Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Plant Science, Environmental Science, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
15
Scopus Publications
223
Scholar Citations
9
Scholar h-index
9
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Scientists’ warning on the global destruction of rock outcrop ecosystems Luiza F. A. de Paula, Lucas N. Perillo, Gianluigi Ottaviani, Flávio F. Carmo, Mandar N. Datar, et al. Conservation Biology, 2026 Rock outcrops are geological formations that harbor a highly specialized biota adapted to harsh environmental conditions that differ from their surrounding landscapes. They are globally distributed, especially in old, highly weathered landscapes, and can function as habitat islands containing high levels of endemism and distinct evolutionary lineages. Despite their ecoevolutionary importance, rock outcrops remain largely overlooked in global conservation policy, ecosystem typologies, and biodiversity monitoring frameworks. Extractive activities directly remove the geological substrate that underpins these habitats, and climate change intensifies drought, heatwaves, and hydrological instability. Rising global demand for energy‐transition metals required for decarbonization is expected to further accelerate these pressures, particularly in biodiverse regions of the Global South where governance is weaker. Given that rock outcrop ecosystems are ecologically and evolutionarily significant, we devised a policy‐relevant conservation roadmap structured around prevention, mitigation, restoration, and governance issues. Priority actions include recognizing rock outcrops as unique ecosystems in global classifications and ecosystem typologies, integrating them into biodiversity monitoring frameworks, and improving the identification of key biodiversity areas and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems assessments. We call for stronger environmental impact assessments, cumulative‐impact evaluations for mining and quarrying projects, and the designation of mining and quarrying exclusion sites of high irreplaceability. Coordinated international policy, improved ecological data, and meaningful engagement with local and Indigenous communities are essential to safeguard these ancient ecosystems before further, irreversible losses occur.
Mating system, morphological and genetic evidence endorse clonality as an essential reproductive mode in Daphnopsis filipedunculata (Thymelaeaceae), a dioecious and endemic species from the Amazon Carolina da Silva Carvalho, Lucas Erickson Nascimento da Costa, Bárbara Simões Santos Leal, Kleber Resende Silva, Adriano Valentin-Silva, et al. Aob Plants, 2024 Background and Aims: Clonality is characterized by the formation of independent individuals of the same genotype that are capable of reproducing and propagating vegetatively. Although clonality is an important mechanism that facilitates the persistence of a population, its extensive use can lead to negative impacts on sexual reproduction due to trade-offs in the investment of resources. Therefore, studies on the sexual reproduction of species that exhibit clonality can provide information about resilience to environmental changes, information about fecundity, the risk of the absence of pollinators and the ability to persist in unfavourable conditions and to successfully occupy new areas. Here, we investigated the role of clonal propagation and sexual reproduction in Daphnopsis filipedunculata (Thymelaeaceae), a dioecious species distributed only in Serra dos Carajás. Methods: We evaluated the extent of clonality in this species using molecular tools and anatomical analyses of the underground system responsible for developing new ramets. Furthermore, we analysed the sexual system and its contribution to reproductive success through morphometric analyses of floral types and pollination experiments in the field. Key Results: Overall, we found that clonal propagation plays an important role in maintaining the population of D. filipedunculata. Specifically, we demonstrated that this species presents functional male and female plants, indicating that D. filipedunculata is an obligate xenogamous species but has low reproductive success. We also showed that clonal vegetative propagation is the main form of asexual reproduction in this species, with roots responsible for clonal growth. Finally, our results indicated that this species presents an intermediate phalanx–guerrilla clonal architecture. Conclusions: Our study provides the first insights into sexual reproduction and clonal propagation in D. filipedunculata and can inform management practices, conservation and the restoration of endemic species.
