Flora das Restingas de Sergipe: padrões de distribuição espacial e status de conservação de suas espécies

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of vascular species occurring in the remaining areas of Restingas (vegetation on coastal sandbanks) in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. The plant species were evaluated for their occurrence in the counties of Sergipe located in the coastal plain, based on a database compiled previously from herbarium records. Among the three regions of the coast of Sergipe analyzed (South, Central and North), the South was the one with the largest number of species (486 species, which corresponds to about 40% of the total). The county of Pirambu presented the highest (275 species) and the county of Itaporanga D'Ajuda presented the lowest number of species (18 species). The easiness of access, the better conservation conditions (due to the existence of protected areas and/or low anthropic pressure) and the largest sampling effort in some of these areas, are probably the main factors responsible for these differences. Chamaecrista ramosa var. ramosa (Vogel) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Coccoloba laevis Casar. and Borreria verticillata (L.) GFW, species with wide distribution across the coast of northeastern Brazil, were also frequent in the analised counties (occurring in seven of the 11 coastal counties). Five endangered, nine vulnerable and six rare species were found. More studies are needed in poorly sampled areas and/or under greater pressure antropic, as well as the definition of new protected areas, aiming the full protection of their natural resources.