Márcia Marques

Brazil’s Atlantic Forest biome is severely degraded and fragmented throughout its range. Developing effective techniques to restore pasture and agriculture back to native vegetation is therefore a priority for legal and conservation purposes. In this study, we evaluate the ability of artificial bird perches to enhance the arrival of new seeds and seedling establishment in a degraded, semi-deciduous seasonal portion of the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. Specifically, we assess the influence of previous land use and habitat types on the abundance, species richness and ecological traits of bird-dispersed seeds, as well as on seedling establishment. Eight sampling sites were established, each containing one unit with seed traps and restoration plots under artificial perches and one similar unit without the perches. These sites were located in pasture and agriculture, distributed between riparian and sub-montane areas. Monthly sampling was conducted over two years between December 2005 and November 2007, resulting in the evaluation of 25,755 seeds and 56 endozoochoric seed species. The most abundant species were the pioneers Cecropia pachystachya Trécul and Solanum americanum Mill. Experimental units with perches received significantly more seeds than control units. Moreover, seed arrival was higher in sub-montane areas and on former pasture sites. Species richness followed a similar pattern of higher seed arrival, but there was no effect of vegetation type. Ecological characteristics of seeds were associated with land use type: former pastures received more tree seeds and pioneer species than expected by chance. Seedling establishment was very low in all treatments, with only eight seedlings established in perch plots by the end of the experiment. We conclude that despite artificial perches significantly increasing the arrival of endozoochoric seeds onto degraded lands, seedling establishment is drastically limited in these areas, compromising the efficacy of this technique for restoration purposes.

Changes in species composition during the succession of ecological communities potentially reflect the differential
effects of environmental filters and limiting similarity on structuring communities. As ecological succession can represent
community assembly in action, understanding how successional time affects the functional and phylogenetic structure
of communities can reveal the influence of different factors on the assembly process. We analysed functional patterns of multiple
traits related to the succession of tropical forests to answer if there are trait convergence and/or divergence with regeneration
age, and if functional and phylogenetic diversity can be predicted by forest age. We compiled checklists from
studies of 23 successional forests in Brazilian Atlantic Forest, ranging from 4 to 120 years old. We also compiled functional
traits for a total of 355 species. We analysed the data by a method that includes scaling-up trait-based data to the community
level and matrix correlations of multiple traits. We built linear models to show the relationship between each trait and
diversity (taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic) with successional time. We found no phylogenetic signal at the species
pool and metacommunity levels, but significant trait divergence (tree guild, leaf slenderness, leaf area, pollination entomophilous
generalist and pollination by vertebrate) and trait convergence (arboreal habitus, tree guild, leaf compoundness, pollination
entomophilous generalist) patterns related to the successional gradient. Also, functional diversity increased
during succession, with a significant increase in leaf slenderness and zoochoric dispersal and decrease in tree
guild. Phylogenetic diversity also increased along the successional gradient. We found that the communities
in the studied successional gradient are structured by both environmental (measured by trait convergence)
and biotic (measured by trait divergence) filtering. The species turnover and diversification at taxonomic level
are followed by well-defined patterns of trait turnover, revealing that community assembly is constrained
by environmental filters at the beginning and by limiting similarity at the advanced stages of the succession.