Mainstreaming Flora Conservation Strategies into the Mitigation Hierarchy to Strengthen Environmental Impact Assessment Taís Nogueira Fernandes, Fernando Marino Gomes dos Santos, Flávio Dayrell Gontijo, João Alves da Silva Filho, Alexandre Franco Castilho, et al. Environmental Management, 2023 The application of the mitigation hierarchy (MH) to mining projects is challenging in situations of locational overlap between endemic flora and mineral deposits. We review flora surveys conducted in connection with the environmental impact assessment of several iron ore mining projects in an area of high degree of endemism in Eastern Amazon to discuss the practical implications of anticipating conservation strategies. Desktop studies and secondary data review were conducted to guide field searches to determine the distribution of endemic flora, resulting in 45 out of 46 endemic plant species having their known distribution extended to new areas. A framework for positioning flora conservation strategies in the MH is presented. Specific habitat requirements and scarce knowledge about endangered and endemic flora species are a conservation obstacle, since essential information to define species conservation strategies may be lacking. We show that anticipating conservation strategies can minimize time-lag uncertainties related to restoration success and biodiversity offsets. The more effort is placed in the preventative steps of the MH, the smaller the time-lag between impact (biodiversity losses) and conservation outcomes (biodiversity gains), decreasing uncertainties and reducing risks to biodiversity.
Rock n' Seeds: A database of seed functional traits and germination experiments from Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation Carlos A. Ordóñez‐Parra, Roberta L. C. Dayrell, Daniel Negreiros, Antônio C. S. Andrade, Letícia G. Andrade, et al. Ecology, 2023 Advancing functional ecology depends fundamentally on the availability of data on reproductive traits, including those from tropical plants, which have been historically underrepresented in global trait databases. Although some valuable databases have been created recently, they are mainly restricted to temperate areas and vegetative traits such as leaf and wood traits. Here, we present Rock n' Seeds, a database of seed functional traits and germination experiments from Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation, recognized as outstanding centers of diversity and endemism. Data were compiled through a systematic literature search, resulting in 103 publications from which seed functional traits were extracted. The database includes information on 16 functional traits for 383 taxa from 148 genera, 50 families, and 25 orders. These 16 traits include two dispersal, six production, four morphological, two biophysical, and two germination traits—the major axes of the seed ecological spectrum. The database also provides raw data for 48 germination experiments, for a total of 10,187 records for 281 taxa. Germination experiments in the database assessed the effect of a wide range of abiotic and biotic factors on germination and different dormancy‐breaking treatments. Notably, 8255 of these records include daily germination counts. This input will facilitate synthesizing germination data and using this database for a myriad of ecological questions. Given the variety of seed traits and the extensive germination information made available by this database, we expect it to be a valuable resource advancing comparative functional ecology and guiding seed‐based restoration and biodiversity conservation in tropical megadiverse ecosystems. There are no copyright restrictions on the data; please cite this paper when using the current data in publications; also the authors would appreciate notification of how the data are used in publications.
Distinct reproductive strategy of two endemic amazonian quillworts Cecilio F. Caldeira, Arthur V. S. Lopes, Keyvilla C. Aguiar, Aline L. Ferreira, João V. S. Araujo, et al. Diversity, 2021 We examined the reproductive strategy of two Amazonian quillworts (Isoëtes cangae and Isoëtes serracarajensis), endemic and threatened species of canga ecosystems. Sexual propagation was examined by in vitro fertilization assays, while asexual propagation was examined by tiller emission. Isoëtes cangae is an outcrossing species that reproduces exclusively by spore germination and is able to propagate by self- and cross-fertilization. Isoëtes serracarajensis reproduces asexually by emitting tillers from the plant corm, despite producing male and female sporangia. These distinct reproductive strategies in the different species may be linked to their contrasting habitats. Isoëtes cangae inhabit a permanent oligotrophic lake with mild environmental changes, while I. serracarajensis are found in temporary ponds facing severe seasonal drought, where asexual propagation may represent an adaptive advantage to the short growth period during access to water. We also observed different relationships between plant growth and reproductive traits between the species, despite their common production of sporophytes with high survival rates. Together, these results are of paramount importance for establishing conservation plans for both species considering the advantages of sexual propagation to maintain the genetic diversity of I. cangae and the diligent management required to do the same with asexually propagated I. serracarajensis.
