The first amphibian to halt a hydroelectric dam now takes on the climate crisis ARVOREZINHA, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil — The admirable little red-bellied toad is the size of a thumb, but it has achieved giant feats: In 2014, it prevented the construction of a small hydroelectric…

Brazil’s admirable little red-bellied toad—thumb-sized and critically endangered—once stopped a hydroelectric dam that threatened its only habitat.

After the 2024 floods, researchers returned and found it still holding on, but climate change, plantations and trafficking risks loom.

Ferns thrive in humid, fertile spots. Crucially, the link between climate extremes and diversity suggests that changing rainfall patterns due to #ClimateChange could lead to a substantial simplification of fern communities in Southern Brazil. ⚠️🌍

For species richness and diversity, rainfall seasonality was the key factor. Forests with rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year—avoiding extreme dry or wet peaks—accumulated the highest diversity of terrestrial ferns. 🌧️📉

The study reveals high variability but distinct differences between coastal forests, Araucaria forests, and seasonal forests. We found that soil fertility (cation exchange capacity) is the main driver of changes in species identity across these regions. 🍂⛰️

The central role of soil in shaping terrestrial ferns’ assemblage composition, but not taxonomic diversity, in subtropical Atlantic forests Abstract Understanding the uneven fern distribution is crucial for predicting future changes in...

We analyzed terrestrial #Ferns in 34 forest areas across Southern Brazil. Our goal: to check if current subtropical #AtlanticForest classifications match variations in species richness, diversity, and composition, while identifying key climate and soil drivers. 🌿🇧🇷 www.scielo.br/j/abb/a/c6vD...

Contrasting Phylogenetic Signals in Flowering and Fruiting Phenology at Species and Assemblage Scales in a Climbing Plant Community This study examined the phylogenetic conservatism of flowering and fruiting in 78 climbing plant species relative to environmental gradients in a South Brazilian forest. Although species-level analys....

Happy to share our latest article, which evaluates phylogenetic signal in plant phenology at species and assemblage scales. A new approach using phylogenetic eigenvectors. In a great partnership with
@duarteldas.bsky.social
#traits #climbingplants #phenology
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Contrasting Phylogenetic Signals in Flowering and Fruiting Phenology at Species and Assemblage Scales in a Climbing Plant Community This study examined the phylogenetic conservatism of flowering and fruiting in 78 climbing plant species relative to environmental gradients in a South Brazilian forest. Although species-level analys....

Happy to share our latest article, which evaluates phylogenetic signal in plant phenology at species and assemblage scales. A new approach using phylogenetic eigenvectors. In a great partnership with @duarteldas.bsky.social
#traits #climbingplants #phenology
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

A comprehensive description and range extension of the formerly Bolivian endemic Clematis uruboensis (Ranunculaceae) to Brazil | Phytotaxa

and also: "A comprehensive description and range extension of the formerly Bolivian endemic Clematis uruboensis (Ranunculaceae) to Brazil"
phytotaxa.mapress.com/pt/article/v...

Clematis serrana (Ranunculaceae), a new endemic species to the Atlantic Forest highlands in Southern Brazil | Phytotaxa

New articles from my lab focusing on the Clematis genus in Neotropics: #Newspecies! "Clematis serrana (Ranunculaceae), a new endemic species to the Atlantic Forest highlands in Southern Brazil"
#taxonomy #lianas #vines #climbingplants #southamerica

It is a pleasure to participate in the 67th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Vegetation Science #IAVS2025

Me! Thanks!