Vascular plants of Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: leveraging herbarium databases to address...

The Reserva Biológica do Tinguá is a protected area located in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. It is part of the Atlantic Forest domain and primarily features Dense Ombrophilous Forest, ranging from lowland to submontane, montane, and highland vegetation types. The Reserva Biológica do Tinguá is critically important for conservation, ranking among the priority areas for protecting the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest, as well as local water supply. Understanding and accessing the floristic list within the regions is essential to developing effective conservation strategies. We utilize herbaria databases to create a comprehensive list of plant species based on revised taxonomic data. The updated list of vascular plants recorded in Rebio Tinguá is available in the "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil" and is presented here with additional details on species richness, endemism, and conservation status.

The Reserva Biológica do Tinguá contains 1,301 species of vascular plants, including 1,133 angiosperms, one gymnosperm, and 167 are ferns and lycophytes. Of these species, 52,2% are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. There are 97 threatened species, of which five are considered Critically Endangered (CR), 57 Endangered (EN), and 36 Vulnerable (VU) at national level. Among the threatened species, 86 are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. The number of records and species richness in this area are notably high, comparing to Atlantic Forest standards. Protecting areas like the Reserva Biológica do Tinguá in densely populated urban centers presents considerable challenges due to environmental degradation, including air and water pollution and extraction of natural resources. Recognizing the ecological significance and promoting floristic studies of the remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest is essential for biodiversity conservation ensuring overall environmental integrity.