2026/01/01 by Júlia Gava Sandrini, Micael De Bona, Iara Zaccaron Zanoni +7 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Fern and Epiphyte Biology #Plant Diversity and Evolution
paper · doi:10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2025-1855
openalex publication_date 2026/01/01 · openalex created_date 2026/03/17 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Abstract Basaltic cliffs in southern Brazil support specialized plant communities shaped by extreme environmental conditions, high habitat heterogeneity, and spatial isolation. Despite their ecological importance, these environments remain poorly documented and are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures. Here, we present the first comprehensive floristic inventory of the rupicolous vascular flora of the Serra do Rio do Rastro (SRR), Santa Catarina. A total of 317 species (204 genera and 71 families) were recorded, exceeding the floristic richness previously reported for other areas of the Aparados da Serra Geral region. Asteraceae (56 spp.) and Poaceae (31 spp.) were the most species-rich families, and herbaceous forms predominated (197 spp.). Twenty-one species are endemic to Santa Catarina, including Neocabreria catharinensis, which is documented here after a 64-year gap without herbarium records, and 20 species are officially recognized as threatened with extinction. Remarkably, 69.1% of species had no prior records in digital herbarium databases for the studied area, underscoring the value of targeted fieldwork for documenting biodiversity in understudied habitats. Our results identify the SRR as a biodiversity refuge of both regional and national significance, while exposing critical conservation gaps, particularly the absence of updated threat assessments for narrowly distributed taxa. We recommend the urgent integration of cliff ecosystems in conservation planning, supported by systematic monitoring, invasive species control, and regular updating of threatened species lists.