RESUMO – (Relações entre a distribuição das espécies de diferentes estratos e as características do solo de uma floresta aluvial no Estado do Paraná, Brasil). Entre os fatores que influenciam a distribuição de espécies nas comunidades vegetais localizadas em regiões ribeirinhas, as características do solo são consideradas os mais importantes. No presente estudo, foram avaliadas a composição florística, a diversidade e a estrutura de três estratos da vegetação e suas relações com as características do solo em um fragmento de floresta aluvial na bacia do rio Iguaçu, no estado do Paraná. Buscou-se verificar se a estrutura e a diversidade da floresta nos diferentes estratos podem ser explicadas por fatores edáficos e hídricos. Caracterizaram-se os parâmetros estruturais e a composição florística de três estratos da vegetação % de regeneração (20 cm ≤ altura ≤ 1,30 m; 80 sub-parcelas de 1 m×1 m), intermediário (perímetro à altura do peito-PAP < 15 cm, altura > 1,30 m; 20 sub-parcelas de 5 m×5 m) e superior (PAP ≥ 15 cm, 20 parcelas de 10 m×10 m)-e correlacionaram-se as abundâncias das espécies com os parâmetros do solo e do lençol freático de cada parcela. A floresta caracterizou-se por baixa diversidade (H' = 2,36 no estrato de regeneração, 2,49 no estrato no estrato intermediário e 1,59 no estrato superior) e alta similaridade florística entre estratos (índices de similaridade de Sørensen ≥ 0,65). As relações entre a distribuição espacial das espécies e as características do solo foram distintas entre estratos: no estrato superior correlacionou-se com a profundidade do lençol freático e o teor de matéria orgânica; no intermediário, com profundidade do lençol e teor de alumínio, porém no estrato inferior nenhum dos fatores ambientais analisados explicou a distribuição das espécies. Os resultados sugerem que a estrutura e a composição florística destas comunidades aluviais refletem os diferentes níveis de interação ao longo do ciclo de vida dos indivíduos. Palavras-chave: estrato de regeneração, floresta com Araucária, floresta Ombrófila Mista, lençol freático, nutrientes do solo ABSTRACT – (Species distribution relationships of different strata and soil characteristics in an alluvial forest in Paraná State, Brazil). Soil characteristics are the most important factors influencing species distribution in alluvial forests. Here we evaluated species composition, diversity and structure of three forest strata and their relationship with soil characteristics in a fragment of alluvial forest in the Iguaçu River basin, Paraná state. We asked if forest structure and diversity can be explained by edaphic and hydrological factors. We evaluated structural variables and floristic composition of three forest strata: regeneration stratum (20 cm ≤ height ≤ 1.30 m; 80 subplots, 1 m×1 m), intermediate stratum (perimeter at breast height-pbh < 15 cm, height > 1.30 m; 20 subplots, 5 m×5 m) and upper stratum (pbh ≥ 15 cm, 20 subplots, 10 m×10 m). In addition, we correlated species abundance with soil parameters in each subplot. The forest was characterized by a low diversity (Shannon's index: regeneration stratum = 2.36; intermediate stratum = 2.49; upper stratum = 1.59) and high floristic similarity among strata (Sørensen index ≥ 0.65). The relationship of species spatial distribution and soil characteristics was distinct among strata: species distribution was correlated with soil water-table levels and organic matter content in the upper stratum and with soil water-table levels and aluminum concentration in the intermediate stratum. On the other hand no significant correlation was verified in the regeneration stratum. Our results suggest that community structure and floristic composition in alluvial forests reflect different interactions during individual life cycles.

Abbreviations GU = Guartel a State Park; PA = Ponte dos Arcos region; TCAP = trait convergence assembly patterns; TDAP = trait divergence assembly patterns; VV = Vila Velha State Park. Abstract Questions: We analysed trait convergence and trait divergence assembly patterns across a metacommunity of grassland types (dry, wet and rocky) occurring along an edaphic gradient. We asked whether (1) floristics and phylogenetic structures vary among grassland types; (2) there is convergence and/or divergence in plant traits along the gradient; (3) the functional structure is influenced by phylogeny; and (4) abiotic or biotic filters generate the assembly patterns. Location: Campos Gerais region, Paran a State, southern Brazil (ca. 25°15 0 02″ S, 49°59 0 59″ W). Methods: We sampled plant functional traits and soil variables at 81.1-m 2 quadrats in three natural grassland vegetation types across three different sites. We analysed the relationship between species composition (abundance), phylo-genetic relationships, functional traits and soil characteristics using matrix correlations, where soil characteristics were the predictors of functional and phylogenetic assembly patterns. Results: A total of 168 plant species were sampled on the three vegetation types. Wet grassland quadrats were more similar to each other in species composition and phylogeny than with those on dry and rocky grasslands. We found trait convergence (not phylogenetically constrained) and trait divergence (phylogeneti-cally constrained) assembly patterns in the three vegetation types along the edaphic gradient. Traits that generated convergence and divergence are related to strategies for survival in dry and low nutrient availability soils; nutritional soil gradient determined trait differences at small scales. Conclusion: Species composition and phylogenetic structure of communities occurring in different grassland types are related to edaphic gradient. The occurrence of both trait convergence and trait divergence patterns suggests, respectively , that environmental filters and biotic filters (competition) are structuring the plant assemblages.

