RESUMO
Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot drastically fragmented due to different land use practices. Our understanding on the impacts of fragmentation and restoration practices on ecosystem functionality significantly increased during the last decades. However, it is unknown to our knowledge how a precision restoration approach, integrated with landscape metrics, will affect the decision-making process of forest restoration. Here, we applied Landscape Shape Index and Contagion metrics in a genetic algorithm for planning forest restoration in watersheds at the pixel level. We evaluated how such integration may configure the precision of restoration with scenarios related to landscape ecology metrics. The genetic algorithm worked toward optimizing the site, shape, and size of forest patches across the landscape according to the results obtained in applying the metrics. Our results, obtained by simulations of scenarios, support aggregation of forest restoration zones as expected, with priority restoration areas indicated where most of the aggregation of forest patches occurs. Our optimized solutions for the study area (Santa Maria do Rio Doce Watershed) predicted an important improvement of landscape metrics (LSI = 44 %; Contagion/LSI = 73 %). Largest shifts are suggested based on LSI (i.e., three larger fragments) and Contagion/LSI (i.e., only one well-connected fragment) optimizations. Our findings indicate that restoration in an extremely fragmented landscape will promote a shift toward more connected patches and with reduction of the surface:volume ratio. Our work explores the use of genetic algorithms to propose forest restoration based on landscape ecology metrics in a spatially explicit innovative approach. Our results indicate that LSI and Contagion:LSI ratio may affect the choice concerning precise location of restoration sites based on forest fragments scattered in the landscape and reinforce the usefulness of genetic algorithms to yield an optimized-driven solution for restoration initiatives.
RESUMO
Abstract: The forest along the coast of Bahia state, in northeastern Brazil, has been acknowledged as an area of endemism for several groups of organisms. The first study concerning endemic angiosperm species in this region, through which 395 taxa were registered, was conducted 15 years ago. However, this number is probably underrated. In this article, we present an updated checklist of angiosperm taxa in Bahia Coastal Forests (BCF) based on geographic distribution data available from the Brazilian Plant List (Flora do Brasil 2020). The records were checked in herbaria, recent taxonomic literature, and, when necessary, reviewed by experts. The final checklist consists of 547 taxa endemic to BCF, distributed in 69 families, with seven endemic genera: Bahiella (Apocynaceae), Santosia (Asteraceae), Harleyodendron (Fabaceae), Cubitanthus (Linderniaceae), Anomochloa and Parianella (Poaceae), and Andreadoxa (Rutaceae). The families with highest richness in endemic taxa were Bromeliaceae (108 spp.), Fabaceae (41 spp.) and Myrtaceae (32 spp.). This updated checklist shares only 143 taxa with a previous list published about 15 years ago. Those two lists differ mostly due to slightly different area limits, and to the large number of additional endemic species described since then. We hope our list will be used as a resource in future studies and contributes to the conservation of the highly diverse Bahia Coastal Forest.
Resumo: A floresta costeira do estado da Bahia, no nordeste do Brasil, tem sido apontada como área de endemismo para diversos grupos de organismos. O primeiro levantamento de espécies de angiospermas endêmicas dessa região foi realizado há cerca de 15 anos e revelou a ocorrência de 395 táxons. Entretanto, esse número provavelmente está subestimado. Neste trabalho apresentamos uma lista atualizada de táxons de angiospermas endêmicas da Floresta Costeira da Bahia (FCB), tendo como base as informações de distribuição geográfica disponíveis na lista da Flora do Brasil. Estas informações foram posteriormente checadas em registros de herbários, estudos taxonômicos recentes e, quando necessário, revisadas por especialistas. A lista final de espécies é constituída por 547 táxons endêmicos da Floresta Costeira da Bahia, distribuídos em 69 famílias e incluindo sete gêneros endêmicos: Bahiella (Apocynaceae), Santosia (Asteraceae), Harleyodendron (Fabaceae), Cubitanthus (Linderniaceae), Anomochloa e Parianella (Poaceae), and Andreadoxa (Rutaceae). As famílias mais ricas em táxons endêmicos são Bromeliaceae (108 spp.), Fabaceae (41 spp.) e Myrtaceae (32 spp.). Apenas 143 táxons são compartilhados por esta lista atualizada e uma lista preliminar publicada há cerca de 15 anos. As duas listas diferem especialmente por ligeiras diferenças nos limites da área de estudo e também pelo acréscimo de novas espécies endêmicas descritas desde então. Espera-se que a lista seja usada como ferramenta para estudos futuros e para a conservação da rica flora costeira da Bahia.