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Checklist of Malpighiaceae on São Luís Island, Maranhão, Brazil: the absence of collections impacts the knowledge and conservation of the Island flora

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Abstract

São Luís Island in Maranhão State, Brazil, has a vegetational mosaic where sandbanks with shrubs, small dunes, and mangroves are common. Due to its geography, the urbanization process in this area tends to form agglomerations that suffocate small rivers and streams. Based on a floristic survey of the family Malpighiaceae, we discuss the importance of taxonomic knowledge for the preservation of the flora of São Luís Island. We list 18 species of Malpighiaceae that occur in the area. Among them, only four have herbarium collections from the 21st century. Byrsonima intermedia and Heteropterys mathewsiana are new records for Maranhão State and Bunchosia apiculata is a new record for São Luís Island. Although they have not been formally assessed, most species are under threat, especially from disorderly urban growth and the unregulated discard of waste. Maintaining natural habitats and controlling threats might reveal relevant new findings about the diversity of Maranhão and contribute significantly to the preservation of the biodiversity on São Luís Island.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this research was provided by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA) through a Scientific Initiation Scholarship given to BAF (#BIC-01997/20). We also thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the Scientific Initiation Scholarship given to ABE (#112595/2020-0), Research Productivity Fellowship given to AMA (#312404/2018-2), and laboratory support (Edital Universal, #436283/2018-2 and #402943/2021-0).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil

    Alícia B. Ewerton-Silva, Bruna de Abreu Fernandes & Lucas C. Marinho

  2. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil

    André M. Amorim

Authors
  1. Alícia B. Ewerton-Silva
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  2. Bruna de Abreu Fernandes
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  3. André M. Amorim
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  4. Lucas C. Marinho
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Contributions

LCM conceived the project. ABE and BAF collected the specimens. ABE and AMA identified the specimens. ABE, BAF, and LCM analyzed the data. ABE, BAF, and LCM wrote the paper; AMA edited the paper and provided comments. LCM prepared the figures.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucas C. Marinho.

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Ewerton-Silva, A., Fernandes, B., Amorim, A. et al. Checklist of Malpighiaceae on São Luís Island, Maranhão, Brazil: the absence of collections impacts the knowledge and conservation of the Island flora. J Coast Conserv 27, 64 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-023-00997-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-023-00997-1

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