The theory of complex networks has been recently used to explain ecological associations between nurses and seedlings in plant facilitation systems. The structure of these networks is potentially affected by morphological, ecological and evolutionary factors that can determine the facilitative interactions. In the present study, we evaluate the role of the projected crown area of the nurse plant, the dispersal syndrome, the abundance and the phylogeny relationships with seedlings as drivers of network structure in facilitation networks. To test these parameters, we used an ecotonal forest–grassland system in southern Brazil that experienced historical forest expansion over the grassland in the last few centuries. In two State Parks, Guartelá (GUA) and Vila Velha (VVL), we sampled tree species (nurses and seedlings) along four transects parallel to the forest edge, with five sampling stations along each transect. Tree seedlings (height >0.3 m) were sampled below the nurse's crown (i.e. isolated woody plants, height >1.5 m) and over the grassland area. A total of 160 nurses and 358 seedlings were sampled. Seedling abundance and richness were greater below a nurse's crown than on open grassland. Nurse abundance was the best predictor of the observed interaction matrix. Probabilistic matrices based on abundance, abundance and phylogeny, and dominance were able to predict the observed nestedness values, and they were also closest to the observed connectance, although all of the probabilistic matrices have underestimated this property. Specialization was predicted by abundance and phylogeny, abundance and projected crown area drivers for VVL, and the abundance based models were closest to the predicted specialization for GUA. The result of a similar pattern in predictability between sites indicates that the influences of morphology and evolutionary and ecological processes over the facilitation interactions are equivalent on a regional scale. Woody plant abundance was a key factor for the facilitation networks, driving forest expansion along the subtropical forest–grassland ecotone.

The Atlantic Forest is a hotspot for biodiversity conservation because of its high levels of endemism
and threatened areas. Three main forest types, differentiated by their floras, compose the Atlantic
Forest: ‘Atlantic Forest’ sensu strictu, ‘Araucaria Mixed Forest’ and ‘Seasonal Forest’. The flora
comprises taxa from the Amazon forest, Cerrado gallery forests and the Andean region, which
makes the Atlantic Forest a relevant study system for ecologists and biogeographers. Here, we
present data from 206 floris- tic checklists describing the occurrence of 1,916 species across the
southern portion of the Atlantic Forest. This dataset can be useful for understanding mechanisms
underlying plant community assembly processes and the historical relationships between different
forest formations.

The Lowland Forest is one of the most disturbed and fragile ecosystems in the Atlantic Forest biome, yet little is known regarding its successional trajectory and resilience. We evaluated changes in species assemblages and forest structure of the canopy and understory along a successional gradient (young 21-yrs old forest, immature 34-yrs old forest and late successional 59-yrs old forest) aiming to assess changes in species composition and successional trajectory of different strata of secondary forests. A 0.1 ha plot (ten 10x10 m sub-plots) from each forest stand was surveyed for trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (DBH) &amp;gt; 4.8 cm (canopy) and for individuals with heights &amp;gt; 1 m and DBH , 4.8 cm (understory). A total of 3,619 individuals from 82 plant species were sampled. The successional gradient was marked by a unidirectional increase in species richness and a bidirectional pattern of density changes (increasing from young to immature forest and decreasing from immature to late successional forest). Community assemblages were distinct in the three forests and two strata; indicator species were only weakly shared among stands. Thus, each successional forest and stratum was observed to be a unique plant community. Our results suggest slight predictability of community assemblages in secondary forests, but a relatively fast recovery of forest structure

