Understanding Brazil’s catastrophic fires: Causes, consequences and policy needed to prevent future tragedies

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 19(3), P. 233 - 255

Published: July 1, 2021

Brazil has experienced unprecedented wildfires in the last decade. Images of immense burnt areas or dead animals that failed to escape 2020 have shocked world. To prevent minimize further similar disasters we must understand factors led these catastrophic events. The causes and consequences entail complex interactions between biophysical sociocultural spheres, suitable management decisions require a sound scientific base. We present recent panorama increasing fire outbreaks Brazilian biomes, discuss contributed such fires, their impacts on environment overall for human well-being, based reviewing extensive specialist literature, authors' expert knowledge information provided by environmental managers, researchers politicians during workshop organized debate wildfire issue Brazil. Our up-to-date review is aimed at academic public, managers decision- policy-makers. First, evidence contrasting effects different ecosystems. Second, outline historic perceptions policies related use since its colonization date. Third, propose means advance prevention develop successful strategies. Finally, answer frequently asked questions clarify and/or demystify some fire-related issues not always properly addressed media.

Language: Английский

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An updated plant checklist of the Brazilian Caatinga seasonally dry forests and woodlands reveals high species richness and endemism

Journal of Arid Environments, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 174, P. 104079 - 104079

Published: Nov. 15, 2019

Language: Английский

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Climate change will reduce suitable Caatinga dry forest habitat for endemic plants with disproportionate impacts on specialized reproductive strategies

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 14(5), P. e0217028 - e0217028

Published: May 29, 2019

Global climate change alters the dynamic of natural ecosystems and directly affects species distributions, persistence diversity. The impacts may lead to dramatic changes in biotic interactions, such as pollination seed dispersal. Life history traits are extremely important consider vulnerability a change, producing more robust models than those based primarily on distributions. Here, we hypothesized that rising temperatures aridity will reduce suitable habitats for endemic flora Caatinga, most diverse dry tropical forest Earth. Specifically, with specialized reproductive (e.g. vertebrate pollination, dispersal, obligatory cross-pollination) should be affected by generalist traits. We performed two ecological niche (current future) simulate effects distribution area relation life-history used MIROC-ESM CCSM4 both intermediate (RCP4.5) highest predicted (RCP8.5) GHG emission scenarios, resolution 30' (~1 km2). Habitat high occurrence probability (>80%) reduced (up ~10% trees, ~13% non-arboreous, 10–28% any pollination/reproductive system), greatest reductions In addition, likely concentration plants extreme northeastern portion mesic areas, coincides currently human-modified areas ecosystem, which combined further contract species. conclusion, plant Caatinga highly vulnerable even conservative scenarios future lose much their climatic envelopes. New protected located hosts favorable climate, but is exposed escalating agricultural intensification.

Language: Английский

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Global Succulent Biome phylogenetic conservatism across the pantropical Caesalpinia Group (Leguminosae)

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 222(4), P. 1994 - 2008

Published: Dec. 11, 2018

Summary The extent to which phylogenetic biome conservatism vs shifting determines global patterns of biodiversity remains poorly understood. To address this question, we investigated the biogeography and trajectories growth form evolution across Caesalpinia Group (Leguminosae), a clade 225 species trees, shrubs lianas distributed Rainforest, Succulent, Temperate Savanna Biomes. We focused especially on little‐known Succulent Biome, an assemblage succulent‐rich, grass‐poor, seasonally dry tropical vegetation disjunctly Neotropics, Africa, Arabia Madagascar. reconstructed time‐calibrated phylogeny, assembled occurrence data assigned areas, biomes forms. These are used estimate frequency transcontinental disjunctions, shifts evolutionary transitions between forms test for correlated shifts. uncovered pattern strong Biome conservatism. showed that disjunctions confined within frequent Savanna, Rainforest Biomes infrequent closely associated with in plant Our results suggest comprises ecologically constrained arena spanning large geographical tropics.

Language: Английский

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Human disturbance is the major driver of vegetation changes in the Caatinga dry forest region

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Oct. 27, 2023

Abstract Drastic changes in vegetation structure caused by exceeding ecological thresholds have fueled the interest tropical forest responses to climate and land-use changes. Here, we examine potential successional trajectories experienced largest dry region South America, driven conditions human disturbance. We built distribution models for vertebrate taxa associated with or shrub habitats estimate natural cover. Distribution patterns were compared current across entire identify distinct degradation levels. Our results indicate has climatic soil suitable more cover than is currently found, even some areas limited precipitation. However, 11.04% of persists such an immense region, only 4.34% consisting Forest characterized dramatic expansion shrubland (390%), farming, non-vegetation due land-use, rather conditions. Although different been principal drivers seems unable resist consequences changes, particularly lower precipitation areas. Therefore, change exceeded persistence forests, while may exacerbate vegetation-type transitions.

Language: Английский

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Biogeographical Districts of the Caatinga Dominion: A Proposal Based on Geomorphology and Endemism

The Botanical Review, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 4, 2024

Language: Английский

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Habitat loss and climate change threaten the survival of endangered Dyckia (Bromeliaceae) species in the Caatinga domain

Plant Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 19, 2025

Language: Английский

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Rainfall, not soil temperature, will limit the seed germination of dry forest species with climate change

Oecologia, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 192(2), P. 529 - 541

Published: Dec. 21, 2019

Language: Английский

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Hybrid capture of 964 nuclear genes resolves evolutionary relationships in the mimosoid legumes and reveals the polytomous origins of a large pantropical radiation

American Journal of Botany, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 107(12), P. 1710 - 1735

Published: Nov. 30, 2020

PREMISE Targeted enrichment methods facilitate sequencing of hundreds nuclear loci to enhance phylogenetic resolution and elucidate why some parts the “tree life” are difficult (if not impossible) resolve. The mimosoid legumes a prominent pantropical clade ~3300 species woody angiosperms for which previous phylogenies have shown extensive lack resolution, especially among species‐rich taxonomically challenging ingoids. METHODS We generated transcriptomes select low‐copy genes, enrich these via hybrid capture representative most genera, analyze resulting data using de novo assembly various phylogenomic tools tree inference. also evaluate gene support conflict key internodes use network analysis investigate signal across RESULTS Our selection 964 genes greatly improves phylogeny shows that ingoid can be resolved into several well‐supported clades. However, nearly all show deeper within CONCLUSIONS Lack in is likely result hyperfast diversification, potentially causing hard polytomy six or seven lineages. set targeted presented here offers great potential further mimosoids wider Caesalpinioideae with denser taxon sampling, provide framework taxonomic reclassification, study radiation.

Language: Английский

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Ecohydrology in a Brazilian tropical dry forest: thinned vegetation impact on hydrological functions and ecosystem services

Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 27, P. 100649 - 100649

Published: Dec. 6, 2019

This study was developed in two paired catchments under a tropical dry climate with forest landcover subject to vegetation management the Brazilian northeastern region. Water input is mostly from rainfall, concentrated three four months of year and potential evaporation that over twice amount rainfall characterizes its hydric deficit. Interactions between hydrological functions, services human actions minimize environmental impacts, improve availability water good quality decrease degradation ecosystems; land use effect on systems resilience, impact surface runoff, soil loss, herbaceous radicular biomass production, humidity total organic carbon altered cover. Strategies ecosystem should rely adequate reduce flow. reduction contributes higher moisture contents, less intense erosive processes resulting stocked carbon. The many techniques resilience forests lack an integrated view how ecohydrological may be managed favor system. Vegetation thinning promotes underbrush development dissipates flow kinetic energy, increasing content fixation reducing loss.

Language: Английский

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