Abstract
Despite the huge biodiversity of the Cerrado biome, a synthesis on the distribution of genetic diversity across the biome is still wanting. We describe patterns of plant genetic variation across the Cerrado biome, highlighting areas of high diversity and priority areas for conservation. We also analyze the relative importance of environmental characteristics and human footprints on patterns of genetic variation. Raw genetic data comes primarily from central and southeastern Brazil, outside conservation units (CUs). Standardized estimated genetic richness (Gest) decreases in a north–south gradient. Populations with high genetic diversity (He) and allelic richness (AR) are widespread across the biome, but both increase with distance from the center of Cerrado. Environmental variables related to energy, temperature and precipitation are associated with Gest and AR, but not He. Gest is higher in northern Cerrado, in regions with low human development index (HDI). Conversely, southern Cerrado shows higher HDI and lower genetic richness, most likely due to both high habitat fragmentation and loss. CUs in northern Cerrado tend to have higher Gest, whereas those in southeast and central Cerrado have higher He and AR. The high genetic diversity and richness in the few populations studied in northern Cerrado, coupled with the low data availability, reveal the importance of encouraging genetic studies in this region. Moreover, very limited information about population genetic diversity is available from CUs, which may constrain the access of species conservation status and decision-make on management of populations inside CUs.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the research network Rede de Pesquisa Biota do Cerrado CNPq/PPBio (Project no. 457406/2012-7) and PROCAD/CAPES (Project no 88881.068425/2014-01). JSL received a fellowship from PROCAD/CAPES and LBM receives a fellowship from CAPES Ciências sem Fronteiras (Project CSF-PAJT/CAPES no. 88881.030318/2013-01). RGC has continuously been supported by CNPq and CAPES grants and scholarships whose assistance we gratefully acknowledge. We thank Guarino R Colli and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on the manuscript.
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This study was funded by CNPq (Grant No. 457406/2012-7) and CAPES (Grant Nos. 88881.068425/2014-01 and 88881.030318/2013-01)
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Ballesteros-Mejia, L., Lima, J.S. & Collevatti, R.G. Spatially-explicit analyses reveal the distribution of genetic diversity and plant conservation status in Cerrado biome. Biodivers Conserv 29, 1537–1554 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-1588-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-1588-9