: Innovation and collaboration to meet Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC)

The cataloging of the vascular plants of the Americas has a centuries-long history, but it is only in recent decades that an overview of the entire flora has become possible. We present an integrated assessment of all known native species of vascular plants in the Americas. Twelve regional and national checklists, prepared over the past 25 years and including two large ongoing flora projects, were merged into a single list. Our publicly searchable checklist includes 124,993 species, 6227 genera, and 355 families, which correspond to 33% of the 383,671 vascular plant species known worldwide. In the past 25 years, the rate at which new species descriptions are added has averaged 744 annually for the Americas, and we can expect the total to reach about 150,000.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/358/6370/1614.full.pdf

An integrated assessment of the vascular plant species of the Americas.

Back in 1960 researchers from the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG) began to study the Serra dos Carajas, resulting in an important series of collections, giving interesting insights in the local flora. During the last decades, intensification of expeditions to the FLONA Carajas was driven by the discovery of a high number of endemic species, coupled with mining pressure in the area. The project "Flora das cangas da Serra dos Carajas" was established in 2014 through the collaboration between MPEG and Vale Institute of Technology - Sustainable Development (ITVDS), which aimed to record systematically the knowledge of the flora associated with the cangas of the Serra dos Carajas. Nearly fifteen thousand exsiccatae currently held at several herbaria (MG, BHCB, HCJS, INPA, IAN, NY and RB) served as the base for the compilation of this flora that includes, so far, 151 families including bryophytes, ferns and seed plants. Here we present a short history of the botanical studies carried out in the region, as well as the characterization of the study area and the methodology followed by this project. This introductory chapter heads the first volume of the Flora of the cangas of the Serra de Carajas, presenting the first 55 plant families, four of bryophytes (two of mosses and two liverworts), two of lycophytes, eight of ferns, one gymnosperm and 40 families angiosperms, treating 139 genera and 248 species.

/pdf/flora-das-cangas-da-serra-dos-carajas-para-brasil-historia-1zjwbzmrw5.pdf

Flora das cangas da Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brasil: história, área de estudos e metodologia

Aim
To provide a global assessment of turnover in vascular plants across geographical settings and taxonomic and functional groups. We tested whether turnover and its spatial and environmental drivers are affected by the geographical setting and whether taxonomic and functional groups exhibit specific turnover patterns that are associated with their ecological characteristics.

Location
Global.

Methods
We collated a global dataset of vascular plant checklists comprising 258 island and 346 mainland units. We created subsets based on the geographical setting of study units (mainland, islands, different island types) as well as taxonomic and functional properties of species (angiosperms, gymnosperms, pteridophytes, trees, shrubs, herbs). For the entire dataset, and each subset, the distance decay of similarity was assessed using generalized linear models. To disentangle the relative importance of spatial and environmental drivers of turnover, we employed generalized dissimilarity models. Finally, the model results were used to predict compositional similarity of vascular plants across a global grid.

Results
The distance decay of similarity was stronger for mainland units than for islands. Among taxonomic and functional groups, the rate of decay was lowest for pteridophytes and highest for shrubs. Partitioning of turnover into distance- and environment-related effects revealed fundamental differences between mainland and island systems, with geographical distance being more important on the mainland than on islands. This trend was consistent across taxonomic and functional groups.

Main conclusions
Our results reveal an important role of geographical context in shaping beta-diversity patterns. We argue that geographical settings are characterized by specific configurations of ecological filters that have a strong impact on the magnitude and structure of turnover. Moreover, taxonomic and functional groups are differentially successful in passing these filters, resulting in group- and setting-specific turnover patterns. Exploring these interdependences for different taxa and geographical settings at different scales will help to improve our understanding of beta diversity.

Dissecting global turnover in vascular plants

Isoetes serracarajensis and I. cangae , two new species from northern Brazil, are described, illustrated, and compared to similar species. Isoetes serracarajensis can be distinguished from other species by a set of characters including triangular to linear microphylls, a reniform-orbicular labium, a rudimentary velum covering up to 1/5 of the sporangial surface, dark brown to red-brown sporangia and verrucate megaspores (verrucae type 1). Isoetes cangae presents large microphylls, a reniform-orbicular labium, a rudimentary velum covering only up to 1/4 of the sporangium surface, hyaline sporangia and verrucate (verrucae type 2) to tuberculate megaspores (tubercles type 3). Based on the IUCN criteria, we suggest that Isoetes serracarajensis should be classified as vulnerable (VU) and Isoetes cangae included as critically endangered (CR).

/pdf/two-new-species-of-isoetes-isoetaceae-from-northern-brazil-ovb1066ybu.pdf

Two New Species of Isoetes (Isoetaceae) from northern Brazil

Esta compilacao de samambaias e licofitas do Brasil e uma atualizacao daquela de 2010, no Catalogo de Plantas e Fungos do Brasil. A metodologia consistiu na reuniao de dados de listas regionais, revisoes de grupos e bancos de dados selecionados. Especialistas convidados melhoraram a lista atraves do acesso a um sitio da web do Jardim Botânico do Rio Janeiro. Os resultados apontam uma diversidade de 1.253 especies, sendo 1.111 samambaias e 142 licofitas. Este numero e 6,5% maior que o anterior (1.176 especies). As especies endemicas decresceram de 38,2% para 36,7%. Foram reconhecidas 36 familias e 133 generos (vs. 33 familias, 121 generos em 2010). As dez familias mais diversas sao: Pteridaceae (196 especies), Dryopteridaceae (179), Polypodiaceae (164), Hymenophyllaceae (90), Thelypteridaceae (86), Aspleniaceae (78), Lycopodiaceae (64), Selaginellaceae (55), Anemiaceae (51) e Cyatheaceae (45). Os tres generos mais diversos continuam sendo Elaphoglossum (87 especies), Thelypteris (85) e Asplenium (74). O Dominio Fitogeografico mais rico continua sendo a Mata Atlântica (883 especies) e tambem com mais especies endemicas e ameacadas, seguido pela Amazonia (503 especies), Cerrado (269), Pantanal (30), Caatinga (26) e Pampa (oito). Minas Gerais permanece como o estado com maior riqueza (657 especies vs. 580 em 2010).

/pdf/diversity-of-ferns-and-lycophytes-in-brazil-4xsdzrvnpq.pdf

Diversity of ferns and lycophytes in Brazil

Itatiaia National Park is located in Southeastern Brazil, between the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, with altitudes ranging from 390 to 2789 m (Pico das Agulhas Negras). Lycopodiaceae has four genera and approximately 500 species, with cosmopolitan distribution. It is a homosporous family characterized by eligulate leaves and sporophylls. The family is represented in the study area by 23 species and one variety, distributed in three genera (Huperzia, 15 species; Lycopodiella, four species and one variety; Lycopodium, four species), totaling 43% of the species recorded in Brazil and 72% in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Keys to the identification of the genera and species, illustrations, descriptions, notes on taxonomy and ecologicalcharacteristics, geographic distribution and altitudinal variation are presented.

/pdf/lycopodiaceae-no-parque-nacional-do-itatiaia-rj-e-mg-brasil-1xvvnwli3u.pdf

Carla Gabriela Vargas Ramos

Papers

Diversity of ferns and lycophytes in Brazil

Lycopodiaceae no Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, RJ e MG, Brasil