PPBio: The Program of Research on Biodiversity in the Brazilian Semi-arid

Alessandro Rapini, Luciano Paganucci de Queiroz & Ana Maria Giulietti

After more than two centuries of taxonomic studies and a resulting 1.5 million species described in the scientific literature, it is still impossible to give an accurate estimate of the number of species inhabiting our planet. At present these estimates vary from three million to thirty million species, with the largest gap in our knowledge centred firmly in the Tropics. The problems are further compounded by the intensity of environmental destruction, which is at its greatest in developing countries, such as Brazil , which are essentially tropical and highly bio-diverse . The rate of habitat destruction is now alarming, with many species becoming extinct before they can be discovered or described by the scientific community. For these reasons, there is an urgent need for an expansion of taxonomic research, especially in the tropics. However, what we are observing at the present time is a gradual devaluation of taxonomy in favour of disciplines which are less effective in securing the future of world biodiversity. The marked decrease of investment in the area of Taxonomy is a worldwide problem and the decline of research and training is leading to a shortfall of qualified taxonomists.

Fortunately, interest in Brazilian biodiversity has been fostered by MCT, who have instituted a Research Program (PPBio) to counter the prevailing neglect of taxonomy and to coordinate studies on national biodiversity. Objectives have been established under the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Directives of the National Politics on Biodiversity. Biodiversity research is to be developed through a multi-institutional network, preparing inventories of the various ecosystems and assembling new biological collections in poorly known areas. This network will provide support for research institutions and help to stimulate the growth of a dedicated human resource.

PPBio has already been initiated in the Amazon region and in the Semi-arid Northeast. Biological data will be digitized and integrated, to provide a powerful tool for environmental decision-making, with the entire information package soon to be made available online. By articulating the scientific knowledge gained from coordinated biodiversity research, the Program will optimize its accessibility, thus promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and consequently the conservation of our national biodiversity.

PPBio of the Semi-arid

The proposed actions, coordinated by the Brazilian government, are already augmenting our knowledge of the Semi-arid, and recently, eight ecoregions have been recognized, with 57 high priority areas identified for special conservation. Of these, 27 are considered to be of Extreme Biological Importance . It was these decisions which prompted the MCT to promote the IMSEAR (Chapter 1) and more recently the PPBio of the Semi-arid.

The knowledge of the biodiversity of the region, together with the biotic and abiotic processes that affect the region and its flora and fauna, are among the first steps towards introducing systems of sustainable use of natural resources. Such systems will not only reduce environmental degradation within the region, but will also improve the quality of life of the communities that live and make a living there. IMSEAR has created the first large-scale Brazilian network of taxonomists, herbaria and museums, all working towards a common goal: to inventory the regional biodiversity, researching endemic species, especially to identify those in danger of extinction, to search out and evaluate those of potential economic importance, and to detect those areas, which are hotspots of intense biodiversity, to ensure that these may be guarded for the benefit of future generations.

PPBio of the Semi-arid has further continued the biodiversity studies initiated by IMSEAR. Its objective is to articulate the operation of regional research institutes, who are actively engaged producing a network of inventories of biodiversity, cataloguing and characterizing the many species of plants, fungi and animals of the Semi-arid. At the same time, the reference collections of animals and plants that form the holdings in herbaria and museums are enriched, for both research and teaching. Samples from the field are also being used for biochemical and phylogenetic studies on a range of organisms, which will improve our understanding of relationships between species and between their populations, scattered through the Caatinga. PPBio, which is planned as a ten year program, will not only help to increase our knowledge of the biodiversity of the region, but will also stimulate areas of scientific excellence within regional institutions, promoting high quality training programmes and attracting bright, new teaching and research staff.

