Occurrence and distribution of Rutaceae in protected areas of Espírito Santo state, Brazil: a survey integrating specimen occurrence and remote sensing data

The state of Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil, is renowned for its species biodiversity, especially because of the Atlantic Forest, a globally recognized hotspot. Despite this significance, the conservation status of many species remains uncertain due to the state’s limited protected areas network (PAs) and incomplete species knowledge within Espírito Santo’s PAs. In this study, we worked on a comprehensive dataset of preserved specimen occurrences of Rutaceae within Espírito Santo, integrating remote sensing data, preserved specimen occurrences and PA delimitations. Satellite images from Landsat-8 were obtained and analyzed, focusing on bands representing distinct segments of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was obtained to assess vegetation coverage and land use profiles. We found that a total of 62 species native to Brazil in 17 genera of Rutaceae have records within Espírito Santo state. The majority of occurrence records in our dataset were located outside Espírito Santo PAs (1,634 records, accounting for 68% of the total 2,386 reported and georeferenced occurrences), and there are 21 species not represented within any of the known PAs of Espírito Santo. Among these unrepresented species, six are endemic to the state and/or are threatened with extinction, all belonging to the genus Conchocarpus. Our discussion highlights the need for expanded field expeditions, improved funding, and strategic sampling within PAs to better understand and protect Espírito Santo’s and the Atlantic Forest biodiversity. Additionally, the use of remote sensing data provides insights into vegetation health and can guide future conservation efforts.