Phylobetadiversity is defined as the phylogenetic resemblance between communities or biomes. Analyzing phylobetadiversity
patterns among different vegetation physiognomies within a single biome is crucial to understand the historical
affinities between them. Based on the widely accepted idea that different forest physiognomies within the Southern
Brazilian Atlantic Forest constitute different facies of a single biome, we hypothesize that more recent phylogenetic nodes
should drive phylobetadiversity gradients between the different forest types within the Atlantic Forest, as the phylogenetic
divergence among those forest types is biogeographically recent. We compiled information from 206 checklists describing
the occurrence of shrub/tree species across three different forest physiognomies within the Southern Brazilian Atlantic
Forest (Dense, Mixed and Seasonal forests). We analyzed intra-site phylogenetic structure (phylogenetic diversity, net
relatedness index and nearest taxon index) and phylobetadiversity between plots located at different forest types, using five
different methods differing in sensitivity to either basal or terminal nodes (phylogenetic fuzzy weighting, COMDIST,
COMDISTNT, UniFrac and Rao’s H). Mixed forests showed higher phylogenetic diversity and overdispersion than the other
forest types. Furthermore, all forest types differed from each other in relation phylobetadiversity patterns, particularly when
phylobetadiversity methods more sensitive to terminal nodes were employed. Mixed forests tended to show higher
phylogenetic differentiation to Dense and Seasonal forests than these latter from each other. The higher phylogenetic
diversity and phylobetadiversity levels found in Mixed forests when compared to the others likely result from the
biogeographical origin of several taxa occurring in these forests. On one hand, Mixed forests shelter several temperate taxa,
like the conifers Araucaria and Podocarpus. On the other hand, tropical groups, like Myrtaceae, are also very representative
of this forest type. We point out to the need of more attention to Mixed forests as a conservation target within the Brazilian
Atlantic Forest given their high phylogenetic uniqueness.

Ocotea porosa (Ness) Barroso (Lauraceae), a typical tree of the southern Atlantic Forest in Brazil, was heavily exploited
for timber in the last century. With the aim of examining the status of the remaining populations, we surveyed five
forest fragments in the state of Paraná, in southern Brazil, and evaluated whether disturbances caused by selective
logging and fragmentation were related to population structure of O. porosa. We assessed demographic aspects related
to tree density, size hierarchy and individual allometry, correlating those parameters with fragment structure variables
(fragment size, isolation and logging level). We found that, although all populations occurred in low densities (60-
440 individuals ha−1), the number of adults was significantly lower in the smaller and most disturbed fragments (13
and 35 individuals ha−1, respectively). We did not detect changes in allometric relationships among individuals in the
five populations studied. However, we found that populations in more heavily disturbed areas presented lower size
hierarchy (i.e., less dominance of larger trees) than did those in undisturbed areas, suggesting that selective logging
affects the population structure of O. porosa, possibly affecting the rates of reproduction and fecundity, which may
ultimately increase the probability of local extinction.

Background: Disturbance and small-scale variation in environmental conditions are potential factors that influence structure
and diversity in tropical forest communities. In the coastal lowland vegetation in Brazil, forests that differ in flooding
regimes could differ in these metrics, although long-term data are usually lacking.
Aims: Our aim was to determine if a stand in an unflooded forest and a stand in a flooded forest had distinct structural characteristics
and patterns of change over a 16-year period.
Methods: Individuals ³4.44 cm in diameter at breast height were recorded on two 0.3-ha plots in 1991 and 2007. The differences
in stem density, species richness, community-level mortality and recruitment, and stem growth rates were assessed.
Results: The unflooded forest plot had a higher density of smaller individuals, but a substantially lower basal area than the
flooded forest plot. Basal area increased by 4% and 20% over 16 years in the flooded and unflooded plots, respectively.
Species richness per area was twice as high in the flooded forest plot than in the unflooded plot.
Conclusions: These data provide tentative support for the hypothesis that enhanced tree turnover contributes to maintenance
of small-scale differences in diversity at the landscape scale. We conclude that flooded and unflooded habitats provide
distinct environments that support contrasting communities of woody plants.