The objectives of PPBio of the Semi-arid are implemented by a group of universities and other research institutions from Northeast Brazil. The Program is divided into three main components: Inventories, Collections and Theme Projects. The first two components are subdivided into four classes of organism: (i) fungi and microorganisms, (ii) plants, (iii) invertebrates and (4) vertebrates. The Theme Projects have four lines of research: (1) Genetic variability and phylogeny of plants with ornamental and foraging potential, (2) chemical taxonomy, (3) bioprospection on fungi and (4) reproductive biology of animals.

Inventories

The area held by the semi-arid region is large, comprising more than 1,000 municipalities. Thus areas considered of Extreme Biological Importance whose biodiversity is still little known will be the first ones to be inventoried. Currently, each area selected for being inventoried represents a different ecoregion of the Caatinga Biome:

Buíque/Ipojuca Valley (Pernambuco) – Borborema Plateau Ecoregion

Dunes of the Rio São Francisco (Bahia) – Dunes of the Rio São Francisco Ecoregion

Raso da Catarina (Bahia) – Raso da Catarina Ecoregion

Senhor do Bonfim (Bahia) – Southern Sertaneja Depression Ecoregion

Seridó (Paraíba e Rio Grande do Norte) – Northern Sertaneja Depression Ecoregion

Serra das Confusões (Piauí) – Ibiapaba-Araripe Complex Ecoregion

Progressively, new areas will be added to the network of inventories.

Every sample is georeferenced. Organisms collected are properly characterized and photographed in the field. Duplicates of plant collections will be distributed among the herbaria participating in the network; samples will be dehydrated in order to have their DNA extracted which will then be incorporated to the DNA bank of LAMOL (Chapter 21). The material extracted is then available for studies of molecular phylogeny. Seeds and eventually seedlings of groups under study will also be collected in order to be cultivated (see map).

Collections

Brazil is one of the richest countries in number of species. However, most of its historical collections, which are essential for decision-making in taxonomy, are placed abroad. This paradox has created significant difficulties for studies on biodiversity carried out in the country. In order to minimize this situation, international programs have made their data available online or through repatriation of types (Chapter 5). In this line, PPBio is creating conditions in order to keep, modernize and increase biological collections in the NE Brazil as well as promoting the digitization of their data. All biological information will be integrated and will soon be made available on the internet, being accessible worldwide.

Representative and well organized biological collections are priceless. They provide us with data on the distribution of species throughout time. In some cases, they are the only evidence of biological diversity of natural areas which no longer exist. In the NE Brazil , taxonomists are trained at different levels, from undergraduate up to post doctoral (Chapters 23, 24, 25 and 26). PPBio of the Semi-arid helps the formation of specialists and encourage exchange among them, contributing to the correct identification of collections and consequently to the reliability of the biological data which are being generated and made available to society.

Theme Projects

Deep knowledge on the biodiversity of the Semi-arid can lead to conservation of the natural heritage. Following this, theme studies have been carried out in order to contribute to the conservation of natural landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic diversity of endangered species.

In its first year, PPBio of the Semi-arid has funded a diverse range of projects:

1. (a) studies on molecular phylogeny of orchids and ‘sempre-vivas’ (plants of the family Eriocaulaceae known as ‘everlasting’) and (b) genetic variability in species of orchids, ‘sempre-vivas’ and cacti;

2. (a) analyses on chemical composition of aromatic plants of Verbenaceae, also determining microbiological activity of its volatile oils and (b) identification of alkaloids in orchids and their use in systematics;

3. biochemical analyses and evaluation of biological activities in fungi in order to bioprospect their products, and;

4. (a) investigation on the reproductive biology of Anura and fishes and (b) investigations on the natural history of wasps and bees.

N.E. In 2005, a series of papers on Brazilian mega-diversity, with new estimates of, for example, size of its flora, was published in Conservation Biology 19(3).

Velloso, A.L., E.V.S.B. Sampaio, F.G.C. Pereyn (eds). 2002. Ecorregiões Propostas para o Bioma Caatinga. Associação Plantas do Nordeste, Recife.