Conservation implications of genetic structure in the narrowest endemic quillwort from the Eastern Amazon Jeronymo Dalapicolla, Ronnie Alves, Rodolfo Jaffé, Santelmo Vasconcelos, Eder Soares Pires, et al. Ecology and Evolution, 2021 The quillwortIsoëtes cangaeis a critically endangered species occurring in a single lake in Serra dos Carajás, Eastern Amazon. Low genetic diversity and small effective population sizes (Ne) are expected for narrow endemic species (NES). Conservation biology studies centered in a single species show some limitations, but they are still useful considering the limited time and resources available for protection of species at risk of extinction. Here, we evaluated the genetic diversity, population structure,Ne, and minimum viable population (MVP) ofI. cangaeto provide information for effective conservation programs. Our analyses were based on 55 individuals collected from the Amendoim Lake and 35,638 neutral SNPs. Our results indicated a single panmictic population, moderate levels of genetic diversity, andNein the order of thousands, contrasting the expected for NES. Negative FISvalues were also found, suggesting thatI. cangaeis not under risk of inbreeding depression. Our findings imply thatI. cangaecontains enough genetic diversity to ensure evolutionary potential and that all individuals should be treated as one demographic unit. These results provide essential information to optimize ex situ conservation efforts and genetic diversity monitoring, which are currently applied to guideI. cangaeconservation plans.
Scientists’ warning on the global destruction of rock outcrop ecosystems LFA de Paula, LN Perillo, G Ottaviani, FF Carmo, MN Datar, ... Conservation Biology, e70316 , 2026 2026
Environmental niche modelling, population structure and reproductive phenology inform translocation in threatened Amazon endemics MV Wardil, AJ Arruda, ML Bueno, FMG Santos, FAO Silveira Plant Ecology 226 (7), 867-882 , 2025 2025
Mitigation Translocation of Campo Rupestre on Canga Edaphic Endemic species in Carajás Mining Province, Pará, Brazil F Santos, T Fernandes, D Scherer, M Wardil, S Rolim, FAO Silveira GLOBAL CONSERVATION TRANSLOCATION PERSPECTIVES: 2025 Case studies from … , 2025 2025
Mating system, morphological and genetic evidence endorse clonality as an essential reproductive mode in Daphnopsis filipedunculata (Thymelaeaceae), a … CS Carvalho, LEN da Costa, BSS Leal, KR Silva, A Valentin-Silva, ... AoB Plants 16 (5), plae048 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Guia de coleta de sementes e protocolos de germinação Espécies de interesse para conservação das cangas de Carajás FMG Santos, RO Morais, AB Cavalcante, ALR Cardoso, C Caldeira, ... Bioma 1, 166 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
Mainstreaming flora conservation strategies into the mitigation hierarchy to strengthen environmental impact assessment TN Fernandes, FMG Dos Santos, FD Gontijo, JA da Silva Filho, ... Environmental Management 71 (2), 483-493 , 2023 2023 Citations: 19
Rock n'Seeds: A database of seed functional traits and germination experiments from Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation CA Ordóñez‐Parra, RLC Dayrell, D Negreiros, ACS Andrade, ... Ecology 104 (1), e3852 , 2023 2023 Citations: 20
Discovery of mixed sporangia in the Amazonian quillwort Isoëtes cangae NV Campos, SL Cavalheiro-Filho, LB Jordão, FMG Santos, A Castilho, ... American Fern Journal 111 (4), 327-331 , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
Conservation implications of genetic structure in the narrowest endemic quillwort from the Eastern Amazon J Dalapicolla, R Alves, R Jaffe, S Vasconcelos, ES Pires, GL Nunes, ... Ecology and Evolution 11 (15), 10119-10132 , 2021 2021 Citations: 22
