Integrative research identifies 71 new plant species records in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) and enhances a small herbarium collection during a funding shortage

Versieux, Leonardo de Melo,; D&#225;vila, N&#225;llarett; Delgado Junior, Geadelande Carolino; Fontes, Valdeci; Moura, Edweslley; Filgueiras, Tarciso,; Alves, Marccus Vin&#237;cius da Silva.; Carvalho, Eric; Piotto, Daniel; Forzza, Rafaela Campostrini; Calvente, Alice; Jardim, Jomar G.

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.86.13775

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Article: Integrative research identifies 71 new plant species records in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) and enhances a small herbarium collection during a funding shortage

Title

Integrative research identifies 71 new plant species records in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) and enhances a small herbarium collection during a funding shortage

By

Versieux, Leonardo de Melo, 1979-
Dávila, Nállarett
Delgado Junior, Geadelande Carolino
Fontes, Valdeci
Moura, Edweslley
Filgueiras, Tarciso, 1950-
Alves, Marccus Vinícius da Silva.
Carvalho, Eric (Eric Oliveira)
Piotto, Daniel
Forzza, Rafaela Campostrini
Calvente, Alice
Jardim, Jomar G.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2017

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

Pages

43-74

Subjects

Brazil Flora Group , Flora , floristics , herbarium collection , IFN , inventory , Reflora , SiBBr

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.86.13775

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License Type URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Rights: https://biodiversitylibrary.org/permissions
Copyright Status: In copyright. Digitized with the permission of the rights holder.
Rights Holder: Copyright held by individual article author(s).

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expand Abstract

A National Forest Inventory (NFI) encompassing the entire territory of Brazil is in progress. It is coordinated and promoted by the Brazilian Forest Service of the Ministry of Environment. In each state, the NFI collaborates with local herbaria by receiving collected plant material and performing species identification. Consultants are hired by the NFI and work at the local herbaria under the supervision of a curator. In exchange for curatorial assistance, the NFI provides equipment and consumables for the herbarium. Other public projects collaborating with NFI are Reflora and the Brazilian Biodiversity Information System (SiBBr). Both projects have online platforms that seek to connect herbaria and make all their data freely available, including high quality digital images of specimens. Through inter-institutional collaboration, the joint interests of NFI, Reflora, SiBBr and local herbaria have improved collections, expanded the online Reflora database, and provided the NFI with verified species lists. These strategic uses of public funding are positively affecting Botany, particularly during a period of economic crisis and cuts in research. Here, we illustrate the increase in floristic knowledge through the improvement of a herbarium collection in Rio Grande do Norte (RN) – the Brazilian state with the lowest levels of plant richness. We report 71 new occurrences of vascular plants for RN, belonging mainly to the Poaceae, Fabaceae and Malvaceae. Most of the species with new occurrences have a Neotropical distribution (21 spp.) and only seven are restricted to the Brazilian Northeast. Our findings highlight previous gaps in RN’s floristic knowledge. The partnership NFI, Reflora, SiBBr and the UFRN herbarium improved herbarium curation, digital collection, and quality of data. Finally, a fellowship provided by Reflora and SiBBr allowed improving curation by distributing duplicates and incorporating the Herbarium of Câmara Cascudo Museum.