The Blue List Initiative: Guiding Biodiversity Restoration in Brazil's Espinhaço Range

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Abstract
Questions: How can a reference framework be developed for the ecological restoration of the campo rupestre, a biodiverse Brazilian ecosystem? Specifically, what are the challenges posed by habitat heterogeneity and species turnover in the mountain range, and how can they be addressed to create ‘Blue Lists’, defined as habitat‐ and ecosystem‐specific reference species lists that guide assisted ecological restoration? Location: The campo rupestre ecosystem of Brazil's Espinhaço Mountain Range spans a strong latitudinal and altitudinal gradient of nearly 10 degrees, extending from the Southern Espinhaço in Minas Gerais to the Chapada Diamantina in Bahia. Methods: Phytosociological data from 20 studies and 101 species lists were analysed. Species were classified by substrate (quartzite and ferruginous) and habitat types, further divided into herbaceous and woody strata. A cluster analysis using Sørensen distance identified floristic clusters, while zeta diversity analyses evaluated species turnover at species, genus, and family levels. Phylogenetic and spatial signals were assessed to examine species co‐occurrence patterns. Results: A total of 1,126 plant species were identified, exhibiting significant compositional variation between substrates and habitat types. Floristic clusters demonstrated high species turnover, with few species shared across habitats. Phylogenetic analysis revealed convergent evolutionary patterns, and spatial analysis showed significant geographic clustering of species composition. Conclusions: Restoration efforts must account for habitat heterogeneity and substrate‐specific species compositions to prevent biotic homogenization and enhance ecosystem biodiversity and resilience. Detailed Blue Lists, defined as habitat‐specific target species lists, are critical for effective ecological restoration. Future studies should prioritize closing knowledge gaps, especially in understudied regions of the campo rupestre.
Funding Information
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (442499/2023‐0)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (406757/2022‐4)

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