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<p>Floristic studies often exhibit sampling biases that disproportionately overlook small herbaceous species, particularly in tropical regions where woody plants dominate biodiversity assessments. This bias can obscure true species richness, especially in ecosystems like restingas (sandy coastal vegetation), where herbaceous plants prevail. We present a case study from a restinga area in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil, where targeted sampling in understudied zones led to the rediscovery of <i>Gunnera herteri</i>, a rare and endangered annual herb, after nearly 80 years. This species was only detected after a long period of surveying due to its small stature and overall morphology, which resembles that of other species found in the study area. Our finding extends the species’ known northern range and highlights the importance of addressing sampling gaps in biodiversity studies. Our findings underscore the challenges of detecting small, inconspicuous species in dynamic habitats and the implications of sampling biases for species richness estimates and conservation strategies.</p>

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Rediscovery of a rare endangered plant in Santa Catarina, Brazil: implications for conservation of small, overlooked herbaceous species

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月12日

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  • Arthur Oliveira Garcia,
  • Lucas Cardoso Marinho,
  • Cristiane Snak,
  • Christian Silva

摘要

Floristic studies often exhibit sampling biases that disproportionately overlook small herbaceous species, particularly in tropical regions where woody plants dominate biodiversity assessments. This bias can obscure true species richness, especially in ecosystems like restingas (sandy coastal vegetation), where herbaceous plants prevail. We present a case study from a restinga area in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil, where targeted sampling in understudied zones led to the rediscovery of Gunnera herteri, a rare and endangered annual herb, after nearly 80 years. This species was only detected after a long period of surveying due to its small stature and overall morphology, which resembles that of other species found in the study area. Our finding extends the species’ known northern range and highlights the importance of addressing sampling gaps in biodiversity studies. Our findings underscore the challenges of detecting small, inconspicuous species in dynamic habitats and the implications of sampling biases for species richness estimates and conservation strategies.