Seed dispersal by vertebrates influences plant reproductive success and consequently population dynamics. By
dispersing seeds away from the parent plant, dispersers prevent high seed density below the crown, increasing seed survival.
We studied seed dispersal by bats of the tree Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae) in southeastern Brazil in order to examine
its consequences for seed distribution, predation, and germination. We assessed tree phenology, recorded visitor bat species,
and analyzed seed spatial distribution in a forest fragment. Fruiting occurred from November to July, when the bats Artibeus
lituratus and Platyrrhinus lineatus forage and disperse fruits of C. brasiliense. Bat-dispersed fruits were found under 113
feeding roosts, and there were no differences in bat dispersal rates below or away from parent trees. Seed predation on
bat-dispersed seeds was greater than on seeds under parent trees. On the other hand, germination rates were greater for
seeds with pulp removed by bats than for seeds in non-dispersed fruits. Thus while seed dispersal by bats may not provide
an escape from density-dependent mortality, fruit manipulation by bats may provide a secondary benefit for plants in the
form of increased seed germination.

Direct tree planting restoration systems are frequently used
for recovering degraded tropical landscapes. Although
manual planting tends to be more viable economically and
logistically over small areas, in large restorations the use
of agricultural equipment that optimizes effort is preferable.
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency
of the two native tree species planting systems—manual
and mechanized—used in the restoration of Atlantic Forest
landscapes that have been converted to pasture. In
recently abandoned grazing areas with abundant cover
of the exotic grass Brachiaria humidicola, 393 seedlings
of 6 species were planted in two treatments: a mechanized
planting system (soil prepared with a rotary tiller
attached to a tractor; seedlings in polypropylene tubes)
and a manual planting system (holes dug with a manual excavator; seedlings wrapped in polyethylene bags). After
12 months, survival (manual: 85%; mechanized: 71%)
and growth rates (RGRheight: manual = 0.88 ± 0.06 and
mechanized = 0.98 ± 0.06 cm/cm; RGRdiameter: manual =
0.77 ± 0.05 and mechanized = 0.86 ± 0.05 cm/cm) were
high in both treatments, but no differences were found
between them. Both planting systems proved efficient for
planting native tree seedlings in pastures. The excellent
results demonstrated in this study by the mechanized planting
system are important because this cheap and readily
available technique provides a good, but less frequently
used, alternative to the manual planting system.

Replacing the Brazilian Atlantic Forest by pastures has caused a strong impact on this biome. Hence, to evaluate the forest
recovery after removing disturbance is a key factor to conserve biodiversity. In this study we analyzed changes in forest structure
in five abandoned pastures in southern Brazil, aiming to verify the direction and rate of structural and functional changes in
the early succession. The abandoned pastures (by periods of 8, 14, 48, 50 and 96 months) were colonized mainly by trees,
animal-dispersed and pioneer species. The data showed that the forest structure was quickly changed with an increase in tree
abundance, stem volume and species richness. It indicates that in low fragmented landscapes, such as the northern littoral of
Parana State, the resilience of the Atlantic Forest is relatively high and assisted regeneration may be an option to biodiversity conservation strategies.

Planting seedlings is a common technique for abandoned pastures restoration in the tropics, supposedly
by increasing the seedling recruitment and accelerating succession. In this study we evaluated the role of a
young restored forest (one year old) in enhancing seedling establishment from two sources (seed rain and seed
bank), in the Atlantic Rainforest region in Southern Brazil. We compared abandoned pasture, young restored
forest and old-growth forest with respect to the seedlings recruited from different sources, by monitoring 40
permanent plots (0.5mx0.5m) over 20 months. From the three studied areas a total of 392 seedlings of 53 species
were recruited. Species were mainly herbaceous (85%), pioneers (88%), zoochorous (51%) and small-seeded
species (60%). Seedling recruitment from the seed bank (density and species richness) was higher and dominated
by herbaceous species in the abandoned pasture and in the young restored forest; on the other hand, the
recruitment of woody species from seed rain was more pronounced in the old-growth forest. The young restored
forest increased the species richness of woody seedlings recruitment from the seed bank (two-fold) and from
seed rain (three-fold) compared to the abandoned pasture. Also, the seedling density in young restored forest
was still higher than abandoned pastures (seed bank: four times; seed rain: ten times). Our results show that even
young restored areas enhance the establishment of woody species and should be considered an important step
for pasture restoration.