Distinct reproductive strategy of two endemic amazonian quillworts CF Caldeira, AVS Lopes, KC Aguiar, AL Ferreira, JVS Araujo, ... Diversity 13 (8), 348 , 2021 2021 Citations: 13
Climatic triggers and phenological responses in Isoetes cangae (Isoetaceae), an endemic quillwort from Amazon iron rocky outcrops, Brazil NV Campos, LMS Gestinari, EN Calderon, AR Gripp, MCH Marques, ... Limnologica 89, 125889 , 2021 2021 Citations: 7
Seed Functional Traits Provide Support for Ecological Restoration and ex situ Conservation in the Threatened Amazon Ironstone Outcrop Flora M Zanetti, RLC Dayrell, MV Wardil, A Damasceno, T Fernandes, ... Frontiers in Plant Science 11, 599496 , 2020 2020 Citations: 34
The genetic diversity and population structure of two endemic Amazonian quillwort (Isoetes L.) species MP Santos, JVSR Araujo, AVS Lopes, JCF Vettorazzi, MSB Boechat, ... PeerJ 8, e10274 , 2020 2020 Citations: 20
Vegetation misclassification compromises conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Atlantic Forest ironstone outcrops FAO Silveira, LN Perillo, FF Carmo, LHY Kamino, NFO Mota, PL Viana, ... Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 18 (4), 238-242 , 2020 2020 Citations: 17
A importância das inteligências múltiplas no processo ensino e aprendizagem no contexto escolar EC SILVA, JAF SALAZAR, R TAVARES, AA ARRUDA, FMS SANTOS BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT 6 (5), 32403-32413 , 2020 2020 Citations: 1
Genetic diversity by ISSR of two endemic quillworts ( Isoetes L.) species from Amazon Iron Rocky Outcrops, Isoetes cangae e I. serracarajensis MP Santos, JV da Silva Rabelo Araújo, A Vinícius de Sant’anna Lopes, ... bioRxiv, 635771 , 2019 2019 Citations: 2
Completing the jigsaw: the first record of the female plant of Daphnopsisfilipedunculata (Thymelaeaceae), an endemic species from the Brazilian Amazon MTC Watanabe, NF de Oliveira Mota, M Pastore, FMG Dos Santos, ... PhytoKeys, 93 , 2018 2018 Citations: 4
Quillworts from the Amazon: A multidisciplinary populational study on Isoetes serracarajensis and Isoetes cangae GL Nunes, RRM Oliveira, JTF Guimarães, AM Giulietti, C Caldeira, ... PloS one 13 (8), e0201417 , 2018 2018 Citations: 37
Seed dormancy in Stachytarpheta species (Verbenaceae) from high-altitude sites in south-eastern Brazil LC Barreto, FMG Santos, QS Garcia Flora-Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants 225, 37-44 , 2016 2016 Citations: 13
Comportamento germinativo de espécies do gênero Stachytarpheta Vahl.(Verbenaceae) ocorrentes nos campos rupestres da Cadeia do Espinhaço em Minas Gerais FMG dos Santos Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , 2008 2008 Citations: 6
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Quillworts from the Amazon: A multidisciplinary populational study on Isoetes serracarajensis and Isoetes cangae GL Nunes, RRM Oliveira, JTF Guimarães, AM Giulietti, C Caldeira, ... PloS one 13 (8), e0201417 , 2018 2018 Citations: 37
Seed Functional Traits Provide Support for Ecological Restoration and ex situ Conservation in the Threatened Amazon Ironstone Outcrop Flora M Zanetti, RLC Dayrell, MV Wardil, A Damasceno, T Fernandes, ... Frontiers in Plant Science 11, 599496 , 2020 2020 Citations: 34
Conservation implications of genetic structure in the narrowest endemic quillwort from the Eastern Amazon J Dalapicolla, R Alves, R Jaffe, S Vasconcelos, ES Pires, GL Nunes, ... Ecology and Evolution 11 (15), 10119-10132 , 2021 2021 Citations: 22
Rock n'Seeds: A database of seed functional traits and germination experiments from Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation CA Ordóñez‐Parra, RLC Dayrell, D Negreiros, ACS Andrade, ... Ecology 104 (1), e3852 , 2023 2023 Citations: 20
