Conexões biogeográficas de savanas brasileiras: partição da diversidade marginal e disjunta e conservação do trópico ecotonal setentrional em um hotspot de biodiversidade

Abstract

The neotropical savannas are distributed predominantly in the Brazilian territory in the form of phytophysiognomies that vary from open scrubs (Sparse Cerrado) to woodland (Cerradão) areas. The variability in richness is so remarkable that less than 15% of diversity is maintained throughout its range. To contribute to the understanding of the distribution patterns of the Cerrado vegetation and to the differentiation of northern ecotonal communities, a database of 482 communities of Cerrado sensu lato, in different floristic expressions, that accumulated 1.221 woody species was used. Similar composition patterns were calculated between communities (“areal” floras, typical of each area), highlighting the northern floristic concentrations, and a high degree of β-diversity was evidenced by the formation of nine synareal floras. These levels of turnover attest that numerous protected areas in different regions are necessary to protect all species diversity, physiognomies and functionalities of the cerrados. The results provide an update and scientific complementation in which national decision makers can contextualize the mesological meaning of Brazilian cerrados as environmental conductors connected to a larger scale system.