Around the world, there is growing desire and momentum
for ecological restoration to happen faster, with better
quality, and in more extensive areas. The question we ask is
how can laws and governmental regulations best contribute
to effective, successful, and broad-scale restoration? In the
state of S˜ao Paulo, Brazil, there is a legal instrument (SMA
08-2008) whose aim is to increase the effectiveness of tropical
forest restoration projects in particular. It establishes,
among other things, requirements regarding the minimum
number of native tree species to be reached within a given
period of time in restoration projects and the precise proportion
of functional groups or threatened species to be
included when reforestation with native species is used
as a restoration technique. There are, however, two differing
perspectives among Brazilian restoration ecologists
on the appropriateness of such detailed legal rules. For
some, the rules help increase the chances that mandatory
projects of ecological restoration will succeed. For the other
group, there is no single way to achieve effective ecosystem
restoration, and the existing science and know-how
are far from sufficient to establish standardized technical
and methodological norms or to justify that such norms
be imposed. Both points of view are discussed here, aiming
to help those developing new legislation and improving
existing laws about ecological restoration. The precedents
established in S˜ao Paulo, and at the federal level in Brazil,
and the ongoing debate about those laws are worth considering
and possibly applying elsewhere.

Background and aims Phenological variations in
tropical forests are usually explained by climate.
Nevertheless, considering that soil water availability
and nutrient content also influence plant water status
and metabolism, soil conditions may also be important
in the regulation of plant reproductive and vegetative
activities over time.We investigated whether phenological
patterns and stem growth differ in trees growing in
two types of soil that display contrasting water and
nutrient availability, namely, Gleysol (moist and
nutrient-poor) and Cambisol (drier and nutrient-rich).
Methods Phenological observations (flushing, leaf
fall, flowering and fruiting) and stem diameter growth
were recorded for 120 trees fitted with fixed dendrometer bands, at 15 days intervals, for 1 year.
Two species of contrasting deciduousness were
investigated: Senna multijuga (semi-deciduous) and
Citharexylum myrianthum (deciduous).
Results Both species were seasonal in all phenophases,
regardless of soil type. However, frequency, mean
date and intensity of phenophases varied according
to soil type. Girth increment of C. myrianthum was
four times greater in Cambisol than in Gleysol,
whereas the type of soil had no significant effect on
that of S. multijuga.
Conclusions These results show that soil characteristics
also play an important role in determining phenological
patterns and growth and must be considered when
analysing phenological patterns in tropical forests.

The Lowland Forest is one of the most disturbed and fragile ecosystems in the Atlantic Forest
biome, yet little is known regarding its successional trajectory and resilience. We evaluated changes in
species assemblages and forest structure of the canopy and understory along a successional gradient
(young 21-yrs old forest, immature 34-yrs old forest and late successional 59-yrs old forest) aiming to
assess changes in species composition and successional trajectory of different strata of secondary forests.
A 0.1 ha plot (ten 10x10 m sub-plots) from each forest stand was surveyed for trees and shrubs with a
diameter at breast height (DBH) > 4.8 cm (canopy) and for individuals with heights > 1 m and DBH ,
4.8 cm (understory). A total of 3,619 individuals from 82 plant species were sampled. The successional
gradient was marked by a unidirectional increase in species richness and a bidirectional pattern of density
changes (increasing from young to immature forest and decreasing from immature to late successional
forest). Community assemblages were distinct in the three forests and two strata; indicator species were
only weakly shared among stands. Thus, each successional forest and stratum was observed to be a
unique plant community. Our results suggest slight predictability of community assemblages in secondary
forests, but a relatively fast recovery of forest structure

