"Flora-MS: Lacunas de conhecimento do status de conservação da diversidade de espécies de plantas no Mato Grosso do Sul. "

Abstract

The state of Mato Grosso do Sul, located in the central-west region of Brazil, stands out for its heterogeneous landscape and the presence of biomes of extreme relevance for the conservation of the Brazilian flora, such as the Pantanal, the Cerrado, the Atlantic Forest, and the country's unique remaining Chaco fragments. This study aimed to investigate the sampling effort, the main centers of species richness and endemism of vascular plants in the state, assess the conservation status of species according to the IUCN, and analyze the effectiveness of protected areas in biodiversity conservation. To achieve this, vascular plant occurrence data were compiled from online databases (SpeciesLink, Jabot, and GBIF), using 10x10 km grids to calculate species richness and the distribution of threatened species. The analyses were conducted using the Dinamica EGO software with the Biodynamics plugin. The Flora-MS database recorded 7.457 vascular plant species, distributed across 221 families and 1575 genera, including 754 species endemics to Brazil, of which 77 are exclusive to Mato Grosso do Sul. Additionally, 55 species of ferns and lycophytes and four species of gymnosperms were identified. Spatial analysis revealed six main biodiversity centers in the state: (1) Campo Grande, which harbors extensive areas of Cerrado and important institutions such as the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) and the CGMS herbarium, which drive local biodiversity studies; (2) Corumbá, located in the Pantanal biome, with emphasis on the UFMS unit and the COR herbarium, and the CPAP herbarium of Embrapa Pantanal, enabling ongoing research activities in the region; (3) Passo do Lontra, near the UFMS field research base, a site where fieldwork and scientific expeditions have been conducted for many years, significantly contributing to sampling efforts; (4) Serra da Bodoquena, an area with numerous studies and floristic inventories, known for its high plant diversity; (5) Amolar, frequently explored in botanical expeditions; and (6) Aquidauana, located in a transition zone between the Cerrado and Pantanal, with a central role played by the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS) and other institutions in scientific expeditions. This study highlights the remarkable floristic richness of Mato Grosso do Sul, providing crucial insights for identifying species richness centers, areas of endemism, and gaps in sampling efforts. The results reinforce the urgent need to expand and improve the network of Protected Areas in the state to meet global biodiversity conservation targets and ensure the effective protection of its unique and threatened ecosystems.