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Tree Diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Biases and General Patterns Using Different Sources of Information

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The Atlantic Forest

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots, yet only a few studies have attempted to summarize tree diversity patterns across its full extent. With the increasing availability of primary biodiversity data, such a synthesis is potentially feasible; however, a critical assessment of the available information is needed to understand the limitations of data and increase knowledge on broad-scale biodiversity patterns. Here we (i) explore the potential limitations and biases of both herbarium and inventory data, (ii) provide a synthesis of diversity patterns, and (iii) present a spatial prioritization, based on complementary scenarios, for sampling tree species across the domain. We show that despite the large amounts of herbarium data, the number of unique localities per species is rather small (median, 53) and data for most species is still scarce or not yet ready for use. The spatial patterns of both herbarium records and inventory data are influenced by the presence of protected areas, proportion of forest cover, distance to graduate programs, and variables representing ease of access. Species richness presented peaks in the mid-portion of the domain. Such a pattern is related to spatial and historical constraints, environmental variation, and influence from other phytogeographical domains.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

    Victor P. Zwiener & Marcia C. M. Marques

  2. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Renato A. F. de Lima

  3. Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Andrea Sánchez-Tapia

  4. International Institute for Sustainability, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Diogo S. B. Rocha

Authors
  1. Victor P. Zwiener
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  2. Renato A. F. de Lima
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  3. Andrea Sánchez-Tapia
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  4. Diogo S. B. Rocha
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  5. Marcia C. M. Marques
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

    Marcia C. M. Marques

  2. Department of Ecology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Carlos E. V. Grelle

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Zwiener, V.P., de Lima, R.A.F., Sánchez-Tapia, A., Rocha, D.S.B., Marques, M.C.M. (2021). Tree Diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Biases and General Patterns Using Different Sources of Information. In: Marques, M.C.M., Grelle, C.E.V. (eds) The Atlantic Forest. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55322-7_6

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