A geração e a disseminação de conhecimento sobre a biodiversidade são ações críticas para a mudar a percepção sobre os ecossistemas brasileiros. Com acesso à informação de qualidade, a natureza, muitas vezes percebida como um obstáculo ao desenvolvimento do país, se revela uma vantagem competitiva em um mundo cada vez mais dependente de serviços ambientais que somente os ecossistemas naturais podem oferecer. É  importante que esse conhecimento chegue ao grande público, especialmente aos tomadores de decisão que atuam nas escalas municipal, estadual e federal.
Este livro procura contribuir para que o conhecimento sobre a biodiversidade brasileira chegue a mais pessoas. Resultado de um projeto intelectual de cientistas e equipes do Programa de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade (PPBio) e da Rede Temática de Pesquisa em Modelagem Ambiental da Amazônia (Geoma), seu conteúdo e foco foram discutidos em março de 2015 em encontro que reuniu os coordenadores de redes desses programas e técnicos do Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Informação (MCTI) e do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Não se trata, porém, de um livro do PPBio/ Geoma, e sim de uma proposta de diálogo com a sociedade.
A divulgação científica em diferentes formatos é uma prática usual no PPBio desde o seu estabelecimento, principalmente no que tange a atividades voltadas para conservação e uso sustentável da biodiversidade e à busca de soluções para melhorar a qualidade de vida, temáticas presentes em vários dos 43 projetos vinculados às redes. Cursos, oficinas, cartilhas, guias de identificação de plantas, animais e fungos, livros e vídeos são alguns dos instrumentos utilizados pelos pesquisadores das redes em suas práticas de divulgação do conhecimento e capacitação de recursos humanos. Porém, um produto planejado e realizado de forma conjunta pelas redes atualmente vinculadas ao PPBio/Geoma ainda não havia sido feito.
A expressiva riqueza e diversidade de animais, plantas e fungos e a diversidade de ambientes no território brasileiro torna o estudo da biodiversidade um imenso desafio. Esse desafio vem sendo enfrentado com competência por pesquisadores, professores e estudantes vinculados às redes PPBio em um processo dinâmico, responsável, capaz de se autogerenciar e promover pesquisa de alto nível. As ciências da biodiversidade se destacam entre aquelas que mais têm contribuído para o crescimento e qualificação da produção científica nacional, com participação ativa dessas redes de pesquisa. Assim, este é um livro sobre o Brasil que aborda experiências pretéritas e atuais em áreas dos seis biomas - Pampa, Mata Atlântica, Cerrado, Pantanal, Caatinga e Amazônia - sua biodiversidade e as transformações naturais ou provocadas pela ação humana na paisagem; sobre espaços do território brasileiro que ganharam novas configurações através dos séculos de ocupação humana. Os 11 capítulos foram escritos de forma colaborativa por integrantes das redes e passaram por revisões por seus pares, especialmente revisões cruzadas, realizadas por membros de diferentes equipes, o que além de proporcionar um espaço adicional de discussão de métodos e técnicas, funcionou como excelente ambiente de integração.
O primeiro capítulo aborda principalmente a implantação do PPBio, os desafios do estabelecimento de atividades e metas frente aos compromissos do país com o conhecimento e a conservação da biodiversidade. Os seis capítulos seguintes, com grande diversidade de recortes, tratam dos biomas brasileiros. Essa parte do livro privilegia o diálogo entre diferentes ciências da biodiversidade, como a ecologia, a botânica e a zoologia, com outros campos da ciência e suas interseções com as sociedades humanas que viveram ou vivem nesses ambientes. Os quatro capítulos finais abordam alguns temas das ciências da biodiversidade, escolhidos entre muitos outros elencados quando do planejamento da obra.
A organização deste livro trouxe imenso ganho de interlocução e trocas entre os seus autores e revisores. Permitiu a articulação entre diferentes disciplinas científicas, não  apenas como convergências temáticas, mas gerando debates intelectuais que ao mesmo tempo que contribuíram para o livro em si, animaram as diferentes redes em suas produções e levaram a discussão a diferentes fóruns nos quais as abordagens sobre biodiversidade eram compartilhadas com outros temas. Esperamos que a obra ofereça ao leitor uma boa visão das ações de pesquisa e inovações geradas no país, somando-se a diversos outros livros sobre biodiversidade como leitura chave para compreender a imensa riqueza natural do Brasil e a sua importância para as gerações atuais e futuras.