Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: DIANNE VITORIA ALVES DE LIMA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : DIANNE VITORIA ALVES DE LIMA
DATE: 09/10/2025
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: https://meet.google.com/vun-fnxq-hrc
TITLE:

Taxonomy, Geographic Distribution and Conservation of Pitcairnia (Bromeliaceae), Focusing on Northeastern Brazil

KEY WORDS:

Bromeliaceae, Conservation, Phytogeographic domains, Northeast.

PAGES: 36
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Botânica
SUBÁREA: Morfologia Vegetal
SPECIALTY: Anatomia Vegetal
SUMMARY:

The genus Pitcairnia L'Hér., belonging to the subfamily Pitcairnioideae of the family Bromeliaceae, stands out as one of the largest and most diverse, with over 400 species distributed across Central America, the Antilles, and South America, including one occurrence in West Africa (Pitcairnia feliciana). In Brazil, the genus has 55 cataloged species, of which 41 are endemic, with well-defined distribution patterns across various phytogeographic provinces, including the Amazon Forest, Cerrado, Caatinga, and Atlantic Forest. Species of Pitcairnia, like other bromeliads, play a crucial ecological role in maintaining biodiversity. They provide nectar for pollinators, such as hummingbirds, and some species form phytotelmata—rosette structures that accumulate water and create specific microhabitats, sheltering a large number of organisms. In addition to their environmental importance, many bromeliads, including Pitcairnia, are valued in landscaping projects and ornamentation. The Northeast Region of Brazil, the focus of this study, features biomes of great ecological relevance, such as the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest. The Caatinga, a biome exclusive to Brazil, occupies about 70% of the regional area and 11% of the national territory, characterized by its high biological diversity and levels of endemism. The Cerrado is recognized as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and the second largest biome in South America. The Atlantic Forest, another global hotspot, although greatly reduced, still harbors a wealth of endemic species. Despite this richness, the Northeast region is historically undersampled, leading to gaps in knowledge about species distributions and hindering the implementation of conservation strategies. The biomes in the region face loss of native vegetation due to anthropogenic actions such as agribusiness, livestock farming, monocultures, and fires, resulting in deforestation and habitat degradation. The scarcity of biodiversity data and low investment in conservation units exacerbate this scenario, making urgent the need for studies that support the protection of these ecosystems. In this context, Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) emerges as a tool to predict and understand species distribution patterns in the face of climate change. By combining environmental and occurrence data, ENM estimates habitat suitability, identifies priority areas for conservation, and reveals knowledge gaps. This work aims to estimate the current and future distribution potential of Pitcairnia species occurring in the Northeast Region of Brazil, identifying areas of highest environmental suitability for these species, verifying the overlap of these areas with biodiversity centers, and assessing the effects of different future climate scenarios on their distribution. Understanding these patterns is fundamental for developing measures and expanding knowledge about regional biodiversity, reinforcing the need for the creation and maintenance of conservation units to ensure the preservation of habitats and the persistence of these valuable bromeliad species. 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externo ao Programa - 3403149 - ARTHUR DE SOUZA SOARES - nullExterno ao Programa - 1718346 - EDUARDO MARTINS VENTICINQUE - nullPresidente - 1755074 - LEONARDO DE MELO VERSIEUX