Hidden biodiversity of Amazonian white-sand ecosystems: two distinctive new species of Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) from Pará, Brazil

As deforestation and fire move forward over pristine vegetation in the Amazon, many species remain undiscovered and may be threatened with extinction before being described. Here, we describe two new species of Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) collected during recent fieldwork in an area of white-sand vegetation in the eastern Amazon Basin named Campos do Ariramba. Further herbarium revision revealed that both species were first collected over 60 years ago in the same area, remaining unnamed until now. The new species, named U. arirambasp. nov. and U. jaramacarusp. nov., are placed in U. sect. Aranella and U. sect. Setiscapella, respectively. We provide full descriptions, illustrations, photographs, a distribution map, and taxonomic discussion for both species. Additionally, we provide a preliminary list of Lentibulariaceae from the Campos do Ariramba. Both new species are assessed as Vulnerable, however, yet known only from a few collections each, highlighting the urgency and importance of fieldwork and taxonomic revisions in the Amazon biogeographic region in order to provide essential data for the conservation of both known and still unknown biodiversity.

Dispersal ability correlates with range size in Amazonian habitat-restricted birds

Understanding how species attain their geographical distributions and identifying traits correlated with range size are important objectives in biogeography, evolutionary biology and biodiversity conservation. Despite much effort, results have been varied and general trends have been slow to emerge. Studying species pools that occupy specific habitats, rather than clades or large groupings of species occupying diverse habitats, may better identify ranges size correlates and be more informative for conservation programmes in a rapidly changing world. We evaluated correlations between a set of organismal traits and range size in bird species from Amazonian white-sand ecosystems. We assessed if results are consistent when using different data sources for phylogenetic and range hypotheses. We found that dispersal ability, as measured by the hand-wing index, was correlated with range size in both white-sand birds and their non-white-sand sister taxa. White-sand birds had smaller ranges on average than their sister taxa. The results were similar and robust to the different data sources. Our results suggest that the patchiness of white-sand ecosystems limits species’ ability to reach new habitat islands and establish new populations.

Orchidaceae occurring in white-sand ecosystems of the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve in Central Amazon

We studied the Orchidaceae flora of white-sand ecosystems (campinaranas) in the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve, Amazonas State, Brazil. The family was represented by 60 species and 31 genera, with Maxillaria (10 spp.), Epidendrum (9 spp.) and Octomeria (6 spp.) being the most rich genera. Among the listed species, approximately 40% have a restricted distribution in the Amazonian domain, ocurring in different ecosystems. Four species, Cattleya wallisii, Maxillaria brasiliensis, Octomeria sagittata and Prosthechea vespa are known only from Brazil. Epiphytism was the most common habit, and Aldina heterophylla (Fabaceae) was the preferential phorophyte, with 67% of the total taxa occurring associated with this tree species. Taxonomic descriptions, illustrations, ecological comments, phenological information, geographical distribution and an identification key of the taxa are provided.

Amarenomyces ammophilae.

A description is provided for Amarenomyces ammophilae, usually found on attached dead leaves and stems of grasses typical of coastal sand ecosystems. Nothing is known about when it colonizes the substratum, but it is saprobic by the time conidiomata and ascomata are produced. Some information on its associated organisms and substrata, habitats, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (Morocco), North America (USA (Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina)), Antarctica (Macquarie Island), Australasia (New Zealand), Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Ukraine, UK)).

Plejobolus arenarius.

A description is provided for Plejobolus arenarius, found on dead leaves of Ammophila, a grass of coastal sand ecosystems. Nothing is known about when it colonizes the substratum, but it is saprobic by the time ascomata are produced. Some information on its habitats, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Europe (Belgium, Sweden, UK)).

Chitonospora ammophila.

A description is provided for Chitonospora ammophila, found on dead culms and leaves of grasses typical of coastal sand ecosystems (usually Ammophila arenaria). Nothing is known about when it colonizes the substratum, but it is saprobic by the time ascomata are produced. Some information on its habitats, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (Morocco), Europe (Belgium, Spain, Sweden, UK)).

Thyrostromella myriana.

A description is provided for Thyrostromella myriana, found mainly on old dead and dry leaves and stems of Ammophila and other grasses of coastal sand ecosystems. Nothing is known about when it colonizes the substratum, but it is saprobic by the time ascomata are produced. Some information on its habitats, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Australasia (Australia (Victoria)), Europe (Belgium, Denmark (Faeroes), France, Netherlands, UK)).