Português	Lacunas of knowledge of flora and fungi of Brazil select the group... Algae Angiosperms Bryophytes -- Hornworts -- Liverwort -- Mosses Fungi -- lato sensu -- stricto sensu Gymnosperm Pteridophytes	version:  jul 2024feb 2024jul 2023jan 2023jul 2022jan 2022jul 2021feb 2021jan 2021aug 2020jan 2020jul 2019jan 2019jul 2018jan 2018jul 2017jan 2017jul 2016jan 2016aug 2015mar 2015jan 2015oct 2014jun 2014jan 2014jul 2013jan 2013sep 2012

This system’s goal is to facilitate the identification of taxonomic and geographic information gaps of Brazil’s flora by specialists. The reports generated by “Lacunas” use the Brazilian Flora Checklist (2012 edition) as its backbone and data shared by Brazil’s Virtual Herbarium of Flora and Fungi, part of the speciesLink network, as its information base.

The reports presented reflect the options made by the user when selecting specific filters. The data status of every species of the selected taxonomic group is presented in 4 categories: (I) without any records in the Virtual Herbarium; (II) with 1 to 5 records; (III) with 6 to 20 records; and, (IV) with more than 20 records. These categories follow the logic of the usability of species occurrence data for ecological niche modeling, where potentially, with 5 records one obtains a preliminary model, with 6 to 20 records an exploratory model and with more than 20 occurrence points a model with potential use for decision making. Before each species name, the report shows the number of records available in accordance to the filters used. If a species is considered endemic in the Brazilian Flora Checklist the icon for endemic will be shown beside the name. If the species is included in MMA’s list of endangered species, an icon will be shown next to the species in Annex I and for those species considered data deficient listed in Annex II.

If the species is included in Biodiversitas’ list, an acronym will be associated to the name ( Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable). These acronyms indicate the risk of extinction in accordance to IUCN’s extinction risk categories. A report on each species included in Annexes I or II is also available below.

 

Expected use of the reports

The reports presented in “Lacunas” were designed to help specialists in:

• Planning new collecting efforts, prioritizing specific taxonomic groups and/or geographic areas.
• Identifying priority groups for digitization.
• Identifying understudied groups, indicating the need for training of taxonomists.
• Identifying and evaluating the status of endangered species.

This tool was developed by the Virtual Herbarium of Flora and Fungi with support from CNPq through its SisBiota program.