The genetic diversity and population structure of two endemic Amazonian quillwort (Isoetes L.) species MP Santos, JVSR Araujo, AVS Lopes, JCF Vettorazzi, MSB Boechat, ... PeerJ 8, e10274 , 2020 2020 Citations: 20
Mainstreaming flora conservation strategies into the mitigation hierarchy to strengthen environmental impact assessment TN Fernandes, FMG Dos Santos, FD Gontijo, JA da Silva Filho, ... Environmental Management 71 (2), 483-493 , 2023 2023 Citations: 19
Vegetation misclassification compromises conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Atlantic Forest ironstone outcrops FAO Silveira, LN Perillo, FF Carmo, LHY Kamino, NFO Mota, PL Viana, ... Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 18 (4), 238-242 , 2020 2020 Citations: 17
Distinct reproductive strategy of two endemic amazonian quillworts CF Caldeira, AVS Lopes, KC Aguiar, AL Ferreira, JVS Araujo, ... Diversity 13 (8), 348 , 2021 2021 Citations: 13
Seed dormancy in Stachytarpheta species (Verbenaceae) from high-altitude sites in south-eastern Brazil LC Barreto, FMG Santos, QS Garcia Flora-Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants 225, 37-44 , 2016 2016 Citations: 13
Climatic triggers and phenological responses in Isoetes cangae (Isoetaceae), an endemic quillwort from Amazon iron rocky outcrops, Brazil NV Campos, LMS Gestinari, EN Calderon, AR Gripp, MCH Marques, ... Limnologica 89, 125889 , 2021 2021 Citations: 7
Comportamento germinativo de espécies do gênero Stachytarpheta Vahl.(Verbenaceae) ocorrentes nos campos rupestres da Cadeia do Espinhaço em Minas Gerais FMG dos Santos Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , 2008 2008 Citations: 6
Guia de coleta de sementes e protocolos de germinação Espécies de interesse para conservação das cangas de Carajás FMG Santos, RO Morais, AB Cavalcante, ALR Cardoso, C Caldeira, ... Bioma 1, 166 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
Completing the jigsaw: the first record of the female plant of Daphnopsisfilipedunculata (Thymelaeaceae), an endemic species from the Brazilian Amazon MTC Watanabe, NF de Oliveira Mota, M Pastore, FMG Dos Santos, ... PhytoKeys, 93 , 2018 2018 Citations: 4
Discovery of mixed sporangia in the Amazonian quillwort Isoëtes cangae NV Campos, SL Cavalheiro-Filho, LB Jordão, FMG Santos, A Castilho, ... American Fern Journal 111 (4), 327-331 , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
Genetic diversity by ISSR of two endemic quillworts ( Isoetes L.) species from Amazon Iron Rocky Outcrops, Isoetes cangae e I. serracarajensis MP Santos, JV da Silva Rabelo Araújo, A Vinícius de Sant’anna Lopes, ... bioRxiv, 635771 , 2019 2019 Citations: 2
Mating system, morphological and genetic evidence endorse clonality as an essential reproductive mode in Daphnopsis filipedunculata (Thymelaeaceae), a … CS Carvalho, LEN da Costa, BSS Leal, KR Silva, A Valentin-Silva, ... AoB Plants 16 (5), plae048 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
A importância das inteligências múltiplas no processo ensino e aprendizagem no contexto escolar EC SILVA, JAF SALAZAR, R TAVARES, AA ARRUDA, FMS SANTOS BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT 6 (5), 32403-32413 , 2020 2020 Citations: 1
Scientists’ warning on the global destruction of rock outcrop ecosystems LFA de Paula, LN Perillo, G Ottaviani, FF Carmo, MN Datar, ... Conservation Biology, e70316 , 2026 2026
Environmental niche modelling, population structure and reproductive phenology inform translocation in threatened Amazon endemics MV Wardil, AJ Arruda, ML Bueno, FMG Santos, FAO Silveira Plant Ecology 226 (7), 867-882 , 2025 2025
Mitigation Translocation of Campo Rupestre on Canga Edaphic Endemic species in Carajás Mining Province, Pará, Brazil F Santos, T Fernandes, D Scherer, M Wardil, S Rolim, FAO Silveira GLOBAL CONSERVATION TRANSLOCATION PERSPECTIVES: 2025 Case studies from … , 2025 2025
