Open AccessUnraveling the plant diversity of the Amazonian canga through DNA barcoding
Author(s) -
Vasconcelos Santelmo,
Nunes Gisele L.,
Dias Mariana C.,
Lorena Jamily,
Oliveira Renato R. M.,
Lima Talvâne G. L.,
Pires Eder S.,
Valadares Rafael B. S.,
Alves Ronnie,
Watanabe Maurício T. C.,
Zappi Daniela C.,
Hiura Alice L.,
Pastore Mayara,
Vasconcelos Liziane V.,
Mota Nara F. O.,
Viana Pedro L.,
Gil André S. B.,
Simões André O.,
ImperatrizFonseca Vera L.,
Harley Raymond M.,
Giulietti Ana M.,
Oliveira Guilherme
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.8057
Subject(s) - dna barcoding , flora (microbiology) , amazon rainforest , biology , biodiversity , rpob , ecology , geography , paleontology , bacteria , 16s ribosomal rna
The canga of the Serra dos Carajás, in Eastern Amazon, is home to a unique open plant community, harboring several endemic and rare species. Although a complete flora survey has been recently published, scarce to no genetic information is available for most plant species of the ironstone outcrops of the Serra dos Carajás. In this scenario, DNA barcoding appears as a fast and effective approach to assess the genetic diversity of the Serra dos Carajás flora, considering the growing need for robust biodiversity conservation planning in such an area with industrial mining activities. Thus, after testing eight different DNA barcode markers ( mat K, rbc L, rpo B, rpo C1, atp F‐ atp H, psb K‐ psb I, trn H‐ psb A, and ITS2), we chose rbc L and ITS2 as the most suitable markers for a broad application in the regional flora. Here we describe DNA barcodes for 1,130 specimens of 538 species, 323 genera, and 115 families of vascular plants from a highly diverse flora in the Amazon basin, with a total of 344 species being barcoded for the first time. In addition, we assessed the potential of using DNA metabarcoding of bulk samples for surveying plant diversity in the canga . Upon achieving the first comprehensive DNA barcoding effort directed to a complete flora in the Brazilian Amazon, we discuss the relevance of our results to guide future conservation measures in the Serra dos Carajás.